Touch sensor with integrated decoration
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A control interface for a controlled device, said control interface comprising:
- a printed wiring board;
a decoration integrally disposed on said printed wiring board, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;
a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board;
a conductive trace disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board, said conductive trace electrically coupled to said touch sensor; and
a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said printed wiring board and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board;
said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface and said decoration being visible from said touch surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A switch panel includes one or more touch responsive switch devices and an integrated decorative fascia. Both the switch devices and decoration are applied to the same substrate, eliminating the need for a separate user interface panel. Each switch device can include one or more electrodes and a circuit for inducing an electric field about the electrode(s) and responding to disturbances to the electric field.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control interface for a controlled device, said control interface comprising:
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a printed wiring board; a decoration integrally disposed on said printed wiring board, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board; a conductive trace disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board, said conductive trace electrically coupled to said touch sensor; and a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said printed wiring board and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board; said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface and said decoration being visible from said touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:
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a flexible electrical circuit carrier; a decoration integrally disposed on said circuit carrier, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier; a conductive trace disposed on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier, said conductive trace electrically coupled to said touch sensor; and a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said circuit carrier and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier; said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface and said decoration being visible from said touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:
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a light pipe; a light source optically connected to said light pipe; a decoration integrally disposed on said light pipe, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; a touch sensor comprising at least one thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said light pipe; and a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said light pipe and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said light pipe; said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface, said decoration being visible from said touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of using an electric circuit carrier to control a controlled device, comprising the steps of:
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disposing a decoration integrally on said circuit carrier, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; disposing a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier; defining a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier and said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said circuit carrier, said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface; connecting said circuit carrier to said controlled device such that said decoration is visible to a user and said touch surface is accessible to said user for touch by said user. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:
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a light pipe having a non-uniform cross section; a light source optically connected to said light pipe; a decoration integrally disposed on said light pipe, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; a touch sensor comprising at least one thin, conductive electrode pad operably associated with said light pipe; and a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said light pipe, said touch surface coinciding with said light pipe; said decoration being visible from said touch surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification