Organic EL Module with Bent Flexible Substrate for Touch Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional organic electroluminescence modules face challenges in achieving a compact size, reduced thickness, and high touch-sensing accuracy, particularly when integrated into smart devices, due to the placement of capacitive sensing circuits and electrodes which affect the light-emitting surface and increase the module's area, leading to reduced sensitivity and increased economic burden.
Innovation Solution
An organic electroluminescence module is designed with a flexible substrate-based electrical connecting unit that includes a capacitive sensing circuit and a wiring part on its back surface, featuring a light-permeable part with cuts forming a bent structure, allowing the sensing circuit and connecting electrodes to be electrically connected on the light-emitting surface, thereby positioning the capacitive touch-sensing circuit closer to the organic EL panel without increasing the module's area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the capacitive sensing circuit is placed on the light-emitting surface side of the organic EL panel, then the touch-sensing accuracy is improved, but the module area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the flexible substrate to fold the sensing circuit in a bent configuration, transitioning from a planar layout to a three-dimensional structure. This allows the circuit to occupy vertical and lateral space efficiently, achieving high touch-sensing accuracy with compact footprint by utilizing spatial dimensions beyond the simple planar area.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing circuit is nested within the flexible substrate structure, with the circuit pattern embedded in the substrate layers. The bent portion of the substrate contains the sensing circuit in a compact, nested arrangement that maximizes the use of available space while maintaining electrical connection and sensing functionality.
2Area of stationary object
If the module size is reduced for compact smart devices, then the integration into smart devices is improved, but the touch-sensing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible substrate that can be bent and folded to create a compact module structure. This flexibility allows the sensing circuit to be arranged in a space-efficient configuration that maintains adequate sensing electrode dimensions and spacing for accurate touch detection, even in reduced-size modules intended for compact smart devices.
3Length of stationary object
If the thickness of the module is reduced, then the suitability for thin smart devices is improved, but the electrical connection between sensing circuit and connecting electrode becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible substrate introduces dynamic flexibility to the electrical connection structure. The bent configuration of the substrate allows the sensing circuit to maintain electrical connection with the connecting electrode through the flexible conductive traces embedded in the substrate, accommodating thin module designs without requiring rigid, complex connection structures.
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 touch-sensing accuracy and reduces the module's size and thickness, making it suitable for small-format smart devices while maintaining effective touch detection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an organic electroluminescence panel (hereinafter, abbreviated as organic EL panel) to achieve lower power consumption and a more uniform luminance of emitted light
Implementation Method 2
a capacitive touch-sensing system is recently often used. For a main display, one of projected capacitive touch-sensing systems, called 'mutual capacitive touch-sensing system'
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL module that achieves a reduction in size and thickness, that has a high touch-sensing accuracy, and that is applicable to smart devices, and a smart device equipped with the same. The organic EL module of the present invention includes: an organic EL panel having a connecting electrode; and an electrical connecting unit laminated on the organic EL panel, wherein the electrical connecting unit has a flexible substrate and a capacitive sensing circuit provided on the flexible substrate and having a land, the electrical connecting unit is provided on a light-emitting surface side of the organic EL panel, the electrical connecting unit has a light-permeable part and a bent part formed by making two or more cuts in at least one side of the light-permeable part, and the land constituting the sensing circuit and the connecting electrode of the organic EL panel are electrically connected to each other at the bent part.