OLED Touch Panel Signal Line Reduction via Electrode Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-capacitive touch display panels are limited by the large number of electrode leads required, which restricts their development and increases production costs and thickness, especially as panel size increases.
Innovation Solution
The touch display panel design includes multiple common electrode units arranged in rows and columns, with switch elements connected to shared signal lines, reducing the number of signal lines needed by connecting each switch element to multiple electrodes, thereby minimizing the number of leads required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each block-shaped electrode is connected to a driving circuit via a single electrode lead to ensure touch sensitivity, then touch sensitivity is improved, but the number of electrode leads increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple common electrode units that were previously connected via separate electrode leads are merged into a single connected structure. The insulation layers are removed at specific regions to enable electrical connection between adjacent common electrode units, allowing them to function as an integrated electrode system while reducing the number of required electrode leads from N*M to a manageable number.
Solution Approach 2:
The common electrode units serve multiple functions: they act as both display electrodes for showing images and as touch sensing electrodes for detecting touch input. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate electrode systems, thereby reducing the overall number of electrode leads required in the display panel.
2Reliability
If multiple electrode leads are used to connect each block-shaped electrode, then touch sensitivity is maintained, but production efficiency decreases and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode lead connections into a reduced number of connections by electrically connecting adjacent common electrode units through removed insulation layers. This consolidation simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the number of connection steps required, and improves production efficiency while maintaining the necessary electrical connections for touch sensitivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple electrode leads are used in the display panel, then each block-shaped electrode can be driven independently, but the thickness of the display panel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of multiple electrode leads into a integrated electrode structure where adjacent common electrode units are electrically connected. This reduces the number of separate lead structures that would otherwise increase panel thickness, while maintaining the ability to drive different regions of the display panel independently through the connected electrode system.
4Measurement precision
If the number of block-shaped electrodes is increased to improve touch resolution, then touch precision is improved, but the number of electrode leads increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a merging strategy where adjacent common electrode units are electrically connected by removing insulation layers between them. This allows multiple electrode units to function as an integrated system, reducing the number of required electrode leads from N*M to a much smaller number while maintaining high touch resolution through the increased number of electrode units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-to-one connection model (each electrode has its own lead) to a many-to-few connection model where multiple electrodes share common connection paths. This dimensional change in the connection topology allows high-resolution electrode arrays to be implemented without proportionally increasing the number of leads.
Data Source
AI summary
An OLED touch display panel is provided, including: a display substrate; a touch electrode including multiple touch electrode units arranged on the display substrate; multiple touch switch elements having a one-to-one correspondence with and electrically connected to the touch electrode units respectively; multiple first signal lines each electrically connected to at least two touch switch elements located in different columns; multiple second signal lines each electrically connected to at least two touch switch elements located in different rows; a display pixel arranged on the touch electrode, where the display pixel includes multiple pixel unit groups each corresponding to one touch electrode unit; and a glass cover arranged on the display pixel, where each touch electrode unit has multiple meshes opposite to pixel units in one pixel unit group corresponding to the each touch electrode unit in a vertical direction, respectively.