Touch Sensing Layer Segmentation for Display Defect Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices with touch input functions face challenges in defect inspection due to light interference from elements under touch electrodes, making it difficult to detect defects effectively and maintain high display quality.
Innovation Solution
A display device design featuring a conductive pattern with touch electrodes arranged in rows and columns, including touch pattern unit blocks that correspond to integer multiples of pixel unit blocks, along with spacers and dummy touch electrodes, to facilitate easy defect inspection and improved display quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If touch electrodes and elements are formed under the touch sensing layer, then touch input function is enabled, but light interference occurs making defect detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The display panel is divided into a display area with pixel units and a non-display area, with the touch sensing layer selectively positioned. The conductive pattern is segmented into trace lines in the display area and pad electrodes in the non-display area, allowing defect inspection in the display area without interference from touch electrode patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensing function is extracted from the display area by positioning the conductive pattern (trace lines and pad electrodes) primarily in the non-display area. This removes the light-interfering elements from the inspection region while preserving touch functionality where needed.
2Reliability
If touch electrodes are arranged in the display area, then touch sensitivity is improved, but inspection complexity increases due to light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing structure is moved from the two-dimensional display area to the three-dimensional space of the non-display area (edges and corners). This spatial relocation allows touch electrodes to maintain sensitivity while being positioned outside the inspection field of the display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensing structure is localized to specific regions (non-display area) rather than being uniformly distributed across the entire display area. This creates different functional zones: the display area optimized for inspection and the non-display area optimized for touch sensing.
3Stability of the object's composition
If elements are placed under touch electrodes for structural support, then mechanical stability is improved, but defect detection accuracy deteriorates due to light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensing layer acts as an intermediary structure that provides mechanical support and touch functionality without compromising inspection accuracy. By positioning it in the non-display area, it supports the display structure while allowing optical inspection of the display area without interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a display area in which red, green, and blue sub-pixels are arranged, and a touch sensing layer including a conductive pattern, the conductive pattern including touch electrodes arranged in a row direction and a column direction in the display area, and trace lines electrically connected to the touch electrodes, respectively, and extending in the column direction in the display area. Here, the conductive pattern includes touch pattern unit blocks arranged along the row direction, each of the touch pattern unit block including some parts of the plurality of trace lines and at least one touch electrode among the plurality of touch electrodes, and the touch pattern unit block has a size corresponding to an integer multiple of a size of a pixel unit block, wherein the pixel unit block is a minimum repetition unit of the red, green, and blue sub-pixels.