Touch Sensor Spacers for Uniform Air Gap Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch sensors face challenges in maintaining a consistent air gap between the cover panel and the substrate, which affects measurement sensitivity and makes it difficult to separate components for troubleshooting or manufacturing, especially when using adhesive layers or attaching a rigid cover panel to a rigid substrate.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating spacers, such as microdots or hexahedron-shaped insulating materials, between the cover panel and the substrate to maintain a uniform air gap and facilitate easy separation, while also simplifying the attachment process to integrated sensor-display modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive layers are used to attach the cover panel to the substrate, then the attachment strength is improved, but the ease of separation for troubleshooting or manufacturing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spacers as discrete support elements distributed across the substrate, segmenting the support function rather than using a continuous adhesive layer. This segmentation allows the cover panel to be separated at specific points without requiring complete adhesive bond breakdown, facilitating easier troubleshooting and manufacturing while maintaining overall attachment strength through the distributed spacer network.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid cover panel is attached to a rigid substrate, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of separation for manufacturing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers act as intermediary elements between the rigid cover panel and rigid substrate, providing mechanical support and maintaining the air gap without creating permanent adhesive bonds. This intermediary approach allows the rigid components to remain stable during operation while enabling easy separation during manufacturing and troubleshooting, as the spacers can be removed or adjusted without damaging the rigid panels.
3Measurement precision
If the air gap between cover panel and substrate is reduced to improve measurement sensitivity, then the measurement precision is improved, but the risk of warping and visual interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing support only at specific locations where spacers are positioned, rather than continuous support. This localized support maintains the air gap uniformly at critical measurement points, ensuring measurement sensitivity while preventing warping only where needed. The spacers create localized support zones that maintain the optimal air gap distance without requiring the entire panel assembly to be perfectly flat, thereby reducing visual interference from warping.
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 use of spacers ensures consistent air gap maintenance, enhances measurement sensitivity, and allows for easier component separation and manufacturing, reducing the risk of warping and visual interference, while enabling separate manufacturing of touch sensor components and cover panels.
Implementation Method 1
spacers between the substrate and cover panel to maintain a uniform air gap
Implementation Method 2
When an object touches or comes within proximity of the surface of the capacitive touch screen, a change in capacitance may occur within the touch screen at the location of the touch or proximity
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes an insulating substrate comprising a first face. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the insulating substrate. The touch sensor may also include a plurality of spacers extending outwardly from the first face of the first insulating substrate. Each spacer of the plurality of spacers may extend substantially the same distance from the first face of the insulating substrate. The plurality of spacers are operable to maintain a substantially consistent air gap between the plurality of electrodes and a cover panel when the cover panel is attached to the insulating substrate.