JPS6276221A - Touch sensitive overlay panel unit using particle spacer andmanufacturing thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention provides a highly sensitive overlay (t.

In order to prevent contact between adjacent horizontal parallel layers of a uch 5 sensitive overlay (overlay) device, small size particle spacers are placed between the parallel layers.

[Conventional technology]

Many types of devices include external devices for obtaining optical or electrical contact between adjacent and very closely spaced flexible layers for generating signals that are processed by external electrical circuits. Widely used for various operations performed by the application of force, e.g. the force of the user's fingers. For example:
There are elevator floor-selection buttons, certain computer terminals, and, more recently, Tasoti Sensitive overlay screens that allow the use of computer monitors to handle storing records in computers.

touch sensitive overlay
When using a transparent overlay (hereinafter referred to as TSO) device as a computer monitor, in some sense it requires light to be carried through multiple transparent layers to handle the data that the user has stored inside the computer. It becomes increasingly important that adjacent optically transparent, and sometimes electrically conductive, spaced layers in a TSO device are used in an optically unobstructed manner. One method is to apply adjacent pressure-sensitivity as shown in FIGS.
There is a method of providing small plastic non-conductive nubs or points between the electrically conductive layers of the sitive to separate the eyebrows. The bumps of such plastic spacers are usually evenly distributed and visible, and therefore a nuisance to the user. An example of such a method is U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,299, issued to Gurol and others in 1983;
TransparenL 5w1tch Array)
There is.

A more general proposal is that adjacent, very closely spaced layers that are optically opaque, such as the surface of a touch-sensitive keyboard illuminated from the user's side, are electrically conductive in a predetermined manner; It is highly desirable to ensure separation of either non-conducting or non-conducting materials.

Therefore, for separating two horizontal parallel layers at a predetermined distance, without removing the ease of external forces to move the surfaces closer to each other and thereby obtain a contact that can determine the position between them. , a simple and inexpensive solution is desired. When the separated layers are electrically conductive, the separation of the layers must be provided to be electrically non-conductive.

[Purpose of the invention]

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an easy to apply and inexpensive means for separating two adjacent, closely spaced essentially parallel layers by a predetermined small distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for electrically non-conducting separation of two electrically conductive sides of adjacent optically transparent layers in a TSO device.

Another object of the invention is that the applied predetermined pressure by the user on one side of the TSO device positionally enables a determinable contact between the two adjacent surfaces of the TSO device. The purpose is to separate two adjacent horizontal parallel planes of adjacent layers by a predetermined small distance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to apply pressure controlled by a user to two adjacent closely spaced horizontally parallel It provides an optically unobtrusive means of separating the surfaces.

"Optically transparent" is interpreted to include "translucent" and "partially transparent and partially opaque," both physically and temporally. (e.g. when including a liquid crystal display).

[Means for realizing the invention]

These and other objects of the invention provide for the application of a suitable material, within a predetermined size range, within a predetermined density range, on one side of two adjacent surfaces of two adjacent layers. This is accomplished by depositing fine particles of.

It is desirable that the particle material be optically free, chemically inert, and relatively inexpensive to use. A suitable material for this purpose is brown alumina.
(alumina) particles that are easily sprayed in water onto the surface to be handled. water evaporates,
Adjacent surfaces, when placed side by side, are then kept separated by a predetermined small distance characterized by the large size of the particles.

Pressure by the user onto the layer supporting one of the separated surfaces is applied to a very thin electrically conductive film vacuum deposited on either surface or specifically on the pliable surface. allows contact between surfaces adjacent to either side of the particles without detrimentally affecting the particles.

Small glass beads suspended in alkaline earth metal chloride solutions also give satisfactory separations. The carrier fluid evaporates in each case and leaves any suitable distribution of optically unobstructed fine particles adhering to the sprayed surface because it is located between adjacent electrically conductive layers. The exact cause of the desired adhesion of fine particles to sprayed surfaces is not fully understood, but this adhesion may be due to weak or intermolecular forces (known on the one hand as van der Waals forces). It is believed.

The particles thus do not rely on the pressure exerted by one of the regularly spaced surfaces on the other to keep the distribution of the particles in place. It is believed that the fluid carrier also acts to avoid or prevent the exertion of van der Waals forces between the particles, thus reducing the desired arbitrary deposition of adhering particles on the sprayed surface. is given.

〔Example〕

The present example is described below regarding how to obtain a satisfactory particle distribution for the purpose and the use of non-conducting fine particle spacers between adjacent closely spaced essentially parallel planes. . In this embodiment, the regularly spaced surfaces selectively have oriented electrically conductive zones between which electrical contact can be made by the action of external pressure. FIG. 1 depicts a traditional flat, generally rectangular TSO panel 11 with wires 12 and wires on its exterior surface connected to a suitable decoder circuit 14 connected to a computer (not shown). It is electrically connected by 13. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other geometries involving closely spaced surfaces, such as cylindrical or spherical types, are also practicable, and sometimes even desirable.

The geometry of the surface in general or its use in particular does not detract from the effectiveness of the invention as presented herein.

An electrically conductive surface that allows measurement of the contact point under the action of an externally applied force, for example a user's finger or a stylus, is not necessary in a touch sensitive panel. Photovoltaic mode of operation (photovoltaic mode) without electrically conductive accessible surfaces
As an example of a touch-sensitive active panel based on -voltaic modes, Ka3day
U.S. Patent No. 4,484,179 “Touch Position Sensitive Surface J”
(Touch Po5ition 5ensitiv
e 5surface) and 1B'M's technology announcement bulletin 19
November 1981 24th edition No. 6 (r BM Techni
cal Disclosure Bulletins
:Vol, 24 No. 6 November 1981
)'s "Optical Overlay Input Device Fore Cathode Ray Tube J (Opti
cal 0verlay Input DeviceF
or A (:athode Ray Tube) and
And also IBM's November 1983 26th edition No. 6 (
Vol, 26 No, 6November 1983)
``Optical Keyboard Devices and Techniques J''
Device and Technique).

The primary requirement for multisensitive panels, both with and without adjacent contactable surfaces that are electrically conductive, is to maintain proper separation of the adjacent surfaces until the application of an external force to cause contact. , and establishing a contact point by processing the signals generated by such contact. Those skilled in the art note that such adjacent surfaces do not necessarily have to be flat, and that one of them
It will be readily noted that one or both need not necessarily be optically opaque at selected locations. However, these are variations in the subject matter and in the present invention, and as will be made clear herein, adjacent with a predetermined separation regardless of the mode by which signals are generated and subsequently transmitted or processed. Do something to save face. If electrically conductive surfaces are physically separated by small particles or beads as herein contemplated and claimed, obviously such particles or beads must be electrically non-conductive. The embodiment described here is one in which electrically conductive surfaces are separated. However, those skilled in the art will readily see a very wide range of applications for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the panel of FIG. 1 taken along the normal to the panel surface.

A typical TSO of the traditional type, as shown in Figure 2
The panel includes a top flexible optically transparent layer 15 with an external top surface 16 and a bottom surface 17 . The lower surface 17 has an electrically conductive thin film 18 with a lower surface 19.
are applied as a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive metal, generally by vacuum deposition.

In the near future, metal oxides, which are more desirable for electrically conductive planned patterns, based on applications,
The use of metal mixtures or metals may be found. horizontally parallel to layer 15 is a second optically transparent layer 20;
It has an upper surface 22 and a lower surface 21. Top surface 22 also has a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive metal 23 applied thereto, preferably by vacuum deposition of the metal. The traditional approach to ensuring a predetermined separation of the two electrically conductive surfaces 19 and 24 is to use a predetermined pattern of electrically nonconductive bumps such as 25 (see FIG. 1). There is something that can give you something like: These bumps 25 are shown positioned at the bottom 520 in FIG. 2 and are in physical contact with the surface 19 of the upper electrically conductive film 18. In some traditional TSO panels, the formation of Newton rings when layer 20 is positioned opposite a generally transparent back plate 30 that is not electrically conductive and has a top surface 31 beneath layer 20. Some have another layer 32 to break through.

FIG. 3 illustrates the application and shows the nozzle 52.
electrically conductive pattern 2 deposited onto optically transparent 120 using traditional spray equipment 51 through
spray 55 for depositing large particles 53 and small particles 54 within a predetermined size range onto the upper surface 24 of 3;
It shows. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such TSO panels serve well when an operator must be able to see behind the panel. When such a device is placed directly in front of the optical monitor of a computer, the electrically conductive metal deposits 18 and 23 are typically very thin, perhaps only a few atoms thick.

Depositing highly conductive metals such as gold using a known type of vacuum deposition process, the electrically conductive layer is very thin and transparent. Most of the light incident above the layer passes below it.

Spray 55 sprays particles 53 and 5 within a specified size range.
4 (also contains a fluid such as water to keep it in suspension during the spraying operation. Studies have shown that particles in the size range of 3-50 microns suspended in water) Brown alumina (approximately 96% aluminum oxide) has been shown to provide the desired effect; other comparable electrically nonconducting, chemically inert and therefore stable Materials include white alumina and small glass beads.Aqueous solutions of alkaline earth metal chlorides (e.g., N
aC1, KCI, CaCIz) has been found to be particularly effective as a carrier fluid for particles such as glass beads. While the process and molecular-level forces are not fully understood, particles after evaporation of the carrier fluid can be made from acrylic plastic, glass, Mylar (M
ylar: Trademark) and tends to adhere firmly to typical optically transparent materials such as polycarbonate, onto which very thin films produced by typical vacuum deposition processes are deposited. It has been found that they tend to adhere well to conductive metal or oxide films. Of course, those skilled in the art know that spraying and depositing fine particles onto a surface with a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive bands can be applied not only to the electrically conductive bands, but also to the dispersion between them. You will understand that it also attaches to conductive areas.

After the particles have been sprayed and the carrier material has subsequently evaporated, a second layer with a predetermined pattern of electrically conductive bands is disposed on the particle-covered surface. With proper selection of particles within a predetermined size range, electrically conductive surfaces that are very close to each other remain separated by an amount determined by the size of the larger particle that contacts both adjacent surfaces simultaneously. It is possible to guarantee that As mentioned above, it is known that once particles are deposited on one surface, they do not move from there. It has also been found that it is desirable for the small particles to remain attached to the surface where they were originally sprayed, while the large particles simultaneously contact adjacent surfaces.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical sectional view of the plane shown in FIG. 4. It is shown how the large particles are in contact with the electrically conductive surface 19 of the top layer and the electrically conductive surface 24 of the bottom layer, with small particles interspersed between the large particles. It's easy to see.

The user applies an external localized force to surface 16 (see FIG. 2), thereby deflecting layer 15 inwardly toward layer 20. If the applied pressure is large enough, the electrically conductive surface 19 will come into local contact with the electrically conductive surface 24, despite the presence of particles 53 and 54 between the small gaps; It thereby completes part of the external circuit and generates a useful signal generally indicative of the location of the applied force. Experiments have shown that particles in the size range of 3-50 microns do not have any detrimental effect on the conductive layers 18 and 23, nor do they cause any disturbance to the flexible optically transparent layers 15 and 20. It was done. Furthermore, in reality, brown alumina of 100 microns or less is Ts.
It was found that it was impossible to see with the naked eye at the oi position.

It has been found that the desired density of the distribution of particles within the size range of 3-50 microns is within the range of 300-1,000 particles/square inch. At values below 300 particles per square inch, there is a risk of intermittent irregular shorting between electrically conductive surfaces. At distribution densities greater than i,ooo particles/in2, large pressure stimuli are required to obtain electrical contact. Those skilled in the art will realize that by controlling the predetermined distribution density of particles in a given size range, it is possible to adjust the stimulation pressure of the TS○ panel. Therefore, this point is a useful design factor.

Experimental studies, as mentioned above, have shown that fine particles within a predetermined size range and predetermined distribution density can be detrimental to the electrically conductive and optically transparent two layers in long-term use. Most effectively used to separate without any negative effect. Moreover, as indicated earlier, those skilled in the art are using white alumina,
Small glass beads or chemically inert and stable particles that are additionally physically stable at or above the temperatures encountered during the operation of typical computer equipment and monitors. You may find it preferable to use these (as they also have the benefits of

Spray distribution of suspensions of fine particles and carrier fluid can be achieved with traditional manually operated atomizer-type spray equipment, or more accurately, refined, and economically by computer-controlled or mechanized spray equipment of a traditional nature. This can be achieved through a process that is easy to handle.

The present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and disclosed herein, and may be used with equal effect in applications on separate, accessible surfaces that are not electrically conductive. This is clear from the above. Therefore, the specific embodiments disclosed herein may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention, and such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a typical traditional TSO device;
In this case, two
A regular pattern of dots revealing plastic spacers between two adjacently spaced layers is visible through the transparent layer. Figure 2 shows the same traditional TSO device as Figure 1 (top view).
1 shows a vertical cross-section of a illustrating a number of layers contained therein. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration showing a suspension of particles and carrier fluid material being sprayed onto a surface from a traditional spray device. FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged view showing the arbitrary distribution of particles within a selected size range on a surface. FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross-section of FIG. 4, showing two adjacent surfaces simultaneously in contact with and separated by opposite sides of each other, with large particles of arbitrary distribution deposited therebetween; ; Code explanation 11 -------Sensitive overlay (TS
O) 12.13-----One wiring 1 t-----Decoder circuit 15...-Transparent layer 16.17--Face 18--Electrically conductive layer 19 ---- Surface 20 of electrically conductive layer 18 ---
---Transparent layer 21, 22--Face 23--Electrically conductive layer 24--Face 25 of electrically conductive layer 23--Nub of non-conductive material 30-- ----Transparent material backing
plate) 31--Face of the back plate 32--Layer 33 of material that obstructs Newton's rings
．． 34--Face 5 of the layer of material that obstructs Newton's rings
1-----Spray device 52---1--Adjustable nozzle 53.・Incorporate Sodo

Claims (43)

[Claims] (1) In a device in which two regularly spaced parallel layers of material are placed very close to each other in position, which are moved toward each other to achieve local contact by the action of an external force, the first a first layer of a first material consisting of a plane and a second plane parallel to the first plane; a second layer consisting of a third plane and a fourth plane parallel to the third plane; a second layer of material having a size within a predetermined size range and arbitrarily distributed within a predetermined density range, a portion of which is in simultaneous contact with said second surface and said third surface; A touch sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers characterized by comprising particles deposited between the first layer and the second layer.
verlay panel) device. (2) The touch-sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first surface is a touch surface of a touch-sensitive overlay panel. 3. A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 1, wherein said particles have a size in the range of 3-50 microns. (4) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 1, wherein said particles are arbitrarily distributed in a density range of 300-1,000 particles/in². (5) The particles are brown alumina.
umina) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using the particle spacer according to claim 1. (6) The particles are glass beads.
A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 1 comprising: s). (7) In a manufacturing method in which two electrically non-conductive regularly spaced adjacent surfaces of parallel layers are placed in close positional proximity to achieve local physical contact by the action of an external force. , depositing particles of any size within a predetermined size range and any distribution within a predetermined density range on a first surface of the adjacent surfaces; The method further comprises the step of arranging the first surface and the second surface side by side so that a portion of the particles that have been caused to be exposed come into contact with both the first surface and the second surface at the same time. A method for manufacturing a touch-sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers. 8. A touch-sensitive overlay using particle spacers according to claim 7, wherein said depositing step sprays said particles suspended in a liquid carrier material onto said first surface. panel method. (9) The touch-sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers according to claim 7, wherein the depositing step sprays a solution of brown alumina particles suspended in water onto the first surface. the method of. (10) The particle spacer according to claim 7, wherein the depositing step includes spraying a solution in which glass beads are suspended in an aqueous solution of an alkaline earth metal chloride salt onto the first surface. A method of touch-sensitive overlay panel using. 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined size range is 3-50 microns. (12) The planned density range is 300-1,000
8. A method of a touch sensitive overlay panel using a particle spacer according to claim 7, wherein the particle spacers are particles per square inch. (13) In a device in which two regularly spaced light-transmitting parallel layers are placed in close positional proximity, the layers move toward each other to achieve local contact under the action of an external force, the first surface a first layer of a first transparent material comprising a second surface parallel to the first surface; a second layer comprising a third surface and a fourth surface parallel to the third surface; a second layer of transparent material, having a size within a predetermined size range and arbitrarily distributed in a predetermined density range, a portion of which is disposed on the second surface and the third surface, respectively; An apparatus for a touch-sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers, characterized in that the particles are deposited between said first layer and said second layer so as to be in simultaneous contact with each other. (14) The first transparent material is mylar (mylar).
14. A touch-sensitive overlay panel device using the particle spacer according to claim 13, which is a trademark of the Company. (15) The touch-sensitive overlay panel device using particle spacers according to claim 13, wherein the first surface is a touch surface of the touch-sensitive overlay panel. (16) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 13, wherein the particles have a size of 3-50 microns. 17. A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 13, wherein said particles have a density range of 300-1,000 particles/in². (18) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 13, wherein the particles are made of brown alumina. (19) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 13, wherein the particles are comprised of glass beads. (20) A method of arranging two regularly spaced adjacent surfaces of parallel layers that achieve local physical contact by the action of an external force in close positional proximity, within a predetermined size range. depositing particles of any size and distribution within a predetermined density range on a first surface of the adjacent surface; and a portion of the particles deposited on the first surface is A touch sensor using a particle spacer, comprising the step of arranging the first surface and the second surface side by side so as to simultaneously contact both the first surface and the second surface. tive overlay panel method. (21) The touch-sensitive overlay using a particle spacer according to claim 20, wherein the depositing step sprays a suspension of the particles in a liquid carrier material onto the first surface. panel method. (22) The touch-sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers according to claim 20, wherein the depositing step sprays a solution of brown alumina particles suspended in water onto the first surface. the method of. (23) The particle spacer according to claim 20, wherein the depositing step includes spraying a solution of glass beads suspended in an aqueous solution of an alkaline earth metal chloride salt onto the first surface. A method of touch-sensitive overlay panel using. 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the predetermined size range is 3-50 microns. (25) The planned density range is 300-1,000
21. A method of a touch sensitive overlay panel using a particle spacer according to claim 20, wherein the particle spacer is particles per square inch. (26) In a device in which electrically conductive, light-transmitting parallel layers of transparent material are placed in close proximity to each other, the layers move toward each other to achieve local electrical contact by the action of an external force. 1 plane and a second plane parallel to the first plane
a first layer of electrically non-conducting transparent material comprising a first surface; a first electrically conductive material having a transparent thickness; a second electrically non-conductive transparent material comprising a third surface and a fourth surface parallel to the third surface; a second electrically conductive material of an optically transparent thickness attached to a third surface in a second arrangement of bands of predetermined type, size and orientation; said first arrangement of electrically conductive zones such that a portion simultaneously contacts said first arrangement and said second arrangement of zones, and large particles therein are arbitrarily distributed with a predetermined density; and said second arrangement of electrically non-conductive particles within a predetermined size range deposited between said spacer and said second arrangement. (27) The first transparent material is Mylar (Mylar).
27. A touch-sensitive overlay panel device using the particle spacer according to claim 26, which is a trademark of the Claim 26. (28) the first surface connects the first arrangement to the second arrangement to achieve local electrical contact between the first arrangement and the second arrangement of bands; 27. An apparatus for a touch sensitive overlay panel using a particle spacer according to claim 26, which makes contact by moving towards the particle spacer. (29) The touch-sensitive overlay panel device using particle spacers according to claim 28, wherein the first surface is a touch surface of the touch-sensitive overlay panel. 30. The device of claim 26, wherein the first and second electrically conductive materials are gold. 31. The touch-sensitive overlay panel device using particle spacers according to claim 26, wherein said first electrically conductive material comprises a metal oxide. (32) The first electrically conductive substance has at least one
27. An apparatus for a touch sensitive overlay panel using a particle spacer according to claim 26, which comprises two metals. (33) Using a particle spacer according to claim 26, wherein an electrical path is provided by coupling at least one band from each of the first arrangement and the second arrangement to an electrical circuit. Touch sensitive overlay panel device. 34. The device of claim 26, wherein the particles are in the size range of 3-50 microns. (35) The particles are randomly distributed in the density range of 300-1,000 particles/in2.
A device for a touch-sensitive overlay panel using the particle spacer described in Section 3. (36) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 26, wherein said particles are made of brown alumina. (37) A touch sensitive overlay panel device using a particle spacer according to claim 26, wherein the particles are comprised of glass beads. (38) A method of non-conductively arranging two electrically conductive surfaces of parallel layers in close positional proximity that bring them into local physical contact under the action of an external force, depositing electrically non-conductive particles on a first side of the electrically conductive surface in any size within a range and in any distribution within a predetermined density range; arranging the first surface and the second surface side by side such that a portion of the particles deposited on the surface simultaneously contacts both the first surface and the second surface. A method for touch-sensitive overlay panels using featured particle spacers. (39) A touch-sensitive overlay using a particle spacer according to claim 38, wherein said depositing step sprays said particles suspended in a liquid carrier material onto said first surface. panel method. (40) The touch-sensitive overlay panel using particle spacers according to claim 38, wherein the depositing step is to spray a solution of brown alumina particles suspended in water onto the first surface. the method of. (41) The particle spacer according to claim 38, wherein the depositing step includes spraying a solution of glass beads suspended in an aqueous solution of an alkaline earth metal chloride salt onto the first surface. The method of touch-sensitive overlay panel used. 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the predetermined size range is 3-50 microns. (43) The planned density range is 300-1,000
39. A method of a touch sensitive overlay panel using a particle spacer according to claim 38, wherein the particle spacers are particles per square inch.