US4123631A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch switch
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
•
Filing: 1977-02-16
•
Granted: 1978-10-31
•
Expires: 1997-02-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved touch actuated capacitance switch. A series of conductive touch pads are formed on one face of a dielectric material substrate plate. The touch pads are deposited by techniques which result in metallic films that are quite sensitive to damage by abrasion. To protect these pads, a protective overcoat is put over each touch pad, the overcoat obscuring no more than about seventy-percent of the total area of the touch pad. On the other face of the substrate plate are adhered a series of conductive sites, each site being in alignment across the thickness of the substrate plate with one of the touch pads. The conductive sites are then interconnected by a conductor network to give a predefined logic pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert D. Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:56
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A touch actuated capacitance type switch which comprises, in combination: a substrate plate, made of a dielectric material, having opposing faces; a plurality of separated conductive touch pads formed on and adhered to one face of said plate, each of said pads being a relatively thin metallic area possessing little resistance to abrasive wear and having a touch surface parallel to said plate; a protective overcoat of a relatively abrasion resistant material overlying each of said touch pads in an open pattern which obscures no more than about seventy-percent of the total available area of said touch surface of said touch pads; a plurality of separated and discrete conductive pads formed on and adhered to the other face of said substrate plate, said conductive pads being positioned in general alignment with said touch pads across the thickness of said substrate plate to thereby define capacitors; and a conductor network intrconnecting said conductive pads in a predetermined logic configuration to thereby define a switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A touch actuated capacitance type switch which comprises, in combination: a substrate plate, made of a dielectric material, having opposing faces; a plurality of separated conductive touch pads formed on and adhered to one face of said plate, each of said pads being a relatively thin metallic area possessing little resistance to abrasive wear and having a touch surface parallel to said plate; a protective overcoat of a relatively abrasion resistant material overlying each of said touch pads in an open pattern which obscures no more than about seventy-percent of the total available area of said touch surface of said touch pads; a plurality of separated and discrete conductive pads formed on and adhered to the other face of said substrate plate, said conductive pads being positioned in general alignment with said touch pads across the thickness of said substrate plate to thereby define capacitors; and a conductor network intrconnecting said conductive pads in a predetermined logic configuration to thereby define a switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The switch of claim 1 which further includes: a coating of a dielectric material completely covering said other face of said substrate plate and positioned between said other face and said conductive pads; and wherein said conductive pads are adhered to said coating of dielectric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said protective overcoat comprises a half tone dot pattern of said abrasion resistant material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The switch of claim 1 wherein said protective overcoat comprises a basket weave type pattern of said abrasion resistant material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The switch of claim 3 wherein said abrasion resistant material is a form of organopolysiloxane resin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The switch of claim 3 wherein said abrasion resistant material is vitreous type ink and said half tone dot pattern is screen printed over said touch pads and fired.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
A touch actuated capacitance switch which comprises, in combination: a substrate plate, made of a dielectric material, having opposing faces; a plurality of separated conductive touch pads formed on and adhered to one face of said plate, each of said pads being a relatively thin metallic area possessing little resistance to abrasive wear; a protective overcoat of a relatively abrasion resistant material overlying the top surface of each of said touch pads and obscuring no more than about seventy-percent of the total available surface area of said touch pads; a plurality of separated conductive pads formed on and adhered to the other face of said substrate plate, said conductive pads being positioned in general alignment with said touch pads across the thickness of said substrate plate to thereby define capacitors; a printed circuit conductor network interconnecting said conductive pads in a predetermined logic configuration to thereby define a switch; and a coating of a dielectric material completely covering said other face of said substrate plate and positioned between said other face and said conductive pads; and wherein said conductive pads are adhered to said coating of dielectric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
188 words
A touch actuated capacitance switch which comprises, in combination: a substrate plate, made of a dielectric material, having opposing faces; a plurality of separated conductive touch pads formed on and adhered to one face of said plate, each of said pads being a relatively thin metallic area possessing little resistance to abrasive wear; a protective overcoat of a relatively abrasion resistant material overlying the top surface of each of said touch pads and obscuring no more than about seventy-percent of the total available surface area of said touch pads; a plurality of separated conductive pads formed on and adhered to the other face of said substrate plate, said conductive pads being positioned in general alignment with said touch pads across the thickness of said substrate plate to thereby define capacitors; a printed circuit conductor network interconnecting said conductive pads in a predetermined logic configuration to thereby define a switch; and a coating of a dielectric material completely covering said other face of said substrate plate and positioned between said other face and said conductive pads; and wherein said conductive pads are adhered to said coating of dielectric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3457323A
Cited
US3492440A
Cited
US3503031A
Cited
US3757322A
Cited
US3951250A
Cited
US4056699A
Cited
US4045636A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-10-30 | 1982-05-01 | 1982-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-10-30 | 1986-05-01 | 1986-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-10-30 | 1990-05-01 | 1990-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |