Touch Panel Shield Electrode with Opening Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrostatic-capacitance-coupling touch panels suffer from optical characteristic degradation due to strain in conductive layers and the need for multiple transparent conductive material layers, leading to conspicuous electrode patterns and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The touch panel design features a meshed shield conductor with opening portions, where first and second electrodes are formed on different layers with contact holes connecting them, reducing strain and using two transparent conductive material layers for electrodes and shield, thereby minimizing cost and optical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrodes are formed on different conductive layers with insulation film between them, then electrostatic capacitance coupling function is achieved, but strain is generated in the films causing conspicuous electrode patterns and degraded optical characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shield conductor and the lower layer electrode into a single conductive layer, eliminating the need for an insulation film between them. This merging approach prevents strain generation at the insulation film interface while maintaining the electrostatic capacitance coupling function through the capacitive interaction between the upper layer electrode and the combined shield/lower electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the electrode structure into an upper layer electrode and a combined shield/lower electrode, with the shield portion having opening portions that align with the upper layer electrode. This segmentation allows the shield to reduce noise from the display panel while the opening portions minimize optical interference and strain effects on the insulation film.
2Reliability
If three transparent conductive material layers are used (for electrodes 1X, electrodes 2Y, and shield conductor), then noise reduction and electrode functionality are achieved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the shield conductor and lower layer electrode into a single transparent conductive material layer, reducing the total count from three separate layers to two. This consolidation maintains the noise reduction functionality of the shield while eliminating redundant material deposition processes, thereby reducing manufacturing cost and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined conductive layer serves multiple functions: it acts as the shield conductor for noise reduction, functions as the lower layer electrode for electrostatic capacitance coupling, and provides the conductive base structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated shield and electrode layers.
3Reliability
If shield conductor is formed on the back surface of substrate, then noise from display panel is reduced, but optical path length difference between layers causes color difference and conspicuous electrode appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the shield conductor from the back surface of the substrate to the front surface, placing it in the same plane as the upper layer electrode. This dimensional change in positioning allows the shield to effectively reduce noise from the display panel while minimizing optical path length differences, thereby reducing color differences and conspicuous electrode patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield conductor is designed with opening portions at specific locations where the upper layer electrode is present. This local modification allows the shield to reduce noise in areas where needed while maintaining optical uniformity in the electrode regions, addressing the color difference issue locally rather than globally.
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
This design suppresses the conspicuous appearance of electrode patterns, enhances optical characteristics, and reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of transparent conductive material layers required.
Implementation Method 1
A predetermined signal is inputted to the shield conductor 15 thus reducing the noises transmitted to the touch panel from the display panel
Implementation Method 2
an electrostatic-capacitance-coupling touch panel (capacitive sensor)
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes a substrate, a shield conductor formed on a surface of the substrate, an insulation film formed on the shield conductor, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in a first direction, a plurality of second electrodes formed on the insulation film, which extend in the second direction. Each of the plurality of first electrodes includes a first portion formed on the surface of the substrate and a second portion formed in a separated manner from the second electrode on the insulation film, the first portion being connected to the second portion via a contact hole formed in the insulation film. The shield conductor has a plurality of opening portions which include first opening portions in which the first portions are formed and second opening portions in which the first portions are not formed.