Method for implementing capacitive sensing in the presence of conductive decorative materials

A control panel comprising:

• an electrically conductive substrate having a front surface, wherein the substrate is electrically grounded;
• a substantially transparent first dielectric layer disposed on the front surface of the substrate;
• a substantially transparent first electrode layer disposed on a front surface of the first dielectric layer and electrically isolated from the substrate, the first electrode layer in electrical communication with a switch circuit adapted to detect a change in a capacitance of the first electrode layer;
• and
• a substantially transparent film covering the first electrode layer.

A method for forming a control panel comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrically conductive substrate having a front surface, wherein the substrate is electrically grounded;
• disposing a substantially transparent first dielectric layer on the front surface of the substrate;
• disposing a substantially transparent electrode layer on a front surface of the first dielectric layer, the first electrode layer electrically isolated from the substrate and in electrical communication with a switch circuit adapted to detect a change in a capacitance of the first electrode layer;
• and
• covering the first electrode layer with a substantially transparent film.