Integrated Sensor Electrode Layout for Thin Pen-Input Displays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices lack efficient methods to sense inputs from pens without increasing thickness, weight, or reducing flexibility due to the need for digitizers.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device incorporates a substrate with a circuit layer, a light emitting element layer, and a sensor layer featuring specific electrode configurations and connection patterns to enable pen input sensing without a digitizer, allowing for both touch and pen input detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a digitizer is added to enable pen input sensing, then pen input detection capability is improved, but device thickness and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepen input detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the sensor layer electrodes with the display layer electrodes, making them share common electrode structures. The sensor layer includes first sensing electrodes and second sensing electrodes that overlap with first electrodes and second electrodes of the display layer, respectively. This merging eliminates the need for a separate digitizer while enabling pen input detection through capacitive sensing between the overlapping electrode pairs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode structures serve dual functions: they act as both display electrodes for showing images and as sensor electrodes for detecting pen inputs. The first sensing electrodes and second sensing electrodes in the sensor layer simultaneously function as display electrodes, allowing the same structural elements to perform multiple roles without adding separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a digitizer is added to enable pen input sensing, then pen input detection capability is improved, but device weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepen input detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If electrode patterns are optimized for pen sensing, then pen input detection precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepen input detection precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor layer electrodes are divided into multiple segments: first sensing electrodes extending in a first direction and second sensing electrodes extending in a second direction crossing the first direction. Each sensing electrode is further divided into multiple electrode units. This segmentation allows precise localization of pen inputs by detecting which specific electrode units are affected, improving detection precision while using standard manufacturing processes for creating the segmented patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables precise pen input detection while maintaining device thinness, weight, and flexibility by integrating a sensor layer with optimized electrode patterns and connections, enhancing user interaction without the need for a separate digitizer.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor layer on the light emitting element layer, and including: a plurality of first sensing electrodes extending in a first direction; a plurality of second sensing electrodes extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a plurality of first electrodes extending in the first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12596461B2Electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.04.07 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A sensor layer includes: first sensing electrodes extending in a first direction; second sensing electrodes extending in a second direction; and first electrodes extending in the first direction. The first sensing electrodes includes first sub electrodes, and the first electrodes includes second sub electrodes. The first sub electrodes includes first patterns, and a first bridge pattern electrically connected to the first patterns. Two first sub electrodes are electrically connected to each other at one end via a first connection line. Two second sub electrodes overlapping with the two first sub electrodes are connected to each other at a second end via a second connection line. The second connection line and another adjacent second connection line are electrically connected to each other via a third connection line. The first connection line is electrically connected to a first pad, and the third connection line is electrically connected to a second pad.