Touch Panel Shatterproof Layer Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch panels in portable electronic devices are prone to damage and cracking due to accidental drops, leading to potential damage of the touch circuits, which affects their strength and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A touch panel design incorporating a substrate, a masking layer, a touch circuit structure, a protective layer, and a shatterproof layer, where the shatterproof layer covers the touch circuit structure and substrate edges to absorb energy and prevent cracking, enhancing the panel's fracture strength and maintaining the integrity of the touch circuit even if the substrate cracks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the substrate is made thicker to improve strength, then the fracture strength improves, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining the substrate with a shatterproof layer made of different material properties. The substrate provides structural support while the shatterproof layer (made of materials like PMMA, cyclic-olefin-based resin, or polycarbonate) provides shock absorption and crack prevention. This composite structure achieves improved fracture strength without simply increasing the substrate thickness, thereby avoiding the associated complexity and weight increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The shatterproof layer serves as a beforehand cushioning mechanism that absorbs impact energy before it reaches the substrate and touch circuit structure. This prior cushioning effect prevents cracks from forming in the first place or prevents crack propagation, effectively improving fracture strength without requiring a thicker or more complex substrate structure.
2Strength
If the substrate is made thicker to improve strength, then the fracture strength improves, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing substrate thickness to improve strength, the patent uses a composite structure where a thinner substrate is combined with a shatterproof layer. The shatterproof layer absorbs impact energy, allowing the substrate to remain thinner and lighter while still achieving improved fracture strength through the protective effect of the composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shatterproof layer provides beforehand cushioning that absorbs impact energy before it can damage the substrate. This allows the substrate to be made thinner and lighter since it doesn't need to bear the full brunt of impact forces on its own, thus reducing weight while maintaining strength through the protective layer's cushioning effect.
3Reliability
If the touch circuit structure is protected from substrate cracks, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shatterproof layer acts as an intermediary protective layer between the substrate and the touch circuit structure. When the substrate cracks, the shatterproof layer absorbs the stress and prevents crack propagation to the touch circuit structure. This intermediary layer provides reliable protection without requiring complex protective mechanisms or additional structural elements, thus improving reliability with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shatterproof layer provides beforehand cushioning that protects the touch circuit structure from substrate cracks before they can cause damage. By absorbing impact energy and preventing crack propagation in advance, this simple protective mechanism improves touch circuit reliability without requiring complex protective structures or additional protective layers.
4Reliability
If a protective layer is added to cover the touch circuit structure, then the reliability improves, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shatterproof layer is integrated with the substrate to form a composite structure that can be manufactured as a unified assembly. This integration approach improves reliability by providing continuous protection to the touch circuit structure while reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to adding separate protective layers and components that would require precise alignment and assembly.
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 shatterproof layer effectively reduces the risk of touch circuit damage by absorbing energy during impacts, improving the panel's fracture strength and allowing for easier maintenance by enabling the replacement of cracked substrates without damaging the touch circuit structure.
Implementation Method 1
when the substrate is collided, the first shatterproof layer can absorb parts of energy. Accordingly, the energy absorbed by the substrate is reduced
Data Source
AI summary
A touch panel includes a substrate, a masking layer, a touch circuit structure, a protective layer and a first shatterproof layer. The substrate has an upper surface and a first lateral surface disposed on the peripheral of the upper surface and extending outward from the upper surface. The masking layer is disposed on an edge of the upper surface. The touch circuit structure is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate. The protective layer covers at least the touch circuit structure and has a second lateral surface. The first shatterproof layer covers the second lateral surface and at least a part of the first lateral surface.