Decorative composite body having an electrically conductive layer and an electronic sensor

Abstract

Proposed is a decorative element containing (a) a gemstone, (b) an electrically conductive layer on at least a partial area of the gemstone; and (c) an electronic sensor.

Claims

1. A decorative element comprising: (a) a gemstone comprising a front side and a back side opposite the front side, (b) an electrically conductive layer on at least a region of the front side of the gemstone; (c) an evaluation sensor system on an opposite side of the gemstone to the electrically conductive layer below the back side of the gemstone and coupled to the electrically conductive layer; and (d) an electrically conductive connection providing the coupling between the electrically conductive layer on the at least a region of the front side of the gemstone and the evaluation sensor system below the back side of the gemstone.

2. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrically conductive layer comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of: Cr, Ti, Zr, indium tin oxide, aluminum-doped zinc oxide, gallium zinc oxide, titanium zinc oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide, antimony tin oxide, tantalum tin oxide, and titanium niobium oxide, or any combination of these components in any sequence of layers.

3. The decorative element according to claim 2, characterized in that said electrically conductive layer is transparent.

4. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrically conductive layer is transparent.

5. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said electrically conductive layer is applied to at least two separate regions of the gemstone.

6. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic sensor contains a capacitive or resistive sensor.

7. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said gemstone is made of glass or plastic.

8. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said gemstone has plano-convex or plano-convex-concave regions.

9. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said gemstone is faceted.

10. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that a wavelength-selective layer is applied to at least a region of the gemstone.

11. The decorative element according to claim 10, characterized in that said wavelength-selective layer is a dielectric coating.

12. The decorative element according to claim 11, characterized in that said dielectric coating contains at least one metal compound.

13. The decorative element according to claim 12, wherein the dielectric coating has a structure comprising a succession of Sift and TiO.sub.2 layers.

14. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that said gemstone is transparent.

15. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that: a) the gemstone comprises a faceted gemstone of glass; and b) the electrically conductive layer comprises an electrically conductive layer of indium tin oxide; c) wherein the decorative element further comprises a wavelength-selective layer with a structure comprising a succession of Sift and TiO.sub.2 layers.

16. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that the decorative element is for controlling the function of an electronic device.

17. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conductive layer is touch-sensitive and wherein the evaluation sensor system is configured to detect a touch of the electrically conductive layer.

18. The decorative element according to claim 1, characterized in that the decorative element is for controlling the function of an electronic device and the evaluation sensor system is configured to enable functional control of the electronic device when the electrically conductive layer is touched.

19. A process for controlling the function of electronic devices, comprising the following steps: (a) providing a gemstone comprising a front side and a back side opposite the front side, at least a region of the front side coated with an electrically conductive layer; (b) touching the electrically conductive layer with a finger or stylus; (c) triggering a function of an evaluation sensor system by the touch, wherein the evaluation sensor system is arranged on an opposite side of the gemstone to the electrically conductive layer below the back side of the gemstone; and (d) providing a coupling, via an electrically conductive connection, between the electrically conductive layer on the at least a region of the front side of the gemstone and the evaluation sensor system below the back side of the gemstone.

Description

(1) In the following, the invention will be illustrated further by means of Examples and Figures without being limited thereto. The Figures show the following objects:

(2) FIG. 1: Structure of a decorative element. Electrically conductive layer in partial areas of the gemstone, and wavelength-selective coating on the planar side opposite the faceting.

(3) FIG. 2a: Electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive layer and the evaluation sensor system by a pogo pin.

(4) FIG. 2b: Electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive layer and the evaluation sensor system by an electrically conductive gemstone setting.

(5) FIG. 2c: Electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive layer and the evaluation sensor system by an electrically conductive adhesive.

(6) FIG. 2d: Electrically conductive connection between the electrically conductive layer and the evaluation sensor system by an electrically conductive film or electrically conductive elastomer.

(7) FIG. 3a: Decorative element with two separated regions of the transparent electrically conductive layer for push-type or slide-type input.

(8) FIG. 3b: Decorative element with four separated regions of the transparent electrically conductive layer for push-type or slide-type input.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(9) The decorative elements according to the invention can be employed for the function control of numerous electronic devices.

Example According to the Invention

(10) An example according to the invention with a gemstone and an electrically conductive layer was prepared.

(11) Gemstone:

(12) The non-mirrored Chessboard Flat Back 2493 (30 mm30 mm) of the company D. Swarovski KG was used as a gemstone of glass.

(13) Geometry:

(14) The gemstone was a faceted solid with 30 mm edge length and a square base area with slightly rounded corners. The faceted upper part included convex curved areas. The total height of the solid was about 8 mm, the corner edge height was about 2.7 mm.

(15) Transparent Electrically Conductive Layer:

(16) The gemstone was coated with the transparent electrically conductive layer of indium tin oxide on the entire surface. The coating process was performed by sputtering with the PVD plant FHRline 400 of the company FHR.

(17) In order to improve the electrical and chemical properties and the mechanical abrasion resistance, the gemstone was first treated by ion etching in the plant FHRline 400. Thereafter, the sample was heated at a temperature of about 550 C. for about 30 minutes in the same plant FHRline 400. This was followed by the coating of the optical element with indium tin oxide in the same plant FHRline 400, wherein the mixed oxide had a customary ratio of about 90% In.sub.2O.sub.3 to about 10% SnO.sub.2. The pressure was about 3.3.Math.10.sup.3 mbar, and the discharge power was about 1 kW. The layer thickness varied as a function of the surface geometry from about 140 nm to about 190 nm. The coating process was effected with using a protective gas of argon and 5 sccm O.sub.2. Subsequently, the coated optical element was heated at a temperature of about 550 C. for about 20 minutes in the same plant FHRline 400.

(18) Evaluation Sensor System and Structure of the Decorative Element:

(19) The coated gemstone was connected on the backside by the pogo pin S7121-42R from the company Harwin Plc Europe with the circuit board Kingboard KB-6160 FR-4Y KB 1.55. The pogo pin S7121-42R was soldered with the circuit board. The distance between the circuit board and the coated backside of the gemstone was about 1.5 mm. The touch controller IQS228AS from the company Azoteq (Pty) Ltd. was used for function control. The touch controller IQS228AS was provided on the upper side of the circuit board between the gemstone and circuit board and was soldered with the circuit board. The touch controller IQS228AS was electrically connected with the pogo pin through a conducting path. The touch controller was supplied with power, and the signal of the touch controller transmitted, through a multi-pole cable. The structure was surrounded by a housing of polycarbonate of the type Makrolon 2405 polycarbonate. The gemstone was connected at a distance of about 1.5 mm from the circuit board with the housing through the commercially available two-part epoxy resin adhesive 9030 CG 500 (A+B) 50 ml EUROPE/AMERICA, Material No. 5284198 from the company Swarovski. The housing had an inward running web of about 1.7 mm in order to enable a distance of the backside of the gemstone of about 1.5 mm from the circuit board, and the connection between the housing and gemstone by means of an adhesive. The multi-pole cable was led out of the housing through an opening in the housing.