Touch Panel Trace Structure for Electrical Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of touch sensing layers and traces on a single glass cover lens in touch panels makes visual inspection of anisotropic conductive films (ACF) impossible, leading to increased costs and size due to the need for additional testing pads and complex connections between the FPC board, bonding pad, and testing pad, limiting routing flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A trace structure with extending portions on a transparent substrate replaces the testing pad, allowing for electrical testing without additional pads, thereby increasing routing flexibility and reducing the size and cost of the FPC board by using trace extending portions as test points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional testing pads are added for electrical testing, then testing capability is improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trace extending portions serve dual purposes: they act as electrical connection traces for normal operation and as testing pads for electrical testing. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated testing pads, reducing device complexity while maintaining testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of tracing connections with the function of testing pads by extending the traces beyond the border region. This consolidation eliminates separate testing components and reduces overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If additional testing pads and connections are added, then testing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trace extending portions serve dual purposes: they act as electrical connection traces for normal operation and as testing pads for electrical testing. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated testing pads, reducing device complexity while maintaining testing capability.
3Length of stationary object
If touch sensing layer and traces are integrated on single glass cover lens, then overall thickness is reduced, but visual inspection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The trace extending portions act as intermediaries that extend electrical connections to accessible locations outside the black frame region. This enables electrical testing without requiring visual inspection through the transparent substrate, maintaining thickness reduction while enabling testing capability.
4Reliability
If trace routing is constrained by additional testing pad connections, then testing capability is improved, but routing flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The trace extending portions serve dual purposes: they act as electrical connection traces for normal operation and as testing pads for electrical testing. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated testing pads, reducing device complexity while maintaining testing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A trace structure for a touch panel having a transparent substrate with a touch sensing region and a border region surrounding the touch sensing region, the trace structure including: a plurality of traces disposed on the transparent substrate and within the border region; a plurality of bonding pads disposed in the border region of the transparent substrate, wherein each bonding pad has a first side and a second side, and the first side of each bonding pad is connected to a corresponding trace of the plurality of traces; and at least two trace extending portions extended toward an outer edge of the border region from the second side of two of the plurality of bonding pads.