Touch sensor with conductive polymer switches
First Claim
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1. A touch sensor, comprising:
- a substrate having a resistive touch region with first and second oppositely disposed edges and third and fourth oppositely disposed edges;
a plurality of conductive polymer switches arranged in first, second, third, and fourth switch arrays extending along the respective first, second, third, and fourth touch region edges;
a first electrically conductive path coupled to the first and third switch arrays; and
a second electrically conductive path coupled to the second and fourth switch arrays;
wherein the first and second switch arrays close and the third and fourth switch arrays open when the first path is energized and the second path is grounded, and the first and second switch arrays open and the third and fourth switch arrays close when the first path is grounded and the second path is energized.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to touch sensors with arrays of thin-film conductive polymer switches (e.g., diodes or transistors) that can be used to selectively apply voltage gradients across a resistive touch region of the touch sensor substrate. Touches on the touch sensor can then be sensed by measuring the voltage at the touch location on the resistive touch region.
52 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A touch sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having a resistive touch region with first and second oppositely disposed edges and third and fourth oppositely disposed edges;
a plurality of conductive polymer switches arranged in first, second, third, and fourth switch arrays extending along the respective first, second, third, and fourth touch region edges;
a first electrically conductive path coupled to the first and third switch arrays; and
a second electrically conductive path coupled to the second and fourth switch arrays;
wherein the first and second switch arrays close and the third and fourth switch arrays open when the first path is energized and the second path is grounded, and the first and second switch arrays open and the third and fourth switch arrays close when the first path is grounded and the second path is energized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A touch sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having a resistive touch region;
a plurality of conductive polymer devices arranged in a linear array extending along an edge of the resistive touch region, each of the devices having first and second terminals and being configured to allow electrical current conduction from the first terminal to the second terminal when in a first state, and prevent electrical current conduction from the second terminal to the first terminal when in a second state; and
an electrically conductive path coupled to one of the first and second terminals of the device array, wherein the other of the first and second terminals of the device array are electrically coupled to the resistive touch region. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing a touch sensor, comprising:
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providing a substrate having a resistive touch region;
forming a first metal layer along an edge of the resistive touch region;
forming a first electrically conductive polymer layer over the first electrically conductive metal;
forming a second metal layer over the first electrically conductive polymer layer, wherein one of the first and second metal layers is formed as spaced apart elements in electrical contact with the resistive touch region. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification