TRANSLUCENT TOUCH SCREENS INCLUDING INVISIBLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT CONNECTIONS

摘要

Disclosed is a touch screen (104) of semi-transparent mesh (230) that may be utilized by, for example, a mobile communication device (102). The mesh (230) may be utilized for both a touch screen (104) and an electrical circuit (352a, 352b) for an electronic component (126) attached to it. That is, the mesh (230) may be in part a touch screen (104), and in part an electrical circuit (352a, 352b). The touch surface (104) includes mesh (230) composed of a conductive material configured to provide input signals from activation points (350) of the touch surface to the control circuit (114) of the device (102). The mesh (230) of a conductive material also includes an electrical circuit (352a, 352b) configured to provide audio signals from the control circuit (114) of the device (102) to the speaker (126). Since the disclosed semi-transparent mesh (230) acts an electrical circuit (352a, 352b), artwork to hide electrical circuits from the electronic component (126) to the controller (114) is not necessary. A switchable ground (364a, 364b) eliminates interference between the touch screen (104) and the electrical circuit (352a, 352b).