Touch Device Light-Emitting Integration to Reduce Manufacturing Cost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch devices face challenges in reducing cost and size due to the need for specific light-permeable materials and complex printing processes, and require additional illuminating devices that often mismatch the designed illuminated region.
Innovation Solution
A touch device design incorporating a substrate with a light-emitting element, a light-shielding member, a sensing board, and a light-passing board, where the light-emitting element is positioned within an opening of the light-shielding member, and the sensing board is electrically connected to the substrate, allowing the light to pass through and form patterns without the need for opaque ink or paint, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing material costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If transparent flexible plates with specific light permeability are used and printing process is performed, then pattern visibility is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and device size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light-emitting function from traditional LED illuminating devices and integrates it directly into the substrate where the sensing board is located. This eliminates the need for separate illuminating devices and their associated complex printing processes, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining pattern visibility through the substrate material itself
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both the structural base for mounting components and as the light-emitting element that provides illumination for the touch sensor. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transparent flexible plates and printing processes, simplifying manufacturing while achieving both cost reduction and precision pattern formation
2Ease of operation
If LED or other illuminating devices are disposed below sensors to show patterns, then pattern visibility is achieved, but the illuminated region mismatches the designed region and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the substrate and light-emitting element into a single integrated component. The substrate itself serves as the light-emitting element, eliminating the need for separate LED illuminating devices positioned below the sensors. This integration ensures that the illuminated region precisely matches the designed sensing region while significantly reducing structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate acts as an intermediary that directly provides illumination to the sensing board without requiring separate illuminating devices. By using the substrate material itself as the light source, the patent achieves precise regional illumination matching while simplifying the overall device structure
3Reliability
If opaque ink or paint is printed on flexible plates, then sensing board functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing functionality from the traditional approach of printing opaque ink or paint on flexible plates. Instead, the sensing board is directly mounted on the substrate which provides its own illumination, eliminating the need for complex printing processes while maintaining full sensing functionality through the integrated structure
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 design reduces manufacturing complexity and costs by allowing the use of lower-cost, higher-strength materials and enabling the formation of patterns without the need for transparent sensing boards, while maintaining the touch-control functionality and pattern visibility.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting element, disposed on the substrate; a light-shielding member, disposed on the substrate, wherein the light-shielding member has a first opening, and the light-emitting element is located in the first opening
Implementation Method 2
a thin film disposed between the sensing board and the light-passing board. A pattern is formed on the thin film, and the light emitted by the light-emitting element passes through the thin film and shows the pattern
Data Source
AI summary
A touch device is provided. The touch device includes a substrate, a light-emitting element, a light-shielding member, a sensing board, and a light-passing board. The light-emitting element is disposed on the substrate. The light-shielding member is disposed on the substrate, wherein the light-shielding member has a first opening, and the light-emitting element is located in the first opening. The sensing board is disposed on the light-shielding member, and is electrically connected to the substrate. The sensing board has a second opening, and the first opening and the second opening overlap. The light-passing board is disposed on the sensing board, and covers the first opening and the second opening.