MicroLED Display Pixelated Sensors for Thin Touch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro-LED displays with integrated touch panels compromise on thickness and optical efficiency due to the added layer, which affects their performance in sensing ambient light and proximity.
Innovation Solution
Embedding capacitive, photo-resistor, or photodiode sensors within the pixels of micro-LED displays, allowing for integrated touch and light sensing without an additional touch panel layer, maintaining panel thickness and enhancing optical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate touch panel layer is added to micro-LED displays, then touch sensing capability is improved, but display thickness increases and optical efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensing function with the display pixel structure by integrating sensors into the pixel sets. Each pixel set includes both light-emitting LEDs and touch/light sensors, combining display and sensing functions into a single integrated structure, thereby eliminating the need for a separate touch panel layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor component serves multiple functions: it detects both ambient light levels and touch/proximity events. This multi-functionality allows a single integrated sensor to replace what would traditionally require separate touch panel and ambient light sensor components, reducing overall display thickness while maintaining all necessary sensing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate touch panel layer is added to micro-LED displays, then touch sensing capability is improved, but optical efficiency deteriorates due to multi-layer reflection
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the touch sensing function with the display pixel structure, the patent eliminates additional interface layers between the display and the user. This reduces the number of optical interfaces where reflection and light loss occur, thereby improving optical efficiency while maintaining touch sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the touch sensing function from a separate touch panel layer and integrates it directly into the pixel structure. This extraction eliminates the intermediate layers that cause multi-layer reflection, reducing optical energy loss while preserving touch sensing functionality.
3Length of stationary object
If sensors are integrated into pixel sets, then display thickness is maintained and optical efficiency is improved, but sensor area per pixel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the sensor and LEDs in the same plane rather than stacking them in multiple layers. This planar arrangement in a single dimension maintains display thickness while providing sufficient area for both the sensor and the three color LEDs within each pixel set, avoiding the area reduction that would result from vertical stacking.
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
Enables thin micro-LED displays with improved ambient light sensing and touch detection, optimizing graphics and reducing multi-layer reflection, while maintaining the display's thickness and optical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor includes a photodiode
Implementation Method 2
The sensor includes a capacitive sensor
Implementation Method 3
The sensor includes a photo-resistor
Data Source
AI summary
A display comprises a substrate. Sets of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged on the substrate. Each of the sets of LEDs comprises a red LED, a green LED, a blue LED, and each of the sets of LEDs forming a pixel of the display. A sensor is embedded in each of the sets of LEDs. The sensor is arranged in a plane in which the red, green, and blue LEDs are arranged in each of the sets of LEDs. A cover including a dielectric material covers the sets of LEDs. The sensor is configured to sense at least one of ambient light and proximity of an object to the cover.