Flexible Touch Window Electrode Design with Insulated Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capacitive touch windows face issues with reliability and visibility due to the high cost and physical damage susceptibility of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) electrodes, especially in flexible and large-size applications, and alternative electrodes often suffer from short circuits and conductivity problems.

Innovation Solution

A touch window design featuring a substrate with sensing electrodes and an opening part between them, preventing short circuits and improving visibility and conductivity, while using flexible and durable materials like sapphire or polyimide for the substrate and conductive patterns in a mesh shape to reduce resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ITO is used as transparent electrode, then conductivity and transparency are improved, but cost increases and physical damage susceptibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode durabilityVSAvoidphysical damage from bending

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining multiple layers including transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layers, metallic electrode layers, and insulating layers to create a flexible electrode structure that maintains conductivity while improving durability and flexibility compared to pure ITO

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses thin film structures and flexible substrate materials that allow the touch window to be bent and flexed without damaging the electrode, enabling flexible display applications while maintaining electrode integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Adaptability or versatility

If mesh pattern is used for alternative electrode, then flexibility and cost are improved, but short circuit between channels occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidshort circuit prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces insulating layers and protective coatings as intermediary elements between adjacent electrode channels in mesh patterns, preventing direct contact and short circuits while maintaining the flexibility and conductivity benefits of the mesh structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different materials and structures to different regions of the electrode, with insulating properties enhanced at critical junction points where short circuits are most likely to occur, while maintaining conductivity in the electrode pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If ITO is applied to large size touch window, then coverage area is improved, but resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch window sizeVSAvoidelectrode resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the electrode into multiple segments including transparent conductive oxide layers and metallic electrode layers that can be arranged in patterns to reduce overall resistance while maintaining large area coverage and flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10386961B2Touch window

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 LG INNOTEK CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a touch window which includes a substrate; a plurality of sensing electrodes on the substrate; and an opening part between the sensing electrodes.