Touch screen stack-up processing

• US 20080165139A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve Porter, Land, Brian Richards, Hamblin, Mark Arthur
• Application Number:
  US11/818,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165139A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals

Abstract

A multi-touch sensor panel is disclosed that can be produced by forming a plurality of first traces of substantially transparent conductive material on a first substrate, forming a plurality of second traces of the substantially transparent material, and creating a fluid-tight gap between the plurality of first traces and the plurality of second traces. The fluid-tight gap can then be filled with a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the first and second traces to make the gap and the first and second traces substantially transparent. The second and first traces can be oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the fluid, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches.

Claims

1. A method for forming a multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

forming a plurality of first traces of substantially transparent conductive material on a first substrate;

forming a plurality of second traces of the substantially transparent material;

creating a fluid-tight gap between the plurality of first traces and the plurality of second traces;

filling the fluid-tight gap with a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the first and second traces to make the gap and the first and second traces substantially transparent; and

orienting the second and first traces to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the fluid, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is a cover glass having a first side capable of being touched, and a second side opposite the first side on which the plurality of first traces are formed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising forming the plurality of second traces on a second substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the fluid-tight gap by forming compressible spacers between the first and second traces, the compressible spacers capable of being compressed during a touch and changing a mutual capacitance of the mutual capacitance sensors.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a chip on glass to the first substrate, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

6. A method for forming a multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

forming a plurality of first traces and a plurality of second traces of substantially transparent conductive material;

orienting the plurality of second and first traces to cross over each other at crossover locations, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches;

separating the second and first traces by a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the first and second traces to make the first and second traces substantially transparent.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising forming the plurality of first traces on a second side of a first substrate having a first side capable of being touched, the second side opposite the first side.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising forming the plurality of second traces on a second substrate.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising separating the second and first traces using compressible spacers, the compressible spacers capable of being compressed during a touch and changing a mutual capacitance of the mutual capacitance sensors.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising coupling a chip on glass to the first substrate, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

11. A multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of first traces of substantially transparent conductive material formed thereon;

a plurality of second traces of the substantially transparent material;

a fluid-tight gap formed between the plurality of first and second traces; and

a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the plurality of first and second traces held within the fluid-tight gap, the fluid for making the gap and the plurality of first and second traces substantially transparent;

wherein the plurality of first and second traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the fluid, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches.

12. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 11, wherein the first substrate is a cover glass having a first side capable of being touched, and a second side opposite the first side on which the plurality of first traces are formed.

13. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 12, further comprising a second substrate having the plurality of second traces formed thereon.

14. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 11, further comprising compressible spacers coupled between the plurality of first and second traces, the compressible spacers capable of being compressed during a touch and changing a mutual capacitance of the mutual capacitance sensors.

15. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 11, further comprising a chip on glass coupled to the first substrate, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

16. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 11, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the multi-touch sensor panel.

17. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 16, the multi-touch sensor panel incorporated into a computing system.

18. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 17, the computing system incorporated into a mobile telephone.

19. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 17, the computing system incorporated into a digital audio player.

20. A mobile telephone including a multi-touch sensor panel, the multi-touch sensor panel comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of first traces of substantially transparent conductive material formed thereon;

a plurality of second traces of the substantially transparent material;

a fluid-tight gap formed between the plurality of first and second traces; and

a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the plurality of first and second traces held within the fluid-tight gap, the fluid for making the gap and the plurality of first and second traces substantially transparent;

wherein the plurality of first and second traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the fluid, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches.

21. A digital audio player including a multi-touch sensor panel, the multi-touch sensor panel comprising:

a first substrate having a plurality of first traces of substantially transparent conductive material formed thereon;

a plurality of second traces of the substantially transparent material;

a fluid-tight gap formed between the plurality of first and second traces; and

a fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the plurality of first and second traces held within the fluid-tight gap, the fluid for making the gap and the plurality of first and second traces substantially transparent;

wherein the plurality of first and second traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the fluid, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches.

22. A multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

a plurality of first traces and a plurality of second traces of substantially transparent conductive material, the plurality of second and first traces oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting touches; and

a fluid separating the second and first traces, the fluid having substantially no bubbles and an optical index similar to the optical index of the first and second traces to make the first and second traces substantially transparent.

23. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 22, further comprising a first substrate upon which the plurality of first traces are formed, the first substrate being a cover glass having a first side capable of being touched, and a second side opposite the first side upon which the plurality of first traces are formed.

24. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 23, further comprising a second substrate having the plurality of second traces formed thereon.

25. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 22, further comprising compressible spacers coupled between the plurality of first and second traces, the compressible spacers capable of being compressed during a touch and changing a mutual capacitance of the mutual capacitance sensors.

26. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 22, further comprising a chip on glass coupled to the plurality of first traces, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.