Touch screen shield

• US 9,128,545 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RO Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Racing Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Stephen S., Wilson, Bart, Wilson, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): Nordmeyer, Patricia L
• Application Number:
  US12/780,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2551/00 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/00 Protective equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/06 for securing layers together; for attaching the product to another member, e.g. to a support , or to another product, e.g. groove/tongue, interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/05 the layers not being connected over the whole surface, e.g. discontinuous connection or patterned connection using interposed adhesives or bonding materials applied in spaced arrangements B32B7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1633 Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1634 Integrated protective display lid, e.g. for touch-sensitive display in handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 : Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 : with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 : Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 : Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 : Complete cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 : including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 : Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell

Abstract

A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.

Claims

1. A combination electronic device and protective shield, the combination comprising:

an electronic device having a touch sensitive screen that enables touch operation of the electronic device, the touch sensitive screen having a touch sensitive electronic visual display;

a protective shield mounted to the touch sensitive screen of the electronic device via an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer disposed about an outer peripheral portion of the shield so that the adhesive layer surrounds a central portion of the shield, the shield having a shape that corresponds to the touch sensitive screen, and the central portion of the shield having a shape that corresponds to the touch sensitive electronic visual display,

wherein the central portion of the shield covers and is lifted off the touch sensitive electronic visual display, wherein air is trapped between the shield, the touch sensitive electronic visual display, and the adhesive layer, and wherein the touch sensitive electronic visual display maintains touch sensitivity through the shield.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the shield further comprises a liner layer attached to an interior side of a base layer, the liner layer having an outer periphery smaller than an outer periphery of the base layer so as to form a step between the interior side of the base layer and the liner layer, wherein the step creates sufficient tension on the base layer to lift the central portion of the attached shield off the touch sensitive electronic visual display.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is sufficiently thick to lift the central portion of the shield off the touch sensitive screen so that no part of the central portion contacts the touch sensitive electronic visual display.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a base layer and an annular film layer between a base layer and the adhesive, the annular film layer having a thickness and surrounding the central portion of the shield, wherein the thickness of the annular film layer causes the central portion of the shield to lift off the touch sensitive screen so that no part of the central portion contacts the touch sensitive electronic visual display.

5. A combination touch sensitive electronic device and transparent shield, the combination comprising:

an electronic device having a touch sensitive screen that enables touch operation of the electronic device, the touch sensitive screen having a touch sensitive electronic visual display; and

a transparent shield mounted on the touch sensitive screen of the electronic device, the shield comprising a base layer and an adhesive layer applied to an interior side of the base layer, the base layer having a shape that corresponds to the touch sensitive screen, and the adhesive layer surrounding a central portion of the shield and attaching the shield to the touch sensitive screen,

wherein the central portion of the attached shield covers the electronic visual display, wherein there is no adhesive between the central portion of the attached shield and the electronic visual display, wherein the adhesive layer traps air between the shield and the touch sensitive screen, and wherein the touch sensitive screen maintains touch sensitivity through the attached shield.

6. The touch sensitive electronic device of claim 5, wherein the shield further comprises a liner layer attached to the interior side of the base layer, the liner layer having an outer periphery smaller than an outer periphery of the base layer so as to form a step, wherein the step places the base layer into tension, and wherein the tension causes the central portion of the shield to lift off the touch sensitive screen.

7. The touch sensitive electronic device of claim 5, wherein the adhesive layer has a thickness sufficient to lift the central portion of the shield off the touch sensitive screen.

8. The touch sensitive electronic device of claim 5, wherein the shield further comprises an annular film layer between the base layer and the adhesive, the annular film layer having a thickness and surrounding the central portion of the shield, wherein the thickness of the annular film layer causes the central portion of the shield to lift off the touch sensitive screen.

9. The touch sensitive electronic device of claim 5, wherein the trapped air forms a planar air bearing between the central portion of the shield and the touch sensitive screen.

10. A transparent shield for a touch sensitive screen of a device, the device having a touch sensitive screen that enables touch operation of the device, and the touch sensitive screen having a touch sensitive visual display, the shield comprising:

a first transparent layer defining opposed first and second sides, the first transparent layer defining an outer periphery, the outer periphery configured to correspond to a shape of the touch sensitive screen of the device;

a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on an outer peripheral portion of the second side of the first transparent layer;

a second transparent layer defining opposed first and second sides, the first side of the second transparent layer being attached to a central portion of the second side of the first transparent layer, the central portion layer having a shape that corresponds to the visual display of the device, wherein an outer periphery of the second transparent layer is smaller than the outer periphery of the first transparent layer so as to define a step;

wherein the outer peripheral portion of the first transparent layer is attachable to the device so that the central portion of the second side of the first transparent layer is positioned over the touch sensitive visual display of the touch sensitive screen of the device, and wherein the step places the first transparent layer in tension when the outer peripheral portion of the first transparent layer is attached to the device, the tension being sufficient to lift the second transparent layer of the transparent shield off the touch sensitive screen and form an air gap between the attached shield and the touch sensitive screen.

11. The shield of claim 10 further comprising adhesive disposed between the central portion of the second side of the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer for attaching the first and second transparent layer to each other.

12. The shield of claim 11 wherein a difference in an index of refraction of the first and second transparent layers is less than 0.2.

13. The shield of claim 10 wherein the adhesive disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the first transparent layer is protected by a removable liner.

14. The shield of claim 10 further comprising one or more transparent sacrificial layers peelably removable from each other and the first side of the first transparent layer so that a top most sacrificial layer may be removed as desired.

15. The shield of claim 14 wherein the first and second transparent layers are thicker compared to the one or more sacrificial layers.

16. The shield of claim 14 wherein the sacrificial layers have staggered tabs for assisting in the peeling of the top most sacrificial layer.

17. The shield of claim 14 wherein a peel value is progressively stronger as the top most sacrificial layer is peeled.

18. The shield of claim 10 wherein the adhesive traps air between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form an enclosed air gap.

19. The shield of claim 18 wherein the enclosed air gap is a planar air bearing, that maintains sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen through the shield.

20. The shield of claim 10 further comprising an opaque annular film at an outer peripheral portion of the first transparent layer.

21. A transparent protective shield for an electronic device, the electronic device having a touch sensitive screen that allows a user to operate the electronic device, the touch sensitive screen having a shape, and at least a portion of the touch sensitive screen having a touch sensitive visual display portion, the visual display portion having a shape, the shield comprising:

a base layer having an interior side, the base layer having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the touch sensitive screen; and

an adhesive layer applied to the interior side of the base layer, the adhesive layer surrounding a central portion of the shield so that no adhesive is applied on an interior side of the central portion of the shield, the central portion of the shield having a shape that corresponds to the shape of the visual display portion,

wherein the shield is attachable to the touch sensitive screen of the electronic device so that the adhesive layer of the attached shield surrounds the display portion of the touch sensitive screen, and so that the transparent shield covers the touch sensitive screen without the central portion of the shield adhering to the visual display portion of the touch sensitive screen, wherein the adhesive traps air between the transparent shield and the touch sensitive screen and wherein the touch sensitive screen maintains touch sensitivity through the attached shield and further comprising a liner layer attached to the interior side of the base layer, the liner layer having an outer periphery smaller than an outer periphery of the base layer so as to form a step, wherein the step places the base layer into tension and lifts the protective liner off the touch sensitive screen in response to the adhesive layer attaching the transparent shield to the electronic device.