Capacitive Touch Switch Electrode Layout for Uniform Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touch switches face challenges in improving design uniformity and aesthetics due to the presence of dummy electrodes and silver nanowires, which increase costs and result in ununiform design appearances, especially when FPC and wire attached portions are adjacent.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive touch switch design featuring a glass substrate with a sensor portion, an FPC wire attached portion, and a wire network, where the connection portion has a gradually thinner electrode pattern width from the FPC wire attached portion to the wire network, increasing the opening rate and matching the electrode pattern color with the background, thereby reducing design ununiformity and enhancing aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If dummy electrodes and silver nanowires are used to improve appearance, then decorativeness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the connection portion by making the electrode pattern width gradually thinner from the FPC wire attached portion toward the wire network. This parameter change increases the opening rate and allows the connection portion to blend with the background, achieving good appearance without requiring expensive dummy electrodes or silver nanowires.
2Device complexity
If FPC and wire attached portions are arranged adjacent to each other, then device integration is improved, but design uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the electrode pattern width vary in different regions. Specifically, the connection portion has a gradually thinner width transitioning from the FPC wire attached portion toward the wire network, while other portions maintain their standard thickness. This local variation in electrode width achieves design uniformity while maintaining adjacent arrangement of FPC and wire portions.
3Ease of manufacture
If electrode pattern width is made uniform, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but appearance quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics into the electrode pattern design by making the width variable rather than static and uniform. The connection portion features a gradual transition in width from one end to the other, creating a dynamic visual effect that improves appearance quality while remaining manufacturable through standard patterning processes with appropriate parameter specifications.
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 capacitive touch switch achieves improved design uniformity and aesthetics by increasing the opening rate of the connection portion, making the FPC wire attached portion less conspicuous and harmonizing with the glass substrate, resulting in a more appealing and decorative touch switch appearance.
Implementation Method 1
when a surface of the cover 2′ is touched by a finger, electrostatic coupling is generated between the sensor electrode 3′ and the finger, and thereby capacitance of the electrode is changed
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a capacitive touch switch capable of improving ununiformity of design and improving appearance relating to design or decorativeness. A capacitive touch switch 1 includes a glass substrate 2, a sensor portion formed at a side of an opposite surface opposite to a touch surface of the glass substrate. The sensor portion includes a center portion A of a wire attached portion 4 to a flexible printed circuit, and a connection portion C connected to the wire network B. In the connection portion C, an opening rate in a capacitive touch switch panel is increased by setting an electrode pattern width to be thinner from the wire attached portion A toward the wire network B.