Panel assembly

Abstract

A panel assembly is provided. The panel assembly includes a first panel having a first insulating substrate, and a second panel having a second insulating substrate and a touch sensing portion formed on the second insulating substrate. The first panel and the second panel face each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a panel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch sensing portion of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the panel assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a touch sensing portion according to a variation of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a panel assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the panel assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a panel assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the panel assembly of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a panel assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A panel assembly comprising: a first panel having a first insulating substrate;a second panel having a second insulating substrate, the second panel facing the first panel;and a touch sensing portion formed on the second insulating substrate.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the touch sensing portion comprises: an ultrasonic waveguide layer formed on the second insulating substrate;ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions formed on the ultrasonic waveguide layer; anda passivation layer formed on the ultrasonic waveguide layer.

3. The panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the touch sensing portion is formed on the second insulating substrate facing the first panel.

4. The panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the first panel comprises a thin-film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a color filter formed on the first insulating substrate, andwherein the second panel further comprises a common electrode formed on the second insulating substrate.

5. The panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer.

6. The panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent electrode layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

7. The panel assembly of claim 4, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises: a first transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer; anda second transparent layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

8. The panel assembly of claim 3, wherein the first panel comprises a thin-film transistor formed on the first insulating substrate and a pixel electrode, andwherein the second panel further comprises a color filter formed on the second insulating substrate and a common electrode.

9. The panel assembly of claim 8, wherein the color filter is interposed between the second insulating substrate and the touch sensing portion.

10. The panel assembly of claim 9, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer.

11. The panel assembly of claim 9, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent electrode layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

12. The panel assembly of claim 9, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises: a first transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer; anda second transparent electrode layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

13. The panel assembly of claim 8, wherein the touch sensing portion is interposed between the second insulating substrate and the color filter.

14. The panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer.

15. The panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises a transparent layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

16. The panel assembly of claim 13, wherein the touch sensing portion further comprises: a first transparent electrode layer interposed between the second insulating substrate and the ultrasonic waveguide layer; anda second transparent electrode layer surrounded by the ultrasonic waveguide layer, the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving portions, and the passivation layer.

17. The panel assembly of claim 2, wherein the ultrasonic transmitting portion comprises an X-axis transmitting portion formed at an edge of the ultrasonic waveguide layer and a Y-axis transmitting portion formed at a neighboring edge to the X-axis transmitting portion, andwherein the ultrasonic receiving portion comprises an X-axis receiving portion formed at an opposite edge to the X-axis transmitting portion and a Y-axis receiving portion formed at an opposite edge to the a Y-axis transmitting portion.

18. The panel assembly of claim 17, wherein the ultrasonic transmitting portion comprises a plurality of transmitting areas, and lengths of the plurality of transmitting areas and distances between the neighboring transmitting areas are irregular, andwherein the ultrasonic transmitting portion transmits ultrasonic waves of various frequencies from the plurality of transmitting areas.

19. The panel assembly of claim 18, wherein the touch sensing portion is formed beneath the second insulating substrate facing the first panel.

20. The panel assembly of claim 17, wherein the ultrasonic transmitting portion comprises a plurality of transmitting areas, andwherein the ultrasonic transmitting portion receives various driving signals and transmitting ultrasonic waves of various frequencies from the plurality of transmitting areas.

21. The panel assembly of claim 20, wherein the touch sensing portion is formed beneath the second insulating substrate facing the first panel.