Touch Sensitive Element with Stacked Electroactive Layers for Flexible Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Haptic devices using electroactive polymers in flexible display devices face issues with stress concentration in bending areas, leading to reduced lifespan and driving stability due to repeated bending.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensitive element with a first electroactive layer and a second electroactive layer covering a bending member, which disperses stress and functions as a bending member, improving stability and vibration characteristics, and simplifying manufacturing processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single touch sensitive element is used in a flexible display device, then the device can be made thin and flexible, but stress concentration in bending areas degrades lifespan and driving stability
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensitive element is divided into multiple independent electroactive layers (first electroactive layer and second electroactive layer) stacked at the same position. Each layer can independently deform and sense touch, distributing the stress burden and preventing single-point failure in bending areas, thereby improving both flexibility and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple electroactive polymer layers are combined to form a composite structure. The stacked layers work together to provide enhanced mechanical strength and stress distribution while maintaining the flexibility required for bendable displays, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability
2Reliability
If electroactive polymer layers are stacked to improve stress distribution, then lifespan is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electroactive layers are merged into a single integrated touch sensitive element structure that functions as one unified component. The layers share common electrodes and are driven by the same control system, improving lifespan without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked electroactive layers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as both actuators for haptic feedback and as sensors for touch detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity
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 enhances the lifespan and driving stability of touch sensitive elements in stress-concentrated areas, maintains stable vibration characteristics, and provides additional vibration effects in bending areas, while simplifying the manufacturing process and configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a first touch sensitive element which overlaps the active area of the display panel and includes a first electroactive layer; a second touch sensitive element including a second electroactive layer which covers the bending member
Data Source
AI summary
A display device to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a display panel including an active area having a bending area, a first touch sensitive element which overlaps the active area of the display panel and includes a first electroactive layer, a bending member which is disposed below the display panel and overlaps at least the bending area, and a second touch sensitive element including a second electroactive layer which covers the bending member. Therefore, in the bending area where the stress due to the bending is concentrated, the lifespan and the driving stability of the first touch sensitive element and the second touch sensitive element may be improved.