(12) United States Patent
`US 8,294,677 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Wu et al.
`
`(45) Date of Patent: Oct. 23, 2012
`
`IJS008294677B2
`
`(54) TRANSPARENT CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL
`AND MANUFACTURING METHOD
`THEREOF
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Jason Wu, Taichung (TW); Yen-Chung
`Hung, Taichung (TW); Ruey-Shing
`Weng, Kaohsiung (TW); Chih-Chang
`Lai, Taichung County (TW)
`
`(73) Assignee: Wintek Corporation, Taiping, Taichung
`County (TW)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 800 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/342,513
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 23, 2008
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0160817 A1
`
`Jun. 25, 2009
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`
`
`1/1990 Smith et al.
`4,894,493 A
`7/2007 Liao et al.
`7,244,901 B1
`6/2011 Sakurai
`......................... 349/110
`7,969,539 B2*
`5/2008 Watanabe et al.
`.. 345/173
`2008/0122793 A1*
`7/2008 Hotelling et al.
`.. 345/174
`2008/0165158 A1*
`9/2008 Kusuda et al.
`......
`.. 361/681
`2008/0218951 A1*
`4/2009 Yamada et al.
`.. 428/354
`.....
`2009/0087655 A1*
`4/2009 Lin et al.
`.............
`.. 345/174
`2009/0102814 A1*
`7/2011 Hotelling et al.
`............. 345/174
`2011/0181549 A1*
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1902571 A
`1/2007
`101059738 A
`10/2007
`101120304 A
`2/2008
`54-117696 A
`9/1979
`5-324203 A
`12/1993
`63-016322 A
`1/1998
`11066996 A *
`3/1999
`2005-084982 A
`3/2005
`1247184 B
`1/2006
`200737232 A
`10/2007
`
`CN
`CN
`CN
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`TW
`TW
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Adam R Giesy
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm iMuncy, Geissler, Olds &
`Lowe, PLLC
`
`Dec. 24, 2007
`
`(TW)
`
`............................... 96149671 A
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`G06F 3/041
`(52) US. Cl.
`..................................... 345/173; 178/18.06
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 345/173,
`345/174; 178/18.01, 18.03, 18.05, 18.06,
`178/18.07
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,233,522 A
`4,394,643 A
`
`11/1980 Grummer et al.
`7/1983 Williams
`
`A transparent capacitive touch panel comprising a transparent
`substrate, a transparent cover lens and a transparent adhesive
`layer is provided, wherein a first transparent electrode layer
`and a second transparent electrode layer are disposed on the
`transparent cover lens and the transparent substrate respec-
`tively. The transparent adhesive layer is used to bind the first
`transparent electrode layer and second transparent electrode
`layer in order to combine the transparent cover lens and the
`transparent substrate disposed in parallel. Thereby, the manu-
`facturing process of the transparent capacitive touch panel is
`simplified, and the manufacturing cost ofthe same is lowered.
`
`15 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`w
`
`624
`
`420
` 410
`
`624
`
`TPK 1010
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`or?
`
`E<Eta:
`
`A EE
`
`n:
`
`NV?
`
`EOE
`
`mm”
`
`
`
`mm”NNF
`
`Nmmfixm§wumwuwmflfi§amfi&mw
`N§wfixfiflmfifiufififiafifififim
`3.0:
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`USSJ9£6T7B2
`
`9«
`
`€<Late
`
`A EB
`
`E”:
`
`mNdE
`
`wwm
`
`NNNNwN mmm
`fifififi§fiflfl§fifi$flfifl$fimfixmNIxmgmmmgwmmmmfimumfimxmfimm
`dad:
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`Nmm
`
`Em3mNE
`
`305
`
`<00;
`
`:2SE:
`
`:2at“:
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`
`
`

`

`wmmva
`
`Nww
`
`mmOE
`
`©mm“
`
`om?
`
`Em
`
`mmw-
`
`va
`
`oww
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`orv
`
`a,|mwm
`mfiflfim§xwx§&§mwmfiflfia§
`
`mfiflfifl§fi$fl§flfiflfi§fiflfiflm
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`3%
`
`mmw
`
`Iӣ411.53...-
`
`.vmm
`
`
`
`
`am?
`
`wmm‘
`
`mmm‘
`
`N39
`
`Ev
`
`mm?\
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`9w
`
`a,I
`
`NW.»V
`
`N?
`
`EN
`
`mndE
`
`,|“g
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 23, 2012
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`Nwm
`
`mg
`
`oww
`
`oat!m
`
`
`
`“g.
`
`EmSm
`
`:m
`
`9.0.“.
`
`g
`
`wOE
`
`
`

`

`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`1
`TRANSPARENT CAPACITIVE TOUCH PANEL
`AND MANUFAC TURING METHOD
`THEREOF
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`5
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`10
`
`The present invention generally relates to a touch panel
`and, more particularly to a transparent capacitive touch panel.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`With the development in technologies, the electronic prod-
`ucts having a touch panel as input such as personal digital
`assistants (PDA’s), handsets, car navigating systems, tablet
`personal computers (PC’ s) have been widely used. The touch
`panel is provided on the screen for the user to use input
`information by a finger or a touch pen. There have been
`various kinds of touch panels developed. For example, the
`capacitive touch panel is based on the detection of the change
`of capacitance. Compared to the resistive touch panel based
`on direct touch, the capacitive touch panel exhibits higher 20
`transparency and longer lifetime.
`FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a conventional trans-
`
`15
`
`parent capacitive touch panel, and FIG. 1B is an exploded
`view of the transparent capacitive touch panel in FIG. 1A.
`Please refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the conventional trans- 25
`parent capacitive touch panel 100 comprises a dual-layer
`structure, which comprises a bottom transparent substrate
`110, a top transparent substrate 120 and a transparent cover
`lens 130. A top indium-tin oxide layer 122 and a bottom
`indium-tin oxide layer 112 are respectively formed on the 30
`surfaces of the top transparent substrate 120 and the bottom
`transparent substrate 110. Two anti-reflection layers 132 are
`deposited respectively on the surfaces on both sides of the
`transparent cover lens 130.
`Then, an optical adhesive 140 is used to bind the top trans- 35
`parent substrate 120 and the bottom transparent substrate 110
`so that the optical adhesive 140 is sandwiched between the
`top indium-tin oxide layer 122 and the bottom indium-tin
`oxide layer 112 facing each other. The transparent cover lens
`130 is bound with the top transparent substrate 120 by an 40
`optical adhesive 150 bind so as to complete the assembly of
`the transparent capacitive touch panel 100. The transparent
`cover lens 130 is used to protect the top transparent substrate
`120 and the bottom transparent substrate 110.
`Since the transparent capacitive touch panel 100 is too 45
`thick, another conventional structure is provided to reduce the
`thickness as shown in FIG. 2. More particularly, FIG. 2A is a
`cross-sectional view of another conventional
`transparent
`capacitive touch panel, and FIG. 2B is an exploded view of
`the transparent capacitive touchpanel in FIG. 2A. Please refer 50
`to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the conventional transparent capaci-
`tive touch panel 200 comprises a transparent substrate 210
`and a transparent cover lens 220. A top indium-tin oxide layer
`212 and a bottom indium-tin oxide layer 214 are successively
`formed respectively on the surfaces of the transparent sub- 55
`strate 210. Two anti-reflection layers 222 are deposited
`respectively on the surfaces on both sides of the transparent
`cover lens 220.
`
`Then, an optical adhesive 230 is used to bind the transpar-
`ent cover lens 220 and the transparent substrate 210 so as to 60
`complete the assembly of the transparent capacitive touch
`panel 200. Even though the transparent capacitive touch panel
`200 is thinner, the manufacturing process is more compli-
`cated.
`
`More particularly, the top indium-tin oxide layer 212 and 65
`the bottom top indium-tin oxide layer 214 are formed on the
`surface of the transparent substrate 210. After the indium-tin
`
`2
`
`oxide layer 212 is formed, the transparent substrate 210 is
`turned up side down so that the indium-tin oxide layer 214 can
`be formed. However, this causes the top indium-tin oxide
`layer 212 to be harmed by contacting the platform or the robot
`arms and lower the manufacturing yield of the transparent
`capacitive touch panel 200.
`FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of still another conven-
`
`tional transparent capacitive touch panel, and FIG. 3B is an
`exploded view of the transparent capacitive touch panel in
`FIG. 3A. Please refer to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the conven-
`tional transparent capacitive touch panel 300 comprises a
`transparent substrate 310 and a transparent cover lens 320. A
`bottom indium-tin oxide layer 312, an insulating layer 314, a
`top indium-tin oxide layer 316 are successively formed on the
`surface of the transparent substrate 310. Two anti-reflection
`layers 322 are deposited respectively on the surfaces on both
`sides of the transparent cover lens 320.
`Then, an optical adhesive 330 is used to bind the transpar-
`ent cover lens 320 and the transparent substrate 310 so as to
`complete the assembly of the transparent capacitive touch
`panel 300. Even though the transparent capacitive touch panel
`200 is thinner, the manufacturing process is more compli-
`cated.
`
`However, there are still problems in manufacturing two
`indium-tin oxide layers on a single side of the transparent
`substrate 320.
`
`More particularly, conventionally, the formation of the
`insulating layer 312 results in longer manufacturing time and
`cost of the transparent capacitive touch panel 300. Moreover,
`a contact window (not shown) has to be formed in the insu-
`lating layer 312 so that the top indium-tin oxide layer 316 is
`electrically connected to an integrated circuit (IC)
`(not
`shown) on the transparent substrate 310. The formation ofthe
`contact window leads to increased cost for preparing a mask.
`Therefore, the manufacturing cost and complexity of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel 300 is
`significantly
`increased.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is one object of the present invention to provide a trans-
`parent capacitive touch panel with lowered manufacturing
`cost, simplified assembly and reduced thickness and weight.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`method for manufacturing a transparent capacitive touch
`panel with a simplified process to result in a high manufac-
`turing yield.
`In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, the
`present invention provides a transparent capacitive touch
`panel, comprising: a transparent cover lens; a transparent
`substrate; a first transparent electrode layer; a second trans-
`parent electrode layer and a transparent adhesive layer,
`wherein the transparent cover lens is in parallel with the
`transparent substrate, the first transparent electrode layer and
`the second transparent electrode layer are respectively dis-
`posed on the surfaces of the transparent cover lens and the
`transparent substrate, and the transparent adhesive layer is
`used to bind the first transparent electrode layer and the sec-
`ond transparent electrode layer to combine the transparent
`cover lens and the transparent substrate.
`In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, the
`present invention provides a method for manufacturing a
`transparent capacitive touch panel, comprising steps of: pro-
`viding a transparent cover lens and forming a first transparent
`electrode layer on a surface of the transparent cover lens;
`providing a transparent substrate and forming a second trans-
`parent electrode layer on a surface of the transparent sub-
`
`

`

`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`3
`strate; and disposing the transparent cover lens and the trans-
`parent substrate in parallel, and providing a transparent
`adhesive layer for binding the first transparent electrode layer
`and the second transparent electrode layer to combine the
`transparent cover lens and the transparent substrate.
`In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, the
`present invention provides a transparent capacitive touch
`panel, comprising: a transparent cover lens; a first transparent
`electrode layer; an insulating layer and a second transparent
`electrode layer; wherein the first transparent electrode layer is
`disposed on a surface of the transparent cover lens, the insu-
`lating layer is disposed on a surface of the first transparent
`electrode layer that
`is different from the other surface
`whereon the transparent cover lens is disposed, and the sec-
`ond transparent electrode layer is disposed on a surface of the
`insulating layer that
`is different from the other surface
`whereon the first transparent electrode layer is disposed.
`In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects, the
`present invention provides a method for manufacturing a
`transparent capacitive touch panel, comprising steps of: pro-
`viding a transparent cover lens and forming a first transparent
`electrode layer on a surface of the transparent cover lens;
`forming an insulating layer on a surface ofthe first transparent
`electrode layer; and forming a second transparent electrode
`layer on a surface of the insulating layer.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the transpar-
`ent capacitive touch panel further comprises an anti -reflection
`layer. The anti-reflection layer can be disposed on a surface of
`the transparent cover lens that is first different from the other
`surface whereon the transparent electrode layer is disposed.
`The anti-reflection layer can also be disposed between the
`transparent cover lens and the first transparent electrode layer.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the first trans-
`parent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode
`layer comprises indium-tin oxide (ITO) or indium-zinc oxide
`(IZO), the transparent adhesive layer is a double-sided adhe-
`sive tape or a liquid-phase transparent adhesive, the transpar-
`ent cover lens comprises plastic or glass, and the transparent
`substrate comprises glass or tempered glass.
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the transpar-
`ent capacitive touch panel further comprises a shielding layer,
`disposed on a surface of the transparent substrate that is
`different from the other surface whereon the second transpar-
`ent electrode layer is disposed. The shielding layer comprises
`indium-tin oxide or indium-zinc oxide.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention, the transpar-
`ent capacitive touch panel further comprises a decoration
`layer and a planarization layer, wherein the decoration layer is
`disposed between the transparent cover lens and the first
`transparent electrode layer, and the planarization layer is
`disposed between the decoration layer and the first transpar-
`ent electrode layer. The decoration layer is monochromatic
`(for example, black) or multi-chromatic. Moreover, the deco-
`ration layer can be patterned with symbols and texts. The
`decoration layer comprises an insulating material or a con-
`ductive material, while the planarization layer comprises an
`insulating material.
`Accordingly, in the transparent capacitive touch panel of
`the present invention, the first transparent electrode layer and
`the second transparent electrode layer are respectively
`formed on the surfaces of the transparent cover lens and the
`transparent substrate, and then the transparent cover lens and
`the transparent substrate are attached. Compared to the prior
`arts, in the present invention, no transparent electrode layer is
`required to be formed on the transparent substrate. Therefore,
`the manufacturing process is simplified with higher manufac-
`turing yield. Moreover, in the present invention, no insulating
`
`4
`
`layer is required so that the manufacturing process is simpli-
`fied to reduce the manufacturing cost of the transparent
`capacitive touch panel.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The objects, spirits and advantages of the preferred
`embodiments of the present invention will be readily under-
`stood by the accompanying drawings and detailed descrip-
`tions, wherein:
`FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are cross-sectional views ofa con-
`
`10
`
`ventional transparent capacitive touch panel;
`FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are cross-sectional views of another
`
`15
`
`conventional transparent capacitive touch panel;
`FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are cross-sectional views of still
`
`another conventional transparent capacitive touch panel;
`FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are cross-sectional views of a trans-
`
`20
`
`parent capacitive touch panel according to a first embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are cross-sectional views of another
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`transparent capacitive touch panel according to a first
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are cross-sectional views of still
`
`another transparent capacitive touch panel according to a first
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are cross-sectional views of still
`
`another transparent capacitive touch panel according to a first
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent capacitive
`touch panel according to a second embodiment ofthe present
`invention; and
`FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another transparent
`capacitive touch panel according to a second embodiment of
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The present invention can be exemplified by the preferred
`embodiments as described hereinafter.
`
`First Embodiment
`
`FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a transparent capaci-
`tive touch panel according to a first embodiment of the
`present invention, and FIG. 4B is an exploded view of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel in FIG. 4A. Referring to
`FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the transparent capacitive touch panel
`400 ofthe embodiment comprises a transparent substrate 410,
`a transparent cover lens 420 and a transparent adhesive layer
`430. The first transparent electrode layer 422 and the second
`transparent electrode layer 412 are disposed respectively on
`the surfaces of the transparent cover lens 420 and the trans-
`parent substrate 412. A transparent adhesive layer 430 is used
`to bind the first transparent electrode layer 422 and the second
`transparent electrode layer 412 so as to combine the transpar-
`ent substrate 410 and the transparent cover lens 420 that are
`disposed in parallel.
`Compared to the prior art, in which two indium-tin oxide
`layers are formed on the surface of the transparent substrate
`(as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B), in the embodiment, the
`second transparent electrode layer 412 and the first transpar-
`ent electrode layer 422 are respectively formed on the sur-
`faces of the transparent substrate 410 and the transparent
`cover lens 420. Therefore, the manufacturing process is sim-
`plified and the manufacturing yield is enhanced.
`
`

`

`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`5
`In the embodiment, the transparent substrate 410 com-
`prises glass, the second transparent electrode layer 412 com-
`prises indium-tin oxide, the transparent cover lens 420 com-
`prises glass or plastic, and the first transparent electrode layer
`422 comprises indium-tin oxide.
`Then, the first transparent electrode layer 422 and the sec-
`ond transparent electrode layer 412 are disposed facing each
`other. A liquid-phase transparent adhesive layer 43 0 is used to
`bind the transparent substrate 410 and the transparent cover
`lens 420 disposed in parallel to complete the assembly of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel 400.
`As mentioned above, the present invention is not restricted
`to the materials used for the transparent substrate 410, the
`transparent cover lens 420, the transparent adhesive layer
`430, the first transparent electrode layer 422 and the second
`transparent electrode layer 412. For example, the transparent
`substrate 410 can comprise tempered glass; the transparent
`adhesive layer 430 can be a double-sided adhesive tape; and
`the first transparent electrode layer 422 and the second trans-
`parent electrode layer 412 can comprise indium-zinc oxide.
`Those with ordinary skills in the art can make modifications
`according to the aforesaid materials within the scope of the
`present invention.
`Moreover, in the first embodiment, the second transparent
`electrode layer 412 is formed before the formation of the first
`transparent electrode layer 422. However, the present inven-
`tion is not restricted to the forming order of the first transpar-
`ent electrode layer 422 and the second transparent electrode
`layer 412.
`Since the transparent capacitive touch panel 400 comprises
`a single-layer structure. Therefore, compared to dual-layer
`capacitive touch panel 100 (as shown in FIG. 1A), the trans-
`parent capacitive touch panel 400 of the embodiment is thin-
`ner and lighter. Moreover, in the present invention, no insu-
`lating layer is required. Therefore, the manufacturing process
`is simplified without using the mask so that the manufacturing
`cost of the transparent capacitive touch panel 400 is reduced.
`In order to prevent dazzling light from the transparent
`capacitive touch panel, in the embodiment, an anti-reflection
`layer is further disposed on the surface of the transparent
`cover lens. As will be described hereinafter, similar labels
`refer to similar components.
`FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of another transparent
`capacitive touch panel according to a first embodiment of the
`present invention, and FIG. 5B is an exploded view of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel in FIG. 5A. Referring to
`FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the transparent capacitive touch panel
`500 of the present embodiment is similar to the transparent
`capacitive touch panel 400 in FIG. 4A except that the trans-
`parent capacitive touch panel 500 further comprises two anti-
`reflection layers 524 and 526 to reduce the reflected light from
`the transparent cover lens 420.
`The anti-reflection layers 524, 526 are respectively formed
`on the surfaces on both sides ofthe transparent cover lens 420.
`The anti-reflection layer 524 is disposed between the trans-
`parent cover lens 420 and the first transparent electrode layer
`422, while the anti-reflection layer 526 is disposed on another
`side of transparent cover lens 420. Moreover, in the present
`embodiment, the anti-reflection layers 524, 526 are formed
`before the formation of the first transparent electrode layer
`422. However, the present embodiment is not restricted to the
`forming order of the anti-reflection layers 524, 526 and the
`first transparent electrode layer 422.
`Moreover, those with ordinary skills in the art can use only
`the anti-reflection layer 524 or the anti-reflection layer 526
`within the scope of the present embodiment. Moreover, the
`present embodiment further comprises a decoration layer for
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`6
`patterning. The decoration layer is patterned with symbols
`such as a trademark and texts such as a slogan, as will be
`described hereinafter.
`
`FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of still another transpar-
`ent capacitive touch panel according to a first embodiment of
`the present invention, and FIG. 6B is an exploded view of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel in FIG. 6A. Referring to
`FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the transparent capacitive touch panel
`600 of the present embodiment is similar to the transparent
`capacitive touch panel 400 in FIG. 4A except that the trans-
`parent capacitive touch panel 600 further comprises a deco-
`ration layer 624 and a planarization layer 626. The decoration
`layer 624 is patterned with monochromatic or multi-chro-
`matic texts or symbols.
`In the present embodiment, the decoration layer 624 is
`formed on the surface ofthe transparent cover lens 420. Then,
`the decoration layer 624 is planarized to form a planarization
`layer 626. The decoration layer 624 is black or any other
`color. The decoration layer 624 can be patterned with texts,
`symbols or the like. Moreover, the present embodiment can
`also do without the planarization layer 626; instead, the first
`transparent electrode layer 422 is directly formed on the
`surface ofthe decoration layer 624. As the planarization layer
`626 is omitted, the decoration layer 624 comprises an insu-
`lating material. As the planarization layer 626 is used, the
`planarization layer 626 comprises an insulating material,
`while the decoration layer 624 comprises an insulating mate-
`rial or a conductive material.
`
`In order to resist static charges or electro-magnetic inter-
`ference, the transparent capacitive touch panel further com-
`prises a shielding layer to prevent the interference from the
`display or the circuit board, as will be described hereinafter.
`FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of still another transpar-
`ent capacitive touch panel according to a first embodiment of
`the present invention, and FIG. 7B is an exploded view of the
`transparent capacitive touch panel in FIG. 7A. Referring to
`FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the transparent capacitive touch panel
`700 of the present embodiment is similar to the transparent
`capacitive touch panel 400 in FIG. 4A except that the trans-
`parent capacitive touch panel 700 further comprises a shield-
`ing layer 714 to protect the structure ofthe transparent capaci-
`tive touch panel 700.
`The shielding layer 714 is formed on a surface of the
`transparent substrate 410 that is different from the other sur-
`face whereon the second transparent electrode layer is dis-
`posed. Since the shielding layer 714 is capable of shielding
`the external electro -magnetic interference and preventing the
`capacitive touch panel from being interfered by external elec-
`tro-magnetic interference, the shielding layer 714 comprises
`indium-tin oxide or indium-zinc oxide. The shielding layer
`714 is a meshed structure and is electrically connected to the
`ground.
`Since the anti -reflection layer, the decoration layer and the
`shielding layer are described independently, in the present
`embodiment, however, the anti-reflection layer, the decora-
`tion layer and the shielding layer can be formed together.
`Those with ordinary skills can make modifications by adding
`the anti-reflection layer, the decoration layer and the shield-
`ing layer to improve the quality of the transparent capacitive
`touch panel.
`Since the transparent capacitive touch panel of the present
`invention is generally assembled with a liquid-crystal display
`(LCD) panel comprising a color filter, the transparent sub-
`strate of the present invention can be a color filter substrate to
`
`

`

`US 8,294,677 B2
`
`7
`reduce the thickness and weight of the transparent capacitive
`touch panel assembled with a LCD panel.
`
`Second Embodiment
`
`The first embodiment describes a single-layer structure,
`wherein the first transparent electrode layer and the second
`transparent electrode layer are respectively disposed on the
`surfaces ofthe transparent substrate and the transparent cover
`lens. In the present embodiment, the first transparent elec-
`trode layer and the second transparent electrode layer can
`both be manufactured on the surface of the transparent cover
`lens. Thereby, the transparent capacitive touch panel can do
`without the transparent substrate to further reduce the thick-
`ness of the transparent capacitive touch panel, as will be
`described hereinafter.
`
`FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent capacitive
`touch panel according to a second embodiment ofthe present
`invention. Referring to FIG. 8, the transparent capacitive
`touchpanel 800 in the present embodiment comprises a trans-
`parent cover lens 810, a first transparent electrode layer 812,
`an insulating layer 814 and a second transparent electrode
`layer 816. The first transparent electrode layer 812, the insu-
`lating layer 814 and the second transparent electrode layer
`816 are successively formed on the surface of transparent
`cover lens 810.
`
`In other words, the first transparent electrode layer 812 is
`formed between the transparent cover lens 810 and the insu-
`lating layer 814. The insulating layer 814 is dispose between
`the first transparent electrode layer 812 and the second trans-
`parent electrode layer 816. The transparent cover lens 810
`comprises glass or plastic.
`Moreover,
`the insulating layer 814 comprises silicon
`nitride (SiXNy).
`Compared to the prior art (such as FIG. 2A or FIG. 3A), the
`transparent capacitive touch panel 800 can do without the
`transparent substrate. Therefore, the thickness and weight of
`the capacitive touch panel 800 in the present embodiment can
`be significantly reduced. Moreover, since no more binding
`process is required in the making ofthe transparent capacitive
`touch panel 800, the manufacturing process can be simplified
`and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
`It is noted that, the anti-reflection layer and the decoration
`layer can be used in the present embodiment. Even though the
`best mode is presented in this specification, those with ordi-
`nary skills in the art can make modifications by adding the
`anti-reflection layer and the decoration layer and re-arranging
`the anti-reflection layer, the decoration layer and the first
`transparent electrode layer within the scope of the present
`embodiment.
`
`FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another transparent
`capacitive touch panel according to a second embodiment of
`the present invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the transparent
`capacitive touch panel 900 in the present embodiment is
`similar to the transparent capacitive touch panel 800 (as
`shown in FIG. 8) except that the transparent capacitive touch
`panel 900 further comprises an anti-reflection layer 918, a
`decoration layer 911 and a planarization layer 913. The mate-
`rials for the anti-reflection layer 918, the decoration layer 911
`and the planarization layer 913 are identical to those in the
`aforesaid embodiment and, thus the description thereof is not
`presented here.
`More particularly, the anti-reflection layer 918 is disposed
`on the surface ofthe transparent cover lens 810 facing the first
`transparent electrode layer 812. The decoration layer 911 is
`disposed between the transparent cover lens 810 and the first
`transparent electrode layer 812. The planarization layer 913 is
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`used to planarize the decoration layer 911 and is disposed
`between the decoration layer 911 and the first transparent
`electrode layer 812.
`Accordingly, the transparent capacitive touch panel of the
`present invention is advantageous in that:
`(1) Compared to the prior art, in which two indium-tin
`oxide layers are formed respectively on both sides of the
`surfaces of the transparent substrate, the manufacturing pro-
`cess in the present embodiment is simplified with higher
`manufacturing yield because the second transparent electrode
`layer and the first transparent electrode layer are respectively
`formed on the surfaces of the transparent substrate and the
`transparent cover lens.
`(2) Moreover, since the transparent capacitive touch panel
`in the first embodiment can do without the insulating layer,
`the manufacturing process is simplified and the manufactur-
`ing cost is reduced.
`(3) Compared to the dual-layer transparent capacitive
`touch panel, the thickness and weight of the single-layer
`transparent capacitive touch panel ofthe present embodiment
`are reduced. Moreover, the transparent capacitive touch panel
`in the second embodiment can do without the transparent
`substrate; therefore the thickness and weight are lowered
`compared to the conventional transparent capacitive touch
`panel.
`(4) In the second embodiment, no binding process for the
`transparent capacitive touch panel is required so that the
`manufacturing process is simplified and the manufacturing
`cost is lowered.
`
`Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated
`with reference to particular embodiments,
`the principles
`involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodi-
`ments that will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. This
`invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the
`scope of the appended claims.
`
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A transparent capacitive touch panel, comprising:
`a transparent cover lens for assembly with a display panel;
`a decoration layer disposed on a surface of a first side ofthe
`transparent cover lens and patterned with at least one
`symbol or text;
`a first transparent electrode layer, disposed on the first side
`of the transparent cover lens;
`a nongaseous insulating layer, disposed on a surface of the
`first transparent electrode layer that is different from the
`other surface whereon the transparent cover lens is dis-
`posed; and
`a second transparent electrode layer, disposed on a surface
`of the nongaseous insulating layer that is different from
`the other surface whereon the first transparent electrode
`layer is disposed.
`2. The transparent capacitive touch panel as recited in
`claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection layer, disposed
`on a surface ofthe transparent cover lens that is different from
`the other surface whereon the first transparent electrode layer
`is disposed.
`3. The transparent capacitive touch panel as recited in
`claim 1, wherein the first transparent electrode layer and the
`second transparent electrode layer comprises indium-tin
`oxide or indium-zinc oxide.
`
`4. The transparent capacitive touch panel as recited in
`claim 1, wherein the transparent cover lens comprises plastic
`or glass.
`5. The transparent capacitive touch panel as recited in
`claim 1, wherein the decoration