Capacitive Touch Screen Electrode Layout for Thinner Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch screen displays with a touch panel mounted on a liquid crystal panel are large and cumbersome, making them difficult to carry due to their size and weight, necessitating a more compact and lightweight design.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen display design featuring a first substrate with a lower sensor electrode, a second substrate with a sensor spacer and common electrode, and an upper sensor electrode connected to the common electrode via a connection electrode, where a cutout in the upper sensor electrode allows for capacitance changes to detect touch positions based on changes in distance between electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is mounted on a liquid crystal panel to acquire positional information, then touch functionality is achieved, but the display device becomes large in size and difficult to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor electrodes with the liquid crystal display electrodes by using the same electrode structures for both functions. The lower sensor electrode is formed on the lower substrate, and the upper sensor electrode is formed on the upper substrate, which are the same substrates used for liquid crystal display. This integration eliminates the need for separate touch panel layers, thereby reducing device thickness and weight while maintaining full touch functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is mounted on a liquid crystal panel to acquire positional information, then touch functionality is achieved, but the display device becomes large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the touch sensor structure with the liquid crystal display structure by forming sensor electrodes on the same substrates used for display. The lower sensor electrode is integrated into the lower substrate, and the upper sensor electrode is integrated into the upper substrate, eliminating the need for additional touch panel layers and reducing overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor electrodes are nested within the existing display structure. The lower sensor electrode is positioned within the lower substrate, and the upper sensor electrode is positioned within the upper substrate, creating a nested configuration where touch sensing functionality is embedded within the display structure itself, minimizing additional space requirements.
3Measurement precision
If conventional touch panel structure is used with separate substrates and conductive layers, then touch detection is achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch sensor electrode formation process with the liquid crystal display electrode formation process. Both sets of electrodes are formed on the same substrates using similar manufacturing steps, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining accurate touch position detection capability through the capacitance change measurement method.
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 enables compact and lightweight touch screen displays by accurately detecting touch positions through capacitance changes, enhancing portability and usability while maintaining efficient touch operation.
Implementation Method 1
when touch pressure is applied to the first or second substrate, a change in capacitance is generated due to a change in a distance between the lower sensor electrode and the upper sensor electrode at a touch position, such that the touch position is detected on the basis of the change in capacitance
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen display includes; a first substrate, a lower sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate, a second substrate disposed substantially opposite to the first substrate, a sensor spacer disposed on the second substrate and aligned with the lower sensor electrode, a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, an upper sensor electrode disposed on the sensor spacer and connected to the common electrode, and a cutout disposed at an edge of the upper sensor electrode, wherein when touch pressure is applied to the first or second substrate, a change in capacitance is generated due to a change in a distance between the lower sensor electrode and the upper sensor electrode at a touch position, such that the touch position is detected on the basis of the change in capacitance.