OLED Cathode Block Interleaving for Built-in Touch

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional OLED display panels require additional electrode layers and insulation layers to implement touch functionality, leading to increased costs and manufacturing complexity, as well as lower yield rates.

Innovation Solution

A built-in touch display panel design for OLEDs that integrates touch functionality without additional electrode or insulation layers by interleaving first and second cathode blocks with conductive bridges, allowing electrical connections between them, thereby enabling touch functionality through the existing cathode layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrode layers and insulation layers are added to enable touch function, then touch functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch electrode function with the existing cathode layer of the OLED display. The cathode layer is divided into first cathode blocks and second cathode blocks that serve as driving and sensing electrodes respectively, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and insulation layers while achieving full touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cathode layer is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the light-emitting cathode for display and the touch sensing electrode for touch input. By making the cathode layer multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated touch components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrode layers and insulation layers are added to enable touch function, then touch functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch electrode function with the existing cathode layer of the OLED display. The cathode layer is divided into first cathode blocks and second cathode blocks that serve as driving and sensing electrodes respectively, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and insulation layers while achieving full touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cathode layer is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the light-emitting cathode for display and the touch sensing electrode for touch input. By making the cathode layer multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated touch components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional electrode layers and insulation layers are added to enable touch function, then touch functionality is achieved, but yield rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidyield rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch electrode function with the existing cathode layer of the OLED display. The cathode layer is divided into first cathode blocks and second cathode blocks that serve as driving and sensing electrodes respectively, eliminating the need for separate touch electrode layers and insulation layers while achieving full touch functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cathode layer is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the light-emitting cathode for display and the touch sensing electrode for touch input. By making the cathode layer multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for additional dedicated touch components, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and improving yield rate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10203823B2Built-in touch display panels basing on organic light emitting devices (OLEDs)

Publication Date: 2019.02.12 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a built-in touch display panel basing on OLED includes: a thin film transistor (TFT) layer, an anode layer, an OLED layer, and a cathode layer are configured along a bottom-to-up direction; and the cathode layer includes a plurality of first cathode blocks and the second cathode blocks, wherein the first cathode blocks and the second cathode blocks are interleaved with each other along a horizontal direction and along a vertical direction of the display panel, the adjacent first cathode blocks are electrically connected, and the adjacent second cathode blocks are electrically connected. In this way, the built-in touch display panel basing on OLED may be obtained by simple manufacturing process having the low cost and high yield rate.