阅读说明：本技术 触摸传感器及触摸面板 (Touch sensor and touch panel ) 是由 中山昌哉 于 2018-10-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种具有优异的灵敏度的OGS方式的触摸传感器。并且,课题为还提供一种触摸面板。触摸传感器具有：玻璃基板,其具有触摸表面；及第1触摸电极,其由形成于玻璃基板的与触摸表面相反的一侧的表面上的金属细线构成,玻璃基板含有Si原子、Al原子及K原子,Si原子的含量相对于玻璃基板的总质量为25.0～35.0质量％,Al原子的含量相对于玻璃基板的总质量为5.0～16.0质量％,K原子的含量相对于玻璃基板的总质量为3.0～10.0质量％。(The invention provides an OGS touch sensor with excellent sensitivity. Further, the subject is to provide a touch panel. The touch sensor includes: a glass substrate having a touch surface; and a 1 st touch electrode formed of a thin metal wire formed on a surface of a glass substrate on a side opposite to a touch surface, the glass substrate containing Si atoms, Al atoms, and K atoms, the content of the Si atoms being 25.0 to 35.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate, the content of the Al atoms being 5.0 to 16.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate, and the content of the K atoms being 3.0 to 10.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate.)

1. A touch sensor, having:

a glass substrate having a touch surface; and

a 1 st touch electrode formed of a thin metal wire on a surface of the glass substrate on a side opposite to the touch surface,

in the touch sensor, a plurality of touch sensors are provided,

the glass substrate contains Si atoms, Al atoms and K atoms,

the content of the Si atoms is 25.0-35.0 mass% relative to the total mass of the glass substrate,

the content of the Al atoms is 5.0-16.0 mass% relative to the total mass of the glass substrate,

the content of the K atoms is 3.0-10.0 mass% of the total mass of the glass substrate.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1,

the content of the Si atoms is 28.0-33.0 mass% relative to the total mass of the glass substrate,

the content of the Al atom is 7.0-10.0 mass% based on the total mass of the glass substrate,

the content of the K atoms is 6.0-9.0 mass% relative to the total mass of the glass substrate.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1 or 2,

and a 1 st organic insulating layer having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or more is provided between the glass substrate and the 1 st touch electrode.

4. The touch sensor of any of claims 1-3,

the thin metal wires of the 1 st touch electrode are formed in a mesh shape, and the mesh pitch is 400 to 1200 μm.

5. The touch sensor of any of claims 1-4, further having:

a 2 nd organic insulating layer disposed on the 1 st touch electrode; and

and a 2 nd touch electrode made of a thin metal wire provided on the 2 nd organic insulating layer.

6. The touch sensor of claim 5,

the thin metal wires of the 2 nd touch electrode are formed in a mesh shape, and the mesh pitch is 400 to 1200 μm.

7. A touch panel having the touch sensor of any one of claims 1 to 6.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a touch sensor and a touch panel.

Background

In recent years, a touch panel has been widely used in various electronic devices represented by portable information devices such as tablet personal computers and smart phones, which is used in combination with a display device such as a liquid crystal display device to perform an input operation on the electronic device by bringing a finger, a stylus pen, or the like into contact with or close to a screen.

A touch sensor in which a detection portion for detecting a touch operation performed by contact with or approach to a finger, a stylus pen, or the like is formed is used for the touch panel.

The detecting section is formed of a transparent conductive Oxide such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), but is formed of a thin metal wire in addition to the transparent conductive Oxide. Since metals have advantages such as easy patterning, excellent flexibility, and low resistance compared to the transparent conductive oxides, copper, silver, and the like are used for thin metal wires in touch panels and the like.

Patent document 1 describes "a touch sensor including: a window glass substrate; a bezel formed along a periphery of the window glass substrate; an insulating layer formed on the glass substrate by laminating or bonding the glass substrate and the bezel when the glass substrate is filled with the insulating layer; and an electrode pattern formed on the insulating layer ".

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication (Kokai) No. 2015-018532

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

As in the touch sensor of patent document 1, a touch sensor including a glass substrate having a touch surface and a touch electrode formed of a thin metal wire formed on a surface of the glass substrate on the side opposite to the touch surface is called an OGS (one glass Solution: monolithic touch panel) type touch sensor. The present inventors have found that in an OGS touch sensor, the sensitivity of a touch panel is sometimes insufficient depending on the type of glass substrate.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an OGS-type touch sensor having excellent sensitivity. Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel.

Means for solving the technical problem

As a result of intensive studies to achieve the above object, the present inventors have found that the above object can be achieved by the following configuration.

[1] A touch sensor, having: a glass substrate having a touch surface; and a 1 st touch electrode formed of a thin metal wire formed on a surface of the glass substrate on a side opposite to the touch surface, wherein the glass substrate contains Si atoms, Al atoms, and K atoms, the content of the Si atoms is 25.0 to 35.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate, the content of the Al atoms is 5.0 to 16.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate, and the content of the K atoms is 3.0 to 10.0 mass% with respect to the total mass of the glass substrate.

[2] The touch sensor according to [1], wherein the content of Si atoms is 28.0 to 33.0 mass%, the content of Al atoms is 7.0 to 10.0 mass%, and the content of K atoms is 6.0 to 9.0 mass%, based on the total mass of the glass substrate.

[3] The touch sensor according to [1] or [2], wherein a 1 st organic insulating layer having a relative dielectric constant of 3.0 or more is provided between the glass substrate and the 1 st touch electrode.

[4] The touch sensor according to any one of [1] to [3], further comprising a 2 nd organic insulating layer on the 1 st touch electrode, and a 2 nd touch electrode composed of a thin metal wire on the 2 nd organic insulating layer.

[5] The touch sensor according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the fine metal wires are formed in a mesh shape, and a mesh pitch is 400 to 1200 μm.

[6] A touch panel having the touch sensor of any one of [1] to [5 ].

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, an OGS-type touch sensor having excellent sensitivity can be provided. Further, according to the present invention, a touch panel can be provided.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged view of an intersection portion of touch electrodes in the touch sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a modification of the touch sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in detail below.

Hereinafter, the touch sensor and the touch panel according to the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

In addition, the numerical range shown below includes the numerical values indicated on both sides. For example, "s is a number from t1 to t 2" means that the range of s includes a number t1 and a number t2, and is represented by a mathematical notation t 1. ltoreq. s.ltoreq.t 2.

The angle including "orthogonal" and "parallel" includes an error range generally acceptable in the technical field unless otherwise specified.

"transparent" means that the total light transmittance is at least 40% or more, preferably 75% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and further preferably 90% or more in the visible light wavelength region of 400 to 800nm in wavelength. Total light transmittance was measured using JIS K7375: 2008, the measurement of the "plastic-total light transmittance and the total light reflectance" specified above.

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a touch sensor 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates the structure thereof.

The touch sensor 10 has a front surface 10A and a back surface 10B, and is used in a state where a display device, not shown, such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic electroluminescence display device is disposed on the back surface 10B side. The surface 10A of the touch sensor 10 is a touch surface, in other words, a touch detection surface, and serves as an observation side on which an operator of the touch panel observes an image of the display device through the touch sensor 10. In the present specification, a touch panel refers to a device in which a driving electronic circuit (typically, a flexible printed circuit) is connected to a touch sensor.

The touch sensor 10 includes a transparent glass substrate 11 having a flat plate shape disposed on the surface 10A side, and a plurality of 1 st touch electrodes 12 are formed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 on the side opposite to the surface 10A (touch surface). In order to planarize or protect the 1 st touch electrode 12, a 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 is formed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 so as to cover the 1 st touch electrode 12.

A plurality of 2 nd touch electrodes 14 are formed on the display device side surface 13B of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13. Further, in order to planarize or protect the 2 nd touch electrode 14, a protective layer 15 is disposed on the surface 13B of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 so as to cover the 2 nd touch electrode 14.

The touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above, and may not include the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13, the 2 nd touch electrode 14, and the protective layer 15.

As shown in fig. 2, the touch sensor 10 partitions the transmissive region S1 and partitions the peripheral region S2 outside the transmissive region S1.

The plurality of 1 st touch electrodes 12 formed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 on the side opposite to the touch surface extend in the 1 st direction D1 and are arranged in parallel in the 2 nd direction D2 orthogonal to the 1 st direction D1.

The plurality of 2 nd touch electrodes 14 formed on the plurality of 1 st touch electrodes 12 with the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 interposed therebetween extend in the 2 nd direction D2 and are arranged in parallel in the 1 st direction D1.

The 1 st touch electrode 12 formed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 in the transmissive area S1 and the 2 nd touch electrode 14 formed on the surface 13B of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 are arranged to intersect so as to overlap each other. In addition, the cross-sectional view of the touch sensor shown in fig. 1 corresponds to a cross-section a-a in the top view of fig. 2.

On the other hand, on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 in the peripheral region S2, a plurality of 1 st peripheral wires 21 connected to the plurality of 1 st touch electrodes 12 are formed, a plurality of 1 st external connection terminals 22 are formed in a row at the edge portion of the glass substrate 11, and a 1 st connector portion 23 is formed at the end portion of each 1 st touch electrode 12. One end of the corresponding 1 st peripheral wiring 21 is connected to the 1 st connector portion 23, and the other end of the 1 st peripheral wiring 21 is connected to the corresponding 1 st external connection terminal 22.

Similarly, a plurality of 2 nd peripheral wirings 24 connected to the plurality of 2 nd touch electrodes 14 are formed on the surface 13B of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 in the peripheral region S2, a plurality of 2 nd external connection terminals 26 are formed in line at the edge portion of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13, and a 2 nd connector portion 25 is formed at the end portion of each 2 nd touch electrode 14. One end of the corresponding 2 nd peripheral wiring 24 is connected to the 2 nd connector portion 25, and the other end of the 2 nd peripheral wiring 24 is connected to the corresponding 2 nd external connection terminal 26.

Fig. 3 shows an intersection of the 1 st touch electrode 12 and the 2 nd touch electrode 14 (in fig. 2, a portion corresponding to R0). The 1 st touch electrode 12 formed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 on the side opposite to the touch surface has a 1 st mesh pattern formed of the 1 st fine metal wire 31 and in units of 1 st cells C1, and the 2 nd touch electrode 14 formed on the surface 13B of the 2 nd organic insulating layer 13 has a 2 nd mesh pattern formed of the 2 nd fine metal wire 32 and in units of 2 nd cells C2. In the intersection portion between the 1 st touch electrode 12 and the 2 nd touch electrode 14, the 1 st fine metal wire 31 and the 2 nd fine metal wire 32 are arranged so as to intersect with each other when viewed from the observation side. In fig. 3, the 2 nd fine metal wire 32 is shown by a broken line in order to easily distinguish the 1 st fine metal wire 31 from the 2 nd fine metal wire 32, but actually, the 2 nd fine metal wire is formed of metal wires connected in the same manner as the 1 st fine metal wire 31.

As the shape of the 1 st mesh pattern formed of the 1 st fine metal wires 31 and the 2 nd mesh pattern formed of the 2 nd fine metal wires 32, a pattern in which the 1 st cells C1 and the 2 nd cells C2 are arranged in a repeated manner like in fig. 3 is preferable, and the shape of the 1 st cells C1 and the 2 nd cells C2 is particularly preferable to be a rhombus, but may be a parallelogram, a square, a rectangle, or another polygon. For example, from the viewpoint of visibility and sensitivity of the touch panel, the grid pitch represented by the distance between the centers of gravity of 21 st cells C1 or 2 nd cells C2 adjacent to the 1 st direction D1 is preferably 400 to 1200 μm. The 1 st unit C1 and the 2 nd unit C2 are preferably the same shape. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 3, from the viewpoint of visibility, it is preferable that the 1 st mesh pattern formed of the 1 st fine metal wire 31 and the 2 nd mesh pattern formed of the 2 nd fine metal wire 32 are arranged so as to be shifted by a distance corresponding to half, and the two mesh patterns are combined with each other to form a 3 rd mesh pattern in units of a 3 rd cell C3 which is halved when viewed from the observation side. Alternatively, the shape of the grid may be a random pattern.

Further, electrodes formed of the 1 st and 2 nd thin metal wires 31 and 32 and insulated dummy electrodes may be provided between the 1 st and 2 nd touch electrodes 12 and 14 adjacent to each other, respectively. The dummy electrode preferably has a mesh pattern having the same shape as the mesh patterns of the 1 st touch electrode 12 and the 2 nd touch electrode 14.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of the touch panel according to the embodiment of the present invention. The touch sensor 40 of fig. 4 has a decorative layer 41 and a 1 st organic insulating layer 42 on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11. The decorative layer is disposed on the front surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 so as to restrict the transmission of visible light, and is disposed so as to surround the transmission region S1 at a position corresponding to the peripheral region S2 in table 2.

That is, in the touch sensor of the present embodiment, the 1 st touch electrode is generally formed on the surface of the glass substrate on the side opposite to the touch surface directly or through the 1 st organic insulating layer.

The 1 st organic insulating layer 42 is disposed between the 1 st touch electrode 12 and the glass substrate 11, and the 1 st organic insulating layer 42 is disposed on the surface 11B of the glass substrate 11 so as to fill or laminate the gap with the decoration layer 41 for the purpose of improving insulation or planarizing the same. The other modes are the same as the modes already described, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(glass substrate)

The glass substrate contains Si atoms, Al atoms, and K atoms (hereinafter, the 3 kinds of atoms are also collectively referred to as "specific atoms"). The glass substrate may contain atoms other than the specific atoms, and examples of the atoms other than the specific atoms include O atoms and Na atoms.

The content of Si atoms relative to the total mass of the glass substrate is 25.0 to 35.0 mass%, preferably 28.0 to 33.0 mass%, relative to the total mass of the glass substrate.

The content of Al atoms relative to the total mass of the glass substrate is 5.0-16.0 mass%, preferably 7.0-10.0 mass%.

The content of K atoms in the total mass of the glass substrate is 3.0 to 10.0 mass%, preferably 6.0 to 9.0 mass%, based on the total mass of the glass substrate.

If the content of the specific atom is within the above range, it is surprising that the touch panel has excellent sensitivity. In addition, the content of specific atoms in the glass substrate can be measured by XRF (X-ray Fluorescence analysis).

The glass used for the glass substrate is not particularly limited as long as the content of the specific atom is within the above range, and examples thereof include tempered glass such as chemically tempered glass and physically tempered glass, soda lime glass, and alkali-free glass.

The thickness of the glass substrate is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.3 to 1.5mm in general.

The total light transmittance of the glass substrate is preferably 40 to 100%. Total light transmittance is, for example, measured using JISK 7375: 2008, the method for determining the total light transmittance and total light reflectance of the plastic.

(thin metal wire)

The thin metal wire is not particularly limited as long as it is a material having conductivity. Examples of the material of the fine metal wire include copper, aluminum, gold, silver, titanium, palladium, chromium, nickel, and a combination thereof.

Further, in addition to the above, metallic silver formed by exposing/developing a silver salt emulsion layer may be used as the metallic thin wire.

The metal thin wire may be formed of a laminate. Examples of the laminate include a 3-layer structure of Mo/Al/Mo (so-called "MAM" laminate), a 3-layer structure of Mo — Nb alloy/Al/Mo — Nb alloy laminate, and a 3-layer structure of Mo — Nb alloy/Al — Nb alloy/Mo — Nb alloy laminate. Further, a 3-layer structure of Mo/Cu/Mo, a 3-layer structure of Mo — Nb alloy/Cu/Mo-Nb alloy, and a 3-layer structure of Mo — Nb alloy/Cu alloy/Mo-Nb alloy may be used to change Al of the above laminate to Cu. In view of the sensitivity of the touch sensor, Cu or a Cu alloy having low resistivity is preferably used.

The thickness of the thin metal wire is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.3 to 0.5 μm in general from the viewpoint of visibility.

The width of the thin metal wire is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.5 to 10 μm in general, and more preferably 1.5 to 3 μm in particular from the viewpoint of conductivity and visibility.

In order to improve the visibility of the thin metal wire, a blackened layer may be formed at least on the observation side of the thin metal wire. As a material of the blackening layer, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal oxynitride, a metal sulfide, or the like can be used, and typically, copper oxynitride, copper nitride, copper oxide, molybdenum oxide, or the like can be used.

When the thin metal wires are formed in a mesh shape, the thin metal wires are not particularly limited, and are preferably 400 to 1200 μm in view of sensitivity and visibility of the touch sensor. In particular, from the viewpoint of sensitivity of the touch sensor, it is preferably 500 μm or more.

(1 st organic insulating layer and 2 nd organic insulating layer)

The material of the 1 st organic insulating layer is not particularly limited as long as it is made of an organic compound and has sufficient transparency and insulating properties. Examples of the material of the 1 st organic insulating layer include epoxy resin and acrylic resin.

In addition, the total light transmittance of the 1 st organic insulating layer is preferably 40 to 100%. The relative dielectric constant of the 1 st organic insulating layer is preferably 3.0 or more, more preferably 4.0 or more. From the viewpoint of sensitivity of the touch sensor, when the film thickness of the 1 st organic insulating layer is 5 μm or more, the relative dielectric constant is more preferably 4.0 or more.

The thickness of the 1 st organic insulating layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 20 μm, more preferably 3 to 10 μm. In addition, in order to planarize the level difference of the decoration layer, it is preferable that the thickness of the 1 st organic insulation layer is larger than the thickness of the decoration layer. The thickness of the decorative layer is preferably 0.5 to 3 μm.

The 2 nd organic insulating layer may be made of the same material as the 1 st organic insulating layer. The thickness of the 2 nd organic insulating layer is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 10 μm in general. The relative dielectric constant of the 2 nd organic insulating layer is preferably 3.0 or more.

The 1 st organic insulating layer and the 2 nd organic insulating layer also have a function of flattening as described above, and function as what is called a flattening layer. That is, the 1 st organic insulating layer and the 2 nd organic insulating layer are also referred to as a 1 st insulating organic planarizing layer and a 2 nd insulating organic planarizing layer.

The 1 st organic insulating layer and the 2 nd organic insulating layer are non-adhesive. Non-adhesive means no adhesion.

(protective layer)

The material of the protective layer is not particularly limited, and the same material as described in the above-described 1 st organic insulating layer can be used. The protective layer may be a layer made of an inorganic compound, and examples of the inorganic compound include silica and the like.

The thickness of the protective layer is preferably 0.1 to 10 μm.

[ method for manufacturing touch sensor ]

The method for manufacturing the touch sensor is not particularly limited, and a known manufacturing method can be used. An example of a method for manufacturing the touch sensor is described below. First, a decorative layer is formed on a glass substrate. The method for forming the decorative layer on the glass substrate is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. For example, the decorative layer can be formed by applying the decorative layer forming composition to the region corresponding to the peripheral region S2 and curing the composition as necessary. The formation of the decorative layer may be performed as needed.

Next, a 1 st organic insulating layer is formed on the glass substrate to planarize the level difference of the decoration layer. The method for forming the 1 st organic insulating layer is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. For example, in order to fill the gap between the decorative layer and the decorative layer, the 1 st organic insulating layer-forming composition may be applied and cured as necessary to form the 1 st organic insulating layer. In addition to the above, a 1 st organic insulating layer separately prepared may be laminated to fill the gap between the decorative layer and the decorative layer.

Next, a 1 st touch electrode made of a thin metal wire is formed on the 1 st organic insulating layer. The method for forming the 1 st touch electrode made of the thin metal wire on the 1 st organic insulating layer is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. For example, a method of forming a metal layer on the 1 st organic insulating layer, forming a patterned resist film on the metal layer, and etching the metal layer may be mentioned.

The method for forming a Metal layer on the first organic insulating layer 1 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a sputtering method, a plasma CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, an MOCVD (Metal organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, a Vapor phase growth method such as a P L D (Pulsed L atomic Deposition) method, a liquid phase method such as a sol-gel method and a Metal organic decomposition method, an aerosol Deposition method, and the like.

The method of etching is not particularly limited, and a known method may be appropriately selected according to the type of the material of the metal layer, and the like. In addition, when the 1 st touch electrode is formed, the 1 st peripheral wiring may be formed at the same time.

Next, a 2 nd organic insulating layer is formed to cover the 1 st touch electrode. The method for forming the 2 nd organic insulating layer is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. As a method for forming the 2 nd organic insulating layer, the method described as the method for forming the 1 st organic insulating layer can be used.

Next, a 2 nd touch electrode is formed on the 2 nd organic insulating layer. The method for forming the 2 nd touch electrode is not particularly limited, and a known method can be used. As a method of forming the 2 nd touch electrode, a method already described as a method of forming the 1 st touch electrode can be used.

Next, a protective layer is formed on the 2 nd organic insulating layer so as to cover the 2 nd touch electrode. A method of forming a protective layer on the 2 nd organic insulating layer so as to cover the 2 nd touch electrode is not particularly limited, and the same method as that of the 1 st organic insulating layer and the 2 nd organic insulating layer can be used.

The touch sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention can be used as a touch panel by connecting a driving electronic circuit thereto. The touch panel described above can be used as a display device of an information apparatus in combination with a display device. In addition, the glass substrate of the touch sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention has a touch surface on one surface, and thus can be used as a cover glass of a display device.