Touch Dimming Device Electrode Sharing Volume Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Balancing cost, volume, and performance is a significant challenge when combining transparent displays with other devices, as existing solutions fail to efficiently integrate touch functionality with light transmittance control.
Innovation Solution
A touch dimming device comprising a touch panel with sensing electrodes and an active color changing film, where the touch panel and active color changing film share a second electrode to reduce overall volume, and a control circuit manages driving and dimming voltages to maintain touch detection and adjust light transmittance without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the touch panel and active color changing film are integrated by sharing a second electrode, then device volume is reduced, but the risk of interference between touch detection and dimming functions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit segments the time domain into distinct touch detection periods and dimming periods. During touch detection periods, the second electrode is used for capacitive touch sensing with appropriate driving voltages. During dimming periods, the same electrode is used for controlling the active color changing film with different voltages. This temporal segmentation allows one electrode to serve multiple functions without interference, resolving the contradiction between volume reduction and function reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches the function of the shared second electrode between touch detection and dimming control based on operational requirements. The control circuit adjusts the electrode's role in real-time, applying touch detection driving voltages during touch periods and dimming control voltages during dimming periods. This dynamic functionality allows the system to maintain both touch sensitivity and dimming performance with reduced device volume.
2Reliability
If separate electrodes are used for touch detection and dimming control, then function reliability is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second electrode is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a touch detection electrode and a dimming control electrode. The control circuit manages this multi-functionality by switching the electrode's operational mode based on whether touch detection or dimming control is the active function. This universal design reduces the total number of electrodes needed, thereby reducing device volume while maintaining functional reliability through proper temporal separation of functions.
3Illumination intensity
If continuous dimming voltage is applied to the active color changing film, then light transmittance control is improved, but flicker phenomena occur that interfere with touch detection
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit implements periodic action by alternating between touch detection periods and dimming periods. During touch detection periods, dimming voltage is suspended or reduced to prevent flicker interference with capacitive touch sensing. During dimming periods, the active color changing film receives appropriate voltages to control light transmittance. This periodic alternation eliminates flicker phenomena that would otherwise interfere with touch detection while maintaining effective light transmittance control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit applies preliminary anti-action by suspending or reducing dimming voltage during touch detection periods before interference can occur. This preemptive measure prevents the flicker phenomena that would result from continuous dimming voltage application, thereby eliminating harmful interference with touch detection while maintaining the ability to control light transmittance during dedicated dimming periods.
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 enables efficient integration of touch functionality with light transmittance control, reducing device volume and preventing flicker phenomena, while maintaining continuous touch detection and persistence of vision for color changes.
Implementation Method 1
The polymer layer 121 is arranged between the second electrode E2 and the third electrode E3 and is configured to change the light transmittance of the active color changing film 120 according to a voltage difference between the second electrode E2 and the third electrode E3
Implementation Method 2
The touch panel 110 includes a first electrode E1 and a second electrode E2, so that the touch panel 110 is configured to have a coupling capacitance between the first electrode E1 and the second electrode E2 to perform touch detection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a touch dimming device including a touch panel and an active color changing film. The touch panel includes a first electrode and a second electrode to perform touch detection according to a coupling capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. The active color changing film includes a third electrode and a polymer layer. The polymer layer is configured to change a light transmittance of the active color changing film according to a voltage difference between the second electrode and the third electrode.