Single-Layer Touch Panel Using Conductive Connectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensing systems, particularly capacitive touch screens, face challenges in achieving high accuracy and cost-effectiveness in determining touch coordinates, often requiring multiple patterned sensing layers and complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel assembly with a single layer of conductive material organized into continuous rows and discontinuous columns, using insulating material and printable conductive connectors to electrically couple electrodes, simplifying the manufacturing process and improving touch sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple patterned sensing layers are used to determine touch coordinates with high accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both row and column electrode patterns into a single conductive layer, merging functions that traditionally required separate layers. The single layer contains continuous row electrodes and discontinuous column electrodes with gaps, eliminating the need for multiple stacked sensing layers while maintaining the ability to determine touch coordinates through capacitance changes in both directions
Solution Approach 2:
The single conductive layer is segmented into different electrode types: continuous row electrodes and discontinuous column electrodes with gaps. This segmentation allows the single layer to perform functions that traditionally required multiple layers, with the gaps in column electrodes enabling independent capacitance measurement while maintaining structural integration
2Measurement precision
If multiple patterned sensing layers are used to achieve high touch accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensing layer functions into a single conductive layer structure, reducing the number of deposition and alignment steps required in manufacturing. The single layer approach eliminates the need to stack and align multiple transparent conductive oxide layers, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining high touch detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive layer exhibits local quality variations with continuous regions for row electrodes and discontinuous regions with gaps for column electrodes. This local differentiation within a single layer allows optimized electrical properties for each electrode type without requiring separate layers, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining detection precision
3Device complexity
If a single layer with continuous rows and discontinuous columns is used, then device complexity is reduced, but electrical connectivity must be maintained through additional connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces printable conductive connectors as intermediary elements that bridge the gaps in the discontinuous column electrodes. These connectors are deposited through a printing process that places conductive material only where needed to restore electrical connectivity, serving as mediators between the segmented electrode regions without requiring additional full layers
4Reliability
If insulating material is printed over conductive strips, then electrical isolation is achieved, but additional manufacturing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating material is printed in advance over the conductive strips before the conductive connectors are applied. This preliminary action ensures that electrical isolation is established before subsequent manufacturing steps, preventing unintended electrical contact between adjacent conductive elements and ensuring reliable operation from the outset
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 solution reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining high touch accuracy, allowing for efficient and cost-effective production of touch panels with improved sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
Capacitive touch sensing is a widely used technique in touch screen industries
Implementation Method 2
an insulating material disposed over a portion of the conductive material
Implementation Method 3
a printable and conductive connector disposed over the insulating material and operable to electrically couple two conductive electrodes in one column of the plurality of columns together
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen assembly and method of manufacturing thereof that includes a single layer of conductive material is provided. The conductive material is configured to include a horizontal pattern and a vertical pattern of electrodes, with one of the patterns having gaps between the electrodes, such that the electrodes in the horizontal pattern do not come into direct contact with electrodes in the vertical pattern. To provide a connection between the electrodes separated by gaps in the interrupted pattern, an insulating material is placed onto the gaps over the uninterrupted pattern, and a printable and electrically conductive connector is positioned over the insulating material and functions to couple at least two electrodes together. In one embodiment, the conductive connector includes carbon nanotubes.