Flexible touch panel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9379703-B2
Application number	US-201314383446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2013
Priority date	Mar 8, 2012
Publication date	Jun 28, 2016
Grant date	Jun 28, 2016

Abstract

A flexible touch panel comprises a base material sheet; a first axis detection electrode, which is provided on the base material sheet and is patterned concerning a first axis; an insulative layer, which is provided on the first axis detection electrode; a second axis detection electrode, which is provided on the insulative layer and is patterned concerning a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis; a first routing circuit, which electrically connects the first axis detection electrode to an external part; and a second routing circuit, which electrically connects the second axis detection electrode to an external part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flexible touch panel comprising:
a base material sheet made of insulative resin film having a first main surface;
a first axis detection electrode provided on the base material sheet and patterned concerning a first axis, the first axis detection electrode having a first main surface directly contacting the first main surface of the base material sheet, a second main surface and a side surface extending between the first and second main surfaces;
an insulative layer provided on the first axis detection electrode, the insulative layer directly contacting the first main surface of the base material sheet, the second main surface of the first axis detection electrode, and the side surface of the first axis detection electrode;
a second axis detection electrode provided on the insulative layer and patterned concerning a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the second axis detection electrode directly contacting the insulative layer;
a first routing circuit electrically connecting the first axis detection electrode to an external part, the first routing circuit comprising wirings, each of the wirings having a first main surface directly contacting the first main surface of the base material sheet and a second main surface that is opposite the first main surface and faces away from the first main surface of the base material sheet;
a second routing circuit electrically connecting the second axis detection electrode to the external part; and
a migration prevention layer provided between the wirings of the first routing circuit and directly contacting the first main surface of the base material sheet without covering the second main surface of any of the wirings.

2. The flexible touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein
the migration prevention layer provided between the wirings that constitute the first routing circuit is provided flush with the wirings.

3. The flexible touch panel according to claim 2 , wherein
the migration prevention layer is provided flush with the insulative layer provided on the first axis detection electrode.

4. The flexible touch panel according to claim 3 , wherein
the migration prevention layer is made of a material that is the same as that of the insulative layer.

5. The flexible touch panel according to claim 1 , further comprising
a warp back prevention layer provided on a bottom surface of the base material sheet.

6. The flexible touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein
the first axis detection electrode includes conductive nanofibers.

7. The flexible touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein
the insulative layer directly contacts a side surface of the first routing circuit.

8. A method of manufacturing the flexible touch panel as recited claim 1 , comprising:
forming a first conductive layer provided directly on the base material sheet;
forming the first axis detection electrode by patterning the first conductive layer concerning the first axis;
forming the first routing circuit provided directly on the base material sheet;
forming a photosensitive resin layer and a second conductive layer, the photosensitive resin layer provided directly on the first conductive layer and the first routing circuit, the second conductive layer provided directly on the photosensitive resin;
forming the second axis detection electrode by patterning the second conductive layer concerning the second axis, patterning the second conductive layer including providing a mask on the second conductive layer, exposing the mask from above and removing the mask;
forming the insulative layer by exposing the base material sheet from the other main surface of the base material sheet and by performing alkali development or etching using an acid; and
forming the second routing circuit.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
the forming of the first conductive layer forms the first conductive layer including conductive nanofibers.

10. The flexible touch panel according to claim 1 , further comprising
a cover layer provided on the migration prevention layer and the second main surface of the wirings.

11. The flexible touch panel according to claim 10 , wherein
the cover layer is further provided on the insulative layer and the second axis detection electrode.

12. A flexible touch panel comprising:
a base material sheet;
a first axis detection electrode provided on the base material sheet and patterned concerning a first axis;
an insulative layer provided on the first axis detection electrode;
a second axis detection electrode provided on the insulative layer and patterned concerning a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis;
a first routing circuit electrically connecting the first axis detection electrode to an external part;
a second routing circuit electrically connecting the second axis detection electrode to the external part; and
a migration prevention layer, which is provided between wirings that constitute the second routing circuit, the migration prevention layer having a tapered shape, such that a surface area of a vertex part is smaller than a surface area of a bottom part and its cross sectional shape in the thickness directions tapers from the bottom part to the vertex part.

Assignees

• Nissha Printing

Inventors

• Tokuno Katsumi
• Okumura Shuzo
• Omote Ryomei

Classifications

• G06F2203/04102

  Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper · CPC title

• G06F3/041 Primary

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

• G06F2203/04103

  Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices · CPC title

• H03K2217/96015

  Constructional details for touch switches · CPC title

• H03K2017/9613

  using two electrodes per touch switch · CPC title