# US 2016/0253003 A1 · Mesh patterns for touch sensor electrodes

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- Number: US 2016/0253003 A1
- Document ID: US20160253003A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/138,418
- Filed: 2016-04-26
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2012-02-10
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Roger W. Barton; Billy L. Weaver; Bernard O. Geaghan; Brock A. Hable
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160253003A1

## CPC

- G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes}
- G06F 3/044: by capacitive means
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- H01B 5/00: Non-insulated conductors or conductive bodies characterised by their form
- H01B 5/14: comprising conductive layers or films on insulating-supports
- H03K 17/962: {Capacitive touch switches}
- G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
- 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)
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- 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)

## Abstract

An electrode for a touch sensitive device includes micro-wire conductors arranged to define an electrically continuous area and to include interior regions that are electrically discontinuous. The electrically continuous area may be patterned according to a one pattern, and the interior pattern may be patterned according to another pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A micro-wire based electrode for use in a touch sensor, the electrode comprising:
a plurality of continuous micro-wire conductors disposed in a first pattern; and
interior regions comprising a plurality of discontinuous conductive micro-wires disposed in a second pattern, the interior regions bounded by the continuous micro-wire conductors and electrically isolated from the continuous micro-wire conductors, the second pattern a two-dimensional mesh pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, wherein the first pattern has a first characteristic average cell spacing, the second pattern has a second characteristic average cell spacing, and the interior regions extend over an area having lateral dimensions larger than the second characteristic average cell spacing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first and second characteristic average cell spacings are substantially equal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic average cell spacing is larger than the second characteristic average cell spacing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic average cell spacing is an integral multiple of the second characteristic average cell spacing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic average cell spacing is greater near the center of the electrode and lesser further away from the center of the electrode.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic average cell spacing is lesser near the center of the electrode and greater further away from the center of the electrode.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 2, wherein the first characteristic average cell spacing is variable as a function of location from the center of the electrode.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, wherein the plurality of continuous micro-wire conductors and the plurality of discontinuous conductive micro-wires are disposed on a common reference mesh.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, wherein the continuous micro-wire conductors and the discontinuous micro-wire comprise have a trace width of about X+0.5 in units of micrometers; and the micro-wire based electrode has an open area fraction between about [95−X]% and 99.5%, wherein 0≦X≦4.5.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 10, wherein the open area fraction is between about [98.5−(2.5X÷3.5)]% and [99.5−(X÷3.5)]% wherein 0≦X≦3.5.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, wherein the interior regions are more pervious to electrical fields than electrically continuous regions of the micro-wire based electrode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, wherein the first or second pattern comprises repeating squares, diamonds, hexagons, or octagons.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 13, wherein the repeating squares, diamonds, hexagons, or octagons are not all the same size.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The micro-wire based electrode of claim 1, further comprising islands of electrically continuous micro-wires disposed within the interior regions.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A touch screen sensor, comprising:
an upper electrode layer comprising a plurality of upper electrodes, the upper electrodes being micro-wire based electrodes according to claim 1;
a lower electrode layer comprising a plurality of lower electrodes;
wherein the upper and lower electrodes are separated by a dielectric layer, and together define an electrode matrix having nodes where the upper and lower electrodes cross over.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The touch screen sensor of claim 16, wherein the upper and lower electrode layers are oriented such that the interior regions of the upper electrodes are positioned at the nodes.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The touch screen sensor of claim 16, wherein the interior regions of the upper electrodes are more pervious to electrical fields than electrically continuous regions of the upper electrodes.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A touch screen sensor, comprising:
an upper electrode layer comprising a plurality of upper electrodes;
a lower electrode layer comprising a plurality of lower electrodes;
wherein the upper and lower electrodes are separated by a dielectric layer, and together define an electrode matrix having nodes where the upper and lower electrodes cross over, and wherein the upper and lower electrodes are micro-wire based electrodes according to claim 1.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

A touch sensor comprising a plurality of the micro-wire based electrodes of claim 1, the touch sensor configured to overlay a viewable portion of a display.