OLED Touch Panel Electrode Integration for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to integrate a touch function into OLED display products, which existing touch technologies have not effectively addressed, particularly in reducing the thickness and facilitating flexible displays.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel design featuring two substrates with electrode layers and organic light-emitting layers, where the second electrode layer acts as a touch electrode, integrated with a spacer and a packaging layer, allowing for a touch function without additional layers and enhancing light transmission and image brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch function is integrated into OLED display products, then touch functionality is achieved, but the thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the OLED display structure with touch panel structure by integrating the second electrode layer of the OLED as the first touch electrode, and adding a second touch electrode on the opposite side. This merging of display and touch functions into a single integrated structure achieves touch functionality without requiring separate additional layers that would increase thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The second electrode layer of the OLED display serves dual purposes: it functions as both the cathode (or anode) for light emission and as the first touch electrode for touch sensing. This multi-functionality allows the same structural element to perform both display and touch operations, eliminating the need for dedicated touch electrode layers that would add to the overall thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional touch electrode layers are added to OLED display, then touch function is achieved, but the layer formation process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the OLED electrode structure with the touch panel electrode structure. The second electrode layer of the OLED (which is already part of the display structure) is simultaneously used as the first touch electrode. This eliminates the need to add completely separate touch electrode layers, thereby simplifying the overall layer formation process while achieving touch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The second electrode layer performs multiple functions: it serves as the cathode (or anode) for OLED light emission and simultaneously functions as the first touch electrode for capacitive touch sensing. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of layers required and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating redundant structural elements.
3Illumination intensity
If transparent electrode layers are used, then light transmission is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the OLED electrode layers with the touch panel electrode layers into a single integrated structure. The second electrode layer of the OLED is simultaneously the first touch electrode, and the spacer structure provides automatic alignment between the first and second touch electrodes. This merging reduces the cumulative alignment errors that would occur with separate layers and maintains light transmission through the use of transparent materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer structure acts as an intermediary element that provides both the necessary gap between the first and second touch electrodes for capacitive coupling and serves as an alignment reference. The spacer's positioning structures ensure precise alignment between electrodes while allowing the use of transparent materials that maintain light transmission properties.
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 the integration of touch functionality into OLED displays without increasing thickness, improving light efficiency and display quality by using transparent electrode layers and organic light-emitting layers, and simplifying the layer formation process.
Implementation Method 1
a first organic light-emitting layer and a second organic light-emitting layer laminated one on another
Implementation Method 2
the first electrode layer, the second electrode layer, the third electrode layer and the second touch electrode are each made of a transparent material
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel, a method for driving the same, and a touch device are provided. The touch panel includes a first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to the first substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate, a first electrode layer, a first display layer and a second electrode layer laminated one on another, and the second electrode layer is arranged adjacent to the second substrate and multiplexed as a first touch electrode. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a second touch electrode arranged at a side of the second base substrate adjacent to the first substrate. A spacer is arranged between the second electrode layer and the second touch electrode.