Low-Resistance Electrodes

• US 20130127769A1
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guard, Brent David, Hristov, Luben Hirstov
• Application Number:
  US13/300,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127769A1
• 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: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes multiple electrodes or electrode lines that include one or more segments. Each of the segments is made of substantially transparent conductive material and extends in a direction. The touch sensor also includes a conductive line on or in one or more of the segments of the electrodes or electrode lines. The conductive line extends in the direction of the segment. The conductive line also has a lower resistivity than the substantially transparent conductive material of the segment and a width that is substantially less than the segment.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a plurality of electrodes or electrode lines that each comprise one or more segments, each of the segments being made of substantially transparent conductive material and extending in a direction; and

on or in one or more of the segments of one or more of the electrodes or electrode lines, a conductive line extending in the direction of the segment, the conductive line comprising a lower resistivity than the substantially transparent conductive material of the segment and having a width that is substantially less than the segment.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive line being substantially opaque and following a substantially randomized path along the direction of the segment.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the electrode lines comprises:

a plurality of square-shaped electrodes arranged in a line; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the square-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

4. The touch sensor of claim 3, wherein, for each of the electrode lines, the conductive line extends along and substantially spans a length of the line that its square-shaped electrodes are arranged in.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the electrode lines comprises:

a plurality of rectangular-shaped electrodes extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the segment, the rectangular-shaped electrodes arranged in a line along the direction of the segment; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the rectangular-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

6. The touch sensor of claim 5, wherein each electrode further comprising a plurality of projections extending from the rectangular-shaped electrodes and the bridges.

7. The touch sensor of claim 6, wherein, for each of the electrode lines, the conductive line extends along and spans a portion of a length of the rectangular-shaped electrodes.

8. A device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising;

a plurality of electrodes or electrode lines that each comprise one or more segments, each of the segments being made of substantially transparent conductive material and extending in a direction;

on or in one or more of the segments of one or more of the electrodes or electrode lines, a conductive line extending in the direction of the segment, the conductive line comprising a lower resistivity than the substantially transparent conductive material of the segment and having a width that is substantially less than the segment; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the conductive line being substantially opaque and following a substantially randomized path along the direction of the segment.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein each of the electrode lines comprises:

a plurality of square-shaped electrodes arranged in a line; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the square-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein, for each of the electrode lines, the conductive line extends along and substantially spans a length of the line that its square-shaped electrodes are arranged in.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the each electrode line comprises:

a plurality of rectangular-shaped electrodes extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the segment, the rectangular-shaped electrodes arranged in a line along the direction of the segment; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the rectangular-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein each electrode further comprising a plurality of projections extending from the rectangular-shaped electrodes and the bridges.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein, for each of the electrode lines, the conductive line extends along and spans a portion of a length of the rectangular-shaped electrodes.

15. A method comprising:

depositing a substantially transparent conductive material on a substrate;

patterning the substantially transparent conductive material to form a plurality of electrodes or electrode lines that each comprise one or more segments and extending in a direction; and

depositing on or in each of one or more of the segments of one or more of the electrodes or electrode lines, a conductive line extending in the direction of the segment and substantially spanning its extent, the conductive line comprising a lower resistivity than the substantially transparent conductive material of the segment and having a width that is substantially less than the segment.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the conductive line being substantially opaque and following a substantially randomized path along the direction of the segment.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the electrode lines comprises:

a plurality of square-shaped electrodes arranged in a line; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the square-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein, for each of the electrode lines, the conductive line extends along and substantially spans a length of the line that its square-shaped electrodes are arranged in.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the each electrode line comprises:

a plurality of rectangular-shaped electrodes extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the segment, the rectangular-shaped electrodes arranged in a line along the direction of the segment; and

a plurality of bridges that each couple two adjacent ones of the rectangular-shaped electrodes to each other in the line.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each electrode further comprising a plurality of projections extending from the rectangular-shaped electrodes and the bridges.