Methods for integrating a compliant material with a substrate

• US 10,101,857 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Po-Jui, Sung, Kuo-Hua, Chen, Hui
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Joshua D
• Application Number:
  US14/838,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/361 Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits

Abstract

A sensor module can include a sensor that is configured to detect any given input or environmental conditions, such as, for example, touch or force inputs. The sensor module can be included in an electronic device. Methods for producing the sensor module are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for forming a sensor module, comprising:

providing a compliant structure that includes a compliant layer between a first protective layer and a second protective layer;

forming a first conductive layer on the first protective layer and forming a second conductive layer on the second protective layer;

patterning the first conductive layer to form a first conductive electrode and patterning the second conductive layer to form a second conductive electrode aligned with the first conductive electrode, the first conductive electrode and the second conductive electrode forming a capacitor;

forming a first adhesive layer that covers the first conductive electrode and a portion of the first protective layer;

patterning the first adhesive layer to form a first opening and a second opening in the first adhesive layer;

forming a first substrate layer on the first adhesive layer, wherein the first substrate layer includes a first third conductive layer, and the third conductive layer electrically connects to the first conductive layer through the first opening; and

producing a first flexible substrate tail from a portion of the first substrate layer, the first flexible substrate tail produced by removing a multi-layer portion of the compliant structure and a portion of the first conductive layer that are aligned with and to one side of the second opening.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a second adhesive layer that covers the second conductive electrode and a portion of the second protective layer;

patterning the second adhesive layer to form a third opening and a fourth opening in the second adhesive layer;

forming a second substrate layer on the second adhesive layer, wherein the second substrate layer includes a fourth conductive layer, and the fourth conductive layer electrically connects to the second conductive layer through the third opening; and

producing a second flexible substrate tail from a portion of the second substrate layer, the second flexible substrate tail produced while removing the multi-layer portion of the compliant structure and a portion of the second conductive layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein producing the first and second flexible substrate tails from the portions of the first and second substrate layers further comprises:

removing a portion of the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first substrate layer comprises a first flexible printed circuit, the second substrate layer comprises a second flexible printed circuit, and the compliant layer comprises a silicone layer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer are each patterned to form a plurality of conductive electrodes, wherein each conductive electrode in the first conductive layer is aligned with a respective conductive electrode in the second conductive layer to form a plurality of capacitors.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein:

forming the first substrate layer comprises forming a third protective layer over the first adhesive layer, the third protective layer having a fifth opening aligned with the first opening and the first conductive electrode;

forming the second substrate layer comprises forming a fourth protective layer over the second adhesive layer, the fourth protective layer having a sixth opening aligned with the third opening and the second conductive electrode;

wherein the third conductive layer extends through the first opening and the fifth opening and contacts the first conductive electrode, and the fourth conductive layer extends through the third opening and the sixth opening and contacts the second conductive electrode.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein producing the first flexible substrate tail and the second flexible substrate tail comprises:

removing portions of the compliant layer, the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, the first adhesive layer, and the second adhesive layer.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the first substrate layer is formed on the first adhesive layer and the second substrate layer is formed on the second adhesive layer using a compressive molding process.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

attaching an interposer flexible circuit to the first flexible substrate tail and the second flexible substrate tail.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the first substrate layer on the first adhesive layer comprises:

forming a first layer in the first substrate layer on the first adhesive layer; and

forming a second layer in the first substrate layer on the first layer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein removing the portion of the compliant structure comprises:

removing portions of the compliant layer, the first protective layer, and the first conductive layer.