Touch Panel Bridging Structure for Narrow-Bezel Signal Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The shrinking size of electronic devices poses challenges in reducing the width of the circuit area around touch panels, leading to increased manufacturing difficulty and instability in the connection between the connecting portion and flexible flat cables, resulting in transmission issues and reduced yield rates.

Innovation Solution

A bridging structure is introduced, featuring a transparent substrate with an insulating periphery, a touch panel with sensor units and electric contacts, a bridging layer with insulating film and through holes, and a flexible flat cable with corresponding electric contacts, which reduces the number of electric contacts and enlarges the arrangement area, enhancing assembly stability and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the width of the circuit area is reduced to satisfy smaller frame requirements, then the display area is enlarged, but the layout space for signal wires is constricted and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional stacked architecture by introducing a bridging layer that vertically connects electric contacts across different layers. This dimensional change allows signal routing to occur in the vertical direction rather than being constrained to the horizontal plane, thereby enabling reduced circuit area width while maintaining adequate signal wire layout space and simplifying manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the size of the connecting portion is reduced to fit smaller frames, then the frame width is narrowed, but the connection stability between the connecting portion and FFC becomes unstable or infirm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe widthVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the connecting portion into multiple independent electric contacts distributed across different layers and positions. Instead of relying on a single large connecting portion, the connection is divided into numerous smaller contact points that collectively provide stable electrical connection. This segmentation allows the overall connecting portion size to be reduced while maintaining or even improving connection reliability through distributed contact points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If the number of transmission lines is increased to meet modern device requirements, then the signal transmission capability is improved, but the risk of line breakage and alignment error increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of transmission linesVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by stacking multiple layers of electric contacts and signal wires. This three-dimensional arrangement allows numerous transmission lines to be organized in multiple layers rather than crowded in a single plane. The vertical separation between layers reduces the risk of line breakage and alignment errors that would occur with increased horizontal density, enabling high transmission line counts while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8780067B1Bridging structure for signal transmission of touch panel
Publication Date: 2014.07.15 YOUNG FAST OPTOELECTRONICS
  • US8780067B1 patent drawing
  • US8780067B1 patent drawing
  • US8780067B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention includes a substrate with a visible area and a shielded area, a touch panel overlapped on the substrate and having touch sensor units overlapping with the visible area and a bridging layer with an insulating film. The touch sensor units are connected with signal wires to electric contacts corresponding to the shielded area. The insulating film cloaks the signal wires and electric contacts. The insulating film is formed with through holes corresponding to the electric contacts and is provided with bridging wires between every two adjacent through holes for connecting all of the electric contacts.