Touch responsive user interface with backlit graphics

• US 9,100,022 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stilwell, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jimenez, Anthony R.
• Application Number:
  US13/800,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20130248344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 200/600, 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides

Abstract

A user interface includes a touch surface substrate, a graphic layer, a touch sensor disposed on a circuit carrier associated with the rear side of the touch surface substrate, and a light source associated with the rear side of the circuit carrier. The circuit carrier defines an aperture through which light emanating from the light source can pass. This light also passes through the graphic layer and is visible at the front side of the touch surface substrate.

Claims

1. A user interface comprising:

a touch surface substrate having a front side and a rear side, said touch surface substrate including a light transmissive portion and defining an operative touch surface;

a circuit carrier having a front side and a rear side, said front side of said circuit carrier associated with said rear side of said touch surface substrate, said circuit carrier defining an aperture therein, said aperture at least partially in registration with said light transmissive portion of said touch surface substrate;

a sensor comprising a first sensing electrode disposed upon said circuit carrier proximate said aperture, said sensor at least partially in registration with said operative touch surface; and

a selectively illuminated light source associated with said rear side of said circuit carrier such that light emanating from said light source is visible from said front side of said touch surface substrate at said light transmissive portion of said touch surface substrate;

with no intervening structure between said rear surface of said circuit carrier and said rear surface of said touch surface substrate through at least a portion of said aperture.

2. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said sensing electrode substantially encompasses said aperture.

3. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said sensor is disposed on the front side of said circuit carrier.

4. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said sensor is disposed on the rear side of said circuit carrier.

5. The user interface of claim 1, said sensor further comprising a second sensing electrode disposed upon said circuit carrier proximate said aperture.

6. The user interface of claim 5 wherein one of said sensing electrodes is disposed on said front side of said circuit carrier and the other of said sensing electrodes is disposed on said rear side of said circuit carrier.

7. The user interface of claim 5 wherein one of said sensing electrodes is a drive electrode and the other of said sensing electrodes is a sense electrode, wherein said drive electrode is disposed between said sense electrode and said light source to provide electrical shielding between said sense electrode and said light source.

8. The user interface of claim 5 wherein each of said sensing electrodes is adjacent to said aperture.

9. The interface of claim 5 further comprising a guard electrode associated with at least one of said first sensing electrode and said second sensing electrode.

10. The user interface of claim 9 wherein said guard electrode at least partially surrounds at least one of said first sensing electrode and said second sensing electrode.

11. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a graphics layer defining a graphic element having a light-transmissive portion, said light transmissive portion of said graphic element at least partially in registration with said light source and said light-transmissive portion of said touch surface substrate.

12. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said light source is disposed on said rear side of said circuit carrier.

13. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said light source is disposed on a lighting carrier associated with said rear side of said circuit carrier.

14. The user interface of claim 1 further comprising a reflector and/or light guide associated with said light source and adapted to direct light emanating from said light source through said aperture.

15. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said circuit carrier is substantially opaque.

16. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said sensor electrodes are substantially opaque.

17. The user interface of claim 1 wherein said touch surface substrate defines a convexity on said rear surface thereof and in registration with said touch surface, said convexity disposed within said aperture.