Dual-Substrate-Sensor Stack

• US 20130181910A1
• Filed: 01/17/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: David Brent Guard
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat, Guard, David Brent
• Application Number:
  US13/351,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181910A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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 dielectric layer between a first substrate and a second substrate; and the first and second substrates. The first and second substrates each having drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor disposed on it. The drive or sense electrodes are made of a conductive mesh of conductive material. The drive and sense electrodes are disposed on a surface of the first and second substrates that face a display.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first dielectric layer between a first substrate and a second substrate; and

the first and second substrates, each with drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor disposed on it, the drive or sense electrodes being made of a conductive mesh of conductive material, the drive and sense electrodes being disposed on a surface of the first and second substrates that face a display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrates being polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, polycarbonate (PC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or FR-4.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first adhesive layer between a cover panel and the first substrate.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a layer separating the display from the second substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the layer separating the display from the second substrate comprises a second adhesive layer, a second dielectric layer, and an air gap separating the second substrate from the display.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the layer separating the display from the second substrate comprises a second adhesive layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third adhesive layer between the first and second substrates.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive mesh comprises a plurality of mesh segments, each of the mesh segments comprise a plurality of lines of conductive material, each of the lines of conductive material having a width within a range of approximately 1 to approximately 10 μ

m.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a contribution of the lines of conductive material to the attenuation of light through the conductive mesh is within a range of approximately 1 to approximately 10%.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises gold, aluminum, copper, silver, gold-based, aluminum-based, silver-based, or copper-based, or carbon nanotubes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrodes, a track, and a connection pad of the touch sensor may be formed from a same conductive material.

12. A device comprising:

a dielectric layer between the first substrate and a second substrate;

the first and second substrates, each with drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor disposed on it, the drive or sense electrodes being made of a conductive mesh of conductive material, the drive and sense electrodes being disposed on a surface of the first and second substrates that face a display; and

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

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the substrates being polyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, polycarbonate (PC), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), or FR-4.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising a first adhesive layer between a cover panel and the first substrate.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising a layer separating the display from the second substrate.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the layer separating the display from the second substrate comprises a second adhesive layer, a second dielectric layer, and an air gap separating the second substrate from the display.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the layer separating the display from the second substrate comprises a second adhesive layer.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising a third adhesive layer between the first and second substrates.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the conductive mesh comprises a plurality of mesh segments, each of the mesh segments comprise a plurality of lines of conductive material, each of the lines of conductive material having a width within a range of approximately 1 to approximately 10 μ

m.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein a contribution of the lines of conductive material to the attenuation of light through the conductive mesh is within a range of approximately 1 to approximately 10%.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the conductive material comprises gold, aluminum, copper, silver, gold-based, aluminum-based, silver-based, or copper-based, or carbon nanotubes.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrodes, a track, and a connection pad of the touch sensor may be formed from a same conductive material.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a cover panel;

a first adhesive layer between a first substrate and the cover panel;

a second adhesive layer between a display and the second substrate;

a third adhesive layer between the first and second substrates; and

the first and second substrates, each with drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor disposed on it, the drive or sense electrodes being made of a conductive mesh of conductive material, the drive and sense electrodes being disposed on a surface of the first and second substrates that face the display.