Touch panel and method of manufacturing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touch panel system, comprising a touch panel and at least one magnetic pointer, said touch panel comprising:
- an input registration structure comprising a generally planar, unitary flexible layer;
a generally inflexible cover disposed on said input registration structure and defining a touch surface; and
a display panel intermediate said generally inflexible cover and said input registration structure;
wherein when said pointer is positioned proximate said touch surface, said pointer magnetically attracts said flexible layer adjacent said pointer causing only a portion of said flexible layer adjacent said pointer to flex towards said pointer out of plane, flexing of said flexible layer portion towards said pointer causing said input registration structure to generate a position signal corresponding to said pointer position that is transmitted to a computing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch panel includes an input registration structure comprising a biasable medium layer. A generally inflexible cover is disposed on the input registration structure and defines a touch surface. A pointer biases the biasable medium layer at a position adjacent the pointer when the pointer is positioned proximate the touch surface. The input registration structure generates a position signal corresponding to the position of the pointer in relation to the touch surface.
19 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A touch panel system, comprising a touch panel and at least one magnetic pointer, said touch panel comprising:
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an input registration structure comprising a generally planar, unitary flexible layer; a generally inflexible cover disposed on said input registration structure and defining a touch surface; and a display panel intermediate said generally inflexible cover and said input registration structure; wherein when said pointer is positioned proximate said touch surface, said pointer magnetically attracts said flexible layer adjacent said pointer causing only a portion of said flexible layer adjacent said pointer to flex towards said pointer out of plane, flexing of said flexible layer portion towards said pointer causing said input registration structure to generate a position signal corresponding to said pointer position that is transmitted to a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A touch panel, comprising:
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an input registration structure comprising a generally planar, unitary flexible layer that flexes out of plane at discrete locations in response to magnetic forces applied to said flexible layer adjacent said discrete locations and a pair of spaced conductive resist layers adjacent said flexible layer, said resist layers being brought into contact upon flexing of said flexible layer; a generally inflexible cover disposed on said input registration structure, a surface of said cover opposite said input registration structure defining a touch surface on which touch input using a magnetic pointer that applies said magnetic forces to said flexible layer can be made; and a display panel intermediate said generally inflexible cover and said input registration structure; wherein flexing of said flexible layer causes said input registration structure to generate a position signal corresponding to said pointer position that is transmitted to a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A touch panel system, comprising a touch panel and at least one magnetic pointer, said touch panel comprising:
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an input registration structure comprising a biasable layer comprising an array of movable magnetic objects, and a pair of spaced, conductive resist layers; a generally inflexible cover disposed on said input registration structure and defining a touch surface; and a display panel intermediate said generally inflexible cover and said input registration structure; wherein when said pointer is positioned proximate said touch surface, said pointer biases magnetic objects of said biasable layer that are positioned adjacent said pointer thereby causing said biased magnetic objects to move and bring said resist layers into contact with one another, said input registration structure of said touch panel generating a position signal corresponding to said pointer position in response to contact of said resist layers that is transmitted to a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A touch panel, comprising:
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an input registration structure comprising a magnetically biasable layer and a pair of spaced, conductive resist layers, said magnetically biasable layer comprising a plurality of distributed movable magnetic objects, said magnetic objects being moveable to bring said resist layers into contact in response to applied magnetic forces to generate a position signal that is transmitted to a computing device; a display panel disposed on said input registration structure; and a generally inflexible cover disposed on said display panel, a surface of said cover opposite said display panel defining a touch surface on which touch input using a magnetic pointer that applies said magnetic forces to said magnetic objects can be made. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A touch panel system, comprising a touch panel and at least one magnetic pointer, said touch panel comprising:
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an input registration structure comprising a generally planar, unitary pliable layer; a generally inflexible cover disposed on said input registration structure and defining a touch surface; and a display panel intermediate said generally inflexible cover and said input registration structure; wherein when said pointer is positioned proximate said touch surface, said pointer magnetically biases said pliable layer towards said pointer and out plane at a position adjacent said pointer thereby causing deformation of said pliable layer only at said position and resulting in said input registration structure generating a position signal corresponding to said pointer position that is transmitted to a computing device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification