Matrix sensor for image touch sensing

• US 10,042,489 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Shepelev, Petr, Graf, Arnulf
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US14/723,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20150261251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 345174, 178 1801- 2001
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include an input device, a display device having a capacitive sensing device, a processing system and a method for detecting presence of an input object using a capacitive sensing device. In one embodiment, an input device includes a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array. Each sensor electrode is coupled to unique routing trace and has an identical geometric plan form that is symmetrical about a center of area of the sensor electrode. The geometric plan form of each sensor electrode includes core and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core. The protrusions are configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from each adjacent sensor electrode of the matrix array.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array having X columns and Y rows, wherein X and Y are positive integers, each column and row of the planar matrix array comprising at least two sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes, each sensor electrode coupled to a unique routing trace that is routed outward of the matrix array, each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array having a geometric plan comprising;

a core; and

a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core, the protrusions configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from one or more adjacent sensor electrodes of the planar matrix array; and

a plurality of common electrodes configured for display updating and capacitive sensing,

wherein the plurality of common electrodes are coplanar with the plurality of sensor electrodes.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the protrusions extending outward from the core has a curved region.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of overlap protrusions interlock.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein one of the protrusions extending outward from a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes extends into a recess formed in the core of a second sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes which is adjacent the first sensor electrode.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the center of area of the plurality of sensor electrodes forming the planar matrix array are arraigned in a Cartesian grid.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the center of area of the plurality of sensor electrodes forming the planar matrix array are arraigned in a non-Cartesian grid.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array has an identical geometric shape.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array is symmetrical about a center of area of each sensor electrode.

9. The input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a grid electrode disposed between at least two adjacent sensor electrodes.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein grid electrode comprises:

a plurality of ohm ically isolatable segments.

11. The input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of common electrodes of a display device.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of routing traces singularly couple a respective one of the plurality of sensor electrodes to a processing system.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein each sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes is formed of a contiguous body having a planar surface uninterrupted by holes.

14. An input device comprising:

a plurality of common electrodes of a display device configured for display updating and capacitive sensing;

a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a planar matrix array having X columns and Y rows, wherein X and Y are positive integers, each column and row of the planar matrix array comprising at least two sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein the plurality of common electrodes are coplanar with the plurality of sensor electrodes, each sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes coupled to a unique routing trace that is routed outward of the planar matrix array, each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array having a geometric plan comprising;

a core; and

a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core, the protrusions configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from one or more adjacent sensor electrodes of the planar matrix array; and

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, the processing system configured to operate the plurality of sensor electrodes in at least one of a transcapacitive and absolute capacitive mode, the processing system further configured to determine positional information for an input object in a sensing region based on changes in capacitance obtained using the plurality of sensor electrodes.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the plurality of protrusions extending outward from the core has a curved region.

16. The input device of claim 14, wherein the overlapping protrusions interlock.

17. The input device of claim 14, wherein one of the protrusions extending outward from a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes extends into a recess formed in the core of a second sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes which is adjacent the first sensor electrode.

18. The input device of claim 14, wherein the center of area of the plurality of sensor electrodes forming the planar matrix array are arraigned in a Cartesian grid.

19. The input device of claim 14, wherein the center of area of the plurality of sensor electrodes forming the planar matrix array are arraigned in a non-Cartesian grid.

20. The input device of claim 14, wherein each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array has an identical geometric shape.

21. The input device of claim 14, wherein each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array is symmetrical about a center of area of the each sensor electrode.

22. The input device of claim 14 further comprising:

a grid electrode disposed between at least two adjacent sensor electrodes.

23. The input device of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of routing traces singularly couple a respective one of the plurality of sensor electrodes to the processing system.

24. A processing system for an input device, the processing system comprising;

a sensor module, comprising sensor circuitry, configured to operate a plurality of common electrodes for display updating and capacitive sensing, the sensor circuitry further configured to operate a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing arranged in a planar matrix array having X columns and Y rows, wherein X and Y are positive integers, wherein the plurality of common electrodes are coplanar with the plurality of sensor electrodes, each column and row of the planar matrix array comprising at least two sensor electrodes of the plurality of sensor electrodes, each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array having a unique routing trace that is routed outward of the matrix array, each sensor electrode of the planar matrix array having a geometric plan comprising a plurality of protrusions extending outward from a core, the protrusions configured to overlap with protrusions extending outward from one or more adjacent sensor electrodes of the planar matrix array.

25. The processing system of claim 24, wherein the sensor module is further configured to:

modulate a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes to acquire measurements of changes in absolute capacitance indicative of positional information for an input object in a sensing region of the plurality of sensor electrodes based on the measurements.

26. The processing system of claim 24, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

drive a transmitter signal onto a grid electrode disposed between the plurality of sensor electrodes; and

receive from the plurality of sensor electrodes resulting signals comprising effects corresponding to the transmitter signal.

27. The processing system of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of routing traces singularly couple a respective one of the plurality of sensor electrodes to the processing system.