Conductive member for touch panel, touch panel, and touch panel display device

Abstract

Provided are a conductive member for a touch panel, a touch panel, and a touch panel display device with which the quality of a visually recognized image can be maintained even if positional deviation occurs between a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode used while arranged on a display module. The conductive member for a touch panel is provided with a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode, the first mesh electrode comprises a plurality of first metal fine wires and a plurality of second metal fine wires intersecting the first metal fine wires, and the second mesh electrode comprises a plurality of third metal fine wires and a plurality of fourth metal fine wires intersecting the third metal fine wires. The intervals between the first metal fine wires and the third metal fine wires continuously change, the intervals between the second metal fine wires and the fourth metal fine wires continuously change, or the intervals between the first metal fine wires and the third metal fine wires and the intervals between the second metal fine wires and the fourth metal fine wires continuously change.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive member for a touch panel that is used as an electrode for detecting a touch operation. The present invention also relates to a touch panel including the conductive member for a touch panel. The present invention also relates to a touch panel display device including a touch panel. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Touch panel display devices have been used in various electronic devices, including tablet computers, smartphones, and other portable information devices, for some time now, that allow input operations to be performed on the electronic device by touching or bringing a finger, stylus pen, or the like into contact with or close to the screen, a so-called touch operation.

[0003] Such a touch panel display device has a conductive member on which a detection portion for detecting a touch operation is formed. The detection unit may be made of a transparent conductive oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), but it can also be made of an opaque conductive material such as a metal, which has advantages over the transparent conductive oxides mentioned above, such as easier patterning, superior flexibility, and lower resistance.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a conductive member made of a metal as an opaque conductive material. The conductive member in Patent Document 1 includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of first mesh electrodes formed on the first surface, arranged at intervals along a first arrangement direction, and extending along a second arrangement direction perpendicular to the first arrangement direction, and a plurality of second mesh electrodes formed on the second surface of the substrate, arranged at intervals along the second arrangement direction and extending along the first arrangement direction. The first mesh electrode is formed in a mesh shape by a plurality of first main lines and a plurality of first secondary lines intersecting the first main lines, and the second mesh electrode is formed in a mesh shape by a plurality of second main lines parallel to the first main lines and a plurality of second secondary lines parallel to the first secondary lines. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-210600 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the conductive member of Patent Document 1, a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode are arranged to overlap with a substrate sandwiched therebetween. The first mesh electrode and the second mesh electrode can be manufactured using, for example, a photolithography method. However, misalignment between the first mesh electrode and the second mesh electrode can occur for some reason during the manufacturing process. In conventional touch panels using standard mesh electrodes, the first mesh electrode and the second mesh electrode are overlapped at a half mesh pitch. If such misalignment occurs, when the conductive member is placed on a display module, moire and uneven shading of the image of the display module viewed through the conductive member are likely to occur due to interference between the mesh pattern formed by the overlapping first mesh electrode and the pixel pattern of the display module, and this can degrade the quality of the image viewed through the conductive member.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve these conventional problems, and aims to provide a conductive member for a touch panel that can maintain visible image quality when placed on a display module and used, even if a positional misalignment occurs between the first mesh electrode and the second mesh electrode. Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel including this conductive member for a touch panel. Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel display device including this touch panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The conductive member for a touch panel according to the present invention comprises a transparent insulating member, and a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode arranged to face each other with the transparent insulating member sandwiched therebetween, the first mesh electrode comprising a plurality of first thin metal wires extending along a predetermined first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second thin metal wires extending along a second direction different from the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the second direction and intersecting the plurality of first thin metal wires, the second mesh electrode comprising a plurality of third thin metal wires extending along the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of fourth thin metal wires extending along a direction perpendicular to the second direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to a fourth direction and intersecting the third thin metal wires, and in a plan view, the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires are The thin metal wires are arranged alternately in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second and fourth thin metal wires are arranged alternately in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, and the spacing between the first and third thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, or the spacing between the second and fourth thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the second direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the second direction, or the spacing between the first and third thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the spacing between the second and fourth thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the second direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the second direction.

[0009] The distance between the first thin metal wire and the third thin metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction orthogonal to the first direction can vary monotonically along the direction orthogonal to the first direction. Alternatively, the spacing between the first metal wire and the third metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction can change so that there is a continuous monotonous increase and decrease along the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0010] The distance between the second thin metal wire and the fourth thin metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction orthogonal to the second direction can vary monotonically along the direction orthogonal to the second direction. The spacing between the second thin metal wire and the fourth thin metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the second direction can also change so as to continuously monotonically increase and decrease along the direction perpendicular to the second direction.

[0011] The difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires that changes continuously in the direction perpendicular to the first direction is preferably 1 / 30 to 1 / 2 of the average spacing. Furthermore, it is preferable that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the second thin metal wires and the fourth thin metal wires, which changes continuously in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, is 1 / 30 or more and 1 / 2 or less of the average spacing.

[0012] The plurality of first thin metal wires can be arranged at a predetermined first pitch in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the plurality of third thin metal wires can be arranged at a third pitch different from the first pitch in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Alternatively, at least one of the arrangement spacing of adjacent first metal thin wires along a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the arrangement spacing of adjacent third metal thin wires along a direction perpendicular to the first direction can change continuously along the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0013] The plurality of second thin metal wires can be arranged at a predetermined second pitch in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, and the plurality of fourth thin metal wires can be arranged at a fourth pitch different from the second pitch in a direction perpendicular to the second direction. Alternatively, at least one of the arrangement spacing of adjacent second metal thin wires along a direction perpendicular to the second direction and the arrangement spacing of adjacent fourth metal thin wires along a direction perpendicular to the second direction can change continuously along the direction perpendicular to the second direction.

[0014] The crossing angle between the first direction and the second direction may be 60° or more and 80° or less.

[0015] The first thin metal wire can have a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent second thin metal wires, the second thin metal wire can have a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent first thin metal wires, the third thin metal wire can have a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent fourth thin metal wires, and the fourth thin metal wire can have a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent third thin metal wires.

[0016] Alternatively, the first thin metal wire may have a curved shape between the intersections with two adjacent second thin metal wires, the second thin metal wire may have a curved shape between the intersections with two adjacent first thin metal wires, the third thin metal wire may have a curved shape between the intersections with two adjacent fourth thin metal wires, and the fourth thin metal wire may have a curved shape between the intersections with two adjacent third thin metal wires.

[0017] The transparent insulating member may be made of a transparent substrate. Alternatively, the transparent insulating member may be made of an insulating layer, the conductive member for the touch panel may further include a transparent substrate, and the first mesh electrode, the second mesh electrode and the insulating layer may be arranged on one surface of the transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is preferably a flexible film.

[0018] A touch panel according to the present invention includes the conductive member for a touch panel described above. A touch panel display device according to the present invention includes the above-described touch panel and a display module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, a conductive member for a touch panel includes a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode arranged to face each other with a transparent insulating member sandwiched therebetween, the first mesh electrode comprising a plurality of first thin metal wires extending along a predetermined first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second thin metal wires extending along a second direction different from the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the second direction and intersecting with the plurality of first thin metal wires, the second mesh electrode comprising a plurality of third thin metal wires extending along the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of fourth thin metal wires extending along a direction perpendicular to the second direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to a fourth direction and intersecting with the third thin metal wires, and in a plan view, the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires are arranged alternately in the direction perpendicular to the first direction, and in a plan view, the second thin metal wires and the fourth thin metal wires are arranged alternately in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, and the spacing between the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, or the spacing between the second thin metal wires and the fourth thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the second direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the second direction, or the spacing between the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the first direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the spacing between the second thin metal wires and the fourth thin metal wires adjacent to each other along the direction perpendicular to the second direction changes continuously along the direction perpendicular to the second direction.Therefore, even if a positional misalignment occurs between the first mesh electrode and the second mesh electrode, the visible image quality can be maintained when the display module is arranged and used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a plan view of a conductive member for a touch panel according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3]3 is a partially enlarged plan view of a conductive member for a touch panel in an intersecting region where a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode overlap each other in the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the second mesh electrode is shifted in a second direction relative to the first mesh electrode. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the transition of the distance between the first thin metal wire and the third thin metal wire. [Figure 6] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a touch panel display device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] 10 is a partially enlarged plan view of a conductive member for a touch panel in an intersection region where a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode overlap each other in a modification of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of first thin metal wires and second thin metal wires in another modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 9 is an enlarged view of a second thin metal wire in the modification shown in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a touch panel according to still another modification of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a partially enlarged plan view of a conductive member for a touch panel in an intersection region where a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode overlap each other in the second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A conductive member for a touch panel and a touch panel according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In the following, the notation "~" indicating a numerical range includes the numbers written on both sides. For example, "s is a number between t1 and t2" means that the range of s includes numbers t1 and t2, and expressed in mathematical notation as t1≦s≦t2. Unless otherwise specified, angles including "perpendicular" and "parallel" include a range of error generally accepted in the technical field. "Transparent" means that the light transmittance in the visible light wavelength range of 400 nm to 800 nm is at least 40% or more, preferably 75% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and even more preferably 90% or more. The light transmittance is measured according to "Plastics -- Determination of total luminous transmittance and total luminous reflectance" specified in JIS K 7375:2008.

[0022] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a touch panel 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Touch panel 1 has a front surface 1A and a back surface 1B, and is used with a display module (not shown) having a liquid crystal display or the like disposed on the back surface 1B side. Front surface 1A of touch panel 1 is a touch detection surface, and is the viewing side through which an operator of touch panel 1 observes an image displayed on a display device. The touch panel 1 has a transparent insulating cover panel 2 arranged on the surface 1A side, and a conductive member 3 for the touch panel is bonded to the surface of the cover panel 2 opposite the surface 1A via a transparent insulating layer 7B using a transparent adhesive 4.

[0023] The conductive member 3 for a touch panel includes a transparent substrate 5, a first conductive layer 6A formed and patterned on one surface 5A of the transparent substrate 5, and a second conductive layer 6B formed and patterned on the other surface 5B of the transparent substrate 5. As such, the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B face each other across the transparent substrate 5. As shown in FIG. 1 , an insulating layer 7A may be disposed to cover the patterned first conductive layer 6A for the purpose of protecting or planarizing the first conductive layer 6A. An insulating layer 7B may be disposed to cover the patterned second conductive layer 6B for the purpose of protecting or planarizing the second conductive layer 6B.

[0024] 2 shows a plan view of the conductive member for touch panel 3. The conductive member for touch panel 3 is partitioned into a transparent region S1 for detecting touch operations by a finger, a stylus pen, or the like, and a peripheral region S2, which is an area outside the transparent region S1 for arranging peripheral wiring and the like connected to a display module (not shown).

[0025] Electrodes for detecting touch operations and peripheral wiring connected thereto are patterned on the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B. Of the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B, the first conductive layer 6A located on the cover panel 2 side, i.e., the viewing side, has a plurality of first mesh electrodes 11 extending along a predetermined first direction D1 and arranged at intervals in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1. Each of the plurality of first mesh electrodes 11 has a first pad 12 at its end.

[0026] The first conductive layer 6A also has a plurality of first peripheral wirings 13 drawn out from a plurality of first pads 12 of a plurality of first mesh electrodes 11, and a plurality of first external connection terminals 14 connected to each of the plurality of first peripheral wirings 13.

[0027] The second conductive layer 6B located on the rear surface 1B side of the touch panel 1 has a plurality of second mesh electrodes 21 extending along the second direction D2 and arranged at intervals in the first direction D1. Each of the plurality of second mesh electrodes 21 has a second pad 22 at its end.

[0028] The second conductive layer 6B also has a plurality of second peripheral wirings 23 drawn out from a plurality of second pads 22 of a plurality of second mesh electrodes 21, and a plurality of second external connection terminals 24 connected to each of the plurality of second peripheral wirings 23.

[0029] Here, the plurality of first mesh electrodes 11 of the first conductive layer 6A and the plurality of second mesh electrodes 21 of the second conductive layer 6B are arranged in a transparent area S1 partitioned in the conductive member 3 for a touch panel. In addition, the multiple first pads 12, multiple first peripheral wirings 13, multiple first external connection terminals 14 of the first conductive layer 6A, and the multiple second pads 22, multiple second peripheral wirings 23, and multiple second external connection terminals 24 of the second conductive layer 6B are arranged in a peripheral area S2 partitioned by the conductive member 3 for the touch panel.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged plan view of a part of conductive member 3 for a touch panel in the intersecting region where first mesh electrode 11 and second mesh electrode 21 overlap each other. The first mesh electrode 11 is composed of a plurality of first fine metal wires M1 extending along a first direction D1 and arranged in a second direction D2, and a plurality of second fine metal wires M2 extending along the second direction D2 and arranged in the first direction D1, intersecting the plurality of first fine metal wires M1. The plurality of first fine metal wires M1 are arranged at a constant pitch P, and the plurality of second fine metal wires M2 are arranged at a constant pitch R. In this way, in the first mesh electrode 11, the plurality of first fine metal wires M1 and the plurality of second fine metal wires M2 form a first mesh pattern MP1 having a plurality of rectangular openings.

[0031] Here, the pitch P of the multiple first thin metal wires M1 is defined by the arrangement interval of the multiple first thin metal wires M1 in the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1, which is the direction in which the first thin metal wires M1 extend, i.e., in the second direction D2. Also, the pitch R of the multiple second thin metal wires M2 is defined by the arrangement interval of the multiple second thin metal wires M2 in the direction perpendicular to the second direction D2, which is the direction in which the second thin metal wires M2 extend, i.e., in the first direction D1.

[0032] The second mesh electrode 21 includes a plurality of third thin metal wires M3 extending in the first direction D1 and arranged in the second direction D2, and a plurality of fourth thin metal wires M4 extending in the second direction D2 and arranged in the first direction D1, intersecting the plurality of third thin metal wires M3. The plurality of third thin metal wires M3 are arranged at a constant pitch Q that is narrower than the pitch P of the plurality of first thin metal wires M1, and the plurality of fourth thin metal wires M4 are arranged at a pitch R that is the same as the pitch R of the plurality of second thin metal wires M2. In this way, in the second mesh electrode 21, the plurality of third thin metal wires M3 and the plurality of fourth thin metal wires M4 form a second mesh pattern MP2 having a plurality of rectangular openings.

[0033] Here, the pitch Q of the multiple third thin metal wires M3 is defined by the arrangement interval of the multiple third thin metal wires M3 in the direction perpendicular to the first direction D1 in which the third thin metal wires M3 extend, i.e., in the second direction D2. Also, the pitch R of the multiple fourth thin metal wires M4 is defined by the arrangement interval of the multiple fourth thin metal wires M4 in the direction perpendicular to the second direction D2 in which the fourth thin metal wires M4 extend, i.e., in the first direction D1.

[0034] In this way, in a plan view, the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 are parallel to each other, and the second thin metal wires M2 and the fourth thin metal wires M4 are parallel to each other, so that the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh electrode 21 overlap each other, the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 are alternately arranged in the second direction D2, and the second thin metal wires M2 and the fourth thin metal wires M4 are alternately arranged in the first direction D1. As a result, the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 overlap each other, forming a mesh pattern having a plurality of rectangular openings.

[0035] Here, the distance between the first metal thin wire M1 and the third metal thin wire M3 that are adjacent to each other in a planar view is defined as the distance between the first metal thin wire M1 and the third metal thin wire M3 that is always adjacent to the first metal thin wire M1 on the same side of both sides of the first metal thin wire M1.

[0036] 3, the distance between a first fine metal wire M1 and a third fine metal wire M3 adjacent to the first fine metal wire M1 on the right side in the second direction D2 is defined as the distance between the first fine metal wire M1 and the third fine metal wire M3 adjacent to each other in a plan view, and the first fine metal wire M1, which serves as the reference for the distance, is assigned an array number of 1, 2, ..., N from left to right. Because the pitch Q of the multiple third fine metal wires M3 is narrower than the pitch P of the multiple first fine metal wires M1, the distances L1, L2, ..., LN based on the first fine metal wire M1, which is assigned an array number of 1, 2, ..., N, become narrower as the array number increases, i.e., toward the right in the second direction D2, and the value monotonically decreases.

[0037] Here, as shown in Figure 1, a method for manufacturing a conductive member 3 for a touch panel is used, for example, a so-called photolithography method, in which a first conductive layer 6A is placed on one surface 5A of a transparent substrate 5 and a second conductive layer 6B is placed on the other surface 5B. However, due to some cause during the manufacturing process, the first mesh pattern MP1 on the first conductive layer 6A and the second mesh pattern MP2 on the second conductive layer 6B may become misaligned with each other.

[0038] 4, consider a case in which the first mesh pattern MP1 is misaligned to the left of the second mesh pattern MP2 in the second direction D2 and the second mesh pattern MP2 is misaligned to the right of the first mesh pattern MP1 in the conductive member 3 for a touch panel according to the first embodiment. In this case, the intervals K1, K2, ..., KN between the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 are wider than the intervals L1, L2, ..., LN in FIG. 3, respectively, but the pitch Q of the multiple third thin metal wires M3 is narrower than the pitch P of the multiple first thin metal wires M1. Therefore, similar to the intervals L1, L2, ..., LN, the intervals become narrower toward the right in the second direction D2, and the value monotonically decreases.

[0039] 5 shows graph GL, which represents the relationship between the spacings L1, L2, ..., LN in FIG. 3 and the array number of the first fine metal wire M1, and graph GK, which represents the relationship between the spacings K1, K2, ..., KN in FIG. 4 and the array number of the first fine metal wire M1. Graph GK corresponds to graph GL shifted upward in parallel along the vertical axis representing the spacing by the distance of the misalignment between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2. As can be seen from graphs GL and GK, although there is a difference in value between the spacings L1, L2, ..., LN and the spacings K1, K2, ..., KN, they still monotonically decrease as the array number of the first fine metal wire M1 increases.

[0040] In this way, in the conductive member for a touch panel 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 are misaligned with each other along the second direction D2, the spacing between the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 changes so as to monotonically decrease along the second direction D2, as in the case where there is no misalignment. Therefore, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 are misaligned with each other along the second direction D2, moire and uneven shading of an image when the conductive member for a touch panel 3 is disposed on a display module are less noticeable than in the case where there is no misalignment.

[0041] Therefore, according to the conductive member 3 for a touch panel of embodiment 1 of the present invention, even if a misalignment occurs between the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 of the first layer and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 of the second layer, the image quality that is visible when the conductive member 3 for a touch panel is placed on a display module and used can be maintained.

[0042] Furthermore, since the touch panel 1 equipped with the conductive member 3 for a touch panel includes the conductive member 3 for a touch panel according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, even if a misalignment occurs between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 in the conductive member 3 for a touch panel, the image quality that can be seen when placed on a display module and used can be maintained.

[0043] Here, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, touch panel 1 including conductive member 3 for a touch panel according to the first embodiment is placed on a display module 8 for displaying images, thereby constituting a touch panel display device 9. In FIG. 6, display module 8 is adhered to rear surface 1B of touch panel 1 with transparent adhesive 4A. Although not shown in detail, display module 8 also includes a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, a controller for controlling the display of images on the display screen, and the like. An operator of touch panel display device 9 visually recognizes an image displayed on display module 8 through touch panel 1, and performs a touch operation via touch panel 1 based on the image that has been viewed.

[0044] This touch panel display device 9 is equipped with a conductive member for a touch panel 3 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, and therefore can maintain visual image quality even if a misalignment occurs between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 in the conductive member for a touch panel 3.

[0045] It is preferable that the line widths of the first, second, third, and fourth thin metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 be in the range of 1 μm to 5 μm so that the presence of the first, second, third, and fourth thin metal wires M2, M3, and M4 is not noticeable when an observer visually views the conductive member 3 for a touch panel. From the same viewpoint, it is also preferable that the pitch P of the plurality of first thin metal wires M1, the pitch R of the plurality of second thin metal wires M2, the pitch Q of the plurality of third thin metal wires M3, and the pitch R of the plurality of fourth thin metal wires M4 be in the range of 100 μm to 1000 μm.

[0046] Furthermore, when the conductive member for a touch panel 3 is placed on the display module 8, the mesh pattern formed by overlapping the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 preferably has an aperture ratio of 95% to 99.5% so that an observer can clearly view an image displayed on the display module 8. Here, the aperture ratio of the mesh pattern refers to the proportion of the area occupied by openings in the mesh pattern in the intersection region where the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 overlap in a plan view.

[0047] Furthermore, the transparent substrate 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is transparent, electrically insulating, and can support the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B. For example, it may be made of a resin substrate or a glass substrate, or may be made of a flexible film.

[0048] Furthermore, although it has been described that the spacing between the adjacent first metal thin wire M1 and third metal thin wire M3 changes so as to monotonically decrease toward the right side of the second direction D2, it may also change so as to monotonically increase toward the same direction, or may change so as to continuously change between monotonically decreasing and monotonically increasing toward the same direction.

[0049] Here, the change that monotonically decreases and then monotonically increases successively means that the spacing between the thin metal wires changes in the same direction, either by first monotonically decreasing and then monotonically increasing, or by first monotonically increasing and then monotonically decreasing. In this case, the spacing between the thin metal wires has one maximum value or one minimum value.

[0050] In the present invention, the term "monotonically changing intervals" refers to intervals that change so that the intervals monotonically increase or decrease in the same direction. The term "continuously changing intervals" refers to intervals that change so that the intervals monotonically increase or decrease in the same direction. Each interval may change linearly, as shown in FIG. 5, or may change curvilinearly, such as in an exponential change.

[0051] For example, if the spacing between adjacent first and third metal fine wires M1 and M3 changes so as to monotonically increase toward the right along the second direction D2, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned along the second direction D2, the spacing between adjacent first and third metal fine wires M1 and M3 changes so as to monotonically increase toward the right along the second direction D2, just as in the case where no misalignment occurs.

[0052] Furthermore, for example, if the spacing between the adjacent first and third metal fine wires M1 and M3 changes so as to continuously monotonically increase and decrease toward the right along the second direction D2, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned along the second direction D2, the spacing between the adjacent first and third metal fine wires M1 and M3 will change so as to continuously monotonically increase and decrease toward the right along the second direction D2, just as in the case where no misalignment occurs.

[0053] Therefore, the image quality that is visible when the conductive member 3 for a touch panel is placed on a display module and used can be maintained not only when the spacing between the adjacent first thin metal wire M1 and third thin metal wire M3 changes so as to monotonically decrease in the same direction, but also when the spacing changes so as to monotonically increase in the same direction, or when the spacing changes so as to continuously monotonically decrease and increase in the same direction.

[0054] Furthermore, photolithography has been cited as a method for manufacturing the conductive member 3 for a touch panel so that the spacing between adjacent first thin metal wires M1 and third thin metal wires M3 changes continuously in the same direction, but the method for manufacturing the conductive member 3 for a touch panel is not particularly limited to this method. Regardless of the manufacturing method, the conductive member 3 for a touch panel of the first embodiment can maintain the quality of the image viewed through the conductive member 3 for a touch panel even if a misalignment occurs between the first mesh pattern MP1 of the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh pattern MP2 of the second mesh electrode 21 for some reason.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the conductive member 3 for a touch panel has a plurality of first mesh electrodes 11 and a plurality of second mesh electrodes 21, and therefore in the transmissive region S1, a plurality of intersection regions where the first mesh electrodes 11 and the second mesh electrodes 21 overlap each other are arranged along the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

[0056] It has been explained that in one intersection region where the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh electrode 21 overlap, the spacing between the first metal thin wire M1 and the third metal thin wire M3 changes continuously in the same direction along the second direction D2, but the conductive member 3 for a touch panel can be designed so that the spacing between adjacent first metal thin wire M1 and third metal thin wire M3 changes continuously in the same direction along the second direction D2 across multiple intersection regions arranged along the second direction D2. In this case, when the conductive member 3 for a touch panel is placed on the display module 8, moire and uneven shading of the image can be made even less noticeable.

[0057] The distance between the first thin metal wire M1 and the third thin metal wire M3, which are adjacent to each other, and the distance between the second thin metal wire M2 and the fourth thin metal wire M4, which are adjacent to each other, can be measured using an optical microscope.

[0058] For example, if the conductive member 3 for a touch panel is designed so that in a transparent region S1 of the conductive member 3 for a touch panel, the spacing between adjacent first and third thin metal wires M1 and M3 changes continuously in the same direction along the second direction D2 across multiple intersection regions arranged along the second direction D2, and the transparent region S1 has a width of 300 mm along the second direction D2, an observer can measure the spacing between adjacent first and third thin metal wires M1 and M3 every 30 mm, which is the width of the transparent region S1 divided into 10 parts, and observe the changes in the 10 measured spacings along the second direction D2, thereby confirming whether the spacing between the first and third thin metal wires M1 and M3 changes continuously along the second direction D2. Furthermore, for example, if the pitch P of the first metal thin wire M1 is 300 μm and the width of the transparent area S1 in the second direction D2 is 300 mm, by measuring the spacing every 100 pitches, it is possible to confirm whether the spacing between the first metal thin wire M1 and the third metal thin wire M3 changes continuously along the second direction D2.

[0059] In this way, in order for the observer to accurately determine whether the interval is continuously changing or not, it is preferable to measure the interval at at least 10 points. Furthermore, the observer can determine with greater accuracy whether the interval changes continuously as the number of interval measurements increases, but for example, measurements at 20 locations are sufficient for accurate determination. From this perspective, it is preferable to measure at 10 to 20 locations.

[0060] In the conductive member 3 for a touch panel according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, for example, by measuring the distance between the first thin metal wire M1 and the third thin metal wire M3 in this manner, it is confirmed that the distance changes continuously in the same direction along the second direction D2.

[0061] Furthermore, the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3, which changes continuously in the second direction D2, is preferably between 1 / 30 and 1 / 2 of the average value of the spacing. By having the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing within this range, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, moire and uneven shading in the image when the conductive member for a touch panel 3 is placed on the display module 8 are less noticeable, and the quality of the image viewed through the conductive member for a touch panel 3 can be maintained.

[0062] Furthermore, although it has been described that the spacing between the adjacent first and third metal thin wires M1 and M3 changes continuously along the second direction D2, the spacing between the adjacent second and fourth metal thin wires M2 and M4 may also change continuously along the first direction D1. In addition, the distance between the adjacent first and third thin metal wires M1 and M3 may vary continuously along the second direction D2, and the distance between the adjacent second and fourth thin metal wires M2 and M4 may vary continuously along the first direction D1. As a result, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, moire and uneven image shading are less noticeable when the conductive member for touch panel 3 is placed on the display module 8, and the image quality viewed through the conductive member for touch panel 3 can be maintained.

[0063] When an observer determines whether the distance between the adjacent second thin metal wire M2 and fourth thin metal wire M4 changes continuously along the first direction D1, it is preferable to measure the distance at 10 to 20 locations, in the same manner as when determining whether the distance between the adjacent first thin metal wire M1 and third thin metal wire M3 changes continuously. Furthermore, similar to the spacing between the first metal thin wire M1 and the third metal thin wire M3, from the viewpoint of maintaining the image quality visible through the conductive member for touch panel 3 when the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, it is preferable that the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the second metal thin wire M2 and the fourth metal thin wire M4, which changes continuously in the first direction D1, be greater than or equal to 1 / 30 and less than or equal to 1 / 2 of the average spacing value.

[0064] Furthermore, although the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are described as being orthogonal to each other, they are not limited to being orthogonal to each other. 7, the first direction D1 may be inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the second direction D2. In this case, the first thin metal wires M1, the second thin metal wires M2, the third thin metal wires M3, and the fourth thin metal wires M4 form a mesh pattern having parallelogram openings in a plan view.

[0065] In this way, even if the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are not perpendicular to each other, moire and unevenness in image shading caused by misalignment between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 when the conductive member for touch panel 3 is placed on the display module 8 are less noticeable, and the image quality viewed through the conductive member for touch panel 3 can be maintained. However, from the viewpoint of suppressing moire and uneven shading, the intersection angle between the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 is preferably 50° to 90°, and more preferably 60° to 80°. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of suppressing moire, it is preferable that the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 are each inclined with respect to the direction of the pixel array of the display module 8.

[0066] Furthermore, it is shown that the first thin metal wire M1 has a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent second thin metal wires M2, the second thin metal wire M2 has a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent first thin metal wires M1, the third thin metal wire M3 has a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent fourth thin metal wires M4, and the fourth thin metal wire M4 has a linear shape between the intersections with two adjacent third thin metal wires M3. However, the first thin metal wire M1, the second thin metal wire M2, the third thin metal wire M3, and the fourth thin metal wire M4 may also have curved shapes.

[0067] 8, the first thin metal wire M1 may have a curved shape between intersections C1 and C2 with two adjacent second thin metal wires M2, and the second thin metal wire M2 may have a curved shape between intersections C1 and C3 with two adjacent first thin metal wires M1. In this case, the first direction D1 may be defined as the direction in which a straight line E1 connecting the intersections C1 and C2 extends, and the second direction D2 may be defined as the direction in which a straight line E2 connecting the intersections C1 and C3 extends. The first thin metal wire M1 extends generally along the first direction D1, and the second thin metal wire M2 extends generally along the second direction D2.

[0068] As shown in Fig. 9, the second thin metal wire M2 has a line width T and has curvature points CP1 to CP6 that are alternately located on both sides of the straight line E2 in the first direction D1 along the second direction D2. The curvature points CP1 to CP6 are points on the second thin metal wire M2 where the length of a perpendicular line dropped from the outer edge of the second thin metal wire M2 to the straight line E2 passing through the intersection points C1 and C3 on the second thin metal wire M2 is maximized, and the second thin metal wire M2 has a shape that is convex upward or convex downward with respect to the straight line E2 at the curvature points CP1 to CP6. In the example of Fig. 9, the second thin metal wire M2 has three curvature points CP1, CP3, and CP5 above the straight line E2 and three curvature points CP2, CP4, and CP6 below the straight line E2 between the intersection points C1 and C3.

[0069] In FIG. 9, the curved shape and line width T of the second thin metal wire M2 are exaggerated for ease of explanation.

[0070] In order to suppress moire and uneven shading in an image when the conductive member for a touch panel 3 is disposed on the display module 8, the second thin metal wire M2 preferably has 3 to 20 curved points between the intersection points P1 and P3. From the same perspective, it is preferable that the distances A1 to A5 between adjacent curved points CP1 to CP6 in the second direction D2 are set randomly. From the same perspective, it is preferable that the length of a perpendicular line drawn from the outer edge of the second thin metal wire M2 to the straight line E2 passing through the intersection points C1 and C3 on the second thin metal wire M2 is set randomly within a range of 1 / 10 to 2 times the line width T of the second thin metal wire M2.

[0071] Similarly to the second thin metal wires M2, the first thin metal wires M1 preferably have 3 to 20 bend points between the intersection points P1 and P2. The distance between adjacent bend points of the first thin metal wires M1 in the first direction D1 is preferably set randomly. The length of a perpendicular line drawn from the outer edge of the first thin metal wire M1 to a straight line E1 passing through the intersection points C1 and C2 on the first thin metal wire M1 is preferably set randomly within a range of 1 / 10 to 2 times the line width of the first thin metal wire M1.

[0072] Although not shown, the third thin metal wires M3 and the fourth thin metal wires M4 can also have a curved shape similar to the first thin metal wires M1 and the second thin metal wires M2. In this way, even when the first metal thin wire M1, the second metal thin wire M2, the third metal thin wire M3 and the fourth metal thin wire M4 have a curved shape, moire and unevenness in image shading caused by misalignment between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 when the conductive member for touch panel 3 is placed on the display module 8 are less noticeable, just as when they have a straight shape, and the image quality viewed through the conductive member for touch panel 3 can be maintained.

[0073] Furthermore, although it has been described that the first mesh electrode 11 is formed on one surface 5A of the transparent substrate 5 and the second mesh electrode 21 is formed on the other surface 5B, the first mesh electrode 11 and the second mesh electrode 21 do not have to be formed on both surfaces of the transparent substrate 5 as long as the first mesh electrode 11 is formed on one surface of the transparent insulating member and the second mesh electrode 21 is formed on the other surface.

[0074] 10, for example, a second conductive layer 6B having a second mesh electrode 21 may be formed on a transparent substrate 5, an insulating layer 7B may be formed thereon, and a first conductive layer 6A having a first mesh electrode 11 may be formed on the insulating layer 7B. In this case, an insulating layer 7A may be further formed on the first conductive layer 6A and the insulating layer 7B to protect the first conductive layer 6A.

[0075] 10, a conductive member 33 for a touch panel is formed by a transparent substrate 5, a second conductive layer 6B, an insulating layer 7B, and a first conductive layer 6A. An insulating layer 7A is formed on the first conductive layer 6A and on the insulating layer 7B, and the insulating layer 7A and a cover panel 2 are bonded together with a transparent adhesive 4 to form a touch panel 31. A surface 31A of the touch panel 31 is formed by the surface of the cover panel 2 opposite to the adhesive 4, and a back surface 31B of the touch panel 31 is formed by a surface 5B of the transparent substrate 5 opposite to the second conductive layer 6B. The surface 31A of the touch panel 31 is the surface visible to an observer, and the back surface 31B is the surface on which the display module 8 is disposed.

[0076] In this way, even when the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B are formed on one surface 5A of the transparent substrate 5, as with the conductive member 3 for a touch panel, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, moire and uneven shading of the image are less noticeable when the conductive member 33 for a touch panel is placed on the display module 8, and the image quality viewed through the conductive member 33 for a touch panel can be maintained.

[0077] Embodiment 2 In the conductive member 3 for a touch panel of embodiment 1 shown in Figure 3, a plurality of first thin metal wires M1 are arranged at a constant pitch P, and a plurality of third thin metal wires M3 are arranged at a constant pitch Q different from the pitch P, so that in a planar view, the spacing L1, L2, ..., LN between the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 changes continuously along the second direction D2, but the plurality of first thin metal wires M1 do not have to be arranged at the constant pitch P, and the plurality of third thin metal wires M3 do not have to be arranged at the constant pitch Q.

[0078] FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of a part of conductive member 43 for a touch panel according to the second embodiment in an intersection region where first mesh electrode 51 and second mesh electrode 61 overlap each other. This conductive member 43 for a touch panel is the conductive member 3 for a touch panel of embodiment 1 shown in Figure 3, which has a first mesh electrode 51 that is identical to the first mesh electrode 11, and has a second mesh electrode 61 instead of the second mesh electrode 21.

[0079] The second mesh electrode 61 has a plurality of third thin metal wires M3 extending along the first direction D1 and arranged in the second direction D2, and a plurality of fourth thin metal wires M4 extending along the second direction D2 and arranged in the first direction D1.

[0080] 11 , the arrangement intervals Q1, Q2, ..., QN of the multiple third thin metal wires M3 become narrower toward the right along the second direction D2, and the values ​​change so as to monotonically decrease. Therefore, the intervals L1, L2, ..., LN between the first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 become narrower toward the right along the second direction D2, and the values ​​change so as to monotonically decrease. Therefore, the intervals L1, L2, ..., LN between adjacent first thin metal wires M1 and the third thin metal wires M3 also change so as to monotonically decrease toward the right along the second direction D2.

[0081] Therefore, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, the intervals L1, L2, ..., LN between the adjacent first thin metal wires M1 and third thin metal wires M3 change so as to monotonically decrease toward the right in the second direction D2, just as in the case where the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are not misaligned with each other. Therefore, according to the conductive member 43 for a touch panel of the second embodiment, similar to the conductive member 3 for a touch panel of the first embodiment, even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other, the quality of the image visually recognized through the conductive member 3 for a touch panel can be maintained.

[0082] In the example of Figure 11, the multiple first thin metal wires M1 are arranged at a constant pitch P, and the multiple third thin metal wires M3 are arranged at an arrangement interval that varies continuously along the second direction D2, but the multiple first thin metal wires M1 can be arranged at an arrangement interval that varies continuously along the second direction D2, and the multiple third thin metal wires M3 can be arranged at a constant pitch Q. Furthermore, both the plurality of first thin metal wires M1 and the plurality of third thin metal wires M3 can be arranged at intervals that vary continuously along the second direction D2.

[0083] Even in such a case, the spacing between the adjacent first metal thin wire M1 and third metal thin wire M3 changes continuously in the same direction along the second direction D2, so that even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other along the second direction D2, the image quality viewed through the conductive member 3 for a touch panel can be maintained.

[0084] Furthermore, the plurality of second metal thin wires M2 and the plurality of fourth metal thin wires M4 are arranged at a constant pitch R along the first direction D1, but at least one of the plurality of second metal thin wires M2 and the plurality of fourth metal thin wires M4 may be arranged at an arrangement interval that changes continuously along the first direction D1.

[0085] In such a case, the distance between the adjacent second thin metal wire M2 and fourth thin metal wire M4 changes continuously along the first direction D1, so that even if the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 are misaligned with each other along the first direction D1, the image quality viewed through the conductive member 3 for a touch panel can be maintained.

[0086] Furthermore, the first fine metal wire M1, the second fine metal wire M2, the third fine metal wire M3 and the fourth fine metal wire M4 in embodiment 2 can be patterned by a photolithography method or the like, similar to the first fine metal wire M1, the second fine metal wire M2, the third fine metal wire M3 and the fourth fine metal wire M4 in embodiment 1.

[0087] The following describes each component constituting the conductive member for a touch panel 3 of embodiment 1. Note that each component constituting the conductive member for a touch panel 43 of embodiment 2 is also equivalent to each component constituting the conductive member for a touch panel 3 of embodiment 1.

[0088] <Transparent substrate> The transparent substrate 5 is not particularly limited as long as it is transparent, electrically insulating, and can support the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B, and examples of such materials include a resin substrate and a glass substrate. More specifically, examples of materials that can be used to form the transparent substrate 5 include glass, tempered glass, alkali-free glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), cycloolefin polymer (COP), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polycarbonate (PC), acrylic resin, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), and cellulose triacetate (TAC). The thickness of the transparent substrate 5 is, for example, preferably 20 μm to 1100 μm, more preferably 20 μm to 500 μm. In particular, in the case of an organic resin substrate such as PET, the thickness is preferably 20 μm to 200 μm, more preferably 30 μm to 100 μm.

[0089] The transparent substrate 5 is preferably a flexible film, because this allows for compatibility with curved devices, bendable devices, and windable devices, which have become increasingly popular in recent years, and allows for the peripheral area, including the peripheral wiring, to be bent in order to reduce the thickness and frame width of touch panel display devices. When a flexible film is used for the transparent substrate 5, alignment becomes difficult due to instability in so-called web handling (edge ​​detection, bending, etc.), and misalignment between the first mesh pattern MP1 and the second mesh pattern MP2 becomes more likely to occur, making it easier to achieve the effects of the present invention.

[0090] The total light transmittance of the transparent substrate 5 is preferably 40% to 100%. The total light transmittance is measured, for example, according to "Plastics--Determination of total light transmittance and total light reflectance" specified in JIS K 7375:2008.

[0091] One preferred embodiment of the transparent substrate 5 is a treated substrate that has been subjected to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of atmospheric pressure plasma treatment, corona discharge treatment, and ultraviolet irradiation treatment. By performing the above treatment, hydrophilic groups such as OH groups are introduced into the surface of the treated transparent substrate 5, improving the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the second conductive layer 6B. Among the above treatments, atmospheric pressure plasma treatment is preferred because it further improves the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the second conductive layer 6B.

[0092] <Undercoat layer> In order to improve the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and the second conductive layer 6B, an undercoat layer may be disposed between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and between the transparent substrate 5 and the second conductive layer 6B. This undercoat layer contains a polymer, which further improves the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and the adhesion between the transparent substrate 5 and the second conductive layer 6B.

[0093] The method for forming the undercoat layer is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a method of applying a polymer-containing composition for forming an undercoat layer onto a substrate and, if necessary, subjecting the substrate to a heat treatment. Furthermore, examples of the polymer-containing composition for forming an undercoat layer include gelatin, acrylic resin, urethane resin, acrylic latex containing inorganic or polymeric fine particles, and styrene latex.

[0094] If necessary, the conductive member 3 for a touch panel may have, in addition to the undercoat layer described above, another layer, such as a refractive index adjusting layer, between the transparent substrate 5 and the first conductive layer 6A and between the transparent substrate 5 and the second conductive layer 6B. As the refractive index adjusting layer, for example, an organic layer to which particles of a metal oxide such as zirconium oxide that adjusts the refractive index are added can be used.

[0095] <Thin metal wire> The thickness of the first thin metal wire M1, the second thin metal wire M2, the third thin metal wire M3 and the fourth thin metal wire M4 in embodiment 1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 μm to 10.00 μm, more preferably 2.00 μm or less, and particularly preferably 0.02 μm to 2.00 μm.

[0096] The first fine metal wire M1, the second fine metal wire M2, the third fine metal wire M3, and the fourth fine metal wire M4 are made of a metal or alloy, such as silver, copper, gold, aluminum, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, or tungsten. The first fine metal wire M1, the second fine metal wire M2, the third fine metal wire M3, and the fourth fine metal wire M4 preferably contain copper, but may also contain metals other than copper, such as gold or silver. The first fine metal wire M1, the second fine metal wire M2, the third fine metal wire M3, and the fourth fine metal wire M4 may also contain metallic silver and a polymer binder, such as gelatin, acrylic latex, or styrene latex, which is suitable for forming a mesh pattern. Other preferred materials include aluminum, silver, molybdenum, and titanium, as well as alloys thereof. Furthermore, the wire may have a laminated structure of these materials, and for example, a thin metal wire having a laminated structure of molybdenum / copper / molybdenum, molybdenum / aluminum / molybdenum, or the like can be used.

[0097] Furthermore, the first metal thin wire M1, the second metal thin wire M2, the third metal thin wire M3 and the fourth metal thin wire M4 may contain, for example, metal oxide particles, metal pastes such as silver paste and copper paste, and metal nanowire particles such as silver nanowires and copper nanowires. In order to improve the visibility of the first fine metal wires M1, the second fine metal wires M2, the third fine metal wires M3, and the fourth fine metal wires M4, a blackening layer may be formed on the visible side of at least the first fine metal wires M1, the second fine metal wires M2, the third fine metal wires M3, and the fourth fine metal wires M4. As the blackening layer, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, a metal sulfide, or the like is used, and typically, copper oxynitride, copper nitride, copper oxide, molybdenum oxide, or the like can be used.

[0098] Next, a method for forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 will be described. These fine metal wires can be formed by, for example, sputtering, plating, silver halide deposition, printing, or the like. A method for forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 by sputtering will be described. First, a copper foil layer is formed by sputtering, and then copper wiring is formed from the copper foil layer by photolithography, thereby forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4. Instead of sputtering, the copper foil layer can also be formed by vapor deposition. The copper foil layer can be formed using sputtered copper foil, vapor-deposited copper foil, or electrolytic copper foil. More specifically, the process for forming copper wiring described in JP 2014-29614 A can be used.

[0099] A method for forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 by plating is described below. For example, the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 can be formed using a metal plating film formed on an electroless plating base layer by electroless plating the base layer. In this case, the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 are formed by forming a pattern of a catalyst ink containing at least metal particles on a substrate, followed by immersing the substrate in an electroless plating bath to form a metal plating film. More specifically, the method for producing a metal-coated substrate described in JP 2014-159620 A can be used.

[0100] The first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 are formed by forming a pattern of a resin composition having functional groups capable of interacting with at least a metal catalyst precursor on a substrate, applying a catalyst or catalyst precursor, and immersing the substrate in an electroless plating bath to form a metal plating film. More specifically, the method for producing a metal-coated substrate described in JP 2012-144761 A can be applied.

[0101] A method for forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 by a silver salt process is described below. First, a silver salt emulsion layer containing silver halide is exposed using an exposure pattern that will result in the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4, and then developed to form the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4. Three development methods can be used: a development process based on the so-called silver salt diffusion transfer method, a development process that involves direct development followed by fixation, and a development process based on the so-called hardening development method. More specifically, the methods for manufacturing thin metal wires described in JP 2012-6377 A, JP 2014-112512 A, JP 2014-209332 A, JP 2015-22397 A, JP 2016-192200 A, and WO 2016 / 157585 can be used.

[0102] A method for forming the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 by printing is described below. First, a conductive paste containing conductive powder is applied to a substrate in the same pattern as the first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4. The first, second, third, and fourth fine metal wires M1, M2, M3, and M4 are then formed by heat treatment. The pattern formation using the conductive paste can be performed by, for example, an inkjet method or a screen printing method. More specifically, the conductive paste described in JP 2011-28985 A can be used.

[0103] <Cover panel> The cover panel 2 can be made of a material such as tempered glass, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and the thickness of the cover panel 2 is preferably 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. <Adhesive> An optically clear adhesive sheet (OCA) or an optically clear adhesive resin (OCR) can be used as the adhesive 4 that bonds the cover panel 2 and the conductive member for touch panel 3 together, and the preferred film thickness is 10 μm or more and 200 μm or less. For example, the 8146 series manufactured by 3M can be used as the optically clear adhesive sheet. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1, 31 touch panel, 1A, 31A front surface, 1B, 31B back surface, 2 cover panel, 3, 43 conductive member for touch panel, 4, 4A adhesive, 5 transparent substrate, 5A, 5B surface, 6A first conductive layer, 6B second conductive layer, 7A, 7B insulating layer, 8 display module, 9 touch panel display device, 11, 51 first mesh electrode, 12 first pad, 13 first peripheral wiring, 14 first external connection terminal, 21, 61 second mesh electrode, 22 second pad, 23 second peripheral wiring, 24 second external connection terminal, A1 to A5 distance, C1, C2, C3 intersection, CP1 to CP6 bending point, D1 first direction, D2 second direction, E1, E2 straight line, GK, GL graph, K1, K2, KN, L1, L2, LN Spacing, M1 first metal thin wire, M2 second metal thin wire, M3 third metal thin wire, M4 fourth metal thin wire, MP1 first mesh pattern, MP2 second mesh pattern, P, Q, R pitch, Q1, Q2, QN array spacing, S1 transmission area, S2 surrounding area, T line width

Claims

1. A transparent insulating member; a first mesh electrode and a second mesh electrode arranged to face each other with the transparent insulating member interposed therebetween; the first mesh electrode includes a plurality of first thin metal wires extending along a predetermined first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second thin metal wires extending along a second direction different from the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, intersecting the plurality of first thin metal wires; the second mesh electrode includes a plurality of third thin metal wires extending along the first direction and arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of fourth thin metal wires extending along a direction perpendicular to the second direction and arranged in the direction perpendicular to the second direction so as to intersect with the third thin metal wires; In a plan view, the first thin metal wires and the third thin metal wires are alternately arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second thin metal wires and the fourth thin metal wires are alternately arranged in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, a distance between the first thin metal wire and the third thin metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction changes so as to monotonically increase and then monotonically decrease along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, or to monotonically decrease and then monotonically increase along the direction perpendicular to the first direction, and has one maximum value or one minimum value; Alternatively, the interval between the second thin metal wire and the fourth thin metal wire that are adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the second direction changes so as to monotonically increase and then monotonically decrease along the direction perpendicular to the second direction, or to monotonically decrease and then monotonically increase along the direction perpendicular to the second direction, and has one maximum value or one minimum value, Alternatively, the interval between the first thin metal wire and the third thin metal wire adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction changes so as to monotonically increase along the direction perpendicular to the first direction and then monotonically decrease, or changes so as to monotonically decrease along the direction perpendicular to the first direction and then monotonically increase, and has one maximum value or one minimum value, and the interval between the second thin metal wire and the fourth thin metal wire adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the second direction changes so as to monotonically increase along the direction perpendicular to the second direction and then monotonically decrease, or changes so as to monotonically decrease along the direction perpendicular to the second direction and then monotonically increase, and has one maximum value or one minimum value. Conductive material for touch panels.

2. A conductive member for a touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the first metal thin wire and the third metal thin wire adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the first direction is 1 / 30 or more and 1 / 2 or less of the average value of the spacing.

3. A conductive member for a touch panel as described in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the difference between the maximum and minimum values ​​of the spacing between the second metal thin wire and the fourth metal thin wire adjacent to each other in a direction perpendicular to the second direction is 1 / 30 or more and 1 / 2 or less of the average value of the spacing.

4. the plurality of first thin metal wires are arranged at a predetermined first pitch in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, A conductive member for a touch panel described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of third metal thin wires are arranged at a third pitch different from the first pitch in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

5. A conductive member for a touch panel described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the arrangement spacing of the first metal thin wires adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction and the arrangement spacing of the third metal thin wires adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first direction changes monotonically along the direction perpendicular to the first direction.

6. the plurality of second thin metal wires are arranged at a predetermined second pitch in a direction perpendicular to the second direction, A conductive member for a touch panel described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of fourth metal thin wires are arranged at a fourth pitch different from the second pitch in a direction perpendicular to the second direction.

7. A conductive member for a touch panel described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least one of the arrangement spacing of the second metal thin wires adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the second direction and the arrangement spacing of the fourth metal thin wires adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the second direction changes monotonically along the direction perpendicular to the second direction.

8. The conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an intersection angle between the first direction and the second direction is 60° or more and 80° or less.

9. the first thin metal wire has a linear shape between intersections with two adjacent second thin metal wires, the second thin metal wire has a linear shape between intersections with two adjacent first thin metal wires, the third thin metal wire has a linear shape between intersections with two adjacent fourth thin metal wires, The conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the fourth thin metal wire has a linear shape between intersections with two adjacent third thin metal wires.

10. the first thin metal wire has a curved shape between intersections with two adjacent second thin metal wires; the second thin metal wire has a curved shape between intersections with two adjacent first thin metal wires, the third thin metal wire has a curved shape between intersections with two adjacent fourth thin metal wires, The conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the fourth thin metal wire has a curved shape between intersections with two adjacent third thin metal wires.

11. The conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the transparent insulating member is made of a transparent substrate.

12. the transparent insulating member is made of an insulating layer, Further comprising a transparent substrate; The first mesh electrode, the second mesh electrode, and the insulating layer are arranged on one surface of the transparent substrate. A conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. The conductive member for a touch panel according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the transparent substrate is a flexible film.

14. The conductive member for a touch panel according to any one of claims 1 to 13, Touch panel.

15. The touch panel according to claim 14; a display module; Touch panel display device.

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