TOUCH PANEL

• US 20140098042A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: YU, KUO-CHIH, KUO, YAO-CHENG, WU, CHENG-CHI
• Application Number:
  US14/037,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A touch panel includes a first substrate, an electronic circuit board, a second substrate, and a number of touch-sensing members arranged on the electronic circuit board. Each of the touch-sensing members comprises a metal dome, an insulating layer covering the metal dome, and a sensing layer formed on the insulating layer. A number of contacting tabs are arranged on the electronic circuit board corresponding to each of the metal domes. The sensing layer generates a first signal in a touch mode when the touch panel is touched by a conductor. The contacting tab generates a second signal in a button mode when the second substrate is deformed when the second substrate is pressed, and the metal dome comes into contact with the contacting tab.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a first substrate;

a circuit board arranged on the first substrate;

an elastic second substrate;

a plurality of touch-sensing members arranged on the circuit board;

wherein each of the touch-sensing members comprises a metal dome, an insulating layer covering the metal dome, and a sensing layer formed on the insulating layer;

a plurality of contacting tabs arranged on the circuit board and aligned with the corresponding metal domes;

the sensing layer generates a first signal when the touch panel is touched by a conductor;

the second substrate is deformed when the second substrate is pressed, the metal dome comes into contact with the corresponding contacting tab as urged by the second substrate, thereby generating a second signal.

2. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein the second substrate comprises a plurality of pressing portions arranged on a top surface of the second substrate, and a plurality of contacts;

wherein the contacts spatially correspond to the pressing portions respectively, and are arranged on a bottom surface of the second substrate opposite to the top surface;

the contact corresponding to the pressed point causes the metal dome to deform and contact the corresponding contacting tab.

3. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein the second substrate is made of rubber or plastic.

4. The touch panel as described in claim 2, wherein each of the pressing portions is a protruding keypad arranged on the top surface of the second substrate.

5. The touch panel as described in claim 2, wherein each of the pressing portions is a pattern formed on the top surface of the second substrate.

6. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is made of rubber or polyethylene.

7. The touch panel as described in claim 1, wherein the sensing layer is a silver paste coating printed on the insulating layer.