Touch Detection Electrodes with Aperture Portions for Display Visibility

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices with touch detection functionality face visibility degradation due to light reflection from external sources, particularly from touch detection electrodes, which are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of touch detection electrodes with aperture portions and dummy electrodes arranged to match their area and edge length ratios, ensuring equal reflectance between the electrodes and the inter-electrode regions, thereby minimizing visibility impact when light enters from outside.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If touch detection electrodes are provided to enable touch detection function, then touch detection capability is improved, but light reflection from electrodes degrades display screen visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch detection capabilityVSAvoidlight reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the electrode pattern non-uniform, specifically creating aperture portions (transparent regions) in specific areas of the electrodes. This allows different regions of the electrode to have different optical properties - some regions reflect light while others transmit it, thereby reducing overall visibility of the electrode pattern while maintaining touch detection functionality in the aperture regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If dummy electrodes are added to equalize light transmittance between electrode and inter-electrode regions, then light transmittance uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmittance uniformityVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of touch detection electrodes and dummy electrodes into a single integrated electrode pattern structure. The dummy electrodes are combined with the detection electrodes to form a unified pattern that simultaneously performs both touch detection and optical uniformity functions, eliminating the need for separate dummy electrode structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If aperture portions are provided in electrodes to reduce reflectance, then display screen visibility is improved, but electrode structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereflectanceVSAvoidelectrode pattern complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the continuous electrode structure into discrete regions by introducing aperture portions (transparent regions) within the electrode pattern. This segmentation creates a multi-region electrode structure where some areas are conductive and others are transparent, allowing the electrode to simultaneously maintain electrical functionality and reduce optical reflectance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration significantly improves the visibility of the display screen by maintaining equal reflectance between the touch detection electrodes and the dummy electrodes, even when light enters from external sources, thus reducing the visibility degradation caused by the touch detection system.

Implementation Method 1

each outputs a detection signal based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance in response to an external proximity object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic capacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

visibility of a screen displayed on the display device is possibly lowered due to reflection of light incident from outside by the electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10365745B2Display device with touch detection function, touch detection device, and electronic unit

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

A display device with a touch detection function including a plurality of touch detection electrodes arranged in parallel to extend in one direction, formed with a predetermined electrode pattern including an electrode portion and aperture portions, and each outputting a detection signal based on a change of an electrostatic capacitance in response to an external proximity object, a plurality of display elements formed in a layer different from a layer provided with the touch detection electrodes, and arranged by a predetermined number in a width direction in a region corresponding to the touch detection electrode, and a plurality of dummy electrodes arranged in an inter-detection-electrode region of the plurality of touch detection electrodes. The aperture portions are provided to allow an arrangement area ratio of the touch detection electrode to be almost equal to an arrangement area ratio of the dummy electrodes in the inter-detection-electrode region.