Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Keefer

Kenneth J. Keefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10901564
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensitive apparatus comprises plurality of electrodes disposed within a touch sensitive viewing area. Spaced part electrically conductive first electrodes extend along a first direction and spaced apart electrically conductive second electrodes extend along a different second direction. Electrically isolated electrically conductive first polygonal islands are disposed between each pair of adjacent first electrodes and electrically isolated electrically conductive second polygonal islands are disposed between each pair of adjacent second electrodes. When viewed from a top plan view and except for a plurality of discrete spaced part open regions, the touch sensitive viewing area is covered by at least one of a first electrode, a second electrode, a first island, and a second island, each open region being at a vertex of at least one of the first and second polygonal islands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Publication number: 20200278771
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor includes a touch sensitive viewing area with a border area surrounding the touch sensitive viewing area and having an outermost polygonal perimeter comprising a plurality of sides and vertices. A plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive first electrodes is disposed in the touch sensitive viewing area and extends along a first direction. A plurality of spaced apart electrically conductive second electrodes is disposed in the touch sensitive viewing area and extends along a different second direction. Electrically conductive bus lines are disposed in the border area for electrically coupling the pluralities of the first and second electrodes to a controller. At least one first alignment feature is disposed within the border area near each of at least three vertices of the polygonal perimeter for aligning the touch sensor to a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Mark E. Flanzer, Keith B. Loop
  • Publication number: 20190324597
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensitive apparatus comprises plurality of electrodes disposed within a touch sensitive viewing area. Spaced part electrically conductive first electrodes extend along a first direction and spaced apart electrically conductive second electrodes extend along a different second direction. Electrically isolated electrically conductive first polygonal islands are disposed between each pair of adjacent first electrodes and electrically isolated electrically conductive second polygonal islands are disposed between each pair of adjacent second electrodes. When viewed from a top plan view and except for a plurality of discrete spaced part open regions, the touch sensitive viewing area is covered by at least one of a first electrode, a second electrode, a first island, and a second island, each open region being at a vertex of at least one of the first and second polygonal islands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Patent number: 10353525
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor apparatus includes a viewing area and a border area. Electrical sensing nodes or electrodes are disposed in both the viewing area and the border area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Publication number: 20180232083
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor apparatus includes a viewing area and a border area. Electrical sensing nodes or electrodes are disposed in both the viewing area and the border area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Patent number: 9977555
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor apparatus includes a viewing area and a border area. Electrical sensing nodes or electrodes are disposed in both the viewing area and the border area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Publication number: 20170199595
    Abstract: A capacitive touch sensor apparatus includes a viewing area and a border area. Electrical sensing nodes or electrodes are disposed in both the viewing area and the border area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Publication number: 20120280944
    Abstract: A bending wave-type touch sensitive device for resolving moving and stationary contacts made to a substrate, the touch sensitive device comprised of a plurality of transducer boards coupled to a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Richard L. ST. PIERRE, Sundar Regmi, Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Patent number: 7850461
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bülent Bulat
  • Patent number: 7439963
    Abstract: A field linearization pattern and a touch sensor incorporating same are disclosed. The touch sensor includes a polygonal field linearization pattern disposed around a touch sensitive area. The field linearization pattern includes a first side and a second side that intersect at a first corner. The field linearization pattern further includes an inner row and an outer row of discrete conductive segments. The inner row includes a conductive corner segment at the first corner. The conductive corner segment extends along a portion of the first and second sides of the linearization pattern. The touch sensor further includes electronics configured to detect a location of an input touch applied to the touch sensitive area by generating an electrical current in the linearization pattern. A current flowing from the first side to the second side of the linearization pattern is substantially confined within the linearization pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Bulent Bulat, Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Publication number: 20080189919
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanical device that can be used to help maintain a connection between an electrical tail and an electronic device such as a touch sensor screen. The mechanical device deflects upon installation over the tail and the electronic device so that pressure caused by spring action helps maintain the connection. The mechanical device also includes a cutout region designed so that the tail can freely pass through the mechanical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bulent Bulat
  • Patent number: 7327352
    Abstract: Electrode pattern disposed on a conductive surface is disclosed. The electrode pattern includes a plurality of conductive segments. The conductive segments are located along the edges of two or more concentric parallel polygons. Each edge of each polygon has one or more middle segments disposed between two end segments. For each edge of each polygon the middle segments are equal in length, and the segments are equally spaced. A touch sensor is disclosed that includes such an electrode pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Bülent Bulat, Bernard O. Geaghan
  • Patent number: 7307624
    Abstract: A field linearization pattern and a touch sensor incorporating same are disclosed. The touch sensor includes a polygonal field linearization pattern disposed around a touch sensitive area. The field linearization pattern includes a first side and a second side that intersect at a first corner. The field linearization pattern further includes an inner row and an outer row of discrete conductive segments. The inner row includes a conductive corner segment at the first corner. The conductive corner segment extends along a portion of the first and second sides of the linearization pattern. The touch sensor further includes electronics configured to detect a location of an input touch applied to the touch sensitive area by generating an electrical current in the linearization pattern. A current flowing from the first side to the second side of the linearization pattern is substantially confined within the linearization pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Bülent Bulat, Kenneth J. Keefer
  • Patent number: 7227538
    Abstract: A pattern for linearizing an electric field and a touch sensor incorporating same are disclosed. The touch sensor includes an electrically resistive film that covers a touch sensitive area. The touch sensor further includes two or more substantially parallel polygonal rows of electrically conductive segments disposed on the resistive film and surrounding the touch sensitive area. Each edge of each row has one or more middle electrically conductive segments disposed between two end electrically conductive segments. Gaps separate adjacent conductive segments in a row. A middle conductive segment in a row fully overlaps a middle conductive segment in an adjacent row. The overlap defines a full overlap region. The touch sensor further includes a discrete electrically insulative segment disposed in the resistive film in the full overlap region. The insulative segment increases the electrical resistance between the two middle conductive segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Bemard O. Geaghan, Kenneth J. Keefer, Bülent Bulat
  • Publication number: 20030230438
    Abstract: Electrode pattern disposed on a conductive surface is disclosed. The electrode pattern includes a plurality of conductive segments. The conductive segments are located along the edges of two or more concentric parallel polygons. Each edge of each polygon has one or more middle segments disposed between two end segments. For each edge of each polygon the middle segments are equal in length, and the segments are equally spaced. A touch sensor is disclosed that includes such an electrode pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, B?uuml;lent Bulat, Bernard O. Geaghan