Diagonal Touch Sensor Conductive Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch-screen technologies face challenges in accurately determining the position of multiple fingers or fingers close together due to the need for a large number of sensing elements, which results in a wide non-sensing zone around the edges of the touch-screen, increasing complexity and requiring multiple connectors and controller boards.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor design featuring conductive elements that extend obliquely or diagonally within the sensing area, reducing the need for edge 'feed' wires by ensuring each element crosses others only once, thereby minimizing the non-sensing zone and simplifying the connection layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large number of sensing elements are used to accurately determine the position of multiple fingers or fingers close together, then touch position accuracy is improved, but the non-sensing zone around the edges increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional horizontal and vertical conductive element arrangements to diagonal conductive elements that extend from corner to corner across the sensing area. This dimensional change allows each conductive element to span the entire sensing area, creating multiple intersection points that improve touch position accuracy while reducing the total number of elements required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the sensing area into multiple regions defined by the diagonal conductive elements and their intersection points. Each intersection point serves as a discrete sensing node, allowing the system to accurately determine touch positions across the entire area while using fewer overall elements compared to traditional grid arrangements.
2Measurement precision
If a large number of sensing elements are used to accurately determine the position of multiple fingers or fingers close together, then touch position accuracy is improved, but the non-sensing zone around the edges increases
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging conductive elements diagonally from corner to corner rather than horizontally and vertically, the patent extends the sensing capability to the extreme edges of the sensing area. The diagonal elements intersect near the corners, creating sensing points that eliminate or minimize the non-sensing zone that typically exists around the edges of traditional touch screens.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional horizontal and vertical conductive elements are used, then the sensing area can be divided into a grid, but Moire interference patterns occur when aligned with display pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the symmetric horizontal-vertical grid arrangement with asymmetric diagonal conductive elements. This asymmetry in orientation causes the conductive elements to run at angles that do not align with the horizontal and vertical pixel grid of the display, thereby eliminating Moire interference patterns while still providing a regular array of intersection points for accurate touch detection.
4Measurement precision
If multiple connectors and controller boards are used to handle the large number of conductive elements, then touch position accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing functions into a single integrated array of diagonal conductive elements. By having all conductive elements extend across the entire sensing area and intersect to form a comprehensive grid, the system can accurately detect touch positions throughout the display while requiring fewer separate connectors and controller boards compared to traditional segmented approaches.
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 enhances touch accuracy, reduces visual interference, and decreases electromagnetic interference, while maintaining sensitivity and reducing the number of required conductive elements, thus improving the overall efficiency and usability of touch-screen technology.
Implementation Method 1
The finger positions may be determined by finding intersections of the horizontal (x) and vertical (y) conductive elements that show a significant change in signal transmission between these elements (for example, from horizontal controllable to vertical sensing elements) when a finger approaches that intersection thereby causing a change in the capacitive coupling between these elements
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a touch sensor comprising: a sensing area having a central region bounded by at least one edge region that extends in an edge region direction; and a plurality of conductive elements that each extend through the central region in a direction that is oblique to the edge region direction.