Self-Capacitive Touch Electrode Structure for Pin Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-capacitive touch electrode structures have high manufacturing costs and are relatively thick due to the large number of pins required for connecting touch electrodes to a flexible printed circuit board, leading to increased defects and reduced light transmission rates.
Innovation Solution
A self-capacitive touch electrode structure comprising a first sub-array and a second sub-array of touch electrodes in periodic lattices, where each electrode has recesses and protrusions to minimize the number of electrodes needed for a given touch area, with a touch detection chip connected to the electrodes through signal lines, reducing the number of pins and improving touch performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional self-capacitive touch electrode structures use a large number of pins to connect touch electrodes to a flexible printed circuit board, then the connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and the panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple touch electrodes into electrode groups, where each electrode group is connected to a single pin on the flexible printed circuit board. This merging approach maintains the functional independence of individual electrodes while reducing the total number of pins required, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and panel thickness without compromising connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the array of touch electrodes into multiple electrode groups, where each group shares a common connection pin. This segmentation strategy allows the system to maintain fine-grained touch detection capability through individual electrode monitoring while using coarse-grained group connections to reduce the overall pin count and associated manufacturing complexity
2Measurement precision
If conventional self-capacitive touch electrode structures use a large number of pins for connecting touch electrodes, then the touch detection precision is maintained, but the panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple electrodes into groups that share common connection pins, the patent reduces the overall number of connection points required on the flexible printed circuit board. This consolidation directly reduces the vertical space needed for pin connections, thereby decreasing panel thickness while preserving the ability to detect touch events with precision through individual electrode capacitance measurements
3Reliability
If conventional self-capacitive touch electrode structures use a large number of pins, then the connection reliability is improved, but the light transmission rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode connections into fewer pin connections on the flexible printed circuit board. This reduction in the number of pins directly increases the open area ratio of the display panel, allowing more light to pass through and improving the light transmission rate while maintaining reliable electrical connections through the consolidated pin structure
4Measurement precision
If conventional self-capacitive touch electrode structures use more touch electrodes for a given area, then the touch detection accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large array of touch electrodes into multiple smaller electrode groups, where each group is managed as a unit with a single connection pin. This segmentation reduces the manufacturing complexity by decreasing the number of individual connection points that need to be precisely positioned and connected, while still maintaining high touch detection accuracy through the distributed electrode structure
Solution Approach 2:
By combining multiple electrodes into groups that share common connection infrastructure, the patent reduces the overall manufacturing complexity. The grouping strategy allows for simplified routing, fewer connection points to manage during assembly, and reduced testing complexity, while the individual electrodes within each group continue to provide precise touch detection capability
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 design reduces the number of touch electrodes required for a given area, lowering manufacturing costs and defects, while enhancing touch performance by reducing the number of pins and increasing the area covered by each electrode, resulting in a more compact and efficient touch display panel.
Implementation Method 1
During touch control, a touch event may be detected by a capacitance change induced by a touch on the touch electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
The present application discloses a self-capacitive touch electrode structure comprising a first sub-array comprising a plurality of first touch electrodes in a first periodic sub-lattice, and a second sub-array comprising a plurality of second touch electrodes in a second periodic sub-lattice. The first sub-array and the second sub-array define an array of touch electrodes comprising a plurality of touch electrode pairs in a periodic lattice, a minimum translational repeat unit of the array of touch electrodes comprising a pair of first touch electrode and second touch electrode adjacent to each other. Each first touch electrode comprises at least one recess surrounding a protrusion of an adjacent second touch electrode, and at least one protrusion surrounded by a recess in an adjacent second touch electrode. Each of the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of second touch electrodes is independently connected to a touch signal line.