Touch screens with transparent conductive material resistors

• US 20080309623A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve Porter, Land, Brian Richards
• Granted Patent: US 8,400,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 33/06 Antimalarials
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/04 Immunostimulants
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/86 Viral vectors
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2710/10343 viral genome or elements thereof as genetic vector
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

Systems and methods for touch screens with integrated transparent conductive material resistors are provided. Metal traces on the surface of a touch screen may be subject to radio-frequency interference (RFI) that can adversely affect the performance of the touch screen. Transparent conductive material resistors inserted within the metal trace paths can be used to form low-pass filters which can reduce the affect of the RFI.

Claims

1. A touch panel having integrated transparent conductive material resistors, comprising:

a set of transparent conductive material traces on a first surface of the touch panel;

a plurality of metal traces connected to the set of transparent conductive material traces; and

a plurality of transparent conductive material resistors connected to the metal traces.

2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors are connected between the metal traces and capacitive sensing circuitry.

3. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors block radio-frequency interference (RFI) signals from the metal traces.

4. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors have a resistance of approximately 400 Ohms.

5. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors form low-pass filters having a cut-off frequency of approximately 10 MHz.

6. The touch panel of claim 5, wherein the low-pass filters block signals having frequencies greater than approximately 1 GHz.

7. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors increase the sensitivity of the capacitive sensing circuitry.

8. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising flex circuitry connected directly to the transparent conductive material resistors.

9. The touch panel of claim 1, further comprising connecting the transparent conductive material resistors adjacent to an end of the metal traces.

10. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein resistors are formed with the set of transparent conductive material traces.

11. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the transparent conductive material comprises at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), conductive clear polymer, and antimony tin oxide (ATO).

12. A computer system having a touch panel with integrated transparent conductive material resistors, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions and to carry out operations associated with the computer system;

a display device that is operatively coupled to the processor;

a touch panel that is operatively coupled to the processor, the touch panel being a substantially transparent panel that is positioned in front of the display, the touch panel comprising;

a set of transparent conductive material traces on a first surface of the touch panel;

a plurality of metal traces connected to the set of transparent conductive material traces; and

a plurality of transparent conductive material resistors connected to the metal traces.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors are connected between the metal traces and capacitive sensing circuitry.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors block radio-frequency interference (RFI) signals from the metal traces.

15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors have a resistance of approximately 400 Ohms.

16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors form low-pass filters having a cut-off frequency of approximately 10 MHz.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein the low-pass filters block signals having frequencies greater than approximately 1 GHz.

18. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors increase the sensitivity of the capacitive sensing circuitry.

19. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising flex circuitry connected directly to the transparent conductive material resistors.

20. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising connecting the transparent conductive material resistors adjacent to an end of the metal traces.

21. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material resistors are formed with the set of transparent conductive material traces.

22. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the transparent conductive material comprises at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), conductive clear polymer, and antimony tin oxide (ATO).

23. A method for fabricating a touch panel having transparent conductive material resistors, comprising:

forming transparent conductive material traces on a first surface of the touch panel;

forming a plurality of metal traces connected to the set of transparent conductive material traces;

breaking the metal traces; and

forming transparent conductive material resistors within the breaks of the metal traces.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the transparent conductive material comprises at least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), conductive clear polymer, and antimony tin oxide (ATO).