Physical force capacitive touch sensors having conductive plane and backlighting
US8858003B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2012 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2217/9655
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective fascia may be placed over the conductive plane provides an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished with a light transmissive layer having a suspended metal target proximate to the capacitive touch sensor plate. When the light transmissive layer and metal target are displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor plate the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor plate changes and that change is detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.