CAPACITIVE INPUT DEVICE

• US 20080309635A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Epson Imaging Devices Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: MATSUO, Mutsumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,823,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 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 3/0443 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

Abstract

A capacitive input device includes a translucent substrate; first translucent electrode lines, extending in a first direction; second translucent electrode lines, extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction; interlayer insulating layers; and relay electrodes. The first translucent electrode lines intersect with the second translucent electrode lines at intersecting portions. Portions of one of each first translucent electrode line and each second translucent electrode line are connected to each other with the intersecting portions. Portions of the other are separated from each other with the intersecting portions. The translucent interlayer insulating layers overlie the first or second translucent electrode line portions connected to each other with the intersecting portions. The translucent relay electrodes overlie the interlayer insulating layers to electrically connect the first or second translucent electrode line portions, separated from each other with the intersecting portions, to each other.

Claims

1. A capacitive input device comprising:

a translucent substrate having an input region;

first translucent electrode lines, arranged in the input region, extending in a first direction;

second translucent electrode lines, arranged in the input region, extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction;

interlayer insulating layers; and

relay electrodes,

wherein the first and second translucent electrode lines are disposed on a surface of the translucent substrate, the first translucent electrode lines intersect with the second translucent electrode lines at intersecting portions, portions of one of each first translucent electrode line and each second translucent electrode line are connected to each other with the intersecting portions, portions of the other are separated from each other with the intersecting portions, the translucent interlayer insulating layers overlie the first or second translucent electrode line portions connected to each other with the intersecting portions, and the translucent relay electrodes overlie the interlayer insulating layers to electrically connect the first or second translucent electrode line portions, separated from each other with the intersecting portions, to each other.

2. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second translucent electrode lines are formed from the same member.

3. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second translucent electrode lines have first large-area portions and second large-area portions, respectively, each located between the intersecting portions and the relay electrodes and the first or second translucent electrode line portions connected to each other with the intersecting portions are narrower than the first and second large-area portions.

4. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second translucent electrode lines are formed from a multilayer film including translucent thin-films having different refractive indexes.

5. The capacitive input device according to claim 4, wherein one of the translucent thin-films is a translucent conductive metal oxide layer and another one thereof is a translucent silicon compound layer.

6. The capacitive input device according to claim 5, wherein the translucent substrate is made of glass and the multilayer film includes a first ITO layer with a thickness of about 10 to 20 nm, a silicon dioxide layer with a thickness of about 40 to 60 nm, and a second ITO layer with a thickness of about 10 to 20 nm, these layers being arranged in that order.

7. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, wherein the relay electrodes each include a translucent conductive metal oxide film.

8. The capacitive input device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of metal wires which are connected to the first and second translucent electrode lines and which extend outside the input region.