Touch Screen Electrode Shielding for Tactile Signal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch screen devices with integrated tactile sensation generation struggle with insufficient shielding of display panels from tactile sensation signals, leading to increased thickness and reduced contrast due to reflection, and require additional circuit elements to handle high tactile sensation generation voltages, complicating the circuit design and potentially reducing touch and tactile sensation resolution.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen design featuring separate touch detection and tactile sensation generation electrodes, with the touch detection electrodes positioned furthest from the operation screen to shield the display panel and prevent signal intrusion, allowing for independent configuration of electrode pitches for optimal touch and tactile sensation resolution without the need for high-breakdown voltage switching circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield layer is added to interrupt tactile sensation generation signals, then display panel shielding is improved, but device thickness increases and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the shielding function from a separate physical shield layer and integrates it into the touch detection electrode itself. The touch detection electrode is configured to serve dual purposes: detecting touch inputs and blocking tactile sensation generation signals from reaching the display panel, thereby eliminating the need for an additional shield layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch detection electrode is given multiple functions: it acts as both a touch detection element and a shield against tactile sensation signals. This multi-functional design allows the same component to perform both detection and shielding roles, reducing overall device complexity and thickness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate touch detection and tactile sensation electrodes are used, then shielding effectiveness is improved and electrode pitch optimization is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode system into distinct touch detection electrodes and tactile sensation generation electrodes. This segmentation allows each electrode type to be independently optimized for its specific function, with touch detection electrodes positioned and configured for optimal touch sensing while tactile sensation electrodes are configured separately for vibration generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the touch panel have different electrode configurations optimized for their specific functions. The touch detection electrodes are arranged with specific pitch and positioning for optimal touch coordinate detection, while tactile sensation electrodes are arranged with different pitch for effective vibration generation, allowing local optimization without compromising overall system performance.
3Power
If high tactile sensation generation voltage is applied, then tactile sensation feedback is improved, but circuit breakdown risk increases and switching circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch detection electrode serves as an intermediary barrier between the tactile sensation generation electrodes and the display panel. By positioning the touch detection electrode between these components, it mediates the interaction by blocking high-voltage tactile sensation signals from directly affecting the display panel, thereby protecting the circuit from breakdown while maintaining tactile feedback functionality.
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 configuration effectively shields the display panel from tactile sensation signals, simplifies the circuit design, and allows for independent optimization of touch and tactile sensation electrode pitches, enhancing both touch detection and tactile sensation generation resolution while reducing the risk of display issues like unevenness.
Implementation Method 1
calculates and outputs touch coordinates, which indicate the position touched by an indicator on the touch screen, on the basis of the result of detection of a touch capacitance made up of the electrostatic capacitances between each detection electrode and the indicator
Implementation Method 2
provides electrical stimulation to the fingertips of the operator by passing current from the positive electrodes of tactile sensation generation electrodes installed on the tactile stimulation generation sheet toward the negative electrodes thereof through the fingertips
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of excitation electrodes, each disposed along a row direction, are provided on a back side of a transparent substrate, and a plurality of detection electrodes, each disposed along a column direction, a plurality of tactile sensation generation row electrodes, each disposed along the row direction, and a plurality of tactile sensation generation column electrodes, each disposed along the column direction, are provided on the front side of the transparent substrate. The front side of the transparent substrate is defined as an operation screen. The excitation electrodes and the tactile sensation generation row electrodes are formed independently of each other, and the detection electrodes and the tactile sensation generation column electrodes are formed independently of each other. In the configuration, the excitation electrodes among the electrodes are situated furthest from the operation screen.