Diamond-patterned micro-wire electrode for touch displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transparent conductive electrodes in touch screens face limitations in achieving high conductivity and transparency, leading to reduced power supply to pixel elements and visibility issues due to material limitations such as indium tin oxide, which cracks under mechanical stress and affects substrate transparency.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a micro-patterned electrode system where micro-wires are oriented at non-orthogonal angles intersecting to form intersections located between pixel gaps, enhancing conductivity and transparency by minimizing light occlusion and optical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transparent conductive electrodes made of indium tin oxide are used, then conductivity is improved, but transparency deteriorates and mechanical reliability worsens due to cracking under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into a grid pattern of intersecting conductive lines forming multiple small segments rather than continuous large-area electrodes. This segmentation reduces the total conductive material required while maintaining electrical functionality through multiple parallel conduction paths, thereby improving transparency without sacrificing conductivity or mechanical reliability.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent conductive electrodes are made thinner to improve transparency, then light transmission improves, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode pattern is divided into a grid of thin conductive lines that are sufficiently thin to maintain high transparency while their interconnected geometry provides multiple parallel conduction paths. This compensates for the reduced thickness and width of individual line segments, maintaining overall electrical conductivity despite using thinner materials for transparency.
3Reliability
If micro-wire intersections are positioned over pixel areas, then electrical connectivity is improved, but optical interference and light occlusion worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode grid pattern is deliberately offset or asymmetrically positioned relative to the pixel array, so that intersection points do not systematically align with pixel centers. This asymmetric positioning distributes light occlusion more uniformly across the display area and prevents concentrated shadowing effects, maintaining light output uniformity while preserving electrical connectivity through the grid structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display having an array of pixels separated by inter-pixel gaps in at least one dimension. An electrode having a length direction is formed over the display and extends across at least a portion of the array of pixels. The electrode includes a plurality of electrically connected micro-wires formed in a micro-pattern. The micro-pattern has a first set of parallel micro-wires oriented at a first angle non-orthogonal to the length direction and a second set of parallel micro-wires oriented at a second angle non-orthogonal to the length direction different from the first angle. The micro-wires of the first and second sets intersect to form an array of electrically connected micro-wire intersections. At least every other micro-wire intersection on the micro-wires of the first set is located between the pixels in the inter-pixel gaps.