Touch display

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch display comprising: a display panel that displays visual information; and an injection-molded cover lens bonded to a surface of the display panel, the injection-molded cover lens being formed by insert-molding a film having a touch electrode pattern printed thereon. Furthermore, the present invention includes the injection-molded cover lens comprising the following layers formed sequentially: a film; a binder layer; a design printing layer; an electrode printing layer on which at least one of a transparent pattern and a switch pattern is printed; an electrode protection layer that protects the electrode printing layer; and an injection-molded plastic resin layer, wherein the plastic resin layer is configured to be bonded to the surface of the display panel so as to allow visual information from the display panel to pass therethrough.

Description

touch display

[0001] The present invention relates to the structure of a touch display.

[0002] Touch displays provide visual information to the user and offer intuitive and convenient usability by using the display screen as a sensor to accept the user's touch input.

[0003] Touch displays as described above are widely used in vehicles and the like. Recently, various button-type switches surrounding the touch display are also often configured as touch-responsive button switches to ensure consistency in operation.

[0004] In order to achieve a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design, it is desirable to apply various curved designs and various colors to the touch display and surrounding touch button switches mentioned above.

[0005] A prior art related to this is KR 10-1482401 B1.

[0006]

[0007] The matters described as the background technology of the above invention are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment that they constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a touch display that allows for the application of various curved designs and various colors, has excellent touch operation sensitivity, and enables the simultaneous implementation of a touch display and multiple touch button switches.

[0009] The touch display of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose is,

[0010] A display panel that displays visual information;

[0011] An injection cover lens formed by insert injection molding a film with a printed touch electrode pattern and bonded to the surface of the display panel;

[0012] It is characterized by being composed including

[0013]

[0014] The touch electrode pattern printed on the film of the injection cover lens may be configured to include at least one of a transparent pattern printed transparently on a portion that displays visual information of the display panel to the outside, and a switch pattern printed to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user.

[0015]

[0016] When the film of the injection-molded cover lens includes the switch pattern, the connector shape of the switch pattern can be printed together on the film.

[0017]

[0018] In the film of the above injection-molded cover lens,

[0019] A binder layer, a design printing layer, an electrode printing layer on which at least one of the transparent pattern and the switch pattern is printed, and an electrode protection layer that protects the electrode printing layer may be laminated in sequence.

[0020]

[0021] The above design printing layer is printed excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel passes;

[0022] In order for visual information of the above display panel to pass through, a transparent ink layer may be provided in the portion where the design printing layer is excluded, so as not to cause a step difference with the design printing layer.

[0023]

[0024] The above transparent pattern is printed on the above transparent ink layer;

[0025] The above switch pattern can be printed on the above design printing layer.

[0026]

[0027] The above switch pattern can be formed of the same material as the above transparent pattern.

[0028]

[0029] The above injection-molded cover lens is,

[0030] After the electrode printing layer and the electrode protection layer are printed on the above film, the film can be inserted into an injection mold, and then a plastic resin can be formed by injection molding to form a plastic resin layer and bond it toward the electrode protection layer.

[0031]

[0032] In addition, the injection-molded cover lens of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose is,

[0033] film;

[0034] Binder layer;

[0035] Design print layer;

[0036] An electrode printing layer on which at least one of a transparent pattern and a switch pattern is printed;

[0037] An electrode protection layer protecting the above electrode printing layer; and

[0038] Injection-molded plastic resin layer;

[0039] A plastic resin layer formed sequentially and configured to be bonded to the surface of the display panel so that visual information of the display panel passes through.

[0040] It is characterized by.

[0041]

[0042] The above design printing layer is printed excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel passes;

[0043] In order for visual information of the above-mentioned display panel to pass through, a transparent ink layer is provided in the portion where the design printing layer is excluded, so as not to cause a step difference with the design printing layer;

[0044] The above transparent pattern is printed transparently on the above transparent ink layer;

[0045] The above switch pattern can be printed on the design printing layer to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user.

[0046] The present invention enables the application of various curved surface designs and various colors, while providing excellent touch operation sensitivity and allowing the simultaneous implementation of a touch display and multiple touch button switches.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a touch display according to the present invention.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a disassembled view of the touch display of FIG. 1.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a film with a touch electrode pattern printed thereon.

[0050] FIG. 4 illustrates the process of printing a touch electrode pattern on a film, and is a drawing showing an example of printing a switch pattern.

[0051] FIG. 5 illustrates the process of printing a touch electrode pattern on a film, and is a drawing showing an example of printing a transparent pattern.

[0052] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process of forming an injection cover lens by insert injection molding a film.

[0053] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components regardless of drawing symbols are given the same reference number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0054] The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles.

[0055] In describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art may obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0056] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0057] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0058] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0059] In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not excluding in advance the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0060]

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the touch display of the present invention comprises a display panel (1) for displaying visual information; and an injection cover lens (7) formed by insert injection molding a film (5) having a touch electrode pattern (3) printed thereon, and bonded to the surface of the display panel (1).

[0062] That is, the display panel (1) of the present invention is configured such that it does not have a separate touch panel built in, but simply consists of a screen that displays visual information, and the injection-molded cover lens (7) is bonded to the outside thereof, and the touch electrode pattern (3) is printed on the film (5) of the injection-molded cover lens (7), so that the user's touch input is received through the touch electrode pattern (3) of the injection-molded cover lens (7).

[0063]

[0064] The touch electrode pattern (3) printed on the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7) comprises at least one of a transparent pattern (9) printed transparently on the part that displays visual information of the display panel (1) to the outside, and a switch pattern (11) printed to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user.

[0065] That is, if a touch input function is to be implemented only in the part corresponding to the display panel (1), the transparent pattern (9) can be printed only on the film (5) part of the injection cover lens (7) facing the display panel (1).

[0066] In addition, the switch pattern (11) is printed on the film (5) portion of the injection cover lens (7) other than the portion facing the display panel (1), so that touch button switches that previously had to be separately provided around the display panel (1) can be implemented using the switch pattern (11).

[0067] Here, the transparent pattern (9) and the switch pattern (11) may be printed either one or both depending on the specifications of the touch display to be implemented.

[0068]

[0069] Meanwhile, when the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7) includes the switch pattern (11), the shape of the connector (13) of the switch pattern (11) is printed together on the film (5).

[0070] Referring to FIG. 1, the injection cover lens (7) is bonded to the upper side of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel, which is a type of display panel (1), by OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) or OCR (Optical Clear Resin).

[0071] For reference, the above display panel (1) means that it includes various display devices such as LED panels (Light Emitting Diodes Panel), OLED panels (Organic Light Emitting Diodes Panel), etc., in addition to the above-mentioned LCD panel.

[0072] The LCD panel is supported on the main panel (15), and on the lower side of the main panel (15), there is an LCD PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that drives the LCD panel and a KEY PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that is connected to the switch pattern (11) to implement a touch button switch.

[0073] That is, the KEY PCB is electrically connected to the connector shape of the switch pattern (11) printed on the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7), so that the switch pattern (11) functions as at least one touch button switch.

[0074] Of course, the LCD PCB is connected to the transparent pattern (9) printed on the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7), and is electrically connected to process the user's touch input input through the transparent pattern (9) in conjunction with the visual information displayed through the LCD.

[0075] That is, when the transparent pattern (9) and the switch pattern (11) are both printed on the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7), the present invention enables the display panel (1) to have a touch input function and also enables the implementation of a plurality of touch button switches installed around the display panel (1), thereby eliminating the need for a separate touch film (5) or the like to implement the touch button switches, thus allowing for the implementation of a uniform design while reducing costs.

[0076]

[0077] In the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7), a binder layer, a design printing layer (17), an electrode printing layer (19) on which at least one of the transparent pattern (9) and the switch pattern (11) is printed, and an electrode protection layer (21) that protects the electrode printing layer (19) are laminated in sequence.

[0078] Here, the design printing layer (17) is printed in a state excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel (1) passes; and in the area where the design printing layer (17) is excluded so that visual information of the display panel (1) passes, a transparent ink layer (23) is provided so that no step difference occurs with the design printing layer (17).

[0079] That is, the design printing layer (17) and the transparent ink layer (23) are formed on the same plane as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

[0080] For reference, the design printing layer (17) and the transparent ink layer (23) are represented as multiple layers, which is to indicate that various colors are printed in sequence to implement the desired design, and the number of these layers varies depending on the design of the touch display to be implemented.

[0081] In addition, the electrode protection layer (21) may be provided with a binder layer wrapped around it, as shown in FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 5.

[0082] The above transparent ink layer (23) forms an area through which light passes of the display panel (1), and the transparent pattern (9) is printed on the transparent ink layer (23); and the switch pattern (11) is printed on the design printing layer (17).

[0083] Here, the transparent pattern (9) can be printed with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), and the switch pattern (11) can be printed with Ag paste.

[0084] Meanwhile, by forming the switch pattern (11) with the same material as the transparent pattern (9), it may be possible to shorten the film (5) printing process of the injection cover lens (7) and process it more quickly.

[0085]

[0086] The above injection cover lens (7) is manufactured by IML (Insert Molding Laminate) injection.

[0087] That is, the injection cover lens (7) is formed by injection molding so that a plastic resin forms a plastic resin layer (25) and is bonded toward the electrode protection layer (21) after the electrode printing layer (19) and the electrode protection layer (21) are printed on the film (5) and inserted into the injection mold.

[0088] Of course, the injection-molded cover lens (7) as described above is bonded to a display panel (1), such as the LCD module, by OCA (Optical Clear Adhesive) or OCR (Optical Clear Resin).

[0089] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the above injection cover lens (7) is completed by injection after the film (5) is processed into a desired three-dimensional shape through a forming process, after the electrode printing layer (19) and electrode protection layer (21), etc. are printed on the film (5), so that excellent touch sensitivity can be secured while applying various curved designs to the touch display.

[0090]

[0091] Meanwhile, the touch display configured using the injection cover lens (7) described above has the transparent pattern (9) and switch pattern (11) printed on the film (5) of the injection cover lens (7), so that the location where the user touches is very close to the transparent pattern (9) or switch pattern (11), thereby greatly improving the sensor resolution.

[0092] Accordingly, according to the present invention, even when metallic particles are applied to the design printing layer (17), the noise signal caused by the metallic particles can be effectively distinguished from the touch signal of the transparent pattern (9) or switch pattern (11), thereby enabling the implementation of a touch display with a beautiful design in various colors including metallic colors.

[0093]

[0094] Meanwhile, the injection cover lens (7) of the present invention, which can be applied to a touch display as described above, is configured such that a film (5); a binder layer; a design printing layer (17); an electrode printing layer (19) on which at least one of a transparent pattern (9) and a switch pattern (11) is printed; an electrode protection layer (21) that protects the electrode printing layer (19); and an injection-molded plastic resin layer (25) are formed in sequence, and the plastic resin layer (25) can be bonded to the surface of the display panel (1) so that visual information of the display panel (1) can pass through.

[0095] The above design printing layer (17) is printed in a state excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel (1) passes; and in the area where the design printing layer (17) is excluded so that visual information of the display panel (1) passes, a transparent ink layer (23) is provided so that no step difference occurs with the design printing layer (17).

[0096] The above transparent pattern (9) is printed transparently on the above transparent ink layer (23); and the above switch pattern (11) is printed on the above design printing layer (17) to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user.

[0097]

[0098] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to specific embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims.

[0099] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0100] 1; Display panel

[0101] 3; Touch electrode pattern

[0102] 5; Film

[0103] 7; Injection-molded cover lens

[0104] 9; Transparent pattern

[0105] 11; Switch pattern

[0106] 13; connector

[0107] 15; Main panel

[0108] 17; Design print layer

[0109] 19; Electrode printing layer

[0110] 21; Electrode protection layer

[0111] 23; transparent ink layer

[0112] 25; plastic resin layer

Claims

1. A display panel that displays visual information; An injection cover lens formed by insert injection molding a film with a printed touch electrode pattern and bonded to the surface of the display panel; A touch display characterized by being composed including 2. In Claim 1, The touch electrode pattern printed on the film of the injection cover lens comprises at least one of a transparent pattern printed transparently on a portion that displays visual information of the display panel to the outside, and a switch pattern printed to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user. A touch display featuring 3. In Claim 2, When the film of the injection-molded cover lens includes the switch pattern, the connector shape of the switch pattern is printed together on the film. A touch display featuring 4. In Claim 2, In the film of the above injection-molded cover lens, A binder layer, a design printing layer, an electrode printing layer on which at least one of the transparent pattern and the switch pattern is printed, and an electrode protection layer protecting the electrode printing layer are stacked in sequence. A touch display featuring 5. In Claim 4, The above design printing layer is printed excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel passes; In order for visual information of the above display panel to pass through, a transparent ink layer is provided in the portion where the design printing layer is excluded, so as not to cause a step difference with the design printing layer. A touch display featuring 6. In Claim 5, The above transparent pattern is printed on the above transparent ink layer; The above switch pattern is printed on the above design printing layer. A touch display featuring 7. In Claim 6, The above switch pattern is formed of the same material as the above transparent pattern. A touch display featuring 8. In Claim 5, The above injection-molded cover lens is, After the electrode printing layer and the electrode protection layer are printed on the above film, the film is inserted into an injection mold, and a plastic resin is injected to form a plastic resin layer and bonded toward the electrode protection layer. A touch display featuring 9. Film; Binder layer; Design print layer; An electrode printing layer on which at least one of a transparent pattern and a switch pattern is printed; An electrode protection layer protecting the above electrode printing layer; and Injection-molded plastic resin layer; A plastic resin layer formed sequentially and configured to be bonded to the surface of the display panel so that visual information of the display panel passes through. Injection-molded cover lens featuring 10. In Claim 9, The above design printing layer is printed excluding the area through which visual information of the display panel passes; In order for visual information of the above-mentioned display panel to pass through, a transparent ink layer is provided in the portion where the design printing layer is excluded, so as not to cause a step difference with the design printing layer; The above transparent pattern is printed transparently on the above transparent ink layer; The above switch pattern is printed on the design printing layer to implement a touch button switch that receives touch operation input from a user. Injection-molded cover lens featuring

Images