Touch Panel With Mesh Electrodes Reducing Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information terminals such as smartphones and tablets face increased thickness due to the overlap of touch sensors with display portions, necessitating a solution for a thinner and lighter touch panel design.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel comprising a first and second substrate with a liquid crystal layer, a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and a touch sensor, where the touch sensor includes mesh electrodes with openings, allowing for alignment control by an electric field and integration of a light-blocking layer and color filter, enabling a lightweight and thin design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a touch sensor is mounted in an information terminal to replace a keyboard, then the screen size can be increased and the weight can be reduced, but the thickness of the terminal increases due to the overlap of the touch sensor with the display portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a three-dimensional stacked structure (touch sensor overlapping display portion vertically) to a two-dimensional planar structure (touch sensor and display portion arranged side-by-side in the same plane). This resolves the thickness increase problem while maintaining the touch sensor functionality and display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the information terminal into distinct functional regions: a display region and a touch sensor region. By dividing the terminal body into these separate segments arranged side-by-side, the overlap between touch sensor and display portion is eliminated, reducing thickness while preserving both functions.
2Device complexity
If the touch sensor and display portion are arranged in an overlapping structure, then the device can be more compact, but the thickness and weight of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the contradiction by changing the spatial arrangement from vertical stacking (3D overlap) to horizontal arrangement (2D side-by-side). This dimensionality change maintains functional integration while eliminating thickness increase, achieving compactness without sacrificing dimensional efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If a mesh electrode structure with openings is used in the touch sensor, then the detection sensitivity can be improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mesh electrode structure with openings that functions as a porous conductive layer. This structure improves detection sensitivity by allowing electric field penetration while maintaining electrical conductivity. The mesh pattern is manufactured using standard photolithography and etching processes, making it compatible with existing semiconductor fabrication techniques despite the increased structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor utilizes a composite structure combining conductive material (for electrode functionality) with open spaces (for electric field penetration). This composite approach achieves high detection sensitivity while the composite nature allows for modular manufacturing processes that can be integrated into existing production lines.
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
The solution provides a lightweight and thin touch panel with high detection sensitivity and improved display quality, reducing thickness and weight while maintaining high sensitivity and display performance.
Implementation Method 1
alignment of the liquid crystal layer can be controlled by an electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode
Implementation Method 2
the touch sensor includes a first electrode, two second electrodes, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode; the first electrode and the two second electrodes are each a mesh electrode having a plurality of openings
Data Source
AI summary
A lightweight touch panel is provided. A display panel includes first and second substrates, between which a liquid crystal layer is provided. The first substrate is provided with a pixel electrode, a common electrode, a transistor, and the like of a liquid crystal panel. The second substrate is provided with a touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a first electrode, two second electrodes, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode. The first electrode and the two second electrodes are formed using a first conductive film. The third and fourth electrodes are formed using a second conductive film. The first electrode extends in a first direction. The two second electrodes are provided along a second direction with the first electrode therebetween. The third electrode electrically connects the two second electrodes to each other. The fourth electrode faces the pixel electrode and the common electrode with the liquid crystal layer therebetween.