Integrated touch screen

• US 9,608,047 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• 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: Guard, David Brent, Yilmaz, Esat
• Primary Examiner(s): GLICK, EDWARD J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chung, David
• Application Number:
  US14/254,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20140226089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1343 Electrodes reflective electrodes G02F1/133553
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• 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 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 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: H01L 27/156 two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/00 Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic light-emitting element covered by group H10K50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen. The display stack comprises a plurality of layers in which a top layer comprises a substantially transparent cover layer. The display stack is configured to display a color image. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor provided within the display stack. The touch sensor comprises a plurality of first conductive electrodes contacting a layer of a subset of the plurality of layers of the display stack. The subset of the plurality of layers is below the substantially transparent cover layer. The touch sensor also includes a plurality of second conductive electrodes contacting a layer of the subset of the plurality of layers.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen, the display stack comprising a plurality of layers in which a top layer comprises a substantially transparent cover layer, the plurality of layers further comprising a first polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a second polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a liquid crystal layer, the display stack being configured to display a color image;

a touch sensor within the display stack, the touch sensor comprising;

a plurality of first conductive electrodes formed on and contacting a color filter layer of a subset of the plurality of layers, the subset being below the substantially transparent cover layer; and

a plurality of second conductive electrodes formed on and contacting the color filter layer of the subset of the plurality of layers; and

wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes are located between the first polarizer and the second polarizer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display stack is devoid of a polarizing layer between the first and second polarizers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes contact a same side of the color filter.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes contact a first side of the color filter layer and the plurality of second conductive electrodes contact a second side of the color filter layer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the subset of the plurality of layers comprises a flexible substrate layer is comprised of non-birefringent material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the subset of the plurality of layers comprises a layer of polyethylene terephthalate material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes comprise fine line metal electrodes.

8. A device comprising:

a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen, the display stack comprising a plurality of layers in which a top layer comprises a substantially transparent cover layer, the plurality of layers further comprising a first polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a second polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a liquid crystal layer, the display stack being configured to display a color image;

a touch sensor within the display stack, the touch sensor comprising;

a plurality of first conductive electrodes formed on and contacting a color filter layer of a subset of the plurality of layers, the subset being below the substantially transparent cover layer; and

a plurality of second conductive electrodes formed on and contacting the color filter layer of the subset of the plurality of layers; and

a controller coupled to the touch sensor and operable to control the touch sensor; and

wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes are located between the first polarizer and the second polarizer.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes contact a same side of the color filter layer.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes contact a first side of the color filter layer and the plurality of second conductive electrodes contact a second side of the color filter layer.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the subset of the plurality of layers comprises a flexible substrate layer comprised of non-birefringent material.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the subset of the plurality of layers comprises a layer of polyethylene terephthalate material.