In-Cell Touch Display Structure Using Shared Gate-Layer Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices face challenges in integrating an in-cell touch structure while maintaining transparency and reducing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A display device with an in-cell touch structure is designed, featuring a transparent conductive touch electrode and shared components with the display device, including touch connection lines and reference lines formed from the same material and layer as gate electrodes, allowing for a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an in-cell touch structure is integrated into the display device, then touch functionality is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch electrode with the cathode of the light emitting diode into a single unified structure. The cathode serves dual functions as both the electron injection electrode for light emission and the touch sensing electrode, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and reducing structural complexity while maintaining touch functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the electron injection electrode for OLED light emission, the common electrode for the light emitting diode structure, and the touch sensing electrode for detecting user input. This multi-functionality reduces the number of required components and simplifies the overall device architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate touch electrode layers are added to the display device, then touch functionality is improved, but transparency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The touch electrode function is merged with the cathode layer, which is inherently transparent or semi-transparent in OLED structures. This integration avoids adding opaque separate touch electrode layers that would block light, thereby maintaining device transparency while enabling touch functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode material is selected and designed to maintain optical transparency or semi-transparency in the visible spectrum. By using transparent conductive materials for the cathode/touch electrode combination, the device maintains high light transmission while still providing effective touch sensing capability
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional touch structure components are added, then touch functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of the cathode and touch electrode into a single manufacturing step using the same material deposition process. This eliminates the need for separate fabrication steps, additional photomasks, and separate material depositions, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling in-cell touch functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode layer is designed to serve multiple purposes: light emission function, electrical connection function, and touch sensing function. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated touch electrode layers and their associated manufacturing processes, reducing overall manufacturing cost and complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the display device includes: a substrate in which a plurality of pixels each including an emissive area and a transmissive area is disposed. Also, the display device includes a touch electrode in the transmissive area. Further, the display device includes a plurality of first touch connection lines extended in a first direction and electrically connecting the touch electrodes respectively disposed in the plurality of pixels adjacent to each other. Furthermore, the display device includes a reference line on the substrate in the emissive area and extended in a second direction different from the first direction. Moreover, the display device includes a plurality of touch lines extended in the second direction in the emissive area and disposed on a plurality of insulating layers covering the reference line. Further, the display device includes a planarization layer covering the plurality of touch lines. Furthermore, the display device includes a plurality of light emitting diodes on the planarization layer in the emissive area. The touch electrode is disposed on the planarization layer, and the plurality of first touch connection lines is disposed under the planarization layer.