Touch panel with improved optical performance
First Claim
1. A touch panel display system comprising:
- a computer;
a controller coupled to the computer;
a display screen coupled to the computer;
a touch panel coupled to the controller and being disposed over the display screen, the touch panel comprising;
a base plate being disposed adjacent the display screen, the base plate having a rigid substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first conductive layer disposed over the upper surface of the rigid substrate, an anti-reflective dielectric layer disposed over the first conductive layer, the anti-reflective dielectric layer having openings through to the first conductive layer, and a first anti-reflective layer disposed on the lower surface of the rigid substrate; and
a top plate being disposed in spaced apart relation over the base plate, the top plate having a flexible substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a hard coating layer and a second anti-reflective layer disposed over the upper surface of the flexible substrate, and an anti-reflective conductive layer disposed on the lower surface of the flexible substrate.
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Abstract
Sunlight can damage a conventional touch screen display and cause the display to be quite difficult to read. Furthermore, conventional touch screen displays are easily damaged, and, once damaged, the entire touch screen is replaced. To address these concerns, a touch panel includes anti-reflective coatings on the surfaces of the top plate and the base plate that are open to the air. These coatings substantially reduce reflections and make the touch screen easier to read in direct sunlight. In particular, the anti-reflective coating used on the upper surface of the base plate is dielectric in nature to reduce reflectivity even further. This dielectric coating includes openings to an underlying conductive layer so that an electrical contact is made when a user deflects the top plate into the base plate. Also, the top plate may be detachably coupled to the base plate, advantageously by double stick adhesive tape, so that only the top plate is replaced when damaged. Furthermore, a resistive voltage divider may be fabricated on the base plate. The resistive voltage divider may include a substantially continuous strip of resistive material disposed on the conductive layer of the base plate, and a plurality of conductive traces disposed on the dielectric layer of the base plate and coupled to the resistive material in selected locations.
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Citations
71 Claims
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1. A touch panel display system comprising:
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a computer;
a controller coupled to the computer;
a display screen coupled to the computer;
a touch panel coupled to the controller and being disposed over the display screen, the touch panel comprising;
a base plate being disposed adjacent the display screen, the base plate having a rigid substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first conductive layer disposed over the upper surface of the rigid substrate, an anti-reflective dielectric layer disposed over the first conductive layer, the anti-reflective dielectric layer having openings through to the first conductive layer, and a first anti-reflective layer disposed on the lower surface of the rigid substrate; and
a top plate being disposed in spaced apart relation over the base plate, the top plate having a flexible substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, a hard coating layer and a second anti-reflective layer disposed over the upper surface of the flexible substrate, and an anti-reflective conductive layer disposed on the lower surface of the flexible substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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26. A touch screen overlay comprising:
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a flexible substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
double stick adhesive tape coupled to the lower surface of the flexible substrate.
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41. A touch screen comprising:
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a top plate having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a base plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
a member detachably coupling the lower surface of the top plate to the upper surface of the base plate. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68)
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67. A method of repairing a damaged touch screen having a flexible top plate disposed in spaced apart relation over a relatively rigid base plate, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) removing the top plate from the base plate; and
(b) disposing a replacement top plate on the base plate.
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69. A method of manufacturing a touch panel, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) providing a base plate;
(b) providing a top plate; and
(c) detachably disposing the top plate over the base plate in spaced apart relation.
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70. A method of manufacturing a touch panel, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) disposing a layer of conductive material over an upper surface of a relatively rigid substrate of a base plate;
(b) disposing a patterned layer of anti-reflective dielectric material over the layer of conductive material, the patterned layer of anti-reflective dielectric material having openings through to the layer of conductive material;
(c) disposing a first layer of anti-reflective material over a lower surface of the relatively rigid substrate of the base plate;
(d) disposing a second layer of anti-reflective material over an upper surface of a relatively flexible substrate of a top plate;
(e) disposing a layer of anti-reflective conductive material over a lower surface of the relatively flexible substrate of the top plate; and
(f) arranging the top plate over the base plate such that the anti-reflective conductive material disposed over the lower surface of the top plate is in spaced apart relation to the patterned anti-reflective dielectric layer disposed over the upper surface of the base plate.
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71. A sensing unit for a touch panel comprising:
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a first plate having a first layer of conductive material disposed on its surface;
a second plate having a second layer of conductive material disposed on its surface and having a layer of dielectric material disposed over the second layer of conductive material such that a peripheral portion of the second layer of conductive material remains exposed, the layer of dielectric material having openings through to the second layer of conductive material;
a substantially continuous resistive member disposed over the exposed peripheral portion of the second layer of conductive material adjacent a periphery of the layer of dielectric material; and
a plurality of conductive traces disposed on the layer of dielectric material, each of the plurality of conductive traces having a first end coupled to a respective selected location of the resistive member.
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Specification