Touch screen shield
AssigneeRacing Optics, Inc.
InventorsStephen S. Wilson, Bart Wilson, Seth Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shield that is attachable to a touch sensitive screen is disclosed. The shield may be attached to the touch sensitive screen only at its outer peripheral portion. An air gap is enclosed between the shield and the touch sensitive screen to form a planar air bearing. The shield preferably does not touch the active area of the touch sensitive screen when the user is not touching the shield but only viewing the touch sensitive screen through the shield. This mitigates unwanted optical artifacts such as trapped air bubbles, Newton rings and chromatic interference while maintaining the sensitivity of the touch sensitive screen.
Claims20
A protective shield for a touch sensitive screen of a device, the device having a touch sensitive screen that enables touch operation of the electronic device, and the touch sensitive screen having an active area that comprises a touch sensitive visual display and an inactive area, the shield comprising:
- a base layer defining opposed first and second sides, the base layer having a shape that corresponds to a shape of the touch sensitive screen, the base layer defining a central portion that has a shape corresponding to the active area of the touch sensitive screen and an outer peripheral portion that corresponds to a shape of the inactive area of the touch sensitive screen;
- an annular layer disposed about the outer peripheral portion of the second side of the base layer, the annular layer having a shape that corresponds to the inactive area of the touch sensitive screen and defining opposed first and second sides the annular layer surrounding the central portion of the base layer;
- and
- a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the second side of the annular layer;
- wherein the shape of the base layer and the disposed layer of pressure sensitive adhesive are configured to attach the shield to the touch sensitive screen of the device so that the central portion of the second side of the base layer is positioned over the active area of the touch sensitive screen of the device, and so that the attached shield forms an air gap between the central portion of the base layer and the touch sensitive screen of the device, wherein the shield is configured so that the touch sensitive screen maintains touch sensitivity through the attached shield, wherein the annular layer comprises an opaque pattern to hide air bubbles formed between the attached shield and the device, and wherein the annular layer is patterned.
A shield for protecting a touch screen that defines an active area disposed within an inactive area, the shield comprising:
- a base layer having a shape that corresponds to the touch screen, the base layer defining opposing first and second sides;
- an annular layer attached to the second side of the base layer, the annular layer having a shape that corresponds to the inactive area of the touch screen and that defines a central portion of the shield that corresponds to the active area of the touch screen, the annular layer having a first surface attached to the second side of the base layer and an opposing second surface;
- a first adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the annular layer;
- wherein the base layer, the annular layer, and the first adhesive layer are configured to attach the shield to the touch screen without adhering the central portion of the shield to the active area of the touch screen and so that the active area of the touch screen is visible through the central portion of the base layer, and wherein the first surface of the annular layer comprises a pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.