Touch sensor for display device

This application claims the priority and the benefit of Korea Patent Application No. 10-2011-0110747 on Oct. 27, 2011, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Embodiments of this disclosure relate to touch sensors for display devices, in particular touch sensors for display devices having a double routing wire structure.

Discussion of the Related Art

Touch sensors are installed in display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), organic light emitting diode display (OLED) devices, and electrophoresis display devices. The touch sensors are used as a kind of input device capable of inputting predetermined information when a user presses or touches a screen of the display device while watching the display device.

The touch sensors used in the display devices may be classified into an add-on type touch sensor, an on-cell type touch sensor, and an integrated type (or in-cell type) touch sensor depending on their structures. The add-on type touch sensor is configured such that a display device and the add-on type touch sensor are individually manufactured and then the add-on type touch sensor is attached to upper substrates of the display devices. The on-cell type touch sensor is configured such that components constituting the on-cell type touch sensor are directly formed on a surface of an upper glass substrate of the display device. The integrated type touch sensor is configured such that it is mounted inside the display device to thereby achieve thin profile of the display device and to increase durability of the display device.

However, because the add-on type touch sensor has the structure in which it is mounted on the display device, an entire thickness of the display device increases. Further, visibility of the display device is reduced because of a brightness reduction of the display device by the thickness increase. Because the on-cell type touch sensor has the structure in which the on-cell type touch sensor is formed on the surface of the upper glass substrate of the display device, the on-cell type touch sensor shares the upper glass substrate with the display device. Therefore, a thickness of the display device using the on-cell type touch sensor is less than that of the display device using the add-on type touch sensor. However, the entire thickness of the display device using the on-cell type touch sensor also increases because of a touch driving electrode layer, a touch sensing electrode layer, and an insulating layer for insulating the touch driving electrode layer and the touch sensing electrode layer, which constitute the on-cell type touch sensor. Further, the number of processes and the manufacturing cost in the on-cell type touch sensor increase.

The integrated type touch sensor can solve the problems generated in the add-on type touch sensor and the on-cell type touch sensor because of advantages of the thin profile and the durability improvement.

Hereinafter, an example of a related art touch sensor applied to an OLED display device will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 . FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a related art touch sensor, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view partially illustrating the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device in which a touch sensor is applied to an OLED display device.

Referred to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device includes an OLED display panel DP, a touch sensor TS and a sealant S for adhering the touch sensor TS to the OLED display panel DP.

The OLED display panel DP includes a lower substrate 10 on which thin film transistors (not shown) are formed. The OLED display panel DP also includes an anode electrode 12 , an organic light emitting layer 14 , a cathode electrode 16 and an organic layer 18 which are sequentially formed on the lower substrate 10 . Also, the OLED display panel DP includes touch pads TP′ formed on the lower substrate 10 . The touch pad TP′ is connected with a first pad TP or a second pad RP by a conductor 30 . The connection portion 19 is connected with the touch pad TP′, and extended from the touch pad TP′ to the exterior of the sealant S.

The touch sensor TS includes an upper substrate 20 , a plurality of first touch electrode serials Tx formed on the upper substrate 20 and arranged in parallel with a first direction (e.g. x direction), and a plurality of second touch electrode serials Rx arranged in a second direction (e.g. y direction) which crosses the first direction and electrically insulated from the plurality of first touch electrode serials Tx. The plurality of first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx function as components of the touch sensor. The touch sensor TS includes a plurality of first routing wires RW 1 and a plurality of second routing wires RW 2 . The plurality of first and second routing wires RW 1 and RW 2 are formed at outside of a region in which the plurality of first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx are formed. Also, the plurality of first routing wires RW 1 are respectively connected with the plurality of first touch electrode serials Tx, and the plurality of second routing wires RW 2 are respectively connected with the plurality of second touch electrode serials Rx. Also, the touch sensor TS includes a plurality of first pads TP and a plurality of second pads RP formed one edge of the upper substrate 20 . The plurality of first pads TP are respectively connected with the plurality of first routing wires RW 1 , and the plurality of second pads RP are respectively connected with the plurality of second routing wires RW 2 .

Each of the plurality of first touch electrode serial Tx has a plurality of first electrode patterns 22 a , and a plurality of first connection patterns 22 b which connect neighboring first electrode patterns 22 a with each other. Each of the plurality of second touch electrode serial Rx has a plurality of second electrode patterns 24 a , and a plurality of second connection pattern 24 b which connect neighboring second electrode patterns 24 a with each other. The first connection pattern 22 b of the first touch electrode serial Tx crosses over the second connection pattern 24 b of the second touch electrode serial Rx to be is electrically insulated from each other.

However, in the touch sensor integrated type OLED devises, entire resistance value of the first and second routing wires RW 1 and RW 2 is large because the touch sensor has a single routing wire structure in which the first routing wire RW 1 is connected with only one end of the first touch electrode serial Tx, and the second routing wire RW 2 is connected with only one end of the second touch electrode serial Rx.

On the other hand, the related art touch sensor integrated type LCD device also has the same problems as the related art touch sensor integrated type OLED device because it has a structure in which components of the touch sensor are formed on a color filter substrate or a thin film transistor substrate and routing wires has the single routing wire structure.

In general, touch sensibility of the touch sensor depends on time constant of a resistor-capacitor circuit in the touch sensor. Herein, the time constant (τ) of the resistor-capacitor circuit is equal to the product of the circuit resistance R (ohms) and the circuit capacitance C (farads), i.e. τ=R×C. Thus, the smaller the time constant of the resistor-capacitor circuit is, the better sensibility of the touch sensor is because the time constant is proportional to magnitude of the total resistance of the resistor-capacitor circuit. Accordingly, it is necessary to reduce the magnitude of the resistance for enhancing the sensibility of the touch sensor.

An object of this disclosure is to provide a touch sensor for a display device comprising a plurality of first touch electrode serials arranged in a first direction; a plurality of second touch electrode serials electrically insulated from the plurality of first touch electrode serials and arranged in a second direction which crosses the first direction; a plurality of first routing wires, each of which is respectively connected with at least one of both ends of each of the plurality of first touch electrode serials to form a first closed-loop or a first open-loop; a plurality of second routing wires, each of which is respectively connected with each of the plurality of second touch electrode serials to form a second closed-loop or a second open-loop; and at least one of a first jumping wire and a second jumping wire, wherein the first jumping wire connects the first routing wire forming the first closed-loop with a first pad, or connects the first routing wires forming the first open-loop and respectively connected to both ends of a same first touch electrode serial with each other, and the second jumping wire connects the second routing wire forming the second closed-loop with a second pad or connects the second routing wires forming the second open-loop with each other.

The first routing wire forming the first closed-loop is connected with the both ends of the first touch electrode serial to form the first closed-loop with the first touch electrode serial; the second routing wire forming the second open-loop has a 2-1 routing wire and a 2-2 routing wire, the 2-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with the second jumping wire, and the 2-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with the second pad via the second jumping wire, the first jumping wire connects the first routing forming the first closed-loop with the first pad, and the second jumping wire connects the 2-1 routing wire with the 2-2 routing wire.

Each of the first and second jumping wires has a first width and a second width smaller than the first width, the first width being a width at a region where the first or second jumping wire does not cross over the first routing wire forming the first closed-loop, and the second width being a width at a region where the first or second jumping wire crosses over the first routing wire forming the first closed-loop.

Each of the first routing wire forming the first closed-lop and the 2-1 routing wire has a first width and a second width smaller than the first width, the first width being a width at a region where the first routing wire forming the first closed-loop or the 2-1 routing wire does not cross over the first or second jumping wire, and the second width being a width at a region where the first forming the first closed-loop or 2-1 routing wire crosses over the first or second jumping wire.

The touch sensor further includes a first ground wire between an outmost first routing wire forming the first closed-loop and innermost 2-1 routing wire adjacent to the outmost first routing wire.

a plurality of first jumping wires connect with a plurality of first pads in one-to-one correspondence, and a plurality of second jumping wires connect with a plurality of second pads in one-to-one correspondence

The first routing wire forming the first open-loop includes a 1-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the first touch electrode serial and another end connected with the first pad, and a 1-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the first touch electrode serial and another end connected with the 1-1 routing wire via the first jumping wire, the first jumping wire connects the 1-1 routing wire with the 1-2 routing wire to form a closed-loop with the first touch electrode serial, the second routing wire forming the second open-loop includes a 2-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with a 2-2 routing wire via the second jumping wire, and the 2-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with the second pad, and the second jumping wire connects the 2-1 routing wire with the 2-2 routing wire to form a closed-loop with the second touch electrode serial.

The first routing wire forming the first open-loop includes a 1-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the first touch electrode serial and another end connected with the first pad, and a 1-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the first touch electrode serial and another end connected with the 1-1 routing wire via the first jumping wire, the first jumping wire connects the 1-1 routing wire with the 1-2 routing wire to form a closed loop with the first touch electrode serial, and the second routing wire forming the second open-loop includes a 2-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with a 2-1 pad, and a 2-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the second touch electrode serial and another end connected with a 2-2 pad.

The first routing wire forming the first open-loop includes a 1-1 routing wire having one end connected with one end of the first touch electrode serial and another end connected with a 1-1 pad, and a 1-2 routing wire having one end connected with another end of the first touch electrode serial, the second routing wire forming the second open-loop includes 2-1 routing wires and 2-2 routing wires, a part of the 2-1 routing wires having one end correspondingly connected with one end of a part of the second touch electrode serials and another end connected with a second pad, a remaining part of the 2-1 routing wires having one end correspondingly connected with one end of a remaining part of the second touch electrode serial, a part of the 2-2 routing wires having one end correspondingly connected with another end of the part the second touch electrode serial, and a remaining part of the 2-2 routing wires having one end correspondingly connected with another end of the remaining part of the second touch electrode serials and another end connected with a second pad the second jumping wire connects the 2-1 routing wire with the 2-2 routing wire to form a closed loop with the second touch electrode serial.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate implementations of this disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a related art touch sensor;

FIG. 2 is a right side cross-sectional view partially illustrating the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device in which a touch sensor shown in FIG. 1 is applied to an OLED display device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a first embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a right side cross-sectional view partially illustrating the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device in which the touch sensor shown in FIG. 3 is applied to an OLED display device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IT and II-IF of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 6 is a plan view enlargely illustrating “R” region of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines III-III′, IV-IV′ and V-V′ of FIG. 6 ;

FIGS. 8 ( a ), ( b ), ( c ) and ( d ) are plan views illustrating various shapes of the jumping wires shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a second embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a third embodiment of this disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a fourth embodiment of this disclosure.

Hereinafter, examples of various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to drawings. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification of this disclosure.

First of all, a first embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 . FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a first embodiment of this disclosure, FIG. 4 is a right side cross-sectional view partially illustrating the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device in which the touch sensor shown in FIG. 3 is applied to an OLED display device, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines I-I′ and II-IF of FIG. 3 , FIG. 6 is a plan view enlargely illustrating “R” region of FIG. 3 , and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines III-III′, IV-IV′ and V-V′ of FIG. 6 .

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device to which the touch sensor according to the first embodiment of this disclosure is applied includes an OLED display panel DP, a touch sensor TS arranged to face the OLED display panel DP, and a sealant S for adhering the touch sensor TS to the OLED display panel DP.

The touch sensor TS includes an upper substrate 200 , a plurality of first touch electrode serials Tx formed on the upper substrate 200 and arranged in parallel with a first direction (e.g. x direction), and a plurality of second touch electrode serials Rx arranged in a second direction (e.g. y direction) which crosses over the first direction. The plurality of second touch electrode serials Rx are electrically insulated from the plurality of first touch electrode serials Tx. The plurality of first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx function as components of the touch sensor.

The touch sensor TS includes a plurality of first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , a plurality of 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 , and a plurality of 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 . The routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 are formed at outside of a region in which the plurality of first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx are formed. Each of the plurality of first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 has one end connected with one end of a corresponding first touch electrode serial Tx and another end connected with another end of the corresponding first touch electrode serial Tx. Each of the plurality of 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 has one end connected with one end of a corresponding second touch electrode serial Rx and another end connected with one of first pads TP 1 to TP 5 . Each of the plurality of 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 has one end connected with another end of the corresponding second touch electrode serial Rx and another end connected with one of second pads RP 1 to RP 5 .

Also, the touch sensor includes a first and second ground wires G 1 and G 2 to prohibit electrical interference between the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 and the 2-1 and 2-2 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 . The first ground wire G 1 is formed between the outmost first routing wire TR 5 and the innermost 2-1 routing wire RRA 1 , and the second ground wire G 2 is formed between the outmost first routing wire TR 5 and the innermost 2-1 routing wire RRA 5 . The touch sensor also includes a third ground wire G 3 which surrounds the first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx and the routing wires TR 1 ˜TR 5 , RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 , RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 in order to protect them from static electricity flown from the outside of the touch sensor TS.

The touch sensor TS includes a plurality of first pads TP 1 to TP 5 , a plurality of second pads RP 1 to RP 5 and a plurality of ground pads GP 1 to GP 4 which are formed at outside of a region in which the routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 and the ground wires G 1 to G 3 are formed. The touch sensor also includes a plurality of first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and a plurality of second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 .

The first pads TP 1 to TP 5 are respectively connected with the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 via the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 . Each of the second pads RP 1 to RP 3 are correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 3 and another of the two ends of each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 3 via the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 3 . Also, each of the second pads RP 4 to RP 5 are correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 4 to RRA 5 and another of the two ends of each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 4 to RRB 5 via the second jumping wires RJ 4 to RJ 5 . The first ground pad GP 1 is connected with one end of the first ground wire G 1 , the second ground pad GP 2 is connected with one end of the second ground wire G 2 , the third ground pad GP 3 is connected with one end of the third ground wire G 3 , and the fourth ground pad GP 4 is connected with another end of the third ground wire G 3 .

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 , each of the first touch electrode serials Tx includes a plurality of first electrode patterns 220 a and a plurality of first connection patterns 220 b which connects neighboring first electrode patterns 220 a with each other. Each of the plurality of second touch electrode serial Rx has a plurality of second electrode patterns 240 a , and a plurality of second connection patterns 240 b which connect neighboring second electrode patterns 240 a with each other.

The first touch electrode serial Tx is similar to the second touch electrode serial Rx. But there is a difference in that the first electrode patterns 220 a and the first connection patterns 220 b of the first touch electrode serial Tx are integrally formed, and the second electrode patterns 240 a and the second connection patterns 240 b of the second touch electrode serial Rx are independently formed and connected with each other by the connection patterns 220 b.

Hereinafter, the difference will be described in greater detail. The plurality of second connection patterns 240 b are formed in a predetermined distance along the first and second directions (e.g. x and y directions) on the upper substrate 200 . An insulation layer 230 is formed on the upper substrate 200 to cover the second connection patterns 240 b . The insulation layer 230 has first and second contact holes CH 1 and CH 2 which expose portions of the second connection pattern 240 b . Although, the two contact holes CH 1 and CH 2 expose the second connection pattern 240 b as shown in FIG. 5 but the number of the contact holes not limited thereto. For example, the number of the contact holes may be set to three or more than three. The neighboring second electrode patterns 240 a are connected with each other by the second connection pattern 240 b because the neighboring second electrode patterns 240 a are filled in the first and second contact holes CH 1 and CH 2 respectively.

As mentioned above, it is described that the insulation layer 230 covers the second connection patterns 240 b and has the first and second contact holes CH 1 and CH 2 to expose at least two portions of the second connection pattern 240 b . However this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of insulation patterns may be formed at only intersections of the first and second connection patterns, and the first and second electrode patterns 220 a and 240 a may be formed on the upper substrate 200 .

On the other hand, the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , the 2-1 and 2-2 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 , the first to third ground wires G 1 to G 3 , the first and second pads TP 1 to TP 5 and RP 1 to RP 5 , and the ground pads GP 1 to GP 4 are formed at a region out of the region in which the first and second touch electrode serials Tx and Rx are formed. The insulating layer 230 is formed on the upper substrate 200 to cover the routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 , the grounds wires G 1 to G 3 , and the pads TP 1 to TP 5 , RP 1 to RP 5 and GP 1 to GP 4 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the insulation layer 230 includes third contact holes CH 3 for exposing both ends of each of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , one of the two ends of each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and one of the two ends of each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 2 , and fourth contact holes CH 4 for exposing the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 , respectively. The both ends of each of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 are connected with the outmost first electrode patterns 220 a via the third contact holes CH 3 , respectively, and one of the two ends of each of the 2-1 and 2-2 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 are connected with the outmost second electrode patterns 240 a via the third contact holes CH 3 , respectively. Also, the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 are connected with the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 via the fourth contact holes CH 4 , respectively. Accordingly, the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 connect the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 with the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 , respectively. In the first embodiment of this disclosure, the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 connect with the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 in one-to-one correspondence, and the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 connect with the second pads RP 1 to RP 5 in one-to-one correspondence

Hereinafter, the connection relation between the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 and the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and structures of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 and the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 .

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the jumping wire TJ 1 is connected with the first routing wire TR 1 exposed via a fifth contact hole CH 5 which passes through the insulation layer 230 . In more detailed, the first jumping wire TJ 1 has one end connected with the first routing wire TR 1 via the fifth contact hole CH 5 as shown in FIG. 7 and another end connected with the first pad TP 1 via the fourth contact hole CH 4 as shown in FIG. 5 .

As mentioned above, in the touch sensor according to the first embodiment of this disclosure, it is possible to considerably reduce total resistance value of the touch electrode serials because each of the first and second routing wires has a double routing wire structure in which each of the first and second routing wires are connected with both ends of each first and second touch electrode serials, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance a touch sensibility of the touch sensor because the time constant of the touch sensor is reduced according to the reduction of the resistance value.

On the other hand, it is possible to achieve the enhancement effect of touch sensibility because of the resistance reduction if the double routing wire structure is adopted to the touch sensor, but the number of touch pads connected with the routing wires for transmitting and receiving driving signals and sensing signals increases to twice than that of the single routing wire structure. In the touch sensor integrated type OLED display device, a data driver and a gate driver for driving the OLED display panel DP, and driving pads for supplying various signals and power to the data and gate drivers should be formed on a lower substrate 100 of the OLED display panel DP. Accordingly, it is impossible to obtain a sufficient space in which touch pads to be connected with the first and second pads of the touch sensor should be formed. Although the touch sensor according to the first embodiment of this disclosure adopts the double routing wire structure, it is unnecessary to form additional pads to the touch sensor TS because the double routing wires are connected with the first and second pads using the first and second jumping wires. That is, the number of the first and second pads is same to that of the single routing wire structure. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to prepare an additional space on the display panel DP for forming the additional pads connected with the first and second pads of the touch sensor TS.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the first jumping wire TJ 1 crosses over the first routing wires TR 2 and TR 3 with the insulation therebetween. A first width W 1 of the first jumping wire TJ 1 is larger than a second width W 2 thereof. The first width W 1 is a width at a region where the first jumping wire TJ 1 does not cross over the first routing wires TR 2 and TR 3 . The second width W 2 is a width at a region where the first jumping wire TJ 1 crosses over the first routing wires TR 2 and TR 3 . Similarly, a third width W 3 of the first routing TR 2 is larger than a fourth width W 4 thereof. The third width W 3 is a width at a region where the first routing wire TR 2 does not cross over the first jumping wire TJ 1 . The fourth width W 4 is a width at a region where the first routing wire TR 2 crosses over the first jumping TJ 1 . In this disclosure, it is described about only cross structure of the first jumping wire TJ 1 and the first routing wires TR 2 and TR 3 in order to simplify the description. Accordingly, it should be understood that all of the cross structure of the first and second jumping wires and the first and second routing wires are similarly formed.

FIGS. 8 ( a ), ( b ), ( c ) and ( d ) are plan views illustrating various shapes of the first and second jumping wires shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 8( a ) illustrates an example in which each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 has a first width W 1 and a second width W 2 smaller than the first width W 1 . The first width W 1 is a width at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over a group of the first or second routing wires TR 1 ˜TR 5 , RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 , or at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over a group of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 . The second width W 2 is a width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over a group of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 or RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 .

FIG. 8( b ) illustrates another example in which each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 has the first width W 1 and the second width W 2 smaller than the first width W 1 . The first width W 1 is a width at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over the group of the first or second routing wires TR 1 ˜TR 5 , RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 . The second width W 2 is a width at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over the group of the first or second routing wires TR 1 ˜TR 5 , RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 .

FIG. 8( c ) illustrates another example in which each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 has a first width W 1 and a second width W 2 smaller than the first width W 1 . The first width W 1 is a width at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross the group of the first and second routing wires TR 1 ˜TR 5 , RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 , or at regions where each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over the group of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 . Also, the first width W 1 is the width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over each of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 in a region where the group of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 are arranged. The second width W 2 is a width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over each of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 in the region where the group of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 are arranged.

FIG. 8( d ) illustrates another example in which each of the first and second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 has a first width W 1 and a second width W 2 smaller than the first width W 1 . The first width W 1 is the width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over each of the first routing wires TRA 1 ˜TRA 5 in a region where the group of the first routing wires TRA 1 ˜TRA 5 are arranged. Also, the first width W 1 is the width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over each of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 in a region where the group of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 are arranged. The second width W 2 is the width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over each of the first routing wires TRA 1 ˜TRA 5 in a region where the group of the first routing wires TRA 1 ˜TRA 5 are arranged. Also, the second width W 2 is a width at regions where each of the first or second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over each of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 in a region where the group of the second routing wires RRA 1 ˜RRA 5 and RRB 1 ˜RRB 5 are arranged.

Thus, it is possible to reduce parasitic capacitance generated by the cross of the first and second jumping wires and the first and second routing wires if the second width W 2 at regions where each of the first and the second jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 and RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over each of the first and second routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 , RRA 1 to RRA 5 and RRB 1 to RRB 5 is smaller than the first width W 1 . Accordingly, it is possible to enhance touch sensibility of the touch sensor integrated type display device because of the reduction of the time constant by the reduction of the parasitic capacitance.

Hereinafter, touch sensors according to a second to fourth embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 . FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a second embodiment of this disclosure, FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a third embodiment of this disclosure, and FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a touch sensor according to a fourth embodiment of this disclosure.

The touch sensors according the second to fourth embodiments of this disclosure are similar to the touch sensor according to the first embodiment of this disclosure excepting that the connection relationship among first routing wires, second routing wires, first jumping wires and the second jumping wires. Accordingly, it is omitted description about components overlapped with the first embodiment.

In the touch sensor according to the first embodiment of this disclosure, each of the first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 forms a closed-loop with a corresponding touch electrode serial because both ends of each of the first routing wires are connected both ends of the each of the touch electrode serials Tx as shown in FIG. 3 . The first routing wires TR 1 to TR 5 are respectively connected with the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 via the jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 . On the other hand, each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 has one end connected with one end of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end connected with each of the second pads RP 1 to RP 5 . Also, each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 has one end connected with another end of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end connected with each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 via the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 . Also, each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and corresponding one of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 forms a closed-loop with a corresponding touch electrode serial via the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 respectively. That is, without the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 , each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 and corresponding one of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 can only forms an open-loop with a corresponding touch electrode serial. The definitions of the “closed-loop” and the “open-loop” discussed above can be used in the following embodiments.

In the touch sensor according to the second embodiment of this disclosure, each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 as shown in FIG. 9 . Also, each of the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 via the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 . Each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 via the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 . Each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the second pads RP 1 to RP 5 . The first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 connect the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 to the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 respectively, and the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 connect the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 to the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 respectively. In the touch sensor according to the second embodiment of this disclosure, each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 has a first width and a second width smaller than the first width, the first width being a width at regions where each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 , and the second width being a width at regions where each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 .

In the touch sensor according to the third embodiment of this disclosure, each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the first pads TP 1 to TP 5 as shown in FIG. 10 . Also, each of the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 via the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 . Each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 2-1 pads RPA 1 to RPA 5 . Each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 2-2 pads RPB 1 to RPB 5 . Each of the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one end of each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 . Accordingly, the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 connect the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 to the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 respectively. In the touch sensor according to the third embodiment of this disclosure, each of the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 has a first width and a second width smaller than the first width, the first width being a width at regions where each of the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 does not cross over the 2-2 routing wires RPB 1 to RPB 5 , and the second width being a width at regions where each of the first jumping wires TJ 1 to TJ 5 crosses over the 2-2 routing wires RPB 1 to RPB 5 .

In the touch sensor according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure, each of the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 1-1 pads TPL 1 to TPL 5 as shown in FIG. 11 . Also, each of the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of the first touch electrode serials Tx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 1-2 pads TPR 1 to TPR 5 . Each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 3 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of a part of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the second pads RP 1 to RP 3 . Each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 4 to RRA 5 has one end correspondingly connected with one of the two ends of each of remaining part of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 4 to RRB 5 via the second jumping wires RJ 5 and RJ 4 . Each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 3 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of a part of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 to RRA 3 via the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 3 . Each of the 2-2 routing wires RRB 4 to RRB 5 has one end correspondingly connected with another of the two ends of each of a remaining part of the second touch electrode serials Rx and another end correspondingly connected with each of the second pads RP 4 to RP 5 . The second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 connect the 2-1 routing wires RRA 1 with the 2-2 routing wires RRB 1 to RRB 5 . In the touch sensor according to the fourth embodiment of this disclosure, each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 has a first width and a second width smaller than the first width, the first width being a width at regions where each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 does not cross over the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 or the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 , and the second width being a width at regions where each of the second jumping wires RJ 1 to RJ 5 crosses over the 1-1 routing wires TRL 1 to TRL 5 or the 1-2 routing wires TRR 1 to TRR 5 .

It can be understood by one skilled in the art that the number of the first touch electrode serials, the second touch electrode serials, first routing wires (including 1-1 routing wires and 1-2 routing wires), the second routing wires(including 2-1 routing wires and 2-2 routing wires), the first jumping wires, the second jumping wires, the ground wires, the first pads, the second pads and the ground pads can be any integer, and are not limited to the first to fourth embodiments of this disclosure. Especially, the number of the first jumping wires and the second jumping wires depends on the connection relationship among the first routing wires, the second routing wires, the first jumping wires, the second jumping wires, the first pads, and the second pads.

As used in the present application, the singular forms “a” “an” and “the” generally mean “at least one”, “one or more”, and other plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

As mentioned above, in the touch sensors according to the first to fourth embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to considerably reduce resistance value of the routing wires because each of the first and second routing wires has a double routing wire structure in which routing wires are connected with both ends of first and second touch electrode serials, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance a touch sensibility of the touch sensor because the time constant of the touch sensor is reduced according to the reduction of the resistance value.

Furthermore, it is unnecessary to increase the number of pad for supplying touch signals or power if the double routing wires are connected with each other via the jumping wires according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce space for forming additional pads on the display panel.

Table 1 shows resistance values of the touch sensor in the related art touch sensor having a single routing structure and the touch sensor having a double routing structure according to this disclosure.

If resistance value of the routing wire is 250Ω and resistance value of the touch electrode serial is 2000Ω in the related art touch sensor having a single routing structure, the total resistance value is 2250Ω. In the touch sensor according to this disclosure, the number of total wires increases because the jumping wires and double routing wires are added. However, total resistance value decreases because the routing wires are connected with both ends of the touch electrode serial, and signals and power for touch driving and sensing are supplied to both ends of the touch electrode serial via the double routing wires, thereby forming a parallel circuit. For example, if the touch electrode serial has four electrode patterns and resistance value of each electrode pattern is R, the total resistance value of the related art single routing wire structure is 4R, but the total resistance value of the double routing wire structure is R by equation 1/(1/(R+R)+1/(R+R)). As a result, the resistance value of one touch electrode serial according to this disclosure is reduced to a quarter relative to the single routing wire structure. Thus, the total resistance value of the double routing wire structure according to this disclosure is reduced to 78.9% relative to that of the single routing wire structure.

Although above embodiments of this disclosure describes that the touch sensors are applied to OLED display devices, this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, touch sensors according to this disclosure may be applied to display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), organic light emitting diode display (OLED) devices, and electrophoresis display devices, etc.

Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described with reference to a number of illustrative examples, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and changes can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.