Liquid Crystal Display Screen 3D Pressure Sensing via Capacitance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display screens lack pressure sensing in the third dimension, limiting their functionality compared to existing technologies that only provide two-dimensional touch-control capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a transparent electrode array and a support array within the liquid crystal layer, where the capacitance values between the transparent electrodes and the support array are detected to determine pressure values, enabling pressure sensing in three dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If only traditional touch-control sensing is implemented, then the device structure remains simple, but pressure sensing capability in the third dimension is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure sensing capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch-control sensing function with pressure sensing function into a single integrated system. The transparent electrode array and support array serve dual purposes: detecting touch positions (2D coordinates) and detecting pressure values (3D dimension) simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate sensing systems and reducing overall device complexity while enhancing functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent electrode array and support array are designed as multi-functional components that perform both touch-control sensing and pressure sensing. By detecting capacitance changes between these arrays, the system can determine both the position and pressure of touched objects, allowing a single sensing mechanism to fulfill multiple sensing requirements

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If transparent electrode array and support array are added to the liquid crystal layer, then pressure sensing is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure sensing functionVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing system is segmented into distinct transparent electrode arrays and support arrays that can be manufactured separately and then integrated into the liquid crystal display structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized and manufactured using existing LCD manufacturing processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite adding new functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The transparent electrode array and support array are nested within the existing liquid crystal layer structure, utilizing the space between the TFT array glass substrate and color filter plate. This nesting approach integrates the pressure sensing components without requiring additional external layers or structures, thereby minimizing increases in manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 implementation enhances human-computer interaction by adding pressure sensing capabilities, allowing for more functions and improved usability beyond traditional touch-control.

Implementation Method 1

the capacitance values between the transparent electrodes and the support array are detected to determine pressure values

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3130959B1Liquid crystal display screen and mobile terminal
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3130959B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3130959B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3130959B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A liquid crystal display screen and a mobile terminal are provided. The liquid crystal display screen (100) includes a TFT array glass substrate (101), a color filter plate (102), a liquid crystal layer (103) between the TFT array glass substrate and the color filter plate, an upper polarizer plate (104) on a surface, which is not adjacent to the liquid crystal layer, of the color filter plate, and a lower polarizer plate (105) on a surface, which is not adjacent to the liquid crystal layer, of the TFT array glass substrate; the liquid crystal layer further includes a support array (1031) and a transparent electrode (1032), the support array and the transparent electrode being respectively positioned on surfaces, which are adjacent to the TFT array glass substrate and the color filter plate, of the liquid crystal layer; and liquid crystals are filled between the support array and the transparent electrode.