Touch Electrode Structure With Shared Grid Lines for Lower Capacitance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch structures in display devices face issues with increased power consumption and the risk of short circuits due to large overlapping areas between touch electrodes, leading to false alarms and poor touch performance.
Innovation Solution
A touch structure with a first and second metal grid layer separated by an insulation layer, where the second metal grid layer shares metal lines with the first, reducing overlapping areas and mutual capacitance, and includes vias for electrical connection, along with dummy electrodes to enhance insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the overlapping area between touch electrodes is increased to improve touch sensitivity, then touch sensitivity is improved, but power consumption increases and the risk of short circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch electrode is divided into multiple sub-electrodes arranged in a grid pattern with insulation layers between them. This segmentation allows the electrode to maintain sufficient overlapping area for sensitivity while reducing continuous contact area that causes power consumption and short circuit risks.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the touch electrode have different properties: the grid intersection areas provide overlapping for sensitivity, while the insulated regions reduce power consumption and prevent short circuits. The insulation layer is selectively applied at critical locations where sub-electrodes meet.
2Measurement precision
If the overlapping area between touch electrodes is increased to improve touch sensitivity, then touch sensitivity is improved, but false alarms increase due to short circuit risk
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is segmented into discrete sub-electrodes separated by insulation layers, creating distinct sensing zones that reduce cross-talk and false alarms while maintaining overall sensitivity through the grid structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation layer acts as an intermediary between adjacent sub-electrodes, preventing direct electrical contact that would cause short circuits and false alarms, while still allowing capacitive coupling for touch sensing.
3Loss of energy
If the metal grid layers are arranged to reduce overlapping area and minimize mutual capacitance, then power consumption is reduced and short circuit risk is minimized, but touch sensitivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The grid structure segments the electrode into multiple small sub-electrodes that can be arranged to optimize both overlapping area for sensitivity and insulation for power consumption reduction, achieving a balanced solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch electrode is extended into a third dimension with multiple layers separated by insulation, allowing overlapping area to be distributed across layers rather than concentrated in a single plane, thus reducing mutual capacitance while maintaining sensitivity.
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
Reduces power consumption and minimizes the risk of short circuits, improving touch sensitivity and accuracy by optimizing electrode arrangements and insulation.
Implementation Method 1
an insulation layer is provided between the first metal grid layer and the second metal grid layer
Implementation Method 2
each of the plurality of second connection electrodes is electrically connected with adjacent second touch sub-electrodes through a plurality of vias in the insulation layer
Implementation Method 3
all the second metal lines of the at least one second metal grid in the second metal grid row close to the first metal grid row are sharing second metal lines shared with the second metal grid in the first metal grid row
Data Source
AI summary
A touch structure, a display panel, and an electronic device. In the touch structure, the first touch sub-electrodes and the first connecting electrodes are alternately arranged and sequentially connected to form a first touch electrode; the second touch sub-electrodes of the first grid layer and the first touch sub-electrodes are at intervals, and the two respectively include multiple first metal grids; the second connecting electrodes are connected to adjacent second touch sub-electrodes to form a second touch electrode extending in a second direction. A first grid row of each second connecting electrode includes multiple second metal grids arranged in a first direction, a second grid row thereof is adjacent to the first grid row and includes a second metal grid; all the second metal wires of the second grid row close to the first grid row are second metal wires shared with the first grid row.