Moisture deflector for capacitive NFI touch screens for use with bezels of conductive material

• US 6,927,761 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Kaga, Gary O., Badaye, Massoud
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/113,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/905, 349/149, 349/153, 349/155, 349/190, 361/679, 361/681
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A non-conductive barrier between a touch screen and a conductive bezel is described. The non-conductive barrier attaches to a capacitive touch screen and forms a lip over a grounded bezel. The non-conductive barrier is constructed of a material and dimension sufficient to prevent liquid streaming down the touch screen from electrically coupling an active area of the touch screen to the grounded bezel.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a non-conductive barrier configured for attachment to a display unit, the display unit including a capacitive touch screen and a bezel at least partially surrounding the capacitive touch screen, the non-conductive barrier being sufficient to form a discontinuity in a stream of liquid flowing between the capacitive touch screen and the bezel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the capacitive touch screen further comprises an active portion and an inactive portion, the inactive portion being an area of the capacitive touch screen between at least part of the active portion and the bezel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-conductive barrier is configured for attachment to the inactive portion of the capacitive touch screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the non-conductive barrier is configured for attachment to the bezel of the display unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive barrier is constructed of a non-conductive material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the non-conductive material comprises plastic.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-conductive sealing material adhered to the non-conductive barrier to join the non-conductive barrier to the display unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the non-conductive sealing material comprises silicone.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive barrier is configured to extend out from the display unit at an obtuse angle from the touch screen.

10. A touch sensitive display unit, comprising:

a capacitive touch screen having an active portion and an inactive portion;

a grounded bezel at least partially surrounding the touch screen; and

a non-conductive barrier positioned to separate the capacitive touch screen from the grounded bezel such that a liquid streaming down the touch sensitive display unit does not form a conductive path coupling the active portion of the capacitive touch screen to the grounded bezel.

11. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive barrier is attached to the inactive portion of the capacitive touch screen.

12. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive barrier is continuous around the entire capacitive touch screen.

13. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive barrier is discontinuous.

14. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 13, wherein the non-conductive barrier is continuous along a single side of the capacitive touch screen.

15. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive barrier is affixed to the touch sensitive display unit with a non-conductive sealing material.

16. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 15, wherein the non-conductive sealing material comprises silicone.

17. The touch sensitive display unit of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the non-conductive barrier is constructed of plastic.

18. A method for reducing errors in a touch sensitive display unit including a capacitive touch screen and a bezel at least partially surrounding the capacitive touch screen, the method comprising:

providing a non-conductive barrier configured for attachment to the display unit, the non-conductive barrier constructed to extend outwardly from the touch screen and to form a lip over the bezel a sufficient distance to cause a discontinuity in a stream of liquid flowing between the capacitive touch screen and the bezel.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising attaching the non-conductive barrier to the touch sensitive display unit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-conductive barrier is attached to an inactive portion of the capacitive touch screen.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the non-conductive barrier is attached to the bezel.