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US 2011/0254812 A1Published application
Acoustic touch sensor
AssigneeElo Touch Solutions, Inc.
InventorsJoel C. Kent, Paulo I. Gomes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch sensor comprises a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves. The substrate includes a first surface having a touch sensitive region. A transducer is formed on the substrate. The transducer comprises a piezoelectric element which is thermally cured after being formed on the substrate. The transducer is configured for at least one of generating acoustic waves and detecting acoustic waves. Alternatively, the transducer may include a strip comprising the piezoelectric element.
Claims17
-20. (canceled)
A touch sensor comprising:
- a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves, the substrate including a first surface having a touch sensitive region, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first sidewall intersecting at 90 degrees the first surface at a first edge and intersecting at 90 degrees the second surface at a second edge;
- a transmitter, provided on the first sidewall of the substrate, for generating acoustic shear waves propagating from the first sidewall through at least a portion of the touch sensitive region at an acute angle with the first sidewall, the transmitter comprising a transducer attached to the substrate, wherein the transducer includes a strip of piezoelectric material disposed parallel to and running along the length of the first sidewall.
A touch sensor system comprising:
- a substrate capable of propagating acoustic shear waves, the substrate including a first surface having a touch sensitive region, a second surface opposite the first surface, and first and second sidewalls intersecting at 90 degrees the first surface and second surface;
- a transmitter, provided on the first sidewall of the substrate, for generating acoustic shear waves that propagate directly from the first sidewall, the acoustic waves propagating at an acute angle from the first sidewall across at least a portion of the touch sensitive region;
- and
- a detector, provided on the second sidewall of the substrate, for detecting the acoustic shear waves that traversed at least the portion of the touch sensitive region.
1 more element
A touch sensor comprising:
- a substrate capable of propagating acoustic waves, the substrate including a first surface having a touch sensitive region, a second surface opposite the first surface, and including a first sidewall intersecting at 90 degrees the first surface at a first edge and intersecting at 90 degrees the second surface at a second edge;
- and
- a transmitter, provided on the first sidewall of the substrate, for generating acoustic waves that propagate from the first sidewall through at least a portion of the touch sensitive region, wherein the first sidewall comprises a length having a first end and a second end, and the transmitter is positioned at the first end, and further comprising a waveguide directed on and along the length and a reflective array positioned on and along the length proximate the first edge, the transmitter configured to direct the acoustic waves along the waveguide for reflection by the reflective array such that surface acoustic waves propagate across the touch sensitive region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.