Touch Device Colorful Decoration Layer Gradient Planarization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch devices with black photo-resist decoration layers lack aesthetic variety and face challenges in forming touch sensing electrodes due to the thickness of the decoration layer, leading to breaking issues during subsequent processes.

Innovation Solution

A touch device design featuring a colorful decoration layer with a gradient side adjacent to the viewable area, covered by a planarization layer, allowing the touch sensing layer to extend from the viewable to the non-viewable area, enabling enhanced planarization and aesthetic variability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a thick black decoration layer (e.g., 10 μm) is formed to mask the touch signal conveying trace, then the masking effect is improved, but the formation of subsequent elements (e.g., touch sensing electrode layer) becomes difficult and breaking problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemasking effect of decoration layerVSAvoidformation of touch sensing electrode layer

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The decoration layer is segmented into multiple sub-layers (first decoration layer and second decoration layer) with different thicknesses and functions. The first decoration layer provides masking for the trace, while the second decoration layer has reduced thickness to enable subsequent element formation without breaking, thus resolving the contradiction between masking effectiveness and manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the decoration layer are assigned different thicknesses and properties. The first decoration layer has sufficient thickness for effective masking, while the second decoration layer has reduced thickness in areas where subsequent elements need to be formed, achieving local optimization that balances masking effect with ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If a single-color black decoration layer is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but aesthetic decorative appearance cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of decoration layer formationVSAvoidaesthetic decorative appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The decoration layer structure is made asymmetric with respect to color and thickness distribution. The first decoration layer uses a first color (e.g., black) for masking, while the second decoration layer uses a second color (e.g., white or transparent) with different thickness, creating aesthetic variety while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a systematic multi-layer approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The decoration layer is formed as a composite structure with multiple sub-layers having different colors, thicknesses, and material properties. This composite approach enables aesthetic decorative appearance through color variation while maintaining ease of manufacture by using standard multi-layer fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the decoration layer has a steep profile at the boundary between viewable and non-viewable areas, then the masking effect is strong, but the touch sensing electrode layer breaking problem occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemasking effectivenessVSAvoidintegrity of touch sensing electrode layer

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The decoration layer structure incorporates curved or gradual transition profiles instead of sharp edges. The second decoration layer provides a gradual thickness transition at the boundary between viewable and non-viewable areas, reducing stress concentration and preventing breaking of the touch sensing electrode layer while maintaining adequate masking effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-layer decoration structure is designed in advance to cushion the mechanical stress that would otherwise cause breaking. The second decoration layer with reduced thickness acts as a cushioning layer that prevents stress concentration at the boundary, ensuring the integrity of subsequently formed elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9633801B2Touch device and fabrication method thereof

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 TPK TOUCH SOLUTIONS (XIAMEN) INC

AI summary

A touch device including a touch panel is provided. The touch panel includes a substrate having a touching surface and a bonding surface opposite to the touching surface, and further having a viewable area and a non-viewable area surrounding the viewable area. A colorful decoration layer is disposed on the bonding surface of the substrate and at the non-viewable area. The colorful decoration layer has a gradient side adjacent to the viewable area. A planarization layer completely covers the gradient side of the colorful decoration layer and the bonding surface of the substrate. A touch sensing layer is disposed on the planarization layer and extended from the viewable area to the non-viewable area. Further, a method for fabricating a touch device is provided.