Display Panel Touch Key Layout for Buttonless Edge Screens
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Solution Overview
Problem
As smartphones transition to expanded display panels with touch-type operations, integrating physical button functions like power on-off and volume control becomes increasingly difficult due to the expanded display surface, necessitating a replacement for traditional button-type physical keys.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design featuring a display panel with an integrated antenna and touch sensor pattern on the display screen, utilizing a flexible connecting member to connect the touch sensor driving circuit, allowing for buttonless key functionality that controls power and volume operations, thereby replacing traditional physical keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display area is expanded to cover more surface area, then the visual display capability is improved, but the space available for physical buttons is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical push buttons with a touch sensor pattern that detects touch inputs through capacitive sensing. The touch sensor pattern includes sensing electrodes arranged to detect touch events, and a touch sensor driving circuit processes the sensed signals to generate button press effects. This substitution eliminates the need for physical mechanical buttons while maintaining the operational functionality on the expanded display surface.
2Shape
If physical buttons are replaced with touch sensors, then the design appearance is improved and surface is simplified, but the antenna integration becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch sensor pattern into multiple independent sensing regions that can be selectively activated. The touch sensor pattern includes multiple sensing electrodes arranged in specific patterns, with each region capable of detecting touch events independently. This segmentation allows the antenna to be positioned in specific areas without interfering with the overall touch sensing functionality, as different regions can serve different purposes (antenna operation vs. button simulation).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional qualities to different regions of the display surface. Certain areas are designated for antenna operation while other areas maintain full touch sensing capability. The touch sensor driving circuit is configured to selectively enable or disable sensing in specific regions based on antenna operation requirements, allowing local optimization of both antenna performance and touch functionality.
3Measurement precision
If the touch sensor pattern is separated from the antenna, then the touch sensing accuracy is improved, but the connecting member complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a touch sensor driving circuit as an intermediary component that bridges the separated touch sensor pattern and antenna. The driving circuit receives signals from the touch sensor pattern, processes them to determine touch events, and generates appropriate control signals. This intermediary structure allows the touch sensor pattern and antenna to be physically separated while maintaining functional integration through the driving circuit, which manages the interaction between these components.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device including: a display panel including a display screen to display an image; an antenna coupled to the display panel and disposed on the display screen; a touch sensor pattern separated from the antenna and disposed on the display screen; a first connecting member disposed outside the display screen of the display panel and mounted with a touch sensor driving circuit; and a second connecting member that connects the touch sensor driving circuit to the touch sensor pattern, and is at least partially more flexible than the first connecting member.