Patent ID: 7154481

Claim:
A touch sensor, comprising: a first conductive layer, the first conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over a touch area, and flexible; a second conductive layer, the second conductive layer being transparent, electrically continuous over the touch area and disposed relative to the first conductive layer to define a gap between the first and second conductive layers, the first transparent, conductive layer being flexible to allow local deformation towards the second transparent, conductive layer due to a touch force without contacting the second transparent, conductive layer so as to produce a change in capacitance between the first and second transparent, conductive layers, the change in capacitance being used to determine the two-dimensional location of the touch force; and a plurality of spacers located within the gap, the plurality of spacers being transparent and permitting movement of the first conductive layer towards the second conductive layer under a touch while maintaining a predetermined minimum distance between the first and second conductive layers, wherein at least one of the first and second conductive layers includes a protective coating and wherein the plurality of spacers is formed integrally with the protective coating.