Touch Display Routing Lines on Inclined Encapsulation Layer

Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing process of touch display devices is complicated and time-consuming due to the large number of test pads and lines required for testing touch sensor structures, which increases as the number of touch electrodes and routing lines increases, affecting overall production time.

Innovation Solution

A touch display device design that includes a substrate with a transistor, pixel electrode, common electrode, and touch electrodes in a first touch sensor metal layer, with touch pads and routing lines that descend along an inclined encapsulation layer to a driving pad area, and uses outer switches with on-off control terminals connected to control lines for efficient testing, reducing the number of test pads and improving touch sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large number of test pads and test lines are formed to test the touch sensor structure, then the testing coverage is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the test signal routing with the existing touch electrode routing lines. The same routing lines that connect touch electrodes to touch pads are also used to transport test signals, eliminating the need for separate dedicated test routing lines. This combining approach maintains comprehensive testing coverage while significantly reducing the overall number of lines and structural complexity in the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The routing lines are designed to serve multiple functions: they simultaneously act as signal lines for touch electrode connections and as test signal transport lines. This multi-functionality allows the same physical infrastructure to support both operational touch sensing and manufacturing testing, reducing the need for additional dedicated test infrastructure and simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a large number of test pads and test lines are formed to test the touch sensor structure, then the testing coverage is improved, but the manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the test signal routing with the existing touch electrode routing lines. The same routing lines that connect touch electrodes to touch pads are also used to transport test signals, eliminating the need for separate dedicated test routing lines. This combining approach maintains comprehensive testing coverage while significantly reducing the overall number of lines and structural complexity in the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The routing lines are designed to serve multiple functions: they simultaneously act as signal lines for touch electrode connections and as test signal transport lines. This multi-functionality allows the same physical infrastructure to support both operational touch sensing and manufacturing testing, reducing the need for additional dedicated test infrastructure and simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of touch electrodes and touch routing lines increases, then the touch sensing capability is improved, but the testing structure becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing capabilityVSAvoidtesting structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The routing lines are designed to serve multiple functions: they simultaneously act as signal lines for touch electrode connections and as test signal transport lines. This multi-functionality allows the same physical infrastructure to support both operational touch sensing and manufacturing testing, reducing the need for additional dedicated test infrastructure and simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the test signal transport function from the set of required lines and assigns it to the existing touch electrode routing lines. By taking out this function and assigning it to already-present structures, the patent avoids adding new dedicated test lines, thereby maintaining touch sensing capability while preventing testing structure complexity from increasing proportionally with the number of touch electrodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11537233B2Touch display device with routing lines on an inclined part of the encapsulation layer

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch display device and, more particularly, to a touch display device having a structure capable of enabling efficient testing and reducing the number of test pads.