Corrosion-Resistant Touch Sensor Layer Structure for Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensors in display devices are prone to corrosion due to moisture and iodine ion diffusion, particularly under hot and humid conditions, which affects their reliability.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor design featuring an inorganic layer covering the upper and side surfaces of conductive layers, with openings to prevent moisture and iodine ion penetration, and a multi-layered organic layer structure to enhance corrosion resistance and optical efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the touch sensor uses a conventional structure without additional protective layers, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates due to corrosion from moisture and iodine ion diffusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining inorganic layers (such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride) with organic layers to form a multi-layer protective structure. This composite approach leverages the corrosion resistance of inorganic materials while maintaining the flexibility and optical properties of organic materials, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses thin film structures for the protective layers, particularly the inorganic layer with thickness of 1-100 nm and organic layers with thickness of 10-1000 nm. These thin films provide effective protection against moisture and iodine ion diffusion while minimizing the overall device thickness and maintaining flexibility.
2Reliability
If the inorganic layer completely covers the conductive layers, then corrosion protection is maximized, but optical efficiency deteriorates due to light blocking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the inorganic layer transparent in specific regions where light transmission is needed for touch sensing. The inorganic layer is designed with selective transparency, being opaque to prevent corrosion in areas not requiring optical access, while transparent in areas where touch electrodes need to be detected, thus balancing protection and optical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the inorganic layer by selecting materials and thicknesses that optimize both protection and transparency. By controlling the thickness parameter (1-100 nm) and material composition, the inorganic layer achieves sufficient corrosion protection while maintaining adequate light transmission for optical sensing functions.
3Reliability
If the organic layer thickness is increased to improve coverage, then corrosion resistance improves, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in controlling layer thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film structures with optimized thickness ranges. The inorganic layer is kept thin (1-100 nm) to ease manufacturing while providing effective protection, and the organic layer is controlled within 10-1000 nm. This thin film approach improves manufacturing precision compared to thicker layers while maintaining sufficient corrosion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures where the inorganic layer provides the primary corrosion protection with minimal thickness, reducing the burden on the organic layer. This division of functions allows each layer to be optimized for its specific purpose, improving overall manufacturing precision while maintaining reliability.
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 design effectively prevents corrosion of conductive layers, enhances the reliability of touch sensors, and improves optical efficiency by managing moisture and iodine ion diffusion, thereby maintaining sensor performance under varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the inorganic layer may include openings that do not overlap with the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer
Implementation Method 2
prone to corrosion due to moisture and iodine ion diffusion
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor includes: a touch-sensing area; and a touch non-sensing area around the touch-sensing area. The touch-sensing area includes: an interlayer insulating layer on an encapsulation layer; a first conductive layer on the interlayer insulating layer; a first organic layer on the interlayer insulating layer and the first conductive layer; a second conductive layer on the first organic layer; and an inorganic layer on the first organic layer and the second conductive layer.