Touch Sensor Mesh Layout to Reduce Display Reflection Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

The overlap between the display area and sensing area in display devices causes visibility degradation due to reflection patterns formed by external light on the sensing electrodes, which are not aligned with the pixel emission areas.

Innovation Solution

The sensing electrodes are designed with mesh lines that intersect and include cut points and compensation patterns with through-hole patterns to avoid overlapping pixel emission areas, ensuring the electrodes do not block light emission and reducing reflection patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensing electrodes are disposed to overlap display area, then touch sensing capability is improved, but visibility is degraded due to reflection patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch sensing capabilityVSAvoidvisibility degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing electrode is segmented into multiple mesh lines forming a grid pattern with mesh openings. This segmentation allows light to pass through the openings while maintaining sensing capability in the electrode regions, thereby reducing reflection patterns and improving visibility without sacrificing touch sensing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sensing electrode are designed with different properties: mesh lines provide sensing functionality while mesh openings provide light transmission. The mesh structure creates local variations in electrode density, allowing simultaneous optimization of both sensing capability and visual appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If mesh lines are made wider to improve sensing, then reflection patterns become more visible, but if made narrower, sensing sensitivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensing sensitivityVSAvoidreflection pattern visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing electrode is divided into multiple thin mesh lines rather than a single wide electrode. This segmentation distributes the sensing function across multiple narrower lines, reducing the width of individual reflective surfaces while maintaining overall sensing coverage and sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing electrode transitions from a two-dimensional continuous surface to a three-dimensional mesh structure with vertical openings. This dimensional change allows light to pass through the structure, reducing reflection visibility while preserving the sensing function across the same footprint area.

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If cut points are introduced to divide sensing electrode, then reflection patterns are reduced, but electrode continuity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereflection pattern reductionVSAvoidelectrode continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing electrode is segmented into multiple sections by cut points, creating discrete sensing regions. These segmented sections reduce continuous reflection patterns while the mesh structure maintains sufficient electrical connectivity for sensing operation through the remaining conductive paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mesh structure of the sensing electrode creates a porous configuration with openings between mesh lines. This porous design allows light transmission and reduces reflection visibility while the remaining conductive material maintains electrical continuity sufficient for touch sensing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentEP4668078A1Display device and electronic device including the same
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4668078A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4668078A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4668078A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device (1060) includes a panel layer (PNL) including pixels (PX) disposed in a display area (DA), and an input sensing layer (TSL) disposed on the panel layer (PNL). The input sensing layer (TSL) includes a sensing electrode (TE) including mesh lines (MSL) defining mesh openings (MOP) corresponding to the pixels (PX). The mesh lines (MSL) include first mesh lines (MSL1) extending in a first direction (DR1) and second mesh lines (MSL2) extending in a second direction. The first mesh lines (MSL1) and the second mesh lines (MSL2) intersect each other at intersection points (CRP). In some of the mesh lines (MSL), a cut point (CUT) is defined between two adjacent intersection points (CRP). In a mesh line (MSL) in which the cut point (CUT) is not defined between two adjacent intersection points (CRP) among the mesh lines (MSL), a compensation pattern (CP) protruding from side surfaces (SSa, SSc) of the mesh line (MSL) is defined. The compensation pattern (CP) includes a through-hole pattern (HP) positioned at a central portion of the compensation pattern (CP).