Input Sensing Unit for Touch, Pressure, and Moisture Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current display devices lack the capability to simultaneously sense touch, pressure, and moisture effectively, limiting their functionality and user interaction.
Innovation Solution
An input sensing unit comprising multiple conductive layers with specific electrode arrangements and insulating layers, which sense changes in capacitance to detect touch, pressure, and moisture, is integrated into a display device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensing functions are integrated into a single display device, then the device functionality and user interaction capability are enhanced, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines touch sensing, pressure sensing, and moisture sensing functions into a single integrated sensing unit. Multiple conductive layers with different electrode patterns are stacked together, where the first conductive layer handles touch sensing, the second conductive layer with comb-teeth pattern handles pressure sensing, and the third conductive layer handles moisture sensing. This merging approach enables multiple sensing capabilities without requiring separate sensor modules, thus enhancing versatility while managing structural complexity through a unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing unit is designed as a multi-functional component that can simultaneously perform touch detection, pressure measurement, and moisture level sensing. The insulating layer with specific dielectric properties serves multiple purposes: electrical insulation between conductive layers and as a sensing medium for moisture detection. This universal design allows a single component to fulfill multiple sensing roles, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If multiple conductive layers with complex electrode patterns are used to achieve accurate sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing unit is divided into multiple conductive layers, each with specific electrode patterns optimized for particular sensing functions. The first conductive layer has electrodes for touch sensing, the second layer has comb-teeth pattern electrodes for pressure sensing, and the third layer has electrodes for moisture sensing. This segmentation allows each layer to be manufactured and optimized independently, reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to creating a single complex multi-functional layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating layer serves as an intermediary between the conductive layers, providing electrical insulation and mechanical support. It includes moisture-sensing electrodes that detect moisture levels by measuring changes in the dielectric properties of the insulating layer itself. This intermediary approach simplifies the sensing mechanism by using the insulating layer as both a structural component and a sensing element, reducing the complexity of electrode patterns required in the conductive layers.
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
Enables the display device to accurately acquire coordinate and pressure information, as well as sense moisture levels, enhancing user interaction and device functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the input sensing unit senses at least one or more of a touch, a pressure, and a degree of moisture applied based on a change in distance between electrodes from at least the plurality of the first sensing electrodes, the plurality of the second sensing electrodes and the plurality of the third sensing electrodes
Implementation Method 2
the at least one insulating layer may include polymethylsiloxane
Data Source
AI summary
An input sensing unit that utilizes conductive layers to sense various types of input. The input sensing unit may include a first conductive layer including first sensing electrodes; a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer including second sensing electrodes and third sensing electrodes; and at least one insulating layer insulating the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer from each other. The input sensing unit senses at least one of a touch, a pressure, and a degree of moisture based on a change in capacitance between the conductive layers.