Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/936,393 entitled “System and Method of Assembling a Trapped Acoustic Resonance Sensor to a Substrate,” filed Jun. 20, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an acoustic wave touch actuated system and more particularly to a system and method of securing a trapped acoustic resonance sensor to a substrate. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,106,310, entitled “Acoustic Wave Touch Actuated Switch” (the “&#39;310 patent”), discloses an acoustic wave switch that includes a substrate with an acoustic wave cavity, or resonator, formed therein such that the mass per unit area of the acoustic cavity is greater than the mass per unit area of the substrate adjacent the acoustic cavity. A transducer is mounted on the acoustic cavity for generating an acoustic wave that is substantially trapped in the cavity. A touch on the touch surface of the acoustic cavity absorbs acoustic wave energy and can produce a detectable change in the impedance of the transducer. 
         [0004]    As noted above, the &#39;310 patent discloses a system in which a touch can be detected based on a change in impedance of the transducer. Optionally, a control system can detect a sensed event, such as a touch on an acoustic wave switch/sensor, such as shown and described in the &#39;310 patent, based on the time that it takes for an acoustic wave signal from the transducer to decay to a predetermined level. Such a system and method is described in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0246239, entitled “Acoustic Wave Touch Detection Circuit and Method” (the “&#39;239 application”). 
         [0005]    The &#39;310 patent and the &#39;239 application both disclose systems in which a plurality of acoustic wave cavities or resonators are positioned on a substrate. As noted in the &#39;310 patent, the substrate may be formed of metal, plastic, glass, ceramics, etc. that are capable of supporting a resonant acoustic wave. 
         [0006]    In order to manufacture an acoustic wave switch, a transducer is bonded to a substrate or panel with an adhesive. A circuit board assembly connects to the transducer. 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bottom view of an acoustic wave switch  10 . 
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the acoustic wave switch  10  through line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the acoustic wave switch  10  includes a substrate  12  having a mesa  14  defined by an acoustic cavity moat  16 . A transducer  18 , such as a PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanate) transducer, is secured to the substrate  12  through an adhesive  20 . In particular, the transducer  18  is adhesively bonded to a surface of an acoustic wave cavity  22 . 
         [0009]    In order to manufacture a functional acoustic wave switch  10 , care is taken to use an appropriate adhesive  20 , such as an acoustically transmissive epoxy, and ensure a proper bondline thickness. For example, adhesives  20  with particular acoustic properties are used in order to ensure that the transducer  18  is able to resonate the acoustic wave cavity  22 . Further, an overly thick bondline may dampen or impede resonance within the acoustic wave cavity  22 . In general, a thin, rigid bond is effective in transferring energy from the transducer  18  to the acoustic wave cavity  22  with minimal energy loss. Various types of epoxies, such as those manufactured and sold by Bondline Electronic Adhesives of Sunnyvale, Calif., may be used. 
         [0010]    In general, various types of adhesives may be used to produce a functional acoustic wave system. For example, epoxies, cyanoacrylates and methacrylates may be used to bond the transducer  18  to the substrate  12 . Epoxies are particularly well-suited due to the strength and reliability of the subsequent bond. 
         [0011]    Epoxies typically require, however, several minutes, or even hours, to cure. As such, the manufacturing process may be long and costly. During the manufacturing process, the transducer  18  is forced into or onto the substrate  12  (i.e., pressure is applied to the transducer  18  in order to force it onto or into the substrate  12 ) in order to minimize the bond thickness (thereby increasing the efficiency of the acoustic wave transfer). Typically, heat is applied to the system during assembly for at least one hour in order to cure the adhesive  20 . 
         [0012]    Customized clamping jigs and fixtures are typically used during the manufacturing process. Clamps and fixtures are used to secure the transducer  18  to the substrate  12  during the curing process so that the transducer  18  does not shift with respect to the substrate  12 . The clamping jigs and fixtures are placed in a curing oven with the product and must withstand the temperature and abuse of the curing process. Thus, the clamping jigs and fixtures are typically expensive components. Moreover, the clamping jigs and fixtures take up considerable oven space, are typically specific to a given product and are not readily adaptable for use with respect to other products. 
         [0013]    Consequently, the capital, equipment and manpower used to manufacture acoustic wave switches are relatively high. Thus, a particular manufacturer may find the costs, labor and time associated with such a manufacturing process to be prohibitively high. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of manufacturing an acoustic wave system that does not require the use of clamping jigs or fixtures. As such, more space is available within a curing oven for product to be placed. 
         [0015]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a trapped acoustic wave system that includes a substrate having an acoustic wave cavity and a transducer mounted on the substrate. The transducer is configured to resonate the acoustic wave cavity. An acoustically transmissive adhesive, such as an epoxy, secures a first portion of the transducer to the substrate. An additional adhesive anchors at least a second portion, such as opposite ends, of the transducer to the substrate before, during and after a curing process that cures the acoustically transmissive adhesive. The acoustically transmissive adhesive is cured in an oven in order to securely fasten the transducer to the substrate 
         [0016]    The additional adhesive may include an ultraviolet (UV) cure adhesive. The UV cure adhesive is cured by a source of UV light in order to tack-bond the second portion of the transducer to the substrate. 
         [0017]    The transducer may be symmetrically aligned with respect to a central axis of the acoustic wave cavity. That is, the transducer may be centered on the substrate with respect to the central axis of the acoustic wave cavity. 
         [0018]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method of assembling a trapped acoustic wave system. The method may include applying an acoustically transmissive adhesive (such as an epoxy) on a first area of a substrate, applying an ultraviolet (UV) cure adhesive on at least one second area of the substrate, aligning a transducer with respect to the acoustically transmissive adhesive and the UV cure adhesive, urging the transducer into the acoustically transmissive adhesive and the UV cure adhesive, wherein said urging mounts the transducer on the substrate. The method also includes exposing the mounted transducer to UV light, curing the UV cure adhesive through the exposing, tack-bonding the transducer to the substrate through the curing the UV cure adhesive, heating the transducer and the substrate in an oven, curing the acoustically transmissive adhesive through the heating, and securely fastening the transducer to the substrate through the curing the acoustically transmissive adhesive. 
         [0019]    The first area of the substrate may be along a longitudinal axis of the substrate. The at least one second area of the substrate may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the substrate. The aligning may include aligning at least one end of the transducer with respect to the UV cure adhesive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates a bottom view of an acoustic wave switch. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an acoustic wave switch through line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an acoustic wave system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic representation of a system for securing a transducer to a substrate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a substrate having an epoxy layer deposited thereon, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a substrate having UV cure adhesive deposited at longitudinal ends of an epoxy layer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates a transducer mounted on a substrate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flow chart of a method of securing a transducer to a substrate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an acoustic wave system  24 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The acoustic wave system  24  includes an associated acoustic wave cavity, or resonator  26  that extends through the thickness b s  of a substrate  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the acoustic wave cavity  26  extends above adjacent surfaces of the substrate  28 . Optionally, the acoustic wave cavity  26  may be surrounded by a cavity moat. 
         [0030]    The acoustic wave cavity  26  is formed in the substrate  28  such that the mass per unit surface area of the acoustic wave cavity  26  is greater than the mass per unit surface area of the substrate  28  adjacent the acoustic wave cavity  26 . In one embodiment, the mass per unit area of the substrate in the switch region is increased to form the acoustic wave cavity  26  by forming a thin plateau or mesa  30  on a surface of the substrate  28  that is parallel to the plane of the substrate  26  and/or a touch surface  32 . The mesa  30  may be formed on a bottom surface  34  of the substrate  28  opposite the touch surface  32  of the acoustic wave cavity  26 . Alternatively, the mesa  30  may be formed on the touch surface  32 . 
         [0031]    As discussed below, a transducer  36  is mounted on a surface  38  of the acoustic wave cavity  26  to generate an acoustic wave that is substantially trapped or localized in the acoustic wave cavity  26 . Although the transducer  36  is shown as being mounted on the mesa  30 , if the mesa  30  is formed on the touch surface  32  of the substrate  28 , the transducer  36  may be mounted directly on the substrate surface of the acoustic wave cavity  26  opposite the mesa  30  so that the transducer  36  is on the opposite side of the substrate  28 . The transducer  36  is electrically connected to a processing unit (not shown) and/or a sensing circuit (not shown). 
         [0032]    The acoustic wave system  24  can use any type of acoustic wave capable of being substantially trapped in a particular acoustic wave cavity  26 . For simplicity, the acoustic wave switch  24  is described using a shear wave in a direction that is in the plane of the substrate  28 , wherein the shear wave energy extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the substrate  28 , that is, through the thickness of the substrate  28 . A shear wave is advantageous because it is insensitive to liquids and other contaminants on the touch surface  32 . Because the fundamental or zeroth order mode of a horizontally polarized shear wave may not be substantially trapped, higher order shear wave modes are used in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that because the acoustic wave used is trapped, the wave is a standing wave. A standing wave has a number of advantages over an acoustic wave that propagates or travels along a path in a substrate. For example, propagating waves are not confined to the main path of propagation but can diffract off of the main path complicating touch detection. This is opposed to a standing wave which by its nature is confined to the area of a particular acoustic wave cavity  26 . Because the acoustic wave is confined, touch detection is easily accomplished. Further, the wave energy of a propagating wave is not stored at any location along the path. Once the wave passes a point along the path, the wave is gone, thereby making timing and control critical for touch detection with propagating waves. There are no timing or control issues with a standing wave because the wave energy is stored in the acoustic wave cavity  26 . Moreover, a propagating wave is not a resonating wave. As such, the wave energy decays as it travels. A standing wave is resonant so that the wave is reinforced and prolonged. As a result, the standing wave has a much greater amplitude than a wave that is not confined. The construction and operation of each acoustic wave cavity  26  is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,106,310, entitled “Acoustic Wave Touch Actuated Switch” (The “&#39;310 patent”), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0033]    The acoustic wave switch described in the &#39;310 patent has a high Q (the ratio of the stored energy to lost or dissipated energy over a complete cycle) so as to enable a touch to be detected by extremely simple, low-cost circuitry. The acoustic wave switch is rugged, explosion proof, operates in the presence of liquids and other contaminants (unlike capacitive sensors), has a lower power consumption and may be incorporated and integrally formed in a wall of a housing for a device. 
         [0034]    The acoustic wave system  24  may be connected to an extremely simple touch detection or sensing circuit, such as shown and described in the &#39;310 patent. For example, the transducer  36  may be coupled to a multiplexer that sequentially couples the transducer  36  to an oscillator, as discussed in the &#39;310 patent. Embodiments of the present invention may detect a touch on a respective touch surface  32  through a detected change in impedance, as described in the &#39;310 patent. 
         [0035]    Optionally, embodiments of the present invention may detect a touch on a respective touch surface  32  by measuring the decay time of the acoustic wave within a particular acoustic wave cavity  26 . United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0246239, entitled “Acoustic Wave Touch Detection Circuit and Method” (the “&#39;239 application”), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes a controller that detects a sensed event such as a touch on an acoustic wave switch/sensor based on the time it takes for the trapped wave to decay. The trapped acoustic wave within the acoustic cavity, or resonator, acts to “ring” the acoustic cavity. That is, as a voltage is applied to transducer, the transducer operates to resonate the acoustic cavity. 
         [0036]    Operational details of the acoustic wave system  24  are described in the &#39;310 patent and the &#39;239 application. As discussed below, embodiments of the present invention provide an efficient system and method of securing the transducer  36  to the substrate  28 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic representation of a system  40  for securing the transducer  36  to the substrate  28 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system  40  may include a conveyor line  42  that moves the substrate  28  underneath an epoxy applicator  44 , an ultraviolet (UV) cure adhesive applicator  46 , a transducer mounting assembly  48 , a UV light source  50 , and ultimately to a curing oven  52 . While the substrate  28  is shown on the conveyor line  42 , the system  40  may optionally not include the conveyor line  42 . Instead, the various components of the system, such as the epoxy applicator  44 , may be supported on a table and an operator may bring the substrate  28  to each particular component. 
         [0038]    Moreover, in the electronics assembly industry, equipment is available to robotically pick up small components and place them on a circuit board for assembly at a relatively low cost. Embodiments of the present invention can be used with such a pick and place system and process. 
         [0039]    As an initial step, the substrate  28  and transducer  36  are first cleaned and prepared for bonding. After cleaning, the substrate  28  is first moved in close proximity to the epoxy applicator  44 . The epoxy applicator  44  applies a layer of epoxy on a portion of the mesa  30 , which may or may not be surrounded by a cavity moat  31 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  illustrates a substrate  28  having an epoxy layer  54  deposited thereon, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the epoxy layer  54  may be deposited in the center of the mesa  30  approximately along a longitudinal axis x of the substrate  28 . Ultimately, the epoxy layer  54  will secure the transducer  36  to the substrate  28 . The central location of the transducer  36  with respect to the mesa  30  provides uniform trapped acoustic waves within the acoustic wave cavity  26  during operation of the acoustic wave system  24  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Alternatively, instead of an epoxy, other types of adhesives, such as cyanoacrylates and methacrylates, may be used to ultimately bond the transducer  36  to the substrate  28 . Epoxies are particularly well-suited, however, due to the strength and reliability of the subsequent bond. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , after the epoxy layer  54  is deposited on the mesa  30 , the substrate  28  is moved to the UV cure adhesive applicator  46 , which deposits a layer of UV cure adhesive, such as Dymax Corp.&#39;s 621 UV gel or any other such UV adhesive that bonds to metal, on the substrate  28 . The UV cure adhesive is generally deposited about a peripheral portion (particularly, longitudinal ends) of the epoxy layer  54 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates the substrate  28  having UV cure adhesive  56  deposited at longitudinal ends of the epoxy layer  54 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. The UV cure adhesive  56  anchors the transducer  36  to the substrate  28  during the bonding process. That is, the UV cure adhesive  56  anchors ends of the transducer  36  to the mesa  30 , or other portion of the substrate  28 . Optionally, the UV cure adhesive  56  may be deposited at only one end of the epoxy layer  54 , around a perimeter of the epoxy layer  54 , or at various other points. However, positioning the UV cure adhesive  56  at opposite ends of the epoxy layer  54  securely anchors both ends of the transducer  36  in position. Further, the UV cure adhesive  56  may not have the same acoustic properties as that of the epoxy layer  54 . Thus, limited amounts of UV cure adhesive  56  may be desired. Locating the UV adhesive cure  56  at opposite ends of the transducer  36  ensures that the transducer  36  ultimately is able to emit acoustic wave energy through the transmissive epoxy. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , once the epoxy layer  54  and UV cure adhesive  56  are deposited on the substrate  28 , the transducer  36  is aligned over the epoxy layer  54  and the UV cure adhesive  56 . That is, the ends of the transducer  36  are mounted over the UV cure adhesive  56 . After the transducer  36  is aligned in such fashion, the transducer mounting assembly  48 , which may be a robotically controlled actuation arm, urges the transducer  36  into the substrate  28  in the direction of arrow A. The mounting assembly  48  presses the transducer  36  into the substrate  28  until a suitable bond line is formed between the transducer  36  and the epoxy layer  54  and the UV cure adhesive  56 . 
         [0044]    Alternatively, the UV cure adhesive  56  may be deposited on the substrate  28  before the epoxy layer  54 . That is, the substrate  28  may pass by or through the UV cure adhesive applicator  46  before the epoxy applicator  44 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates the transducer  36  mounted on the substrate  28 , according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the ends  60  of the transducer  36  abut the UV adhesive  56 , which may or may not overlap the epoxy layer  54 . Most of the transducer  36  abuts the epoxy layer  54 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 7 , after the transducer  36  is properly positioned, the mounting assembly  48  releases the transducer  36  and moves away from the substrate  28  in the direction of arrow B. The substrate  28  and mounted transducer  36  are passed underneath or through the UV light source  50 . The UV light source  50  emits UV radiation that quickly cures the UV cure adhesive  56 , thereby tack-bonding and securely anchoring the transducer  36  to the substrate  28 . The UV cure adhesive  56  may not exhibit the same acoustic frequency of the epoxy layer  54 , but the UV cure adhesive  56  cures in a very short time, such as 3-5 seconds, when exposed to a concentrated UV light source. 
         [0047]    The substrate  28  and the mounted transducer  36 , which form the acoustic wave system  24 , are then placed in the curing oven  52 , which generates heat that cures the epoxy layer  54 . The epoxy later 54 may take about an hour to cure. However, the UV cure adhesive  56 , having already been cured by the UV radiation, ensures that that the transducer  36  is secured in place during the epoxy curing process. The cured epoxy layer  54  secures the transducer  36  in position, while at the same time providing a transmissive medium for trapped acoustic waves to pass. 
         [0048]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flow chart of a method of securing a transducer to a substrate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At  70 , the substrate and transducer are both cleaned. Next, at  72 , a first adhesive, such as an epoxy, is applied to a surface of the substrate. At  74 , a second adhesive, such as a UV cure adhesive, is applied to the surface of the substrate. Once the adhesives are deposited on the surface of the substrate, the transducer is aligned and mounted onto the adhesive layers. The acoustic wave system, including the substrate and transducer, are then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light at  78 . The UV light cures the UV cure adhesive and tack-bonds the transducer to the substrate. Consequently, the transducer is securely anchored with respect to the substrate. The acoustic wave system is then placed in a curing oven at  80 . The heat generated within the oven cures the epoxy, thereby securely bonding the transducer to the substrate. 
         [0049]    Embodiments of the present invention may be used with automated adhesive dispensing equipment and/or pick and place robotics, thereby eliminating custom fixtures specific to each product. Embodiments of the present invention eliminate the need for expensive, heat-resistant clamping fixtures, and large quantities of clamping fixtures. Embodiments of the present invention also increase the available amount of space within a curing oven due to the fact that obtrusive clamping fixtures are not required. Further, embodiments of the present invention may be used with an in-line manufacturing process rather than batch processing. 
         [0050]    While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
         [0051]    Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
         [0052]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 5