CAPACITIVE TOUCH SCREEN AND STRATEGIC GEOMETRY ISOLATION PATTERNING METHOD FOR MAKING TOUCH SCREENS
First Claim
1. A multilayer interdigitated projected capacitance touch screen comprising:
- a substantially transparent first layer comprising a dielectric film presenting a pair of opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the film is coated with a conductive material, the conductive material defining a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions; and
a substantially transparent second layer comprising a dielectric film presenting a pair of opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the film is coated with a conductive material, the conductive material defining a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions, the second layer superimposed on the first layer such that each of the electrically interconnected regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically isolated region of the second layer, and each of the electrically isolated regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically interconnected region of the second layer.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new patterning technique, known as Strategic Geometry Isolation (SGI), is used to pattern conductive film structures using laser ablation. In addition to ITO films, SGI may also be used to pattern any other conductive film amenable to ablation with a laser or other directed energy beam. Instead of ablating large areas of ITO to create an ITO void through which underlying layers in a MIPC can project a capacitive field, the SGI patterning technique involves leaving in place, but electrically isolating, the areas that would have been ablated. The electrical isolation of these areas may be accomplished with a single pass of the ablation path. In use, the electrically isolated areas behave similarly to the ITO voids/ablated areas, allowing the underlying capacitive field to project through them. The coupling provided by the electrically isolated areas for the combined layers enhances the capacitive field of the underlying layers.
65 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A multilayer interdigitated projected capacitance touch screen comprising:
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a substantially transparent first layer comprising a dielectric film presenting a pair of opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the film is coated with a conductive material, the conductive material defining a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions; and a substantially transparent second layer comprising a dielectric film presenting a pair of opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the film is coated with a conductive material, the conductive material defining a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions, the second layer superimposed on the first layer such that each of the electrically interconnected regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically isolated region of the second layer, and each of the electrically isolated regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically interconnected region of the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of making a multilayer interdigitated projected capacitance touch screen comprising:
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producing a first substantially transparent screen layer by using a directed energy beam ablation device to define a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions in a conductive material coated on a dielectric material; producing a second substantially transparent screen layer by using the directed energy beam ablation device to define a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions in a conductive material coated on a dielectric material; and superimposing the second layer on the first layer such that each of the electrically interconnected regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically isolated region of the second layer, and each of the electrically isolated regions of the first layer is overlain with an electrically interconnected region of the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A capacitive touch screen comprising:
at least one substantially transparent layer comprising a dielectric film presenting a pair of opposing surfaces, wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of the film is coated with a conductive material, the conductive material defining a plurality of electrically interconnected regions and a plurality of electrically isolated regions adjacent and interspersed with the electrically interconnected regions. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Specification