Touch pad electrode design

• US 8,358,276 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hotelling, Steve Porter, Staton, Kenneth Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIS, RANDAL L
• Application Number:
  US11/963,716
• Publication Number:
  US 20090159344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 345/18, 345/173
• 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A multi-touch capacitive touch sensor panel can be created using a substrate with column and row traces formed on separate layers of the substrate. The column and row traces can include sections extending from a central trace and forming a rectilinear trace pattern with sections of the columns and rows interdigitated with one another. The trace pattern can comprise a plurality of pixels arranged continuously across the sensor panel. In this manner, the sensor panel can provide a linear or near linear response to touches across the touch sensor panel.

Claims

1. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches at least one of plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending from the second central trace , at least some of the plurality of second trace branches comprising first extension branches, at least one of the first extension branches protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line, the first extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the first dimension from one of the second central traces and a plurality of second extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first extension branches, the plurality of second extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches.

2. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of traces form sense traces and the second plurality of traces form drive traces.

3. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 2, wherein the first central and the second central trace overlap at substantially perpendicular angles.

4. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising a computing system that incorporates the sensor panel.

5. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 4, further comprising a mobile telephone that incorporates the computing system.

6. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 4, further comprising a digital audio player that incorporates the computing system.

7. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

sense traces formed on a dielectric substrate, each of the sense traces comprising a central sense trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of extension sense traces, at least one of the plurality of extension sense traces protruding from both sides of the central sense trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of extension sense traces extending substantially perpendicularly from the central sense trace substantially along a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

drive traces formed on the dielectric substrate, each drive trace comprising a central drive trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of extension drive traces, wherein at least some of the plurality of extension drive traces include a first section extending substantially perpendicularly to and protruding from both sides of the central drive trace in a substantially straight line, the extension drive traces extending substantially arranged along the first dimension, and a plurality of second sections extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first sections, the plurality of second sections interdigitated with the plurality of extension sense traces.

8. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 7, wherein the central sense trace and the central drive trace overlap at substantially perpendicular angles.

9. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 7, wherein the central sense traces and the central drive traces form a plurality of continuous or substantially continuous pixels.

10. The capacitive touch sensor panel of claim 9, wherein the center of each of the plurality of pixels is where the central sense traces and the central drive traces overlap.

11. A mobile telephone having a capacitive touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending from the second central trace, at least some of the plurality of second trace branches comprising first extension branches protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line, the first extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the first dimension from one of the second central traces and a plurality of second extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first extension branches, the plurality of second extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches.

12. A digital audio player having a capacitive touch sensor panel, the touch sensor panel comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending from the second central trace, at least some of the plurality of second trace branches comprising first extension branches protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line, the first extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the first dimension from one of the second central traces and a plurality of second extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first extension branches, the plurality of second extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches.

13. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches, at least one of the plurality of second trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly to the second central trace and protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line, and a plurality of extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the second trace branches the plurality of extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches.

14. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches, at least one of the plurality of second trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly to the second central trace and protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line and disposed at a substantially equal distance on each side of the first central trace, and a plurality of extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the second trace branches the plurality of extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches.

15. The capacitive touch sensor panel as recited in claim 14, wherein the distance along the first direction between a given first trace branch and a given extension branch is the same as the distance along the second dimension between a given first central trace and a given extension branch.

16. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of first trace branches protruding from both sides of the first central trace in a substantially straight line, the plurality of first trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches , at least one of the plurality of second trace branches extending substantially perpendicularly to the second central trace and protruding from both sides of the second central trace in a substantially straight line, and a plurality of extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the second trace branches, the plurality of extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches, and each extension branch being substantially equal distance along the first dimension between adjacent first trace branches.

17. The capacitive touch sensor panel as recited in claim 16, wherein the distance along the first dimension between a given first trace branch and a given extension branch is the same as the distance along the second dimension between a given first central trace and a given extension branch.

18. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

sense traces formed on a dielectric substrate, each of the sense traces comprising a central sense trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of extension sense traces, at least one of the plurality of extension traces extending substantially perpendicularly from the central sense trace along a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

drive traces formed on the dielectric substrate, each drive trace comprising a central drive trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of extension drive traces, wherein at least some of the plurality of extension drive traces include a first section arranged substantially along the first dimension, and a plurality of second sections extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first sections, the plurality of second sections interdigitated with the plurality of extension sense traces; and

wherein;

a center of a touch pixel is defined at the crossover of a central sense trace with a central drive trace; and

the first section of the at least some of the plurality of extension drive traces are disposed substantially midway along the second dimension between the centers of two adjacent touch pixels.

19. The capacitive touch sensor panel as recited in claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of extension sense traces extend across the central sense trace in a substantially straight line; and

the first section extends substantially perpendicularly across the central drive trace in a substantially straight line.

20. A capacitive touch sensor panel, comprising:

a substrate formed from a dielectric material;

a first plurality of traces of conductive material located on a first side of the substrate, each of the first plurality of traces comprising a first central trace arranged substantially along a first dimension of a two-dimensional coordinate system and a plurality of first trace branches, at least one of the plurality of extension traces extending substantially perpendicularly from the first central trace in a second dimension of the two-dimensional coordinate system; and

a second plurality of traces of the conductive material located on a second side of the substrate, each of the second plurality of traces comprising a second central trace arranged substantially along the second dimension and a plurality of second trace branches extending from the second central trace, at least some of the plurality of second trace branches comprising first extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the first dimension from one of the second central traces and a plurality of second extension branches extending substantially perpendicularly along the second dimension from each of the first extension branches, the plurality of second extension branches interdigitated with the plurality of first trace branches,

wherein;

a center of a touch pixel is defined at the crossover of a first central trace with a second central trace; and

at least some of the second trace branches are disposed substantially midway along the second dimension between the centers of two adjacent touch pixels.

21. A capacitive touch sensor panel as recited in claim 20, wherein:

at lease a three first trace branches are disposed along the first dimension between the centers of at least some adjacent touch pixels.

22. The capacitive touch sensor panel as recited in claim 21, wherein five first trace branches are disposed along the first dimension between the centers of at least some adjacent touch pixels.