Curved Touch Screen Protector Preventing Optical Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch screen protectors with full adhesive layers often form unsightly floating air bubbles and fail to provide impact absorption, leading to optical interference and reduced touch sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A removable touch screen protector with a pre-formed curvature that attaches to the outer peripheral portion via adhesive, creating a separation from the central display area to prevent air bubbles and optical interference while maintaining touch sensitivity, and providing a cushioning effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a full adhesive layer is applied to the entire protective film surface, then the protector attaches securely to the touch screen, but floating air bubbles form between the protector and touch screen causing optical interference

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidoptical interference from air bubbles

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is segmented into a peripheral adhesive region and a central non-adhesive region. The peripheral region provides secure attachment to the touch screen bezel, while the central region prevents air bubble formation and optical interference over the active display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the protective film have different adhesive properties. The peripheral portion has high adhesion for secure mounting, while the central portion has no adhesion to prevent contact with the display surface, eliminating optical interference while maintaining attachment security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a flat protector is applied directly to the touch screen, then maximum contact is achieved, but impact forces are transmitted directly to the touch screen without cushioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective coverageVSAvoidimpact damage to touch screen

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective film is pre-formed with a curvature that causes it to deflect away from the touch screen surface when attached. This curvature creates a cushioning effect that absorbs impact forces while maintaining protective coverage over the display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The curvature is pre-formed into the protective film before attachment, creating a built-in cushioning mechanism that is already in place to absorb impact forces before any damage can occur to the touch screen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of operation

If the protector is positioned close to the touch screen surface, then touch sensitivity is maintained, but optical interference patterns such as Newton rings and moiré interference occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch sensitivityVSAvoidoptical interference patterns

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective film is segmented into a peripheral attachment region that contacts the bezel and a central floating region that maintains separation from the display surface. This segmentation allows the central portion to be positioned far enough away to eliminate optical interference while remaining close enough to maintain touch sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 effectively inhibits the formation of optical artifacts like Newton rings and moiré interference, while ensuring the touch screen remains sensitive and protected from impacts.

Implementation Method 1

The protector is also pre-formed with a curvature (also referred to herein as a curl, bend, or curvature memory) that causes the protector—when attached to the device—to deflect away from the touch screen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The protector attaches about an outer peripheral portion of the touch screen via an adhesive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11281253B2Touch screen protector

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 RO TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A touch screen protector is removably attachable to a touch screen device. The protector attaches to the touch screen device about an outer peripheral portion of the touch screen, thereby not adhering to a central video display portion of the touch screen. The protector is pre-formed with a curvature that causes the protector, when attached to the device, to rise upwards and away from the touch screen. By biasing the protector away from the touch screen, the attached protector inhibits optical interference forming between the protector and the touch screen. The curvature is configured to provide a separation that is large enough to inhibit formation of optical interference between the protector and the touch screen, but small enough to maintain touch sensitivity of the touch screen.