Multi-Surface Touch Sensor

• US 20130141340A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat
• Application Number:
  US13/310,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20130141340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• 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, an apparatus includes a first substrate area with a first touch sensor disposed on it configured for a first surface of a device. The apparatus further includes a second substrate area with a second touch sensor disposed on it configured for a second surface of the device. An edge between the first and second surfaces of the device may comprise an angle of deviation between the first and second surfaces of at least approximately 45°. The apparatus may further include a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded to the first and second substrate areas, the FPC being configured to bend at the edge between the first and second surfaces.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first substrate area with a first touch sensor disposed on it configured for a first surface of a device;

a second substrate area with a second touch sensor disposed on it configured for a second surface of the device, there being an edge between the first and second surfaces of the device comprising an angle of deviation between the first and second surfaces of at least approximately 45°

; and

a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded to the first and second substrate areas, the FPC being configured to bend at the edge between the first and second surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first substrate area and the second substrate area are distinct portions of the same substrate, wherein the substrate is substantially flexible and configured to bend at the edge between the first and second surfaces; and

the first touch sensor is not contiguous with the second touch sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first substrate area is provided by a first substrate that is physically distinct from a second substrate that provides the second substrate area.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the edge between the first and second surfaces has an angle of deviation of approximately 90°

.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the edge between the first and second surfaces of the device has a radius of curvature of between approximately 1 millimeter and 9 millimeters.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second touch sensors comprise electrodes made of conductive material that is substantially rigid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second touch sensors comprise electrodes made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a third substrate area with a third touch sensor disposed on it configured for a third surface of the device, there being another edge between the first and third surfaces of the device comprising an angle of deviation of at least approximately 45°

; and

the FPC is also bonded to the third substrate area.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first touch sensor has a touch-sensitive area that extends substantially out to at least two edges of the first surface;

or

the second touch sensor has a touch-sensitive area that extends substantially out to at least two edges of the second surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a front of the device and the second surface is a right or left side of the device.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a first substrate area with a first touch sensor disposed on it configured for a first surface of a device;

a second substrate area with a second touch sensor disposed on it configured for a second surface of the device, there being an edge between the first and second surfaces of the device comprising an angle of deviation between the first and second surfaces of at least approximately 45°

; and

a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded to the first and second substrate areas, the FPC being configured to bend at the edge between the first and second surfaces, the FPC coupling the first and second touch sensor to a touch-sensor controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the first substrate area and the second substrate area are distinct portions of the same substrate, wherein the substrate is substantially flexible and configured to bend at the edge between the first and second surfaces; and

the first touch sensor is not contiguous with the second touch sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first substrate area is provided by a first substrate that is physically distinct from a second substrate that provides the second substrate area.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the edge between the first and second surfaces has an angle of deviation of approximately 90°

.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the edge between the first and second surfaces of the device has a radius of curvature of between approximately 1 millimeter and 9 millimeters.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second touch sensors comprise electrodes made of conductive material that is substantially rigid.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second touch sensors comprise electrodes made of indium tin oxide (ITO).

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a third substrate area with a third touch sensor disposed on it configured for a third surface of the device, there being another edge between the first and third surfaces of the device comprising an angle of deviation of at least approximately 45°

; and

the FPC is also bonded to the third substrate area.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the first touch sensor has a touch-sensitive area that extends substantially out to at least two edges of the first surface;

or

the second touch sensor has a touch-sensitive area that extends substantially out to at least two edges of the second surface.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first surface is a front of the device and the second surface is a right or left side of the device.

21. A device comprising:

a first substrate area with a first touch sensor disposed on it configured for a first surface of the device;

a second substrate area with a second touch sensor disposed on it configured for a second surface of the device, there being an edge between the first and second surfaces of the device comprising an angle of deviation between the first and second surfaces of at least approximately 45°

;

a flexible printed circuit (FPC) bonded to the first and second substrate areas, the FPC bending across the edge between the first and second surfaces, the FPC coupling the first and second touch sensor to a touch-sensor controller; and

a display overlaid by at least a portion of the first touch sensor.