Touch Panel Electrode Segmentation for Crack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panels are prone to disconnection due to cracks and scratches from external impacts or electrostatic discharge, leading to defects in sensing and wire electrodes, which compromises their reliability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a substrate with active and unactive areas, where the sensing and wire electrodes have openings divided by connection electrodes, allowing charge transfer between sub-electrodes and preventing complete disconnection, and forming multiple openings in electrodes to prevent crack expansion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensing electrode and wire electrode are made as continuous structures, then the electrical conductivity is improved, but the vulnerability to crack and scratch increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing electrode and wire electrode are divided into multiple sub-electrodes that are spatially separated. Instead of continuous structures, the electrodes consist of discrete segments (first sub-sensing electrode, second sub-sensing electrode, first sub-wire electrode, second sub-wire electrode) that can be independently positioned and connected through connection electrodes, reducing the risk that a single crack will disconnect the entire electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates redundant connection paths by providing multiple sub-electrodes and connection electrodes in advance. If one sub-electrode or connection path is damaged by crack or scratch, the charges can be transferred through alternative sub-electrodes and connection electrodes, preventing complete disconnection and maintaining electrical conductivity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrode structure is simplified without openings, then the manufacturing process is easier, but the crack propagation resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple openings are formed in the sensing electrode and wire electrode, dividing them into separate regions. These openings act as crack stoppers that prevent crack propagation across the entire electrode structure, while the electrode segments remain connected through connection electrodes, maintaining both manufacturing feasibility and crack resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode structure incorporates multiple openings creating a porous-like configuration. These openings serve as physical barriers to crack propagation, forcing cracks to terminate at the openings rather than continuing across the electrode, thereby enhancing crack propagation resistance while maintaining electrical connectivity through the connection electrodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel of the embodiment includes a substrate including an active area and an unactive area; a sensing electrode on the active area; a wire electrode on the unactive area; and a connection electrode connected to at least one of the sensing electrode and the wire electrode, wherein at least one of the sensing electrode and the wire electrode includes a plurality of openings, and the openings are divided by the connection electrode. A touch panel of another embodiment includes a substrate including an active area and an unactive area; a sensing electrode on the active area; and a wire electrode on the unactive area, wherein the sensing electrode comprises a plurality of openings, and the openings extend in a direction corresponding to an extension direction of the sensing electrode.