Touch Sensor Assembly Securing via Flexible Spacers and Insulator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch input technologies for mobile and personal communication devices rely on physical buttons, which can be cumbersome, and while touch sensing technologies offer alternatives, they require secure and reliable integration within the device case to effectively detect touch-press events.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor assembly is secured within a device using a touch sensor slot with alternating flexible spacer elements and an elastic insulator material, allowing for precise detection of touch-press conditions through deflection sensing, utilizing inductive or capacitive sensing technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a touch sensor assembly is integrated into a device case, then touch-press detection capability is improved, but secure and reliable integration within the device case becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The device case is segmented by forming a dedicated touch sensor slot within it, separating the touch sensor assembly integration function from the rest of the case structure. This segmentation allows for standardized, reliable integration while maintaining the overall device design.
Solution Approach 2:
Flexible spacer elements are introduced as intermediary components between the touch sensor assembly and the device case slot walls. These spacers mediate the connection, providing mechanical support, spacing, and flexibility to ensure reliable integration while allowing for thermal expansion and assembly tolerances.
2Measurement precision
If flexible spacer elements are used to space the touch flex sensor from slot walls, then sensing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Flexible spacer elements in the form of thin film structures are used to maintain precise spacing between the touch flex sensor and slot walls. These flexible spacers provide consistent mechanical support while allowing for minor deformations, ensuring sensing accuracy without requiring complex rigid positioning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into the flexible spacer elements: they provide mechanical support, maintain precise spacing for sensing accuracy, allow for thermal expansion, and facilitate assembly. This consolidation reduces overall device complexity despite the precision requirements.
3Reliability
If an elastic insulator material is introduced into the touch sensor slot, then sensor protection and isolation are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elastic insulator material is introduced into the touch sensor slot to provide both mechanical protection and electrical isolation for the touch flex sensor. This composite material solution simultaneously addresses protection and isolation requirements in a single manufacturing step, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
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 solution enables reliable and efficient detection of touch-press events by spacing the touch flex sensor from slot walls with flexible spacers and an insulator, allowing for accurate sensing of button deflection and press conditions, enhancing user input in mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
at least three alternating front-side and back-side flexible spacer elements attached to the touch flex sensor
Implementation Method 2
allowing for precise detection of touch-press conditions through deflection sensing
Implementation Method 3
Touch sensing can be based on inductive sensing with an inductor coil sensor
Implementation Method 4
capacitive sensing with a capacitive electrode, disposed within the device case at the back-side of the touch button surface
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to secure a touch sensor assembly for a device touch button (such as for a mobile communications device). A touch sensor slot IS integral with the device at the touch button area. A touch sensor assembly includes a touch flex sensor, and at least three alternating front-side and back-side flexible spacer elements attached to the touch flex sensor. The touch flex sensor can be secured within the touch sensor slot, and spaced from the front-side and back-side slot walls by respectively the front-side and back-side spacer elements. An elastic insulator material is introduced into the touch sensor slot surrounding the touch flex sensor. The sensor slot can be formed in a device wall, or formed by a touch sensor slot structure attached to the device at the touch button area, with an interior surface of the device forming a front-side wall of the touch sensor slot.