Touch Panel Module Shared Contact Wiring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch panel modules have limited flexibility in wiring arrangements and size reduction due to the need for dedicated conducting wires and metal contacts for each touch electrode, occupying excessive surface area.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel module design featuring a light-transmissive substrate with a viewing area and non-viewing area, where the first sensing unit generates touch signals on the viewing area and the second sensing unit on the non-viewing area, with an attaching portion and connecting portion that allow for flexible electrical connections using shared contacts and conducting wires, reducing the overall conductor area and facilitating size reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each touch electrode is provided with a dedicated conducting wire and metal contact, then the touch signal transmission is reliable, but the conducting wires and metal contacts occupy too much surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electrode connections by allowing one metal contact to serve multiple touch electrodes through a shared connection structure. The conducting wires are arranged to connect multiple electrodes to a common contact point, reducing the total number of metal contacts and conducting wires needed, thereby decreasing the surface area occupied by conductor structures while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal contact structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a connection point for multiple touch electrodes simultaneously, and also acts as a signal transmission node. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for dedicated one-to-one connections between each electrode and contact, reducing overall conductor area while preserving transmission reliability.
2Reliability
If multiple metal contacts are used for each touch electrode, then the electrical connection is stable, but the size of the touch panel module and flexible circuit board cannot be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrical connection functions into a reduced number of metal contacts. By allowing one contact to receive signals from multiple electrodes through shared conducting wires, the overall volume and area required for the connection structure is minimized, enabling compact module design without compromising connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the non-viewing area of the substrate as an additional spatial dimension for arranging the attaching portion and connecting portion. This allows conductor structures to be positioned in areas that do not interfere with the viewing area, effectively reducing the footprint of the touch panel module while maintaining stable electrical connections.
3Device complexity
If dedicated conducting wires are used for each electrode, then the wiring arrangement is simple, but the adjustment flexibility of wiring arrangement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a flexible wiring arrangement where conducting wires can be dynamically configured to connect different touch electrodes to shared metal contacts. This dynamic configuration capability allows the wiring arrangement to be adjusted based on different touch panel designs and requirements, enhancing adaptability while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the wiring arrangement into modular components: separate conducting wires that can be independently configured, shared metal contacts that serve multiple functions, and distinct attaching/connecting portions. This segmentation allows flexible reconfiguration of wiring patterns without requiring complete redesign, balancing simplicity with adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
For a touch panel module, a first sensing unit is disposed on a viewing area of a substrate and includes a first electrode, a second sensing unit corresponds in position to a non-viewing area of the substrate and includes a first sub-electrode, an attaching portion corresponds in position to the non-viewing area and includes a first contact, and a first conducting wire, two ends of which are respectively connected to the first electrode and the first contact to form an electrical connection therebetween, and a connecting portion corresponds in position to the non-viewing area and includes a first conducting sub-wire for forming electrical connection between the first electrode and the first sub-electrode.