Touch Sensing Display Stack to Prevent Electrode Short Circuits

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display device manufacturing technologies involve complex steps that increase costs and reduce reliability due to the risk of short circuits in the input sensing unit.

Innovation Solution

A display device design with a simplified manufacturing process for the input sensing unit, featuring a first and second sensing insulation layer and conductive layers, along with a dummy line and specific thickness ratios to prevent short circuits and enhance reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the manufacturing steps for the input sensing unit are simplified, then the manufacturing cost and time are reduced, but the risk of short circuits in electrodes and lines increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidshort circuit risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The input sensing unit is divided into multiple functional layers: a first sensing conductive layer for touch sensing, a second sensing conductive layer for additional sensing functions, and distinct insulation layers separating them. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently while maintaining overall reliability despite process simplification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple insulation layers are introduced as intermediary elements between the different sensing conductive layers. These insulation layers act as mediators that prevent electrical short circuits while allowing the manufacturing process to be simplified by integrating multiple functions into fewer processing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If removal of a layer is performed to reduce manufacturing steps, then the number of processing steps is reduced, but short circuits occur within the input sensing unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of manufacturing stepsVSAvoidshort circuit occurrence
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple insulation functions are merged into the existing insulation layer structure rather than adding separate removal steps. The first and second sensing conductive layers are positioned at different heights with the insulation layer extending between them, combining multiple protective functions into a single integrated structure that avoids short circuits without requiring layer removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the first sensing conductive layer has greater thickness than the second, then the structural integrity and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidthickness control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different thicknesses are assigned to different sensing conductive layers based on their specific functional requirements. The first sensing conductive layer has greater thickness to provide structural integrity and resistance to short circuits, while the second sensing conductive layer has smaller thickness for optimized sensing performance. This local differentiation of properties allows each layer to be optimized without requiring uniform precision across all layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4250073B1Display device capable of sensing user input
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4250073B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4250073B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4250073B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Provided is a display device (DD) including a display panel (DP) including a display region (AA) and a non-display region (NAA), and an input sensing device (ISU) disposed on the display panel (DP). The input sensing device (ISU) includes a first sensing insulation layer (TIL1) directly disposed on the display panel (DP), a first sensing conductive layer (TMI,1) disposed on the first sensing insulation layer (TIL1), a second sensing insulation layer (TIL2) disposed on the first sensing insulation layer (TIL1) and covering the first sensing conductive layer (TML1), and a second sensing conductive layer (TML2) disposed on the second sensing insulation layer (TIL2). The second sensing insulation layer (TIL2) includes an organic film, and a first thickness (d1) of the first sensing conductive layer (TIL1) is greater than a second thickness (d2) of the second sensing conductive layer (d1).