Sapphire Glass Operating Device with Nanocoating for Thermal Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle user interfaces face issues with temperature fluctuations, requiring significant installation space and lacking a high-quality impression, as they are often made of materials like metal or plastic that do not provide a comfortable 'cool touch' experience.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a glass actuation surface, preferably made of sapphire glass, featuring a nanocoating for scratch resistance and anti-reflective properties, combined with a touch sensor system and microswitches for precise input detection, allowing for a seamless, high-quality user interface that is insensitive to temperature and space constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal surfaces are used for user interfaces, then high temperature capacity and durability are achieved, but uncomfortable operation due to heat buildup occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the surface material from high (metal) to low (glass/ceramic), fundamentally altering the thermal behavior to prevent heat buildup while maintaining durability. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by selecting materials with inherently different thermal properties that satisfy both durability and comfort requirements.
2Ease of operation
If plastic surfaces are used for user interfaces, then comfortable operation and low thermal conductivity are achieved, but high-quality impression and durability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures, specifically glass-ceramic composites or layered composite panels, that combine the thermal insulation properties of ceramic materials with the aesthetic and structural properties of glass. This composite approach achieves both comfortable operation and high-quality impression simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between comfort and quality.
3Ease of operation
If additional haptic elements are added to provide tactile feedback, then operation quality is improved, but installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the haptic feedback function with the existing surface structure by incorporating micro-textures, raised patterns, or varying surface finishes directly into the glass/ceramic panel. This integration eliminates the need for separate haptic elements, providing tactile feedback while maintaining a compact design that requires minimal additional installation space.
4Strength
If glass surfaces are used for user interfaces, then scratch resistance and aesthetic quality are improved, but thermal conductivity issues may cause discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the inherent low thermal conductivity parameter of glass and ceramic materials to achieve thermal comfort. By selecting materials with appropriate thermal parameters, the design maintains scratch resistance while preventing excessive heat transfer, thus resolving the contradiction between durability and thermal comfort through careful material parameter selection.
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 glass surface provides a 'cool touch' experience, high-quality aesthetics, and reduced installation space, while the touch sensor system ensures accurate input detection and prevents unintentional commands, enabling a modern, efficient, and cost-effective user interface.
Implementation Method 1
the actuation surface can have a nanocoating at least in sections. In other words, a nano-coating is applied to the visible side of the structural element, which is a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, anti-fingerprint coating
Implementation Method 2
Due to the poor thermal conductivity of the glass material, a 'cool touch' effect can also be created, similar to touching ceramic surfaces
Implementation Method 3
A so-called touch sensor system on a capacitive basis is particularly suitable as a touch sensor for detecting the position of an operating element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The device (10) has a homogenous actuating surface (10a) forming a visible side of the device, where the visible side is designed as a continuous, uninterrupted surface. A symbol is represented on the actuating surface. A signal is outputted by the device to an electrical component, which is associated to the symbol, by contacting regions (10b) of the actuating surface with an actuating element. A glass panel (11) is formed from sapphire glass. The glass panel has a thickness of 3 mm. The actuating surface is sectionally provided with a nano coating (12).