Touch sensitive module with integrated sensor and artwork

• US 9,971,459 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2014
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Youngs, Lynn R., Kang, Sunggu, Pedder, James Edward Alexander, Zhang, Hao, Zhong, John Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/169,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20150220183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A touch sensor panel including artwork formed on the touch sensor panel is disclosed. The touch sensor panel stackup can include a substrate, one or more underlying layers, one or more patterned transparent conductive layers, a passivation layer, artwork, and an adhesive layer. The artwork on the touch sensor panel can be formed by aligning to the touch sensor pattern or alignment marks. In some examples, the artwork can be formed on a discrete touch sensor panel, and the discrete touch sensor panel can be bonded to a cover glass or cover material. In some examples, the touch sensor panel can be a Dual-sided Indium Tin Oxide (DITO) stackup. In some examples, the drive lines and the sense lines of the touch sensor panel can be formed on separate substrates, and the substrates can be bonded together using an adhesive.

Claims

1. A touch sensor panel comprising:

a plurality of first lines of a first conductive material located on a first substrate in a visible area and a border area of the touch sensor panel;

a second conductive material electrically connected to the plurality of first lines to create one or more traces for off-panel connections and disposed directly on the plurality of first lines in the border area; and

an opaque layer located at least partially in the border area and directly contacting the first substrate on a first side of the opaque layer and an adhesive on a second side of the opaque layer, opposite the first side; and

a passivation layer located on the first substrate in the border area and the visible area, the passivation layer being separate and distinct from the opaque layer,

wherein the opaque layer is a conductive ink.

2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of second lines of a third conductive material.

3. The touch sensor panel of claim 2, wherein the first conductive material is the same as at least one of the second conductive material and the third conductive material.

4. The touch sensor panel of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first lines are supported on the first substrate and the plurality of second lines are supported on a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is separate and distinct from the first substrate.

5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the opaque layer is a black mask.

6. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover material, wherein the adhesive is located between the cover material and the opaque layer.

13. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first lines and the passivation layer are located on a first side of the first substrate, and further wherein the passivation layer surround the plurality of first lines and the second conductive material.

14. The touch sensor panel of claim 1, wherein the opaque layer is located exclusively in the border area of the touch sensor panel.

7. A method for forming a touch sensor panel comprising:

forming a plurality of first lines of a first conductive material located on a first substrate in a visible area and a border area of the touch sensor panel;

forming a second conductive material electrically connected to the plurality of first lines to create one or more traces for off-panel connections and disposed directly on the plurality of first lines in the border area; and

forming an opaque layer located at least partially in the border area, wherein the first substrate directly contacts on a first side of the opaque layer and an adhesive directly contacts a second side, opposite the first side, of the opaque layer; and

forming a passivation layer located on the first substrate in the border area and the visible area, the passivation layer being separate and distinct from the opaque layer,

wherein the opaque layer is a conductive ink.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

forming a plurality of second lines of a third conductive material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first conductive material is the same as at least one of the second conductive material and the third conductive material.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of first lines are supported on the first substrate and the plurality of second lines are supported on a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is separate and distinct from the first substrate.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the opaque layer is a black mask.

12. The method of claim 7, the adhesive is located between a cover material and the opaque layer.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of first lines and the passivation layer are formed on a first side of the first substrate in the border area and the visible area of the touch sensor panel, and wherein the passivation layer surrounds the plurality of first lines and the second conductive material.

16. A touch sensor panel comprising:

a plurality of first lines of a first conductive material located on a first substrate in a visible area and a border area of the touch sensor panel;

a second conductive material electrically connected to the plurality of first lines to create one or more traces for off-panel connections and disposed directly on the plurality of first lines in the border area; and

a conductive opaque layer at least partially in the border area and contacting the first substrate on a first side of the opaque layer and an adhesive on a second side of the opaque layer, opposite the first side; and

a passivation layer located on the first substrate in the border area and the visible area, the passivation layer being separate and distinct from the opaque layer,

wherein the conductive opaque layer is a conductive ink.