OLED Force Touch Sensing via Resilient Layer Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional organic light emitting display apparatuses with force and touch sensing face challenges due to high costs and complexity of microelectromechanical sensors, high power consumption, and low accuracy, as well as the inability to sense proximity effectively.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a thin film transistor substrate, an organic light emitting material layer, a common electrode layer, a force electrode layer, a touch electrode layer, and a resilient material layer, with the force electrode layer and touch electrode layer positioned on opposite sides of the organic light emitting material layer, and the resilient material layer placed between them, enabling force and touch sensing functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microelectromechanical sensor is integrated at edge or corner of display panel to sense tactile pressure, then force and touch sensing function is achieved, but cost is high and assembling is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the force sensing and touch sensing functions into a single integrated structure. The force electrode layer and touch electrode layer are combined with the organic light emitting material layer to form a unified multi-functional display panel, eliminating the need for separate microelectromechanical sensors at edges or corners. This integration achieves both force and touch sensing capabilities while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The display panel structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the organic light emitting material layer serves as both the light-emitting element and part of the force sensing mechanism, while the electrode layers provide both touch sensing and electrical connectivity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated sensing components, thereby reducing cost and assembly difficulty while maintaining reliable sensing functions.
2Reliability
If voltage-resistance converting material including conductive rubber or conductive sponge is used to detect force and variation of resistance, then force sensing capability is achieved, but power consuming is high and accuracy is not good
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical voltage-resistance converting materials (conductive rubber, conductive sponge) with an electrical field-based sensing system. The force electrode layer and touch electrode layer create an electrical field that interacts with the organic light emitting material layer to detect force changes. This substitution eliminates the need for high-power mechanical sensing materials, significantly reducing power consumption while improving sensing accuracy through electrical field modulation.
3Reliability
If conventional sensing materials are used, then force and touch sensing is achieved, but proximity sensing is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic sensing mechanism where the organic light emitting material layer's electrical properties change in response to both physical contact and proximity of objects. The electrode layers can detect changes in electrical field distribution caused by objects approaching the display surface, enabling proximity sensing. This dynamic response allows the same structure to differentiate between actual touch, force pressure, and mere proximity, thereby achieving versatile sensing capabilities.
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 configuration allows for the integration of force and touch sensing capabilities in organic light emitting displays, improving accuracy and reducing power consumption while enabling proximity sensing, thus enhancing the overall performance of the display.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient material layer arranged between the force electrode layer and the touch electrode layer, or arranged between the common electrode layer and the force electrode layer
Data Source
AI summary
An organic light emitting display apparatus with force and touch sensing includes a touch protection layer, a touch electrode layer, a resilient material layer, a force electrode layer, a thin-film-encapsulation layer, a common electrode layer, an organic light emitting material layer and a thin film transistor substrate from top to bottom. The thin film transistor substrate includes a pixel electrode layer, a thin film transistor layer and a transistor substrate from top to bottom. The organic light emitting display apparatus further includes a display controller to drive the organic light emitting material layer and a force touch controller for sensing touch position on the touch electrode layer and force exerted on the force electrode layer.