Fluid Draining Structure for Touch Device Border

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional touch modules in outdoor vending machines and digital billboards malfunction due to droplets accumulating on the frame's lower border, interfering with optical characteristics of reflective or light bars, especially in rainy conditions.

Innovation Solution

A fluid draining structure featuring a series of draining ribs spaced at intervals on the border, with each rib having a first segment inclined downward relative to the horizontal direction, utilizing gravity and capillary phenomena to direct droplets away from the border, preventing interference with touch panel operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the touch module is disposed outdoors to provide interactive service, then the marketing effect and user experience are improved, but droplets accumulate on the frame border interfering with optical characteristics causing malfunction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutdoor deployment capabilityVSAvoidtouch module operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The border is segmented into multiple draining ribs spaced at intervals, creating multiple drainage pathways that collectively prevent droplet accumulation on the optical components while maintaining the outdoor deployment capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The draining ribs act as intermediary structures between the border surface and the optical components, intercepting droplets before they reach the reflective bars or light bars, thus preventing interference with optical characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the draining ribs are spaced at intervals on the border, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but droplets may accumulate in the spaces between ribs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedraining structure manufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddroplet drainage effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The draining ribs are positioned at specific intervals where droplet accumulation is most likely to occur, providing localized drainage solutions that maintain simplicity while ensuring effective droplet removal from critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Effectively drains droplets from the border, ensuring the touch panel module operates normally even in rainy conditions, allowing the touch device to function outdoors without malfunctions.

Implementation Method 1

drains droplets on the border by gravity and capillary phenomenon generated between the plurality of draining ribs and the border

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

drains droplets on the border by gravity and capillary phenomenon generated between the plurality of draining ribs and the border

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10588224B2Fluid draining structure and touch device having the same

Publication Date: 2020.03.10 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

A fluid draining structure adapted for a border having a first surface includes a plurality of draining ribs spaced at intervals on the border. Each of the plurality of draining ribs includes a first draining segment located above the first surface and spaced from the first surface at a first distance. The first surface and a side of the first draining segment adjacent to the first surface are inclined downwardly relative to a horizontal direction, and a droplet is drawn to the corresponding draining rib and drained along the corresponding draining rib after the droplet falls on the first surface.