Touch sensor with spacers supporting a cover panel

• US 9,317,161 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Trend, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, David
• Application Number:
  US13/302,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes an insulating substrate comprising a first face. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the insulating substrate. The touch sensor may also include a plurality of spacers extending outwardly from the first face of the first insulating substrate. Each spacer of the plurality of spacers may extend substantially the same distance from the first face of the insulating substrate. The plurality of spacers are operable to maintain a substantially consistent air gap between the plurality of electrodes and a cover panel when the cover panel is attached to the insulating substrate.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a first insulating substrate comprising a first face;

a first plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the first insulating substrate;

a plurality of spacers disposed in-between the electrodes and disposed on the first face of the first insulating substrate, each spacer of the plurality of spacers extending substantially the same distance from the first face of the first insulating substrate;

a cover panel attached to the first insulating substrate and disposed outwardly from the plurality of spacers such that the plurality of spacers are in-between the first insulating substrate and the cover panel;

wherein the first plurality of electrodes are disposed closer to the cover panel than any other electrodes in the touch sensor; and

wherein the plurality of spacers are operable to maintain a substantially consistent air gap between the first plurality of electrodes and the cover panel.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a display panel attached to the first insulating substrate.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a second insulating substrate disposed between the first insulating substrate and a display panel; and

a second plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the second insulating substrate.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers comprises an insulating material.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is generally spherical.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is polyhedron shaped.

7. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers are arranged in a grid pattern on the first face of the first insulating substrate.

8. A method for forming a touch sensor, the method comprising:

forming a first insulating substrate comprising a first face;

forming a first plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials on the first insulating substrate;

forming a plurality of spacers in-between the electrodes and on the first insulating substrate, the plurality spacers extending substantially the same distance from the first face of the first insulating substrate;

forming a cover panel attached to the first insulating substrate and disposed outwardly from the plurality of spacers such that the plurality of spacers are in-between the first insulating substrate and the cover panel, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are disposed closer to the cover panel than any other electrodes in the touch sensor; and

wherein the plurality of spacers are operable to maintain a substantially consistent air gap between the first plurality of electrodes and the cover panel.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaching a display panel to the first insulating substrate.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

forming a second insulating substrate between the first insulating substrate and a display panel; and

forming a second plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the second insulating substrate.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers comprises an insulating material.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is generally spherical.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is polyhedron shaped.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of spacers are arranged in a grid pattern on the first face of the first insulating substrate.

15. A touch sensor comprising:

a first insulating substrate comprising a first face;

a first plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the first insulating substrate;

a transparent cover panel attached to the first insulating substrate; and

a plurality of spacers disposed in-between the electrodes and disposed on the first face of the first insulating substrate such that the plurality of spacers are in-between the first insulating substrate and the cover panel, wherein the first plurality of electrodes are disposed closer to the cover panel than any other electrodes in the touch sensor;

wherein the plurality of spacers are operable to maintain a substantially consistent air gap between the first plurality of electrodes and the cover panel.

16. The touch sensor of claim 15, further comprising a display panel attached to the first insulating substrate.

17. The touch sensor of claim 15, further comprising:

a second insulating substrate disposed between the first insulating substrate and a display panel; and

a second plurality of electrodes comprising one or more conductive materials formed on the second insulating substrate.

18. The touch sensor of claim 15, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers comprises an insulating material.

19. The touch sensor of claim 15, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is generally spherical.

20. The touch sensor of claim 15, wherein each spacer of the plurality of spacers is polyhedron shaped.

21. The touch sensor of claim 15, wherein the plurality of spacers are arranged in a grid pattern on the first face of the first insulating substrate.