Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-19
2001-07-24
Mengistu, Amare (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266032
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a coordinate-inputting device with which a coordinate, at which an input member is positioned, is inputted to a computing system, and a method for making such a coordinate-inputting device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is particularly shown in
FIG. 3
, a known coordinate-inputting device includes a substrate
21
made of transparent glass, and an electrode
22
made of a transparent resistor layer and formed thereon. The electrode
22
has, on its upper side thereof, a plurality of insulating dot spacers
23
kept away from one another at intervals.
A transparent flexible film
24
, which is made, for example, of polyethylene terephthalate, is formed over the dot spacers
23
through an electrode
25
made of a transparent resistor layer. A coat
27
made, for example, of an acrylic resin is further formed on the upper surface of the film
24
through an adhesive layer
26
.
The film
24
is arranged in combination with the substrate
21
in such a way that the electrode
25
is disposed on the dot spacers
23
in face-to-face relation with the electrode
22
, and is thus electrically insulated from the electrode
22
.
In this type of coordinate-inputting device, an input member
28
is pressed or pushed against the coat
27
at a desired point until the coat layer
27
and the film
24
are, respectively, deformed to such an extent that the electrode
25
is in contact with the electrode
22
to input a coordinate corresponding to the point.
The known coordinate-inputting device makes use of the resin-based coat
27
in order to prevent the abrasion wear of the film
24
. Since the coat
27
is made of a resin, this layer cannot be formed as having a desired degree of hardness. Upon repeated contact with the input member
28
, there arises the problem that the coat
27
is liable to be damaged on the surface thereof.
The damaged surface is poor in appearance, with the attendant problem that the commercial value is depreciated. The resin-based coat
27
has such a high refractive index that its reflection becomes great, thus presenting the problem that light from below the substrate
21
becomes difficult to see due to the irregular reflection at the coat
27
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a coordinate-inputting device which includes a glass layer formed by drying liquid glass on a film to be pressed with an input member whereby the glass layer, which is harder than a known resin-based coat, can reduce a degree of damage on frictional contact with the input member, thus being high in commercial value.
It is another object of the invention to provide a coordinate-inputting device whose glass layer is lower in refractive index than a known resin-based coat layer, with a reduced degree of irregular reflection, at the glass layer, of light from below a substrate, thereby ensuring the coordinate-inputting device having a high light transmittance.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a coordinate-inputting device having a glass layer, which is ready to deform by application of a small force from an input member when formed in a thickness, for example, of 0.5 to 10 &mgr;m, ensuring good and reliable operating properties.
It is still further object of the invention to provide a method for making such a coordinate-inputting device as mentioned above wherein a thin glass layer can be readily formed on a film in contact with an electrode by a simple manner.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a coordinate-inputting device which comprises a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate and made of a transparent resistor layer, a plurality of electrically insulating dot spacers formed on the first electrode and kept away from one another at intervals, a second electrode, which is provided in face-to-face relation with the first electrode, is electrically insulated therefrom through the dot spacers and is made of a transparent resistor layer, a readily deformable film formed on the second electrode, and a glass layer formed on the film whereby when the input member is pushed against the glass layer until the second electrode is in contact with the first electrode at the pushed position, a desired coordinate can be inputted at the position.
In the device, it is preferred that the glass layer is formed in a thickness of 0.5 to 10 &mgr;m.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is also provided a method for making a coordinate-inputting device of the type which comprises a substrate, a first electrode formed on the substrate and made of a transparent resistor layer, a plurality of electrically insulating dot spacers formed on the first electrode and kept away from one another at intervals, a second electrode, which is provided in face-to-face relation with the first electrode, is electrically insulated therefrom through the dot spacers and is made of a transparent resistor layer, a readily deformable film formed on the second electrode, and a glass layer formed on the film, wherein the glass layer is formed by applying a liquid glass to the film in a desired thickness and drying the liquid glass.
In the method of the invention, it is preferred to further comprise the step of forming an adhesive layer on the film prior to the application of the liquid glass to permit easy and strong adhesion of the glass layer to the film.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5455883 (1995-10-01), Shigata et al.
patent: 6002139 (1999-12-01), Katagiri
patent: 0513690 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 63-208115 (1988-08-01), None
patent: 04083741 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 8036449A (1996-02-01), None
Nishiyama Takeshi
Watanabe Takeshi
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Mengistu Amare
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