7.3: An Ultra‐Thin, High Resolution Matrix Force Sensor Enabling an Improved User Interface for Next Generation OLED Displays.

A novel, thin, flexible matrix sensor has been developed which can be integrated under a flexible OLED display to provide a touch/stylus digitizer functionality. To optimize sensor design, an FEA‐based model was coupled with Peratech's proprietary electromechanical modelling software to understand how force is transferred from the touch location to the sensing elements. The resultant sensor design comprised of a high‐resolution array of sensing elements at 0.98mm pitch, which allowed both finger and stylus input to be captured with high‐fidelity from 10–600g input force. Further tuning of force dynamic range was achieved through adjusting both the sensel design (number and order of material layers) and sensing materials. Electronics hardware and software algorithms were developed which processed the sensor signal and converted to a user‐experience which can meet industry requirements for touch panel performance. In addition, the sensor showed excellent reliability after testing to 100k bend cycles at 4mm bend radius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]