Flexible Touch Panel Structure for Curved Surface Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch-sensitive operational panels on electronic devices are prone to damage due to varying enacting forces, leading to mechanical failures and inability to accommodate curved surfaces, as they are typically rigid and inflexible, necessitating frequent repairs or replacements.
Innovation Solution
A flexible membrane structure with a membrane substrate, an inductive layer featuring capacitance-inductive sections and transmission lines, and a protection layer, allowing for reduced surface damage and curvature compatibility by using a PET material and electrically inductive ink for touch control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rigid plate structure is used for the operational panel, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the panel cannot accommodate curved surfaces and is prone to damage from varying enacting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid plate structure with a flexible membrane structure that includes a membrane substrate, inductive layer, and protective layer. This flexible membrane can be bent and conform to curved surfaces while maintaining structural integrity and touch sensitivity, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and curved surface compatibility.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid plate structure is used for the operational panel, then the structural stability is maintained, but the panel is prone to damage and mechanical failure from varying enacting forces
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane structure absorbs and distributes varying enacting forces through its flexibility, preventing stress concentration and material breakage that occur in rigid structures. The membrane can deform elastically under pressure and return to its original state, significantly improving reliability while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational panel is constructed as a composite structure with multiple layers including the membrane substrate, inductive layer, and protective layer. Each layer contributes specific properties that collectively enhance both structural stability and damage resistance, allowing the panel to withstand varying forces without mechanical failure.
3Reliability
If touch control induction is added to the operational panel, then the damaging probability is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more time- and labor-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the inductive layer directly into the flexible membrane structure during the manufacturing process, combining the touch control functionality with the structural layers. This merged approach eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the damage reduction benefits of touch control induction.
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 flexible touch-sensitive panel reduces damage risk and enables curved surface functionality while maintaining reliable signal transmission for executing electronic object functions through capacitance variations and external driving circuit processing.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitance variation generated from the inductive section is in turn to output a signal to an external driving circuit via the transmission lines
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-sensitive device includes a membrane substrate, an inductive layer and a protection layer. The inductive layer, arranged on a front face of the membrane substrate, has a plurality of capacitance-inductive sections, and at least one transmission line extended from a side of each of the capacitance-inductive sections. The protection layer is arranged on a front face of the inductive layer. A capacitance variation generated from the inductive section is in turn to output a signal to an electronic object via the transmission lines. After the signal is processed by the electronic object, a specific function is then executed.