# US 10,372,249 B2 · Touch screen, fabrication method thereof, and display apparatus

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- Number: US 10,372,249 B2
- Document ID: US10372249B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/529,541
- Filed: 2016-10-25
- Published: 2018-12-13
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-20
- Assignees: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.; Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.; Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Wei Liu; Xue Dong; Xiaochuan Chen; Haisheng Wang; Xiaoliang Ding; Shengji Yang; Yingming Liu; Weijie Zhao; Hongjuan Liu; Changfeng Li; Pengpeng Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372249B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0412: {Digitisers structurally integrated in a display}
- G06F 3/04164: {Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads}
- G06F 3/0443: {using a single layer of sensing electrodes}
- H10K 59/122: Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
- H10K 59/40: OLEDs integrated with touch screens
- H10K 59/80521: {characterised by their shape}
- H10K 71/611: {using printing deposition, e.g. ink jet printing}
- G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
- H10K 59/1201: {Manufacture or treatment}
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES

## Abstract

The present disclosure provides an in-cell touch screen, a manufacturing method thereof, and a display apparatus. The touch screen comprises a pixel region disposed over a base substrate. The pixel region is surrounded by a first barrier, which is configured to insulate the pixel region. The pixel region includes a first electrode; a light-emitting layer, disposed over the first electrode; and a second electrode, disposed over the light-emitting layer. The second electrode expands over an opening of the first barrier so as to be able to electrically connect with a third electrode outside the pixel region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A touch screen, comprising a pixel region disposed over a base substrate, wherein:
the pixel region is surrounded by a first barrier, configured to insulate the pixel region; and
the pixel region comprises:
a first electrode;
a light-emitting layer, disposed over the first electrode; and
a second electrode, disposed over the light-emitting layer;
wherein:
the second electrode expands over an opening of the first barrier so as to be able to electrically connect with a third electrode outside the pixel region;
the first barrier comprises a first portion and a second portion;
a first height of the first portion is greater than or equal to a sum of thicknesses of the first electrode, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode;
a second height of the second portion is greater than or equal to a sum of thicknesses of the first electrode and the light-emitting layer, but lower than the sum of thicknesses of the first electrode, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode; and
the opening is arranged on the second portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The touch screen of claim 1, wherein:
the first barrier has a double-wall structure including a gap arranged therein; and
an electrode lead wire is disposed in the gap and is electrically connected with the second electrode over the opening of the first barrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The touch screen of claim 2, further comprising a transparent cover, disposed over the second electrode.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A display apparatus, comprising the touch screen according to claim 1.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display apparatus is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a television, a monitor, a notebook computer, a digital picture frame, or a navigation system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method for fabricating a touch screen according to claim 1, the method comprising:
forming the first electrode and the light-emitting layer over the base substrate; and
forming the second electrode over the light-emitting layer via a solution process.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the solution process is inkjet printing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first barrier has a double-wall structure including a gap arranged therein, and the step of forming the second electrode over the light-emitting layer via a solution process comprises:
simultaneously forming an electrode lead wire in the gap of the double-wall structure, wherein the electrode lead wire is electrically connected with the second electrode over the opening of the first barrier.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising, prior to the step of forming the first electrode and the light-emitting layer over the base substrate, a step of:
forming the first barrier over the base substrate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the step of forming the first barrier over the base substrate comprises a patterning process and an etching process.

### Claim 11

A touch screen, comprising a pixel region disposed over a base substrate, wherein:
the pixel region is surrounded by a first barrier, configured to insulate the pixel region; and
the pixel region comprises:
a first electrode;
a light-emitting layer, disposed over the first electrode; and
a second electrode, disposed over the light-emitting layer;
wherein:
the second electrode expands over an opening of the first barrier so as to be able to electrically connect with a third electrode outside the pixel region; and
the pixel region comprises a plurality of sub-pixel regions, separated and insulated by at least one second barrier, configured such that:
each of the plurality of sub-pixel regions comprises a segment of the first electrode; and
the second electrode is disposed over the plurality of sub-pixel regions and the at least one second barrier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The touch screen of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one second barriers has a height greater than or equal to a thickness of the first electrode, but lower than the sum of thicknesses of the first electrode and the light-emitting layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The touch screen of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one second barriers has a height greater than or equal to a sum of thicknesses of the first electrode and the light-emitting layer, but lower than the sum of thicknesses of the first electrode, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The touch screen of claim 11, wherein the second electrode is configured to have a reduced parasitic capacitance and an enhanced touch-control capability.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The touch screen of claim 14, wherein:
the second electrode comprises a hollow region and a non-hollow region; and
each of the at least one second barriers comprises a first part and a second part, corresponding to the hollow region and the non-hollow region respectively, and a height of the first part is greater than a height of the second part.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The touch screen of claim 15, wherein:
the height of the first part is configured to be greater than or equal to a sum of thicknesses of the first electrode, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode; and
the height of the second part is configured to be greater than or equal to a thickness of the first electrode, and lower than the sum of thicknesses of the first electrode, the light-emitting layer, and the second electrode.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The touch screen of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is an anode, and the second electrode is a cathode and a touch-control electrode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The touch screen of claim 17, wherein the light-emitting layer comprises at least one organic light-emitting material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The touch screen of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of sub-pixel regions further comprises a pixel control circuit, disposed between the base substrate and the first electrode.