Pressure-Sensitive Touch Unit Using Quantum Tunneling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen technologies, such as surface acoustic wave technology, are not suitable for large-size screens, are sensitive to surface contaminants, and struggle with multi-point touch and static pressure sensing, limiting their application in mainstream devices like mobile phones and tablets, while current capacitive touch screens lack the ability to sense pressure as a dimension for human-machine interaction.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-sensitive display screen touch-control unit is developed, comprising a driving electrode, a lower electrode, and a thin dielectric layer (0.5 nm to 5 nm thick) that converts external pressure into a current signal, allowing for sensitive pressure sensing and compatibility with existing capacitive or resistive touch screens, enabling multi-point touch and force feedback functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surface acoustic wave technology is used for touch sensing, then pressure sensing capability is improved, but applicability to large-size screens deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical surface acoustic wave system with a quantum tunneling-based electrical sensing system. The ultra-thin dielectric layer (0.5-5 nm) enables electron tunneling between electrodes, converting pressure mechanical effects into electrical signals, thus resolving the limitation of mechanical wave systems on large screens while maintaining pressure sensing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental sensing parameter from mechanical wave propagation to quantum tunneling current. By controlling the dielectric layer thickness at the nanometer scale (0.5-5 nm), the system achieves high pressure sensitivity through exponential changes in tunneling current, enabling both large screen applicability and accurate pressure detection
2Measurement precision
If ultra-thin dielectric layer (0.5 nm to 5 nm) is used for pressure sensing, then pressure sensing sensitivity is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes quantum tunneling effect where current changes exponentially with dielectric thickness. By operating in this quantum regime, even small thickness variations (0.5-5 nm) produce large, measurable current changes, transforming a manufacturing challenge into a sensing advantage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional capacitive sensing with quantum tunneling-based sensing. The tunneling mechanism provides exponential sensitivity to thickness changes, naturally amplifying the signal from ultra-thin layers and reducing the impact of manufacturing tolerances on overall performance
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing capacitive touch screen technology is used, then multi-point touch capability is improved, but pressure sensing capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges capacitive touch electrode structures with ultra-thin dielectric tunneling layers. The capacitive electrodes maintain multi-point touch detection while the added tunneling layer provides pressure sensing, creating a multi-functional integrated system that achieves both capabilities simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal touch sensing platform where the ultra-thin dielectric layer structure can detect both touch position (through electrode capacitance changes) and touch pressure (through tunneling current changes), enabling a single system to perform multiple sensing functions
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 solution enables the detection of touch pressure as an information input mode, enhancing the functionality of touch screens with sensitive pressure sensing and multi-point touch capabilities, facilitating advanced human-machine interaction and rich operations.
Implementation Method 1
When a pressure is applied between the driving electrode and the lower electrode, a tunnel current IT is formed; a voltage VT exists between the driving electrode and the lower electrode; and the relation between the tunnel current IT and the voltage VT—between the driving electrode and the lower electrode is: IT=CVTexp(−AU0d)
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-sensitive display screen touch-control unit, a touch screen and a manufacturing method thereof. The touch-control unit mainly comprises a driving electrode, a lower electrode, and a dielectric layer sandwiched between the driving electrode and the lower electrode. When a pressure is applied between the driving electrode and the lower electrode, a tunnel current IT is formed, and a voltage VT exists between the driving electrode and the lower electrode. With the touch-control unit, an external pressure may be converted into a current signal to make pressure an information input mode; and the touch-control unit is combined with the existing capacitive touch screen or the resistive touch screen, such that the touch-control unit may be compatible with the existing multi-point touch function, and may also sense change in pressure sensitively. Functions of the existing touch screens may be enhanced to rich operations and applications of touch screens.