Acoustic touch sensor

• US 7,187,369 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2000
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Touch Panel Systems KK (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Touch Panel Systems KK (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Kaneda, Hiroshi, Kanbara, Shigeki, Kamon, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US10/019,587
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 178 1801- 1804, 178 1901- 1904, 178/20.01, 345/177, 345/173, 345/178, 345/179, 345/157, 345/440, 345/168, 340/16, 310/334, 367/125, 106/105, 341/33, 349/162
• US Class Current: 345/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0436 in which generating transducers and detecting transducers are attached to a single acoustic waves transmission substrate

Abstract

A coordinate input device of touch-type capable of giving an electric signal to a transducer, even if said transducer is disposed on a back surface of a substrate. The device contains acoustic wave transducers (piezoelectric vibrators), each functioning for oscillating a bulk wave (a first wave) toward a top surface of a substrate; a planar wiring formed on a back surface of the substrate by, e.g., transfer printing with conductive paste, for supplying the piezoelectric vibrator with electric power; diffractive acoustic wave mode couplers, each functioning for converting said bulk wave into a surface acoustic wave (a second wave) and vice versa; and a detector to detect scatter in the surface acoustic wave on the top surface of the substrate. Employing the planar wiring allows the wiring to be disposed even on the back surface of the substrate and also it may resolve the problem of fragility associated with a cable wiring.

Claims

1. A touch input device, comprising:

(a) a substrate having a first planar surface and a second planar surface;

(b) an acoustic wave transducer for generating acoustic waves, the acoustic wave transducer coupled to the second planar surface such that generated acoustic waves are transmitted to the first planar surface;

(c) planar wiring printed on the second planar surface; and

(d) means for connecting the planar wiring to the acoustic wave transducer comprising a first electrode that couples a first portion of a first side of the transducer to a first portion of the planar wiring and a second electrode that couples a second portion of the first side of the transducer to a second portion of the planar wiring, the second electrode extending from the first side of the transducer to a second side of the transducer opposed to the first portion of the first side of the transducer.

2. A touch input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the planar wiring is insulated from the second portion of the planar wiring.

3. A touch input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the planar wiring comprises a composite conductive material.

4. A touch input device as recited in claim 1, wherein the planar wiring is applied by transfer printing.

5. A touch input device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a linear array of acoustically reflective elements on the first planar surface and wherein the planar wiring resides on a portion of the second planar surface substantially opposite to the linear array of acoustically reflective elements.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, in which said acoustic wave transducer is composed of a piezoelectric vibrator.

7. A device in accordance with claim 1, in which said wiring is formed by using conductive paste.