Sensing Electrode Trunk and Branch Design for Touch Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in achieving high sensing reliability and coordinate accuracy for external inputs, particularly in sensing electrodes used in electronic devices like smart watches and tablets, due to limitations in signal sensitivity and electrode design.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a sensing electrode design with a trunk portion and branch portions extending in opposite directions, featuring multiple branches and connection portions, which improves signal sensitivity and coordinate accuracy by enhancing the interaction between adjacent sensing electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional sensing electrode design is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the signal sensitivity and coordinate accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode is divided into multiple segments including a trunk portion and multiple branch portions extending in different directions. Each branch portion includes multiple branches that extend in opposite directions. This segmentation increases the electrode's interaction area with external inputs and improves signal sensitivity, thereby enhancing coordinate accuracy without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sensing electrode are designed with different structures to optimize local functions. The trunk portion provides structural support and signal transmission, while the branch portions with multiple branches extending in opposite directions are specifically designed to enhance signal sensitivity in different spatial directions, improving overall measurement precision
2Reliability
If the number of branches in the sensing electrode is increased, then the signal sensitivity improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The branch portions are designed with branches extending in opposite directions with potentially different configurations. This asymmetric design allows optimization of signal sensitivity in different directions while maintaining a systematic structure that can be manufactured using standard photolithography processes, balancing sensing reliability with manufacturing ease
Solution Approach 2:
The branch portions serve multiple functions: they increase the electrode's interaction area for improved signal sensitivity, provide directional sensing capability through opposite extensions, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while enhancing sensing reliability
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 the sensitivity of adjacent sensing electrodes, leading to improved coordinate accuracy and reliability in detecting external inputs, such as user touches and stylus movements, by effectively capturing minute movements and signals.
Implementation Method 1
The electronic device obtains coordinates of a pen using an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) scheme or an active electrostatic (AES) scheme
Implementation Method 2
The electronic device obtains coordinates of a pen using an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) scheme or an active electrostatic (AES) scheme
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a display panel and an input sensor disposed on the display panel and having a first sensing electrode extending in a first direction. The first sensing electrode includes a first trunk portion extending in the first direction and a first branch portion extending from the first trunk portion in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first branch portion includes a plurality of first branches and a plurality of second branches. The first branches extend in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second branches extend in the second direction, and the number of the first branches is equal to the number of the second branches.