Touch sensor conductor routing

• US 9,360,972 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Avery, Benjamin James, Wilson, Cole D., Peterson, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alunkal, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/801,094
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0207 with multidimensional access, e.g. row/column, matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• 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

Abstract

An example apparatus includes a sensing area including a sensor matrix, a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor is coupled to a first sensor of the sensor matrix and is configured to be coupled to a sensing module. The second conductor is coupled to a second sensor of the sensor matrix and is configured to be coupled to the sensing module. In embodiments, the first sensor consumes a first area, the second sensor and a length of the first conductor reside within a second area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and the length of the first conductor is routed between an edge of the sensing area and the second sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a sensing area bounded by a plurality of edges;

a sensor matrix located in the sensing area;

a plurality of conductors located in the sensing area and configured to couple each sensor of the sensor matrix to a sensing module, wherein not one of the plurality of conductors is routed between any two columns of sensors of the sensor matrix;

a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is in a first column of sensors and in a first row of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors in the first row of sensors are coupled to one another, within the sensing area, through a first row electrode of the sensor matrix;

a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is in the first column of sensors and in a second row of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors in the second row of sensors are coupled to one another, within the sensing area, through a second row electrode of the sensor matrix;

a first conductor, of the plurality of conductors, the first conductor coupled to the first sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module; and

a second conductor, of the plurality of conductors, the second conductor coupled to the second sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the first sensor consumes a first area, the second sensor and a length of the first conductor reside within a second area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and wherein the length of the first conductor is routed between an edge of the sensing area and the second sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is in the first column of sensors and in a third row of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors in the third row of sensors are coupled to one another through a third row electrode; and

a third conductor located in the sensing area, the third conductor coupled to the third sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the third sensor, a length of the second conductor, and another length of the first conductor reside within a third area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and wherein the length of the second conductor and the other length of the first conductor are routed between the edge of the sensing area and the third sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is in a second column of sensors and in a third row of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors in the third row of sensors are coupled to one another through a third row electrode;

a fourth sensor, wherein the fourth sensor is in the second column of sensors and in a fourth row of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors in the fourth row of sensors are coupled to one another through a fourth row electrode;

a third conductor located in the sensing area, the third conductor coupled to the third sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module; and

a fourth conductor located in the sensing area, the fourth conductor coupled to the fourth sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the third sensor consumes a third area, and wherein the fourth sensor and a length of the third conductor reside within a fourth area that is smaller than or equal to the third area consumed by the third sensor, and wherein the length of the third conductor is routed between another edge of the sensing area and the fourth sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor matrix comprises a plurality of rows of electrodes and a plurality of columns of electrodes, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes are in galvanic isolation from the plurality of columns of electrodes, and wherein each sensor of the sensor matrix includes a crossing of one of the plurality of row electrodes with one of the plurality of column electrodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes, the plurality of columns of electrodes, the first conductor, and the second conductor are formed upon a single layer of a substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes, the plurality of columns of electrodes, the first conductor, and the second conductor include one or more transparent conductive materials.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first sensor includes a first portion of the first row electrode and a first portion of a first column electrode and the second sensor includes a first portion of the second row electrode and a second portion of the first column electrode, wherein a total area consumed by the first portion of the second row electrode and the second portion of the first column electrode is smaller than a total area consumed by the first portion of the first row electrode and the first portion of the first column electrode.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a sensing area bounded by a plurality of edges;

a sensor matrix located in the sensing area;

a plurality of conductors located in the sensing area and configured to couple each sensor of the sensor matrix to a sensing module, wherein not one of the plurality of conductors is routed between any two rows of sensors of the sensor matrix;

a first sensor, wherein the first sensor is in a first row of sensors and in a first column of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein each sensor in the first column of sensors is coupled to one another, within the sensing area, through a first column electrode of the sensor matrix;

a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is in the first row of sensors and in a second column of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein each sensor in the second column of sensors is coupled to one another, within the sensing area, through a second column electrode of the sensor matrix;

a first conductor, of the plurality of conductors, the first conductor coupled to the first sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module; and

a second conductor, of the plurality of conductors, the second conductor coupled to the second sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the first sensor consumes a first area, and wherein the second sensor and a length of the first conductor reside within a second area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and wherein the length of the first conductor is routed between an edge of the sensing area and the second sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is in the first row of sensors and in a third column of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensor of the third column of sensors are coupled to one another through a third column electrode; and

a third conductor located in the sensing area, the third conductor coupled to the third sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the third sensor, a length of the second conductor, and another length of the first conductor reside within a third area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and wherein the length of the second conductor and the other length of the first conductor are routed between the edge of the sensing area and the third sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a third sensor, wherein the third sensor is in a second row of sensors and in a third column of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors of the third column of sensors are coupled to one another through a third column electrode;

a fourth sensor, wherein the fourth sensor is in the second row of sensors and in a fourth column of sensors of the sensor matrix, wherein the sensors of the fourth column of sensors are coupled to one another through a fourth column electrode;

a third conductor located in the sensing area, the third conductor coupled to the third sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module; and

a fourth conductor located in the sensing area, the fourth conductor coupled to the fourth sensor and configured to be coupled to the sensing module,

wherein the third sensor consumes a third area, and wherein the fourth sensor and a length of the third conductor reside within a fourth area that is smaller than or equal to the third area consumed by the third sensor, and wherein the length of the third conductor is routed between another edge of the sensing area and the fourth sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sensor matrix is comprises a plurality of rows of electrodes and a plurality of columns of electrodes, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes are in galvanic isolation from the plurality of columns of electrodes, and wherein each sensor of the sensor matrix includes a crossing of one of the plurality of row electrodes with one of the plurality of column electrodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes, the plurality of columns of electrodes, the first conductor, and the second conductor are formed in a single layer of a substrate.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes, the plurality of columns of electrodes, the first conductor, and the second conductor are transparent conductive materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first sensor includes a first portion of a first row electrode and a first portion of the first column electrode and the second sensor includes a second portion of a second row electrode and a second portion of the first column electrode, wherein a total area consumed by the second portion of the second row electrode and the second portion of the first column electrode is smaller than a total area consumed by the first portion of the first row electrode and the first portion of the first column electrode.

15. A system comprising:

a display device configured to display images within a display area;

a sensor matrix residing, at least in part, within the bounds of the display area;

a sensing module configured to sense touch input;

a plurality of conductors located in the display area and configured to couple each sensor of the sensor matrix to the sensing module, wherein not one of the plurality of conductors is routed between any two columns of sensors of the sensor matrix;

a first conductor of the plurality of conductors configured to couple a first sensor of the sensor matrix to the sensing module; and

a second conductor of the plurality of conductors configured to couple a second sensor of the sensor matrix to the sensing module,

wherein the first sensor is in a first column of sensors and in a first row of sensors of the sensor matrix and the sensors in the first row of sensors are coupled to one another within the display area, wherein the second sensor is in the first column of sensors and in a second row of sensors of the sensor matrix and the sensors in the second row of sensors are coupled to one another within the display area, and wherein the first sensor consumes a first area, the second sensor and a segment of the first conductor reside within a second area that is smaller than or equal to the first area consumed by the first sensor, and the segment of the first conductor is routed between an edge of the display area and the second sensor.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensor matrix comprises a plurality of rows of electrodes and a plurality of columns of electrodes, wherein the plurality of rows of electrodes are in galvanic isolation from the plurality of columns of electrodes, and wherein each sensor of the sensor matrix includes a crossing of one of the plurality of row electrodes with one of the plurality of column electrodes.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensing module is configured to detect a touch input based on a signal received through the first conductor, wherein the signal indicates a change in mutual capacitance of a sensor in the first row of sensors.