Patent Description:
With the continuous development of LED display technology, the capacitance-type touch technology has been widely used in LED display screens of various electronic products, the function of intelligent touch for electronic products are achieved, and thus greatly improves the usability of electronic products.

<CIT> relates to an inorganic light-emitting diode display having integrated electrodes useful for touch sensing. The disclosed technology includes a light-emitting diode display with integrated electrodes, including: a display surface having a display area; a plurality of spatially separated light-emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed in rows on the display surface in the display area, the light-emitting diodes in each row of light-emitting diodes electrically connected by one or more electrical conductors (e.g., light-emitter electrodes or pixel electrodes); and one or more row touch electrodes disposed in rows over the display surface at least partially in the display area between rows of inorganic light-emitting diodes, wherein the one or more row touch electrodes are disposed on the display surface and have a width that is larger than a length and width (e.g., and height) of the light-emitting diodes.

The existing capacitance-type touch technology is merely applicable to small-sized display screens, while regarding display for conference, display for television program, display for exhibition and other occasions, large-sized touch screens are usually required, that is, the existing capacitance-type touch technology could not be able to satisfy the increasing demand for large-sized touch display. It thus is expected urgently to provide a capacitance-type touch technology that can be applied to a large-sized display screen.

An embodiment of the present application provides a touch panel and an LED display screen, which are applicable to large-sized display screens and implements the function of touch display for the large-sized display screen, and have the advantages of low production cost and simple processing technology.

An aspect of the embodiment of the present application provides a touch panel, which includes at least one touch-sensing layer, at least one pixel module spacer layer and at least one dielectric substrate layer, which are sequentially laminated.

The touch-sensing layer includes a plurality of sensing units arranged at intervals and at least one grounding unit, and the plurality of sensing units and the at least one grounding unit are provided with gaps therebetween. The plurality of sensing units are configured to sense a touch signal to control LED pixel modules. The at least one grounding unit is configured to be grounded;
The pixel module spacer layer is provided with a plurality of through-holes arranged at intervals, in which the plurality of through-holes are arranged corresponding to the gaps between the plurality of sensing units and the at least one ground unit, and each of the plurality of through-holes communicates with the gap corresponded thereto. The plurality of through-holes are configured for receiving the LED pixel modules.

Cross-sections of each sensing unit and each grounding unit are both octagonal, a cross-section of each through-hole is circular, and the octagon includes four curved edges and four straight edges alternately distributed. Adjacent edges of adjacent sensing units or grounding units are straight edges that are parallel to each other, and the curved edges of each sensing unit or each grounding unit are parallel to a circular arc of the cross-section of the through-hole adjacent thereto, respectively. Or the cross-sections of each sensing unit, each grounding unit and each through-hole are in a shape of square with the same size. The cross-section refers to a cross-section parallel to the touch panel;
In one embodiment, the dielectric substrate is provided with a plurality of vias, the plurality of sensing units, the at least one grounding unit, and the LED pixel modules, by wires passing through the vias, are all coupled to a touch-sensing circuit disposed on a side of the dielectric substrate layer facing away the touch-sensing layer.

In one embodiment, one of the plurality of sensing units is adjacent to at least one of the LED pixel modules.

In one embodiment, both the plurality of sensing units and the at least one grounding unit are made of a conductive material, the conductive material may be a metal conductive material or a non-metal conductive material, and the metal conductive material may be a copper foil, an aluminum foil, a copper alloy film or aluminum alloy film, the non-metal conductive material may be conductive rubber, conductive plastic or conductive fiber fabric.

In one embodiment, both the pixel module spacer layer and the dielectric substrate layer are made of an insulating material, and the insulating material may be a glass fiber board, a liquid crystal polymer film, a resin or a ceramic.

In one embodiment, the touch panel further includes a solder resist ink layer coated on a surface of the touch-sensing layer away from the dielectric substrate layer, or a fire-resistant material layer disposed on the surface of the touch-sensing layer away from the dielectric substrate layer.

An embodiment of the present application further provides an LED touch display screen, which includes the touch panel as above described, and further includes a touch-sensing circuit;
The touch-sensing circuit includes at least one touch-sensing module correspondingly connected to at least one of the plurality of sensing units;
The touch-sensing module is configured to input a touch signal via the at least one of the plurality of sensing units connected therewith and process the touch signal.

In one embodiment, the touch-sensing circuit further includes a current-limiting resistor, a reference capacitor, a bypass capacitor and a serial command input port;.

A touch-signal output end of the touch-sensing module is connected with a power source via the current-limiting resistor, a negative power end of the touch-sensing module is grounded, and a touch-signal input end of the touch-sensing module is connected with its corresponding sensing unit, a reference-capacitor input end of the touch-sensing module is grounded via a reference capacitor, a positive power end of the touch-sensing module is connected with a power source and grounded via a bypass capacitor, and the touch-signal output-type selection end of the touch-sensing module is grounded via the serial command input port, and the serial command input port is configured to input a serial command.

In one embodiment, the touch-sensing circuit further includes an LED indicator, and the LED indicator is connected between the touch-signal output end and the current-limiting resistor.

In the embodiment of the present application, the touch panel is constituted by a laminated stack of a touch-sensing layer, a pixel module spacer layer and a dielectric substrate layer, and the touch signal is sensed by a sensing unit on the touch-sensing layer, so that the size of the touch panel can be set according to needs, while the function of touch display is achieved, thereby it can be widely used in large-sized capacitance-type touch display screens, and possess the advantages of low production cost and simple processing technology.

In order to illustrate the technical solutions of embodiments of the present application more clearly, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced hereinbelow. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present application, and for persons skill in the art, other drawings may also be obtained on the basis of these drawings without any creative work.

In order to enable persons skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of embodiments, the technical solution of the embodiments will be clearly described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the embodiments described hereinbelow are part of the embodiments of the present application, not all embodiments thereof.

The term "comprising" and any variants thereof in the description and claims of the present application and in the above-mentioned drawings are intend for explanation rather than limitation. For example, a process, a method or system, a product or equipment containing a series of steps or units are not limited to the listed steps or units, optionally steps or units not listed may also be included, or optionally other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or equipment may also be included. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like are used to distinguish different objects but not intend to describe specific orders.

As shown in <FIG>, this embodiment provides a touch panel, which includes at least one touch-sensing layer <NUM>, at least one pixel module spacer layer <NUM> and at least one dielectric substrate layer <NUM>, which are sequentially laminated.

<FIG> exemplarily illustrates a touch-sensing layer <NUM>, a pixel module spacer layer <NUM> and a dielectric substrate layer <NUM>.

In specific applications, the number of layers of the touch-sensing layer <NUM>, the pixel module spacer layer <NUM> or the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> can be set according to actual needs. For example, two pixel module spacer layers and two dielectric substrate layers may be provided so as to increase the thickness of the pixels lamp spacer layer <NUM> and the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> to facilitate a wiring.

As shown in the top view in <FIG>, the touch-sensing layer <NUM> includes a plurality of sensing units <NUM> arranged at intervals and at least one grounding unit <NUM>. A gap is provided between the sensing unit <NUM> and the grounding unit <NUM>. The grounding unit <NUM> may be independently provided or connected with any numbers of other grounding units <NUM>, the sensing unit <NUM> is used for sensing a touch signal to control the LED pixel module, the grounding unit <NUM> is grounded, and both the sensing unit <NUM> and the grounding unit <NUM> are made of conductive materials.

In specific applications, the number of the sensing unit <NUM> and the ground unit <NUM> can be set according to actual needs.

In one embodiment, the number of the sensing units <NUM> and the ground units <NUM> may be equal.

In a specific application, the touch-sensing layer <NUM> includes at least one grounding unit <NUM>, when the touch-sensing layer <NUM> includes two or more grounding units <NUM>, all grounding units <NUM> may be coupled with each other and connected to a common ground. For example, the grounding units <NUM> are coupled by wires passing through vias on the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> to be grounded.

In one embodiment, one sensing unit <NUM> is adjacent to at least one LED pixel module.

In specific applications, one sensing unit <NUM> corresponds to one LED pixel module or corresponds to two or more LED pixel modules; the number of LED pixel modules corresponding to this sensing unit <NUM> is determined by the density of the LED pixel modules.

In specific applications, the touch signal sensed by the sensing unit <NUM> specifically refers to: when a human finger or a capacitance-type pen is in contact with the touch-sensing unit, a capacitance change is caused, thereby causing a current change and generating a touch signal.

In one embodiment, the conductive material is a metal conductive material or a non-metal conductive material. Any type of metal conductive material may be selected according to actual needs, for example, a film made of copper foil, aluminum foil or alloy materials, aluminum alloys such as copper alloys. Also, any type of non-metal conductive material may be selected according to actual needs, such as conductive rubber, conductive plastic, conductive fiber fabric and the like.

As shown in the cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in <FIG>, the pixel module spacer layer <NUM> is provided with a plurality of through-holes <NUM> arranged at intervals. The through-holes <NUM> are arranged corresponding to the gaps between the sensing units <NUM> and the ground units <NUM> and communicate with the corresponding gaps, respectively, and the through-holes <NUM> are used for receiving the LED pixel modules and spacing the adjacent LED pixel modules.

A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in <FIG> exemplarily illustrates a situation where the number of the sensing units <NUM> and the grounding units <NUM> are equal.

In the specific embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the cross-section of the sensing unit <NUM> and the ground unit <NUM> are both octagonal, and the cross-section of the through-hole <NUM> is circular. The octagon includes four curved edges and four straight edges, in which the curved side and straight side are alternately distributed. Adjacent edges of adjacent sensing units <NUM> or grounding units <NUM> are parallel straight edges, and curved edges of sensing units <NUM> or grounding units <NUM> are parallel to the cross-section arcs of adjacent through-holes. The cross-section refers to a cross-section parallel to the touch panel.

In the specific embodiment shown in <FIG>, the size of the sensing unit <NUM> and the grounding unit <NUM> are the same, and the distance between any adjacent sensing unit <NUM> or the grounding unit <NUM> is the same. The spacing between the sensing unit <NUM> or the grounding unit <NUM> and its adjacent vias are equal.

The structure shown in <FIG> can maximize the area of the touch-sensing layer <NUM>, so that a good touching effect can be achieved when a touch panel based on this structure is applied to an LED display screen.

In specific applications, the shapes of cross-sections of the sensing unit <NUM>, the grounding unit <NUM> and the through-hole <NUM> can be set according to actual needs.

The dielectric substrate layer <NUM> is provided with a plurality of vias (not shown in the figure). The sensing unit <NUM>, the grounding unit <NUM>, and the LED pixel module are all coupled to the touch-sensing circuit (not shown in the figure)provided on the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> on a side facing away from touch-sensing layer <NUM> by wires passing through the vias. The pixel module spacer layer <NUM> and the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> are made of insulating materials.

In specific applications, the thickness of the dielectric substrate layer <NUM> and the number of vias can be set according to actual needs.

In specific applications, any type of insulating material can be selected according to actual needs, such as glass fiber boards, liquid crystal polymer films, resins or ceramics and the like.

In one embodiment, the touch panel further includes a solder resist ink layer coated on an end surface of the touch-sensing layer away from the pixel module spacer layer <NUM> or a fire-resistant material layer disposed on the end surface of the touch-sensing layer away from the pixel module spacer layer <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the fire-resistant material layer may be an FR-<NUM> epoxy board.

In specific applications, any known preparation process can be selected to prepare the touch panel according to actual needs, for example, a COB process. The manufacturing process of the touch panel is not particularly limited in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the touch panel is constituted by a laminated stack of the touch-sensing layer <NUM>, the pixel module spacer layer <NUM> and the dielectric substrate layer <NUM>, and the touch signal is sensed by the sensing unit of the touch-sensing layer, so that the size of the touch panel can be set according to actual needs, while the function of touch display is achieved, thereby it can be widely used in large-sized capacitance-type touch display screens, and possess the advantages of low production cost and simple processing technology.

Or alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, the cross-section of the sensing unit <NUM>, the ground unit <NUM> and the through-hole <NUM> (the black square in the figure indicates the through-hole <NUM>) are all square, and the cross-section refers to a cross-section parallel to the touch panel.

In <FIG>, the cross-sections of the sensing unit <NUM>, the grounding unit <NUM> and the through-hole <NUM> are all squares with the same size. Where one through-hole <NUM> is surrounded with seven sensing units <NUM> and one grounding unit, and the other through-holes <NUM> are surrounded with eight sensing units.

In a specific application, the touch-sensing layer includes at least one ground unit.

As shown in <FIG>, an embodiment of this disclosure exemplarily illustrates an LED touch display screen <NUM>, which includes the touch panel <NUM> as described in the above embodiment, and further includes a touch-sensing circuit <NUM> including at least one touch-sensing module <NUM>. The touch-sensing module <NUM> is correspondingly connected to at least one sensing unit <NUM>. The touch-sensing module <NUM> is configured to input a touch signal via the sensing unit <NUM> connected thereto and process the touch signal.

<FIG> exemplarily illustrates that the touch-sensing circuit <NUM> includes touch-sensing modules <NUM>, the number of which is equal to the number of all sensing units <NUM>, and each touch-sensing module <NUM> is connected to the corresponding one sensing unit <NUM>, respectively.

In one embodiment, the touch-sensing circuit includes a touch-sensing module, and the touch-sensing module is connected to a plurality of sensing units, respectively.

As shown in <FIG>, in one embodiment of the present application, the touch-sensing circuit <NUM> further includes a current-limiting resistor R1, a reference capacitor C1, a bypass capacitor C2 and a serial command input port LHF.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the touch-sensing module <NUM> is a touch-sensing chip IC1. A touch-signal output end KOUT of the touch-sensing chip IC1 is connected to the power supply VDD via the current-limiting resistor R1. A negative power end VSS is grounded, A touch-signal input end Key of the touch-sensing chip IC1 is connected to its corresponding sensing unit Key1-<NUM>, A reference capacitance input end Cref of the touch-sensing chip IC1 is grounded via the reference capacitor C1. A positive power end VDD of the touch-sensing chip IC1 is connected to the power supply VDD and grounded via the bypass capacitor C2. The touch-signal output-type selection end LHF of the touch-sensing chip IC1 is grounded via the serial command input port LHF, and the serial command input port LHF is configured to input serial commands.

As shown in <FIG>, in this embodiment, the touch-sensing circuit <NUM> further includes an LED indicator LED1, and the LED indicator LED1 is connected between the touch-signal output end KOUT and the current-limiting resistor R1.

In specific applications, the touch-sensing chip may be a BS801B type touch-sensing button chip, or any other type of chip may be selected according to actual needs.

In one embodiment, the touch-sensing chip is implemented by a universal integrated circuit, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit, central processing unit), or by an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

Claim 1:
A touch panel (<NUM>), comprising at least one touch-sensing layer (<NUM>), at least one pixel module spacer layer (<NUM>) and at least one dielectric substrate layer (<NUM>), which are sequentially laminated;
the touch-sensing layer (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of sensing units (<NUM>) arranged at intervals and at least one grounding unit (<NUM>), wherein gaps are provided between the plurality of sensing units (<NUM>) and the at least one grounding unit (<NUM>), wherein the plurality of sensing units (<NUM>) are configured to sense a touch signal to control LED pixel modules (<NUM>), and the at least one grounding unit (<NUM>) is configured to be grounded;
wherein the pixel module spacer layer (<NUM>) is provided with a plurality of through-holes (<NUM>) arranged at intervals, wherein the plurality of through-holes (<NUM>) are provided corresponding to the gaps between the plurality of sensing units (<NUM>) and the at least one grounding unit (<NUM>), and each of the plurality of through-holes (<NUM>) communicates with the gap corresponded thereto, and wherein the plurality of through-holes (<NUM>) are configured for receiving the LED pixel modules (<NUM>), and
wherein cross-sections of each sensing unit (<NUM>) and each grounding unit (<NUM>) are octagonal, a cross-section of each through-hole (<NUM>) is circular, and the octagon includes four curved edges and four straight edges alternately distributed, wherein adjacent edges of adjacent sensing units (<NUM>) or grounding units (<NUM>) are straight edges that are parallel to each other, and wherein the curved edges of each sensing unit (<NUM>) or each grounding unit (<NUM>) are parallel to a circular arc of the cross-section of the through-hole adjacent thereto, respectively; or the cross-sections of each sensing unit (<NUM>), each grounding unit (<NUM>) and each through-hole (<NUM>) are in a shape of square with the same size, wherein the cross-section refers to a cross-section parallel to the touch panel (<NUM>).