Flexible Touch Panel Electrode Segmentation for Folding Durability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flexible touch panels face durability issues due to electrode damage from repeated bending or folding, leading to increased resistance values and potential functional failure.

Innovation Solution

A touch panel design featuring non-bridged electrode structures in the folding region, where electrodes are staggered and made from ductile materials, avoiding intersections and the need for insulation pads, and incorporating compensation electrodes to maintain effective touch sensing and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrode structures are disposed in the folding portion of the touch panel, then the touch panel can maintain functionality during bending, but the electrode structures may be damaged due to prolonged bending or folding, causing resistance value to increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of electrode structuresVSAvoidresistance value increase

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes electrode structures from the folding portion of the touch panel entirely. Instead, electrodes are arranged only in the flat display regions, with the folding portion containing no electrodes. This extraction eliminates the damage mechanism that caused resistance increase during repeated bending, while touch functionality is maintained through the non-folding regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel is segmented into distinct functional zones: flat display regions containing electrode structures for touch sensing, and a folding portion deliberately kept free of electrodes. This segmentation allows the folding region to bend without electrode damage while the flat regions maintain touch functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If electrode structures are disposed in the folding portion, then the touch panel can sense touch in the folding region, but prolonged bending causes electrode damage and functional failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing capabilityVSAvoidservice life under repeated bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Electrode structures are extracted from the folding portion to preserve long-term durability. The folding region contains no electrodes, eliminating the source of damage during repeated bending cycles, while touch sensing is maintained in the flat display regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the touch panel are assigned different functional qualities: flat regions contain complete electrode structures for touch sensing, while the folding region is designed with no electrodes to withstand repeated bending. This local differentiation optimizes both touch functionality and mechanical durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If electrodes are arranged with intersections in the folding region, then touch sensing is enabled, but intersections require insulation pads that increase complexity and potential failure points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing functionVSAvoidinsulation pad requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Electrode intersections and their associated insulation pads are completely removed from the folding portion. The folding region contains only the substrate without electrode structures, eliminating the complexity and failure points associated with insulated intersections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel is segmented so that electrode intersections exist only in flat display regions where they are stable, while the folding region is segmented to contain no electrodes or intersections, simplifying its structure for repeated bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9372509B2Touch panel

Publication Date: 2016.06.21 HANNSTAR DISPLAY CORP

AI summary

A touch panel includes a substrate, first electrodes, second electrodes, third electrodes, and fourth electrodes. The substrate includes a first touch region, a second touch region, and a first touch folding region disposed between the first touch region and the second touch region. The first electrodes extending from the first touch region to the first touch folding region and the second electrodes are disposed in the first touch region on the substrate. The third electrodes extending from the second touch region to the first touch folding region and the fourth electrodes are disposed in the second touch region on the substrate. The first electrodes and the third electrodes are not intersected with one another. A ratio of any side length of the touch panel to a distance between the first touch region and the second touch region is between 9.5 and 95.