Capacitive Touch Buttons for Bezel-less Display Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional display systems with physical push buttons constrain the ability to manufacture thin displays due to the space they occupy on the bezel, limiting the reduction of bezel dimensions and overall display thickness.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a touch user interface with capacitive touch buttons on the back surface of the display, allowing users to interact with a graphical user interface overlay, which eliminates the need for physical buttons and enables bezel-less designs by using contact-sensitive surfaces that respond to touch and proximity, thereby controlling display settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If physical push buttons are used on the bezel, then user interaction with display settings is enabled, but the bezel dimensions and display thickness are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidbezel dimension

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical mechanical push buttons with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface that detects touch and proximity events. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical button structures on the bezel, allowing for thinner display designs while maintaining user interaction capabilities through on-screen graphical interface elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves the user interface from a three-dimensional physical space (buttons on the bezel) to a two-dimensional display surface (graphical interface on the screen). This dimensional transition allows interaction without requiring physical space on the bezel, enabling thinner displays while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If physical push buttons are used on the bezel, then user interaction with display settings is enabled, but the display thickness is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoiddisplay thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If physical push buttons are used, then user interaction is enabled, but noise-induced false touches occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoidfalse touch rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical push buttons with a capacitive touch system that uses electrical field detection rather than mechanical contact. This eliminates mechanical noise and switching artifacts that cause false touches, providing more reliable input detection while maintaining ease of operation through the graphical interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution allows for thinner display systems by eliminating the physical constraints of push buttons, reducing noise-induced false touches, and enabling more ergonomic and compact designs while maintaining user interaction capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a touch user interface with capacitive touch buttons on the back surface of the display, allowing users to interact with a graphical user interface overlay, which eliminates the need for physical buttons and enables bezel-less designs by using contact-sensitive surfaces that respond to touch and proximity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive touch: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10955961B2Display user interface, and related systems, methods and devices

Publication Date: 2021.03.23 MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Embodiments described in this disclosure relate, generally, to a touch user interface (UI) that interacts with, and may be used to manipulate, a graphical user interface (GUI) of a display utility presented at a graphical overlay, and systems and methods for implementing the same. Some embodiments of the disclosure may be incorporated into display systems, including bezel-less display systems.