Flexible Embedded Touch Control Structure for OLED Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible touch control products have limitations such as fixed shape, increased manufacturing difficulty due to additional touch sensor films, and inflexible electrode materials like indium tin oxide (ITO), leading to adhesive issues and panel failure upon repeated flexing.
Innovation Solution
A flexible embedded touch control structure integrates a touch sensor within a flexible panel, comprising a TFT substrate, planarization layer, OLED touch layer, and encapsulation layer, with touch connection lines and electrodes formed to reduce thickness, enhance flexibility, and simplify manufacturing by patterning the anode and cathode layers using vapor deposition with a fine mask.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch sensor film is additionally attached to provide touch control function, then the touch control capability is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty increases and the panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor function with the OLED display structure by integrating touch electrodes into the cathode layer of the OLED. This combination eliminates the need for separate touch sensor films and reduces the number of manufacturing steps, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving touch control capability and maintaining simple manufacturing processes
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode layer of the OLED is designed to serve dual functions: as the electrode for light emission and as the touch sensing electrode. This multi-functionality approach allows the same structural element to provide both display and touch control capabilities, thereby improving versatility without increasing device complexity
2Strength
If traditional full attachment technology with large amount of adhesive is used, then the layers are firmly attached, but peeling occurs after multiple flexes leading to panel failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive layer from the flexible panel structure by directly integrating the touch electrodes into the OLED cathode layer. This removal of the adhesive interface prevents peeling issues that occur with repeated flexing, thereby improving panel reliability while maintaining sufficient attachment strength through the integrated structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a fully flexible OLED structure with thin-film electrodes that can bend without creating stress concentration at adhesive interfaces. The integrated thin-film design allows the panel to flex repeatedly without peeling, resolving the contradiction between initial attachment strength and long-term reliability under flexing conditions
3Reliability
If indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode material is used, then good electrical conductivity is achieved, but flexibility is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite electrode materials in the OLED cathode layer that combine the electrical conductivity of ITO with the flexibility of organic conductive materials or metal nanowires. This composite approach maintains good electrical conductivity while significantly improving the flexibility and bendability of the electrode, resolving the contradiction between conductivity and flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode material by using alternative materials or composite structures with different mechanical properties. By selecting materials with lower modulus and higher ductility, the electrode maintains electrical conductivity while achieving the flexibility required for bendable displays
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate layers including touch sensor film are stacked, then touch control function is provided, but the overall panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the OLED display layers and touch sensor layers into a single integrated structure where the OLED cathode layer serves as the touch electrode. This merging eliminates the need for separate touch sensor films and reduces the overall panel thickness while maintaining full touch control functionality
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
This approach reduces the number of attaching operations, decreases panel thickness, increases flexibility, and simplifies the manufacturing process by integrating touch sensors within the panel, improving yield and reducing the need for additional touch sensor films and adhesive use.
Implementation Method 1
patterning the anode and cathode layers using vapor deposition with a fine mask
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a flexible embedded touch control structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The flexible embedded touch control structure of the present invention includes a TFT substrate, a planarization layer, an OLED touch layer, and an encapsulation layer. The OLED touch layer includes an anode layer, a pixel definition layer, emissive layers, and a cathode layer. The anode layer includes a plurality of anode units and a plurality of touch connection line. The plurality of touch connection lines are located under and correspond to the pixel definition layer. The cathode layer includes a plurality of touch electrodes, and the plurality of touch electrodes are respectively connected through a plurality of vias formed in the pixel definition layer to the touch connection lines to form a touch sensing structure. The present invention integrates a touch sensor in a flexible panel so as to effectively reduce the number of attaching operations conducted in a panel, reduces an overall thickness of the panel, increases the flexibility of the panel, and thus improve yield, and compared to an existing flexible OLED panel, requires only change of the pattern designs of the cathode layer and the anode layer so that the manufacturing process is simple.