Touch panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016282990-A1
Application number	US-201615077009-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A touch panel which is thin, has a simple structure, or is easily incorporated into an electronic device is provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a third conductive layer, a fourth conductive layer, liquid crystal, and an FPC. The first conductive layer has a function of a pixel electrode. The second conductive layer has a function of a common electrode. The third and fourth conductive layers each have a function of an electrode of a touch sensor. The FPC is electrically connected to the fourth conductive layer. The first, second, third, and fourth conductive layers and the liquid crystal are provided between the first and second substrates. The first, second, and third conductive layers are provided over the first substrate. The FPC is provided over the first substrate.

First claim

1 . A touch panel comprising:
a first substrate; a second substrate; a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; a third conductive layer; a fourth conductive layer; liquid crystal; and an FPC, wherein the first conductive layer can be used as a pixel electrode, wherein the second conductive layer can be used as a common electrode, wherein the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer can be used as an electrode of a touch sensor, wherein the FPC is electrically connected to the fourth conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer, the fourth conductive layer, and the liquid crystal are provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the third conductive layer are provided over the first substrate, and wherein the FPC is provided over the first substrate.

2 . The touch panel according to claim 1 , further comprising a fifth conductive layer and a connector,
wherein the fifth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, wherein the second substrate is provided with the fourth conductive layer, and wherein the fourth conductive layer and the fifth conductive layer are electrically connected to each other through the connector.

3 . The touch panel according to claim 2 , wherein the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

4 . The touch panel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and wherein one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the second conductive layer.

5 . The touch panel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, wherein the third conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer, and wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided on the same plane as the first conductive layer or the second conductive layer.

6 . The touch panel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and wherein the second conductive layer and one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

7 . The touch panel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, and wherein the first conductive layer and one of the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are formed from a same layer.

8 . A touch panel comprising:
a first substrate; a second substrate; a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; a third conductive layer; liquid crystal; and an FPC, wherein the first conductive layer can be used as a pixel electrode, wherein the second conductive layer can be used as a common electrode and a first electrode of a touch sensor, wherein the third conductive layer can be used as a second electrode of the touch sensor, wherein the FPC is electrically connected to the third conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the third conductive layer, and the liquid crystal are provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are provided over the first substrate, and wherein the FPC is provided over the first substrate.

9 . The touch panel according to claim 8 , further comprising a fourth conductive layer and a connector,
wherein the fourth conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, wherein the second substrate is provided with the third conductive layer, and wherein the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are electrically connected to each other through the connector.

10 . The touch panel according to claim 8 , wherein the first substrate is a flexible substrate.

11 . The touch panel according to claim 8 ,
wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are overlapped with each other, and wherein the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer are overlapped with each other.

12 . A touch panel comprising:
a pixel electrode and a common electrode over a first substrate; liquid crystal over the pixel electrode and the common electrode; an electrode of a touch sensor over the liquid crystal; a second substrate over the electrode of the touch sensor; and an FPC electrically connected to the electrode of the touch sensor, wherein the FPC is provided over the first substrate, and wherein a pair of electrodes of the touch sensor comprises a part of the common electrode and the electrode of the touch sensor.

13 . The touch panel according to claim 12 , further comprising a conductive layer and a connector,
wherein the conductive layer is provided over the first substrate, wherein the second substrate is provided with the electrode of the touch sensor, and wherein the electrode of the touch sensor and the conductive layer are electrically connected to each other through the connector.

14 . The touch panel according to claim 12 , wherein the first substrate is a flexible substrate.

15 . The touch panel according to claim 12 ,
wherein the pixel electrode and the common electrode are overlapped with each other, and wherein the pixel electrode and the electrode of the touch sensor are overlapped with each other.

Assignees

• Semiconductor Energy Lab

Inventors

• Kimura Hajime
• Yamazaki Shunpei

Classifications

• G06F3/0412

  Digitisers structurally integrated in a display · CPC title

• H10K59/873

  Encapsulations · CPC title

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic 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

• G06F3/0445

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