Touch sensor and control circuit therefor
First Claim
1. A low impedance touch sensor apparatus for detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, said touch sensor apparatus comprising:
- a dielectric substrate of substantially uniform thickness having first and second opposite surfaces;
a first thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage;
a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a spaced, coplanar and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode pad; and
an active electrical component disposed on said substrate proximate said first and second electrodes and electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes, such that human contact of said substrate activates the controlled device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low impedance touch sensor detects manual contact of a dielectric substrate by a human user. The touch sensor includes a first conductive electrode pad having a closed, continuous geometric form and a second conductive electrode which substantially co-planarly surrounds the first electrode and is spaced from the first electrode by a channel. The first and second electrodes are disposed on the same surface of the substrate. An active electrical component, such as a transistor is located on the substrate proximate the first and second electrodes, and is electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes.
835 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A low impedance touch sensor apparatus for detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, said touch sensor apparatus comprising:
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a dielectric substrate of substantially uniform thickness having first and second opposite surfaces; a first thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage; a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a spaced, coplanar and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode pad; and an active electrical component disposed on said substrate proximate said first and second electrodes and electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes, such that human contact of said substrate activates the controlled device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A low impedance touch sensor apparatus for detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, said touch sensor apparatus comprising:
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a dielectric carrier; a first thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on said carrier in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage; a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said carrier in a spaced and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode; an active electrical component disposed on said carrier proximate said first and second electrodes and electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes; and a dielectric substrate having first and second opposite surfaces, said dielectric carrier disposed on said first surface of said dielectric substrate, such that human contact of said substrate activates the controlled device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A low impedance touch sensor apparatus for detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, said touch sensor apparatus comprising:
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a dielectric substrate of substantially uniform thickness having first and second opposite surfaces; a first thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage; a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a spaced, coplanar and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode pad; and a transistor disposed on said first surface of said substrate proximate said first and second electrodes and electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes, such that human contact of said substrate activates the controlled device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A touch sensor apparatus including a plurality of touch pads each detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, each touch pad comprising:
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a dielectric substrate of substantially uniform thickness and having first and second opposite surfaces; a first thin, conductive electrode pad having a peripheral edge and disposed on said first surface of said substrate in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage; and a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said first surface fo said substrate in a spaced relationship to said first electrode, said second electrode surrounding said first electrode on peripheral edges having an adjacent touch pad. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A plurality of touch pads for detecting manual contact by a human user and capable of activating a controlled device, each touch pad comprising:
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a dielectric carrier; a first thin, conductive electrode pad having a peripheral edge and disposed on said carrier in a closed, continuous geometric form having an area which affords substantial coverage by a human appendage; a second thin, conductive electrode disposed on said carrier in a spaced relationship to said first electrode, said second electrode surrounding said first electrode on peripheral edges having an adjacent touch pad; and a dielectric substrate having first and second opposite surfaces, said carrier disposed on said first surface of said substrate, such that human contact of said substrate activates the controlled device.
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Specification