Light-transmitting conductive laminate and light-transmitting conductive molded body using same

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current capacitive touch sensors for car interiors are limited by their flat design, which restricts design freedom and makes it difficult for drivers to recognize the touch area, and existing solutions with leather-like surfaces suffer from appearance degradation due to deformation and friction during repeated use.

Innovation Solution

A capacitive touch sensor using a light-transmitting conductive laminate with a nonwoven fabric surface material and a transparent conductive substrate, allowing for three-dimensional molding and maintaining appearance quality through the integration of a polymer elastomer and suitable fiber composition for strength and light transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a flat liquid crystal display is used for touch sensors, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the design freedom is reduced and the driver cannot recognize where they are touching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddesign freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by molding the synthetic leather surface into three-dimensional shapes including convex portions, concave portions, and inclined surfaces. This allows the touch sensor to adapt to curved car interior surfaces while maintaining tactile recognition through surface irregularities, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and design freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses flexible synthetic leather as the surface material that can be molded into various three-dimensional shapes. This flexible film approach enables both ease of manufacture through conventional molding processes and high design freedom for adapting to different car interior geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Shape

If a leather-like sheet is used for the touch sensor surface, then the appearance quality is improved, but the appearance deteriorates due to deformation and friction during repeated pushing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidappearance durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different surface treatments to different areas: the synthetic leather surface is selectively molded to create convex and concave portions that provide tactile feedback without requiring strong pushing force. This localized quality differentiation maintains appearance quality while reducing mechanical stress during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical push-button system with a capacitive touch sensor system. This substitution eliminates the need for strong pushing forces that cause deformation and friction wear, thereby maintaining appearance quality over repeated operations while still providing tactile feedback through surface irregularities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If the touch sensor is made visible on the surface, then the driver can recognize where they are touching, but the design freedom and aesthetic appearance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetouch area recognitionVSAvoiddesign freedom

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses optical contrast through color and transparency variations in the synthetic leather surface to indicate touch areas. The selective molding creates convex and concave portions that reflect and refract light differently, providing tactile and visual recognition without requiring visible buttons or displays, thus maintaining design freedom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If a strong pushing force is applied to activate the switch, then the switch can be reliably activated, but the leather-like sheet deforms and loses its favorable appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitch activation reliabilityVSAvoidappearance quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical push-button activation mechanism with a capacitive touch sensor that detects changes in electrical capacitance. This allows reliable switch activation with minimal contact force, preventing deformation of the synthetic leather surface while maintaining activation reliability through the electrical field detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3427941B1Light-transmitting conductive laminate and light-transmitting conductive molded body using same

Publication Date: 2021.01.27 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC

Figure 1~4
Figure 5~8

AI summary

Provided is a light-transmitting conducive laminate which is moldable and has good designability. A light-transmitting conductive laminate in which at least a surface skin material and a transparent conductive base are sequentially laminated from the input side.