Touch screen panel, laminate including the touch screen panel, and image display device

Abstract

This invention relates to a touchscreen panel, a laminate including the touchscreen panel, and an image display device. The touchscreen panel includes a first layer and a second layer on which touch sensor patterns are formed. The touchscreen panel has a folded region that is bent relative to a bending axis in a first direction, and the width of the first layer in the first direction is wider than that of the second layer in the first direction within the folded region. Therefore, the stress generated during bending or folding can be distributed to the ends of the first and second layers respectively, thereby achieving the effect that no cracks will appear even in repeated bending and folding environments, and the touch sensing sensitivity in the folded region will not decrease.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a touch screen panel, and more specifically, to a flexible touch screen panel, a laminate including the touch screen panel, and an image display device. Background Technology

[0002] A touchscreen panel is an input device that allows users to input commands by selecting instructions displayed on a screen, such as an image display device, using their hands or objects.

[0003] For this purpose, a touchscreen panel is positioned on the front of the image display device, and the contact points that come into direct contact with a person's hand or object are converted into electrical signals. Therefore, the instruction selected at the contact point is received as an input signal.

[0004] Methods for implementing touchscreen panels include resistive film methods, photosensitive methods, and capacitive methods. When a person's hand or an object touches the screen panel, the dual-capacitive touchscreen panel converts the contact position into an electrical signal by sensing the capacitance change formed between a conductive sensing pattern and another nearby sensing pattern or a ground electrode.

[0005] Typically, these touchscreen panels are attached to the outer surface of image display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light-emitting diode (OLEDs), and are commercially available in many cases. Therefore, touchscreen panels are required to have high transparency and thinness.

[0006] Furthermore, flexible image display devices have been developed in recent years. In this case, the touchscreen panel attached to the flexible image display device also needs to have flexible properties.

[0007] However, existing touchscreen panels are not designed with flexible usage environments, such as those involving repeated bending or folding, in mind, which leads to the problem of cracks forming in areas subject to repeated bending or folding.

[0008] In this regard, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0126007 discloses a touch screen panel that divides the touch sensing pattern into multiple regions based on the bending axis of the folded area. However, a drawback of dividing the touch sensing pattern into multiple regions is that the area of ​​the touch sensing pattern is smaller than the area of ​​other regions, resulting in reduced sensing sensitivity. Summary of the Invention

[0009] [Technical Issues]

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to provide a touch screen panel, which includes a first layer and a second layer having a touch sensor pattern formed thereon.

[0011] The purpose of this invention is to provide a touch screen panel that will not crack even in repeated bending and folding environments and whose touch sensing sensitivity in the folded area will not decrease.

[0012] The purpose of this invention is to provide a laminate including the touch screen panel and an image display device.

[0013] [Technical Solution]

[0014] The present invention provides a touch screen panel including a first layer and a second layer having a touch sensor pattern formed thereon. The touch screen panel has a folded region that is bent relative to a bending axis in a first direction, and the width of the first layer in the first direction in the folded region is wider than the width of the second layer in the first direction.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the two ends of the first layer in the first direction in the folded region may extend further than the two ends of the second layer in the first direction.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, the distance between the end of the first layer in the first direction and the end of the second layer in the first direction in the folded region can be 5 μm to 10 mm.

[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, the second layer may be located above or below the substrate.

[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, an adhesive layer is further included between the first layer and the second layer.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the first layer may be 10 to 60 μm.

[0020] In another embodiment of the invention, the first layer may be formed from any one selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cyclo olene polymer (COP), polyimide (PI), and triacetate cellulose (TAC).

[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, the second layer may be a polarizing film.

[0022] In another embodiment of the invention, the touchscreen panel may have multiple folding areas.

[0023] Furthermore, the present invention provides a laminate including the touch screen panel and an image display device.

[0024] [Invention Effects]

[0025] In the touchscreen panel according to the present invention, the width of the first layer in the folding region is wider than the width of the second layer, so that stress can be distributed to the ends of the first and second layers respectively when bending or folding. Therefore, a touchscreen panel that does not crack even in repeated bending and folding environments and whose touch sensing sensitivity in the folding region does not decrease can be realized. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic plan view of the first layer of a touchscreen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic plan view of a touch screen panel (the second layer is located above the first layer) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 3 It is Figure 2 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the touchscreen panel taken along the bending axis.

[0029] Figure 4 It is Figure 2 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the touchscreen panel taken along line A-A'.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic plan view of a touch screen panel (the second layer is located below the first layer) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 6 It is Figure 5 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the touchscreen panel taken along the bending axis.

[0032] Figure 7 It is Figure 5 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the touchscreen panel taken along line B-B'.

[0033] Figure 8 This is a schematic plan view of a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic plan view of the first layer of a touchscreen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] The best embodiment of the present invention

[0036] The present invention relates to a touch screen panel, a laminate including the touch screen panel, and an image display device, wherein the touch screen panel is characterized in that, in a touch screen panel having a folded area (FA), the width of the first layer in the folded area extends further than the width of the second layer.

[0037] This invention relates to a touchscreen panel, a laminate including the touchscreen panel, and an image display device. The touchscreen panel includes a first layer and a second layer with touch sensor patterns formed thereon. The touchscreen panel has a folded region that is bent relative to a folding axis in a first direction, and the width of the first layer in the first direction is wider than that of the second layer in the first direction within the folded region. Therefore, the stress generated during bending or folding can be distributed to the ends of the first and second layers, respectively, thereby enabling a touchscreen panel that does not crack even in repeated bending and folding environments and whose touch sensing sensitivity in the folded region does not decrease.

[0038] The advantages and features of the present invention, as well as methods for implementing them, will become apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms. These embodiments are provided to enhance the disclosure of the invention and to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the invention.

[0039] The shapes, dimensions, proportions, angles, quantities, etc., disclosed in the accompanying drawings to illustrate embodiments of the present invention are exemplary, and therefore the present invention is not limited to the content shown in the drawings. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements.

[0040] In describing this invention, detailed descriptions of known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that such detailed descriptions would unnecessarily obscure the spirit of the invention. When terms such as "comprising," "having," or "constitute" are used in this specification, additional parts may be added unless "only" is used. When a component is referred to as a singular, it includes the plural unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, when a part is referred to as being "connected" to another part, this includes not only "direct connection" but also "electrical connection" to other elements inserted between them.

[0041] When interpreting components, even if not explicitly stated separately, it is interpreted as including a margin of error. In describing positional relationships, for example, when the positional relationship between two parts is described as "above," "over," "below," "side," etc., one or more other components may be placed between the two parts unless "right there" or "directly" is used.

[0042] In the description of the embodiments, terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another. In addition, the component names used in the following description may be chosen for ease of writing the specification and may differ from the component names of the actual product.

[0043] The various features of the embodiments of the present invention can be partially or wholly combined or integrated with each other, and technically can be various interlocks and drives. Furthermore, the various embodiments can be implemented independently of each other, or they can be implemented together in conjunction with each other.

[0044] Specific embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following drawings, which are attached to this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are used to further understand the technical spirit of the invention together with the foregoing description. Therefore, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the matters described in the drawings.

[0045] <Touchscreen panel>

[0046] The touchscreen panel of the present invention includes a first layer and a second layer, and has a folded area. Furthermore, the touchscreen panel may have a flat area and a folded area. By making the width of the first layer in a first direction wider than the width of the second layer in the first direction within the folded area, cracks at the ends of the touchscreen panel are prevented, thereby achieving a desired effect.

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic plan view of the first layer of a touchscreen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 For ease of explanation, only the first layer 100 is shown in the components of the touchscreen panel, and the second layer 200 is omitted. Figure 1 As shown, the touch screen panel of the present invention may have a folded area FA and a flat area NFA, and in the folded area FA, the width of the first layer 100 in the x-axis direction is wider than the width of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction.

[0048] In existing touchscreen panels, the width of the first layer 100 in the x-axis direction is the same as the width of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction, and the two ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200 are aligned side by side. However, when such existing touchscreen panels are exposed to repeated bending or folding environments, cracks appear at the two ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200 located in the bending or folding area FA, and there is also the problem that the cracks generated at the ends grow inward towards the inside of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200.

[0049] In existing touch screen panels, when the two ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200 are formed side by side and aligned, the stress generated during bending or folding is concentrated at the aligned ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200, causing cracks to appear in the corresponding parts.

[0050] Therefore, in the touchscreen panel of the present invention, the width of the first layer 100 in the x-axis direction in the folded region FA is wider than the width of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction, thereby solving the problem of cracks appearing in existing touchscreen panels. In this case, an extension region EA can be formed in the folded region FA where at least one end of the first layer 100 extends further than one end of the second layer 200.

[0051] That is, in this invention, the extended region (or extended area) EA refers to the area in the folded region FA where one end of the first layer 100 in the x-axis direction extends further than one end of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction.

[0052] Thus, when the first layer 100 has an extension region EA in the folded region FA, the end of the first layer 100 can be located further outward than the end of the second layer 200. Therefore, the stress generated during bending or folding of the folded region FA can be distributed to the ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200 respectively, thereby preventing cracks from occurring due to stress concentration at the respective ends of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200.

[0053] Furthermore, a feature of the present invention is that, in the folded region FA, one end of the first layer 100 extends further in the x-axis direction than one end of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction. In other words, in the present invention, in the folded region FA, the first layer 100 may include an extended region EA on one or both sides in the x-axis direction.

[0054] In particular, when the first layer 100 has an extension region EA on both sides of the folded region FA, it can prevent cracks from appearing at both ends of the first layer 100, which is therefore more preferred.

[0055] The length of the extension region EA in the x-axis direction, i.e., the distance between one end of the first layer 100 and one end of the second layer 200, is not particularly limited, but based on the extension area EA on one side, it can be from 5 μm to 10 mm, preferably from 10 μm to 5 mm, and more preferably from 50 μm to 500 μm. When the length of the extension region EA in the x-axis direction meets the above range, the stress generated during bending or folding can be more effectively distributed, and the bezel area of ​​the image display device can be adjusted to a suitable width, which is therefore preferred. In particular, when the length of the extension region EA in the x-axis direction exceeds 10 mm, the area of ​​the bezel area increases with the increase of the area of ​​the first layer 100 in the folded area FA, thereby reducing the proportion of the screen in the image display device.

[0056] In this regard, it can be confirmed by referring to the experimental results of the present invention that when the first layer 100 in the folded region FA has an extension region EA on one or both sides, cracks can be prevented from appearing at the end of the first layer 100 with the extension region EA.

[0057] Therefore, it can be concluded that when the width of the first layer in the x-axis direction in the folded area is wider than the width of the second layer in the x-axis direction, and when the two ends of the first layer in the x-axis direction in the folded area extend further than the two ends of the second layer in the x-axis direction, cracks can be prevented from appearing at the ends of the touch screen panel.

[0058] In this invention, the folding region (or bending region) FA is the area where the touchscreen panel folds when the image display device is folded. The folding region FA can fold inward or outward based on the folding axis.

[0059] In this invention, as an example, the bending axis in the x-axis direction is located within the folded region FA, and the flat region NFA extends from the folded region FA along the y-axis direction and is perpendicular to the bending axis, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0060] Since the length of the folded area FA in the y-axis direction can vary depending on the bending radius R when the actual image display device is folded, there are no particular limitations. For example, the length of the folded area FA in the y-axis direction can be at least equivalent to 1 / 2 of the circumference along the bending radius R, and can be up to 100% of the total length of the touch screen panel in the y-axis direction.

[0061] In this invention, the flat area (or non-folding area) NFA is the area of ​​the touchscreen panel that is not folded when the image display device is folded. That is, the flat area NFA can be the area of ​​the touchscreen panel that remains flat when the image display device is folded.

[0062] The flat region NFA can be located on either side of the folded region FA, or it can be located on either side of the folded region FA. That is, the flat region NFA can be a region extending in the y-axis direction relative to the bending axis. In this case, the folded region FA can be defined between the flat regions NFA, and it can be defined on either side of the flat regions NFA. For example, when the folded region FA is defined between the flat regions NFA, the flat regions NFA can face each other when the touch screen panel is folded inward relative to the bending axis.

[0063] For the first layer 100 included in the touchscreen panel of the present invention, there are no particular limitations on the substrate or film material commonly used in touchscreen panels, and flexible materials are preferred. For example, it can be formed from one or more of the following substances: cyclic olefin polymer (COP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyallyl compounds, polyimide (PI), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), polyethersulfone (PES), cellulose triacetate (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc., preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cyclic olefin polymer (COP), polyimide (PI), and cellulose triacetate (TAC).

[0064] The thickness of the first layer can be 10 to 60 μm, preferably 20 to 50 μm. When the thickness of the first layer meets the above-defined range, it can be fully used as a support layer when generating the touch sensor pattern, and the possibility of cracking due to increased stress applied to the substrate layer when bending or folding can be reduced, so it is preferred.

[0065] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first layer 100 may refer to a display panel of an image display device on which a touchscreen panel is laminated. Additionally, the first layer 100 may refer to an optical layer or optical film included in the image display device, such as a delay layer or a hard coating.

[0066] In the touchscreen panel of the present invention, a touch sensor pattern 110 is formed above or below the first layer 100. As one embodiment of the present invention, such as... Figure 1As shown, a touch sensing pattern 110 can be formed above the first layer 100. The touch sensing pattern 110 may include a first touch sensing pattern 111 and a second touch sensing pattern 112. The first touch sensor pattern 111 and the second touch sensor pattern 112 can be formed densely and regularly above the first layer 100, and the first touch sensor pattern 111 and the second touch sensor pattern 112 can be separated from each other. The first touch sensor pattern 111 can be formed in multiple rows above the first layer 100, and the second touch sensor pattern 112 can be formed in multiple columns above the first layer 100, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] The first touch sensing pattern 111 and the second touch sensing pattern 112 may be located on the same layer, but are not limited thereto; the first touch sensing pattern 111 and the second touch sensing pattern 112 may be located on different layers.

[0068] Each of the first touch sensor pattern 111 and the second touch sensor pattern 112 may have a rectangular or rhomboid shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes to improve the sensitivity of the touch screen panel.

[0069] The touch sensor pattern 110 may include a transparent conductive oxide or a metal. The transparent conductive oxide may include, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), cadmium tin oxide (CTO), etc. The metal may include, for example, silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), vanadium (V), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), or alloys thereof.

[0070] Furthermore, when multiple touch sensor patterns 110 are included, an insulating layer (not shown) may be further included to insulate them from each other. The insulating layer can be made of insulating materials known in the art without limitation. For example, metal oxides (such as silicon oxide) or photosensitive resin compositions or thermosetting resin compositions containing acrylic resins can be used. Alternatively, the insulating layer can be made of materials such as silicon oxide (SiO2). x Inorganic matter is formed, and in this case, it can be formed by methods such as deposition and sputtering.

[0071] like Figure 1As shown, each of the first touch sensor pattern 111 forming multiple rows and the second touch sensor pattern 112 forming multiple columns is connected to a connecting line 120 formed on the first layer 100, and the end of the connecting line 120 may form a pad portion 130. In addition, the pad portion 130 may be connected to an external driving circuit.

[0072] The second layer 200 included in the touchscreen panel of the present invention can be attached to the first layer 100 via an adhesive layer (not shown). The adhesive layer shown is not particularly limited, but may include optically clear adhesive (OCA), optically clear adhesive resin (OCR), pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), etc. Furthermore, the second layer 200 can be as follows: Figures 2 to 4 As shown, it is located above the first layer 100, or as... Figures 5 to 7 It is located below the first layer 100.

[0073] The second layer 200 of the present invention may be a thin glass layer and / or optical film commonly used in the field of image display devices, and may include flexible types.

[0074] The thin glass layer can be made of a glass material including silicates. In one embodiment of the invention, the glass material can further include various materials to have excellent durability, surface smoothness, and transparency. For example, the thin glass layer can be composed of alkali metal-containing glasses such as aluminosilicates, borosilicates, and boroaluminosilicates, alkali-free glasses, and chemically tempered glass, but is not limited thereto, and can be changed to various other glass materials.

[0075] Chemically strengthened glass is obtained by chemically strengthening ordinary glass, resulting in glass with higher strength. As a method for chemically strengthening ordinary glass, any known method can be used without limitation. Specifically, one or more methods selected from the following can be used: a method of replacing small ionic radius atoms with large ionic radius atoms; a method of replacing small ionic radius atoms with large ionic radius atoms using the viscous flow of glass; a method of utilizing the difference in thermal expansion coefficients; and a method of crystallizing the glass.

[0076] The thickness range of the thin glass layer can be set to have flexible properties. In addition, the thickness range of the thin glass layer can be set according to the bending radius (R) of the actual image display device to a thickness range in which the repulsive force does not increase during deformation when folded.

[0077] Optical films can be, for example, cyclic olefin polymers (COP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyallyl compounds, polyimide (PI), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), polyethersulfone (PES), cellulose triacetate (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefin copolymers (COC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc., preferably selected from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cyclic olefin polymers (COP), polyimide (PI), and cellulose triacetate (TAC).

[0078] Furthermore, the second layer 200 may be an optical film included in the image display device, such as a delay layer, a hard coating, a protective film, a low-reflection layer, an anti-reflection layer, a liquid crystal coating, a polarizing film, a retardation film, etc., preferably a polarizing film.

[0079] Polarizing films can be, for example, films made by stretching a polyvinyl alcohol film and forming a protective layer on at least one surface of a polarizer dyed with iodine or dichroic dyes; films made by aligning liquid crystals to have the properties of a polarizer; and films made by coating a transparent film with an alignment resin such as vinyl alcohol and then stretching and dyeing it; TAC (triacetyl cellulose)-based or COP (cyclic olefin polymer)-based films, etc., but are not limited thereto. The polarizing film may include a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protective film, and at least one support may be attached to both sides of it. The support may include cellulose triacetate (TAC), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), wide-viewing-angle-TAC (WV-TAC), etc. In this invention, polarizing films include both types that are integrated with the touchscreen panel and types that are separate.

[0080] A polarizing film prevents external light reflected from various electrodes or wires located below or above it, including in display panels, touch screen panels, etc., from being visually recognized. That is, light that is incident from the outside into the image display device, passes through the polarizing film, is reflected by the electrodes or wires below it, and then re-incidentally onto the polarizing film, will cause destructive interference with the light that was just incident from the outside onto the polarizing film, and therefore may not be visually recognized from the outside.

[0081] The polarizing film can be a circular polarizing film, in which case it can include a linear polarizer and a quarter-wave plate.

[0082] The second layer 200 may include pressing portion holes (not shown) that expose the pad portion 130 of the touch screen panel.

[0083] Figures 2 to 4 These are schematic plan and cross-sectional views of a touchscreen panel according to an embodiment in which the second layer 200 is located above the first layer 100.

[0084] Figure 2 The embodiment shown is characterized in that the second layer 200 is located above the first layer 100 and has an extension region EA in the folded region FA in which the two ends of the first layer 100 extend further outward than the two ends of the second layer 200.

[0085] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 The cross-sectional view of the folded region FA taken from the folding axis shows that the two ends of the first layer 100 and the two ends of the second layer 200 are not on the same plane and are spaced apart from each other.

[0086] Figure 4 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the flat region NFA intercepted by line A-A'. It can be seen that, compared to... Figure 3 The folded regions FA shown are different, with the two ends of the first layer 100 and the two ends of the second layer 200 located on the same plane.

[0087] Figures 5 to 7 These are schematic plan and cross-sectional views of a touchscreen panel according to another embodiment, wherein the second layer 200 is located below the first layer 100.

[0088] Figure 5 The embodiment shown is characterized in that the second layer 200 is located below the first layer 100 and has an extension region EA in the folded region FA in which the two ends of the first layer 100 extend further outward than the two ends of the second layer 200.

[0089] Figure 6 It is along Figure 5 The cross-sectional view of the folded region FA taken from the folding axis shows that the two ends of the first layer 100 and the two ends of the second layer 200 are not on the same plane and are separated from each other by a gap EA.

[0090] Figure 7 It is along Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the flat region NFA along line B-B'. It can be seen that, compared to... Figure 6 The folded regions FA shown are different, with the two ends of the first layer 100 and the two ends of the second layer 200 located on the same plane.

[0091] Figure 8 This is a schematic plan view of a touch screen panel according to another embodiment, wherein the second layer 200 is located above the first layer 100.

[0092] like Figure 8As shown, the touch screen panel of the present invention can be divided into a first extension area EA-1 formed on one side of the first layer 100 and a second extension area EA-2 formed on the other side of the first layer 100. The widths of the first extension area EA-1 and the second extension area EA-2 can be the same or different.

[0093] Furthermore, the touch panel according to the invention may have multiple bending axes and correspondingly multiple folding regions FA. In this case, each of the multiple folding regions FA has an extension region EA at one or both ends of the first layer 100.

[0094] Figure 9 This is a plan view schematically illustrating a substrate for a touchscreen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 different, Figure 9 The first layer 100 shown has two folded regions FA and two bending axes, namely a first bending axis (bending axis-1) and a second bending axis (bending axis-2). Furthermore, each of the two folded regions FA has an extension region EA at both ends of the first layer 100. The two folded regions FA can be folded inwards or outwards independently.

[0095] <Manufacturing Method of Touch Screen Panel>

[0096] The present invention includes a method for manufacturing the above-described touch screen panel.

[0097] Referring to the above Figures 1 to 7 The manufacturing method of the touch screen panel of the present invention is described herein. Components identical to those in the above embodiments are labeled with the same reference numerals, and identical descriptions are omitted. Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the touch screen panel of the present invention may include all processes commonly used in the art.

[0098] Specifically, a method for manufacturing a touchscreen panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: forming a touch sensor pattern 110 on a first layer 100; and laminating a second layer 200. The step of forming the touch sensor pattern 110 on the first layer 100 includes: forming the first layer 100 to form an extended region EA. The step of forming the first layer 100 may be a step of cutting the first layer 100 into a desired shape. The second layer 200 may be laminated on top of or below the first layer 100.

[0099] Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a touchscreen panel according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the following steps: forming a touch sensor pattern 110 on a first layer 100; and laminating a second layer 200, and after the step of laminating the second layer 200, a step of forming the first layer 100 to form an extended region EA may be included. The step of forming the first layer 100 may be a step of cutting the first layer 100 into a desired shape.

[0100] <Laminated materials and image display devices>

[0101] The present invention provides a laminate comprising the aforementioned touchscreen panel and a window bonded to the touchscreen panel by an adhesive layer. The window may include a hard coating.

[0102] To improve abrasion resistance or prevent contamination from sebum, it is preferable to laminate an abrasion-resistant layer onto the visually visible side of the hard coating.

[0103] The wear-resistant layer comprises a structure derived from fluorine compounds. The fluorine compounds preferably have silicon atoms, and the silicon atoms have hydrolyzable functional groups such as alkoxy or halogen groups.

[0104] Hydrolyzable functional groups can form a coating film through dehydration condensation reaction, or react with active hydrogen on the substrate surface to improve the adhesion of the wear-resistant layer.

[0105] When the fluorinated compound has a perfluoroalkyl or perfluoropolyether structure, it is preferred from the viewpoint of being able to impart water resistance, and particularly preferred is a fluorinated polyorganosiloxane compound having a perfluoropolyether structure and a long-chain alkyl group having 4 or more carbon atoms.

[0106] Two or more compounds can be used as fluorine compounds. Preferably, the compound further comprises a fluorinated organosiloxane compound containing an alkylene group having two or more carbon atoms and a perfluoroalkylene group.

[0107] The thickness of the wear-resistant layer is, for example, 1 to 20 nm. Furthermore, the wear-resistant layer is waterproof, with a water contact angle of, for example, 110 to 125°. The contact angle hysteresis and dynamic contact angle, measured by the sliding contact angle measurement method, are 3 to 20° and 2 to 50°, respectively.

[0108] In addition, as a wear-resistant layer, additives may be included without compromising the effects of the present invention, such as silanol condensation catalysts, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, ultraviolet absorbers, light stabilizers, antibacterial agents, solubilizers, pigments, flame retardants, antistatic agents, etc.

[0109] The abrasion-resistant layer and the hard coating layer may have a primer layer in between. The primer may include, for example, an epoxy compound that is a UV curing agent, a heat curing agent, a moisture curing agent, or a two-component curing agent.

[0110] In addition, polyamic acid or silane coupling agents can be used as primers. The thickness of the primer layer is, for example, 0.001 to 2 μm.

[0111] As a method for manufacturing a wear-resistant layer-hard coating laminate, after forming a primer layer on the hard coating by applying, drying, and curing a primer as needed, a wear-resistant layer can be formed by applying and drying a composition containing a fluorine-based compound (a wear-resistant coating composition). Examples of coating methods include dip coating, roller coating, bar coating, spin coating, spray coating, mold coating, and gravure coating. Furthermore, before applying the primer or the wear-resistant coating composition, it is preferable to perform hydrophilic treatments on the coating surface, such as primer treatment, corona treatment, or ultraviolet treatment.

[0112] The wear-resistant layer-hard coating laminate can be formed directly on the window or laminated on a separate transparent substrate, and can be bonded to the window with an adhesive or bonded to the window using an adhesive.

[0113] Furthermore, the present invention provides an image display device including the above-described touch screen panel.

[0114] In this invention, the configuration of the image display device can include any configuration commonly used in the art. For example, in addition to the aforementioned touchscreen panel, the image display device may also include a window and / or a display panel, and the arrangement order of the touchscreen panel, window, and display panel is not particularly limited. For example, the touchscreen panel can be inserted between the window and the display panel of the image display device. In this case, an adhesive layer can be provided between the touchscreen panel and the window or between the touchscreen panel and the display panel, and the window or display panel can be bonded to the touchscreen panel respectively through the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer can be applied in the same manner as described in the touchscreen panel section.

[0115] Display panels can be liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, field emission display (FED) panels, plasma display panels (PDP) panels, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, etc.

[0116] By dispersing the stress generated during bending or folding in the image display device according to the invention, the effect of preventing cracks even in environments with repeated bending and folding, and ensuring that the touch sensing sensitivity in the folded area does not decrease, is achieved. Therefore, the image display device of the present invention is particularly suitable for flexible image display devices.

[0117] Although not shown in a separate figure, a flexible image display device with touch screen functionality is completed by attaching a touch screen panel to the outer surface of the flexible image display device.

[0118] The structure described above prevents cracking even when the touchscreen panel according to the invention is exposed to repeated bending or folding environments. However, the invention is not limited thereto; the touchscreen panel can be applied to curved image display devices or flat image display devices.

[0119] Embodiments of the present invention

[0120] Preferred embodiments are provided below to aid in understanding the invention, but these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the appended claims. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments within the scope of the invention and the technical concept, and such changes and modifications naturally fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0121] Examples and Comparative Examples

[0122] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 8 The touchscreen panel is manufactured by laminating a second layer 200 onto a first layer 100 having a first extension region EA-1 and a second extension region EA-2 on the left and right sides of the folded region FA, respectively. In this case, the length of each of the first extension region EA-1 and the second extension region EA-2 in the x-axis direction is shown in Table 1 below.

[0123] In Table 1 below, "the sum of the extended areas" refers to the sum of the lengths of the first extended area EA-1 and the second extended area EA-2 in the x-axis direction, and is equal to the length difference between the widths of the first layer 100 and the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction within the folded area FA. That is, when "the sum of the extended areas" is positive, the width of the first layer 100 in the x-axis direction within the folded area FA is wider than the width of the second layer 200 in the x-axis direction.

[0124] Experimental Example: Crack Initiation Assessment

[0125] For the touchscreen panels manufactured according to the above embodiments and comparative examples, it was checked whether cracks appeared under each of the following conditions: 100 times, 10,000 times, and 200,000 repeated folding within 180°. For each of the above conditions, a total of 3 checks were performed to check for cracks, and the results were evaluated according to the following criteria, as shown in Table 1 below.

[0126] <Crack Incidence Assessment Criteria>

[0127] ◎: No cracks appeared after being repeatedly folded inwards by 180° 200,000 times.

[0128] ○: No cracks appeared after being repeatedly folded inward at 180° angles 10,000 times.

[0129] △: No cracks appeared after being folded inward 180° 100 times.

[0130] X: Cracks appeared under conditions of repeated 180° inward folding 100 times.

[0131] Table 1

[0132]

[0133]

[0134] Referring to the results in Table 1, it can be seen that in Examples 1 to 21, where the sum of the extended regions is positive (i.e., the width of the first layer in the x-axis direction is wider than the width of the second layer in the x-axis direction within the folded region), no cracks appear at at least one end of the folded region. Furthermore, it can be seen that in Examples 1 to 3, 7 to 17, and 19 to 21, where both the first extended region EA-1 and the second extended region EA-2 are positive (i.e., the two ends of the first layer in the x-axis direction within the folded region extend further than the two ends of the second layer in the x-axis direction), no cracks appear at either end of the folded region.

[0135] In particular, it can be seen that when the x-axis length of the extended region is 10 μm or more, no cracks appear even when folded repeatedly in 180° 10,000 times; when the x-axis length of the extended region is 50 μm or more, no cracks appear even when folded repeatedly in 180° 200,000 times; and no cracks appear even when repeated 200,000 times, thus achieving excellent results.

[0136] Furthermore, it can be seen that in Comparative Example 1, where the two ends of the first and second layers are arranged side by side without an extended region, cracks appear at the two ends of the folded region.

[0137] [Explanation of Labels in the Attached Image]

[0138] 100: First layer

[0139] 110: Touch sensor pattern

[0140] 111: First touch sensor pattern

[0141] 112: Pattern of the second touch sensor

[0142] 120: Connecting cable

[0143] 130: Solder pad section

[0144] 200: Second layer.

Claims

1. A touch screen panel comprising a first layer and a second layer formed with a touch sensor pattern, the touch screen panel has a folding area, the folding area is bent with respect to a bending axis in a first direction, and in the folding area, a width of the first layer in the first direction is wider than a width of the second layer in the first direction, and both end portions of the first layer in the first direction extend more than both end portions of the second layer in the first direction. 2.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein a separation distance between the end portion of the first layer in the first direction and the end portion of the second layer in the first direction in the folding area is 5 μm to 10 mm. 3.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is positioned above or below the first layer. 4.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive layer is further included between the first layer and the second layer. 5.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the first layer is 10 to 60 μm. 6.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is formed of any one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, a cyclic olefin polymer, polyimide, and cellulose triacetate. 7.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is a polarizing film. 8.The touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen panel has a plurality of folding areas. 9.A laminate comprising: the touch screen panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and an adhesive layer adhered to the touch screen panel. 10.The laminate according to claim 9, wherein an outermost surface of a visual side in the laminate is an abrasion resistant layer. 11.The laminate according to claim 10, wherein the abrasion resistant layer further has a hard coat layer on a surface opposite to the visual side. 12.An image display device comprising the touch screen panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

13. The image display device according to claim 12, wherein further comprising: a window adhered to one surface of the touch screen panel through an adhesive layer; and a display panel adhered to the other surface of the touch screen panel through an adhesive layer. 14.The image display device according to claim 13, wherein the window has a hard coat layer.

Images