Touch Panel

Abstract

A touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes: sensing electrodes respectively connected to sensing lines and arranged in a matrix form including columns in a first direction and rows in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; pad electrodes respectively connected to the pad lines and arranged in a second direction, the arrangement center of the pad electrodes corresponding to the center of the row of the sensing electrodes in the second direction; and a path determination unit connecting the sensing lines and the pad lines, the pad electrodes including: a central pad electrode; a left pad electrode; and a right pad electrode, the pad lines including: a central pad line extending from the central pad electrode; a left pad line extending from the left pad electrode; and a right pad line extending from the right pad electrode.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0010856 filed on January 29, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a touch panel and a display device including the touch panel. Background Art

[0003] As information technology develops, the importance of display devices as a connection medium between users and information is increasing. Therefore, display devices such as liquid crystal display devices, organic light emitting display devices, and plasma display devices are increasingly being used.

[0004] Such a display device may be used as a touch display device by having a touch panel. A user may input information by touching an image displayed on a display surface of the touch display device.

[0005] When the touch panel is configured in a capacitance sensing type, a mutual capacitance sensing type or a self capacitance sensing type may be applied as the capacitance sensing type. Summary of the invention

[0006] According to an aspect of the embodiment, a touch panel and a display device including the same can sufficiently ensure a line width and a line interval of a pad line.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a touch panel includes: sensing electrodes respectively connected to sensing lines and arranged in a matrix form including columns in a first direction and rows in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; pad electrodes respectively connected to the pad lines and arranged in the second direction, wherein the arrangement center of the pad electrodes corresponds to the center of the row of the sensing electrodes in the second direction; and a path determination unit connecting the sensing lines and the pad lines, wherein the pad electrodes include: a central pad electrode; a left pad electrode located at a left side of the central pad electrode; and a right pad electrode located at a right side of the central pad electrode, wherein the pad lines include: a central pad line extending from the central pad electrode in the first direction; a left pad line extending from the left pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the left at a first angle; and a right pad line extending from the right pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the right at a second angle.

[0008] The number of left pad electrodes and the number of right pad electrodes may be identical to each other.

[0009] The first angle and the second angle may be identical to each other.

[0010] As the left pad line is closer to the center pad line, a straight line portion of the left pad line extending in the first direction may be longer.

[0011] As the right pad line is closer to the center pad line, the straight line portion of the right pad line extending in the first direction may be longer.

[0012] The center pad electrode, the left pad electrode, and the right pad electrode may be arranged at the same interval, and a line width of the center pad line may be greater than a line width of the left pad line and a line width of the right pad line.

[0013] The line spacing of the center pad line may be greater than the line spacing of the left pad line and the line spacing of the right pad line.

[0014] The number of the sensing lines and the number of the pad lines may be the same as each other, and the path determination unit may include conductive lines respectively connecting the sensing lines with the pad lines.

[0015] The number of the sensing lines may be greater than the number of the pad lines, and the path determination unit may include a multiplexer for connecting some of the sensing lines to the pad lines.

[0016] At least two of the sensing electrodes having different electrical nodes may be located at each of the rows and columns of the sensing electrodes.

[0017] The touch panel may also include: a film; a bottom metal layer located below the bottom surface of the film and connected to the pad electrode; a top metal layer located on the top surface of the film and connected to the bottom metal layer through vias of the film; and a touch driver integrated circuit (IC) electrically connected to the top metal layer.

[0018] The touch panel may further include: a substrate supporting the bottom of the sensing electrode; and a protection layer covering the top of the sensing electrode, wherein the thickness of the protection layer is smaller than the thickness of the substrate.

[0019] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a display device includes: a display panel; an anti-reflection layer adhered to the top of the display panel through a first adhesive layer; a touch panel, including a substrate adhered to the top of the anti-reflection through a second adhesive layer; and a window adhered to the top of the touch panel through a third adhesive layer, wherein the touch panel includes: a pad electrode located on the substrate; a film; a bottom metal layer located below the bottom surface of the film and connected to the pad electrode; a top metal layer located on the top surface of the film and connected to the bottom metal layer through a via of the film; and a touch driver IC electrically connected to the top metal layer.

[0020] The display device may further include: sensing electrodes, which are respectively connected to the sensing lines and arranged in a matrix form including columns in a first direction and rows in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the pad electrodes are respectively connected to the pad lines connected to the sensing lines, the pad electrodes are arranged in the second direction, and the arrangement center of the pad electrodes corresponds to the center of the row of the sensing electrodes in the second direction, wherein the pad electrodes include: a central pad electrode; a left pad electrode located at the left side of the central pad electrode; and a right pad electrode located at the right side of the central pad electrode, wherein the pad lines include: a central pad line extending from the central pad electrode in the first direction; a left pad line extending from the left pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the left at a first angle; and a right pad line extending from the right pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the right at a second angle.

[0021] The number of left pad electrodes and the number of right pad electrodes may be identical to each other, and the first angle and the second angle may be identical to each other.

[0022] At least two of the sensing electrodes having different electrical nodes may be located at each of the rows and columns of the sensing electrodes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Some example embodiments will now be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the present disclosure may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 2 is a side view showing a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 3 and Figure 4 is a diagram showing a conventional pad wire and a conventional pad electrode.

[0027] Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a pad line and a pad electrode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Here, some exemplary embodiments are further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described in this specification.

[0030] The description of parts not related to the specific implementation can be omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and the same or similar constituent elements will be represented by the same reference numerals throughout the specification. Therefore, the same reference numerals can be used in different drawings to identify the same or similar elements.

[0031] In the accompanying drawings, dimensions are exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "between" two elements, the element may be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intermediate elements may also be present. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals represent the same elements.

[0032] In addition, for better understanding and ease of description, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings may be arbitrarily shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For clear description, the thickness of several parts and several regions may be exaggerated.

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Reference Figure 1 The display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel 10 , a first adhesive layer 20 , an anti-reflection layer 30 , a second adhesive layer 40 , a touch panel 50 , a third adhesive layer 60 , a window 70 , and an anti-scratch layer 80 .

[0035] The display panel 10 may be variously constructed according to the type of display device 1. For an organic light emitting display, each pixel of the display panel 10 may include an organic light emitting diode, and an image may be displayed according to the emission combination of the organic light emitting diodes. In some embodiments, the organic light emitting diodes may have their own colors or may have a separate color filter layer. For a liquid crystal display device, each pixel of the display panel 10 may adjust the liquid crystal orientation of the liquid crystal layer to determine the amount of light passing through the backlight unit. The light has the color of the color filter layer passing through each pixel, and a color image corresponding to the color filter layer may be displayed. Although not shown in the drawings, an electrical device may be located below the display panel 10. The electrical device may be a collective component having an antenna, a battery, and other electronic components such as an application processor (AP).

[0036] The anti-reflection layer 30 may be adhered to the top of the display panel 10 by using the first adhesive layer 20. In an embodiment, the first adhesive layer 20 may be a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA) film, etc. In an embodiment, for example, the anti-reflection layer 30 may be a polarizer, and external light reflected by an internal electrode, etc. does not pass through the polarizer again due to a polarization state changed from the incident external light.

[0037] The touch panel 50 may include a substrate adhered to the top of the anti-reflection layer 30 by using the second adhesive layer 40. In an embodiment, for example, the second adhesive layer 40 may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive such as an optically clear adhesive (OCA) film or the like. In an embodiment, the touch panel 50 may be configured in a capacitive sensing type, and a mutual capacitance sensing type or a self capacitance sensing type may be applied as the capacitive sensing type. Figures 2 to 6 An example structure of the touch panel 50 is described and will be referred to below. Figure 7 An example driving method of the touch panel 50 is described.

[0038] As an example, the touch panel 50 is disposed on the anti-reflection layer 30 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 50 may be disposed between the anti-reflection layer 30 and the display panel 10 .

[0039] The window 70 may be adhered to the top of the touch panel 50 by using the third adhesive layer 60. In an embodiment, for example, the third adhesive layer 60 may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive such as an optically transparent adhesive film, etc. In an embodiment, for example, the window 70 may be composed of a glass material, a plastic material, etc. The window 70 performs a protective function by covering the touch panel 50, the anti-reflection layer 30, and the display panel 10.

[0040] The anti-scratch layer 80 may be selectively located on the window 70. In an embodiment, the anti-scratch layer 80 may be made of polyurethane or the like. In the case where the window 70 is made of a glass material, the anti-scratch layer 80 may be omitted because the hardness of the window 70 is sufficiently high. In addition, if the window 70 is made of a plastic material, the anti-scratch layer 80 may be selectively included or may not be included in the display device 1 depending on the hardness of the window 70.

[0041] In the embodiment, according to Figure 1 The display device 1 of the embodiment may be an example of a foldable display device. In an embodiment, the display device 1 may be a flexible display device or a rollable display device. In an embodiment, the substrate constituting the window 70 or the display panel 10 and the touch panel 50 is composed of a flexible plastic material instead of a glass material.

[0042] Figure 2 is a side view showing a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 , the touch panel 50 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a substrate 51, a conductive layer 52, a protective layer 53, a touch-COF T-COF, a touch driver IC TDI, and a touch-FPC T-FPC.

[0044] The conductive layer 52 may include Figures 3 to 7 The sensing electrodes, sensing lines, pads (also called pads) and pad electrodes shown in FIG. Figures 3 to 7 Describe sensing electrodes, sensing lines, pad lines, and pad electrodes.

[0045] The substrate 51 supports the bottom of the conductive layer 52. In an embodiment, the substrate 51 may be made of a flexible plastic material. In an embodiment, for example, the substrate 51 may be made of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Although a separate substrate 51 is shown in this embodiment, the display panel 10 or the anti-reflection layer 30 may be used as a substrate depending on the product.

[0046] The protective layer 53 covers the top of the conductive layer 52. In an embodiment, for example, the protective layer 53 may be composed of an organic polymer film such as acrylate, etc. According to an embodiment, the protective layer 53 may not cover the pad electrode of the conductive layer 52, and the pad electrode is exposed to the outside. In another embodiment, the protective layer 53 may include an opening to expose the pad electrode of the conductive layer 52 to the outside.

[0047] Touch-COF T-COF may include a film FLM, a bottom metal layer BM, and a top metal layer TM. As used herein, COF refers to a "chip on film". The film FLM may be made of a flexible plastic material such as polyimide. The bottom metal layer BM may be located below the bottom surface of the film FLM and connected to the pad electrode of the conductive layer 52. The top metal layer TM may be located on the top surface of the film FLM and connected to the bottom metal layer BM through the vias VIA of the film FLM.

[0048] The touch driver IC TDI may be electrically connected to the top metal layer TM. In addition, the touch-FPC T-FPC may be electrically connected to the top metal layer TM. As used herein, FPC refers to a "flexible printed circuit". The touch-FPC T-FPC may be electrically connected to an electrical device. Therefore, the touch driver IC TDI is electrically connected to the sensing electrodes and the electrical device of the conductive layer 52 through the touch-COF T-COF, and is located in the vertical direction of the stacked structure of the display device 1, so that the space efficiency of the display device 1 can be improved.

[0049] According to an embodiment, the thickness of the protective layer 53 may be smaller than the thickness of the substrate 51. As described above, when the display device 1 includes a touch-COF T-COF in which electrodes are provided on both sides, the protective layer 53 may be located in the display surface direction of the display device 1. The user's body such as a finger and the sensing electrode may be closer to each other, thereby increasing the sensing sensitivity.

[0050] Figure 3 and Figure 4 is a diagram showing a conventional pad line and a conventional pad electrode. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The description of other components other than the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2 and the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 in the embodiment of the present disclosure (see Figure 5 and Figure 6 ). Here it will be Figure 5 and Figure 6 Description of the previous description Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0051] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the sensing electrode SE, the sensing line SL, the path determination unit PDU, the first and second pad lines PL1 and PL2 , and the first and second pad electrodes PE1 and PE2 are located on the substrate 51 .

[0052] The sensing electrodes SE may be connected to the sensing lines SL, respectively, and arranged in a matrix form including columns in a first direction d1 and rows in a second direction d2 perpendicular to the first direction d1. The first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 are connected to the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2, respectively. The sensing electrode SE may be arranged so that at least a portion of the sensing electrode SE overlaps the display area in a plan view. The first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 and the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2 may be arranged so that at least a portion thereof overlaps the non-display area in a plan view. Therefore, the sensing electrode SE may be located in the central area of ​​the substrate 51, and the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 may be located in the edge area of ​​the substrate 51.

[0053] In an embodiment, the sensing electrode SE, the sensing line SL, the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2, and the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2 may be formed by synchronizing (e.g., simultaneously) patterning the conductive layer. According to an embodiment, the conductive layer may be composed of an opaque low-resistance conductor. The sensing electrode SE may be a grid pattern so as not to block the pixels of the display panel 10.

[0054] In another embodiment, the sensing electrode SE, the sensing line SL, the first and second pad electrodes PE1 and PE2, and the first and second pad lines PL1 and PL2 may be formed of different conductive layers connected by vias of an insulating layer. In an embodiment, the sensing electrode SE may be composed of a transparent conductor such as indium tin oxide (ITO), and may be in the form of a plate overlapped with a pixel of the display panel 10 in a plan view.

[0055] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the touch panel 50, at least two sensing electrodes SE having different electrical nodes may be located at each of the row (direction d2) and column (direction d1) of the sensing electrodes SE. That is, the sensing electrodes SE and the sensing lines SL of the touch panel 50 may be arranged in a self-capacitive manner.

[0056] The path determination unit PDU may connect the sensing lines SL and the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2. In an embodiment, the number of sensing lines SL may be greater than the number of pad lines PL1 and PL2, and the path determination unit PDU may be a multiplexer for connecting selected ones of the sensing lines SL to the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2. In an embodiment, the number of sensing lines SL and the number of pad lines PL1 and PL2 may be the same as each other, and the path determination unit PDU may include wires that connect the sensing lines SL to the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2, respectively. The path determination unit PDU, the sensing lines SL, and the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2 may represent the same components (wires).

[0057] exist Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 may be arranged in an edge region extending along one side from one corner of the substrate 51. For example, when the substrate 51 is configured in a square shape and thus has four corners, the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 may be arranged along one side in an edge region adjacent to a certain corner CC rather than adjacent to the other three corners. Figure 3 The first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 are eccentric to a certain corner CC located in the first opposite direction (−) d1 and the second direction d2 of the substrate 51 .

[0058] The second pad electrode PE2 adjacent to a certain corner CC may be connected to a second pad line PL2 extending in the first direction d1. The second pad line PL2 may have a straight line portion located in a second straight line area SA2. The second straight line area SA2 may have a rectangular form.

[0059] However, since the first pad electrode PE1 is far from a certain corner CC (i.e., in the second opposite direction (-) d2), the first pad electrode PE1 may be connected to a first pad line PL1 extending in the first direction d1 and angled (e.g., bent) with the first direction d1 at a first angle AG1. The first pad electrode PE1 is disposed farther from a certain corner CC than the second pad electrode PE2. The first pad line PL1 may have a straight line portion located in the first straight line area SA1, and may have a diagonal line portion located in the diagonal line area BA1. In order to minimize or reduce the area covered by the first pad line PL1, the first straight line area SA1 may be determined to be a triangular shape, and the diagonal line area BA1 may be determined to be an inverted triangular shape with one side corresponding to the hypotenuse of the first straight line area SA1. That is, as the first pad line PL1 is closer to the second pad line PL2, the straight line portion of the first pad line PL1 extending in the first direction d1 may be longer.

[0060] Reference Figure 4 , the first pad electrode PE1 and the second pad electrode PE2 may be arranged at the same interval PDW. However, the line width LW1 and the line interval DW1 of the first pad line PL1 including the straight line portion and the diagonal line portion may be geometrically smaller than the line width LW2 and the line interval DW2 of the second pad line PL2 including only the straight line portion. As the first angle AG1 becomes larger, the line width LW1 and the line interval DW1 of the first pad line PL1 may become smaller.

[0061] Therefore, the relatively thin first pad line PL1 is likely to have defects, such as due to disconnection in a lamination process, etc. In particular, these defects occur more frequently in a self-capacitance sensing type that requires a greater number of first and second pad lines PL1 and PL2 than in a mutual capacitance sensing type.

[0062] Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a pad line and a pad electrode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment, the substrate 51, the sensing electrodes SE, the sensing lines SL and the path determination unit PDU may be connected with Figure 3 and Figure 4 The substrate 51, the sensing electrodes SE, the sensing lines SL, and the path determination unit PDU in FIG. 1 are the same, and a repeated description thereof will be omitted.

[0064] exist Figure 5 and Figure 6In the embodiment of the present invention, the central pad electrode CPE, the left pad electrode LPE and the right pad electrode RPE are connected to the central pad line CPL, the left pad line LPL and the right pad line RPL, respectively. In addition, the pad electrodes CPE, LPE and RPE are arranged in the second direction d2, and the arrangement center of the pad electrodes CPE, LPE and RPE corresponds to the center of the row of the sensing electrodes SE in the second direction d2.

[0065] The touch panel 50 includes a central pad electrode CPE, a left pad electrode LPE located at the left side of the central pad electrode CPE, and a right pad electrode RPE located at the right side of the central pad electrode CPE. Here, the left side may refer to the second opposite direction (-) d2, and the right side may refer to the second direction d2. In an embodiment, the left pad electrode LPE and the right pad electrode RPE may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the central pad electrode CPE. The pad electrodes CPE, LPE, and RPE may be arranged in the second direction d2. In an embodiment, for example, the number of left pad electrodes LPE and the number of right pad electrodes RPE may be the same as each other.

[0066] In an embodiment, the pad electrodes CPE, LPE, and RPE may be arranged in an edge region extending along the side OS of the substrate 51, and may be arranged symmetrically from the center of the side OS. For example, the distance between the left vertex LV of the side OS (the corner of the substrate 51 located in the first opposite direction (-) d1 and the second opposite direction (-) d2 relative to the center of the substrate 51) and the leftmost pad electrode among the left pad electrodes LPE and the distance between the right vertex RV of the side OS (the corner of the substrate 51 located in the first opposite direction (-) d1 and the second direction d2 relative to the center of the substrate 51) and the rightmost pad electrode among the right pad electrodes RPE may be the same (completely the same or substantially the same) as each other.

[0067] The touch panel 50 includes a center pad line CPL, a left pad line LPL, and a right pad line RPL, the center pad line CPL extending from the center pad electrode CPE in the first direction d1, the left pad line LPL extending from the left pad electrode LPE in the first direction d1 and angled (e.g., bent) from the first direction d1 to the left at a first angle AG1', and the right pad line RPL extending from the right pad electrode RPE in the first direction d1 and angled (e.g., bent) from the first direction d1 to the right at a second angle AG2'. In an embodiment, for example, the angles AG1' and AG2' at which the left pad line LPL and the right pad line RPL are bent may be the same as each other.

[0068] The center cushion line CPL may have a straight portion located in the center straight area CSA. The center straight area CSA may have a rectangular form.

[0069] The left pad line LPL may have a straight line portion located in the left straight line area LSA, and may have a diagonal line portion located in the left diagonal area LBA. In order to minimize or reduce the area covered by the left pad line LPL, the left straight line area LSA may be determined to be a triangular shape, and the left diagonal area LBA may be determined to be an inverted triangular shape with one side corresponding to the hypotenuse of the left straight line area LSA. That is, as the left pad line LPL is closer to the center pad line CPL, the straight line portion of the left pad line LPL extending in the first direction d1 may be longer.

[0070] The right pad line RPL may have a straight line portion located in the right straight line area RSA, and may have a diagonal line portion located in the right diagonal line area RBA. In order to minimize or reduce the area covered by the right pad line RPL, the right straight line area RSA may be determined to be a triangular shape, and the right diagonal line area RBA may be determined to be an inverted triangular shape with one side corresponding to the hypotenuse of the right straight line area RSA. That is, as the right pad line RPL is closer to the center pad line CPL, the straight line portion of the right pad line RPL extending in the first direction d1 may be longer.

[0071] Reference Figure 6 , in an embodiment, the pad electrodes LPE, CPE, and RPE may be arranged at the same interval PDW'. In an embodiment, the line width LW1' and the line interval DW1' of the left pad line LPL including the straight line portion and the diagonal portion may be geometrically smaller than the line width LW3' and the line interval DW3' of the center pad line CPL including only the straight line portion. In an embodiment, as the first angle AG1' becomes larger, the line width LW1' and the line interval DW1' of the left pad line LPL may become smaller. In an embodiment, as the line width LW2' and the line interval DW2' of the right pad line RPL including the straight line portion and the diagonal portion may be geometrically smaller than the line width LW3' and the line interval DW3' of the center pad line CPL including only the straight line portion. In an embodiment, as the second angle AG2' becomes larger, the line width LW2' and the line interval DW2' of the right pad line RPL may become smaller.

[0072] However, because when Figure 3 When the number of pad electrodes PE1 and PE2 and the number of pad electrodes LPE, CPE and RPE are the same as each other, Figure 5 The length of the diagonal part of the outermost pad line is relatively short, so Figure 6 The first angle AG1' and the second angle AG2' are less than Figure 4 The first angle AG1 in.

[0073] Therefore, ensure Figure 6The line widths LW1' and LW2' and the line intervals DW1' and DW2' of the diagonal portions of the pad lines LPL and RPL are greater than Figure 4 The line width LW1 and the line interval DW1 of the diagonal portion of the first pad line PL1 are 0.1 mm / s. Therefore, even if a lamination process is performed, defects such as disconnection of the left pad line LPL and the right pad line RPL are less likely to occur.

[0074] In an embodiment, Figure 6 The pad lines LPL and RPL are bilaterally symmetrical and Figure 4 Compared with the first pad line PL1 and the second pad line PL2, the resistance distribution is uniform.

[0075] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] Reference Figure 7 , as an example, a component located below a node P to which the sensing electrode SE and the sensing line SL as described above are connected is shown. The node P may be located in the path determination unit PDU, may be located at a pad electrode, or may be determined differently depending on the product. Here, it is assumed that the node P is a pad electrode corresponding to the sensing electrode SE and the sensing line SL.

[0077] The touch driver IC TDI may include, for example, a pre-charging unit PCU, a touch detection unit TDU, and a driving capacitor Cdrv. One end of the driving capacitor Cdrv may be connected to a node P. The common capacitance CVcom is the capacitance between the common electrode of the display panel 10 and the sensing electrode SE. The parasitic capacitance CP is the capacitance between other conductive materials and the sensing electrode SE. The touch capacitance Ct is the capacitance between the body of the user such as a finger and the sensing electrode SE. The common electrode of the display panel 10 may be a cathode electrode when the display panel 10 is an organic light-emitting display panel, or may be a common electrode when the display panel 10 is a liquid crystal display panel. The parasitic capacitance CP may be a parasitic capacitance formed by adjacent sensing electrodes SE, adjacent sensing lines SL, and other adjacent conductors.

[0078] Here, a driving method of a touch panel will be described as an example.

[0079] The pre-charging unit PCU may initialize the node P with the pre-charging voltage during the first period. Therefore, the voltage of the node P may be constant regardless of whether the user has touched the sensing electrode SE in the previous period.

[0080] During the next second time period, the touch driver IC TDI may change the voltage of the node P by applying a specific voltage Vdrv at the other end of the driving capacitor Cdrv. When the user's finger is not present near the sensing electrode SE, the voltage of the node P determined by the capacitance of the driving capacitor Cdrv and the capacitances CVcom and CP may be referred to as a first voltage. When the user's finger is present near the sensing electrode SE, the voltage of the node P determined by the capacitance of the driving capacitor Cdrv and the capacitances CVcom, CP, and Ct may be referred to as a second voltage. Because the capacitance of the driving capacitor Cdrv and the capacitances CVcom and CP are fixed capacitances, the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage occurs according to the touch capacitance Ct. In an embodiment, the pre-charging unit PCU and the touch detection unit TDU may be in a floating state relative to the node P.

[0081] During the next third period, the touch detection unit TDU receives the voltage of the node P. The touch detection unit TDU may determine that there is no user's touch when the first voltage is input, or may determine that there is a user's touch when the second voltage is input.

[0082] The driving method of the touch panel described above is based on a self-capacitive sensing type. When the display device 1 is a foldable display device, it is important to reduce its thickness. However, the smaller the thickness of the display device 1, the more frequent the retransmission problem of generating an electric field from the transmitting electrode to the user's finger and generating an electric field again from the user's finger to the receiving electrode. Because the peak sensitivity is reduced, ghost touches are recognized.

[0083] However, in the touch panel 50 based on Figure 7 In the case of the self-capacitance sensing type in the embodiment, since there is no receiving electrode, the retransmission problem does not occur, making it possible to manufacture the display device 1 with a sufficiently small thickness.

[0084] In the touch panel and the display device including the same according to the present disclosure, the line width and line interval of the pad line can be effectively ensured.

[0085] Some example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted only in a general and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. In some cases, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon filing this application, unless otherwise expressly indicated, features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with a specific embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising: sensing electrodes, respectively connected to the sensing lines and arranged in a matrix form including columns in a first direction and rows in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; pad electrodes, respectively connected to the pad lines and arranged in the second direction, wherein arrangement centers of the pad electrodes correspond to centers of the rows of the sensing electrodes in the second direction; a path determination unit, connecting the sensing line and the pad line; membrane; a bottom metal layer disposed below a bottom surface of the membrane and connected to the pad electrode; a top metal layer located on a top surface of the film and connected to the bottom metal layer through vias of the film; and a touch driver integrated circuit, electrically connected to the top metal layer, The pad electrode includes: a central pad electrode; a left pad electrode located at the left side of the central pad electrode; and a right pad electrode located at the right side of the central pad electrode, and Wherein, the pad line includes: a center pad line, extending from the center pad electrode in the first direction; a left pad line, extending from the left pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the left side at a first angle; and a right pad line, extending from the right pad electrode in the first direction and angled from the first direction to the right side at a second angle.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein: The number of the left pad electrodes and the number of the right pad electrodes are identical to each other.

3. The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein: The first angle and the second angle are identical to each other.

4. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein: As the left pad line is closer to the center pad line, a straight line portion of the left pad line extending in the first direction is longer.

5. The touch panel according to claim 4, wherein: As the right pad line is closer to the center pad line, a straight line portion of the right pad line extending in the first direction is longer.

6. The touch panel according to claim 1, in, The center pad electrode, the left pad electrode and the right pad electrode are arranged at the same intervals, The width of the center pad line is greater than the width of the left pad line and the width of the right pad line, and Among them, the line spacing of the central pad line is greater than the line spacing of the left pad line and the line spacing of the right pad line.

7. The touch panel according to claim 1, in, The number of the sensing lines and the number of the pad lines are the same as each other, and The path determination unit includes conductive wires respectively connecting the sensing wires with the pad wires.

8. The touch panel according to claim 1, in, The number of the sensing lines is greater than the number of the pad lines, and The path determination unit comprises a multiplexer for connecting some of the sensing lines to the pad line.

9. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein: At least two of the sensing electrodes having different electrical nodes are located at each of the rows and the columns of the sensing electrodes.

10. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: A substrate supporting the bottom of the sensing electrode; as well as A protective layer covering the top of the sensing electrode, Wherein, the thickness of the protective layer is smaller than the thickness of the substrate.

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