TOUCH SENSOR ARRAYS WITH INTEGRATED INTER-LAYER CONTACTS
First Claim
1. A touch sensor array, comprising:
- a substrate having a sensor array region and a tail that extends from the sensor array region;
conductive touch sensor structures on the substrate, wherein at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures are formed in the sensor array region and at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures form parallel interconnect lines in the tail; and
a layer of insulator, wherein the conductive touch structures comprise first and second layers of conductive material, wherein at least some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the first and second layers, and wherein the tail has a tip region that is uncovered by the layer of insulator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Touch pad structures are provided that gather touch sensor data. The data may be used to control a computer or other electronic device. The touch pad structures may be integrated into a computer or other computing equipment or may be provided as a stand-alone accessory. The touch pad structures may include a touch sensor array. The touch sensor array may include rows and columns of touch sensor electrodes, interconnect lines, and other conductive structures. The conductive structures on the touch sensor array may be formed from patterned layers of ink. Interconnect line segments in different layer of ink may be connected in rectangular contact regions. The touch sensor array may have a tail. A layer of insulator may be removed from the substrate across a tip portion of the tail to allow the line segments to be connected.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch sensor array, comprising:
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a substrate having a sensor array region and a tail that extends from the sensor array region; conductive touch sensor structures on the substrate, wherein at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures are formed in the sensor array region and at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures form parallel interconnect lines in the tail; and a layer of insulator, wherein the conductive touch structures comprise first and second layers of conductive material, wherein at least some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the first and second layers, and wherein the tail has a tip region that is uncovered by the layer of insulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A touch sensor array, comprising:
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a substrate having a sensor array region; conductive interconnect lines formed from a patterned upper conductive ink layer and a patterned lower conductive ink layer; and a layer of insulator, wherein some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the patterned upper conductive ink layer and the substrate and wherein some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the patterned upper conductive ink layer and the patterned lower conductive ink layer, and wherein each conductive interconnect line includes a rectangular contact region in which an upper line segment formed from the patterned upper conductive ink layer overlaps and contacts a lower line segment formed from the patterned lower conductive ink layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus, comprising:
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substrate; an upper patterned ink layer; a lower patterned ink layer; and an insulating layer, wherein at least some of the lower patterned ink layer touches the substrate, wherein at least some of the insulating layer is interposed between the upper patterned ink layer and the lower patterned ink layer, wherein at least some of the lower patterned ink layer touches the substrate, wherein the upper patterned ink layer comprises a plurality of first interconnect line segments, wherein the lower patterned ink layer comprises at a plurality of second interconnect line segments, wherein each of the first interconnect line segments contacts a respective one of the second interconnect line segments in a respective rectangular contact region, and wherein the substrate is free of the insulating layer between the second interconnect line segments. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification