Dual-PCB Light-Emitting Touch Button for Sensitive Touch and Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting touch buttons lack versatility in design and functionality, as they often require complex manufacturing processes and materials, limiting their ability to integrate both touch sensing and light control within a single, customizable package.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting touch button design incorporating a first printed circuit board for touch detection and a second printed circuit board for light control, connected by a pin to communicate touch events and control light emission, allowing for customizable designs and modes such as 'on' and 'off' or different light patterns with each touch event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light-emitting touch button integrates both touch sensing and light control in a single package, then design versatility and customization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The touch button is divided into two separate PCBs: a first PCB for touch sensing and a second PCB for light control. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system versatility, resolving the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable segments rather than a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed with light-emitting regions that can accommodate different light sources and configurations, allowing the same basic structure to serve multiple design purposes. The separable PCB architecture also enables universal application across different touch button variants, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Device complexity
If a light-emitting touch button uses a single integrated PCB for both touch sensing and light control, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By separating touch sensing and light control onto different PCBs, each board can be manufactured and tested independently with optimized precision requirements. The first PCB focuses on capacitive pad precision while the second PCB focuses on light source positioning, allowing specialized manufacturing processes for each function rather than compromising on a single integrated board.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling pin serves as an intermediary mechanical and electrical connection between the two PCBs. This mediator allows precise alignment and secure attachment of the separate boards, ensuring manufacturing precision is maintained across the interface without requiring a single complex integrated PCB structure.
3Measurement precision
If the first PCB is disposed close to the touch surface, then touch detection sensitivity is improved, but light emission control precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The first PCB is positioned close to the touch surface for optimal capacitive coupling and touch detection sensitivity, while the second PCB is positioned near the light sources for precise light control. This spatial segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing each PCB to be optimally positioned for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling pin acts as a mediator that bridges the two PCBs at different positions within the housing. It enables the first PCB to be located near the touch surface while the second PCB is located near the light-emitting regions, maintaining both touch sensitivity and light control precision through this intermediate connection structure.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the housing includes multiple light-emitting regions with different cross-sectional shapes, then design versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed as a universal structure with light-emitting regions that can accommodate various cross-sectional shapes (circular, annular, etc.). The second PCB with its circular arrangement of light sources can be configured to match different regional shapes, allowing the same basic housing design to serve multiple aesthetic and functional purposes without requiring completely different manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows variation in the cross-sectional parameters of light-emitting regions (shape, size, configuration) while maintaining the same fundamental housing structure and manufacturing approach. By changing geometric parameters rather than fundamental design architecture, versatility is achieved with minimal increase in manufacturing complexity.
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
Enables a customizable, cost-effective, and sensitive touch button that can be tailored to various designs and applications, integrating touch sensing and light control within a single package, enhancing user interaction and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The first PCB can include a conductive pad and the first electronics can be configured to detect a change in capacitance of the conductive pad
Implementation Method 2
The one or more light sources can also be coupled to the second PCB such that the second electronics can be configured to control light emitted from the one or more light sources
Implementation Method 3
The one or more walls can be configured to collimate the light emitted from the one or more light sources to the touch surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting touch button can include a first printed circuit board (PCB), a second PCB, and a pin coupling the first PCB to the second PCB. The first PCB can include first electronics to detect a touch event on a touch surface. The second PCB can include second electronics to control light emission. The pin can communicate the detected touch event from the first electronics to the second electronics. The touch button can also include a housing including one or more walls defining one or more light-emitting regions. One or more light sources can be disposed within the one or more light-emitting regions. The second electronics can control light emitted from the one or more light sources based at least in part on the detected touch event. The one or more walls can collimate the light emitted from the one or more light sources to the touch surface.