Touch sensor

• US 7,154,481 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2002
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Schulz, Stephen C., Cordeiro, Craig A., Bottari, Frank J., Cross, Elisa M., Chernefsky, Anthony F., Moshrefzadeh, Robert S., Kardauskas, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/183,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20030234769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-157, 345173-174, 345/179, 178 1801- 1803, 178 1805- 1806, 178 1901- 1904
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A touch sensing method and a touch sensing device are described for sensing a location of a touch. When the touch sensing device is touched, a first conductive layer disposed on a supporting layer is deflected toward a second conductive layer. The touch location is determined by sensing the change in capacitance at the location of the touch. A change in capacitance at the touch location is sensed by driving one of the conductive layers with an electrical signal referenced to the other conductive layer and measuring the current flow between the conductive layers. The sensed change in capacitance is greater than a change in the external capacitance of the touch sensor.

Claims

1. A touch sensor, comprising:

a first conductive layer, the first conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over a touch area, and flexible;

a second conductive layer, the second conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over the touch area and disposed relative to the first conductive layer to define a gap between the first and second conductive layers, the first transparent, conductive layer being flexible to allow local deformation towards the second transparent, conductive layer due to a touch force without contacting the second transparent, conductive layer so as to produce a change in capacitance between the first and second transparent, conductive layers, the change in capacitance being used to determine the two-dimensional location of the touch force; and

a plurality of spacers located within the gap, the plurality of spacers being transparent and permitting movement of the first conductive layer towards the second conductive layer under a touch while maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the first and second conductive layers,

wherein at least one of the first and second conductive layers includes a protective coating and wherein the plurality of spacers is formed integrally with the protective coating.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein a surface of the protective coating with integrated spacers is roughened so as to reduce glare and occurrence of Newton'"'"'s rings.

3. A touch sensor, comprising:

a first conductive layer, the first conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over a touch area, and flexible;

a second conductive layer, the second conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over the touch area and disposed relative to the first conductive layer to define a gap between the first and second conductive layers, the first transparent, conductive layer being flexible to allow local deformation towards the second transparent, conductive layer due to a touch force without contacting the second transparent, conductive layer so as to produce a change in capacitance between the first and second transparent, conductive layers, the change in capacitance being used to determine the two-dimensional location of the touch force; and

a plurality of spacers formed of a particle loaded material and located within the gap, the plurality of spacers being transparent and permitting movement of the first conductive layer towards the second conductive layer under a touch while maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the first and second conductive layers.

4. The touch sensor of claim 3, wherein the spacers are formed of a material loaded with silica particles.