Touch Sensor Electrode Inclined Surface Enhances Sensitivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current touch sensors in display devices face limitations in touch sensing sensitivity, which affects the accuracy and responsiveness of user interactions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a touch sensor design featuring sensing electrodes with a first region having a flat surface and a second region around the perimeter with an inclination angle, enhancing the vertical electric field and thereby increasing the capacitance between adjacent electrodes for improved sensitivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensing electrodes have a flat surface only, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the touch sensing sensitivity is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensing sensitivityVSAvoidelectrode structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing electrode is divided into different regions with different surface characteristics: a first region with a flat surface and a second region with an inclined surface. This local differentiation allows the electrode to have both simple manufacturing (flat region) and enhanced sensing performance (inclined region where capacitance is increased due to the angled surface geometry)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing electrode transitions from a two-dimensional flat surface to a three-dimensional structure with an inclined surface. This dimensional change creates a vertical component to the electrode surface, which enhances the electric field distribution and increases capacitance between adjacent electrodes, thereby improving touch sensing sensitivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If sensing electrodes have an inclined surface to increase capacitance, then touch sensitivity is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacitance between electrodesVSAvoidsurface inclination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the surface geometry parameter of the sensing electrode by introducing an inclined surface with a specific angle range (30-60 degrees). This parameter change increases the capacitance between adjacent electrodes, and by defining a specific angular range, it balances the need for enhanced sensitivity with the practical constraints of manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design enhances the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor, allowing for more accurate and responsive user interactions by increasing the capacitance between adjacent electrodes, thus improving the overall touch sensing performance.

Implementation Method 1

increasing the capacitance between adjacent electrodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

enhancing the vertical electric field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS10394360B2Touch sensor, display device including the same, and method of fabricating display device

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A touch sensor includes sensing electrodes and a sensing line. The sensing line is coupled to the sensing electrodes. Each of the sensing electrodes includes a first region and a second region. The first region has a flat surface. The second region is disposed around a perimeter of the first region. The surface of the second region forms an inclination angle relative to the flat surface of the first region.