Flexible Touch Sensor Noise Shielding via Metal Nanowires

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible touch panels face challenges in maintaining performance and reliability while achieving flexibility, as adjustments in material selection, layer thickness, and layer distance often compromise their effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A flexible touch sensor with a noise shielding layer comprising a matrix and metal nanowires is integrated into a flexible touch display module, where the noise shielding layer is positioned between the flexible display panel and the touch-sensing layer, preventing noise interference and enhancing touch-response speed and report rate, while maintaining flexibility and reducing layer thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the thickness of the noise shielding layer is reduced to maintain flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but noise shielding performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidnoise interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The noise shielding layer uses a composite structure consisting of metal nanowires embedded in a polymer matrix. This composite material provides both flexibility (from the polymer matrix) and effective noise shielding (from the conductive metal nanowires), resolving the contradiction between thickness reduction for flexibility and noise shielding performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a thin film noise shielding layer made of metal nanowires in a polymer matrix that can be bent and flexed. This thin film structure achieves effective noise shielding without requiring large thickness, thus maintaining flexibility while providing adequate electromagnetic interference protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If material selection and layer thickness are adjusted to achieve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but touch sensor performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidtouch sensor performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor structure has different layer configurations in different areas: the visible area uses transparent conductive layers for touch sensing, while the trace area uses opaque conductive layers for signal transmission. This local differentiation allows flexibility optimization without compromising overall touch sensor performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The use of metal nanowire-polymer composite materials in the noise shielding layer provides both mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity, allowing the layer to be thin enough for flexibility while maintaining adequate shielding performance to protect touch sensor operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The solution effectively reduces noise interference, improves touch-response speed, and maintains conductivity after multiple bends, thereby enhancing the flexibility and lightness of the flexible touch display module.

Implementation Method 1

The noise shielding layer includes a matrix and a plurality of metal nanowires distributed in the matrix

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical Conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11301098B2Flexible touch sensor and flexible touch display module

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 TPK ADVANCED SOLUTIONS

AI summary

A flexible touch sensor having a visible area and a trace area surrounding the visible area includes a substrate, a touch-sensing layer, and a noise shielding layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The touch-sensing layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The noise shielding layer is disposed on the second surface of the substrate. The noise shielding layer includes a matrix and a plurality of metal nanowires distributed in the matrix.