Segmented Touch Panel with Cover Layer for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high manufacturing and shipping costs of large-scale touch panels pose a challenge, as existing systems require expensive, rigid, one-piece substrates for large touch surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel composed of assembled substrate segments with a cover material to reduce seam visibility, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a kit for forming a substrate with interlocking panels that can be shipped unassembled to minimize labor and shipping costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid one-piece substrate is used for large touch surfaces, then structural integrity and stability are improved, but manufacturing and shipping costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is divided into multiple separate panels that can be manufactured independently at lower cost and shipped more efficiently. These panels are then assembled together to form a large touch surface, maintaining structural integrity while reducing manufacturing and shipping expenses.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple substrate panels are assembled to form a large touch surface, then shipping and manufacturing costs are reduced, but visible seams between panels deteriorate aesthetics
Solution Approach 1:
A cover sheet with a uniform color and texture is applied over the entire assembled substrate surface, including the seams between panels. This cover sheet visually masks the seams, creating a uniform appearance that improves aesthetics while allowing the multi-panel construction to remain for cost efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel comprises a substrate having a forward major surface and formed of a plurality of assembled substrate segments. Cover material overlies the forward major surface to reduce the visibility of seams between adjacent substrate segments.