Touch Screen Panel Electrode Connectivity via Nanowire Bridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch screen panels face challenges in achieving improved sensitivity and electrical properties, particularly in the capacitive type, which affects their performance in accurately detecting contact positions and converting them into electric signals.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen panel design featuring a substrate with electrode patterns, insulation patterns, and connecting conductive patterns made of metal nanowires and transparent conductive oxides, along with a specific wiring structure, enhances sensitivity and electrical connectivity by exposing top surfaces of electrode patterns through openings and forming bridges between adjacent electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manufacturing processes are used for touch screen panels, then production is simpler, but etching damage occurs and electrical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductive layer into multiple parts: electrode patterns, connecting conductive patterns, and bridges. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - electrode patterns for sensitivity, connecting patterns for electrical connectivity, and bridges for mechanical stability - thereby improving overall electrical properties without requiring complex etching processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining metal nanowires with transparent conductive oxides in the connecting conductive patterns and bridges. This composite structure provides both excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical stability, resolving the contradiction between improving electrical properties and maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Reliability
If insulation patterns fully cover electrode patterns, then insulation is improved, but electrical connectivity and sensitivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the insulation patterns partially cover the electrode patterns rather than fully covering them. The insulation patterns are strategically positioned to provide insulation where needed while leaving openings that expose portions of the electrode patterns, thereby maintaining both insulation performance and contact detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting conductive patterns serve as intermediaries that bridge the gaps between electrode patterns through the insulation patterns. These connecting patterns include openings that expose electrode surfaces, allowing direct contact detection while the surrounding insulation provides electrical isolation, thus resolving the contradiction between insulation and sensitivity
3Manufacturing precision
If etching processes are used to form patterns, then manufacturing precision is improved, but etching damage occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful etching process from the manufacturing method by forming all conductive patterns (electrode patterns, connecting conductive patterns, and bridges) through deposition and patterning techniques without requiring etching. This extraction eliminates etching damage to the electrodes while maintaining the necessary manufacturing precision through controlled deposition processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical etching process with a deposition-based patterning approach. Conductive materials are deposited to form patterns, and insulation patterns are formed to define openings, eliminating the need for etching entirely. This substitution preserves electrode integrity while achieving the required pattern formation accuracy
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 improves the sensitivity and electrical properties of touch screen panels, reducing etching damage and enhancing mechanical stability, transparency, and flexibility, while maintaining fine thickness and pitch, thereby improving contact detection accuracy and signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
connecting conductive patterns disposed on the insulation patterns, the connecting conductive patterns filling at least a part of the openings and being electrically connected to the electrode patterns
Implementation Method 2
The capacitive TSP may be configured to sense a capacitance change formed between two adjacent conductive sensing patterns and/or between a conductive sensing patterns and a ground electrode when a human hand or an object contacts the TSP, thereby converting a contact position into an electric signal
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen panel includes: a substrate; electrode patterns disposed on the substrate; insulation patterns disposed partially covering the electrode patterns, the insulation patterns defining openings, wherein at least a part of top surfaces of the electrode patterns are exposed through the openings; connecting conductive patterns disposed on the insulation patterns, the connecting conductive patterns filling at least a part of the openings and being electrically connected to the electrode patterns; and wirings disposed on at least a portion of the connecting conductive patterns.