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US 9,430,102 B2Granted
Touch interface using patterned bulk amorphous alloy
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsChristopher D. Prest, Matthew S. Scott, Stephen P. Zadesky, Dermot J. Stratton, Joseph C. Poole
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Abstract
Touch sensing systems comprising bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys and methods of making touch sensing arrays and electronic devices containing touch sensitive screens that include arrays containing bulk-solidifying amorphous alloys. The bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy substrates have select areas of crystalline and amorphous alloy providing for discrete areas of conductivity and resistivity.
Claims20
A touch sensing system comprising:
- a substrate comprising sense pads, each defined by a region of a crystalline form of a metal alloy and adjacent a region of an amorphous form of the metal alloy;
- conducting traces in electrical connection with the sense pads;
- and
- a control unit connected to at least one of the conducting traces and configured to calculate a position of an object relative to the substrate;
- wherein
- each sense pad forms at least one circuit element.
3 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a substrate comprising:
- a base portion comprising an amorphous form of a metal alloy;
- and
- first crystalline regions formed in the base portion and comprising a crystalline form of the metal alloy;
- conducting traces in electrical connection with the first and second crystalline regions;
- and
- a control unit connected to at least one of the conducting traces and configured to determine a capacitance between at least one of the first crystalline regions and at least one of the second crystalline regions.
4 more elements
A component for a touch sensing system, comprising:
- a monolithic substrate formed from a metal alloy having a single chemical composition, comprising:
- an amorphous portion of the metal alloy defining a first portion of the substrate;
- and
- crystalline regions of the metal alloy defining a second portion of the substrate;
- and
- conducting traces electrically connected to the crystalline regions and configured to be electrically connected to a control unit of the touch sensing system.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.