Touch sensor with inductive charging

• US 9,507,447 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Kent
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORALES FERNANDEZ, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US13/314,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate, a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a touch sensor, and an inductive-charging element. The FPC is coupled to the substrate. The touch sensor is disposed on the substrate. The touch sensor includes electrodes made of conductive material. The inductive-charging component is disposed on the substrate or the FPC.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate comprising a pad and an extension;

a touch sensor disposed on the substrate, the touch sensor comprising at least one electrode made of conductive material, the extension coupling the pad to a portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed; and

an inductive-charging component disposed on the substrate and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) comprising conductors, the FPC being distinct from the substrate and coupled to the substrate, the inductive-charging component comprising a wire disposed on the extension, the portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed, and the FPC, the inductive-charging component further comprising a coil disposed on the pad.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the FPC comprises a pad and an extension, one or more portions of the inductive-charging component being disposed on the extension and the pad of the FPC.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises substantially fine lines of metal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein coupled to the FPC are one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media that embody logic that is operable when executed to control the touch sensor, the FPC coupling the media to the touch sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a mobile device comprises the substrate, FPC, touch sensor, and inductive-charging component; and

the substantially mobile device is one or more of a laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, portable media player, or portable game console.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the inductive-charging component configured to convert electric power in an electromagnetic field into electric current to charge one or more batteries.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same conductive material as the at least one electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same conductive material as the conductors of the FPC.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same material as tracks coupling the at least one electrode to the FPC.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate comprising a pad and an extension;

a touch sensor disposed on the substrate, the touch sensor comprising at least one electrode made of conductive material, the extension coupling the pad to a portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed; and

an inductive-charging component disposed on the substrate, one or more portions of the inductive-charging component being disposed on the extension and the pad of the substrate, the inductive-charging component comprising a wire disposed on the extension and the portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed, the inductive-charging component further comprising a coil disposed on the pad.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the conductive material comprises substantially fine lines of metal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media that embody logic that is operable when executed to control the touch sensor.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

a mobile device comprises the substrate, touch sensor, and inductive-charging component; and

the substantially mobile device is one or more of a laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, portable media player, or portable game console.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, the inductive-charging component configured to convert electric power in an electromagnetic field into electric current to charge one or more batteries.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same conductive material as the at least one electrode.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same material as tracks coupled to the at least one electrode.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate comprising a pad and an extension;

a touch sensor disposed on the substrate, the touch sensor comprising at least one electrode made of conductive material, the extension coupling the pad to a portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed;

conductive tracks configured to couple the at least one electrode to connection pads; and

an inductive-charging component disposed on the substrate, one or more portions of the inductive-charging component being disposed on the extension and the pad of the substrate, the inductive-charging component comprising a wire disposed on the extension and the portion of the substrate on which the touch sensor is disposed, the inductive-charging component further comprising a coil disposed on the pad.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the FPC comprises a pad and an extension, one or more portions of the inductive-charging component being disposed on the extension and the pad of the FPC.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the conductive material comprises substantially fine lines of metal.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein coupled to the FPC are one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media that embody logic that is operable when executed to control the touch sensor, the FPC coupling the media to the touch sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

a mobile device comprises the substrate, FPC, touch sensor, and inductive-charging component; and

the substantially mobile device is one or more of a laptop computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smartphone, portable media player, or portable game console.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, the inductive-charging component configured to convert electric power in an electromagnetic field into electric current to charge one or more batteries.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same conductive material as the at least one electrode.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same conductive material as the conductors of the FPC.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein one or more portions of the inductive-charging component is made of the same material as tracks that couple the at least one electrode to the FPC.