Substrate comprising a pattern

Abstract

The present application relates to a substrate including a pattern, and can provide a substrate capable of inhibiting a phenomenon in which a pattern is visible and a starburst phenomenon when an electrode pattern is included, thereby ensuring excellent visibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a substrate including a pattern. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, electronic devices utilize various input devices to perform functions, such as display devices, portable transmission devices, and other information processing devices, which include electrode patterns to input and execute signals.

[0003] In addition, in the construction industry or transportation industries such as vehicles, railways and aviation, in order to solve the problem of insufficient visibility caused by fogging or frost due to temperature differences between the means of transport, helmets or the inside / outside of buildings, planar heating elements including heating electrode patterns can be used.

[0004] When such electrode patterns are included, metal mesh patterns are often formed and used to meet optical characteristics and resistance values. However, haloing or elongated starburst phenomena can occur at the corners of the regularized mesh patterns, and there are problems with the pattern being visible. Therefore, it may result in obstructed output screen view, obstructed driver view, information processing problems, and camera software problems.

[0005] Relatedly, Korean Patent No. 10-1523325 attempted to form a metal mesh-shaped heating element through nanoimprinting without using a planar transparent electrode material with high surface resistivity, and coated the metal mesh pattern with a blackening material to prevent glare, but there was a problem that it was not enough to prevent the starburst phenomenon in the metal mesh pattern.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to develop a substrate that can suppress the visibility of patterns and starburst phenomena that may occur during electrode patterning, thereby ensuring excellent visibility. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a substrate that, by including a wavy pattern that prevents starburst phenomena and pattern visibility, does not reduce visibility.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide touch sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, automotive camera sensors, radar sensors, and other sensors, as well as devices requiring transparency such as transparent antennas, which improve starburst phenomena and prevent pattern visibility by including the substrate, thereby achieving excellent visibility.

[0010] However, the problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description other problems not mentioned.

[0011] Technical solution

[0012] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention provides a substrate, characterized in that it comprises: a substrate; and an electrode layer formed on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a plurality of wavy patterns repeating a unit pattern, the wavy pattern comprising: a first pattern repeating a unit pattern in a first direction; and a second pattern repeating a unit pattern in a direction parallel to the first pattern, wherein the starting points of the unit patterns of the first pattern and the second pattern are different relative to the first direction.

[0013] The distance difference ΔSp between the starting points of the unit patterns of the first pattern and the second pattern, with the first direction as the reference, can be greater than 0.

[0014] In the first and second patterns, the distance P between the virtual lines passing through the starting points of each unit pattern along the first direction can be from 30 to 2500 μm.

[0015] In the first pattern and the second pattern, each pattern can be repeated alternately, or the first pattern can be repeated multiple times followed by the second pattern.

[0016] The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, can be 120 to 40,000 μm, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, can be 60 to 5,000 μm.

[0017] The ratio W1 / W2 of the first width W1 to the second width W2 can be from 0.5 to 10.

[0018] The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, can be the same as each other.

[0019] The first pattern and the second pattern may not overlap or intersect.

[0020] The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, can be different from each other.

[0021] The first pattern and the second pattern may abut or intersect.

[0022] The line width of the wavy pattern can be from 0.3 μm to 30 μm.

[0023] The present invention provides a substrate comprising: a substrate; and an electrode layer formed on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a plurality of wavy patterns repeating a unit pattern, the wavy pattern comprising: a first pattern repeating the unit pattern in a first direction; and a third pattern repeating the unit pattern in another direction not parallel to the first direction, and the substrate comprising a plurality of graphic shapes formed by the intersection of the first pattern and the third pattern with each other.

[0024] The other direction can be a third direction of the third pattern. At the position where the first pattern and the third pattern intersect, the angle between the tangents of each pattern can be greater than 0° and less than 90°.

[0025] The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the third pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width of the third pattern in the third direction, i.e., the third width W3, can be 120 to 40,000 μm, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, and the width in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction, i.e., the fourth width W4, can be 60 to 5,000 μm.

[0026] The ratio of the first width W1 to the second width W2, W1 / W2, and the ratio of the third width W3 to the fourth width W4, W3 / W4, can be from 0.5 to 10.

[0027] The line width of the wavy pattern can be from 0.3 μm to 30 μm.

[0028] The substrate may include busbars connected to the electrode layer.

[0029] The electrode layer and the busbar can be formed from the same material.

[0030] The electrode layer and the busbar can be formed on the same layer.

[0031] The electrode layer and the busbar can be integrally formed in the same process step.

[0032] The thickness of the electrode layer and busbar can be from 0.1 to 1 μm.

[0033] The busbar may include: a first busbar connected to both ends of the electrode layer; and a second busbar formed on the first busbar.

[0034] The substrate may also include one or more of the following: a blackening layer, a separation protective layer, and an outer coating layer.

[0035] In addition, the present invention provides a planar heating element comprising the above-mentioned substrate.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention provides a sensor comprising the aforementioned substrate.

[0037] Furthermore, the present invention provides a transparent antenna comprising the aforementioned substrate.

[0038] The effects of the invention

[0039] The present invention can provide a substrate that can prevent pattern visibility and starburst generation, thereby providing excellent visibility.

[0040] Furthermore, the present invention can provide touch sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, automotive camera sensors, radar sensors, and other sensors, as well as transparent antennas and other devices requiring transparency, with improved pattern visibility and starburst phenomenon through the inclusion of the substrate, and excellent visibility. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Figure 1 This is a plan view of a substrate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 2 It is Figure 1 The pattern is further magnified to show the diagram.

[0043] Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating a pattern of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a plan view of the substrate according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A sectional view.

[0046] Figures 6 to 11 This is a cross-sectional view of a substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 12 and Figure 13 This is a plan view of a heating substrate of a partial embodiment of the present invention connected to an external power source.

[0048] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view of the planar heating element of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 15 These are photographs showing the pattern shape and visibility evaluation results of Examples 1 to 8.

[0050] Figure 16 These are photographs showing the pattern shape and visibility evaluation results of Comparative Examples 1 to 4.

[0051] The reference numerals for each figure are shown below:

[0052] 10: Substrate, 20: External component bonding layer, 30: External component, 40: External power supply, 100: Substrate, 200: Electrode layer, 210-1: First pattern, 210-2: Second pattern, 300: Busbar, 300-1: First busbar, 300-2: Second busbar, 500: Blackening layer, 600: Separation protective layer, 700: Outer coating. Detailed Implementation

[0053] This invention relates to a patterned substrate, providing a substrate that prevents starbursts and thus provides excellent visibility.

[0054] More specifically, the present invention provides a substrate comprising: a substrate; and an electrode layer formed on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a plurality of wavy patterns repeating a unit pattern, the wavy patterns comprising: a first pattern repeating the unit pattern in a first direction; and a second pattern repeating the unit pattern in a direction parallel to the first pattern, wherein the starting points of the unit patterns of the first pattern and the second pattern are different relative to the first direction.

[0055] Furthermore, the present invention provides a substrate comprising: a substrate; and an electrode layer formed on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a plurality of wavy patterns repeating a unit pattern, the wavy patterns comprising: a first pattern repeating the unit pattern in a first direction; and a third pattern repeating the unit pattern in another direction not parallel to the first direction, and the substrate comprising a plurality of graphic shapes formed by the intersection of the first pattern and the third pattern with each other.

[0056] Furthermore, the present invention provides a planar heating element, a sensor, and a transparent antenna including the aforementioned substrate.

[0057] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following drawings accompanying this specification are illustrations of preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the foregoing description, serve to facilitate the understanding of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted solely based on the matters described in the drawings.

[0058] In this specification, the substrate is described using a heating substrate as an example, but this is merely an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the technical concept of the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can also be applied to sensors such as touch sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, automotive camera sensors, radar sensors, and transparent antennas, as well as other devices requiring transparency.

[0059] In this specification, unless otherwise stated herein, the singular form includes the plural form. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same constituent elements. For example, as used in this specification, "wavy pattern" can refer to at least one of the first pattern, the second pattern, and the third pattern, and "busbar" can refer to at least one of the first busbar and the second busbar.

[0060] The terms “comprises” and / or “comprising” as used in this specification are used in a sense that they do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other constituent elements, elements and / or devices besides those mentioned.

[0061] Spatially relative terms such as "below," "under," "lower side," "upper," "above," and "upper side" are used to conveniently describe the relationship between one element or component and another, as shown in the figure. Spatially relative terms should be understood to include not only the directions shown in the figure but also terms describing the different orientations of the elements during use or operation. For example, when the elements shown in the figure are flipped, an element described as being "below" or "lower side" of another element can be placed "above" that element. Therefore, the illustrative term "below" can include both the lower and upper directions.

[0062] As used in this specification, the term "connection" means both indirect and direct connections of multiple constituent elements, and is used in the sense of including both physical and electrical connections.

[0063] <Substrate>

[0064] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is a plan view and an enlarged view of the pattern of a substrate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is an enlarged view of the pattern of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is a plan view and a cross-sectional view of the substrate according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Reference Figures 1 to 2 and Figure 4The substrate 10 of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it includes: a substrate 100; an electrode layer 200 formed on the substrate 100, the electrode layer 200 including a plurality of wavy patterns 210 with the same repeating unit pattern in a first direction, the wavy pattern including: a first pattern that repeats the unit pattern in the first direction; and a second pattern that repeats the unit pattern in a direction parallel to the first pattern, wherein the starting points of the unit patterns of the first pattern and the second pattern are different with respect to the first direction.

[0066] In this invention, the wave pattern refers to a curve formed by alternating peaks and valleys, including partially protruding shapes or deformed shapes, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] In this invention, the starting point of the wave pattern refers to the position where the peak begins at the boundary between the peak and the valley, but it is not limited to this.

[0068] In this invention, the first direction refers to the direction in which the wavy pattern is formed, that is, the direction in which the unit pattern is repeated and extended. For example, when the substrate of this invention includes busbars 300 (described later) at both ends of the electrode layer 200, the first direction may refer to the direction from one busbar to the other.

[0069] In this invention, the second direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the first direction on the plane in which the wavy pattern is formed.

[0070] Furthermore, in this invention, the unit pattern refers to one unit of a wave pattern that repeats in the first direction, and is the smallest repeating unit.

[0071] In this invention, the first width W1 refers to the width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, and the second width W2 refers to the width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0072] The electrode layer 200 included in the substrate of the present invention includes a wave pattern 210 with continuous repeating unit patterns, the wave pattern including a first pattern 210-1 in a first direction and a second pattern 210-2 with repeated unit patterns in a direction parallel to such wave pattern.

[0073] In particular, the wavy patterns 210-1 and 210-2 comprising multiple rows are characterized in that the starting points of the unit patterns in each row, especially the starting points Sp1 and Sp2 of two adjacent rows, are not the same based on the first direction.

[0074] That is, for the two closest starting points Sp1 and Sp2 of two adjacent rows, the distance difference ΔSp of the unit pattern in the first direction is greater than 0, preferably greater than 0 and less than W1 / 2.

[0075] When the starting points Sp1 and Sp2 are located at the same position in the corresponding pattern row with the first direction as the reference, that is, when the distance difference ΔSp between the starting points of two adjacent rows in the first direction is 0, the positions of the peaks and valleys in the wave-shaped pattern formed by multiple rows are consistent. In this case, there is a problem that a starburst may occur when the light source is irradiated.

[0076] In the first and second patterns, the distance P between the virtual lines passing through the starting points of each unit pattern along the first direction is 30 to 2500 μm, and preferably 50 to 1800 μm in terms of resistance, visibility and transmittance.

[0077] In the first and second patterns, the patterns can be repeated alternately, or the first pattern can be repeated multiple times followed by the second pattern multiple times. There is no particular limitation on the proportion of repetition of each pattern.

[0078] The width (first width) W1 of the unit pattern in the first direction is 120 to 40,000 μm, preferably 200 to 24,000 μm, and the width (second width) W2 in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction is 60 to 5,000 μm, preferably 100 to 3,000 μm.

[0079] When the above ranges are met, both resistance and transmittance can be satisfied, and the visibility of the pattern can also be improved. The smaller the first width and the second width, the more advantageous the resistance, and the less advantageous the transmittance; when the above ranges are met, it will not cause problems in achieving the target transmittance. The larger the first width and the second width, the more advantageous the transmittance, and the less advantageous the resistance, but it will not cause problems in providing the resistance used to achieve the target function.

[0080] Furthermore, pattern visibility tends to be less visible as the first and second widths are smaller. When the above range is met, excellent target visibility can be provided.

[0081] Furthermore, considering resistance, transmittance, and pattern visibility, the ratio W1 / W2 of the first width W1 to the second width W2 can be from 0.5 to 10, preferably from 1 to 5.

[0082] The width (first width) W1 of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the width (second width) W2 of the unit pattern in the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, respectively, can be the same as each other. That is, the first width and second width of the unit pattern of the first pattern can be the same as the first width and second width of the unit pattern of the second pattern. In this case, the first pattern and the second pattern can not overlap or intersect, thereby more effectively preventing the occurrence of starburst phenomenon and providing excellent visibility.

[0083] Furthermore, the width (first width) W1 of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction and the width (second width) W2 in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction can be different from each other. That is, the first width and second width of the unit pattern of the first pattern can be different from the first width and second width of the unit pattern of the second pattern. In this case, the first pattern and the second pattern may be in a position of contact or intersection, but even in this case, the starburst phenomenon can still be prevented to the extent that it will not cause problems with visibility.

[0084] The linewidth of the wavy pattern 210 can be adjusted based on the distance P between the virtual lines passing through the starting points of each unit pattern along the first direction, taking into account visibility and surface resistivity. The linewidth can be from 0.3 μm to 30 μm, preferably from 1 μm to 10 μm. When the above range is met, sufficient heat dissipation performance can be displayed without reducing visibility, and therefore it is preferred.

[0085] The sheet resistance of the electrode layer 200 of the present invention can be 0.5 Ω / Up to 10Ω / Preferably, it can be 0.5 to 8 Ω / When the temperature exceeds the above range, the heating rate may slow down; when it falls below the above range, the heating rate increases, but the current consumption increases, which may lead to increased power consumption.

[0086] On the other hand, refer to Figure 3 The present invention provides a substrate comprising: a substrate; and an electrode layer formed on the substrate, the electrode layer comprising a plurality of wavy patterns repeating a unit pattern, the wavy patterns comprising: a first pattern 210-1 repeating the unit pattern in a first direction; and a third pattern 210-3 repeating the unit pattern in another direction not parallel to the first direction, and the substrate comprising a plurality of graphic shapes formed by the intersection of the first pattern and the third pattern with each other.

[0087] The other direction is the direction in which the third pattern 210-3 is formed. At the intersection of the first pattern 210-1 and the third pattern 210-3, the angle between the tangents of each pattern can be greater than 0° and less than 90°.

[0088] In this invention, the third width W3 refers to the width of the unit pattern of the third pattern 210-3 in the third direction, and the fourth width W4 refers to the width of the unit pattern of the third pattern 210-3 in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction.

[0089] The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the third pattern in the first direction (first width) W1 and the width of the third pattern in the third direction (third width) W3 can be 120 to 40,000 μm, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction (second width) W2 and the width in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction (fourth width) W4 can be 60 to 5,000 μm.

[0090] When the above range is met, by uniformly dispersing the light, the pattern is invisible and no starburst occurs, thus achieving excellent visibility. On the other hand, by adjusting the transmittance to partially block light, thereby blocking ultraviolet rays and heat, applications can be made by adjusting power consumption for devices requiring a narrower area.

[0091] Furthermore, considering visibility and transmittance, the ratio W3 / W4 of the third width W3 to the fourth width W4 can be 0.5 to 10, preferably 1 to 5.

[0092] The first width and second width of the unit pattern of the first pattern may be the same as or different from the third width and fourth width of the unit pattern of the third pattern.

[0093] The linewidth of the wavy pattern is from 0.3 μm to 30 μm, preferably from 1 μm to 10 μm. Meeting this range allows for sufficient heat dissipation without reducing visibility, and is therefore preferred.

[0094] The substrate 100 serves to structurally support the electrode layer 200 and maintain its position, and can be any substrate commonly used in the art. The substrate 100 can be a transparent substrate capable of transmitting light, or it can be a substrate with flexible properties.

[0095] In one embodiment, the substrate 100 may comprise one or more polymers selected from glass, cyclic olefin polymers (COP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyacrylate (PAR), polyetherimide (PEI), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyallylate, polyimide (PI), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP), polyethersulfone (PES), cellulose triacetate (TAC), polycarbonate (PC), cyclic olefin copolymers (COC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc.; and / or inorganic insulating substances such as silicon oxides, silicon nitrides, silicon nitride oxides, metal oxides, etc.

[0096] The thickness of the substrate 100 can be from 1 to 500 μm, preferably from 5 to 75 μm. When the thickness of the substrate 100 meets the above range, it has transparency and flexibility while maintaining a stable structure, thus having the advantage of being easy to process, and is therefore preferred.

[0097] There are no particular limitations on the materials used to form the electrode layer 200, but transparent components are preferred.

[0098] It may contain one or more of the following: indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), indium zinc tin oxide (IZTO), cadmium tin oxide (CTO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO), carbon nanotubes (CNT), graphene, and metals, wherein the metal is not particularly limited. Examples include silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tellurium (Te), chromium (Cr), etc., with copper (Cu) being preferred. These metals may be used alone or in combination.

[0099] Reference Figures 4 to 13 The substrate of the present invention may include a busbar 300 connected to the electrode layer 200.

[0100] Both ends of the electrode layer 200 are physically and directly connected to the busbars 300, and current flows between the anode and cathode, generating heat. To ensure uniform heating of the electrode layer 200, the pair of busbars 300 facing each other with the electrode layer 200 as a reference can be formed parallel to each other, but this is not a limitation. In one embodiment of the invention, the busbars 300 can be formed as straight lines, and the electrode layer 200 can have a quadrilateral shape, but this is not a limitation; the shape can be suitable depending on the form of the transportation means, device, or building of the application substrate 10.

[0101] The thickness of the electrode layer 200 can be from 0.1 to 1 μm, preferably from 0.3 to 0.8 μm. When the electrode layer 200 meets the above thickness, it has the advantage of being able to appropriately adjust the taper of the electrode layer 200, thereby reducing the defect rate in the manufacturing process of the heating substrate and improving ESD (electrostatic discharge) durability, thus improving the reliability of the product, and is therefore preferred.

[0102] The taper of the electrode layer 200 can be a positive taper, preferably with an angle of 20 to 50°. The thicker the electrode layer 200, the more likely the taper angle is to deviate from the appropriate range. When a reverse taper or a sharp taper is formed, problems such as accidental short circuits in the electrical connection between the upper and lower layers or the formation of microbubbles between the layers during the stacking process may occur.

[0103] The busbar 300 provides a channel for the movement of current (or electrons) supplied from the external power source 40. In one embodiment of the invention, the busbar 300 is connected to the external power source 40, and the current (or electrons) supplied from the external power source 40 can flow from one end of the electrode layer 200 to the other end through the busbar 300 and generate heat.

[0104] The busbar 300 may contain one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon (C), silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tellurium (Te), and chromium (Cr). The carbon may be carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene, but is not limited thereto.

[0105] The electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 can be formed of the same material. By making the electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 of the same material, contact resistance caused by the contact of two different materials can be prevented. Therefore, by reducing the current bottleneck phenomenon caused by uneven resistance at the connection between the busbar 300 and the electrode layer, uniform heating performance can be exhibited throughout the electrode layer 200, and it has the advantage of preventing heating time delay and heat loss due to decreased electron mobility between dissimilar metals.

[0106] Furthermore, the electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 can be formed on the same layer. For example, in conventional heating substrates, the electrode layer is first formed on the substrate, and then the busbar is formed as a separate layer on the upper part of both ends of the formed electrode layer. However, when the electrode layer and the busbar are formed on different layers and connected, contact resistance is generated between the busbar and the electrode layer, and the resulting increase in resistance may reduce the heating performance. In addition, when the heating substrate is bonded to a cover glass or the like via thermal fusion or lamination processes, the taper step of the grid-shaped electrode layer may cause an electrical short circuit with the busbar, which is the upper layer, which may lead to an increase in overall resistance.

[0107] Furthermore, the electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 can be integrally formed in the same process step. The aforementioned problems may occur when the electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 are formed as separate layers in different process steps and then connected. Additionally, when the electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 are formed separately in different process steps and then connected as the same layer, localized overheating or uneven heat dissipation may occur due to uneven contact area or poor contact. Furthermore, when the busbar and the electrode layer are formed as independent layers and then connected, as described above, increased contact resistance and electrical short circuits between the upper and lower layers may lead to increased resistance.

[0108] The thickness of the busbar 300 is the same as the thickness of the electrode layer 200, and can be from 0.1 to 1 μm, preferably from 0.3 to 0.8 μm. When the busbar 300 meets the above thickness, it has the advantage of being able to adjust the taper appropriately, thereby reducing the defect rate in the heating substrate manufacturing process and improving ESD (electrostatic discharge) durability, thus improving product reliability, and is therefore preferred.

[0109] The width of each busbar 300 can be individually 50 mm or less, but is not limited to this, and can be appropriately adjusted according to the form of the transportation means, device, or building on which the heating substrate 10 is applied. For example, when the diagonal width of the heating substrate 10 is 20 inches or less, the width of each busbar 300 can be individually 1 mm to 6 mm; when the diagonal width of the heating substrate 10 is 20 inches or more, the width of each busbar 300 can be individually 2 mm to 50 mm. When the width of the busbar 300 meets the above range, it has the advantage of being able to stably supply current (electrons) to the electrode layer 200 without causing visibility problems. When the width of the busbar 300 is greater than the above range, as the area through which the current flows increases, the surface resistance may decrease, but the visibility of the busbar increases, which presents a problem that makes it difficult to practically apply to products.

[0110] The electrode layer 200 and the busbar 300 can be formed by methods known in the art. For example, screen printing, photolithography, electroplating, or metal bonding can be used, but are not limited thereto.

[0111] like Figure 6 As shown, the busbar 300 of the present invention may include: a first busbar 300-1, which is connected to both ends of the electrode layer 200; and a second busbar 300-2, which is formed on the first busbar 300-1.

[0112] The same description of busbar 300-1 applies to the first busbar 300.

[0113] When the busbar 300 is multi-layered, the second busbar 300-2 is connected to the external power supply 40. The current (or electrons) supplied from the external power supply 40 passes through the second busbar 300-2 and the first busbar 300-1 in sequence, flows from one end of the electrode layer 200 to the other end and generates heat.

[0114] The first busbar 300-1 and the second busbar 300-2 may each independently contain one or more materials selected from the group consisting of carbon (C), silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tellurium (Te), and chromium (Cr). The carbon may be carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or graphene, but is not limited thereto.

[0115] The second busbar 300-2 can be formed using conductive paste. The conductive paste may contain one or more elements selected from the group consisting of carbon (C), silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), tellurium (Te), and chromium (Cr). From the perspective of achieving low surface resistivity, it is preferable to contain silver (Ag) or gold (Au), and most preferably silver (Ag).

[0116] Furthermore, the electrode layer 200 and the second busbar 300-2 may not be in physical contact with each other. For example... Figure 6 As shown, on the substrate 100, the electrode layer 200 and the first busbar 300-1 are formed on the same layer and are in physical contact with each other, and the second busbar 300-2 is formed on the first busbar 300-1 and is in physical contact with the first busbar 300-1. However, the electrode layer 200 and the second busbar 300-2 are not in physical contact with each other.

[0117] As described above, the second busbar 300-2 is formed in multiple layers on the first busbar 300-1. The second busbar 300-2 exhibits a parallel resistance similar to or lower than that of the first busbar 300-1, thereby facilitating the smooth flow of current (electrons) applied from an external power source and reducing the resistance of the current flowing through the entire busbar. This reduces the overall resistance of the busbar, preventing localized overheating caused by current bottlenecks in certain sections, and maintaining an equipotential throughout the entire electrode layer 200 connected to the first busbar 300-1. However, when the electrode layer 200 and the second busbar 300-2 are in physical contact, a short circuit may occur due to the tapered step of the electrode layer 200.

[0118] The second busbar 300-2 preferably has a width and length not exceeding that of the first busbar 300-1. More preferably, from the perspective of minimizing resistance, the second busbar 300-2 has the same width and length as the first busbar 300-1.

[0119] The second busbar 300-2 may have a sheet resistance similar to or lower than that of the first busbar 300-1. By forming a second busbar 300-2 with a sheet resistance similar to or lower than that of the first busbar 300-1 on the first busbar 300-1, local overheating caused by current bottlenecks at the connection point to the external power supply can be prevented, and by supplying a stable and uniform current (electrons) to the entire first busbar 300-1, uniform heating performance can be exhibited throughout the entire electrode layer 200.

[0120] The thickness of the second busbar 300-2 can be 5 to 100 times the thickness of the first busbar 300-1, preferably 10 to 50 times. When the second busbar 300-2 meets the above thickness ratio, it is easy to adjust to exhibit a resistance similar to or lower than that of the first busbar 300-1, and is therefore preferred.

[0121] The thickness of the second busbar 300-2 can be 3 to 30 μm, preferably 5 to 25 μm. When the second busbar 300-2 meets the above thickness, it exhibits a sufficiently low sheet resistance, which has the advantage of preventing local overheating and supplying a uniform current.

[0122] The ratio of the sheet resistance Rs1 of the first busbar 300-1 to the sheet resistance Rs2 of the second busbar 300-2, Rs1 / Rs2, can be 0.1 to 5, preferably 0.2 to 3, and more preferably 0.4 to 1.7. When the above sheet resistance ratio is satisfied, uniform heating performance can be achieved across the entire heating substrate by reducing the potential difference between the first and second busbars, which is therefore preferred.

[0123] The surface resistivity of the second busbar 300-2 can be 0.5Ω / The following is preferably 0.1Ω / More preferably, it can be 0.01 to 0.1 Ω / .

[0124] The heating substrate of the present invention may further include one or more of the group consisting of a blackening layer, a separation protective layer and an outer coating layer.

[0125] Figure 7 The heating substrate 10 shown further includes a blackening layer 500 on one side of the electrode layer 200. Figure 8 The heating substrate 10 shown further includes a blackening layer 500 on both sides of the electrode layer 200. (For...) Figures 1 to 6 The description of the heating substrate shown can also be applied to... Figure 7 and Figure 8 For heating substrates shown, detailed descriptions are omitted for those with substantially the same or similar structures.

[0126] When the electrode layer 200 contains a material such as metal that reflects light in the visible light region, problems may arise regarding the visibility of the electrode layer 200, making it easily visible to the human eye, as well as glare due to its high reflectivity to external light.

[0127] Therefore, the heating substrate 10 of the present invention may further include a blackening layer 500 on one or both sides of the electrode layer 200, thereby reducing the reflectivity of the electrode layer 200 and preventing problems such as visibility and glare. When the busbars are formed in multiple layers, the first busbar 300-1 and the second busbar 300-2 may be formed in parallel with the blackening layer 500 in between.

[0128] In this configuration, the second busbar 300-2 can be formed on the blackened layer 500 at a position corresponding to the upper part of the first busbar 300-1. The first busbar 300-1 and the second busbar 300-2 provide a path for the movement of current (or electrons) supplied from the external power source 40. In one embodiment of the invention, the second busbar 300-2 is connected to the external power source 40, and the current (or electrons) supplied from the external power source 40 can flow from one end of the electrode layer 200 to the other end and generate heat by sequentially passing through the second busbar 300-2, the blackened layer 500, and the first busbar 300-1.

[0129] The blackening layer 500 may be formed of a material that does not impede the movement of current (electrons) supplied from an external power source from the second busbar 300-2 to the first busbar 300-1.

[0130] The blackening layer 500 can be formed, for example, using a composition for forming a blackening layer. The composition for forming a blackening layer may contain one or more elements selected from the group consisting of manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), and vanadium (V). More specifically, the blackening layer may be formed using oxides containing the aforementioned metals. Examples of oxides containing the aforementioned metals include Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, MnO₃, Cr₂O₃, Cu₂O, CuO, Cu₂O₃, ZnO, and NiO.

[0131] As described above, by forming a blackening layer 500 on the electrode layer 200, the problem of contact resistance caused by oxidation of the surface of the electrode layer 200 can be improved, thereby enhancing the reliability of the electrode.

[0132] The blackening layer 500 may be formed, for example, using a composition for forming a blackening layer, or by vapor deposition through a vapor deposition process such as sputtering, or by electroplating, but is not limited thereto.

[0133] When the heating substrate 10 of the present invention includes a blackening layer 500, in order to prevent problems such as visibility and glare of the electrode layer without reducing the heating performance, the blackening layer 500 may have a thickness of 0.01 to 1 μm.

[0134] Figure 9The heating substrate 10 shown further includes a separation protective layer 600 between the substrate 100 and the electrode layer 200. Regarding the above... Figures 1 to 4 The description of the heating substrate shown can also be applied to... Figure 7 For heating substrates shown, detailed descriptions are omitted for those with substantially the same or similar structures.

[0135] The heating substrate 10 of the present invention may further include a separation protective layer 600 between the substrate 100 and the electrode layer 200 to improve the adhesion between the substrate 100 and the electrode layer 200. The separation protective layer 600 may be formed using an adhesive, preferably having appropriate adhesive strength to prevent peeling, bubbles, etc., during the processing of the heating substrate 10, while also having transparency and thermal stability.

[0136] The adhesive can be any adhesive used in the art without limitation, such as a photocurable adhesive. The photocurable adhesive undergoes cross-linking and curing upon irradiation by active energy lines such as ultraviolet (UV) or electron beam (EB), exhibiting strong adhesive strength. Examples of photocurable adhesives include polyester resins, polyether resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy resins, polyacrylic resins, and silicone resins.

[0137] When the heating substrate 10 of the present invention includes a separation protective layer 600, in order to ensure sufficient adhesion and minimize its thickness, the separation protective layer 600 may have a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm, preferably 1 to 5 μm.

[0138] Figure 10 and Figure 11 The heating substrate 10 shown further includes an outer coating 700 at its uppermost part. Regarding the above... Figures 1 to 9 The description of the heating substrate shown can also be applied to... Figure 10 and Figure 11 For heating substrates shown, detailed descriptions are omitted for those with substantially the same or similar structures.

[0139] The heating substrate 10 of the present invention may include an outer coating 700 at the uppermost part of the heating substrate 10 to prevent damage to the electrode layer 200 and further improve mechanical durability.

[0140] The outer coating 700 may comprise one or more of the group consisting of polyacrylic resins, polyurethane resins, polyolefin resins, polyester resins, epoxy resins, melamine resins, polyamide resins, polycarbonate resins, cellulose resins, and combinations thereof.

[0141] When the heating substrate 10 of the present invention includes an outer coating 700, the outer coating 700 may have a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm, preferably 1 to 5 μm, to ensure sufficient mechanical durability while preventing cracks caused by bending, etc.

[0142] Figure 12 and Figure 13 This is a plan view of the heating substrate 10 of a partial embodiment of the present invention, which is connected to an external power supply 40.

[0143] As described above, the external power supply 40 can be electrically connected to the second busbar 300-2. The power applied from the external power supply 40 to the second busbar 300-2 is applied to the electrode layer 200 via the first busbar 300-1, and the electrode layer 200 is heated by the flow of current (electrons) generated therefrom.

[0144] like Figure 12 As shown, the external power supply 40 can be connected to both ends of the busbar 300. When the heating substrate 10 of the present invention is applied to a means of transportation or device, by connecting the external power supply 40 to the end of the busbar 300, the wiring from the external power supply 40 to the busbar 300 can be connected with the shortest distance, thereby improving design efficiency.

[0145] On the other hand, even when the external power supply 40 is connected to the end of the busbar 300, the heating substrate 10 of the present invention can shorten the longest path of current movement as described above, thereby reducing the potential difference in the entire electrode layer 200 and thus exhibiting uniform heating performance.

[0146] like Figure 13 As shown, the external power supply 40 can be connected to the center of both sides of the busbar 300. When the external power supply 40 is connected to the busbar 300, compared with the case where the external power supply 40 is connected to the end of the busbar 300, the longest path of current (electron) movement can be further shortened, thereby making it easier to show equipotential throughout the entire electrode layer 200, and thus having the advantage of being able to show more uniform heating performance.

[0147] <Area-shaped heating element>

[0148] Figure 14 This is a cross-sectional view of the planar heating element of the present invention.

[0149] Reference Figure 14 The planar heating element of the present invention may include the substrate 10, the external component adhesive layer 20, and the external component 30.

[0150] The external component adhesive layer 20 is used to bond the substrate 10 to the external component 30, and can be formed using EVB (Ethyl vinyl benzene), PVA, PU, ​​etc.

[0151] The external component 30 can be a glass or plastic substrate, and the same applies to the aforementioned substrate 100. The external component 30 is the object that causes fogging or frost. With the application of the substrate 10 of this application, fog or frost formed on the inside and outside of the external component 30 can be removed in a short time.

[0152] The planar heating element of the present invention can be applied to various fields such as building windows; transportation means such as vehicles, railways or aviation; helmets; and smart glasses, but is not limited thereto.

[0153] In addition to the planar heating element described above, the substrate of the present invention can also be applied to touch sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, automotive camera sensors, radar sensors, and other sensors, as well as transparent antennas and other devices requiring transparency.

[0154] Implementation of the invention

[0155] The present invention will now be described in more detail through embodiments. However, the following embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention more specifically, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0156] <Examples and Comparative Examples: Manufacturing of Heating Substrate>

[0157] A 6000Å thick copper layer (Cu) was formed on a 150×150mm glass substrate (0.5T Soda lime Eagle XG Glass, Corning) using vapor deposition, thereby integrally forming the electrode layer and the busbars at both ends of the electrode layer.

[0158] For the copper (Cu) layer corresponding to the electrode layer, after patterning the resist material by photolithography, an electrode layer with a wavy pattern is formed by etching. The electrode layer is formed by patterning the first width W1, the second width W2, the ratio W1 / W2 of the first width W1 to the second width W2, the distance difference ΔSp between the two closest starting points of the two rows in the first direction, the distance P between the virtual lines passing through the starting points of each unit pattern along the first direction, and the line width in a shape having the values ​​in Table 1 below.

[0159] In embodiment 8, an electrode layer is formed by including a first pattern and a third pattern as unit patterns. The third width W3 and the fourth width W4 of the third pattern are formed to be the same as the first width W1 and the second width W2 of the first pattern, respectively. The ratio of the third width W3 to the fourth width W4, W3 / W4, is shown in Table 1 below.

[0160] [Table 1]

[0161]

[0162] <Experimental Example>

[0163] 1. Surface resistivity measurement

[0164] The sheet resistance of the electrode layer of the heating substrate in the embodiments and comparative examples was measured using a NAPSON CORPORATION RESISTAGE RG-80 (Stage Probing) and RESISTEST RT-80 (Analyzer), and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0165] 2. Transmittance and Haze Measurement

[0166] For the heating substrates of the embodiments and comparative examples, the total light transmittance (Tt) and haze were measured using a haze meter HM-150N (Murakami Corporation), and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0167] 3. Visibility Evaluation

[0168] After fixing the heating substrates of the examples and comparative examples onto the evaluation bracket, the LED light source (GalaxyS22 Flash LED) was positioned 15cm away from the front of the sample. After light reflection, the pattern visibility and starburst visibility were evaluated visually at a distance of 30cm from the front of the sample according to the following evaluation criteria. The results are shown in Table 2 below. Figure 15 and Figure 16 .

[0169] Visibility Evaluation Criteria

[0170] The pattern and starburst are not visible.

[0171] The pattern or starburst is faintly visible.

[0172] Patterns or starbursts are visible.

[0173] [Table 2]

[0174]

[0175] Regarding the surface resistivity, transmittance, and haze values ​​in Table 2 above, the preferred values ​​in this invention are as follows.

[0176] Surface resistivity (electrode layer): 0.5 ~ 10 Ω / (More preferably, 0.5 ~ 5 Ω / )

[0177] Transmittance: 85% or higher, the higher the better.

[0178] Haze: ~ 1.5

[0179] Refer to Table 2 above and Figure 15 The substrates in Examples 1 to 13, which include the electrode patterns of the present invention, have a surface resistivity that allows the current from the supplied power source to move without problems. They also have appropriate transmittance and haze, do not exhibit starburst phenomena, and the patterns are either invisible or, even if visible, only to a very faint degree that does not cause obstruction, thus demonstrating excellent visibility. Furthermore, the substrate including the electrode pattern of Example 8 does not exhibit starburst phenomena and has extremely excellent visibility.

[0180] In this regard, please refer to Table 2 above and Figure 16 It can be confirmed that the substrates including the electrode patterns of Comparative Examples 1 to 5 not only have reduced visibility due to the identification of Cu metal electrode patterns, but also exhibit a starburst phenomenon.

[0181] Industrial availability

[0182] An embodiment of the present invention provides a patterned substrate that exhibits excellent visibility by suppressing pattern visibility and starburst phenomena that may occur when electrode patterns are included. Therefore, it can be applied to sensors such as touch sensors, fingerprint sensors, pressure sensors, automotive camera sensors, radar sensors, as well as devices requiring transparency, such as transparent antennas, and planar heating elements.

Claims

1. A substrate, characterized in that, include: Substrate; as well as An electrode layer is formed on the substrate. The electrode layer comprises multiple wavy patterns that repeat in unit patterns. The wavy pattern includes: The first pattern, which repeats the unit pattern in the first direction; as well as The second pattern repeats the unit pattern in a direction parallel to the first pattern. The starting points of each unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern are different based on the first direction.

2. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance difference ΔSp between the starting points of the unit patterns of the first pattern and the second pattern, with the first direction as the reference, is greater than 0.

3. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the first and second patterns, the distance P between the virtual lines passing through the starting points of each unit pattern along the first direction is 30 to 2500 μm.

4. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the first pattern and the second pattern, the patterns are repeated alternately, or the first pattern is repeated multiple times and then the second pattern is repeated multiple times.

5. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, is 120 to 40,000 μm, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, is 60 to 5,000 μm.

6. The substrate according to claim 5, characterized in that, The ratio of the first width W1 to the second width W2, W1 / W2, is between 0.5 and 10.

7. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, are the same as each other.

8. The substrate according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first pattern and the second pattern do not touch or intersect.

9. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the second pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, are different from each other.

10. The substrate according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first pattern abuts or intersects with the second pattern.

11. The substrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, The line width of the wavy pattern is 0.3 μm to 30 μm.

12. A substrate, characterized in that, include: Substrate; as well as An electrode layer is formed on the substrate. The electrode layer comprises multiple wavy patterns that repeat in unit patterns. The wavy pattern includes: a first pattern that repeats a unit pattern in a first direction; as well as The third pattern repeats the unit pattern in another direction that is not parallel to the first direction, and The substrate includes multiple graphic shapes formed by the intersection of the first pattern and the third pattern.

13. The substrate according to claim 12, characterized in that, The other direction is the direction in which the third pattern is formed. At the intersection of the first and third patterns, the angle between the tangents of each pattern is greater than 0° and less than 90°.

14. The substrate according to claim 12, characterized in that, The width of the unit pattern of the first pattern and the third pattern in the first direction, i.e., the first width W1, and the width of the third pattern in the third direction, i.e., the third width W3, are 120 to 40,000 μm, and the width in the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, i.e., the second width W2, and the width in the fourth direction perpendicular to the third direction, i.e., the fourth width W4, are 60 to 5,000 μm.

15. The substrate according to claim 14, characterized in that, The ratio of the first width W1 to the second width W2, W1 / W2, and the ratio of the third width W3 to the fourth width W4, W3 / W4, are between 0.5 and 10.

16. The substrate according to claim 12, characterized in that, The line width of the wavy pattern is 0.3 μm to 30 μm.

17. The substrate according to claim 1 or 12, characterized in that, The substrate includes a busbar connected to the electrode layer.

18. The substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that, The electrode layer and the busbar are formed of the same material.

19. The substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that, The electrode layer and the busbar are formed on the same layer.

20. The substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that, The electrode layer and the busbar are integrally formed in the same process step.

21. The substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that, The thickness of the electrode layer and busbar is 0.1 to 1 μm.

22. The substrate according to claim 17, characterized in that, The busbar includes: A first busbar, which is connected to both ends of the electrode layer; and The second busbar is formed on the first busbar.

23. The substrate according to claim 1 or 12, characterized in that, The substrate further includes one or more selected from the group consisting of a blackening layer, a separation protective layer, and an outer coating layer.

24. A planar heating element, characterized in that, Includes the substrate as described in claim 1 or 12.

25. A sensor, characterized in that, Includes the substrate as described in claim 1 or 12.

26. A transparent antenna, characterized in that, Includes the substrate as described in claim 1 or 12.

Images