CROSS HATCH ITO SENSOR PATTERN FOR TOUCHSCREENS

• US 20170024033A1
• Filed: 07/20/2015
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V. (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Limited (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Chandran, Praveesh, Bhatia, Ravi
• Granted Patent: US 9,791,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/09 Use of materials for the conductive, e.g. metallic pattern

Abstract

In one implementation, a capacitive sensing structure comprises rows of first sensors electrically coupled together and columns of second sensors electrically coupled together, wherein the first sensors include: a first arm extending in a first direction and having a first plurality of finger structures extending therefrom, a second arm extending in the first direction and having a second plurality of finger structures extending therefrom, and an end portion connecting the arms, wherein the first sensors define open regions that are occupied by the second sensors. In a second implementation, a capacitive sensing structure comprises rows of first sensors and columns of second sensors, wherein each of the first sensors includes an elongated portion having finger structures extending therefrom, and wherein each of the second sensors includes a primary portion connected to secondary portions via arms, wherein the secondary portions occupy gaps defined by the finger structures of the first sensors.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensing structure, comprising:

one or more rows of first electrically conductive sensor structures; and

one or more columns of second electrically conductive sensor structures electrically coupled together;

wherein each row of the first electrically conductive sensor structures comprises;

a first arm extending in a first direction across each of the one or more columns of second electrically conductive sensor structures and having a first plurality of finger structures extending from the first arm along a second direction,

a second arm extending parallel to the first arm and across each of the one or more columns of second electrically conductive sensor structures, the second arm having a second plurality of finger structures extending from the second arm along the second direction, and

an end portion connecting the first and second arms at a first end of the row of the first electrically conductive sensor structures,

wherein at least the first arm, second arm, first plurality of finger structures, and second plurality of finger structures at least partially define a plurality of open regions.

2. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, wherein each of the second electrically conductive sensor structures comprise a shape disposed within one of the plurality of open regions, wherein the shape is at least partially defined by a perimeter of the one of the plurality of open regions.

3. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 2, wherein the shape of one or more of the second electrically conductive sensor structures includes one or more horizontal protrusions each disposed adjacent one or more of the finger structures and extending from the second electrically conductive sensor structure along the first direction.

4. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 3, wherein the shape of one or more of the second electrically conductive sensor structures further includes one or more vertical protrusions extending from the second electrically conductive sensor structure along the second direction.

5. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first arm and second arm of the row of first electrically conductive sensor structures includes a tapered region disposed adjacent one or more of the vertical protrusions of the second electrically conductive sensor structures.

6. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 5, wherein the shape of one or more of the second electrically conductive sensor structures further includes an electrical bridge extending between, and electrically connecting, adjacent vertical protrusions of the second electrically conductive sensor structures.

7. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of single electrically conductive structures, each disposed between adjacent first and second electrically conductive sensor structures.

8. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 7, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are electrically floating with respect to the first electrically conductive sensor structures and second electrically conductive sensor structures.

9. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 7, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one or more of the first electrically conductive sensor structures.

10. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 7, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one or more of the second electrically conductive sensor structures.

11. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive sensor structures, the second electrically conductive sensor structures, and the plurality of single electrically conductive structures is comprised of indium tin oxide.

12. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of open regions are formed between the first arm and second arm of one of the rows of first electrically conductive sensor structures.

13. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of open regions are formed between adjacent rows of the first electrically conductive sensor structures.

14. A capacitive sensing structure, comprising:

one or more rows of first electrically conductive sensor structures electrically coupled together; and

one or more columns of second electrically conductive sensor structures electrically coupled together;

wherein each of the first electrically conductive sensor structures comprises;

an elongated portion extending along a first direction, and

a plurality of finger structures extending from the elongated portion along a second direction and defining gaps between adjacent finger structures, and wherein each of the second electrically conductive sensor structures comprises;

a primary portion extending along the second direction, and

a plurality of secondary portions coupled to the primary portion by one or more arms extending from the primary portion along the first direction, wherein each of the one or more arms couples a first secondary portion and a second secondary portion to the primary portion, wherein each of the secondary portions extend along the second direction to occupy at least a portion of one or more of the gaps defined by adjacent finger structures of one or more of the first electrically conductive sensor structures.

15. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the plurality of finger structures comprising the first electrically conductive sensor structure are disposed along opposite sides of the elongated portion.

16. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the one or more rows of first electrically conductive sensor structures comprise a first layer of the capacitive sensing structure, and the one or more columns of second electrically conductive sensor structures comprise a second layer of the capacitive sensing structure.

17. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the one or more rows of first electrically conductive sensor structures further comprise one or more electrical bridges, each electrical bridge extending between, and electrically connecting, adjacent ones of the first electrically conductive sensor structures.

18. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the one or more arms terminate at one of the second secondary portions.

19. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the first secondary portions are disposed midway along the one or more arms.

20. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, wherein the second secondary portion is half the size of the first secondary portion.

21. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of single electrically conductive structures, each disposed between adjacent first and second electrically conductive sensor structures.

22. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 21, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are electrically floating with respect to the first electrically conductive sensor structures and second electrically conductive sensor structures.

23. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 21, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one or more of the first electrically conductive sensor structures.

24. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 21, wherein the single electrically conductive structures are disposed along at least a portion of a perimeter of one or more of the second electrically conductive sensor structures.

25. The capacitive sensing structure of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first electrically conductive sensor structures, the second electrically conductive sensor structures, and the plurality of single electrically conductive structures is comprised of indium tin oxide.