WO2018017629A1 - Distributeurs automatiques à technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface, et procédé de fabrication associé - Google Patents

Distributeurs automatiques à technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface, et procédé de fabrication associé Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2018017629A1
WO2018017629A1 PCT/US2017/042691 US2017042691W WO2018017629A1 WO 2018017629 A1 WO2018017629 A1 WO 2018017629A1 US 2017042691 W US2017042691 W US 2017042691W WO 2018017629 A1 WO2018017629 A1 WO 2018017629A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vending machine
touch panel
layer
electrodes
touch
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2017/042691
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Eric W. AKKASHIAN
Jason Blush
Alexander Watanabe
Original Assignee
Guardian Glass, LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/638,936 external-priority patent/US10133108B2/en
Application filed by Guardian Glass, LLC filed Critical Guardian Glass, LLC
Publication of WO2018017629A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018017629A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
    • G07F17/3202—Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
    • G07F17/3204—Player-machine interfaces
    • G07F17/3209—Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
    • G06F3/0443—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using a single layer of sensing electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
    • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
    • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
    • G06F3/041—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
    • G06F3/044—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means
    • G06F3/0446—Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by capacitive means using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/02—Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus
    • G07F9/023—Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising
    • G07F9/0235—Arrangements for display, data presentation or advertising the arrangements being full-front touchscreens

Definitions

  • Certain example embodiments relate to vending machines and/or associated methods. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to vending machines with large area transparent touch electrode (LATTE) technology, and/or associated methods.
  • LATTE large area transparent touch electrode
  • a capacitive touch panel includes an insulator such as glass, coated with a conductive coating. As the human body is also an electrical conductor, touching the surface of the panel results in a distortion of the panel's electrostatic field, measurable as a change in capacitance.
  • a transparent touch panel may be combined with a display such as a liquid crystal panel to form a touchscreen.
  • a projected capacitive (PROCAP) touch panel allows finger or other touches to be sensed through a protective layer in front of the conductive coating. The protective layer increases durability, while the ability to sense touches through an insulator allows a user to operate the touch panel while wearing gloves or the like.
  • FIGs. 1 (a) to 1 (g) illustrate an example of a related art projected capacitive touch panel, e.g., see U. S. Patent No. 8, 138,425, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
  • substrate 11 x-axis conductor 12 for rows, insulator 13, y-axis conductor 14 for columns, and conductive traces 15 are provided.
  • Substrate 11 may be a transparent material such as glass.
  • X-axis conductors 12 and y-axis conductors 14 may be a transparent conductive coating, typically indium tin oxide (ITO).
  • Insulator 13 may be any insulating material (for example, silicon nitride), which inhibits conductivity between x-axis conductors 12 and y-axis conductors 14.
  • Traces 15 provide electrical conductivity between each of the plurality of conductors and a signal processor (not shown).
  • x-axis conductor 12 e.g., ITO
  • Fig. 1 (c) illustrates cross-section A— A' of Fig. 1 (b), including x-axis conductor 12 formed on substrate 11.
  • insulator 13 is then formed on the substrate 1 1 over x- axis channel (s) of x-axis conductor 12.
  • Fig. 1(e) illustrates cross-section B— B' of Fig. 1 (d), including insulator 13 which is formed on substrate 1 1 and x-axis conductor 12. The insulator islands 13 shown in Figs.
  • l(d)-(e) are formed by depositing a continuous layer of insulating material (e.g., silicon nitride) on the substrate 1 1 over the conductors 12, and then subjecting the insulating material to a second photolithography, etching, or other patterning process in order to pattern the insulating material into islands 13.
  • insulating material e.g., silicon nitride
  • y- axis conductors 14 are then formed on the substrate over the insulator islands 13 and x-axis conductors.
  • the ITO is coated on substrate 11 over 12, 13, and then is subjected to a third photolithography or other patterning process in order to pattern the ITO into y-axis conductors 14.
  • y-axis conductor material 14 While most of y-axis conductor material 14 is formed directly on substrate 11, the y-axis channel is formed on insulator 13 to inhibit conductivity between x-axis conductors 12 and y-axis conductors 14.
  • Fig. 1(g) illustrates cross-section C— C of Fig. 1 (f), including part of a y-axis conductor 14, which is formed on the substrate 1 1 over insulator island 13 and over an example x-axis conductor 12. It will be appreciated that the process of manufacturing the structure shown in Figs. l (a)-(g) requires three deposition steps and three photolithography type processes, which can render the process of manufacture burdensome, inefficient, and costly.
  • Fig. 1(h) illustrates another example of an intersection of x-axis conductor 12 and y-axis conductor 14 according to a related art projected capacitive touch panel.
  • an ITO layer is formed on the substrate 1 1 and can then be patterned into x-axis conductors 12 and y-axis conductors 14 in a first photolithography process.
  • an insulating layer is formed on the substrate and is patterned into insulator islands 13 in a second photolithography or etching process.
  • a metal conductive layer is formed on the substrate 11 over 12-14 and is patterned into conductive bridges 16 in a third
  • Metal bridge 16 provides electrical conductivity for a y-axis conductor 14 over an x-axis conductor 12. Again, this process of manufacture requires three deposition steps and three different photolithography processes.
  • the projected capacitive touch panels illustrated in Fig. 1 (a) through 1(h) may be mutual capacitive devices and self-capacitive devices.
  • a mutual capacitive device there is a capacitor at every intersection between an x-axis conductor 12 and a y-axis conductor 14 (or metal bridge 16).
  • a voltage is applied to x-axis conductors 12, while the voltage of y-axis conductors 14 is measured (and/or vice versa).
  • changes in the local electrostatic field reduce the mutual capacitance.
  • the capacitance change at every individual point on the grid can be measured to accurately determine the touch location.
  • the x-axis conductors 12 and y-axis conductors 14 operate essentially independently.
  • the capacitive load of a finger or the like is measured on each x-axis conductor 12 and y-axis conductor 14 by a current meter.
  • related art projected capacitive touch panels require at least three thin film layers (for example, an ITO layer(s), insulator, and another ITO layer or metal bridge) formed on substrate 11 in making the touch-sensitive structure, and possibly a further protective layer(s) thereover.
  • each thin film layer typically has its own photolithography and/or laser patterning process, which can increase production costs and/or time.
  • transparent conductors 12 and 14 are typically indium tin oxide (ITO), which is a costly material.
  • ITO indium tin oxide
  • Thin layers of ITO also have a high sheet resistance (at least about 100 ohms/square). In order for an ITO layer to have a sheet resistance less than 5 ohms/sq., the layer typically must be thick (for example, greater than 400 nm). A thick layer of ITO is both more costly and less transparent.
  • the high sheet resistance of thin layers of ITO can limit its use in layouts requiring long narrow traces on large format touch panels (for example, panels with a diagonal measurement of more than 5 inches). It will be appreciated that there exists a need in the art to address one or more of the above- identified problems.
  • a projected capacitive touch panel with a silver-inclusive transparent conductive layer(s), where the silver-inclusive layer may be sandwiched between at least first and second dielectric layers.
  • Certain example embodiments relate to designs that incorporate one or more low-emissivity (low-E), Ag- based coatings to create a large area transparent touch electrode (LATTE) that can handle multi-touch points.
  • Low-E low-emissivity
  • LATTE large area transparent touch electrode
  • Mutual capacitance and self-capacitance designs are disclosed herein.
  • the low-E coatings described herein may be less than half as costly as their ITO counterparts, and they may offer a better resistivity/transmission tradeoff, making them more readily usable in large applications.
  • LATTE technology may be used in connection with a variety of different end-applications including, for example, vending machines, as in certain example embodiments.
  • a vending machine is provided.
  • a cabinet includes a plurality of product placement areas.
  • a window to the product placement areas is connected to the cabinet.
  • a first transparent multi-layer low-emissivity (low-E) coating is supported by the window and patterned into a first set of electrodes, with the first set of electrodes being configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a touch panel configured to accept touch-related inputs to the vending machine.
  • Processing resources include at least one processor and a memory.
  • the memory comprises instructions that, when executed, are configured to: (a) receive touch-related operation information corresponding to accepted touch-related inputs, with the touch-related operation information being indicative of touch positions and touch types, and with the touch types including touches of the window, non-touch proximity detections, and gestures; and (b) control the vending machine to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes and respond to received touch-related operation information, the different operating modes including product-vending and game- playing modes.
  • a vending machine is provided.
  • a cabinet includes a plurality of product placement areas.
  • a capacitive touch panel is configured to accept touch-related inputs to the vending machine.
  • a first glass substrate is arranged as a window to the product placement areas, with the first glass substrate being connected to the cabinet and forming part of the touch panel.
  • a first transparent multi-layer low-E coating is supported by the first glass substrate and is patterned into a first set of electrodes, e.g., with the first low-E coating including a layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising zinc oxide directly below and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising Ni and/or Cr directly above and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, and at least one silicon-inclusive layer above and at least one silicon-inclusive layer below the layer comprising Ag.
  • Processing resources include at least one processor and a memory, with the memory comprising instructions that, when executed, are configured to control the vending machine to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes and, in connection therewith, respond to touch-related operation signals received from the touch panel, the different operating modes including product-vending and game-playing modes.
  • FIGURES 1(a) to 1(h) illustrate examples of related art projected capacitive touch panels
  • FIGURE 2(a) illustrates a top or bottom plan layout of a projected capacitive touch panel according to an example embodiment
  • FIGURE 2(b) illustrates a schematic representation of circuitry for the projected capacitive touch panel of Fig. 2(a) and/or 3;
  • FIGURE 3 illustrates a top or bottom plan layout of a projected capacitive touch panel according to another example embodiment
  • FIGURE 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a silver-inclusive transparent conductive coating for a touch panel of Figs. 2-3, according to certain example embodiments;
  • FIGURE 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example silver- inclusive transparent conductive coating for a touch panel of Figs. 2-3;
  • FIGURE 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another example silver- inclusive transparent conductive coating for a touch panel of Figs. 2-3;
  • FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of a display assembly according to an example embodiment of this invention, including a touch panel according to any of Figs. 2-6 coupled to a liquid crystal panel, for use in electronic devices such as portable phones, portable pads, computers, and/or so forth, in accordance with certain example embodiments;
  • FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly using a self-capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments;
  • FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly using another self-capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly using a mutual capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example
  • FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly using another mutual capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments;
  • FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly using yet another mutual capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments;
  • FIGURE 13 is a block diagram showing example components of a vending machine incorporating a capacitive touch panel in accordance with certain example embodiments
  • FIGURES 14(a) to 14(e) schematically demonstrate how the Fig. 13 example vending machine may be used to vend products, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • FIGURES 15(a) to 15(e) schematically demonstrate how the Fig. 13 example vending machine may be used to play games, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • Fig. 2(a) illustrates a top/bottom plan layout of a projected capacitive touch panel according to an example embodiment of this invention.
  • touch panel 20 is provided.
  • Touch panel 20 includes a matrix of electrodes including n columns and m rows, provided on a substrate 40.
  • the matrix of row/column electrodes is typically provided on the side of the substrate (e.g., glass substrate 40) that is opposite the side touched by person(s) using the touch panel.
  • the substrate 40 is typically located between the finger and the matrix of row/column electrodes.
  • a change in capacitance between adjacent row and column electrodes in the matrix as a result of the proximity of a finger or the like is sensed by the electronic circuitry, and the connected circuitry can thus detect where the panel is being touched by a finger or the like.
  • row 0 includes row electrodes ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ ,
  • X2,o, etc., through x n ,o and columns 0, 1 and 2 respectively include column electrodes yo, yi, y 2 , etc., through y n .
  • the x electrodes in a column direction may also be grouped for column sensing. The number of row and column electrodes is determined by the size and resolution of the touch panel. In this example, the top-right row electrode is x n ,m.
  • Each row electrode xo,o-Xn,m of touch panel 20 is electrically connected to interconnect area 21 and corresponding processing circuitry/software by a conductive trace 22.
  • Each column electrode yo-y n is also electrically connected to interconnect area 21 and corresponding processing circuitry/software.
  • the conductive traces 22 are preferably formed of the same transparent conductive material as the row and column electrodes (e.g., same material as at least row electrodes ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , x 2 ,o, etc.).
  • the matrix of row and column electrodes and corresponding traces 22 can be formed on the substrate (e.g., glass substrate) 40 by forming a single coating (single or multi-layer coating) on the substrate and by performing only one (or maximum two) photolithography processes.
  • the silver-inclusive coating e.g., see example coatings of Figs.
  • 4-6 is formed (e.g., sputter-deposited) on the substrate 40 and is then subjected to photolithography and/or laser patterning to pattern the silver-inclusive coating into traces 22, row electrodes ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ 2 , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , 2, ⁇ ,3, etc., through x n ,m, and column electrodes yo-y n .
  • the row electrodes xo,o-xn, m , column electrodes yo-y n , and traces 22 do not overlap as viewed from above/below, the row electrodes xo,o-xn, m , column electrodes yo- yn, and traces 22 may be formed on the same plane parallel (or substantially parallel) to substrate 40 on which the electrodes and traces are formed. Significant portions of traces 22 may also be parallel (or substantially parallel) to the column electrodes in the plane parallel (or substantially parallel) to the substrate 40.
  • touch panel 20 may be made via a smaller number of photolithography or laser patterning steps while achieving traces that achieve sufficient transparency and conductivity, thereby reducing production costs and resulting in a more efficient touch panel for use in a display assembly or the like.
  • Fig. 2(b) illustrates a schematic representation of circuitry for the touch panel
  • touch panel 20 there is a capacitance between each row electrode and the adjacent column electrode (for example, between row electrode ⁇ , ⁇ and column electrode yo).
  • This capacitance can be measured by applying a voltage to a column electrode (for example, column electrode yo) and measuring the voltage of an adjacent row electrode (for example, row electrode ⁇ , ⁇ ).
  • a column electrode for example, column electrode yo
  • an adjacent row electrode for example, row electrode ⁇ , ⁇
  • changes in the local electrostatic field reduce the mutual capacitance.
  • the capacitance change at individual points on the surface can be measured by measuring each pair of row electrodes and column electrodes in sequence.
  • each trace 22 of row electrodes ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , x 2 ,o, etc., through x n ,o of row 0) may be electrically connected together (as shown in Fig. 2(b)).
  • the interconnection of the first row segments to each other, second row segments to each other, etc. may be made on a flexible circuit(s) attached at the periphery of the touch panel in the interconnection area, so that no cross-overs are needed on the glass. In that instance, a voltage is applied to a column electrode and the voltage of each row is measured in sequence before the process is repeated with a voltage applied to another column.
  • each trace 22 may be connected to signal processor 25 and the voltage of each trace 22 may be measured individually.
  • the same capacitance may be measured by applying a voltage to a row electrode and measuring the voltage on an adjacent column electrode rather than applying a voltage to a column electrode and measuring the voltage of an adjacent row electrode.
  • Signal processing may be performed by signal processor 25.
  • Signal processor 25 may be one or more hardware processors, may include volatile or nonvolatile memory, and may include computer-readable instructions for executing the signal processing.
  • Signal processor 25 is electrically connected to the column electrodes yo-y n and electrically connected to the row electrodes xo,o-xn, m through the traces 22.
  • Signal processor 25 may or may not be located on the same plane as row electrodes xo,o-xn, m , column electrodes yo-y n , and traces 22 (for example, in interconnect area 21 of FIG. 2(a)).
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a layout of a projected capacitive touch panel according to other example embodiments.
  • touch panel 30 is similar to touch panel 20 of Fig. 2(a), except that touch panel 30 is divided into upper section 31 and lower section 32, each of which includes a matrix of electrodes including n columns and m rows.
  • row 0 of upper section 31 includes row electrodes ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , ⁇ , X2,o, etc., through x n ,o.
  • Upper section 31 also includes column electrodes yo, yi, y 2 , etc., through y n .
  • lower section 32 would also include row electrodes, and column electrodes yoy n that may be electrically separate from the column electrodes yo-y n of the upper section 31.
  • lower section 32 also includes a matrix of row electrodes including n columns and m rows, and n column electrodes. Lower section 32 may have more or less rows than upper section 31 in different example embodiments.
  • the number of row and column electrodes of touch panel 30 is determined by the size and resolution of the touch panel.
  • Each column electrode of upper section 31 is electrically connected to interconnect area 21 , and each row electrode of upper section 31 is electrically connected to interconnect area 21 by a trace 22.
  • traces may or may not be used for connecting the column electrodes of upper section 31 to the interconnect area.
  • Each column electrode of lower section 32 is electrically connected to interconnect area 2 and each row electrode of lower section 32 is electrically connected to interconnect area 2 by a trace 22. Again, traces may or may not be used for connecting the column electrodes of the lower section 32 to the interconnect area 2 .
  • touch panel 30 is similar to touch panel 20 in that there is a capacitance between each row electrode and the adjacent column electrode which may be measured by applying a voltage to a column electrode and measuring the voltage of an adjacent row electrode (or, alternatively, by applying a voltage to a row electrode and measuring the voltage of an adjacent column electrode).
  • a capacitance between each row electrode and the adjacent column electrode which may be measured by applying a voltage to a column electrode and measuring the voltage of an adjacent row electrode (or, alternatively, by applying a voltage to a row electrode and measuring the voltage of an adjacent column electrode).
  • changes in the local electrostatic field reduce the mutual capacitance.
  • the capacitance change at individual points on the surface can be measured by measuring the mutual capacitance of each pair of row electrodes and column electrodes in sequence.
  • electrode structure for the touch panel 30 may be thin in nature and may be patterned with one process (for example, one photolithography process or one laser patterning process), which can reduce the production cost of the projected capacitive touch panel.
  • touch panels 20 and 30 described are not limited to the orientation described above and shown in Figs. 2-3.
  • the terms “row,” “column,” “x-axis,” and y-axis” as used in this application are not meant to imply a specific direction.
  • Touch panel 20 of Fig. 2(a) may be modified or rotated such that interconnect area 21 is located in any part of touch panel 20.
  • narrow transparent conductive traces 22 are routed to electrically connect electrodes to interconnect area 21 (and interconnect area 2 ). Because of the large resistance of the narrow ITO traces, narrow ITO traces may only been used in small touch panels, such as for smart phones. To use one of the layouts illustrated in Figs. 2(a) and 3 on larger touch panels (for example, measuring more than 10 inches diagonally), a transparent conductive coating with low sheet resistance may be used.
  • the silver inclusive coatings shown in Figs. 4-6, for use in forming the row/column electrodes and traces 22, are advantageous in this respect because they have a much lower sheet resistance than typical conventional ITO traces.
  • Figs. 4-6 Examples of silver-inclusive transparent conductive coatings (TCCs) with low sheet resistance, for forming row electrodes, column electrodes, and traces 22 are illustrated in Figs. 4-6, according to certain example embodiments.
  • TCCs transparent conductive coatings
  • the low sheet resistance and high transparency of the TCC allow the TCC to form the long narrow traces 22 of the touch panels illustrated in Figs. 2(a) and 3, as well as the row and column electrodes.
  • Coating 41 is provided, either directly or indirectly, on substrate 40.
  • Substrate 40 may be, for example, glass.
  • Coating 41 may include, for example, bottom dielectric silicon nitride based and/or inclusive layer 42 which may be S13N4 (which may or may not be doped with other material(s) such as aluminum in certain example instances) or of the Si-rich type for haze reduction, or of any other suitable stoichiometry silicon nitride in different embodiments of this invention; a dielectric high index layer 43 of or including a material such as titanium oxide or niobium oxide, which may include titanium oxide (e.g., T1O2 or other suitable stoichiometry); and first and second dielectric layers of or including zinc oxide 44a and 44b that may be split by a dielectric "glue" layer 45 of or including tin oxide; a silver-based conductive layer 46; an upper contact layer including nickel and/or chromium 47 which
  • the dielectric high index layer 43 may be fully oxidized or sub-stoichiometric in different example embodiments.
  • the seed layer comprising zinc oxide 44b and the upper contact layer of or including nickel and/or chromium 47 directly contact the silver-based conductive layer 46.
  • example thicknesses and materials for the respective sputter- deposited layers of coating 41 on the glass substrate 40 in the Fig. 4 embodiment are as follows, from the glass substrate outwardly:
  • the layers 44a and 44b may have matching or substantially matching thicknesses.
  • the thicknesses of these layers may differ by no more than 15% in certain example instances, no more than 10% in other example instances, and no more than 3-5% in yet other example instances. This is the case with Example 1 above, but is not the case with Example 2 above.
  • Fig. 5 another example transparent conductive coating (or layer system) 51 is provided, either directly or indirectly, on substrate 40.
  • Substrate 40 may be, for example, glass.
  • Fig. 5 includes, for example, bottom dielectric silicon nitride based and/or inclusive layer 42 and a dielectric high index layer 43a, which may be of or include titanium oxide or niobium oxide (e.g., TiCh or other suitable stoichiometry).
  • titanium oxide or niobium oxide e.g., TiCh or other suitable stoichiometry
  • the first and second dielectric layers comprising zinc oxide 44a and 44b are split by a layer of or including titanium oxide (e.g., TiCh or other suitable stoichiometry) 43b.
  • titanium oxide e.g., TiCh or other suitable stoichiometry
  • Another way of thinking about this is that the lower dielectric high index layer comprising titanium oxide 43 is split into two sub-layers (43a and 43b) by a first layer of or including zinc oxide 44a.
  • An upper contact layer including nickel and/or chromium 47, which may be oxided and/or nitrided, a layer of or including tin oxide 48, a dielectric layer of or including zinc oxide 44c, and another dielectric silicon nitride based layer 49 may be provided above a conductive silver-based layer 46.
  • a third zinc oxide inclusive layer 44c may be interposed between the layer comprising tin oxide 48 and the silicon nitride based layer 49.
  • An optional zirconium oxide inclusive top coat 50 is shown as an outer-most layer (and thus above the silicon nitride based layer 49) in Fig. 5. This zirconium oxide inclusive top coat 50 may provide further durability improvements.
  • example thicknesses and materials for the respective sputter- deposited layers on the substrate 40 in the Fig. 5 embodiment are as follows, from the substrate 40 outwardly: Table 2
  • Fig. 6 illustrates another example transparent conductive coating that may be used to form the row and column electrodes, and traces 22, in Figs. 2-3.
  • the coating of Fig. 6 includes, from the glass substrate 40 outwardly, dielectric layer of or including silicon nitride, lower contact layer 75 of or including NiCr, NiCrOx, NiCrNx or the like, conductive layer 46 of or including silver, upper contact layer 47 of or including NiCr, NiCrOx, NiCrNx or the like, dielectric layer 49 of or including silicon nitride, and optional overcoat 50 of a material such as zirconium oxide.
  • a projected capacitive touch panel may be formed by using a silver-inclusive
  • TCC for example, coating 41 of Fig. 4, coating 51 of Fig. 5, or coating 61 of Fig. 6
  • a substrate 40 for example, glass
  • the silver-inclusive TCC may be patterned with one photolithography process and/or laser patterning process, the overall cost of the projected capacitive panel is reduced.
  • Silver-inclusive TCCs 41, 51, 61 are inexpensive, have a low sheet resistance
  • the TCC (41, 51 or 61) may be deposited on a major surface of the substrate 40 away from the user so as to reduce corrosive exposure to the atmosphere or contact with a finger or stylus.
  • the example display assembly shown in Fig. 7 includes a touch panel (20 or 30) mounted on a liquid crystal display panel.
  • the row electrodes, column electrodes, and traces are form at 41, 51, 61 in Fig.
  • the LCD panel includes first and second substrates (e.g., glass substrates) 100, 200 with a liquid crystal layer 300 provided therebetween.
  • the touch panel 20, 30 may be mounted on the LCD panel with a small air gap (not shown), or bonded to the display with an index-matching adhesive 85.
  • the pixel pitch for projected capacitive touch panels may, for example, be in the range of from about 6 to 7 mm. Touch location can be determined more accurately, to about 1 mm, by signal processing and interpolation. If the line width/spacing for the traces 22 is approximately 10 ⁇ to 20 ⁇ , it can be calculated that a projected capacitive touch panel of at least 20 inches (measured diagonally) is possible for a TCC sheet resistance of about 4 ohms/square. Further optimization of the routing, signal processing and/or noise suppression allows for production of even larger touch panels (for example, greater than 40 or 50 inches diagonally).
  • certain example embodiments may include one or more low-E Ag-based coatings in a large area transparent touch electrode (LATTE) that can accommodate multi-touch points.
  • the low-E Ag-based coatings may be used in place of, or together with, ITO in certain example embodiments.
  • mutual capacitance and self-capacitance designs are contemplated herein.
  • a self-capacitance design approach generally is concerned with the capacitance of a single electrode to ground. Human body capacitance (or capacitance from a stylus or the like) increases the capacitance of the electrode to ground.
  • each electrode in an array may be measured individually, e.g., as rows and columns are scanned or the like.
  • Self-capacitance design sensors may be used in connection with certain example embodiments.
  • Fig. 8 is a cross- sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly 80 using a self-capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • example subassembly 80 includes first and second glass substrates 82a and 82b respectively supporting first and second low-E Ag-based coatings 84a and 84b.
  • the first and second low- E Ag-based coatings 84a and 84b are separate self-capacitance touch electrodes, with one measuring a first direction (e.g., the x-direction) and the other measuring a second direction (e.g., the y-direction).
  • a laminate material 86 may be used to bond the first and second substrates 82a and 82b together, with the first and second low-E Ag-based coatings 84a and 84b being protected by virtue of being sandwiched between the first and second substrates 82a and 82b.
  • the laminate material 86 may be a generally optically clear material such as, for example, PET, PVB, EVA, PU, and/or the like.
  • Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly 90 using another self-capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • the Fig. 9 example subassembly 90 functions similarly to the Fig. 8 example subassembly 80.
  • the laminate material 86' in the Fig. 9 example is shown supporting both of the first and second low-E Ag-based coatings 84a and 84b.
  • the laminate material 86' may be pre-coated with the first and second low-E Ag-based coatings 84a and 84b.
  • first and second OCA materials 92a and 92b are shown as being interposed between the laminate material 86' and the first and second glass substrates 82a and 82b, respectively.
  • a mutual capacitance sensor capacitance is measured between two electrodes. One electrode functions as the drive or transmit electrode, and the other electrode functions as the sense or receive electrode. Human body capacitance (or stylus capacitance, etc.) "steals" the charge, which decreases the capacitance between the electrodes.
  • each electrode intersection in an array of electrode pairings may be measured individually.
  • Mutual capacitance design sensors also may be used in connection with certain example embodiments.
  • Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly 101 using a mutual capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments. In the Fig.
  • the first low-E coating 84a' is used for transmission and the second low-E coating 84b' is used for receiving. It will be appreciated that the transmit and receive functionality may be reversed in certain example embodiments. Similar to the Fig. 8 example, the Fig. 10 example subassembly 101 has the first and second low-E coatings 84a' and 84b' supported by the first and second glass substrates 82a and 82b, respectively, with the subassembly 101 being bonded together via laminate material 86. The first and second low-E coatings 84a' and 84b' may be organized as rows and columns in two layers, in a "bar and stripe" configuration, etc.
  • Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a touch panel display subassembly 111 using another mutual capacitance design approach, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • the transmit and receive electrodes are of different types and are supported by different types of substrates. More particularly, in Fig. 11, the first glass substrate 82a supports a transmit or receive low-E coating 113, and the laminate material 115 supports the other type (receive or transmit) of electrode 117, which is shown as being of or including ITO.
  • the laminate material 115 may be PET, PVB, EVA, PU, and/or the like.
  • the ITO 117 may be a rolled material supporting the ITO 117, and it may be unrolled prior to subassembly 111 being laminated together.
  • First and second OCA materials 92a and 92b are shown as being interposed between the laminate material 115 and the first and second glass substrates 82a and 82b, respectively.
  • the electrode 117 is shown as being of or include ITO, it will be appreciated that another material (such as, for example, a metal mesh, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanobuds, and/or the like) may be used instead of the ITO.
  • the low-E coating 113 may be supported by the laminate material 115 and the other electrode 117 may be supported by the first glass substrate 82a as if they were reversed in the Fig. 11 example, (2) the low-E coating 113 may be supported by the second glass substrate 82b and other electrode 117 may be supported by the laminate material 115 on a side opposite the second glass substrate 82b, (3) other electrode 117 may be supported by the second glass substrate 82b and the low-E coating 113 may be supported by the laminate material 115 on a side opposite the second glass substrate 82b, etc.
  • a one layer arrangement may be used in certain example embodiments.
  • This may include, for example, a configuration with an interlocking diamond pattern with bridges (e.g., similar to Fig. 1(a) or the like), in a caterpillar design (e.g., similar to Fig. 3 or the like), etc.
  • This may be used in connection with a design arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 7, or in Fig. 12. That is, both the Fig. 7 and the Fig. 12 examples may include a low-E coating that is patterned with a single layer mutual touch partem, with the low-E coating being used for both transmit and receive functionality in a mutual capacitance design.
  • the substrate supporting the low-E coating is the glass substrate.
  • the low-E coating 123 may be supported by the laminate material 86.
  • the Fig. 12 example subassembly 121 also includes first and second OCA materials 92a and 92b being interposed between the laminate material 86 and the first and second glass substrates 82a and 82b, respectively.
  • Figs. 8-12 may be the same as, or similar to, the low-E coatings described above (e.g., in connection with Figs. 4-6).
  • non-glass e.g., plastic
  • non-glass substrate may be directly bonded to the display.
  • low-E Ag-based coatings used in large area transparent touch electrodes as described herein are advantageous over ITO-based electrodes and other technologies for a number of different reasons.
  • low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein tend to have a lower haze as compared to ITO-based coatings.
  • the former typically will have haze less than 0.5%, more preferably less than 0.4% and sometimes as low as 0.25%.
  • ITO typically has a haze even when in a heat treated state of around 1 %, and sometimes in the 0.75%- ⁇ % range.
  • the reduction in haze is advantageous when it comes to providing higher resolution displays (e.g., as there currently is a move towards providing "4K resolution" products), and for facilitating readability in outdoor and sunny or high-light conditions. Reflection also tends to be lower for the low-E Ag-based coatings described herein, as compared to ITO-based coatings.
  • the low-E Ag- based coatings described herein may have a reflection lower than 10%, more preferably lower than 7%, and typically around 5%.
  • ITO-based coatings typically have a reflection of about 10%.
  • low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein offer a better resistivity/transmission tradeoff as compared to ITO-based coatings.
  • ITO-based coatings typically offer a resistance of about 100 ohms per square with 89-90% transmission after heat treatment, whereas low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein can achieve a resistance of less than 25 ohms per square, preferably less than 15 ohms per square, more preferably less than 10 ohms per square, still more preferably less than 10 ohms per square, and sometimes less than 7 ohms per square, with 88% transmission.
  • the low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein preferably have a transmission of at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, and still more preferably at least 87-88%.
  • the move to low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein is advantageous in this respect as it provides for lower power consumption, faster touch response times (lower latency), and enables capacitive touch technology to be employed on larger displays.
  • ITO-based sensors with these metrics typically can be used with a 40 inch maximum panel, whereas the example techniques described herein can be used in connection with 40 inch, 50 inch, 110 inch, or even greater sized panels (e.g., as measured by a diagonal of the panel). It will be appreciated that the transmission, sheet resistance, haze, reflection measurements apply when the low-E Ag-based coating is blanked coated onto a 3 mm thick clear soda-lime-silica glass, absent an antireflective coating.
  • ITO typically is thermally activated, post deposition, to increase the material's optical
  • a low-E Ag-based coating may be formed using a room temperature coating process that does not necessarily require thermal activation. This opens the door to using different types of substrates (e.g., plastic substrates, PET, PVB, etc.), while providing significantly better optical and resistance properties as compared to non-heat treated ITO.
  • substrates e.g., plastic substrates, PET, PVB, etc.
  • none of the touch panel substrates will be heat treated.
  • none of the touch panel substrates on which the low-E Ag-based coating is formed will be heat treated.
  • the low-E Ag-based coating of certain example embodiments may be heat treatable, which would allow large stock sheets to be coated, cut to size, and then heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) with the coatings thereon, which can reduce manufacturing costs significantly.
  • ITO in general also is brittle, and the heat treatment can increase its brittleness.
  • low-E Ag-based coatings as described herein are more flexible and thus can be more easily incorporated into flexible, curved, and other types of displays.
  • ITO on PET is shipped in a non-heat treated condition on cylindrical rolls and may be heat treated when it is received by a customer to compensate for the rigidity of heat treated ITO.
  • low-E, Ag-based coatings of the type described herein do not necessarily need to be thermally activated to achieve a good resistivity/transmission tradeoff, a customer can use a low-E Ag-based coating on PET/PVB directly off a roll without heat treating in some instances.
  • vending machines for example, current models typically incorporate simple hardware keypads or small touchscreens on the side of the vending machine to facilitate user selection of an item therein and to enable product purchases to be made.
  • low-E Ag-based coatings described herein it is possible to create new vending machine user interfaces that are more interesting and interactive than conventional interfaces. Additional customer engagement, entertainment, and sales opportunities can be realized by enabling new user interfaces, e.g., as set forth herein.
  • increasing customer interaction may enable vending machine operators to facilitate multi-product purchases by creating better bundling opportunities, reduce customer balk rates by creating a more engaging and entertaining user experience, reduce incorrect product purchases by giving customers better and more intuitive control over the ways in which they make their selections, reduce the number of the steps or user-interactive operations needed to purchase products, realize energy and costs savings (e.g., as compared to having a vending machine with an LCD device with touch panel functionality), increase durability (e.g., compared to LCD devices with touch with touch panel functionality), etc.
  • Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing example components of a vending machine 1300 incorporating a capacitive touch panel 1320 in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • the Fig. 13 example vending machine 1300 includes processing resources 1302, comprising at least one processor 1304 and a memory 1306 operably coupled thereto.
  • the memory 1306 may include any suitable combination of transitory or non-transitory computer readable storage media, and it store a plurality of programs 1308a-1308d.
  • control loop program 1308a controls the overall functioning of the vending machine 1300, e.g., enabling the vending machine 1300 to switch between vending, attract, and game modes. These modes are controlled by different programs, namely, the vending mode program 1308b, the attract mode program 1308c, and the game mode program 1308d. Further details concerning the example programs 1308a- 1308d are provided below.
  • More conventional vending machine related hardware may be provided to vending machine 1300 as an alternative or supplement to touch-based user interactivity. That is, more conventional vending machine related hardware may be provided to vending machine 1300 to increase fault tolerant, to provide a completely separate and more conventional approach to interacting with the vending machine 1300 (e.g., for potential customers who are less comfortable with touch-based technology), to provide additional or alternative control mechanisms for more limited touch-based technology offerings, etc.
  • keypad 1310 may be used to make selections from products available in stock in the vending machine 1300, to provide inputs when selecting a game to play or actually playing a game, etc.
  • a payment acceptor 1312 may accept coins, bank notes, credit/debit cards, RFID or other short-distance radio-based payment technology, etc.
  • One or more additional displays 1314 may be provided to confirm selections, facilitate more secure payment-related input (e.g., PIN codes), show supplemental information (e.g., game instructions), etc.
  • a mechanical product release mechanism 1316 may release products in response to receipt of a selection and appropriate payment (e.g., by uncoiling holder, using a mechanical arm to pick up and move a product, etc.). Released products may be dropped into a product hopper 1318.
  • the projected capacitive touch panel 1320 may be large and serve as both a window into the display area (e.g., as a conventional merchanidizer), as well as a means for providing input to the vending machine 1300.
  • the capacitive touch panel 1320 may receive input from a user (e.g., corresponding to a touch, hover operation, swipe or gesture, etc.).
  • the detection circuitry 1322 works with electrodes of the capacitive touch panel 1320 as disclosed above, for example, and provides signals to the processing resources 1302 for further action, as appropriate.
  • One or more light arrays 1322 and projector 1324 help illuminate or otherwise convey information to a potential customer by illuminating or projecting onto the capacitive touch panel 1320.
  • the light array (s) 1322 may include LED lights of different colors, for example.
  • the speaker 1326 may provide audio output, e.g., during game play, during attract mode operation, to confirm selections, etc.
  • the camera 1328 may facilitate user detection, periods of inoperability, etc.
  • the vending mode program 1308a may facilitate user selection of items from the vending machine 1300 in a pre-programmed manner and in accordance with touch-based user interactivity.
  • Figs. 14(a) to 14(e) schematically demonstrate how the Fig. 13 example vending machine 1300 may be used to vend products, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • products are arranged in a grid-based manner, e.g., where cells in the grid 1400 correspond to different product areas. Each cell in the grid may have a plurality of detectable locations, e.g., such that multiple electrodes are provided to each cell.
  • FIG. 14(b) indicates that the customer desires the product in area 1402a.
  • a hover operation may be triggered by the change in capacitance (e.g., in connection with detecting circuitry 1322 and potential further processing using the processing resources 1302 and/or the vending mode program 1308b).
  • the hover or proximity operation once detected, may trigger a first visual change in the appearance of the area corresponding to the hover. This is indicated by the stippling in hover area 1402b in Fig. 14(c).
  • the first visual change in the appearance of the area corresponding to the hover shown in Fig. 14(c) may include, for example, the corresponding product area changing to a first solid translucent color (e.g., in a generally rectangular, circular, or other shape), flashing, being bordered, or the like, e.g., so that the user can determine where the hover is taking place while still having a sufficiently good view of the in-lying product to have confidence that the right product may subsequently be selected.
  • These changes may be realized by triggering the light array(s) 1322 and/or projector 1324 to highlight hover area 1402b.
  • first and second light arrays 1322 may be actuated to highlight an entire row and an entire column, with the overlap being a sort of "bull's-eye" in a distinctive coloration that highlights the hover area 1402b.
  • the user may move his/her hand and cause the hover area 1402b to move, causing an update to where the first visual change is depicted and restoring the previously highlighted area to its non-highlighted (e.g., non-illuminated) state.
  • the hover area 1402b may move, causing an update to where the first visual change is depicted and restoring the previously highlighted area to its non-highlighted (e.g., non-illuminated) state.
  • a second visual change in the appearance may take place when the user's hand or finger actually touches the capacitive touch panel 1320.
  • a hover operation may cause flashing in the corresponding area, border highlighting, highlighting with a first color, a row-and-column bull's-eye in the corresponding area, or the like, and the second visual change may shift the highlight approach to a solid highlight (e.g., of the same or different color as what flashes or is indicated in border highlighting, to a second solid color different from a first solid color, etc.).
  • a gesture may be used to confirm a selection.
  • a check-like gesture 1402c in a highlighted area may confirm the selection and cause the product release mechanism 1316 to release the product corresponding to the confirmed selected area to be placed in the product hopper 1318.
  • holding the area for a predefined time period e.g., 1, 2, or 3 seconds
  • hover detection need not be used, and a selection may be made by pressing the area corresponding to the desired product sequentially, pressing the area corresponding to the desired product once and then holding it for a predefined time period, pressing the area corresponding to the desired product and then enacting a gesture, etc.
  • hovering over the glass with a hand or finger may be used to determine which product to select (and optionally trigger a first visual change in the corresponding area), and that then moving the hand or finger closer to glass (without touching the glass) may be used to select the product (and optionally trigger a second visual change in the corresponding area), potentially with the touch itself confirming the selection and triggering the sale.
  • a customer may be incentivized or encouraged to purchase additional products. For example, one or more additional products area may be highlighted (e.g., using a third visual change). As shown in Fig. 14(e), areas 1402dl and 1402d2 are highlighted. The products that are highlighted may be selected at random or based on predefined rules. With respect to the latter, predefined rules may be programmed into vending machine 1300 and/or otherwise stored to the memory 1306. Rules may include highlighting areas surrounding the area from which the product purchase was made, highlighting similar products to the product that was purchased, highlighting products that complement the product that was purchased, etc.
  • rules may be defined to highlight products by the same manufacturer, of a similar main component (e.g., multiple chocolate-based products may be highlighted following the selection of a chocolate-flavored product), multiple healthy snacks may be highlighted following the selection of a first health-food product, etc.
  • a similar main component e.g., multiple chocolate-based products may be highlighted following the selection of a chocolate-flavored product
  • multiple healthy snacks may be highlighted following the selection of a first health-food product, etc.
  • complementary product highlighting certain snack items that are believed to go well together or oftentimes be sold well together may be highlighted. For example, chocolate and peanut butter based products may be highlighted one after the other.
  • product selections and sales may be tracked and a record may be kept.
  • the memory 1306 may maintain a log of what product was purchased and when it was purchased. If a subsequent selection and purchase is made within a predefined time period following a first selection and purchase thereby indicating that multiple products were selected and purchased within a common session (e.g., by the same customer), the record or log might reflect that fact as well.
  • the camera 1328 and/or a large-scale change in capacitance of the touch panel 1320 indicative of a user moving away may be used to detect and/or confirm selections within a common session, as well. Associations between products purchased in a session may be maintained.
  • a Bayesian or other model / algorithm may be used to predict the likelihood of a second product being purchased based on a given first product being purchased.
  • a model of associations may be refined by taking into account whether and how much money was inserted ahead of time, whether the user was recognized (e.g., using facial recognition as facilitated by the camera 1328), time of day, day of week, etc. For example, this data may be considered known information in the context of a Bayesian model.
  • Output form an associative model or algorithm may be used to drive the highlighting of other products. In this way, it may be possible to increase the likelihood of products being sold as a bundle. [0092] It will be appreciated that certain example embodiments may use the same or similar techniques to track selections without purchases being made.
  • a customer may select a first product and then select and purchase a second different product after seeing the latter.
  • the first product may not be purchased, the sequential selections may nonetheless indicate an association between the products and/or a likelihood that they should be tied together and used in a subsequent highlighting procedure because they could be commonly bundled together.
  • Suggestive sales also may be based on body recognition.
  • the capacitive touch panel 1320 may also tell the rough dimensions of a human at or by the vending machine 1300. For example, changes in capacitance over a large area can be an indication of how tall and/or wide a person is, and/or potentially how much body fat the person has. Suggestive selling of certain products can then occur based on the potential purchaser's body type.
  • proximity sensing may be used in certain example embodiments.
  • large-scale changes in the capacitance of the capacitive touch panel 1320, and/or changes in capacitance over a large area that sweeps from one side to another may indicate the presence of a human at or passing by the vending machine 1300.
  • the vending machine 1300 may enter into an attract mode, e.g., in accordance with the attract mode program 1308b.
  • the attract mode program 1308b may cause lights to illuminate, sound to play using the speaker 1326, etc.
  • a vending machine 1300 may go into a low-power or "sleep" mode after periods of inactivity.
  • Proximity sensing may enable a vending machine 1300 in low-power or "sleep” mode to "wake up,” causing lights to turn on, etc.
  • Certain example embodiments may involve a product realize mechanism 1316 that includes a user-controllable robotic arm. For example, many drink machines use a robotic arm to pick-up the product inside the vending machine. Certain example embodiments may enable the user to control a visible arm, whether to pick up a product that it is near, where to deposit it, etc.
  • different selection processes for product can occur in the lower portion of the glass, e.g., to allow the machine to be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) approved.
  • certain example embodiments may incorporate simple on-glass touch buttons enabling product selection and purchase, utilization of gestures (e.g., swipe, pinch, etc.) to select a product, the addition of an on-glass scroll- wheel to enable product selection and purchasing through a carousel-like display and selection means (which may be independent of a separate on-glass selection button), etc.
  • gestures e.g., swipe, pinch, etc.
  • an on-glass scroll- wheel to enable product selection and purchasing through a carousel-like display and selection means (which may be independent of a separate on-glass selection button), etc.
  • push buttons may be illuminated enabling different user interface controls to be presented at a lower portion of the capacitive touch panel 1320 and with large, easily legible buttons.
  • a given area may be highlighted to start with (e.g., the top-left comer, the center item, etc.).
  • Newly displayed arrow buttons may be used to navigate (by moving the highlighted area) up, down, left, and right; a newly displayed wheel may be used to move the highlighted area through a given progression (e.g., left to right and top to bottom); etc.
  • a separate select/purchase button may be used to trigger a purchase in this mode.
  • Certain example embodiments also support gamification of the vending machine 1300.
  • the combination of touch functionality and simple lighting features in the vending machine 1300 may be used to create game functionality, e.g., under control of the processing resources 1302 executing the game mode program 1308.
  • FIG. 15(a) to 15(e) schematically demonstrate how the Fig. 13 example vending machine may be used to play games, in accordance with certain example embodiments.
  • Fig. 15(a) may be used in connection with a whack-a-mole or Simon Says type game.
  • the processing resources 1302 may randomly select a cell in the grid 1400. The cell may light up, prompting the user to touch the cell.
  • the cell may stay illuminated for a predefined amount of time or until the user touches it, whichever comes first.
  • areas 1502a-1502c are lit up sequentially.
  • the game may be played for a predefined time period, until a certain number of cells are touched within the predefined amount of time, until a given number of highlighted cells are missed, etc. It will be appreciated that multiple cells may be illuminated at once, and that the capacitive touch panel 1320 may support plural simultaneous touches, making the game more challenging.
  • area 1502a may be temporarily illuminated, prompting the user to push that area. If the user successfully pushes the area within a predefined amount of time, areas 1502a and 1502b are sequentially temporarily illuminated, prompting the user to push those areas in that order. If the user does not successfully push the areas in order within a predefined amount of time, the game may be considered over. However, if the user does so, areas 1502a-1052c are sequentially temporarily illuminated, prompting the user to push those areas in that order. The game continues in this way until the user does not successfully push the areas in order within a predefined amount of time, a given number of areas are pressed successfully, etc. Different tones may accompany the different highlighted areas.
  • the highlight may be accomplished by illuminating a given area using the light array(s) 1322, via the projector 1324, and/or the like.
  • Outlining also may be used in certain example embodiments.
  • Fig. 15(a) example shows individual cells being lit up
  • an easier version of the games may be played by using larger areas, such as entire rows or columns.
  • Fig. 15(b) shows entire columns being illuminated.
  • An example random partem is shown, with the areas sequentially including columns 1504a-1504c.
  • Figs. 15(c)(1) and 15(c)(2) help illustrate how a Tetris-type game may be played.
  • blocks of different configurations descend from the top of the screen.
  • this includes bar shape block 1506a and T-shape block 1506b, which are already at the base of the grid 1400 and thus cannot be moved.
  • a new element descends, it may be rotated with a gesture made relative to the display.
  • block 1508 may be rotated with counter-clockwise gesture 1510. It also may be moved horizontally via panning or swiping type gestures (provided that there is enough "real estate" in the grid 1400).
  • the gesture may be made on, over, or near, the descending block. In certain example embodiments, the gesture may be made anywhere on the capacitive touch panel 1320. In still other example embodiments, the gesture may be made in a dedicated input area.
  • Figs. 15(d) and 15(e) show paddle-type games that may be implemented in certain example embodiments.
  • a Pong-type game is playable.
  • the Pong-type game may be a one-player game (in which one of paddles 1512a and 1512b is user- controllable), or a two-player game (where first and second paddles 1512a and 1512b are operably by different users, as the capacitive touch panel 1320 is configured to accept multiple simultaneous touches).
  • first and second paddles 1512a and 1512b are operably by different users, as the capacitive touch panel 1320 is configured to accept multiple simultaneous touches.
  • users try to get a ball past their opponents' paddles.
  • a first player tries to get ball 1514 passed the second paddle 1512b (regardless of whether it is user- or computer-operated) by causing the first paddle 1512a to move the ball while also trying to keep the ball 1514 from getting past the first paddle 1512a.
  • the ball 1514 may elastically collide with the paddles 1512a-1512b, as well as upper and lower walls corresponding to the upper and lower edges of the grid 1400 in the Fig. 15(d) example.
  • the paddles may be movable using swipe gestures in a generally vertical direction, by touching and moving generally vertically the appropriate paddle, by using a dedicated input area, and/or the like. Although a generally vertical arrangement is shown in Fig. 15(d), horizontal-type arrangements are also contemplated.
  • Fig. 15(e) is an example brick-breaking game. As shown in Fig. 15(e), a user is able to move the paddle 1512 generally horizontally to prevent the ball 1514 from going past it and to cause the bricks 1516 to be broken.
  • the ball 1514 may elastically collide with the paddle 1512, the bricks 1512 (after causing individual ones of the bricks to be broken upon contact), left and right walls corresponding to the left and right edges of the grid 1400 in the Fig. 15(e) example, and the upper wall corresponding to the upper edge of the grid 1400 in the Fig. 15(e) example.
  • the 15(e) may be shown using the light array (s) 1322 and/or the projector 1324. Their movements may be controlled by the processing resources 1302, e.g., in accordance with aspect of the game mode program 1308d.
  • the processing resources 1302 may help keep track of the progress of the game.
  • a Memory -game also may be played.
  • the products may be at least partially concealed by having colored blocks placed over them. Touching a block may reveal the concealed product or code, and matching a like product or code or aspect of a product (e.g., food type, manufacturer, etc.) may cause the blocks to be removed.
  • the keypad 1310 may be used to provide alternative or additional input, e.g., in selecting and/or playing the games.
  • prizes may be awarded for achieving a goal in a game.
  • a prize may be given for whacking a certain number of moles, advancing to a certain complexity in the Simon Says game, beating the computer-controlled paddle in the Pong-type game, clearing a level in the brick-breaking game, uncovering all of the blocks within a certain number of guesses for the Memory -type game, etc.
  • the prize may be a free product, a discount usable on the vending machine 1300, place on a roll of
  • an RFID and/or credit card reader may be laminated in the glass in or near the touch panel 1320.
  • the corresponding hardware may be coupled to the processing resources 1302.
  • RFID, NFC, and/or other short-distance radio communication signals may be read by the coating applied to the touch panel 1320 itself. Electrodes formed in the touch panel 1320 specifically "tuned" to the appropriate frequencies may be formed. Such electrodes may be located in a given area, which may be marked as a payment acceptance area, or they may be distributed throughout the major surface of the glass comprising the touch panel 1320.
  • transparent projector technology may be used in combination with touch technology to provide large size advertising and the ability to interact with the vending machine 1300.
  • the projector 1324 may proj ect on the entire or substantially the entire surface of the capacitive touch panel 1320 to try to entice a potential customer to interact with the vending machine 1300, to apprise the passers-by of promotions or advertisements stored to the memory 1306 by an operator or other authorized individual, etc.
  • Some of these advertisements or promotions may be user-interactive allowing, for example, users to receive more information about an advertisement or promotion by touching the capacitive touch panel 1320 accordingly and/or as prompted.
  • a dedicated area of the capacitive touch panel 1320 may be reserved for projections so that vending-related operations of the vending machine 1300 may proceed as advertisements and/or promotions are run.
  • advertisements and/or promotions may be provided on all or substantially all of the capacitive touch panel 1320, unless or until vending-related operations of the vending machine 1300, at which point the advertisements and/or promotions may be moved to a smaller area of the capacitive touch panel 1320 and/or one or more additional displays 1314.
  • glass substrate 40 with coating 41 , 51 , 61 thereon may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered), e.g., after coating, or chemically strengthened before coating.
  • the substrates described herein may be heat treated (e.g., heat strengthened and/or thermally tempered), and/or chemically tempered, in certain example embodiments.
  • the terms "heat treatment” and "heat treating” as used herein mean heating the article to a temperature sufficient to achieve thermal tempering and/or heat strengthening of the glass inclusive article.
  • This definition includes, for example, heating a coated article in an oven or furnace at a temperature of at least about 550 degrees C, more preferably at least about 580 degrees C, more preferably at least about 600 degrees C, more preferably at least about 620 degrees C, and most preferably at least about 650 degrees C for a sufficient period to allow tempering and/or heat strengthening. This may be for at least about two minutes, or up to about 10 minutes, in certain example embodiments.
  • an element, layer, layer system, coating, or the like may be said to be "on” or “supported by” a substrate, layer, layer system, coating, or the like, other layers and/or materials may be provided therebetween.
  • a vending machine is provided.
  • a cabinet includes a plurality of product placement areas.
  • a window to the product placement areas is connected to the cabinet.
  • a first transparent multi-layer low-emissivity (low-E) coating is supported by the window and patterned into a first set of electrodes, with the first set of electrodes being configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a touch panel configured to accept touch-related inputs to the vending machine.
  • Processing resources include at least one processor and a memory.
  • the memory comprises instructions that, when executed, are configured to: (a) receive touch-related operation information corresponding to accepted touch-related inputs, with the touch-related operation information being indicative of touch positions and touch types, and with the touch types including touches of the window, non-touch proximity detections, and gestures; and (b) control the vending machine to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes and respond to received touch-related operation information, the different operating modes including product-vending and game- playing modes.
  • touch positions may be defined in relation to the product placement areas.
  • touch positions may overlap and/or be coextensive with the product placement areas.
  • the window may comprise first and second substantially parallel substrates that are laminated together, with the first substrate supporting the first low-E coating, with the second substrate supporting a transparent conductive coating that is patterned into a second set of electrodes, and with the first and second sets of electrodes being configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as the touch panel.
  • the transparent conductive coating may be a second low-E coating.
  • the first and second low-E coatings each may include a plurality of thin film layers, and the first and second low-E coatings may have substantially the same thin film layer structures.
  • the first and second sets of electrodes may be configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a self-capacitance touch panel.
  • one of the first and second sets of electrodes may be configured as transmit electrodes and the other may be configured as receive electrodes, and the first and second sets of electrodes may be configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a mutual capacitance touch panel.
  • the window may further comprise optically-clear adhesive.
  • the window may include only one low-E coating
  • the first set of electrodes may be patterned into transmit and receive electrodes
  • the first set of electrodes may be configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a mutual capacitance touch panel.
  • at least one light source may be configured to project light onto the window to prompt and/or respond to touch-related input under control of the processing resources and in accordance with the operating mode that is operating.
  • the at least one light source and the first set of electrodes may be configured to enable all or part of the window to be used as a projected capacitive touch panel.
  • the processing resources may be configured to control the at least one light source to provide a visual indication relative to a given one of the product placement areas, e.g., responsive to a detection of touch-related input provided in connection with that product placement area.
  • the processing resources may be configured to control the at least one light source to provide a visual indication relative to a given one of the product placement areas to prompt an action to be taken, and/or to indicate an action being taken, relative to the given product placement area, e.g., in connection with a game play mode of a game.
  • the processing resources may be configured to control the vending machine to vend a product in response to a predetermined series of inputs and/or input types being detected in relation to a given one of the product placement areas using the window as the touch panel, with the to-be vended product corresponding to the given product placement area.
  • a third transparent multi-layer low-E coating may be supported by the window and patterned into third electrodes, e.g., with the third electrodes being tuned to receive frequencies from a contactless payment instrument brought into close relative proximity to the vending machine, and the memory may include further instructions that are executable to process received frequencies to enable payment for items being vended by the vending machine.
  • a vending machine is provided.
  • a cabinet includes a plurality of product placement areas.
  • a capacitive touch panel is configured to accept touch-related inputs to the vending machine.
  • a first glass substrate is arranged as a window to the product placement areas, with the first glass substrate being connected to the cabinet and forming part of the touch panel.
  • a first transparent multi-layer low-E coating is supported by the first glass substrate and is patterned into a first set of electrodes, e.g., with the first low-E coating including a layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising zinc oxide directly below and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising Ni and/or Cr directly above and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, and at least one silicon-inclusive layer above and at least one silicon-inclusive layer below the layer comprising Ag.
  • Processing resources include at least one processor and a memory, with the memory comprising instructions that, when executed, are configured to control the vending machine to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes and, in connection therewith, respond to touch-related operation signals received from the touch panel, the different operating modes including product-vending and game-playing modes.
  • a second glass substrate may be substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first glass substrate, the second glass substrate may also forming part of the touch panel, and a transparent conductive coating may be supported by the second glass substrate and patterned into a second set of electrodes.
  • at least one light source may be configured to project light onto the window to prompt and/or respond to touch-related input under control of the processing resources and in accordance with the operating mode that is operating, e.g., with the touch panel being a projected capacitive touch panel making use of the at least one light source.
  • the processing resources may be configured to control the at least one light source, e.g., to provide a visual indication relative to a given one of the product placement areas to: prompt an action to be taken, and/or to indicate an action being taken, relative to the given product placement area, in connection with a game play mode of a game; and/or vend a product in response to a predetermined series of inputs and/or input types being detected in relation to the given one of the product placement areas using the window as the touch panel, the to-be vended product corresponding to the given product placement area.
  • the at least one light source e.g., to provide a visual indication relative to a given one of the product placement areas to: prompt an action to be taken, and/or to indicate an action being taken, relative to the given product placement area, in connection with a game play mode of a game; and/or vend a product in response to a predetermined series of inputs and/or input types being detected in relation to the given one of the product placement areas using the window as the touch panel,
  • a third transparent multi-layer low-E coating may be supported by the first substrate and patterned into third electrodes, e.g., with the third electrodes being tuned to receive frequencies from a contactless payment instrument brought into close relative proximity to the vending machine.
  • a method of making a vending machine comprises: connecting to a cabinet that includes a plurality of product placement areas a capacitive touch panel that is configured to accept touch-related inputs to the vending machine, wherein the touch panel includes a first glass substrate that is arranged as a window to the product placement areas, a first transparent multi-layer low-emissivity (low-E) coating supported by the first glass substrate and being patterned into a first set of electrodes, the first low-E coating including a layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising zinc oxide directly below and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, a layer comprising Ni and/or Cr directly above and in contact with the layer comprising Ag, and at least one silicon-inclusive layer above and at least one silicon-inclusive layer below the layer comprising Ag; and configuring processing resources including at least one processor and a memory to interface with the touch panel and to control the vending machine to operate in one of a plurality of different operating modes and, in connection
  • At least one light source that is configured to project light onto the window to prompt and/or respond to touch-related input under control of the processing resources and in accordance with the operating mode that is operating may be provided, e.g., wherein: the touch panel is a projected capacitive touch panel making use of the at least one light source; and/or the processing resources are configured to control the at least one light source to provide a visual indication relative to a given one of the product placement areas to (a) prompt an action to be taken, and/or to indicate an action being taken, relative to the given product placement area, in connection with a game play mode of a game, and (b) vend a product in response to a predetermined series of inputs and/or input types being detected in relation to the given one of the product placement areas using the window as the touch panel, the to-be vended product corresponding to the given product placement area.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Abstract

Certains modes de réalisation donnés à titre d'exemple concernent des distributeurs automatiques dotés d'une technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface (LATTE), et/ou des procédés associés. En utilisant un revêtement multicouche à base d'argent, une couche d'argent est prise en sandwich entre au moins une première et une seconde couche diélectrique, il est possible de créer de nouvelles interfaces utilisateurs de distributeurs automatiques qui sont plus intéressantes et interactives que les interfaces classiques. Les interfaces utilisateur à effleurement peuvent être utiles dans des modes de vente, d'attraction et de jeu dans lesquels des distributeurs automatiques donnés à titre d'exemple peuvent être placés et dans lesquels ils peuvent être actionnés.
PCT/US2017/042691 2016-07-21 2017-07-19 Distributeurs automatiques à technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface, et procédé de fabrication associé WO2018017629A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201662364918P 2016-07-21 2016-07-21
US62/364,918 2016-07-21
US15/638,936 2017-06-30
US15/638,936 US10133108B2 (en) 2015-04-08 2017-06-30 Vending machines with large area transparent touch electrode technology, and/or associated methods

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2018017629A1 true WO2018017629A1 (fr) 2018-01-25

Family

ID=59521641

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2017/042691 WO2018017629A1 (fr) 2016-07-21 2017-07-19 Distributeurs automatiques à technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface, et procédé de fabrication associé

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2018017629A1 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108389320A (zh) * 2018-04-17 2018-08-10 合肥美的智能科技有限公司 一种售货柜和一种售货柜的控制方法
WO2019035030A1 (fr) * 2017-08-16 2019-02-21 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour écran tactile capacitif pourvu de film(s) fonctionnel(s) supplémentaire(s)
WO2019035031A1 (fr) * 2017-08-16 2019-02-21 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour panneau tactile capacitif
US10248276B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-04-02 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with optional additional functional film(s)
WO2019126330A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour panneau à effleurement capacitif contenant de l'argent ayant une résistivité accrue
WO2019126338A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour écran tactile capacitif avec de l'argent ayant une résistance ajustée
US10444925B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-10-15 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with silver having increased resistivity
US10444926B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-10-15 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with additional functional film(s)
GB2575512A (en) * 2018-07-13 2020-01-15 Atoz Consult Dmcc Method and system for supplying one or more physical items to a user
US11620868B2 (en) 2021-07-22 2023-04-04 Trinity Axis Inc. Techniques to dispense an item and release a jammed item from a dispensing system

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4554419A (en) * 1983-12-02 1985-11-19 The Coca-Cola Company Touch selection panel for a vending machine
US8138425B2 (en) 2009-07-07 2012-03-20 Arima Display Corporation Projected capacitive touch panel and fabricating method thereof
US20130211583A1 (en) * 2010-06-30 2013-08-15 Damian S.R.L. Automatic product dispensing machine
US20140015762A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Derchin Weng Interactive-type display window device
US20140145999A1 (en) * 2012-11-27 2014-05-29 Guardian Industries Corp. Projected capacitive touch panel with a silver-inclusive transparent conducting layer(s)
US9557871B2 (en) 2015-04-08 2017-01-31 Guardian Industries Corp. Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel or the like

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4554419A (en) * 1983-12-02 1985-11-19 The Coca-Cola Company Touch selection panel for a vending machine
US8138425B2 (en) 2009-07-07 2012-03-20 Arima Display Corporation Projected capacitive touch panel and fabricating method thereof
US20130211583A1 (en) * 2010-06-30 2013-08-15 Damian S.R.L. Automatic product dispensing machine
US20140015762A1 (en) * 2012-07-11 2014-01-16 Derchin Weng Interactive-type display window device
US20140145999A1 (en) * 2012-11-27 2014-05-29 Guardian Industries Corp. Projected capacitive touch panel with a silver-inclusive transparent conducting layer(s)
US9354755B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2016-05-31 Guardian Industries Corp. Projected capacitive touch panel with a silver-inclusive transparent conducting layer(s)
US9557871B2 (en) 2015-04-08 2017-01-31 Guardian Industries Corp. Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel or the like

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GEOFF WALKER'S, FUNDAMENTALS OF PROJECTED-CAPACITIVE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY, 1 June 2014 (2014-06-01)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10444925B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-10-15 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with silver having increased resistivity
US10248276B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-04-02 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with optional additional functional film(s)
US10444926B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2019-10-15 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with additional functional film(s)
US11340742B2 (en) 2012-11-27 2022-05-24 Guardian Glass, LLC Transparent conductive coating for capacitive touch panel with silver having increased resistivity
WO2019035030A1 (fr) * 2017-08-16 2019-02-21 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour écran tactile capacitif pourvu de film(s) fonctionnel(s) supplémentaire(s)
WO2019035031A1 (fr) * 2017-08-16 2019-02-21 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour panneau tactile capacitif
WO2019126330A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour panneau à effleurement capacitif contenant de l'argent ayant une résistivité accrue
WO2019126338A1 (fr) * 2017-12-21 2019-06-27 Guardian Glass, LLC Revêtement conducteur transparent pour écran tactile capacitif avec de l'argent ayant une résistance ajustée
CN108389320A (zh) * 2018-04-17 2018-08-10 合肥美的智能科技有限公司 一种售货柜和一种售货柜的控制方法
CN108389320B (zh) * 2018-04-17 2024-05-14 合肥美的智能科技有限公司 一种售货柜和一种售货柜的控制方法
GB2575512A (en) * 2018-07-13 2020-01-15 Atoz Consult Dmcc Method and system for supplying one or more physical items to a user
US11620868B2 (en) 2021-07-22 2023-04-04 Trinity Axis Inc. Techniques to dispense an item and release a jammed item from a dispensing system
US11830310B2 (en) 2021-07-22 2023-11-28 Trinity Axis Inc. Techniques to dispense an item and release a jammed item from a dispensing system

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10133108B2 (en) Vending machines with large area transparent touch electrode technology, and/or associated methods
WO2018017629A1 (fr) Distributeurs automatiques à technologie d'électrode tactile transparente de grande surface, et procédé de fabrication associé
US20090027330A1 (en) Device for using virtual mouse and gaming machine
AU2020210264B2 (en) Gaming machines, systems, and methods with configurable button deck including a dynamic low profile pushbutton assembly
Walker A review of technologies for sensing contact location on the surface of a display
EP2073909B1 (fr) Capteurs de pluralité d'écrans tactiles sur une structure monobloc
CN101410778B (zh) 具有可见度较低的透明导体图案的触摸屏
KR20150105999A (ko) 전자 게임 및/또는 오락 장치
JP7302874B2 (ja) 表示装置
JP2007018515A (ja) 二次元位置センサ
CN103713765A (zh) 透明传导基板和具有该基板的触摸面板
CN103930934B (zh) 电子游戏和/或娱乐装置
JP5584210B2 (ja) 物品小出し機
CN104541237A (zh) 多点触摸感测面板及相应的生产方法
US20110025641A1 (en) Touch screen applied to electronic apparatus
JP2002078846A (ja) スロットマシン

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 17748595

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 17748595

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1