Flat Surface Touch Device Color-Matched Isolation Layer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch devices fail to achieve a full-planar visual effect due to the visibility of conductive wires at the edges, which are not masked by highly-transparent optical adhesives or front bezels, disrupting the uniform appearance.

Innovation Solution

A flat surface touch device design that incorporates a transparent conductive film with a first electrode and isolation layer of the same color, hiding the second electrode from view by using a same-colored isolation layer, eliminating the need for optical adhesives and front bezels, and utilizing materials like metal oxides and transparent conductive polymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If highly-transparent optical adhesives and front bezels are used to bind decoration plate to touch panel, then full-planar visual effect can be achieved, but conductive wires at edges remain visible and disrupt uniform appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual effectVSAvoidvisibility of conductive wires
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color matching between the isolation layer and conductive wires to make the wires invisible. The isolation layer is configured with the same color as the conductive wires, creating visual camouflage that eliminates the disruptive appearance of conductive elements at the edges while maintaining the full-planar visual effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation layer serves as an intermediary element between the conductive wires and the external environment. This intermediate layer with matching color acts as a visual mediator that conceals the conductive wires, allowing them to perform their electrical function while remaining aesthetically invisible to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If conventional transparent base plates are used, then high transparency is achieved, but conductive wires and isolation layers become visible to users

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransparencyVSAvoiduniform appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes color matching between the isolation layer and conductive wires to achieve visual uniformity. By configuring the isolation layer with the same color as the conductive wires, the transparent base plate maintains its high transparency while the colored isolation layer camouflages the conductive elements, creating a uniform appearance that eliminates visual disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Shape

If multiple layers with different colors are used to hide conductive wires, then visual effect improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual effectVSAvoidnumber of layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the isolation layer's dual functions: electrical isolation and visual camouflage. By configuring the isolation layer with the same color as the conductive wires, a single layer performs both the electrical isolation function and the aesthetic camouflage function, eliminating the need for separate masking layers and reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The isolation layer is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an electrical insulator and as a visual camouflage element. This universal layer with matching color performs multiple functions simultaneously, reducing the total number of components needed and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining the full-planar visual effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2523079B1Flat surface touch device for introducing visual effects
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 WISTRON CORP
  • EP2523079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2523079B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2523079B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrode (310) and an isolation layer (340) of a touch device (300,400) have the same color, so that a user of the touch device (300,400) perceives a good visual effect without having to employ expensive optical adhesive and decorative films in the touch device (300,400). The front bezel design used in conventional touch devices can thus be abandoned. Further, simpler fabrication, higher yield rate, and lower cost are also achieved.