TOUCH-SCREEN PANEL COMPRISING CELLS THAT HAVE HOLED OR DUMMIED INTERIOR PORTIONS

• US 20120056820A1
• Filed: 09/03/2010
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Corbridge, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 touch-sensitive panel is provided for a display assembly and computing device. Individual cells of the panel are structured to include electrically inactive interior portions or centers to enhance the sensitivity and performance of the panel.

Claims

1. A display assembly for a computing device, the display assembly comprising:

a touch-sensitive panel comprising an array of sensor cells, the array of sensor cells including a first portion of sensor cells that are designated as driver cells, and a second portion of sensor cells that are designated as receiver cells;

display hardware that is connected to the panel, the display hardware being structured to (i) actively drive a signal on each driver cell; and

(ii) detect, on each receiver cell, a parasitic signal that is generated from the signal driven one or more driver cells that are adjacent to that receiver cell;

wherein at least some of the sensor cells are constructed to include a conductive perimeter thickness that surrounds a non-electrically active interior portion.

2. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein individual sensor cells in the array of sensor cells are diamond shaped.

3. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein individual sensor cells in the array of sensor cells are polygonal in shape.

4. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is a void.

5. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is formed from non-conductive material.

6. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is comprised of a break that separates the conductive perimeter thickness from the interior portion of that sensor cell.

7. The display assembly of claim 6, wherein the interior portion of individual sensor cells that include the break is grounded.

8. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein the array of sensor cells is structured to provide the driver cells on one of a row or a column of the grid, and the receiver cells on the other of the row or the column of the array.

9. A computing device comprising:

a housing;

a display assembly comprising;

a touch-sensitive panel comprising an array of sensor cells, the array of sensor cells including a first portion of sensor cells that are designated as driver cells, and a second portion of sensor cells that are designated as receiver cells;

display hardware that is connected to the panel, the display hardware being structured to (i) actively drive a signal on each driver cell; and

(ii) detect, on each receiver cell, a parasitic signal that is generated from the signal driven one or more driver cells that are adjacent to that receiver cell;

wherein at least some of the sensor cells are constructed to include a conductive perimeter thickness that surrounds a non-electrically active interior portion.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein individual sensor cells in the array of sensor cells are diamond shaped.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein individual sensor cells in the array of sensor cells are polygonal in shape.

12. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is a void.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is formed from non-conductive material.

14. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the non-electrically active interior portion of the at least some of the sensor cells is comprised of a break that separates the conductive perimeter thickness from the interior portion of that sensor cell.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the interior portion of individual sensor cells that include the break is grounded.

16. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the array of sensor cells is structured to provide the driver cells on one of a row or a column of the grid, and the receiver cells on the other of the row or the column of the array.

17. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the display assembly further comprises a display element that emits computer-generated content.

18. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device.

19. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the computing device is a slate of display-dominant device.

20. A touch-sensitive panel comprising:

an array of sensor cells, the array of sensor cells including a first portion of sensor cells that are designated as driver cells, and a second portion of sensor cells that are designated as receiver cells;

wherein the array of sensor cells are arranged to (i) actively drive a signal on each driver cell; and

(ii) detect, on each receiver cell, a parasitic signal that is generated from the signal driven one or more driver cells that are adjacent to that receiver cell;

wherein at least some of the driver cells and/or the receiver cells are constructed to include a conductive perimeter thickness that surrounds a non-electrically active interior portion.