Capacitive Touch Screen Routing via Half-Tone Photomask

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing process for capacitive touch screen panels requires multiple photomask processes, leading to increased time and costs due to the complexity of photolithography processes.

Innovation Solution

A capacitive touch screen panel design featuring a double layer structure for routing wires and a single layer structure for connection patterns, formed using a half-tone photomask process, which reduces the number of photomask processes required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple photomask processes are used to form routing wires and connection patterns separately, then the manufacturing precision and quality are improved, but the manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of routing wires and connection patternsVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the formation of routing wires and connection patterns into a single photomask process. The half-tone photomask technique allows both structures to be formed simultaneously in one exposure step, eliminating the need for separate photomask processes while maintaining the required manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes half-tone photomask technology which changes the optical parameters during exposure. By controlling the exposure dose and developing conditions, the same photomask can create different structure types (routing wires and connection patterns) with appropriate line widths and depths, achieving differentiated structures through parameter control rather than multiple processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple photomask processes are used to form routing wires and connection patterns separately, then the manufacturing precision and quality are improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of routing wires and connection patternsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the formation of routing wires and connection patterns into a single photomask process. The half-tone photomask technique allows both structures to be formed simultaneously in one exposure step, eliminating the need for separate photomask processes while maintaining the required manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes half-tone photomask technology which changes the optical parameters during exposure. By controlling the exposure dose and developing conditions, the same photomask can create different structure types (routing wires and connection patterns) with appropriate line widths and depths, achieving differentiated structures through parameter control rather than multiple processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If a single photomask process is used to form routing wires and connection patterns, then the manufacturing time and cost are reduced, but the contact resistance may increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing timeVSAvoidcontact resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes half-tone photomask technology which changes the optical parameters during exposure. By controlling the exposure dose and developing conditions, the same photomask can create different structure types (routing wires and connection patterns) with appropriate line widths and depths, achieving differentiated structures through parameter control rather than multiple processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions formed in the same photomask process. Connection patterns are formed with sufficient line width and depth to ensure low contact resistance, while routing wires can be optimized for other parameters. Each structure type achieves its local quality requirements through controlled exposure parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9423903B2Touch screen panel

Publication Date: 2016.08.23 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A capacitive touch screen panel includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrode serials arranged in parallel in a first direction, a plurality of second electrode serials arranged in parallel intersecting the first electrode serials, a plurality of first routing wires, a plurality of second routing wires and an insulation layer that electrically insulates the first electrode serials from the second electrode serials, wherein each of the first electrode serials includes a plurality of first electrode patterns and a plurality of first connection patterns, and wherein a first conductive layer of the first routing wire, a first conductive layer of the second routing wire, and the first connection patterns are formed in the same layer.