Abstract: Disclosed is a touch sensor assembly that includes a touch sensor overlay and one or more circuit boards held in place by a frame. The touch sensor overlay includes a plurality of touch sensitive elements and a plurality of conductors connected to the touch sensitive elements arranged on the touch sensor periphery. The one or more circuit boards are electrically connected to the plurality of conductors on the touch sensor periphery. The circuit boards include circuitry for conditioning signals communicated by the touch sensitive elements due to a touch on the touch sensor overlay. Also disclosed are methods of bonding circuit boards to a touch sensor overlay.

Abstract: A method of making a multilayered product having a repeating conductive pattern that includes determining a repeating pattern configuration such as a grid of conductive traces for use in a range of active element configurations, and forming a continuous web of multilayered product having at least one layer of conductive material configured according to the determined repeating pattern configuration. The continuous web is suitable for use in a range of active element configurations. The method may also include altering the continuous web to form a customized active element. Forming the continuous web may include providing a first roll of continuous webbing stock, the first roll having at least a portion of the repeating pattern formed thereon, providing a second roll of continuous webbing stock, the second roll having at least a portion of the repeating conductive pattern formed thereon, and laminating the first and second rolls of continuous webbing stock together.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digitizer that includes a transparent overlay that incorporates a transparent material pattern that is coded to be indicative of position and detection device configured to read the pattern for determining position information. The transparent material of the coded pattern can include infrared sensitive materials, for example. Transparent digitizers of the present invention may be useful in applications such as Tablet PC mobile computers.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing a multi-layered circuit assembly. The assembly includes a webbing member, a component, and a laminate layer. The method includes providing a roll of the webbing member with the component positioned thereon and a separate roll of the laminate layer, and monitoring a position of the component on the webbing member with an imaging device. The method also includes modifying a portion of the laminate layer at a location that is based on the monitored position of the component on the webbing member, and coupling the laminate layer to the webbing member to provide a continuous sheet of multi-layered circuit. The multi-layered circuit is formed with the component positioned between the webbing member and the laminate layer and aligned with the modification in the laminate layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rear projection screen that has a light directing element coupled to a support layer. The light directing element directs an image toward a viewer position. The support layer provides the front surface of the projection screen, accessible to a user. Vibration sensors are mechanically coupled to the support layer to sense vibrations indicative of a touch to the front surface. The sensed vibrations are converted into signals that can be communicated to controller electronics to determine information related to the touch input, such as touch input location, touch force, touch implement type, and so forth.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a passive light stylus that produces a defined intensity profile detectable by a user input device when at least a portion of a tip of the stylus is proximate an input surface of the user input device. In some embodiments, the stylus includes a housing including an entrance aperture configured to collect ambient light and an exit aperture configured to emit the collected light, where the exit aperture is proximate a tip of the stylus. The stylus also includes a light guide disposed within the housing, where the light guide is in optical communication with the entrance aperture and the exit aperture such that the light guide directs collected light from the entrance aperture to the exit aperture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light-emitting stylus configured to abruptly change a property of an emitted light beam when the stylus sufficiently contacts a surface. The abrupt change in the light beam is detectable by an array of light sensitive detectors that can be used to determine the position of the light beam when the light beam is transmitted through an input surface. When the stylus contacts the input surface, the detectors can detect the abrupt change in the emitted light, signaling a change from a stylus hover mode to a stylus touch down mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a user input device that includes and array of light detectors and a light emitting stylus configured to emit a beam of light detectable by the light detectors. The light beam is wide enough at the plane of the detectors so that at least two detectors are illuminated for all positions of interest. This allows the light beam position to be interpolated to obtain positional resolution that is greater than would be expected simply due to the spacing between detectors. Interpolation can be further aided by using a light beam that has a known variance in cross-sectional intensity. The present invention also provides for determining the orientation of the stylus by comparing the detected shape of the light beam cross-section to the known shape of the light beam cross-section.

Abstract: The present invention provides a touch input device for use in a vehicle such as an automobile. The touch input device includes a capacitive touch sensor that is disposed underneath a surface of the vehicle's interior that is accessible and touchable by an occupant of the vehicle. The touch sensor is configured so that a touch to a designated area of the surface activates the touch sensor by capacitive coupling between the touch implement and the touch sensor through the surface. The signals generated can be used to control or otherwise interact with displays and other electronic systems in the vehicle. The touch sensor can be constructed using a wide variety of substrate materials, including paper, cloth, plastic, and the object forming the touch surface. The touch surface can be provided by an airbag cover, and the touch sensor can be constructed to safely blow apart upon airbag deployment. Methods of making a touch input device for use in a vehicle are also provided.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a storage roller for storing sheet-type objects, in particular banknotes, between the wound layers of a belt-type film, which is spooled to and fro between a film drum, which is driven by a first motor and comprises a film reservoir roll, and a winding drum, which is driven by a second motor and stores the sheet-type objects, the tension of the film is controlled to a predefined set value.