Touch Screen Micro-Wires with Varying Heights for Conductivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current transparent conductors in touch screens face limitations in conductivity and transparency, with existing materials like indium tin oxide being costly and prone to cracking, and alternative methods such as nano-particles not providing sufficient transparency while increasing conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A transparent conductor apparatus featuring micro-wires with varying heights, where interstitial micro-wires are taller than pad micro-wires, forming a conductive mesh that enhances conductivity without compromising transparency, allowing for improved performance in capacitive touch screens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thicker layers of metal oxides or metals are used to increase conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but transparency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent conductor is divided into multiple discrete micro-wires instead of using a continuous thick layer. This segmentation allows light to pass through the gaps between micro-wires while providing sufficient conductive pathways, thus maintaining both transparency and conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the transparent conductor have different micro-wire heights - interstitial regions have taller micro-wires for higher conductivity, while pad regions have shorter micro-wires to minimize light blocking. This local differentiation optimizes both conductivity and transparency in different functional areas.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional multi-step lithographic processes are used for patterning, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter from lateral patterning dimensions to vertical height differentiation. By controlling micro-wire heights rather than relying solely on complex lateral patterning, the manufacturing process is simplified while maintaining precision in the functional regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves from two-dimensional lateral patterning to three-dimensional height-based differentiation. By using vertical height as the distinguishing feature between functional regions, the complexity of lateral patterning is reduced while achieving the desired functional separation.
3Reliability
If nano-particles are used to form conductive traces, then conductivity is improved, but transparency is reduced due to wire size and density
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive structure is segmented into discrete micro-wires with controlled dimensions and spacing. This segmentation creates sufficient gaps for light transmission while maintaining adequate conductive pathways, overcoming the transparency issue with nanoparticle-based conductive traces.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-wires have different heights in different regions - taller in interstitial areas for conductivity and shorter in pad areas for transparency. This local quality variation optimizes the balance between conductivity and transparency that cannot be achieved with uniform nanoparticle traces.
Data Source
AI summary
A transparent conductor apparatus includes a transparent substrate. A plurality of electrically connected first micro-wires is formed in a plurality of first areas in a micro-wire layer and a plurality of electrically connected second micro-wires is formed in a plurality of second areas in the micro-wire layer. The first micro-wires are electrically connected to the second micro-wires. A plurality of third micro-wires is formed in a plurality of third areas in the micro-wire layer. The third micro-wires are electrically disconnected from the first micro-wires or the second micro-wires. The transparent substrate supports the micro-wire layer and the height of at least a portion of the first micro-wires or second micro-wires is greater than the height of at least a portion of the third micro-wires.