Touch Screen Protector Spacer Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch screen protectors for handheld devices often trap air bubbles and dust, making them difficult to apply and remove, and can leave adhesive residue or interfere with the screen's appearance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen protector featuring a plastic film with a spacer along its perimeter, creating a non-contact distance from the screen, and micro-particles for anti-glare and anti-static effects, with a removable adhesive system that prevents residue and allows easy installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protector is in direct physical contact with the touch screen, then protection is provided, but air bubbles and dust are trapped and interference patterns arise
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer element is introduced as an intermediary between the protector film and the touch screen. This spacer maintains a small gap that prevents direct contact, thereby eliminating air bubbles and dust trapping while still providing effective protection. The spacer acts as a mediator that allows the protector to function without the harmful effects of direct contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The protector is constructed as a flexible thin film that can conform to the screen surface while maintaining a slight separation through the spacer. This flexible film structure allows the protector to provide coverage and protection without rigid contact, preventing interference patterns and bubble formation.
2Reliability
If adhesives are used to mount the protector, then the protector stays in place, but adhesive residue remains on the screen after removal
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer serves as an intermediary mounting structure that eliminates the need for adhesives to contact the screen. By providing a mechanical mounting interface through the spacer, the system achieves secure retention without adhesive residue on the screen surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful adhesive substance is extracted from the mounting process. The design removes adhesives from direct contact with the screen, using the spacer as an alternative mounting mechanism that achieves retention without the harmful residue problem.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the screen is cleaned frequently to remove fingerprints, then appearance is maintained, but the cleaning process is time-consuming and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer gap, which initially might seem to reduce protection effectiveness, actually converts into a benefit by creating a self-cleaning effect. Air circulation and natural debris accumulation in the gap reduce fingerprint transfer to the screen, decreasing cleaning frequency without sacrificing protection.
4Illumination intensity
If a glossy screen is used, then display quality is improved, but fingerprints and smudges are more visible
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer acts as an intermediary that prevents direct transfer of fingerprints from fingers to the glossy screen. By maintaining a gap between the protector and screen, the system preserves the glossy display quality while reducing the visibility and accumulation of fingerprints on the actual screen surface.
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 solution enables bubble-free installation, reduces glare and fingerprints, maintains screen sensitivity, and can be easily cleaned and re-applied without affecting the screen's appearance or functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the spacer has a thickness sufficient to space the plastic film near but not in contact with the touch screen portion
Implementation Method 2
The exposed adhesive along its outer perimeter is for removably mounting the protector upon the non-functional band
Implementation Method 3
micro-particles for anti-glare and anti-static effects
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a touch screen protector for a hand held electronic device having a front face that includes a touch screen portion and a non-functional band. The touch screen protector of the invention comprises a plastic film having front and back sides, an outer perimeter that corresponds to that of the device, and a transparent window; a spacer provided along the outer perimeter of the plastic film surrounding the transparent window, having a thickness sufficient to space the plastic film near but not in contact with the touch screen portion; an exposed adhesive for removably mounting the protector upon the outer perimeter of the front face to form an enclosed air space between the transparent window of the plastic film, the spacer and the touch screen portion of the device; and a joining adhesive for adhering the spacer to the back side of the plastic film.