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:
Oct. 17, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2002
Norio Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Katsuyuki Machida, Kanagawa, JP;
Hakaru Kyuragi, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Shigematsu, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroki Morimura, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiromu Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshishige Shimamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Norio Sato, Kanagawa, JP;
Katsuyuki Machida, Kanagawa, JP;
Hakaru Kyuragi, Tokyo, JP;
Satoshi Shigematsu, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiroki Morimura, Kanagawa, JP;
Hiromu Ishii, Kanagawa, JP;
Toshishige Shimamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A surface shape recognition sensor includes capacitive detection elements, support electrode, protective film, and projections. The detection elements are formed from lower electrodes and a deformable plate-like upper electrode made of a metal. The lower electrodes are insulated and isolated from each other and stationarily laid out on a single plane of an interlevel dielectric formed on a semiconductor substrate. The upper electrode is laid out above the lower electrodes at a predetermined interval and has opening portions. The support electrode is laid out around the lower electrodes while being insulated and isolated from the lower electrodes, and formed to be higher than the lower electrodes to support the upper electrode. The protective film is formed on the upper electrode to close the opening portions. The projections per one pixel are laid out in a region of the protective film above the capacitive detection element.