Glass Capacitive Sensor Spring Contacts for Thin UV-Resistant Touch Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touch sensor devices face challenges with reliable and cost-effective connections between flexible lines and sensor electrodes, leading to increased thickness and limited UV resistance, which restricts their application, especially in outdoor and robust designs.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive sensor device with a glass front panel and a thinner glass sensor plate, where evaluation electronics are directly integrated on the front panel, and the sensor plate is connected via a spring contact, eliminating the need for flexible cables and printed circuit boards, and using spacers to maintain a defined distance for accurate touch mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexible lines are used to connect sensor electrodes to evaluation electronics, then electrical connection is achieved, but the device becomes thicker and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the flexible line component from the sensor device structure. Instead of using traditional flexible cables to connect sensor electrodes to evaluation electronics, the invention integrates the evaluation electronics directly onto the sensor substrate, removing the need for intermediate connection elements and thereby reducing device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sensor substrate and evaluation electronics into a single integrated structure. The evaluation electronics are fabricated directly on the sensor substrate, combining previously separate components (sensor electrodes, flexible lines, and evaluation electronics) into one unified device, which reduces overall thickness and eliminates connection reliability issues.
2Reliability
If flexible lines are adhesively bonded to sensor electrodes, then electrical connection is established, but a separate operation is required and production complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the sensor electrode fabrication and evaluation electronics integration into a single manufacturing process. Both components are fabricated on the same substrate using compatible processes, eliminating the need for separate adhesive bonding operations and reducing production complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical adhesive bonding system with a direct integration approach. Instead of using adhesives to mechanically connect flexible lines to sensor electrodes, the evaluation electronics are fabricated directly on the substrate, eliminating the need for separate connection operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If organic carrier materials are used for sensor substrates, then flexibility is achieved, but UV resistance is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from organic carrier materials to glass or inorganic substrates. This parameter change maintains the necessary mechanical properties while dramatically improving UV resistance, enabling outdoor and harsh environment applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses glass or inorganic composite materials that combine the necessary mechanical flexibility with superior UV resistance. These materials provide both structural integrity and environmental durability, overcoming the limitations of pure organic substrates.
4Measurement precision
If separate sensor layers for X and Y axis detection are added, then touch position detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensor layers into a single integrated sensor structure. The evaluation electronics are fabricated directly on the sensor substrate, combining the functions of multiple separate layers into one unified device, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while reducing structural complexity.
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
This design enables a thin, robust, and UV-resistant capacitive sensor device suitable for various applications, including outdoor use, with a reliable electrical connection and reduced production costs, while maintaining accurate touch mapping and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one electrically conductive layer is connected to the evaluation electronics via at least one spring contact
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4(a)~4(c)
AI summary
The invention relates to a capacitive sensor device 1 with a front panel 2 made of glass and a sensor plate 5 with at least one electrically conductive layer 6, 10, which can generate an electrical signal when an object approaches the capacitive sensor device 1 and/or touches the capacitive sensor device 1, wherein (a) the sensor plate 5 is made of glass and faces a first surface 3 of the front panel 2; (b) evaluation electronics 4 for the electrical signals are arranged directly or via a circuit board on the first surface 3 of the front panel 2; and (c) the at least one electrically conductive layer 6, 10 is connected to the evaluation electronics 4 via at least one spring contact 7, 7', 7", 7'". The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the capacitive sensor device 1.