Transparent Conductive Oxide Pattern Blanking via Refractive Index Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Transparent conductive oxide patterns in touch panels are easily noticeable under ambient light, leading to aesthetic issues, and existing solutions that address this problem either reduce light transmittance or increase manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A transparent conductive oxide pattern blanking structure is implemented, featuring a patterned transparent conductive oxide layer with a pattern blanking layer comprising dielectric layers with decreasing refractive indices, which reduces reflectivity and makes the pattern invisible in visible light, eliminating the need for additional attaching or patterning processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If an optically functional layer is attached on the touch panel to achieve pattern blanking effect, then the pattern becomes invisible, but light transmittance is significantly reduced and wear traces develop on surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the refractive index parameter of the transparent conductive oxide layer by controlling deposition conditions (oxygen pressure, temperature, composition ratios) to reduce light reflectivity and make the pattern invisible while maintaining high light transmittance, avoiding the need for additional optically functional layers that would reduce transmittance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the transparent conductive oxide layer itself to create both the conductive pattern and the optical blanking effect, eliminating the need for separate optically functional layers that would be attached on top and cause wear traces
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a SiNxOy layer is formed on the transparent conductive oxide layer to achieve blanking effect, then pattern visibility is reduced, but manufacturing process complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the conductive pattern function and the optical blanking function into a single transparent conductive oxide layer, eliminating the need for separate SiNxOy blanking layers and reducing manufacturing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent conductive oxide layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: electrical conduction, transparency, and optical blanking, reducing the total number of layers and simplifying the manufacturing process
3Object-generated harmful factors
If an OC layer is formed on the bridging layer to achieve blanking effect, then pattern visibility is reduced, but additional mask process is required increasing equipment investment and fabricating cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves optical blanking by changing the physical parameters (refractive index, thickness, composition) of the transparent conductive oxide layer itself, eliminating the need for additional OC layers and mask processes that would increase equipment investment and fabricating cost
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 solution effectively makes the transparent conductive oxide pattern invisible in visible light while maintaining high light transmittance and reducing manufacturing costs, enhancing the blanking effect and product quality.
Implementation Method 1
a pattern blanking layer which is adapted to make a pattern of the transparent conductive oxide layer invisible in the visible light
Implementation Method 2
each of the dielectric layer group comprises at least two dielectric layers which are stacked and have refractive indices decreasing successively
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a transparent conductive oxide pattern blanking structure, a touch panel, and a display device. A patterned transparent conductive oxide layer is stacked on a base plate, and a pattern blanking layer is adapted to make a pattern of the transparent conductive oxide layer invisible in the visible light. Thus, the pattern blanking layer as a whole layer can be formed during fabricating the pattern of the transparent conductive oxide layer, and there is no need for an attaching or patterning process. Thus, an effect of making the pattern of the transparent conductive oxide layer become invisible in the visible light from clearly visible can be achieved at a low fabricating cost.