Touch panel with improved visibility sensing electrode

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch panel for detecting capacitive touch input from a human finger or a touch input tool having similar conductive characteristics, and more particularly, to a touch panel having sensing electrodes with improved visibility. A touch panel having sensing electrodes with improved visibility includes: a plurality of sensing electrodes formed of a transparent conductive material for generating touch capacitance (Ct) when a touch method approaches or touches; and a plurality of sensor signal lines transmitting touch signals generated by the sensing electrodes to the touch IC, in which the sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines are formed in a repeated zigzag shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a touch panel for detecting capacitive touch input from a human finger or a touch input tool having similar conductive properties, and more particularly, to a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a touch panel is attached to a display such as an LCD (liquid crystal display), a PDP (plasma display panel), an OLED (organic light emitting diode), and an AMOLED (active matrix organic light emitting diode), and is used as an input device that generates a signal corresponding to the touch position when touched by an object such as a finger or a stylus. Touch panels are used in a wide range of fields, including small mobile terminals, industrial terminals, and DIDs (digital information devices), and their application range is expanding.

[0003] Figure 1 is a view illustrating an example of a sensing electrode pattern of a typical capacitive touch panel.

[0004] A capacitive touch panel refers to a device that generates a predetermined capacitance between its touch pattern and a human finger or a touch input tool having similar conductive properties to determine the presence of a touch based on a voltage change on the generated capacitance.

[0005] As the resolution requirements for sensing electrodes in devices such as smartphones increase, the sensing electrodes that make up the touch panel have become more complex and diverse in order to accurately and quickly determine the touch location.

[0006] Figure 1 The sensing electrode pattern shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a typical capacitive touch pattern, wherein a unit pattern (100) is formed by joining two pieces (110a, 110b) (see FIG. Figure 1 (a)), or the unit pattern is formed by an overall geometric shape (120 or 140) (see Figure 1 (b) and Figure 1 (c)).

[0007] Typical touch panels, such as Figure 1 Those shown, higher resolution can be achieved by reducing the size of the unit patterns (100, 120, and 140) themselves as needed.

[0008] Figure 2 is a view illustrating another example of a sensing electrode pattern of a typical capacitive touch panel.

[0009] refer to Figure 2, each column of the touch panel is formed by repeatedly arranging the sensing electrodes of the first pattern 200 - 1 and the sensing electrodes of the second pattern 200 - 2 in a vertically interlocked shape, with their phases shifted by 180 degrees relative to each other.

[0010] like Figure 2 As shown, a row is formed by interlocking the first pattern and the second pattern of similar shape with horizontally opposite phases to each other, and then repeatedly arranging the interlocking pattern in the direction indicated by the arrow (210), that is, the longitudinal direction. Subsequently, the sensing electrodes of the touch panel are formed by repeatedly arranging a plurality of rows formed in the same manner as above.

[0011] However, if Figure 2 The sensing electrode pattern shown may result in reduced visibility of the touch panel. Summary of the invention

[0012] Technical issues

[0013] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility.

[0014] Technical Solution

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility includes:

[0016] A plurality of sensing electrodes formed of a transparent conductive material to generate a touch capacitance (Ct) when a touch device approaches or touches the touch device; and

[0017] Multiple sensor signal lines transmit the touch signals generated by the sensing electrodes to the touch IC.

[0018] The sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines are both formed in a repeated sawtooth shape.

[0019] Preferably,

[0020] Each sensing electrode consists of:

[0021] A first sub-pattern and a third sub-pattern, each formed by connecting two ">"-shaped patterns in a longitudinal direction;

[0022] The second sub-pattern and the fourth sub-pattern are formed by horizontally flipping the first sub-pattern and the third sub-pattern by 180 degrees respectively;

[0023] a first combined pattern, wherein the first sub-pattern and the second sub-pattern are connected at two points; and

[0024] The second combined pattern, wherein the third sub-pattern and the fourth sub-pattern are connected at two points, wherein the first combined pattern and the second combined pattern are connected at one point.

[0025] Preferably,

[0026] Each sensing electrode includes

[0027] The four sub-patterns are connected in the transverse direction and each is formed by connecting two ">"-shaped patterns in the longitudinal direction, and each of the four sub-patterns is connected to another sub-pattern adjacent thereto through a connection point.

[0028] Preferably,

[0029] Each sensor signal line is formed by repeating a ">"-shaped pattern in the longitudinal direction.

[0030] Preferably,

[0031] The transparent conductive material includes one of indium tin oxide (ITO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), amorphous tin oxide (ATO), and indium zinc oxide (IZO).

[0032] Preferably,

[0033] Touch capacitance ranges from a few fF (femto Farads) to tens of μF (micro Farads).

[0034] Beneficial Effects

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility, wherein the sensing electrode and the sensor signal line are both formed in a uniform zigzag shape, thereby effectively improving the visibility of the touch panel.

[0036] Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility, which ensures a reduced pattern area, thereby reducing the influence of noise. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Figure 1 is a view illustrating an example of a sensing electrode pattern of a typical capacitive touch panel.

[0038] Figure 2 is a view illustrating another example of a sensing electrode pattern of a typical capacitive touch panel.

[0039] Figure 3 is a plan view of a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 4 is a plan view of a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] For a fuller understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and objectives attained by practicing the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and a description thereof.

[0042] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same elements will be represented by the same reference numerals in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0043] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] Here, the touch panel refers to a capacitive touch panel, which is a device that generates a predetermined capacitance between its touch pattern and a human finger or a touch input tool having similar conductive properties, and detects the presence of a touch based on a voltage change of the generated capacitance.

[0045] Here, visibility refers to the degree to which the sensor electrodes and sensor signal lines formed on the display are directly visible to the naked eye of the user.

[0046] Here, improving visibility means making the sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines less visible to the naked eye of a user.

[0047] Furthermore, improving visibility means reducing image distortion (Moire) caused by interference of sensor electrodes and sensor signal lines formed on the display with light emitted from the display screen.

[0048] Figure 3 is a plan view of a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] A touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility according to the present invention includes a plurality of sensing electrodes (310) and a plurality of sensor signal lines (330).

[0050] The sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines are formed of a transparent conductive material.

[0051] The transparent conductive material may include, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), carbon nanotube (CNT), antimony tin oxide (ATO), or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

[0052] The sensing electrodes of the touch panel are arranged in a matrix of multiple rows and multiple columns.

[0053] The touch panel includes a plurality of sensing electrodes (310, 320 in the first row, etc.) arranged in a matrix. The sensing electrodes are formed of a transparent conductive material so as to generate a touch capacitance (Ct) when a touch tool approaches or touches.

[0054] A touch panel according to the present invention includes a plurality of sensor signal lines (330).

[0055] The sensor signal lines transmit touch signals generated by the sensing electrodes to a touch IC (not shown) to determine the presence of a touch and extract touch coordinates.

[0056] Here, the touch signal is a voltage signal across the touch capacitor (Ct).

[0057] The touch pattern of the sensing electrode formed of a conductive material can generate a touch capacitance (Ct) when a touch tool approaches or touches. The touch capacitance generated when the touch tool approaches or touches is in the range of several fF (femtofarad) to tens of μF (microfarad).

[0058] The sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines according to the present invention are both formed in a repeated zigzag shape. The zigzag shape forming the sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines has a smaller pattern area, thereby improving the visibility of the touch panel and significantly reducing the influence of noise.

[0059] refer to Figure 3 , each sensing electrode includes several sub-patterns and a combination pattern in which the sub-patterns are connected to each other.

[0060] The first sub-pattern (310-1) of the sensing electrode (310) according to the present invention is formed by connecting two ">"-shaped patterns in the longitudinal direction. The third sub-pattern (310-3) of the sensing electrode (310) is formed in the same manner as the first sub-pattern (310-1).

[0061] The second sub-pattern (310-2) of the sensing electrode (310) is formed by horizontally flipping the first sub-pattern (310-1) by 180 degrees.

[0062] The fourth sub-pattern (310-4) of the sensing electrode (310) is formed by horizontally flipping the third sub-pattern (310-3) by 180 degrees.

[0063] The first sub-pattern (310-1) and the second sub-pattern (310-2) are connected at two points to form a first combined pattern.

[0064] The third sub-pattern (310-3) and the fourth sub-pattern (310-4) are connected at two points to form a second combined pattern. The first combined pattern and the second combined pattern are connected at one point.

[0065] like Figure 3As shown, each sensing electrode includes four sub-patterns, wherein the sub-patterns are connected in pairs to form two combined patterns.

[0066] Each sensor signal line is formed by repeating a ">"-shaped pattern in the longitudinal direction.

[0067] Figure 4 is a plan view of a touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] refer to Figure 4 The sensing electrode (410) is formed by connecting four sub-patterns in the horizontal direction, wherein each sub-pattern is formed by connecting two ">"-shaped patterns in the vertical direction.

[0069] Each of the four sub-patterns is connected to another adjacent sub-pattern through a connection point.

[0070] The sensor signal line (440) is formed by repeating a ">"-shaped pattern in the longitudinal direction.

[0071] Although some embodiments have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and drawings, and that various modifications, changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A touch panel having a sensing electrode with improved visibility, comprising: A plurality of sensing electrodes formed of a transparent conductive material, for generating a touch capacitance (Ct) when a touch device approaches or touches the touch device; as well as A plurality of sensor signal lines are used to transmit the touch signals generated by the sensor electrodes to the touch IC, The sensing electrodes and the sensor signal lines are both formed in a repeated zigzag shape.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the sensing electrodes comprises: A first sub-pattern and a third sub-pattern, each formed by connecting two ">"-shaped patterns in a longitudinal direction; The second sub-pattern and the fourth sub-pattern are respectively formed by horizontally flipping the first sub-pattern and the third sub-pattern by 180 degrees; a first combined pattern, wherein the first sub-pattern and the second sub-pattern are connected at two points; and A second combined pattern, wherein the third sub-pattern and the fourth sub-pattern are connected at two points, and wherein the first combined pattern and the second combined pattern are connected at one point.

3. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein each of the sensing electrodes comprises four sub-patterns connected in a transverse direction, each sub-pattern is formed by connecting two '>'-shaped patterns in a longitudinal direction, and each of the four sub-patterns is connected to another adjacent sub-pattern through a connection point.

4. The touch panel according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each of the sensor signal lines is formed by repeating a pattern of a ">" shape in a longitudinal direction. 5 . The touch panel of claim 1 , wherein the transparent conductive material comprises one of indium tin oxide (ITO), carbon nanotube (CNT), tin oxide (ATO), and indium zinc oxide (IZO). 6 . The touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein the touch capacitance (Ct) is in the range of several fF (femto Farad) to tens of μF (micro Farad).

Images