Touch sensitive electronic switch

Claim 2

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: a planar insulator having top and bottom surfaces and at least three edges; a digitated array of first electrodes arranged to be connected to the input of a D.C. amplifier, with the input electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the input electrodes to the finger of an operator; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the input electrodes and an input to a D.C. amplifier; a digitated array of second electrodes arranged to be connected to the voltage supply of the D.C. amplifier, with the supply electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the supply electrodes to the finger of an operator; the digitated array of supply electrodes being laterally spaced and insulated from the array of input electrodes and interdigitated with the array of input electrodes; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the supply electrodes and the voltage supply within the D.C. amplifier; an array of third electrodes arranged to be connected to a reference within the D.C. amplifier, with the reference electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator, laterally spaced and insulated from both the input electrodes and supply electrodes, and positioned laterally between the input electrodes and supply electrodes for interrupting any leakage current attempting to flow between the input electrodes and supply electrodes and conduct such leakage current to the reference; third electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the reference electrodes and the reference within the D.C. amplifier.

Claim 3

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: a planar insulator having top and bottom surfaces and at least three edges; a digitated array of first electrodes arranged to be connected to the input of a D.C. amplifier, with the input electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the input electrodes to the finger of an operator; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the input electrodes and an input to a D.C. amplifier; a digitated array of second electrodes arranged to be connected to the voltage supply of the D.C. amplifier, with the supply electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the supply electrodes to the finger of an operator; the digitated array of supply electrodes being laterally spaced and insulated from the array of input electrodes and interdigitated with the array of input electrodes; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the supply electrodes and the voltage supply within the D.C. amplifier; an array of third electrodes arranged to be connected to a reference within the D.C. amplifier, with the reference electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator, laterally spaced and insulated from both the input electrodes and supply electrodes, and positioned laterally between the input electrodes and supply electrodes for interrupting any leakage current attempting to flow between the input electrodes and supply electrodes and conduct such leakage current to the reference; third electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the reference electrodes and the reference within the D.C. amplifier.

Claim 4

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: a planar insulator having top and bottom surfaces and at least three edges; a digitated array of first electrodes arranged to be connected to the input of a D.C. amplifier, with the input electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the input electrodes to the finger of an operator; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the input electrodes and an input to a D.C. amplifier; a digitated array of second electrodes arranged to be connected to the voltage supply of the D.C. amplifier, with the supply electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator and rising from the top surface of the insulator to expose a top surface of the supply electrodes to the finger of an operator; the digitated array of supply electrodes being laterally spaced and insulated from the array of input electrodes and interdigitated with the array of input electrodes; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the supply electrodes and the voltage supply within the D.C. amplifier; an array of third electrodes arranged to be connected to a reference within the D.C. amplifier, with the reference electrodes laterally immovably attached to the top surface of the insulator, laterally spaced and insulated from both the input electrodes and supply electrodes, and positioned laterally between the input electrodes and supply electrodes for interrupting any leakage current attempting to flow between the input electrodes and supply electrodes and conduct such leakage current to the reference; third electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the reference electrodes and the reference within the D.C. amplifier.

Claim 5

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein: at least a portion of the input electrode is exposed upon a first edge of the insulator; at least a portion of the supply electrode is exposed upon a second edge of the insulator; and at least a portion of the reference electrode is exposed upon a third edge of the insulator to allow ease of connection to the respective electrodes by edge-coating of the insulator.

Claim 6

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of supply electrodes and the lateral spacing between the array of input electrodes and the array of supply electrodes is that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2-Y2) where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of supply electrodes, Y represents the lateral spacing between the array of input electrodes and the array of supply electrodes, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electronic switch apparatus, the relationship insuring that the finger of an operator touches the array of supply electrodes before contact is made between the finger and the array of input electrodes to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the array of supply electrodes before contact is made with the array of input electrodes and thereby allOw the harmless grounding of the usual alternating voltage induced from an external source into the operator''s body.

Claim 7

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 3, wherein the level of the top surface of the array of reference electrodes is below the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of supply electrodes in a manner to insure the array of reference electrodes is not touched by the operator''s finger with the touching of the arrays of input and supply electrodes.

Claim 8

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 4, wherein: Y is within the range of fifty thousandths of an inch; the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes is within the range of fifteen thousandths of an inch above the level of the top surface of the array of reference electrodes; and the level of the top surface of the array of supply electrodes is determined by adding the height P, the height dictated by the touch threshold desired, and the height of the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes.

Claim 9

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 5, wherein: Y equals thirty-five thousandths of an inch; and the level of the top surface of the array of input electrodes is ten thousandths of an inch above the level of the array of reference electrodes.

Claim 10

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 6, wherein the electrodes include a conductive paste screened onto the insulator and cured.

Claim 11

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the insulator comprises a ceramic slice; a D.C. amplifier is mounted upon the bottom surface of the ceramic; electrical connection is made between the array of input electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top surface of the ceramic insulator and the bottom surface of the ceramic insulator; electrical connection is made between the array of supply electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top surface of the insulator and the bottom surface of the insulator; and electrical connection is made between the array of reference electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top surface of the insulator and the bottom surface of the insulator.

Claim 12

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the array of input electrodes includes four fingers interconnected by a conductive trace positioned adjacent a first edge of the ceramic; the supply electrode comprises five fingers interdigitated with the four fingers of the input electrode and the five fingers of the supply electrode are connected by a conductive trace positioned adjacent a second edge of the ceramic; and the array of reference electrodes are arranged in a serpentine fashion between the interdigitated fingers comprising the input electrodes and the supply electrodes.

Claim 13

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 9, wherein: a further conductor is immovably arranged upon the top surface of the insulator in a corner of the insulator adjacent the supply electrodes, with the further conductor spaced and insulated from each of the input, supply, and reference electrodes; and a light emitting diode is connected between the supply electrode and the further conductor.

Claim 14

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the array of input electrodes, the array of supply electrodes and the array of reference electrodes comprise an open ended, open array.

Claim 15

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein: a further conductor is immovably arranged upon the top surface of the insulator adjacent the supply electrodes, with the further conductor spaced and insulated from each of the input, supply, and reference electrodes; and a light emitting diode is connected between the supply electrode and the further conductor.

Claim 16

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the array of input electrodes, the array of supply electrodes and the array of reference electrodes compRise an open ended, open array.

Claim 17

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in cross section: a laterally repetitive arrangement of first electrodes, and second electrodes, and third electrodes, with individual third electrodes arranged between individual first elelctrodes and second electrodes to interrupt any practical, contaminable path for leakage of current between any of the first electrodes and any of the second electrodes, each first electrode, second electrode, and third electrode arranged in a laterally spaced and insulated relationship.

Claim 18

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in cross section: a laterally repetitive arrangement of first electrodes, and second electrodes, and third electrodes, with individual third electrodes arranged between individual first elelctrodes and second electrodes to interrupt any practical, contaminable path for leakage of current between any of the first electrodes and any of the second electrodes, each first electrode, second electrode, and third electrode arranged in a laterally spaced and insulated relationship.

Claim 19

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first electrodes are arranged to be connected to the input of a D.C. amplifier, the second electrodes are arranged to be connected to the voltage supply terminal of a D.C. amplifier, and the third electrodes are arranged to be connected to a reference point within a D.C. amplifier, including: an insulating surface, the electrodes being arranged with respect to the insulating surface to expose at least portions of the input electrodes and supply electrodes to the finger of an operator to allow the lateral bridging of the input electrodes and supply electrodes thereby lowering the D.C. resistance between the input electrodes and the supply electrodes to provide an actuation of the electronic switch apparatus; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the input electrodes and the input to the D.C. amplifier; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the supply electrodes and the voltage supply of the D.C. amplifier; and third electrical means for providing an electrical connection between the reference electrodes and a reference within the D.C. amplifier.

Claim 20

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 15, wherein the dimensioning and spacing of the electrodes is significantly less than the radius of the smallest operator''s finger expected to operate the switch apparatus to substantially eliminate the critical nature of the operator''s finger as a factor in actuating the electronic switch apparatus, the placement of the operator''s finger upon the switch electrodes laterally bridging between the first electrodes and the second electrodes and the current conducted through the resistance of the operator''s finger between the first electrodes and the second electrodes causing a lowering of the D.C. resistance between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to thereby provide an actuation of the switch apparatus.

Claim 21

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 16, wherein the arrangement of first electrodes, the arrangement of second electrodes, and the arrangement of third electrodes comprise an open array.

Claim 22

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 17, wherein the arrangement of first electrodes, the arrangement of second electrodes, and the arrangement of third electrodes comprise an open ended open array.

Claim 23

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 14, wherein the dimensioning and spacing of the electrodes is significantly less than the radius of the smallest operator''s finger expected to operate the switch apparatus to substantially eliminate the critical nature of the operator''s finger as a factor in actuating the electronic apparatus, the placement of the operator''s finger upon the switch electrodes laterally bridging between the first electrodes and the second electrodes and the current conducted through the resistance of the operator''s finger between the first electrodes and the second electrodes causing a lowering of the D.C. resistance between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to thereby provide an actuation of the switch apparatus.

Claim 24

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 19, wherein the arrangement of first electrodes, the arrangement of second electrodes, and the arrangement of third electrodes comprise an open array.

Claim 25

The electronic switch aPparatus of claim 20, wherein the arrangement of first electrodes, the arrangement of second electrodes, and the arrangement of third electrodes comprise an open ended open array.

Claim 26

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: an insulating surface; arrays of electrodes arranged upon the surface of an insulator, comprising: an array of first electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface and rising from the insulating surface to expose a top surface to the finger of an operator; an array of second electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface, laterally spaced and insulated from the array of first electrodes around and about the components of the array of first electrodes, and rising from the insulating surface to expose a top surface to the finger of an operator; an array of third electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface, laterally spaced and insulated from both the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes, and rising from the insulating surface between the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes as a conductive electrical shielding electrode allowing leakage current between the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes to be conducted away from the switch apparatus to aid in preventing the flow of leakage current between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes tending to set up a direct current path from the array of first electrodes to the array of second electrodes; the dimensioning and spacing of the electrodes being significantly less than the radius of the smallest operator''s finger expected to operate the switch apparatus to substantially eliminate the critical nature of the operator''s finger as a factor in actuating the electronic switch apparatus; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of first electrodes; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of second electrodes; and third electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of third electrodes.

Claim 27

Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: an insulating surface; arrays of electrodes arranged upon the surface of an insulator, comprising: an array of first electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface and rising from the insulating surface to expose a top surface to the finger of an operator; an array of second electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface, laterally spaced and insulated from the array of first electrodes around and about the components of the array of first electrodes, and rising from the insulating surface to expose a top surface to the finger of an operator; an array of third electrodes laterally immovably attached to the insulating surface, laterally spaced and insulated from both the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes, and rising from the insulating surface between the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes as a conductive electrical shielding electrode allowing leakage current between the components of the array of first electrodes and the components of the array of second electrodes to be conducted away from the switch apparatus to aid in preventing the flow of leakage current between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes tending to set up a direct current path from the array of first electrodes to the array of second electrodes; the dimensioning and spacing of the electrodes being significantly less than the radius of the smallest operator''s finger expected to operate the switch apparatus to substantially eliminate the critical nature of the operator''s finger as a factor in actuating the electronic switch apparatus; first electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of first electrodes; second electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of second electrodes; and third electrical means for providing an electrical connection to the array of third electrodes.

Claim 28

Electronic switch apparatus of claim 22 wherein the array of first electrodes comprises an open array, and wherein the array of second electrodes comprises an open array.

Claim 29

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 23 wherein the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes comprises an interdigitated array.

Claim 30

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 24 wherein the array of first electrodes, the array of second electrodes, and the array of third electrodes comprise conductive paste screened into the insulating surface.

Claim 31

Electronic switch apparatus of claim 24 wherein the electrodes arrays are arranged upon an insulator having at least three sides, and wherein at least a portion of the array of first electrodes is exposed upon a first side of the insulator, wherein at least a portion of the array of second electrodes is exposed upon a second side of the insulator, and wherein at least a portion of the array of third electrodes is exposed upon a third side of the insulator to allow ease of connection to the respective arrays of electrodes.

Claim 32

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 26 wherein: a further conductor is immovably arranged upon the surface of the insulator in a corner of the insulator adjacent the second electrode, with the further conductor spaced and insulated from each of the first, second, and third electrodes; and a light emitting diode is connected between the second electrode and the further conductor.

Claim 33

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 26 wherein: the insulator includes a top face and a bottom face; the electrode arrays are attached to the top face of the insulator; a D.C. amplifier is Mounted upon the bottom face of the insulator; electrical connection is made between the first electrode and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator; electrical connection is made between the array of second electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator; and electrical connection is made between the array of third electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator.

Claim 34

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 28 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes is arranged above the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes in a manner that the finger of an operator touches a second electrode before contact is made between the finger and a first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the array of second electrodes before contact is made with the array of first electrodes and thereby allow the harmless grounding of voltage in the operator''s body and allow a direct durrent path to be set up laterally between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes as soon as the finger of the operator touches a first electrode.

Claim 35

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 29 wherein the relationship between the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes and the lateral spacing between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes is that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 -Y2), where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes, Y represents the lateral spacing between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electronic switch apparatus.

Claim 36

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 30 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes to avoid contact with the finger of an operator touching the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes.

Claim 37

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 31 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes by a distance sufficient to exceed the maximum compressibility limits of the finger of the operator to insure that the array of third electrodes is not touched by the operator''s finger with the touching of the arrays of first and second electrodes.

Claim 38

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 31 wherein: Y is within the range of fifty thousandths of an inch; the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes is within the range of fifteen thousandths of an inch above the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes; and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes is determined by adding the height P, the height dictated by the touch threshold desired, and the height of the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes.

Claim 39

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 33 wherein: Y equals thirty five thousandths of an inch; and the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes is substantially ten thousandths of an inch above the level of the array of third electrodes.

Claim 40

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 34 wherein: the insulating media is a ceramic slice; the third electrode is a conductive paste uniformly screened onto the ceramic to a height of substantially one thousandth of an inch.

Claim 41

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 35, wherein: a further section of conductive paste is uniformly screened onto the ceramic in a corner of the ceramic adjacent the second electrode, with the further conductive section spaced and insulated from each of the first, second, and third electrodes; and a light emitting diode is connected between the second electrode and the further conductive section.

Claim 42

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22, wherein the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes is arranged above the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes in a manner that the finger of an operator touches a second electrode before contact is made between the finger and a first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the array of second electrodes before contact is made with the array of first electrodes and thereby allow the harmless grounding of the voltage in the operator''s body and allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes as soon as the finger of the operator touches a first electrode.

Claim 43

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 37, wherein the relationship between the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes and the lateral spacing between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes is that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 -Y2), where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes, Y represents the lateral spacing between the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electronic switch apparatus.

Claim 44

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 38 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes to avoid contact with the finger of an operator touching the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes.

Claim 45

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 39 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes by a distance sufficient to exceed the maximum compressibility limits of the finger of the operator to insure that the array of third electrodes is not touched by the operator''s finger with the touching of the arrays of first and second electrodes.

Claim 46

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 39 wherein: Y is within the range of fifty thousandths of an inch; the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes is within the range of fifteen thousandths of an inch above the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes; and the level of the top surface of the array of second electrodes is determined by adding the height P, the height dictated by the touch threshold desired, and the height of the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes.

Claim 47

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 41 wherein: Y equals thirty five thousandths of an inch; and the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes is substantially ten thousandths of an inch above the level of the array of third electrodes.

Claim 48

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 42, wherein: the insulating media is a ceramic slice; the third electrode is a conductive paste uniformly screened onto the ceramic to a height of substantially one thousandths of an inch.

Claim 49

Electronic switch apparatus of claim 22 wherein the electrode arrays are arranged upon an insulator having at least three sides, and wherein at least a portion of the array of first electrodes is exposed upon a first side of The insulator, wherein at least a portion of the array of second electrodes is exposed upon a second side of the insulator, and wherein at least a portion of the array of third electrodes is exposed upon a third side of the insulator to allow ease of connection to the respective arrays of electrodes.

Claim 50

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 44 wherein: the insulator includes a top face and a bottom face; the electrode arrays are attached to the top face of the insulator; a D.C. amplifier is mounted upon the bottom face of the insulator; electrical connection is made between the first electrode and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator; electrical connection is made between the array of second electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator; and electrical connection is made between the array of third electrodes and the D.C. amplifier by means of an edge-coated connection between the top face of the insulator and the bottom face of the insulator.

Claim 51

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes to avoid contact with the finger of an operator touching the array of first electrodes and the array of second electrodes.

Claim 52

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 46 wherein the level of the top surface of the array of third electrodes is arranged below the level of the top surface of the array of first electrodes by a distance sufficient to exceed the maximum compressibility limits of the finger of the operator to insure that the array of third electrodes is not touched by the operator''s finger with the touching of the arrays of first and second electrodes.

Claim 53

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22 wherein the array of first electrodes, the array of second electrodes, and the array of third electrodes comprise conductive paste screened onto the insulating surface.

Claim 54

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22, wherein: a further conductor is immovably arranged upon the surface of the insulator in a corner of the insulator adjacent the second electrode, with the further conductor spaced and insulated from each of the first, second, and third electrodes; and a light emitting diode is connected between the second electrode and the further conductor.

Claim 55

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22, comprising a closed repetitive array of electrodes.

Claim 56

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 50, comprising a clustered closed repetitive array of electrodes.

Claim 57

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22, comprising a clustered open repetitive array of electrodes.

Claim 58

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 22, comprising an open-ended open array of electrodes.

Claim 59

The electronic switch apparatus of claim 53, comprising a clustered open-ended open array of electrodes.

Claim 60

In a touch actuated electronic switch including microelectronic circuitry and including a portion, arranged to be touched by the finger of an operator, coupled to an input conductor to the microelectronic circuitry, an improved touch actuated electronic switch comprising in combination: an insulator having opposed major faces including a first face and a second face spaced from the first face by the thickness of the insulator; a material at least partially conductive of electricity comprising the touch surface with the material disposed upon the first face of the insulator; and material defining the microelectronic circuitry disposed upon the second face of the insulator, with the microelectronic circuitry including at least a portion of the input conductor, including at least one electronic amplifier, and including the remaining electronics necessary for the operation of the touch actuated switch.

Claim 61

In a touch actuated electronic switch including microelectronic circuitry and including a portion, arranged to be touched by the finger of an operator, coupled to an input conductor to the microelectronic circuitry, an improved touch actuated electronic switch comprising in combination: an insulator having opposed major faces including a first face and a second face spaced from the first face by the thickness of the insulator; a material at least partially conductive of electricity comprising the touch surface with the material disposed upon the first face of the insulator; and material defining the microelectronic circuitry disposed upon the second face of the insulator, with the microelectronic circuitry including at least a portion of the input conductor, including at least one electronic amplifier, and including the remaining electronics necessary for the operation of the touch actuated switch.

Claim 62

The touch actuated Electronic switch of claim 55 wherein the microelectronics is in the form of hybrid circuitry deposited upon the second face of the insulator.

Claim 63

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 56, wherein at least a portion of the microelectronics is in the form of conductive areas screened onto the second face of the insulator.

Claim 64

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 57 wherein the coupling between the touch surface and the input to the microelectronic circuitry comprises a connection around an edge of the insulator.

Claim 65

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 57 wherein the touch surface is a coating affixed to the first face of the insulator.

Claim 66

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 59 wherein the touch surface is in the form of patterned screening of material.

Claim 67

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 60 wherein the coupling between the touch surface and the input to the microelectronic circuitry comprises a connection around an edge of the insulator.

Claim 68

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 55 wherein the touch surface is a coating affixed to the first face of the insulator.

Claim 69

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 61 wherein the touch surface is in the form of patterned screening of material.

Claim 70

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 63 wherein the coupling between the touch surface and the input to the microelectronic circuitry comprises a connection around an edge of the insulator.

Claim 71

The touch actuated electronic switch of claim 55 wherein the coupling between the touch surface and the input to the microelectronic circuitry comprises a connection around an edge of the insulator.