Touch Sensor Electrode Layout for Off-Center Display Openings

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge of implementing a full-screen display is hindered by the placement of imaging sensors and sensors in a notch region, which occupies a significant display area, and the perforation of the display screen leads to issues with touch performance and electrostatic discharge due to small touch sensor regions and high impedance, resulting in poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

A capacitive touch sensor structure is designed with overlapping opening regions for imaging sensors, incorporating a polarizer and heat dissipating layer to manage electrostatic discharge, and a laminated structure with adhesive layers to ensure effective signal transmission and reduce electrostatic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If imaging sensors and sensors are placed in a notch region to enable full-screen display, then display area is improved, but touch performance deteriorates due to small touch sensor regions and high impedance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidtouch performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a traditional notch layout to an overlapping hole configuration where imaging sensors and touch sensors share the same spatial region. This allows the touch sensor to extend into the area previously occupied by the notch, effectively increasing the touch sensor region area and improving touch performance while maintaining full-screen display characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the imaging sensor region and touch sensor region by having them overlap in space. The imaging sensor is positioned in a first hole while the touch sensor includes a second hole that overlaps with the first hole, allowing both functions to coexist in the same area. This merging strategy increases the effective touch sensor area and improves touch performance without sacrificing display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If touch sensor regions are made small to accommodate imaging sensors, then display area is improved, but electrostatic discharge risks increase due to high impedance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidelectrostatic discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the electrostatic discharge issue by expanding the touch sensor region in the spatial dimension. By positioning the touch sensor to overlap with the imaging sensor region, the touch sensor area is increased, which reduces impedance and thereby mitigating electrostatic discharge risks while maintaining full-screen display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the touch sensor region by adjusting the position and size of the second hole to overlap with the first hole. This parameter change increases the touch sensor area, reduces impedance, and thereby reduces electrostatic discharge risks while preserving display area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional notch region layout is used, then imaging sensors can be positioned, but user experience deteriorates due to poor touch performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor placementVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the imaging sensor placement and touch sensor functionality by having them share the same spatial region. The imaging sensor is positioned in a first hole while the touch sensor's second hole overlaps with it, allowing both functions to coexist. This merging approach maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving user experience through better touch performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a separated notch layout to an overlapping configuration where imaging and touch sensors share space. This spatial reorganization improves touch sensor area and user experience while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the overlapping hole design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4123429B1Touch sensor and display device
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP4123429B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4123429B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4123429B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~3E

AI summary

A touch sensor (01) and a display device (03). The touch sensor (01) comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes (11), a plurality of second touch electrodes (12), and a first crack blocking ring (27; 29). The plurality of first touch electrodes (11) respectively extend in a first direction (D1), and at least one among the plurality of first touch electrodes (11) comprises a plurality of first touch sub-electrodes (111) that are arranged in parallel in the first direction (D1) and that are electrically connected to one another. The plurality of second touch electrodes (12) respectively extend in a second direction (D2) that intersects the first direction (D1), and at least one among the plurality of second touch electrodes (12) comprises a plurality of second touch sub-electrodes (121) that are arranged in parallel in the second direction (D2) and that are electrically connected to one another. The plurality of first touch electrodes (11) are arranged in parallel in the second direction (D2), and the plurality of second touch electrodes (12) are arranged in parallel in the first direction (D1). The touch sensor (01) is provided with an open area (421; 422), and a transition area (424; 425) and a touch function area (423) that are sequentially arranged outward from the center of the open area (421; 422), and the center (012; 013) of the open area (421; 422) does not coincide with the center (011) of the touch sensor (01). The touch function area (423) surrounds the transition area (424; 425). The plurality of first touch electrodes (11) and the plurality of second touch electrodes (12) are located in the touch function area (423). Overall, the plurality of first touch sub-electrodes (111) and the plurality of second touch sub-electrodes (121) at least partially surround the open area (421; 422). The first crack blocking ring (27; 29) is located in the transition area (424; 425) and at least partially surrounds the open area (421; 422).