Transparent Backlit Interface Film for Curved Touch Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional user interfaces for devices rely on costly substrates like PCBs and FPCs, which limit backlight quality and cannot accommodate curved surfaces or in-molded designs, leading to suboptimal user experience.
Innovation Solution
A backlit user interface device featuring a transparent lens with a graphic, a fold-over transparent circuit film, light emitting diodes, silver conductors, and a layer of transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive, allowing for improved backlighting and capacitive touch sensing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional substrates like PCBs or FPCs are used, then structural support is provided, but backlight quality deteriorates and curved surfaces cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional PCB or FPC substrate from the user interface assembly. By extracting this rigid, light-blocking substrate, the invention allows light to pass through the entire interface, enabling high-quality backlighting and curved surface designs without the constraints of traditional circuit board materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent circuit film serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, conducts electrical signals, and allows light transmission. This multi-functional approach replaces the traditional substrate that could only provide structural support and electrical conduction, while the separate LED layer handles illumination, achieving both structural integrity and optical transparency.
2Illumination intensity
If molded light pipes and light guides are used with PCBs, then light distribution is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the circuit functionality and the light guide functionality into a single transparent circuit film layer. This integration eliminates the need for separate molded light pipes and light guide components that would otherwise be required when using traditional PCB substrates, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining effective light distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent circuit film performs dual functions as both a electrical circuit carrier and a light guide. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate components (circuit board plus light guide), reducing the overall number of parts and simplifying the device structure while achieving uniform light distribution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If flexible light guide films are used, then curved surfaces can be accommodated, but backlighting quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated LED layer as an intermediary illumination source positioned behind the transparent circuit film. This separate light-generating layer provides high-quality, uniform backlighting that compensates for any potential quality issues with flexible materials, while the transparent circuit film itself serves as the flexible substrate that enables curved surface accommodation.
4Strength
If PCBs are used, then structural support is provided, but curved surfaces and in-molded designs cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces rigid PCB substrates with flexible transparent circuit films that can be bent and shaped to accommodate curved surfaces and in-molded designs. These thin film structures maintain sufficient structural support while providing the flexibility and conformability required for modern curved display and touch interface designs.
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
The solution provides enhanced backlighting and capacitive touch functionality, enabling better user interaction on devices with curved surfaces and lower production costs compared to traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light emitting diode (LED)
Implementation Method 2
a layer of transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive that secures the bottom surface of the lens to the top surface of the transparent circuit film
Implementation Method 3
at least one silver conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A number of user interface devices are described. In one example, a user interface device includes a lens having a graphic visible through the lens, a transparent circuit film comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, a reflector film bonded to the bottom surface of the transparent circuit film, the reflector film including an embossed area which defines a pocket between the reflector film and the bottom surface of the transparent circuit film, a light emitting diode (LED) bonded to the bottom surface of the transparent circuit film and positioned within the pocket between the reflector film and the bottom surface of the transparent circuit film, and a layer of transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive interposed between the bottom surface of the lens and the top surface of the transparent circuit film.