Multilayer capacitive detection device, and apparatus comprising the device

• US 10,318,032 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quickstep Technologies, LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Quickstep Technologies, LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bernard, Christophe, Blondin, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Pervan, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/548,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04107 Shielding in digitiser, i.e. guard or shielding arrangements, mostly for capacitive touchscreens, e.g. driven shields, driven grounds
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

The present invention relates to a capacitive detection device, comprising a plurality of individual capacitive measuring electrodes (12) distributed according to a measuring surface, and connecting tracks (20) respectively connected to said measuring electrodes (12), wherein the measuring electrodes (12) and the connecting tracks (20) are arranged according to two distinct optically clear layers separated by an electrically insulating insulation material (53).

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the device, and an apparatus comprising the device.

Claims

1. A capacitive detection device, comprising:

a plurality of individual capacitive measuring electrodes distributed along a measuring surface and connecting tracks respectively connected to said measuring electrodes, the measuring electrodes arranged in a first layer and the connecting tracks arranged in a second layer separated by an electrically insulating insulation material; and

a first guard plane formed on the first layer between the plurality of measuring electrodes but electrically isolated from the measuring electrodes;

wherein the connecting tracks are routed from the measuring electrodes to an edge of the detection device below the first guard plane and between the measuring electrodes to reduce stray capacitive coupling between the connecting tracks and an object.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insulation material is arranged in the form of an insulating layer supporting the measuring electrodes.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is located between the connecting tracks and the measuring electrodes.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an organic insulating material.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating material is formed with a thickness smaller than 10 microns.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring electrodes are formed according to any one of the following arrangements:

according to a matrix arrangement;

according to an arrangement of orthogonal rows and columns;

according to an arrangement of rows and columns forming an angle different from 90 degrees between them; and

according to an arrangement having a circular structure or symmetry.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring electrodes or connecting tracks are made with any one of the following materials:

a globally transparent and electrically conductive material;

a transparent conductive oxide;

ITO (indium-tin oxide);

a material with a base of sub-micrometric metal wires;

a material of the “

metal mesh”

type; and

a material with a base of carbon or graphene nanotubes.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second guard plane made in the form of a layer of electrically conductive material arranged opposite the measuring electrodes relative to the connecting tracks.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first guard plane is maintained at a same potential as at least some of the measuring electrodes.

10. An apparatus comprising a display device and a capacitive detection device according to claim 1.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the capacitive detection device is superimposed on the display device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display device is of an LCD or OLED type, and the capacitive detection device is at least partially integrated into layers making up the display device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, which is of one of the following types:

smartphone, tablet, computer, display device or screen.

14. A method for producing a capacitive detection device comprising a plurality of individual capacitive measuring electrodes distributed according to a measuring surface and connecting tracks respectively connected to said measuring electrodes, said method comprising:

producing measuring electrodes in a first layer and connecting tracks in a second layer separated by an electrically insulating insulation material;

forming a guard plane on the first layer between the measuring electrodes but electrically isolated from the measuring electrodes; and

routing the connecting tracks from the measuring electrodes to an edge of the detection device below the guard plane and between the measuring electrodes to reduce stray capacitive coupling between the connecting tracks and an object.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

depositing on a dielectric substrate a layer of electrically conductive material structured so as to produce at least the measuring electrodes;

depositing a layer of insulating material; and

depositing a layer of electrically conductive material, structured so as at least to produce the connecting tracks.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

depositing a layer of electrically conductive material structured so as to produce the guard plane; and

gluing said guard plane on one of the layer making up the connecting tracks and the layer of insulating material using an adhesive.