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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1999
SMK Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A transparent insulative liquid is sealed between two transparent plates that are coated with transparent conductor layers on their mutually facing surfaces of a touch panel input device. The facing surface of at least one of the transparent plates is roughened. Because the conductor layer is applied directly over the roughened surface of the transparent plate, the conductor layer is also roughened. When the entire device is tilted, the insulative liquid settles downward allowing the upper conductor layers to come into contact with each other, but because the surface is roughened only the protrusions of the conductor layer make contact. The overall contact resistance does not decrease sufficiently to be interpreted as a pressing operation. When a pressing operation is made, the insulative liquid flows into the depressions created by the roughened surface of the conductor layer. Because the liquid is not interposed between conductor layers, sure contact is made, and the pressed position requires only a light pressing force.