Integrated Sound Wave Generation Device on Display Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display technologies face challenges in creating compact, slim, and high-performance devices with integrated speaker and touch panel functions due to separate substrates for display panels and sound transducers, leading to limited acoustic range and difficulty in forming sound wave generation devices on insulation substrates.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a sound wave generation device on the same substrate as the display panel using a heat generation layer, heat insulation layer, and heat radiation layer with specific conductivity differences, along with pressure-sensitive sensors, allows for compact, low-power consumption speakers and touch panel functionality without sacrificing display performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate substrates are used for display panel and speaker, then manufacturing is easier, but device thickness increases and arrangement freedom is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddevice thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display panel and speaker onto a single substrate. The speaker is formed by creating a vacuum cavity within the substrate structure, allowing the display and acoustic functions to coexist in the same physical plane, thereby reducing overall device thickness while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a three-dimensional stacked arrangement (separate substrates) to a two-dimensional integrated layout (single substrate with vacuum cavity). By utilizing the substrate's internal volume through vacuum cavity formation, the speaker components are embedded within the same plane as the display, eliminating the need for additional thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Power

If mechanical vibration is used to generate sound waves, then sound production is effective, but terminal vibration and resonance limitations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound production effectivenessVSAvoidterminal vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical vibration-based speaker system with a vacuum cavity-based acoustic generation system. Instead of using electromechanical transducers that physically vibrate, the invention utilizes pressure differential control within the vacuum cavity to generate sound waves, thereby eliminating mechanical vibration and associated resonance limitations while maintaining effective sound production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If nano-crystalline silicon is used for sound wave generation, then acoustic performance improves, but formation on insulation substrate becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic performanceVSAvoidformation on insulation substrate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the requirement for nano-crystalline silicon from the fabrication process by adopting a vacuum cavity-based speaker design. This approach eliminates the need for complex semiconductor material deposition and crystallization processes on insulation substrates, allowing standard insulating materials to be used while achieving reliable acoustic performance through pressure differential control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 solution enables natural and realistic sound reproduction matching images, allows for flexible speaker placement, and maintains high image quality while integrating touch panel and pressure-sensitive functions within a slim, compact display.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element thin film constituted by a metal film formed on the insulation layer and driven electrically

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

an insulation layer made of Porous silicon on which a large number of holes are formed on one surface of the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

a thermal conductive substrate... a heating element thin film... for generating sound wave by creating a difference in the degree of compression of air by heating air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS7372110B2Display with integral sound wave generation device

Publication Date: 2008.05.13 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

A display housing a sound element and a driving circuit that may be built in on the same substrate as the display panel. Thin-film transistors PTFT constituting pixels and a sound wave generation device SPO1 having a laminated structure of a heat generation layer 700, a heat insulation layer 701 and a heat radiation layer 702 are formed on a thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate 500 on which polysilicon thin-film transistors PTFT are formed.