Asymmetric sensor pattern

• US 9,705,495 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Creator Technology BV
• Inventors: Chai, Min Chin, Prendergast, Patrick, Badaye, Massoud
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Son
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrews, Brent J
• Application Number:
  US13/247,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20120133611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 324650-690
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/24 by varying capacitance
• 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 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: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960775 Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes

Abstract

An embodiment of a capacitive sensor array may comprise a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element comprising a main trace that intersects each of the first plurality of sensor elements to form a plurality of intersections. A unit cell may be associated with each of the intersections, and each unit cell may designate a set of locations nearest to a corresponding intersection. A contiguous section of the main trace may cross at least one of the plurality of unit cells. The capacitive sensor array may further comprise a plurality of open zones, where each of the plurality of open zones is staggered relative to an adjacent open zone.

Claims

1. A capacitive sensor array, comprising:

a plurality of unit cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of unit cells comprising;

a first plurality of sensor elements;

a plurality of second sensor elements respectively comprising a main trace and one or more primary subtraces, wherein the one or more primary subtraces is substantially orthogonal to the main trace at a junction between the one or more primary subtraces and the main trace; and

a plurality of bridges connecting portions of the first plurality of sensor elements, wherein the main trace intersects the bridges to form a plurality of intersections each associated with the first sensor element, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells designates a set of locations nearest a corresponding intersection, wherein a contiguous section of the main trace crosses at least one of the plurality of unit cells,

wherein at least one of the first sensor elements further comprises a plurality of open zones, and each of the open zones are surrounded by the main trace and the one or more primary subtraces of each of the plurality of second sensor elements, wherein each of the open zones is staggered with a nearest adjacent identical open zone of an adjacent identical unit cell.

2. The capacitive sensor array of claim 1, wherein each open zone includes an area having decreased sensitivity relative to areas of the capacitive sensor array outside any open zone.

3. The capacitive sensor array of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of open zones comprises an area delineated by a convex polygon and including portions of only one sensor element.

4. The capacitive sensor array of claim 1, wherein the plurality of open zones are staggered along both a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

5. The capacitive sensor array of claim 1, further comprising, within each unit cell, one or more secondary subtraces branching away from the one or more primary subtraces.

6. A capacitive touch-sensing system, comprising:

a plurality of unit cells;

wherein at least one of the plurality of unit cells comprising;

a first plurality of sensor elements;

a plurality of second sensor elements respectively comprising a main trace and one or more primary subtraces, wherein the one or more primary subtraces is substantially orthogonal to the main trace at a junction between the one or more primary subtraces and the main trace; and

a plurality of bridges connecting portions of the first plurality of sensor elements, wherein the main trace intersects the bridges to form a plurality of intersections each associated with the first sensor element, wherein each of the plurality of unit cells designates a set of locations nearest a corresponding intersection, wherein a contiguous section of the main trace crosses at least one of the plurality of unit cells, wherein a contiguous section of the main trace crosses at least one of the plurality of unit cells,

wherein at least one of the first sensor elements further comprises a plurality of open zones, and each of the open zones are surrounded by the main trace and the one or more primary subtraces of the plurality of second sensor elements, wherein each of the open zones is staggered with a nearest adjacent identical open zone of an adjacent identical unit cell; and

a capacitance sensor coupled with the capacitive sensor array, wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to measure a mutual capacitance for each intersection between one of the second sensor elements and a corresponding sensor element.

7. The capacitive touch-sensing system of claim 6, wherein each open zone includes an area having decreased sensitivity relative to areas of the capacitive sensor array outside any open zone.

8. The capacitive touch-sensing system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of open zones are staggered along both a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis.

9. The capacitive touch-sensing system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of open zones comprises an area delineated by a convex polygon and including portions of only one sensor element.

10. The capacitive touch-sensing system of claim 6, wherein the capacitance sensor is further configured to transmit a signal on each of the first plurality of sensor elements.

11. The capacitive touch-sensing system of claim 6, further comprising, within each unit cell, one or more secondary subtraces branching away from the one or more primary subtraces.