Touch Substrate with Integrated Functional Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in designing touch substrates for smart devices is to achieve full-screen and lightness while maintaining user experience and functionality, as existing solutions often increase product thickness and cost due to additional functional modules.
Innovation Solution
A touch substrate configuration with a substrate, sequentially stacked first and second conductive layers, and additional functional channels, which integrates capacitive touch electrodes, dummy electrodes, and wireless communication antennas without increasing the number of product masks, allowing for reduced thickness and cost while maintaining high integration and functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional functional modules are added to achieve full-screen and lightness, then functionality is improved, but product thickness and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch substrate with additional functional channels (such as electromagnetic sensing, antenna, or other touch functions) into a single integrated structure. The touch electrode patterns and additional functional channels are formed on the same substrate using the same conductive material layers, eliminating the need for separate functional modules and reducing overall product thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch substrate is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. The same conductive layers and electrode structures serve both capacitive touch sensing and additional functions (electromagnetic sensing, antenna, or other touch modes), making the substrate universal and multi-functional without requiring separate dedicated components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional functional modules are added to achieve full-screen and lightness, then functionality is improved, but product cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single manufacturing process. The touch electrode patterns and additional functional channels are formed using the same material deposition and patterning steps, reducing the number of manufacturing stages and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate structure is designed to fulfill multiple functions with a single set of material layers and processing steps. The conductive material layers serve both touch sensing and additional functions, eliminating the need for separate material deposits and processing operations for each function, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost.
3Device complexity
If multiple functions are integrated on touch substrate, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges touch electrode formation and additional functional channel formation into a single patterning process. Both the touch electrode patterns and additional functional channel patterns are defined using the same photolithography mask and etching process, ensuring precise alignment without requiring additional alignment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The same conductive material layers and patterning processes serve multiple functions. The electrode patterns for capacitive touch and additional functional channels are created simultaneously using identical manufacturing parameters, reducing the complexity of coordinating multiple precision processes while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a touch substrate, a preparation method thereof and a touch device. The touch substrate includes a substrate, and a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer and a second conductive layer sequentially stacked on the substrate. The first conductive layer includes a first capacitive touch electrode, a first wiring and a second wiring. The first wiring is electrically connected to the first capacitive touch electrode, and the second wiring is insulated from the first capacitive touch electrode. The first insulating layer includes at least one first via. The second conductive layer includes a second capacitive touch electrode, which is electrically connected to the second wiring through the first via. The second conductive layer further includes an additional functional channel, which is insulated from the second capacitive touch electrode.