Liquid Crystal Focus Cell Stepped Layers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensor devices face challenges in manufacturing efficiency and reliability due to the complexity of connecting liquid crystal focus cells with electrically conductive adhesives, leading to issues like open contacts and electrical shorting, which increase production costs and reduce yield.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor device incorporates a liquid crystal focus cell with a plurality of cell layers and electrically conductive contacts, where the electrically conductive adhesive body is used to couple the contacts to conductive traces, and the cell layers have beveled or stepped peripheral edges to enhance connectivity and reduce the risk of electrical shorts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrically conductive adhesive is used to connect liquid crystal cell contacts to traces, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to open contacts and electrical shorting
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal cell is divided into multiple cell layers with different widths, creating a stepped structure that segments the adhesive application areas. This segmentation allows each layer to be connected independently with controlled adhesive application, reducing the risk of electrical shorts between adjacent contacts while maintaining reliable connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cell layers have different widths (local geometric variation) to create distinct connection zones. This local quality change ensures that adhesive applied to connect one contact does not spread to adjacent contacts, thereby preventing electrical shorts while maintaining reliable electrical connection in each local area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If liquid crystal cell with multiple contacts is manufactured, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases leading to more potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The cell structure is segmented into multiple layers with different widths, where each layer serves a specific electrical connection function. This segmentation allows the complex multi-contact cell to be manufactured through simplified sequential processes, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell structure utilizes vertical layering (adding a dimensional aspect) to organize multiple contacts and their connections. By stacking cell layers with different widths vertically, the design manages complexity through spatial organization rather than planar arrangement, making the multifunctional cell more manageable during manufacturing.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional adhesive dispensing is used to fill recess, then manufacturing process is simplified, but productivity decreases due to precise dispensing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive application process is segmented into discrete steps corresponding to each cell layer connection. Instead of requiring precise dispensing to fill an entire recess at once, the stepped cell structure allows adhesive to be applied sequentially to each layer's connection point, significantly reducing precision requirements and increasing manufacturing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell layers are pre-structured with different widths before adhesive application. This preliminary geometric configuration creates naturally defined adhesive application zones, eliminating the need for complex real-time dispensing control during manufacturing and enabling faster mass production.
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 the need for precise adhesive dispensing, minimizes open circuits and short circuits, thereby lowering manufacturing costs and improving production yield.
Implementation Method 1
a small control voltage is applied to dynamically change the refractive index of the material the light passes through
Implementation Method 2
an electrically conductive adhesive body coupling at least one of the second plurality of electrically conductive contacts to a corresponding one of the first plurality of electrically conductive traces
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor device may include an interconnect layer, an image sensor IC on the interconnect layer, and a barrel adjacent the interconnect layer and having first electrically conductive traces. The image sensor device may include a liquid crystal focus cell carried by the barrel and having cell layers, and second electrically conductive contacts. A pair of adjacent cell layers may have different widths. The image sensor device may include an electrically conductive adhesive body coupling at least one of the second electrically conductive contacts to a corresponding one of the first electrically conductive traces.