Randomized Micro-Features in Touch Sensor Meshes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitive touch sensors often suffer from optical interference, such as moiré patterns, which distort or reduce the clarity of displays visible through them due to repeating patterns in the conductive material, affecting their functionality and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of substantially randomized micro-features in the conductive material of touch sensors, such as Voronoi diagrams and sinusoidal shapes for conductive lines, reduces or eliminates repeating patterns and frequencies, thereby minimizing optical interference and enhancing display clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If repeating patterns are used in conductive material, then manufacturing is easier, but optical interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by replacing repeating symmetric patterns with asymmetric, randomized micro-features in the conductive material. The micro-features have randomized positions, sizes, and shapes that break the periodicity causing moiré patterns, thereby eliminating optical interference while remaining manufacturable through standard photolithography processes with adjusted design rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different regions of the conductive material to have locally optimized micro-feature configurations. Each region can have micro-features tailored to local requirements for electrical performance and optical clarity, with randomized parameters adjusted according to position-specific needs rather than applying a uniform pattern throughout.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If randomized micro-features are implemented, then optical interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying micro-feature parameters (size, shape, position, orientation) within defined ranges to achieve randomized configurations. This controlled randomization eliminates optical interference while maintaining manufacturability through standardized fabrication processes, avoiding the need for complex assembly or post-processing steps.
3Manufacturing precision
If repeating patterns are used in conductive material, then manufacturing precision is easier to maintain, but visual clarity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates moiré patterns by replacing repeating symmetric patterns with asymmetric, randomized micro-features. The randomization breaks the periodicity that causes optical interference, significantly improving display clarity through the touch sensor while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled variation of micro-feature parameters within defined tolerances.
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 approach effectively reduces or eliminates moiré patterns and optical interference, improving the visual clarity of displays through touch sensors while maintaining the touch sensing functionality, thereby enhancing user interaction and device performance.
Implementation Method 1
Capacitive touch sensors often suffer from optical interference issues, such as moire patterns, due to repeating patterns in their conductive material
Implementation Method 2
optical interference issues, such as moire patterns
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a touch sensor with one or more meshes of conductive material. Each of the meshes includes multiple mesh cells defined by multiple mesh segments. Each of the mesh cells includes a centroid and multiple vertices. The mesh segments are made of the conductive material, and the centroids or vertices of the mesh cells have a substantially random distribution within an area of the touch sensor. The apparatus also includes one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the touch sensor that embody logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.