Touch Panel Eliminating Viewer Side Conductive Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
On-cell and in-cell touch panels face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, difficulty in making larger and thinner devices, and low light transmittance due to the need for conductive layers on both sides of the liquid crystal display panel substrates, which also affect display quality by misaligning liquid crystal molecules.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel design that eliminates conductive layers on the viewer side of the transparent substrate, using a common electrode as detection electrodes and a shield electrode layer to suppress electric fields, and employing nematic liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy to prevent misalignment, allowing for a thinner and more efficient light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conductive layers are formed on both sides of the opposite substrate in an on-cell touch panel, then touch sensing function is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and light transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the unnecessary conductive layer from the viewer side of the opposite substrate. By removing this redundant layer while retaining the essential touch sensing functionality through the remaining conductive layers, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity and cost without compromising the core touch sensing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The common electrode is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a display electrode for the liquid crystal display and as a touch sensing electrode. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated touch electrodes on both sides, reducing the total number of conductive layers required and simplifying the overall structure.
2Reliability
If conductive layers are formed on both sides of the opposite substrate, then touch sensing function is achieved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the unnecessary conductive layer from the viewer side of the opposite substrate, directly reducing the thickness of the touch panel assembly. This extraction of redundant components enables the device to be made thinner while preserving essential touch sensing capabilities through the remaining optimized conductive layer structure.
3Reliability
If conductive layers are formed on both sides of the opposite substrate, then touch sensing function is achieved, but light transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the unnecessary conductive layer from the viewer side of the opposite substrate. By eliminating this additional conductive layer that would otherwise block and absorb light, the patent significantly improves light transmittance and display brightness while maintaining touch sensing functionality through the remaining conductive layers.
4Reliability
If a shield electrode layer is added to prevent electric field changes from misaligning liquid crystal molecules, then display quality is maintained, but manufacturing costs increase and light transmittance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection electrodes are designed to serve dual purposes: they function as both touch sensing elements and as shield electrodes that prevent electric field changes from misaligning liquid crystal molecules. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate dedicated shield electrode layer, reducing manufacturing cost and material usage while maintaining liquid crystal alignment stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of detection electrodes and shield electrodes into a single conductive layer structure. By combining these two functions that were previously performed by separate layers, the patent reduces the total number of conductive layers required, simplifying manufacturing and improving light transmittance while maintaining both touch sensing and liquid crystal alignment functions.
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 design reduces manufacturing costs, enables larger and thinner devices, and improves display quality by preventing liquid crystal molecule misalignment, while maintaining high sensing sensitivity and light transmittance.
Implementation Method 1
employing nematic liquid crystal material with negative dielectric anisotropy to prevent misalignment
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed on a viewer side of the first substrate; a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes and a common electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer; and a plurality of detection electrodes and a plurality of driving electrodes for a touch sensor. The first substrate includes: a first transparent substrate; and the plurality of pixel electrodes, which are formed on the liquid crystal layer side of the first transparent substrate. The second substrate includes: a second transparent substrate; and the plurality of driving electrodes and the plurality of detection electrodes formed on the liquid crystal layer side of the second transparent substrate. The touch panel does not include a conductive layer on the viewer side of the second transparent substrate.