Touch Sensor Assembly with Elastic PCB Support for Stable Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor assemblies for household appliances, such as refrigerators, face challenges in accurately sensing touch movements and maintaining recognition rates due to inadequate support structures and susceptibility to static electricity during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor assembly with a sensor housing and elastic member that presses the sensor PCB against the exterior member, supported by a sensor support portion, enhancing sensitivity and preventing inclination, while a separate sensor controller is used to process signals and prevent damage from static electricity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the touch sensor assembly is mounted without adequate support structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of touch movement detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into a sensor support portion with specific geometric features (protrusions and recesses) that provide targeted support at critical locations. This segmentation allows precise control of sensor positioning and touch force transmission without requiring a completely rigid complex structure, thereby improving measurement precision while controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor support portion provides localized support quality variations through its geometric design, with different regions offering different levels of support and flexibility. This local quality differentiation enables optimal touch force transmission to the sensor while maintaining overall structural simplicity, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
2Reliability
If the touch sensor is fully supported across its surface, then the stability of installation is improved, but the sensitivity to touch operations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into discrete support regions through the sensor support portion's geometric features, providing stability at specific locations while leaving other areas free to respond to touch. This segmented approach maintains installation stability without compromising touch sensitivity across the entire sensor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sensor assembly have different support qualities: the sensor support portion provides rigid support for stability, while the sensor PCB and elastic member regions maintain flexibility for sensitivity. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between installation stability and touch sensitivity.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor PCB is pressed firmly against the exterior member, then the touch recognition accuracy is improved, but the sensor becomes susceptible to damage from static electricity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the sensor PCB and the exterior member, providing the necessary pressing force for accurate touch recognition while isolating the sensor PCB from direct contact with potentially damaging static electricity sources. This intermediary approach maintains measurement precision while protecting against harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor controller is separated from the sensor PCB, extracting the vulnerable electronic control functions from the area susceptible to static electricity damage. This separation allows the sensor PCB to be firmly pressed for accurate touch recognition while the controller can be protected or isolated from static discharge paths.
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 improves touch recognition accuracy and sensitivity by concentrating force on the center of the touch sensor, preventing inclination, and maintaining a stable installation state, while also protecting against static electricity damage during manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member which is disposed at the rear of the sensor PCB and presses the sensor PCB toward a rear surface of the external member
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sensor housing disposed at a rear surface of an external member on which a touch operation unit on which a user touches is marked, a sensor PCB accommodated in the sensor housing, and an elastic member which is disposed at a rear side of the sensor PCB and presses the sensor PCB toward a rear surface of the external member, wherein the elastic member is mounted in an elastic member accommodation portion formed at a bottom surface of the sensor housing.