US4293987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of fabricating capacitive touch switch panel
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1979-12-21
•
Granted: 1981-10-13
•
Expires: 1999-12-21
Abstract
Abstract An improved technique for the manufacture of capacitive touch switch panel assemblies, utilized to control appliances and the like, provides simplified construction and manufacture. The technique involves the formation of conductive touch pads on one major surface of a dielectric panel and the formation of pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads and conductive lead members to the conductive pads on a separate flexible synthetic resin sheet. The synthetic resin is bonded to the opposite major surface of the dielectric panel with each pair of conductive pads on the synthetic resin sheet in registry with a corresponding touch pad on the one major surface of the dielectric panel. The synthetic resin sheet includes a portion having a conductive lead pattern formed thereon which is not bonded to the dielectric panel; this portion serves as a flexible connector for connection of the touch panel to a circuit board or the like. In one embodiment, the conductive lead pattern includes an interconnection pattern for circuit elements such as integrated circuits or display elements mounted on the synthetic resin sheet or the dielectric panel. The conductive lead pattern on the synthetic resin sheet may be a single-layer or a multi-layer pattern and the conductor may be formed from a single material or different materials having predetermined resistive characteristics whereby external resistors to the capacitive touch switches and/or circuit elements may be eliminated from the circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Tom L. Gottbreht
- 👤 Glen C. Shepherd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:07
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962; H03K17/9622; H05; H05B; H05B6/00; H05B6/64; H05B6/6435; H01; H01H; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/004; H03K2017/9602; H03K2017/9604; H03K2017/9613; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/94; H03K2217/96; H03K2217/96015; H03K2217/96023; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/43; Y10T29/435; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of fabricating a capacitive touch switch panel comprising the steps of: (a) forming conductive touch pads on one major surface of a rigid dielectric panel; (b) forming pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads and conductive leads extending to said conductive pads on one of two opposite major surfaces of a flexible synthetic resin sheet; and (c) bonding the second of the said two opposite surfaces of said flexible synthetic resin sheet to the opposite major surface of said rigid dielectric panel with each of said pairs of conductive pads in registered alignment with a respective one of said conductive touch pads.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of fabricating a capacitive touch switch panel comprising the steps of: (a) forming conductive touch pads on one major surface of a rigid dielectric panel; (b) forming pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads and conductive leads extending to said conductive pads on one of two opposite major surfaces of a flexible synthetic resin sheet; and (c) bonding the second of the said two opposite surfaces of said flexible synthetic resin sheet to the opposite major surface of said rigid dielectric panel with each of said pairs of conductive pads in registered alignment with a respective one of said conductive touch pads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet is bonded to said dielectric panel by applying an adhesive between said panel and said sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of cutting said flexible synthetic resin sheet essentially to the shape of said dielectric panel plus an extension portion, said extension portion having at least some of said conductive leads formed thereon for external connection of said capacitive touch switch panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said conductive touch pads are formed by vapor deposition of a conductive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 4 wherein said dielectric panel is comprised of glass and wherein tin oxide conductive touch pads are formed on said one major surface by forming a mask on said glass panel and spraying stannous fluoride over said glass panel and mask at about 1250° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said conductive touch pads are formed by painting a conductive material on said dielectric panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said conductive touch pads are formed on said dielectric panel by silk screening a conductive material on said dielectric panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 including the steps of mounting a circuit element on said flexible synthetic resin sheet and connecting said circuit element to said conductive lead members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said circuit element is a semiconductor integrated circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein said circuit element is a display element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 1 including the steps of mounting a circuit element on said opposite major surface of said dielectric panel and connecting said circuit element to said conductive lead members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said circuit element is a semiconductor integrated circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said circuit element is a display element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said synthetic resin sheet is comprised of a polyester material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said synthetic resin sheet is comprised of a polycarbonate material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said synthetic resin sheet is comprised of a polyimide material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads are formed by silk screening a conductive material on said flexible sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 17 wherein said conductive material is comprised of silver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said pairs of conductive pads are formed by vapor depositing a conductive material on said sheet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said material is comprised of silver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 19 wherein said material is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads are formed by painting a conductive material on said sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 22 wherein said material is comprised of silver.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 22 wherein the material is comprised of resistive carbon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 including the step of folding a portion of said flexible sheet over another portion thereof to provide multi-layers of said conductive lead members with insulation provided by said flexible sheet therebetween.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of fabricating a capacitive touch switch panel assembly comprising the steps of: (a) forming conductive touch pads on one major surface of a rigid dielectric panel; (b) forming pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads and conductive leads extending to said conductive pads on a major surface of a flexible synthetic resin sheet; (c) cutting said flexible sheet essentially to the shape of said dielectric panel leaving an extra flexible extension portion, said extension portion having at least some of said conductive leads formed thereon; (d) bonding said flexible sheet to the opposite major surface of said rigid dielectric panel with each of said pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads in registration with a respective one of said conductive touch pads; (e) mounting said rigid dielectric panel and a circuit board in fixed relation with respect to each other; and (f) connecting the conductive leads formed on said flexible extension portion to respective conductors located on said printed circuit board.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of fabricating a capacitive touch switch panel assembly comprising the steps of: (a) forming conductive touch pads on one major surface of a rigid dielectric panel; (b) forming pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads and conductive leads extending to said conductive pads on a major surface of a flexible synthetic resin sheet; (c) cutting said flexible sheet essentially to the shape of said dielectric panel leaving an extra flexible extension portion, said extension portion having at least some of said conductive leads formed thereon; (d) bonding said flexible sheet to the opposite major surface of said rigid dielectric panel with each of said pairs of spaced-apart conductive pads in registration with a respective one of said conductive touch pads; (e) mounting said rigid dielectric panel and a circuit board in fixed relation with respect to each other; and (f) connecting the conductive leads formed on said flexible extension portion to respective conductors located on said printed circuit board.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said printed circuit board includes a socket member mounted thereon and said extension portion is plugged into said socket member to provide electrical connection therebetween.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said dielectric panel is comprised of glass and wherein tin oxide conductive touch pads are formed on said one major surface by: forming a mask on said glass panel, spraying stannous fluoride over said glass panel and mask at about 1250° F. and removing said mask.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said spaced-apart conductive pads are formed on said flexible sheet by silk screening a silver comprising material on said flexible sheet.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said synthetic resin sheet is comprised of a polyester material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein at least some of said conductive leads are formed of resistive carbon to provide a path of predetermined resistance to said at least some conductors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 26 wherein said flexible sheet is bonded to said dielectric panel by applying an adhesive between said panel and said sheet.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-12 | 1985-04-13 | 1985-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-12 | 1989-04-13 | 1989-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-12 | 1993-04-13 | 1993-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |