Flexible Touch Screen Panel Segmented Sensing Patterns

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch screen panels face damage and deterioration when bent due to the rigidity of sensing patterns, which limits their flexibility and durability in flexible display devices.

Innovation Solution

A flexible touch screen panel design that divides the active region into multiple electrically independent regions along a bending axis, with sensing patterns and lines configured to withstand bending, using a polyimide thin-film substrate and specific line configurations to prevent damage and maintain functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If sensing patterns are made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of sensing patternsVSAvoidflexibility of touch screen panel

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The active region is divided into multiple electrically independent regions by bending axes, and sensing patterns in these regions are separately operated. This segmentation allows each region to independently accommodate bending deformation without compromising the overall structural integrity of the sensing patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sensing patterns are configured with different operational characteristics based on their position relative to bending axes. Regions subjected to bending are designed with specific electrical independence and operational separation to locally adapt to deformation while maintaining global functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If sensing patterns are made flexible to allow bending, then adaptability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to pattern damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of touch screen panelVSAvoiddurability of sensing patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the active region into electrically independent regions separated by bending axes, the patent prevents crack propagation across the entire sensing pattern. Each segmented region can flex independently without causing damage to adjacent regions, thereby maintaining reliability during repeated bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing patterns are designed to dynamically adapt to bending deformation through separate operation of different regions. The electrical independence allows each region to maintain functionality despite positional changes and deformations during flexing, ensuring continued reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the active region is divided into multiple electrically independent regions, then flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of touch screen panelVSAvoidcomplexity of sensing pattern configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The division into electrically independent regions is achieved through clear geometric separation by bending axes, with each region containing complete sensing functionality. This systematic segmentation approach maintains relatively simple device architecture while enabling flexible operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9046975B2Flexible touch screen panel and flexible display device having the same

Publication Date: 2015.06.02 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A flexible touch screen panel includes a flexible thin-film substrate including an active region and an inactive region, the inactive region being at an outer side portion of the active region, and the thin-film substrate being configured to bend along at least one bending axis, sensing patterns in the active region of the thin-film substrate, the active region being divided into a plurality of electrically independent regions by the at least one bending axis, and sensing lines in the inactive region of the thin-film substrate, the sensing lines being connected to the sensing patterns.