Touch sensor panels with reduced static capacitance

• US 9,766,745 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steven Porter, Yousefpor, Marduke
• Primary Examiner(s): Tzeng, Fred
• Application Number:
  US15/019,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 345174
• 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 3/0412 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 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard

Abstract

Capacitive touch panels may include a plurality of positive voltage lines that are driven at a first phase. These positive voltage lines may be used to provide the drive capacitance signal sensed by one or more sense regions. The touch panels may also include a plurality of negative phase voltage lines that are driven at a phase that is different than the first phase. Both the positive and negative voltage lines may cross-under one or more sense regions. The negative phase voltage lines are able to counter act and reduce the static capacitance in the sense regions.

Claims

1. A touch sensitive panel comprising:

a first voltage line driven at a first phase;

a second voltage line driven at a second phase that is different than the first phase;

a first and second drive region coupled to the first voltage line; and

a sense region disposed between the first and second drive regions along a first direction;

wherein the first voltage line and the second voltage line cross the sense region;

each of the first and second drive regions comprising a first plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes receiving a stimulation voltage along the first voltage line during a touch sensing mode of operation;

the sense region comprising a second plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes of the sense region connected to touch sensing circuitry during the touch sensing mode of operation;

the pixel electrodes of the first and second drive region and the sense region receiving a data signal during a display mode of operation; and

wherein the first and second phases of the first and second voltage lines reduce static capacitance in the sense region as compared to a configuration in which the second voltage lines are not utilized.

2. The touch sensitive panel of claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive panel comprises a touch screen.

3. The touch sensitive panel of claim 1, wherein the second phase is opposite the first phase.

4. The touch sensitive panel of claim 1, wherein the second voltage lines cross the drive region.

5. The touch sensitive panel of claim 4, wherein the second voltage line is one of a plurality of second voltage lines, a number of second voltage lines that cross the drive region is less than a number of second voltage lines that cross the sense region.

6. The touch sensitive panel of claim 1, wherein all of the common electrodes in the first drive region are electrically connected together, and all of the common electrodes in the second drive region are electrically connected together.

7. The touch sensitive panel of claim 6, comprising a conductive layer that electrically connects all the common electrodes in the first drive region and in the second drive region.

8. The touch sensitive panel of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third voltage lines connected to the sense region.

9. A method of reducing static capacitance in a touch panel having a first and second drive region positioned along a first direction with a sense region disposed therebetween, each of the first and second drive regions comprising a first plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes receiving a stimulation voltage along a first voltage line during a touch sensing mode of operation;

the sense region comprising a second plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes of the sense region connected to touch sensing circuitry during the touch sensing mode of operation;

the pixel electrodes of the first and second drive region and the sense region receiving a data signal during a display mode of operation;

the method comprising;

driving the first voltage line at a first phase;

driving a second voltage line at a second phase that is different than the first phase;

wherein the first voltage line and the second voltage line cross the sense region; and

wherein the first and second phases of the first and second voltage lines reduce static capacitance in the sense region as compared to a configuration in which the second voltage lines are not utilized.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second voltage line crosses-under the first and second drive regions.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second voltage line is one of a plurality of second voltage lines, a number of second voltage lines that cross-under the drive region is less than the number of second voltage lines that cross the sense region.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein all of the common electrodes in the first drive region are electrically connected together, and all of the common electrodes in the second drive region are electrically connected together.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising a conductive layer that electrically connects all the common electrodes in the first drive region and in the second drive region.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the second phase is opposite the first phase.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of third voltage lines connected to the sense region.

16. A mobile telephone comprising

a first voltage line driven at a first phase;

a second voltage line driven at a second phase that is different than the first phase;

a first and second drive region coupled to the first voltage line; and

a sense region disposed between the first and second drive regions along a first direction;

wherein the first voltage line and the second voltage line cross the sense region;

each of the first and second drive regions comprising a first plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes receiving a stimulation voltage along the first voltage line during a touch sensing mode of operation;

the sense region comprising a second plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes of the sense region connected to touch sensing circuitry during the touch sensing mode of operation;

the pixel electrodes of the first and second drive region and the sense region receiving a data signal during a display mode of operation; and

wherein the first and second phases of the first and second voltage lines reduce static capacitance in the sense region as compared to a configuration in which the second voltage lines are not utilized.

17. A mobile telephone comprising a touch screen comprising:

a first voltage line driven at a first phase;

a second voltage line driven at a second phase that is different than the first phase;

a first and second drive region coupled to the first voltage line; and

a sense region disposed between the first and second drive regions along a first direction;

wherein the first voltage line and the second voltage line cross the sense region;

each of the first and second drive regions comprising a first plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes receiving a stimulation voltage along the first voltage line during a touch sensing mode of operation;

the sense region comprising a second plurality of display pixels having pixel electrodes and common electrodes, the common electrodes of the sense region connected to touch sensing circuitry during the touch sensing mode of operation;

the pixel electrodes of the first and second drive region and the sense region receiving a data signal during a display mode of operation; and

wherein the first and second phases of the first and second voltage lines reduce static capacitance in the sense region as compared to a configuration in which the second voltage lines are not utilized.