Metal Mesh Touch Substrate Protrusion Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current capacitive touch screens, particularly those using indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, face issues of high cost, high resistance, and low sensitivity in hovering touch technology, which affects user experience.
Innovation Solution
A touch substrate design featuring electrode groups with protrusions and dummy electrodes formed from metal meshes, where the first and second electrode groups are connected through engagement of their respective connection regions, increasing mutual capacitance and enhancing touch sensitivity by optimizing the distribution and length of protrusions and dummy electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ITO conductive film is used as touch electrode material, then the touch screen can be manufactured, but the cost is high, resistance is high, and bending is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters from ITO (indium tin oxide) to metal mesh materials, fundamentally altering the electrical and mechanical properties of the touch electrode. This material substitution resolves the contradiction by providing lower resistance, lower cost, and improved flexibility while maintaining touch functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite metal mesh structures combining different metal materials to achieve optimal balance between conductivity, flexibility, and cost. The composite approach allows tailoring of electrical and mechanical properties to resolve the manufacturing constraints while maintaining reliable touch performance
2Ease of operation
If traditional capacitive screen structure is used, then the physical touch experience is good, but the hovering touch sensitivity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode structure into multiple independent metal mesh layers with protrusion and recess designs. This segmentation increases the effective electrode area and improves the detection capability for hovering touches while maintaining good physical touch response through the layered structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third dimension by creating protrusions and recesses in the electrode layers. This dimensional change increases the electrode surface area and enhances the capacitive coupling effect, thereby improving hovering touch sensitivity without compromising physical touch performance
3Ease of manufacture
If metal mesh technology is adopted, then the defects of ITO are compensated, but the hovering touch sensitivity remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the metal mesh electrodes into multiple segments with protrusion and recess features. This segmentation increases the effective electrode area and enhances the capacitive signal for hovering touch detection, resolving the sensitivity issue while maintaining the manufacturing advantages of metal mesh technology
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested multi-layer structure where metal mesh layers are stacked with protrusions and recesses that interlock. This nesting approach maximizes the use of space and increases the effective electrode area, thereby improving hovering touch sensitivity while maintaining cost-effectiveness and flexibility
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
The design significantly increases multi-finger coaxial capacitance variation under hovering touch, thereby enhancing the touch sensitivity of the touch substrate and improving user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one first connection region and the at least one second connection region are engaged with each other to form a connection portion of the respective first electrode and the respective second electrode
Implementation Method 2
increases mutual capacitance and enhancing touch sensitivity by optimizing the distribution and length of protrusions and dummy electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
A touch substrate for a touch screen includes a touch layer. The touch layer includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode includes a first protrusion and a first dummy electrode. The second electrode includes a second protrusion and a second dummy electrode. Adjacent two first protrusions or adjacent two second protrusions are spaced apart by a size of at least one sub-pixel.