Touch Sensor Structure

• US 20160320873A1
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: MAKELAINEN, Esa, HAAPAKOSKI, Hannu
• Granted Patent: US 10,642,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed which includes a first substrate having an outer touch surface and an inner surface; a touch sensor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface; wherein the first substrate and the touch sensor substrate are configured to form a part of a laminated structure; and wherein a first region of the first surface of the touch sensor substrate is configured to have a shape different to an adjacent region of the inner surface of the first substrate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having an outer touch surface and an inner surface;

a touch sensor substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

wherein the first substrate and the touch sensor substrate are configured to form a part of a laminated structure; and

wherein a first region of the first surface of the touch sensor substrate is configured to have a shape different to an adjacent region of the inner surface of the first substrate.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second region of the first surface of the touch sensor substrate is configured to have a non- flat shape.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first substrate is curved around at least one axis.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of the first region is configured to have a flat surface.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flat surface comprises a flat electrical interconnection area for enabling electrical interconnection to circuitry.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flat surface comprises a flat mounting area for mounting circuitry to the touch sensor substrate.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an electrical interconnection, disposed on the flat surface, configured for electrical connection to circuitry.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a touch sensor controller disposed on the flat surface.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a protective medium disposed between the flat surface and the inner surface.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first region of the touch sensor substrate is located proximal to a periphery of the touch sensor substrate.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first region of the first substrate, adjacent to the first region of the touch sensor substrate, is configured to be provided with decoration.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more additional regions of the first surface of the touch sensor substrate configured to have a shape different to one or more respective adjacent regions of the inner surface of the first substrate.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the laminated structure has non-flat first and second opposing major surfaces.

15. A module comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

16. A touch sensitive display comprising:

the apparatus as claimed in claim 1; and

a display.

17. A device comprising:

the apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the device is configured for at least one of:

wireless communication, mobile telephony and portable handheld use.

19. A method of manufacturing:

the apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

20. An apparatus, a module, a touch sensitive display or a device manufactured according to the method of claim 19.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a first substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface;

a second substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;

wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are configured to form a part of a laminated structure; and

wherein a first region of the first surface of the second substrate is configured to have a shape different to an adjacent region of the inner surface of the first substrate.