# US 4,394,643 A · Capacitive touch panel control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,394,643 A - Document ID: US4394643A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/258,589 - Filed: 1981-04-29 - Granted: 1983-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 1981-04-29 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Robert R. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394643A ## CPC - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) ## Abstract A capacitive touch panel control provided with first and second conductive circuit pads on opposite faces of a thin dielectric sheet in the form of a film secured to a dielectric panel by adhesive. The panel is provided with a touch pad. The circuit pads are disposed so that at least a portion of each is in appositional facial registration with the touch pad and out of appositional facial registration with each other so as to provide a variable capacitance between the circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and non-touching of the touch pad by a user. The circuit pads may form a portion of a printed circuit on the film which further includes electrical conductors for making connection to associated apparatus. Ground conductors may be provided on the film adjacent the output voltage conductors of the circuit to reduce leakage between the circuit conductors. The provision of the circuit pads on opposite faces of the film permits electrically insulated crossover of the conductors for facilitated layout of the circuit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitive touch panel comprising: a first dielectric wall member having opposite first and second surfaces; a conductive touch pad on said first surface; a second dielectric wall member having opposite third and fourth surfaces; a first conductive circuit pad on said third surface; a second conductive circuit pad on said fourth surface, said second circuit pad being out of appositional facial registration with said first circuit pad; electrical means connecting said first and second conductive circuit pads in an electrical circuit, said electrical connecting means including one portion adjacent said third surface and another portion adjacent said fourth surface, the disposition of said portions adjacent said opposite surfaces of the second dielectric wall member permitting crossover of said portions with the crossover portions being spaced apart by said second dielectric wall member; and means for retaining said dielectric wall members with said third surface facially juxtaposed to said second surface and with at least a portion of each of said circuit pads in appositional facial registration with said touch pad to provide a variable capacitance between said circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and nontouching of said touch pad by a user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member comprises a film of synthetic resin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member has a thickness substantially smaller than that of said first wall member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric wall member has a thickness approximately 7% that of said first wall member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said second wall member has a thickness of approximately 2 mils. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein the capacitance between said second circuit pad and said touch pad is at least approximately 90% of the capacitance between said first circuit pad and said touch pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the dielectric wall members juxtaposed comprises adhesive means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said means for retaining the dielectric wall members juxtaposed comprises dielectric adhesive means between said second surface of the first wall member and said third surface of the second wall member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1 wherein said circuit pads comprise thin film pads printed on said second wall member. ### Claim 10 A capacitive touch panel circuit comprising: a first dielectric wall member having opposite first and second surfaces; a conductive touch pad on said first surface; a second dielectric wall member having opposite third and fourth surfaces; a first conductive circuit pad on said third surface; a second conductive circuit pad on said fourth surface, said second circuit pad being out of appositional facial registration with said first circuit pad; means for retaining said dielectric wall members with said third surface facially juxtaposed to said second surface and with at least a portion of each of said circuit pads in appositional facial registration with said touch pad to provide a variable capacitance between said circuit pads as an incident of selective touching and nontouching of said touch pad by a user; first conductor means adjacent said third surface for applying an input voltage signal to said first circuit pad; and second conductor means adjacent said fourth surface for conducting an output voltage signal from said second circuit pad, the disposition of said first and second conductor means adjacent said opposite surface permitting crossover of said conductor means with the crossover portions being spaced apart by said second dielectric wall member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said means for conducting said output signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead, each of said circuit pads and said conductive lead comprising conductive means printed on said second wall member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The capacitive touch panel circuit of claim 10 wherein said means for conducting the output voltage signal comprises conductive lead means on said second wall member, and a grounded conductor is provided on said second wall member extending adjacent said conductive lead, each of said circuit pads, said grounded conductors, and said conductive lead comprising conductive means printed on said second wall member.