Touch Sensor Panel Electrode Segmentation for Noise Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Touch sensor panels with driving and receiving electrodes on the same layer face challenges in reducing noise and unnecessary signal generation, leading to a negative final capacitance change amount and decreased touch sensitivity, especially when not held properly, which affects the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

Innovation Solution

The touch sensor panel design includes a specific arrangement of first and second electrodes, where pairs of electrodes in the touch window area are spaced apart and connected using traces, ensuring that electrode combinations in the touch window area do not repeat in other areas, reducing the number of traces and minimizing the generation of negative capacitance change amounts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If driving and receiving electrodes are formed on the same layer to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but noise and unnecessary signal generation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidnoise and unnecessary signal generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The touch sensor panel divides the electrode arrangement into distinct touch window areas and non-touch window areas. By segmenting the electrode pairs to exist only in touch window areas, the patent prevents noise and unnecessary signal generation in non-touch areas while maintaining the cost advantage of same-layer electrode formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different electrode arrangement characteristics to different regions: in touch window areas, electrode pairs are strategically positioned to detect touch signals, while in non-touch window areas, electrode pairs are deliberately avoided to prevent noise generation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between cost reduction and noise prevention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If electrode pairs are arranged to detect touch in touch window area, then touch sensitivity is improved, but negative capacitance change amount occurs in other areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensitivityVSAvoidcapacitance change amount consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts electrode pairs from non-touch window areas while retaining them in touch window areas. This selective removal prevents negative capacitance change amounts in non-touch areas while preserving touch sensitivity in touch areas, resolving the contradiction between sensitivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent proactively prevents negative capacitance change amounts by designing the electrode arrangement to avoid forming complete electrode pairs in non-touch window areas. This preliminary design prevention ensures that capacitance changes remain positive and reliable across all operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If number of traces is reduced to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of tracesVSAvoidelectrode arrangement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple electrode connections into shared trace structures where possible, reducing the total number of traces. By carefully designing the electrode arrangement to avoid pairs in non-touch areas, the patent reduces trace requirements while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized trace routing patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 arrangement enhances touch sensitivity by preventing negative final capacitance change amounts and reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of traces, resulting in a slimmer and more cost-effective touch sensor panel.

Implementation Method 1

determine mutual capacitance in a touch window area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The touch sensor panel applies a driving signal to the driving electrode and determines whether a touch is made from a signal input through a receiving electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11599232B2Touch sensor panel and touch input device

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 HIDEEP INC

AI summary

A touch sensor panel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, in which a touch window area includes a first number of consecutive first electrodes in a first direction among the plurality of first electrodes and a second number of consecutive second electrodes in a second direction with respect to the first number of first electrodes, respectively, and a pair of a predetermined first electrode among the first electrodes included in the touch window area and a predetermined second electrode among the second electrodes do not exist in other window areas other than the touch window area.