US5648643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic wave touch panel with inlayed, etched arrays and method of making the panel
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
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Filing: 1995-06-16
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Granted: 1997-07-15
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Expires: 2015-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic wave touch panel comprising a substrate formed of a first material. The substrate is capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein. A reflective array upon the substrate is provided for reflecting an acoustic wave to propagate in the substrate. The reflective array is formed in the substrate. An inlay is formed of a second material. The inlay is disposed in the reflective array, wherein the acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in the second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of the acoustic wave in the first material.
Inventors
- 👤 Terence J. Knowles
- 👤 Charles F. Bremigan, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:37
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/043; G06F3/0436; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed in said substrate; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said reflective array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed in said substrate; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said reflective array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 1 wherein said first material is a glass and said second material is a frit composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 2 wherein said second material is a metallic frit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 2 wherein said second material is a silver frit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic touch panel as recited in claim 1 wherein said reflective array is etched in said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being stamped in said substrate; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being stamped in said substrate; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 6 wherein said first material is a plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 7 wherein said first material is a polystyrene.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 7 wherein said first material is an acrylic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed by the removal of portions of said substrate in a pattern defining said array; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said etched array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed by the removal of portions of said substrate in a pattern defining said array; and an inlay formed of a second material, said inlay being disposed in said etched array wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 9 wherein said second material is a metallic frit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 11 wherein said second material is a silver frit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 10 wherein said first material is a plastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 13 wherein said first material is a polystyrene.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 13 wherein said first material is an acrylic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 13 including a layer of said second material overlying at least a portion of said array on a surface of said substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate; an inlay formed of a second material deposited in said array; and a strip of said second material overlying said array on a surface of said substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material, said substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein; a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate for reflecting an acoustic wave propagating in said substrate; an inlay formed of a second material deposited in said array; and a strip of said second material overlying said array on a surface of said substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
110 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material having a shear modulus, said substrate being capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting a shear wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed by the removal of portions of said substrate in a pattern defining said array; and an inlay formed of a second material having a density and a shear modulus, said inlay being disposed in said array wherein the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said second material is different than the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said first material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
110 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a substrate formed of a first material having a shear modulus, said substrate being capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein; a reflective array for reflecting a shear wave propagating in said substrate, said reflective array being formed by the removal of portions of said substrate in a pattern defining said array; and an inlay formed of a second material having a density and a shear modulus, said inlay being disposed in said array wherein the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said second material is different than the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said first material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
An acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 18 including a strip of said second material overlying said array on a surface of said substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a polystyrene substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a polystyrene substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a acrylic substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a acrylic substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a nylon substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a nylon substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a polyethylene substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
An acoustic wave touch panel comprising: a polyethylene substrate; and a variable depth reflective array formed in said substrate along an axis of said acoustic wave touch panel, said substrate capable of supporting a shear wave for propagation therein.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material, said method comprising: removing portions of said substrate in a pattern to form at least one reflective array; and depositing in said array a second material wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is different than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material, said method comprising: removing portions of said substrate in a pattern to form at least one reflective array; and depositing in said array a second material wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is different than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 24 wherein said first material is a glass and said step of removing includes etching said reflective array pattern in said substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel as recited in claim 24 wherein said first substrate is plastic and said step of removing includes stamping and reflective array pattern in said substrate.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and depositing in said array a second material wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and depositing in said array a second material wherein said acoustic wave has a velocity of propagation in said second material that is slower than the velocity of propagation of said acoustic wave in said first material.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; and withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; and withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and withdrawing said substrate for said etching solution.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and withdrawing said substrate for said etching solution.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and depositing in said array a second material wherein a ratio of the density to shear modulus of said second material is greater than the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said first material.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of making an acoustic wave touch panel having a substrate capable of supporting an acoustic wave for propagation therein, said substrate being formed of a first material comprising: preparing said substrate for etching of a predetermined pattern representing an array of reflective elements; immersing said substrate in an etching solution; withdrawing said substrate at a controlled non-constant rate representing a variable depth profile of said array to form said array of reflective elements; and depositing in said array a second material wherein a ratio of the density to shear modulus of said second material is greater than the ratio of the density to shear modulus of said first material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-14 | 2001-01-13 | 2001-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-14 | 2005-01-13 | 2005-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-14 | 2009-01-13 | 2009-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |