Meandering interconnect on a deformable substrate

• US 9,904,425 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2013
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Cotton, Darryl, Allen, Mark, Andrew, Piers
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/890,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• 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 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

An apparatus including a first plurality of first conductive lines; and a first meandering interconnect supported in a spaced relationship from a deformable substrate, wherein the first meandering interconnect includes a first multiplicity of meandering conductive lines each of which is electrically connected to one of the first plurality of first conductive lines.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of first conductive lines; and

a first meandering interconnect supported in a spaced relationship from a deformable substrate, wherein the first meandering interconnect comprises a first multiplicity of meandering conductive lines each of which is electrically connected to one of the first plurality of first conductive lines.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first meandering interconnect provides routing, outside an active area of a touch panel comprising at least portions of the first conductive lines.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first meandering interconnect meanders laterally in a first direction and extends longitudinally in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first meandering interconnect is supported at intermittent support points.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first meandering interconnect comprises one or more suspended loops between adjacent support points.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first meandering interconnect is supported at intermittent support points by one or more raised beams.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support points are arranged rectilinearly along a longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first meandering interconnect comprises suspended loops on either side of the longitudinal axis and has a repeat pattern in the longitudinal direction.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the intermittent support points are regularly spaced.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first multiplicity of meandering distinct conductive lines is electrically connected to one of the first plurality of first conductive lines via a selectively formed via.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a housing having a plurality of cavities, wherein the plurality of cavities are arranged longitudinally such that each of the plurality of first conductive lines is associated with a cavity and wherein the first meandering interconnect meanders, at least partially through, the plurality of cavities.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least some of the plurality of cavities are separately sealed cavities comprising conductive liquid.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein separated portions of the conductive liquid within the plurality of separately sealed cavities provide the first conductive lines.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the separated portions of conductive liquid within the plurality of separately sealed cavities provide an interface between the first conductive lines and the first meandering interconnect.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a housing having a plurality of pairs of cavities, wherein each cavity of each pair of cavities is arranged laterally and the pairs of cavities are arranged longitudinally such that each of the plurality of first conductive lines is associated with a pair of cavities and wherein the first meandering interconnect meanders, at least partially through, each of the cavities comprising the plurality of pairs of cavities.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a first cavity of each of the plurality of pairs cavities is a sealed cavity comprising conductive liquid providing the first conductive lines.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein a second cavity of each of the plurality of pairs cavities is a sealed cavity comprising conductive liquid wherein the conductive liquid within the plurality of cavities provides an interface between the first conductive lines and the first meandering interconnect.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing is deformable and provides the deformable substrate.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

second conductive lines; and

one or more meandering interconnects supported in a spaced relationship from the deformable substrate, electrically connected to the second conductive lines.

20. A method comprising:

supporting a first meandering interconnect in a spaced relationship from a deformable substrate, wherein the first meandering interconnect comprises a first multiplicity of meandering distinct conductive lines; and

electrically connecting each of the meandering distinct conductive lines to one of a first plurality of first conductive lines.