Ultra-narrow frame design has become the mainstream of the development of smart handheld devices, the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute and Japan Komori today (the 27th) jointly issued a "non-yellow fine line of roll-to-roll printing technology" is the world's first precision of less than 20μm wires Printing Technology (fine-line printing) developed a narrow border thin touch module. The focus of this technology is to replace expensive yellow etching process, there may be the opportunity to become the next generation of the touch panel of the most critical equipment, is expected in 2014 into mass production.
Touch panel industry in 2012 the output value of about $ 4,940 billion Taiwan dollars, and in 2011 compared to an annual growth of 48 per cent, of which the output value of Taiwan's touch panel ranked first in the world, over half of market share in the Department of Industrial Technology Over the years, supported by ITRI has accumulated a lot of roll-to-roll (roll-to-roll) energy research and development, the establishment of a complete roll-to-roll pilot production test line.
Change in 2013 is that this institute have the opportunity and Japanese manufacturers Komori (Komori) to jointly develop below 20μm superfine wire roll to roll printing units. Allow flexible electronics manufacturers in the printing process cut breakthroughs, future import touch panel production line, will enhance the global competitiveness of their products.
Most manufacturers currently on the market mostly yellow etching process to fabricate a touch panel, and its relatively complicated and costly procedure, ITRI Roll innovative design equipment and transmission technology to import sophisticated printing technology wire touch panel manufacturing process, in thin substrate to direct printing (direct printing) for wire production, can be replaced by yellow etching process, as long as a piece of equipment can replace traditional patterned sputtering coating to the developing, printing and etching seven machines , the metal wire material utilization rate is increased from 5% to 95%, 4-5 layers of a touch panel to complete the process, with high efficiency, Environmental and significant cost advantages.
ITRI Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Institute Liu Junting director, said, now there is all kinds of narrow border products, the border width depends on the wire width and line spacing, the current general screen printing technology can production line width is approximately 60-80μm, gravure also reached only 30-50μm, jointly published by the innovation process are able to achieve less than 20μm, and yellow etch process to achieve the same level, and they could save time and costs. This printing technology used in addition to a touch panel, and more can be applied in future OLED lighting, the next generation of flexible circuit boards, displays, solar panels and other flexible electronics applications.
Technology Daily News believes that such a critical technology in the future, depending on yield and cost, and its advantage is the ability to reduce costs, and has high production efficiency, and the industry as long as they can have a successful outcome with the 2014 production should be possible. However, even mass production, nor has achieved a leading position on the market, after all, the mainstream yellow etching process still occupies a relative majority, requires the test of time.
