Foldable Touch Sensing Structure With Overlap-Tuned Conductive Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices with touch panels attached to the display function are bulky, costly, and have poor sensitivity in folding regions, making it difficult to integrate a touch panel into foldable devices without increasing thickness and weight.
Innovation Solution
A sensing structure with a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, featuring overlapping and non-overlapping regions, and a specific arrangement of segments to enhance sensitivity and reduce thickness, while maintaining electrical connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is attached to the lower side of a display panel, then the display function and touch function can be integrated, but the device thickness and weight cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display function and touch sensing function into a single integrated structure. The sensing structure is formed directly on the display panel substrate, eliminating the need for a separate touch panel attachment. This integration approach reduces device thickness while maintaining both display and touch capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar touch panel structure to a multi-layer stacked structure with conductive layers arranged in different dimensions. The first and second conductive layers are positioned at different heights with overlapping and non-overlapping regions, creating a three-dimensional sensing architecture that reduces overall thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is attached to the lower side of a display panel, then both functions can be performed, but the manufacturing cost cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the display and touch sensing functions into a single manufacturing process. Both structures are formed on the same substrate using the same fabrication steps, eliminating the need for separate touch panel manufacturing and assembly. This integration significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining dual functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing structure serves multiple functions: it provides touch sensing capability, acts as an electrode structure for display, and enables both capacitive and resistive touch modes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and processes, thereby lowering manufacturing cost.
3Measurement precision
If the sensing structure uses overlapping conductive layers, then sensitivity is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing structure into discrete segments within the conductive layers. The first and second conductive layers each contain multiple segments that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows for optimized sensitivity in different regions while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements different overlapping configurations in different regions of the sensing structure. Some areas have overlapping conductive layers for enhanced sensitivity, while other areas have non-overlapping regions for reduced complexity. This local optimization allows sensitivity enhancement where needed without increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a substrate and a sensing structure disposed on the substrate. The sensing structure includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a plurality of connection units, and the second conductive layer includes a plurality of sensing units. One of the plurality of connection units includes a plurality of first segments, and one of the plurality of sensing units includes a plurality of second segments. The first conductive layer has a first overlapping region where one of the plurality of first segments crosses and overlaps one of the plurality of second segments, and a non-overlapping region where one of the plurality of first segments does not overlap one of the plurality of second segments. A first width of the first overlapping region is greater than a width of the non-overlapping region.