Input device having a reduced border region

• US 9,927,832 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Tanemura, Tetsuo, Kokubu, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOKHAM, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US14/448,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20150309531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174, 178 1806
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• 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 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention generally provide an input device. The input device includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other and a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes. An areal extent of the first and second sensor electrodes defines a sensor region. The input devices further includes a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region of the input device. A first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other;

a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes, an areal extent of the first and second sensor electrodes defining a sensor region; and

a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region of the input device, wherein a first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein the first routing trace is electrically isolated from the second sensor electrode.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the second sensor electrode comprises a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment, and the first routing trace is routed between the first electrode segment and the second electrode segment.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the first electrode segment is electrically coupled to the second electrode segment via a jumper that traverses the first routing trace.

4. The input device of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed on a first layer of the input device and the second plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed on a second layer of the input device.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein a third sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes is routed through a fourth sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes.

6. The input device of claim 5, wherein the fourth sensor electrode comprises:

a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment, the first electrode segment electrically coupled to the second electrode segment via a first jumper that traverses the third sensor electrode.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the fourth sensor electrode is routed through the third sensor electrode, the third sensor electrode comprises a third electrode segment and a fourth electrode segment, and the third electrode segment is electrically coupled to the fourth electrode segment via a second jumper that traverses the fourth sensor electrode.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode comprise transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes comprises receiver electrodes.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the length of each sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is substantially equal to a width of the input device.

10. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a third plurality of sensor electrodes disposed proximate to the second plurality of sensor electrodes and configured for proximity sensing, wherein a third sensor electrode included in the third plurality of sensor electrodes includes a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment, and the first electrode segment is electrically coupled to the second electrode segment via a jumper that traverses at least one sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes.

11. The input device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ground electrodes disposed proximate to the second plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein a first ground electrode included in the plurality of ground electrodes includes a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment, and the first electrode segment is electrically coupled to the second electrode segment via a jumper that traverses at least one sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein each sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes has a width of two capacitive pixels.

21. The input device of claim 1, wherein the first routing trace is routed between segments of the second sensor electrode.

13. An input device, comprising:

a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other;

a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes, an areal extent of the first and second sensor electrodes defining a sensor region;

a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region of the input device, wherein a first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes, where the first routing trace is electrically isolated from the second sensor electrode; and

a processing system coupled to the first plurality of sensor electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes via the plurality of routing traces.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein the second sensor electrode comprises a first electrode segment and a second electrode segment, and the first routing trace is routed between the first electrode segment and the second electrode segment.

15. The input device of claim 14, wherein the first electrode segment is electrically coupled to the second electrode segment via a jumper that traverses the first routing trace.

16. The input device of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed on a first layer of the input device and the second plurality of sensor electrodes are disposed on a second layer of the input device.

17. The input device of claim 13, wherein the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode comprise transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes comprises receiver electrodes.

18. A method of input sensing with an input device, the method comprising:

driving a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially parallel to each other for capacitive sensing;

receiving resulting signals from a second plurality of sensor electrodes disposed substantially perpendicular to the first plurality of sensor electrodes while the first plurality of sensor electrodes are being driven for capacitive sensing, the first and second sensor electrodes having an areal extent defining a sensor region;

receiving, in a processing system, the resulting signals via a plurality of routing traces disposed within the sensor region and coupled to the second plurality of sensor electrodes, wherein a first sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes is coupled to a first routing trace included in the plurality of routing traces, and the first routing trace is routed through a second sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes, and wherein the first routing trace is electrically isolated from the second sensor electrode; and

determining positional information based on the resulting signals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first routing trace is further routed through a third sensor electrode included in the first plurality of sensor electrodes.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a third sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes is routed through a fourth sensor electrode included in the second plurality of sensor electrodes.