Touch sensitive transparent switch array
First Claim
1. A transparent switch array comprising:
- a relatively transparent backplate having a first plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof;
a relatively flexible transparent sheet having a second plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, said flexible sheet and said second plurality of strips being dimensioned and arranged for mounting of said flexible sheet in closely spaced apart, parallel relationship with said transparent backplate with said surface of said flexible sheet including said second plurality of conductive strips facing said surface of said backplate including said first plurality of conductive strips and with said second plurality of conductive strips being substantially perpendicular to said first plurality of conductive strips, said flexible sheet further including a plurality of bead-like regions formed on said surface of said pliant sheet that include said second plurality of conductive strips and extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of bead-like regions being arranged in a pattern that positions a first portion of said plurality of bead-like regions between adjacent ones of the conductive strips of said second plurality of conductive strips and positions a second portion of said bead-like regions in alignment with the separation between adjacent ones of said first plurality of conductive strips when said flexible sheet is mounted in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate; and
means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said surface of said backplate that includes said first plurality of conductive strips, said means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate includes including a flat electrical cable having a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart conductors extending along one planar surface thereof, said cable being interposed between at least two edge regions of said backplate and said flexible sheet, each of said conductors of said cable being arranged for electrically contacting a conductive strip within one of said first and second pluralities of conductive strips.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transparent switch array is disclosed that includes a relatively flexible or pliant sheet having a number of vertically-extending conductive column elements mounted in spaced apart parallel relationship with a relatively rigid backplate that includes a number of horizontally extending conductive row elements so that the intersecting row and column elements, in effect, form a matrix of rectangular touch-pressure activated switches. A relatively thin, flat electrical cable that is interposed between two edge regions of the backplate and the flexible sheet provides a portion of the peripheral backplate-flexible sheet spacing, with thin adhesive strips establishing the interelement spacing along the other two border regions. An array of small transparent elastomeric dots or beads that are deposited on one surface of the pliant sheet in effect outline the individual switch elements and maintain the pliant sheet in noncontacting, closely spaced orientation with the backplate. Compressive U-shaped spring clips, spaced along the periphery of the switch array, maintain the components in proper position and ensure good electrical contact between the conductive row and column elements and solderless connections between the electrical cable and the conductive elements of the backplate and the flexible sheet.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A transparent switch array comprising:
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a relatively transparent backplate having a first plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof; a relatively flexible transparent sheet having a second plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, said flexible sheet and said second plurality of strips being dimensioned and arranged for mounting of said flexible sheet in closely spaced apart, parallel relationship with said transparent backplate with said surface of said flexible sheet including said second plurality of conductive strips facing said surface of said backplate including said first plurality of conductive strips and with said second plurality of conductive strips being substantially perpendicular to said first plurality of conductive strips, said flexible sheet further including a plurality of bead-like regions formed on said surface of said pliant sheet that include said second plurality of conductive strips and extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of bead-like regions being arranged in a pattern that positions a first portion of said plurality of bead-like regions between adjacent ones of the conductive strips of said second plurality of conductive strips and positions a second portion of said bead-like regions in alignment with the separation between adjacent ones of said first plurality of conductive strips when said flexible sheet is mounted in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate; and means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said surface of said backplate that includes said first plurality of conductive strips, said means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate includes including a flat electrical cable having a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart conductors extending along one planar surface thereof, said cable being interposed between at least two edge regions of said backplate and said flexible sheet, each of said conductors of said cable being arranged for electrically contacting a conductive strip within one of said first and second pluralities of conductive strips. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A transparent switch array comprising:
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a relatively transparent flexible sheet having a first plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof; a relatively transparent backplate having a second plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, said backplate and said second plurality of strips being dimensioned and arranged for mounting of said flexible sheet in closely spaced apart, parallel relationship with said backplate with said surface of said flexible sheet including said first plurality of conductive strips facing said surface of said backplate including said second plurality of conductive strips and with said first plurality of conductive strips being substantially perpendicular to said second plurality of conductive strips, said backplate further including a plurality of bead-like regions formed on said surface of said backplate that include said second plurality of conductive strips and extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of bead-like regions being arranged in a pattern that positions a first portion of said plurality of bead-like regions between adjacent ones of the conductive strips of said second plurality of conductive strips and positions a second portion of said bead-like regions in alignment with the separation between adjacent ones of said first plurality of conductive strips when said flexible sheet is mounted in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate; and means for supporting and maintaining said fexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said surface of said backplate that includes said first plurality of conductive strips, said means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate includes a flat electrical cable having a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart conductors extending along one planar surface thereof, said cable being interposed between at least two edge regions of said backplate and said flexible sheet, each of said conductors of said cable being arranged for electrically contacting a conductive strip within one of said first and second pluralities of conductive strips. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A transparent switch array for mounting on the face of a display device that generates luminescent display characters, said transparent switch array comprising:
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a relatively transparent backplate having a first plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, each of said substantially parallel conductive strips being a multilayer thin film structure including a surface layer of tin-indium oxide, a second layer of an electrically conductive material and a bottom layer of material that causes such layer to adhere to said surfaces of said backplate and said flexible sheet, said multilayer thin film structure exhibiting higher transmittance at radiation wavelengths associated with said luminescent display than is exhibited at longer wavelengths; a relatively flexible transparent sheet having a second plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, each of said substantially parallel conductive strips being a multilayer thin film structure including a surface layer of tin-indium oxide, a second layer of an electrically conductive material and a bottom layer of material that causes such layer to adhere to said surfaces of said backplate and said flexible sheet, said multilayer thin film structure exhibiting higher transmittance at radiation wavelengths associated with said luminescent display than is exhibited at longer wavelengths, said flexible sheet and said second plurality of strips being dimensioned and arranged for mounting of said flexbile sheet in closely spaced apart, parallel relationship with said transparent backplate with said surface of said flexible sheet including said second plurality of conductive strips facing said surface of said backplate including said first plurality of conductive strips and with said second plurality of conductive strips being substantially perpendicular to said first plurality of conductive strips, said flexible sheet further including a plurality of bead-like regions formed on said surface of said pliant sheet that include said second plurality of conductive strips and extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of bead-like regions being arranged in a pattern that positions a first portion of said plurality of bead-like regions between adjacent ones of the conductive strips of said second plurality of conductive strips and positions a second portion of said bead-like regions in alignment with the separation between adjacent ones of said first plurality of conductive strips when said flexible sheet is mounted in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate; and means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said surface of said backplate that includes said first plurality of conductive strips. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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21. A transparent switch array for mounting on the face of a display device that generates luminescent display characters, said transparent switch array comprising:
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a relatively transparent flexible sheet having a first plurality of substantially conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, each of said substantially parallel conductive strips being a multilayer thin film structure including a surface layer of tin-indium oxide, a second layer of an electrically conductive material and a bottom layer of material that causes said layer to adhere to said surfaces of said backplate and said flexible sheet, said multilayer thin film structure exhibiting higher transmittance at radiation wavelengths associated with said luminescent display than is exhibited at longer wavelengths; a relatively transparent backplate having a second plurality of substantially parallel conductive strips formed on one surface thereof, each of said substantially parallel conductive strips being a multilayer thin film structure including a surface layer of tin-indium oxide, a second layer of an electrically conductive material and a bottom layer of material that causes said conductive layer to adhere to said surfaces of said backplate and said flexible sheet, said multilayer thin film structure exhibiting higher transmittance at radiation wavelengths associated with said luminescent display than is exhibited at longer wavelengths, said backplate and said second plurality of strips being dimensioned and arranged for mounting of said flexible sheet in closely spaced apart, parallel relationship with said backplate with said surface of said flexible sheet including said first plurality of conductive strips facing said surface of said backplate including said second plurality of conductive strips and with said first plurality of conductive strips being substantially perpendicular to said second plurality of conductive strips, said backplate further including a plurality of bead-like regions formed on said surface of said backplate that include said second plurality of conductive strips and extending outwardly therefrom, said plurality of bead-like regions being arranged in a pattern that positions a first portion of said plurality of bead-like regions between adjacent ones of the conductive strips of said second plurality of conductive strips and positions a second portion of said beadlike regions in alignment with the separation between adjacent ones of said first plurality of conductive strips when said flexible sheet is mounted in said parallel, closely spaced orientation with said backplate; and means for supporting and maintaining said flexible sheet in said parallel closely spaced orientation with said surface of said backplate that includes said first plurality of conductive strips. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification