Integrated Touch-Sensing Cover Lens for Thin Electronic Devices

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch-sensing panels are thick and complex due to multiple layers, making them unsuitable for thin and lightweight electronic devices, and their fabrication methods are cumbersome, leading to high production costs.

Innovation Solution

A cover lens with integrated touch-sensing functionality is developed, comprising a tempered substrate with a pattern layer and a touch-sensing layer, optionally including an overcoat and optical coating, which is fabricated by processing a tempered glass substrate with anti-reflection, anti-glare, or anti-smudge properties, and forming the necessary layers through printing, coating, or deposition to reduce thickness and simplify the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional touch-sensing panel structure with separate cover lens and multiple layers is used, then the protection and touch-sensing functions are achieved, but the overall thickness and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection functionVSAvoidthickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cover lens and touch-sensing panel into a single integrated structure. The cover lens substrate directly serves as the support for the touch-sensing layers, eliminating the need for separate bonding layers and intermediate substrates. This integration maintains the protective function while significantly reducing the overall thickness and structural complexity of the display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover lens substrate is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection, serves as the support structure for touch-sensing electrodes, and acts as the bonding interface to the display panel. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components, reducing both thickness and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a conventional touch-sensing panel structure with separate cover lens and multiple layers is used, then the protection and touch-sensing functions are achieved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection functionVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cover lens and touch-sensing panel into a single integrated structure. The cover lens substrate directly serves as the support for the touch-sensing layers, eliminating the need for separate bonding layers and intermediate substrates. This integration maintains the protective function while significantly reducing the overall thickness and structural complexity of the display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover lens substrate is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical protection, serves as the support structure for touch-sensing electrodes, and acts as the bonding interface to the display panel. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components, reducing both thickness and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If a conventional touch-sensing panel structure with separate cover lens and multiple layers is used, then the protection and touch-sensing functions are achieved, but the manufacturing complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection functionVSAvoidfabrication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cover lens and touch-sensing panel into a single integrated structure. The cover lens substrate directly serves as the support for the touch-sensing layers, eliminating the need for separate bonding layers and intermediate substrates. This integration maintains the protective function while significantly reducing the overall thickness and structural complexity of the display device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch-sensing electrode patterns are formed on the cover lens substrate before the final assembly process. This preliminary formation of conductive patterns on the cover lens itself eliminates the need for subsequent complex bonding and alignment operations, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8081169B2Cover lens with touch-sensing function and method for fabricating the same

Publication Date: 2011.12.20 TAZIK SOLUTIONS (SUZHOU) LTD

AI summary

A cover lens with touch-sensing function is provided, which is combined onto an external side of an electronic device and allows the touch-sensing and protection for the electronic device. The provided cover lens is constructed by a tempered substrate, a pattern layer and a touch-sensing layer, where the pattern layer is formed on a first surface of the tempered substrate so as to provide the cover lens with an appearance of periphery-like pattern. The touch-sensing layer is also formed on the first surface of the tempered substrate. The present invention also provides a touch display having such cover lens and the fabricating method thereof.