Display Sensor Electrode Layout with Variable Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display devices face challenges in improving pixel resolution while maintaining the sensitivity of fingerprint sensors without adding a mask process and minimizing sensing errors due to varying finger contact angles.

Innovation Solution

The display device incorporates specific arrangements of pixel and sensor circuits with non-overlapping sensor electrodes and varying gaps to enhance pixel resolution and fingerprint sensitivity, utilizing silicon-based and oxide-based semiconductor regions for transistors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If sensor electrodes are arranged closely to improve pixel resolution, then pixel resolution is improved, but fingerprint sensor sensitivity deteriorates due to increased sensing errors from varying finger contact angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel resolutionVSAvoidfingerprint sensor sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different gap distances between sensor electrodes in different spatial regions. Specifically, the first gap distance between first and second sensor electrodes is made larger than the second gap distance between second and third sensor electrodes. This local variation in gap spacing allows the display device to optimize both pixel resolution and fingerprint sensing performance in different areas, resolving the contradiction between improving resolution and maintaining sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If a mask process is added to improve pixel resolution, then pixel resolution is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel resolutionVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by varying the gap distances between sensor electrodes as a design parameter to achieve improved pixel resolution. Instead of adding a mask process, the invention optimizes the spatial arrangement and gap dimensions of the sensor electrodes themselves. The first gap distance is set to be greater than the second gap distance, creating an optimized configuration that improves resolution without requiring additional manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform gap distances are used between sensor electrodes, then manufacturing is simplified, but fingerprint sensing accuracy deteriorates due to inability to account for varying finger contact angles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor electrode arrangement simplicityVSAvoidfingerprint sensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by establishing different gap distances for different pairs of sensor electrodes. The first gap distance between first and second sensor electrodes is made larger than the second gap distance between second and third sensor electrodes. This local differentiation allows the sensing system to better accommodate varying finger contact angles and improve fingerprint recognition accuracy while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4633343A1Display device
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP4633343A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4633343A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4633343A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A display device (10) includes first-first, first-second, and first-third pixel circuits (PC11-PC13), and a first sensor circuit (SC11) in a first row (CRW1), second-first, second-second, and second-third pixel circuits (PC21-23), and a second sensor circuit (SC21) in a second row (CRW2), third-first, third-second, and third-third pixel circuits (PC3-PC33), and a third sensor circuit (SC31) in a third row (CRW3), a first-first pixel electrode (AE1) in a first pixel row (PRW1) corresponding to the first row (CRW1), and connected to the first-first pixel circuit (PC11), a first sensor electrode (PE) in the first pixel row (PRW1), and connected to the first sensor circuit SC11), a second sensor electrode (PE) in the first pixel row (PRW1), and connected to the second sensor circuit (SC21), a second-first pixel electrode(AE2) in a second pixel row (PRW2) corresponding to the second row (CRW2), and connected to the second-first pixel circuit (PC21), and a third sensor electrode (PE) in a third pixel row (PRW3) corresponding to the third row (CRW3), and connected to the third sensor circuit (SC31).