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:
Mar. 28, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 17, 2002
Elisa M. Cross, Woodbury, MN (US);
Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Oakdale, MN (US);
Leland R. Whitney, St. Paul, MN (US);
Elisa M. Cross, Woodbury, MN (US);
Robert S. Moshrefzadeh, Oakdale, MN (US);
Leland R. Whitney, St. Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention discloses resistive touch sensors that incorporate microstructured conductive layers. When local electrical contact is made between the microstructured conductive layer and an opposing conductive layer due to a touch input, the resulting signal can be used to determine the location of the touch. The microstructures can be used to penetrate a solid, deformable filler material disposed between the conductive layers, for example to provide more transmission of light through the sensor. The microstructures can also provide additional functionalities such as z-axis sensitivity, image direction, light control, light extraction, and so forth.