Touch sensor with secondary sensor and ground shield

• US 8,797,282 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lyon, Benjamin B., Richards, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CERULLO, LILIANA P
• Application Number:
  US12/906,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184, 178 1801- 2004, 349/12, 257/41, 257414-470, 200/600, 200/406, 200513-516
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960765 Details of shielding arrangements

Abstract

A touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern is provided. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state or ground during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle.

Claims

1. A touch surface, comprising:

a touch sensor pattern including at least one touch sensor; and

at least one secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern,

wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state during a touch scan cycle, and

the at least one secondary sensor is configured to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during the touch scan cycle;

wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.

2. The touch surface of claim 1, further comprising a shielding material formed on a back side of the touch surface, the shielding material having a cutout portion for the secondary sensor.

3. The touch surface of claim 1, further comprising an interface coupled to the touch sensor pattern and the secondary sensor, the interface configured for multiplexing inputs to the touch sensor pattern and the secondary sensor.

4. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by alternating current (AC) shielding the at least one secondary sensor from the touch sensor pattern.

5. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by coupling the at least one secondary sensor to ground.

6. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by AC coupling the at least one secondary sensor to at least one of a direct current (DC) voltage or ground, for frequencies in-band with respect to operation of the touch sensor pattern.

7. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a proximity sensor.

8. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a flexible substrate including at least one of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), polymide, and polycarbinate.

9. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a glass substrate.

10. The touch surface of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within a touch sensor panel, which is part of a computing system.

11. The touch surface of claim 10, wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within an input device of the computing system.

12. The touch surface of claim 10, wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within a touch screen display of the computing system.

13. A method of forming a touch surface, comprising:

forming a touch sensor pattern;

forming at least one secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern; and

grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle;

wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises alternating current (AC) shielding the at least one secondary sensor from the touch sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises coupling the at least one secondary sensor to ground.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises AC coupling the at least one secondary sensor to at least one of a direct current (DC) voltage or ground.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one secondary sensor includes a proximity sensor.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a substrate including at least one of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), polymide, and polycarbinate.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the touch sensor and at least one secondary sensor is formed on a glass substrate.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the touch sensor surface is incorporated within an input device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the input device is incorporated within a computing system.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the touch sensor surface is incorporated within a touch screen display.

23. A system, comprising:

a touch sensor surface,

wherein the touch sensor surface includes

a touch sensor pattern, and

at least one secondary sensor formed as part of the touch sensor pattern and configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state, in order to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor circuit;

wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.