Index Matching For Touch Screens

• US 20100141608A1
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tung, Chun-Hao, HUANG, Lili, Oldham, Neal, Zhong, John Z., Hotelling, Steve Porter, Chang, Shih Chang
• Application Number:
  US12/331,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20100141608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/178
• 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

Index matching for touch screens is provided. An index matching stackup for a touch screen can be formed including a substantially transparent substrate, a substantially transparent conductive layer disposed in a pattern, and an index matching layer for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen. The index matching layer can also be designed to operate as a dual-function layer. In one dual-function design, the index matching layer design performs both index matching and passivating the conductive layer. In another dual-function design, the index matching layer performs both index matching and adhesion of layers. The index matching layer can also be designed to serve all three functions of index matching, passivating, and adhering.

Claims

1. An index matching stackup for a touch screen, the stackup comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate;

a substantially transparent conductive layer disposed over the substrate in a pattern; and

an index matching layer disposed over the conductive layer for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen, wherein the index matching layer also passivates the conductive layer.

2. The index matching stackup of claim 1, wherein an index of refraction of the index matching layer is higher than an index of refraction of the conductive layer.

3. The index matching stackup of claim 1, further comprising:

a second substantially transparent layer disposed over the conductive layer, wherein the index matching layer is disposed between the conductive layer and the second substantially transparent layer, and an index of refraction of the index matching layer is between indices of refraction of the conductive layer and the second substantially transparent layer.

4. The index matching stackup of claim 3, wherein the index matching is an adhesive layer that the conductive layer to a second substantially transparent layer.

5. The index matching stackup of claim 1, wherein the index matching layer is an adhesive.

6. The index matching stackup of claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is Indium Tin Oxide.

7. The index matching stackup of claim 1, wherein the index matching layer includes one of i) a nanoparticle-embedded organic polymer and ii) a polymerized siloxane with high molecular-weight organic functional groups.

8. The index matching stackup of claim 1, the index matching stackup incorporated within a touch screen.

9. The index matching stackup of claim 8, the touch screen incorporated within a computing system.

10. A method of manufacturing an index matching stackup for a touch screen, the method comprising:

forming a substantially transparent conductive layer on a substantially transparent substrate;

patterning the conductive layer to form one of a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines; and

forming an index matching layer with the patterned conductive layer and the substrate for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the index matching layer between the substrate and the conductive layer.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming the index matching layer over the substrate and the conductive layer.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising selecting an index of refraction of the index matching layer to be substantially the same as an index of refraction of the conductive layer.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising selecting an index of refracting of the index matching layer to be higher than an index of refraction of the conductive layer.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing the index matching layer as an adhesive.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising utilizing the index matching layer as a passivation layer.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein forming an index matching layer comprises:

spin coating an index matching material onto the patterned conductive layer.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein forming an index matching layer comprises:

slit coating an index matching material onto the patterned conductive layer.

19. An index matching stackup for a touch screen, the stackup comprising:

one or more layers of substantially transparent conductive material forming a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines; and

an index matching layer abutting one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

20. The index matching stackup of claim 19, wherein the index matching layer abuts both the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

21. The index matching stackup of claim 19, wherein an index of refraction of the index matching layer is substantially the same as an index of refraction of the abutting one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

22. The index matching stackup of claim 19, further comprising:

a substantially transparent layer abutting the index matching layer,

wherein the index matching layer is disposed between the substantially transparent layer and the abutting one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines, and an index of refraction of the index matching layer is between an index of refraction of the substantially transparent layer and an index of refraction of the abutting one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

23. The index matching stackup of claim 22, wherein the substantially transparent layer is a cover glass of the touch screen.

24. The index matching stackup of claim 19, wherein the conductive layer is Indium Tin Oxide.

25. The index matching stackup of claim 19, further comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate disposed between the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

26. The index matching stackup of claim 19, wherein the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines are formed of a single layer of the substantially transparent conductive material.

27. The index matching stackup of claim 19, further comprising:

an additional layer,

wherein the index matching layer is formed of an adhesive material that adheres the additional layer to the conductive layer.

28. The index matching stackup of claim 27, wherein the index matching layer is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

29. The index matching stackup of claim 19, the index matching stackup incorporated within a touch screen.

30. The index matching stackup of claim 29, the touch screen incorporated within a computing system.

31. A method of manufacturing a touch screen, the method comprising:

forming an index matching layer on a substantially transparent substrate;

forming a substantially conductive layer on the index matching layer; and

patterning the conductive layer to form one of a plurality of drive lines and plurality of sense lines.

32. The method of manufacturing of claim 31, wherein forming an index matching layer comprises:

spin coating an index matching material onto the substrate.

33. The method of manufacturing of claim 31, wherein forming an index matching layer comprises:

slit coating an index matching material onto the substrate.

34. An index matching stackup for a touch screen, the stackup comprising:

a substrate;

a substantially transparent conductive layer formed in a pattern on the substrate; and

a pressure sensitive adhesive that matches an index of refraction of the conductive layer to reduce a visibility of the pattern.

35. The index matching stackup of claim 34, the index matching stackup incorporated within a touch screen.

36. The index matching stackup of claim 35, the touch screen incorporated within a computing system.

37. A mobile telephone including an index matching stackup comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate;

a substantially transparent conductive layer disposed over the substrate in a pattern; and

an index matching layer disposed over the conductive layer for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen, wherein the index matching layer also passivates the conductive layer.

38. A digital media player including an index matching stackup comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate;

a substantially transparent conductive layer disposed over the substrate in a pattern; and

an index matching layer disposed over the conductive layer for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen, wherein the index matching layer also passivates the conductive layer.

39. A personal computer including an index matching stackup comprising:

a substantially transparent substrate;

a substantially transparent conductive layer disposed over the substrate in a pattern; and

an index matching layer disposed over the conductive layer for improving an optical uniformity of the touch screen, wherein the index matching layer also passivates the conductive layer.