Color Filter Substrate With Integrated Touch Sensing and Light Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of touch screen LCD displays is complex and costly due to the need for multiple layers, which makes it difficult to produce thinner and lighter devices with poor surface flatness, especially in the production of color filter substrates where the black matrix induces poor surface flatness and requires additional planarization layers.
Innovation Solution
A color filter substrate with a capacitive touch screen design that integrates a sensing layer with a first and second metal layer and an insulating layer, where the insulating layer is made of light shielding materials, eliminating the need for a black matrix and allowing direct application of color paste, reducing the number of layers and optimizing the production process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a black matrix layer is added to prevent color blending, then color separation is improved, but surface flatness deteriorates and additional planarization layers are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the black matrix function with the common electrode function into a single integrated structure. The common electrode is formed directly on the substrate and serves both as an electrical component and as the black matrix that prevents color blending, eliminating the need for a separate black matrix layer and subsequent planarization layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The common electrode is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the electrical function for the liquid crystal display and also serves as the black matrix for color separation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional layers and simplifies the overall structure.
2Reliability
If multiple layers are added to achieve touch screen functionality, then sensing capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor electrodes with the display electrode structure. The same transparent conductive layers that form the common electrode and counter electrode also serve as the touch sensing electrodes, eliminating the need for separate touch sensor layers and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent conductive layers are designed to perform dual functions: they serve as electrical electrodes for the liquid crystal display operation and simultaneously function as touch sensing electrodes for capacitive touch detection, reducing the total number of layers required.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple layers and complex processing are used for touch screen manufacturing, then touch functionality is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display electrode fabrication process with the touch sensor electrode fabrication process into a single integrated manufacturing flow. The same sputtering or deposition steps that create the display electrodes also create the touch sensing electrodes, reducing processing steps and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode structure is designed to serve both display and touch functions, allowing a single manufacturing process to produce both functionalities simultaneously, thereby reducing production complexity and cost while maintaining full touch screen capability.
4Shape
If additional planarization layers are added to compensate for poor surface flatness, then surface flatness is improved, but device thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for separate planarization layers by designing the common electrode structure to inherently provide a flat surface. The common electrode is formed directly on the substrate and its top surface serves as both the electrical component and the flat surface for subsequent color filter deposition, removing the need for additional planarization steps.
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 results in a thinner and lighter color filter substrate and capacitive touch screen with reduced production costs, improved surface flatness, and simplified manufacturing by eliminating the need for additional planarization layers and black matrix production.
Implementation Method 1
a part of the insulating layer of the sensing layer is made of a light shielding material forming a grid shielding boundaries between respective sub-pixel regions
Implementation Method 2
When the touch screen is touched, the capacitance of the touch point changes, which induces variation of either the current or pulse signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a color filter and a capacitive touch screen. Said color filter comprises a substrate; a color filter film formed on the substrate and comprising a plurality of sub-pixel regions; and a sensing layer formed on the substrate and comprising a first metal layer, a second metal layer and an insulting layer located between the first metal layer and the second metal layer. At least one of the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the insulating layer is made of a light shielding material, the light shielding material is projected on the color filter film as a grid and shields the boundaries between respective sub-pixel regions. According to the present disclosure, the number of layers produced is reduced, production process is optimized, and the cost is reduced and the color filter substrate is thinner and lighter compared with the conventional color filter substrate.