Touch structure, touch display panel, and electronic device
By integrating a virtual electrode at the intersections of touch electrodes, the sensitivity and accuracy of touch structures are enhanced by reducing electric field lines and increasing capacitance change, addressing the sensitivity issues in metal mesh electrode-based touch structures.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025162019
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-09-21
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing touch structures using metal mesh electrodes for touch sensing in touch display devices suffer from reduced detection sensitivity due to low capacitance change caused by finger touch, as the metal wires have low resistance and are less sensitive to capacitance changes, leading to impaired detection accuracy.
Incorporating a virtual electrode at or near the intersections of touch drive and sense electrodes, which reduces the electric field lines reaching the sense electrodes, thereby increasing the proportion of capacitance change caused by a finger touch, improving detection sensitivity and accuracy.
The virtual electrode enhances the detection sensitivity and accuracy of touch structures by reducing the reference capacitance and increasing the capacitance change ratio, thus improving the overall touch detection effect.
Smart Images

Figure 2026009959000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority from Chinese Patent Application No. 202010991793.3, filed on September 21, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch structure and a touch display panel, and an electronic device. [Background technology]
[0003] In recent years, in order to achieve the goals of portability and ease of operation, many electronic products use touch panels as input devices instead of traditional keyboards or mice. Among these electronic devices that use integrated touch panels as input devices, touch display devices that simultaneously have touch and display functions are one of the products that are currently attracting attention. The installation of touch electrode structures to realize the touch function is a key factor that determines the user experience. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]
[0004] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a touch structure including a first touch electrode and a second touch electrode. The first touch electrode extends along a first direction, the second touch electrode extends along a second direction, the first direction and the second direction are different, the first touch electrode includes a plurality of first electrode body portions arranged in sequence along the first direction, and a first connection portion electrically connecting two adjacent first electrode body portions. The plurality of first electrode body portions are located in a first conductive layer, the first connection portion is located in a second conductive layer different from the first conductive layer, the second touch electrode includes a second electrode body portion arranged in sequence along the second direction, and a second connection portion electrically connecting two adjacent second electrode body portions. Both the plurality of second electrode body portions and the second connection portion are located in the first conductive layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are insulated by an insulating layer, the first connection portion and the second connection portion overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first metal meshes formed by a plurality of first metal wires, each of the plurality of first electrode body portions, each of the plurality of second electrode body portions, and the second connection portion includes a plurality of first metal meshes, the second conductive layer includes a plurality of second metal wires, the touch structure further includes a virtual electrode located in the second conductive layer, the virtual electrode is insulated from both the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, and the virtual electrode is configured to be coupled to at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion.
[0005] In some examples, the area of the virtual electrode is S1, the area of the mesh of any one of the meshes defined by the projection of the virtual electrode on the first conductive layer and the first metal wire in the first conductive layer is S2, and a < S1 / S2 < b is satisfied, where 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, and a < b.
[0006] In some examples, the extending direction of at least one first metal wire is the same as the extending direction of the virtual electrode, and in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, the virtual electrode overlaps with the at least one first metal wire.
[0007] In some examples, the virtual electrode is rectangular, and the length and width of the virtual electrode are each X D and Y D and the mesh holes of any one of the meshes are rectangular, the length and width of the mesh holes are X and Y, respectively, and a<(X D ×Y D ) / (X×Y)
[0008] In some examples, the virtual electrode includes n interconnected rectangles, each of which has a length of X1, X2, . . . Xn and a width of Y D where n is an integer greater than 1, the mesh holes of any one of the meshes are rectangular, the length and width of the mesh holes are X and Y, respectively, and a<(X D ×Y D ) / (X×Y) D =X1+X2+…+Xn, which is 0.05 <a<0.2、0.1<b<0.3であり、a<bである。
[0009] In some examples, the virtual electrode and the first connection portion each include at least one second metal wire, the first connection portion includes at least one first connection line, each first connection line includes at least one second metal wire, and are electrically connected to the two adjacent first electrode body portions by vias in the insulating layer.
[0010] In some examples, each of the first connection lines overlaps, in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, one of the first metal lines in the second connection portion that extends in the same direction.
[0011] In some examples, the first connection portion includes a plurality of first connection lines, and the virtual electrode is located between any two of the plurality of first connection lines.
[0012] In some examples, the orthogonal projection of the virtual electrode on the first conductive layer and the second connection portion at least partially overlap.
[0013] In some examples, each of the at least one second metal line in the virtual electrode overlaps, in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, with one first metal line in the second connection portion that extends in the same direction.
[0014] In some examples, the first metal wire overlapping the virtual electrode in the second connection portion is insulated from the first metal wire in the adjacent first electrode body portion by a gap, and the virtual electrode further covers the gap and overlaps the first metal wire in the adjacent first electrode body portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer.
[0015] In some examples, the touch structure includes a plurality of the virtual electrodes, the first connection portion includes a plurality of first connection lines extending along the first direction, and the plurality of virtual electrodes and the plurality of first connection lines are arranged alternately in the second direction.
[0016] In some examples, the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other, the plurality of second metal lines being on the same straight line, each of the plurality of second metal lines extending along a third direction, the virtual electrode further including a branch portion extending along a fourth direction from a connection point of two adjacent second metal lines, the branch portion and the first metal line extending along the fourth direction at the second connection portion overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, and the fourth direction is different from the third direction.
[0017] In some examples, the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other, and two adjacent second metal lines among the plurality of second metal lines are on different straight lines.
[0018] In some examples, the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other. Each of the plurality of second metal lines corresponds to one first metal mesh in the second connection portion, and overlaps with a first metal line in the same extending direction in the corresponding one first metal mesh. The area of the virtual electrode is S1, and the area of the mesh hole of any one first metal mesh corresponding to the plurality of second metal lines of the virtual electrode is S2, satisfying a < S1 / S2 < b, where 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, and a < b.
[0019] In some examples, at least one of the virtual electrode and at least one of the two adjacent first electrode body portions overlaps at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer.
[0020] In some examples, at least one of the virtual electrode and at least one of the two adjacent second electrode body portions overlaps at least partially in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer.
[0021] In some examples, the touch structure includes a foldable area. The first connection portion includes a folding portion located in the foldable area. The folding portion includes at least one second metal line, and holes are provided in the at least one second metal line. The hole diameter is 25% - 90% of the line width of the second metal line.
[0022] In some examples, the first connection portion includes a polygon formed by connecting a plurality of second metal lines. At least a part of the polygon is the folding portion, and the plurality of second metal lines overlap with the plurality of first metal lines in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer respectively.
[0023] In some examples, the first connection portion further includes a plurality of second metal meshes each connected to a plurality of vertices of the polygon, the plurality of second metal meshes each overlapping with the plurality of first metal meshes in the second connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, vias being installed at the vertices of each corresponding second metal mesh in the insulating layer, and second metal wires in the second metal meshes being electrically connected to a first electrode body portion adjacent to the first connection portion by the vias.
[0024] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a touch display panel, which includes a base substrate, a display structure and the above-described touch structure, wherein the display structure and the touch structure are stacked on the base substrate.
[0025] In some examples, the display structure includes a pixel definition layer and a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array, each of the plurality of sub-pixels including a light-emitting element and a pixel circuit for driving the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element including a first electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, the light-emitting layer being located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode being located on a side of the second electrode closer to the base substrate, the pixel definition layer including an opening exposing the first electrode of the light-emitting element, thereby defining a pixel opening area of the sub-pixel, and orthogonal projections of the plurality of first metal lines and the plurality of second metal lines on the base substrate are both located outside the orthogonal projections of the plurality of pixel opening areas of the plurality of sub-pixels on the base substrate.
[0026] In some examples, the orthogonal projection of each mesh hole of the first metal mesh on the base substrate covers the orthogonal projection of at least one pixel opening area on the base substrate.
[0027] In some examples, the pixel circuit includes a storage capacitor, and the virtual electrode and at least one storage electrode of the storage capacitor at least partially overlap.
[0028] In some examples, the first electrode of the light-emitting element is electrically connected to the pixel circuit, and the virtual electrode, the first electrode of the light-emitting element, and the storage electrode overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate.
[0029] In some examples, the display structure further includes a spacer disposed on a side of the pixel definition layer remote from the base substrate, the virtual electrode and the spacer at least partially overlapping in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate.
[0030] In some examples, the virtual electrode and the first connection portion are insulated by a break in a second metal wire, the break separating the second metal wire into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion belonging to the virtual electrode and the second portion belonging to the first connection portion, and the average length X D , average width Y D , the dimension of the cutout X DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap is 0 <Y D / S Gap <0.2, 0.1 <X DGap / X<0.5 is satisfied.
[0031] In some examples, the first electrode body and the adjacent second touch electrode are insulated by a break in a first metal line, the break separating the first metal line into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion belonging to the first electrode body and the second portion belonging to the second touch electrode, and the first metal line has an average length X D , average width Y D , the dimension of the cutout X DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap is 0 <Y D / S Gap <0.2, 0.1 <X DGap / X<0.5 is satisfied.
[0032] In some examples, the plurality of subpixels include a first subpixel, the first subpixel is configured to emit light of a first color, the area of the orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element of the first subpixel on the base substrate is S3, the orthogonal projection of the pixel opening area of the first subpixel on the base substrate is located within the orthogonal projection of one mesh hole in the plurality of first metal meshes on the base substrate, and the area of the mesh hole in the first metal mesh is S4.
[0033] In some examples, when the first subpixel is a green subpixel or a red subpixel, 0 <S4 / S3<0.8 であり、 0.9 when the first subpixel is a blue subpixel <S4 / S3<1 である。
[0034] In some examples, the orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is rectangular and has a length X FMM and width Y FMM wherein the mesh holes of the first metal mesh have a length X and a width Y, and the first sub-pixel is a green sub-pixel or a red sub-pixel, <X / X FMM <0.9, 0<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<0.8 and the first subpixel is a blue subpixel, 0.95 <X / X FMM <1, 0.9<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<1.
[0035] In some examples, the first electrode of the light-emitting element includes a main body portion and an extension portion, the main body portion and the pixel opening area of the sub-pixel to which the light-emitting element belongs overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, the extension portion and the pixel opening area of the sub-pixel do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, and the extension portion is electrically connected to the pixel circuit of the sub-pixel.
[0036] In some examples, the plurality of subpixels include a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, wherein the first subpixel, the second subpixel, and the third subpixel are configured to emit light of different colors, and the pixel aperture areas of the first subpixel, the second subpixel, and the third subpixel decrease in size in that order.
[0037] In some examples, the extension of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the first subpixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate and have a first overlapping area, the extension of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the second subpixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate and have a second overlapping area, and the extension of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the third subpixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate and have a third overlapping area, and the third overlapping area is larger than at least one of the first overlapping area and the second overlapping area.
[0038] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic device, including the touch structure or touch display panel described above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0039] In order to more clearly explain the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following will briefly describe the drawings necessary for explaining the embodiments or related technologies. It should be apparent that the drawings described below are only related to some embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. [Figure 1A] Mutual capacitance touch structure principle diagram [Figure 1B] Mutual capacitance touch structure principle diagram [Figure 2A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2B] 1 is a principle diagram of a touch structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3A] Schematic diagram 2 of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3B] Schematic diagram 2 of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3C] Schematic diagram 2 of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3D] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3E] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 4A] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch structure in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4B] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch structure in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4C] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a touch structure in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram 3 of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] Schematic diagram 4 of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 5 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] Partially enlarged schematic diagram of Figure 7 [Figure 8B] Partially enlarged schematic diagram of Figure 7 [Figure 9] 6 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11B] 11A taken along line III-III′. [Figure 12A] Partially enlarged schematic diagram of FIG. 11A [Figure 12B] 12A taken along line IV-IV′. [Figure 12C] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 13A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 13B] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 13C] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 14A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 14B] 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 15A] 1 is a schematic diagram of a fine metal mask according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15B] 1 is a schematic diagram of a fine metal mask according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and their multiple features and advantageous details will be more comprehensively described with reference to non-limiting exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings and described in detail in the following description. It should be noted that the features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In this disclosure, descriptions of known materials, components, and process techniques are omitted to clarify the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The provided examples are intended only to facilitate understanding of the implementation of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to practice the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, these examples should not be understood to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0041] Unless otherwise defined, technical or scientific terms used in this disclosure should be understood to have the common meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in this disclosure do not denote any order, number, or importance, but merely distinguish different components. Similar terms such as "comprise" or "include" mean that the element or item appearing before the term includes the elements or items listed after the term and their equivalents, but does not exclude other elements or items. Terms such as "top," "bottom," "left," and "right" are merely used to indicate relative positional relationships, and if the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationships will change accordingly.
[0042] Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panels are promising due to their self-luminous nature, high contrast, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, fast response time, flexibility, wide operating temperature range, and ease of manufacturing. To meet the diverse needs of users, the integration of multiple functions, such as touch functionality and fingerprint recognition, in display panels is becoming increasingly important. For example, one method for achieving this is to form an on-cell touch structure in an OLED display panel, which achieves the touch function of the display panel by forming a touch structure on the packaging film of the OLED display panel.
[0043] For example, a mutual capacitance touch structure includes multiple touch electrodes, each of which includes a touch drive electrode and a touch sense electrode extending in different directions. The touch drive electrode Tx and the touch sense electrode Rx form a mutual capacitor for touch sensing at their intersections. The touch drive electrode Tx is used to input an excitation signal (touch drive signal), and the touch sense electrode Rx is used to output a touch sense signal. For example, by inputting an excitation signal to a touch drive electrode extending vertically and receiving a touch sense signal from a touch sense electrode extending horizontally, a detection signal indicating the magnitude of the capacitance at the horizontal and vertical electrode coupling points (e.g., intersection points) can be obtained. When a finger touches a touch panel (e.g., a cover glass), it affects the coupling between the touch drive electrode and the touch sense electrode near the touch point, thereby changing the capacitance of the mutual capacitor at the intersection of the two electrodes, thereby changing the touch sense signal. The coordinates of the touch point can be calculated based on data of the two-dimensional capacitance change of the touch panel based on the touch sense signal.
[0044] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the principle of a mutual capacitance touch structure. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a touch driving signal is applied to the touch driving electrode Tx by the touch driving circuit 130, generating electric field lines E, which are received by the touch sensing electrode Rx to form a reference capacitance C0. When a finger touches the touch panel 110, because the human body is a conductor, some of the electric field lines E generated by the touch driving electrode Tx are guided by the finger to form finger capacitance, reducing the electric field lines E received by the touch sensing electrode Rx. Therefore, the capacitance between the touch driving electrode Tx and the touch sensing electrode Rx decreases. The touch driving circuit 130 obtains the magnitude of the capacitance value through the touch sensing electrode RX and compares it with the reference capacitance C0 to obtain a capacitance change ΔC. The coordinates of the touch point can be calculated based on the capacitance change ΔC and the position coordinates of each touch capacitor.
[0045] In some touch display devices, touch electrodes for touch sensing are formed using transparent metal oxide materials, such as indium tin oxide (ITO), to prevent the touch electrodes from impairing the display effect. However, indium is a rare metal, making it difficult to obtain and expensive, which puts it at a disadvantage in the market. In addition, indium tin oxide has problems such as being easily yellowed, easily damaged, inflexible, and having high resistance. Therefore, in recent years, a method has been developed to form touch electrodes using metal mesh formed from thin conductive wires. This metal mesh not only has relatively low resistance, but also has good ductility and flexibility, which can improve the bending resistance and processability of touch electrodes, making it suitable for flexible electronic applications.
[0046] The inventors have found that the resistance of the metal wires of the metal mesh is lower and more sensitive to slight changes in capacitance. Therefore, when the touch drive electrodes Tx and the touch sensing electrodes Rx formed by the metal mesh form a capacitor at their intersections, the instantaneous current flowing through the capacitor is relatively large (because the resistance loss of the metal wires is small), while the proportion of the current change caused by finger capacitance is relatively small. Therefore, the proportion of the capacitance change amount ΔC caused by a finger touch to the reference capacitance C0 is relatively small, which impairs the detection sensitivity and detection effect of the touch structure.
[0047] Since the coupling capacitance between the touch drive electrode Tx and the touch sensing electrode Rx is mainly formed by coupling at their intersections, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a touch structure in which a virtual electrode is installed at or near the intersections of the touch drive electrodes and the touch sensing electrodes, and the virtual electrode is configured to be coupled to the intersections (i.e., connection portions or bridge portions) of the touch drive electrodes Tx and the touch sensing electrodes Rx, thereby reducing the electric field lines E reaching the touch sensing electrodes Rx from the touch drive electrodes Tx. For example, the virtual electrode can block or extract some of the electric field lines generated by the touch drive electrodes Tx, thereby reducing the electric field lines received by the touch sensing electrodes Rx. This reduces the reference capacitance C0 between the touch drive electrodes Tx and the touch sensing electrodes Rx, thereby increasing the proportion of the capacitance change ΔC caused by a finger touch to the reference capacitance C0, thereby improving the detection sensitivity and detection effect of the touch structure. For example, the virtual electrode and the bridge portion overlap in a direction perpendicular to the touch drive electrode Tx or the touch sense electrode Rx, and the virtual electrode and the bridge portion are coupled to each other by vertical electric field lines; or the virtual electrode and the bridge portion do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the touch drive electrode Tx or the touch sense electrode Rx, and the virtual electrode and the bridge portion are coupled to each other by horizontal electric field lines.
[0048] In addition, the virtual electrode and the first connection portion of the first touch electrode are disposed insulated from each other in the same layer, and may be formed in the same patterning process, without the need for additional processes.
[0049] FIG. 2A is a structural schematic diagram of a touch structure according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2A, the touch electrode structure includes a plurality of first touch electrodes 210 (T1-Tn) extending along a first direction D1 and a plurality of second touch electrodes 220 (R1-Rn) extending along a second direction D2. For example, the first touch electrodes 210 may be touch drive electrodes that receive touch drive signals from a drive circuit (e.g., a drive IC), and the second touch electrodes 220 may be touch sense electrodes that transmit touch detection signals back to the drive circuit. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In another example, the first touch electrodes 210 may be touch sense electrodes, and the second touch electrodes 220 may be touch drive electrodes.
[0050] The first touch electrode 210 includes a plurality of first electrode bodies 211 arranged in sequence along the first direction D1 and a first connection portion 212 electrically connecting two adjacent first electrode bodies 211. The first connection portions 212 connect the plurality of first electrode bodies 211 in series along the first direction D1. The second touch electrode 220 includes a plurality of second electrode bodies 221 arranged in sequence along the second direction D2 and a second connection portion 222 electrically connecting two adjacent second electrode bodies 221. The second connection portions 222 connect the plurality of second electrode bodies 221 in series along the first direction D1. As shown in FIG. 2A , the outline of each of the first electrode bodies 211 and the second electrode bodies 221 is a rhombus. Alternatively, the first electrode bodies 211 and the second electrode bodies 221 may have other shapes, such as a triangle, a rectangle, or a strip. For example, the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222 in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be a portion or area where the first touch electrode 210 and the second touch electrode 220 overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate or in a direction perpendicular to the conductive layer on which the first touch electrode 210 is located.
[0051] Each first touch electrode 210 and each second touch electrode 220 are insulated from each other and intersect to form a plurality of touch units 200 at the intersections. The plurality of touch units 200 are arranged, for example, in an array in the detection area, so that they can be positioned, for example, by two coordinates. Each touch unit 200 includes a portion of each of the two first electrode bodies 211 connected at the intersections, and at least a portion of each of the two second electrode bodies 221 connected at the intersections.
[0052] In FIG. 2A , the right side shows an enlarged schematic diagram of one touch unit 200. As shown, each touch unit 200 includes half of two adjacent first electrode bodies 211 and half of two adjacent second electrode bodies 221, i.e., one first electrode body 211 and one second electrode body 221, respectively. The junction of the first electrode body 211 and the second electrode body 221 of each touch unit 200 (i.e., the intersection of the first connection portion and the second connection portion) forms a reference point for calculating coordinates. When a finger touches the touch panel, the coupling between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode near the touch point is affected, thereby changing the mutual capacitance between the two electrodes. The generated touch detection signal changes based on the capacitance change ΔC of the touch panel, allowing the coordinates of each touch point to be calculated based on the reference point. For example, the area of each touch unit 200 corresponds to the area where a human finger touches the touch panel. If the area of the touch unit is too large, the panel will have blind touch spots; if the area of the touch unit is too small, false touch signals will be generated.
[0053] The average side length of each touch unit 200 is P, which is referred to as the pitch of the touch structure. For example, the pitch P ranges from 3.7 mm to 5 mm, e.g., approximately 4 mm, because the average diameter of a typical person's finger touching a touch panel is approximately 4 mm. For example, the pitch P is the same as the average side length of each first electrode body 211 and each second electrode body 221, and is also the same as the center-to-center distance between adjacent first electrode bodies 211 and adjacent second electrode bodies 221. Figure 3A is an enlarged schematic diagram of the junction of the first and second touch electrodes of the touch structure, Figure 3B shows the first conductive layer 201, and Figure 3C shows the second conductive layer 202. The first conductive layer 201 includes a plurality of first metal meshes 213 formed by a plurality of first metal wires 21, and each of the plurality of first electrode body portions 211, the plurality of second electrode body portions 221, and the second connection portion 222 includes a plurality of first metal meshes 213. The second conductive layer 202 includes a plurality of second metal wires 22. For clarity, FIG. 3A shows the second metal wires in the second conductive layer as thicker lines, but this is not intended to limit the present disclosure, and the average line width of the second metal wires may be greater than, less than, or equal to the average line width of the first metal wires. The following examples are similar, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted here.
[0054] 3B, the dashed line indicates the gap between the first electrode body 211 and the second touch electrode 220, which is the same in the following embodiments and will not be described in detail here. The first metal wire in the first electrode body 211 and the first metal wire in the second touch electrode 220 are insulated from each other by a break 260 in the first metal wire, which separates the first metal wire 260 into two parts that are insulated from each other, and the two parts belong to the first electrode body 211 and the second touch electrode 220, respectively.
[0055] 3A to 3C, the plurality of first electrode body portions 211, the plurality of second electrode body portions 221, and the second connection portion 222 are located on a first conductive layer 201, and the first connection portion 212 is located on a second conductive layer 202. The first conductive layer 201 and the second conductive layer 202 are separated by an insulating layer 203, and the first connection portion 212 is electrically connected to the adjacent first electrode body portion 211 by a via 240 in the insulating layer 203.
[0056] For example, the first conductive layer 201, the insulating layer 203, and the second conductive layer 202 are sequentially disposed on the substrate 30. For example, the substrate 30 may be a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. For example, the substrate 30 may be a display panel, or a planar structure included in a display panel, such as a display-side substrate, on which other structures, circuits, or functional modules may be further formed, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this. The substrate 30 provides a base for forming the touch structure 20, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific structure of the substrate.
[0057] 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' in FIG. 3A. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first conductive layer 201 is closer to the substrate 30 than the second conductive layer 202. Because the first conductive layer 201 includes most of the structures in the touch structure 20, placing the first conductive layer 201 close to the substrate 30 can prevent the pattern in the second conductive layer 202 from impairing the flatness of the first conductive layer 201, thereby improving the quality of the electrode structure in the first conductive layer 201. In other examples, the second conductive layer 202 may be placed close to the substrate 30, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0058] 3A and 4A, the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201 to form a reference capacitance C0 for touch detection.
[0059] The first metal mesh 213 may have a rectangular shape, with two sides of the rectangle extending along a third direction and a fourth direction, respectively. The third direction and the fourth direction may be the same as the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, respectively, or may be different from the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. This disclosure does not limit this. Hereinafter, a case where the third direction and the fourth direction are the same as the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 will be described as an example.
[0060] 3A and 4B, the touch structure 20 further includes a virtual electrode 230 located on the second conductive layer 202, the virtual electrode 230 being located between two adjacent first electrode bodies 211 and insulated from both the first touch electrode 210 and the second touch electrode 220.
[0061] 2B is a principle diagram of a touch structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2B , by locating the virtual electrode 230 at or near the intersection of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode (e.g., between the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222), a portion of the electric field lines emitted by the first connection portion 212 is received by the virtual electrode 230, so that the virtual electrode can effectively couple with the first connection portion 212, reducing the coupling capacitance Cb between the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222 and thereby reducing the reference capacitance between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode. The embodiment of the present disclosure does not limit the specific location of the virtual electrode. The virtual electrode may be located at or near the intersection of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, as long as the virtual electrode forms a coupling with at least one of the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222 and effectively reduces the coupling capacitance Cb between the first connection portion 212 and the second connection portion 222. For example, at or near the intersection between the first connecting portion 212 and the second connecting portion 222, the virtual electrode 230 may be located inside the first connecting portion 212 and overlap with the second connecting portion 222 in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, or the virtual electrode 230 may be located outside the first connecting portion (i.e., not overlapping with the first connecting portion), for example, overlapping with at least one of the two first body portions 211 adjacent to the first connecting portion 212 in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, or overlapping with at least one of the two second body portions 222 adjacent to the first connecting portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer. For example, if the virtual electrode 230 may be located outside the first connecting portion, it is possible to avoid further crowding of metal lines at the first connecting portion, thereby reducing process difficulty.
[0062] The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific location of the virtual electrode, and the virtual electrode only needs to be coupled to at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion (e.g., coupled by an electric field). This makes the location of the virtual electrode more flexible and easier to install.
[0063] For example, the extending direction of at least one first metal line 231 and the extending direction of the virtual electrode are the same, and the virtual electrode overlaps with the at least one first metal line 231 in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201 .
[0064] For example, the virtual electrode 230 includes one or more second metal lines 232, and each second metal line 232 in the virtual electrode 230 overlaps with a first metal line 231 of the same extension direction in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201.
[0065] For example, the virtual electrode 230 and the first connecting portion 212 each include at least one second metal line 22, and the orthogonal projection of the virtual electrode 230 on the first conductive layer 201 at least partially overlaps the second connecting portion 222. This placement positions the virtual electrode 230 at or near the junction of the first connecting portion 212 and the second connecting portion 222, thereby effectively reducing the coupling electric field and coupling capacitance (i.e., reference capacitance C0) between the first touch electrode 210 and the second touch electrode 220, and improving the detection sensitivity and detection effect of the touch structure. For example, the virtual electrode 230 is a floating electrode, i.e., does not read any electrical signals.
[0066] For example, the first connection portion 212 may include a plurality of connecting lines separated from each other, or may include a polygon consisting of a plurality of connecting lines connected to each other, and may electrically connect two adjacent first electrode body portions in the first direction D1, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the specific pattern of the first connection portion 212.
[0067] For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A , the first connecting portion 212 includes at least one first connecting line 215 extending along the third direction, and the first connecting line 215 includes at least one second metal line 22 and is electrically connected to two adjacent first electrode bodies 211 by vias 240 in the insulating layer 203. Hereinafter, the third direction and the first direction D1 will be described as an example, but this is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In other examples, the third direction and the following fourth direction may be different from the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. In another example, the virtual electrode and the first connecting line may each have a polygonal line shape, but this is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0068] For example, the second metal lines 22 in the first connection portion 212 and the first metal lines 21 extending along the first direction D1 in the second connection portion 222 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. For example, when the substrate 30 is a display panel, such an arrangement can minimize the shielding of the metal lines in the touch structure from the display light of the display panel, and increase the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0069] In at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "first metal line" refers to a metal line connected between two adjacent vertices of the first metal mesh, i.e., each first metal line corresponds to one side of the first metal mesh, and the term "second metal line" refers to a metal line portion in the second conductive layer that overlaps with one side of the first metal mesh (i.e., one first metal line) in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, i.e., each second metal line corresponds to one first metal line. The following embodiments are similar to this, so detailed description will be omitted here.
[0070] For example, the shape of the first metal mesh 213 is rectangular. In other examples, the shape of the first metal mesh 213 may be other quadrilaterals (e.g., diamonds) or other polygonal shapes (e.g., pentagons, hexagons, etc.). In other embodiments, the first metal mesh 213 may further include a broken line or an arc (e.g., circles, semicircles, or ellipses). The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the shape of the first metal mesh 213, and the shape may be designed according to actual needs. For example, when the touch structure 20 is applied to a touch display panel, the first metal mesh only needs to match the shape of the pixel opening area of its corresponding subpixel. Similarly, the first metal lines 21 and the second metal lines 22 may include broken lines, arcs, or any curves that match the shape of the pixel opening area of its corresponding subpixel, and the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this. Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described using the example where the first metal mesh is rectangular, and the first metal wires forming the first metal mesh extend along the third and fourth directions, respectively, and the third and fourth directions may be the same as the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, respectively, or may be different from both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0071] For example, the virtual electrode 230 overlaps with the first metal wires 21 in the second connection portion 222 extending in the same direction as the first connecting line and perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. For example, the virtual electrode 230 includes a plurality of second metal wires 22 connected to each other, and the plurality of second metal wires 22 overlap with the plurality of first metal wires 21 in the second connection portion 222 in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. As shown in Figures 3A and 4B, each second metal wire 22 corresponds to one first metal mesh 213 in the second connection portion 222, and the second metal wire 22 overlaps with the first metal wire in the corresponding first metal mesh 213 extending in the same direction. For example, the virtual electrode 230 and the first connecting line both extend along the first direction. In another example, the extending direction of the virtual electrode and the first connecting line is adaptively changed as the extending direction of the first metal line changes, thereby ensuring that the second metal line and the first metal line overlap as much as possible.
[0072] For example, the virtual electrode 230 is located between two first connection lines 215 in the first connection portion 212. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and in other examples, the virtual electrode 230 may be located outside the first connection portion 212.
[0073] 3A and 4B, the first metal wire 21 in the second connection portion 222 is insulated from the first metal wire 21 in the adjacent first electrode body portion 211 by a gap 250, and at least a part of the gap 250 is exposed to the virtual electrode 230. In another example, as shown in FIG. 4C, the virtual electrode further covers the gap 250 and overlaps with the first metal wire 21 in the adjacent first electrode body portion 211 in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201.
[0074] For example, the touch structure 20 may include a plurality of virtual electrodes 230, which extend along a third direction, and the plurality of virtual electrodes 230 and the plurality of first connecting lines 215 are alternately arranged in a fourth direction. For example, the distance between the virtual electrode 230 and the adjacent first connecting line 215 corresponds to the side length of one first metal mesh 213. For example, the third direction is the same as the first direction D1, and the fourth direction is the same as the second direction D2, but this is not a limitation of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0075] 3D and 3E are schematic diagrams of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 3D, the virtual electrode 230 and the second body portion 222 at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer. For example, the virtual electrode overlaps with a first metal line in the second body portion extending in the same direction. For example, the virtual electrode 230 extends along the first direction, and there are at most four rows of metal mesh between the orthogonal projection on the first conductive layer and the first metal line closest to the virtual electrode in the first connection portion, thereby ensuring that the virtual electrode is effectively coupled to the first connection portion and / or the second connection portion.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 3E , the virtual electrode 230 and the first body portion 211 at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer. For example, the virtual electrode overlaps with the first metal line 211 in the first body portion, which extends in the same direction. For example, the virtual electrode 230 extends along the second direction, and there are at most three rows of metal mesh between the orthogonal projection on the first conductive layer and the first metal line 211 closest to the virtual electrode in the second connection portion, thereby ensuring that the virtual electrode is effectively coupled to the first connection portion and / or the second connection portion. In another example, as shown in FIG. 5 , the virtual electrode 230 extends along a fourth direction, which is different from the third direction. For example, the third direction is the same as the first direction, and the fourth direction is the same as the second direction, but this is not a limitation of the embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5 , the virtual electrode 230 overlaps with the first metal line 211 in the second connection portion 222, which extends in the same direction, in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 203. For example, the virtual electrode may be located between adjacent first connecting lines 215 and spaced apart from the adjacent first connecting lines 215 for insulation.
[0077] In another example, the virtual electrode 230 may further include a second metal line 22 extending along the first direction D1 and a second metal line 22 extending along the second direction D2. For example, the second metal line 22 extending along the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 in the virtual electrode overlap with the first metal line 21 extending along the first direction D1 and the first metal line 21 extending along the second direction D2 in the second connection portion 222, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. This configuration can increase the area of the virtual electrode within the available space, thereby providing better shielding for the electric field lines between the first touch electrode 210 and the second touch electrode 220, further reducing the reference capacitance C0 and improving touch sensitivity. For example, the virtual electrode may be L-shaped or cross-shaped, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0078] 6 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, the virtual electrode 230 includes a plurality of second metal lines 22 connected to each other and extending along a first direction D1, each second metal line 22 corresponding to one first metal mesh 213 in the second connection portion 222, and the second metal line 22 overlaps with the first metal line 21 in the corresponding first metal mesh 213 extending along the first direction D1.
[0079] 6 shows an enlarged schematic diagram of the virtual electrode 230 on the right side. As shown, the second metal wires 22 extending along the first direction D1 in the virtual electrode 230 are aligned on the same line. The virtual electrode 230 further includes branch portions 231 extending along the second direction D2 from the connection points of two adjacent second metal wires 22. The branch portions 231 overlap the first metal wires 21 extending along the second direction D2 in the second connection portion 222 in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. For example, in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201, each connection point overlaps a vertex of the first metal mesh. For example, in the second direction D2, the length of the branch portions 231 is shorter than the side length of the corresponding first metal mesh 213, thereby separating and insulating the first connection lines 214.
[0080] Such an arrangement can increase the area of the virtual electrode within the available space, thereby providing better shielding for the electric field lines between the first touch electrode 210 and the second touch electrode 220, further reducing the reference capacitance C0, and thereby improving the touch sensitivity.
[0081] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the virtual electrode 230 covers the gap between adjacent first electrode main body portions 211 and second connection portions 222 and extends in the first direction D1 so as to overlap with the first metal wire 21 in the first electrode main body portion 211.
[0082] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is that among the plurality of second metal lines 22 extending along the first direction D1 in the virtual electrode 230 shown in FIG. 6, two adjacent second metal lines 22 are not on the same straight line, that is, they are on different straight lines respectively. For example, the virtual electrode 230 is in a polygonal line shape. For example, the sizes of the plurality of first metal meshes 213 connected in sequence in the first direction D1 corresponding to the virtual electrode 230 are not the same. For example, the dimensions in the second direction D2 are not the same, or there is a deviation in the arrangement of the plurality of first metal meshes 213, all of which cause the adjacent vertices of the plurality of first metal meshes 213 not to converge at one point. Therefore, the contour of the plurality of first metal meshes is in a polygonal line shape. Correspondingly, the virtual electrode 230 is also in a polygonal line shape so as to overlap the contour of the plurality of first metal meshes in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 203. For example, the first connection line 215 in the first connection portion 212 is also in a polygonal line shape.
[0083] For example, the area of the virtual electrode 230 is S1, and the area of the mesh hole of any one mesh defined by the projection of the virtual electrode 230 on the first conductive layer and the first metal line 21 in the first conductive layer is S2, satisfying a < S1 / S2 < b, where 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, and a < b. For example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b.
[0084] The mesh here is defined by the virtual electrode and the first metal line 21 in the first conductive layer. There may or may not be a first metal line 21 overlapping the virtual electrode in the first conductive layer. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this, that is, the mesh may be an actually existing mesh formed by connecting the first metal lines 21, or may be a virtual mesh defined by the projection of the virtual electrode on the first conductive layer and the first metal line in the first conductive layer. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit this.
[0085] For example, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the virtual electrode 230 is rectangular, and the length and width of the rectangle are X D and Y D respectively. The area of the mesh of any one of the projections of the virtual electrode 230 on the first conductive layer and the first metal line in the first conductive layer is S2. As shown in FIG. 3A, the projections of the virtual electrode 230 on the first conductive layer and the first metal line in the first conductive layer define four meshes A, B, C, and D. Therefore, S2 may be the area of any one of the four meshes. The mesh of the mesh is rectangular, and the length and width of the mesh are X and Y respectively, and a < (X D × Y D ) / (X × Y) < b is satisfied, where 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, a < b. For example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b.
[0086] In other examples, the virtual electrode 230 includes n rectangles connected to each other. The lengths of the n rectangles are X1, X2... Xn respectively, and the widths are all Y D respectively. n is an integer greater than 1. The mesh of the mesh is rectangular, and the length and width of the mesh are X and Y respectively, and a < (X D × Y D ) / (X × Y) < b is satisfied, where X D = X1 + X2 +... + Xn, 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, and a < b. For example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b.
[0087] FIG. 8A is an enlarged schematic view of region A in FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A, the virtual electrode 230 includes three second metal lines 22 connected to each other. The area of the virtual electrode 230 may be approximately equal to the total area of the three second metal lines 22. The lengths of the three second metal lines 22 are X1, X2, and X3 respectively, and the width of each second metal line 22 is Y DThat is. Here, the second metal wire 22 refers to a wire range that is parallel to and overlaps one side of one first metal mesh in the second conductive layer. The length range of each second metal wire 22 corresponds to the first metal mesh, the length of the second metal wire refers to the dimension along its extending direction, and the width refers to the dimension along the direction perpendicular to its extending direction. The mesh of the first metal mesh 213 corresponding to each second metal wire 22 is rectangular, and the length and width of the rectangle are X and Y respectively. Therefore, the above S1 = X D *Y D , X D = X1 + X2 + X3, S2 = X * Y, and a < (X D ×Y D ) / (X × Y) < b is satisfied, Here, 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3. For example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b.
[0088] For example, the area of the mesh of any one first metal mesh corresponding to the plurality of second metal wires 22 in the virtual electrode 230 is S2, and a < S1 / S2 < b is satisfied, Here, 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3. For example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b. That the second metal wire 22 corresponds to the first metal mesh means that the second metal wire 22 overlaps the first metal wire 21 parallel to the first metal wire 21 in the first metal mesh 213 in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. Here, S1 refers to the total area of the virtual electrode 230, and S2 refers to the area of any one first metal mesh 213 that overlaps the virtual electrode 230 in the direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201. In this embodiment, there is a first metal wire below the virtual electrode, and the mesh defined by the virtual electrode and the first metal wire in the first conductive layer may be regarded as the first metal mesh corresponding to the virtual electrode.
[0089] FIG. 8B shows the pattern of the first conductive layer in region A. FIGS. 8A and 8B show adjacent first connection lines 215 and virtual electrodes 230, as well as the first metal meshes 213 located between them. The virtual electrodes 230 include three second metal wires 22, each extending over a range corresponding to the three adjacent first metal meshes 213 in the same row. The three first metal meshes 213 are different in size, and the vertices of adjacent metal meshes do not overlap. The three first metal meshes 213 include three portions insulated from each other and arranged sequentially in the first direction D1. The middle portion belongs to the second connection portion 222, and the two side portions belong to the first electrode main portion 211 adjacent to and insulated from the second connection portion 222. The second connection portions 222 are spaced apart and insulated from the first electrode main portion 211 by a break 260 in the first metal wire 21. Here, each second metal wire 22 refers to a conductive wire range that is parallel to and overlaps one side of one first metal mesh in the second conductive layer, and the length range of the second metal wire 22 corresponds to the first metal mesh.
[0090] As shown in FIGS. 8A-8B , the virtual electrode 230 includes a plurality of interconnected rectangular structures, and the area of the virtual electrode 230 may be approximately equal to the total area of the three second metal lines 22. The lengths of the three second metal lines 22 are X1, X2, and X3, respectively, and the width of each second metal line 22 is Y. D Here, the second metal wire 22 refers to the conductive wire range that is parallel to and overlaps one side of one first metal mesh in the second conductive layer, the length range of the second metal wire 22 corresponds to the first metal mesh, the length of the second metal wire refers to the dimension along its extension direction, and the width refers to the dimension along the direction perpendicular to its extension direction. The mesh holes of the first metal mesh 213 corresponding to each second metal wire 22 are rectangular, and the length and width of the rectangle are X and Y, respectively. Therefore, the above S1=X D *Y D , X D =X1+X2+X3, S2=X*Y, and a<(X D ×Y D ) / (X×Y) Here, 0.05 < a < 0.2, 0.1 < b < 0.3, for example, 0.1 < a < 0.2, 0.12 < b < 0.24, and a < b.
[0091] The above has been described by taking the case where the first metal mesh is rectangular as an example. When the first metal mesh has other shapes, in order to satisfy the above relationship, the area of its mesh holes can be calculated correspondingly and corresponding designs can be carried out.
[0092] Note that the first metal mesh here may not be a complete mesh, and there may be a break in the first metal wire on at least one of its sides. In such a case, the area of the mesh holes of the first metal mesh refers to the area of the mesh holes of the complete mesh defined by each side of the first metal mesh.
[0093] When the touch structure is applied to a display device, according to the above design, it can improve the sensitivity of touch detection and also help to improve the aperture ratio of the display device, which will be described in detail below.
[0094] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a touch structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the touch structure includes a foldable area 281, and the foldable area 281 is, for example, an area that can be folded during use. The first connection part 212 includes a folding part 271 located in the foldable area 281. The folding part includes at least one second metal wire 22, and holes 270 are provided in the at least one second metal wire, and the aperture diameter thereof is 25% - 90% of the wire width of the second metal wire 22 at the position where it is located. The holes are through holes.
[0095] For example, holes 232 may be provided in the virtual electrode 230, and the aperture diameter thereof is, for example, 25% - 90% of the wire width of the second metal wire 22 at the position where it is located. The holes are through holes.
[0096] By providing through holes in the second metal wire 22 located in the foldable area 281, the stress received by the second metal wire 22 during the folding process can be effectively released, thereby improving the folding resistance of the touch structure.
[0097] For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the first connection portion 212 includes a polygon formed by connecting a plurality of second metal wires 22, at least a portion of the polygon being the bending portion 271, and the plurality of second metal wires 22 each overlap with a plurality of first metal wires 21 in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer 201.
[0098] For example, the first connection portion further includes a plurality of second metal meshes 272 each connected to a plurality of vertices of the polygon, and the plurality of second metal meshes 272 each overlap with the plurality of first metal meshes in the second connection portion 222 in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer.
[0099] For example, a via 240 is provided at each vertex of each corresponding second metal mesh 272 in the insulating layer 203, and the second metal wire 22 in the second metal mesh 272 is electrically connected to the first electrode main body portion 211 adjacent to the first connection portion 212 by the via 240.
[0100] 9 , the polygon included in the first connection portion 212 is a rectangle, and one second metal mesh 272 is connected to each of the four vertices of the rectangle. The second metal mesh 272 is rectangular, and the four vertices of the second metal mesh 272 overlap with the four vertices of the first metal mesh 213, respectively, and one via 240 is provided at each of the four vertices of the second metal mesh 272 to electrically connect the first connection portion 212 and the first electrode main body 211.
[0101] By such an arrangement, the number of connection vias in the first connection portion 212 and the first electrode body portion 211 can be increased, and the bending resistance of the first connection portion 212 can be improved.
[0102] For example, at least one vertex of each second metal mesh 272 is located in a non-bendable area outside the bendable area 281. For example, each second metal mesh 272 is located in a non-bendable area.
[0103] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a touch panel including the above-described touch structure 20. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 10, the touch panel 40 includes a touch area 301 and a non-touch area 302 located outside the touch area 301, and the touch structure 20 is located in the touch area 301. For example, the first touch electrode 210 extends along the length direction of the rectangle, and the second touch electrode 220 extends along the width direction of the rectangle. For clarity, the structures of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode are not shown in detail in the figure.
[0104] 10 , the touch panel 40 further includes a plurality of signal lines 450 located in the non-touch area 302. Each of the first touch electrodes 210 and each of the second touch electrodes 220 are electrically connected to a signal line 450, and are connected to a touch controller or a touch integrated circuit (not shown) by the signal line 450. For example, the first touch electrodes 210 are touch driving electrodes, and the second touch electrodes 220 are touch sensing electrodes, but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0105] The touch integrated circuit, for example, a touch chip, is used to provide touch driving signals to the first touch electrodes 210 in the touch panel 40, receive touch sensing signals from the second touch electrodes 220, process the touch sensing signals, and provide the processed data / signals to a system controller, for example, to realize a touch sensing function.
[0106] For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the ends of the plurality of signal lines 450 connected to the touch integrated circuit may all be arranged on the same side of the touch area 301 (e.g., the lower side of FIG. 10), so that the connection with the touch integrated circuit can be easily realized.
[0107] For example, as shown in FIG. 10 , since the first touch electrode 210 is longer and has a larger load than the second touch electrode 220, in order to improve the signal transmission speed, one signal line 450 can be installed on each end of one first touch electrode 210, and during operation, the touch integrated circuit can simultaneously input touch driving signals to one first touch electrode 210 in both directions through two signal lines 450 (dual-path driving), thereby improving the speed at which signals are read from the first touch electrode 210 and thereby improving the detection speed.
[0108] For example, the material of the first conductive layer 201 or the second conductive layer 202 includes metal materials such as aluminum, molybdenum, copper, silver, etc., or alloy materials of these metal materials, such as silver-palladium-copper (APC) alloy material.
[0109] For example, the average line width of the first metal wire 21 or the second metal wire 22 is 3 micrometers. For example, the width of the break 260 in the metal wire (the dimension along the length of the metal wire where it is located) is 5.2 micrometers.
[0110] For example, the material of the insulating layer 203 may be an inorganic insulating material, for example, a transparent inorganic insulating material, such as silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon nitride, or silicon oxynitride, or a metal oxynitride-containing insulating material, such as aluminum oxide or titanium nitride.
[0111] For example, the material of the insulating layer 203 may be an organic insulating material to achieve good bending resistance. For example, the organic insulating material may be a transparent material. For example, the organic insulating material may be an OCA optical adhesive. For example, the organic insulating material may include polyimide (PI), acrylic ester, epoxy resin, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), etc.
[0112] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a touch display panel including the touch structure 20 according to any one of the above embodiments.
[0113] FIG. 11A is a structural schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III' in FIG. 11A.
[0114] 11A and 11B, the touch display panel 60 includes a base substrate 101, a display structure 50 and a touch structure 20 stacked on the base substrate 101, and the touch structure 20 is located on the display structure 50 and is closer to the user during use.
[0115] For example, the touch display panel is an OLED display panel, and the display structure 50 includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array. For example, the plurality of sub-pixels include red sub-pixels (R), green sub-pixels (G), and blue sub-pixels (B). Each sub-pixel includes a light-emitting element 51. The display structure further includes a pixel definition layer 54, which includes an opening in the first electrode that exposes each light-emitting element 51, thereby defining a pixel opening area 540 of the sub-pixel in which each light-emitting element is located. The light-emitting element 51 is, for example, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED).
[0116] The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the sub-pixel arrangement method, and FIG. 11A illustrates a stripe pixel arrangement method as an example. In other examples, the sub-pixels may be further arranged in a mosaic arrangement method, a delta arrangement method, a pentile arrangement method, and other sub-pixel rendering methods (SPR).
[0117] 11A, the pixel aperture area 540 of each sub-pixel is schematically shown by a rectangular frame. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the shape of the pixel aperture area, and in other examples, the planar shape of the pixel aperture area 540 may be other polygonal shapes (such as a diamond, pentagon, or hexagon) or other shapes.
[0118] The orthogonal projections of the first metal lines 21 and the second metal lines 22 on the base substrate 101 are all outside the orthogonal projections of the pixel opening areas 540 of the sub-pixels on the base substrate 101, i.e., they are within the orthogonal projections of the pixel separating areas 541 between the pixel opening areas on the base substrate 101, which are non-opening areas of the pixel defining layer 54. The pixel separating areas 541 separate the pixel opening areas of the sub-pixels, separate the light-emitting layers of each sub-pixel, and prevent cross-color.
[0119] For example, when a touch electrode formed by the metal mesh is integrated into a display panel, the metal lines of the metal mesh need to be located outside the pixel opening areas of the display panel to prevent the metal lines from blocking light and reducing the pixel aperture ratio. For example, the metal lines of the metal mesh are located corresponding to the pixel separation areas between the pixel opening areas. For example, the orthogonal projection of each mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 on the base substrate 101 covers the orthogonal projection of at least one pixel opening area 540. For example, the mesh holes of the first metal mesh 213 are located in one-to-one correspondence with the pixel opening areas to expose the pixel opening area 540 of each light-emitting element of each subpixel. In another example, at least one mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 covers the pixel opening areas of at least two subpixels. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0120] For example, the display structure 50 may further include a spacer layer 55, which may be used to support a deposition mask when forming the organic light-emitting layer 513 by deposition, thereby separating the pixel-defining layer 54 from the deposition mask to protect the pixel-defining layer 54, and the spacer layer 55 may also serve to further separate adjacent organic light-emitting layers. The spacer layer 55 typically includes a plurality of spacers 550 spaced apart from one another, and the shape of the spacers 550 is typically, but not limited to, rectangular, cylindrical, spherical, or hemispherical.
[0121] For example, the pixel definition layer 54 and the spacer layer 55 may each be made of a material such as polyimide (PI) or acrylic (PMMA) with a thickness of 1 μm to 5 μm.
[0122] 11B, the virtual electrode 230 and the spacer 550 at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate 101. This arrangement can further improve the aperture ratio of the touch display panel.
[0123] Each sub-pixel includes a light-emitting element 51 and a pixel driving circuit that drives the light-emitting element 51 to emit light. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the type and specific configuration of the pixel driving circuit, and for example, the pixel driving circuit may be a current-driven type, a voltage-driven type, a 2T1C (i.e., two transistors and one capacitor, the two transistors including a driving transistor and a data write transistor) driving circuit, or a driving circuit that includes a compensation circuit (compensation transistor), a light-emitting control circuit (light-emitting control transistor), a reset circuit (reset transistor), etc. in addition to the 2T1C.
[0124] 11B shows only the first transistor 53 directly electrically connected to the light-emitting element 51 in the pixel driving circuit, and the first transistor 53 may be a driving transistor, operating in a saturation state and configured to control the magnitude of a current that drives the light-emitting element 51 to emit light. For example, the first transistor 53 may be an emission control transistor, used to control whether a current flows that drives the light-emitting element 51 to emit light. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a specific type of the first transistor.
[0125] For example, the light-emitting element 51 is an organic light-emitting diode and includes a first electrode 511, a light-emitting layer 513, and a second electrode 512. One of the first electrode 511 and the second electrode 512 is an anode and the other is a cathode; for example, the first electrode 511 is an anode and the second electrode 512 is a cathode. For example, the light-emitting layer 233 is an organic light-emitting layer or a quantum dot light-emitting layer. For example, the light-emitting element 51 may further include auxiliary functional layers such as a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron injection layer, and an electron transport layer in addition to the light-emitting layer 513. For example, the light-emitting element 51 has a top-emission structure, and the first electrode 511 is reflective, while the second electrode 512 is transmissive or semi-transmissive. For example, the first electrode 511 is a high work function material and functions as an anode, such as an ITO / Ag / ITO stacked structure, and the second electrode 512 is a low work function material and functions as a cathode, such as a semi-transparent metal or metal alloy material, such as an Ag / Mg alloy material.
[0126] For example, the light-emitting layer 513 may be a singlet-state fluorescent organic light-emitting material or a triplet-state phosphorescent organic light-emitting material. Phosphorescent organic light-emitting materials generally require a hole-blocking layer (HBL) between the light-emitting layer and the electron-transporting layer, or an electron-blocking layer (EBL) between the light-emitting layer and the hole-transporting layer (HTL). Therefore, compared with singlet-state excitons, triplet-state excitons have a longer lifetime and a longer diffusion length.
[0127] 11B, the pixel definition layer 54 and the spacer layer 55 are sequentially disposed on the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element 51. An opening is formed in the pixel definition layer 54 to include at least a portion of the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element 51, and the light-emitting layer 513 is formed in the opening of the pixel definition layer 54 to form the effective light-emitting region of the sub-pixel, i.e., the pixel opening area 540.
[0128] The first transistor 53 includes a gate 531, a gate insulating layer 532, an active layer 533, a first electrode 534, and a second electrode 535. The second electrode 535 is electrically connected to the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element 51 by a via 91 in an insulating layer 90, which is, for example, a planarization layer. The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the type, material, or structure of the first transistor 53, and may be, for example, a top-gate type, a bottom-gate type, etc. The active layer 533 of the first transistor 53 may be amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon (low-temperature polycrystalline silicon and high-temperature polycrystalline silicon), an oxide semiconductor (e.g., indium gallium tin oxide (IGZO)), etc., and the first transistor 53 may be an N-type or a P-type.
[0129] The transistors used in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be thin film transistors, field effect transistors, or other switching devices with the same characteristics, and the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described using thin film transistors as an example. The source and drain of the transistor used here may be structurally symmetrical, and therefore, the source and drain may be structurally identical. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to distinguish between the two poles other than the gate of the transistor, one pole will be directly described as a first pole and the other pole as a second pole.
[0130] 11B , the display structure 50 further includes a packaging layer 56 located between the light emitting element 51 and the touch structure 20, and the packaging layer 56 is configured to seal the light emitting element 51 to prevent external moisture or oxygen from entering the light emitting element and driving circuits and damaging devices such as the light emitting element 51. For example, the packaging layer 56 may have a single-layer structure or a multi-layer structure, for example, including an organic thin film, an inorganic thin film, or a multi-layer structure formed by alternating organic thin films and inorganic thin films.
[0131] 11B, the touch display panel 60 further includes a buffer layer 204 located between the display structure 50 and the touch structure 20. For example, the buffer layer 204 is formed on the package layer 56 to improve the adhesion between the touch structure 20 and the display structure 50. For example, the buffer layer 204 is an inorganic insulating layer, and the material of the buffer layer 204 may be silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or silicon nitride oxide. For example, the buffer layer 204 may include a structure in which silicon oxide layers and silicon nitride layers are alternately stacked.
[0132] For example, the base substrate 101 may be a glass substrate, a silicon substrate, or a flexible substrate, and may be formed of a plastic material having excellent heat resistance and durability, such as polyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate glycol ester (PET), polycarbonate, polyethylene, polyacrylic acid ester, polycarbonate, polyarylate, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polysulfone (PSF), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), cellulose triacetate (TAC), cycloalkene polymer (COP), and cycloalkene copolymer (COC).
[0133] 12A is an enlarged schematic view of region D in FIG. 11A, and FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the cross-sectional line IV-IV' in FIG. 12A.
[0134] Referring to Figures 11A and 12A, Figure 12A shows boundary lines LG, LR, and LB of the light-emitting layers of each sub-pixel, and for example, as shown in Figure 12A, the orthogonal projection of the boundary lines on the base substrate is located within the orthogonal projection of the first metal line 21 or the second metal line 22 on the base substrate.
[0135] 12A to 12B, the display structure 50 includes a semiconductor pattern layer 102, a first conductive pattern layer 501, a second conductive pattern layer 502, a third conductive pattern layer 503, and a fourth conductive pattern layer 504, which are sequentially disposed on a base substrate 101.
[0136] For example, the semiconductor pattern layer 102 may include the active layer of each transistor in the pixel circuit, which may include, for example, the channel area and conductive source-drain contact areas of the transistor.
[0137] For example, the first conductive pattern layer 501 may include the gates of each transistor in the pixel circuit and some scanning control lines (eg, light emission control signal lines, reset control signal lines, etc.) connected to the gates.
[0138] For example, the second conductive pattern layer 502 may include a power supply line, a capacitance electrode, a reset voltage line, and the like.
[0139] For example, the third conductive pattern layer 503 may include data lines, power lines, etc. The third conductive pattern layer 503 may further include some connecting electrodes.
[0140] For example, the fourth conductive pattern layer 504 may include the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element of each sub-pixel.
[0141] For example, the pixel circuit of each sub-pixel further includes a storage capacitor 57, for example, electrically connected to the driving transistor and configured to store a data signal and information related to the threshold voltage of the driving transistor, thereby realizing threshold compensation of the driving transistor. For example, the storage capacitor 57 includes a first capacitance electrode 571 and a second capacitance electrode 572 opposite to each other, for example, the first capacitance electrode 571 and the second capacitance electrode 572 are located in the second conductive pattern layer 502 and the first conductive pattern layer 501, respectively.
[0142] For example, the pixel circuit of each sub-pixel further includes a driving transistor (not shown), which is configured to control the driving current flowing through the light-emitting element. For example, the second capacitor electrode 572 simultaneously functions as the gate of the driving transistor.
[0143] 12B, the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element 51 is electrically connected to the second electrode 535 of the first transistor 53 through a via 91 in the insulating layer 90. The virtual electrode 230, the first electrode 511 of the light-emitting element 51, and the first capacitor electrode 571 overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate 101. This arrangement can maximize the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0144] 12C is a schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 12C, each subpixel includes a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, which respectively emit light of different colors. The pixel aperture areas 540 of the first subpixel, the second subpixel, and the third subpixel decrease in size in order. For example, the first subpixel is a blue subpixel (B), the second subpixel is a red subpixel (R), and the third subpixel is a green subpixel (G). This is because the luminous efficiency of the green luminescent material is relatively high and the aperture area can be set smaller, but the service life of the blue luminescent material is the shortest. Therefore, a larger luminescent area is required to improve the luminous stability of the display substrate.
[0145] For example, the first electrode of the light-emitting element of each subpixel includes a body portion 511a and an extension portion 511b, the body portion 511a is mainly used to drive the light-emitting layer to emit light, and the body portion 511a overlaps the pixel opening area 450 of the subpixel to which the light-emitting element belongs in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate. As shown in Fig. 12C, the orthogonal projection of the body portion 511a of the first electrode of the light-emitting element on the base substrate covers the orthogonal projection of the pixel opening area 450 of the subpixel to which the light-emitting element belongs on the base substrate. For example, the planar shape of the body portion 511a of the first electrode is polygonal, such as a quadrangle (e.g., rectangle), pentagon, or hexagon.
[0146] For example, the extension 511b is used to be electrically connected to the pixel circuit by the via 91 (see FIG. 12B). The extension 511b and the pixel opening area of the sub-pixel do not overlap in the direction perpendicular to the base substrate, thereby preventing the via 91 from damaging the flatness of the light-emitting layer and causing problems such as color cast.
[0147] For example, as shown in FIG. 12C, the extension portion 511a of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the first sub-pixel and the extension portion 511b of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the second sub-pixel both extend along the first direction D1, and the extension portion 511b of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the third sub-pixel extends along the second direction D2.
[0148] 12C , the extension 511b of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the first sub-pixel and the first conductive layer 201 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, with a first overlapping area M1, the extension 511b of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the second sub-pixel and the first conductive layer 201 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, with a second overlapping area M2, and the extension 511b of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the third sub-pixel and the first conductive layer 201 overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, with a third overlapping area M3. This arrangement can maximize the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0149] For example, the third overlapping area M3 is larger than at least one of the first overlapping area M1 and the second overlapping area M2. For example, the first overlapping area M1, the second overlapping area M2, and the third overlapping area M3 increase in order. As shown in FIG. 12C, the third overlapping area M3 is larger than the first overlapping area M1 and larger than the second overlapping area M2.
[0150] For example, the extended portion (non-emitting region) of the first electrode of the light-emitting element is likely to reflect external ambient light or light emitted from the light-emitting layer into the pixel aperture area of an adjacent sub-pixel, resulting in problems of crosstalk emission or poor light mixing efficiency. Therefore, by installing a first metal line in the first conductive layer to shield the extended portion of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of each pixel, the problems of light emission interference and poor light mixing efficiency can be avoided. Because the luminous efficiency of the green light-emitting material is relatively high, setting a larger area to be shielded by the extended portion of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the green sub-pixel (i.e., the third sub-pixel) can help further improve the above problems.
[0151] For example, as shown in FIG. 12C, the extension 511b of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the third sub-pixel overlaps the intersection of two first metal lines 201.
[0152] FIG. 13A is a structural schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 13B is an enlarged schematic diagram of region E in FIG. 13A , and FIG. 13C is a pattern of a first conductive layer in region E. FIGS. 13A to 13C show adjacent first connection lines 215, virtual electrodes 230, and first metal meshes 213 located therebetween. For example, three adjacent first metal meshes 213 located in the same row are interposed between the first connection lines 215 and the virtual electrodes 230. For example, the three first metal meshes 213 are installed corresponding to red subpixels (R), green subpixels (G), and blue subpixels (B), respectively. For example, the green subpixel has the smallest pixel aperture area, and the blue subpixel has the largest aperture area. Correspondingly, the three first metal meshes 213 have different sizes, and the vertices of adjacent first metal meshes do not overlap.
[0153] As shown in FIG. 13C, the three first metal meshes 213 include three parts that are insulated from each other and arranged in order in the first direction D1. The middle part belongs to the second connection part 222, and the parts on both sides belong to the first electrode main body parts 211 that are adjacent to and insulated from the second connection part 222 respectively. The second connection part 222 is insulated from the first electrode main body part 211 at an interval by the fracture 260 in the first metal wire 21 respectively.
[0154] As shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, the virtual electrode 230 includes three second metal wires 22 respectively corresponding to the three first metal meshes 213. Referring to FIGS. 8A to 8B, the area of the virtual electrode 230 may be approximately equal to the total area of the three second metal wires 22. The lengths of the three second metal wires 22 are X1, X2, and X3 respectively, and the width of each second metal wire 22 is Y D respectively. The mesh holes of the first metal mesh 213 corresponding to each second metal wire 22 are rectangular, and the length and width of the mesh hole are X and Y respectively. Therefore, the above S1 = X D *Y D , S2 = X * Y; and a <(X D ×Y D ) / (X × Y) <b is satisfied, where 0.05 <a <0.2, 0.1 <b <0.3. For example, 0.1 <a <0.2, 0.12 <b <0.24, and a <b.
[0155] The embodiments of the present disclosure do not limit the shape of the virtual electrode 230. When the shape of the virtual electrode 230 changes, the total area of the virtual electrode 230 can be calculated correspondingly. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the plurality of second metal wires 22 in the virtual electrode 230 are on the same straight line, the virtual electrode 230 is rectangular, and the length and width of the virtual electrode 230 are X D and Y D respectively. Therefore, the area S1 of the virtual electrode 230 = X D *Y D .
[0156] Table 1 shows the test data of the touch display panel with different dimensions of the first metal mesh. In the experiment, the shape of the virtual electrode 230 is rectangular, and the length and width are X and W respectively. D and Y D For example, in groups 1 to 4, the average width Y D is 3 micrometers, and in the comparative group, the average width Y D is 5 micrometers. The average length X of the second metal wire D is equal to the length X of the corresponding mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213.
[0157] [Table 1]
[0158] For example, taking into consideration factors such as the service life of the luminescent material, the area of the pixel opening area of the green subpixel is the smallest and the area of the opening area of the blue subpixel is the largest, and accordingly, the area of the mesh hole of the metal mesh corresponding to the green subpixel is the smallest and the area of the mesh hole of the metal mesh corresponding to the blue subpixel is the largest.
[0159] As can be seen from Table 1, compared with the comparison group, the touch display panels corresponding to groups 1 to 4 that satisfy the above relationship have higher aperture ratios and lower reference capacitances C0, thereby improving the aperture ratios and touch sensitivity of the touch display panels.
[0160] The above description has been given using the example where the first metal mesh and the virtual electrode are both rectangular. However, if the first metal mesh and the virtual electrode have other shapes, the area of the mesh holes and the area of the virtual electrode can be calculated accordingly to satisfy the above relationship, and a corresponding design can be made.
[0161] It should be noted that the first metal mesh may not be a complete mesh, and there may be a break in the first metal wire on at least one side of the first metal mesh. In such a case, the area of the mesh holes of the first metal mesh refers to the area of the mesh holes of a complete mesh defined by each side of the first metal mesh.
[0162] To a certain extent, the larger the area of the mesh holes of the first metal mesh, the smaller the impact on the pixel aperture area and the lower the touch sensitivity, while the larger the area of the virtual electrode, the greater the impact on the pixel aperture area and the higher the touch sensitivity. This arrangement not only improves the touch detection sensitivity but also helps to improve the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0163] FIG. 14A is a structural schematic diagram of a touch display panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 14B is an enlarged schematic diagram of region F in FIG. 14A.
[0164] As shown in Figures 14A and 14B, the virtual electrode 230 and the first connection portion 212 are insulated by a break 260 in the second metal wire 22, which separates the second metal wire 22 into a first part and a second part, the first part belonging to the virtual electrode 230 and the second part belonging to the first connection portion 212.
[0165] For example, the sides of each first metal mesh 213 are parallel to the sides of the contour of the corresponding pixel opening area.
[0166] For example, the two nearest sides of two adjacent pixel opening areas are parallel to each other, and one first metal line 21 is installed between them. The orthogonal projections of the two nearest sides of the two adjacent pixel opening areas on the base substrate 101 are both parallel to the orthogonal projections of the first metal line 21 on the base substrate 101, and the distance between the first metal line 21 and the orthogonal projection on the base substrate 101 is also the same. That is, the first metal line 21 between two adjacent pixel opening areas is located at the midpoint of the gap between the two pixel opening areas, and the minimum distance between the first metal line 21 and the two pixel opening areas (the distance between the pixel opening areas and the sides closest to the first metal line) is the same.
[0167] Such an arrangement can avoid the distance between the first metal line and either one of the two pixel opening areas on either side thereof being too small, thereby adversely affecting the light beam in the pixel opening area, and also makes the effect of the first metal line on the light beam in the two pixel opening areas the same, thereby improving the display uniformity.
[0168] For convenience of explanation, the distance between the orthogonal projections of two parallel and close sides of two adjacent pixel opening areas on the base substrate 101 is referred to as the gap between the two adjacent pixel opening areas (PDL GAP).
[0169] For example, as shown in FIG. 14B, the average width Y D , the dimension of the break 260 (i.e., the dimension along the extension direction of the metal wire where the break is located) X DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap is 0 <Y D / S Gap <0.2, The spacing between adjacent pixel opening areas here is the spacing between any two directly adjacent pixel opening areas. D The larger the area of the virtual electrode, the greater the effect on the pixel aperture area, and the higher the touch sensitivity. GapThe larger the distance, the smaller the impact of the metal line on the pixel aperture area, resulting in a lower touch sensitivity. This arrangement not only improves the touch detection sensitivity but also helps to improve the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0170] For example, the average length X of the second metal wire 22 D and the dimension of the break 260 located therein (i.e., the dimension along the extension direction of the second metal wire where the break is located) X DGap is 0.1 <X DGap / X<0.5 is satisfied.
[0171] Reducing the size of the cutout 260 helps to increase the area of the first connection portion 212 or the area of the virtual electrode 230, which also helps to improve touch sensitivity, but if the size of the cutout 260 is too small, there is a risk of short-circuiting between the first connection portion 212 and the virtual electrode 230. This arrangement can also improve touch sensitivity while ensuring process yield.
[0172] The above relation also applies to the breaks in the first metal wire 21. As shown in FIG. 14B, the first electrode body 211 is insulated from the adjacent second touch electrode 220, for example, the second electrode body 221 or the second connection portion 222, by a break 280 in the first metal wire 21. The break 280 separates the first metal wire 21 into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion belonging to the first electrode body and the second portion belonging to the second electrode body or the second connection portion. The average length X of the first metal wire D , average width Y D , Dimensions of cutout 280X DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap is 0 <Y D / S Gap <0.2, 0.1 <X DGap / X<0.5 is satisfied.
[0173] At least one embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a fine metal mask, which is used for manufacturing a touch display panel according to any one of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The fine metal mask includes mask holes, and the mask holes are used to expose the pixel opening area of the first sub-pixel in the display structure, thereby forming the light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element of the first sub-pixel, and the area of the mask holes is S3. The orthographic projection of the pixel opening area of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is located within the orthographic projection of the mesh hole of the corresponding first metal mesh on the base substrate, and the area of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh is S4. In the evaporation process, the corresponding pixel opening area is exposed from the mask holes of the fine metal mask, and a light-emitting material is deposited on the corresponding pixel opening area by the mask holes.
[0174] For example, the line width of the fine metal mask is larger than the line width of the first metal line. The area of the mask hole corresponding to the first sub-pixel is larger than the area of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh corresponding to the first sub-pixel. For example, the orthographic projection of the mask hole corresponding to the first sub-pixel on the base substrate covers the orthographic projection of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh.
[0175] For example, referring to FIG. 11B, the first metal line 21 in the first metal mesh and the light-emitting layer 513 of the first sub-pixel corresponding to the first metal mesh at least partially overlap in the direction perpendicular to the base substrate 101.
[0176] With such an arrangement, while maintaining a sufficient distance between the first metal line 21 and the pixel opening area 450, it is possible to mitigate the light leakage phenomenon at the edge of the pixel opening area 450 and avoid color mixing and cross-color between adjacent pixels.
[0177] For example, when the first sub-pixel is a green sub-pixel or a red sub-pixel, 0 < S4 / S3 < 0.8 is satisfied.
[0178] For example, when the first sub-pixel is a blue sub-pixel, 0.9 < S4 / S3 < 1 is satisfied.
[0179] The first sub-pixel here refers to a sub-pixel that emits light of the same color in the display structure, such as a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, or a blue sub-pixel, and the light-emitting layers of the sub-pixels of the same color are formed using the same mask.
[0180] The larger the mesh holes of the first metal mesh, the smaller the influence of the metal lines on the pixel opening area, and the lower the touch sensitivity.
[0181] For example, since the area of the pixel opening area of the blue subpixel is relatively large, the mesh holes of the corresponding first metal mesh need to be larger to prevent the metal lines from adversely affecting the light rays in the pixel opening area, for example, the area of the pixel opening area corresponding to the blue subpixel corresponds to the area of the mesh holes of the corresponding first metal mesh.
[0182] For example, since the aperture areas of the red and blue sub-pixels are relatively small, the mesh holes of the corresponding first metal mesh can be made smaller, thereby improving the touch sensitivity.
[0183] This arrangement improves the sensitivity of touch detection and also helps to improve the aperture ratio of the display panel.
[0184] Hereinafter, a fine metal mask according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described using the case of forming a light-emitting layer in a touch display panel shown in FIG. 11A as an example.
[0185] Fig. 15A is a structural schematic diagram of a fine metal mask (FMM) according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. For ease of explanation, the fine metal mask 70 will be described in association with the touch display panel shown in Fig. 11A. Fig. 15B is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of Fig. 15A.
[0186] For example, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the mask hole 700 of the fine metal mask 70 is rectangular and has a length X FMM and width Y FMMand its corresponding mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 is rectangular and has a length X and a width Y. Here, the mask hole 700 and its corresponding mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 both cover (correspond to) the same pixel opening area.
[0187] For example, as shown in FIG. 15A, the first sub-pixel is a green sub-pixel, and the fine metal mask 70 is used to form the light-emitting layer of the green sub-pixel in the touch display panel shown in FIG. 11A.
[0188] For example, the length X of the mask hole 700 FMM The length X of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 corresponding to the mask hole 700 is <X / X FMM <0.9.
[0189] For example, the area of the mask hole 700 is S3=X FMM ×Y FMM The area of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 corresponding to the mask hole 700 is S4=X×Y, and 0<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<0.8.
[0190] The area of the mask hole 700 is larger than the area of the corresponding mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213. For example, the orthogonal projection of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 on the base substrate 101 is located within the orthogonal projection of the mask hole 700 on the base substrate 101. For example, as shown in FIG. 15B , the orthogonal projection of the outline of the mask hole 700 on the base substrate 101 is located within the orthogonal projection of the first metal wire 21 on the corresponding side of the first metal mesh 213 on the base substrate 101.
[0191] For example, if the first sub-pixel is a red sub-pixel, 0 <X / X FMM <0.9, 0<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<0.8.
[0192] For example, if the first subpixel is a blue subpixel, then 0.95 <X / X FMM <1, 0.9<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<1.
[0193] In this case, for example, the area of the mask hole 700 is smaller than the area of the corresponding mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213. For example, the orthogonal projection of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh 213 on the base substrate 101 covers the orthogonal projection of the mask hole 700 on the base substrate 101.
[0194] Table 2 shows test data for touch display panels with different dimensions of the first metal mesh. Each dimension is in micrometers. Each set of data shows the dimensions of the mesh holes and the corresponding mask holes of the first metal mesh corresponding to the pixel opening areas of different colors.
[0195] [Table 2]
[0196] As can be seen from Table 2, compared with the comparison group, the touch display panels corresponding to groups 1 to 4 that satisfy the above relationship have higher aperture ratios and lower reference capacitances C0, thereby improving the aperture ratios and touch sensitivity of the touch display panels.
[0197] For example, the shape of the orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element on the base substrate may be considered to be the same as the shape of the corresponding mask hole, i.e., the light-emitting layer and the mask hole have the same planar contour. Therefore, the area of the orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer of the light-emitting element of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is S3, i.e., S3 in the above description may be understood as the area of the orthogonal projection of the light-emitting layer of the corresponding first sub-pixel on the base substrate, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.
[0198] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an electronic device, which includes the above touch structure 20, the above touch panel 40, or the above touch display panel 60. For example, the electronic device is a touch display device integrated with a touch function, and the touch display device can be any product or component with a display function and a touch function, such as a display, an OLED panel, an OLED TV, an electronic paper, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, a navigator, etc.
[0199] 16 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For example, the electronic device 900 is a touch display device, which includes a touch panel 40 and a display panel 80, where the display panel 80 and the touch panel 40 are stacked. The display panel 81 includes a display area 801 and a non-display area 802. For example, the display area 801 and the touch area 301 of the touch panel 40 are aligned with each other and correspond to each other, and the non-display area 802 and the non-touch area 302 of the touch panel 40 are aligned with each other and correspond to each other. The display panel 80 and the touch panel 40 are fixed to each other, for example, by adhesive, or are integrally formed; that is, the touch structure 20 of the touch panel 40 is directly formed on the display panel 81 with the display panel 80 as a substrate.
[0200] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present disclosure, which is determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. 1. A touch structure comprising: a first touch electrode and a second touch electrode; the first touch electrode extends along a first direction, the second touch electrode extends along a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are different from each other; the first touch electrode includes a plurality of first electrode bodies arranged in sequence along the first direction and a first connection portion electrically connecting two adjacent first electrode bodies, the plurality of first electrode bodies being located on a first conductive layer, and the first connection portion being located on a second conductive layer different from the first conductive layer; the second touch electrode includes second electrode bodies arranged in sequence along the second direction and second connection parts electrically connecting two adjacent second electrode bodies, and the second electrode bodies and the second connection parts are both located on the first conductive layer; the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are insulated by an insulating layer, and the first connection portion and the second connection portion overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; the first conductive layer includes a plurality of first metal meshes formed by a plurality of first metal wires, and each of the plurality of first electrode body portions, each of the plurality of second electrode body portions, and the second connection portion each includes the plurality of first metal meshes; the second conductive layer includes a plurality of second metal lines; the touch structure further includes a virtual electrode located on the second conductive layer, the virtual electrode being insulated from both the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode; the virtual electrode is configured to be coupled to at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion. Touch structure.
2. an area of the virtual electrode is S1, an area of a mesh hole of any one of the meshes defined by a projection of the virtual electrode on the first conductive layer and a first metal line in the first conductive layer is S2; a<S1 / S2<b Fulfilling where 0.05<a<0.2, 0.1<b<0.3, and a<b. The touch structure of claim 1 .
3. an extension direction of at least one first metal line is the same as an extension direction of the virtual electrode, and the virtual electrode overlaps with the at least one first metal line in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The virtual electrode is rectangular, and the length and width of the virtual electrode are each X D and Y D and The mesh holes of any one of the meshes are rectangular, and the length and width of the mesh holes are X and Y, respectively; a<(X D ×Y D ) / (X×Y)<b Fulfilling where 0.05<a<0.2, 0.1<b<0.3, and a<b. The touch structure of claim 2 .
5. The virtual electrode includes n rectangles connected to each other, and the lengths of the n rectangles are X1, X2, . . . Xn, respectively, and the widths of the n rectangles are Y D where n is an integer greater than 1; The mesh holes of any one of the meshes are rectangular, and the length and width of the mesh holes are X and Y, respectively; a<(X D ×Y D ) / (X×Y)<b Fulfilling Here, X D =X1+X2+ ...+Xn, 0.05<a<0.2, 0.1<b<0.3, and a<b. The touch structure according to claim 2 or 4.
6. the virtual electrode and the first connection portion each include at least one second metal line; the first connection portion includes at least one first connection line; Each first connection line includes at least one second metal line and is electrically connected to the two adjacent first electrode body portions by vias in the insulating layer. The touch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
7. each of the first connection lines overlaps with one of the first metal lines in the second connection portion in the same extending direction in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure of claim 6 .
8. the first connection portion includes a plurality of first connection lines; the virtual electrode is located between any two of the plurality of first connection lines; The touch structure according to claim 6 or 7.
9. an orthogonal projection of the virtual electrode on the first conductive layer and the second connection portion at least partially overlap each other; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
10. each of the at least one second metal line in the virtual electrode overlaps with one first metal line in the second connection portion in the same extending direction in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 9.
11. the first metal wire in the second connection portion overlapping with the virtual electrode is insulated from the first metal wire in the adjacent first electrode body portion by a gap; the virtual electrode further covers the gap and overlaps the first metal line of the adjacent first electrode body portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure of claim 10.
12. the touch structure includes a plurality of the virtual electrodes; the first connection portion includes a plurality of first connection lines extending along the first direction, the plurality of virtual electrodes and the plurality of first connection lines are arranged alternately in the second direction; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 11.
13. the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other, the plurality of second metal lines being on the same straight line; the plurality of second metal lines each extend along a third direction, the virtual electrode further includes a branch portion extending along a fourth direction from a connection point between two adjacent second metal lines, the branch portion overlapping with the first metal line extending along the fourth direction in the second connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, and the fourth direction being different from the third direction; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 12.
14. the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other; two adjacent second metal lines among the plurality of second metal lines are on different straight lines; The touch structure of claim 13.
15. the virtual electrode includes a plurality of second metal lines connected to each other; each of the second metal wires corresponds to one of the first metal meshes in the second connection portion and overlaps with a first metal wire in the corresponding one of the first metal meshes that extends in the same direction; an area of the virtual electrode is S1; the area of the mesh holes of any one of the first metal meshes corresponding to the plurality of second metal wires of the virtual electrode is S2; a<S1 / S2<b Fulfilling where 0.05<a<0.2, 0.1<b<0.3, and a<b.
15. The touch structure according to claim 13 or 14.
16. the virtual electrode and at least one of the two adjacent first electrode body portions at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 15.
17. the virtual electrode and at least one of the two adjacent second electrode body portions at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure according to any one of claims 6 to 16.
18. the touch structure includes a bendable area, the first connection portion includes a bend portion located in the bendable area, the bend portion includes at least one second metal line, and a hole is provided in the at least one second metal line, and the hole diameter is 25% to 90% of the line width of the second metal line; The touch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 17.
19. the first connection portion includes a polygon formed by connecting a plurality of second metal wires, and at least a part of the polygon is the bent portion; the plurality of second metal lines overlap the plurality of first metal lines in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer; The touch structure of claim 18.
20. the first connection portion further includes a plurality of second metal meshes respectively connected to a plurality of vertices of the polygon; the plurality of second metal meshes overlap with the plurality of first metal meshes in the second connection portion in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive layer, a via is provided at each vertex of each corresponding second metal mesh in the insulating layer, and a second metal wire in the second metal mesh is electrically connected to a first electrode body portion adjacent to the first connection portion by the via; The touch structure of claim 19.
21. A touch display panel, A base substrate; A display structure; a touch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 20; The display structure and the touch structure are stacked on the base substrate; Touch display panel.
22. the display structure includes a pixel definition layer and a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array; each of the plurality of sub-pixels includes a light-emitting element and a pixel circuit that drives the light-emitting element, the light-emitting element includes a first electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode, the light-emitting layer is located between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first electrode is located on a side of the second electrode that is closer to the base substrate; the pixel definition layer includes an opening exposing a first electrode of the light-emitting element, thereby defining a pixel opening area of the sub-pixel; orthogonal projections of the first metal lines and the second metal lines on the base substrate are both located outside orthogonal projections of pixel opening areas of the sub-pixels on the base substrate; The touch display panel according to claim 21.
23. an orthogonal projection of each mesh hole of the first metal mesh on the base substrate covers an orthogonal projection of at least one pixel opening area on the base substrate; The touch display panel according to claim 22.
24. the pixel circuit includes a storage capacitor, and the virtual electrode and at least one storage electrode of the storage capacitor at least partially overlap; 24. The touch display panel according to claim 22 or 23.
25. a first electrode of the light-emitting element electrically connected to the pixel circuit; the virtual electrode, the first electrode of the light-emitting element, and the storage electrode overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate; The touch display panel of claim 24.
26. the display structure further includes a spacer disposed on a side of the pixel definition layer remote from the base substrate; the virtual electrode and the spacer at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate; The touch display panel according to any one of claims 22 to 25.
27. the virtual electrode and the first connection portion are insulated from each other by a break in the second metal wire; the break separates the second metal line into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion belonging to the virtual electrode and the second portion belonging to the first connection portion; The average length X of the second metal wire D , average width Y D , the dimension X of the cut DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap teeth, 00Y D / S Gap <0.2, 0.1<X DGap / X<0.5 fulfill, The touch display panel according to any one of claims 22 to 26.
28. the first electrode body and the adjacent second touch electrode are insulated from each other by a break in the first metal wire; the break divides the first metal line into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion belongs to the first electrode body, and the second portion belongs to the second touch electrode; The average length X of the first metal wire D , average width Y D , the dimension X of the cut DGap , the spacing S between adjacent pixel aperture areas Gap teeth, 00Y D / S Gap <0.2, 0.1<X DGap / X<0.5 fulfill, The touch display panel according to any one of claims 22 to 27.
29. the plurality of sub-pixels include a first sub-pixel configured to emit light of a first color, and an area of an orthogonal projection of a light-emitting layer of a light-emitting element of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is S3; an orthogonal projection of a pixel opening area of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is located within an orthogonal projection of one mesh hole of the plurality of first metal meshes on the base substrate, and the area of the mesh hole of the first metal mesh is S4; The touch display panel according to any one of claims 22 to 28.
30. When the first subpixel is a green subpixel or a red subpixel, 0<S4 / S3<0.8 and When the first sub-pixel is a blue sub-pixel, 0.9<S4 / S3<1 That is, 30. The touch display panel of claim 29.
31. The orthogonal projection of the light emitting layer of the first sub-pixel on the base substrate is rectangular, and has a length X FMM and width Y FMM and The mesh holes of the first metal mesh have a length X and a width Y, When the first subpixel is a green subpixel or a red subpixel, 0<X / X FMM <0.9、 0<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<0.8 Fulfilling When the first sub-pixel is a blue sub-pixel, 0.95<X / X FMM <1、 0.9<(X×Y) / (X FMM ×Y FMM )<1 fulfill, The touch display panel of claim 30.
32. the first electrode of the light emitting device includes a body portion and an extension portion; the main body portion and a pixel opening area of a sub-pixel to which the light-emitting element belongs overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, the extension portion and a pixel opening area of the sub-pixel do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, and the extension portion is electrically connected to a pixel circuit of the sub-pixel. The touch display panel according to any one of claims 22 to 31.
33. the plurality of sub-pixels include a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, and a third sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel being configured to emit light of different colors; the areas of the pixel aperture areas of the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, and the third sub-pixel decrease in this order; The touch display panel of claim 32.
34. the extension of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the first sub-pixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, and have a first overlapping area; the extension of the first electrode of the light emitting element of the second sub-pixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, and have a second overlapping area; the extension of the first electrode of the light-emitting element of the third sub-pixel and the first conductive layer overlap in a direction perpendicular to the base substrate, and have a third overlapping area; the third overlapping area is greater than at least one of the first overlapping area and the second overlapping area; The touch display panel of claim 33.
35. A touch structure according to any one of claims 1 to 20 or a touch display panel according to any one of claims 21 to 34, electronic equipment.