# US 12,112,002 B2 · Touch panel and sheet of touch sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,002 B2 - Document ID: US12112002B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/078,148 - Filed: 2022-12-09 - Published: 2023-07-20 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-24 - Assignees: TPK Glass Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. - Applicants: TPK Glass Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. - Inventors: Wei-Chia Fang; Chung-Chin Hsiao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112002B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - 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} - G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/0448: {Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality} - G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper - G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - G06F 2203/04107: Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A touch panel includes a substrate, a plurality of peripheral traces, a plurality of marks, a touch sensing electrode, a plurality of first intermediate layers, and a plurality of second intermediate layers. The peripheral traces and the marks are disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate. The first intermediate layers are disposed between the peripheral traces and the substrate, and the second intermediate layers are disposed between the marks and the substrate. Each of the first intermediate layers and the second intermediate layers includes a metal nanowire, and the touch sensing electrode is electrically connected with the peripheral traces. A touch sensor tape is also proposed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A trace structure, comprising: a substrate; a first conductive metal trace disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate; and a first conductive composite layer disposed between the first conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive composite layer comprises silver nanowires embedded in a polymer, the first conductive metal trace has a lower electric resistance than the first conductive composite layer, and a conductive metal side surface of the first conductive metal trace aligns with a side surface of the first conductive composite layer; and wherein an aspect ratio of the silver nanowires is equal to or greater than 1000. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The trace structure according to claim 1, wherein the first conductive metal trace comprises a silver material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The trace structure according to claim 2, further comprising: a second conductive metal trace disposed in the peripheral area of the substrate; and a second conductive composite layer disposed between the second conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive metal trace is insulated from the second conductive metal trace, and the second conductive composite layer comprises the silver nanowires embedded in the polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The trace structure according to claim 3, further comprising a protective layer covering the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The trace structure according to claim 1, wherein a width of the first conductive metal trace is greater than 5 μm and less than or equal to 20 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The trace structure according to claim 3, wherein a distance between the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace is about 3 μm-20 μm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The trace structure according to claim 1, wherein a width of the peripheral area is about 2 mm or smaller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The trace structure according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the polymer is about 20 nanometers to 10 micrometers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The trace structure according to claim 3, further comprising a non-conductive area between the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace, wherein a sheet resistance of the non-conductive area is higher than 1000 ohm/square. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A slim border electronic device comprising the trace structure of claim 1, wherein a width of a peripheral area of the slim border electronic device is about 2 mm or smaller. ### Claim 11 A slim border electronic device comprising a trace structure, wherein: the trace structure comprises: a substrate; a first conductive metal trace disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate; and a first conductive composite layer disposed between the first conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive composite layer comprises silver nanowires embedded in a polymer, the first conductive metal trace has a lower electric resistance than the first conductive composite layer, and a conductive metal side surface of the first conductive metal trace aligns with a side surface of the first conductive composite layer, and a width of a peripheral area of the slim border electronic device is about 2 mm or smaller. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The slim border electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the first conductive metal trace comprises a silver material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The slim border electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the trace structure further comprises: a second conductive metal trace disposed in the peripheral area of the substrate; and a second conductive composite layer disposed between the second conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive metal trace is insulated from the second conductive metal trace, and the second conductive composite layer comprises the silver nanowires embedded in the polymer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The slim border electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the trace structure further comprises a protective layer covering the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The slim border electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a width of the first conductive metal trace is greater than 5 μm and less than or equal to 20 μm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The slim border electronic device according to claim 13, wherein a distance between the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace is about 3 μm-20 μm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The slim border electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a width of the peripheral area of the substrate is about 2 mm or smaller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The slim border electronic device according to claim 11, wherein a thickness of the polymer is about 20 nanometers to 10 micrometers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The slim border electronic device according to claim 13, further comprising a non-conductive area between the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace, wherein a sheet resistance of the non-conductive area is higher than 1000 ohm/square. ### Claim 20 A trace structure, comprising: a substrate; a first conductive metal trace disposed in a peripheral area of the substrate; a first conductive composite layer disposed between the first conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive composite layer comprises silver nanowires embedded in a polymer, the first conductive metal trace has a lower electric resistance than the first conductive composite layer, and a conductive metal side surface of the first conductive metal trace aligns with a side surface of the first conductive composite layer; a second conductive metal trace disposed in the peripheral area of the substrate; a second conductive composite layer disposed between the second conductive metal trace and the substrate, wherein the first conductive metal trace is insulated from the second conductive metal trace, and the second conductive composite layer comprises the silver nanowires embedded in the polymer; a non-conductive area between the first conductive metal trace and the second conductive metal trace, wherein a sheet resistance of the non-conductive area is higher than 1000 ohm/square.