In-Cell Touch Panel Self-Capacitance Electrode Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing cost and productivity of in-cell touch panels are hindered by the need for additional layers and processes in their structural design, which increases complexity and expense.

Innovation Solution

An in-cell touch panel design where self-capacitance electrodes are integrated into the gaps between pixel electrodes on the same substrate, eliminating the need for extra manufacturing steps and allowing for a more cost-effective and efficient production process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extra layers are added to form touch electrodes in in-cell touch panels, then touch detection function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch detection functionVSAvoidnumber of layers and manufacturing processes
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pixel electrode layer and touch electrode layer into a single integrated layer. The pixel electrodes and self-capacitance electrodes are formed simultaneously in the same layer structure, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and reducing the total number of manufacturing steps while maintaining both display and touch detection functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pixel electrode layer is designed to serve dual purposes: it functions as both the pixel electrode for liquid crystal display and as the self-capacitance electrode for touch detection. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to perform multiple roles, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If extra layers are added to form touch electrodes, then touch detection function is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch detection functionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pixel electrode layer and touch electrode layer into a single integrated layer. The pixel electrodes and self-capacitance electrodes are formed simultaneously in the same layer structure, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and reducing the total number of manufacturing steps while maintaining both display and touch detection functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pixel electrode layer is designed to serve dual purposes: it functions as both the pixel electrode for liquid crystal display and as the self-capacitance electrode for touch detection. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to perform multiple roles, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design reduces manufacturing costs and improves productivity by integrating self-capacitance electrodes into the existing pixel electrode layer, enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio and touch accuracy while maintaining the thinness and low light transmittance benefits of in-cell touch panels.

Implementation Method 1

the in-cell touch panel detects a finger touch position in accordance with the mutual-capacitance or self-capacitance principle... the capacitance of the self-capacitance electrode is a fixed value. When a human body touches the screen, the capacitance of corresponding self-capacitance electrode is at a value of a fixed value plus the body capacitance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3151100B1Embedded touchscreen and display device
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3151100B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3151100B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP3151100B1 patent drawingFigure 3b

AI summary

An in-cell touch panel and a display device are provided. Self-capacitance electrodes (06) arranged in the same layer as pixel electrodes (05) are disposed at gaps between the pixel electrodes (05) of the touch panel in accordance with the self-capacitance principle. A touch detection chip (04) can determine a touch position by detection of capacitance variation of the self-capacitance electrodes (06) in a touch period. The touch panel does not need to add additional processes on the basis of the manufacturing process of an array substrate and hence can reduce the manufacturing cost and improve the productivity.