Conductive Mesh and Signal Conditioning for Mobile Device Electrostatic Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor transmission of airborne viruses in low-relative humidity environments, particularly through interactions between electrically charged aerosols and devices like capacitive touchscreens and mobile phones, remains a challenge due to electrostatic interactions that can lead to aerosol accumulation or dispersion.
Innovation Solution
The use of conductive meshes, electrostatic films, and Earth-grounded circuits in mobile devices and charging systems to reduce electrostatic fields, specifically by incorporating components like bridge rectifiers, linear regulators, and Faraday shields to limit AC electric fields to less than 100 V/m, minimizing interactions with aerosols and dust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional mobile devices and capacitive touchscreens are used without additional shielding components, then device functionality and manufacturing simplicity are maintained, but electrostatic field levels remain high enough to cause aerosol accumulation on surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Faraday shields by nesting conductive mesh layers within the existing device structure. The conductive mesh is positioned between the touchscreen and the user, effectively nesting the shielding layer within the device's existing form factor without requiring external additions. This nested approach reduces electrostatic field exposure to aerosols while maintaining device functionality and minimizing structural complexity increases.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If standard charging circuits are used without signal conditioning components, then circuit simplicity and manufacturing cost are maintained, but AC electric field levels exceed 100 V/m causing enhanced aerosol interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces signal conditioning components (bridge rectifier, linear regulator, noise conditioner) as intermediary elements between the AC power source and the device charging circuit. These intermediaries filter and condition the incoming power signal to reduce AC electric field emissions below 100 V/m, thereby minimizing aerosol interactions during charging while maintaining standard charging functionality.
3Reliability
If no electrostatic field reduction measures are implemented, then manufacturing cost and device simplicity are maintained, but the risk of virus-laden aerosol accumulation on device surfaces increases in low humidity environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Faraday shields by nesting conductive mesh layers within the existing device structure. The conductive mesh is positioned between the touchscreen and the user, effectively nesting the shielding layer within the device's existing form factor without requiring external additions. This nested approach reduces electrostatic field exposure to aerosols while maintaining device functionality and minimizing structural complexity increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces signal conditioning components (bridge rectifier, linear regulator, noise conditioner) as intermediary elements between the AC power source and the device charging circuit. These intermediaries filter and condition the incoming power signal to reduce AC electric field emissions below 100 V/m, thereby minimizing aerosol interactions during charging while maintaining standard charging functionality.
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
Effectively reduces the risk of aerosol and virus accumulation on devices by minimizing electrostatic interactions, with optimized embodiments achieving AC electric field reductions to below 20 V/m RMS, enhancing safety in indoor environments.
Implementation Method 1
reducing electrostatic field from a mobile device or capacitive touchscreen using one or more conductive meshes sized to shield a region of a mobile device or capacitive touchscreen
Implementation Method 2
processing signals used to charge the mobile device or capacitive touchscreen using one or more of a bridge rectifier, linear regulator
Implementation Method 3
such that the level of AC electric fields which emanate from the mobile phone or capacitive touchscreen is less than about 100 V/m
Implementation Method 4
a conductive Faraday shield which is placed on the back surface of the mobile phone in order to reduce the overall DC electrostatic charge on the mobile phone
Implementation Method 5
incorporates a transparent electrostatic film on the front and back surfaces of the mobile phone and which has the primary purpose of minimizing the DC electrostatic charge on the mobile phone
Data Source
AI summary
In part, the disclosure relates to a method of reducing the interaction of mobile phones and capacitive touchscreens with electrically charged aerosols. The method may include reducing electrostatic field from a mobile device using one or more conductive meshes sized to shield a region of a mobile device, wherein the region of the mobile device is an electric field source. Additionally, the method may also include processing signals used to charge the mobile device using one or more of a linear regulator and a signal conditioner to reduce harmonic content of the signals such that the voltage level of signals used to charge the mobile device is less than about 100 V/m RMS, or even more preferably to less than about 20 V/m RMS.