# US 2014/0152579 A1 · Complementary touch panel electrodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152579 A1 - Document ID: US20140152579A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/689,861 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company - Inventors: Matthew H. FREY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152579A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes} - G06F 3/041: Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer} - G06F 3/047: using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires - 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 - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A multi-layer touch panel having an upper and a lower electrode that cross over one another. The electrode pattern for either electrode at the cross over area is complementary to the other electrode at the cross over area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-layer touch panel, comprising: an upper electrode comprised of an interconnected upper mesh of micro-wire conductors; a lower electrode comprised of an interconnected lower mesh of micro-wire conductors; a dielectric disposed between the upper electrode and lower electrode; wherein the upper electrode crosses-over the lower electrode at a cross-over area, thus defining an upper electrode cross-over area having a first conductor pattern, and a lower electrode cross-over area having a second conductor pattern; wherein the first conductor pattern has a first variable active areal conductor density and the second conductor pattern has a second variable active areal conductor density; and, wherein the first and second variable active areal conductor densities are complementary to one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the average cell size of the first pattern is greater than the average cell size of the second pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the cells comprise pseudorandom shapes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the average cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 50 micrometers to 1 centimeter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The touch panel of claim 4, wherein the average cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the cells of the first pattern have an average cell size of between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters, and wherein the cells of the second pattern have an average cell size of between 50 micrometers and 100 micrometers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the upper electrode cross-over area has a first average active areal conductor density, the lower electrode cross-over area has a second average active area conductor density, and the second average active area conductor density is greater than the first average active areal conductor density. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.5 and 10 micrometers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.75 and 5 micrometers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the upper mesh and the lower mesh comprise curved traces. ### Claim 11 A multi-layer touch panel, comprising: an upper electrode comprised of an interconnected upper mesh of micro-wire conductors; a lower electrode comprised of an interconnected lower mesh of micro-wire conductors; a dielectric disposed between the upper electrode and lower electrode; wherein the upper electrode crosses-over the lower electrode at a cross-over area, thus defining an upper electrode cross-over area having a first conductor pattern, and a lower electrode cross-over area having a second conductor pattern; wherein the first conductor pattern has a uniform active areal conductor density and the second conductor pattern has a variable active areal conductor density; and, wherein at least a portion of the second conductor pattern has a higher active areal conductor density than the active areal conductor density of the first conductor pattern. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the average cell size of the first pattern is greater than the average cell size of the second pattern. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The touch panel of claim 12, wherein the cells comprise pseudorandom shapes. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The touch panel of claim 12, wherein the averages cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 50 micrometers to 1 centimeter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The touch panel of claim 14, wherein the average cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the cells of the first pattern have an average cell size of between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters, and wherein the cells of the second pattern have an average cell size of between 50 micrometers and 100 micrometers. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the upper electrode cross-over area has a first average active areal conductor density, the lower electrode cross-over area has a second average active area conductor density, and the second average active area conductor density is greater than the first average active areal conductor density. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.5 and 10 micrometers. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.75 and 5 micrometers. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the upper mesh and the lower mesh comprise curved traces. ### Claim 21 A multi-layer touch panel, comprising: an upper electrode comprised of an interconnected upper mesh of micro-wire conductors; a lower electrode comprised of an interconnected lower mesh of micro-wire conductors; a dielectric disposed between the upper electrode and lower electrode; wherein the upper electrode crosses-over the lower electrode at a cross-over area, thus defining an upper electrode cross-over area having a first conductor pattern, and a lower electrode cross-over area having a second conductor pattern; wherein the first conductor pattern has a variable active areal conductor density and the second conductor pattern has a uniform active areal conductor density; and, wherein at least a portion of the first conductor pattern has a lower active areal conductor density than the active areal conductor density of the second conductor pattern. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The touch panel of claim 11, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the average cell size of the first pattern is greater than the average cell size of the second pattern. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The touch panel of claim 22, wherein the cells comprise pseudorandom shapes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The touch panel of claim 22, wherein the cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 50 micrometers to 1 centimeter. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The touch panel of claim 24, wherein the cell sizes of the first and second pattern range from between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The touch panel of claim 25, wherein the first and second patterns are comprised of micro-wire conductor cells, and wherein the cells of the first pattern have an average cell size of between 100 micrometers and 5 millimeters, and wherein the cells of the second pattern have an average cell size of between 50 micrometers and 100 micrometers. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The touch panel of claim 21, wherein the upper electrode cross-over area has a first average active areal conductor density, the lower electrode cross-over area has a second average active area conductor density, and the second average active area conductor density is greater than the first average active areal conductor density. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The touch panel of claim 21, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.5 and 10 micrometers. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The touch panel of claim 21, wherein the upper mesh and lower mesh comprise metallic traces having widths of between 0.75 and 5 micrometers. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The touch panel of claim 21, wherein the upper mesh and the lower mesh comprise curved traces.