Capacitive Touch Panel Conductor Pattern Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touch panels are thick due to the need for two capacitive sensing layers on both sides of a substrate, which complicates manufacturing and hinders miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive touch panel with a thin conductor pattern structure featuring first-axis and second-axis conductor assemblies interconnected by conduction lines on a single substrate surface, isolated by an insulation layer, allowing for capacitive effects between adjacent cells when touched.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two capacitive sensing layers are used on both sides of the substrate, then touch sensing capability is improved, but the panel thickness increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two separate capacitive sensing layers into a single integrated structure. The first and second conductor assemblies are positioned on the same substrate surface with insulating layers between them, eliminating the need for separate layers on opposite sides of the substrate. This combining approach maintains the capacitive sensing function while reducing overall panel thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stacking sensing layers in the thickness direction (vertical dimension), the patent arranges the first and second conductor assemblies side-by-side on the same substrate surface (horizontal dimension). The insulating layers are positioned between adjacent conductor cells rather than between stacked layers, effectively moving the separation function to a different spatial dimension.
2Reliability
If two capacitive sensing layers are used on both sides of the substrate, then touch sensing capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single substrate structure. The first conductor assembly, second conductor assembly, and insulating layers are all integrated on one substrate, reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps required compared to producing two separate sensing layers and assembling them together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the conductor assemblies into discrete conductor cells that can be independently formed and connected. This segmentation allows for modular manufacturing where conductor cells are created in an array pattern and then interconnected through conduction lines, simplifying the overall fabrication process compared to creating complete sensing layers.
3Ease of manufacture
If conductor assemblies are arranged on a single substrate surface, then manufacturing is simplified and thickness is reduced, but electrical isolation between adjacent conductors must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulating layers as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent conductor cells of the first and second conductor assemblies. These insulating layers act as mediators that prevent electrical shorting between the conductors while allowing the assemblies to be positioned close together on the same substrate surface, thus maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and electrical isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layers are applied locally only where needed between adjacent conductor cells rather than as a continuous layer across the entire substrate. This localized application of insulation maintains electrical isolation where required while leaving other areas open for conductor formation and connection, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.
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
This design simplifies the structure, reduces thickness, and facilitates low-cost, high-efficiency manufacturing while maintaining accurate touch position detection.
Implementation Method 1
when a user touches the surface of the touch panel, the first-axis conductor assemblies and the second-axis conductor assemblies that are touched by the user induce capacitive effect between adjacent conductor cells thereof
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a conductor pattern structure of a capacitive touch panel. First-axis conductor assemblies and second-axis conductor assemblies are formed on a surface of a substrate. Each first-axis conductor assembly includes a plurality of first-axis conductor cells that are interconnected by first-axis conduction lines. Each second-axis conductor assembly includes a plurality of second-axis conductor cells that are interconnected by second-axis conduction lines. At least part of each first-axis conduction lines is conductive in horizontal direction and insulating in vertical direction and each of the second-axis conduction lines respectively intersects with the at least part of corresponding first-axis conduction lines.