Capacitive Touch Screen Routing Wire Layer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touch screen panels face issues with increased process complexity due to multiple mask steps, visibility problems from color differences in insulation layers, and low surface hardness leading to scratches during subsequent processing steps.
Innovation Solution
The capacitive touch screen panel design reduces mask process steps by forming first and second routing wires on the same layer as electrode connection patterns, using a single mask process for these features, and optimizing insulation layer thickness to enhance transmittance and color transition characteristics while improving surface hardness with ITO or IZO materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple mask steps are used to form routing wires and electrode connection patterns separately, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of routing wires and electrode connection patterns into a single mask process step. The insulating film is patterned to simultaneously define both the routing wire regions and the electrode connection pattern regions, eliminating the need for separate mask steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining alignment precision through unified patterning
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating film serves multiple functions: it provides electrical insulation between conductive layers, defines routing wire pathways, and creates electrode connection patterns. This multi-functional design consolidates what would traditionally require multiple specialized process steps into a single versatile patterning operation
2Reliability
If insulation layer thickness is increased to improve electrical insulation, then reliability improves, but transmittance decreases and color transition issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the insulating film to achieve a balance between electrical insulation performance and optical properties. By carefully selecting the insulating film material and controlling its thickness within a specific range, the design achieves adequate insulation while minimizing negative impacts on light transmittance and color transition characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining different insulating film materials with complementary properties. This allows the insulating system to provide both the required electrical insulation and improved optical characteristics, as different materials can be selected for their respective strengths in insulation and transmittance
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional materials are used for routing wires and electrodes, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but surface hardness is low leading to scratches during subsequent processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures combining different insulating film materials with complementary properties. This allows the insulating system to provide both the required electrical insulation and improved optical characteristics, as different materials can be selected for their respective strengths in insulation and transmittance
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 approach simplifies manufacturing, reduces visibility issues, and enhances the panel's durability by minimizing scratches, resulting in improved productivity and quality with reduced costs and tact time.
Implementation Method 1
neighboring first electrodes 21 arranged in the first direction are connected to each other by a bridge 41. That is, the bridge 41 connects the neighboring first electrodes 21 to each other through contact holes 30a and 30b formed in the insulation film 30 covering the first and second electrodes 21 and 22
Implementation Method 2
improving surface hardness with ITO or IZO materials
Implementation Method 3
optimizing insulation layer thickness to enhance transmittance and color transition characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A touch screen panel includes a substrate having an electrode forming part, and a routing wire forming part, where the routing wire forming part is located at an area outside the electrode forming part. A plurality of first electrode connection patterns is located in the electrode forming part. A plurality of first routing wires and a plurality of second routing wires are both located in the routing wire forming part, and the routing wires are disposed on the same layer with the first electrode connection patterns. An insulation layer is formed on the substrate and over the first electrode connection patterns. The insulation layer has at least two contact holes that expose contact portions of each the plurality of first electrode connection patterns. A plurality of first serial electrodes are arranged in parallel in a first direction and are connected with the plurality of first routing wires, respectively. Each first serial electrode includes a plurality of first electrode elements. A plurality of second serial electrodes are arranged in parallel in a second direction, and are configured to intersect the first serial electrodes. The second serial electrodes are connected with the plurality of second routing wires, respectively, and each second serial electrode includes a plurality of second electrode elements. Each of the plurality of first electrode connection patterns connects adjacent electrode elements of each first serial electrode through respective contact portions accessible through the at least two contact holes.