IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,632,635
Granted Patent B2
US 9,632,635 · App. 14/408,366 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

Touch panel and touch panel-equipped display device

Inventor: Katsunori Misaki (Yonago, JP)
Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06F3/044G02F1/13338G06F3/0412G06F2203/04107G06F2203/04111
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,632,635
App. No.
14/408,366
Granted
Apr 25, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An arrangement of a touch panel is provided that prevents corrosion of the lines and improves reliability. A touch panel includes: a substrate ( 10 ); a sensor electrode located on the substrate ( 10 ) and formed of an oxide conductive film; a line ( 161 ) electrically connected with the sensor electrode; and a protection film ( 14 ) provided over the line ( 161 ). The protection film ( 14 ) includes: a first protection sub-film ( 141 ) formed of silicon nitride; a second protection sub-film ( 142 ) located on the first protection sub-film ( 141 ), formed of silicon nitride and having a lower refractive index than the first protection sub-film ( 141 ); and a third protection sub-film ( 143 ) located on the second protection sub-film ( 142 ), formed of silicon nitride and having a higher refractive index than the second protection sub-film ( 142 ), wherein the second protection sub-film ( 142 ) has a thickness that is no smaller than the total thickness of the first protection sub-film ( 141 ) and the third protection sub-film ( 143 ).

Claims (52)

1. A touch panel comprising:

a substrate;

a sensor electrode located on the substrate and formed of an oxide conductive film;

a line electrically connected with the sensor electrode; and

a protection film provided over the line,

the protection film including:

a first protection sub-film formed of silicon nitride;

a second protection sub-film located on the first protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and having a lower refractive index than the first protection sub-film; and

a third protection sub-film located on the second protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and have a higher refractive index than the second protection sub-film, wherein

the second protection sub-film has a thickness that is no smaller than the total thickness of the first and third protection sub-films,

the film stress in the second protection sub-film is tensile, and

the film stress in the protection film taken as a whole is tensile.

2. The touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein the protection film is in contact with the sensor electrode.

3. The touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein:

the refractive index of the first protection sub-film is no lower than 1.805,

the refractive index of the second protection sub-film is lower than 1.805, and

the refractive index of the third protection sub-film is no lower than 1.805.

4. The touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein:

the thickness of the first protection sub-film is no greater than 100 nm, and

the thickness of the third protection sub-film is no greater than 100 nm.

5. A touch panel comprising:

a substrate;

a sensor electrode located on the substrate and formed of an oxide conductive film;

a line electrically connected with the sensor electrode; and

a protection film provided over the line,

the protection film including:

a first protection sub-film formed of silicon nitride;

a second protection sub-film located on the first protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and having a lower refractive index than the first protection sub-film; and

a third protection sub-film located on the second protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and have a higher refractive index than the second protection sub-film, wherein

the second protection sub-film has a thickness that is no smaller than the total thickness of the first and third protection sub-films,

the protection film further includes a fourth protection sub-film formed of silicon oxide,

the first protection sub-film is located on the fourth protection sub-film, and

the thickness of the second protection sub-film is no smaller than the total thickness of the first, third and fourth protection sub-films.

6. A touch panel comprising:

a substrate;

a sensor electrode located on the substrate and formed of an oxide conductive film;

a line electrically connected with the sensor electrode; and

a protection film provided over the line,

the protection film including:

a first protection sub-film formed of silicon nitride;

a second protection sub-film located on the first protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and having a lower refractive index than the first protection sub-film; and

a third protection sub-film located on the second protection sub-film, formed of silicon nitride and have a higher refractive index than the second protection sub-film, wherein

the second protection sub-film has a thickness that is no smaller than the total thickness of the first and third protection sub-films,

the sensor electrode includes a first electrode extending in one direction, and a second electrode extending in a direction that crosses the direction in which the first electrode extends,

the second electrode includes:

a plurality of insular electrodes; and

connecting portions connecting the insular electrodes, and

the protection film is located in a layer between the first electrode and the connecting portions.

7. The touch panel according to claim 1 , wherein the protection film is located in a layer that is more distant from the substrate than the sensor electrode is.

8. A touch panel-equipped display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display device; and

the touch panel according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: MISAKI, KATSUNORI
To: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 034515/0678 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-148190 · Jul 2, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150169107A1 · Jun 18, 2015