Touch sensor and fluorescent display having the same

• US 8,842,093 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Futaba Corporation
• Original Assignee: Futaba Corporation
• Inventors: Washio, Yoshiaki, Magami, Tsuyoshi, Kawashima, Yoshiteru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ QUILES, IVELISSE
• Application Number:
  US13/220,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174, 327516-517, 361/179
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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: H01J 31/125 provided with control means permitting the electron beam to reach selected parts of the screen, e.g. digital selection
• 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 2217/96046 Key-pad combined with display, back-lit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe

Abstract

An electrostatic capacitance type touch sensor is provided. The touch sensor includes a substrate and a grid pattern formed on a surface of the substrate by a plurality of first linear wires and a plurality of second linear wires, the first linear wires being arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and the second linear wires being arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval and intersecting with the first linear wires. A separation portion is provided to the first linear wires and the second linear wires to form a sensor portion and a dummy sensor portion which are located next to each other and electrically separated from each other. The shape of a gap between the sensor portion and the dummy sensor portion located next to each other is improved not being formed into a band-like shape surrounded by two parallel conductive linear wires, and a boundary between the sensor portion and the dummy sensor portion located next to each other can be less-visible thereby improving the appearance, and the capacitance between the sensor portion and the dummy sensor portion located next to each other is reduced, thereby improving the accuracy of detecting a touch by adjusting the sensitivity.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a substrate; and

a grid pattern formed on a surface of the substrate by a plurality of first linear wires and a plurality of second linear wires, the grid pattern being formed integrally by a non-translucent conductive film, wherein

the first linear wires are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and the second linear wires are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval and intersecting with the first linear wires, and

a separation portion is provided to the first linear wires and the second linear wires by cutting a portion of the first and the second linear wires to form a sensor portion and a dummy sensor portion which are located next to each other and electrically separated from each other,

wherein a gap between the adjacent sensor portion and the dummy portion is formed into a non-band-like shape,

wherein a leading wire which is a portion of one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the sensor portion in the grid is arranged to extend out of the dummy sensor portion through the separation portion of another one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the dummy sensor portion, so that, at a gap between the dummy sensor portion and the leading wire extending parallel to said one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the sensor portion, an end of said another one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the dummy sensor portion is located adjacent to the leading wire across the separation portion.

2. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein respective ends of the first or the second linear wires are disposed next to each other across the separation portion.

3. The touch sensor according to claim 1, wherein an end of at least one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire and an end of the other one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire are disposed next to each other across the separation portion.

4. A fluorescent display comprising:

an envelope;

a cathode arranged inside of the envelope and emits electrons;

an anode arranged inside of the envelope and having a phosphor layer, the phosphor layer being arranged to emit light when the electrons emitted by the cathode impinge on the phosphor layer; and

a touch sensor having a substrate and a grid pattern formed on a surface of the envelope by a plurality of first linear wires and a plurality of second linear wires, the grid pattern being formed integrally by a non-translucent conductive film,

wherein the first linear wires are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, and the second linear wires are arranged parallel to each other at a predetermined interval and intersecting with the first linear wires,

wherein a separation portion is provided to the first linear wires and the second linear wires and the second linear wires by cutting a portion of the first and the second linear wires to form a sensor portion and a dummy sensor portion which are located next to each other and electrically separated from each other, and

wherein a gap between the adjacent sensor portion and the dummy portion is formed into a non-band-like shape,

wherein a leading wire which is a portion of one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the sensor portion of the grid is arranged to extend out of the dummy sensor portion through the separation portion of another one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the dummy sensor portion, so that, at a gap between the dummy sensor portion and the leading wire extending parallel to said one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the sensor portion, an end of said another one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire constituting the dummy sensor portion is located adjacent to the leading wire across the separation portion.

5. The fluorescent display according to claim 4, wherein respective ends of the first or the second linear wires are disposed next to each other across the separation portion.

6. The fluorescent display according to claim 4, wherein an end of one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire and the other one of the first linear wire and the second linear wire are disposed next to each other across the separation portion.