Touch panel device

• US 6,445,426 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Ki-Hwan, Kang, Min-Goo
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDEK, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/692,610
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 349/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A touch panel device which is adapted for varying resistance values between the electrodes is disclosed. The touch panel device has a upper conductive layer formed on the top plate, having a pair of first electrodes, a lower conductive layer formed on the base plate, having a pair of second electrodes and a plurality of dot spacers, located in between said upper conductive layer and lower conductive layer. At least either one of the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer has a plurality of through holes formed thereon, so that a resistance between the electrodes can be varied by varying dimensions of the through holes and intervals between the through holes.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a top plate and a base plate;

a upper conductive layer, formed on the top plate, having a pair of first electrodes disposed on its edges to be opposed in a first direction, the first electrodes being applied by a driving voltage;

a lower conductive layer, formed on the base plate, having a pair of second electrodes disposed on its edges to be opposed in a second direction normal to the first direction, the second electrodes being applied by a driving voltage;

a plurality of dot spacers, located in between said upper conductive layer and lower conductive layer, the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer facing each other with a certain specified clearance therebetween, the dot spacers made of an elastic material; and

a controller for detecting a coordinate signal of a position on which the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer are contacted with each other by an external pressure,

wherein a plurality of through holes are formed on at least either one of the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer, so that a resistance between the electrodes can be varied by varying dimensions of the through holes and intervals between the through holes.

2. The touch panel device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes are formed on the upper conductive layer.

3. The touch panel device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes are formed on the lower conductive layer.

4. The touch panel device as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of through holes are formed on both the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer.

5. The touch panel device as recited in claim 1, wherein the resistance between the electrodes has a value which is around an ideal resistance determined by the following conditions:

6. The touch panel device as recited in claim 1, wherein the conductive layer on which the plurality of through holes are formed by photolithography processes with a mask having a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of though holes.