Mesh Design for Touch Sensors

• US 20150077349A1
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: David Brent Guard
• Inventors: Guard, David Brent, Emm, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,304,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a touch sensor including a mesh of multiple first lines and second lines of conductive material extending across a display. The first lines are substantially parallel to each other. The second lines are substantially parallel to each other. The display includes multiple pixels that each include sub-pixels. Each of the pixels has a first pixel pitch along a first axis and a second pixel pitch along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. Each of the sub-pixels has a first sub-pixel pitch along the first axis and a second sub-pixel dimension along the second axis. The second sub-pixel dimension is substantially equal to a first value or a second value, the second value being greater than the first value. The first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch sensor comprising a mesh of conductive material, wherein;

the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material extending across a display, the first lines being substantially parallel to each other, the second lines being substantially parallel to each other, the display comprising a plurality of pixels that each comprise sub-pixels, each of the pixels having a first pixel pitch along a first axis and a second pixel pitch along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, each of the sub-pixels having a first sub-pixel pitch along the first axis, and a second sub-pixel dimension along the second axis, wherein the second sub-pixel dimension is substantially equal to a first value or a second value, the second value being greater than the first value;

the first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis, wherein the first angle is at least approximately equal to the arctangent of the ratio of a third value to the first pixel pitch, wherein the third value is greater than the first value and less than the second value; and

the second lines extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis, wherein the second angle is at least approximately equal to the arctangent of the ratio of the second pixel pitch to twice the first sub-pixel pitch; and

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third value is approximately equal to an average of the first and second values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first angle is oriented counterclockwise relative to the first axis; and

the second angle is oriented clockwise relative to the first axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first value corresponds to a second sub-pixel dimension of a first display;

the second value corresponds to a second sub-pixel dimension of a second display;

the first and second displays have first pixel pitches that are substantially the same;

the first and second displays have second pixel pitches that are substantially the same; and

the first and second displays have first sub-pixel pitches that are substantially the same.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the first display has a first sub-pixel dead space dimension of the first display along the first axis;

the second display has a first sub-pixel dead space dimension of the second display along the first axis;

an average first sub-pixel dead space dimension is approximately equal to an average of the first sub-pixel dead space dimension of the first display and the first sub-pixel dead space dimension of the second display;

the first display has a first sub-pixel dimension of the first display along the first axis;

the second display has a first sub-pixel dimension of the second display along the first axis;

an average first sub-pixel dimension is approximately equal to an average of the first sub-pixel dimension of the first display and the first sub-pixel dimension of the second display; and

second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to a sum of;

the first pixel pitch;

the first sub-pixel pitch;

the average first sub-pixel dead space dimension; and

1/2 of the average first sub-pixel dimension.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to three times the first pixel pitch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to 13/6 of the first pixel pitch.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to six times the first pixel pitch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to 13/3 of the first pixel pitch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to two times the first pixel pitch.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first axis is horizontal;

the second axis is vertical;

the first pixel pitch along the first axis is a width;

the second pixel pitch along the second axis is a height;

the first sub-pixel pitch along the first axis is a width; and

the second sub-pixel dimension along the second axis is a height.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sub-pixels are substantially rectangular.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more segments of one or more of the first or second lines are substantially sinusoidal.

14. A touch sensor comprising:

a mesh of conductive material, wherein;

the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material extending across a display, the first lines being substantially parallel to each other, the second lines being substantially parallel to each other, the display comprising a plurality of pixels that each comprise sub-pixels, each of the pixels having a first pixel pitch along a first axis and a second pixel pitch along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, each of the sub-pixels having a first sub-pixel pitch along the first axis, and a second sub-pixel dimension along the second axis, wherein the second sub-pixel dimension is substantially equal to a first value or a second value, the second value being greater than the first value;

the first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis, wherein the first angle is at least approximately equal to the arctangent of the ratio of a third value to the first pixel pitch, wherein the third value is greater than the first value and less than the second value; and

the second lines extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis, wherein the second angle is at least approximately equal to the arctangent of the ratio of the second pixel pitch to twice the first sub-pixel pitch.

15. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein the third value is approximately equal to an average of the first and second values.

16. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein:

the first angle is oriented counterclockwise relative to the first axis; and

the second angle is oriented clockwise relative to the first axis.

17. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to three times the first pixel pitch.

18. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to 13/6 of the first pixel pitch.

19. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to six times the first pixel pitch.

20. The touch sensor of claim 14, wherein second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a distance at least approximately equal to 13/3 of the first pixel pitch.