Reduction of touch sensor pattern visibility using beamsplitters

• US 10,241,623 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Original Assignee: Neodrón Limited (Atlantic IP Services Limited)
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat, Saran, Neerja
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): Almeida, Cory A
• Application Number:
  US13/828,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20140267168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• 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: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs

Abstract

In one embodiment, a touch sensor comprises a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter, a substrate, and one or more lines of conductive material disposed on the substrate, the lines of conductive material disposed between the first substrate and the beamsplitter.

Claims

1. A touch sensor comprising:

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75% and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%;

a first substrate;

one or more lines of metal material disposed on the first substrate, the one or more lines of metal material disposed between the first substrate and the beamsplitter; and

a layer of anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines of metal material

wherein the beamsplitter is deposited over a cover layer of the touch sensor, the layer of anti-reflective material being between the first substrate and the cover layer, the cover layer being between the beamsplitter and the first substrate, the beamsplitter, the cover layer, and the first substrate adapted to be positioned over a display.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines of metal material comprises a first set of lines of metal material and a second set of lines of metal material, the first set of lines disposed above the first substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the first substrate.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a second substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

4. The touch sensor of claim 3, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the second substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the lines of metal material form a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprising a mesh formed by at least a portion of the lines of metal material.

6. The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the first substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

7. The touch sensor of claim 1, further comprising a self-adhesive that couples the beamsplitter to a top surface of the cover layer of the touch sensor.

8. A system, comprising:

a controller;

a touch sensor comprising;

a display;

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75%, and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%;

one or more lines of metal material disposed on a first substrate between the display and the beamsplitter; and

a layer of anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines of metal material;

wherein the beamsplitter is deposited over a cover layer of the touch sensor, the layer of anti-reflective material being between the first substrate and the cover layer, the cover layer being between the beamsplitter and the first substrate, the beamsplitter, the cover layer, and the first substrate positioned over the display; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more lines of metal material comprises a first set of lines of metal material and a second set of lines of metal material, the first set of lines disposed above the first substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the first substrate.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the second substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the lines of metal material form a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprising a mesh formed by at least a portion of the lines of metal material.

13. A device comprising:

a display;

a beamsplitter operable to reflect a first portion of light incident on the beamsplitter and transmit a second portion of light incident on the beamsplitter, wherein the first portion of light is in the range of 50% to 75%, and the second portion of light is in the range of 25% to 50%;

a touch sensor comprising one or more lines of metal material disposed on a first substrate between the display and the beamsplitter, the touch sensor comprising a cover layer;

a layer of anti-reflective coating disposed between the beamsplitter and the one or more lines of metal material;

wherein the beamsplitter is deposited over the cover layer of the touch sensor, the layer of anti-reflective material being between the first substrate and the cover layer, the cover layer being between the beamsplitter and the first substrate, the beamsplitter, the cover layer, and the first substrate positioned over the display; and

a touch-sensor controller operable to apply a voltage to at least a portion of the metal material.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the one or more lines of metal material comprises a first set of lines of metal material and a second set of lines of metal material, the first set of lines disposed above the first substrate, the second set of lines disposed below the first substrate.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a second substrate disposed between the beamsplitter and the anti-reflective coating.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein refractive indices of the beamsplitter, the second substrate, and the anti-reflective coating are substantially similar to each other.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the lines of metal material form a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprising a mesh formed by at least a portion of the lines of metal material.