Capacitive Position Sensor
First Claim
1. A capacitive position sensor comprising:
- a plurality of drive electrodes extending in a first direction on a first plane;
a plurality of sense electrodes extending in a second direction on a second plane offset from the first plane so that the sense electrodes cross the drive electrodes at a plurality of intersections which collectively form a position sensing array;
wherein the sense electrodes have branches extending in the first direction part of the way towards each adjacent sense electrode so that end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes co-extend with each other in the first direction separated by a distance sufficiently small that capacitive coupling to the drive electrode adjacent to the co-extending portion is reduced.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive position sensor has a two-layer electrode structure. Drive electrodes extending in a first direction on a first plane on one side of a substrate. Sense electrodes extend in a second direction on a second plane on the other side of the substrate so that the sense electrodes cross the drive electrodes at a plurality of intersections which collectively form a position sensing array. The sense electrodes are provided with branches extending in the first direction part of the way towards each adjacent sense electrode so that end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes co-extend with each other in the first direction separated by a distance sufficiently small that capacitive coupling to the drive electrode adjacent to the co-extending portion is reduced. Providing sense electrode branches allow a sensor to be made which has a greater extent in the first direction for a given number of sense channels, since the co-extending portions provide an interpolating effect. The number of sense electrode branches per drive electrode can be increased which allows a sensor to be made which has ever greater extent in the first direction without having to increase the number of sense channels.
184 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A capacitive position sensor comprising:
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a plurality of drive electrodes extending in a first direction on a first plane; a plurality of sense electrodes extending in a second direction on a second plane offset from the first plane so that the sense electrodes cross the drive electrodes at a plurality of intersections which collectively form a position sensing array; wherein the sense electrodes have branches extending in the first direction part of the way towards each adjacent sense electrode so that end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes co-extend with each other in the first direction separated by a distance sufficiently small that capacitive coupling to the drive electrode adjacent to the co-extending portion is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18)
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17. A touch sensitive panel for a capacitive touch sensor, the touch sensitive panel having a plurality of drive electrodes arranged on one side of a substrate in a first layer and a plurality of sense electrodes arranged on the other side of the substrate in a second layer so that the sense electrodes cross the drive electrodes at a plurality of intersections offset from each other by the thickness of the substrate, wherein the sense electrodes have branches extending in the first direction part of the way towards each adjacent sense electrode so that end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes co-extend with each other in the first direction separated by a distance sufficiently small that capacitive coupling to the drive electrode adjacent to the co-extending portion is reduced.
Specification