In-Cell Touch Electrode Segmentation for High Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-cell touch displays face challenges with touch resolution due to insufficient channels in common touch chips and risk of short-circuiting among densely populated wires, limiting their ability to accurately determine touch input locations.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates multiple touch structures along an X-axis, featuring a first electrode with upper and bottom halves, a second triangular electrode, and a strip-shaped third electrode, allowing for precise capacitance variation analysis to determine touch input locations on both X and Y axes, reducing the need for extensive wiring and enhancing precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple rectangular touch electrodes are arranged inside the in-cell touch display as a matrix with each touch electrode needing an independent wire, then touch sensing coverage is improved, but the number of channels required exceeds the capacity of common touch chips and wires are densely populated causing short-circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
Each touch structure is segmented into three electrodes (first electrode with upper-half and bottom-half, second electrode, and third electrode) that work together to detect touch inputs. This segmentation allows the system to determine both X-axis and Y-axis touch locations using fewer total electrodes compared to a full matrix approach, reducing the number of required wires and channels while maintaining comprehensive touch sensing coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The three electrodes in each touch structure serve multiple functions: the first electrode detects capacitance changes for X-axis positioning, the second electrode detects capacitance changes for Y-axis positioning, and the third electrode provides additional sensing capability. This multi-functional design allows a single touch structure to replace what would traditionally require multiple independent electrodes and wires, reducing overall system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the number of channels in the touch chip is increased to support more touch electrodes, then touch resolution is improved, but the device complexity and wiring density increase leading to short-circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional matrix arrangement that requires independent wires for each electrode to a structured three-electrode design where electrodes are arranged in specific geometric configurations (upper-half and bottom-half arrangements). This dimensional reorganization allows capacitance-based sensing to determine touch positions in both X and Y directions without requiring proportionally more wires, reducing wiring density and short-circuit risk while maintaining high touch resolution.
3Measurement precision
If densely populated wires are used to connect each touch electrode to the touch chip, then touch sensing capability is improved, but the wires are easily short-circuited with each other
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for independent wires for each touch electrode by using a reduced set of three electrodes per touch structure. By taking out the redundant wiring requirement and replacing it with a capacitance-based sensing approach using fewer electrodes, the system achieves high touch sensing capability while eliminating the harmful effect of densely populated wires that cause short-circuits.
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 enables more than twice the precision of conventional touch devices with reduced wiring complexity, minimizing the risk of short-circuits and simplifying chip design, while maintaining high touch resolution and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
when capacitance of a first electrode and capacitance a second electrode of one of the multiple touch structures is changed, determining a location, on the X-axis, of the touch input
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device with touch sensing function is provided, which includes multiple touch structures arranged along an X-axis. Each touch structure includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The first electrode includes an upper-half electrode and a bottom-half electrode coupled with each other. The upper-half electrode and the bottom-half electrode extend toward each other along a Y-axis and are both substantially triangular, and the X-axis is substantially perpendicular to the Y-axis. The second electrode is substantially triangular, and a first side and a second side of the second electrode face the bottom-half electrode and the upper-half electrode, respectively. The third electrode is disposed between the bottom-half electrode and the first side of the second electrode, and the third electrode is substantially strip-shaped.