Resistive touch panel using removable, tensioned top layer
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, a second anti-reflective layer, and a tensioning frame disposed over the upper surface of the flexible substrate, and an anti-reflective conductive layer disposed on the lower surface of the flexible substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. In one embodiment, the top plate is placed in tension within a frame to prevent wrinkling. 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
84 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, a second anti-reflective layer, and a tensioning frame 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A touch screen overlay comprising:
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a tensioning frame;
a flexible substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, upper surface coupled to the tensioning frame; and
double stick adhesive tape coupled to the lower surface of the flexible substrate. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A touch screen comprising:
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a tensioning frame;
a top plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being coupled to the tensioning frame;
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 (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method of bonding a frame to a touch panel, the method comprising the acts of:
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(a) heating the touch panel to a temperature greater than the operating temperature range of the touch panel;
(b) coupling the frame to the perimeter of the mounting surface to create a frame assembly; and
(c) cooling the frame assembly to place the touch panel in tension. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84)
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Specification