KR20160040014A - Touch Sensor Module - Google Patents

Abstract

The touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base substrate on which a folding region is formed to be folded in one direction and an electrode pattern formed on the base substrate. The electrode pattern formed on the folding region has a flexible material And is formed as a conductive member, thereby preventing breakage of the electrode pattern due to stress generated at the time of folding.

Description

A touch sensor module

To a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

With the development of computers using digital technology, auxiliary devices of computers are being developed together. Personal computers, portable transmission devices, and other personal information processing devices use various input devices such as a keyboard and a mouse And performs text and graphics processing.

However, as the use of computers is gradually increasing due to the rapid progress of the information society, there is a problem that it is difficult to efficiently operate a product by using only a keyboard and a mouse which are currently playing an input device. Therefore, there is an increasing need for a device that is simple and less error-prone, and that allows anyone to easily input information.

In addition, the technology related to the input device is shifting beyond the level that satisfies the general functions, such as high reliability, durability, innovation, design and processing related technology, etc. In order to achieve this purpose, As a possible input device, a touch sensor has been developed.

Such a touch sensor can be applied to a flat display device such as an electronic organizer, a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an electroluminescence display device, and a display device such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) And is a tool used to allow the user to select desired information while viewing the display.

The types of touch sensors include Resistive Type, Capacitive Type, Electro-Magnetic Type, SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave Type) and Infrared Type).

These various types of touch sensors are employed in electronic products in consideration of problems of signal amplification, difference in resolution, difficulty in design and processing technology, optical characteristics, electrical characteristics, mechanical characteristics, environmental characteristics, input characteristics, durability and economical efficiency Currently, the most widely used methods are resistive touch sensors and capacitive touch sensors.

(US) 2011-0107590A

The touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a folded region to be folded or bent. When the electrode pattern formed in the folded region is formed using a flexible conductive member, The present invention provides a touch sensor having an improved durability by protecting an electrode pattern formed in a folding region from a stress caused by stress.

The touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base substrate on which a folding region is formed to be folded in one direction and an electrode pattern formed on the base substrate. The electrode pattern formed on the folding region has a flexible material And is formed as a conductive member. The conductive member of flexible material may be a metal alloy of mesh pattern or a conductive polymer in the form of a face.

The touch sensor module according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a base substrate on which a folding region is formed so as to be folded in one direction and an electrode pattern formed on the base substrate and the electrode pattern formed on the folding region is made of a flexible material The first conductive member and the second conductive member. At this time, the first conductive member is formed to overlap on the second conductive member. The first conductive member may be a metal alloy of a mesh pattern, and the second conductive member may be a conductive polymer in the form of a face.

Prior to that, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in a conventional and dictionary sense, and the inventor may properly define the concept of the term in order to best explain its invention It should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

1 is a view showing a phenomenon in which a crack occurs in an electrode pattern when the touch sensor module is folded.
2 is a view illustrating a touch sensor module using a metal alloy according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view illustrating a touch sensor module to which a conductive polymer according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.
4 to 9 are views showing a second electrode pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a view illustrating a touch sensor module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, specific advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the present specification, the reference numerals are added to the constituent elements of the drawings, and the same constituent elements have the same numerical numbers as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. Also, the terms "one side," " first, "" first," " second, "and the like are used to distinguish one element from another, no. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

Furthermore, the term " touch " used throughout does not only refer to direct contact with the contact receiving surface, but should also be interpreted broadly as the input means are proximate by a considerable distance from the contact receiving surface.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a phenomenon that a crack occurs in an electrode pattern when the touch sensor module is folded. FIG. 2 is a view showing a touch sensor module using a metal alloy according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing a touch sensor module using a conductive polymer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 9 are views showing a second electrode pattern according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a view illustrating a touch sensor module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The touch sensor module shown in FIG. 1 includes a base substrate 10 and an electrode pattern 100, and can be folded in one direction. 1 (a) shows the direction of the force applied to the electrode pattern 100 when the touch sensor module is folded, and FIG. 1 (b) shows the direction of the force applied to the electrode pattern 100 when the touch sensor module is folded back. The direction of the force is shown.

When the touch sensor module is folded, a compressive stress acts on the first electrode pattern 110 and a tensile stress acts on the second electrode pattern 120 (FIG. 1 (a)). When the touch sensor module is restored to its original state, on the other hand, tensile stress acts on the first electrode pattern 110 and compressive stress acts on the second electrode pattern 120 (FIG. 1 (b)).

Therefore, when the touch sensor module is repeatedly folded and unfolded, cracks are generated on the surface of the electrode pattern 100 by the stress. The generated cracks generate a discontinuous spacing layer and are electrically insulated by the generated spacing layer, so that the touch sensor module does not operate normally. The touch sensor module of the embodiment of the present invention is capable of being folded in one direction while maintaining the flexibility of the electrode pattern 100 to prevent the surface of the electrode pattern 100 from being cracked.

The touch sensor module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base substrate 10 on which a folding region is formed to be folded in one direction and an electrode pattern 100 formed on the base substrate 10, The electrode pattern 100 formed on the substrate A-A 'is formed of a conductive member made of a flexible material.

The electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding area A-A 'to which the compressive stress and the tensile stress are repeatedly applied is formed by using the flexible conductive member so that the electrode pattern 100 of the folding area A- ), It is possible to prevent the occurrence of cracks on the surface, thereby improving the durability of the touch sensor module

2, an electrode pattern 100 is formed on the base substrate 10 so as to recognize the touch of the user. Electrode wiring 140 and a terminal 141 are electrically connected to each electrode to transmit a change in capacitance caused by a touch to the electrode pattern 100.

More specifically, when the base substrate 10 is folded about the folding axis B, the folding axis A is a width of the width direction of the base substrate 10. In this case, It means the area to be rubbed. Therefore, since the electrode pattern 100 is formed on the base substrate 10, the electrode pattern 100 is formed even in the folding region A-A '. Since the electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding area A-A 'is formed using a conductive member made of a flexible material, the electrode pattern 100 is prevented from being broken due to the stress generated by the bending.

The electrode pattern 100 formed on both sides of the base substrate 10 is described as an example and the structure of the electrode pattern 100 formed on only one side of the base substrate 10 and the structure of the plurality of base substrates 10, The electrode pattern 100 of the folding area A-A 'can be formed using a flexible conductive member even in the structure in which the electrode patterns 100 are formed on the substrate 10.

In addition, the touch sensor of the present invention may be applied to various types of touch sensors such as a resistance film type or a capacitive type, and is not particularly limited to the type and type of the touch sensor. However, in the touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, a capacitive touch sensor in which an electrode pattern 100 is formed on both sides of a base substrate 10 will be described as an example.

The base substrate 10 provides a region where the electrode pattern 100 and the electrode wiring 140 are to be formed. Here, the base substrate 10 is divided into an active region and a bezel region. The active region is provided at the center of the base substrate 10 as a portion where the electrode pattern 100 is formed so that the touch of the input means can be recognized, The bezel region is provided at the edge of the active region as a portion for forming the electrode wiring 140 and the terminal 141 extending from the electrode pattern 100.

At this time, the base substrate 10 should have a supporting force capable of supporting the electrode pattern 100 and the electrode wiring 140, and transparency that allows the user to recognize the image provided by the display device (not shown). Therefore, the base substrate 10 is made of a material that is transparent and has high heat resistance and chemical resistance. In the embodiment of the present invention, a polyimide (PI) or a polyurethane is used as a base substrate Explain. That is, in order to secure the folding area A-A ', the touch sensor module according to the embodiment of the present invention does not use a conventional rigid material as a substrate, Polyimide or polyurethane is used as a thin film substrate. The thickness of the base substrate 10 may be about 0.005 mm to 0.05 mm, preferably about 0.01 mm (10 μm), to ensure the folding area A-A '. That is, the base substrate 10 of the embodiment of the present invention can be folded unlike the conventional glass substrate. However, the material is not necessarily limited to the above-described materials, but may be applied to materials having the same characteristics.

The electrode pattern 100 is formed on the base substrate 10 by performing various functions such as a user's finger to generate a signal upon touch to enable the controller (not shown) to recognize the touch coordinates . Described in accordance with the capacitance type, when the input means touches one surface of the cover glass (not shown), the electrostatic capacitance of the electrode pattern 100 changes. At this time, the controller (not shown) measures the capacitance change amount of the electrode pattern 100 and recognizes the touch coordinates.

The electrode pattern 100 may be formed of a mesh pattern (for example, copper, aluminum, aluminum, gold, silver, titanium, palladium, chromium, Mesh Pattern). On the other hand, when the electrode pattern 100 is formed of copper (Cu), the surface of the electrode pattern 100 can be blackened to reduce reflection by copper.

The electrode pattern 100 may be formed by a dry process, a wet process, or a direct patterning process. Here, the dry process includes sputtering, evaporation and the like, and the wet process includes dip coating, spin coating, roll coating, spray coating, etc. And the direct patterning process includes a screen printing method, a gravure printing method, an inkjet printing method, and the like. In addition, the electrode pattern 100 may be formed in a film form and adhered to a transparent substrate using an optical clear adhesive (OCA).

The conductive member 130 formed in the folding area A-A 'of the electrode pattern 100 is a metal alloy 131 including bismuth (Bi), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd) . The metal alloy 131 has conductivity and flexibility and can prevent cracks due to stress. The metal alloy 131 is a low melting point metal alloy 131, and preferably satisfies the condition of 0.5 Tm < T at _{normal temperature} . The Tm and T denotes _temperature of the melting point Tm of the metal alloy 131 as the absolute temperature, and, T _{at room temperature} means a temperature at room temperature. For example, the metal alloy 131 that satisfies the above conditions may be selected from the group consisting of 20 to 80 wt% bismuth, 5 to 50 wt% lead, 5 to 70 wt% tin, and 5 to 40 wt% .

Table 1 below shows the melting points of the metal alloys according to the weight of bismuth, lead, tin and cadmium. The lower the melting point, the more flexible it is and is suitable for application to the touch sensor module of one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, alloy No. 1, which comprises 50% by weight of bismuth, 26.7% by weight of lead, 13.3% by weight of tin and 10% by weight of cadmium, is suitable as an example of a flexible conductive member. It is not necessary to form the electrode pattern 100 using only the metal alloy 131 in the folding area A-A ', and the entire electrode pattern 100 may be formed of bismuth Bi, lead Pb, And may be formed using a metal alloy 131 containing tin (Sn) and cadmium (Cd).

Alloy number Melting point Bi Pb Sn CD One 70 ℃ 50 26.7 13.3 10 2 70 ~ 88 ℃ 42.5 37.7 11.3 8.5 3 124 ℃ 55.5 44.5 - - 4 138-170 ° C 40 - 60 - 5 138 DEG C 58 - 42 -

The electrode pattern 100 is formed by arranging bars of a mesh pattern in parallel with each other. The line width of the electrode pattern 100 is formed to 7 mu m or less and the pitch is formed to 900 mu m or less so that visibility can be improved so that the electrode pattern 100 is not visually seen. However, the line width and pitch of the electrode pattern 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention are not necessarily limited thereto. In addition, the thickness of the electrode pattern 100 may be 20 to 55 nm.

The electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding region A-A 'using the metal alloy 131 may also be formed in the shape of a mesh pattern. The electrode pattern 100 other than the metal alloy 131 and the folding area A-A 'has a low electron band gap, so that the contact resistance can be minimized. As a result, the delay of the capacitance change signal is minimized and the instantaneous and smooth touch response can be maintained. Although the electrode pattern 100 is shown in the form of a bar in the figure, it is not limited thereto. The electrode pattern 100 may be formed of any one of various shapes known in the art such as a rhombic pattern, a square pattern, a triangular pattern, Pattern.

Referring to FIG. 3, the conductive member of the electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding region A-A 'may be the conductive polymer 132. Examples of the conductive polymer 132 include poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene / polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT / PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, polyphenylene vinylene, The electrode pattern 100 of the folding area A-A 'can be formed. At this time, the conductive polymer 132 must be transparent for the visibility of the touch sensor, and the entire electrode pattern 100 including the folding area A-A 'may be formed using the conductive polymer 132.

The conductive polymer 132 described above is excellent in conductivity and flexibility, and can transmit a touch signal to a controller (not shown), and it is possible to prevent the electrode pattern 100 from being broken due to stress caused by folding. The material of the conductive polymer 132 is not limited to the material of the conductive polymer 132 described above. The material of the conductive polymer 132 having transparency, conductivity, flexibility, and the like can be applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

The electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding area A-A 'may have a face shape and the electrode pattern 100 other than the folding area A-A' may be formed as a mesh pattern. When the electrode pattern 100 is formed in a planar shape, the tensile stress and the compressive stress generated by the bending of the touch sensor are distributed and applied to the entire surface, so that the durability can be further improved. Although FIG. 3 is formed as a square-shaped surface, it may be applied to an embodiment of the present invention in a shape other than a square. In addition, not only the folding area A-A 'but also the electrode patterns 100 in the area other than the folding area A-A' can be formed in a planar shape.

The electrode pattern 100 of the embodiment of the present invention includes a first electrode pattern 110 formed on one surface of a base substrate 10 and a base substrate 10 crossing the first electrode pattern 110 so as to be parallel to one direction, And a second electrode pattern 120 formed on the other side of the first electrode pattern 120. This is because the touch coordinates are recognized through the change of the mutual electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode pattern 110 and the second electrode pattern 120 or the self-electrostatic force of the first electrode pattern 110 and the second electrode pattern 120 To recognize the touch coordinates through the change of the capacitance. The first electrode pattern 110 formed on the folding area A-A 'of the base substrate 10 is formed of a conductive material of a flexible material, and stress due to the folding of the touch sensor is applied to the first electrode pattern 110 Is prevented from being destroyed. The conductive member can be formed using the metal alloy 131 or the conductive polymer 132 described above.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the second electrode pattern 120 formed on the folding area A-A 'may be formed of a flexible conductive material. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a touch sensor including a second electrode pattern, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor when the touch sensor module is folded in one direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first electrode pattern 110 formed on the folding region A-A 'of the first electrode pattern 110 is partially stressed, and the folding region A-A' The stress is entirely applied to the electrode of the second electrode pattern 120 formed on the second electrode pattern 120. The first electrode pattern 110 is formed using a conductive material having a flexible material only in the portion formed in the folding region A-A '. However, the second electrode pattern 120, which intersects the first electrode pattern 110, The entire electrode formed in the folding region A-A 'can be formed using a conductive member. The conductive member of the second electrode pattern 120 may be a metal alloy 131 including bismuth (Bi), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd) and may be formed in a mesh pattern. In addition, the second electrode pattern 120 is not limited to a mesh pattern, and may be formed as a surface electrode pattern 100 using the conductive polymer 132 described above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second electrode patterns 120 are formed to intersect perpendicularly in one direction, and are formed in regions other than the folding region A-A ', thereby preventing cracks due to stress. This is because the stress due to the folding is applied to the folding area A-A '. Here, the one direction refers to a direction in which the touch sensor module crosses the pulling axis B perpendicularly to the direction in which the touch sensor module is folded. Therefore, the second electrode pattern 120 intersects perpendicularly to one direction and is parallel to the pulling axis B. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor module when the touch sensor module is folded. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor when the touch sensor is folded. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, since the second electrode pattern 120 is not formed in the folding area A-A ', destruction due to stress applied intensively to the folding area A-A' Do not.

The electrode wiring 140 connects the above-described electrode pattern 100 and a flexible cable (not shown) by an electrical signal. The electrode wirings 140 may be formed on the base substrate 10 by various printing methods such as a silk screen method, a lybia printing method, or an ink jet printing method. As the material of the electrode wiring 140, copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), palladium (Pd), and chromium (Cr) The electrode wiring 140 may be an AG paste or organic silver having excellent electrical conductivity. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and may be made of a low-resistance metal material such as a metal oxide or a metal such as a conductive polymer 132, a metal alloy 131, carbon black (including CNT) .

10 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensor of the second embodiment according to the present invention includes the base substrate 10, the electrode pattern 100, and the conductive The structure of the base substrate 10 and the electrode pattern 100 of the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail.

10, the touch sensor module according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a base substrate 10 on which a folding region is formed to be folded in one direction, an electrode pattern 100 formed on the base substrate 10 , And the electrode pattern 100 formed on the folding area A-A 'is formed of a first conductive member and a second conductive member of a flexible material. At this time, the first conductive member is formed on the second conductive member. That is, the electrode pattern 100 of the folding region A-A 'is improved in durability of the electrode pattern 100 through the double structure in which the first conductive member and the second conductive member are formed in an overlapping manner.

10 (a) is a cross-sectional view of a first conductive member and a second conductive member 130 overlapping each other according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 (b) And Fig. 10 (a) and 10 (b), a metal alloy 131 is formed as a first conductive member on one surface of the conductive polymer 132 as a second conductive member, and a conductive polymer 132 The base substrate 10 is formed on the other surface. The second conductive member may be formed on one surface of the first conductive member and the base substrate 10 may be formed on the other surface of the first conductive member, As shown in FIG.

Here, the first conductive member may be a metal alloy 131 including bismuth (Bi), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd) and may be formed in a mesh pattern. The second conductive member may be a transparent conductive polymer 132 and may be formed of an electrode pattern 100 in the form of a face. Therefore, a good touch feeling can be maintained through the metal alloy 131 having a low contact resistance, and the flexibility can be ensured through the conductive polymer 132 in the form of a plane. That is, the touch sensor module of the second embodiment of the present invention can maintain excellent touch feeling and ensure flexibility.

In the structure in which the electrode pattern 100 is formed on both sides of the base substrate 10, the folding area A-A 'of the first electrode pattern 110 intersecting with the one direction in which the base substrate 10 is folded, The conductive member and the second conductive member may be superimposed on each other. Similarly, in the case of the second electrode pattern 120 formed parallel to the one direction in which the base substrate 10 is folded, the electrodes formed in the folding area A-A 'may be formed by superposing the first conductive member and the second conductive member have. The second electrode pattern 120 may be formed only in a region other than the folding region A-A '.

The touch sensor module folded in one direction according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed by forming the electrode pattern 100 formed in the folding area A-A 'by using a flexible conductive member, 100 can be prevented from being destroyed and the touch coordinates can be recognized even in the folding area A-A '.

When the metal alloy 131 containing bismuth (Bi), lead (Pb), tin (Sn) and cadmium (Cd) is used as the conductive member, the electrode pattern 100 other than the folding region A- It is possible to minimize the delay of the touch signal. In addition, when the conductive polymer 132 is formed as a surface, since stress is applied to the surface in a dispersed manner, excellent durability can be ensured.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

10: base substrate 100: electrode pattern
110: first electrode pattern 120: second electrode pattern
130: conductive member 131: metal alloy
132: Conductive polymer 140: Electrode wiring
141: terminal AA ': folding area
B: Folding axis

Claims (17)

A base substrate on which a folded region is formed to be folded in one direction; And
And an electrode pattern formed on the base substrate,
And the electrode pattern formed on the folding region is formed of a conductive member of a flexible material.
The method according to claim 1,
The conductive member
The touch sensor module is a metal alloy including Bi, Pb, Sn and Cd.
The method of claim 2,
The metal alloy
A bismuth amount in the range of 20 to 80 wt%, a lead amount in the range of 5 to 50 wt%, a tin amount in the range of 5 to 70 wt%, and a cadmium amount in the range of 5 to 40 wt%.
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the electrode pattern including the folded region has a mesh pattern.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the conductive member is formed of a conductive polymer.
The method of claim 5,
Wherein the conductive polymer comprises any one of poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene / polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT / PSS), polyaniline, polyacetylene, or polyphenylene vinylene.
The method of claim 6,
The electrode pattern formed in the folding region is formed as a face-shaped electrode pattern,
Wherein the electrode pattern formed in the region other than the folding region is formed of a metal mesh pattern.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the base substrate is formed using any one of polyurethane and polyimide.
The method according to claim 1,
The electrode pattern
A first electrode pattern formed on one surface of the base substrate so as to be parallel to the one direction; And
And a second electrode pattern formed on the other surface of the base substrate so as to intersect the first electrode pattern
Wherein the first electrode pattern formed on the folded region of the base substrate is formed of a conductive member of a flexible material.
The method of claim 9,
The second electrode pattern
And the touch sensor module is formed on an area other than the folded area, the touch sensor module being formed to intersect perpendicularly to the one direction.
Claim 9
And the second electrode pattern formed on the folding region is formed of a conductive material of a flexible material.
A base substrate on which a folded region is formed to be folded in one direction; And
And an electrode pattern formed on the base substrate,
Wherein the electrode pattern formed on the folding region is formed to overlap the first conductive member and the second conductive member of flexible material.
The method of claim 12,
The electrode pattern formed in an area other than the folding area is a metal mesh pattern,
Wherein the first conductive member is formed on the second conductive member.
14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the first conductive member is a metal alloy including Bi, Pb, Sn, and Cd.
15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the first conductive member formed in the folding region is formed in the shape of a mesh pattern.
14. The method of claim 13,
And the second conductive member is a conductive polymer.
18. The method of claim 16,
And the second conductive member formed on the folding region is formed as a face-shaped electrode pattern.

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