Redundant Touch Panel With EMI Shielding and Gasket Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch screen displays lack redundancy and EMC endurance, making them unsuitable for applications requiring reliability under extreme conditions and potential electromagnetic interference, such as military and aviation settings.

Innovation Solution

A touch screen display assembly with redundant input/output devices and EMI shielding, utilizing a normally black LCD with a resistive or projected capacitive touch panel, and a gasket for protection, along with independent channels for input/output signals, ensuring continued operability and reduced electromagnetic interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant input/output devices are added to ensure continued operation under partial failure, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is divided into multiple independent zones, each with its own input/output device. This segmentation allows the system to maintain functionality in remaining zones if one zone fails, achieving redundancy without requiring a complete backup system and thus managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple input/output devices are integrated into a single touch panel structure, sharing common control logic and processing resources. This merging approach provides redundancy while avoiding the complexity of completely separate systems, as the shared infrastructure reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If EMI shielding measures are implemented to reduce electromagnetic interference, then EMC endurance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEMC enduranceVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

EMI shielding layers are introduced as intermediary elements between the touch panel components and the external electromagnetic environment. These shielding layers act as mediators that block harmful electromagnetic interference while allowing the touch panel to function normally, adding protection without fundamentally changing the core touch panel structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel incorporates composite material structures with inherent EMI shielding properties, combining conductive and insulating materials in a layered configuration. This approach provides effective EMI protection while maintaining the flexibility and touch sensitivity of the panel, avoiding the need for separate complex shielding systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the touch panel is designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions including high solar loading, then visibility and reliability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel employs local quality enhancements at critical areas exposed to extreme conditions, such as reinforced bonding layers and specialized coatings at the edges and corners. This targeted approach provides the necessary environmental resistance where needed while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple for the bulk of the panel structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The panel uses composite material constructions with layers specifically selected for their resistance to UV radiation, temperature extremes, and moisture. These composite structures provide enhanced environmental durability while maintaining compatibility with standard manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for specialized or complex manufacturing techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3360030B1Redundant touch panel
Publication Date: 2021.11.17 MERCURY MISSION SYSTEMS LLC
  • EP3360030B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3360030B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3360030B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A redundant touch panel (114) is placed above an electronic display (112) and the assembly is housed in a sealed gasket. The touch panel (1 14) has at least two adjoining, seamless touch sections, each in communication with an input/output device (116). The touch panel may be comprised of electronic circuits configured to minimize electromagnetic interference. Detectors are placed adjacent to the touch sections to detect signals therefrom. The electronic display (112) is comprised of multiple layers configured to provide visibility in bright ambient conditions.