Touch Panel Elastic Conductive Film Support Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch panels with fingerprint identification functions face issues with the stability and longevity of their elastic conductive films, which are prone to fatigue and loss of flatness, leading to reduced detecting accuracy and eventual failure, especially when used on display screens.

Innovation Solution

A touch panel design incorporating a thin film transistor substrate with a supporting pattern layer featuring apertures and conductive protrusions to uniformly support the elastic conductive film, enhancing its stability and maintaining flatness, thereby improving the detection of multiple touch positions and extending the product's lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the elastic conductive film is used without sufficient support structure, then the touch panel can detect multiple touch positions, but the elastic conductive film suffers from fatigue and loss of flatness over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-touch detection capabilityVSAvoidstability of elastic conductive film

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting pattern layer is divided into multiple discrete supporting protrusions distributed across the substrate, each providing localized support to the elastic conductive film. This segmented approach maintains the overall flexibility and multi-touch capability while providing sufficient support points to prevent film fatigue and deformation over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting protrusions provide localized support at specific positions beneath the elastic conductive film, rather than uniform support across the entire area. This allows the film to maintain its flexibility for multi-touch detection while receiving targeted support where needed to prevent fatigue and maintain flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the elastic conductive film is made more flexible to enable fingerprint pattern detection, then multi-touch detection is improved, but the film loses flatness more quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint identification capabilityVSAvoidflatness of elastic conductive film

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structure is segmented into multiple discrete protrusions that provide distributed support points. This allows the elastic conductive film to flex sufficiently for fingerprint pattern detection while the distributed support points prevent excessive deformation and maintain overall flatness stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure is positioned in a different spatial dimension (beneath the elastic conductive film, between the substrate and the film), allowing the film to maintain its flexibility for fingerprint detection while the underlying support protrusions maintain the film's positional stability and flatness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid support structure is used to maintain flatness, then the elastic conductive film maintains its shape, but the multi-touch detection accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflatness of elastic conductive filmVSAvoidtouch position detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting protrusions provide localized support at specific positions rather than rigid uniform support across the entire film. This allows the elastic conductive film to maintain adequate flatness for stable operation while retaining the flexibility needed for accurate touch position detection across multiple points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting structure allows for dynamic flexing of the elastic conductive film in response to touch inputs, rather than providing rigid fixed support. This enables the film to maintain its shape stability overall while allowing local deformations necessary for accurate multi-touch and fingerprint detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7671847B2Touch panel and method for manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2010.03.02 AU OPTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A touch panel for an electronic apparatus is provided. The touch panel comprises a thin film transistor substrate, a plurality of conductive islets, a supporting pattern layer and an elastic conductive film. The plurality of conductive islets is formed on the thin film transistor substrate. The supporting pattern layer is formed above the thin film transistor substrate. The supporting pattern layer has a plurality of apertures. Each of the plurality of apertures for exposing at least part of each of the plurality of conductive islets. The elastic conductive film is formed on the supporting pattern layer.