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).
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Patent number: 10901564Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Publication number: 20200278771Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2017Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Mark E. Flanzer, Keith B. Loop
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Publication number: 20190324597Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Patent number: 10353525Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Publication number: 20180232083Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Patent number: 9977555Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 3, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Publication number: 20170199595Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2015Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventor: Kenneth J. Keefer
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Publication number: 20120280944Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Richard L. ST. PIERRE, Sundar Regmi, Kenneth J. Keefer
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Patent number: 7850461Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bülent Bulat
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Patent number: 7439963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 21, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Bulent Bulat, Kenneth J. Keefer
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Publication number: 20080189919Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Anthony F. Chernefsky, Bulent Bulat
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Patent number: 7327352Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2002Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, Bülent Bulat, Bernard O. Geaghan
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Patent number: 7307624Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 30, 2003Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bernard O. Geaghan, Bülent Bulat, Kenneth J. Keefer
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Patent number: 7227538Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 25, 2004Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bemard O. Geaghan, Kenneth J. Keefer, Bülent Bulat
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Publication number: 20030230438Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2002Publication date: December 18, 2003Inventors: Kenneth J. Keefer, B?uuml;lent Bulat, Bernard O. Geaghan