Touch Sensor Illumination Layout for Localized Light and Better Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensor designs in electronic devices, such as optical disk players, often compromise on appearance due to the conspicuousness of the light source used for illumination, affecting the overall aesthetic quality and potentially leading to operational issues if the entire sensor region is illuminated.
Innovation Solution
A design incorporating a translucent portion on the touch sensor region with a light source positioned behind an elastic member featuring through hole portions, where the edge of the through hole portion is situated on the outer side of the translucent portion but within the sensor region, allowing concentrated light illumination without diffusing to the entire sensor area, thus enhancing appearance and preventing operational defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the entire sensor region is illuminated with a light source, then the touch sensor section is brightly lit, but the appearance quality deteriorates due to conspicuous illumination and the risk of operational defects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by illuminating only a specific local area (the translucent portion) rather than the entire sensor region. The light source is positioned to emit light toward a specific location, and the translucent portion is configured to concentrate this light locally, creating a bright focal point while keeping other areas dim. This resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient brightness where needed (improving illumination intensity) while avoiding excessive conspicuousness that would harm appearance quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor region into two distinct areas: a translucent portion that receives concentrated light illumination and a surrounding non-illuminated sensor region. This segmentation is achieved by positioning the light source to target only the translucent portion and by designing the translucent portion with specific optical properties. This segmentation allows the bright illumination to be confined to a small area, improving overall appearance quality while still providing adequate brightness for touch detection in the translucent region.
2Illumination intensity
If a light source is positioned to illuminate the entire sensor region, then comprehensive illumination is achieved, but additional components like reflection plates are needed increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the illumination system. Instead of using multiple components like reflection plates to achieve comprehensive illumination, the design relies on a single light source positioned to emit light toward the translucent portion, combined with the inherent optical properties of the translucent material. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces device complexity while still achieving the desired illumination effect in the critical translucent region.
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent portion serves a dual function: it acts as both the touch sensing element and the light-guiding element. The material's inherent optical properties (translucency and light concentration capability) allow it to guide and concentrate light from the source without requiring additional optical components. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate reflection plates or light guides, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective illumination.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source is positioned close to the sensor region, then concentrated illumination is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex requiring precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light source positioning with the structural design of the translucent portion. The light source is positioned to emit light toward the translucent portion, and the translucent portion is integrated into the sensor assembly in such a way that its position and orientation inherently guide the light concentration. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate positioning mechanisms and precision adjustment systems, lowering device complexity while maintaining concentrated illumination.
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 improves the visual appeal of electronic devices by ensuring the translucent portion is brightly illuminated while maintaining the functionality of the touch sensor and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for additional components like reflection plates.
Implementation Method 1
a translucent portion provided on an inner side of the sensor region... allowing concentrated light illumination without diffusing to the entire sensor area
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, the electronic device of this embodiment includes a housing, a first substrate provided in the housing and including a sensor region configured to sense a touch of a hand and a translucent portion provided on an inner side of the sensor region, a second substrate separated from the first substrate and includes a light source configured to emit light towards the translucent portion and an elastic member intermediated between the first and the second substrate and including a through hole portion inside of which the light source and the translucent portion are provided, in which an edge portion which defines a circumference of the through hole portion is situated on an outer side to the translucent portion and on an inner side to the sensor region.