Integrated Touch Screen Electrodes on Display Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of touch sensors with display screens often results in a reduction of contrast ratio due to air gaps and additional layers, leading to undesirable reflections and image quality degradation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating touch sensors within the display stack by positioning electrodes on existing layers or substrates, such as polarizers or color filter layers, eliminates air gaps and reduces the overall thickness, thereby enhancing image quality and contrast ratio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a touch sensor is placed over the display stack with a transparent cover, then the touch sensor can detect touches and proximity, but the contrast ratio of the display screen is reduced due to air gaps and reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor is integrated within the display stack by incorporating electrodes on existing display layers (such as the color filter layer or polarizer), merging the touch sensing function with the display structure. This eliminates the need for a separate transparent cover and air gap, thereby maintaining contrast ratio while preserving touch detection capability.
2Ease of operation
If a touch sensor is placed over the display stack with a transparent cover, then the touch sensor can function independently, but the overall thickness of the display assembly is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor electrodes are formed on existing display stack layers, merging two functional systems (display and touch sensing) into a single integrated structure. This eliminates redundant components and reduces the overall thickness of the display assembly while maintaining independent touch sensor functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing display stack layers (such as the color filter layer or polarizer) are utilized to serve dual purposes: maintaining display functionality and providing a substrate for touch sensor electrodes. This multi-functionality approach reduces the need for additional layers and minimizes overall thickness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional layers are added to form a touch screen, then touch sensing functionality is achieved, but image quality is degraded due to reflections and air gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor is merged with the display stack by forming electrodes on existing display layers, eliminating the need for separate touch sensor layers and air gaps. This integration removes the sources of reflections and image quality degradation while preserving full touch screen functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful air gap and separate transparent cover are extracted/removed from the structure by integrating the touch sensor within the display stack. This elimination of intermediate layers removes the cause of reflections and improves image quality while maintaining touch sensing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus having a touch-sensitive screen, a touch-sensor controller and a flexible printed circuit. A plurality of first conductive electrodes and a plurality of second conductive electrodes are substantially aligned with one or more gaps between two or more pixels of a two-dimensional array of pixels such that the electrodes do not cross over at least one of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The plurality of first conductive electrodes form vertices within the one or more gaps between two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels such that the vertices do not obscure in plan view at least one of the pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The touch-sensor controller is configured to detect and process the change in capacitance at one or more touch-sensor nodes to determine the presence and location of a touch-sensor input.