Touch screen with electrodes positioned between pixels

• US 9,965,106 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• 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, Trend, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Faragalla, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/350,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,307 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 345174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a two-dimensional array of pixels configured to produce an image. The apparatus also includes a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes aligned with one or more gaps between one more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels. The plurality of electrodes are aligned such that the plurality of electrodes do not cross over at least one pixel of the two-dimensional array of pixels.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a two-dimensional array of pixels configured to produce an image; and

a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising;

a first plurality of electrodes extending generally in a first direction; and

a second plurality of electrodes extending generally in a second direction, the first and second directions being different directions;

the plurality of electrodes aligned with one or more gaps between two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels such that;

the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes do not cross over at least one pixel of the two-dimensional array of pixels; and

a vertex formed by a crisscrossing, in plan view, of an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is aligned with at least one of the one or more gaps between the two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein the electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and the electrode of the second plurality of electrodes are configured to capacitively couple across a dielectric material at the vertex.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two-dimensional array of pixels comprises one or more layers within a display stack; and

the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor is between the two-dimensional array of pixels and a top layer of the display stack.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the two-dimensional array of pixels comprises one or more layers within a display stack; and

the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor is coupled to a top layer of the display stack.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially straight electrodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially sinusoidal electrodes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a distance between a peak and a valley of any given wave of the substantially sinusoidal electrodes is based on a distance of a gap between two respective pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of fine lines of metal electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array of pixels comprises a two-dimensional array of liquid crystal display (LCD) pixels configured to produce an image.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array of pixels comprises a two-dimensional array of organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixels configured to produce an image.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array of pixels and the touch sensor are flexible.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises a width that is based on a distance of a gap between two respective pixels.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first gap of the one or more gaps between the two or more pixels is between 5 micrometers and 26 micrometers.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a display module comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels configured to produce an image;

receiving a touch sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes, the plurality of electrodes comprising;

a first plurality of electrodes extending generally in a first direction; and

a second plurality of electrodes extending generally in a second direction, the first and second directions being different directions;

aligning the plurality of electrodes with one or more gaps between one more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels such that;

the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes do not cross over at least one pixel of the two-dimensional array of pixels; and

a vertex formed by a crisscrossing, in plan view, of an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is aligned with at least one of the one or more gaps between the two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein the electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and the electrode of the second plurality of electrodes are configured to capacitively couple across a dielectric material at the vertex; and

attaching the touch sensor to the display module.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially straight electrodes.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially sinusoidal electrodes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of fine line metal electrodes.

16. A method, comprising:

forming a display stack comprising a two-dimensional array of pixels configured to produce an image; and

forming a plurality of electrodes of a touch sensor within the display stack, the plurality of electrodes comprising;

a first plurality of electrodes extending generally in a first direction; and

a second plurality of electrodes extending generally in a second direction, the first and second directions being different directions;

the plurality of formed electrodes aligned with one or more gaps between one more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels such that;

the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes do not cross over at least one pixel of the two-dimensional array of pixels; and

a vertex formed by a crisscrossing, in plan view, of an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is aligned with at least one of the one or more gaps between the two or more pixels of the two-dimensional array of pixels, wherein the electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and the electrode of the second plurality of electrodes are configured to capacitively couple across a dielectric material at the vertex.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the plurality of electrodes comprises depositing the plurality of electrodes on at least one layer within the display stack.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein forming the plurality of electrodes comprises laminating the plurality of electrodes on at least one layer within the display stack.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially straight electrodes.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of substantially sinusoidal electrodes.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a mesh of fine lines of metal electrodes.