Resonance Pattern Touch Sensor for Flexible Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch sensors formed with metal electrodes are prone to damage when bent, and their manufacturing requires high temperature, high pressure, and vacuum conditions, leading to increased costs and low yields.

Innovation Solution

A touch sensor with a base layer and at least one resonance pattern that changes its resonant frequency upon touch, utilizing an ink-jet method to form the pattern on a sheet of paper, reducing manufacturing costs and increasing yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a metal electrode is used to form a touch sensor, then the touch sensor can detect touch input, but the metal electrode is damaged when bent and the touch sensor is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensor durabilityVSAvoidmetal electrode flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the durable but rigid metal electrode with a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) that can be bent without damage. The FPC serves as the electrode support structure, allowing the touch sensor to maintain functionality while being flexible and resistant to bending damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) as the electrode structure instead of rigid metal electrodes. The FPC can be bent and deformed without damage, providing the necessary flexibility for flexible display applications while maintaining electrical connectivity and touch sensing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a metal electrode is used to form a touch sensor, then the touch sensor can function, but high temperature, high pressure, and vacuum conditions are required leading to increased manufacturing cost and low yield

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensor functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex metal electrode fabrication process requiring high temperature, high pressure, and vacuum conditions with a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) manufacturing process. The FPC can be manufactured using more accessible and less demanding processes, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining touch sensor functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the mechanical and thermal processes required for metal electrode fabrication (high temperature, high pressure, vacuum conditions) with a more straightforward FPC manufacturing process. This replacement eliminates the need for complex manufacturing equipment and conditions, simplifying production and improving yield.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 touch sensor effectively detects touch input using resonant frequency changes, providing a simple and cost-effective structure for touch recognition.

Implementation Method 1

the resonance pattern has a resonant frequency being changed by a touch of an external structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResonance: Resonance

Data Source

PatentUS10545618B2Touch sensor including a resonance pattern having resonant frequency

Publication Date: 2020.01.28 CHUNG ANG UNIV IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND

AI summary

A touch sensor according to an embodiment includes: a base layer; and at least one resonance pattern formed on the base layer, wherein the resonance pattern has a resonant frequency being changed by a touch of an external structure.