Wearable Display Edge Solar Cell Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wearable devices, such as smart watches and fitness trackers, require frequent charging, disrupting user experience as users must remove the device to charge it, and integrating solar panels with touch screens is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A display assembly for wearable devices incorporating a solar cell layer with photovoltaic material arranged at the edge, leaving the central touch sensor area uncovered, allowing for efficient light collection and charging while maintaining touch sensor functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a solar panel is integrated with a touch screen, then light collection efficiency is improved, but touch sensor functionality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solar cell layer is segmented into a peripheral region and a central region. The peripheral solar cell layer is arranged around the central touch sensor area, creating distinct functional zones. This segmentation allows the solar cells to collect light efficiently at the periphery while the central region remains dedicated to touch sensor operation, resolving the contradiction between light collection and touch functionality.
2Productivity
If the solar cell layer covers the entire display area, then charging efficiency is improved, but display visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solar cell layer is spatially segmented to occupy only the peripheral region of the display assembly, while the central region is left uncovered to maintain display visibility. This segmentation enables the solar cells to generate sufficient charging power from the peripheral area without obstructing the user's view of the display content in the central area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display assembly are assigned different functional qualities: the peripheral region is optimized for solar energy collection with photovoltaic material, while the central region is optimized for display visibility and touch interaction. This local differentiation of functional quality resolves the contradiction between charging efficiency and display visibility.
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
This design extends the time between charging sessions by efficiently harnessing ambient light for battery charging without compromising the touch sensor's sensitivity or visibility, enhancing user experience by minimizing the need for frequent charging.
Implementation Method 1
a solar cell layer comprising photovoltaic material arranged at an edge region of the display assembly
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a display assembly for a wearable device, the display assembly comprising: a solar cell layer; and a touch sensor layer, wherein the solar cell layer is arranged above the touch sensor layer, wherein the solar cell layer comprises photovoltaic material arranged at an edge region of the display assembly leaving a uniform central region of the touch sensor layer uncovered.