Flexible Conductive Pattern Layer for Display Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display apparatuses lack flexibility in their conductive pattern layers, leading to potential cracks and electrical issues when bent or flexed, which affects the mechanical and electrical properties of the sensing electrodes and connection lines.
Innovation Solution
A conductive pattern layer with a nanostructure, including a base part, randomly disposed protrusions, and holes, is formed using an electrically conductive material like silver alloy, which is self-assembled through thermal treatment, enhancing flexibility and reducing stress transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional conductive pattern layer is used in display apparatus, then electrical conductivity is maintained, but flexibility is poor leading to cracks when bent
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive pattern layer is designed with a porous structure containing randomly distributed holes of different sizes. This porous configuration reduces stress concentration during bending, allowing the layer to flex without cracking while maintaining electrical conductivity through the interconnected conductive matrix surrounding the holes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional two-dimensional flat conductive pattern to a three-dimensional structured pattern with protrusions and holes. This dimensional enhancement creates a more complex topology that distributes mechanical stress more effectively, improving flexibility and crack resistance while preserving electrical pathways.
2Strength
If thermal treatment is applied to enable self-assembly of conductive pattern, then nanostructure formation improves flexibility, but additional process step increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive material layer undergoes self-assembly through thermal treatment to spontaneously form the porous nanostructure with protrusions and holes. This self-organizing process eliminates the need for complex lithographic patterning or multiple fabrication steps, as the material autonomously develops the desired flexible structure under thermal activation.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal treatment modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the conductive material layer, inducing phase transitions or structural reorganization that lead to self-assembly. By controlling temperature parameters, the material transforms into the desired porous nanostructure, achieving flexibility enhancement through a single parameter-driven process step.
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 nanostructured conductive pattern layer maintains electrical characteristics and prevents cracks, even with repeated bending, thereby improving the mechanical and electrical properties of the display apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
exposing the base layer to thermal treatment to enable self-assembly of an electrically conductive pattern layer on the structure
Data Source
AI summary
A display apparatus includes a display panel and a sensor structure disposed on the display panel. The sensor structure includes a sensing electrode and a connection line connected to the sensing electrode. At least one of the sensing electrode and the connection line includes a conductive pattern layer. The conductive patter layer includes a base part, protrusions randomly disposed on the base part and protruding from the base part, and holes randomly defined in the base part.