Patent ID: 12216873

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG.1shows a touch device1of a first embodiment of the invention, including a first substrate10and a circuit substrate20. The first substrate includes a touch sensing structure11(only schematically) and a plurality of first electrodes12. The touch sensing structure11is disposed on the first substrate10. The first electrodes12are electrically connected to the touch sensing structure11. A circuit board may include the circuit substrate20and a plurality of second electrodes22. That is to said, the plurality of second electrodes22are formed on the circuit substrate20. The circuit board can be a flexible printed circuit board.

The touch sensing structure11of the invention can be capacitive, pressure sensitive, electromagnetic, or another touch sensing structure. The capacitive touch sensing structure can utilize mutual capacitive technology or self-capacitive technology or both self-capacitive and mutual capacitive technology. For a mutual capacitive touch sensing structure, for example, the touch sensing structure11includes a driving electrode and a receiving electrode (not shown). The driving electrode and the receiving electrode are insulated from each other, but there is coupling capacitance therebetween. The touch sensing structure11is electrically connected to the first electrode12with a plurality of traces, wherein the traces comprise traces112connected to the driving electrodes and the traces114connected to the receiving electrodes. A ground line116can be disposed between the traces112and the traces114to decrease noise therebetween. A ground line118surrounds the traces114to provide static electricity protection. The first electrode12disposed outermost may be provided with a first electrode extending portion122, which can be two elongated shapes as shown inFIG.1, or other shapes such as register marks when the circuit substrate20is attached to the first substrate10.

FIG.2Ais a sectional view in2A-2A′ direction ofFIG.1.FIG.2Bis a top view of the main portions of the touch device ofFIG.1. With reference toFIGS.2A and2B, a first gap G1is formed between two adjacent first electrodes12. A minimum distance between the two adjacent first electrodes12is a gap distance d1of the first gap G1. The gap distance d1is defined as the minimized straight distance between the opposite side edges of the two adjacent first electrodes12. The circuit substrate20partially overlaps the first substrate10in a vertical projection direction (third direction Z) of the first substrate10. In other words, if we look at the circuit substrate20and the first substrate10from the vertical projection direction that is perpendicular to the first substrate10, the circuit substrate20would partially overlaps the first substrate10. A plurality of second gaps G2are formed between the two adjacent second electrodes22(a second gap G2is formed between each two adjacent second electrodes22). At least one of the first electrodes12has an offset distance d2with at least one of the corresponding second electrodes22in a first direction X. The offset distance d2is greater than zero and smaller than half of the corresponding gap distance d1. In one embodiment, the offset distance d2is greater than zero and smaller than one third of the corresponding gap distance d1. In other words, as shown inFIG.2B, the two adjacent first electrodes respectively have a first electrode side edge131and a first electrode side edge132facing each other. The minimized gap distance d1is formed between first electrode side edges131and132. The two adjacent second electrodes22are electrically connected to the two corresponding first electrodes12by a conductive glue layer30. A touch sensing signal travels from the first electrodes12to the second electrodes22. One of the two second electrodes22has a second electrode side edge231located between the first electrode side edges131and132. The second electrode side edge231corresponds the shortest distance d2of the first electrode side edge131of the first electrode12in the X direction electrically connected thereto, which is smaller than half or one third of the gap distance d1. A gap distance d3is formed between a second electrode side edge232of another second electrode22and a corresponding first electrode side edge133in the X direction as shown inFIG.2B. The value of the gap distance d3can be the same or close to the value of the gap distance d2, and the difference therebetween can be within 10% of the gap distance d2.

In one embodiment, the roughness of the first electrode side edge131,132or133can be different to the roughness of the second electrode side edge231or232. Increased roughness increases attachment between the conductive glue layer30and the first electrode12or the second electrode22. In another embodiment, one of the first electrodes comprises a first electrode extending portion122as a register mark when the circuit substrate20is attached to the first substrate10. The circuit board can comprise a corresponding register mark (not shown) formed on the circuit substrate20. The second electrode22partially covers the first electrode extending portion122, which also improves the attachment between the conductive glue layer30and the first electrode12or the second electrode22, and increases the electrical connection area between the first electrode12and the second electrode22.

With reference toFIG.3, in another embodiment, when the shape of the first electrode12and the shape of the second electrode22are symmetrical shapes (for example, rectangular, oval, etc.), each first electrode12comprises a first central axis14, and each second electrode22comprises a second central axis24. The central axis means a symmetrical central axis of the electrode. An offset distance d2is formed between the first central axis14and the corresponding second central axis24.

With reference toFIG.2A, in one embodiment, a first right angle15is formed on an edge of the first electrode12, and a second right angle25is formed on an edge of the second electrode22. When the first electrode12is connected to the second electrode22, the first right angle15is corresponding to a flat portion of the second electrode22rather than the second right angle25. The second right angle25is corresponding to a flat portion of the first electrode12rather than the first right angle15. Therefore, while the first electrode12is attached to the second electrode22, the first right angle15is prevented from colliding with the second right angle25, and the stress concentration problem and fragmentation problem are avoided.

With reference toFIGS.2A and2B, when the first electrode12is connected to the second electrode22, there are increased exhausting gaps formed between the first electrode12and the second electrode22in the first direction X and the second direction Y. The bubbles between the first electrode12and the second electrode22can be exhausted smoothly through the exhausting gaps. The touch display panel of the embodiment of the invention has improved adhesion, and the electrode corrosion problem is prevented.

With reference toFIG.2A, in one embodiment, the conductive glue layer30contacts at least portions of the first electrode12and the second electrode22to electrically connect the first electrode12and the second electrode22. The first electrode12can be partially or fully electrically connected to the second electrode22via the conductive glue layer30.

With reference toFIG.2B, in one embodiment, each first electrode12has a tapered portion16. The tapered portion16is not corresponding to the second electrode22in the vertical projection direction. The tapered portion16improves impedance matching and design flexibility of the trances.

With reference toFIG.3, in one embodiment, the width of each first electrode12is the same as or different from the width of each second electrode22. The ratio between the width of each first electrode12and the width of each second electrode22is 0.8 to 1.3. The width of each first electrode12can be the same as the width of each second electrode22.

FIG.4shows a touch device2of a second embodiment of the invention, including a first substrate10and touch sensing structure20. The first substrate10comprises a touch sensing structure11and a plurality of first conductive pads12. The touch sensing structure11is disposed on the first substrate10. The first conductive pads12are arranged along a first direction X, wherein a space area G is formed between the two adjacent first conductive pads12, and a minimum distance between the two adjacent first conductive pads12is a gap distance d1. A plurality of second conductive pads22are formed on the circuit substrate20. At least one of the second conductive pads22partially overlaps a space area G in a vertical projection direction of the first conductive pads12. In other words, if we look at the second conductive pads22and the first substrate10from the vertical projection direction that is perpendicular to the second conductive pads22, the circuit substrate20would partially overlaps the space area G. An offset distance d2is formed between an outline of at least one of the second conductive pads22and an outline of one of the two adjacent first conductive pads12in the first direction X, and the offset distance d2is smaller than half of the gap distance d1. In other words, as viewed in the vertical projection direction, a portion of the outline of one of the two adjacent second conductive pads22is located in the space area G of the corresponding (electrically connected) two adjacent first conductive pads12. The minimum distance d2between the outline of the second conductive pads22and the outline of the corresponding (electrically connected) first conductive pads12in the X direction is smaller than half or one third of the gap distance d1.

In the second embodiment, when the first electrode12is connected to the second electrode22, there are increased exhausting gaps (offset) formed between the first electrode12and the second electrode22in the first direction X and the second direction Y. The bubbles between the first electrode12and the second electrode22can be exhausted smoothly through the exhausting gaps.

The embodiments above can be utilized in various touch devices. In the following examples, several touch devices are described, wherein the elements with the same functions follow the same labels, and the function description thereof are omitted.

FIGS.5A and5Bshow a capacitive touch device3of an embodiment of the invention. A touch sensing structure32is disposed on two sides of a first substrate300, and comprises patterned driving electrodes322and patterned receiving electrodes324. A plurality of first electrodes12are divided into two groups respectively provided on both sides of the first substrate300and the two groups are respectively electrically connected to the patterned driving electrodes322and the patterned receiving electrodes324. The second electrodes22are formed on both sides of the circuit substrate20, wherein the circuit board may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). A display34can be disposed under the capacitive touch device3, and a cover lens36can be attached to the top surface of the capacitive touch device3. The display34can be a liquid-crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), an electro-phoretic display (EPD), an electrode-wetting display (EWD) or a quantum dot display (QD).

FIGS.6A and6Bshow a capacitive touch device4of an embodiment of the invention, whereinFIG.6Bis a sectional view along lines A-A and B-B ofFIG.6A. The touch sensing electrode structure44comprises patterned driving electrodes442and patterned receiving electrodes444. The driving electrodes442are disposed on the first substrate41, and the patterned receiving electrodes444are disposed on the second substrate42. A plurality of first electrodes12are divided into two groups respectively disposed on the first substrate41and second substrate42, and the two groups are respectively electrically connected to the patterned driving electrodes442and the patterned receiving electrodes444. The second electrodes22are formed on one side of the circuit substrate20, and are electrically connected to the first electrodes12. The thickness of the first substrate41may be greater than or equal to the thickness of the second substrate42. In this embodiment, the thickness of the first substrate41is between 150 μm˜50 μm, the thickness of the second substrate42is between 110 μm˜10 μm. For example, the first substrate41and the second substrate42are plastic substrates or polymer film substrates (for example, made of polyimide). The thickness of the first substrate41(70 μm˜120 μm) is greater than the thickness of the second substrate42(10 μm˜60 μm). The thickness of the second substrate42is smaller, and therefore the same piece of circuit substrate20(such as a flexible printed circuit substrate) can be docked. A conductive glue layer (for example, anisotropy conductive film, ACF, not shown) can be disposed between the substrates41,42, and the substrate (FPC substrate)20to electrically connect the first electrodes12to the second electrodes22. The substrates41and42and the circuit substrate20are flexible. Therefore the off difference of 10 μm˜60 μm does not decrease bonding effect. Thus, the second electrodes22can be simultaneously coupled to the first electrodes12of the substrates41and42through only one circuit substrate20and one bonding process. A display464can be disposed under the capacitive touch device4, and a cover lens48can be attached to the top surface of the capacitive touch device4to form a touch display device. The display46can be a liquid-crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display, an electro-phoretic display, an electrode-wetting display or a quantum dot display.

FIG.7shows a capacitive touch device5of an embodiment of the invention. A display50comprises a first substrate51and a second substrate52. An active element layer53(e.g., a patterned stacked layer with TFT elements) is disposed on the first substrate51. The display50can be a liquid-crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), an electro-phoretic display (EPD), an electrode-wetting display (EWD) or a quantum dot display (QD). The touch sensing electrode structure54comprises patterned driving electrodes542and patterned receiving electrodes544. The driving electrodes542are disposed on the substrate51. The receiving electrodes544are disposed on the substrate52. The substrate52can be a color filter substrate of LCD or an upper package cover of OLED. A plurality of first electrodes12are divided into two groups respectively disposed on the first substrate51and second substrate52, and the two groups are respectively electrically connected to the patterned driving electrodes542and the patterned receiving electrodes544. The second electrodes22are formed on one side of the circuit substrate20, and are electrically connected to the first electrodes12by, for example, anisotropy conductive film (ACF). The driving electrodes542can be formed by any conductive layer of the active element layer53(for example, a metal layer with scanning lines or data lines), or formed by a separated patterned conductive layer. The driving electrodes542can be formed by patterned anodes or patterned cathodes of OLED element (not shown). A decorative layer561is provided on a cover lens56to shield the circuit substrate20, the first electrodes12, the second electrodes22and the other metal traces should be hidden (not shown).

A further embodiment can be derived from the embodiment ofFIG.7. The driving electrodes542can be omitted from the touch sensing structure54. The receiving electrodes544are no longer only for receiving sensing signals. According to the design of the electrode pattern, mutual capacitive sensing technology or self-capacitive sensing technology can be utilized. For example, the patterns of a part of the receiving electrodes544are amended to have driving function. In another example, each receiving electrodes544are amended to have driving and receiving functions.

FIG.8shows a capacitive touch device6of an embodiment of the invention. A display60comprises a first substrate61and a second substrate62. An active element layer63(e.g., a patterned stacked layer with TFT elements) is disposed on the first substrate61. The display60can be a liquid-crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode display (OLED), an electro-phoretic display (EPD), an electrode-wetting display (EWD) or a quantum dot display (QD). The touch sensing structure64can be a single layer or a multi-layer patterned electrode layer with the functions of receiving electrodes and driving electrodes. The substrate62can be a color filter substrate of LCD or an upper package cover of OLED. The cover lens66is attached to the second substrate62by optical glue layer68, and a light-shielding layer661on the cover lens66shields the circuit substrate20and the electrodes12and22therebelow.

The substrates (including the first and second substrates) mentioned above can be general glass substrates, alkali-free glass substrates (e.g. LCD substrate), chemically or physically treated strengthen glass substrates (e.g. cover lens), or plastic substrates such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, polycarbonate (PC) substrate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrate or cycloolefin polymer (COP) substrate.

The material of the electrodes of the touch sensing structures11,32,44,54and64can be transparent conductive materials such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO), or metal material such as Ag, Cu, Al, Mo, Nd, Au, Cr or alloy thereof, or other materials such as graphene, silicon alkenyl, or nano silver. The first electrodes and the second electrodes22can utilize the material mentioned above. The touch sensing structures11,32,44,54and64(including the first electrode traces122and the second electrode traces222) can be single layer patterned electrodes or multi-layered patterned electrodes stacked with insulating layers. When the electrode material is metal materials, patterned metal electrodes can be constituted by thin metal traces. The width of the thin metal trace is between 0.05 μm˜6 μm, preferably between 0.08 μm˜4 μm. The aperture ratio of the patterned metal electrode in a unit area is between 85% and 99%. The first electrode12, the second electrode22, the first electrode traces122and second electrode traces222can be formed by patterned metal electrodes.

In the embodiments, the first electrode12is the first conductive pads12, and the second electrode22is the second conductive pads22, which are the same elements with same functions and different names.

The cover lenses36,48,56and66in the embodiments described above can be physically or chemically treated tempered glass substrates, e.g., chemically ion exchange treated glass substrate or physical heat treated glass substrate. The cover lenses36,48,56and66can also be a polarizing sheet (linear or circular polarizing sheet) to replace the cover lenses6,48,56and66. Multi-functional film (single layer or multi-layer) is coated or plated on the surface of the polarizing sheet to provide a function such as anti-reflective, anti-glare, anti-pollution, or improving light transmittance.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.