Capacitive position sensor

• US 9,322,633 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sleeman, Peter, Philipp, Harald, Yilmaz, Esat, Trend, Matthew, Brunet, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): SIM, MATTHEW Y
• Application Number:
  US14/459,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2405 by varying dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• 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 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041661 using detection at multiple resolutions, e.g. coarse and fine scanning; using detection within a limited area, e.g. object tracking window
• 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: 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: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0296 Conductive pattern lay-out details not covered by sub groups H05K1/02 - H05K1/0295 H05K1/11 takes precedence; lay-out adapted to mounted component configuration H05K1/18

Abstract

In one embodiment, a sensor includes a plurality of drive electrodes running generally in a first direction. The sensor also includes a plurality of sense electrodes running generally in a second direction. The sense electrodes have branches running generally in the first direction. End portions of the adjacent branches of adjacent sense electrodes extend beyond one another to define respective coextensive portions of the branches.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a plurality of drive electrodes running generally in a first direction;

a plurality of sense electrodes running generally in a second direction, the sense electrodes having branches running generally in the first direction, the branches having a pitch that is greater than or equal to 1 millimeter and less than or equal to 8 millimeters;

wherein end portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes extend beyond one another to define respective coextensive portions of the branches and the coextensive portions of the branches of adjacent sense electrodes are separated by gaps that are greater than or equal to 5 micrometers and less than or equal to 50 micrometers.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a first drive electrode comprises a conductive mesh.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the pitch is.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the gaps are greater than or equal to 10 micrometers and less than or equal to 30 micrometers.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein a coextensive portion of a first pair of branches is offset along the first axis from a coextensive portion of a second pair of branches.

6. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a substrate and wherein the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes are coupled to the substrate.