Zigzag Touch Panel Drive Lines for Fingerprint Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of fingerprint sensing capabilities into touch panels increases the cost and size of devices like smartphones, as separate fingerprint sensing devices are often required, which is not efficient.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel is designed with a configuration of drive lines and sense lines that intersect and are arranged in a zigzag pattern, integrated with a display panel, allowing for both touch input and fingerprint sensing, reducing the impact on display performance by optimizing the spacing of these lines to match sub-pixel dimensions, enabling dual sensing modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate fingerprint sensing device is added to the touch panel, then fingerprint sensing capability is improved, but device cost and size are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fingerprint sensing function with the existing touch panel by using the same drive lines and sense lines for both touch sensing and fingerprint sensing. The touch panel structure is designed to perform dual functions: detecting touch inputs and capturing fingerprint patterns, thereby eliminating the need for a separate fingerprint sensing device and reducing overall device cost and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch panel is designed with universal functionality to handle both touch input detection and fingerprint sensing. The drive lines and sense lines are configured to serve multiple purposes: they can detect touch events and also capture fingerprint patterns by sensing changes in capacitance or conductance caused by the fingerprint ridge and valley structures.
2Measurement precision
If drive lines and sense lines are arranged in a zigzag pattern with optimized spacing, then fingerprint sensing precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the spacing parameters of the drive lines and sense lines to match the sub-pixel dimensions of the display panel. By setting the distance between adjacent drive lines or sense lines equal to the sub-pixel length or width, the system achieves precise fingerprint sensing while maintaining compatibility with the display manufacturing process. The zigzag pattern is designed with specific segment lengths that correspond to diagonal dimensions of pixels or sub-pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive lines and sense lines are arranged in a zigzag pattern rather than a straight grid configuration. This asymmetric arrangement allows the lines to diagonalize across the pixel structure, enabling better coverage of the fingerprint sensing area while utilizing the existing sub-pixel geometry. The asymmetric zigzag pattern creates overlapping regions that enhance sensing capability without requiring additional manufacturing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel for sensing a fingerprint/touch input and a display device using the same are provided. The display device includes a display panel and the touch panel. The touch panel includes drive line groups and sense line groups. Each of the drive line groups includes a drive line. Each of the sense line groups includes sense lines. A distance between adjacent two of the drive/sense line groups in a fingerprint recognition area is smaller than that between adjacent two of the drive/sense line groups in a portion of a touch control area other than the fingerprint recognition area. A distance between adjacent two of the sense lines in the fingerprint recognition area is designed to be equal a sub-pixel width, and a distance between adjacent two of the drive lines in the fingerprint recognition area is designed to be equal a sub-pixel length.