Floating Dummy Electrode for Touch Display Short-Circuit Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices with touch sensing units face issues of short-circuit failures between sensing electrodes, which can lead to malfunction and reduced reliability in detecting touch inputs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a dummy electrode in a floating state between the connection electrode and the sensing electrodes, which reduces the number of intersections and minimizes the risk of short-circuit failures while maintaining visibility and contact resistance, and can have rounded or concavo-convex shapes to enhance capacitance and sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If connection electrodes are used to connect second sensing electrodes through contact holes, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the risk of short-circuit failures with first sensing electrodes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshort-circuit failure riskVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A dummy electrode is introduced as an intermediary element between the connection electrode and the first sensing electrode. This dummy electrode acts as a buffer zone that reduces the likelihood of short-circuit failures by providing spatial separation and reducing electromagnetic interference, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dummy electrode is positioned in a different spatial dimension (layer) relative to the connection electrode and first sensing electrode. By utilizing the vertical dimension through multiple layers, the patent achieves better separation and reduced short-circuit risk while maintaining a compact overall structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the number of intersections between electrodes is reduced, then short-circuit failures are minimized, but capacitance and sensitivity may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshort-circuit failure rateVSAvoidtouch sensing sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dummy electrode serves as a mediator that maintains or enhances capacitance despite reduced intersections. By being positioned between the connection electrode and first sensing electrode, it creates additional capacitive coupling paths that compensate for the reduced number of direct intersections, thereby maintaining sensitivity while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the electrode system by introducing the dummy electrode with specific geometric characteristics (rounded or concavo-convex shapes). These parameter changes optimize the capacitive properties and electromagnetic field distribution, maintaining sensitivity while reducing short-circuit failures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If dummy electrodes with rounded or concavo-convex shapes are used, then capacitance and sensitivity are enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing sensitivityVSAvoidelectrode fabrication difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The dummy electrode is designed with rounded or concavo-convex shapes instead of straight edges. This curvature enhances the capacitive properties and sensitivity by optimizing the electromagnetic field distribution. The curved geometry can be fabricated using standard photolithography and etching processes, making it compatible with existing manufacturing techniques while improving performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 implementation of a dummy electrode reduces short-circuit failures between the connection and sensing electrodes, maintains visibility, and increases capacitance, thereby enhancing the reliability and sensitivity of touch sensing units in display devices.

Implementation Method 1

the dummy electrode may be a floating electrode... The implementation of a dummy electrode reduces short-circuit failures between the connection and sensing electrodes, maintains visibility, and increases capacitance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10761665B2Display device

Publication Date: 2020.09.01 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device includes: a display panel including a substrate; and a touch sensing unit on the substrate, wherein the touch sensing unit includes: a plurality of first sensing electrodes disposed on the substrate and directly connected to each other; a plurality of second sensing electrodes disposed on the substrate; an insulating layer between the substrate and the first sensing electrodes and between the substrate and the second sensing electrodes; a connection electrode disposed between the substrate and the insulating layer, wherein the connection electrode is connected to at least one of the second sensing electrodes through a contact hole of the insulating layer; and a dummy electrode located on the same layer as the connection electrode, wherein the dummy electrode is not physically connected to the connection electrode and the first sensing electrodes.