Extended Touchscreen Pattern

• US 20100045614A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Sadao, Gray, Patrick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

Extended touchscreen pattern. A conductive pattern implemented within a touchscreen (e.g., using indium tin oxide (ITO) such as may be deposited on a substrate composed of polyester or some other material) provides paths for signals traveling through the touchscreen. By monitoring these signal in accordance with some means (e.g., cross point detection, zone detection, etc.) an estimate may be made as to a location of user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen (e.g., finger or stylus touching of the touchscreen). The conductive pattern includes a number of conductors aligned in various directions (e.g., row and column conductors) across the touchscreen, and they may be co-planar or separated by a dielectric material. A conductor aligned in one direction includes one or more extended areas that complementarily align with a conductor aligned in another direction. The extended areas of one conductor may be viewed as filling voids (e.g., holes, notches, etc.) of another conductor.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a touchscreen including a first conductor aligned in a first direction and a second conductor aligned in a second direction; and

wherein;

the first conductor and the second conductor are separated by a dielectric material;

the first conductor includes a first area;

the second conductor includes a second area and an extended second area coupled to the second area; and

the second area and the extended second area are complementarily aligned with the first area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the extended second area resides within a notch or opening of the first area; and

the notch or opening and the extended second area have substantially same shape and size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first conductor is implemented on a back of a surface of the touchscreen;

or

the first conductor is implemented on the surface of the touchscreen.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a shape of the extended second area is one of a circle, a diamond, a triangle, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a square.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an energizing circuitry that provides a signal to the first conductor; and

a detection circuitry that;

detects a signal received from the second conductor;

based on the received signal, identifies a location of a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen corresponding to an intersection of the first conductor and the second conductor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a change in the energizing signal caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third conductor aligned in the first direction; and

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a signal response in the third conductor caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a touchscreen including a first conductor aligned in a first direction and a second conductor aligned in a second direction on a common plane; and

wherein;

the first conductor includes a plurality of coupled first areas;

the second conductor includes a plurality of coupled second areas; and

an extended second area, coupled to at least one of the plurality of coupled second areas, that is complementarily extended into the plurality of coupled first areas.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the plurality of coupled second areas and the extended second area are complementarily aligned with the plurality of coupled first areas.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the plurality of coupled first areas are connected via traces; and

the plurality of coupled second areas and the extended second area are connected via bond wires.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the first conductor and the second conductor are implemented on a back of a surface of the touchscreen;

or

the first conductor and the second conductor are implemented on the surface of the touchscreen.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

a shape of the extended second area is one of a circle, a diamond, a triangle, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a square.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

an energizing circuitry that provides a signal to the first conductor; and

a detection circuitry that;

detects a signal received from the second conductor;

based on the received signal, identifies a location of a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen corresponding to an intersection of the first conductor and the second conductor.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a change in the energizing signal caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a third conductor aligned in the first direction; and

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a signal response in the third conductor caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a touchscreen including a first conductor aligned in a first direction and a second conductor aligned in a second direction; and

wherein;

the first conductor includes an opening; and

the second conductor includes an area whose size and shape are substantially same as the opening and that is axially aligned with the opening.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the first conductor and the second conductor are separated by a dielectric material.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the first conductor is implemented on a back of a surface of the touchscreen;

or

the first conductor is implemented on the surface of the touchscreen.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

a shape of the area is one of a circle, a diamond, a triangle, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a square.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

an energizing circuitry that provides a signal to the first conductor; and

a detection circuitry that;

detects a signal received from the second conductor;

based on the received signal, identifies a location of a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen corresponding to an intersection of the first conductor and the second conductor.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a change in the energizing signal caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

a third conductor aligned in the first direction; and

a circuitry that provides an energizing signal to the first conductor and detects a signal response in the third conductor caused by a user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:

the user'"'"'s interaction with the touchscreen is a finger of the user touching the touchscreen or a user stylus touching the touchscreen.