Electromagnetic digitizer sensor array structure

• US 7,875,814 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: TPO Displays Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Yingchih, Chen, Dinguo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORNER, JONATHAN R
• Application Number:
  US11/490,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,649 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 178/18.07
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

An electromagnetic digitizer having a sensor segment that includes a generally longitudinal network of conductive lines. Two or more conductive lines are coupled in parallel. To enhance sensitivity, the adjacent lines are interconnected along the longitudinal structure, using interconnections in the form of short lines, oriented at an angle. The sensor segments may be miniaturized, to facilitate integration into a display module using semiconductor fabrication processes. Various sensor array structures may be implemented using the sensor segment structures. The sensor array may include longitudinal sensor segments arranged in a parallel array. To further enhancing sensitivity of the sensor array, additional lines may be provided between adjacent longitudinal sensor segments. The sensor array may also include half loop (or U-shaped) sensor segments arranged in an overlapping parallel array, or full loop sensor segments arranged in an overlapping parallel array.

Claims

1. A sensor array for an electromagnetic digitizer, comprising a plurality of sensor segments, each having a generally longitudinal structure that includes a network of at least two conductive lines spaced apart along a longitudinal direction, wherein adjacent conductive lines are interconnected by a plurality of interconnection lines at a plurality of locations along the conductive lines other than at the ends of the conductive lines, and wherein the interconnection lines are shunt lines shorting the adjacent conductive lines at the plurality of locations.

2. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein the conductive lines are spaced apart in parallel.

3. A sensor array as in claim 2, wherein the conductive lines are commonly coupled at one end.

4. A sensor array as in claim 3, wherein the conductive lines are commonly grounded at said one end.

5. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein adjacent conductive lines are interconnected by at least two interconnection lines at least two locations along the conductive lines other than at the ends of the conductive lines.

6. A sensor array as in claim 5, wherein the interconnection lines are at an angle to the adjacent conductive lines.

7. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein the network of conductive lines is configured in a generally honeycomb structure.

8. A sensor array as in claim 1, wherein the sensor segments are arranged in parallel.

9. A sensor array as in claim 8, wherein at least two of the sensor segments include parallel longitudinal sections.

10. A sensor array as in claim 9, further comprising additional conductive lines disposed between adjacent parallel longitudinal sections of sensor segments.

11. A sensor array as in claim 10, wherein the additional conductive lines are maintained at the same electrical potential.

12. A sensor array as in claim 8, wherein at least two of the sensor segments include generally half-looped or U-shaped sections, or generally full looped sections.

13. A sensor array as in claim 12, wherein the half looped or U-shaped sections or full looped sections are configured in an overlapping manner separated by a dielectric material.

14. An electromagnetic digitizer, comprising:

a first sensor array for determining a first coordinate of a stylus input in a first direction;

a second sensor array for determining a second coordinate of a stylus input in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

wherein at least one of the first sensor array and the second sensor array is as claimed in claim 1.

15. An electromagnetic digitizer as in claim 14, further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor array and the second sensor array to determine the first and second coordinates based on changes in current induced by changes in magnetic flux at the first and second sensor arrays.

16. A display device, comprising:

a display module, which comprises;

a display element; and

an electromagnetic digitizers as claimed in claim 14; and

a controller operatively coupled to the display module including the electromagnetic digitizer, to synchronize operation of the display element and the electromagnetic digitizer.

17. A display device as in claim 16, further comprising a stylus operatively coupled to the controller.

18. A display system, comprising:

a display device as in claim 16; and

an interface controller coupled to the display device, exchanging image data and user input data from the electromagnetic digitizer with a controller in an electronic device.

19. An electronic device, comprising:

a display system as in claim 18; and

a controller operatively coupled to the interface controller of the display system, to exchange image data and user input data from the electromagnetic digitizer.

20. A sensor array as in claim 5, wherein the at least two interconnection lines are at the same angle with respect to the adjacent conductive lines.