Multi-driver touch panel

• US 8,947,392 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multek Display Limited (New Vision Display, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multek Display Limited (New Vision Display, Inc.)
• Inventors: Long, Ding Hua, Mo, Hong Xin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, PRIYANK J
• Application Number:
  US12/928,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-183, 345/204, 178 1801- 1811, 178/20.01, 178/20.03
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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

Abstract

A novel capacitive touch system includes a first controller having a plurality of channels, a first sensor row having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, a second sensor row having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, a first sensor column, a second sensor column, and a first signal line electrically coupling one of the plurality of channels of the controller to both the first and second discrete sensor elements of the first sensor row. In a particular embodiment, the first controller includes a second channel electrically connected to both the first and second discrete sensor elements of the second sensor row. In another particular embodiment, the capacitive touch system includes a second controller having a plurality of channels, the first sensor column includes a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, and a first channel of the second controller is electrically coupled to both the first and second discrete sensor elements of the first sensor column.

Claims

1. A capacitive touch sensor system comprising:

a first controller having a plurality of channels;

a first sensor row extending along a first direction, said first sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and a third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the first sensor row occupy a different region of the first sensor row;

a second sensor row extending along said first direction, said second sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the second sensor row occupy a different region of the second sensor row, the first and second sensor rows being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a first substrate;

a first sensor column extending along a second direction, said first sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element;

a second sensor column extending along said second direction, said second sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, the first and second sensor columns being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a second, different substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate bonded to one another in a stacked relation such that a bottom surface of the first substrate having sensor rows formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of the second substrate with an adhesive disposed therebetween and the bottom surface of the second substrate having sensor columns formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of a graphical display device; and

a first signal line electrically coupling a first channel of said plurality of channels of said controller to said discrete sensor elements of said first sensor row.

2. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising a second controller having a plurality of channels.

3. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 2, further comprising a second signal line electrically coupling a first one of said plurality of channels of said second controller to said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor row and said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor row.

4. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 3, wherein

said plurality of channels of said first controller includes a second channel;

said plurality of channels of said second controller includes a second channel; and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a third signal line and a fourth signal line, said third signal line electrically coupling said second channel of said first controller to said first discrete sensor element of said first sensor column and said fourth signal line electrically coupling said second channel of said second controller to said second discrete sensor element of said first sensor column.

5. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 4, wherein

said plurality of channels of said first controller includes a third channel;

said plurality of channels of said second controller includes a third channel; and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a fifth signal line and a sixth signal line, said fifth signal line electrically coupling said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor column and said third channel of said first controller, said sixth signal line electrically coupling said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor column and said third channel of said second controller.

6. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 4, wherein said transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

7. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 6, wherein said discrete sensor elements include a plurality of diamond shaped segments of said conductive material connected in series.

8. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 3, wherein

said plurality of channels of said first controller includes a second channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a third signal line and a fourth signal line, said third signal line electrically coupling said second channel of said first controller to said first discrete sensor element of said first sensor column and said second discrete element of said first sensor column.

9. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 8, wherein

said second controller includes a second channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a fourth signal line electrically coupling said second channel of said second controller to said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor column and said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor column.

10. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising a second signal line electrically coupling a second channel of said first controller to said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor row and said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor row.

11. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 10, wherein

said plurality of channels of said first controller includes a third channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a third signal line electrically coupling said third channel of said first controller to said first discrete sensor element of said first sensor column and said second discrete sensor element of said first sensor column.

12. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 11, wherein

said plurality of channels of said first controller includes a fourth channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a fourth signal line electrically coupling said fourth channel of said first controller to said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor column and said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor column.

13. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 10, further comprising a second controller having a plurality of channels.

14. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 13, wherein

said plurality of channels of said second controller includes a first channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a third signal line electrically coupling said first channel of said second controller to said first discrete sensor element of said first sensor column and said second discrete sensor element of said first sensor column.

15. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 14, wherein

said plurality of channels of said second controller includes a second channel;

and

said capacitive touch sensor system further comprises a fourth signal line electrically coupling said second channel of said second controller to said first discrete sensor element of said second sensor column and said second discrete sensor element of said second sensor column.

16. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said transparent conductive material is indium tin oxide.

17. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 16, wherein:

said transparent conductive material defines the first set of discrete sensor elements and the second set of sensor elements;

each discrete sensor element of said first set of discrete sensor elements includes a chain of diamond shapes connected in series along said first direction;

each discrete sensor element of said second set of discrete sensor elements includes a chain of diamond shapes connected in series along said second direction;

said first set of discrete sensor elements and said second set of discrete sensor elements are disposed in an overlayed relationship so as to form a two-dimensional array of diamond shapes; and

said first set of discrete sensor elements and said second set of discrete sensor elements are electrically insulated from one another.

18. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said sensor rows are formed on a first rigid transparent substrate and said sensor columns are formed on a second rigid transparent substrate.

19. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, further comprising a transparent and electrically insulating material disposed between said sensor rows and said sensor columns.

20. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive state of said first discrete sensor element of said first sensor row and said second discrete sensor element of said first sensor row are measured simultaneously at a common node.

21. A capacitive touch sensor system according to claim 1, wherein said first discrete sensor element and said second discrete sensor element are open ended electrodes being electrically connected in parallel.

22. A capacitive touch system according to claim 1, wherein said first direction is orthogonal to said second direction.

23. A touch display system comprising:

a controller having a plurality of channels;

a display;

a first sensor row overlying said display and extending along a first direction, said first sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and a third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the first sensor row occupy a different region of the first sensor row;

a second sensor row overlying said display and extending along said first direction, said second sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and a third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the second sensor row occupy a different region of the second sensor row, the first and second sensor rows being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a first substrate;

a first sensor column overlying said display and extending along a second direction said first sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element;

a second sensor column overlying said display and extending along said second direction, said second sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, the first and second sensor columns being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a second, different substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate bonded to one another in a stacked relation such that a bottom surface of the first substrate having sensor rows formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of the second substrate with an adhesive disposed therebetween and the bottom surface of the second substrate having sensor columns formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of a graphical display device; and

a first signal line electrically coupling a first one of said plurality channels of said controller to said discrete sensor elements of said first sensor row.

24. A capacitive touch system comprising:

a controller having a plurality of channels;

a first sensor row extending along a first direction, said first sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and a third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the first sensor row occupy a different region of the first sensor row;

a second sensor row extending along said first direction, said second sensor row having a first discrete sensor element, a second discrete sensor element, and a third discrete sensor element, wherein each of the first discrete sensor element, the second discrete sensor element, and the third discrete sensor element of the second sensor row occupy a different region of the second sensor row, the first and second sensor rows being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a first substrate;

a first sensor column extending along a second direction, said first sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element; and

a second sensor column extending along said second direction, said second sensor column having a first discrete sensor element and a second discrete sensor element, the first and second sensor columns being a transparent conductive material deposited and etched on a surface of a second, different substrate, the first substrate and the second substrate bonded to one another in a stacked relation such that a bottom surface of the first substrate having sensor rows formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of the second substrate with an adhesive disposed therebetween and the bottom surface of the second substrate having sensor columns formed thereon is bonded to a top surface of a graphical display device,

wherein a first one of said plurality channels of said controller is coupled to said discrete sensor elements of said first sensor row.