Importance

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Abstract

A capacitive touch pad assembly which provides a touch control panel for an appliance with white touch pad appearance. A thin dielectric substrate has an outer touch electrode of a relatively dark-colored conductive material deposited on its outer surface and a pair of spatially separated inner electrodes formed on the inner surface of the dielectric layer for connecting to the control circuitry. To achieve a light-colored appearance for the touch pads, a layer of relatively light-colored non-conductive decorative material is applied to the outer surface overlaying the electrode to hide its dark color except for a small exposed area of the electrode which defines a symbol relating to the function of the pad. The exposed area may be covered by a second layer of dark conductive material or left exposed. The symbol enables direct human body member contact with the outer electrode.

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First Claim