Touch Sensor Rounded Corner Electrode Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensors exhibit varying touch sensitivity due to differences in the arrangement and connection of sensing electrodes, particularly at rounded corners, leading to inconsistent user input recognition.
Innovation Solution
The touch sensor design includes a base with sensing and non-sensing regions, featuring first and second sensing electrode columns with sub-electrodes that are electrically connected, and a third sensing electrode closest to the rounded corner, which has a protrusion part to enhance capacitance and sensitivity, thereby reducing the difference in touch sensitivity across the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sensing electrodes are arranged in a conventional rectangular pattern, then manufacturing is simple, but touch sensitivity is inconsistent at rounded corners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the sensing electrodes at rounded corners have different shapes (rounded edges) compared to conventional rectangular electrodes. This local modification at the corner regions compensates for the reduced capacitance change that occurs at rounded corners during touch input, thereby achieving consistent touch sensitivity across the entire display surface including the rounded corner areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements spheroidality by rounding the edges of sensing electrodes at the rounded corner regions. This curvature matching between the electrode edges and the display corner geometry improves the electrical field distribution and capacitance change characteristics, enabling more accurate touch detection at rounded corners while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Measurement precision
If electrode area is increased to improve sensitivity, then touch detection accuracy improves, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively modifying only the sensing electrodes at rounded corner regions with rounded edges, while keeping the majority of electrodes in the display area with conventional rectangular shapes. This localized approach improves touch detection accuracy at critical corner areas without increasing the overall sensor area or adding unnecessary complexity to the entire electrode array.
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 improves touch sensitivity by increasing the area of the capacitor formed between electrodes, particularly at rounded corners, resulting in more consistent and accurate user input detection.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of first sensing electrodes TSE1 and second sensing electrodes TSE2 alternately arranged in the sensing region SA may form a capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor includes a base, first sensing electrode columns (FSECs), and second sensing electrode columns (SSECs). The base includes a sensing region (SR) including a rounded corner (RC), and a non-SR outside the SR. The FSECs extend in a direction on the base, each FSEC among the FSECs including first sensing electrodes (FSEs), each FSE among the FSEs including sub-electrodes. The SSECs are alternately disposed with the FSECs on the base, each SSEC among the SSECs including second sensing electrodes (SSEs). Sub-electrodes of one of adjacent FSEs among the FSEs are electrically connected to respective sub-electrodes of another of the adjacent FSEs. A sub-electrode closest to the RC among the sub-electrodes includes a rounded edge (RE) corresponding to the RC. A SSE closest to the RC among the SSEs includes a RE corresponding to the RC, and a protrusion part protruding toward the sub-electrode including the RE.