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.

Date of Patent:
Jan. 10, 2017

Filed:

Jan. 17, 2013
Applicant:

Microchip Technology Incorporated, Chandler, AZ (US);

Inventors:

Keith Curtis, Gilbert, AZ (US);

Fanie Duvenhage, Phoenix, AZ (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01R 27/26 (2006.01); H03K 17/96 (2006.01); H01H 25/04 (2006.01); H03K 17/975 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H03K 17/9622 (2013.01); H01H 25/04 (2013.01); H03K 17/962 (2013.01); H03K 17/975 (2013.01); H03K 2217/96066 (2013.01); H03K 2217/960755 (2013.01); H03K 2217/960785 (2013.01);
Abstract

A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive deformable plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective deformable fascia may be placed over the conductive deformable plane to provide an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished through a light transmissive layer(s) in the capacitive touch sensor. When the conductive deformable plane is displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor element, the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor element changes and that change may be detected and used as an actuation signal.


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