Vehicle Touch Module Thin Polycarbonate Film

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicle touch screen control and display modules face challenges in providing a smooth and uniform appearance while maintaining good display quality, and protecting fragile components from shocks, with capacitive touch screens requiring minimal distance to the control surface for optimal sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A control and display module featuring a polycarbonate protective film with a thickness of 0.75 mm, fixed to the front frame using gluing, overmoulding, or injection, and equipped with a polarizing film and anti-scratch varnish, which also covers control buttons, ensuring a seamless user interface and enhanced durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective film is added to protect the touch screen from shocks, then the touch screen is protected, but the distance between the control surface and touch screen increases, reducing sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from shocksVSAvoidtouch sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a thin polycarbonate protective film (0.5-1.2mm thickness) that provides shock protection while maintaining minimal distance between the control surface and touch screen. This thin film structure allows the system to gain protection without significantly increasing the air gap, thereby preserving capacitive touch sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective film is made of polycarbonate, a composite material that combines protection functionality with optical transparency and mechanical flexibility. This material choice enables the film to protect the touch screen while allowing capacitive field penetration for touch detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If the distance between the display screen and control surface is reduced to improve display quality, then display quality improves, but the protective capability against shocks is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidprotection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin polycarbonate film that maintains a small air gap (0.5-1.2mm) between the control surface and touch screen, optimizing both display quality and protection capability. The film acts as a protective barrier while preserving the minimal distance needed for high-quality display output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protective film is installed beforehand to cushion the touch screen against shocks while maintaining the required proximity to the display screen. This pre-installed protective layer provides shock absorption without compromising the minimal air gap needed for display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If a thicker protective film is used to enhance protection, then protection capability improves, but the smoothness and uniformity of the facade deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection capabilityVSAvoidsmooth appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies a thin film thickness range of 0.5-1.2mm, with preferred thickness of 0.75mm. This thin profile maintains the smooth and uniform appearance of the vehicle facade while providing adequate protection against shocks and scratches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the film thickness parameter to 0.75mm as the preferred value, balancing protection capability with aesthetic requirements. This parameter optimization ensures the facade remains smooth and uniform to the touch while maintaining sufficient protective properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If additional control buttons are added near the screen, then functionality improves, but the complexity of the control module increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidmodule complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates control buttons directly into the front control surface, merging the buttons with the protective film structure. This integration allows multiple control functions to be provided without adding separate complex button assemblies, thereby maintaining a simple overall module design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The front control surface serves multiple functions: it acts as the protective facade, the touch-sensitive input surface, and the mounting structure for control buttons. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying the overall module complexity while enhancing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 provides a smooth and uniform exterior appearance, protects the touch screen from shocks, and maintains optimal sensitivity by minimizing the distance between the control surface and the touch screen, while ensuring good display quality and durability.

Implementation Method 1

it is the more or less sustained approach of the finger or of a stylus which causes a noticeable disturbance of the capacitive field and makes it possible to define the position of the finger or stylus on the screen

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive field disturbance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the holding and protective film comprises a polarizing film on its external face

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentEP2691252B1Control and display module for motor vehicles
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS
  • EP2691252B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2691252B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6b
  • EP2691252B1 patent drawingFigure 6c~7b

AI summary

The invention relates to a control and display module for motor vehicles, comprising: a display screen for displaying data; a capacitive touchpad for entering user commands, said touchpad at least partially overlapping the display screen; and a casing in which the display screen and the touchpad are housed, said casing comprising a front frame. The control and display module also comprises a retaining protective film having a thickness of between 0.5 and 1.2 mm, which is attached to the external edges of the front frame of the casing, the touchpad being secured at the rear of said film in a suspended manner.