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US 7,361,860 B2Granted
Integrated touch sensor and light apparatus
AssigneeTouchsensor Technologies, LLC
InventorDavid W. Caldwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touch sensor is physically integrated with a light emitting device to provide a switching device with built-in backlighting. In some embodiments, the touch sensor and the light emitting device share electrical components.
Claims20
A selectively illuminated touch sensor, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a light emitting device disposed on said substrate, said light emitting device having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light emitting element electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes;
- field generating means for generating an electric field proximate said light emitting device, said field generating means electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes;
- and
- detecting means for detecting a disturbance in said electric field, said detecting means electrically coupled to said first and second electrodes.
2 more elements
A selectively illuminated touch sensor, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first electrode disposed on said substrate;
- a light emitting element disposed on said first electrode and electrically coupled to said first electrode;
- a second electrode disposed on said light emitting element and electrically coupled to said light emitting element;
- a third electrode disposed on said substrate in a spaced, coplanar and substantially surrounding relationship to said first electrode;
- field generating means for generating an electric field proximate said first and third electrodes, said field generating means electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes;
- detecting means for detecting a disturbance in said electric field, said detecting means electrically coupled to said first and third electrodes.
4 more elements
A method for selectively providing illumination in response to a stimulus using a light emitting device as a touch sensor, comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light emitting layer between said first and second electrodes comprising the steps of:
- generating an electric field proximate said first and second electrodes;
- detecting a disturbance in said electric field;
- and
- activating said light emitting device to emit light based on the disturbance.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.