Display system

• US 6,587,097 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Aufderheide, Brian E., Spang, Joseph C., Linsmeyer, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US09/723,723
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 345/104, 345/173, 607/153, 600/391, 204/220, 338/2, 156/77, 178/18-1-, 178/19-1-, 178/20-1-
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A display system is disclosed. The display system may include a display panel for display of information. The display system may also include a touch screen coupled to the display panel. The touch screen may include a base layer physically coupled to a cover layer. The touch screen may also include a semi-rigid conductor for electrically coupling the base layer to the cover layer. The conductor may be generally dispensable at about room temperature. A touch screen including a semi-rigid conductor for electrically coupling a base to a cover is also disclosed. A touch screen having a first and second means for providing an electrically conductive material is also disclosed. A connector may electrically couple the first means to the second means and may be generally dispensable at about room temperature. A method of manufacturing a touch screen is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A touch screen comprising:

a relatively stable base layer comprising a first electrically conductive coating;

a relatively flexible cover layer comprising a second electrically conductive coating;

a spacer mechanically coupling the base layer to the cover layer;

a conductor comprising a grease at least partially in the spacer and configured for mechanically and electrically coupling the base to the cover in a facing relationship;

wherein the conductor is semi-rigid to compensate for expansion of at least one of the cover layer and the base layer.

2. The touch screen of claim 1 wherein the spacer comprises an adhesive.

3. The touch screen of claim 1 wherein the conductor is deformable at about room temperature.

4. The touch screen of claim 3 wherein the conductor is generally flexible.

5. The touch screen of claim 4 wherein the conductor maintains an electrical connection between the base and the cover during at least one of thermal expansion and hygroscopic expansion of at least one of the cover and the base.

6. The touch screen of claim 5 wherein the conductor has a viscosity greater than about 5,000 centipoise at 0.3 RPM at about room temperature.

7. The touch screen of claim 5 wherein the conductor has a viscosity in the range of about 100,000-400,000 centipoise at 0.5 RPM at about room temperature.

8. The touch screen of claim 5 wherein the conductor is substantially free of epoxy.

9. The touch screen of claim 5 wherein the conductor is relatively soft from about minus 40 degrees Celsius to about 87 degrees Celsius.

10. The touch screen of claim 8 wherein the conductor comprises a carrier and a conductive material.

11. The touch screen of claim 10 wherein the carrier comprises a grease.

12. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the carrier comprises a mineral oil.

13. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the conductive material comprises at least one of carbon, silver, gold, platinum, palladium, nickel, and combinations thereof.

14. The touch screen of claim 11 wherein the base and the cover are electrically coupled to an accessory.

15. The touch screen of claim 14 wherein the accessory is a computer.

16. A touch screen comprising:

a first means for providing an electrically conductive material comprising;

a relatively stable base layer; and

a first electrically conductive coating;

a second means for providing a second electrically conductive coating in a facing relationship to the first electrically conductive coating and comprising a relatively flexible cover layer;

a connector for electrically coupling the first means to the second means;

wherein the connector comprises a grease that is deformable and configured to compensate for thermal expansion of at least one of the first means and the second means.

17. The touch screen of claim 16 wherein the connector at least partially compensates for at least one of expansion and contraction of the first means relative to the second means due to at least one of temperature and humidity.

18. The touch screen of claim 17 wherein the connector has a viscosity of greater than about 5,000 centipoise at 0.3 RPM at about room temperature.

19. The touch screen of claim 17 wherein the conductor is substantially free of epoxy.

20. A method of manufacturing a touch screen comprising:

providing a first layer having a first relatively translucent surface;

providing a second layer having a second relatively translucent surface;

dispensing a conductor on at least one of the first surface and the second surface thereby electrically coupling the first surface to the second surface;

wherein the conductor has a viscosity of at least about 5,000 centipoise at 0.3 RPM at about room temperature and the conductor has a rigidity sufficient to at least partially compensate for expansion of at least one of the first layer relative to the second layer.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein dispensing the conductor further comprises dispensing the conductor at about room temperature.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising dispensing the conductor with a syringe.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising applying a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least one of the first surface and the second surface and further comprising coupling the first surface to the second surface.

24. A display system comprising:

a base layer physically coupled to a cover layer by a spacer;

a semi-rigid conductor comprising a grease at least partially in the spacer and configured to electrically couple the base layer to the cover layer;

wherein the conductor has a viscosity of at least about 6,000 centipoise at 0.3 RPM at about room temperature and the conductor has a rigidity sufficient to at least partially compensate for expansion of the cover layer and the base layer.

25. The touch screen of claim 24 wherein the conductor has a viscosity of greater than about 5,000 centipoise at 0.3 RPM at about room temperature.

26. The display system of claim 24 wherein the spacer comprises an adhesive.

27. The display system of claim 26 further comprising a display panel for the display of information.

28. The display system of claim 27 further comprising a touch screen coupled to the display panel.

29. The display system of claim 28 wherein the display panel is a monitor.

30. The display system of claim 29 further comprising a computing device electrically coupled to at least one of the display panel and the touch screen.