Capacitive Touch Panel Label

• US 20100271324A1
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory Hayes
• Original Assignee: Gregory Hayes
• Inventors: Hayes, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US12/765,782
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A touch panel with both static elements is created by layering a glass cover over a label, which is then layered over a touch screen. The high quality label over the touch screen sets forth areas that could be used as buttons, switches, or potentiometers. The label could also have a die cut window that reveals a dynamic screen underneath, allowing for a touch screen with both static buttons that are always present and a dynamic interface that could react to user input.

Claims

1. A touch panel, comprising:

a touch screen having a touch-sensitive side;

a transparent cover that at least partially masks the touch-sensitive side; and

a label sandwiched between the touch-sensitive side and the cover.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive side comprises a capacitive touch screen.

3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive side comprises an indium tin oxide projected screen.

4. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive side comprises a resistive touch screen.

5. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover fully masks the touch-sensitive side.

6. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover is less than 10 mm thick.

7. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover is less than 4 mm thick.

8. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover is less than 2 mm thick.

9. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a magnification lens.

10. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a bezel.

11. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the label comprises a transparent adhesive that bonds the label to at least one of the cover and the screen.

12. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the label comprises a thermoplastic.

13. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the label comprises a hole.

14. A method of labeling a surface of a touch screen, comprising:

designating a portion of the surface to receive tactile input;

providing a transparent cover that masks the designated portion of the surface;

providing a label that at least partially masks the designated portion of the surface; and

layering the label and the transparent cover over the designated portion to allow the designated portion of the surface to receive tactile input.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch screen comprises a capacitive touch screen.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising tinting the cover to give the cover a translucent quality.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising illuminating the label.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating an air-tight seal between the cover and the touch screen.