Touch Sensor Wire Routing for Circular Outlines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensors with circular outlines face electrical property degradation due to capacitive coupling between wires crossing each other outside the sensor region, which occurs when using electrodes of different lengths in non-rectangular shapes.
Innovation Solution
The touch sensor design includes transmitting and receiving electrodes of varying lengths arranged to avoid overlap, with wires connected to their ends disposed in a manner that prevents capacitive coupling by orienting their second end portions in the same direction, ensuring they do not cross each other.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If electrodes of different lengths are used to create non-rectangular sensor shapes, then the sensor can achieve circular or other shaped outlines, but wires connected to electrode ends will cross each other outside the sensor region causing capacitive coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the wire crossing problem by transitioning from a two-dimensional planar layout to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Wires connected to different electrodes are routed through different layers (first substrate and second substrate), allowing them to pass through the same planar region without intersecting in space. This dimensional separation eliminates capacitive coupling while preserving the flexibility to create non-rectangular sensor shapes with electrodes of varying lengths.
2Ease of manufacture
If wires are routed to connect to electrode ends in non-rectangular configurations, then electrode connectivity is achieved, but wire overlap occurs outside the sensor region causing capacitive coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wire routing into separate segments across different substrates. Wires connected to electrodes on the first substrate are routed through the first substrate, while wires connected to electrodes on the second substrate are routed through the second substrate. This segmentation prevents wire overlap and capacitive coupling by ensuring that wires from different electrodes occupy distinct spatial paths, even when connecting to non-rectangular electrode arrangements.
3Device complexity
If rectangular electrode arrangements are used, then wire routing is simplified, but the sensor is limited to rectangular outlines and cannot achieve circular shapes
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the third dimension through stacked substrates, the patent enables both simple wire routing and shape flexibility. The multi-layer architecture allows wires to be routed independently in each substrate layer, maintaining routing simplicity while enabling the creation of circular, triangular, or other non-rectangular sensor outlines through appropriately shaped electrodes on each substrate.
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 prevents capacitive coupling and maintains the electrical properties of the touch sensor, facilitating connection to external devices while reducing the frame width of the sensor.
Implementation Method 1
the touch sensor disclosed in Patent Literature (PTL) 1, for example, has been proposed
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are: a plurality of transmitting electrodes each extending in a first direction and spaced apart in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a plurality of receiving electrodes each extending in the second direction and spaced apart in the first direction; a plurality of first wires each electrically connected to one corresponding transmitting electrode included in the plurality of transmitting electrodes; and a plurality of second wires each electrically connected to one corresponding receiving electrode included in the plurality of receiving electrodes. The shortest transmitting electrode disposed at an end and the shortest receiving electrode disposed at an end do not overlap with each other in plan view.