Transparent Touchpad Interface Module with Magnesium Surround

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing touch screen interface modules for vehicle interiors suffer from image fuzziness and misalignment of selection zones when viewed at oblique angles due to excessive spacing between the touchpad and display screen, which also exposes unattractive technical parts and increases the risk of electrostatic discharge.

Innovation Solution

A transparent touchpad and display screen assembly with a magnesium frontal surround that minimizes the spacing between the touchpad and screen, using a thin internal rim and a silicone seal for bonding, and a polarizing film to create a flush, aesthetically pleasing interface with electrostatic discharge protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the spacing between the touchpad and display screen is increased, then the ease of assembly and handling is improved, but the optical quality deteriorates with image fuzziness and misalignment at oblique viewing angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidoptical quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The interface module is divided into separate front housing and rear housing sections, with the touchpad mounted in the front housing and the display screen in the rear housing. This segmentation allows independent positioning and assembly of each component while maintaining precise spacing control through the modular housing structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the spacing between the touchpad and display screen is increased, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the alignment precision deteriorates with selection zones no longer corresponding to pressure zones

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If the spacing between the touchpad and display screen is increased, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the aesthetic quality deteriorates by exposing unattractive technical parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidaesthetic quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The front housing and rear housing are merged into a single integrated surround structure that encloses both the touchpad and display screen. This merging conceals the technical components within the housing while maintaining the functional spacing between the touchpad and screen, achieving both aesthetic quality and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Manufacturing precision

If the internal rim thickness is reduced to minimize spacing, then the optical quality is improved, but the mechanical strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical qualityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The surround is constructed from magnesium alloy, a composite material that provides high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent dimensional stability. This allows the internal rim to be made very thin (0.35-0.5 mm) while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength and rigidity to support the touchpad and display screen assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

5Reliability

If the surround is made conductive for ESD protection, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveESD protectionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surround material is changed from non-conductive plastic to conductive magnesium alloy, fundamentally changing the electrical parameter of the material. This single parameter change provides ESD protection through the material's inherent conductivity while requiring no additional grounding components or complex manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances the optical quality and mechanical cohesion of the touch screen, reduces image fuzziness, and maintains a smooth surface finish while providing protection against electrostatic discharge, ensuring accurate input recognition and improved user experience even at large viewing angles.

Implementation Method 1

a transparent touchpad, able to detect a press by a user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The touchpad and the display screen are held against the internal rim by bonding. Nonlimitingly, this means of bonding may be a double-sided adhesive, a UV-sensitive adhesive or even a silicone-based adhesive.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS9939939B2Interface module

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 DAV

AI summary

An interface module includes a touchpad that is transparent and able to detect a user's press, a display screen, disposed behind and cooperating with the touchpad to form a touch screen, and a front frame including an exterior periphery and an internal rim, delimiting in the interior space of the front frame a front housing and a rear housing. The touchpad is disposed inside the front housing and the display screen is disposed inside the rear housing.