Touch sensor panel design

• US 9,582,131 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Elias, John Greer
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US14/615,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20150253907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49204 Contact or terminal manufacturing

Abstract

A touch sensor panel including a plurality of drive lines crossing a plurality of sense lines, forming an array, is disclosed. The plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines are formed by interconnecting a plurality of substantially transparent conductive sections having a first resistivity. A substantially transparent conductive material, with a second resistivity that is lower than the first resistivity, is deposited over at least part of at least one of the plurality of substantially transparent conductive sections of at least one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines. A second layer of the substantially transparent conductive material, with the second resistivity, can be deposited thereafter. At least one dummy section is disposed in an area of the touch sensor panel around the conductive sections of at least one of the plurality of drive lines and the plurality of sense lines.

Claims

1. A touch sensor panel, comprising:

a plurality of first conductive sections having a first resistivity;

a plurality of second conductive sections having a second resistivity, different from the first resistivity, wherein at least one of the second conductive sections contacts at least one of the plurality of first conductive sections and an area of the plurality of second conductive sections is less than an area of the plurality of first conductive sections;

a plurality of drive lines and sense lines, each drive and sense line comprising at least two interconnected first conductive sections;

a plurality of first interconnectors configured to electrically connect at least two first conductive sections to form the plurality of drives lines; and

a plurality of second interconnectors configured to electrically connect at least two first conductive sections to form the plurality of sense lines.

2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein at least one the plurality of first conductive sections have a diamond shape.

3. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of second conductive sections have a shape different than the plurality of first conductive sections.

4. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the first resistivity is higher than the second resistivity.

5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the first resistivity is substantially equal to 150 ohms per square.

6. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the second resistivity is substantially equal to 30 ohms per square.

7. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the plurality of first conductive sections is less than a thickness of the plurality of second conductive sections.

8. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the plurality of first conductive sections is between 160-170 Angstroms.

9. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the plurality of second conductive sections is between 1000-1500 Angstroms.

10. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the-plurality of second interconnectors are configured to electrically connect the second conductive sections.

11. The touch sensor panel of claim 10, wherein a resistivity of at least one of the plurality of first interconnectors and a plurality of second interconnectors is less than at least one of the first resistivity and the second resistivity.

12. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third conductive sections, each third conductive section having a variable size, wherein at least one of the plurality of third conductive sections is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of first interconnectors.

13. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third conductive sections, each third conductive section having a variable size.

14. The touch sensor panel of claim 13, wherein at least two of the plurality of third conductive sections are electrically connected.

15. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising at least one dummy section disposed in an area of the touch sensor panel around and electrically isolated from the plurality of drive and sense lines.

16. The touch sensor panel of claim 15, wherein the first conductive sections, second conductive sections, and dummy sections are formed of a same material.

17. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conductive sections and plurality of second conductive sections are disposed on a same side of a substrate.

18. The touch sensor panel of claim 17, wherein the substrate is a cover material.