Integrated touch sensor and light apparatus

• US 7,361,860 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caldwell, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US10/271,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159910A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 200310-315, 200/317, 200/512, 200/514, 200/520, 200/5.A, 200/5.R, 200/600, 455/90, 307/116, 307/125, 361/280, 361/288, 345/173
• US Class Current: 200/600
• 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 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9634 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960795 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED

Abstract

A touch sensor is physically integrated with a light emitting device to provide a switching device with built-in backlighting. In some embodiments, the touch sensor and the light emitting device share electrical components.

Claims

1. A selectively illuminated touch sensor, comprising:

a substrate;

a light emitting device disposed on said substrate, said light emitting device having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light emitting element electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes;

field generating means for generating an electric field proximate said light emitting device, said field generating means electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes; and

detecting means for detecting a disturbance in said electric field, said detecting means electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes.

2. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said substrate is substantially translucent.

3. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said substrate is substantially transparent.

4. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is substantially rigid.

5. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate is substantially flexible.

6. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an integrated control circuit disposed on said substrate and electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes.

7. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the integrated control circuit includes a peak detector.

8. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 6, wherein the integrated control circuit includes a latch.

9. A selectively illuminated touch sensor, comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrode disposed on said substrate;

a light emitting element disposed on said first electrode and electrically coupled to said first electrode;

a second electrode disposed on said light emitting element and electrically coupled to said light emitting element;

a third electrode disposed on said substrate in a spaced, coplanar and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode;

field generating means for generating an electric field proximate said first and third electrodes, said field generating means electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes;

detecting means for detecting a disturbance in said electric field, said detecting means electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes.

10. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said substrate is substantially translucent.

11. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said substrate is substantially transparent.

12. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, wherein said substrate is substantially rigid.

13. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, wherein said substrate is substantially flexible.

14. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an active device disposed on said substrate and electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes.

15. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said active device is a transistor.

16. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an integrated control circuit disposed on said substrate and electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes.

17. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the integrated control circuit includes a peak detector.

18. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the integrated control circuit includes a latch.

19. The selectively illuminated touch sensor as claimed in claim 16, wherein the integrated control circuit is electrically coupled to said second electrode.

20. A method for selectively providing illumination in response to a stimulus using a light emitting device as a touch sensor, comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light emitting layer between said first and second electrodes comprising the steps of:

generating an electric field proximate said first and second electrodes;

detecting a disturbance in said electric field; and

activating said light emitting device to emit light based on the disturbance.