Touch Sensor System and Method

• US 20100079153A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc. (Stoneridge Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc. (Stoneridge Incorporated)
• Inventors: Maloof, Jim, Shamitz, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/658
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1446 Touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2414 conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A touch sensor assembly may include a cover, an electrode film assembly, an adhesive layer, a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to the electrode film and a back plate configured to be coupled to the cover with the PCB and the electrode film assembly disposed between the housing and the back plate. The electrode film assembly may include an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and may comprise a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas. The electrode film assembly may optionally comprise capacitive circuitry configured to exhibit a capacitance response to contact with the touch areas. The adhesive layer may be configured to secure the electrode film assembly to the cover. The PCB may be substantially planar and the cover may include an inner surface having a curvature. The electrode film may be configured to substantially conform to the curvature when secured thereto.

Claims

1. A touch sensor assembly comprising:

a cover;

an electrode film assembly comprising an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and comprising a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas;

an adhesive layer configured to secure said electrode film assembly to said cover;

a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to said electrode film; and

a back plate configured to be coupled to said cover with said printed circuit board and said electrode film assembly disposed between said housing and said back plate.

2. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein there is substantially no air gap between the electrode film assembly and said cover.

3. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said PCB is substantially planar.

4. The touch sensor assembly of claim 3, wherein cover comprises an inner surface having a curvature, wherein said electrode film is configured to substantially conform to said curvature when secured thereto.

5. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said PCB comprises at least one light source.

6. The touch sensor assembly of claim 5, wherein said at least one light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) configured to emit light through at least a portion of said electrode film and said cover for illuminating said touch areas.

7. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrode film assembly comprises capacitive circuitry configured to exhibit a capacitance response to contact with said touch areas.

8. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising an elastomeric connector disposed between said electrode film assembly and said printed circuit board

9. The touch sensor assembly of claim 8, wherein said elastomeric connector comprises conductive fibers configured to provide electrical contact between electrodes on said electrode film assembly and associated contacts on the PCB.

10. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of wires electrically coupled to said PCB for transmitting a signal indicative of contact with said touch areas, said plurality of wires extending externally beyond said back plate and through a cavity defined by said back plate; and

a seal configured to be received in said cavity the wires.

11. The touch sensor assembly of claim 10, wherein said back plate further comprises a folding snap feature, said folding snap feature configured to bend from a first position wherein said seal may be received into said cavity to a second position in which said folding snap feature is configured to retain said seal within said cavity.

12. The touch sensor assembly of claim 10, further comprises a retainer comprising one or more protrusions configured to engage one or more openings disposed in a sidewall of said cavity, said retainer configured to retain said seal within said cavity.

13. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising an anti-swipe electrode configured to prevent inadvertent generation of a signal indicative of contact with said touch areas.

14. The touch sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrode film assembly comprises:

a first generally transparent film having an upper surface adjacent to said adhesive layer; and

at least one indicia film having an upper surface adjacent to a lower surface of said first generally transparent film.

15. The touch sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein said adhesive layer is disposed substantially coextensive with said first generally transparent film and wherein said first generally transparent film is disposed coextensive with said at least one indicia film.

16. The touch sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein said at least one indicia film comprises at least two layers having a first and a second different color, respectively.

17. The touch sensor assembly of claim 14, wherein a lower surface of said at least one indicia layer defines an electrode pattern of said conductive ink.

18. The touch sensor assembly of claim 14, further comprising a second generally transparent disposed adjacent to a lower surface of said at least one indicia layer, said second generally transparent defining an electrode pattern of said conductive ink.

19. A system comprising:

at least one touch sensor assembly coupled to a vehicle, said at least one touch sensor assembly configured generate at least one signal configured to unlock a door of said vehicle, wherein at least one touch sensor assembly comprises;

a cover;

an electrode film assembly comprising an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and comprising a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas;

an adhesive layer configured to secure said electrode film assembly to said cover;

a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to said electrode film; and

a back plate configured to be coupled to said cover with said printed circuit board and said electrode film assembly disposed between said housing and said back plate.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said electrode film assembly comprises capacitive circuitry configured to exhibit a capacitance response to contact with said touch areas.

21. A touch sensor comprising:

an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and comprising a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas;

at least one indicia layer configured to transmit light, said at least one indicia layer having a lower surface coupled to an upper surface of said electrode film;

at least one generally transparent film having a lower surface coupled to an upper surface of said at least one indicia layer; and

an adhesive layer having a first surface coupled to an upper surface of said at least one translucent film.

22. The touch sensor of claim 21, further comprising a removable backing configured to be disposed about a second surface of said adhesive layer.

23. The touch sensor of claim 21, wherein said adhesive layer is coupled to a cover of a touch sensor assembly.

24. A method comprising:

providing a cover having a curved inner surface and a back plate;

providing an electrode film assembly comprising an electrode film formed from a conductive ink and comprising a plurality of contacts corresponding to a plurality of touch areas;

securing said electrode film assembly to said curved inner surface of said cover wherein said electrode film substantially conforms to said curvature of said inner surface;

securing a printed circuit board (PCB) to said back plate;

electrically connecting said PCB to said electrode film; and

coupling said back plate to said cover with said printed circuit board and said electrode film assembly disposed between said housing and said back plate.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein securing said electrode film assembly to said curved inner surface comprises securing said electrode film assembly to said curved inner surface with an adhesive.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said PCB is substantially planar.