The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 1989
Filed:
Jan. 04, 1988
John Schultz, Jr, Louisville, KY (US);
General Electric Company, Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A capacitive touch pad assembly which provides a touch control panel for an appliance with white touch pad appearance. A thin dielectric substrate has an outer touch electrode of a relatively dark-colored conductive material deposited on its outer surface and a pair of spatially separated inner electrodes formed on the inner surface of the dielectric layer for connecting to the control circuitry. To achieve a light-colored appearance for the touch pads, a layer of relatively light-colored non-conductive decorative material is applied to the outer surface overlaying the electrode to hide its dark color except for a small exposed area of the electrode which defines a symbol relating to the function of the pad. The exposed area may be covered by a second layer of dark conductive material or left exposed. The symbol enables direct human body member contact with the outer electrode.