Touch Indicating Cover Structure for Narrow-Bezel Touch Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing demand for thinner and narrower frames in touch-enabled electronic devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, poses a challenge in hiding peripheral wirings while maintaining appearance and touch area requirements.

Innovation Solution

A touch indicating cover is fabricated using a light-guide plastic piece, a printed circuit layer, an ink layer, and a light-emitting component, where the printed circuit layer is directly formed on the ink layer without adhesives or film-to-film bonding, and the light-emitting component is embedded in the light-guide plastic piece, allowing for a seamless and thin design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If traditional touch device structure with side frame is used, then peripheral wirings can be hidden, but the frame width and device thickness increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe widthVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the touch sensor, light guide, and frame structure into a single integrated touch indicating cover. The printed circuit layer is directly formed on the light guide plastic piece without separate adhesive layers, combining multiple functional layers into one unified structure that serves as both the frame and the touch sensing element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide plastic piece serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the frame structure, the light guide for display, and the substrate for the touch sensor. The printed circuit layer integrated directly onto it provides both structural support and electrical connectivity, eliminating the need for separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple layers and adhesives are used in touch indicating cover, then structural stability is maintained, but thickness and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcover thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates adhesive layers by directly forming the printed circuit layer on the light guide plastic piece. This merging of layers reduces the overall thickness while maintaining structural integrity through direct integration rather than bonded interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive layer from the traditional multi-layer structure. By removing this intermediate layer and directly integrating the printed circuit layer onto the light guide, the overall thickness is reduced while the essential structural stability is preserved through direct contact and integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of manufacture

If light-emitting component is placed outside the light guide, then assembly is simplified, but light efficiency and uniformity decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidlight uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The light-emitting component is embedded within the light guide plastic piece, nesting the light source inside the light guide structure. This ensures optimal light coupling and uniform distribution while the integrated printed circuit layer provides direct electrical connection, simplifying the overall assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The light guide plastic piece acts as an intermediary between the light-emitting component and the display. By embedding the light source within the light guide, the light guide itself serves as the medium that efficiently transfers and distributes light uniformly across the display area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This solution reduces the thickness and space of the touch indicating cover, enabling a narrow frame and thinning design while maintaining appearance beauty and enhancing touch sensing capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

The light-guide plastic piece has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, wherein the second surface of the light-guide plastic piece comprises a plurality of microstructures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guiding: Waveguide (optics)

Data Source

PatentUS11656713B2Touch indicating cover and electronic device using the same

Publication Date: 2023.05.23 DARWIN PRECISIONS CORP

AI summary

A touch indicating cover includes a light-guide plastic piece, a printed circuit layer, an ink layer, a passivation layer, and a light-emitting component. The light-guide plastic piece has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, wherein the second surface of the light-guide plastic piece comprises a plurality of microstructures. The printed circuit layer is disposed on the first surface of the light-guide plastic piece. The ink layer is disposed on the printed circuit layer and the first surface of the light-guide plastic piece, wherein the ink layer comprises a light-emitting pattern region corresponding to the microstructures. The passivation film is disposed on the ink layer. The light-emitting component is embedded in the first surface of the light-guide plastic piece and connected to the printed circuit layer, wherein the light-emitting component is disposed adjacent the light-emitting pattern region.