Single-Layer Touch Sensor with Crossovers

• US 20130127775A1
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: David Brent Guard, Jalil Shaikh
• Inventors: Yilmaz, Esat, Shaikh, Jalil, Morrione, Michael Thomas, Guard, David Brent, Qazi, Isfandyar
• Application Number:
  US13/363,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20130127775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• 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 3/0446 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 drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor. Each of the electrodes are made of a conductive mesh of lines of conductive material. The apparatus also includes one or more conductive crossovers that each couple two of the drive electrodes to each other or couple two of the sense electrodes to each other. At least a portion of each of the conductive crossovers is disposed on a plane different than a plane of the drive or sense electrodes.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

one or more drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor, each of the electrodes comprising a plurality of conductive regions being made of a conductive mesh of lines of conductive material; and

one or more conductive crossovers that each couple two of the conductive regions of the drive electrodes to each other or couple two of the conductive regions of the sense electrodes to each other, at least a portion of each of the conductive crossovers being disposed on a plane different than a plane of the drive or sense electrodes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more projections made of the conductive mesh extend from one or more of the conductive regions of the drive or sense electrodes.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one or more of the projections of the drive electrodes are interleaved with one or more of the projections of the sense electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive and sense electrodes comprise one or more substantially square-shaped conductive regions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive and sense electrodes are on a same plane with respect to each other.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising dielectric material separating each of the conductive crossovers from conductive material of an adjacent electrode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the dielectric material substantially electrically isolates the conductive crossovers of the sense electrodes from conductive regions of the drive electrodes or the conductive crossovers of the drive electrodes from conductive regions of the sense electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive material comprises gold, aluminum, copper, silver, gold-based, aluminum-based, silver-based, or copper-based, or carbon nanotubes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein drive and sense electrodes are substantially transparent and the conductive material is optically opaque.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductive crossovers are disposed on a same side of a substrate as the drive and sense electrodes.

11. A device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising;

one or more drive or sense electrodes of a touch sensor, each of the electrodes comprising a plurality of conductive regions being made of a conductive mesh of lines of conductive material; and

one or more conductive crossovers that each couple two of the conductive regions of the drive electrodes to each other or couple two of the conductive regions of the sense electrodes to each other, at least a portion of each of the conductive crossovers being disposed on a plane different than a plane of the drive or sense electrodes; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein one or more projections made of the conductive mesh extend from one or more of the conductive regions of the drive or sense electrodes.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein one or more of the projections of the drive electrodes are interleaved with one or more of the projections of the sense electrodes.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the drive and sense electrodes comprise one or more substantially square-shaped conductive regions.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the drive and sense electrodes on a same plane with respect to each other.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising dielectric material separating each of the conductive crossovers from conductive material of an adjacent electrode.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the dielectric material substantially electrically isolates the conductive crossovers of the sense electrodes from conductive regions of the drive electrodes or the conductive crossovers of the drive electrodes from conductive regions of the sense electrodes.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the conductive material comprises gold, aluminum, copper, silver, gold-based, aluminum-based, silver-based, or copper-based, or carbon nanotubes.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein drive and sense electrodes are substantially transparent and the conductive material is optically opaque.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the conductive crossovers are disposed on a same side of a substrate as the drive and sense electrodes.