Flexible Touch Sensor with Insulating Layer for Curved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panels with rigid substrates are limited in application, failing to meet the evolving requirements of products with diverse surface designs, such as flat and curved surfaces, due to their inflexibility and structural constraints.
Innovation Solution
A flexible touch sensor is developed, featuring a sensing electrode structure on a flexible substrate with multiple layers, including insulating and conductive layers, which allows for attachment to both flat and curved surfaces, enhancing flexibility and reducing thickness and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid substrate is used for the touch sensing layer, then structural stability and manufacturing ease are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to curved surfaces deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid substrate with a flexible substrate (such as a flexible printed circuit board or flexible polymer film) that can be bent and conform to curved surfaces. The touch sensing layer is formed directly on this flexible substrate, allowing the entire assembly to maintain structural stability while gaining the ability to adapt to various surface geometries including curved surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If a rigid substrate is used for the touch sensing layer, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but device weight and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate enables the touch panel to be made thinner and lighter compared to rigid substrate-based designs. The flexible nature allows for reduced material thickness while maintaining structural integrity, directly reducing device weight without compromising manufacturing precision through proper adhesive bonding and layer alignment.
3Strength
If a rigid substrate is used for the touch sensing layer, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to diverse surface designs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate maintains sufficient structural strength to support the touch sensing layer and withstand operational forces while enabling the panel to conform to diverse surface designs including flat, curved, and irregular geometries. This resolves the contradiction by providing both strength and design adaptability simultaneously.
4Ease of manufacture
If the touch sensing layer is directly formed on a hard substrate, then manufacturing process simplicity is improved, but flexibility and thinness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate allows the touch sensing layer to be formed directly on it using similar manufacturing processes as rigid substrates, maintaining manufacturing simplicity. However, the flexible nature enables the use of thinner materials and reduced bonding layer thickness, achieving overall thinness while preserving the direct formation manufacturing advantage.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel comprises a flexible touch sensor and a cover plate. The cover plate and the flexible touch sensor are attached to each other by an adhesive layer. The flexible touch sensor at least comprises a sensing electrode structure disposed on a flexible substrate. The sensing electrode structure comprises a first insulating layer and a first patterned conductive layer formed on the first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is disposed between the flexible substrate and the first patterned conductive layer and directly contacts the flexible substrate.