Touch sensor with integrated decoration

• US 20030122794A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caldwell, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,242,393 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/06 with movable or removable shelves or receptacles A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960795 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED

Abstract

A switch panel includes one or more touch responsive switch devices and an integrated decorative fascia. Both the switch devices and decoration are applied to the same substrate, eliminating the need for a separate user interface panel. Each switch device can include one or more electrodes and a circuit for inducing an electric field about the electrode(s) and responding to disturbances to the electric field.

Claims

1. A switch panel including a touch responsive switching device and an integrated decorated fascia, comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

at least one touch responsive switching device disposed on said substrate, said at least one touch responsive switching device comprising at least one electrode; and

at least one decoration disposed on said substrate.

2. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said dielectric substrate is a printed wiring board.

3. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said dielectric substrate is a light pipe.

4. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said at least one decoration is applied directly to said substrate.

5. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said at least one decoration comprises a separate layer applied to said substrate.

6. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said decorative layer comprises a dome.

7. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said touch responsive switching device further comprises an integrated control circuit in close proximity to said at least one electrode.

8. The switch panel of claim 1 further comprising a selectively operable light source.

9. The switch panel of claim 6 wherein said selectively operable light source is integrated with said at least one touch responsive switching device.

10. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein at least one area of said decorative layer is textured.

11. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein a second of said at least one decorative layers is disposed on a first of said at least one decorative layers.

12. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said at least one decorative layer includes at least one aperture.

13. The switch panel of claim 1 further comprising a second substrate and a light source borne on said second substrate.

14. The switch panel of claim 1 wherein said at least one electrode is transparent.

15. The switch panel of claim 8 wherein said light source is a light emitting polymer.

16. The switch panel of claim 8 wherein said light is a light pipe.

17. The switch panel of claim 8 wherein said light is a light emitting diode.

18. The switch panel of claim 15 wherein said light emitting diode is an organic light emitting diode.

19. A method of making a touch responsive switch panel having integrated decoration, comprising the steps of:

disposing at least one decorative layer on a substrate; and

disposing at least one touch response switching device on said substrate, said at least one touch response switching device comprising at least one electrode.