Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel, comprising the steps of: providing first and second resistance layers opposite each other and separated by a predetermined gap, each said resistance layer supported by a respective substrate; providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said first resistance layer, and providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said second resistance layer extending in a direction perpendicular to the conduction member of said first resistance layer; connecting a constant current source to the conduction member of said first resistance layer; flowing a constant current from said constant current source when contact is made between said first and said second resistance layers at a contact point, through the conduction member of said first resistance layer, through said first resistance layer, and through said contact point to said second resistance layer; and detecting the coordinate position of said contact point by detecting a voltage drop generated by said constant current one each of said respective resistance layers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
A method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel, comprising the steps of: providing first and second resistance layers opposite each other and separated by a predetermined gap, each said resistance layer supported by a respective substrate; providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said first resistance layer, and providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said second resistance layer extending in a direction perpendicular to the conduction member of said first resistance layer; connecting a constant current source to the conduction member of said first resistance layer; flowing a constant current from said constant current source when contact is made between said first and said second resistance layers at a contact point, through the conduction member of said first resistance layer, through said first resistance layer, and through said contact point to said second resistance layer; and detecting the coordinate position of said contact point by detecting a voltage drop generated by said constant current one each of said respective resistance layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said step of providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said first resistance layer and providing a conduction member on at least one edge of said second resistance layer comprises providing conduction members on opposite edges of said first resistance layer and providing conduction members on opposite edges of said second resistance layer in a direction perpendicular to the conduction members of said first resistance layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said step of detecting the coordinate position of said contact point by detecting the voltage drop generated on each of said respective resistance layers comprises using at least one subtracter to detect said voltage drop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said subtracter comprises an operatioinal amplifier having a predetermined amplification factor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said step of providing said first and second resistance layers comprises sputtering a metal material onto each said substrate, each said substrate comprising a transparent plastic resin sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 5, wherein: said step of providing said first and second resistance layers further comprises said first and second resistance layers with a predetermined gap by means of a plurality of dot spacers disposed between said first and second resistance layers and providing said first and second resistance layers with a resistance of 5 to 800 ohms per square area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said step of providing said first and second resistance layers opposite each other and separated by a predetermined gap comprises providing a plurality of dot like spacers between said first and second resistance layers to form said predetermined gap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 7, wherein: said step of providing said first and second resistance layers further comprises providing said plurality of dot like spacers so as to form said predetermined gap in a range of 20 to 50 μ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of detecting a contact position in touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said step of connecting said constant current source to the conduction member of said first resistance layer comprises connecting said constant current source directly to said conduction member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 9, and further comprising the step of: connecting the conduction member of said second resistance layer to ground through an external resistor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of detecting a contact position in a touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of detecting the coordinate position of said contact position comprises detecting a voltage drop generated on each of said respective resistance layers directly proportional to the distance of said contact position from said respective conduction members of said first and second resistance layers.