Touch Panel Relay Electrode Visibility Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Capacitance type touch panels face challenges in reducing the visibility of electrode silhouettes, which affects the aesthetic and functional integration of touch-sensitive displays.
Innovation Solution
The touch panel design incorporates strip-shaped second electrodes with island-shaped electrodes and relay electrodes, where an insulating layer with strategically placed contact holes reduces the length and area of relay electrodes, making the electrode pattern less visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If relay electrodes are formed in a further upper layer than the first electrodes to electrically connect island-shaped electrodes, then electrical connectivity is improved, but the silhouettes of the relay electrodes become visible in the detection surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the visibility problem by transitioning from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional layered structure. Relay electrodes are positioned in an upper layer above the first electrodes, and their projections are arranged to overlap with the projections of the first electrodes. This vertical dimensionality change allows electrical connectivity while hiding the relay electrodes behind the first electrodes from the detection surface view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the nesting principle by arranging the relay electrodes within the vertical projection space of the first electrodes. The relay electrodes are positioned such that their projections overlap with the projections of the first electrodes, creating a nested configuration where the relay electrodes are effectively hidden within the shadow or projection area of the first electrodes, thus eliminating visible silhouettes.
2Reliability
If the distance between contact holes is increased to accommodate relay electrodes, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but the area of relay electrodes increases making them more visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension. Instead of increasing the horizontal distance between contact holes which would expand the relay electrode area, the relay electrodes are positioned in an upper layer. This allows the contact holes to remain close together in the horizontal plane while still providing adequate space for the relay electrodes to function in the vertical dimension, thus minimizing their visible area.
Solution Approach 2:
The nesting principle is applied by positioning the relay electrodes within the vertical projection of the first electrodes. This arrangement allows the relay electrodes to be compact in the horizontal plane (minimizing area) while maintaining electrical connectivity through the vertical layering. The overlapping projections ensure that the relay electrodes remain hidden while occupying minimal horizontal space.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes: first electrodes extending in a first direction; second electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the first direction; and an insulating layer insulating and separating the first electrodes from the second electrodes. The second electrodes are strip-shaped electrodes which include first island-shaped electrodes formed in the same layer as the first electrodes and relay electrodes electrically connecting two adjacent first island-shaped electrodes to each other and crossing over the first electrodes. The insulating layer has contact holes at positions corresponding to both ends of each of the relay electrodes in a longitudinal direction. A distance between two contact holes provided so as to correspond to both the ends of each of the relay electrodes in the longitudinal direction is the same as or shorter than a distance between two first island-shaped electrodes coming into contact with both the ends of each of the relay electrodes.