Touch Sensor Groove Infiltration for OLED Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for integrating touch electrodes into flexible display panels, such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels, face challenges in maintaining panel thinness and reliability, as photoetching and wet etching processes can damage the light-emitting layer and thin-film encapsulation layer.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor is fabricated with a substrate featuring intersecting grooves and a first infiltrating adjustment layer on the groove walls, where the touch electrodes are filled in, with specific infiltration angles between the electrodes and the adjustment layer and substrate, allowing for controlled electrode formation and improved reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If photoetching and wet etching processes are used to form touch electrodes on the thin-film encapsulation layer, then the touch electrodes can be formed with precise patterns, but the yellow light effect and chemical damage to the light-emitting layer and thin-film encapsulation layer occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infiltrating adjustment layer as an intermediary between the substrate and the touch electrode material solution. This layer mediates the infiltration process, allowing the electrode material to be uniformly deposited without requiring photoetching or wet etching processes that would damage the light-emitting layer and thin-film encapsulation layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical etching processes (photoetching and wet etching) with a physical infiltration process. The touch electrode material solution naturally infiltrates the grooves on the substrate through capillary action and surface energy control, eliminating the need for harmful chemical processes while achieving precise electrode formation.
2Reliability
If traditional module laminating technology is used to integrate touch electrodes into the flexible display panel, then the touch function can be realized, but the panel thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch electrode formation process with the substrate preparation process. The touch electrodes are directly formed on the substrate through material solution infiltration, combining what were previously separate lamination steps into a single integrated process, thereby reducing overall panel thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar lamination approach to a three-dimensional groove infiltration approach. By forming grooves on the substrate and infiltrating electrode material into these grooves, the design utilizes vertical space efficiently, reducing the need for additional lamination layers and thereby reducing overall panel thickness.
3Ease of manufacture
If touch electrodes are formed directly on the substrate without infiltrating adjustment layer, then the fabrication process is simpler, but the connection reliability of touch electrodes deteriorates due to uneven spreading and disconnection risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface energy parameters of the substrate by introducing the infiltrating adjustment layer. This layer has specifically controlled surface energy that promotes uniform spreading of the electrode material solution, ensuring reliable electrode formation and connection without complicating the overall fabrication process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary preparation of the substrate surface by forming grooves and coating the infiltrating adjustment layer before introducing the electrode material solution. This preliminary action creates optimal conditions for uniform electrode formation, preventing disconnection issues while maintaining fabrication simplicity.
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 method enhances the connection reliability of touch electrodes, reduces the risk of damage to the encapsulation and light-emitting layers, and improves the operational reliability of the OLED panel by ensuring even electrode formation and reduced disconnection risks.
Implementation Method 1
An infiltration angle between the touch electrodes in solution state and the first infiltrating adjustment layer is α, and an infiltration angle between the touch electrodes in solution state and the substrate is β
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a touch sensor and a fabricating method thereof and a touch display panel, comprising: a substrate, where the substrate includes a plurality of grooves which are strip-shaped and intersected with each other to define a grid shape; a first infiltrating adjustment layer, disposed on an inside wall of the grooves; and a touch electrodes filled in the groove. The first infiltrating adjustment layer is positioned between the groove and the touch electrodes. An infiltration angle between the touch electrodes in solution state and the first infiltrating adjustment layer is α, an infiltration angle between the touch electrodes in solution state and the substrate is β, wherein α is not equal to β.