OLED Touch Display Electrodes for Curved Panel Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing OLED display panels with a touch function require separate manufacturing processes, leading to a complex process flow and high costs, and are prone to failure on curved surfaces due to flexibility issues.

Innovation Solution

Integrate the anode or cathode of the light emitting device as a touch electrode, implementing the touch function through time division multiplexing, which reduces the need for additional processes and enhances flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If add-on touch technology is used to implement touch function on OLED display panel, then touch functionality is achieved, but manufacturing process becomes complicated and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch electrode function with the anode or cathode of the OLED light emitting device. The anode or cathode serves dual purposes: as an electrode for light emission and as a touch detection electrode. This integration eliminates the need for separate touch layer formation processes, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining touch functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The anode or cathode is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the electrical electrode required for OLED operation and the capacitive touch sensor electrode. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and manufacturing steps, directly addressing the complexity and cost issues of traditional add-on touch technologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If add-on touch technology is applied to curved-surface display panels, then touch function is implemented, but flexibility performance deteriorates and failure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch functionVSAvoidflexibility performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the touch electrode function into the existing anode or cathode structure, the patent eliminates separate touch layers that would compromise flexibility. The OLED electrode itself serves as the touch sensor, ensuring that curved-surface panels maintain their flexibility performance without additional rigid or fragile touch layer materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the functional parameters of the existing OLED electrode by enabling it to perform both light emission and touch detection. This parameter change allows the same structural element to fulfill multiple roles, eliminating the need for additional layers that would affect flexibility and reliability on curved surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate touch layer is formed on display panel, then touch function is achieved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch functionVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the touch electrode function with the OLED electrode (anode or cathode) into a single integrated structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate touch layer materials and formation processes, directly reducing material costs and manufacturing expenses while achieving touch functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The OLED electrode is designed to serve universal purposes: electrical conduction for light emission and capacitive sensing for touch detection. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and material requirements, leading to lower production costs compared to traditional separate touch layer approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3671413B1Touch display panel, method for driving same, and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3671413B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3671413B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~2
  • EP3671413B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A touch display panel, a method for driving a touch display panel, and an electronic device are provided. The touch display panel includes a plurality of touch detection lines (14), a plurality of touch electrodes (11), a plurality of pixel units (12), and an insulating layer (300). The plurality of touch electrodes (11) are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of touch detection lines (14), each of the plurality of pixel units (12) includes a light emitting device (122), and the plurality of touch electrodes (11) are configured to implement a touch function during a touch phase; and each of the plurality of touch electrodes (11) is further configured to function as a cathode or an anode of the light emitting device (122) to implement a display function during a display phase.