Fine Metal Wire Touch Sensor Plating Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensors with mesh-like touch detection electrodes formed using a plating method often experience shading unevenness due to non-uniform line widths of the metal plating layer, which affects the visual appearance and functionality of the sensor.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor design where the average line width of the layers to be plated in the region between the first end part and 1/10 of the electrode length is narrower than at ½ of the electrode length, with specific ratios and ranges for the line widths to ensure uniformity and suppress shading unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a plating method is used to form the touch detection electrode, peripheral wiring, and electrode pad simultaneously, then the manufacturing process is simplified and productivity is improved, but the line width of the metal plating layer becomes non-uniform causing shading unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different line widths for different regions of the layer to be plated. Specifically, the first region (near the touch detection electrode) has a first line width, while the second region (peripheral wiring) has a second line width that is 0.5 to 2.0 times the first line width. This regional differentiation ensures uniform plating thickness and prevents shading unevenness while maintaining the efficiency of simultaneous formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the line width parameter of the layer to be plated based on the regional requirements. By adjusting the line width ratio between peripheral wiring and touch detection electrode to 0.5-2.0, the patent optimizes the plating process to achieve uniform metal plating layer thickness across different regions, eliminating shading unevenness while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If the line width of the layer to be plated is made uniform across all regions, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the metal plating layer exhibits non-uniform thickness causing visual shading unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by defining different line widths for different functional regions. The peripheral wiring region has a line width 0.5 to 2.0 times that of the touch detection electrode region, which compensates for varying plating rates and ensures uniform final thickness across all regions, eliminating visual shading while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the line width parameter spatially across different regions of the pattern. By setting the second line width (peripheral wiring) to be 0.5-2.0 times the first line width (touch detection electrode), the patent achieves uniform plating thickness distribution, preventing shading unevenness without complicating the manufacturing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed design achieves uniform line widths of the fine metal wires over the entire touch detection electrode, effectively suppressing shading unevenness and enhancing the visual and functional performance of the touch sensor.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of the fine metal wires of the touch detection electrode each has a layer to be plated and a metal plating layer covering the layer to be plated
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a touch sensor that can suppress shading unevenness of a touch detection electrode, and a method for producing the touch sensor.The touch sensor comprises a substrate and conductive layers formed on the substrate, in which the conductive layer has a touch detection electrode (11) that is composed of a plurality of fine metal wires arranged in a mesh shape and extends over an electrode length L1 from a first end part (11A) to a second end part (11B), the plurality of the fine metal wires of the touch detection electrode each have a layer to be plated and a metal plating layer, and an average line width Hm of the layers to be plated of the plurality of the fine metal wires in a region (R1) between the first end part (11A) and a position (P1) apart from the first end part (11A) toward the second end part (11B) side by 1/10 of the electrode length L1 is narrower than an average line width Hs of the layers to be plated of the plurality of the fine metal wires at a position (P2) apart from the first end part (11A) toward the second end part (11B) side by ½ of the electrode length L1.