CAPACITIVE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME

• US 20090322705A1
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TPK Touch Solutions (Xiamen) Inc. (TPK Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Halsey, Eugene L. IV
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4061 for via connections in inorganic insulating substrates
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4069 for via connections in organic insulating substrates
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

A touch sensory, such as a capacitive touch sensor, includes a substrate having at least one passageway established therethrough. A first conductive coating is established at a first surface of the substrate, and a conductive element is disposed at the substrate and at least partially through the passageway. The conductive element establishes conductive continuity between the first surface and second or opposite surface of the substrate. The passageway may comprise multiple passageways and is/are established inboard of a perimeter edge of the substrate. The conductive element may include a first conductive material disposed at the first surface and partially into the passageway and a second conductive material disposed at the second surface and partially into the passageway, whereby the conductive materials contact one another in the passageway to establish conductive continuity between the first and second surfaces of the substrate.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, said substrate having at least one passageway established through said substrate;

a first conductive coating established at said first surface of said substrate; and

a conductive element disposed at said substrate and at least partially through said at least one passageway, said conductive element establishing conductive continuity between said first and second surfaces of said substrate.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said touch sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said conductive element comprises a metallic material that is disposed at least partially over said first surface proximate said at least one passageway.

4. The touch sensor of claim 3, wherein said conductive element is disposed at least partially over said second surface proximate said at least one passageway.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one passageway comprises at least two passageways, each with a respective conductive element established therethrough, said conductive elements at said passageways being electrically isolated from one another.

6. The touch sensor of claim 5 further comprising at least two conductive connectors, each of said at least two conductive connectors being conductively connected to a portion of a respective one of said conductive elements at said second surface of said substrate.

7. The touch sensor of claim 5, wherein said at least two passageways comprises four passageways.

8. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one passageway is established inboard of a perimeter edge of said substrate.

9. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said conductive element comprises a first conductive material disposed at said first surface and partially into said at least one passageway and a second conductive material disposed at said second surface and partially into said at least one passageway, said first and second conductive materials contacting one another in said at least one passageway to establish conductive continuity between said first and second surfaces of said substrate.

10. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises one of a glass substrate and a plastic substrate.

11. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a flexible plastic substrate, and wherein said conductive coating comprises a transparent conductive coating.

12. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said touch sensor comprises a plastic capacitive touch sensor, said plastic capacitive touch sensor comprising an ultra-thin substrate disposed at said first surface of said substrate and an optical adhesive disposed and sandwiched between said substrate and said ultra-thin substrate to adhere said ultra-thin substrate to said substrate.

13. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein said conductive coating comprises a transparent conductive coating.

14. A method of manufacturing a touch sensor, said method comprising:

providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

establishing a conductive coating at said first surface of said substrate;

establishing at least one passageway through said substrate;

providing a conductive element at said substrate and at least partially through said at least one passageway, said conductive element establishing conductive continuity between said first and second surfaces of said substrate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a conductive element comprises:

establishing a first conductive pad at said first surface proximate to said at least one passageway and at least partially filling said at least one passageway with the conductive material of said first conductive pad;

establishing a second conductive pad at said second surface proximate to said at least one passageway and at least partially filling said at least one passageway with the conductive material of said second conductive pad; and

wherein said conductive material of said second conductive pad contacts said conductive material of said first conductive pad to establish conductive continuity between said first and second pads at said first and second surfaces of said substrate.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one passageway comprises at least two passageways, each with a respective conductive element established therethrough, said conductive elements at said passageways being electrically isolated from one another.