Touch Sensor Multiplexer Layout for Lower-Cost Display Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mismatch between the number of sensing transfer lines and touch driving circuits in display devices leads to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for additional touch driving circuits to match the increased number of sensing transfer lines.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a multiplexer that selectively connects a reduced number of sensing transfer lines to the touch driving circuit, using a multiplexer with MUX units to manage N sensing transfer lines with 2M signal terminals, where M is less than N, thereby maintaining the number of touch driving circuits and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of touch driving circuits is increased to match the number of sensing transfer lines, then touch sensing accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing transfer lines into a single touch driving circuit through the use of a multiplexer. The multiplexer sequentially connects different sensing transfer lines to the same touch driving circuit, allowing one circuit to handle multiple lines. This merging approach maintains touch sensing accuracy by providing dedicated circuit connection for each sensing line while avoiding the need to increase the total number of touch driving circuits, thus preventing manufacturing cost increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic connection between sensing transfer lines and touch driving circuits using a multiplexer that can selectively connect different lines at different times. This dynamic switching allows the system to adapt the connection configuration based on operational needs, enabling accurate sensing for each line while sharing a limited number of driving circuits through time-multiplexed operation.
2Measurement precision
If the number of sensing transfer lines is increased to match the number of touch sensing electrodes, then touch sensing sensitivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multiplexer as an intermediary device between the sensing transfer lines and touch driving circuits. This intermediary component manages the complex connections by providing a systematic switching mechanism, allowing multiple sensing lines to be connected to fewer driving circuits through controlled signal routing. The multiplexer simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the connection management function.
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 configuration maintains the number of touch driving circuits, preventing significant cost increases while ensuring accurate and reliable touch sensing functionality by reducing the inflow of static electricity through an electrostatic shielding layer.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic shielding layer overlapping with the multiplexer
Data Source
AI summary
A display device is provided. The display device includes a substrate including a touch sensing area and a touch peripheral area disposed near the touch sensing area; a circuit layer disposed on the substrate; a touch sensor layer disposed on the circuit layer, including N number of touch sensing electrodes arranged in the touch sensing area in a first direction and a second direction, and N number of sensing transfer lines electrically connected to the N number of touch sensing electrodes, respectively; a multiplexer disposed in the touch peripheral area and electrically connected between the N number of sensing transfer lines and a touch driving circuit; and an electrostatic shielding layer overlapping with the multiplexer. The N number of sensing transfer lines extend from the N number of touch sensing electrodes to the multiplexer. Among the N number of sensing transfer lines, 2M number of sensing transfer lines selected by the multiplexer are electrically connected to the touch driving circuit. Each of N and M is a natural number and M is smaller than N.