Heraeus and Taiwan’s Industrial Technolgy Research Institute (ITRI) have been working together for several years. Their work has been focused on touch screens, using Heraeus’ Clevios conductive polymer-based touch panels (ITRI and Heraeus Scale Non-ITO Touch, High Resolutions Rule Touch Taiwan).
The organisations have now collaborated to develop an improved mass-manufacturing process for the Clevios-based films. The research involved using the Clevios films with 7″ touch panels. Those produced were fully functional, supporting five-point multitouch.
Optimum parameter sets were determined for all processing steps of sensor patterning, silver trace printing, FPC bonding, and touch sensor film lamination. Heraeus and ITRI also implemented process-run cards and quality control steps. Statistical analysis was performed to characterise the process. A new fine-line low temperature silver paste, called ‘LT Silver P’ was used for the silver trace screen-printing.
Pilot production suggests high yields.
