Flexible OLED Touch Panel Pressure Sensor Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a challenge in manufacturing touch input devices that can detect pressure magnitude on flexible OLED panels without degrading the display module, as these panels are thin and prone to bending, making it difficult to implement pressure sensors effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method involving forming a flexible display and a pressure sensor on separate substrates, cutting them into individual pieces, and adhering the flexible display to the pressure sensor substrate, allowing for pressure detection while maintaining the integrity of the display module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a pressure sensor is implemented directly on a flexible OLED panel, then pressure detection capability is achieved, but the display module performance degrades due to the panel's thinness and bending tendency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure detection capabilityVSAvoiddisplay module performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the touch input device into separate functional layers: a flexible display panel and a pressure sensor substrate. The pressure sensor is formed on a separate substrate that is then bonded to the display panel, allowing independent optimization of each component. This segmentation prevents the pressure sensor from directly affecting the display panel's flexibility and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a separate substrate as an intermediary between the flexible display panel and the pressure sensor. This intermediate substrate acts as a buffer that protects the thin flexible panel from damage while enabling pressure sensor integration. The substrate serves as a mediator that allows both the display's flexibility and the sensor's functionality to coexist.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the flexible display is cut into individual pieces and separated from the carrier substrate, then individual display units are obtained for assembly, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary cutting of the flexible display into individual pieces while it is still attached to the carrier substrate. This preliminary action allows the display units to be pre-prepared and organized before final assembly with the pressure sensor substrates, simplifying the overall manufacturing process by breaking it into manageable stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments both the flexible display and the pressure sensor substrates into individual units that correspond to each other. This segmentation allows for modular assembly where pre-cut display pieces are bonded to matching pressure sensor pieces, reducing final assembly complexity despite increased initial processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If multiple display devices are formed on one carrier substrate, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the handling and cutting process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidhandling process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple flexible display devices onto a single carrier substrate for simultaneous manufacturing. This merging approach allows batch processing of multiple displays, improving manufacturing efficiency and productivity while maintaining standardized handling procedures for the entire array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary cutting of multiple displays from the carrier substrate before final assembly. This preliminary action allows all displays to be prepared in advance in a controlled manner, making subsequent handling and assembly easier despite the initial complexity of managing multiple units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11353976B2Method for manufacturing touch input device and touch input device

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 HIDEEP INC

AI summary

Technologies for manufacturing a touch input device are disclosed. The method includes: forming, on a single carrier substrate, a flexible display for each of a plurality of display devices, cutting the flexible display into individual pieces, and separating the flexible display from the carrier substrate; a separate structure different from electrodes may be used to detect touch position forming step of forming, under a single substrate, a separate structure different from electrodes may be used to detect touch position for each of the plurality of display devices and cutting the substrate for the separate structure into individual pieces; and adhering each of the individual pieces of the separated flexible display to an individual piece of the substrate for the separate structure. The substrate for the separate structure may not be relatively easily bent as compared to the flexible display.