Patent ID: 8709265

Claim:
A touch panel manufacturing method comprising: sequentially laminating a transparent conductive film layer and a metal layer on an insulative transparent substrate, and thereafter, forming the transparent conductive film layer and the metal layer into a predetermined electrode pattern, using a same resist pattern; forming a protective film that covers the transparent conductive film layer and the metal layer, and providing an opening at a predetermined position in the protective film so that the opening passes through the protective film; and removing the metal layer by etching with use of the protective film having the opening, so as to expose the transparent conductive film layer, thereby forming at least one of a touch electrode and a connection terminal that outputs a potential of the touch electrode to outside of the touch panel; wherein the protective film is formed of an organic resin film, the method further comprising: exposing the transparent conductive film layer by the etching, and thereafter, partially fusing the protective film so as to smoothen a wall surface of the opening.