Sensor product for electric field sensing

• US 8,044,665 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elsi Technologies Oy (MariCap Oy)
• Original Assignee: MariMils Oy (MariCap Oy)
• Inventors: Joutsenoja, Timo, Kyyny, Kari
• Primary Examiner(s): NATALINI, JEFF WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US11/631,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,303 Days
• Field of Search: 324/457, 341/33
• US Class Current: 324/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/145 Indicating the presence of current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2617 Measuring dielectric properties, e.g. constants testing dielectric strength G01R31/12; detecting insulation faults G01R31/52; G01R27/2688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer

Abstract

A sensor product for electric field sensing. The sensor includes a substrate, at least one electrically conductive area on the surface of the substrate, an output, and at least one conductor between the at least one electrically conductive area and the output. Also a sensor product web.

Claims

1. A sensor product web for electric field sensing, the sensor comprising:

a substrate comprising a continuous roll of material;

a plurality of sequential electrically conductive areas on a surface of the substrate;

a plurality of conductors on the surface of the substrate, the conductors being parallel to each other and extending in a longitudinal direction of the sensor product web, wherein only one electrically conductive area is in contact with one conductor in a longitudinal length of the sensor product web, wherein a maximum number of the electrically conductive areas is equivalent to a maximum number conductors;

a plurality of bridges each comprising dielectric and electrically conductive material extending between the conductive areas and one of the conductors, the bridge enabling cutting the substrate at a plurality of points to form output including at least one electrically conductive area and at least one associated conductor; and

a plurality of outputs operatively connected to one of the conductors.

2. The sensor product web according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas comprise a printed or coated layer.

3. The sensor product web according claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas comprise a plastic layer or a fibrous layer.

4. The sensor product web according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive areas and the conductors comprise metal, conductive carbon, or electrically conductive polymers.

5. The sensor product web according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a film comprising plastic material, paper, or board.

6. The sensor product web according to claim 1, further comprising:

a top layer comprising a film of plastic material, paper, or board, or a dielectric coating.

7. The sensor product according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of vias extending through the substrate and forming an electrically conductive path connecting each electrically conductive area to the output by the conductors on a surface of the substrate opposite the surface on which the electrically conductive areas are arranged.

8. The sensor product according to claim 1, further comprising:

a dielectric layer arranged on top of the conductors; and

an electrically conductive layer arranged on top of the dielectric layer on a same surface of the substrate as the electrically conductive areas, the dielectric layer being discontinuous at the conductor which is in contact with the electrically conductive area.