Touch Panel Wiring Substrate Consolidation for LCD Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production cost of liquid crystal display devices is increased due to the need for mounting electronic components and control ICs on both the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate and the main flexible wiring substrate, which also results in a larger size for these substrates, leading to higher costs and mechanical strength issues with thin panels.
Innovation Solution
The touch-panel control IC and electronic component group are removed from the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate, and instead, they are mounted on the main flexible wiring substrate, which includes both LCD and touch-panel electronic components, reducing the size and cost of the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate and maintaining mechanical integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic components and control ICs are mounted on both the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate and the main flexible wiring substrate, then the touch panel can function properly, but the production cost increases and the substrate size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electronic components and control ICs that were previously mounted on the touch-panel flexible wiring substrate with the main flexible wiring substrate. This consolidation reduces the number of separate substrates requiring component mounting, thereby lowering production costs and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the touch panel's functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The main flexible wiring substrate is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides both the LCD electronic components and the touch-panel control ICs. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for a separate touch-panel flexible wiring substrate with its own components, reducing complexity and cost while ensuring the touch panel operates correctly.
2Volume of moving object
If the liquid crystal display panel thickness is reduced, then the device size is reduced, but the mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures in the flexible wiring substrates and adhesive layers to enhance mechanical strength. By using multi-layer composite constructions with materials of different properties, the substrates maintain sufficient strength and rigidity even when the overall panel thickness is reduced, thus achieving both miniaturization and mechanical durability.
3Strength
If a front window is attached to the touch panel, then mechanical strength is improved, but light transmittance is reduced due to reflection at interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces adhesive layers with specific optical properties as intermediaries between the front window and the touch panel. These adhesive layers are designed to minimize optical interference and reflection, thereby maintaining high light transmittance while still providing the necessary mechanical bonding and structural support.
4Ease of manufacture
If standardized glass substrates are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but very thin substrates have mechanical strength problems and bending issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the glass substrates from standardized thin specifications to slightly thicker customized dimensions. This parameter adjustment eliminates the mechanical strength and bending issues associated with very thin substrates while still maintaining a thin overall profile. The thicker substrates provide sufficient rigidity and strength without compromising the miniaturization goal.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device is provided in which a touch panel and a liquid crystal display panel are placed under a front window. A touch-panel flexible wiring substrate is connected to the touch panel, and a main flexible wiring substrate is connected to the liquid crystal display panel. The main flexible wiring substrate includes a touch-panel control IC and a touch-panel electronic component group to control the touch panel. The touch-panel flexible wiring substrate includes only lines. In this configuration, there is only one flexible wiring substrate, or the main flexible wiring substrate, on which the electronic components are mounted. As a result, the production cost of the liquid crystal display device as a whole can be reduced.