# US 11,029,796 B2 · Touch panel

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- Number: US 11,029,796 B2
- Document ID: US11029796B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/787,585
- Filed: 2020-02-11
- Published: 2020-07-23
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-17
- Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hideaki Shishido; Yoshiharu Hirakata; Daisuke Kubota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029796B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes}
- G02F 1/1333: Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence)
- G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer}
- G02F 1/13338: {Input devices, e.g. touch panels}
- G06F 2203/04112: Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

To provide a thin touch panel, a touch panel with high visibility, a lightweight touch panel, or a touch panel with low power consumption. A pair of conductive layers included in a capacitive touch sensor have a mesh shape including a plurality of openings. Furthermore, a material blocking visible light is provided to overlap with a region between two display elements in a plan view; thus, a light-blocking layer can be obtained. Furthermore, the pair of conductive layers included in the touch sensor are provided between a pair of substrates included in the touch panel, and a conductive layer capable of supplying a constant potential is provided between a circuit which drives a display element and the pair of conductive layers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A touch panel comprising:
a substrate;
a third conductive layer over the substrate;
a fourth conductive layer apart from the third conductive layer on a same plane;
a liquid crystal layer over the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer;
a second conductive layer over the liquid crystal layer;
a first conductive layer over the second conductive layer; and
a sixth conductive layer apart from the first conductive layer on a same plane;
wherein the first conductive layer has a mesh shape comprising a plurality of openings,
wherein the sixth conductive layer has a mesh shape comprising a plurality of openings,
wherein the second conductive layer has a portion overlapping with the first conductive layer, a portion overlapping with the third conductive layer, and a portion overlapping with the fourth conductive layer,
wherein the third conductive layer comprises a portion overlapping with one of the plurality of openings of the first conductive layer,
wherein the fourth conductive layer comprises a portion overlapping with a region surrounded by the first conductive layer and the sixth conductive layer, and
wherein part of the first conductive layer is between the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer in a plan view.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The touch panel according to claim 1,
wherein the second conductive layer functions as a common electrode, and
wherein the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer each function as a pixel electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive layer is electrically connected to a terminal supplied with a constant potential.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The touch panel according to claim 1,
wherein a spacer is over the third conductive layer and below the second conductive layer, and
wherein the spacer comprises a portion overlapping with the first conductive layer.

### Claim 5

A touch panel comprising:
a substrate;
a third conductive layer over the substrate;
a fourth conductive layer apart from the third conductive layer on a same plane;
a liquid crystal layer over the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer;
a second conductive layer over the liquid crystal layer;
a first conductive layer over the second conductive layer; and
a sixth conductive layer apart from the first conductive layer on a same plane;
wherein the first conductive layer is configured to block visible light and has a mesh shape comprising a plurality of openings,
wherein the sixth conductive layer is configured to block visible light and has a mesh shape comprising a plurality of openings,
wherein the second conductive layer is configured to transmit visible light and has a portion overlapping with the first conductive layer, a portion overlapping with the third conductive layer, and a portion overlapping with the fourth conductive layer,
wherein the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer are each configured to reflect visible light,
wherein the third conductive layer comprises a portion overlapping with one of the plurality of openings of the first conductive layer,
wherein the fourth conductive layer comprises a portion overlapping with a region surrounded by the first conductive layer and the sixth conductive layer, and
wherein part of the first conductive layer is between the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer in a plan view.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The touch panel according to claim 5,
wherein the second conductive layer functions as a common electrode, and
wherein the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer each function as a pixel electrode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The touch panel according to claim 5, wherein the second conductive layer is electrically connected to a terminal supplied with a constant potential.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The touch panel according to claim 5,
wherein a spacer is over the third conductive layer and below the second conductive layer, and
wherein the spacer comprises a portion overlapping with the first conductive layer.