Touch Screen Shield with Planar Air Bearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch sensitive screens on electronic devices are prone to cracking and scratching, leading to costly repairs or replacements, and existing protective films fail to provide effective impact absorption and often leave unsightly air bubbles.
Innovation Solution
A transparent shield with a base layer and sacrificial layers that form a planar air bearing by creating an enclosed air gap between the shield and the screen, using a thin adhesive layer and a protective liner to lift the shield off the screen, while sacrificial layers can be replaced as they become damaged, and an opaque border can hide air bubbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective film is adhered to the touch sensitive screen, then protection against scratching and impact is provided, but unsightly air bubbles are formed between the film and the screen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air bubbles from the system by creating a vacuum environment during the lamination process. The vacuum chamber extracts air from between the protective film and the screen, eliminating the harmful air bubbles while maintaining the protective function of the film.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the protective film with adhesive before lamination, and preparing the vacuum chamber in advance. The adhesive is applied to the film surface beforehand, and the vacuum environment is established before the actual bonding occurs, ensuring proper adhesion without air entrapment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective film is adhered to the touch sensitive screen, then protection is provided, but the touch sensitivity and image quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a transparent protective film that maintains optical clarity and touch sensitivity in the display area, while providing enhanced protection at the edges and corners where impact is most likely to occur. The film's properties are optimized locally to balance protection and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a thin, flexible protective film that conforms to the screen surface and allows touch input to pass through effectively. The film's flexibility ensures it does not interfere with the capacitive sensing of the touch screen while providing the necessary mechanical protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing protective films are used, then some protection is provided, but no effective impact absorption is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a transparent protective film with an adhesive layer and utilizing the vacuum lamination process. This composite structure provides both scratch resistance from the film surface and impact absorption through the bonded layers, creating a more robust protective system than a single material could provide.
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 effectively absorbs impacts, prevents scratching, maintains touch sensitivity, and eliminates optical artifacts like air bubbles, allowing for cost-effective protection of touch sensitive screens without compromising functionality or image quality.
Implementation Method 1
A planar air bearing may be formed between the base transparent layer and the touch sensitive screen by attaching only the outer peripheral portion of the base transparent layer to the touch sensitive screen. The adhesive surrounding the base transparent layer forms an enclosed air gap and traps air between the base transparent layer and the touch sensitive screen.
Implementation Method 2
adhering a protective liner to the underside of the base transparent layer. When the outer peripheral portion of the base transparent layer is adhered to the touch sensitive screen, the base transparent layer is placed into tension by the step thereby lifting the protective liner above and off of the touch sensitive screen.
Data Source
AI summary
A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.