Electromagnetic Digitizer Sensor Array Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromagnetic digitizers for flat panel displays are bulky and separate from the display module, leading to increased thickness and weight, and lack sensitivity due to large physical sizes and low resolution of sensor arrays.
Innovation Solution
The integration of miniaturized sensor segments with conductive lines and interconnections within the display module using semiconductor fabrication processes, forming novel sensor arrays that enhance sensitivity and reduce size, allowing for improved position detection of the pen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional printed circuit technology is used to form the sensor array, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the physical dimension becomes bulky and resolution is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional printed circuit technology with semiconductor fabrication technology to form the sensor array. This substitution enables much finer line widths (on the order of micrometers compared to several hundred micrometers for printed circuits), thereby achieving high resolution while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established semiconductor processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fabrication method parameter from printed circuit technology to semiconductor fabrication technology. This parameter change enables the line width to be reduced from several hundred micrometers to on the order of micrometers, significantly improving resolution while keeping the manufacturing process viable
2Reliability
If the digitizer board is made as a separate discrete component, then the sensor array can be designed with adequate size for sensitivity, but the overall display thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the digitizer sensor array with the display module by integrating the sensor array formation into the display module fabrication process. This integration eliminates the need for a separate discrete digitizer board, thereby reducing the overall display thickness and weight while maintaining the sensor array's sensitivity through proper design of the conductive line structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the display module multi-functional by integrating both display and sensing functions into a single structure. The sensor array is formed within the display module using the same semiconductor fabrication process, allowing the display to serve both as a visual output device and as a touch sensing input device, thereby eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall weight
3Reliability
If the sensor array line width is increased to improve signal sensitivity, then the sensitivity improves, but the resolution and physical dimension decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the conductive line width parameter to achieve a balance between signal sensitivity and resolution. By using semiconductor fabrication technology, the line width can be precisely controlled at the micrometer scale, which is sufficient to generate detectable magnetic flux changes while maintaining fine enough spacing between lines to provide high position detection resolution across the sensor array
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
The integration of miniaturized sensor arrays within the display module reduces the overall size and weight of the flat panel display while maintaining or improving sensitivity, enabling more precise and compact user input capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The electromagnetic pen acts as a signal transceiver, the sensor array acts as a signal receiver, and the controller determines the two-dimensional coordinates of the pen with respect to the sensor array by detecting the current change as a result of magnetic induction in the sensor array caused by a change in magnetic flux brought about by the pen
Implementation Method 2
detecting the current change as a result of magnetic induction in the sensor array caused by a change in magnetic flux brought about by the pen
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic digitizer having a sensor segment that includes a generally longitudinal network of conductive lines. Two or more conductive lines are coupled in parallel. To enhance sensitivity, the adjacent lines are interconnected along the longitudinal structure, using interconnections in the form of short lines, oriented at an angle. The sensor segments may be miniaturized, to facilitate integration into a display module using semiconductor fabrication processes. Various sensor array structures may be implemented using the sensor segment structures. The sensor array may include longitudinal sensor segments arranged in a parallel array. To further enhancing sensitivity of the sensor array, additional lines may be provided between adjacent longitudinal sensor segments. The sensor array may also include half loop (or U-shaped) sensor segments arranged in an overlapping parallel array, or full loop sensor segments arranged in an overlapping parallel array.