Touchpad Support Member Prevents Fingerprint Module Detachment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The thinning of touchscreen panels with integrated fingerprint authentication modules increases the risk of warpage, leading to partial detachment and failure in fingerprint detection due to the peel force applied during fingerprint authentication.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad design featuring a support member with a lower Young's modulus than the fingerprint authentication device and holding member, which is situated between the device and the holding member, and filled with a resin-based material that reduces fluidity to stabilize the module and prevent detachment, along with a method of manufacturing this structure using a resin-based material and a holding member with a penetrating hole to distribute pressure effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the thickness of the operating plate is decreased to enhance position detection function, then the position detection precision is improved, but the operating plate becomes more likely to warp when pressed, causing the fingerprint authentication device to break off
Solution Approach 1:
A support member is provided between the operating plate and the fingerprint authentication device to cushion the warpage stress before it reaches the device. This preventive measure absorbs the deformation energy and protects the fingerprint authentication device from breaking off due to plate warpage during pressing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary element between the operating plate and the fingerprint authentication device. It mediates the mechanical stress transmission, allowing the thin operating plate to maintain position detection precision while the support member absorbs the warpage forces that would otherwise damage the fingerprint authentication device.
2Device complexity
If the thickness of the operating plate is decreased to simplify structure and improve design freedom, then the device complexity is reduced, but the warpage-induced peel force increases, causing the fingerprint authentication device to detach
Solution Approach 1:
The support member provides beforehand cushioning to reduce the peel force generated by warpage. By absorbing the deformation energy before it reaches the adhesive interface, the support member prevents detachment of the fingerprint authentication device even when the operating plate is thin and more prone to warping.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member serves as an intermediary that decouples the mechanical coupling between the operating plate and the fingerprint authentication device. This intermediary structure allows the thin plate to warp without transmitting damaging peel forces to the adhesive bond, thereby maintaining adhesion strength despite reduced plate thickness.
3Productivity
If the thickness of the operating plate is decreased to improve productivity and design freedom, then the manufacturing efficiency is improved, but the operating plate warpage increases, resulting in failure of fingerprint authentication function
Solution Approach 1:
The support member provides beforehand cushioning against warpage-induced stresses, ensuring that the fingerprint authentication function remains reliable even when using thin operating plates that are easier to manufacture and install. This allows productivity improvements through thinning without sacrificing functional reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member acts as an intermediary that protects the fingerprint authentication function from warpage effects. This enables the use of thinner operating plates for improved manufacturing efficiency and design freedom while maintaining the reliability of the fingerprint authentication through the protective intermediary structure.
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 design effectively prevents the fingerprint authentication device from breaking off during use, maintaining proper functionality even with reduced panel thickness by distributing pressure and maintaining stability through the support member and holding member configuration.
Implementation Method 1
a support member situated between, and in contact with, the added feature part and the holding member... reducing, in an adhering step, fluidity of the supplied resin-based material to make the support member attached to both the added feature part and the holding member
Data Source
AI summary
A touchpad includes an operating plate having an operating surface on which an inputting operation is performed, an added feature part attached to a first surface of the operating plate opposite from the operating surface, a sensing unit disposed to face toward at least a portion of the first surface, the portion being at least a part of an area of the first surface other than an area to which the added feature part is attached, a holding member disposed at a predetermined distance apart from a first face of the added feature part, the first face of the added feature part being opposite from a second face thereof facing toward the operating plate, and a support member situated between, and in contact with, the added feature part and the holding member, wherein the support member has a lower Young's modulus than the added feature part and the holding member.