Touch Module Light Guide Film Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic apparatuses, such as smartphones and tablets, increase in screen size and speaker box volume, there is a lack of space for additional components like light-emitting elements in the touch module, which are essential for guiding light to icons for touch sensing functions.
Innovation Solution
The light-emitting element is mounted on the flexible printed circuit board, which is electrically connected to the touch sensor layer, allowing light to be transmitted through a light guide film to the transparent icon without the need for additional printed circuit boards, thereby reducing the overall volume of the touch module and electronic apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a light-emitting element is disposed on an additional PCB or FPC to illuminate icons, then the icon visibility is improved, but the device volume increases and space for other components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-emitting element directly onto the touch sensor layer, eliminating the need for separate PCB or FPC structures. This integration combines multiple functions (touch sensing and light emission) into a single layered structure, reducing overall device volume while maintaining icon illumination capability
Solution Approach 2:
The touch sensor layer is designed to serve dual purposes: both detecting touch input and supporting the light-emitting element for icon illumination. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional dedicated structures, thereby reducing device volume while achieving both touch sensing and lighting functions
2Illumination intensity
If screen size and speaker box volume are increased continuously, then display quality and audio performance are improved, but space for additional components like light-emitting elements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the light-emitting element directly onto the touch sensor layer, the patent eliminates the need for additional space-consuming PCB or FPC structures. This merging approach allows larger screen and speaker components to be accommodated within the same device volume
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement requiring additional board space to a vertical layered structure where the light-emitting element is positioned in a different dimension (on the touch sensor layer), effectively utilizing three-dimensional space rather than consuming additional two-dimensional area
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 configuration allows for a reduction in the volume of the touch module and electronic apparatus, providing more space for other components while maintaining effective light transmission to the icons for touch sensing functions.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted by the light-emitting element is transmitted to the transparent icon through the light guide film by light -emitting element being adjacent to an edge of the light guide film, and the light emitted by the light-emitting element enters the light guide film from the edge of the light guide film
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A touch module, adapted for an electronic apparatus and including a cover, a touch sensor layer, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a light-emitting element and a light guide film is provided. The cover has at least one transparent icon. The touch sensor layer and the FPC are disposed under the cover, and the FPC is electrically connected to the touch sensor layer. The light-emitting element is mounted on the FPC, wherein the FPC is located between the cover and the light-emitting element. The light guide film is disposed under the cover, wherein the touch sensor layer is located between the cover and the light guide film. Light emitted by the light-emitting element is transmitted to the transparent icon through the light guide film. In addition, an electronic apparatus is also provided.