Input Device Reinforcement Plate Nonlinear End Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The extended portion of touch panels, which connects to a connector, requires bending, leading to stress on the lead-out wire and potential damage, especially when a reinforcement plate is present, affecting detection performance.

Innovation Solution

An input device design where the reinforcement plate's end-portion projection line is nonlinear, with the most-protruding location overlapping the grounding wire, distributing stress to the grounding wire rather than the lead-out wire, thereby reducing the risk of damage and maintaining detection performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the extended portion is curved to connect to a connector, then the device can be assembled in various product forms, but stress concentration occurs on the lead-out wire causing cracks and breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct form adaptabilityVSAvoidlead-out wire integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A reinforcement plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the extended portion and the connector. This rigid plate absorbs and distributes the bending stress, preventing direct stress transmission to the lead-out wire and grounding wire, thereby maintaining wire integrity while enabling curved assembly configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The extended portion is segmented into a flexible region (for bending) and a rigid region (reinforcement plate area). The reinforcement plate creates a distinct stress-bearing zone that separates the bending function from the electrical connection function, allowing the lead-out wire to remain in a low-stress environment while the product adapts to various assembly angles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If a reinforcement plate is attached to the extended portion for connector connection, then structural strength is improved, but stress concentrates on the end portion of the reinforcement plate increasing wire damage risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextended portion strengthVSAvoidstress concentration on wire

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement plate features a non-linear end-portion projection line with varying thickness: a thicker first portion at the stress-prone end region and a thinner second portion extending toward the connector. This local quality variation allows the plate to provide maximum strength where bending stress concentrates while reducing stress transmission to the wire in the connector region

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The end-portion projection line of the reinforcement plate is designed as a non-linear curved shape rather than a straight line. This curvature distributes the stress more evenly across the plate structure, preventing sharp stress concentrations at corners or abrupt edges, and directs stress away from the lead-out wire and grounding wire regions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Device complexity

If the lead-out wire is made thinner to reduce space, then the extended portion becomes more flexible, but the wire becomes more susceptible to bending damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextended portion flexibilityVSAvoidlead-out wire resistance to bending

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement plate serves as a protective cushion that absorbs bending stresses before they can reach the lead-out wire. By providing this preemptive stress absorption in the extended portion, the system allows the use of thinner, more flexible wires without compromising their resistance to bending damage, as the reinforcement plate shields them from harmful stresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11382212B2Input device with reinforcement plate and wider grounding wire

Publication Date: 2022.07.05 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD

AI summary

An input device includes a support base, a sensor unit including electrode portions, an extended portion extending outward from the support base, a lead-out wire in conduction with the electrode portions, a grounding wire adjacent to the lead-out wire, the lead-out wire and the grounding wire being along a first major surface of the extended portion, and a reinforcement plate on a part of a second major surface opposite to the first major surface and on the side of the support base from the tip. When viewed from a normal direction of the second major surface, the grounding wire is greater than the lead-out wire, an end-portion projection line formed by a support-base-side end portion of the reinforcement plate is nonlinear, and a most-protruding location in the end-portion projection line closest to the support base overlaps the grounding wire.