JP2015179327A - Manufacturing method of front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor and front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor capable of forming a decorative layer excellent in flatness of a surface by simple processes, and so on.SOLUTION: There is provided a manufacturing method of a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor having: a front protective plate; a decorative layer formed at a frame area on the front protective plate; a sensor part formed at a touch panel area on the front protective plate, and including a transparent electrode layer; and a wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer. The manufacturing method includes: a decorative layer formation step of forming a layer for formation of the decorative layer, containing color material and resin on the front protective plate using a screen printing method, and flattening a surface of the layer for formation of the decorative layer, thus forming the decorative layer; a wiring layer formation step of forming the wiring layer on the decorative layer; and a sensor part formation step of forming the sensor part on the front protective plate.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor for manufacturing a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor, and a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor.

  Today, touch panels are widely used as input means. In many cases, a touch panel is used together with a display device as an input means for various devices in which a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a plasma display is incorporated (for example, a ticket vending machine, an ATM device, a mobile phone, a game machine). Yes. In such a device, the touch panel is placed on the display surface of the display device, which allows the touch panel to make a very direct input to the display device.

  Various types of touch panels have been put into practical use. Among these, what is called a capacitance system has a sensor electrode having, for example, a first electrode and a second electrode insulated from the first electrode. Then, a weak current is passed through the touch panel surface of the touch panel to form an electric field, and the change in capacitance value when a finger or other conductor is lightly touched is converted into a voltage drop or the like and detected. The obtained contact position is output as a signal.

  As a touch panel sensor, the thing of the form which has two board | substrates of the board | substrate for touch panel sensors and the front surface protection board arrange | positioned at the operator side of a touch panel sensor is mentioned, for example. The front protective plate described above usually has a decorative layer formed on the surface on the touch panel sensor substrate side. In the display device with a touch panel, the decorative layer imparts design properties to the frame region disposed outside the display region, and the extraction wiring formed in the region corresponding to the frame region of the touch panel sensor substrate Used to hide external connection terminals. Conventionally, as the decorative layer, a black resin layer or the like is preferably used from the viewpoint of light shielding properties and concealing properties such as the extraction wiring.

  In addition, as a touch panel sensor, a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor in which a decorative layer and a wiring layer such as a sensor electrode are formed on the above-described front protective plate has been developed from the viewpoint of thinning and weight reduction. Some have been put into practical use (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-016857 A

  Conventionally, a screen printing method has been used as a method for forming the above-described decorative layer. However, when the screen printing method is used, there is a problem that the mesh of the screen remains on the surface of the decorative layer and it is difficult to improve the flatness of the surface of the decorative layer. In the above-described front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor, since the wiring layer is formed on the decorative layer, the decorative layer may be disconnected due to unevenness on the surface of the decorative layer, which is a problem.

As a method for forming the decorative layer by improving the flatness of the surface of the decorative layer, for example, a photolithography method is also proposed. However, when the photolithography method is used, there is a problem that the manufacturing process of the touch panel sensor integrated with the front protective plate becomes complicated and costly.
In recent years, in the display device with a touch panel, the design property tends to be emphasized. For example, it is considered to form a white or other light-colored decorative layer on the front protective plate of the touch panel sensor.
However, in the case of forming the light-colored decorative layer described above, it is necessary to increase the thickness as compared with the conventional decorative layer in order to ensure light shielding properties. There is a problem. That is, when a decorative layer is formed using a photolithography method, there is a limit to the thickness of the decorative layer that can be formed in one photolithography process from the viewpoint of developability and curability, and the desired light shielding. In order to impart the properties, it is necessary to adjust the thickness of the decorative layer by performing a plurality of photolithography processes, and thus there is a problem that the cost further increases and the yield decreases.
Therefore, a method for forming a decorative layer with good surface flatness by a simple process is required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a manufacturing method of a front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor capable of forming a decorative layer with good surface flatness by a simple process, and the same are used. The main object is to provide a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is formed in a front protective plate, a decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and containing a color material and a resin, and a touch panel region on the front protective plate. Manufacture of a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor for manufacturing a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor having a sensor portion having a transparent electrode layer and a wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer A method for forming a decorative layer forming layer containing the coloring material and the resin on the front protective plate using a screen printing method, and planarizing the surface of the decorative layer forming layer. A decorative layer forming step for forming the decorative layer, a wiring layer forming step for forming the wiring layer on the decorative layer, and a sensor portion forming step for forming the sensor portion on the front protective plate. And having Providing Front protection method for manufacturing the integrated touch panel sensor to.

  According to this invention, by having the said decoration layer formation process, a surface decoration with favorable surface flatness can be formed using a screen printing method. Therefore, it is possible to form a decorative layer with good surface flatness by a simple process.

  In the said invention, it has the protective layer formation process which forms the protective layer which has transparency in the said touchscreen area | region on the said front surface protection board before the said decoration layer formation process, In the said sensor part formation process, it has the said protection The sensor part is preferably formed on the layer. In the decoration layer forming step, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of scratches on the touch panel region surface of the front protective plate. Moreover, it is because the said protective layer can be used as a functional layer of a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor by forming the said sensor part on the said protective layer.

  In the said invention, it is preferable that the said protective layer serves as the level | step difference reduction layer which reduces the level | step difference with the surface in which the said decoration layer and the said transparent electrode layer are formed. Since the level difference between the surface of the decorative layer and the surface on which the transparent electrode layer is formed can be reduced, the disconnection of the transparent electrode layer formed on the decorative layer and in the vicinity of the decorative layer to connect with the wiring layer is suppressed. Because it can be done.

  The present invention provides a front protective plate, a decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and containing a color material and a resin, and a level difference reducing layer formed in a touch panel region on the front protective plate and having transparency. A sensor part having a transparent electrode layer formed on the step reduction layer, and a wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer. A front protective plate integrated type, wherein the front protective plate is formed in contact with the decorative layer, and is formed only on the touch panel region side from the boundary between the step reducing layer and the decorative layer on the front protective plate surface. A touch panel sensor is provided.

According to the present invention, since the step difference between the decorative layer surface and the step reduction layer surface can be reduced by having the step reduction layer, the connection layer is connected to the wiring layer on the decoration layer and in the vicinity of the decoration layer. It can be set as the front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor which can suppress the disconnection of the transparent electrode layer formed. Moreover, since the level difference between the decoration layer surface and the level reduction layer surface can be reduced, the surface side on which the decoration layer of the touch panel sensor is formed can be satisfactorily bonded to other members such as a display panel. Become.
Moreover, according to this invention, by having the structure mentioned above, a front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor can be manufactured using the above-mentioned manufacturing method.

  In the manufacturing method of the front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor of the present invention, there is an effect that a decorative layer with good surface flatness can be formed by a simple process.

It is process drawing which shows an example of the manufacturing method of the front surface protection board integrated touch panel sensor of this invention. It is the schematic plan view and schematic sectional drawing which show an example of the front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the decoration layer formation process in this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the decoration layer formation process in this invention. It is the schematic plan view and schematic sectional drawing which show the other example of the front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of a front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor of the present invention (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a touch panel sensor) and a front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor will be described.

A. Manufacturing method of front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor The method of manufacturing the front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor of the present invention includes a front protective plate and a decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and containing a color material and a resin. A front protective plate-integrated touch panel including: a sensor unit formed in a touch panel region on the front protective plate and having a transparent electrode layer; and a wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a sensor, wherein a decorative layer forming layer containing the coloring material and the resin is formed on the front protective plate using a screen printing method, and the surface of the decorative layer forming layer is formed. A decorative layer forming step for forming the decorative layer by flattening, a wiring layer forming step for forming the wiring layer on the decorative layer, and the sensor portion on the front protective plate Sensor unit And a forming step.

In the present invention, the “touch panel region” is a region where a sensor unit in the touch panel sensor is provided, and refers to a region where a touch operation is performed by an operator of the touch panel sensor. The “touch panel area” is an area arranged so as to correspond to the display area of the display panel in the display device with a touch panel using the touch panel sensor of the present invention.
The “frame region” is a region where at least a wiring layer and a decoration layer are provided, and is a region located outside the touch panel region described above. In addition, the “frame region” has a poor appearance of the display device with a touch panel using the touch panel sensor of the present invention by forming a decorative layer so that the wiring layer is not visually recognized from the operator side in the touch panel sensor. This is a region that prevents rust and imparts good design properties.
In the following description, an area corresponding to the touch panel area of the front protective plate used for manufacturing the touch panel sensor may be referred to as a “touch panel area”, and an area corresponding to the frame area may also be described as “picture frame”. It may be referred to as “region”.

  Further, in the present invention, in the case of “transparent” and “transparency”, unless otherwise specified, the operator of the display device with a touch panel using the touch panel sensor manufactured according to the present invention from the operation surface. Transparency that does not interfere with visual recognition. Therefore, it includes colorless transparency and colored transparency that does not hinder visibility, is not defined by strict transmittance, and can be appropriately determined according to the use of the touch panel sensor.

The manufacturing method of the touch panel sensor of this invention is demonstrated using figures.
1A to 1G are process diagrams showing an example of a method for manufacturing a touch panel sensor of the present invention. 1A to 1G show an example of manufacturing a capacitive touch panel sensor. In the touch panel sensor manufacturing method shown in FIGS. 1A to 1G, first, as shown in FIG. 1A, a protective layer 2 containing a transparent resin is formed on a front protective plate 1. Next, as shown in FIG.1 (b), the decoration layer formation layer 3 containing a coloring material and resin is formed on the front surface protection board 1 using a screen printing method. Next, as shown in FIG.1 (c), the decoration layer 4 is formed by performing the planarization process on the surface of the layer 3 for decoration layer formation (decoration layer formation process). Next, as shown in FIG.1 (d), conductive layer 30 'containing a conductive material is formed on the surface in which the decoration layer 4 of the front surface protection board 1 was formed. Next, a resist is applied on the conductive layer, exposed and developed (not shown) to form a resist pattern layer R1 having a pattern shape corresponding to the wiring layer. Next, after etching the exposed portion of the conductive layer, the resist pattern layer is removed (not shown), and as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the lead-out wiring 31 and external connection terminals (not shown) are placed on the decorative layer 4. The wiring layer 30 is formed. Next, a transparent electrode layer 5 containing a transparent conductive material is formed on the surface of the front protective plate 1 on which the decorative layer 4 and the wiring layer 30 are formed, and a resist is applied on the transparent electrode layer 5 and exposed. After development (not shown), a resist pattern layer R2 having a pattern shape corresponding to the sensor portion is formed. Next, after etching the exposed portion of the transparent electrode layer, the resist pattern layer is removed (not shown), and a first electrode (not shown) formed of the transparent electrode layer 5 is formed as shown in FIG. ) And the second electrode 22, and the first conductive portion 23 that connects the first electrodes to each other is formed. Next, the sensor layer 20 is formed by forming the insulating layer 6 and the second conductive portion 24 using photolithography. By performing the above steps, the touch panel sensor 100 can be manufactured as shown in FIG. FIG. 1G shows an example in which the protective layer 2 also serves as the step reduction layer 7.

Fig.2 (a) is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the touchscreen sensor manufactured by the manufacturing method shown to Fig.1 (a)-(g), FIG.2 (b) is A of Fig.2 (a). -A sectional view, FIG.2 (c) is BB sectional drawing of Fig.2 (a). As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the touch panel sensor 100 includes a front protective plate 1, a decorative layer 4 that is formed in a frame region Y on the front protective plate 1 and includes a color material and a resin, and a front surface. Formed in the touch panel region X on the protective plate 1 and having transparency, the level difference reducing layer 7 having transparency, the sensor portion 20 having the transparent electrode layer 5 formed on the level difference reducing layer 7, and the decorative layer 4 being transparent. A wiring layer 30 connected to the electrode layer 5. In the present invention, the step reducing layer 7 is formed in contact with the decorative layer 4 and is formed only on the touch panel region X side from the step reducing layer 7 on the surface of the front protective plate 1 and the boundary portion Z of the decorative layer 4. It is characterized by being. 2A to 2C, the sensor unit 20 is formed in the touch panel region X on the front protective plate 1 and is insulated from the first electrode 21 and the first electrode 21. It has a conductive part having a sensor electrode having an electrode 22, a first conductive part 23 that connects the first electrodes 21, and a second conductive part 24 that connects the second electrodes 22. 2A to 2C show an example in which the first electrode 21, the second electrode 22, and the first conductive portion 23 are the transparent electrode layer 5. 2B and 2C, the first electrode 21, the first conductive portion 23, and the second electrode 22 are formed on the step reduction layer 7, and the second conductive portion 24 is formed through the insulating layer 6. An example is shown.
In addition, the touch panel sensor 100 includes, as the wiring layer 30, an extraction wiring 31 and an external connection terminal 32 that are formed on the decorative layer 4 and are connected to the sensor electrode.
In FIG. 2A, the step reduction layer 7 is omitted for easy explanation.

According to this invention, by having the said decoration layer formation process, a surface decoration with favorable surface flatness can be formed using a screen printing method. Therefore, it is possible to form a decorative layer with good surface flatness by a simple process.
Moreover, according to this invention, since it can form a decoration layer with favorable surface flatness by having the said decoration layer formation process, it is formed on a decoration layer in a wiring layer formation process. Disconnection of the wiring layer can be suppressed.

Moreover, the manufacturing method of the touch panel sensor of this invention can exhibit the effect especially high, when manufacturing the touch panel sensor which has a light-colored decoration layer.
That is, the thickness of the light-colored decorative layer is compared with that of a dark-colored decorative layer such as black from the viewpoint of securing light shielding properties in order to prevent the wiring layer from being observed by the operator of the touch panel sensor. It is necessary to form a thick film.
In this invention, since the screen printing method can be used in the decoration layer formation process mentioned above, the decoration layer which has sufficient thickness can be formed in one process. Therefore, the number of steps can be reduced and the decoration layer can be formed at low cost compared to the case where the light-colored decoration layer is formed using the photolithography method described above.

  Hereinafter, the detail of the manufacturing method of the touch panel sensor of this invention is demonstrated.

1. Decoration layer formation process The decoration layer formation process in this invention forms the layer for decoration layer formation containing the said coloring material and the said resin on the said front surface protection board using a screen printing method, The said decoration layer formation In this step, the decorative layer is formed by subjecting the surface of the working layer to a flattening treatment.

(1) Decorating layer forming layer and formation method thereof The decorating layer forming layer formed by this step includes a color material and a resin, and is formed using a screen printing method. The decorative layer forming layer is formed on the front protective plate, and more specifically, at least in the frame region.

Specific examples of the color material used for the decorative layer forming layer include dyes and pigments. As the color material, a pigment can be preferably used.
As said pigment, a white pigment, a red pigment, a yellow pigment, a blue pigment, a green pigment, a purple pigment, a black pigment, a metallic pigment, a pearl pigment etc. can be used, for example. A common thing can be used about these pigments.
As said pigment, only 1 type may be used and it may be used in combination of 2 or more type. In the present invention, it is particularly preferable that the pigment used for the decorative layer contains a white pigment. This is because a light-colored decorative layer can be suitably formed in the decorative layer forming step.

  The resin used for the decorative layer forming layer is not particularly limited as long as the decorative layer forming layer can be formed by a screen printing method. As said resin, a polyvinyl resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic resin, a polyvinyl acetal resin, a cellulose resin etc. can be mentioned, for example.

The form of the decorative layer forming layer is not particularly limited as long as the decorative layer can be formed in the frame region on the front protective plate by performing a flattening process described later. The form of the decorative layer forming layer can be appropriately designed depending on the presence or absence of a protective layer described later.
For example, when the protective layer is not formed on the front protective plate, the decorative layer forming layer is usually formed in a pattern shape such as a frame shape so as to be formed in a frame region on the front protective plate. .
On the other hand, for example, when a protective layer is formed in the touch panel region on the front protective plate, the decorative layer forming layer is formed so as to have a portion where the decorative layer forming layer overlaps on the protective layer. . In this case, the decorative layer forming layer is formed in a pattern shape such as a frame shape on the front protective plate 1 and the protective layer 2 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 3A, for example. Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, it may be formed on the entire surface of the front protective plate 1 on which the protective layer 2 is formed. In this case, the decorative layer forming layer formed on the protective layer is removed by a planarization process described later. In this case, a protective layer that also serves as a step reduction layer is used.
In the present invention, among others, the decorative layer forming layer is preferably formed in a pattern shape such as a frame shape on the front protective plate and the protective layer. Since the area of the decorative layer forming layer that is removed by the flattening process described later can be reduced, the time required for the flattening process can be shortened, and also about the material of the decorative layer forming layer This is because it can be reduced.

When the decorative layer forming layer is formed in the above-described pattern shape, the width of the decorative layer forming layer formed on the protective layer is the use of the touch panel sensor manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, etc. Although it is not particularly limited, for example, it is preferably in the range of 5 μm or more, especially in the range of 5 μm to 30 μm, particularly in the range of 5 μm to 10 μm.
If the width of the decorative layer forming layer formed on the protective layer is small, it may be difficult to sufficiently protect the touch panel region surface of the front protective plate in the flattening process described later. is there. Further, when the protective layer is a step reducing layer, it becomes difficult to form a decorative layer so that the decorative layer and the step reducing layer are in contact with each other, and there is a gap between the decorative layer and the step reducing layer. This is because it may occur.
The width of the decorative layer forming layer formed on the protective layer means that the decorative layer forming layer on the protective layer surface is formed from the boundary between the step reducing layer on the front protective plate surface and the decorative layer forming layer. This is the distance in plan view to the specified position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the decorative layer forming layer 3 on the surface of the protective layer 2 from the boundary portion Z ′ between the protective layer 2 on the surface of the front protective plate 1 and the decorative layer forming layer 3. Is a distance o in a plan view to a position Z ″ where is formed.

  The thickness of the decorative layer forming layer is appropriately selected according to the thickness of the decorative layer, and is not particularly limited, but is in the range of 7 μm to 40 μm, especially in the range of 7 μm to 30 μm, particularly 7 μm to It is preferable to be within the range of 20 μm. When the thickness of the decorative layer forming layer is too thick, the cost may increase due to an increase in the decorative layer forming layer that is removed by the flattening process described later, and screen printing is possible. This is because it may be difficult to form using a method. Moreover, when the thickness of the said decoration layer formation layer is too thin, since the thickness of the decoration layer after the planarization process mentioned later becomes thin, it may become difficult to show desired designability. It is.

  Here, the thickness of each member formed by the present invention refers to the thickness obtained by a general measurement method. Thickness measurement methods include, for example, a stylus type method of calculating the thickness by tracing the surface with a stylus, detecting an unevenness, an optical method of calculating the thickness based on the spectral reflection spectrum, and a transmission type Examples thereof include a method using a microscope observation image such as an electron microscope (TEM). Specifically, the thickness can be measured using a stylus thickness meter P-15 manufactured by KLA-Tencor Corporation. In addition, as thickness, the average value of the thickness measurement result in the several location of the member used as object may be used.

As a method for forming the decorative layer forming layer, a general screen printing method can be used, and specifically, the decorative layer forming composition including the above-described coloring material, resin material, solvent, and the like. By placing an object on a screen and pressing it using a squeegee or the like, a method of arranging the object on the front protective plate from the mesh of the screen can be mentioned.
The screen can be the same as that used in a general screen printing method, and examples thereof include a metal mask and a mesh mask.

As a material of resin used for the composition for decorating layer formation, it can determine suitably according to resin used for the layer for decorating layer formation mentioned above, and can use it as a general thing.
Further, the solvent can be the same as that used in a general screen printing method.

Although it will not specifically limit as a viscosity of the composition for decorating layer formation if it is a viscosity which can form the layer for decorating layer formation by the screen printing method, For example, the viscosity in 25 degreeC is 50 Pa.s- It can be in the range of 200 Pa · s.
The viscosity can be measured based on JIS K7117-2. Specifically, the viscosity can be measured by a cone plate method using a rheometer manufactured by Anton Paar.
The viscosity can be adjusted by the content of the solvent.

  In this step, after the decorative layer forming layer is screen-printed on the front protective plate, if necessary, a drying process for removing the solvent, a curing process for curing the resin material, or the like may be performed.

(2) Front protective plate The front protective plate used in this step supports a decorative layer, a sensor unit, and a wiring layer described later.
In the touch panel sensor manufactured by the present invention, the front protective plate is disposed on the operator side of the touch panel. Moreover, the said front protection board has transparency normally.

  The front protective plate can be the same as that used for the front protective plate of a general touch panel sensor, and is not flexible, such as quartz glass, Pyrex (registered trademark) glass, synthetic quartz plate, etc. A transparent inorganic substrate, and a transparent transparent resin substrate such as a transparent resin film and an optical resin plate can be exemplified. In particular, it is preferable to use an inorganic substrate, and among the inorganic substrates, glass is preferable. It is preferable to use a substrate.

Further, as the front protective plate, it is particularly preferable to use a tempered glass substrate that has been subjected to a chemical strengthening treatment. The chemical strengthening treatment is a treatment performed by immersing glass in an alkali molten salt, and replacing some ions contained in the glass with larger ions. For example, if the ion to be substituted is a lithium ion, the ion to be substituted is a sodium ion, and if the ion to be substituted is a sodium ion, the ion to be substituted is a potassium ion.
A well-known thing can be used as a chemically strengthened glass substrate.

  About the thickness of the said board | substrate, it can select suitably according to the use etc. of the touchscreen sensor in which a front surface protection board is used, and it does not specifically limit.

  In addition, an invisible layer composed of a low refractive index layer and a high refractive index layer may be formed on the front protective plate surface.

(3) Flattening treatment The flattening treatment used in this step is a treatment for flattening the surface of the decorative layer forming layer to form a decorative layer.
“To flatten the surface of the decorative layer forming layer” means to make the surface roughness of the decorative layer forming layer smaller than that before the flattening treatment.

Specifically, the flattening process refers to a process of mechanically or physically cutting and grinding the surface of the decorative layer forming layer to reduce the surface unevenness of the decorative layer forming layer.
Examples of the above-described planarization treatment include general polishing methods such as sand blasting, jet blasting, blasting using free abrasive grains such as wet blasting, grinding stones, polishing disks, polishing papers, etc. Examples thereof include a polishing method using an abrasive and a buff polishing method. As the planarization treatment in this step, it is preferable to use a blast method. This is because good flatness can be imparted to the surface of the decorative layer, and disconnection of the wiring layer formed on the decorative layer can be suitably suppressed in the wiring layer forming step described later.

  About the said blasting method, it can be set as a general method. In the blasting method, it is preferable to use an abrasive having a plurality of diameters and perform polishing a plurality of times using an abrasive having a large diameter to a small diameter.

The said planarization process should just planarize the surface of the layer for decoration layer formation, and can be used as a decoration layer, for example, when the protective layer is formed on the front surface protection board in the protective layer formation process mentioned later 1 (b) and 1 (c), the surface of the decorative layer forming layer 3 formed in a frame shape so as to overlap the protective layer 2 in plan view is flattened, and the protective layer 2 and The decorative layer 4 may be formed so as to overlap in plan view, and as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the decorative layer 4 may be formed in a frame shape so as to overlap with the protective layer 2 in plan view. The surface of the decoration layer forming layer 3 may be flattened, and the decoration layer 4 may be formed so that the surface of the decoration layer 4 and the surface of the protective layer 2 are arranged on the same plane. Moreover, as shown to Fig.4 (a), (b), the surface of the decoration layer formation layer 3 formed so that the protection layer 2 may be covered is planarized, and for decoration layer formation on the protection layer 2 The layer 3 may be removed, and the decorative layer 4 may be formed so that the surface of the decorative layer 4 and the surface of the protective layer 2 are arranged on the same plane.
In the planarization process in this step, the surface of the protective layer may be planarized together with the decorative layer forming layer.
3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), and 4 (b) are explanatory views for explaining the flattening process in the decorative layer forming step in the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B show an example in which the protective layer 2 also serves as the step reduction layer 7.

(4) Decoration layer The decoration layer formed by this process is formed in the frame area | region on a front surface protection board. In addition, the decorative layer imparts design properties to the frame region of the touch panel sensor manufactured by the manufacturing method of the present invention, and the wiring layer formed on the frame region is viewed by the operator of the touch panel. It is used to hide.

The form of the decorative layer can be appropriately selected according to the use of the touch panel sensor and is not particularly limited, but is usually formed in a frame shape outside the touch panel region.
About the width | variety of a decoration layer, it determines suitably according to the use of a touch panel sensor.

  The thickness of the decorative layer is not particularly limited as long as the decorative layer can exhibit the above-described functions. For example, the thickness is in the range of 7 μm to 40 μm, especially in the range of 7 μm to 30 μm, particularly in the range of 7 μm to 20 μm. It is preferable to be within the range. If the decoration layer is too thick, the surface level difference on the surface side where the decoration layer of the touch panel sensor is formed becomes large, and when used for a display device with a touch panel, the touch panel sensor and the display panel are bonded together. This is because it may be difficult to perform well or the touch panel sensor itself may be thick. Moreover, it is because the designability and light-shielding property of a decoration layer may fall when the thickness of the said decoration layer is too thin.

About the flatness of the surface of the said decoration layer, if the disconnection of the wiring layer formed on a decoration layer can be suppressed, it will not specifically limit.
As surface roughness Ra of a decoration layer, it is preferable to set it as 0.5 micrometer or less, especially within the range of 0.3 micrometer-0.5 micrometer, for example.
This is because if the surface roughness Ra of the decorative layer is large, it may be difficult to sufficiently suppress disconnection of the wiring layer.
Further, the lower limit value of the surface roughness of the decorative layer is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about 0.3 μm in consideration of the cost related to the flattening process.
Here, a value measured according to JIS B0601 is used as the surface roughness Ra.

In addition, as the decorative layer, for example, the maximum surface roughness Rt is in the range of 0.8 μm to 1.5 μm, in particular in the range of 0.8 μm to 1.3 μm, particularly 0.8 μm to 1.0 μm. It is preferable to be within the range.
This is because disconnection of the wiring layer formed on the decorative layer can be more suitably suppressed.
Here, the value measured according to JIS B0601 is used for the maximum surface roughness Rt.

The color of the decorative layer can be appropriately selected according to the use of the touch panel sensor and is not particularly limited, but is preferably a light color in the present invention. When the decorative layer is light in color, it is necessary to make the thickness thicker from the viewpoint of securing light shielding properties. In the present invention, since the decorative layer can be formed using a screen printing method, the light-colored decorative layer can be formed by a simple method.
In the present invention, the “light color” means a white color, which is not only pure white (pure white) but also ivory, beige, reddish white (light pink), and yellowish white. Yellowish white, blue white that is blue white, green white that is green white, purple white that is purple white, brown white that is brown white, gray (light gray) that is black white, silver Also included are chromatic and whitish colors, and achromatic and whitish colors, such as silver-white, which is white, and gold-white, which is gold-white.
Such white color can be expressed numerically using various color systems. In particular, in the case of the Munsell color system (JIS Z 8721) which is one kind of conventional color system, it can be expressed as follows.
In the Munsell color system, all colors are expressed by three attributes of lightness, saturation, and hue. In the Munsell color system, this brightness is 10 for the brightest ideal white and 0 for the darkest ideal black. In the present invention, the lower limit of the brightness of the white color is, for example, about 8.0, and more preferably 8.0 or more. In the Munsell color system, the saturation is 0 for an achromatic color, the value increases as the color becomes darker, and the maximum value varies with lightness and hue but is 14 at maximum. In the present invention, the upper limit of the saturation of the white color is, for example, about 2.0, and preferably 2.0 or less.
In the present invention, the white color is preferably a color having a lightness of 8.0 or more and a saturation of 2.0 or less in the Munsell color system. There is no particular limitation on the hue. Any color is acceptable.

If more preferable colors are expressed by the Munsell color system, it is more effective when the lightness is 9.0 or higher, and when the chroma is 1.0 or lower, the lightness is more effective. The case where the color is 9.0 or more and the saturation is 1.0 or less is more effective.
The above three attributes of the Munsell color system can be measured with a commercially available spectrophotometer, spectrophotometer, or the like.

2. Wiring layer forming step The wiring layer forming step in the present invention is a step of forming the wiring layer on the decorative layer.
As the wiring layer formed in this step, there are usually taken-out wirings connected to the electrodes of the sensor part and external connection terminals.

(1) Lead-out wiring The lead-out wiring in the present invention is connected to the sensor electrode. As the location where the lead-out wiring is formed, it is appropriately set according to the type and application of the touch panel sensor of the present invention, but when the touch panel sensor of the present invention is used for a display device with a touch panel, It is formed in the frame area.
Specific examples of the conductive material used for the lead-out wiring include silver, gold, chromium, platinum, aluminum alone, or an alloy mainly composed of any of these. As the metal alloy, APC, that is, a silver / palladium alloy is generally used. Further, as the metal composite, MAM (Mo—Al—Mo, that is, a three-layer structure of molybdenum, aluminum, and molybdenum) can be used.
The lead-out wiring may be composed of a transparent electrode layer described later.

  The line width of the extraction wiring can be the same as that of a general touch panel sensor, and can be, for example, about 0.03 mm to 0.2 mm.

(2) External connection terminal The external connection terminal in this invention is connected to the said extraction wiring, and is used for the connection with the exterior structure of touch panel sensors, such as a flexible printed wiring board, for example.

Such a conductive material in the case where the external connection terminal is formed and the external connection terminal is not a transparent electrode layer to be described later can be generally used for a touch panel sensor. It can be the same as the wiring.
About the terminal width of the said external connection terminal, thickness, and planar view shape, and the space | interval between the external connection terminals in an external connection terminal part can be made to be the same as that of a general touch panel sensor.
Specifically, it can be the same as that described in JP2011-210176A.

(3) Method for Forming Wiring Layer The method for forming the wiring layer can be the same as the general electrode forming method. For example, a photolithography method can be suitably used.
More specifically, after forming a conductive layer on a front protective plate on which a decorative layer is formed using a transparent conductive material, a metal material, etc., which will be described later, a resist pattern layer for a wiring layer is formed by photolithography. A method of forming a wiring layer having a predetermined pattern shape by etching after forming can be mentioned.

As a method for forming the conductive layer, a general method can be used, and examples thereof include a method using a dry process such as vacuum deposition, sputtering, CVD, or ion plating.
Since the resist used for the resist pattern layer for the wiring layer and the method for forming the resist can be the same as those used in a general photolithography method, description thereof is omitted here. The conductive layer etching method can be the same as a general conductive layer etching method, and thus description thereof is omitted here.

3. Sensor part formation process The sensor part formation process in this invention is a process of forming the said sensor part on the said front surface protection board.
“Forming the sensor part on the front protective plate” means not only when the transparent electrode layer constituting the sensor part is formed so as to be in direct contact with the front protective plate, but also through the other layer. It is a concept including the case of forming a layer.

  The sensor unit formed by this step is not particularly limited as long as it has a transparent electrode layer and can be appropriately selected according to the type of touch panel sensor. For example, when the touch panel sensor is of a capacitive type, examples of the sensor part include a sensor electrode and a conductive part. In this case, at least one of the sensor electrode and the conductive portion may be a transparent electrode layer, but in the present invention, the sensor electrode is preferably a transparent electrode layer.

(1) Transparent electrode layer As an inorganic transparent conductive material used for the said transparent electrode layer, what is used for a general touch panel sensor can be used, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide, Indium oxide, antimony-added tin oxide, fluorine-added tin oxide, aluminum-added zinc oxide, potassium-added zinc oxide, silicon-added zinc oxide, zinc oxide-tin oxide system, indium oxide-tin oxide system, zinc oxide-indium oxide-oxide Examples include magnesium-based metal oxides and materials in which two or more of these metal oxides are combined.

The conductivity of the transparent electrode layer used in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it can function as an electrode of a touch panel sensor. In the present invention, the surface resistance of the transparent electrode layer is preferably in the range of, for example, 10Ω / □ to 100Ω / □, and more preferably in the range of 10Ω / □ to 30Ω / □. It is preferably within the range of 14Ω / □ to 22Ω / □. This is because the sensor electrode can be made highly sensitive by the sheet resistance.
The surface resistance of the transparent electrode layer can be confirmed using a Loresta GP MCP-T601 type (conforming to JIS K7194) by a four-terminal four-probe method and a constant current application method.

  The thickness of the transparent electrode layer is not particularly limited as long as it can exhibit predetermined conductivity. For example, the thickness is in the range of 100 nm to 200 nm, in particular, in the range of 120 nm to 180 nm, particularly in the range of 130 nm to 150 nm. It is preferable. This is because if the thickness of the transparent electrode layer is too thin, it may not function sufficiently as an electrode. If the thickness of the transparent electrode layer is too thick, cracks, peeling, etc. may easily occur in the transparent electrode layer. Because there is.

  As a method for forming the transparent electrode layer in the present invention, a photolithography method can be suitably used. Specifically, a transparent electrode layer is formed on the surface of the front protective plate on which the decorative layer is formed. Next, a resist is applied on the transparent electrode layer to form a coating film, and the coating film is exposed through a photomask or the like and then developed to form a resist layer having a predetermined pattern shape. Next, the exposed portion of the transparent electrode layer is etched to form the transparent electrode layer in a predetermined pattern shape. Next, the transparent electrode layer described above can be formed by peeling the resist layer.

As a method for forming the transparent electrode layer, a general method can be used, and examples thereof include a method using a dry process such as vacuum deposition, sputtering, CVD, or ion plating.
Moreover, as an etching liquid used for the etching of a transparent electrode layer, it sets suitably according to the inorganic transparent conductive material etc. which comprise the said transparent electrode layer. Specifically, when the transparent electrode layer is made of ITO, a hydrobromic acid solution can be used.
The resist can be the same as that used in general photolithography. Examples of the resist developer and the resist stripper include an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution.

(2) Sensor electrode The sensor electrode in the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode insulated from the first electrode, is formed in the active area, and is used for detecting a contact position.
In addition, the 2nd electrode insulated from the 1st electrode means that both electrodes are not electrically connected.

  The sensor electrode in the present invention may be the transparent electrode layer described above or not the transparent electrode layer, but is preferably a transparent electrode layer.

Examples of the planar shape and the planar external shape of the sensor electrode include, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-210176, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-238052, Japanese Patent No. 4610416, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-286886, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-. It is used for general touch panel sensors such as those described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 192093, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-277392, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-129501, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-156773, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-143059. The same can be said.
In the present invention, the planar shape of the sensor electrode is preferably a planar shape that does not include an opening. Further, the outer shape of the sensor electrode in plan view can be specifically a polygonal shape such as a rectangle or a substantially square shape in plan view.

Moreover, as a formation location with respect to the front surface protection plate of the 1st electrode and 2nd electrode in this invention, if it forms in the touchscreen area | region of a touchscreen sensor and both are insulated, it will not specifically limit. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, both the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 may be formed on the front protective plate 1 on which the decorative layer 4 is formed. As shown to 5 (a)-(c), the 1st electrode 21 is formed on the front surface protection board 1 in which the decoration layer 4 was formed, and the 2nd electrode 22 was formed through the insulating layer 6. Also good.
In addition, although not shown, the first electrode and the second electrode may be formed and bonded to different substrates using the above-described two substrates of the front protective plate and the insulating substrate.
5A is a schematic plan view showing another example of the touch panel sensor formed on the substrate in the present invention, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. In addition, about the code | symbol which is not demonstrated in Fig.5 (a)-(c), since it can be set as the code | symbol demonstrated in Fig.2 (a)-(c), description here is abbreviate | omitted.

(3) Conductive part The conductive part in this invention contains the 1st conductive part and 2nd conductive part which connect between the 1st electrodes which comprise the said sensor electrode, and between 2nd electrodes, respectively.
Further, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are usually formed so that a part thereof overlaps in plan view.

  The above-mentioned conductive part may be the transparent electrode layer mentioned above, and may not be a transparent electrode layer. When the conductive part is not a transparent electrode layer, examples of the conductive material used for the conductive part include metals such as aluminum, molybdenum, silver, and chromium, and alloys thereof.

  The external shape of the conductive part in plan view can be the same as that of a general touch panel sensor. For example, the line shape is narrower than the external shape of the sensor electrode in plan view, and is equivalent to the external shape of the sensor electrode in plan view. A line shape having a width can be used.

In addition, the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are formed so that the first electrode and the second electrode can be stably connected to each other and are insulated from each other. There is no particular limitation as long as it is present. For example, when the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 are formed on different surfaces or different members as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the first conductive portion 23 and The second conductive portion 24 may be formed on the same surface as the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22, respectively.
When both the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 are formed on the front protective plate 1 as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the first conductive portion 23 and the second conductive portion 24 may be formed via the insulating layer 6.

(4) Insulating layer In the sensor part formation process in this invention, an insulating layer is normally formed in order to prevent the short circuit between the 1st electrode which comprises the said sensor electrode, and a 2nd electrode.
The details of the insulating layer can be the same as those described in JP 2013-210733 A, for example.

  As a material of the insulating layer used in this step, a general photosensitive resin can be used, and examples of the formation method thereof include a photolithography method.

4). Other processes The manufacturing method of the touch panel sensor of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the decoration layer forming process, the wiring layer forming process, and the sensor part forming process described above are included, and a necessary process is appropriately selected and added. can do. Hereinafter, such a process will be described.

(1) Protective layer formation process The protective layer formation process in this invention is a process of forming the protective layer which has transparency in the said touchscreen area | region on the said front surface protection board before the said decoration layer formation process.
In the above-described decorative layer forming step, when flattening the decorative layer forming layer, the decorative layer forming layer from which the touch panel region of the front protective plate has been removed, or abrasive grains used for the flattening process, etc. There is a concern about scratches. When it has the protective layer formation process mentioned above, it can suppress that a touch panel area | region of a front-surface protection board is damaged.

The protective layer may be peelable after the decorative layer forming step, but more preferably serves as a functional layer of the touch panel sensor. This is because when the protective layer also serves as the functional layer, the manufacturing process of the touch panel sensor can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Therefore, when it has a protective layer formation process, it is preferable to form the said sensor part on the said protective layer in the sensor part formation process mentioned above.
When the protective layer also serves as a functional layer, examples of the functional layer include a step reduction layer that suppresses a surface step between the surface of the decoration layer of the touch panel sensor and the surface on which the transparent electrode layer is formed, and a touch panel of the touch panel sensor. An invisible layer that suppresses the pattern shape of the transparent electrode layer formed in the region from being visually recognized by the operator of the touch panel sensor, a relaxation layer that prevents disconnection of the sensor unit caused by an impact received from the front of the touch panel sensor, and the like Can be mentioned.
In the present invention, it is particularly preferable that the protective layer also serves as a step reduction layer. When the protective layer also serves as a step reducing layer, the step between the surface of the decorative layer and the surface on which the transparent electrode layer is formed can be reduced, so that the wiring layer and the transparent electrode layer formed on the decorative layer This is because it is possible to suppress disconnection at the connecting portion.
The details of the step reduction layer will be described in the section of “B. Front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor” to be described later.

  When the protective layer also serves as an invisible layer, the invisible layer can be the same as that used for a general touch panel sensor.

  The thickness of the protective layer is not particularly limited as long as the touch panel region of the front protective plate can be protected in the flattening process in the decorative layer forming step, and is thicker than the thickness of the decorative layer forming layer described above. The thickness may be the same as the thickness of the decorative layer forming layer, or may be thinner than the thickness of the decorative layer forming layer. The specific thickness of the protective layer can be appropriately determined according to the functional layer when it also serves as the functional layer of the protective layer.

(2) Other process The manufacturing method of the touch-panel sensor of this invention may have arbitrary processes other than the protective layer formation process mentioned above. For example, the process etc. which form the coating layer which has insulation and transparency on a sensor part and a wiring layer can be mentioned.

B. Front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor The front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor of the present invention includes a front protective plate, a decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and including a color material and a resin, and the front protective plate. Formed in the upper touch panel region and having a level difference reducing layer having transparency, a sensor part formed on the level difference reducing layer and having a transparent electrode layer, and formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer The step reduction layer is formed in contact with the decoration layer, and the touch panel region side from the boundary between the step reduction layer and the decoration layer on the front protective plate surface. It is characterized by only being formed.

The touch panel sensor of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 2A to 2C and FIGS. 5A to 5C are a schematic plan view and a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example and another example of the touch panel sensor of the present invention. 2 (a) to 2 (c) and FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (c) have been described in the above-mentioned section “A. Manufacturing method of touch panel sensor with integrated front protective plate”. Description of is omitted.

According to the present invention, by having the step reduction layer, the step between the decoration layer surface and the step reduction layer surface can be reduced, so that the transparent electrode formed on the decoration layer for connection with the wiring layer It can be set as the front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor which can suppress the disconnection of a layer. Moreover, since the level difference between the decoration layer surface and the level reduction layer surface can be reduced, the surface side on which the decoration layer of the touch panel sensor is formed can be satisfactorily bonded to other members such as a display panel. Become.
Further, according to the present invention, a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor is manufactured by using the manufacturing method described in the section “A. Manufacturing method of front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor”. can do.

  Hereinafter, details of the touch panel sensor of the present invention will be described. Since the configuration other than the step reduction layer has been described in the above-mentioned section “A. Manufacturing method of touch panel sensor integrated with front protective plate”, description thereof is omitted here.

1. Step reduction layer The step reduction layer in the present invention is formed in the touch panel region on the front protective plate and has transparency. Moreover, the said level | step difference reduction layer is formed in contact with the said decoration layer, and is formed only in the said touchscreen area | region side from the boundary part of the said level | step difference reduction layer and the said decoration layer of the said front surface protection board surface. It is characterized by.

  In the present invention, “the step difference reducing layer is formed in contact with the decorative layer, and is formed only on the touch panel region side from the boundary between the step reducing layer and the decorative layer on the front protective plate surface. The phrase “has” means that the step reducing layer is not formed on the decorative layer. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5B, the decorative layer 4 and the step reducing layer 7 are in contact with each other. The decorative layer 4 and the step reducing layer 7 have the same thickness so that the contact surface between the decorative layer 4 and the step reducing layer 7 is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the boundary Z described above. In other words, the decoration layer 4 is formed on the step reduction layer 7 as shown in FIG.

  The form of the step reduction layer is not particularly limited as long as it is formed in the touch panel region on the front protective plate, and may be formed in a pattern shape corresponding to the touch panel region X as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2B, the touch panel region X and the frame region Y may be formed so as to overlap a part of the planar view.

The thickness of the step reduction layer is not particularly limited as long as the surface step in the touch panel sensor can be reduced, and can be appropriately selected according to the thickness of the decoration layer.
The thickness of the step reducing layer is, for example, preferably in the range of 3 μm to 40 μm, more preferably in the range of 3 μm to 30 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 3 μm to 20 μm. This is because if the thickness of the step reduction layer is too large, it may be difficult to form the step reduction layer itself. Moreover, it is because the transparency of the touchscreen area | region of a touchscreen sensor may fall when the thickness of the said level | step difference reduction layer is too thick. Moreover, it is because it may become difficult to fully suppress the disconnection of the connection part of the wiring layer and transparent electrode layer mentioned above when the thickness of a level | step difference reduction layer is too thin.

The difference in thickness between the thickness of the step reduction layer and the thickness of the decorative layer is not particularly limited as long as the disconnection of the connection portion of the wiring layer and the transparent electrode layer can be suppressed, but the absolute value of the above thickness difference Is preferably 5 μm or less, more preferably 3 μm or less, and particularly preferably 1 μm or less. This is because if the absolute value of the difference in thickness is large, the transparent electrode layer formed on the step portions of the step reduction layer and the decoration layer cannot follow, and breakage may easily occur.
In the present invention, the difference in thickness described above is preferably smaller, and it is particularly preferable that both have the same thickness. Since the surface of the decoration layer and the surface of the step reduction layer can be arranged on the same plane, the above-described disconnection of the transparent electrode layer can be more suitably suppressed, and the touch panel sensor can be easily bonded to another configuration. Because you can.
The phrase “the thickness of the step reduction layer and the thickness of the decorative layer are equal” specifically means that the absolute value of the above-described thickness difference is 1 μm or less.
The difference in thickness described above can be calculated, for example, by measuring the thickness p of the step reduction layer 7 and the thickness q of the decoration layer 4 as shown in FIG. About the thickness of a level | step difference reduction layer and the thickness of a decoration layer, it can measure with a general measuring method, Specifically, by "A. Manufacturing method of a front surface protective plate integrated touch panel sensor" mentioned above. The described measurement method can be used.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said level | step difference reduction layer serves as the protective layer in the planarization process at the time of forming a decoration layer as demonstrated in the term of the above-mentioned "A. Manufacturing method of a front surface protective plate integrated touch panel sensor." .

  As a material for the step reduction layer, a transparent photosensitive resin is usually used. The photosensitive resin can be the same as that used for general overcoat materials and the like, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

The method for forming the step reduction layer is not particularly limited as long as the step reduction layer can be formed in a pattern with a predetermined thickness in the touch panel region on the front protective plate. For example, a photolithography method is used. Can be mentioned.
In the method for forming the step reduction layer, the same flattening treatment may be performed on the surface of the step reduction layer when the decoration layer forming layer is flattened. The decorative layer forming layer is preferably formed so as to overlap with the step reducing layer also serving as a protective layer in plan view. When forming the decorative layer surface and the step reducing layer surface so as to be arranged in the same plane, by flattening a part of the step reducing layer together with the decorative layer formed on the step reducing layer, more This is because a touch panel sensor can be easily formed.

2. Others Since the manufacturing method of the touch panel sensor of the present invention can be the same as that described in the above-mentioned section “A. Manufacturing method of touch panel sensor integrated with front protective plate”, description thereof is omitted here. .

  The touch panel sensor of the present invention can be used for a display device with a touch panel together with a display panel, for example. The display panel is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a liquid crystal panel, an organic electroluminescence panel, and electronic paper.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-described embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the technical idea described in the claims of the present invention, and any device that exhibits the same function and effect is the present invention. It is included in the technical scope of the invention.

  Hereafter, an Example and a comparative example are given and the detail of the manufacturing method of the front-surface-protection board integrated touch-panel sensor of this invention is demonstrated.

[Example]
A glass substrate (Corning Corp., 1737 glass) having a size of 1500 mm × 1850 mm and a thickness of 0.7 mm was prepared as a support substrate. Next, according to a conventional method, a protective layer serving as a step-reducing layer having a thickness of 12 μm was formed on the support substrate by a photolithography process using an acrylic transparent resin. Next, a light-colored decorative layer forming layer having a thickness of 15 μm was formed on the surface of the support substrate on which the protective layer was formed by a screen printing method using a light-color curable resin composition containing a white pigment. The decorative layer forming layer was formed so as to overlap the support substrate and part of the protective layer in plan view, and formed in a frame shape surrounding the protective layer. Then, it polished until the surface roughness of the said layer for decoration layer formation became 0.3 micrometer by wet blast grinding | polishing, and formed the decoration layer. Next, a metal layer for electrical wiring (wiring layer) was formed on the decorative layer and the step reduction layer, and patterning with a predetermined wiring width was performed by a photolithography method. Thus, a measurement sample was obtained.

[Comparative example]
A measurement sample was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the wet blast polishing was not performed and the above-described decorative layer forming layer was used as the decorative layer.

[Evaluation]
Using the measurement samples of Examples and Comparative Examples, the disconnection rate of the electrical wiring formed on the decorative layer was determined by measuring the resistance value and using a continuity checker.
In the measurement sample of the comparative example, the electric wiring disconnection rate reached 20%, but in the measurement sample of the example, it could be reduced to 1%.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Front protective plate 2 ... Protective layer 3 ... Decorating layer forming layer 4 ... Decorating layer 5 ... Transparent electrode layer 7 ... Step difference reducing layer 20 ... Sensor part 30 ... Wiring layer 100 ... Front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor ( Touch panel sensor)

Claims (4)

A front protective plate,
A decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and containing a color material and a resin;
A sensor unit having a transparent electrode layer formed in a touch panel region on the front protective plate;
A wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer;
A method of manufacturing a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor for manufacturing a front protective plate integrated touch panel sensor having:
The decorative layer forming layer containing the colorant and the resin is formed on the front protective plate using a screen printing method, and the surface of the decorative layer forming layer is flattened to thereby decorate the decorative layer. A decorative layer forming step of forming a layer;
A wiring layer forming step of forming the wiring layer on the decorative layer;
A sensor part forming step of forming the sensor part on the front protective plate;
A method for manufacturing a front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor, comprising: Before the decorative layer forming step, it has a protective layer forming step of forming a protective layer having transparency in the touch panel region on the front protective plate,
The method of manufacturing a front protective plate-integrated touch panel sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is formed on the protective layer in the sensor unit forming step.   The said protective layer serves as a level | step difference reduction layer which reduces the level | step difference with the surface in which the said decoration layer and the said transparent electrode layer are formed, Manufacturing of the front-surface-protection board integrated touch panel sensor of Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Method. A front protective plate,
A decorative layer formed in a frame region on the front protective plate and containing a color material and a resin;
A step reduction layer formed in the touch panel region on the front protective plate and having transparency,
A sensor unit formed on the step reduction layer and having a transparent electrode layer;
A wiring layer formed on the decorative layer and connected to the transparent electrode layer;
Have
The step reduction layer is formed in contact with the decoration layer, and is formed only on the touch panel region side from the boundary between the step reduction layer and the decoration layer on the front protective plate surface. Touch panel sensor with integrated front protective plate.

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