Touch screen with an applied edge electrode pattern

• US 6,841,225 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Bottari, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xu, Ling
• Application Number:
  US10/435,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 428/192, 428/209, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175
• US Class Current: 428/192
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0284 Paper, e.g. as reinforcement paper sheet substrates H05K1/0386
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09436 Pads or lands on permanent coating which covers the other conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/0531 Decalcomania, i.e. transfer of a pattern detached from its carrier before affixing the pattern to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/207 using a prefabricated paste pattern, ink pattern or powder pattern
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/28 Applying non-metallic protective coatings H05K3/0091 takes precedence; methods for intermediate insulating layers for build-up multilayer circuits H05K3/4673
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen panel including printing an edge electrode pattern on decal paper; applying a cover coat over the electrode pattern; removing the decal paper; and transferring the edge electrode pattern to a touch screen panel. A decal to be used in accordance with this method.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a touch screen construction comprising a resistive layer disposed on a substrate; and

a decal comprising a decal layer, a conductive pattern on the decal layer, and a cover coat over the conductive pattern, the decal configured for application to the resistive layer of the touch screen so that the conductive pattern forms edge electrodes configured for connecting to wires for measuring signals to determine a touch location on the touch screen.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover coat comprises a lacquer material.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the decal layer is paper with a starch coating on a least one surface thereof, and the edge electrode pattern is located on the starch coated surface.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the decal layer is paper with a wax coating on a least one surface thereof, and the edge electrode pattern is located on the wax coated surface.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an insulative layer disposed over selected portions of the edge electrode pattern, and conductive lands printed on the insulative layer under the cover coat.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the insulative layer comprises a dielectric material.

7. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one of a noise shield layer and a protective layer disposed over the conductive lands under the cover coat.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an insulative border layer on the decal layer proximate the edge pattern, and printed conductive lands on the insulative border layer.