Partially filled contact and trace layout

• US 9,651,812 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Original Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (Infineon Technologies AG)
• Inventors: Peng, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Charles
• Application Number:
  US12/902,958
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 349 12, 345173-183
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• 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: 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: H05K 1/11 Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0379 Stacked conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09672 Superposed layout, i.e. in different planes parallel traces in one plane H05K2201/09236
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09681 Mesh conductors, e.g. as a ground plane
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0969 Apertured conductors

Abstract

An apparatus including a first layer formed from a first conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer, coupled to the first layer, the second layer formed from a second conductive material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, where the second layer is partially filled.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first layer comprising a first conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and

a second layer, adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising a continuous body formed from a second conductive material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the second layer is partially filled and comprises a first surface area of the continuous body formed from the second conductive material and a number of open voids extending through the continuous body to the first layer, the open voids representing a second surface area and the first layer at least partially overlapping the number of open voids in the second layer, wherein the first surface area is approximately three times greater than the second surface area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein only the first surface area of the second layer is in contact with the first layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of open voids are evenly distributed throughout the second layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the partially filled second layer comprises a first plurality of substantially parallel strips of the second conductive material, the second layer having a void between the first plurality of strips.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the partially filled second layer further comprises a second plurality of substantially parallel strips of the second conductive material, the second layer having a void between the second plurality of strips, wherein the second plurality of strips is oriented at a first degree of rotation in relation to the first plurality of strips.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive material comprises a transparent material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductive material comprises indium-tin-oxide (ITO) and the second conductive material comprises a metal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of open voids are contained within a boundary of the continuous body.

9. A method of forming a partially filled contact between two layers of conductive material, comprising:

forming a first layer comprising a first conductive material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; and

forming a second layer, adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising a continuous body formed from a second conductive material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the second layer is partially filled and comprises a first surface area of the continuous body formed from the second conductive material and a number of open voids extending through the continuous body to the first layer, the open voids representing a second surface area and the first layer at least partially overlapping the number of open voids in the second layer, wherein the first surface area is approximately three times greater than the second surface area.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein only the first surface area of the second layer is in contact with the first layer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the number of open voids are evenly distributed throughout the second layer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the partially filled second layer comprises a first plurality of substantially parallel strips of the second conductive material, the second layer having a void between the first plurality of strips.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the partially filled second layer further comprises a second plurality of substantially parallel strips of the second conductive material, the second layer having a void between the second plurality of strips, wherein the second plurality of strips is oriented at a first degree of rotation in relation to the first plurality of strips.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first conductive material comprises a transparent material.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first conductive material comprises indium-tin-oxide (ITO) and the second conductive material comprises a metal.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the number of open voids are contained within a boundary of the continuous body.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processing device; and

a touch sensor panel coupled to the processing device, the touch sensor panel comprising;

a sensor layer comprising a continuous body formed from formed from a transparent conductive material; and

a trace layer adjacent to the sensor layer, the trace layer formed from a metal, wherein the trace layer is partially filled and comprises a first surface area of the continuous body formed from the metal and a number of open voids extending through the continuous body to the sensor layer, wherein the number of open voids are evenly distributed throughout the trace layer, wherein the open voids represent a second surface area and the sensor layer at least partially overlaps the number of open voids in the trace layer, wherein the first surface area is approximately three times greater than the second surface area, and wherein an electronic signal is passed from the sensor layer through the trace layer to the processing device, wherein the processing device identifies a touch on the touch sensor panel using the electronic signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensor layer is formed from indium-tin-oxide (ITO).

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the number of open voids are contained within a boundary of the continuous body.