Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Cameron T McCalley

James D Sampica

Ryan N Klaassen

Brian K Smith

Paul R Nemeth

Alyssa A Groth

A resistive touch sensor includes a base layer, a sensor top sheet positioned in spaced apart relation to a base layer, and a peripheral edge seal formed between the sensor top sheet and the base layer. The sensor further includes a first adhesive layer bonded on a peripheral edge portion to the sensor top sheet, and a second adhesive layer, inset relative to the peripheral edge seal, positioned between the first adhesive layer and the sensor top sheet. The second adhesive layer is bonded on one side to the first adhesive layer and an opposing side to the sensor top sheet corresponding to a portion of a touch active area. The second adhesive layer causes a planarity change in the sensor top sheet proximate the peripheral edge seal thereby increasing the usable area and improving uniformity of touch force across the sensor.

Resistive touch sensor with improved force uniformity

A laminating machine and process for applying an optically clear adhesive film to a glass substrate includes a porous belt assembly with a plurality of vacuum pumps. The vacuum pumps define different, separately adjustable vacuum zones on the surface of the porous belt. The porous belt is driven linearly so that an optically clear adhesive does not move relative to the porous belt, but does move relative to the table, allowing the adhesive to be controlled to a compressive, neutral, or tensile state while being nip-rolled to the substrate. Since there is no motion of the film relative to the belt, scratching, stretch elongation, dimensional errors, and other slip induced damage is eliminated.

Flexible to rigid integrated laminator

A high-speed lamination machine includes a hinged, clamshell lid, and clamped lamination chamber that uses localized and thermally isolated heating and stepper driven separation pin motion. Pneumatically actuated rollers in a track clamp the lamination chamber closed during operation. The clamshell design obviates the need for a hydraulic press and makes the lamination chamber easily accessible to other automated systems, so robots may be used to place lamination elements within the chamber.

Clam shell lamination system

A laminating machine includes UV curing elements within the process chamber to cure a UV curable adhesive in a laminating stack while being heated in an autoclave. In an automated process, the laminating machine applies pressure to the stack for pressure sensitive adhesion, then autoclave heating and simultaneous UV curing. The UV curing elements are disposed in the body of the process chamber, the lid of the process chamber, or a separate appliance. The appliance can be releasably attached to the process chamber body or lid. The laminating machine is programmed for specific autoclave and UV exposure profiles specific to the UV curable adhesives being used.

LED curing during vacuum lamination process

A system and related method for force-sensitive emissive display incorporates a force sensing device, such as a force-sensitive resistor or frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) assembly, bonded to a flexible film/film resistive touch sensor and an emissive display surface. The film/film resistive touch sensor may detect contact with the display surface and transmit the detected contact to the force sensing device, which determines a magnitude or degree of touch force associated with the detected contact. A display controller of the force-sensitive emissive display system may adjust the displayed content, or execute other responsive actions, based on the detected touch force as well as the position of the contact relative to the display surface, as determined by the film/film resistive touch sensor or by the force sensing device.

Emissive Display over resistive touch sensor with force sensing

A lamination system for laminating substrates includes a lamination device including an upper member defining an upper cavity and a lower member defining a lower cavity; a pressurization system in communication with the upper cavity and the lower cavity; and a control unit coupled to the lamination device and the pressurization system, the control unit configured to control operation of the lamination device and the pressurization system to generate a vacuum environment within the lower cavity; bring a first substrate into contact with a second substrate; pressurize the upper cavity to a first pressure to move the flexible membrane into contact with the first substrate; move the flexible membrane out of contact with the first substrate; and pressurize the lower cavity to a second pressure higher than the first pressure to apply air pressure at the second pressure to the first and second substrates and form a laminated assembly.

Systems and methods for substrate lamination

A method for laminating substrates to form a laminated assembly includes positioning a first substrate and a second substrate within a lamination device having a first cavity and a second cavity; pressurizing the first cavity to a first pressure to move a flexible member into contact with one of the first and second substrate; depressurizing the first cavity to move the flexible member out of contact with the one of the first and second substrate; and pressurizing a second cavity to a second pressure higher than the first pressure to apply air pressure at the second pressure to the first and second substrate to form a laminated assembly.

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Marion, IA, United States of America

Cameron T McCalley