OLED Touch Sensor Mesh Integration in Common Electrode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch screen display devices, particularly those using organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), face challenges in thickness reduction and manufacturing complexity, leading to increased product costs and reduced user convenience due to the separate formation of touch sensors and sensor lines, which also affect signal recognition and device brightness.
Innovation Solution
The integration of touch sensors and sensor lines in a mesh pattern within a partial region of the common electrode in OLED display devices, either above, below, or within the boundary region between organic light emitting bodies, allows for efficient thickness reduction and simplified manufacturing, enabling precise touch detection without compromising display quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch sensors and sensor lines are separately formed on the display device, then touch detection function is achieved, but device thickness increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor electrodes and sensor lines into a single integrated structure formed simultaneously through one masking process. The touch sensor includes first and second electrodes with sensor lines extending from them, all formed in a single step rather than separate formation processes, thereby reducing device thickness and manufacturing complexity while maintaining touch detection functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The common electrode serves multiple functions: it acts as both the touch sensor electrode for detecting touch input and as the common voltage electrode for the OLED display. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate touch sensor and display electrodes, reducing overall device thickness and structural complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If touch sensors and sensor lines are separately formed, then manufacturing process flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor electrodes and sensor lines are combined into a single formation process using one mask pattern. This simultaneous formation reduces the number of manufacturing steps, simplifies the production process, and lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining the ability to control electrode positions and patterns through mask design
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor lines are extended from the electrode ends during the initial electrode formation step, preparing the complete touch sensor structure in advance. This preliminary action eliminates the need for subsequent separate formation steps for sensor lines, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring proper electrical connections are established from the outset
3Measurement precision
If touch sensors are formed as separate layers, then touch sensitivity can be optimized, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor electrodes are formed in the same layer as the common electrode rather than as separate stacked layers. This in-cell integration maintains the electrical functionality and touch sensitivity of the sensor while eliminating additional layer thickness, achieving both touch sensitivity optimization and thickness reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor functionality is integrated into the plane of the common electrode rather than being stacked in additional dimensions. By forming the touch electrodes and sensor lines within the same structural layer as the common electrode, the design transitions from a multi-layer stacked approach to a planar integration approach, reducing vertical thickness while maintaining horizontal 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 solution enables a thinner, more user-friendly OLED display device with improved touch sensitivity and reduced manufacturing complexity, enhancing user interaction and productivity while minimizing the visibility of touch sensors and sensor lines.
Implementation Method 1
The OLED is an autonomous light emitting display device, in which electrons and holes injected to an organic material thin film through an anode and a cathode are re-combined to form exciton and which generates light of a specific wavelength by energy of the exciton
Implementation Method 2
a touch sensor for detecting a touch input and a sensor line connected to the touch sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a display device including a touch screen. An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device including a touch screen according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of pixels including organic light emitting bodies; and a common electrode which applies a common voltage to the organic light emitting body, in which a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of sensor lines are formed in a mesh pattern in a partial region of the common electrode corresponding to a boundary region between the organic light emitting bodies. Further, the present invention includes exemplary embodiments different from the described exemplary embodiment.