Scratch resistant touch sensor

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a scratch resistant, touch sensor comprising: (1) applying a non-polymer protective coating solution to a touch sensor; and (2) forming a cross-linked polymer structure by curing the protective coating solution.

1 . A scratch resistant, touch sensor, comprising:
 a transparent, dielectric substrate;   a first conductive layer formed on a first side of the substrate, the first conductive layer comprising a first grid of copper lines;   a second conductive layer formed on a second side of the substrate, the second conductive layer comprising a second grid of copper lines, wherein the first and second grid are configured to enable detection of capacitance change between the first and second grids;   a first tail comprising electrical leads and electrical connector disposed on the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the first grid;   a second tail comprising electrical leads and electrical connector disposed on the second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the second grid; and,   a scratch resistant, protective coating applied to the first and second conductive layers.   
     
     
         2 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optically transparent adhesive provided over the first grid; and,   an insulating cover provided over the optically transparent adhesive.   
     
     
         3 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein said coating comprises a cross-linked polymer structure 
     
     
         4 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-link density of the scratch resistant, protective coating is at least 50%. 
     
     
         5 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-link density is from 60% to 70%. 
     
     
         6 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the scratch resistant coating is 5 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the scratch resistant coating has a hardness of 2H to 8H. 
     
     
         8 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the scratch resistant coating has a hardness of 8H. 
     
     
         9 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a heat stabilized film. 
     
     
         10 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the scratch resistant coating comprises monomers that react simultaneously at different joint points to create a cross-linked three dimensional polymer structure. 
     
     
         11 . A scratch resistant, touch sensor, comprising:
 a transparent, dielectric substrate;   a first conductive layer formed on a first side of the substrate, the first conductive layer comprising a first grid of copper lines;   a second conductive layer formed on a second side of the substrate, the second conductive layer comprising a second grid of copper lines, wherein the first and second grid are configured to enable detection of capacitance change between the first and second grids;   a first tail comprising electrical leads and electrical connector disposed on the first side of the substrate and electrically connected to the first grid;   a second tail comprising electrical leads and electrical connector disposed on the second side of the substrate and electrically connected to the second grid;   a scratch resistant, protective coating applied to the first and second conductive layers;   an optically transparent adhesive provided over the first grid; and,   an insulating cover provided over the optically transparent adhesive.   
     
     
         12 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein said coating comprises a cross-linked polymer structure 
     
     
         13 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-link density of the scratch resistant, protective coating is at least 50%. 
     
     
         14 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 12 , wherein the cross-link density is from 60% to 70%. 
     
     
         15 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the scratch resistant coating is 5 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         16 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein the scratch resistant coating has a hardness of 2H to 8H. 
     
     
         17 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein the scratch resistant coating has a hardness of 8H. 
     
     
         18 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate comprises a heat stabilized film. 
     
     
         19 . The scratch resistant, touch sensor of  claim 11 , wherein the scratch resistant coating comprises monomers that react simultaneously at different joint points to create a cross-linked three dimensional polymer structure.