Integrated OLED Touch Panel With Segmented Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch structures integrated into OLED display devices face issues of complex structure, thick panels, high manufacturing costs, and increased resistance and power consumption due to patterning the cathode layer for touch sensing, leading to voltage drops and higher power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A touch display panel design that integrates a touch structure by using electrode dividing strips to divide the touch area into strip-shaped areas, with insulated first and second electrode strips, allowing for simultaneous display and touch functions while reducing resistance and voltage drops, achieved by employing electrode dividing strips and a divided electrode layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the cathode layer is patterned to form block electrodes for touch sensing, then touch functionality is achieved, but resistance increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cathode layer is segmented into multiple block electrodes separated by electrode dividing strips. This segmentation allows the touch sensing function to be achieved while maintaining lower resistance by distributing the current path across multiple blocks rather than requiring a continuous patterned cathode, thereby reducing power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electrode dividing strips are introduced as intermediary structures between the pixel electrodes and the touch sensing electrodes. These strips act as mediators that enable touch functionality without requiring the cathode layer to be extensively patterned, thus reducing resistance and power consumption while maintaining touch sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cathode layer is patterned for touch sensing, then touch sensing is enabled, but voltage drops increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch sensingVSAvoidvoltage drops
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the cathode layer into discrete block electrodes separated by electrode dividing strips, the current path is distributed across multiple parallel paths. This segmentation reduces the overall resistance and minimizes voltage drops while enabling touch sensing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode dividing strips serve as intermediary structures that facilitate touch sensing without creating high-resistance paths. They enable voltage distribution across multiple block electrodes, reducing voltage drops while maintaining touch sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a traditional touch structure is integrated into OLED display, then touch functionality is achieved, but structure becomes complex and panel thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode dividing strips and block electrodes are integrated directly into the display panel structure during the manufacturing process. This merging of touch sensing structures with the display electrode structure simplifies the overall device architecture and reduces panel thickness compared to separate touch modules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode dividing strips serve multiple functions: they act as insulators between pixel electrodes, form boundaries for block electrodes, and enable touch sensing. This multi-functionality reduces structural complexity by eliminating the need for separate touch sensing components.

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

4Adaptability or versatility

If the cathode layer is patterned to form block electrodes, then touch sensing is enabled, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch sensingVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of the cathode layer into block electrodes separated by electrode dividing strips simplifies the manufacturing process. The electrode dividing strips can be formed using standard deposition and etching processes, and the block electrode configuration reduces the complexity of patterning operations, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode dividing strips act as intermediary structures that simplify manufacturing by providing clear boundaries and insulation during the deposition process. This intermediary approach reduces the complexity of multi-step patterning operations and lowers manufacturing costs compared to traditional cathode patterning methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The design achieves a thinner, lighter, and more efficient touch display panel with improved touch accuracy and sensitivity, reduced resistance, and lower power consumption by integrating the touch structure within the display panel, ensuring independent and interference-free display and touch functions.

Implementation Method 1

the organic transparent conductive layer may serve as a charge transfer layer between the first and second transparent electrode layers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCharge transfer:

Implementation Method 2

a fourth transparent electrode layer and a fifth transparent electrode layer, which are positioned to face each other with the fourth transparent electrode layer positioned on the fourth substrate and the fifth transparent electrode layer positioned on the fifth substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3805904B1Touch display panel, manufacturing method and driving method therefor, and touch display device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3805904B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3805904B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3805904B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Disclosed are a touch display panel, a manufacturing method and a driving method therefor, and a touch display device. The touch display panel comprises: an array substrate; a pixel defining layer provided at one side of the array substrate, a light-emitting layer being provided in a sub-pixel area defined by the pixel defining layer; multiple electrode split strips provided at one side of the pixel defining layer distant from the array substrate, and dividing a touch area into a multiple strip-shaped areas; and a split electrode layer provided at one side of the multiple electrode split strips distant from the base substrate, the split electrode layer comprising: multiple first electrode strips located in the multiple strip-shaped areas; and multiple second electrode strips located on the surface of the multiple electrode split strips distant from the base substrate, the multiple second electrode strips and the multiple first electrode strips being insulated from each other.