Metal Mesh Conductive Layer for Touch Screen Etching Elimination

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing conductive layers in touch screens, primarily made of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), result in significant material waste and heavy metal pollution due to the graphical etching process, which is complex and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A conductive layer composed of a metal mesh with interconnected mesh cells and wiring clusters, formed through an imprinting process, eliminating the need for etching and reducing material waste and heavy metal emissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If graphical etching process is used to form ITO conductive layer, then conductive layer can be formed on insulative substrate, but large amounts of ITO material is wasted and heavy metal pollution is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveITO material wasteVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from ITO (indium tin oxide) to metal wire mesh, fundamentally altering the conductive layer composition. This material substitution eliminates the need for graphical etching processes, thereby preventing ITO material waste and heavy metal pollution while maintaining the conductive function in the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical etching process with a mechanical imprinting process. Instead of using chemical methods to pattern the ITO layer, the invention uses physical imprinting to form the metal wire mesh structure directly, eliminating harmful chemical waste and simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of manufacture

If graphical etching process is used, then conductive layer can be formed, but process requirements are high and equipment requirements are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess requirementsVSAvoidindustrial waste containing heavy metals

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical etching process with a mechanical imprinting process. Instead of using chemical methods to pattern the ITO layer, the invention uses physical imprinting to form the metal wire mesh structure directly, eliminating harmful chemical waste and simplifying the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the material parameter from ITO (indium tin oxide) to metal wire mesh, fundamentally altering the conductive layer composition. This material substitution eliminates the need for graphical etching processes, thereby preventing ITO material waste and heavy metal pollution while maintaining the conductive function in the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If ITO material is used for conductive layer, then conductive function can be achieved, but material cost is high due to material waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductive functionVSAvoidmaterial waste during etching

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from ITO (indium tin oxide) to metal wire mesh, fundamentally altering the conductive layer composition. This material substitution eliminates the need for graphical etching processes, thereby preventing ITO material waste and heavy metal pollution while maintaining the conductive function in the touch screen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9066427B2Conductive layer of touch screen

Publication Date: 2015.06.23 ANHUI JINGZHUO OPTICAL DISPLAY TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A conductive layer of a touch screen is disclosed including a mesh made of metal wire. The conductive layer includes a sensing area and a wiring area electrically connected to the sensing area, the sensing area includes at least one of the first sensing patterns and at least one of the second sensing patterns, the first sensing pattern and the second sensing pattern are adjacent and electrically insulated from each other, mesh cells in each first sensing pattern are mutually connected, mesh cells in each second sensing pattern are mutually connected. The wiring area includes a plurality of wiring clusters which are mutually insulated, each wiring cluster is formed by interconnecting a column of mesh cells, and one end of each wiring cluster is electrically connected to one of the second sensing patterns. The conductive layer having a structure of metal mesh can be manufactured by imprinting process. Comparing to the conventional technology with ITO film as conductive layer, the imprinting has advantages of one step formation of the mesh, simplified process and high yield rate. In addition, the material cost is greatly reduced using metal instead of ITO, since no etching process is used, the conductive material will not be wasted.