Grounded button for cap sense

• US 20080024456A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monterey Research, LLC (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Peng, Tao, Qin, Zheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing 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

A touch-sensing device has a top and a bottom surface. A grounded connector is coupled to the bottom surface of the touch-sensing device and extends through the touch-sensing device to the top surface of the touch-sensing device. The touch-sensing device has a grounded layer. A first dielectric layer is on the grounded layer. A conductive layer of the touch-sensing device has an opening. The conductive layer is on the first dielectric layer. The second dielectric layer is on the conductive layer. The grounded connector is coupled to the grounded layer and extends through the opening of the conductive layer to the top surface of the second dielectric layer.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch-sensing device having a top and bottom surface; and

a grounded connector coupled to the bottom surface of the touch-sensing device and extending through the touch-sensing device to the top surface of the touch-sensing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensing device further comprises:

a grounded layer;

a first dielectric layer on the grounded layer;

a conductive layer of a touch sensing device having an opening, the conductive layer on the first dielectric layer;

a second dielectric layer on the conductive layer; and

wherein the grounded connector is coupled to the grounded layer, the grounded connector extending through the opening of the conductive layer to the top surface of the second dielectric layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive traces of the touch-sensing device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the opening in the conductive layer is large enough to electrically isolate the grounded connector from the conductive layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the top surface of the conductive trace forms a disk, a ring, or a cross.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the touch-sensing device comprises a touch-sensor button, a touch-sensor circular slider, or a touch-sensor slider.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a circuit board having a first side and a second side, the touch-sensing device coupled to the first side; and

a processing device coupled the second side.

8. A method for manufacturing a touch-sensing device, comprising:

providing a touch-sensing structure; and

extending a grounded connector through the touch-sensing structure to a top surface of the touch-sensing structure.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a touch-sensing structure further comprises:

providing a grounded layer;

forming a first dielectric layer on the grounded layer;

forming a conductive layer of the touch-sensing device on the first dielectric layer, the conductive layer having an opening; and

forming a second dielectric layer on the conductive layer,

wherein the grounded connector extends through the first dielectric layer, the opening of the conductive layer, and the second dielectric layer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the conductive layer includes a plurality of conductive traces of the touch-sensing device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the opening in the conductive layer is large enough to electrically isolate the grounded connector from the conductive layer.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

coupling the touch-sensing device to a first side of a circuit board; and

coupling a processing device to a second side of the circuit board.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the touch-sensing structure comprises a touch-sensor button, a touch-sensor circular slider, or a touch-sensor slider.

14. A method for operating a touch-sensing device, comprising:

providing a touch-sensing structure of the touch-sensing device; and

reducing an electrostatic discharge generated by an object in proximity or in contact with the touch-sensing structure.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

reducing a noise signal detected by the touch-sensing structure, the noise signal generated by the object.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein reducing the electrostatic discharge further comprising:

providing a grounded contact on a top surface of the touch-sensing structure.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

measuring a capacitance generated by the object in proximity or in contact to both the grounded contact and the top surface of the touch-sensing structure.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the touch-sensing structure comprises a touch-sensor button, a touch-sensor circular slider, or a touch-sensor slider.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch-sensing structure of the touch-sensing device; and

means for reducing an electrostatic discharge generated by an object in proximity or in contact with the touch-sensing structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

means for reducing a noise signal detected by the touch-sensing structure, the noise signal generated by the object.