Touch panel and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A touch panel and method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the touch panel includes a substrate, a first touch electrode line formed over the substrate and including a plurality of first touch electrodes which are electrically connected to each other, and a second touch electrode line formed to cross the first touch electrode line and being electrically insulated therefrom. The second touch electrode line can include a plurality of second touch electrodes which are electrically connected to each other. The touch panel can also include a plurality of connecting wires respectively connected to the first and second touch electrode lines. At least one of the first touch electrode line, the second touch electrode line, and the connecting wires can include at least one photosensitive conductive layer having a metal nanowire.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A touch panel, comprising:
 a substrate;   a first touch electrode line formed over the substrate and including a plurality of first touch electrodes which are electrically connected to each other;   a second touch electrode line formed to cross the first touch electrode line and being electrically insulated therefrom, wherein the second touch electrode line includes a plurality of second touch electrodes which are electrically connected to each other; and   a plurality of connecting wires respectively connected to the first and second touch electrode lines,   wherein at least one of the first touch electrode line, the second touch electrode line, and the connecting wires includes at least one photosensitive conductive layer including a metal nanowire.   
     
     
         2 . The touch panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensitive conductive layer includes a first photosensitive conductive layer and a second photosensitive conductive layer having different transmittances, wherein the connecting wire includes the first and second photosensitive conductive layers, and wherein the second photosensitive conductive layer is formed on the first photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         3 . The touch panel of  claim 2 , wherein the first touch electrodes are spaced apart at a predetermined interval, wherein the first touch electrode line further includes a plurality of first connectors electrically connecting the first touch electrodes, wherein the second touch electrodes are spaced apart at a predetermined interval, and wherein the second touch electrode line further includes a plurality of second conductors electrically connecting the second touch electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The touch panel of  claim 3 , wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are formed of the first photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         5 . The touch panel of  claim 4 , wherein the transmittance of the first photosensitive conductive layer is greater than that of the second photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         6 . The touch panel of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance of the first photosensitive conductive layer is greater than that of the second photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         7 . The touch panel of  claim 4 , wherein the photosensitivity of the first photosensitive conductive layer and the photosensitivity of the second photosensitive conductive layer have opposite signs. 
     
     
         8 . The touch panel of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of pads respectively electrically connected to the connecting wires, wherein the pads are formed of a same material as the first and second touch electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The touch panel of  claim 3 , wherein the second touch electrodes and the second connectors are integrally formed. 
     
     
         10 . The touch panel of  claim 9 , further comprising an insulating layer that is interposed between the first and second connectors. 
     
     
         11 . The touch panel of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting wires include the photosensitive conductive layer, and wherein the first touch electrode line and the second touch electrode line include a conductive layer. 
     
     
         12 . The touch panel of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of pads respectively electrically connected to the connecting wires, wherein the pads are formed of the same material as that of the first and second touch electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The touch panel of  claim 11 , wherein the conductive layer further includes an overcoat. 
     
     
         14 . The touch panel of  claim 13 , wherein the transmittance of the conductive layer is greater than that of the photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         15 . The touch panel of  claim 14 , wherein the resistance of the conductive layer is greater than that of the photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         16 . The touch panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one photosensitive conductive layer includes a photosensitive resin layer and a conductive layer formed of a metal nanowire which is buried at an upper portion of the photosensitive resin layer. 
     
     
         17 . The touch panel of  claim 16 , wherein the metal nanowire is formed of silver or copper. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a touch panel, comprising:
 forming a first photosensitive conductive layer over a substrate;   forming a second photosensitive conductive layer over the first photosensitive conductive layer, wherein the photosensitivities of the first and second photosensitive conductive layers have opposite signs;   forming a preliminary conductive pattern by patterning the second photosensitive conductive layer and the first photosensitive conductive layer; and   forming i) a touch electrode in a touch area of the substrate and ii) a connecting wire outside of the touch area and electrically connected to the touch electrode by removing at least a portion of the second photosensitive conductive layer formed in the touch area through exposure and development of the preliminary conductive pattern.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second photosensitive conductive layers is formed to include a photosensitive resin layer and a metal nanowire buried in the photosensitive resin layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the forming of the second photosensitive conductive layer is performed such that a first conductive layer of the second photosensitive conductive layer contacts a second conductive layer of the first photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first conductive layer of the first photosensitive conductive layer has a greater density of metal nanowires than the second conductive layer of the second photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the forming of the first photosensitive conductive layer is performed by removing a release paper from the first photosensitive conductive layer and then transferring the first photosensitive conductive layer onto the substrate, and wherein the forming of the second photosensitive conductive layer is performed by removing a release paper from the second photosensitive conductive layer and then transferring the second photosensitive conductive layer onto the first photosensitive conductive layer. 
     
     
         23 . A method of manufacturing a touch panel, the method comprising:
 forming a conductive film including a metal nanowire over a substrate;   forming a photosensitive conductive layer over the conductive film;   forming an upper preliminary conductive pattern by performing a first exposure and development;   forming a lower preliminary conductive pattern by etching the conductive layer by using the upper preliminary conductive pattern as a mask; and   forming i) a touch electrode in a touch area of the substrate and ii) a connecting wire outside of the touch area and electrically connected to the touch electrode by removing the upper preliminary conductive pattern formed in the touch area through a second exposure and development.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the photosensitive conductive layer includes a photosensitive resin layer and a metal nanowire layer which is buried at an upper portion of the photosensitive resin layer. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the forming of the photosensitive conductive layer comprises removing a release paper attached on the photosensitive conductive layer and then transferring the photosensitive conductive layer such that the metal nanowire layer contacts the conductive film.