Nanowire Touch Panel Segmented Substrates Narrow Bezel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The use of metal oxide films in touch panels is limited by their insufficient flexibility and the challenges of high-temperature lithography and etching processes, which can damage nanowires, and the accuracy issues with laser processes for forming peripheral traces, making it difficult to achieve a narrow bezel design.
Innovation Solution
The touch electrodes and peripheral traces are formed on different substrates, with indirect electrical connection through a conductive adhesive, allowing for a hollow design that avoids damage from etching and maintains optical quality, enabling more flexible design and a narrow bezel aesthetic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If high-temperature lithography and etching processes are used to directly fabricate peripheral traces on touch electrodes, then the peripheral traces can be formed, but the nanowires are damaged by the strong acid etchant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the touch electrode structure into two separate substrates: the first substrate carries the nanowire-based touch electrodes, while the second substrate carries the peripheral traces. This segmentation allows each substrate to be processed independently, enabling the use of high-temperature etching processes on the second substrate without exposing the nanowires on the first substrate to damaging conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conductive adhesive layer as an intermediary between the touch electrodes on the first substrate and the peripheral traces on the second substrate. This conductive adhesive serves as both an electrical connection medium and a protective barrier, allowing signal transmission while isolating the nanowires from the harsh etching environment used to form peripheral traces.
2Reliability
If a protective layer is added to protect nanowires during etching, then nanowire damage is prevented, but the cost increases due to additional lithography-etching processes and material selection constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the peripheral trace fabrication process from the touch electrode substrate and relocates it to a separate second substrate. This extraction eliminates the need for protective layers on the nanowire substrate, as the etching process is performed entirely on the second substrate where peripheral traces are formed. The complexity of coordinating protective layer processes is thereby removed.
3Ease of manufacture
If laser process with silver ink is used to fabricate peripheral traces, then the process is simpler, but the accuracy is insufficient to achieve narrow bezel design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the laser-based mechanical processing method with a conventional lithography and etching process on the second substrate. This substitution enables higher precision in forming peripheral traces, allowing for narrow bezel designs, while the overall structure remains relatively simple due to the separation of substrates and the use of standard fabrication techniques.
4Device complexity
If peripheral traces are formed on the same substrate as touch electrodes, then the structure is more integrated, but the space around touch electrodes is limited, restricting design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device into two separate substrates: the first substrate dedicated to touch electrodes and the second substrate dedicated to peripheral traces. This segmentation provides ample space on the second substrate for trace routing and design variations, greatly enhancing design flexibility and adaptability for different applications, including narrow bezel configurations.
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
This solution prevents damage to touch electrodes during etching, maintains optical effectiveness, and allows for more flexible design and application, achieving a narrow bezel appearance in touch panels.
Implementation Method 1
The first conductive adhesive layer is disposed between the first metal nanowire layer and the first wiring component and located corresponding to the peripheral area for electrically connecting the first connecting part with the first peripheral trace
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel having a visible area and a peripheral area includes a first substrate, a first metal nanowires layer, a first wiring component, and a first conductive adhesive layer. The first metal nanowires layer is formed on the surface of the first substrate and patterned to include a first sensing part corresponding to the visible area and a first connecting part corresponding to the peripheral area. The first wiring component includes a first carrier plate and a first peripheral trace. The first carrier plate is located corresponding to the peripheral area and has a hollow design corresponding to the visible area. The first peripheral trace is disposed on the surface of the first carrier plate adjacent to the side of the first metal nanowires layer. The first conductive adhesive layer, located corresponding to the peripheral area, is disposed between the first metal nanowires layer and the first wiring component.