Patent Description:
Embodiments of this application relate to the field of electronic devices, and in particular, to a touch sensor, a touch display, and an electronic device.

A touchscreen (touchscreen) is also referred to as a "touch display ". A user can directly operate and issue an instruction by using an object displayed on the touch display. The touch display provides a humanized operation interface between the user and an electronic product, and implements a good human-computer interaction function. Therefore, display apparatuses with a touch function are increasingly used. Touch displays may be classified into a vector pressure sensing touchscreen, a resistive touchscreen, a capacitive touchscreen, an infrared touchscreen, and a surface acoustic wave touchscreen.

For an existing capacitive touchscreen, when a hand of a user touches the capacitive touchscreen, a capacitive change generated between a touch electrode on the capacitive touchscreen and static electricity of a human body is converted into an induced current, to determine a touch position of the user hand. To ensure a display effect and electrical performance, an existing touch electrode is generally made of a transparent metal material. Due to limitations of a thickness and the material of the touch electrode, flexibility of the touch electrode is relatively poor. In an application of a foldable touch display, after a plurality of times of bending, a crack easily occurs in a bent area, causing the touch electrode to be disconnected, and further causing a function failure of the touch display.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a touch sensor comprising a substrate and an electrode layer, the electrode layer comprising at least one first electrode pattern, wherein conductive units of the electrode pattern are connected by curved bridge lines.

Embodiments of this application provide a touch sensor, a touch display, and an electronic device. The touch sensor improves bending resistance performance of a touch electrode, and resolves a problem in the prior art that after the touch electrode is bent a plurality of times, a crack easily occurs in a bent area, causing the touch electrode to be disconnected, and further causing a function failure of a touch display.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a touch sensor, including:.

The first concave and convex portions include concave portions and convex portions, and the concave portions and the convex portions are sequentially alternately connected to form a smooth curve without angles. In other words, the boundary line of the first conductive unit is a curve formed by the concave portions and the convex portions sequentially alternately connected. In this way, stress concentration towards the boundary line of the first conductive unit when a display is bent is alleviated, to reduce breakage that occurs on the first conductive unit due to stress concentration when the display is bent and that causes a touch failure of the display. The bridge electrode line is set to a curve, so that reliability of the bridge electrode line is improved, and breakage occurring on the bridge electrode line due to stress concentration when the display is bent can be reduced.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the boundary line of the first conductive unit is a polygon, the connecting segment forms an edge line of the polygon, and a rounded corner transition is implemented between the connecting segment and an adjacent edge line.

In this way, stress concentration that occurs when the display is bent and that causes breakage of the first conductive unit is further reduced. Visibility of the first electrode pattern is reduced, and touch sensitivity is improved.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the connecting segments of the two adjacent first conductive units are disposed opposite to each other, and a first concave and convex portion on a connecting segment of one of the first conductive units is disposed corresponding to a first concave and convex portion on a connecting segment of the other adjacent first conductive unit.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
at least two bridge electrode lines are included, and second concave and convex portions on the bridge electrode lines are correspondingly disposed.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the electrode layer further includes a second electrode pattern, the second electrode pattern includes a plurality of second conductive units, and the second conductive units are sequentially electrically connected.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the first conductive units in the first electrode pattern are arranged in a first direction, the second conductive units in the second electrode pattern are arranged in a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the first conductive units have contact holes, and the two ends of the bridge electrode line respectively cross the connecting segments of the two adjacent first conductive units, and are electrically connected to the contact holes.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the contact holes on the two adjacent first conductive units are interleaved. In this way, positions of contact holes on different first conductive units are staggered, so that an overall extension direction of the bridge electrode line is not an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction, thereby reducing stress concentration phenomena in the overall extension direction of the bridge electrode line.

In a possible implementation, according to the touch sensor provided in this embodiment of this application,
the touch sensor further includes at least one first etched stripe and at least one second etched stripe, and first etched stripes and second etched stripes are interleaved.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this application provides a touch display,
including a display and the touch sensor provided in the foregoing embodiment, where the touch sensor is located on the display. The touch sensor includes a first electrode pattern. A first concave and convex portion of a first conductive unit on the first electrode pattern can alleviate stress concentration towards a boundary line of the first conductive unit when the display is bent, to reduce breakage that occurs on the first conductive unit due to stress concentration when the display is bent and that causes a touch failure of the display. A bridge electrode line is set to a curve, so that reliability of the bridge electrode line is improved, and breakage occurring on the bridge electrode line due to stress concentration when the display is bent can be reduced.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this application provides an electronic device,
including a housing and the touch display provided in the foregoing embodiment, where the touch display is connected to the housing, and the touch display and the housing are connected together to form an accommodation space for accommodating a component.

This application provides a touch sensor, a touch display, and an electronic device. The touch sensor includes a first electrode pattern. A first concave and convex portion of a first conductive unit on the first electrode pattern can alleviate stress concentration towards a boundary line of the first conductive unit when the display is bent, to reduce breakage that occurs on the first conductive unit due to stress concentration when the display is bent and that causes a touch failure of the display. A bridge electrode line is set to a curve, so that reliability of the bridge electrode line is improved, and breakage occurring on the bridge electrode line due to stress concentration when the display is bent can be reduced.

An electronic device provided in an embodiment of this application includes, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, an ultra-mobile personal computer (ultra-mobile personal computer, UMPC), a handheld computer, a walkie-talkie, a netbook, a POS terminal, and a personal digital assistant (personal digital assistant, PDA), a wearable device, a virtual reality (Virtual Reality, VR) device, an augmented reality (Augmented Reality, AR) device, a mixed reality (Mixed Reality, MR) device, and the like.

For ease of description, in this embodiment of this application, a mobile phone <NUM> is used as an example to describe the electronic device.

The mobile phone <NUM> provided in this embodiment of this application may be a foldable mobile phone. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a split structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> and <FIG> respectively show an overall structure and a split structure of the mobile phone <NUM>. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the mobile phone <NUM> may include a display <NUM> and a housing. The display <NUM> and the housing together form an accommodation space in which components can be accommodated. The components may include a circuit board, a processor, a battery, and the like. The housing may include a middle frame <NUM> and a rear cover <NUM>. The middle frame <NUM> is located between the display <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>. The display <NUM> is connected to one side of the middle frame <NUM>, and the rear cover <NUM> is connected to the other side of the middle frame <NUM>. The display <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM>, and the middle frame <NUM> together form the accommodation space in which the components can be accommodated. The circuit board and the battery may be disposed on the middle frame <NUM>. For example, the circuit board and the battery are disposed on a side of the middle frame <NUM> facing the rear cover <NUM>. Alternatively, the circuit board and the battery may be disposed on a side of the middle frame <NUM> facing the display <NUM>. When the circuit board is disposed on the middle frame <NUM>, an opening may be provided on the middle frame <NUM>, to place a component on the circuit board at the opening of the middle frame <NUM>.

When the battery is disposed on the middle frame <NUM>, for example, a battery compartment may be disposed on the side of the middle frame <NUM> facing the rear cover <NUM>, and the battery is installed in the battery compartment. In this embodiment of this application, the battery may be connected to the circuit board by using a charging management module and a power management module. The power management module receives an input from the battery and/or the charging management module, and supplies power to the processor, an internal memory, an external memory, the display <NUM>, a camera, a communications module, and the like. The power management module may be further configured to monitor parameters such as battery capacity, battery cycle times, and battery health status (current leakage and impedance). In some other embodiments, the power management module may alternatively be disposed in the processor of the circuit board. In some other embodiments, the power management module and the charging management module may alternatively be disposed in a same component.

It may be understood that the schematic structure in this embodiment of this application does not constitute a specific limitation on the mobile phone <NUM>. In some other embodiments of this application, the mobile phone <NUM> may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or have some components combined, or have some components split, or have a different component arrangement. The components shown in the figure may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

The rear cover <NUM> may be a metal rear cover, a glass rear cover, a plastic rear cover, or a ceramic rear cover. A material of the rear cover <NUM> is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

The middle frame <NUM> may include a metal medium plate <NUM> and a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> is disposed one round along an outer periphery of the metal medium plate <NUM>. For example, the frame <NUM> may include a top edge and a bottom edge that are disposed opposite to each other, and two side edges that are located between the top edge and the bottom edge and that are disposed opposite to each other. A manner for connecting the frame <NUM> and the metal medium plate <NUM> includes, but is not limited to, welding, clamping, or one-piece injection molding. A material of the metal medium plate <NUM> may be aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or a stainless steel material. A material of the frame <NUM> may be metal, glass, plastic, or ceramic. It should be noted that materials of the metal medium plate <NUM> and the frame <NUM> include, but are not limited to, the foregoing materials.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a folded state of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a split structure of a display in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. Referring to <FIG>, in this embodiment of this application, because the display <NUM> needs to be bent, the display <NUM> may be a flexible display. For example, the flexible display may be an organic light-emitting diode (Organic Light-Emitting Diode, OLED) display.

Generally, referring to <FIG>, when the display <NUM> is an OLED display, the display <NUM> may include a display layer <NUM> and a flexible cover layer <NUM>. The flexible cover layer <NUM> covers the display layer <NUM>. A size of the flexible cover layer <NUM> may be greater than or equal to a size of the display layer <NUM>. Because the display <NUM> needs to be bent, the flexible cover layer <NUM> may be a flexible cover that can be bent. The display layer <NUM> may include a plurality of functional layers. The plurality of functional layers may be, for example, film layers such as an organic light-emitting layer, an anode layer, a cathode layer, or a thin film transistor (Thin Film Transistor, TFT) layer. Therefore, the display layer <NUM> has a plurality of metal layers.

In another example, the display <NUM> may further include a touch sensor <NUM>. The touch sensor <NUM> may be disposed between the display layer <NUM> and the flexible cover layer <NUM>. Alternatively, the touch sensor <NUM> may be integrated into the display layer <NUM>, to form a touch display that integrates touch and display functions, and the flexible cover layer <NUM> covers the touch display.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a touch sensor in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a first electrode pattern and a bridge electrode line in a touch sensor in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a second electrode pattern in a touch sensor in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. Referring to <FIG>, the touch sensor <NUM> may include a substrate and an electrode layer formed on the substrate.

The electrode layer includes at least a first electrode pattern <NUM>, the first electrode pattern <NUM> includes a plurality of first conductive units <NUM> spaced from each other, the first conductive unit <NUM> has a boundary line <NUM>, the boundary line <NUM> includes a curved connecting segment <NUM>, the connecting segment <NUM> includes at least one first concave and convex portion <NUM>, and first concave and convex portions <NUM> are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve. The boundary line <NUM> is an edge line of the first conductive unit <NUM>. The boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> includes a plurality of parts. In other words, the boundary line <NUM> is divided into a plurality of segments. Two segments of the boundary line <NUM> are curved connecting segments <NUM> (the boundary line <NUM> in a dashed-line box in <FIG>), the two connecting segments <NUM> are respectively located on opposite sides of the first conductive unit <NUM>, and other segments of the boundary line <NUM> may be arcs, straight lines, curves, or the like.

Two ends of a bridge electrode line <NUM> respectively cross connecting segments <NUM> of two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> to electrically connect the two first conductive units <NUM>. The bridge electrode line <NUM> extends in a curve. The bridge electrode line <NUM> includes at least one second concave and convex portion <NUM>, and second concave and convex portions <NUM> are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve.

A plurality of columns of first conductive units <NUM> may be disposed in a vertical direction, and first conductive units <NUM> located in a same column are connected by using bridge electrode lines <NUM>. The following description is made by using a manner in which three first conductive units <NUM> are sequentially connected by using bridge electrode lines <NUM>. Each first conductive unit <NUM> has a first connecting segment <NUM> and a second connecting segment <NUM> that are opposite to each other. A first connecting segment <NUM> of a <NUM>st first conductive unit <NUM> is opposite to a second connecting segment <NUM> of a <NUM>nd first conductive unit <NUM>, and a bridge electrode line <NUM> crosses the first connecting segment <NUM> of the <NUM>st first conductive unit <NUM> and the second connecting segment <NUM> of the <NUM>nd first conductive unit <NUM>, to connect the <NUM>st first conductive unit <NUM> and the <NUM>nd first conductive unit <NUM>. A first connecting segment <NUM> of the <NUM>nd first conductive unit <NUM> is opposite to a second connecting segment <NUM> of a <NUM>rd first conductive unit <NUM>, to connect the <NUM>nd first conductive unit <NUM> and the <NUM>rd first conductive unit <NUM>. By analogy, first conductive units <NUM> located in a same column are connected by using bridge electrode lines <NUM>.

When the display <NUM> is bent, a crack in a bent area is mainly generated in an area of the bridge electrode line <NUM>. This is mainly caused by stress concentration occurring on the connecting segment <NUM> that is of the first conductive unit <NUM> and that is located in the area of the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the bridge electrode line <NUM> when the display <NUM> is bent. Therefore, in this embodiment of this application, the connecting segment <NUM> to which the bridge electrode line <NUM> crosses includes at least one first concave and convex portion <NUM>, and first concave and convex portions <NUM> are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve.

The first concave and convex portions <NUM> include concave portions and convex portions, and the concave portions and the convex portions are sequentially alternately connected to form a smooth curve without angles. In other words, the boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> is a curve formed by the concave portions and the convex portions sequentially alternately connected. In this way, stress concentration towards the boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> when the display <NUM> is bent is alleviated, to reduce breakage that occurs on the first conductive unit <NUM> when the display <NUM> is bent and that causes a touch failure of the display <NUM>.

When the connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> is set to a curve formed by concave portions and convex portions sequentially alternately connected, the bridge electrode line <NUM> is also set to be curved. The bridge electrode line <NUM> extends in a curve, the bridge electrode line <NUM> may include at least one second concave and convex portion <NUM>, and second concave and convex portions <NUM> are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve. The bridge electrode line <NUM> is set to a curve, so that reliability of the bridge electrode line <NUM> is improved, and breakage occurring on the bridge electrode line <NUM> due to stress concentration when the display <NUM> is bent can be reduced.

Structures of the second concave and convex portion <NUM> and the first concave and convex portion <NUM> may be the same. This is not limited in this embodiment. Curvatures of the concave portions and the convex portions in the connecting segment <NUM> and the bridge electrode line <NUM> are not particularly limited. For example, radiuses of the concave portions and the convex portions may be <NUM> to <NUM>. If the radiuses of the concave portions and the convex portions are less than <NUM>, due to proximity to a non-curved right angle, cracks and visibility of the first electrode pattern <NUM> are barely suppressed. If the radiuses exceed <NUM>, due to proximity to a straight line, it is difficult to reflect dense concave portions and convex portions, and cracks and visibility of the first electrode pattern <NUM> are barely suppressed. To achieve dense concave portions and convex portions to maximize crack and visibility suppression, the radiuses of the concave portions and the convex portions may be <NUM> to <NUM>.

The first electrode pattern <NUM> may be directly formed on the display layer <NUM>. In other words, the touch sensor <NUM> is integrated into the display layer <NUM> to form a touch display that integrates touch and display functions. The first electrode pattern <NUM> may alternatively be formed on the substrate. A material of the substrate may include, but is not limited to, glass, polyethersulphone (PES, polyethersulphone), polyacrylate (PAR, polyacrylate), polyetherimide (PEI, polyetherimide), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN, polyethylene naphthalate), polyethylene terephthalate (PET, polyethylene terephthalate), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS, polyphenylene sulfide), polyarylate (polyarylate), polyimide (polyimide), polycarbonate (PC, polycarbonate), cellulose triacetate (TAC), and cellulose acetate propionate (CAP, cellulose acetate propionate).

A material of the first electrode pattern <NUM> may include, but is not limited to, ITO (indium tin oxide), IZO (indium zinc oxide), ZnO (zinc oxide), a carbon nanotube (CNT), an Ag nanowire, a conductive polymer, graphene, or an alloy. Any metal having good conductivity and low resistance may be used as the material of the first electrode pattern <NUM>. This is not limited in this embodiment. The first electrode pattern <NUM> may be formed on the substrate through photolithography.

The electrode layer further includes a second electrode pattern <NUM>, the second electrode pattern <NUM> includes a plurality of second conductive units <NUM>, and the second conductive units <NUM> are sequentially electrically connected. The plurality of second conductive units <NUM> may be disposed in a plurality of rows in a horizontal direction, and adjacent second conductive units <NUM> are electrically connected. The second electrode pattern <NUM> and the first electrode pattern <NUM> may be located at a same layer, or the second electrode pattern <NUM> and the first electrode pattern <NUM> may be located at different layers. Materials of the second electrode pattern <NUM> and the first electrode pattern <NUM> may be the same.

The first conductive units <NUM> in the first electrode pattern <NUM> are arranged in a first direction, the second conductive units <NUM> in the second electrode pattern <NUM> are arranged in a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. In other words, the first conductive units <NUM> and the second conductive units <NUM> are disposed in different directions. For example, the first conductive units <NUM> may be disposed in a direction along an X axis in a rectangular coordinate system, and correspondingly, the second conductive units <NUM> are disposed in a direction along a Y axis in the rectangular coordinate system. Alternatively, the first conductive units <NUM> may be disposed in the direction along the Y axis in the rectangular coordinate system, and correspondingly, the second conductive units <NUM> are disposed in the direction along the X axis in the rectangular coordinate system.

The touch display further includes a detection electrode, a processing circuit, and a drive electrode. The drive electrode and the detection electrode are both located on an upper surface of the substrate. The first conductive unit <NUM> and the second conductive unit <NUM> are located on the upper surface of the substrate. The first conductive unit <NUM> is a drive electrode, and the second conductive unit <NUM> is a detection electrode. Alternatively, the first conductive unit <NUM> is a detection electrode, and the second conductive unit <NUM> is a drive electrode. The first conductive unit <NUM> and the second conductive unit <NUM> provide information about an X coordinate and a Y coordinate of a touch position. To be specific, if a hand of a person or an object touches the touch sensor <NUM>, whether a finger touch occurs is determined by detecting a capacitance change between the first conductive unit <NUM> and the second conductive unit <NUM>. In addition, the first conductive units <NUM> and the second conductive units <NUM> are arrayed in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction, and a specific position of the finger touch is determined by detecting, by using a Touch IC, a capacitance change triggered by the finger, and is converted into X-coordinate and Y-coordinate information of the touch position, and input to the mobile phone <NUM>.

In the touch display, the first conductive unit <NUM> may have a plurality of different shapes and disposing manners. For example, in an optional implementation, the boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> may be a polygon, the connecting segment <NUM> forms an edge line of the polygon, and a rounded corner transition is implemented between the connecting segment <NUM> and an adjacent edge line. In this way, stress concentration that occurs when the display <NUM> is bent and that causes breakage of the first conductive unit <NUM> is further reduced. Visibility of the first electrode pattern <NUM> is reduced, and touch sensitivity is improved.

In this case, the first conductive unit <NUM> is wholly in a polygon shape. To detect an electrical parameter such as capacitance, the first conductive units <NUM> are disposed in a pair. In this case, the connecting segment <NUM> may form an edge line of a polygon edge of the first conductive unit <NUM>, and the edge line is disposed towards or adjacent to the other first conductive unit <NUM>, so that the connecting segment <NUM> and a connecting segment <NUM> on the other first conductive unit <NUM> are connected by using the bridge electrode line <NUM>.

The first electrode patterns <NUM> and the second electrode patterns <NUM> are arranged in a form of a rectangular array to form regular sensing pattern units. <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a sensing pattern subunit in a touch sensor in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application. <FIG> is a partial enlarged view of A in <FIG>. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a split structure of <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, there are a plurality of sensing pattern units, each sensing pattern unit may include at least two first conductive units <NUM> and at least two second conductive units <NUM>, and the two second conductive units <NUM> are electrically connected to each other.

The first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> may be disposed at a same layer. In this case, the first conductive unit <NUM> in the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second conductive unit <NUM> in the second electrode pattern <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to each other, the second conductive unit <NUM> separates two adjacent first conductive units <NUM>, and the two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> are electrically connected by using the bridge electrode line <NUM>. From the foregoing detection principle of the first conductive unit <NUM> and the second conductive unit <NUM>, it can be learned that the two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> and the two adjacent second conductive units <NUM> may respectively detect an X coordinate and a Y coordinate of a touch position, to obtain touch information of a user.

In the sensing pattern unit, the two second conductive units <NUM> may be connected as a whole. For example, the two second conductive units <NUM> may be connected as a whole by using connecting portions on the second conductive units <NUM>, and the two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> are separated by the two second conductive units <NUM> connected as a whole. In addition, the connecting segment <NUM> in the boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> is disposed opposite to the other first conductive unit <NUM>. In this case, connecting segments <NUM> of the two first conductive units <NUM> are opposite to each other, and are disposed adjacent to the connecting portions between the two second conductive units <NUM>.

Specifically, the connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> is in a curved shape, and correspondingly, the connecting portions between the two second conductive units <NUM> may be in a curved shape corresponding to the connecting segment <NUM>. For example, in the sensing pattern unit, a connecting segment <NUM> of each first conductive unit <NUM> protrudes towards another adjacent first conductive unit <NUM>, and the connecting segment <NUM> includes a plurality of first concave and convex portions <NUM> that are sequentially connected. Correspondingly, the second conductive unit <NUM> and a part of the connecting portion adjacent to the connecting segment <NUM> also have a concave-convex structure formed by a plurality of segments that are sequentially connected, and a shape of the concave-convex structure coincides with a shape of the connecting segment <NUM>. For example, the concave-convex structure is a convex structure <NUM> and a concave structure <NUM>. Shapes of the convex structure <NUM> and a concave in the first concave and convex portion <NUM> match and coincide with each other, and shapes of the concave structure <NUM> and a convex in the first concave and convex portion <NUM> match and coincide with each other. In this way, each first concave and convex portion <NUM> has a corresponding boundary shape on the second conductive unit <NUM>. A smooth curve is formed on both the connecting segment <NUM> and the connecting portion on the second conductive unit <NUM>. Therefore, a common area between the two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> and the two adjacent second conductive units <NUM> can alleviate and release stress, thereby avoiding a stress concentration phenomenon and avoiding a breakage phenomenon of the display <NUM> in the area.

Optionally, the connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> may include a first concave portion <NUM> and a first convex portion <NUM>, and the first concave portion <NUM> and the first convex portion <NUM> are sequentially disposed, so that the connecting segment <NUM> forms a multi-segment arc structure, and different segments of the arc structure are bent in different directions.

Specifically, to reduce stress concentration, the first concave portion <NUM> and the first convex portion <NUM> may be arc-shaped, and an arc transition may be implemented between the first concave portion <NUM> and the first convex portion <NUM>. In this way, each segment of the connecting segment <NUM> is a smooth arc, and no stress concentration phenomenon occurs due to a sharp edge. Quantities of first concave portions <NUM> and first convex portions <NUM> in the connecting segment <NUM> may be each greater than or equal to three. Optionally, a quantity of first concave portions <NUM> ranges between three and six, and a quantity of first convex portions <NUM> ranges between three and six.

The connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> may include first concave portions <NUM> and first convex portions <NUM>. Correspondingly, the second conductive unit <NUM> and the part of the connecting portion adjacent to the connecting segment <NUM> also have a concave-convex structure formed by a plurality of segments that are sequentially connected, and a shape of the concave-convex structure coincides with the shape of the connecting segment <NUM>, to reduce stress concentration on the connecting portion of the second conductive unit <NUM>. For example, the concave-convex structure may be a convex structure <NUM> and a concave structure <NUM>. Shapes of the convex structure <NUM> and the first concave portion <NUM> match and coincide with each other, and shapes of the concave structure <NUM> and the first convex portion <NUM> match and coincide with each other. Specifically, both the convex structure <NUM> and the concave structure <NUM> may be arcs. The first concave portion <NUM> is an arc recessed towards the inside of the first conductive unit <NUM>, and correspondingly, the convex structure <NUM> is an arc protruding towards the outside of the second conductive unit <NUM>. In other words, two circles with different radiuses are drawn with a same center inside the second conductive unit <NUM>, the first concave portion <NUM> is an arc of a circle with a larger radius, and the convex structure <NUM> is an arc that is of a circle with a smaller radius and that is opposite to the first concave portion <NUM>. The first convex portion <NUM> is an arc recessed towards the outside of the first conductive unit <NUM>, and correspondingly, the concave structure <NUM> is an arc protruding towards the inside of the second conductive unit <NUM>. In other words, two circles with different radiuses are drawn with a same center inside the first conductive unit <NUM>, the first convex portion <NUM> is an arc of a circle with a smaller radius, and the concave structure <NUM> is an arc that is of a circle with a larger radius and that is opposite to the first convex portion <NUM>.

The boundary line <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> may be all curved connecting segments <NUM>. In other words, the boundary line <NUM> is formed by first concave portions <NUM> and first convex portions <NUM> that are sequentially connected. Radians of the first concave portions <NUM> and the first convex portions <NUM> in the connecting segments <NUM> may be the same or different. Correspondingly, an edge line (which may also be referred to as a boundary line of the second conductive unit <NUM>) of the second conductive unit <NUM> is formed by convex structures <NUM> and concave structures <NUM> that are sequentially connected. Radians of the convex structures <NUM> may be the same or may be different, and radians of the concave structures <NUM> may be the same or may be different.

Correspondingly, the bridge electrode line <NUM> may also have a similar concave-convex structure. Specifically, in an optional manner, the bridge electrode line <NUM> may include an arc-shaped second concave portion <NUM> and an arc-shaped second convex portion <NUM>. The second concave portion <NUM> and the second convex portion <NUM> are sequentially connected, to avoid a sharp edge on the bridge electrode line <NUM>, and reduce stress concentration phenomena on the bridge electrode line <NUM>.

It may be understood that specific shapes and disposing manners of the second concave portion <NUM> and the second convex portion <NUM> on the bridge electrode line <NUM> are similar to the foregoing shapes and disposing manners of the first concave portion <NUM> and the first convex portion <NUM> on the connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM>, and details are not described herein again.

In an optional manner, at least two bridge electrode lines <NUM> may be included, and second concave and convex portions <NUM> on the bridge electrode lines <NUM> are correspondingly disposed.

Specifically, because the connecting segment <NUM> of the first conductive unit <NUM> is an arc, there may be two or more bridge electrode lines <NUM>, so that different bridge electrode lines <NUM> are all connected to the connecting segment <NUM>. In this way, the bridge electrode lines <NUM> may form smaller resistance and can have less interference, thereby ensuring that the first electrode pattern accurately detects capacitance. Concave and convex directions of the second concave and convex portions <NUM> on the bridge electrode lines <NUM> are consistent. Therefore, when the touch sensor and the display <NUM> are bent, forces are relatively even, to avoid a phenomenon that the bridge electrode lines <NUM> are broken due to the bending.

In addition, when the touch sensor <NUM> and the touch display are manufactured, a polishing process or the like is needed to flatten the touch sensor <NUM>, and a polishing rate of a low pattern density area is higher than a grinding rate of a high pattern density area. Therefore, the touch sensor <NUM> has different thicknesses because of different pattern densities of different areas inside the touch sensor <NUM>, resulting in a problem such as poor pattern uniformity subsequently. In addition, different pattern densities of different areas may generate different refractive indexes, resulting in that a relatively obvious visual boundary is formed between the first electrode pattern <NUM>, the second electrode pattern <NUM>, and another area in the touch sensor <NUM>, and is seen by a user, thereby affecting a visual effect of the touch sensor <NUM>.

To improve the pattern density uniformity in the touch sensor <NUM>, a dummy pattern <NUM> may be disposed in the low pattern density area of the touch sensor <NUM>. In this way, an area in which the touch sensor <NUM> is located may have a relatively uniform pattern density, to improve uniformity of the touch sensor <NUM>, improve a product yield, and avoid an obvious visual boundary formed between electrode patterns in the touch sensor <NUM>. Specifically, in an optional manner, for the touch sensor <NUM> in this application, a dummy pattern <NUM> electrically separated from the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> may be disposed between the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>, or a dummy pattern <NUM> may be disposed in the first electrode pattern <NUM>.

The touch sensor <NUM> may be divided into a sensing area configured to sense a touch operation and an invalid area that is electrically separated from an electrode pattern in the sensing area. The sensing area mainly includes the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>, and the invalid area mainly includes the dummy pattern <NUM>. Because the dummy pattern <NUM> and the invalid area are electrically separated from the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>, when the user touches the dummy pattern <NUM>, a sensing electrode formed by the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> is not affected.

Specifically, at least a part of a boundary of the dummy pattern <NUM> may correspond to boundaries of the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>. In this case, when the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> have undulating boundary curves, correspondingly, at least a part of the boundary of the dummy pattern <NUM> may have concave portions and convex portions that are sequentially connected, to form a smooth curve. In this way, a boundary shape of the dummy pattern <NUM> and a boundary shape of the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM> correspond to and match each other. For example, boundary shapes of the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> coincide with each other. Therefore, an area in which the dummy pattern <NUM> is present between the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> is relatively small, so that a boundary and a shape formed by the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> may be relatively blurred, and are not easily perceived by the user.

There may be a plurality of dummy patterns <NUM>. In other words, a plurality of dummy patterns <NUM> that are separated from each other are included. In this way, the dummy pattern <NUM> may be divided into a plurality of patterns, and the dummy patterns <NUM> may be independent of each other, so that the touch sensor <NUM> and the entire touch display are more flexible, making it convenient to bend.

A person skilled in the art may understand that the dummy pattern <NUM> may have a thickness similar to that of the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>, so that the entire touch sensor <NUM> has a relatively flat and consistent structure. The thickness of the dummy pattern <NUM> may be a thickness commonly used by a person skilled in the art. For example, the thickness of the dummy pattern <NUM> may range between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Similar to the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>, the dummy pattern <NUM> may be made of a material the same as or similar to that of the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>, so that there is a small refractive index difference between an area in which the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM> is present and the invalid area in which the dummy pattern <NUM> is located.

In addition, when the dummy pattern <NUM> is formed, a method for forming the dummy pattern <NUM> may be a pattern forming method commonly used by a person skilled in the art. For example, the dummy pattern <NUM> may be formed by using the foregoing method for forming the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>. This is not limited herein. It may be understood that the dummy pattern <NUM> may be formed in a same working procedure or etching process as the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>, or may be formed in a different working procedure and etching process than the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>.

In addition, because the first conductive units <NUM> in the first electrode pattern <NUM> may be connected by using the bridge electrode line <NUM>, the touch sensor <NUM> in this application may further include an insulation layer <NUM> to prevent the bridge electrode line <NUM> from connecting to the second electrode pattern <NUM> and interfering with normal sensing and detection of the touch sensor <NUM>.

The insulation layer <NUM> may be disposed between the electrode layer and the bridge electrode line <NUM>, to isolate the electrode layer from the bridge electrode line <NUM>, so that the second electrode pattern <NUM> in the electrode layer and the bridge electrode line <NUM> are isolated and insulated from each other.

Specifically, during specific implementation, the insulation layer <NUM> may be disposed in a plurality of different manners. For example, the insulation layer <NUM> may be an isolated island structure. In this case, the insulation layer <NUM> is located only in an area between two second electrode patterns <NUM>, to isolate the area between the two second electrode patterns <NUM> from the bridge electrode line <NUM>. Alternatively, the insulation layer <NUM> may have a relatively large coverage area, for example, cover the entire electrode layer. An actual manner of disposing the insulation layer <NUM> may be correspondingly set according to a specific structure and requirement of the touch sensor <NUM>.

In an optional manner, the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the electrode layer may be disposed at different layers, so that the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> are insulated, and the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the first electrode pattern <NUM> are connected by using a structure such as contact holes <NUM>. Specifically, the contact holes <NUM> may be disposed on the first conductive units <NUM>, and two ends of the bridge electrode line <NUM> respectively cross connecting segments <NUM> of two adjacent first conductive units <NUM>, and are electrically connected to the contact holes <NUM>.

Because the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the electrode layer are located at different layers, the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> in the electrode layer may be insulated from each other. The contact holes <NUM> are disposed on the first conductive units <NUM> in the first electrode pattern <NUM>, and the contact holes <NUM> may connect the electrode layer and a layer at which the bridge electrode line <NUM> is located, so that the contact holes <NUM> connect the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the first conductive units <NUM>, thereby implementing mutual connection between the first conductive units <NUM> in the first electrode pattern <NUM>.

In addition, another connection manner well known by a person skilled in the art may be used to connect the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the first conductive units <NUM>. For example, the bridge electrode line <NUM> and the first conductive units <NUM> are in direct contact with each other and connected. This is not limited herein.

Optionally, the contact holes <NUM> on the two adjacent first conductive units <NUM> may be interleaved. In this way, positions of contact holes <NUM> on different first conductive units <NUM> are staggered, so that an overall extension direction of the bridge electrode line <NUM> is not the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction, thereby reducing stress concentration phenomena in the overall extension direction of the bridge electrode line <NUM>.

The contact hole <NUM> may be a round hole, an elliptical hole, an elongated hole, or the like. Optionally, the contact hole may be a round hole. When the display <NUM> is bent, forces on the round hole are relatively uniform.

To enhance flexibility of the touch sensor <NUM> and avoid a phenomenon such as a crack occurring due to stress concentration when the touch sensor <NUM> and the touch display are bent, a structure that can release stress may be further disposed inside the touch sensor <NUM> to avoid stress concentration. In an optional manner, an etched stripe is disposed inside the touch sensor <NUM>. Because a cavity or a gap is formed inside the etched stripe, when the touch display is bent, edges of opposite sides of the etched stripe may deform to be close to or away from each other as the touch display is bent, so that a deformation space is provided at a position of the etched stripe, and stress is released at the position of the etched stripe, to avoid stress concentration and tear phenomena of the touch sensor <NUM> at the position of the etched stripe.

The touch sensor <NUM> further includes at least one first etched stripe <NUM> and at least one second etched stripe <NUM>, and extension directions of the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are interleaved with each other.

Because the touch sensor <NUM> and the entire touch display may be bent in a plurality of angles and directions, correspondingly, to release stress during bending when the touch sensor <NUM> is bent in different directions, correspondingly, the sensing pattern unit has a first etched stripe <NUM> and a second etched stripe <NUM> that respectively extend in different directions. The first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may respectively provide deformation spaces in different directions, to release stresses in different directions, so that the touch sensor <NUM> can avoid a tear phenomenon when bent in different directions.

Because the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> of the touch sensor <NUM> are respectively configured to detect touch actions in different directions, correspondingly, in this embodiment, the extension directions of the etched stripes may be consistent with sensing directions of the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM>. Specifically, each first etched stripe <NUM> may be parallel to the bridge electrode line <NUM>, and each second etched stripe <NUM> may be perpendicular to the bridge electrode line <NUM>.

In this case, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are interleaved with each other and are disposed at a substantially perpendicular angle to each other. In this way, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may cooperate with each other, and release stress in different directions that is generated when the touch sensor <NUM> and the touch display are bent.

There may be one or more first etched stripes <NUM> and second etched stripes <NUM>. When the touch sensor <NUM> and the touch display are bent, a bent area may be located at different positions on the touch display. Therefore, correspondingly, there may be a plurality of first etched stripes <NUM> and second etched stripes <NUM>, which are arranged at intervals on the touch sensor <NUM>.

For example, the first etched stripes <NUM> and the second etched stripes <NUM> may be uniformly arranged on the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> of the touch sensor <NUM>, so that each part of the first electrode pattern <NUM> and the second electrode pattern <NUM> can release stress by relying on the etched stripe, to avoid stress concentration and tear phenomena of the touch sensor <NUM>.

When the sensing pattern unit of the touch sensor <NUM> includes the dummy pattern <NUM>, optionally, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may also be disposed in the dummy pattern <NUM>, and an arrangement manner of the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> in the dummy pattern <NUM> is the same as that of the etched stripes on the first electrode pattern <NUM> or the second electrode pattern <NUM>. In this way, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are disposed in both the sensing pattern and the dummy pattern <NUM> of the touch sensor <NUM>. Therefore, coverage of the etched stripes is relatively large, and each part of the touch sensor <NUM> has a relatively good effect of preventing stress concentration.

To enable the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> to have a relatively good stress release effect, optionally, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may be wholly or partially in an arc shape. It can be learned from the foregoing description that similar to a shape of the boundary line <NUM> of the first electrode pattern <NUM>, when the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are wholly or mostly in an arc shape, because included angles are present between an arc and both transverse and longitudinal directions of the touch sensor <NUM>, when the touch sensor <NUM> and the entire touch display are bent along a transverse or longitudinal bending axis, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may eliminate a stress concentration phenomenon during bending by using the arc, thereby avoiding a crack.

When the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are wholly or partially in an arc shape, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may specifically have a plurality of different shapes.

For example, in an optional implementation, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may be wholly formed in an arc shape. In this case, the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM> is an arc shape that is relatively uniform in width and curves along a radian.

Different first etched stripes <NUM> or different second etched stripes <NUM> may have different bending directions. Using the first etched stripe <NUM> as an example, the plurality of first etched stripes <NUM> may be arranged at intervals along a direction, and bending directions of two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> may be opposite to each other. Specifically, one of the two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> protrudes towards a first conductive unit <NUM>, and the other first etched stripe <NUM> protrudes towards a direction opposite thereto, that is, a direction of another first conductive unit <NUM>. In this way, bending directions of the two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> or the second etched stripes <NUM> are different, so that stress at the two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> or the two adjacent second etched stripes <NUM> can be effectively dispersed, thereby improving a stress release effect.

In another optional implementation, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may be partially in an arc shape, for example, may be an I shape, where a connecting portion <NUM> in the middle of the I shape may be an arc.

Specifically, the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM> may have a middle segment that is an arc with a relatively uniform width and curving along a radian, and two ends with a width greater than the width of the middle segment, so that the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM> have a shape similar to that of a dumbbell. When the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are in an I shape having a larger width at end portions, the end portions having a larger width can effectively release stress at end portions of the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM>, to avoid a situation in which a tear occurs in an extension direction of the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM> because stress of the first etched stripe <NUM> or the second etched stripe <NUM> is concentrated on the end portions of the stripe.

Similar to the foregoing implementation, when the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are in an I shape, bending directions of connecting portions <NUM> in middle segments of the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may vary with different first etched stripes <NUM> or second etched stripes <NUM>. For example, one of two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> protrudes towards one direction, and the other first etched stripe <NUM> protrudes towards a direction opposite thereto. In this way, the middle segments of the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> are bent in different directions, so that stress of the two adjacent first etched stripes <NUM> or the two adjacent second etched stripes <NUM> can be dispersed, thereby avoiding a tear phenomenon.

In addition, a person skilled in the art may understand that, in still another optional implementation, the first etched stripe <NUM> may be wholly in an arc shape, while the second etched stripe <NUM> is in an I shape with a connecting portion <NUM> being an arc. Alternatively, the first etched stripe <NUM> is in an I shape with a connecting portion <NUM> being an arc, while the second etched stripe <NUM> is wholly in an arc shape. The first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may have different shapes. This is not limited herein.

In addition, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may be in other different shapes. For example, the first etched stripe <NUM> and the second etched stripe <NUM> may be in an "S" shape, or may be in another form of arcs that can release stress and avoid stress concentration.

Claim 1:
A touch sensor (<NUM>), comprising:
a substrate;
an electrode layer formed on the substrate, wherein
the electrode layer comprises at least a first electrode pattern (<NUM>), the first electrode pattern (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of first conductive units (<NUM>) spaced from each other, the first conductive unit (<NUM>) has a boundary line (<NUM>), the boundary line (<NUM>) comprises a curved connecting segment (<NUM>), the connecting segment (<NUM>) comprises at least one first concave and convex portion (<NUM>), and first concave and convex portions (<NUM>) are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve;
a bridge electrode line (<NUM>), wherein two ends of the bridge electrode line (<NUM>) respectively cross connecting segments (<NUM>) of two adjacent first conductive units (<NUM>) to electrically connect the two first conductive units (<NUM>), the bridge electrode line (<NUM>) extends in a curve, the bridge electrode line (<NUM>) comprises at least one second concave and convex portion (<NUM>), and second concave and convex portions (<NUM>) are sequentially connected to form a smooth curve; and
wherein the touch sensor (<NUM>) further comprises at least one first etched stripe (<NUM>) and at least one second etched stripe (<NUM>), and first etched stripes (<NUM>) and second etched stripes (<NUM>) are interleaved.