Touch Screen Panel Dummy Patterns for Static Electricity Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capacitive touch screen panels are prone to driving failures due to static electricity, which can cause dielectric breakdown and disconnection of sensing electrodes, leading to operational failures.

Innovation Solution

The touch screen panel incorporates dummy patterns with island shapes and static electricity guidance patterns to isolate and redirect static electricity, increasing the electrical resistance of the path and preventing rapid flow to high resistance regions, thereby minimizing the risk of driving failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensing electrodes are connected through connecting patterns to form a capacitive touch screen panel, then the panel can detect contact positions, but static electricity can cause dielectric breakdown and disconnection of sensing electrodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational stabilityVSAvoidstatic electricity damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dummy patterns as intermediary elements between the sensing electrodes and connecting patterns. These dummy patterns act as mediators that intercept static electricity before it can reach the critical intersections of sensing electrodes, thereby preventing dielectric breakdown while maintaining the functional connectivity of the touch screen panel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the sensing electrode structure by dividing the continuous conducting paths into separate sensing electrodes and connecting patterns, with dummy patterns positioned at strategic locations. This segmentation isolates the harmful static electricity discharge paths from the functional sensing regions, allowing the panel to maintain operational reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If dummy patterns are added to prevent static electricity damage, then driving failure is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against static electricityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dummy patterns serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as static electricity shields to prevent dielectric breakdown, maintain the capacitive field distribution for accurate touch sensing, and provide structural continuity in the conducting layers. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate protective components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the protective function against static electricity with the existing sensing electrode structure by integrating dummy patterns into the same conducting layer. Rather than adding a separate protective layer or component, the dummy patterns are combined with the sensing electrode network, thereby minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 prevents driving failures by reducing the impact of static electricity on the touch screen panel, ensuring stable operation by increasing the electrical resistance and bypassing the high-risk intersections of sensing electrodes.

Implementation Method 1

increasing the electrical resistance of the path and preventing rapid flow to high resistance regions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

static electricity guidance patterns to isolate and redirect static electricity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic Induction: Electrostatic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2717137B1Touch screen panel
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP2717137B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2717137B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2717137B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A touch screen panel includes a plurality of first sensing electrodes on a substrate, the plurality of first sensing electrodes being connected to each other in a first direction, a plurality of second sensing electrodes between the first sensing electrodes on the substrate, the plurality of second sensing electrodes being connected to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a plurality of first connecting patterns connecting the first sensing electrodes to each other in the first direction, a plurality of second connecting patterns connecting the second sensing electrodes to each other in the second direction, a first insulating layer at least between the first connecting patterns and the second connecting patterns, and dummy patterns in at least one of the first and second sensing electrodes, the dummy patterns having island-shapes and being insulated from the first and second sensing electrodes.