Curved Display Side Pressure Sensor Layout for Buttonless Input

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices lack an efficient mechanism to integrate pressure sensors as substitutes for physical buttons, limiting the ease of input methods.

Innovation Solution

A display device design incorporating a planar portion, a curved portion, and side surfaces with pressure sensors disposed to overlap these surfaces, along with a window and a cover panel, allowing for easy integration of pressure sensors for input functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pressure sensors are integrated into display devices to replace physical buttons, then input functionality is enhanced, but device structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinput functionalityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pressure sensor with the display panel structure by positioning the pressure sensor at the rear surface of the display panel, integrating two previously separate components (display panel and pressure sensor) into a unified structure. This reduces overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced input functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure sensor is nested within the display panel structure, specifically positioned at the rear surface of the display panel. This nesting approach allows the pressure sensor to be incorporated without significantly increasing the external dimensions or overall complexity of the device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If pressure sensors are positioned at the rear surface of the display panel, then integration is simplified, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration simplicityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor is pre-positioned at the rear surface of the display panel during the display panel manufacturing process. This preliminary positioning action ensures accurate alignment before final assembly, reducing the need for high-precision adjustments during later manufacturing stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rear surface of the display panel serves as an intermediary positioning platform for the pressure sensor. This intermediary surface provides a stable and accessible reference for accurate pressure sensor placement, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Shape

If the display panel includes curved surfaces, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but pressure sensor integration becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidsensor integration
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor is positioned at a specific location on the rear surface of the display panel where the surface geometry is most favorable for sensor integration. This local optimization allows the curved aesthetic appearance to be maintained while providing an accessible area for pressure sensor mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses the curvature challenge by moving to another dimension - positioning the pressure sensor on the rear surface rather than the front curved surface. This dimensional shift allows the sensor to be integrated while the front surface maintains its curved aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3832441B1Display device comprising pressure sensor
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3832441B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3832441B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3832441B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device comprises: a display panel; a window; and a first pressure sensor. The display panel comprises: a planar portion; a first curved portion connected to one side of the planar portion; and a first side portion connected to one side of the first curved portion. The window is disposed on the display panel. The first pressure sensor is disposed so as to overlap with the first side portion. Here, the first side portion is disposed in a plane different from each of the planar portion and the first curved portion.