Touch Sensor Elastic Insulator Pressure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch sensors for display devices are limited in their ability to accurately detect touch pressure and position simultaneously, often requiring complex electrode configurations and insulating materials that are not flexible or sensitive enough to provide reliable user input.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor design featuring intersecting first and second touch electrodes with an insulating member between their connection patterns, where the substrate's modulus of elasticity is equal to or greater than the insulating member's, allowing for sensitive pressure detection and position recognition through changes in capacitance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex electrode configurations are used to improve touch detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch sensor divides the detection function into two separate electrode patterns: a first electrode pattern for detecting touch position and a second electrode pattern for detecting touch pressure. This segmentation allows each pattern to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall detection accuracy without requiring a single complex electrode configuration to perform both functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating member is introduced as an intermediary element between the first and second electrode patterns. This insulating member has elastic properties that allow it to deform under touch pressure, thereby transmitting mechanical force information to the second electrode pattern while maintaining electrical isolation. This intermediary structure enables accurate pressure detection without direct contact between electrode patterns, simplifying the overall design.
2Measurement precision
If insulating materials with high flexibility are used to improve pressure sensitivity, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to insufficient structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating member is designed with specific elastic modulus parameters that balance flexibility and structural support. By carefully selecting and controlling the elastic modulus of the insulating material, the design achieves optimal pressure sensitivity while maintaining sufficient structural stability. The elastic modulus is tuned to allow controlled deformation under touch pressure for accurate sensing while preventing excessive deformation that would compromise reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member is constructed using composite material structures that combine materials with different mechanical properties. This composite approach allows the insulating member to exhibit both the flexibility needed for pressure sensitivity and the structural integrity required for reliability. The composite structure enables the material to deform elastically under touch while maintaining overall structural support.
3Reliability
If the substrate modulus of elasticity is increased to improve structural support, then reliability is improved, but touch sensitivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The structural support function is segmented from the touch sensing function. The substrate provides structural support with high modulus of elasticity, while the insulating member with lower modulus of elasticity provides the elastic deformation needed for touch sensitivity. This functional segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific role without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member acts as an intermediary that decouples the structural support function from the touch sensing function. It transmits touch pressure from the substrate to the second electrode pattern while its elastic properties enable sensitive detection. This intermediary structure allows the substrate to be rigid for structural support while the insulating member remains flexible for sensitivity.
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 enhances touch sensitivity and pressure recognition capabilities, enabling more accurate and reliable user input detection by utilizing the elastic properties of the insulating member and substrate, improving the overall user experience with flexible and efficient touch sensing.
Implementation Method 1
a modulus of elasticity of the substrate is equal to or greater than that of the insulating member
Implementation Method 2
allowing for sensitive pressure detection and position recognition through changes in capacitance
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A touch sensor including a substrate; a plurality of first touch electrodes located on the substrate, the plurality of first touch electrodes each including first sensing cells and first connection patterns connected between the first sensing cells; a plurality of second touch electrodes located on the substrate while intersecting the first touch electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes each including second sensing cells and second connection patterns connected between the second sensing cells; and an insulating member located between the first connection patterns and the second connection patterns, the insulating member having elasticity. A modulus of elasticity of the substrate is equal to or greater than that of the insulating member.