Touch sensor and image display device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11455065-B2
Application number	US-202117365159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2021
Priority date	Jan 2, 2019
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

A touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base layer, a first electrode layer disposed on the base layer, and a second electrode layer disposed at an upper level of the first electrode layer. The first electrode layer includes a plurality of first sensing electrode rows extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the base layer, and first traces branched from each of the first sensing electrode rows and alternately distributed on both lateral portions of the base layer. The second electrode layer includes a plurality of second sensing electrode columns extending in a second direction that is parallel to the top surface of the base layer and intersects the first direction, and second traces branching from the second sensing electrode columns.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A touch sensor, comprising:
a base layer;
a first electrode layer disposed on the base layer, the first electrode layer comprising:
a plurality of first sensing electrode rows extending in a first direction parallel to a top surface of the base layer; and
first traces branched from each of the first sensing electrode rows and alternately distributed on both lateral portions of the base layer;

a second electrode layer disposed on the base layer, the second electrode layer disposed at a different layer from that of the first electrode layer,
where in the second electrode layer comprising:
a plurality of second sensing electrode columns extending in a second direction that is parallel to the top surface of the base layer and intersects the first direction;
second traces branching from the second sensing electrode columns; and
an intermediate trace electrically connected to each of the first traces, the intermediate trace comprising a first portion connected to each of the first traces and a second portion bent from the first portion,
wherein a width of the first portion of the intermediate trace is greater than a width of the second portion of the intermediate trace and satisfies Equation 1 below:
0.1 P≤W 1<2 P   [Equation 1]

wherein W1 represents the width of the first portion of the intermediate trace, and P is a pitch of the first sensing electrode rows.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first traces are alternately connected to one end portions and the other end portions of the first sensing electrode rows.

3. The touch sensor of claim 2 , wherein a width of each of the first traces satisfies Equation 1 below:
0.1 P≤W 1<2 P   [Equation 1]

wherein W1 represents the width of the first trace, and P is a pitch of the first sensing electrode rows.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating layer formed on the base layer and formed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

5. The touch sensor of claim 4 , wherein the intermediate trace and the second electrode layer is disposed at the same layer.

6. The touch sensor of claim 5 , further comprising a contact penetrating through the insulating layer to connect the intermediate trace and each of the first traces with each other.

7. The touch sensor of claim 5 , terminal end portions of the intermediate trace and the second traces are assembled together on one end portion of the insulating layer.

8. The touch sensor of claim 7 , further comprising a capping layer formed on the terminal end portions of the intermediate trace and the second traces.

9. The touch sensor of claim 8 , wherein the capping layer includes a transparent conductive oxide.

10. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing electrode row comprises a plurality of first sensing unit electrodes connected to each other along the first direction; and
the second sensing electrode column comprises a plurality of second sensing unit electrodes connected to each other along the second direction.

11. The touch sensor of claim 10 , wherein a sheet resistance of each of the first sensing unit electrodes and the second sensing unit electrodes is from 0.05 to 10Ω/□.

12. The touch sensor of claim 10 , wherein each of the first sensing unit electrodes and the second sensing unit electrodes has a width of 100 μm or less, and the first sensing unit electrodes and the second sensing unit electrodes are provided as fingerprint sensing electrodes.

13. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing electrode row comprises a plurality of first sub-electrode lines extending in the first direction and connected in parallel to each other; and
the second sensing electrode column comprises a plurality of second sub-electrode lines extending in the second direction and connected in parallel to each other.

14. The touch sensor of claim 13 , further comprising merging portions connecting the first sub-electrode lines to each other to define the first sensing electrode row, and connecting the second sub-electrode lines to each other to define the second sensing electrode column,
wherein the first traces and the second traces extend from each of the merging portions.

15. A window stack structure, comprising:
a window substrate; and
the touch sensor of claim 1 .

16. An image display device, comprising:
a display panel; and
the touch sensor of claim 1 stacked on the display panel.

Assignees

• Dongwoo Fine Chem Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Yong Soo
• Yu Sung Woo
• Lee Jae Hyun
• Kim Keon
• Yoon Ju In

Classifications

• G06F3/0445 Primary

  using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer · CPC title

• G06F3/041 Primary

  Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means · CPC title

• G06F3/0446

  using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes · CPC title

• G02F1/13338

  Input devices, e.g. touch panels · CPC title

• G06F3/04164 Primary

  Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads · CPC title