TWI662459B - Touch panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch panel includes a substrate, a plurality of electrode groups, a plurality of first pads, and a second pad. The substrate has a plurality of icon areas and pin bonding areas. A plurality of electrode groups are respectively located in a plurality of icon areas, wherein each electrode group includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are structurally separated from each other, the first electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups are structurally separated from each other, and The second electrodes are structurally separated from each other. The plurality of first pads are located in the pin bonding area and are electrically connected to the first electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups, respectively. The second pad is located in the pin bonding area and is electrically connected to the second electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups.

Description

Touch panel

The invention relates to a sensing panel, and in particular to a touch panel.

In order to efficiently produce a touch panel, in the current array process, multiple array touch elements are usually produced on the same large substrate first, and directly on the large substrate in the array process in a timely manner. After a loop test is performed on each array touch element, each touch panel is obtained through a cutting process. At present, in order to provide a fixed key function, an icon touch element is often configured in a touch panel. However, the existing circuit layout cannot enable the icon touch element to perform a loop test on a large substrate during the array process stage.

The invention provides a touch panel, which can perform impedance electrical test on electrodes in an icon area on a large substrate before the cutting process.

The touch panel of the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of electrode groups, a plurality of first pads, and a second pad. The substrate has a plurality of icon areas and pin bonding areas. A plurality of electrode groups are respectively located in a plurality of icon areas, wherein each electrode group includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are structurally separated from each other, the first electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups are structurally separated from each other, and The second electrodes are structurally separated from each other. The plurality of first pads are located in the pin bonding area and are electrically connected to the first electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups, respectively. The second pad is located in the pin bonding area and is electrically connected to the second electrodes of the plurality of electrode groups.

Based on the above, the touch panel of the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are structurally separated from each other through a plurality of electrode groups respectively located in a plurality of icon areas, and the first electrodes in the plurality of electrode groups are structurally opposite to each other. Separated, the first electrodes in the plurality of electrode groups are electrically connected to the plurality of first pads, the second electrodes in the plurality of electrode groups are structurally separated from each other, and the second electrodes in the plurality of electrode groups are electrically connected Connected to the second pad, so that the touch panel can perform impedance electrical test on the first electrode and the second electrode in the icon area on the large substrate through a plurality of first pads and second pads before the cutting process.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. Throughout the description, the same reference numerals denote the same elements. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "connected to" another element, it can be directly on or connected to the other element, or Intermediate elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected to" another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, "connected" may refer to a physical and / or electrical connection. Furthermore, "electrically connected" may mean that there are other components between the two components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region k in FIG. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I 'and the line II-II' in Fig. 2.

Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 at the same time. The touch panel 10 may include a substrate 100, a plurality of electrode groups 110, a plurality of first pads 120 and a second pad 122. In this embodiment, the touch panel 10 may optionally further include a plurality of first detection pads 130, a plurality of second detection pads 132, a plurality of first signal lines 140 and a second signal line 142. In addition, in this embodiment, the touch panel 10 can be used in conjunction with a display panel to be applied to a touch display device. The display panel can be a liquid crystal display panel, an organic light emitting display panel, an electronic paper display panel, an electrophoretic display panel, Wet display panel, bistable display panel, plasma display panel or any kind of display panel known to those skilled in the art, and the touch display device can be an on-cell touch display Device, out-cell touch display device or in-cell touch display device.

In this embodiment, the substrate 100 may have an active area A, a plurality of icon areas B, and a pin bonding area C. In this embodiment, the plurality of icon regions B are disposed adjacent to the side A1 of the active region A, and the pin bonding region C is disposed adjacent to the side A2 of the active region A, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the plurality of icon regions B may be configured to be adjacent to the side A3 and the side A4 of the active region A. In another embodiment, the multiple icon areas B and the pin bonding areas C may be configured to be adjacent to the same side of the active area A. It is worth mentioning that when the touch panel 10 is applied to a touch display device, the active area A of the substrate 100 overlaps the display area of the display panel, and the multiple icon areas B and the pin bonding areas C of the substrate 100 It will overlap with the surrounding area of the display panel around the display area.

In this embodiment, the material of the substrate 100 is, for example, glass, quartz, organic polymer, metal, or other suitable materials. In addition, in this embodiment, the number of the icon areas B is two, but the present invention does not limit the number of the icon areas B, and it can be adjusted and changed as required.

In this embodiment, the plurality of electrode groups 110 are located in the plurality of icon regions B, respectively. That is, in the present embodiment, any one of the plurality of electrode groups 110 is arranged in one of the plurality of icon regions B in a one-to-one relationship. In this embodiment, each electrode group 110 includes a first electrode 112 and a second electrode 114 that are structurally separated from each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in each electrode group 110, the first electrode 112 surrounds the second electrode 114. In this embodiment, the area of the first electrode 112 is larger than the area of the second electrode 114. However, the present invention does not limit the outline and configuration of the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 as long as the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 in each electrode group 110 are structurally separated from each other. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plurality of first electrodes 112 in the plurality of electrode groups 110 are structurally separated from each other, and the plurality of second electrodes 114 are structurally separated from each other. That is, in the present embodiment, the plurality of icon regions B do not overlap each other.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 in each electrode group 110 belong to the same film layer, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 may have substantially the same material, and the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 may be processed in the same photolithography and etching process (PEP). ). In this embodiment, the material of the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 may include a metal oxide conductive material, such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, and indium gallium zinc oxide. Materials, other suitable oxides, or a stacked layer of at least two of the foregoing.

In this embodiment, the plurality of first pads 120 and the second pads 122 are located in the pin bonding area C. In this embodiment, the plurality of first pads 120 and the second pads 122 may be used to electrically connect the touch panel 10 to an external circuit. The external circuit is, for example, a driving chip, a control circuit, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), or a printed circuit board (PCB) configured with the driving chip. In this embodiment, the material of the plurality of first pads 120 and the second pads 122 may include a metal or a combination of other conductive materials, such as gold, silver, copper, or other suitable conductive metals. Other conductive materials are, for example, indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide, or other suitable conductive materials.

In this embodiment, the plurality of first detection pads 130 are electrically connected to the first electrodes 112 of the plurality of electrode groups 110, respectively. In detail, in the present embodiment, any one of the plurality of first detection pads 130 is directly connected to one of the plurality of first electrodes 112 structurally in a one-to-one relationship, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1. Shown in Figure 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, any one of the plurality of first detection pads 130 may also be electrically connected to one of the plurality of first electrodes 112 in a one-to-one relationship through the connection line, that is, the plurality of first The detection pad 130 is not directly connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112 in structure. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112 in the electrode group 110, the second electrode 114 in the electrode group 110, and the first detection pad 130 belong to the same film layer, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, and the first detection pad 130 may have substantially the same material, and the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, and the first detection pad 130 may have substantially the same material. Formed in the same mask process. In this embodiment, the material of the first detection pad 130 may include a metal oxide conductive material, such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide, or other suitable materials. Oxide, or a stacked layer of at least two of the foregoing.

In this embodiment, each of the first detection pads 130 has a first detection area 130R located within a contour range of the first detection pad 130. In this embodiment, the first detection region 130R is a rectangle having a side length a1 and a side length b1, where the side length a1 and the side length b1 are both greater than or equal to 50 microns. Both the side length a1 and the side length b1 are greater than or equal to 50 micrometers, so that the first detection pad 130 can be used to directly contact the probe, so as to facilitate the impedance electrical test. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the contour range of the first detection region 130R is the same as the contour range of the first detection pad 130, but the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the first detection region 130R is located at the first The detection pad 130 may be within the contour range. That is, the present invention does not limit the outer contour of the first detection pad 130 to be rectangular. In other embodiments, the outer contour of the first detection pad 130 may be circular or irregular (or referred to as a special shape). shape.

In this embodiment, the plurality of second detection pads 132 are electrically connected to the second electrodes 114 of the plurality of electrode groups 110, respectively. In detail, in this embodiment, any one of the plurality of second detection pads 132 is electrically connected to one of the plurality of second electrodes 114 through the connection line L in a one-to-one relationship, as shown in FIG. 1 and Figure 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, any one of the plurality of second detection pads 132 may be directly connected to one of the plurality of first electrodes 112 structurally in a one-to-one relationship. In this embodiment, the first electrode 112 in the electrode group 110, the second electrode 114, and the second detection pad 132 in the electrode group 110 belong to the same film layer, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. That is, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, and the second detection pad 132 may have substantially the same material, and the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, and the second detection pad 132 may have substantially the same material. Formed in the same mask process. In addition, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112 in the electrode group 110, the second electrode 114, the second detection pad 132, and the connection line L in the electrode group 110 belong to the same film layer, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 . That is, in this embodiment, the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, the second detection pad 132, and the connection line L may have substantially the same material, and the first electrode 112, the second electrode 114, and the second electrode The detection pad 132 can be formed in the same mask process.

In this embodiment, the material of the second detection pad 132 may include a metal oxide conductive material, such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide, other suitable materials. Oxide, or a stacked layer of at least two of the foregoing.

In this embodiment, at least one second detection pad 132 has a second detection region 132R located within a contour range of the second detection pad 132. In this embodiment, the second detection region 132R is a rectangle having a side length a2 and a side length b2, where the side length a2 and the side length b2 are both greater than or equal to 50 microns. Both the side length a2 and the side length b2 are greater than or equal to 50 micrometers, so that the second detection pad 132 can be used to directly contact the probe for the electrical resistance test. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the contour range of the second detection region 132R is the same as the contour range of the second detection pad 132, but the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the second detection region 132R is located at the second The detection pad 132 may be within the contour range. That is to say, the present invention does not limit the outline of the second detection pad 132 to a rectangle. In other embodiments, the outline of the second detection pad 132 may be circular or irregular (or called a special shape). shape.

In this embodiment, the plurality of first signal lines 140 are respectively electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112 and the plurality of first pads 120 of the plurality of electrode groups 110. That is, in this embodiment, the plurality of first pads 120 are electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112 of the plurality of electrode groups 110 through the plurality of first signal lines 140 respectively, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as the plurality of first pads 120 are electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112 of the plurality of electrode groups 110, respectively. From another perspective, in this embodiment, any one of the plurality of first pads 120 is electrically connected to one of the plurality of first electrodes 112 in a one-to-one relationship.

In this embodiment, the material of the plurality of first signal lines 140 may include a metal or a combination of other conductive materials, such as gold, silver, copper, or other suitable conductive metals, and other conductive materials such as indium tin oxide. , Indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium germanium zinc oxide, or other suitable conductive materials.

In this embodiment, the second signal line 142 is electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 and the second pads 122 of the plurality of electrode groups 110. That is, in this embodiment, the second pad 122 is electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 through a second signal line 142. In detail, in this embodiment, the second signal line 142 includes a plurality of branch line segments 142A and a connection line segment 142B, wherein the plurality of branch line segments 142A are respectively connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 of the plurality of electrode groups 110, and The connecting line segment 142B connects the plurality of branch line segments 142A and the second pad 122. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that the second pad 122 is electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 through the second signal line 142 including a plurality of branch line segments 142A and a connection line segment 142B, the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as The second pads 122 may be electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 of the plurality of electrode groups 110.

From another point of view, in this embodiment, one second pad 122 is electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114. Therefore, as described above, the plurality of second electrodes 114 are structurally separated from each other. In this case, the plurality of second electrodes 114 are electrically connected to each other.

In this embodiment, the material of the second signal line 142 may include a metal, or a combination of other conductive materials. The metal is, for example, gold, silver, copper, or other suitable conductive metals. The other conductive materials are, for example, indium tin oxide, Indium zinc oxide, aluminum tin oxide, aluminum zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide, or other suitable conductive materials. As described above, the plurality of first pads 120 are electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112, the second pad 122 is electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114, and the plurality of first pads 120 are electrically connected to the first electrodes 120. The two pads 122 can be used to electrically connect the touch panel 10 to an external circuit. Therefore, when a user touches the sensing icon area B, the corresponding first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 will generate a touch signal to execute The desired touch function.

It is worth noting that, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of electrode groups 110 includes a first electrode 112 and a second electrode 114 that are structurally separated from each other through the plurality of electrode groups 110 respectively located in the plurality of icon regions B. The plurality of first electrodes 112 are structurally separated from each other, the plurality of first electrodes 112 in the plurality of electrode groups 110 are electrically connected to the plurality of first pads 120 respectively, and the plurality of second electrodes in the plurality of electrode groups 110 114 are electrically connected to each other, and the plurality of second electrodes 114 in the plurality of electrode groups 110 are electrically connected to the second pad 122, so that the touch panel 10 can pass through a plurality of first connections on a large substrate before the cutting process. The pad 120 and the second pad 122 perform an impedance electrical test on the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 in the icon area B. The impedance electrical test is, for example, an open circuit test or a short circuit test.

In addition, in this embodiment, the touch panel 10 may optionally further include a plurality of first detection pads 130 electrically connected to the plurality of first electrodes 112 and a plurality of second electrodes 114 respectively. The plurality of second detection pads 132 are provided. Therefore, when the impedance electrical test is performed on a large substrate, the probe can contact one of the plurality of first detection pads 130 and the corresponding first connection pad 120 to match the corresponding The first electrode 112 performs detection, or the probe may contact one of the plurality of second detection pads 132 and the second pad 122 to detect the second electrode 114 electrically connected to each other, thereby avoiding detection. Damage is caused to the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the touch panel 10 may further include a plurality of second detection pads 132 electrically connected to the plurality of second electrodes 114 respectively, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Since the second electrodes 114 are electrically connected to each other, the touch panel 10 may selectively include only one second detection pad 132. At this time, when performing an impedance electrical test on a large substrate, the probe may contact the one second detection pad 132 and the second connection pad 122 to detect the second electrode 114 electrically connected to each other. It is worth mentioning that although the second electrodes 114 are electrically connected to each other, the touch panel 10 can achieve a more accurate electrical test by providing the second detection pads 132 corresponding to the icon area B.

After the detection is completed, the surfaces of the first detection pad 130 and the second detection pad 132 may be optionally subjected to insulation treatment, such as coating an insulating ink.

In addition, the touch panel 10 of the present invention may optionally further include a touch electrode layer TP disposed in the active area A of the substrate 100. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the touch electrode layer TP includes a plurality of first touch series X and a plurality of second touch series Y, where each of the first touch series X The shapes of the touch electrode patterns and the touch electrode patterns in each of the second touch series Y are diamond-shaped, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4B, the touch electrode layer TP includes a plurality of first touch series X and a plurality of second touch series Y, wherein each of the first touch series X The shape of the touch electrode pattern and the touch electrode pattern in each second touch series Y are long, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the touch electrode layer TP may be any type of capacitive touch electrode layer known to those having ordinary knowledge in the art. In addition, although the touch electrode layer TP disclosed in FIGS. 4A and 4B is a capacitive touch electrode layer as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the touch electrode layer TP may also be any type of touch structure known to those skilled in the art, such as resistive, optical, acoustic, electromagnetic, or other suitable touch structures. Control structure, or a combination of any two of the above-mentioned touch structures.

As mentioned above, the touch panel 10 can perform an impedance electrical test on the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 in the icon area B on the large substrate before the cutting process. Therefore, the touch panel 10 further includes a touch electrode In the embodiment of the layer TP, the touch electrode layer TP in the active area A and the first electrode 112 and the second electrode 114 in the icon area B can be detected on a large substrate before the cutting process.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above in the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some modifications and retouches without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

10‧‧‧Touch Panel

100‧‧‧ substrate

110‧‧‧electrode set

112‧‧‧first electrode

114‧‧‧Second electrode

120‧‧‧The first pad

122‧‧‧Second pad

130‧‧‧The first test pad

130R‧‧‧The first detection area

132‧‧‧Second test pad

132R‧‧‧Second detection area

140‧‧‧The first signal line

142‧‧‧The second signal line

142A‧‧‧ branch line segment

142B‧‧‧ connecting line segment

a1, b1, a2, b2‧‧‧ side length

A‧‧‧active area

A1, A2, A3, A4‧‧‧

B‧‧‧ icon area

C‧‧‧ lead bonding area

k‧‧‧area

L‧‧‧ cable

TP‧‧‧Touch electrode layer

X‧‧‧The first touch series

Y‧‧‧Second touch series

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region k in FIG. 1. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I 'and the line II-II' in Fig. 2. 4A and 4B are schematic top views of touch electrodes that can be configured in an active area, respectively.

Claims (10)

A touch panel includes: a substrate having a plurality of icon areas and a pin bonding area; a plurality of electrode groups respectively located in the icon areas, wherein each of the electrode groups includes a first electrode structurally separated from each other; And a second electrode, the first electrodes of the electrode groups are structurally separated from each other, and the second electrodes of the electrode groups are structurally separated from each other; a plurality of first pads are located at the pins In the bonding area, and are electrically connected to the first electrodes of the electrode groups; a second pad is located in the pin bonding area, and is electrically connected to the second electrodes of the electrode groups A plurality of first signal lines electrically connecting the first electrodes of the electrode groups and the first pads, respectively; and a second signal line electrically connecting the second electrodes of the electrode groups With the second pad, the second signal line includes: a plurality of branch line segments, which are respectively connected to the second electrodes of the electrode groups; and a connection line segment, which connects the branch line segments and the second pad. The touch panel according to item 1 of the patent application scope further includes: a plurality of first detection pads, which are electrically connected to the first electrodes of the electrode groups, respectively. The touch panel according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, further comprising: at least one second detection pad electrically connected to at least one of the second electrodes of the electrode groups. The touch panel according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the number of the at least one second detection pad is plural, and the second detection pads are electrically connected to the second electrodes of the electrode groups, respectively. . The touch panel according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein each of the first detection pads has a first detection area within a contour range of the first detection pad, and the first detection area has a side length a1 and a side A rectangle with a length b1, and the side length a1 and the side length b1 are both greater than or equal to 50 microns. The touch panel according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the at least one second detection pad has a second detection area within a contour range of the second detection pad, and the second detection area has a side length a2 and A rectangle with a side length b2, and both the side length a2 and the side length b2 are greater than or equal to 50 microns. The touch panel according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first electrodes of the electrode groups and the second electrodes of the electrode groups belong to the same film layer. The touch panel according to item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first electrodes of the electrode groups, the second electrodes of the electrode groups, and the first detection pads belong to the same film layer. The touch panel according to item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first electrodes of the electrode groups, the second electrodes of the electrode groups, and the second detection pads belong to the same film layer. The touch panel according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein in each of the electrode groups, the first electrode surrounds the second electrode, and an area of the first electrode is larger than an area of the second electrode.