Polarizer structure

Abstract

A polarizer structure includes a transparent substrate, a sensor, a polarizing plate and a first insulating adhesive layer. The sensor is coated on one side of the transparent substrate, and the first insulating adhesive layer is arranged between the sensor and the polarizing plate to bond them together. The polarizer structure is configured for arrangement on a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit to make the latter a touch screen, on which a user can input and do other operations by touching the polarizer structure. In this manner, a touch screen can be manufactured with reduced cost and increased good yield rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A polarizer structure, comprising a transparent substrate defining a first side and an opposite second side; a sensor coated on the second side of the transparent substrate; a polarizing plate defining a third side and an opposite fourth side, and correspondingly attached at the third side to the sensor; and a first insulating adhesive layer arranged between the sensor and the polarizing plate. 
     
     
         2 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polarizer structure is configured for applying to a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit by attaching the fourth side of the polarizing plate to the liquid crystal display (LCD) unit. 
     
     
         3 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the LCD unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and the second substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fourth side of the polarizing plate is attached to the LCD unit via a second insulating adhesive layer arranged between the polarizing plate and the LCD unit. 
     
     
         5 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a thin film formed of a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (ITO), antimony tin oxide (ATO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO). 
     
     
         6 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first and the second insulating adhesive layer are selected from the group consisting of an optical clear adhesive (OCA) and an optical clear resin (OCR). 
     
     
         7 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transparent substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and cycle olefin copolymer (COC). 
     
     
         8 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible circuit board having a portion attached to an edge of the sensor via a conductive adhesive layer applied between the flexible circuit board and the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first insulating adhesive layer covers the sensor and the portion of the flexible circuit board attached to the sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The polarizer structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the LCD unit further includes a lower polarizing plate located on one side of the second substrate opposite to the liquid crystal layer.