DISPLAY STACKUPS FOR MATRIX SENSOR

• US 20150286317A1
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: SHEPELEV, Petr
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

Capacitive sensing devices that provide short settling time and fast response without creating undesirable visual effects are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensing device includes a pixel layer stacked with a conductive sensor layer and a metal interconnect layer. The conductive sensor layer has a plurality of sensor electrodes, each of which includes one or more common electrodes. The plurality of sensor electrodes has an areal extent in which an active area of the sensor electrodes is configured to detect input events. The metal interconnect layer is disposed in the active area and includes routing traces. The routing traces are coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes and extend from within a first region defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes to a second region outward of the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing device comprising:

a conductive sensor layer having a plurality of sensor electrodes, each of the sensor electrodes comprising one or more common electrodes, the plurality of sensor electrodes having an areal extent defined in a plane of the conductive sensor layer in which an active area of the sensor electrodes is configured to detect input events;

a metal interconnect layer disposed in the active area and stacked with the conductive sensor layer, the metal interconnect layer comprising routing traces, the routing traces coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, the routing traces extending from within a first region defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes to a second region outward of the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes; and

a pixel layer stacked with the conductive sensor layer and the metal interconnect layer, the pixel layer comprising pixel electrodes.

2. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensor electrodes are arranged in a matrix.

3. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a black mask layer stacked with the pixel layer, the conductive sensor layer and metal interconnect layer, the black mask layer forming masked regions within the active area, the masked regions disposed between adjacent pixel electrodes, the masked regions covering the routing traces.

4. The capacitive sensing device of claim 3, wherein a connection between the routing traces and the sensor electrodes is covered by the masked regions.

5. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1, wherein each of the routing traces has about the same length.

6. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:

vias connecting the routing traces and the sensor electrodes.

7. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1, wherein adjacent pixel electrodes have at least one or more routing traces disposed therebetween.

8. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a data metal layer stacked with the pixel layer, the conductive sensor layer and metal interconnect layer, the data metal layer comprising a plurality of source lines disposed in the first region defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the source lines disposed in a position stacked above or below the routing traces.

9. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes via the routing traces, the processing system is configured to drive sensing signals onto the routing traces for performing capacitive sensing.

10. The capacitive sensing device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the routing traces are different in length.

11. A capacitive sensing device comprising:

a display device having a sensing stack comprising;

a conductive sensor layer having a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix, each of the sensor electrodes comprising one or more common electrodes, the plurality of sensor electrodes having an areal extent defined in a plane of the conductive sensor layer in which an active area of the sensor electrodes is configured to detect input events;

a metal interconnect layer fabricated from a material having a resistivity lower than a material comprising the conductive sensor layer, the metal interconnect layer comprising routing traces coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes, the routing traces extending from within a first region of the sensing stack defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes to a second region of the sensing stack defined outward of the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes; and

a pixel layer comprising pixel electrodes; and

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes via the routing traces, the processing system is configured to drive sensing signals onto the routing traces for performing capacitive sensing.

12. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein the sensing stack further comprises:

a black mask layer having a masked regions disposed in the first region defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the masked regions covering the routing traces.

13. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein the sensing stack further comprises:

a connection between the routing traces and the sensor electrodes is covered by the masked regions.

14. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein each of the routing traces has about the same length.

15. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein the sensing stack further comprises:

vias connecting the routing traces and the sensor electrodes.

16. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein adjacent pixel electrodes have at least one or more routing traces disposed therebetween.

17. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11, wherein the sensing stack further comprises:

a data metal layer comprising a plurality of source lines disposed in the first region defined by the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the source lines stacked above or below the routing traces.

18. The capacitive sensing device of claim 11 further comprising:

an anti-reflective oxide layer disposed on the routing traces.

19. A capacitive sensing device comprising:

a display device having a sensing stack comprising;

a conductive sensor layer having a plurality of sensor electrodes arranged in a matrix, each of the sensor electrodes comprising one or more common electrodes, the plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first region of the sensing stack defined by an areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes;

routing traces formed from a material having a resistivity lower than a material comprising the conductive sensor layer, the routing traces connected to the plurality of sensor electrodes in the first region and extending to a second region of the sensing stack defined outward of the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes;

a black mask layer covering the routing traces;

a pixel layer comprising pixel electrodes, wherein at least one pair of adjacent pixel electrodes having routing traces disposed therebetween; and

a plurality of source lines disposed in the first region and extending to a second region defined outward of the areal extent of the plurality of sensor electrodes, the source lines covered by the black mask layer and stacked above or below the routing traces; and

a processing system coupled to the plurality of sensor electrodes via the routing traces, the processing system is configured to drive sensing signals onto the routing traces for performing capacitive sensing.

20. The capacitive sensing device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of source lines and the routing traces are formed in a single layer.

21. The capacitive sensing device of claim 19 further comprising:

vias coupling the routing traces to the sensor electrodes.