Invisible Light Touch Panel with Segmented Light Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infrared touch panels with indication lights have a bulky light guide plate that increases circuit and mechanical design complexity due to the need for extensive coverage of the display area, making them difficult to manufacture and design efficiently.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with an invisible light touch panel featuring a circuit board with invisible light emitters and receivers, a visible light source, a light guiding plate with active and inactive areas, and a cover with a hole to transmit visible light outwards, allowing for a more compact design and decorative indication lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the light guide plate covers the whole area on the touch panel to completely transmit infrared signals, then the infrared signal transmission is complete and touch detection accuracy is improved, but the volume and weight of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide plate is segmented into transparent regions (for infrared transmission) and opaque regions (for structural support and indication lights). This segmentation allows the light guide plate to cover the necessary areas for touch detection while reducing the overall coverage area, thereby decreasing device volume while maintaining touch detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light guide plate have different optical properties: transparent regions allow infrared signal transmission for touch detection, while opaque regions provide structural support and house indication lights. This local differentiation enables the light guide plate to maintain touch detection accuracy in critical areas while reducing overall material usage and device volume.
2Reliability
If the infrared network covers the display area completely to detect any interference, then the touch detection reliability is improved, but the complexity of circuit and mechanical design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrared network is segmented into discrete emitter-receiver pairs positioned at specific locations rather than continuous coverage. This segmentation reduces the complexity of circuit and mechanical design while maintaining reliable touch detection through strategic placement of infrared components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves multiple functions: it transmits infrared signals in transparent regions, provides structural support, and houses indication lights in opaque regions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining touch detection reliability.
3Ease of operation
If indication lights are disposed on lateral surfaces or frames adjacent to the tablet computer, then the visible light indication function is achieved, but the difficulty of circuit and mechanical disposition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indication light function is merged with the light guide plate structure. The opaque regions of the light guide plate serve as housings for indication lights, eliminating the need for separate lateral surface or frame-mounted indication systems. This integration simplifies both circuit and mechanical disposition while maintaining indication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate is designed to perform multiple functions: infrared signal transmission, structural support, and indication light housing. By integrating these functions into a single component, the complexity of circuit and mechanical disposition is reduced compared to having separate systems for each function.
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 reduces manufacturing costs, increases design diversity, and optimizes internal space by using the inactive area for decorative elements while maintaining touch detection sensitivity, allowing for a more efficient and aesthetically pleasing product.
Implementation Method 1
The invisible light outputted from the invisible light emitter is transmitted to the corresponding invisible light receiver via the active area
Implementation Method 2
the visible light outputted from the visible light source is transmitted to the inactive area. The panel is disposed between the circuit board and the light guiding plate
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device with an invisible light touch panel is disclosed in the present invention. The electronic device includes a circuit board, a visible light source, a light guiding plate, a panel and a cover. The circuit board includes a plurality of invisible light emitters and receivers. The light guiding plate includes an active area and an inactive area. The invisible light outputted from the invisible light emitter transmits to the invisible light receiver via the active area, and the visible light outputted from the visible light source can transmit to the inactive area. The cover is disposed above the light guiding plate. A hole is formed on a surface of the cover, and a position of the hole corresponds to the inactive area on the light guiding plate, so the visible light outputted from the visible light source passes through the cover via the inactive area and the hole.