Touch Panel Metal Nanowire Coating Narrow Bezel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panels using metal nanowires face challenges in achieving both low reflectivity for improved optical characteristics and maintaining low resistance for electrical conductivity, particularly in the peripheral areas of flexible displays, where alignment errors lead to larger bezel sizes that do not meet narrow bezel requirements.
Innovation Solution
A covering structure is formed on specific surfaces of metal nanowires to enhance optical characteristics while maintaining electrical conductivity, and a first intermediate layer is designed between peripheral leads and the substrate to eliminate the need for an alignment error area, allowing for narrower peripheral leads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a low reflectivity material is plated onto the surface of silver nanowires to improve optical characteristics, then the optical properties are improved, but the electrical advantage is damaged due to higher resistance on silver wire lap joint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different treatments to different parts of the nanowire structure. The surface of individual nanowires is plated with low reflectivity material to reduce optical reflection, while the lap joint areas between nanowires are kept as pure silver to maintain electrical conductivity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between optical performance and electrical performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If an alignment error area is reserved when nanowires are aligned with leads in peripheral area, then alignment tolerance is provided, but the width of peripheral area increases, resulting in larger bezel size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first intermediate layer formed by metal nanowires between the peripheral leads and the substrate. This intermediate layer is designed to be etched away in the same step as the peripheral leads, creating a through-hole that allows the sensing electrode to reach the substrate. This preliminary structure eliminates the need for additional alignment error areas, enabling narrow bezel design while maintaining alignment tolerance.
3Device complexity
If the same etching step is used to form peripheral leads and substrate structures, then process complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the etching processes for the peripheral leads and the first intermediate layer into a single simultaneous etching step. The etching solution is designed to etch both the metal layer (forming peripheral leads) and the metal nanowire layer (forming the first intermediate layer) at the same time. This consolidation reduces process complexity while the through-hole design ensures that precise alignment is achieved without requiring additional alignment error margins.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The touch panel includes a substrate, peripheral leads, a touch sensing electrode, and first intermediate layers. The peripheral leads are disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate. The first intermediate layers are disposed between the peripheral leads and the substrate. The touch sensing electrode includes a plurality of modified metal nanowires. The modified metal nanowires have first surfaces in direct contact with each other at an intersection. The modified metal nanowires have second surfaces with covering structures, and the second surfaces are at a non-intersection.