Touch screen stack-ups

• US 20080165158A1
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Tan, Tang Yew, Hotelling, Steve Porter, Land, Brian Richards, Hamblin, Mark Arthur
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133302 Rigid substrates, e.g. inorganic substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133331 Cover glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133345 Insulating layers G02F1/1335, G02F1/1337, G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133528 Polarisers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• 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 3/0412 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 3/04166 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 3/0445 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: H04M 2250/22 : including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A multi-touch sensor panel is disclosed that can include a glass subassembly having a plurality of column traces of substantially transparent conductive material that can be formed on the back side, wherein the glass subassembly can also act as a cover that can be touched on the front side. Row traces of the same or different substantially transparent conductive material can then be located near the column traces, and a layer of dielectric material can be coupled between the column traces and the row traces. The row and column traces can be oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, and the crossover locations can form mutual capacitance sensors for detecting one or more touches on the front side of the glass subassembly.

Claims

1. A multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

a glass subassembly having a front side capable of being touched, and a back side opposite the front side;

a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material formed on the back side of the glass subassembly;

a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent material; and

a dielectric material coupled between the first traces and the second traces;

wherein the second and first traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting one or more touches on the front side of the glass subassembly.

2. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second substantially transparent conductive materials are the same.

3. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a mask layer formed on the back side of the glass subassembly for hiding electrical interconnect.

4. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material is formed over the first traces on the back side of the glass subassembly to create a planarization layer for use in forming subsequent conductive layers.

5. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 4, wherein the second traces are formed over the dielectric material on the back side of the glass subassembly.

6. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 5, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly having a continuous sheet of conductive material formed thereon for shielding the first traces.

7. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 6, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the PET subassembly.

8. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a bottom side of the PET subassembly.

9. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 8, further comprising a chip on glass coupled to the glass subassembly, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

10. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 9, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the PET subassembly.

11. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a top side of the PET subassembly.

12. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 11, the PET subassembly having a continuous sheet of conductive material formed on a bottom side for shielding the first traces.

13. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 12, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the PET subassembly.

14. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 1, the multi-touch sensor panel incorporated into a computing system.

15. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 14, the computing system incorporated into a mobile telephone.

16. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 14, the computing system incorporated into a digital audio player.

17. A mobile telephone including a multi-touch sensor panel, the multi-touch sensor panel comprising:

a glass subassembly having a front side capable of being touched, and a back side opposite the front side;

a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material formed on the back side of the glass subassembly;

a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent material; and

a dielectric material coupled between the first traces and the second traces;

wherein the second and first traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting one or more touches on the front side of the glass subassembly.

18. A digital audio player including a multi-touch sensor panel, the multi-touch sensor panel comprising:

a glass subassembly having a front side capable of being touched, and a back side opposite the front side;

a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material formed on the back side of the glass subassembly;

a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent material; and

a dielectric material coupled between the first traces and the second traces;

wherein the second and first traces are oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting one or more touches on the front side of the glass subassembly.

19. A multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

a plurality of mutual capacitance sensors, the plurality of mutual capacitance sensors formed by a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material and a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent conductive material separated by a dielectric material, the plurality of first and second traces oriented to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming the mutual capacitance sensors;

wherein one or both of the plurality of first traces and the plurality of second traces are formed on a back side of a glass subassembly, the glass subassembly having a front side opposite the back side and capable of being touched.

20. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 19, wherein the first and second substantially transparent conductive materials are the same.

21. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 19, further comprising a mask layer formed on the back side of the glass subassembly for hiding electrical interconnect.

22. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 19, wherein the dielectric material is formed over the first traces on the back side of the glass subassembly to create a planarization layer for use in forming subsequent conductive layers.

23. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 22, wherein the second traces are formed over the dielectric material on the back side of the glass subassembly.

24. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 23, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly having a continuous sheet of conductive material formed thereon for shielding the first traces.

25. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 24, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the PET subassembly.

26. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 19, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a bottom side of the PET subassembly.

27. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 26, further comprising a chip on glass coupled to the glass subassembly, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

28. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 27, further comprising a liquid crystal display (LCD) module coupled to the PET subassembly.

29. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 19, further comprising a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly coupled to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a top side of the PET subassembly.

30. The multi-touch sensor panel of claim 29, the PET subassembly having a continuous sheet of conductive material formed on a bottom side for shielding the first traces.

31. A method for forming a multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

forming a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material on a back side of a glass subassembly having a front side capable of being touched, and a back side opposite the front side;

locating a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent material between the first traces and a layer of dielectric material; and

orienting the second and first traces to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming mutual capacitance sensors for detecting one or more touches on the front side of the glass subassembly.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the first and second substantially transparent conductive materials are the same.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising forming a mask layer on the back side of the glass subassembly for hiding electrical interconnect.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising forming the dielectric material over the first traces on the back side of the glass subassembly to create a planarization layer for use in forming subsequent conductive layers.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising forming the second traces over the dielectric material on the back side of the glass subassembly.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, and forming a continuous sheet of conductive material on the PET subassembly for shielding the first traces.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising coupling a liquid crystal display (LCD) module to the PET subassembly.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a bottom side of the PET subassembly.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising coupling a chip on glass to the glass subassembly, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising coupling a liquid crystal display (LCD) module to the PET subassembly.

41. The method of claim 31, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material, and forming the second traces on a top side of the PET subassembly.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising forming a continuous sheet of conductive material on a bottom side of the PET subassembly for shielding the first traces.

43. A method for forming a multi-touch sensor panel, comprising:

forming a plurality of mutual capacitance sensors by layering a plurality of first traces of a first substantially transparent conductive material and a plurality of second traces of a second substantially transparent conductive material separated by a dielectric material, and orienting the plurality of first and second traces to cross over each other at crossover locations separated by the dielectric material, the crossover locations forming the mutual capacitance sensors;

wherein one or both of the plurality of first traces and the plurality of second traces are formed on a back side of a glass subassembly, the glass subassembly having a front side opposite the back side and capable of being touched.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the first and second substantially transparent conductive materials are the same.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising forming a mask layer on the back side of the glass subassembly for hiding electrical interconnect.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising forming the dielectric material over the first traces on the back side of the glass subassembly to create a planarization layer for use in forming subsequent conductive layers.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising forming the second traces over the dielectric material on the back side of the glass subassembly.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, and forming a continuous sheet of conductive material on the PET subassembly for shielding the first traces.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising coupling a liquid crystal display (LCD) module to the PET subassembly.

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material and the second traces formed on a bottom side of the PET subassembly.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising coupling a chip on glass to the glass subassembly, the chip on glass including sensor panel circuitry.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising coupling a liquid crystal display (LCD) module to the PET subassembly.

53. The method of claim 43, further comprising coupling a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) subassembly to the glass subassembly, the PET subassembly representing the dielectric material, and forming the second traces on a top side of the PET subassembly.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising forming a continuous sheet of conductive material on a bottom side of the PET subassembly for shielding the first traces.