Touch Panel, Touch Screen and Electronic Device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a touch panel, a touch screen and an electronic device. The touch panel includes a substrate, touch electrodes, conductive lines and a flexible circuit board. The substrate is formed with a folding line, and the substrate can be bent along the folding line. The touch electrodes are disposed on the surface of the substrate, and the touch electrodes include a plurality of first touch electrodes respectively disposed on the left side of the folding line and a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed on the right side of the folding line. The first touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the left side of the folding line, and the second touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the right side of the folding line. The conductive lines include a first sub-line connecting the plurality of first touch electrodes and a second sub-line connecting the plurality of second touch electrodes. The flexible circuit board includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. One end of the first connecting portion is connected to the first sub-line, one end of the second connecting portion is connected to the second sub-line, and the other end of the first connecting portion is connected to the other end of the second connecting portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of touch technology, and more particularly to a touch panel, a touch screen and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] In related technologies, a touch screen can only be touched on a single plane. For example, a relatively large-sized mobile phone or tablet with a size of more than 7 inches occupies too much length space, is not conducive to carrying around, and cannot be folded and placed. The space limitation is one of the reasons for the low proportion of the mobile phone market with large-sized screens. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch panel, a touch screen and an electronic device.

[0004] A touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0005] A substrate, on which a folding line is formed, and the substrate can be bent along the folding line;

[0006] Touch electrodes, which are disposed on the surface of the substrate. The touch electrodes include a plurality of first touch electrodes respectively disposed on the left side of the folding line and a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed on the right side of the folding line. The first touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the left side of the folding line, and the second touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the right side of the folding line;

[0007] Conductive lines, which include a first sub-line connecting the plurality of first touch electrodes and a second sub-line connecting the plurality of second touch electrodes;

[0008] A flexible circuit board, which includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion. One end of the first connection portion is connected to the first sub-line, one end of the second connection portion is connected to the second sub-line, and the other end of the first connection portion is connected to the other end of the second connection portion.

[0009] The touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention can be folded along the folding line, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel, facilitating carrying around, and cooperating with a flexible display screen, which is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices.

[0010] In some embodiments, the substrate is rectangular, and the folding line is located between two short sides of the substrate.

[0011] In this way, when the touch panel is folded along the folding line, the long sides of the rectangle are folded, effectively reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel.

[0012] In some embodiments, both the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode include a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in an interleaved manner. The first electrodes are parallel to the long side of the substrate, and the second electrodes are parallel to the short side of the substrate. The folding line is located between two of the second electrodes and is spaced apart from the two second electrodes.

[0013] In this way, the second electrode is prevented from being folded.

[0014] In some embodiments, the substrate includes a first substrate and a second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are connected to form the folding line.

[0015] In this way, the first substrate and the second substrate can be relatively folded along the folding line, so that the substrate can be bent along the folding line.

[0016] In some embodiments, the plurality of first touch electrodes form a first touch area, and the plurality of second touch electrodes form a second touch area. Both the first touch area and the second touch area are rectangular;

[0017] The first sub-circuit connects one long side and one short side of the first touch area, and the second sub-circuit connects one long side and one short side of the second touch area.

[0018] In this way, the first touch electrode is better connected to the first sub-circuit, and the second touch electrode is better connected to the second sub-circuit.

[0019] In some embodiments, the touch electrodes form a rectangular touch area. One long side of the first touch area and one long side of the second touch area located on the same outer side are connected to form one long side of the touch area;

[0020] One short side of the first touch area and one short side of the second touch area located on the other same outer side are connected to form one short side of the touch area.

[0021] In this way, the first sub-circuit and the second sub-circuit can be arranged on the same side of the touch area.

[0022] In some embodiments, the touch electrodes form a rectangular touch area. The first connecting portion connects the first sub-circuit provided on the long side of the touch area, and the length of the first connecting portion is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length of the long side of the touch area;

[0023] The second connecting portion connects the second sub-circuit provided on the long side of the touch area, and the length of the second connecting portion is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length of the long side of the touch area.

[0024] In this way, when the first connection part and the second connection part are bent relative to the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, they will not be torn.

[0025] In some embodiments, the touch panel includes a connector that connects the other ends of the first connection part and the second connection part.

[0026] In this way, the connector preferably connects the first connection part and the second connection part.

[0027] A touch screen according to an embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0028] The touch panel according to any one of the above embodiments;

[0029] A display module, the display module is attached to the touch panel, and the display module includes a flexible organic light-emitting diode display screen.

[0030] In the touch screen according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel can be folded along the folding line, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel, facilitating carrying around. In combination with the flexible display screen, it is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices. When the display module is a flexible organic light-emitting diode display screen, the display module can be bent together with the touch panel.

[0031] An electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the touch screen according to any one of the above embodiments.

[0032] In the electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel can be folded along the folding line, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel, facilitating carrying around. In combination with the flexible display screen, it is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices.

[0033] The additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will be partly given in the following description, partly will become obvious from the following description, or will be understood through the practice of the embodiments of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become obvious and easy to understand from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a touch panel provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an enlarged schematic view of the touch panel in II in

[0037] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a touch screen provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 4 It is a schematic plan view of the electronic device provided by the embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Description of main element symbols:

[0040] Electronic device 1000, touch screen 100, touch panel 10, substrate 12, first substrate 124, second substrate 126, touch electrode 14, first touch electrode 142, first touch area 143, second touch electrode 144, second touch area 145, first electrode 146, second electrode 148, conductive line 16, first sub-line 162, second sub-line 164, flexible circuit board 18, first connection part 182, second connection part 184, connector 19, display module 20. Detailed implementation manners

[0041] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, where the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the accompanying drawings are exemplary only for explaining the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0042] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for facilitating the description of the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means two or more unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0043] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "coupled" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows mutual communication; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0044] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features not being in direct contact but being in contact through additional features therebetween. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over", and "on top of" the second feature includes the first feature being directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath", and "underneath" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or merely indicating that the first feature has a lower horizontal height than the second feature.

[0045] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and settings of specific examples are described below. Of course, they are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the present invention may repeat reference numerals and / or reference letters in different examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity, and does not itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and / or settings discussed. In addition, the present invention provides examples of various specific processes and materials, but those of ordinary skill in the art can be aware of the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 , a touch panel 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 12, touch electrodes 14, conductive lines 16, and a flexible circuit board 18.

[0047] The substrate 12 is formed with a folding line X, and the substrate 12 can be bent along the folding line X.

[0048] The touch electrodes 14 are disposed on the surface of the substrate 12. The touch electrodes 14 include a plurality of first touch electrodes 142 respectively disposed on the left side of the folding line X and a plurality of second touch electrodes 144 disposed on the right side of the folding line X. The first touch electrodes 142 are used to sense touch signals on the left side of the folding line X, and the second touch electrodes 144 are used to sense touch signals on the right side of the folding line X.

[0049] The conductive circuit 16 includes a first sub-circuit 162 connecting a plurality of first touch electrodes 142 and a second sub-circuit 164 connecting a plurality of second touch electrodes 144.

[0050] The flexible circuit board 18 includes a first connection portion 182 and a second connection portion 184. One end of the first connection portion 182 is connected to the first sub-circuit 162, one end of the second connection portion 184 is connected to the second sub-circuit 164, and the other end of the first connection portion 182 is connected to the other end of the second connection portion 184.

[0051] The touch panel 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be folded along the folding line X, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel 10, facilitating carrying around, and cooperating with a flexible display screen, which is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices.

[0052] Specifically, the substrate 12 can be in a rectangular, triangular, circular, rhombic or any other shape. The folding line X can be formed at any position of the substrate 12. For example, the folding line X can be formed at the central axis position of the substrate 12 so that the substrate 12 is bent along the folding line X into two parts of the same size; the folding line X can also be formed at one-third of the substrate 12 so that the substrate 12 is bent along the folding line X into two parts with a size ratio of one to two. In the embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 12 is rectangular, and the folding line X is formed at the position of the connecting line of the midpoints of the two long sides of the substrate 12.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 2 , in some embodiments, the substrate 12 is rectangular, and the folding line X is located between the two short sides of the substrate 12.

[0054] In this way, when the touch panel 10 is folded along the folding line X, the long sides of the substrate 12 are folded, effectively reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel 10. In the embodiment of the present invention, the folding line X is formed at the position of the connecting line of the midpoints of the two long sides of the substrate 12. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the folding line X is formed at any position between the two short sides of the substrate 12, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0055] In some embodiments, both the first touch electrode 142 and the second touch electrode 144 include a plurality of first electrodes 146 and a plurality of second electrodes 148 arranged alternately. The first electrodes 146 are parallel to the long side of the substrate 12, the second electrodes 148 are parallel to the short side of the substrate 12, and the folding line X is located between the two second electrodes 148 and spaced from the two second electrodes 148.

[0056] In this way, the second electrode 148 is prevented from being folded.

[0057] It can be understood that both the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 are strip-shaped, and the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 cooperate to form a grid shape. The second electrode 148 of the first touch electrode 142 is located on the left side of the folding line X, and the second electrode 148 of the second touch electrode 144 is located on the right side of the folding line X. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode 146 is perpendicular to the folding line X, and the second electrode 148 is parallel to the folding line X.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first electrode 146 serves as the emitting electrode and the second electrode 148 serves as the receiving electrode.

[0059] In some embodiments, the second electrode 148 serves as the emitting electrode and the first electrode 146 serves as the receiving electrode.

[0060] In this way, the emitting electrode and the receiving electrode form two electrodes of the capacitive touch panel, enabling the touch panel 10 to sense the touch operation of the user.

[0061] Specifically, the emitting electrode and the receiving electrode form two electrodes of the capacitor. When the user's finger acts on the touch panel 10, the charges on the emitting electrode and the receiving electrode change, so that the touch panel 10 senses the touch information.

[0062] In some embodiments, the substrate 12 includes a first substrate 124 and a second substrate 126, and the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 are connected to form the folding line X.

[0063] In this way, the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 can be relatively folded along the folding line X, so that the substrate 12 can be bent along the folding line X.

[0064] Specifically, the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 can be rectangular, triangular, rhombic, semi-circular, semi-elliptical or any other shape. The shapes of the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 can be the same or different. For example, the first substrate 124 can be triangular and the second substrate 126 can be rectangular, or both the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 can be rectangular, etc. In the embodiment of the present invention, both the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126 are rectangular.

[0065] Preferably, at least one side of the first substrate 124 has the same length as one side of the second substrate 126. In this way, it is convenient to connect the first substrate 124 and the second substrate 126.

[0066] In some embodiments, a plurality of first touch electrodes 142 form a first touch area 143, a plurality of second touch electrodes 144 form a second touch area 145, and both the first touch area 143 and the second touch area 145 are rectangular;

[0067] The first sub-circuit 162 connects a long side and a short side of the first touch area 143, and the second sub-circuit 164 connects a long side and a short side of the second touch area 145.

[0068] In this way, the first touch electrode 142 is better connected to the first sub-circuit 162, and the second touch electrode 144 is better connected to the second sub-circuit 164.

[0069] Specifically, the first sub-circuit 162 connects the first touch electrode 142, and the second sub-circuit 164 connects the second touch electrode 144.

[0070] It can be understood that in the embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 12 is rectangular, and both the first touch area 143 and the second touch area 145 are rectangular. Of course, in other embodiments, when the substrate 12 is circular or oval, the first touch area 143 and the second touch area 145 are in the shape of a circular segment. The first sub-circuit 162 connects the arc-shaped side of the first touch area 143 so that the first sub-circuit 162 is connected to the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 of the first touch area 143, and the second sub-circuit 164 connects the arc-shaped side of the second touch area 145 so that the second sub-circuit 164 is connected to the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 of the second touch area 145. When the substrate 12 is other polygons, the first sub-circuit 162 is connected to the first touch area 143 near one side of the polygon, the first sub-circuit 162 is connected to the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 of the first touch area 143, and the second sub-circuit 164 is connected to the first electrode 146 and the second electrode 148 of the second touch area 145.

[0071] In some embodiments, the touch electrodes 14 form a rectangular touch area. A long side of the first touch area 143 and a long side of the second touch area 145 on the same outer side are connected to form a long side of the touch area;

[0072] A short side of the first touch area 143 and a short side of the second touch area 145 on the other same outer side are connected to form a short side of the touch area.

[0073] In this way, the first sub-circuit 162 and the second sub-circuit 164 can be arranged on the same side of the touch area.

[0074] In some embodiments, the touch electrodes 14 form a rectangular touch area. The first connecting portion 182 is connected to the first sub-circuit 162 arranged on the long side of the touch area, and the length L1 of the first connecting portion 182 is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length L of the long side of the touch area;

[0075] The second connecting portion 184 is connected to the second sub-circuit 164 disposed on the long side of the touch area, and the length L2 of the second connecting portion 184 is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length L of the long side of the touch area.

[0076] In this way, when the first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184 are bent relative to each other along with the first touch electrode 142 and the second touch electrode 144, they will not be torn.

[0077] Specifically, the length L1 of the first connecting portion 182 and the length L2 of the second connecting portion 184 may be the same or different.

[0078] In the embodiment of the present invention, when the fold line X divides the rectangular touch area into two rectangular parts that are symmetric about the fold line X, the length L1 of the first connecting portion 182 and the length L2 of the second connecting portion 184 are the same and the first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184 are symmetric about the fold line X.

[0079] In other embodiments, when the touch area formed by the touch electrodes 14 is other polygons, circles or ellipses, the length of the first connecting portion 182 is greater than the distance between the connection point of the first connecting portion 182 and the first sub-circuit 162 to the fold line X, and the length of the second connecting portion 184 is greater than the distance between the connection point of the second connecting portion 184 and the second sub-circuit 164 to the fold line X. The first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184 are disposed on the opposite sides of the touch area.

[0080] In some embodiments, the touch panel 10 includes a connector 19, and the connector 19 connects the other ends of the first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184.

[0081] In this way, the connector 19 preferably connects the first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184 and facilitates the connection of the touch panel 10 with an external device.

[0082] Specifically, a processing circuit or chip is provided at the portion where the flexible circuit board 18 connects the other ends of the first connecting portion 182 and the second connecting portion 184. The processing circuit or chip is electrically connected to the connector 19, and the processing circuit or chip is used to process the touch signals sensed by the first touch electrode 142 and the second touch electrode 144.

[0083] Please refer to Figure 3 , a touch screen 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the touch panel 10 and the display module 20 according to any of the above embodiments. The display module 20 is attached to the touch panel 10, and the display module 20 includes a flexible organic light emitting diode display screen (flexible OLED).

[0084] In the touch screen 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel 10 can be folded along the folding line X, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel 10, facilitating carrying around. In combination with the flexible display screen, it is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices.

[0085] When the display module 20 is a flexible organic light-emitting diode display screen (flexible OLED), the display module 20 can be bent together with the touch panel 10.

[0086] In some embodiments, the display module 20 and the touch panel 10 are bonded by an optical adhesive.

[0087] In this way, the bonding method is simple and fast, enabling the display module 20 and the touch panel 10 to be bonded well.

[0088] Specifically, the optical adhesive has a high light transmittance. Using the optical adhesive to bond the display module 20 and the touch panel 10 does not affect the display function of the display module 20.

[0089] Please refer to Figure 4 , an electronic device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the touch screen 100 in any of the above embodiments.

[0090] In the electronic device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch panel 10 can be folded along the folding line X, reducing the length dimension of the space occupied by the touch panel 10, facilitating carrying around. In combination with the flexible display screen, it is convenient for the application of large-sized electronic devices.

[0091] The electronic device 1000 includes, but is not limited to, electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, and wearable electronic devices.

[0092] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "certain embodiments", "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments or examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or examples. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0093] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include at least one feature. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "a plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, unless otherwise specifically and clearly defined.

[0094] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A touch panel, characterized in that, it includes: a substrate, the substrate includes a first substrate and a second substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate are connected to form a folding line, the substrate can be bent along the folding line, and at least one side of the first substrate and one side of the second substrate have the same length; a touch electrode, the touch electrode is disposed on the surface of the substrate, the touch electrode includes a plurality of first touch electrodes respectively disposed on the left side of the folding line and a plurality of second touch electrodes disposed on the right side of the folding line, the first touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the left side of the folding line, and the second touch electrodes are used to sense touch signals on the right side of the folding line; a conductive circuit, the conductive circuit includes a first sub-circuit connecting the plurality of first touch electrodes and a second sub-circuit connecting the plurality of second touch electrodes; a flexible circuit board, the flexible circuit board includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion, one end of the first connection portion is connected to the first sub-circuit, one end of the second connection portion is connected to the second sub-circuit, and the other end of the first connection portion is connected to the other end of the second connection portion.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, the substrate is rectangular, and the folding line is located between two short sides of the substrate.

3. The touch panel according to claim 2, characterized in that, both the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in an alternating manner, the first electrodes are parallel to the long side of the substrate, the second electrodes are parallel to the short side of the substrate, and the folding line is located between two of the second electrodes and spaced from the two second electrodes.

4. The touch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, the plurality of first touch electrodes form a first touch area, the plurality of second touch electrodes form a second touch area, and both the first touch area and the second touch area are rectangular; the first sub-circuit connects one long side and one short side of the first touch area, and the second sub-circuit connects one long side and one short side of the second touch area.

5. The touch panel according to claim 4, characterized in that, the touch electrodes form a rectangular touch area, one long side of the first touch area and one long side of the second touch area located on the same outer side are connected to form one long side of the touch area; one short side of the first touch area and one short side of the second touch area located on the other same outer side are connected to form one short side of the touch area.

6. The touch panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, the touch electrodes form a rectangular touch area, the first connection portion is connected to the first sub-circuit disposed on the long side of the touch area, and the length of the first connection portion is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length of the long side of the touch area; the second connection portion is connected to the second sub-circuit disposed on the long side of the touch area, and the length of the second connection portion is greater than 1 / 2 of the side length of the long side of the touch area.

7. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein, the touch panel includes a connector that connects the other ends of the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

8. A touch screen, wherein, it includes: the touch panel according to any one of claims 1-7; a display module, the display module is attached to the touch panel, and the display module includes a flexible organic light-emitting diode display screen.

9. An electronic device, wherein, it includes the touch screen according to claim 8.

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