Piezoresistive Touch Panel Using Carbon Nanotube Film
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panels, particularly resistive and capacitive types, face issues such as high failure risk due to electrode layer contact and incompatibility with input devices like pens or gloved fingers, which do not generate electricity.
Innovation Solution
A piezoresistive touch panel is developed using a polymer membrane with an embedded carbon nanotube film pattern, a spacer layer, and a bottom substrate, allowing for durable and flexible input capabilities, including use with pens and gloved fingers, by varying resistance with applied pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a resistive type touch panel uses two electrode layers that contact upon pressure, then accuracy is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to high risk of failure from physical contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact between two electrode layers with a piezoresistive sensing mechanism. Instead of requiring physical contact between conductive layers, the invention uses a piezoresistive film that changes electrical resistance in response to applied pressure, eliminating wear and failure associated with mechanical contact while maintaining accurate touch detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the piezoresistive effect where electrical resistance changes in response to applied stress or pressure. By embedding a piezoresistive film between the top and bottom substrates, the system detects touch input through resistance parameter changes rather than mechanical contact, improving both reliability and measurement precision.
2Reliability
If a capacitive type touch panel senses electricity from human body, then durability is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as it cannot be activated by pens or gloved fingers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal touch sensing mechanism that responds to any form of pressure or force applied to the panel surface. The piezoresistive film detects mechanical stress regardless of its source, making the system compatible with fingers, pens, styluses, or any other input device, thereby achieving multi-functionality and broad adaptability while maintaining durability.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rigid structure is used for touch panel substrates, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film structures for the piezoresistive layer and flexible substrate materials that can be manufactured with high precision while maintaining flexibility. The use of thin film deposition techniques allows for precise control of layer thickness and properties, while the flexible nature of the materials enables the panel to be bent or conform to curved surfaces without compromising manufacturing quality.
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
The piezoresistive touch panel is highly durable, flexible, and multi-functional, enabling accurate pressure sensing and compatible with various input devices, including flexible displays and touch pads, with carbon nanotube film patterns providing high sensitivity and resistance changes proportional to applied forces.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoresistive type film pattern, of which resistance varies with applied pressure
Implementation Method 2
manufacturing a polymer membrane including carbon nanotube film pattern
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a touch panel, more specifically a piezoresistive type touch panel. According to the present invention, it is provided a manufacturing method of a piezoresistive type touch panel, comprising manufacturing a polymer membrane in which a piezoresistive type film pattern, of which resistance varies with applied pressure, is embedded; manufacturing a spacer layer and attaching one side of the spacer layer to a surface of the polymer membrane; and then attaching a bottom substrate to the other side of the spacer layer.