Touch Panel Metal Nanowire Covering Narrow Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensing panels face challenges in manufacturing due to the need for alignment tolerance areas when using roll-to-roll processes, which enlarges the peripheral area and limits the flexibility of display devices, especially for flexible display devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a touch panel structure where peripheral wires and marks are covered by metal nanowires, eliminating the need for alignment tolerance areas, thereby reducing the size of the peripheral areas and achieving a narrowed frame border. This is achieved by using a substrate with peripheral wires and marks covered by metal nanowire coverings, which are electrically connected to the touch sensing electrode, and a coating layer that covers the entire panel or specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an alignment tolerance area is included in the peripheral area to ensure proper alignment during roll-to-roll manufacturing, then alignment reliability is improved, but the peripheral area size is enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical alignment system (physical alignment tolerance areas) with a chemical bonding system. The metal nanowire layer acts as an adhesive that chemically bonds the touch sensing electrode to the peripheral wires and marks, eliminating the need for mechanical alignment tolerance areas. This substitution allows precise alignment without requiring additional space for alignment adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal nanowire layer serves as an intermediary substance between the touch sensing electrode and the peripheral wires/marks. This intermediary layer provides both electrical connection and adhesive bonding, enabling precise alignment while eliminating the need for large alignment tolerance areas. The nanowire mesh structure allows it to conform to slight variations in positioning while maintaining reliable connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the peripheral area size is reduced to achieve a narrowed frame border, then device flexibility is improved, but alignment precision during manufacturing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The metal nanowire layer acts as a mediator that compensates for alignment variations. Its mesh structure and adhesive properties allow it to bridge small misalignments between the touch sensing electrode and peripheral elements, enabling precise functional alignment even when the peripheral area is minimized for flexible device designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bonding mechanism from mechanical (requiring large tolerance areas) to chemical/adhesive (using metal nanowire layer). This parameter change in the bonding method allows for reduced peripheral area dimensions while maintaining alignment precision through the nanowire layer's conformal bonding capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes: a substrate, peripheral wires, marks, first coverings, and second coverings. The peripheral wires are disposed on the substrate, and each of the peripheral wires has a sidewall and a top surface. The marks are disposed on the substrate, and each of the marks has a sidewall and a top surface. The first coverings cover the top surfaces of the peripheral wires, and the second coverings cover the top surfaces of the marks, wherein the first coverings and the second coverings include metal nanowires. Furthermore, a sheet of touch sensors is provided.