U.S. patent application number 13/750369 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-29 for touch-sensitive device and touch-sensitive display device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wintek Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is WINTEK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Chia-Chi CHEN, Yu-Ting LIN, Kuo-Chang SU, Ming-Kung WU.
Application Number | 20140145972 13/750369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45064092 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140145972 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
WU; Ming-Kung ; et
al. |
May 29, 2014 |
TOUCH-SENSITIVE DEVICE AND TOUCH-SENSITIVE DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A touch-sensitive device includes a transparent substrate, a
touch-sensing structure, a decorative layer, a trace layer, a
passivation layer and a sheltering layer. The touch-sensing
structure is disposed on the transparent substrate and located in a
touch-sensitive region. The decorative layer is disposed on the
transparent substrate and located in a non-touch-sensitive region,
and the trace layer is disposed on the decorative layer. The
passivation layer is disposed on the transparent substrate and at
least covers the touch-sensing structure and the trace layer. The
sheltering layer is disposed at least on the passivation layer and
located in the non-touch-sensitive region.
Inventors: |
WU; Ming-Kung; (Taichung
City, TW) ; SU; Kuo-Chang; (Shan Hua Town, TW)
; CHEN; Chia-Chi; (Taiping City, TW) ; LIN;
Yu-Ting; (Ta Li City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WINTEK CORPORATION |
Taichung City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wintek Corporation
Taichung City
TW
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20130135241 A1 |
May 30, 2013 |
|
|
Family ID: |
45064092 |
Appl. No.: |
13/750369 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13152805 |
Jun 3, 2011 |
8643614 |
|
|
13750369 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/173 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0443 20190501;
H05K 1/0296 20130101; H03K 17/9618 20130101; G06F 3/0446 20190501;
G06F 3/04164 20190501; H05K 2201/0326 20130101; H05K 2201/10128
20130101; H01H 11/00 20130101; H05K 1/0306 20130101; G06F 3/0412
20130101; H05K 2201/10151 20130101; H03K 2017/9602 20130101; Y10T
29/49105 20150115; G06F 1/1692 20130101; G06F 1/1643 20130101; G06F
3/047 20130101; H05K 2201/09245 20130101; G02B 1/11 20130101; G06F
3/041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/173 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2010 |
TW |
099118308 |
Claims
1. A touch-sensitive device, comprising: a substrate; and a
touch-sensing structure disposed on the substrate, the
touch-sensing structure comprising: a plurality of first sensing
series, wherein each of the first sensing series comprises multiple
first electrodes and multiple first connecting lines, and the first
electrodes are connected with each other by the first connecting
lines; a plurality of second sensing series spaced apart from the
first sensing series, wherein each of the second sensing series
comprises multiple second electrodes and multiple second connecting
lines, and the second electrodes are connected with each other by
the second connecting lines; and a dielectric layer disposed
between the first connecting lines and the second connecting lines,
wherein one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes
extend to cover a part of the dielectric layer.
2. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising: a decorative layer disposed on a periphery of the
substrate.
3. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a part
of the touch-sensing structure is disposed on the decorative
layer.
4. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising: a sheltering layer disposed on the substrate, wherein a
gap region is formed between an outer edge of the decorative layer
and a side edge of the substrate, and the sheltering layer overlaps
the gap region.
5. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
sheltering layer comprises at least one of photo resist,
diamond-like carbon, ceramic, colored ink and resin.
6. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
sheltering layer comprises a translucent material, an opaque
material, a material having low light transmittance, or a material
capable of transmitting infrared light.
7. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
sheltering layer surrounds the decorative layer.
8. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 4, further
comprising: a passivation layer disposed on the substrate and
covers at least the touch-sensing structure, wherein at least a
part of the sheltering layer is disposed on the passivation
layer.
9. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
sheltering layer is located in a non-touch-sensitive region of the
touch-sensitive device.
10. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising: a trace layer disposed on the decorative layer and
electrically connected to the touch-sensing structure.
11. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 10, further
comprising: a transparent conductive layer disposed on the
decorative layer and electrically connected to the trace layer and
an external circuit.
12. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 2, further
comprising: an insulation layer formed on the substrate, and the
touch-sensing structure and the decorative layer are formed on the
insulation layer.
13. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the decorative layer is carved out to form at least one of
a symbol and a text.
14. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
substrate is a glass substrate or a plastic substrate.
15. The touch-sensitive device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
substrate is a cover lens.
16. A touch-sensitive display device, comprising: a substrate; a
touch-sensing structure disposed on the substrate, the
touch-sensing structure comprising: a plurality of first sensing
series, wherein each of the first sensing series comprises multiple
first electrodes and multiple first connecting lines, and the first
electrodes are connected with each other by the first connecting
lines; a plurality of second sensing series spaced apart from the
first sensing series, wherein each of the second sensing series
comprises multiple second electrodes and multiple second connecting
lines, and the second electrodes are connected with each other by
the second connecting lines; and a dielectric layer disposed
between the first connecting lines and the second connecting lines,
wherein one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes
extend to cover a part of the dielectric layer; and a display
device, wherein the touch-sensing structure is attached to the
display device.
17. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 15,
further comprising: a decorative layer disposed on the substrate;
and a sheltering layer disposed on the substrate, wherein a gap
region is formed between an outer edge of the decorative layer and
a side edge of the substrate, and the sheltering layer overlaps the
gap region.
18. The touch-sensitive display device as claimed in claim 15,
wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display, an organic
light-emitting diode display, an electro-wetting display, a
bi-stable display, or an electrophoretic display.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
13/152,805, filed on Jun. 3, 2011.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] a. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to touch-sensitive device and a
touch-sensitive display device having high reliability and low
light leakage.
[0004] b. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional touch-sensitive device
100 has a glass substrate 102, a silicide layer 104 formed on the
glass substrate 102, a plurality of touch-sensing electrodes (such
as X-axis electrodes 106a and Y-axis electrodes 106b), a trace
layer 108, an organic dielectric layer 110 and a decorative layer
112. The X-axis electrodes 106a and the Y-axis electrodes 106b may
be arranged in two directions perpendicular to each other. The
X-axis electrodes 106a and the Y-axis electrodes 106b are insulated
from each other by the organic dielectric layer 110, and, as shown
in FIG. 6, two adjacent Y-axis electrodes 106b are connected with
each other by a conductive pad 114. The trace layer 108 includes a
plurality of metal traces, and the silicide layer 116 covers the
X-axis electrodes 106a, the Y-axis electrodes 106b and the trace
layer 108 entirely to function as a passivation layer.
[0006] According to the above design, in case the periphery of a
cover glass wiring structure (such as a traces-on-lens wiring
structure shown in FIG. 6) is not given any protection, the
production reliability is considerably reduced and the cover glass
wiring structure is liable to suffer scrapes. Besides, a commercial
cover glass is designed to have various shapes formed by
special-shaped edging processing. However, the special-shaped
edging processing may cause severe periphery light leakage.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention provides a touch-sensitive device and a
touch-sensitive display device having high reliability and low
light leakage.
[0008] In order to achieve one or a portion of or all of the
objects or other objects, one embodiment of the invention provides
a touch-sensitive device having a touch-sensitive region and a
non-touch-sensitive region and including a transparent substrate, a
touch-sensing structure, a decorative layer, a trace layer, a
passivation layer and a sheltering layer. The touch-sensing
structure is disposed on the transparent substrate and located in
the touch-sensitive region. The decorative layer is disposed on the
transparent substrate and located in the non-touch-sensitive
region, and the trace layer is disposed on the decorative layer.
The passivation layer is disposed on the transparent substrate and
at least covers the touch-sensing structure and the trace layer.
The sheltering layer is disposed at least on the passivation layer
and located in the non-touch-sensitive region.
[0009] In one embodiment, the non-touch-sensitive region is formed
on the periphery of the touch-sensitive device, and the sheltering
layer is disposed on the periphery of the non-touch-sensitive
region.
[0010] In one embodiment, a gap region is formed between an outer
edge of the decorative layer and a side edge of the transparent
substrate, and the sheltering layer overlaps the gap region. In one
embodiment, the touch-sensing structure comprises a plurality of
first sensing series and a plurality of second sensing series
spaced apart from the first sensing series.
[0011] In one embodiment, the sheltering layer includes at least
one of photo resist, diamond-like carbon, ceramic, colored ink and
resin.
[0012] In one embodiment, the sheltering layer includes a
translucent material, an opaque material, a material having low
light transmittance, or a material capable of transmitting infrared
light.
[0013] In one embodiment, the sheltering layer surrounds the
decorative layer.
[0014] In one embodiment, each of the passivation layer and the
sheltering layer has an opening on the trace layer to expose a part
of the trace layer.
[0015] In one embodiment, the touch-sensitive device further
includes a transparent conductive layer disposed on the decorative
layer and electrically connected to the trace layer and an external
circuit.
[0016] In one embodiment, the touch-sensitive device further
includes an insulation layer disposed on the passivation layer and
distributed only in the non-touch-sensitive region, and the
thickness of the insulation layer is 3-100 times greater than the
passivation layer.
[0017] In one embodiment, the touch-sensing structure is an
underground electrode structure or a bridge electrode
structure.
[0018] Another embodiment of the invention provides a
touch-sensitive display device, where a display device is attached
to the aforesaid touch-sensitive device through an optical
adhesive.
[0019] According to the above embodiments, since the sheltering
layer overlaps the gap region between an outer edge of the
decorative layer and a side edge of the transparent substrate, the
problem of periphery light leakage is avoided. Besides, the
sheltering layer is disposed on the periphery of the
touch-sensitive device to surround the decorative layer on the
trace layer to provide periphery protection of the wiring structure
on the cover glass and to avoid side scrapes on the decorative
layer to improve production reliability.
[0020] Other objectives, features and advantages of the invention
will be further understood from the further technological features
disclosed by the embodiments of the invention wherein there are
shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply
by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a touch-sensitive device
according to an embodiment of the invention, and
[0022] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-section of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram illustrating overlapping
positions between a sheltering layer and a decorative layer
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a
touch-sensitive device according to another embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a
touch-sensitive display device according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a
conventional touch-sensitive device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] In the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which
form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration
specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In
this regard, directional terminology, such as "top," "bottom,"
"front," "back," etc., is used with reference to the orientation of
the Figure(s) being described. The components of the invention can
be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the
directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is
in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only
schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for
clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be
utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from
the scope of the invention. Also, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of
"including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof
herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and
equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited
otherwise, the terms "connected," "coupled," and "mounted" and
variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and
indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the
terms "facing," "faces" and variations thereof herein are used
broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and "adjacent to"
and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass
directly and indirectly "adjacent to". Therefore, the description
of "A" component facing "B" component herein may contain the
situations that "A" component directly faces "B" component or one
or more additional components are between "A" component and "B"
component. Also, the description of "A" component "adjacent to" "B"
component herein may contain the situations that "A" component is
directly "adjacent to" "B" component or one or more additional
components are between "A" component and "B" component.
Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as
illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a touch-sensitive device
according to an embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows an
enlarged cross-section of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a
touch-sensitive device 10a includes a transparent substrate 12 and
a laminated structure formed on the transparent substrate 12. The
touch-sensitive device 10a is divided into a touch-sensitive region
T and a non-touch-sensitive region N. In this embodiment, the
non-touch-sensitive region N is located on the periphery of the
touch-sensitive device 10a and surrounds the touch-sensitive region
T. A touch-sensing structure is formed in the touch-sensitive
region T of the touch-sensitive device 10a to detect touch
operations. The laminated structure in the non-touch-sensitive
region N may include an insulation layer 14, a decorative layer 16
and a trace layer 18. The decorative layer 16 is disposed on one
side of the transparent substrate 12, and a gap region S exists
between an outer edge P of the decorative layer 16 and a side edge
Q of the transparent substrate 12. The trace layer 18 is disposed
on the decorative layer and may include a plurality of metal
traces. The touch-sensing structure in the touch-sensitive region T
is electrically connected to the metal traces. Further, an
insulation layer 14 may be formed on and cover the transparent
substrate 12. That is, the insulation layer 14 may be disposed
between the transparent substrate 12 and the decorative layer 16
and the touch-sensing structure. The material of the transparent
substrate 12 includes, but not limited to, glass or plastic.
Further, the transparent substrate 12 may function as a cover lens.
The decorative layer 16 is formed on the periphery of the
transparent substrate 12 to shield metal traces. The material of
the decorative layer 16 includes at least one of photo resist,
diamond-like carbon, ceramic, colored ink and resin. The
touch-sensing structure in the touch-sensitive region T may be a
single-layer electrode structure or a multi-layer electrode
structure. In one embodiment, the touch-sensing structure may
include a plurality of first sensing series 11 and a plurality of
second sensing series 13 spaced apart from the first sensing series
11. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the touch-sensing structure
has an underground-island electrode structure, where each first
sensing series 11 includes multiple first transparent electrodes
22a connected with each other by multiple first connecting lines
25, each second sensing series 13 includes multiple second
transparent electrodes 22b connected with each other by multiple
second connecting lines 26, and a dielectric layer 24 is disposed
between a first connecting line 25 and a corresponding second
connecting line 26. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 2, the
transparent electrodes 22b may extend to overlap the dielectric
layer 24; for example, the major part of the transparent electrodes
22b are disposed beside the dielectric layer 24, and a part of the
transparent electrodes 22b covers a part of the dielectric layer
24, as shown in FIG. 2. Note the touch-sensing structure is not
limited to an underground-island electrode structure. In an
alternate embodiment, the connecting lines are connected with each
other in the upper portion of the touch-sensing structure to form a
bridge-island electrode structure. Further, the touch-sensing
structure may be disposed on two opposite sides of the transparent
substrate 12, and the transparent electrodes 22a and 22b may have a
regular shape such as a diamond, a triangle or a line segment or
may have an irregular shape.
[0029] In this embodiment, a passivation layer 32 covers both a
touch-sensing structure in the touch-sensitive region T and a
laminated structure in the non-touch-sensitive region N to protect
the entire touch-sensitive device 10a. The passivation layer 32 may
be made from an inorganic material such as silicide. Another
insulation layer 44 is formed on the passivation layer 32 and
distributed only in the non-touch-sensitive region N, and the
thickness of the insulation layer 44 is 3-100 times greater than
the thickness of the passivation layer 32. The insulation layer 44
may be made from an inorganic material or an organic material. A
transparent conductive layer 46 is formed on the decorative layer
16 and electrically connected to the metal traces in the trace
layer 18. The transparent conductive layer 46 may be made from an
ITO transparent conductive film. The passivation layer 32 and the
insulation layer 44 both have an opening 43 formed at a position
overlapping a bonding area of the transparent conductive layer 46
to expose a part of the transparent conductive layer 46. The
exposed part of the transparent conductive layer 46 is electrically
connected to an external circuit through an anisotropic conductive
film (ACF) 36, and the external circuit may be a transmission
device (such as a flexible printed circuit board 34) or an
electronic device (such as an IC chip). A sheltering layer 38 may
be disposed on the periphery of the non-touch-sensitive region N.
The sheltering layer 38 at least overlaps the gap region S and
touches the passivation layer 32 and the insulation layer 44. Also,
an opening 45 is formed on the sheltering layer 38 at a position
overlapping the bonding area of the transparent conductive layer
46. In this embodiment, the sheltering layer 38 may be made from
ink. Typically, a cover glass is designed to have various shapes
formed by special-shaped edging processing. However, the
special-shaped edging processing required destruction operations
that may shake and damage the decorative layer 16. Therefore, the
decorative layer 16 is often kept a safe distance away from the
side edge Q of the transparent 12. However, when the decorative
layer 16 is disposed to be kept a safe distance away from the side
edge Q, the gap region S is formed to result in periphery light
leakage. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, since the sheltering layer
38 overlaps the gap region S between an outer edge P of the
decorative layer 16 and a side edge Q of the transparent substrate
12, the problem of periphery light leakage is avoided. Besides, the
sheltering layer 38 is disposed on the periphery of the
touch-sensitive device 10a to surround the decorative layer 16 on
the trace layer 18 to provide periphery protection of the wiring
structure on the cover glass and to avoid side scrapes on the
decorative layer 16 to improve production reliability. Certainly,
the material of the sheltering layer 38 is not restricted to ink.
The sheltering layer 38 may include a translucent material, an
opaque material, a material having low light transmittance, or a
material capable of transmitting infrared light to reduce periphery
light leakage. For example, the sheltering layer 38 may be made
from at least one of photo resist, diamond-like carbon, ceramic,
colored ink and resin. Further, the spread of the sheltering layer
38 is not limited to overlap the gap region S, as long as the
sheltering layer 38 is disposed on the periphery of the
touch-sensitive device 10a to surround the decorative layer 16 to
improve production reliability.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a touch-sensitive device according to another
embodiment of the invention. Referring to the touch-sensitive
device 10b shown in FIG. 4, a part of the passivation layer 32
overlapping the gap region S is omitted compared with the
passivation layer 32 shown in FIG. 2. That is, the insulation layer
44 may extend downwardly to omit the part of the passivation layer
32, and the sheltering layer 38 touches the insulation layer 44
only.
[0031] Note the configuration of a touch-sensing structure in the
touch-sensitive region is not restricted, as long as the effect of
detecting touch operations is achieved. For example, the
touch-sensing structure may be an underground electrode structure,
a bridge electrode structure or other electrode structure. Further,
the touch-sensitive device according to the above embodiments may
combine with a display device to form a touch-sensitive display
device. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a display device 50 may be
attached to a touch-sensitive device 10a through an optical
adhesive 52 to form a touch-sensitive display device 60. The type
of the display device 50 includes, but not limited, a liquid
crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display, an
electro-wetting display, a bi-stable display, and an
electrophoretic display.
[0032] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments
disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be
regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in
order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best
mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in
the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and
with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or
implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the
invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their
equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest
reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term
"the invention", "the present invention" or the like does not
necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the
reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the
invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such
limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the
spirit and scope of the appended claims. The abstract of the
disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an
abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the
subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued
from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that
it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of
the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to
all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that
variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons
skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element
and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated
to the public regardless of whether the element or component is
explicitly recited in the following claims.
* * * * *