ELECTRODE PATTERNS FOR CAPACITANCE SENSITIVE TOUCHPAD

• US 20100328208A1
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cirque Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cirque Corporation
• Inventors: Bytheway, Jared G., Austin, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US12/815,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20100328208A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer

Abstract

A new layout for X, Y and Sense electrodes that enables a touchpad to be constructed using fewer layers while increasing visual clarity, transmissivity, sensitivity and linearity, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a pattern that uses spiral shapes that do not require electrodes to cross over any other electrodes.

Claims

1. A method for increasing linearity of a capacitance sensitive touchpad, said method comprised of the steps of:

1) providing a plurality of parallel X electrodes defined as main trunk electrodes and disposed on a first side of a substrate;

2) providing a plurality of parallel Y electrodes defined as main trunk electrodes and disposed on a second side of the substrate, wherein the Y electrodes are co-planar with and orthogonal to the X electrodes, and wherein each overlapping X electrode and Y electrode defines a cell; and

3) providing a plurality of branch electrodes that extend off the main trunk electrodes of the X and Y electrodes, wherein each of the branch electrodes extends at least partway towards an adjacent cell.