Segmented Touch Electrode Structure for Flexible Panel Bending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flexible touch screens face issues with material choice for bridge connections, where metal bridges offer good ductility but poor pattern invisibility, while ITO bridges are brittle and prone to breakage, and large ITO blocks induce internal stress leading to bending failures.
Innovation Solution
The touch panel design employs small-sized conductive portions arranged at intervals, connected by electrical connection portions to form electrodes, eliminating internal stress and improving bending endurance, with a uniform distribution to maintain pattern invisibility and adjust capacitance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal bridges are used for connection, then ductility is improved, but pattern invisibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous electrode into multiple small-sized conductive portions arranged in an array, connected by narrow electrical connection portions. This segmentation allows the use of transparent conductive material throughout, maintaining pattern invisibility while the distributed structure provides flexibility similar to metal bridges.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the electrode structure: small-sized conductive portions provide capacitance and transparency, while narrow electrical connection portions provide flexibility and stress relief. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ductility and pattern invisibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If ITO bridges are used for connection, then pattern invisibility is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to brittleness and breakage
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the electrode into small conductive portions connected by narrow portions, the structure can flex without breaking. The narrow connection portions act as stress relief zones, preventing crack propagation while maintaining the transparency benefits of ITO material.
Solution Approach 2:
The narrow electrical connection portions are designed in advance to absorb and distribute mechanical stress, preventing breakage before it occurs. This proactive stress management maintains both pattern invisibility and reliability.
3Power
If large ITO blocks are used, then electrical conductivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to internal stress and bending failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces large ITO blocks with an array of small-sized conductive portions. This segmentation reduces internal stress accumulation while maintaining effective capacitance through the distributed arrangement, significantly improving bending endurance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from large two-dimensional ITO blocks to a distributed array of small portions with narrow connections. This dimensional reorganization reduces stress concentration and improves flexibility while maintaining electrical functionality.
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 design enhances bending endurance and pattern invisibility by using small-sized conductive portions connected by electrical connection portions, effectively reducing internal stress and allowing for adjustable capacitance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of electrical connection portions electrically connecting the conductive portions located in the electrode region to form a plurality of first electrodes extending in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes extending in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
capacitors may be formed at positions where two groups of electrodes intersect. When a finger touches the touch panel, the coupling between the two electrodes near the touch point is affected, so that the capacitance between the two electrodes is changed
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~3B
Figure 3C~4
AI summary
A touch panel and a manufacturing method thereof, and a touch display device are provided. The touch panel includes a touch region (100), the touch region (100) includes: a plurality of conductive portions (110) arranged at intervals, a region in which the plurality of conductive portions (110) are located including an electrode region (111); a plurality of electrical connection portions (120) electrically connecting the conductive portions (110) located in the electrode region (111) to form a plurality of first electrodes (113) extending in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes (114) extending in a second direction, the plurality of first electrodes (113) being insulated from the plurality of second electrodes (114). In the second direction, each of the plurality of first electrodes (113) includes at least two of the plurality of conductive portions (110); in the first direction, each of the plurality of second electrodes (114) includes at least two of the plurality of conductive portions (110). The touch electrode in the touch panel adopts the plurality of conductive portions arranged at intervals instead of large-sized ITO blocks, and the conductive portions located in the electrode region are electrically connected by the electrical connection portions to form the touch electrodes, so as to eliminate internal stress of the touch panel and improve the bending endurance of the touch panel.