Foldable Display Digitizer Coil Layout for Sensing Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices with foldable displays face challenges in maintaining sensing performance, particularly in the foldable areas, due to the complexity of integrating digitizers that can effectively detect inputs across folded sections without compromising flexibility and durability.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a digitizer with a layered structure comprising upper and lower layers, including loop coils and anisotropic conductive films, strategically arranged to enhance sensing performance in foldable areas by compensating for the decrease in sensitivity through the use of loop coils in the lower layer overlapping the foldable portion, ensuring consistent input detection across the display's folded state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If loop coils are integrated in the digitizer to detect inputs, then sensing capability is enabled, but sensing performance decreases in foldable areas due to flexibility requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The digitizer is divided into upper and lower layers, with loop coils distributed across both layers. The upper layer contains first loop coils for non-foldable areas, while the lower layer contains second loop coils for foldable areas. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized for its specific function, maintaining sensing precision while enabling foldable flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-layer digitizer structure to a multi-layer structure. By adding the lower layer beneath the upper layer, the system gains an additional dimension for coil placement, allowing loop coils to be positioned in the lower layer where they can support foldable areas without compromising sensing performance.
2Strength
If separate metal plates are used to protect the display module, then durability is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective function with the digitizer structure itself. The upper layer of the digitizer serves dual purposes: maintaining sensing performance in non-foldable areas and providing protection for the display module. This eliminates the need for separate metal plates, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper layer of the digitizer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it maintains electromagnetic resonance for input detection in non-foldable areas while also serving as a protective structure for the display module. This multi-functionality reduces the overall component count and manufacturing complexity.
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
This configuration improves sensing sensitivity in foldable areas, maintaining reliable input detection and protecting the display module while reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for separate metal plates, thus enhancing the overall user experience and device durability.
Implementation Method 1
a second-first loop coil adjacent to a boundary between the first non-foldable portion and the foldable portion among the second-first loop coils may be connected to the third-first loop coil via a first anisotropic conductive film
Implementation Method 2
The digitizer of the electronic device may include various loop coils so as to be activated by an electrical signal. An area where the loop coils are activated responds to a signal applied from the outside.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes: a digitizer disposed under a display panel, where the digitizer includes an upper layer divided into a first non-foldable portion, a second non-foldable portion, and a foldable portion overlapping the foldable area, where a plurality of holes are defined in the foldable portion, and a lower layer including a first plate and a second plate spaced apart from each other along the first direction so as to define a space therebetween in an area overlapping the foldable portion, where the upper layer includes a base layer, first loop coils, second-first loop coils disposed in the first non-foldable portion, and second-second loop coils disposed in the second non-foldable portion, where the lower layer includes a third-first loop coil disposed in the first plate so as to overlap the foldable portion and a third-second loop coil disposed in the second plate so as to overlap the foldable portion.