Stretchable Display Input Sensor Subsidiary Electrode Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stretchable display devices face issues with wiring line damage when the substrate is stretched, leading to malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a stretchable substrate featuring unit regions with island regions and bridge regions, where the display panel includes sensing electrodes and subsidiary electrodes to maintain functionality even when stretched.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base substrate is stretched to increase display area, then the display device becomes more versatile and adaptable, but the wiring lines are damaged leading to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple unit regions, each containing island regions and bridge regions. This segmentation allows the substrate to stretch locally without causing damage to the entire wiring structure, resolving the contradiction between stretchability and wiring integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Subsidiary electrodes are introduced as intermediary elements between the sensing electrodes and the bridge regions. These subsidiary electrodes absorb the mechanical stress during stretching, protecting the main wiring lines from damage while enabling the substrate to be stretched.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the substrate is stretched, then the distance between sensing electrodes increases, but this causes input sensor failure
Solution Approach 1:
The input sensor is segmented into sensing electrodes and subsidiary electrodes. The subsidiary electrodes are positioned in the bridge regions and remain functional during stretching, ensuring continuous input sensor operation even as the distance between original sensing electrodes increases.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the substrate have different functional qualities: unit regions contain sensing electrodes for input detection, while bridge regions contain subsidiary electrodes that specialize in maintaining connectivity during stretching. This local differentiation ensures both stretchability and input sensor reliability.
3Reliability
If wiring lines are made more robust to prevent damage during stretching, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire wiring structure more robust, the substrate is segmented into unit regions with bridge regions that naturally accommodate stretching. This segmentation provides reliability without requiring overly complex reinforced wiring throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate structure is made dynamic with bridge regions that can deform during stretching. This dynamic design allows the wiring to adapt to mechanical changes without requiring complex rigid protection structures, maintaining reliability while controlling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a stretchable substrate that includes a plurality of unit regions. Each of the plurality of unit regions includes a plurality of island regions and at least one bridge region that connects adjacent island regions to each other. A display panel is on the stretchable substrate. The display panel includes a plurality of display parts and at least one wiring part. The plurality of display parts correspondingly overlap the plurality of island regions. The at least one wiring part correspondingly overlaps the at least one bridge region. An input sensor is on the display panel. The input sensor includes a plurality of sensing electrodes and at least one subsidiary electrode. The plurality of sensing electrodes correspondingly overlaps the plurality of unit regions. When viewed in a plan view the at least one subsidiary electrode is correspondingly disposed between adjacent sensing electrodes.