Liquid Crystal Display Touch Sensor Manufacturing via Half-Tone Mask
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing processes for liquid crystal displays with touch sensors are complex and costly, requiring multiple masks and separate processes for forming touch electrodes and driving lines, which increases production time and thickness of the display.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display with a touch sensor that uses a reduced number of masks by forming thin film transistors, pixel electrodes, and touch electrodes through a series of half-tone mask patterning steps, integrating the touch sensor functionality directly into the display panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple masks and separate processes are used for forming touch electrodes and driving lines, then the touch sensor functionality is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of touch electrodes and driving lines into a single integrated process using one mask pattern, rather than using separate masks and processes. This merging of operations reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the functionality of both touch sensing and signal driving components
Solution Approach 2:
The mask pattern serves multiple functions simultaneously: it defines both the touch electrode structures and the driving line configurations in a single application. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized masks for each component type, simplifying the overall manufacturing process
2Reliability
If multiple masks and separate processes are used for forming touch electrodes and driving lines, then the touch sensor functionality is achieved, but the production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the formation steps of touch electrodes and driving lines into a single simultaneous process using one mask, eliminating the sequential execution of separate processes. This consolidation directly reduces production time while ensuring both components are formed with consistent precision
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated mask pattern is designed in advance to pre-defin e both touch electrode and driving line configurations, allowing both components to be formed in a single step rather than requiring sequential formation processes, thereby accelerating production
3Manufacturing precision
If traditional separate processes are used for forming touch electrodes and driving lines, then the components are well-defined, but the display thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the formation of touch electrodes and driving lines into a single integrated layer structure, eliminating the need for separate stacked layers that would increase thickness. This approach maintains precise component definition through the unified mask pattern while reducing overall display thickness
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display having a touch sensor, the method including forming a plurality of thin film transistors on a first substrate, forming a plurality of pixel electrodes each coupled to a corresponding one of the thin film transistors, forming an insulating layer on the pixel electrodes, and forming, on the insulating layer, a plurality of first touch electrodes each having openings formed therein and a plurality of driving lines coupled to the first touch electrodes.