U.S. patent application number 13/902747 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-07 for touch screen panel.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sung-Ku Kang, Choon-Hyop Lee, Jeong-Heon Lee.
Application Number | 20140218631 13/902747 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51258962 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140218631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Sung-Ku ; et
al. |
August 7, 2014 |
TOUCH SCREEN PANEL
Abstract
A touch screen panel includes a substrate having a first surface
and a second surface opposite the first surface, a plurality of
first sensing electrodes coupled in a first direction, and a
plurality of second sensing electrodes coupled in a second
direction crossing the first direction, the first and second
sensing electrodes being on the first surface, a plurality of third
sensing electrodes overlapping the first sensing electrodes, a
plurality of fourth sensing electrodes overlapping the second
sensing electrodes, the third and fourth sensing electrodes being
on the second surface, wherein the sensing electrodes on the first
surface and the sensing electrodes on the second surface
overlapping each other are electrically coupled to each other
through coupling units for coupling the first surface of the
substrate and the second surface of the substrate to each
other.
Inventors: |
Kang; Sung-Ku; (Yongin-City,
KR) ; Lee; Choon-Hyop; (Yongin-City, KR) ;
Lee; Jeong-Heon; (Yongin-City, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD. |
Yongin-City |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Yongin-City
KR
|
Family ID: |
51258962 |
Appl. No.: |
13/902747 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
349/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0445 20190501;
G06F 2203/04111 20130101; G06F 2203/04103 20130101; G06F 3/0446
20190501; G06F 2203/04112 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/12 |
International
Class: |
G02F 1/1333 20060101
G02F001/1333 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0012888 |
Claims
1. A touch screen panel comprising: a substrate having a first
surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a
plurality of first sensing electrodes on the first surface of the
substrate and coupled in a first direction; a plurality of second
sensing electrodes arranged between the first sensing electrodes
and coupled in a second direction crossing the first direction; a
plurality of first coupling patterns coupling the first sensing
electrodes in the first direction; a plurality of second coupling
patterns alternating with the first coupling patterns and coupling
the second sensing electrodes in the second direction; a plurality
of third sensing electrodes on the second surface of the substrate
and overlapping the first sensing electrodes; a plurality of fourth
sensing electrodes arranged between the third sensing electrodes
and overlapping the second sensing electrodes; a plurality of third
coupling patterns coupling the third sensing electrodes in the
first direction; and a plurality of fourth coupling patterns
coupling the fourth sensing electrodes in the second direction,
wherein the sensing electrodes on the first surface and the sensing
electrodes on the second surface overlapping each other are
electrically coupled to each other through coupling units for
coupling the first surface of the substrate and the second surface
of the substrate to each other.
2. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
coupling patterns in the first surface of the substrate and the
fourth coupling patterns on the second surface of the substrate
alternate with each other, and wherein the second coupling patterns
on the first surface of the substrate and the third coupling
patterns on the second surface of the substrate alternate with each
other.
3. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
coupling patterns arranged to cross each other are limited to a
central area of the substrate.
4. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
sensing electrodes comprise parts that extend to inside of the
coupling units to contact the sensing electrodes on the opposite
surface of the substrate.
5. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the
sensing electrodes comprise regions opened by the coupling
units.
6. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
sensing electrodes and the coupling patterns comprise a transparent
electrode material.
7. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
outside wiring lines for coupling the first sensing electrodes and
the second sensing electrodes to an external driving circuit
through units of lines in the first direction and the second
direction, respectively.
8. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
and second sensing electrodes are at a same layer.
9. The touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
substrate is a thin film substrate comprising at least one selected
from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polycarbonate (PC), acryl, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), triacetyl
cellulose (TAC), polyethersulfone (PES), and polyimide (PI).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0012888, filed on Feb. 5,
2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a touch screen panel.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A touch screen panel is an input device capable of selecting
the indication content displayed on the screen of an image display
device by a human hand or an object to input the command of a
user.
[0006] Therefore, the touch screen panel is provided on the front
face of the image display device to convert a contact position of
the human hand or the object into an electrical signal. Therefore,
the indication content selected at the contact position is received
as an input signal.
[0007] Because the touch screen panel may replace an additional
input device coupled to the image display device to operate the
image display device, such as a keyboard and a mouse, widespread
use of touch screen panels have been gradually increasing.
[0008] Methods of operating a touch screen panel include a
resistance layer method, a photo-sensing method, and an
electro-capacitive method.
[0009] Among the above methods, the widely used electro-capacitive
touch screen panel senses a change in capacitance formed by a
conductive sensing electrode with another peripheral sensing
electrode or a ground electrode when the human hand or the object
contacts the touch screen panel to convert the contact position
into the electrical signal.
[0010] The electro-capacitive touch screen panel is commonly
attached to the external surface of the image display device such
as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic light emitting
display (OLED). Therefore, the touch screen panel may have high
transparency and small thickness characteristics.
[0011] In addition, recently, a flexible image display device has
been developed so that the touch screen panel attached onto the
flexible image display device also has a flexible
characteristic.
[0012] In general, in the touch screen panel, the sensing
electrodes may be formed of a transparent conductive material such
as indium tin oxide (ITO). In this case, when the flexible touch
screen panel is bent or folded, cracks may be generated in the
sensing electrodes so that driving defects may result.
[0013] A touch screen panel that has a flexible characteristic,
that is not easily damaged in various bending or deforming
environments, and that may secure a strong conductive layer
characteristic is desired.
SUMMARY
[0014] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention have been
made to provide a touch screen panel capable of securing a flexible
characteristic and a strong conductive layer characteristic.
[0015] An embodiment of the present invention provides a touch
screen panel including a substrate having a first surface and a
second surface opposite the first surface, a plurality of first
sensing electrodes on the first surface of the substrate and
coupled in a first direction, a plurality of second sensing
electrodes arranged between the first sensing electrodes and
coupled in a second direction crossing the first direction, a
plurality of first coupling patterns coupling the first sensing
electrodes in the first direction, a plurality of second coupling
patterns alternating with the first coupling patterns and coupling
the second sensing electrodes in the second direction, a plurality
of third sensing electrodes on the second surface of the substrate
and overlapping the first sensing electrodes, a plurality of fourth
sensing electrodes arranged between the third sensing electrodes
and overlapping the second sensing electrodes, a plurality of third
coupling patterns coupling the third sensing electrodes in the
first direction, and a plurality of fourth coupling patterns
coupling the fourth sensing electrodes in the second direction,
wherein the sensing electrodes on the first surface and the sensing
electrodes on the second surface overlapping each other are
electrically coupled to each other through coupling units for
coupling the first surface of the substrate and the second surface
of the substrate to each other.
[0016] The first coupling patterns on the first surface of the
substrate and the fourth coupling patterns on the second surface of
the substrate may alternate with each other, and wherein the second
coupling patterns on the first surface of the substrate and the
third coupling patterns on the second surface of the substrate
alternate with each other.
[0017] The coupling patterns arranged to cross each other may be
limited to a central area of the substrate.
[0018] The sensing electrodes may include parts that extend to
inside of the coupling units to contact the sensing electrodes on
the opposite surface of the substrate.
[0019] The sensing electrodes may include regions opened by the
coupling units.
[0020] The sensing electrodes and the coupling patterns may include
a transparent electrode material.
[0021] The touch screen panel may further include outside wiring
lines for coupling the first sensing electrodes and the second
sensing electrodes to an external driving circuit through units of
lines in the first direction and the second direction,
respectfully.
[0022] The first and second sensing electrodes may be at a same
layer.
[0023] The substrate may be a thin film substrate including at
least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), acryl,
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), triacetyl cellulose (TAC),
polyethersulfone (PES), and polyimide (PI).
[0024] As described above, according to embodiments of the present
invention, the sensing electrodes may be formed on both surfaces of
the substrate to overlap each other and the sensing electrodes on
both surfaces of the substrate may be electrically connected to
each other through the vertical connecting parts so that driving
defects at the touch screen panel may be reduced (or minimized).
Although partial cracking or shorting may occur, the flexible
characteristic and the strong conductive layer characteristic may
be secured.
[0025] In addition, in the connecting patterns for connecting the
adjacent sensing electrodes, the connecting patterns for connecting
the sensing electrodes in different directions may be arranged to
alternate with each other so that the flexible characteristic may
be increased (or improved).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The accompanying drawings, together with the specification,
illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an
example of a touch screen panel;
[0028] FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on
the first surface of the touch screen panel of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 2B is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on
the second surface of the touch screen panel of FIG. 1;
[0030] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen panel
taken along the line I-I' of FIGS. 2A and 2B;
[0031] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen panel
taken along the line II-II' of FIGS. 2A and 2B;
[0032] FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on a
first surface of a touch screen panel according to another
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 4B is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on a
second surface of a touch screen panel according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] In the following detailed description, only certain
exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and
described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the
art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in
various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or
scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and
description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not
restrictive. In addition, when an element is referred to as being
"on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or be
indirectly on the other element with one or more intervening
elements interposed therebetween. Also, when an element is referred
to as being "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it can
be directly connected or coupled to the other element or be
indirectly connected or coupled to the other element with one or
more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Hereinafter,
like reference numerals refer to like elements.
[0035] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an
example of a touch screen panel.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, a touch screen panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 10 having
a first surface 10A and a second surface 10B opposite to the first
surface 10A, sensing electrodes 110 of the first surface 10A of the
substrate 10, sensing electrodes 120 of the second surface 10B of
the substrate 10, and outside wiring lines 17 formed on the outside
of the substrate 10 to couple (or connect) the sensing electrodes
110 and 120 to an external driving circuit (not shown) through a
pad unit 15.
[0038] The substrate 10 may be divided into a touch active area AA
that overlaps an image display area and in which the sensing
electrodes 110 and 120 are formed and a touch non-active area NA
that is positioned (or located) on the outside of the touch active
area AA and in which the outside wiring lines 17 are formed.
[0039] The substrate 10 is formed of a transparent material having
a flexible characteristic and high thermal and chemical resistance
and may be a thin film substrate formed of at least one selected
from the group consisting of, for example, polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), acryl,
polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), triacetyl cellulose (TAC),
polyethersulfone (PES), and polyimide (PI).
[0040] The sensing electrodes 110 of the first surface 10A of the
substrate 10 include a plurality of first sensing electrodes 111
arranged to be distributed in the touch active area AA on the
substrate 10 and formed to be electrically coupled to each other in
a first direction D1 and a plurality of second sensing electrodes
112 arranged to be distributed between the first sensing electrodes
111 so as not to overlap the first sensing electrodes 111 and
formed to be electrically coupled to each other in a second
direction D2 that intersects the first direction D1.
[0041] That is, the first sensing electrodes 111 and the second
sensing electrodes 112 are alternately arranged to be coupled in
different directions. For example, the first sensing electrodes 111
may be formed to be coupled in a row direction (a horizontal
direction) and may be respectively coupled to the outside wiring
lines 17 in units of row lines and the second sensing electrodes
112 may be formed to be coupled in a column direction (a vertical
direction) and may be respectively coupled to the outside wiring
lines 17 in units of column lines.
[0042] The first sensing electrodes 111 and the second sensing
electrodes 112 may be formed of a transparent electrode material
such as indium tin oxide (ITO) to transmit light.
[0043] In the case where the sensing electrodes are formed on a
thin film substrate having a flexible characteristic, when the
flexible substrate is bent or folded, partial cracking or shorting
may occur in the sensing electrodes which may cause driving
defects.
[0044] According to embodiments of the present invention, in order
to reduce (or minimize) the driving defects of the touch screen
panel caused by damage of the sensing electrodes, the sensing
electrodes are formed on both surfaces of the substrate to overlap
each other, and the sensing electrodes on the both surfaces of the
substrate are electrically coupled to each other through vertical
connecting units.
[0045] For example, a plurality of third sensing electrodes 121 are
formed on the second surface 10B of the substrate 10 so as to
overlap corresponding first sensing electrodes 111 and a plurality
of fourth sensing electrodes 122 are formed between the third
sensing electrodes 121 so as to overlap corresponding second
sensing electrodes 112.
[0046] In addition, vertical connecting units (or vertical coupling
units or coupling units) 130 for coupling the first surface 10A and
the second surface 10B to each other are formed on the substrate
10, and the sensing electrodes 110 of the first surface 10A and the
corresponding sensing electrodes 120 of the second surface 10B
formed to overlap each other are electrically coupled to each other
through the vertical connecting units 130.
[0047] For example, the first sensing electrodes 111 are
electrically coupled to the third sensing electrodes 121 and the
second sensing electrodes 112 are electrically coupled to the
fourth sensing electrodes 122.
[0048] The connecting patterns of the sensing electrodes and the
vertical connecting units will be described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0049] The outside wiring lines 17 for coupling the first sensing
electrodes 111 and the second sensing electrodes 112 to the
external driving circuit through units of lines in the first
direction D1 and the second direction D2 are electrically coupled
to, for example, the first and second sensing electrodes 111 and
112 in units of row and column lines, which couple the first and
second sensing electrodes 111 and 112 to the external driving
circuit, such as a position detecting circuit, through the pad unit
15.
[0050] The outside wiring lines 17 arranged in the touch non-active
area NA outside the touch screen panel to avoid the touch active
area AA, in which an image is displayed, may be formed of a low
resistance metal material such as molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag),
titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and/or Mo/Al/Mo other
than a transparent electrode material used for forming the sensing
electrodes.
[0051] Although not shown, the outside wiring lines for coupling
the third sensing electrodes 121 and the fourth sensing electrodes
122 to the external driving circuit may be formed on the second
surface 10B of the substrate, similar to the outside wiring lines
17 formed on the first surface 10A of the substrate.
[0052] When an object such as a human hand or a stylus pen contacts
the above-described electro-capacitive touch screen panel, a change
in capacitance in accordance with a contact position is transmitted
from the sensing electrodes 110 and 120 to the driving circuit via
the outside wiring lines 17 and the pad unit 15. Then, the change
in the capacitance may be converted into an electrical signal by an
X and Y input processing circuit (not shown) so that the contact
position is received.
[0053] Because the sensing electrodes 110 and 120 arranged on the
both surfaces of the substrate 10 are electrically coupled to each
other in the touch screen panel according to embodiments of the
present invention, a touch event generated on one surface
corresponds to the same touch event being generated on the opposite
surface. However, embodiments of the present invention are not
limited to the above as the sensing electrodes of both surfaces may
be formed to be independently driven in a partial area.
[0054] FIG. 2A is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on
the first surface of the touch screen panel of FIG. 1. FIG. 2B is a
plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on the second surface of
the touch screen panel of FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view
of the touch screen panel taken along the line I-I' of FIGS. 2A and
2B. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the touch screen panel
taken along the line II-II' of FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0055] For convenience sake, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, only the sensing
electrodes 110 and 120 illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively, are
shown.
[0056] Referring to FIGS. 2A to 3B, the sensing electrodes 110
formed on the first surface 10A of the touch screen panel according
to embodiments of the present invention include the plurality of
first sensing electrodes 111 formed to be coupled in the first
direction D1 and the plurality of second sensing electrodes 112
arranged between the first sensing electrodes 111 and formed to be
coupled in the second direction D2 that intersects the first
direction D1.
[0057] Here, the first and second sensing electrodes 111 and 112
may be formed of the same material, may be diamond-shaped, and may
be arranged in the same layer. The material, shape, and arrangement
structure of the first and second sensing electrodes 111 and 112
may have various modifications.
[0058] In addition, the touch screen panel includes a plurality of
first connecting patterns (or first coupling patterns) 111C for
coupling the first sensing electrodes 111 in the first direction D1
and a plurality of second connecting patterns (or second coupling
patterns) 112C arranged to alternate with the first connecting
patterns 111C and coupling the second sensing electrodes 112 to
each other in the second direction D2.
[0059] That is, the first sensing electrodes 111 are coupled by the
first connecting patterns 111C in the first direction D1. The
second sensing electrodes 112 are coupled by the second connecting
patterns 112C in the second direction D2. The first connecting
patterns 111C and the second connecting patterns 112C are arranged
to alternate with each other.
[0060] For example, in the uniserial first sensing electrodes 111
arranged in the first direction D1, the first sensing electrodes
111, each two of which make a pair, are coupled by the first
connecting patterns 111C and the pairs of the first sensing
electrodes 111 coupled by the connecting patterns are not coupled
to adjacent pairs but are separated from the adjacent pairs.
[0061] In addition, in the uniserial first sensing electrodes 112
arranged in the second direction D2, the second sensing electrodes
112, each two of which make a pair, are coupled by the second
connecting patterns 112C and the pairs of the first sensing
electrodes 112 coupled by the connecting patterns are not coupled
to adjacent pairs but are separated from the adjacent pairs.
[0062] Between the separated first sensing electrodes 111, the
second connecting patterns 112C for coupling the adjacent second
sensing electrodes 112 are repeatedly arranged on both sides of the
pairs of the first sensing electrodes 111. Between the separated
second sensing electrodes 112, the first connecting patterns 111C
for coupling the adjacent first sensing electrodes 111 are
repeatedly arranged on both sides of the pairs of the second
sensing electrodes 112.
[0063] Additionally, the touch screen panel includes a plurality of
third sensing electrodes 121 formed on the second surface 10B of
the substrate 10 to overlap corresponding first sensing electrodes
111 and a plurality of fourth sensing electrodes 122 arranged
between the third sensing electrodes 121 and formed to overlap
corresponding second sensing electrodes 112.
[0064] Here, the third and fourth sensing electrodes 121 and 122
may be formed of the same material, may be diamond-shaped, and may
be arranged at the same layer. The material, shape, and arrangement
structure of the third and fourth sensing electrodes 121 and 122
may have various modifications.
[0065] The sensing electrodes 110 of the first surface 10A of the
substrate 10 and the sensing electrodes 120 of the second surface
10B of the substrate 10 may be formed to have the same shape so
that sensing areas of the corresponding sensing electrodes overlap
each other.
[0066] In different embodiments, the sensing electrodes 110 of the
first surface 10A of the substrate 10 and the sensing electrodes
120 of the second surface 10B of the substrate 10 may be formed so
that corresponding partial sensing areas of the sensing electrodes
overlap each other.
[0067] In addition, the touch screen panel includes a plurality of
third connecting patterns (or third coupling patterns) 121C for
coupling the third sensing electrodes 121 in the first direction D1
and a plurality of fourth connecting patterns 122C for coupling the
fourth sensing electrodes 122 in the second direction D2 on the
second surface 10B, similar to the arrangement of the
above-described first surface 10A.
[0068] That is, the third sensing electrodes 121 are coupled by the
third connecting patterns 121C in the first direction D1, the
fourth sensing electrodes 122 are coupled by the fourth connecting
patterns (or fourth coupling patterns) 122C in the second direction
D2, and the third connecting patterns 121C and the fourth
connecting patterns 122C are arranged to alternate with each
other.
[0069] For example, in the uniserial third sensing electrodes 121
arranged in the first direction D1, the third sensing electrodes
121, each two of which make a pair, are coupled by the third
connecting patterns 121C and the pairs of the third sensing
electrodes 121 are not coupled to adjacent pairs but are separated
from the adjacent pairs.
[0070] In addition, in the uniserial fourth sensing electrodes 122
arranged in the second direction D2, the fourth sensing electrodes
122, each two of which make a pair, are coupled by the fourth
connecting patterns 122C and the pairs of the fourth sensing
electrodes 122 are not coupled to adjacent pairs but are separated
from the adjacent pairs.
[0071] Between the separated third sensing electrodes 121, the
fourth connecting patterns 122C for coupling the adjacent fourth
sensing electrodes 122 are repeatedly arranged on both sides of the
pairs of the third sensing electrodes 121. Between the separated
fourth sensing electrodes 122, the third connecting patterns 121C
for coupling/the adjacent third sensing electrodes 121 are
repeatedly arranged on both sides of the pairs of the fourth
sensing electrodes 122.
[0072] As a result, on a plane, the connecting patterns of the
first surface 10A and the connecting patterns of the second surface
10B are arranged so that the first connecting patterns 111C and the
fourth connecting patterns 122C on an opposite surface alternate
with each other, and the second connecting patterns 112C and the
third connecting patterns 121C on an opposite surface alternate
with each other.
[0073] The sensing electrodes and the connecting patterns may be
formed of a transparent electrode material including indium tin
oxide (ITO). When the connecting patterns are formed of the
transparent electrode material, the sensing electrodes and the
connecting patterns may be integrally patterned from a step of
patterning the transparent electrode material so that processes may
be simplified.
[0074] The sensing electrodes 110 of the first surface 10A and the
sensing electrodes 120 of the second surface 10B are electrically
coupled by the vertical connecting units 130 for coupling the first
surface 10A and the second surface 10B.
[0075] For example, the first sensing electrodes 111 are coupled to
corresponding third sensing electrodes 121 on an opposite surface
and the second sensing electrodes 112 are coupled to corresponding
fourth sensing electrodes 122 on an opposite surface.
[0076] In some embodiments, the vertical connecting units 130 may
include a plurality of contact holes that pass through the
substrate 10. In a process of forming the sensing electrodes 110
and 120 on the substrate 10 where the plurality of contact holes
are formed, parts of the sensing electrodes may be extended to the
insides of the contact holes so that the sensing electrodes formed
on both surfaces of the substrate 10 contact each other.
[0077] In particular, in the case of the thin film substrate,
because the thickness of the substrate 10 is very small, the
material of which the sensing electrodes 110 and 120 are formed may
be easily filled in the contact holes of the substrate 10.
[0078] In the present embodiment, the two vertical connecting units
130 are formed in one sensing area. However, the number, size, and
shape of the vertical connecting units 130 may vary.
[0079] In the other embodiments, the sensing electrodes may be in
the form of meshes having areas that are opened by the vertical
connecting units.
[0080] As described above, the uniserial sensing electrodes have
parts coupled by the connecting patterns and parts that are not
coupled by the connecting patterns. The uniserial sensing
electrodes have partially separated patterns but are electrically
coupled to each other by the vertical connecting units 130 for
coupling both surfaces of the substrate.
[0081] For example, in a line of the first direction D1, in parts
where coupling of the first sensing electrodes 111 is cut off, the
third sensing electrodes 121 on an opposite surface are coupled by
the third connecting patterns 121C and, in parts where coupling of
the third sensing electrodes 121 is cut off, the first sensing
electrodes 111 on an opposite surface are coupled by the first
connecting patterns 111C.
[0082] In a line of the second direction D2, in parts where
coupling of the second sensing electrodes 112 is cut off, the
fourth sensing electrodes 122 on an opposite surface are coupled by
the fourth connecting patterns 122C, and in parts where coupling of
the fourth sensing electrodes 122 is cut off, the second sensing
electrodes 112 on an opposite surface are coupled by the second
connecting patterns 112C.
[0083] As described above, according to embodiments of the present
invention, the sensing electrodes 110 and 120 are formed on both
surfaces of the substrate 10 to overlap each other and the sensing
electrodes on both surfaces are electrically coupled by the
vertical connecting units 130 so that, although partial cracking or
shorting may occur, driving defects of the touch screen panel may
be reduced (or minimized) and both a flexible characteristic and a
strong conductive layer characteristic may be secured.
[0084] In particular, in the connecting patterns for coupling the
adjacent sensing electrodes, the connecting patterns for coupling
the sensing electrodes in different directions are arranged to
alternate with each other so that a flexible characteristic may be
increased (or improved).
[0085] FIG. 4A is a plan view illustrating sensing electrodes on a
first surface of a touch screen panel according to another
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a plan view
illustrating sensing electrodes on a second surface of a touch
screen panel according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0086] The above-described disclosure may be referred to with
respect to the elements denoted by the same reference numerals as
those of the above-described elements and redundant description of
the elements may be omitted.
[0087] Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, in the touch screen panel
according to the present embodiment, the connecting patterns
arranged to alternate with each other are limited to a central area
CA of the substrate.
[0088] For example, in a central area CA of the first surface, as
described in the above-described embodiment, between separated
first sensing electrodes 211, second connecting patterns 212C for
coupling adjacent second sensing electrodes 212 are repeatedly
arranged on both sides of pairs of the first sensing electrodes
211. Between the separated second sensing electrodes 212, first
connecting patterns 211C for coupling the adjacent first sensing
electrodes 211 are repeatedly arranged on both sides of pairs of
the second sensing electrodes 212.
[0089] In some embodiments, in upper and lower areas excluding the
central area CA of the first surface, the first sensing electrodes
211 are coupled by the first connecting patterns 211C in the first
direction D1 and the second sensing electrodes 212 are not coupled
to each other but have separated island-shaped patterns.
[0090] Additionally, in a central area CA of the second surface, as
described in the above-described embodiment, between separated
third sensing electrodes 221, fourth connecting patterns 222C for
coupling adjacent fourth sensing electrodes 222 are repeatedly
arranged on both sides of pairs of the third sensing electrodes
221. Between the separated fourth sensing electrodes 222, third
connecting patterns 221C for coupling the adjacent third sensing
electrodes 221 are repeatedly arranged on both sides of pairs of
the fourth sensing electrodes 222.
[0091] In some embodiments, in upper and lower areas excluding the
central area CA of the second surface, the third sensing electrodes
221 are not coupled to each other but have separated island-shaped
patterns and the fourth sensing electrodes 222 are coupled by the
fourth connecting patterns 222C in the second direction D2.
[0092] As a result, all of the sensing electrodes are electrically
coupled to each other. However, in the central area CA, the two
kinds of connecting patterns are alternately arranged and, in the
upper and lower areas excluding the central area CA, only one kind
of connecting pattern may be arranged.
[0093] While the present invention has been described in connection
with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the
contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims, and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *