Capacitive touch panel control

• US 4,394,643 A
• Filed: 04/29/1981
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US06/258,589
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 340/365 C, 340/365 R, 340/365 A, 340/365 S, 200/DIG. 1, 200/52 R, 400/479, 400/479.1, 361/288, 361/290, 361/283, 361/280, 361/281, 179/90 K, 178/17 C
• US Class Current: 341/33
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches

Abstract

A capacitive touch panel control provided with first and second conductive circuit pads on opposite faces of a thin dielectric sheet in the form of a film secured to a dielectric panel by adhesive. The panel is provided with a touch pad. The circuit pads are disposed so that at least a portion of each is in appositional facial registration with the touch pad and out of appositional facial registration with each other so as to provide a variable capacitance between the circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and non-touching of the touch pad by a user. The circuit pads may form a portion of a printed circuit on the film which further includes electrical conductors for making connection to associated apparatus. Ground conductors may be provided on the film adjacent the output voltage conductors of the circuit to reduce leakage between the circuit conductors. The provision of the circuit pads on opposite faces of the film permits electrically insulated crossover of the conductors for facilitated layout of the circuit.

Claims

1. A capacitive touch panel comprising:

a first dielectric wall member having opposite first and second surfaces;

a conductive touch pad on said first surface;

a second dielectric wall member having opposite third and fourth surfaces;

a first conductive circuit pad on said third surface;

a second conductive circuit pad on said fourth surface, said second circuit pad being out of appositional facial registration with said first circuit pad;

electrical means connecting said first and second conductive circuit pads in an electrical circuit, said electrical connecting means including one portion adjacent said third surface and another portion adjacent said fourth surface, the disposition of said portions adjacent said opposite surfaces of the second dielectric wall member permitting crossover of said portions with the crossover portions being spaced apart by said second dielectric wall member; and

means for retaining said dielectric wall members with said third surface facially juxtaposed to said second surface and with at least a portion of each of said circuit pads in appositional facial registration with said touch pad to provide a variable capacitance between said circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and nontouching of said touch pad by a user.

2. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member comprises a film of synthetic resin.

3. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member has a thickness substantially smaller than that of said first wall member.

4. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member has a thickness approximately 7% that of said first wall member.

5. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second wall member has a thickness of approximately 2 mils.

6. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein the capacitance between said second circuit pad and said touch pad is at least approximately 90% of the capacitance between said first circuit pad and said touch pad.

7. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the dielectric wall members juxtaposed comprises adhesive means.

8. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the dielectric wall members juxtaposed comprises dielectric adhesive means between said second surface of the first wall member and said third surface of the second wall member.

9. The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said circuit pads comprise thin film pads printed on said second wall member.

10. A capacitive touch panel circuit comprising:

a first dielectric wall member having opposite first and second surfaces;

a conductive touch pad on said first surface;

a second dielectric wall member having opposite third and fourth surfaces;

a first conductive circuit pad on said third surface;

a second conductive circuit pad on said fourth surface, said second circuit pad being out of appositional facial registration with said first circuit pad;

means for retaining said dielectric wall members with said third surface facially juxtaposed to said second surface and with at least a portion of each of said circuit pads in appositional facial registration with said touch pad to provide a variable capacitance between said circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and nontouching of said touch pad by a user;

first conductor means adjacent said third surface for applying an input voltage signal to said first circuit pad; and

second conductor means adjacent said fourth surface for conducting an output voltage signal from said second circuit pad, the disposition of said first and second conductor means adjacent said opposite surface permitting crossover of said conductor means with the crossover portions being spaced apart by said second dielectric wall member.

11. The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member.

12. The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said means for conducting said output signal.

13. The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead.

14. The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead, each of said circuit pads and said conductive lead comprising conductive means printed on said second wall member.

15. The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead, each of said circuit pads, said grounded conductors, and said conductive lead comprising conductive means printed on said second wall member.