Elastic Water Shielding Layer for Waterproof Touch Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch sensing devices face issues with waterproofness and user feedback due to the rigidity of the sensor circuit board and potential scratches or tears in the protective film, which can lead to water ingress and an unsatisfactory touch experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a water shielding layer made of a waterproof elastic substance on one side of the sensor, which covers at least part of the sensor and is configured to be elastically deformed upon touch, improving waterproofness and user feedback by blocking liquids and providing a more comfortable touch experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid sensor circuit board is used, then structural stability is improved, but waterproofness deteriorates due to inability to conform to protective film defects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid sensor circuit board with a flexible sensor substrate that can conform to the protective film. This flexible substrate maintains structural stability while adapting to scratches or tears in the protective film, preventing water ingress pathways and improving waterproofness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the sensor substrate from rigid to flexible. This parameter change allows the sensor to maintain stability while adapting to the protective film's surface conditions, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and waterproofness.
2Ease of manufacture
If a rigid sensor circuit board is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but user feedback deteriorates due to stiff touch feeling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sensor substrate that provides a softer, more comfortable touch feeling to users. This flexible structure maintains ease of manufacture through standard flexible circuit board fabrication processes while significantly improving the tactile feedback and touch experience.
3Illumination intensity
If the protective film is made thin for transparency, then visual recognition is improved, but waterproofness deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to scratches and tears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible sensor substrate that can conform to and compensate for defects in thin protective films. This allows the protective film to remain thin for optimal visual recognition while the flexible substrate adapts to any scratches or tears, maintaining waterproofness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sensor substrate acts as a cushioning layer that compensates for potential defects in the protective film before water can penetrate. This beforehand cushioning effect maintains waterproofness even when the thin protective film develops scratches or tears.
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 enhances waterproofness by preventing liquid ingress and improves user feedback through elastic deformation, providing a more comfortable and reliable touch experience.
Implementation Method 1
The water shielding layer is composed of waterproof elastic substance, is disposed on the one side in the first direction relative to the sensor, and covers at least part of the sensor. The water shielding layer is configured to be elastically deformed when pressed by a detection target from the one side in the first direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensing device including a sensor and a water shielding layer. The sensor is a capacitive, resistive, or optical touch sensor and is configured to detect a detection target approaching the sensor from one side in a first direction. The first direction is a thickness direction of the sensor. The water shielding layer is composed of waterproof elastic substance, is disposed on the one side in the first direction relative to the sensor, and covers at least part of the sensor.