Integrated Touch Sensor Electrode for OLED Light Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organic electroluminescent display devices with touch input functions face challenges in maintaining thin and lightweight designs due to the need for external touch panels, which increase size and weight, and suffer from image quality deterioration due to light leaks and display non-uniformity caused by the separation of light shielding and sensor electrodes.
Innovation Solution
An organic electroluminescent display device with a first substrate having a pixel area and a partition layer, and a second substrate with a sensing unit featuring a first electrode pattern and a second electrode pattern that overlap to enclose sub-pixels, where the first electrode pattern is formed of a non-transmissive material like aluminum to act as a light shielding layer and the second electrode pattern is transparent for improved light utilization and reduced visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a light shielding layer is provided to enclose light emitting areas to prevent light leaks between adjacent pixels, then color mixture prevention is improved, but device thickness and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light shielding layer and touch sensor electrode into a single integrated structure. The touch sensor electrode pattern is designed to function simultaneously as the light shielding layer, eliminating the need for separate components while preventing light leaks between adjacent pixels and maintaining thin device profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor electrode is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the sensing element for touch input and as the light shielding layer to prevent color mixture between pixels. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity and weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is externally attached to provide input function, then touch detection capability is improved, but device size and thickness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the touch sensor electrode directly into the display structure as part of the light shielding layer, eliminating the need for externally attached touch panels. This integration maintains full touch detection functionality while reducing overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated electrode structure serves dual purposes: providing touch input detection capability and acting as the light shielding layer. This eliminates the need for separate touch panel components and reduces device size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the light shielding layer is separated from the lattice portion to act as sensor electrode, then touch input function is improved, but light leaks occur causing display non-uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light shielding function and touch sensing function into a single continuous electrode structure. The electrode pattern is designed to maintain light shielding continuity while providing touch detection capability, preventing light leaks and display non-uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode pattern is designed with specific local characteristics - certain regions provide enhanced light shielding while maintaining touch sensitivity. The pattern geometry is optimized to prevent light leaks in critical areas while preserving touch detection functionality.
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 enhances image quality by preventing light leaks and inter-pixel color mixture, maintains a thin design, and adjusts sensitivity for effective touch detection, improving the S/N ratio of the touch sensor unit while utilizing light more efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
the first electrode pattern is formed of a non-transmissive material like aluminum to act as a light shielding layer
Implementation Method 2
a mainstream touch panel is of an electrostatic capacitance system, which detects a change in the electrostatic capacitance of the sensor electrode and converts such an electrostatic capacitance into an input signal
Implementation Method 3
Organic electroluminescent display devices including a substrate which has light emitting devices each controlled independently and provided in accordance with pixels
Data Source
AI summary
An organic electroluminescent display device includes a first substrate having a pixel area including a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of sub pixels, a light emitting devices are provided in correspondence with the sub pixels, and a partition layer covering a peripheral portion of each of the sub pixels; and a second substrate having a sensing unit including a first electrode pattern extending in one direction and a second electrode pattern extending in a direction intersecting the one direction, and the first electrode pattern and the second electrode pattern is provided out of contact from each other. The first electrode pattern is located to overlap the partition layer so as to enclose the sub pixels. The first electrode pattern included in the sensing unit encloses the sub pixels, and thus light is prevented from leaking to adjacent sub pixels.