Touch Screen System

A touch screen system, comprising:

• an electrically non-conductive substrate made from polyethylene terephthalate;
• at least one electrically conductive, generally transparent pad disposed upon the substrate;
• an electrically non-conductive cover placed over the pad;
• and
• a controller having a touch switch interface and at least one output, the touch switch interface being electrically coupled to the pad,
• the controller generating an AC signal, the AC signal being electrically coupled from the controller to the pad through the touch screen interface, thereby generating an electrostatic field proximate the pad,
• the controller being configured to detect at the touch screen interface a change in the electrostatic field resulting from an actuating member contacting the cover proximate the pad, and
• the controller providing at the output a signal relating to the change in the electrostatic field.

A method for providing a touch screen system, comprising the steps of:

• selecting an electrically non-conductive substrate;
• disposing at least one electrically conductive pad upon the substrate;
• placing an electrically non-conductive cover over the pad;
• and
• providing a controller having a touch switch interface and at least one output, the touch switch interface being electrically coupled to the pad,
• the controller generating an AC signal, the AC signal being electrically coupled from the controller to the pad through the touch screen interface, thereby generating an electrostatic field proximate the pad,
• the controller being configured to detect at the touch screen interface a change in the electrostatic field resulting from an actuating member contacting the cover proximate the pad, and
• the controller providing at the output a signal relating to the change in the electrostatic field.