Touch Sensor Recessed Electrodes Reduce Specular Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The visibility of the view area in touch sensors is compromised due to external light being specularly reflected onto the conductive electrodes, making the electrodes conspicuous and affecting the display quality.
Innovation Solution
The touch sensor design includes a substrate with recessed fine lines in grooves on its surface, which reduces specular reflection by diffusing external light, and a blackened layer to minimize visibility, thereby enhancing the view area's clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the conductive layer outer surface is formed as a flat surface flush with the substrate surface, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the electrodes become conspicuous due to specular reflection of external light
Solution Approach 1:
The outer surface of the conductive layer is formed with a curved surface that is凹入 (recessed) relative to the substrate surface, rather than being flush. This curvature causes incident light to scatter in multiple directions rather than reflecting specularly, making the electrodes inconspicuous while maintaining a simple manufacturing process using conventional coating methods
2Reliability
If the conductive layer is made with excellent conductivity material, then the electrode performance is improved, but the specular reflection of external light makes the electrodes more conspicuous
Solution Approach 1:
The curved, recessed outer surface of the conductive layer scatters incident light, reducing specular reflection and making the high-conductivity electrodes inconspicuous while preserving their excellent electrical conductivity for reliable touch sensing performance
3Reliability
If the fine lines are arranged in a mesh pattern, then the electrode coverage and sensitivity are improved, but the electrodes become more conspicuous due to increased light reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh pattern fine lines are given a curved, recessed outer surface that scatters incident light. This maintains the high electrode coverage and touch sensitivity provided by the mesh pattern while reducing the conspicuousness caused by specular reflection from flat surfaces
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 reduces the reflectance of external light on the electrodes, making them less conspicuous and improving the visibility of the view area, thus enhancing the overall display quality of the touch sensor.
Implementation Method 1
external light incident from the outside of the touch sensor (i.e., from the front surface of the cover member) toward the inside of the touch sensor is reflected (i.e., specularly reflected) toward the cover member over the entire outer surface of the conductive layer
Implementation Method 2
external light incident from the outside of the touch sensor (i.e., from the front surface of the cover member) toward the inside of the touch sensor is reflected (i.e., specularly reflected) toward the cover member
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor includes a substrate with a first surface, and a plurality of first electrodes on the first surface of the substrate in a view area. The first surface of the substrate includes a plurality of bottomed grooves extending linearly. Each first electrode includes a plurality of fine lines including a conductive material buried in one of the grooves. Each fine line includes a bottomed recess recessed from the first surface toward the bottom surface of each groove.