Capacitive touch device

• US 10,389,355 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novalia Ltd
• Original Assignee: Novalia Ltd
• Inventors: Stone, Kate
• Primary Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R
• Application Number:
  US15/519,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20170237430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 200600
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94094 Wired transmission, e.g. via bus connection or similar
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/111 Pads for surface mounting, e.g. lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/141 One or more single auxiliary printed circuits mounted on a main printed circuit, e.g. modules, adapters H05K1/142 and H05K1/147 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/162 incorporating printed capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/055 Folded back on itself
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10053 Switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

A capacitive touch device is described. The device comprises a substrate and a plurality of co-planar capacitive touch switches and conductive tracks connected to the capacitive touch switches disposed directly on a face of the substrate. The capacitive touch switches include first and second capacitive touch switches which are adjacent, separated by a channel and which are electrically isolated from each other. The capacitive touch switches include third and fourth capacitive touch switches which are electrically isolated from the first and second capacitive touch switches, but which are electrically connected to each other by a conductive track which runs through the channel.

Claims

1. A capacitive touch device comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of co-planar capacitive touch switches and conductive tracks connected to the capacitive touch switches disposed directly on a face of the substrate, the capacitive touch switches comprising;

first and second capacitive touch switches which are adjacent, separated by a channel having a channel width w_c, and which are electrically isolated from each other; and

third and fourth capacitive touch switches which are electrically isolated from the first and second capacitive touch switches, but which are electrically connected to each other by a conductive track having a track width w_t which runs through the channel,

wherein the channel width w_c is at least three times the track width w_t within the channel; and

wherein the track width w_t within the channel is between 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

2. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive track is a first conductive track and the capacitive touch switches further comprise:

fifth and sixth capacitive touch switches which are electrically isolated from the first, second, third and fourth capacitive touch switches, but which are electrically connected to each other by a second conductive track which runs through the channel.

3. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, further comprising contact lands, the conductive tracks connecting the touch switches and the contact lands.

4. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch switches are arranged to provide a capacitive touch slider.

5. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch switches are arranged to provide a capacitive touch wheel.

6. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a capacitive touch controller coupled to the capacitive touch switches and configured to have a sensing threshold selected such that, in response to a user'"'"'s digit passing over the first and second capacitive touch switches but not the third or fourth capacitive touch switches, the controller generates respective triggers for the first and second touch switches, but not triggers for the third or fourth capacitive touch switches.

7. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, which is a printed article.

8. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive track is a first conductive track and the capacitive touch device further comprises:

fifth and sixth capacitive touch switches which are electrically isolated from the first and second capacitive touch switches, but which are electrically connected to each other by a second conductive track which runs through the channel.

9. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch switches and conductive tracks comprise conductive ink.

10. A capacitive touch device according to claim 9, wherein the conductive ink is carbon-based.

11. A capacitive touch device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a fiber-based material.

12. A capacitive touch device according to claim 11, wherein the fiber-based material comprises paper, card, or cardboard.