# US 2014/0197880 A1 · Single layer sensor pattern > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197880 A1 - Document ID: US20140197880A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,112 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte Ltd - Inventors: Chee Yu NG; Mythreyi NAGARAJAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197880A1 ## CPC - H03K 17/9622: {using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard} - 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} - H03K 2017/9602: {characterised by the type or shape of the sensing 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 A single ITO layer design for a touchscreen panel incorporates a matrix of sensor cells formed from a single ITO layer of capacitive sensor pads, sensor bars, force lines and sense lines. Columns of multiplexed force lines are connected to rows of sensor pads to form force trees such that the force line of the end pair of sensor pads has a wide track, with the force lines of each subsequent pair of sensor pads having a reduced track width. Disposed between the columns of force trees, the matrix of sensor cells also includes columns of sensor bars connected to control circuitry via sense lines. The control circuitry applies a signal to the force trees to generate capacitance between rows of sensor pads and adjacent sensor bars. The control circuitry senses changes in the capacitance and resolves the location of a user touch in the matrix of sensor cells. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capacitive sensing structure, comprising: a matrix of sensor cells, wherein each sensor cell comprises: a pair of transmit electrodes separated by a channel, the pair of transmit electrodes including a first transmit electrode and a second transmit electrode, a set of force lines disposed within the channel and connecting the pair of transmit electrodes in parallel with other pairs of transmit electrodes in a row of sensor cells, and one or more sensing electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the sensor cell and adjacent respective ones of the first and second transmit electrodes; wherein respective columns of sensor cells are connected by sets of force lines disposed along the channels of respective sensor cells in the column, each of the sets of force lines terminating at respective pairs of transmit electrodes comprising the sensor cells in the column; and sense lines coupled to the sensing electrodes disposed in a column of sensor cells. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, further comprising control circuitry operable to apply a drive signal to the sets of force lines and to receive a sense signal from the sense lines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 2, wherein responsive to the drive signal, a set of force lines is operable to generate, for a row of sensor cells, a capacitance between pairs of transmit electrodes and adjacent sense electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 2, wherein the sense signal is indicative of a capacitance formed between at least one of the first and second transmit electrodes and adjacent sensing electrodes in a sensor cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 1, wherein the transmit electrodes, sensing electrodes, sensing lines and force lines are formed from a single ITO layer. ### Claim 6 A capacitive sensing structure, comprising: a first sensing electrode extending in a first direction along a first edge of a sensing cell; a second sensing electrode extending in the first direction along a second edge of the sensing cell; a pair of transmit electrodes arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction at least substantially perpendicular to the first direction; a channel region extending in the first direction between the pair of transmit electrodes; a first transmit conductor extending in the first direction through the channel region of the sensing cell; a second transmit conductor extending in the first direction at least substantially parallel to the first transmit conductor within the channel region and terminating in the cell in electrical contact with a first one of the pair of transmit electrodes; and a third transmit conductor extending in the first direction at least substantially parallel to the first transmit conductor within the channel region and terminating in the cell in electrical contact with a second one the pair of transmit electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, wherein the first sensing electrode further includes a first plurality of sense segments extending in the second direction toward the first transmit electrode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 7, wherein the second sensing electrode further includes a second plurality of sense segments extending in the second direction toward the second transmit electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, wherein the first sensing electrode, second sensing electrode and pair of transmit electrodes are formed on a single layer above a supporting substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 9, wherein the first through third transmit conductors are formed on the same single layer as the first sensing electrode, second sensing electrode and pair of transmit electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, wherein the first transmit conductor extends from a third edge of the sensing cell to a fourth edge of the sensing cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 11, wherein the second and third transmit conductors extend from the third edge of the sensing cell. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, wherein the first transmit conductor has a first width and the second and third transmit conductors each have a second width, wherein the second width is less than the first width. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 13, wherein the second width is less than one half of the first width. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, further comprising circuitry for electrically connecting the second and third transmit conductors together at a location outside of the sensing cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The capacitive sensing structure of claim 6, wherein the sensing cell has a square perimeter shape. ### Claim 17 A capacitive sensor, comprising: a matrix of sensing cells arranged in rows and columns, wherein each sensing cell comprises: a first sensing electrode extending in a first direction; a pair of transmit electrodes arranged adjacent to each other in a second direction at least substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and a channel region extending in the first direction between the pair of transmit electrodes; wherein the first sensing electrodes of a plurality of sensing cells in each column are electrically connected in series to form a column sensing line; a first transmit conductor extending in the first direction through the channel regions of a plurality of sensing cells in one column and electrically contacting the pair of transmit electrodes in one of the sensing cells; a second transmit conductor extending in the first direction through the channel regions of the plurality of sensing cells in said one column at least substantially parallel to the first transmit conductor and terminating in another one of the sensing cells in electrical contact with a first one of the pair of transmit electrodes; and a third transmit conductor extending in the first direction through the channel regions of the plurality of sensing cells in said one column at least substantially parallel to the first transmit conductor and terminating in said another one of the sensing cells in electrical contact with a second one of the pair of transmit electrodes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, further comprising force circuitry coupled to the first, second and third transmit conductors and configured to apply a force signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The capacitive sensor of claim 18, further comprising sense circuitry coupled to the column sensing line and configured to receive a sense signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The capacitive sensor of claim 18, wherein the second and third transmit conductors are electrically connected to receive a same force signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The capacitive sensor of claim 20, wherein each column of the matrix includes the first, second and third transmit conductors. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The capacitive sensor of claim 21, wherein the first transmit conductors of the plurality of columns are electrically connected to receive a same force signal and thus activate the pairs of transmit electrodes in a row of the matrix. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The capacitive sensor of claim 21, wherein the second and third transmit conductors of the plurality of columns are electrically connected to receive a same force signal and thus activate the pairs of transmit electrodes in a row of the matrix. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, further comprising a second sensing electrode extending in the first direction, wherein the second sensing electrodes of a plurality of sensing cells in each column are electrically connected in series to form another column sensing line. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The capacitive sensor of claim 24, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes are positioned on opposite edges of the sensing cell. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The capacitive sensor of claim 25, wherein the second sensing electrode further includes a plurality of sense segments extending in the second direction toward the second transmit electrode. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, wherein the first sensing electrode further includes a plurality of sense segments extending in the second direction toward the first transmit electrode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, wherein the first sensing electrode and pair of transmit electrodes are formed on a single layer above a supporting substrate. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The capacitive sensor of claim 28, wherein the first through third transmit conductors are formed on the same single layer as the first sensing electrode and pair of transmit electrodes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, wherein the first transmit conductor extends from an edge of the sensing cell to an opposite edge of the sensing cell. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The capacitive sensor of claim 30, wherein the second and third transmit conductors extend from said edge of the sensing cell. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, wherein the first transmit conductor has a first width and the second and third transmit conductors each have a second width, wherein the second width is less than the first width. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The capacitive sensor of claim 32, wherein the second width is less than one half of the first width. ### Claim 34 (depends on 17) The capacitive sensor of claim 17, wherein each sensing cell has a square perimeter shape. ### Claim 35 A capacitive sensing structure, comprising: columns of parallel-connected force trees, wherein each force tree forms a column of sensor cells and comprises: pairs of transmit electrodes extending along the column of sensor cells, each pair of transmit electrodes including a first transmit electrode connected in parallel with a second transmit electrode, and sets of force lines, each set of force lines connecting a pair of transmit electrodes to control circuitry and connecting the pair of transmit electrodes in parallel with other pairs of transmit electrodes in other respective force trees to form a row of sensor cells; columns of sensing electrodes each disposed between the columns of parallel-connected force trees; and sense lines connected to each column of sensing electrodes.