Touch Sensor Electrode Area Tapering for Uniform Reflectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensors and display devices face challenges in achieving spatial efficiency and maintaining visibility due to differences in reflectivity and electrode configurations, which can lead to degradation in display quality.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor design featuring first and second touch electrodes arranged in columns with multiplexers, where the electrode areas decrease as they approach the multiplexers along opposite directions, and a touch display device combining these sensors with a display panel, ensuring equal numbers of touch lines and areas across rows to maintain uniform reflectivity and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If touch electrodes are arranged in a conventional uniform configuration, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the spatial efficiency is poor and visibility is degraded due to excessive concentration of touch lines
Solution Approach 1:
The touch electrodes are configured with different areas at different positions: first touch electrodes have areas decreasing toward the first multiplexer, while second touch electrodes have areas decreasing toward the second multiplexer. This local variation in electrode area optimizes spatial distribution and reduces touch line concentration in specific regions, thereby improving both spatial efficiency and visibility without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
2Area of stationary object
If touch electrodes are arranged with varying areas to improve spatial efficiency, then the spatial efficiency and visibility improve, but the device complexity increases due to asymmetric electrode configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric electrode configuration where first touch electrodes and second touch electrodes have different area variations - first touch electrodes decrease in area toward the first multiplexer while second touch electrodes decrease toward the second multiplexer. This asymmetric design optimizes spatial efficiency and reduces touch line concentration, while the systematic nature of the asymmetry keeps the design manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The touch electrode array is segmented into distinct first touch electrodes and second touch electrodes with different configuration patterns. This segmentation allows each group to be optimized independently for its specific location and function, improving overall spatial efficiency while maintaining clear design boundaries that simplify implementation
3Productivity
If touch lines are concentrated in certain areas to connect electrodes, then the connection is efficient, but the visibility degrades due to non-uniform reflectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The touch electrodes are configured with different areas at different positions: first touch electrodes have areas decreasing toward the first multiplexer, while second touch electrodes have areas decreasing toward the second multiplexer. This local variation in electrode area optimizes spatial distribution and reduces touch line concentration in specific regions, thereby improving both spatial efficiency and visibility without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor includes first touch electrodes respectively coupled to first touch lines, the first touch electrodes being arranged on a first column, second touch electrodes respectively coupled to second touch lines, the second touch electrodes being arranged on a second column that is adjacent to the first column in a row direction, a first multiplexer to which the first touch lines are coupled, and a second multiplexer to which the second touch lines are coupled, wherein the first touch electrodes have respective areas that become smaller as they become closer to the first multiplexer along a first direction, wherein the second touch electrodes have respective areas that become smaller as they become closer to the second multiplexer along a second direction, and wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.