Edge treatment method for ultrasonic wave absorption

• US 6,313,829 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Tolt, Thomas L., Knowles, Terence J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bowers, Benjamin D.
• Application Number:
  US09/184,104
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/177, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/19.01, 178/19.02
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a touch screen sensor 10 that reduces or eliminates echoes or reflections of ultrasonic waves generated by one or more transducers 12. The touch screen sensor 10 is comprised of a wave absorption material 16 positioned around at least a portion of the perimeter 35 of the touch screen sensor 10.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch screen sensor, said touch screen sensor having a plurality of edges and a perimeter; and

a wave absorption material positioned on at least one of said edges of said touch screen sensor, said wave absorption material extending at least partially around said perimeter of said touch screen sensor;

wherein at least a portion of said wave absorption material has a beveled edge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a polymer-based material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of an epoxy, an adhesive, or an elastomeric material.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a filler material comprised of a metallic powder, an inorganic material or an organic material.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a filler material comprised of a metallic powder, an inorganic material, or an organic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a bisphenol A epoxy, an elastomeric material, and a metallic powder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage each other at a non-square interface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage each other at a beveled interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage each other at a double beveled interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said edge of said touch screen sensor has a beveled surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touch screen sensor has a thickness, and said wave absorption material has a thickness that is substantially the same as the thickness of said touch screen sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material has a width that ranges from approximately 0.030-0.250 inches.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage one another at an approximately square interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wave absorption material has a density of at least approximately 4.5 grams/cm³.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch screen sensor, said sensor comprised of a plurality of edges and a plurality of reflector arrays; and

at least two sections of a wave absorption material, each of said at least two sections being positioned on one of said edges adjacent one of said plurality of reflector arrays;

wherein at least a portion of said wave absorption material has a beveled edge.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said touch screen sensor further comprises a first corner, said first corner of said sensor adapted for the coupling of at least one piezoelectric transducer thereto, each of said at least two section of a wave absorption material being positioned adjacent said first corner.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said touch screen sensor further comprises second and third corners, one of said at least two sections of a wave absorption material being further positioned adjacent said second corner, the other of said at least two sections of a wave absorption material being further positioned adjacent said third corner.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein one of said at least two sections of a wave absorption material is further positioned around said second corner and the other of said at least two sections of a wave absorption material is further positioned around said third corner.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a polymer-based material.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of an epoxy, an adhesive, or an elastomeric material.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a filler material comprised of a metallic powder, an inorganic material or an organic material.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a filler material comprised of a metallic powder, an inorganic material, or an organic material.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said touch screen sensor is comprised of glass, metal or plastic.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said wave absorption material is comprised of a bisphenol A epoxy, an elastomeric material, and a metallic powder.

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage each other at a non-square interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said touch screen sensor and said wave absorption material engage each other at a beveled interface.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said touch screen sensor has a thickness, and said wave absorption material has a thickness that is substantially the same as the thickness of said touch screen sensor.

28. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a plurality of edges;

first, second and third corners;

first and second reflector arrays, said first reflector array positioned between said first and second corners, said second reflector array positioned between said first and third corners;

a first section of a wave absorption material positioned on a first edge of said screen, said first section extending from said first corner, along said first reflector array, around said second corner and onto a second edge; and

a second section of a wave absorption material positioned on a third edge of said screen, said second section extending from said first corner, along said second reflector array, around said third corner and onto a fourth edge.

29. A touch screen sensor, comprising:

a plurality of edges;

first, second and third corners;

first and second reflector arrays, said first reflector array positioned between said first and second corners and said second reflector array positioned between said first and third corners;

a first section of a wave absorption material extending from a first edge around said second corner and onto a second edge; and

a second section of a wave absorption material extending from a third edge around said third corner and onto a fourth edge.