# US 2013/0154995 A1 · Touch Sensor With Capacitive Nodes Having a Capacitance That is Approximately The Same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154995 A1 - Document ID: US20130154995A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,381 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: Atmel Corporation - Inventors: Matthew Trend; Paul Clements - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154995A1 ## CPC - H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches} - G06F 3/0443: {using a single layer of sensing electrodes} - G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer} - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - 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 - 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 - H03K 2017/9602: {characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes} - H03K 2217/96066: Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch - H03K 2217/960775: Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract According to one embodiment, a touch sensor has a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each of the second plurality of electrodes has a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine. At least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of nodes. Each node is formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes. The capacitance of each node is approximately the same. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor comprising: a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge; a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the capacitance of each node is the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the spine of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the spine of at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has two spines that are separated from each other by a first gap; wherein the spines of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a second gap; and wherein the first gap has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the second gaps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of one of the other conductive elements of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The touch sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive elements of each of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a gap; wherein one of the gaps of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the other gaps of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 7 A touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor comprising: a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge; a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a plurality of spines coupled to one another, each of the spines being approximately parallel to the second edge, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The touch sensor of claim 7, wherein the capacitance of each node is the same. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The touch sensor of claim 7, wherein at least one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of a spine at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The touch sensor of claim 7, wherein one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has one or more conductive elements physically coupled to the spine, wherein each of the conductive elements is approximately parallel to the first edge, wherein none of the conductive elements couple the spines together. ### Claim 11 A device, comprising: a controller; and a touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor coupled to the controller, the touch sensor comprising: a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge; a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the capacitance of each node is the same. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the spine of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the spine of at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has two spines that are separated from each other by a first gap; wherein the spines of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a second gap; and wherein the first gap has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the second gaps. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of one of the other conductive elements of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of conductive elements of each of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a gap; wherein one of the gaps of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the other gaps of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 17 A device, comprising: a controller; and a touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor coupled to the controller, the touch sensor comprising: a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge; a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a plurality of spines coupled to one another, each of the spines being approximately parallel to the second edge, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the capacitance of each node is the same. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of a spine at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has one or more conductive elements physically coupled to the spine, wherein each of the conductive elements is approximately parallel to the first edge, wherein none of the conductive elements couple the spines together.