Integrated Touch Sensor and Black Matrix on Encapsulation

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity and cost of manufacturing touchscreen devices are increased due to the separate attachment process of touchscreens to display panels, which complicates the overall process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a black matrix with first and second black layers that serve both as a black matrix and touch electrodes, arranged on an encapsulation unit, allowing touch sensors to be integrated without a separate attachment process, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a touchscreen is separately manufactured and attached to the front surface of the display panel, then the touch display function can be achieved, but the overall process becomes complicated and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch display functionVSAvoidoverall process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touchscreen and display panel into a single integrated structure. The touch sensor unit is formed on the same substrate as the display panel, with the black matrix serving dual functions as both a light-blocking layer and touch electrode. This integration eliminates the separate attachment process, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining touch display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The black matrix is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light-blocking layer to prevent light leakage, serves as a touch electrode for sensing touch input, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a touchscreen is separately manufactured and attached to the front surface of the display panel, then the touch display function can be achieved, but manufacturing costs are raised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch display functionVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touchscreen and display panel into a single integrated structure. The touch sensor unit is formed on the same substrate as the display panel, with the black matrix serving dual functions as both a light-blocking layer and touch electrode. This integration eliminates the separate attachment process, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining touch display functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The black matrix is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light-blocking layer to prevent light leakage, serves as a touch electrode for sensing touch input, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If the aperture ratio is increased to improve display quality, then light leakage is reduced, but the area available for touch electrodes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight leakage preventionVSAvoidtouch electrode area

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The black matrix is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light-blocking layer to prevent light leakage, serves as a touch electrode for sensing touch input, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different properties to different regions of the black matrix. The first black layer is configured with specific transparency and conductivity characteristics to balance light blocking and touch sensing functions, while the second black layer provides additional light blocking. This localized optimization allows the structure to prevent light leakage while maintaining sufficient touch electrode area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11256356B2Display device having touch sensor and black matrix on the encapsulation unit

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 LG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A display device can include a substrate including a plurality of sub-pixels; a plurality of light emitting elements on the sub-pixels of the substrate; an encapsulation unit on the light emitting elements, and including a first inorganic encapsulation layer, a second inorganic encapsulation layer on the first inorganic layer and an organic encapsulation layer between the first inorganic encapsulation layer and the second inorganic encapsulation layer; a plurality of first touch electrodes arranged in a first direction; a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a plurality of color filters on the encapsulation unit; a first black layer arranged between the color filters overlapping the touch electrodes; and a second black layer arranged on a different plane from the first black layer and arranged between the color filters not overlapping the touch electrodes.