Array Substrate Stacking for Higher Pixel Aperture in In-Cell Touch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional in-cell touch screens suffer from low pixel aperture ratio due to the arrangement of touch signal lines and data lines, leading to reduced display quality and increased black matrix patterns.
Innovation Solution
The touch signal lines and data lines are arranged in different layers and insulated from each other, with their orthographic projections overlapping partially, allowing for reduced spacing requirements and minimized black matrix patterns, thereby enhancing the pixel aperture ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If touch signal lines and data lines are arranged in the same layer with non-overlapping projections, then electrical insulation is ensured, but pixel aperture ratio decreases due to increased spacing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar arrangement to three-dimensional stacking, placing touch signal lines and data lines in different layers (vertical dimension) rather than adjacent positions in the same layer. This dimensional change allows their orthographic projections to overlap on the base substrate, eliminating the need for lateral spacing while maintaining electrical insulation through layer separation and insulating film placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where touch signal lines and data lines are positioned in different layers with their projections overlapping, similar to nested dolls. The insulating films and conductive structures are arranged in a hierarchical manner across multiple layers, with each layer containing elements that interleave with elements in other layers, maximizing space utilization and improving aperture ratio.
2Area of stationary object
If touch signal lines are positioned to overlap data lines in projection, then pixel aperture ratio improves, but electrical insulation becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vertical layering to resolve the insulation challenge. By positioning touch signal lines and data lines in different z-height layers with overlapping x-y projections, the patent achieves both high aperture ratio and reliable insulation through the insulating films that separate the conductive elements in the vertical dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces insulating films as intermediary structures between the touch signal lines and data lines. These insulating films act as mediators that prevent direct electrical contact while allowing the conductive lines to occupy overlapping planar spaces, thus maintaining insulation without sacrificing aperture ratio.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional in-cell touch screen structures are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but pixel aperture ratio remains low due to black matrix patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates black matrix patterns by transitioning to a multi-layer structure where conductive lines are positioned vertically above or below each other. This dimensional reorganization removes the need for lateral spacing and black matrix coverage, improving aperture ratio while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard thin-film deposition and patterning processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the black matrix pattern from the conventional structure. By implementing overlapping conductive lines in different layers, the patent eliminates the requirement for black matrix regions that previously blocked light, thereby increasing the effective aperture area while preserving the in-cell touch screen manufacturing advantages.
Data Source
AI summary
An array substrate including: a base substrate; a data line on the base substrate and extending in a first direction; and a touch signal line on the base substrate, wherein an extending direction of the touch signal line is the same as an extending direction of the data line; an orthographic projection of the touch signal line on the base substrate at least partially overlaps an orthographic projection of the data line on the base substrate, which is within an orthographic projection of a gap between two touch electrode units adjacent in a second direction on the base substrate, and a size of the data line in the second direction is smaller than a size, in the second direction, of the gap between the two touch electrode units adjacent in the second direction, where the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.