Touch Substrate Interlocking Electrode Patterns for Capacitive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch devices with emitting and receiving electrode patterns in the same layer suffer from reduced sensitivity due to a small capacitive coupling area, particularly at the edge regions, which impairs touch detection performance.
Innovation Solution
A touch substrate design featuring first and second touch electrode patterns formed in the same layer, where the first touch electrodes have parallel strip-like body portions and a connecting portion, and the second touch electrodes have projecting portions that fit into voids in the first touch electrode pattern, increasing the capacitive coupling area and enhancing sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If emitting electrode pattern and receiving electrode pattern are formed in a same layer to reduce thickness, then device thickness is reduced, but capacitive coupling area at edge regions becomes small
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the electrode patterns from a single-plane configuration to a multi-dimensional structure by adding projecting portions that extend in the thickness direction. This dimensional transformation allows the electrodes to maintain large coupling area while keeping the overall device thin, as the coupling occurs both in the planar dimension and the vertical dimension through the projecting portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The projecting portions of the first electrode pattern are nested within the recesses of the second electrode pattern, and vice versa. This nesting arrangement maximizes the capacitive coupling area by ensuring that the projecting portions and recesses interlock closely, thereby increasing the effective coupling area without significantly increasing the device thickness.
2Ease of manufacture
If electrode patterns are designed with simple geometry for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but capacitive coupling area is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode patterns are segmented into distinct components: body portions and projecting portions. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the body portions maintain simple geometries for ease of manufacture, while the projecting portions are specifically designed to interlock with recesses to maximize capacitive coupling area. The segmented structure can be fabricated using standard photolithography and etching processes.
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 design significantly improves touch sensitivity by increasing the capacitive coupling area between the electrode patterns, particularly at edge regions, thereby enhancing the accuracy of touch detection.
Implementation Method 1
the capacitance between the emitting electrode pattern and the receiving electrode pattern changes, resulting in a change in the detected current
Data Source
AI summary
A touch substrate includes a substrate and a first touch electrode pattern and a second touch electrode pattern formed in a same layer on the substrate; each of the second touch electrodes includes body portions and a projecting portion, the projecting portion of each of the second touch electrodes is correspondingly fitted into a void in the first touch electrode pattern; and the first touch electrode pattern further includes a projecting portion which is disposed at an end portion and connected to one body portion of the first touch electrode at the end portion, a void corresponding to the projecting portion of the first touch electrode pattern is formed in the body portion of the second touch electrode at the end portion, and the projecting portion of the first touch electrode pattern is fitted into this void.