Diffractive Touch Screen with Laser Projection and Mechanical Selector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen technologies for automotive control systems, based on liquid crystals, are costly, limited by plane geometry, and lack flexibility in shape and compactness, making them less ergonomic and space-efficient.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen device using diffractive technology with a mobile diffractive support and a selection lever, allowing for the encoding and projection of multiple images on a curved screen, enabling compact and customizable configurations with a capacitive or infrared touch detection system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid crystal technology is used for touch screens, then the screen can display images, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a diffractive optical element that encodes multiple images on a single support, allowing the system to display different images by selecting different encoded images through mechanical positioning, replacing the need for expensive liquid crystal displays
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs inexpensive plastic diffractive supports that can be mass-produced through conventional techniques like injection molding or embossing, replacing costly liquid crystal technology while maintaining image display functionality
2Reliability
If liquid crystal screens are used, then images can be displayed, but the screen geometry is limited to plane shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables curved and three-dimensional screen geometries by using diffractive optical elements that can be positioned on various surfaces, allowing screens to be integrated into curved dashboard surfaces or other non-planar vehicle interiors
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from two-dimensional flat displays to three-dimensional curved surfaces by mounting diffractive supports on curved screens and using optical focusing elements to project images onto non-planar surfaces
3Ease of operation
If liquid crystal touch screens are used, then control functions are provided, but the device size increases reducing compactness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into a compact assembly by nesting the laser source, diffractive support, optical focusing element, and touch-sensitive surface in a layered configuration, reducing overall device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the display function, control input function, and optical projection function into a single integrated device, eliminating the need for separate controls and reducing the overall space required
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 provides a cost-effective, flexible, and space-efficient touch screen system that can be installed in various vehicle locations, allowing users to interact with virtual controls without needing to look at the screen, enhancing user experience and ergonomic design.
Implementation Method 1
the image is obtained on the screen by diffraction of a first beam laser on a mobile diffractive support, provided with sectors each presenting the coding of an image to be projected on the screen
Implementation Method 2
the touch control aspect being generally implemented by means of a capacitive film covering the screen
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A touchscreen device (7) equipped with a multi-position mechanical selector lever (1) whose activation allows the change of an image displayed on the screen (7), which includes virtual touch-activated control elements, the screen (7) being equipped with means (12) for detecting a contact on its surface and the location of that contact. Essentially, this device is characterized in that the image is obtained on the screen (7) by diffraction of a first laser beam on a movable diffractive support (3), having sectors each containing the encoding of an image to be projected onto the screen (7), and whose movement is controlled by the selector lever (1) according to several discrete positions allowing the interference of a sector with the laser beam.