Built-in Touch Sensors in Flat Panel Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch screen panels attached to flat panel displays increase processing time and cost, and thickness due to the need for an adhesive layer and separate forming processes, whereas integrating touch sensors within the display is not feasible with existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A flat panel display design incorporating built-in touch sensors, featuring a first substrate with gate and data lines, a second substrate with a liquid crystal layer, and touch sensors positioned between the substrates, utilizing conductive column spacers, semiconductor layers, and electrodes to sense touch positions without additional processing steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch screen panel is attached to the outer surface of a flat panel display, then touch functionality is achieved, but the thickness of the display increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor function with the existing display structure by integrating touch sensors between the first and second substrates of the flat panel display. This eliminates the need for a separate touch screen panel attachment, thereby maintaining the original display thickness while achieving touch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The display structure is designed to perform multiple functions: the space between substrates is utilized not only for the liquid crystal layer but also for housing touch sensors. This multi-functional design allows the same structural space to serve both display and touch sensing purposes, avoiding additional thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch screen panel is attached to the outer surface of a flat panel display, then touch functionality is achieved, but processing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensors are integrated into the display manufacturing process itself, forming touch sensors and flat panel displays in a single continuous process. This eliminates the separate forming and attachment steps required for conventional touch screen panels, significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensors are formed preliminarily during the display manufacturing process before the display is completed. By preparing the touch sensor structures in advance as part of the substrate assembly, the need for subsequent attachment operations is eliminated, reducing overall processing time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a touch screen panel is attached to the outer surface of a flat panel display, then touch functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the touch sensor formation process with the existing display manufacturing processes. By utilizing the same substrates, deposition, and patterning techniques already employed for display fabrication, the manufacturing complexity is minimized while achieving integrated touch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing display manufacturing infrastructure and processes are utilized to create the touch sensors. The same equipment and methods used for forming display layers are applied to form touch sensor layers, eliminating the need for separate specialized manufacturing lines or processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables a thin, touch-sensitive flat panel display without the need for an external touch screen panel, reducing processing time and cost while maintaining the thickness of the display.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween
Implementation Method 2
the capacitive touch screen panel converts a contact position into an electrical signal by sensing a change in capacitance formed between a conductive sensing pattern and an adjacent sensing pattern, ground electrode or the like
Data Source
AI summary
A flat panel display with built-in touch sensors includes a first substrate having a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of data lines extending in a second direction and crossing the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels respectively formed in regions defined by the gate and data lines. A second substrate is joined together with the first substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. A plurality of touch sensors are at positions adjacent to the respective pixels between the first and second substrates. Each of the touch sensors includes a conductive column spacer on the second substrate, a semiconductor layer in a region on the first substrate, corresponding to the conductive column spacer, and first and second electrodes respectively overlapped with the semiconductor layer in regions at both ends on the semiconductor layer.