Capacitance Touch Switch Using Conductive Adhesive for Uniform Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitance-sensitive touch switches face issues with accurately sensing capacitance variations over time and suffer from differences in buffer power, leading to reduced lifespan and inaccurate capacitance transmission, especially when the cover panel is curved or flat.
Innovation Solution
A capacitance-sensitive touch switch design featuring a cover panel with first coupling members, an electrostatic panel with perpendicular conductors, a support panel with through-holes, and a control board with light emitting elements and sensing means, allowing for uniform capacitance sensing regardless of panel curvature or flatness, using materials like polycarbonate and ABS resin with conductive metals for enhanced durability and conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a compressive coil spring is used as the current-carrying member, then electrical connection is achieved, but buffer power decreases over time leading to inaccurate capacitance sensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compressive coil spring with a conductive adhesive layer that provides both electrical connection and constant buffer force. This substitution eliminates the degradation of buffer power over time while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity and accurate capacitance sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the current-carrying member from a mechanical spring to an adhesive material with specific viscoelastic properties. This parameter change allows the material to maintain constant buffer force over time while providing electrical conductivity, resolving the reliability-lifespan contradiction.
2Reliability
If the current-carrying member is positioned at both ends, then electrical connection is established, but buffer power becomes uneven reducing lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies conductive adhesive uniformly across the entire contact area between the sensor electrode and electrode pad, creating homogeneous buffer force distribution. This eliminates the uneven stress concentration that occurs with end-positioned springs, ensuring uniform buffer power and extended component lifespan.
3Ease of operation
If the cover panel is made curved for ergonomic design, then user comfort is improved, but capacitance variation transmission becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the touch panel structure into a curved cover panel and a separate sensor assembly. The sensor electrode and conductive adhesive are positioned on the inner side of the cover panel, allowing the outer surface to be ergonomically curved while the sensing mechanism remains in a controlled environment that accurately transmits capacitance variations.
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 design enables accurate and consistent capacitance sensing over long-term use, regardless of panel curvature, ensuring reliable operation and extended lifespan by maintaining uniform capacitance transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a variation in capacitance is transmitted to the capacitance sensing circuit 16 through the sensor electrode 13
Implementation Method 2
enables an electronic device to operate by sensing a variation in capacitance due to finger touch of the human body
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided is a capacitance-sensitive touch switch. The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a touch switch of an electronic device, which is capable of sensing a constant variation in capacitance regardless of whether a cover panel of an entire surface is curved or flat, and which is capable of sensitively sensing a variation in capacitance even when the electronic device is used over a long time. To this end, the capacitance sensitive touch switch according to the present invention includes: a cover panel having a plurality of touch buttons arranged at a front surface thereof, and having at least one first coupling member arranged at each side of an edge thereof; an electrostatic panel provided on a rear surface of the cover panel, having lighting holes formed at a position being opposite to the touch buttons, and having electrostatic conductors formed integrally with the electrostatic panel in a direction perpendicular to the electrostatic panel at one side of the electrostatic panel adjacent to the lighting holes; a support panel having a second coupling member arranged at an edge corresponding to a position being opposite to the first coupling member arranged at the edge of the cover panel, having lighting holes formed at a position being opposite to the lighting holes of the electrostatic panel, and having through-holes formed adjacent to the lighting holes such that the electrostatic conductors pass through the through-holes; and a control board arranged at one side of the support panel, having a plurality of light emitting elements provided at a position being opposite to the lighting holes formed in the support panel, having at one side thereof adjacent to the light emitting elements through-holes for passage of the electrostatic conductors, and having at a rear surfaces of the light emitting elements one or more sensing means connected to respective ends of the electrostatic conductors passing through the through-holes. Thus, the present invention has the advantages of providing a touch switch of an electronic device, capable of stably sensing a constant variation of capacitance regardless of whether the cover panel of the entire surface is curved or flat, and capable of sensitively sensing a variation in capacitance even when the electronic device is used over a long time.