Touch Panel Edge Masking via Opaque Layer Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
One-glass touch panels experience reduced structural strength and impact resistance due to touch sensing electrodes directly formed on the cover glass, and the use of light transmissive photoresist materials leads to irregular shrinkage and perceptible bright patterns, causing color differences.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel design featuring a cover plate with a light transmissive separating layer and an opaque layer, where the light transmissive lateral surface and opaque outer lateral surface are substantially aligned and regularly patterned to alleviate color differences by exposing the inner surface, thereby masking irregular shrinkage patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If light transmissive photoresist materials are coated on the cover glass to isolate touch sensing electrodes, then the structural strength and impact resistance are improved, but irregular shrinkage occurs causing perceptible bright patterns and color differences
Solution Approach 1:
An opaque layer is introduced as an intermediary between the light transmissive separating layer and the cover glass edge. This opaque layer acts as a visual mask that conceals the irregular shrinkage patterns of the light transmissive photoresist material, thereby eliminating the perceptible bright patterns and color differences while maintaining the structural benefits of the separating layer
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes color contrast by applying an opaque layer (typically black or dark colored) over the light transmissive separating layer. This color change effectively masks the visual defects caused by irregular shrinkage, transforming the appearance from problematic bright patterns to a uniform, aesthetically acceptable edge region
2Stability of the object's composition
If a black mask layer is formed on the surrounding area to isolate edges, then the structural integrity is maintained, but surface tension induces irregular shrinkage causing perceptible bright patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The opaque layer serves as a mediator that decouples the functional requirement of edge isolation from the visual appearance. It allows the black mask layer to perform its structural isolation function while the opaque layer independently handles the visual masking of shrinkage irregularities
Solution Approach 2:
By applying the opaque layer with a contrasting color (typically black), the invention masks the visual defects caused by irregular shrinkage of both the black mask layer and the light transmissive separating layer, achieving uniform edge appearance
3Device complexity
If touch sensing electrodes are directly formed on the cover glass, then the device complexity is reduced, but the structural strength and impact resistance are lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the touch panel structure by introducing a light transmissive separating layer between the cover glass and the touch sensing electrodes. This segmentation physically isolates the electrodes from the cover glass, preventing stress transfer and maintaining the cover glass's structural strength and impact resistance while adding only one additional functional layer
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 alignment and regular patterning of the light transmissive and opaque layers relative to the plate lateral surface effectively hide color differences, improving the appearance and structural integrity of the touch panel.
Implementation Method 1
the surface tension of the coating induces irregular shrinkage of the edge of the BM material
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes a cover plate, a light transmissive separating layer, an opaque layer and a touch sensing layer. The cover plate has an inner surface and a plate lateral surface adjoined to each other. The inner surface has a first portion and a second portion adjoined to each other. The light transmissive separating layer covers the first portion and has a peripheral zone and a central zone. The peripheral zone surrounds the central zone. The light transmissive separating layer has a light transmissive lateral surface distal to the central zone. The opaque layer covers the peripheral zone and has an opaque outer lateral surface substantially aligned with the light transmissive lateral surface. The touch sensing layer is located on the central zone, and the light transmissive separating layer separates the cover plate and the touch sensing layer.