Heraeus and ITRI achieve improvements in touchscreen production

A new stable industrial process for mass manufacturing using Clevios™ based films for touchscreens and sensors are said to improve manufacturing efficiency, lower costs and meet industry needs for next generation functionality. Heraeus, the German technology group, in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), has developed an improved mass manufacturing process for its Clevios™ based films, this process will enable companies to produce touchscreens with greater functionality, so they can be flexible, curved, three dimensional or wearable.

The research of Heraeus and ITRI updated its Clevios™ PEDOT conductive polymer coated films (provided by EOC/Nanya Plastics and Eternal Materials Co.) to fully functional 7in. touch panels. Optimum parameter sets with wide process windows were determined for all processing steps of sensor patterning, silver trace printing, FPC bonding, and touch sensor film lamination. Process run cards and quality control steps were implemented and statistical analysis was performed to characterise the process. The 7in. touch panels produced were fully functional, performed five-point multi-touch and pilot production suggesting high yields. Also, a new fine line low temperature silver paste ‘LT Silver® P’ optimised for the touch sensors was used for the silver trace screen printing.

“After presenting the world first foldable 7” Clevios™ touch panel integrated with a flexible AMOLED Display at Touch Taiwan in August, this is another milestone of our successful cooperation with Heraeus in the field of conductive polymer touch panel technology” said Dr. Janglin Chen, Vice President of ITRI & General Director of ITRI’s Display Technology Center.

According to Dr. Ralf Droste, Head of Business Line Display & Semiconductor of Heraeus, the new stable manufacturing process will provide immediate and long term benefits for touch panel companies, from lower costs to the ability to incorporate greater features and functionality. “We’ve developed a clear roadmap to enable companies to quickly implement Clevios™ technology into their manufacturing processes. It allows companies to offer the next generation of foldable touch devices, where Clevios™ exceeds the performance and functionality of all other transparent conductors.”

Adapted from press release by Francesca Brindle

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/product-news/23112015/heraeus-itri-achieve-new-touchscreen-production-technology-1784/