Ultra-Thin Touch Screen Panel via Substrate Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touch screen panels are thick due to the thickness of the glass substrate required for forming touch sensors, which limits their thinness and transparency, making them unsuitable for thin-film applications in display devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a thin film formed on a glass substrate with sensing patterns and connection lines, where the glass substrate is separated from the thin film, allowing for an ultra-thin touch screen panel with polyimide material and specific pattern arrangements to maintain electrical connectivity while minimizing thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a glass substrate is used to form touch sensors, then the touch screen panel can be manufactured with standard processes, but the panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the touch sensor formation process from the glass substrate by forming a thin film layer containing the sensors on a flexible substrate instead. This separates the sensing function from the rigid glass substrate, enabling thin-film construction while maintaining manufacturability through standard thin-film deposition and patterning processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible substrate with a thin film layer (thickness not exceeding 10 micrometers) to carry the touch sensors, replacing the conventional thick glass substrate. This thin film approach maintains ease of manufacture through standard semiconductor fabrication processes while dramatically reducing panel thickness
2Length of stationary object
If the panel thickness is reduced, then transparency and thinness are improved, but structural strength and heat resistance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a flexible substrate with a thin film layer containing polyimide or other heat-resistant materials. This composite approach provides both thinness and adequate structural strength, with the flexible substrate providing mechanical support and the thin film providing the sensing function and thermal stability
3Length of stationary object
If the glass substrate is removed, then the panel becomes ultra-thin, but the heat resistance and chemical resistance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the thin film layer by selecting materials with high heat resistance and chemical resistance properties, such as polyimide. This allows the thin film to provide adequate thermal and chemical stability despite the reduced thickness, maintaining reliability while achieving ultra-thin construction
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
The solution results in a significantly thinner touch screen panel that maintains high heat resistance and chemical resistance, enabling effective touch sensing without increasing the panel's thickness, suitable for attachment to display devices without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
coating a liquid polymer material over a substrate, thereby forming a thin film
Implementation Method 2
instantaneously applying heat to a bottom surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 3
scanning and irradiating a laser beam to a bottom surface of the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A fabricating method of a display device includes: forming a thin film by coating a liquid polymer material over a substrate using spin coating or slit coating; forming a touch screen panel (TSP) over the thin film; separating the substrate from the thin film; and placing the TSP over a surface of the display device. The TSP includes: first and second sensing patterns alternately arranged, the first sensing patterns formed to be connected to one another for each column, the second sensing patterns formed to be connected to one another for each row; first connection lines electrically connecting the first sensing patterns; connection patterns connecting the second sensing patterns and formed in a different layer from the first and second sensing patterns; and a first insulating layer formed between the connection patterns and the first and second sensing patterns. The sensing patterns are formed of a transparent conductive material.