Touch sensor with integrated decoration

• US 7,242,393 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caldwell, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US10/272,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,729 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345/168, 341/22, 341/33, 341/34, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/06 with movable or removable shelves or receptacles A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96079 using a single or more light guides
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960795 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED

Abstract

A switch panel includes one or more touch responsive switch devices and an integrated decorative fascia. Both the switch devices and decoration are applied to the same substrate, eliminating the need for a separate user interface panel. Each switch device can include one or more electrodes and a circuit for inducing an electric field about the electrode(s) and responding to disturbances to the electric field.

Claims

1. A control interface for a controlled device, said control interface comprising:

a printed wiring board;

a decoration integrally disposed on said printed wiring board, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;

a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board;

a conductive trace disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board, said conductive trace electrically coupled to said touch sensor; and

a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said printed wiring board and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board;

said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface and said decoration being visible from said touch surface.

2. The control interface of claim 1 further comprising a light pipe disposed on at least one of said decoration and said printed wiring board.

3. The control interface of claim 1, further comprising a light source in association with said printed wiring board, wherein said light source illuminates at least a portion of said decoration.

4. The control interface of claim 3 wherein said light source is integrated with said touch sensor.

5. The control interface of claim 1, further comprising tactile structure associated with said touch surface, said tactile structure providing tactile identification of the location of said touch surface.

6. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:

a flexible electrical circuit carrier;

a decoration integrally disposed on said circuit carrier, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;

a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier;

a conductive trace disposed on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier, said conductive trace electrically coupled to said touch sensor; and

a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said circuit carrier and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier;

said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface and said decoration being visible from said touch surface.

7. The control interface of claim 6 further comprising a light pipe disposed on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier.

8. The control interface of claim 6, further comprising a light source in association with said circuit carrier, wherein said light source illuminates at least a portion of said decoration.

9. The control interface of claim 8 wherein said light source is integrated with said touch sensor.

10. The control interface of claim 8, wherein said electrode pad is substantially transparent.

11. The control interface of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of said circuit carrier is substantially transparent.

12. The control interface of claim 6, further comprising tactile structure associated with said touch surface, said tactile structure providing tactile identification of the location of said touch surface.

13. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:

a light pipe;

a light source optically connected to said light pipe;

a decoration integrally disposed on said light pipe, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;

a touch sensor comprising at least one thin, conductive electrode pad disposed on at least one of said decoration and said light pipe; and

a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said light pipe and said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said light pipe;

said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface, said decoration being visible from said touch surface.

14. The control interface of claim 13, wherein said electrode pad is substantially transparent.

15. A method of using an electric circuit carrier to control a controlled device, comprising the steps of:

disposing a decoration integrally on said circuit carrier, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;

disposing a touch sensor comprising at least one thin conductive electrode pad on at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier;

defining a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface coinciding with at least one of said decoration and said circuit carrier and said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said circuit carrier, said decoration identifying the location of said touch surface;

connecting said circuit carrier to said controlled device such that said decoration is visible to a user and said touch surface is accessible to said user for touch by said user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of connecting said carrier to said controlled device further comprises connecting said carrier with said controlled device such that said touch surface forms an exterior surface of said controlled device.

17. A control interface for a controlled device comprising:

a light pipe having a non-uniform cross section;

a light source optically connected to said light pipe;

a decoration integrally disposed on said light pipe, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay;

a touch sensor comprising at least one thin, conductive electrode pad operably associated with said light pipe; and

a touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said light pipe, said touch surface coinciding with said light pipe;

said decoration being visible from said touch surface.

18. The control interface of claim 17 further comprising a spacer interposed between said decoration and said touch sensor.

19. The control interface of claim 17 wherein said light pipe has a wedge-shaped cross-section.

20. The control interface of claim 17 further comprising:

a second light pipe;

a second light source optically connected to said second light pipe, said second light pipe operably associated with said touch sensor;

a second decoration integrally disposed on said second light pipe, either directly or in the form of a thin overlay; and

a second touch surface corresponding to said electrode pad, said second touch surface separated from said electrode pad by at least said second light pipe, said second touch surface coinciding with said second light pipe;

said second decoration being visible from said touch surface.