Touch Sensor with High-Density Macro-Feature Design

• US 20140306922A1
• Filed: 04/15/2013
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• 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 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

In one embodiment, a touch position-sensing panel comprises a sensing area comprising a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes in a first layer, the plurality of first electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a first direction, the first layer having a first plurality of gaps formed therein, a plurality of second electrodes in a second layer, the plurality of second electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a second direction, the second layer having a second plurality of gaps formed therein, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes overlap to create a plurality of nodes, and wherein each of the plurality of gaps runs in a generally straight line from one side of the sensing area to an opposing side of the sensing area.

Claims

1. A touch position-sensing panel comprising:

a sensing area comprising;

a substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes in a first layer, the plurality of first electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a first direction, the first layer having a first plurality of gaps formed therein;

a plurality of second electrodes in a second layer, the plurality of second electrodes comprising conductive mesh and arranged in a second direction, the second layer having a second plurality of gaps formed therein;

wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes overlap to create a plurality of nodes; and

wherein each of the plurality of gaps runs in a generally straight line from one side of the sensing area to an opposing side of the sensing area.

2. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first electrodes in the first layer are on a first side of the substrate and the plurality of second electrodes in the second layer are on a second side of the substrate.

3. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein the conductive mesh of one or more of the plurality of first electrodes and the conductive mesh of one or more of the plurality of second electrodes comprises copper.

4. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first electrodes comprise a plurality of electrodes formed in a piece of conductive mesh, each electrode separated from an adjacent electrode by one of the first plurality of gaps in the conductive mesh.

5. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 4, wherein the conductive mesh of the plurality of first electrodes occupies an area of a shape of each of the plurality of first electrodes of equal to or less than approximately 5%.

6. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first electrodes has approximately equal widths and approximately equal lengths.

7. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of second electrodes has approximately equal widths and approximately equal lengths.

8. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein a first width and a first length of each gap of a first portion of gaps of the plurality of gaps is approximately equal and a second width and a second length of each gap of a second portion of the plurality of gaps is approximately equal.

9. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein a first width of a first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater than a second width of a second electrode of the plurality of first electrodes.

10. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein a first width of a first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater at a first point along a length of the first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes than a second width at a second point along the length of the first electrode.

11. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is approximately equal to a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes.

12. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater than a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes.

21. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second plurality of gaps have a width greater than 0 micrometers and less than 20 micrometers.

23. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 1, wherein:

at least two electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes each span the sensing area in the first direction, the at least two electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes being adjacent to one another and separated by a gap of the first plurality of gaps, the gap, generally running in a straight line from one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area, separating the adjacent at least two electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes from the one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area; and

at least two electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes each span the sensing area in the second direction, the at least two electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes being adjacent to one another and separated by a gap of the second plurality of gaps, the gap, generally running in a straight line from one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area, separating the adjacent at least two electrodes of the plurality of second electrodes from the one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area.

13. A touch position-sensing panel comprising:

a sensing area comprising;

a substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes in a first layer, the plurality of first electrodes comprising a conductive mesh and arranged in a first direction, the first layer having a first plurality of gaps formed in the mesh, at least one of the plurality of first electrodes separated from an adjacent electrode of the plurality of first electrodes by a gap of the first plurality of gaps;

a plurality of second electrodes in a second layer, the plurality of second electrodes comprising a conductive mesh and arranged in a second direction, the second layer having a second plurality of gaps formed in the mesh, at least one of the plurality of second electrodes separated from an adjacent electrode of the plurality of second electrodes by a gap of the second plurality of gaps;

wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes overlap to create a plurality of nodes; and

wherein each of the plurality of gaps runs in a generally straight line from one side of the sensing area to an opposing side of the sensing area.

14. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of first electrodes in the first layer are on a first side of the substrate and the plurality of second electrodes in the second layer are on a second side of the substrate.

15. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a width and a length of each of the plurality of first electrodes is approximately equal.

16. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a first width and a first length of each gap of a first portion of gaps of the plurality of gaps is approximately equal and a second width and a second length of each gap of a second portion of the plurality of gaps is approximately equal.

17. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a first width of a first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater than a second width of a second electrode of the plurality of first electrodes.

18. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a first width of a first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater at a first point along a length of the first electrode of the plurality of first electrodes than a second width at a second point along the length of the first electrode.

19. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is approximately equal to a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes.

20. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes is greater than a width of at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes.

22. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein, wherein the first and second plurality of gaps have a width greater than 0 micrometers and less than 20 micrometers.

24. The touch position-sensing panel of claim 13, wherein:

the at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and the adjacent electrode of the plurality of first electrodes each span the sensing area in the first direction, the gap of the first plurality of gaps, separating the at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes from the adjacent electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and generally running in a straight line from one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area, separating the at least one electrode of the plurality of first electrodes and the adjacent electrode of the plurality of first electrodes from the one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area; and

the at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes and the adjacent electrode of the plurality of second electrodes each span the sensing area in the second direction, the gap of the second plurality of gaps, separating the at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes from the adjacent electrode of the plurality of second electrodes and generally running in a straight line from one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area, separating the at least one electrode of the plurality of second electrodes and the adjacent electrode of the plurality of second electrodes from the one side of the sensing area to the opposing side of the sensing area.