US5942733A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stylus input capacitive touchpad sensor
Assignee: Synaptics Inc
•
Filing: 1995-10-19
•
Granted: 1999-08-24
•
Expires: 2015-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive touch pad comprises a substrate material, such as a PC board type laminate material, having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first (X) direction disposed on a first face thereof, and a plurality of second parallel conductive traces running in a second (Y) direction, usually orthogonal to the first direction, disposed on an opposed second face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over one of the faces of the substrate. A protective layer with a conductive coating on its back surface is disposed over the top surface of the pressure-conductive material to protect it. In an alternate embodiment, a capacitive touch sensor comprises a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof. A layer of pressure-conductive material is disposed over the conductive material on the substrate. A flexible material, having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first (X) direction disposed on a first face thereof, and a plurality of second parallel conductive traces running in a second (Y) direction disposed on an opposed second face thereof is disposed over the layer of pressure-conductive material. A protective layer is disposed over the top surface of the pressure conductive material to protect it. In yet another embodiment, an air gap is used in place of the layer of pressure-conductive material and the upper layers are supported by a frame at the periphery of the touchpad.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy P. Allen
- 👤 Richard R. Schediwy
- 👤 Federico Faggin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/044; G06F3/0447; G06F3/0445; G06F3/0446; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate having first and second opposing faces; an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate; a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; a layer of compliant material disposed said substrate; a layer of conducting material disposed on an upper surface of said layer of compliant material; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of conducting material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate having first and second opposing faces; an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate; a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; a layer of compliant material disposed said substrate; a layer of conducting material disposed on an upper surface of said layer of compliant material; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of conducting material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said layer of compliant material comprises rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said layer of compliant material comprises silicone gel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said layer of compliant material has a durometer hardness in a range from about 0.1 to about 10.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said protective layer comprises a sheet of textured polyester having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 5, wherein said layer of conducting material comprises a conductive coating disposed on a bottom surface of said sheet of textured polyester.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 1, wherein said protective layer comprises a sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 7, wherein said layer of conducting material comprises a conductive coating disposed on a bottom surface of said sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
151 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate having first and second opposing faces; an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate; a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; a layer of pressure-conductive material disposed over said substrate; a layer of conducting material disposed on an upper surface of said layer of pressure-conductive material; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of conducting material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
151 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate having first and second opposing faces; an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate; a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; a layer of pressure-conductive material disposed over said substrate; a layer of conducting material disposed on an upper surface of said layer of pressure-conductive material; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of conducting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 9, wherein said layer of pressure-conductive material has a thickness in the range of 0.125 mm to about 1.25 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 9, wherein said protective layer comprises a sheet of textured polyester having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 11, wherein said layer of conducting material comprises a conductive coating disposed on a bottom surface of said sheet of textured polyester.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 9, wherein said protective layer comprises a sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 13, wherein said layer of conducting material comprises a conductive coating disposed on a bottom surface of said sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a layer of pressure-conductive material disposed over said conducting material; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of flexible material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a layer of pressure-conductive material disposed over said conducting material; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of flexible material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 15, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of textured polyester having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 16, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of textured polyester.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 15, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 18, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 15, wherein said layer of pressure-conductive material has a thickness in the range of 0.125 mm to about 1.25 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
156 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a frame disposed around a periphery of said rigid substrate material, said frame defining an air gap; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of pressure conductive material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
156 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a frame disposed around a periphery of said rigid substrate material, said frame defining an air gap; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of pressure conductive material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 21, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of textured polyester having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 22, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of textured polyester.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 21, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 24, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a layer of compliant material disposed over said conducting material; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of flexible material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
148 words
A capacitive touch pad comprising: a rigid substrate material having a conducting material disposed on one face thereof; a layer of compliant material disposed over said conducting material; a layer of flexible material, having an X-trace layer having a plurality of first parallel sensing conductive traces running in a first direction, said first parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said first face of said substrate, said X-trace layer disposed on said first face of said substrate and having a Y-trace layer having a plurality of second parallel sensing conductive traces running in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, said second parallel sensing conductive traces lying in a plane parallel to said second face of said substrate, said Y-trace layer disposed on said second face of said substrate; and a protective layer disposed on an upper surface of said layer of flexible material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 26, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of textured polyester having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 27, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of textured polyester.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 26, wherein said layer of flexible material comprises a sheet of polycarbonate having a thickness in a range from about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 29, wherein said first and second parallel conductive traces comprise a conductive coating disposed on said sheet of polycarbonate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 26, wherein said layer of compliant material comprises rubber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 26, wherein said layer of compliant material comprises silicone gel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
A capacitive touch pad as recited in claim 26, wherein said layer of compliant material has a durometer hardness in a range from about 0.1 to about 10.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
The capacitive touch pad of claim 1, wherein said compliant material is chosen such that pressure on said protective layer allows detection by said X-trace layer and said Y-trace layer without said layer of conducting material coming in contact with either said X-layer or said Y-layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
46 words
The capacitive touch pad of claim 9, wherein said pressure-conductive material is chosen such that pressure on said protective layer allows detection by said X-trace layer and said Y-trace layer without said layer of conducting material coming in contact with either said X-layer or said Y-layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The capacitive touch pad of claim 15, wherein said pressure conductive material is chosen such that pressure on said protective layer allows detection by said X-trace layer and said Y-trace layer without said layer of conducting material coming in contact with either said X-layer or said Y-layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |