Ultrathin Touch Screen Panel Using Thin Film Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Capacitive-type touch screen panels fabricated on glass substrates result in thickness issues due to the need for high thermal and chemical resistance, making them unsuitable for thin and transparent applications.

Innovation Solution

A thin film is formed on a glass substrate with sensing patterns and separated from the carrier substrate, and a decoration layer and functional coating are applied to the other side, allowing the film to function as both a touch screen and window substrate, reducing the overall thickness of the image display device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If capacitive-type touch screen panels are fabricated on glass substrates to ensure high thermal and chemical resistance, then reliability is improved, but the thickness of the touch screen panel increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal and chemical resistanceVSAvoidthickness of touch screen panel

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the touch screen panel into multiple functional layers: a thin film substrate layer (providing flexibility and thinness), a sensing electrode layer (providing capacitive sensing function), and a protective coating layer (providing thermal and chemical resistance). This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in one function, enabling the overall panel to be thin while maintaining reliability through the protective coating layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material structures combining different materials with complementary properties: a polymer thin film substrate (providing flexibility and thinness), transparent conducting oxide electrodes (providing sensing function), and protective coating materials (providing thermal and chemical resistance). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials that individually address different requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Length of stationary object

If the thickness of the glass substrate is reduced to achieve a thinner touch screen panel, then the thickness is improved, but the ability to withstand fabrication processes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of substrateVSAvoidwithstand fabrication processes

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional rigid glass substrate with a flexible thin film substrate that can be made extremely thin while maintaining structural integrity. The thin film substrate provides the necessary mechanical support for the touch sensor layers without requiring the thickness needed for glass substrates to withstand fabrication processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies protective coating layers beforehand to provide thermal and chemical resistance during fabrication processes. These protective layers act as a cushion against the harsh fabrication environment, allowing the thin substrate to survive processes it would otherwise cannot withstand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Length of stationary object

If a thin film is used as the substrate to reduce thickness, then the thickness is improved, but the mechanical strength and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of touch screen panelVSAvoidmechanical strength and stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where the thin film substrate is combined with multiple functional layers (sensing electrodes, protective coatings, decoration layers) that collectively provide the mechanical strength and stability needed. The composite structure distributes mechanical loads across multiple layers, compensating for the inherent weakness of the thin substrate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple functional layers into an integrated thin-film structure, where the sensing electrodes, protective coatings, and decoration layers are all formed on the thin film substrate. This merging creates a unified structure that is both thin and mechanically robust through the combined contribution of all layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8937605B2Touch screen panel and method of fabricating the same

Publication Date: 2015.01.20 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A touch screen panel includes: a thin film that includes an active area and a non-active area around the active area; sensing patterns in the active area on a first side of the thin film; sensing lines coupled to the sensing patterns, in the non-active area on the first side; a decoration layer on a second side of the thin film, corresponding to the non-active area; and a functional coating layer on the second side of the thin film with the decoration layer.