Abstract: A contact sensor comprises a first sheet of flexible material and second sheet. The first sheet is capable of being energized to establish an electrical potential thereon. The second sheet can be energized to establish an electrical potential in juxtaposition with the first sheet. The two sheets are formed of materials that tend to stick together. To keep the sheets apart, a plurality of substantially uniform discrete insulating islands are used. By the use of a non-square insulating island spacing pattern with the island spacing satisfying rigorous criteria, the two sheets can be prevented from sticking together without unduly increasing the amount of force required to activate the device. The sensor is particularly useful as a transparent touchscreen.

Abstract: A resistor electrode type of gradient sheet for a touch sensor having reduced ripple and bow of equipotential lines along edges and in the corners of the sensor. Orthogonal electrical fields are produced on a resistive surface so as to give coordinates of a selected position. T-shaped electrodes of a selected effective length and spacing are attached to the resistive surface, the length and spacing selected to substantially eliminate the bow of the equipotential fields. Each electrode is connected to a selected connection point along a resistor chain positioned along each edge of the resistive surface to provide selected voltages to the surface. Preferably, each resistance chain is made up of at least one resistance unit between each electrode connection point, with each unit formed of a pair of spaced-apart conductive lines applied to the resistive surface.

Abstract: A touch sensor device, and its method of operation, that provides information as to the position of a touch thereon together with information as to the amount of pressure applied to the sensor at the touch position. The device has a pair of spaced-apart membranous sheets with coatings thereon suitable for the determination of position information in a conventional manner. In addition, switching units are included which, during a given time interval of operation, supply a uniform electrical potential in one of the sheets. During that same interval contacts or electrodes on opposite edges of the second sheet are rapidly switched to alternately be oppositely connected to ground on one edge and to the information processing unit at the other edge. In this manner, there is a fixed potential applied to the contact resistance circuit created between the sheets due to the touch pressure, and the alternate switching averages the potential on the second sheet.

Abstract: A resistor electrode type touch sensor having reduced bow of equipotential lines in the sensor and simplified construction. Orthogonal electrical fields are produced on a resistive surface so as to give coordinates of a selected position. Overlying, but spaced from, the resistive surface is an optional flexible conductive pick-off sheet facing the resistive surface which will contact the resistive surface when touched at a selected position. Other elements are described to obtain signals corresponding to the coordinates of a selected point. Electrodes of a selected effective length and spacing to substantially eliminate the bow of equipotential fields produced in the resistive surface are located along selected paths proximate the edges of the resistive surface and attached thereto. Each electrode is connected to a selected connection point along a resistance element along each edge of the resistive to provide selected voltages to the resistive surface.

Abstract: An electrographic touch sensor of simplified construction having an increased proportion of area for providing linear output signals. The sensor utilizes a resistive layer of a substantially uniform resistivity throughout. A resistance element of resistance value borders and is in contact with the resistive layer. Positioned along a selected path proximate the resistance element borders are a plurality of insulator regions having a selected effective length along the path to define spaces of a selected effective length therebetween. These spaces, having the resistive layer therein, define resistive electrode elements by which voltages are applied from the resistance element borders into the resistive layer whereby orthogonal electrical fields can be generated in the resistive layer.

Abstract: A circular touch sensor having very linear response in a two coordinate system. This circular sensor has four substantially identical and symmetrical quadrants, with points for the introduction of potentials being located at polar and equatorial points on the sensor. The sensor has a uniform electrical sheet resistivity, and each quadrant has a resistance element to distribute the potentials to electrodes connected thereto which are positioned along the perimeter of the circular resistive surface. Individual ends of the resistance element in each quadrant are connected to their respective "tie points" through a resistor of a size to adjust for a proper resistance value between the quadrants at these points. The size (effective length along the position path) of the electrodes in each quadrant generally increases, and the spacing between electrodes generally decreases, symmetrically from the edges of each quadrant toward the center of that quadrant.

Abstract: A resistor electrode type touch sensor having enhanced area of linear response by reducing the bow in perimeters of the sensor. Within a resistive layer of substantially uniform resistivity orthogonal electrical fields are produced to give coordinates of a selected position. Overlying, but spaced from, the resistive layer is an optional flexible conductive pick-off sheet facing the resistive layer which will contact the resistive layer when touched at a selected position. Other elements are described to obtain signals corresponding to the coordinates of a selected point. A resistance element is positioned proximate the perimeter of the resistive layer made up of discontinuous conductive lines applied to the resistive layer. For a given value of the resistive layer, the value of the resistance element is determined by the length and width of any gaps between the conductive lines.

Abstract: An electrographic touch sensor having Z-axis capability. In one embodiment, a uniform resistive coating is applied to one surface of a substrate and it is within this coating that orthogonal electrical fields are produced using suitable electrodes and voltage applications to give coordinates of a selected position. Overlying the resistive coating is a flexible pickoff sheet having a conductive layer facing the combination. Interposed between the resistive coating and the conductive layer is an array of a material having a substantially greater resistivity than that of the resistive coating. Signals corresponding to the X- and Y-coordinates of a touched point on the sensor are obtained in a substantially conventional manner using an amplifier and an analog to digital converter. If desired, a Z-axis component signal due to pressure/force can be obtained in a separate part of the measuring cycle.

Abstract: A resistor electrode type touch sensor having enhanced area of linear response by reducing the bow in perimeters of the sensor and the method of accomplishing the same. A resistive coating is applied to one surface of a substrate. Within this coating orthogonal electrical fields are produced to give coordinates of a selected position. Overlying, but spaced from, the resistive coating is a flexible pick-off sheet having a conductive layer facing the resistive layer which will contact the resistive coating when the pick-off sheet is touched at a selected position. A resistance element is positioned proximate, but insulated from, the perimeter of the resistive coating. Electrodes of a selected effective length and spacing are located along selected paths proximate the edges of the resistive coating. Each electrode is attached to the resistive coating and connected to selected positions along the resistance element to provide selected voltages to the resistive coating.

Abstract: A fabric touch sensor for providing positional information related to a touched region/points. The improved electrographic touch sensor (10) is fabricated using at least one resistive fabric layer (12) in the form of conducting threads. This fabric is constructed using either unidirectional threads (16) or crossed threads (16, 18) formed by overlaying one set with another or weaving the two sets together. The fabric (12) is separated from a second resistive layer (14) to prevent unintentional contact, with separators (24) in the form of non-conducting threads (42), insulator dots (24), or with an air gap. In a preferred embodiment, both resistive layers are fabrics (12, 14) formed from conductive threads. Prevention of Moire-type visual patterns is achieved by orienting the threads in one fabric layer at an oblique angle to those of the second fabric layer.

Abstract: An electrographic sensor for the generation of coordinate signals corresponding to contacted positions on the sensor is described. This sensor is of particular value for placing in intimate contact with the nonplanar face of a cathode ray tube or the like. The sensor has a rigid, optically transparent substrate with a nonplanar configuration matching the nonplanar face of the CRT to reduce parallax. This normally involves a radius of curvature, in one or more directions, in a range of 15-50 inches (38-127 cm). The surface of the substrate which will not contact the CRT is coated to provide a very uniform, substantially transparent, electrically resistive layer, and electrodes are connected to the resistive layer whereby orthogonal electrical potentials may be applied to the layer. Overlying and spaced from the resistive layer is a semirigid transparent cover sheet, the face toward the resistive layer being appreciably conducting.