US 8,943,903 B1Granted

Line spacing in mesh designs for touch sensors

AssigneeAtmel Corporation

InventorDavid Brent Guard

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a mesh of conductive material configured to extend across a display that includes multiple pixels that each include sub-pixels. The mesh includes multiple first and second lines of conductive material. The first lines are substantially parallel to each other, and the second lines are substantially parallel to each other. Each of the pixels has a first pixel pitch (PPx) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PPy) along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis, and the second pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis. Each of the sub-pixels has a first sub-pixel pitch (SPPx) along the first axis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus that comprises:

a touch sensor that comprises a mesh of conductive material configured to extend across a display that comprises a plurality of pixels that each comprise sub-pixels, wherein:
the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material, wherein:
the first lines are substantially parallel to each other;
the second lines are substantially parallel to each other;
each of the pixels has a first pixel pitch (PPx) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PPy) along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
the first pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis;
the second pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis;
each of the sub-pixels has a first sub-pixel pitch (SPPx) along the first axis and a second sub-pixel dimension (SPDy) along the second axis;
the first sub-pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent sub-pixels along the first axis;
and
the second sub-pixel dimension is a distance between opposing edges of a color element of a sub-pixel along the second axis;
the first lines are configured to extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis, wherein the first angle is within 1° of the arctangent of
(
SPD
y
PP
x
)
;
the second lines are configured to extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis, wherein the second angle is within 1° of the arctangent of
(
PP
y
2
×
SPP
x
)
;
first lines, from among the first lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a first-line horizontal separation distance that is within 1% of k×PPx, wherein k is a positive integer;
and
second lines, from among the second lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a second-line horizontal separation distance that is within
1
⁢
%
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
13
18
×
k
×
PP
x
;
and
one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media coupled to the touch sensor and embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

47 more elements

A touch sensor that comprises:

a mesh of conductive material configured to extend across a display that comprises a plurality of pixels that each comprise sub-pixels, wherein:
the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material, wherein:
the first lines are substantially parallel to each other;
the second lines are substantially parallel to each other;
each of the pixels has a first pixel pitch (PPx) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PPy) along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
the first pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis;
the second pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis;
each of the sub-pixels has a first sub-pixel pitch (SPPx) along the first axis and a second sub-pixel dimension (SPDy) along the second axis;
the first sub-pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent sub-pixels along the first axis;
and
the second sub-pixel dimension is a distance between opposing edges of a color element of a sub-pixel along the second axis;
the first lines are configured to extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis, wherein the first angle is approximately equal to the arctangent or
(
SPD
y
PP
x
)
;
the second lines are configured to extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis, wherein the second angle is approximately equal to the arctangent of
(
PP
y
2
×
SPP
x
)
;
first lines, from among the first lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a first-line horizontal separation distance that is approximately equal to k×PPx, wherein k is a third positive integer;
and
second lines, from among the second lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a second-line horizontal separation distance that is approximately equal to
13
18
×
k
×
PP
x
.

37 more elements

A method comprising:

depositing on a substrate a mesh of conductive material that comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material configured to extend across a display that comprises a plurality of pixels that each comprise sub-pixels, wherein:
the first lines are substantially parallel to each other;
the second lines are substantially parallel to each other;
each of the pixels has a first pixel pitch (PPx) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PPy) along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
the first pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis;
the second pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis;
each of the sub-pixels has a first sub-pixel pitch (SPPx) along the first axis and a second sub-pixel dimension (SPDy) along the second axis;
the first sub-pixel pitch is a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent sub-pixels along the first axis;
the second sub-pixel dimension is a distance between opposing edges of a color element of a sub-pixel along the second axis;
the first lines are configured to extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis, wherein the first angle is within 1° of the arctangent of
(
SPD
y
PP
x
)
;
the second lines are configured to extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis, wherein the second angle is within 1° of the arctangent of
(
PP
y
2
×
SPP
x
)
;
first lines, from among the first lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a first-line horizontal separation distance that is within 1% of k×PPx, wherein k is a positive integer;
and
second lines, from among the second lines, that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a second-line horizontal separation distance that is within
1
⁢
%
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
13
18
×
k
×
PP
x
;
and
forming one or more electrodes of a touch sensor from the mesh of conductive material.

45 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/300,995Filed 10 Jun 2014 · continuation
Priority: 8 Apr 2014
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G06F 3/0446
By capacitive means: using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
G06F 1/16
Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00: constructional details or arrangements
G06F 3/0412
Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means: digitisers structurally integrated in a display
G06F 3/04164
Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers: connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between…