IP Library Granted Patent US 6,948,371
Granted Patent B2
US 6,948,371 · App. 10/712,753 · Granted Sep 27, 2005

Acoustic wave touch detecting apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,948,371
App. No.
10/712,753
Granted
Sep 27, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An FPC is constructed of two FPC branches, and a connection line that connects to a controller. Printed wiring of the connection line includes ten printed wires. The central four printed wires are signal reception wires, which are connected to two converters (sensors). Grounding wires are provided on both sides of the four signal reception wires. Two outer signal wires are provided adjacent to the grounding wires, respectively toward the outsides thereof. Further, two more grounding wires are provided adjacent to the outer signal wires, respectively on the outsides thereof. This construction results in shielding of all of the signal wires. This relationship is maintained in the FPC branches as well.

Claims (44)

1. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus comprising:

a substrate having a surface along which acoustic waves propagate;

an acoustic wave generating means;

a reflection array for causing the generated acoustic waves to propagate along the surface of the substrate;

a detector for detecting changes in the acoustic wave caused by an object contacting the surface of the substrate; and

a controller for determining the geometric coordinates of the object; wherein:

at least one of the acoustic wave generating means and the detector are connected to the controller by flexible planar wiring; and

the flexible planar wiring is of a wiring pattern in which a grounding wire is provided on at least one side of a signal wire.

2. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the flexible planar wiring comprises:

a signal wire group in which a plurality of the signal wires are arranged; and

grounding wires at both sides of the signal wire group.

3. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus comprising:

a substrate having a surface along which acoustic waves propagate;

a transmission side converter mounted on the substrate;

a mode converting element for converting bulk waves generated by the converter into acoustic waves, mounted on the surface of the substrate corresponding to the converter;

a reflection array for causing the generated acoustic waves to propagate along the surface of the substrate;

a detector for detecting changes in the acoustic wave caused by an object contacting the surface of the substrate; and

a controller for determining the geometric coordinates of the object; wherein:

at least one of the converter and the detector are connected to the controller by flexible planar wiring; and

the flexible planar wiring is of a wiring pattern in which a grounding wire is provided on at least one side of a signal wire.

4. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus comprising:

a substrate having a surface along which acoustic waves propagate;

a transmission side converter mounted on the substrate;

a mode converting element for converting bulk waves generated by the converter into acoustic waves, mounted on the surface of the substrate corresponding to the converter;

a reflection array for causing the generated acoustic waves to propagate along the surface of the substrate;

a detector for detecting changes in the acoustic wave caused by an object contacting the surface of the substrate; and

a controller for determining the geometric coordinates of the object; wherein:

at least one of the converter and the detector are connected to the controller by a bifilar wire; and

the bifilar wire is that in which a grounding wire is provided adjacent to a signal wire.

5. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein:

the substrate further comprises an inclined surface at an edge thereof; and

the converter is mounted on the inclined surface.

6. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 4 , wherein:

the substrate further comprises an inclined surface at an edge thereof; and

the converter is mounted on the inclined surface.

7. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein:

the flexible planar wiring is a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

8. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 5 , wherein:

the flexible planar wiring is a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

9. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein:

the flexible planar wiring is a flexible flat cable (FFC).

10. An acoustic wave contact detecting apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein:

the flexible planar wiring is a flexible flat cable (FFC).

Assignments (11)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS (FIRST LIEN) IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 27, 2025
From: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 070670/0714 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2018
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047956/0114 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047909/0833 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044346/0790 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 044346/0810 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 31, 2017
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044652/0421 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Jun 30, 2012
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG
Reel/Frame 028486/0941 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Jun 29, 2012
From: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG
Reel/Frame 028486/0917 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2012
From: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: ELO TOUCH SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 028357/0655 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2006
From: ELO TOUCHSYSTEMS, INC.
To: TYCO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017105/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2004
From: TANAKA, YOSHIKAZU; DEWS, CHRISTOPHER; SCHARFF, DANIEL
To: ELO TOUCHSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015287/0760 →