Flexible Sensor Substrate Reinforcement Against Excessive Bending

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flexible film-type substrates with sensors are prone to damage from excessive bending, necessitating measures to prevent stress-induced damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a reinforcement member along the outer circumference of the flexible insulating base to enhance rigidity and prevent excessive bending.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible film-type substrate is used to enable bending and conformability, then adaptability to curved surfaces is improved, but the substrate becomes susceptible to stress damage from excessive bending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to curved surfacesVSAvoidsensor durability against stress damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate is divided into a detection area and a peripheral area with different functional requirements. The peripheral area contains reinforcement members that provide structural support and prevent excessive bending, while the detection area maintains flexibility for sensor operation. This segmentation allows different regions to have different mechanical properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate employs a composite structure combining a flexible film base material with reinforcement members made of rigid or semi-rigid materials. This composite construction provides both the flexibility needed for conformability and the structural integrity to prevent stress damage during bending.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the substrate is made more rigid to prevent excessive bending, then sensor protection is improved, but the flexibility and conformability of the substrate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection from stressVSAvoidsubstrate flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Rigidity is applied locally only in the peripheral area where reinforcement members are positioned, rather than making the entire substrate rigid. This allows the center detection area to remain flexible for sensor functionality while the periphery provides structural support during bending operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate is segmented into flexible detection zones and reinforced peripheral zones. The reinforcement members are strategically placed in the peripheral area to provide localized structural support without interfering with the flexibility required for sensor operation in the detection area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If reinforcement members are added to the peripheral area, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stability during bendingVSAvoidsubstrate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement members are pre-integrated into the substrate structure during manufacturing, forming a unified component. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces the complexity of handling multiple discrete parts, while still providing the structural stability benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement members are merged with the substrate to form an integrated structure. Rather than being separate components that require assembly, the reinforcement members are combined with the flexible film base material during manufacturing, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12396102B2Electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a flexible film-like insulating base and a sensor disposed on the insulating base, and the insulating base includes a detection area in which the sensor is disposed and a peripheral area on an outer side of the detection area, and the peripheral area includes a reinforcement member provided thereon to extend along an outer circumference of the insulating base.