Touch sensing structure

• US 9,141,241 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2013
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chia-Jui, Hsu, Che-Hao
• Primary Examiner(s): Kumar, Srilakshmi K
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUBEDI, DEEPROSE D
• Application Number:
  US13/903,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20140204050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 178/18.06
• 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 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 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: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A touch sensing structure is provided. The touch sensing structure includes a substrate, a plurality of first conductive traces and a second conductive trace. The plurality of first conductive traces is formed on the substrate. Each of the first conductive trace includes a trunk and at least one branch. The trunks of the first conductive traces are disposed to be parallel with each other. The branch of each first conductive trace is extended from one side of the trunk toward the adjacent first conductive trace. The branches between the two adjacent first conductive traces are disposed to be opposite and alternative. A path is composed of the two adjacent trunks and the branches disposed to be opposite and alternative. The second conductive trace is formed on the substrate, disposed between the two adjacent first conductive traces and extended along the path.

Claims

1. A touch sensing structure, comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of first conductive traces electrically connected together, formed on the substrate, wherein each of the first conductive traces comprises a trunk and at least one branch, the trunks of the first conductive traces are disposed to be parallel with each other, the branch of each first conductive trace is extended from one side of the trunk toward the adjacent first conductive trace, the branches between the two adjacent first conductive traces are disposed to be opposite and alternative, and a path is composed of the two adjacent trunks and the branches disposed to be opposite and alternative; and

a plurality of second conductive traces, formed on the substrate, each second conductive trace disposed between the two adjacent first conductive traces electrically connected and extended along the path;

wherein the two adjacent first conductive traces are electrically connected together via a bridge portion, the bridge portion crosses by the second conductive traces, and the bridge portion is insulated with the second conductive traces;

wherein the path is an S-shape meander extended path located between the two adjacent first conductive traces electrically connected together, each second conductive trace comprises a plurality of bending portions to match the path, and the second conductive traces are not overlap with the first conductive traces;

wherein one of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace is a driving trace, and the other one of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace is a sensing trace.

2. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one branch of the first conductive trace comprises a left branch and a right branch, the left branch is extended from a left side of the trunk toward the adjacent first conductive trace, and the right branch is extended from a right side of the trunk toward the adjacent first conductive trace.

3. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the branches between the two adjacent trunks are disposed to be parallel with each other.

4. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a bridge portion, disposed to bridge on the substrate and electrically connected to the two adjacent first conductive traces respectively.

5. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a bridge portion, disposed to bridge on the substrate and electrically connected to the two adjacent first conductive traces respectively.

6. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge portion is connected to the trunks or the branches of the first conductive traces respectively.

7. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bridge portion is connected to the trunks or the branches of the first conductive traces respectively.

8. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bridge portion is connected to the trunks or the branches of the first conductive traces respectively.

9. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the left branch and the right branch of the same first conductive trace are disposed to be alternative.

10. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the left branch and the right branch of the first conductive trace are extended from the same initial point on the trunk toward left and right respectively in pairs.

11. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the left branch and the right branch of the same first conductive trace are disposed to be parallel with each other.

12. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the left branch and the right branch of the same first conductive trace are disposed to be non-parallel.

13. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein an angle between the branch and the trunk of the first conductive trace is an acute angle, a right angle or an obtuse angle.

14. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein an angle between the left branch and the trunk and an angle between the right branch and the trunk of the first conductive trace are acute angles, right angles or obtuse angles.

15. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conductive trace is a driving trace and the second conductive trace is a sensing trace.

16. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first conductive trace is a sensing trace and the second conductive trace is a driving trace.

17. The touch sensing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bending portion is an acute-angled bend, a right-angled bend, an obtuse-angled bend or an arc bend.