Low Friction Coating for Display Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass panels used in display devices are prone to scratching and contamination from fingerprints, leading to unsteady character images and the need for commercial cleaning agents, which complicates maintenance, especially in touch-panel applications.
Innovation Solution
A substrate coating with a coefficient of friction between 0.01 and 0.12, achieved through an anti-reflective coating and a thin cover layer, reduces surface roughness, prevents scratching, and significantly minimizes fingerprint adhesion, allowing for easy dry cleaning and reduced visibility of contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional glass panel is coated with a fluoro-organic compound to provide scratch resistance and reduced air friction, then the surface durability is improved, but the surface becomes rough which causes scratching by ball pens and affects the surface quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite coating system consisting of multiple layers: a fluoro-organic compound layer providing hydrophobicity and scratch resistance, and a transparent oxide layer (such as silicon oxide, titanium oxide, or aluminum oxide) providing smoothness. This composite structure combines the beneficial properties of both materials to achieve both scratch resistance and surface smoothness simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface properties by controlling the thickness and composition parameters of the coating layers. The transparent oxide layer is applied with specific thickness parameters to achieve the desired balance between hardness for scratch resistance and smoothness for preventing pen scratching, while the fluoro-organic compound is applied at controlled thickness to provide hydrophobicity without excessive surface roughness
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a coating system with high contact angle is applied to provide hydrophobicity and dirt repellence, then the dirt repellence is improved, but the surface remains rough and susceptible to contamination from fingerprints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite coating system where the fluoro-organic compound provides high contact angle and hydrophobicity, while the transparent oxide layer provides a smooth surface that reduces fingerprint adhesion. The combination of these two materials addresses both the dirt repellence requirement and the fingerprint resistance requirement simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different functional properties to different layers of the coating system: the fluoro-organic compound layer provides hydrophobicity for dirt repellence, while the transparent oxide layer provides surface smoothness for reducing fingerprint adhesion. Each layer performs its specific function locally within the multi-layer structure
3Illumination intensity
If a multi-layer interference coating is applied to provide anti-reflective effect, then the optical performance is improved, but the coating adds complexity and the surface properties are not optimized for low friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coating system into distinct functional layers: an anti-reflective coating layer with specific optical properties, a transparent oxide layer for smoothness and low friction, and a fluoro-organic compound layer for hydrophobicity. Each layer is optimized for its specific function, allowing the anti-reflective effect to be achieved without compromising the low friction property
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
The coating ensures a smooth surface that prevents scratching and contamination, enabling easy cleaning and improved usability in touch-panel applications by reducing the coefficient of friction and adhesion of organic substances, thus enhancing the durability and maintenance of display devices.
Implementation Method 1
the coating on the surface exhibits a coefficient of friction (tan a) in the range between approximately 0.01 and 0.12
Implementation Method 2
a multi-layer interference coating can also find use for an anti-reflection system
Implementation Method 3
through the coating with a fluoro-organic compound, glass panels... are provided which distinguish themselves through high scratch resistance, reduced air friction, improved sliding of windshield wipers as well as dirt repellence
Data Source
AI summary
A device, in particular a cover panel for a display device or a monitor auxiliary panel or a surface for input devices, includes a substrate and a coating applied onto the substrate. The coating has a surface having a coefficient of friction in the range between approximately 0.01 and 0.12, in particular between approximately 0.02 and 0.1, or between approximately 0.03 and 0.09.