Abstract: Disclosed is a touch screen calibration system and method that applies a signal to a the terminals of a touch screen and applies a calibration impedance to those terminals; the effect of the calibration impedance applied to the terminals is sensed; the X, Y position for each terminal is calculated upon application of the calibration impedance and the offset error for each terminal is calculated and applied to obtain the corrected touch position for a measured touch position; in addition the gain error may be calculated for each terminal and applied to obtain the corrected touch position.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a lattice touch-sensing system for detecting a position of a touch on a touch-sensitive surface. The lattice touch-sensing system may include two capacitive sensing layers, separated by an insulating material, where each layer consists of substantially parallel conducting elements, and the conducting elements of the two sensing layers are substantially orthogonal to each other. Each element may comprise a series of diamond shaped patches that are connected together with narrow conductive rectangular strips. Each conducting element of a given sensing layer is electrically connected at one or both ends to a lead line of a corresponding set of lead lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides reflective films and other optical bodies which exhibit sharp bandedges on one or both sides of the main reflection bands. The optical bodies comprise multilayer stacks M1 and M2, each having first order reflections in a desired part of the spectrum and comprising optical repeating units R1 and R2, respectively. At least one of the optical repeating units R1 and R2 varies monotonically in optical thickness along the thickness of the associated multilayer stack.

Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor with symmetrical electrical interconnections for use with a touch sensor of a device is disclosed. The touch sensor includes several sensor bars, with a unique pair of lead lines coupled to each sensor bar. No inter-connection is provided between individual sensor bars. The sensor bars may be substantially transparent, and may comprise indium tin oxide. The touch sensor may be disposed on a viewing screen or proximate thereto. Also disclosed is a system for providing a signal for use in determining a touch location. The touch sensor receives an electrical field, receives a touch, and provides a signal representative of the modulation of the electrical field caused by the touch, wherein the modulation is a function of the location of the touch and the signal is suitable for use by controller to determine the location of the touch.

Abstract: A non-conductive barrier between a touch screen and a conductive bezel is described. The non-conductive barrier attaches to a capacitive touch screen and forms a lip over a grounded bezel. The non-conductive barrier is constructed of a material and dimension sufficient to prevent liquid streaming down the touch screen from electrically coupling an active area of the touch screen to the grounded bezel.

Abstract: A transflector is described which increases efficiency and brightness under both ambient and supplemental lighting conditions in visual display applications. In one embodiment, the transflector includes a reflective polarizing element that reflects one polarization of light and transmits the other. In an alternate embodiment, the transflector includes a reflective polarizing element and a diffusing element such that the transflector diffusely reflects light of one polarization and transmits the other. The transflector is useful for both reflective and transflective liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: A method of applying an edge electrode pattern to a touch screen panel including printing an edge electrode pattern on decal paper; applying a cover coat over the electrode pattern; removing the decal paper; and transferring the edge electrode pattern to a touch screen panel. A decal to be used in accordance with this method.

Abstract: Described is a touch-sensitive screen having a sensing circuit capable of discriminating where a perturbation of an electric field created by the sensing circuit occurs. The invention may be implemented in a capacitive touch sensor in which each of multiple conductive sensor bars is connected to a conductive lead line. There are fewer lead lines than sensor bars. Thus, at least one and likely several lead lines are connected to more than one sensor bar. The particular connections of lead lines to sensor bars are selected to avoid ambiguity created by a given signal being possibly generated on more than a single conductive bar. More specifically, the invention provides a technique for laying out lead line to sensor bar connections to enable distinguishing which sensor bar, having common lead lines with other sensor bars, has experienced or is closest to a touch on the sensor.

Abstract: A flexible, capacitive touch sensor, and a method of manufacturing a plurality of such touch sensors, are provided. The capacitive touch sensor comprises a thin, flexible, transparent, insulating substrate. A thin, flexible, transparent layer of resistive material is applied to one side of the substrate, and a thin, flexible, transparent, pressure-sensitive layer of adhesive material is applied to the substrate's other side. A releasable sheet may cover this adhesive layer. A plurality of thin, flexible electrodes, electrical leads and conductive areas are applied to the resistive layer. A thin, flexible, transparent layer of protective material protects the touch sensor's active touch area. Compounds may be added to this protective layer to enhance its conductivity and lubricity. A reel-to-reel process for manufacturing a plurality of such capacitive touch sensors also is described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switchable pressure activated electronic device. The switchable electronic device includes a composite material disposed between two conductors. The composite material electrically connects the two conductors when pressure is applied between them, and electrically isolates the two conductors when pressure is not applied between them. The composite includes conductive particles at least partially embedded in an insulating material. The conductive particles are disposed so that substantially all electrical connections made between the first and second conductors are through single particles.

Abstract: A touch screen panel including an insulative substrate; a resistive layer disposed on the insulative substrate; and a plurality of spaced conductive segments on the resistive layer along the border thereof. The conductive segments are disposed in rows, and every row has at least two segments which face at least a portion of three segments in the next inner row for optimizing the linearity of the touch screen panel and at the same time reducing the space occupied on the touch screen panel by the conductive segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitor with touch sensor capabilities having enhanced stability features. One embodiment of the invention is a monitor with touch input capabilities that includes a monitor panel, a base, an upper support member, and a lower support member. The upper support member is secured to the monitor panel at first and second locations, and is further secured to the base. The lower support member is secured to the panel at third and fourth locations that are lower relative to the first and second positions. The lower support member is also secured to the base. In some embodiments of the invention, the upper support member is adjustable to allow the monitor panel to rotate about the lower support member from an upright position to an angled position relative to the base.

Abstract: A polarizer construction is disclosed that includes a reflective polarizer disposed on a first side of the construction to transmit light having one polarization and reflect light having an orthogonal polarization, and one or more colored dichroic polarizers disposed on a second side of the construction. The one or more colored dichroic polarizers are arranged so that when the construction is illuminated from the first side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a first spectral distribution of visible light, and when the construction is illuminated from the second side, an observer viewing the construction from the second side will observe a second spectral distribution of visible light different from the first spectral distribution. Various display constructions using colored polarizers to achieve color changing and image reversal effects are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guest-host polarizer is disclosed that includes a host matrix, one or more first guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a first portion of visible light having a first polarization state, and one or more second guest dyes disposed in the host matrix and oriented to absorb a second portion of visible light having a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state. Such guest-host polarizers can be used in various optical applications and display constructions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a touch panel wherein a glass substrate is coated with a resistive layer; a pattern of conductive edge electrodes and a conductive wire trace pattern are applied to the resistive layer; the conductive edge electrodes are electrically isolated from the conductive wire traces; and a protective insulative border layer is applied over the edge electrodes and the wire traces. A touch panel which includes a glass substrate coated with a resistive layer on one surface thereof; a pattern of edge electrodes on the resistive layer; a wire trace pattern on the resistive layer; a trench in the resistive layer between the wire trace pattern and the edge electrode pattern; and a protective insulative border layer over the edge electrode pattern and the wire traces.

Abstract: A curable slurry for forming ceramic microstructures on a substrate using a mold. The slurry is a mixture of a ceramic powder, a fugitive binder, and a diluent. The ceramic powder has a low softening temperature in a range of about 400° C. to 600° C. and a coefficient of thermal expansion closely matched to that of the substrate. The fugitive binder is capable of radiation curing, electron beam curing, or thermal curing. The diluent promotes release properties with the mold after curing the binder or quick and complete burn out of the binder during debinding.