Touch Panel Shielding Layer Grounded Through Touch Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible OLED panels with touch sensors face interference issues due to the proximity of touch sensors to the cathode, affecting touch signal quality and sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel design incorporating a shielding layer with a conductive portion surrounded by a shielding portion, an insulating layer with through holes, and a touch metal layer with electrodes, where the shielding layer is grounded to reduce interference and enhance signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If touch sensors are attached close to the OLED cathode to achieve flexibility and thin profile, then device flexibility and thinness are improved, but touch signal interference from the cathode increases
Solution Approach 1:
A shielding layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the OLED cathode and the touch sensor electrodes. This shielding layer includes a shielding portion that blocks electromagnetic interference from the cathode while allowing the touch sensor to remain close to the cathode for flexibility. The shielding layer acts as a mediator that protects the touch signal from cathode interference without increasing device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding layer is segmented into different functional portions: a shielding portion for blocking interference and a conductive portion for grounding. This segmentation allows the shielding layer to simultaneously perform interference blocking and electrical grounding functions, resolving the contradiction between proximity to cathode and signal interference.
2Reliability
If a shielding layer is added to block cathode interference, then touch signal quality is improved, but device structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding layer combines multiple functions into a single structure: interference shielding, electrical grounding, and mechanical support for the touch sensor. By merging these functions into one integrated component rather than adding separate elements, the solution improves touch signal quality without proportionally increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding layer serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it shields electromagnetic interference, provides a grounding path, and maintains the thin flexible structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while improving signal quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the shielding layer is grounded through the touch metal layer, then interference shielding effectiveness is improved, but electrical connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding function is extracted and dedicated to a specific conductive portion of the shielding layer, which is separately connected to ground. This extraction allows the shielding layer to be optimally designed for grounding without compromising the touch electrode patterns, improving shielding effectiveness while maintaining clear electrical connection paths.
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 effectively shields touch signals from noise generated by the OLED cathode, improving the signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity of touch control.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of through holes of the insulating layer are filled with an electrically conductive material to allow the plurality of first electrodes to electrically connect to each other though the conductive portion
Implementation Method 2
the shielding portion of the shielding layer is grounded through the touch metal layer... effectively shielding the interference to Rx signals of the plurality of second electrodes (Rx) resulted from the cathode
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes a shielding layer having a shielding portion and a conductive portion. An insulating layer is disposed on the shielding layer and has a plurality of through holes located on the conductive portion. A touch metal layer is disposed on the insulating layer and includes a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second direction. The plurality of first electrodes electrically connect to the conductive portion of the shielding layer through the plurality of through holes, and the shielding portion of the shielding layer is grounded through the touch metal layer.