Sensor arrangement comprising a conductive layer

1. A sensor arrangement comprising:

a capacitive sensor configured to generate an electric field in an area of a panel of an electronic device and detect a change in the electric field due to a user input disturbance, the panel arranged at a distance from the capacitive sensor; and

a grid disposed between the capacitive sensor and an external surface of the panel, the grid comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a first direction and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a different second direction such that the first plurality of electrically conductive lines intersects with the second plurality of electrically conductive lines at a plurality of intersections of the grid disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and forming a plurality of mesh eyes, wherein the grid is not in contact with the capacitive sensor.

2. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the grid is electrically grounded, and the capacitive sensor is arranged to receive a voltage for generating the electric field.

3. The sensor arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the grid is connected to an electrical ground via a resistor.

4. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the electric field is concentrated to the vicinity of the mesh eyes of the grid.

5. The sensor arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to detect a user input disturbance based on a change in the electric field in a region that is associated to a particular intersection of the grid.

6. The sensor arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said disturbance is caused by a touch by a user at a touch position, said sensor arrangement further comprising a processor operatively connected to the capacitive sensor and configured to determine the touch position based on the change in the electric field in the region that is associated to a particular intersection of the grid.

7. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the grid is arranged on a surface of the panel.

8. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises a touch-screen.

9. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the grid comprises a pitch and the capacitive sensor has a positional sensitivity determined by the pitch.

10. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a resistive-capacitive sensor.

11. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises at least one of

a touch-pad;

a touch-screen;

a slider; and

a keypad.

12. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of electrically conductive lines and the second plurality of electrically conductive lines are made of one of:

metal wires;

carbon filaments;

indium tin-oxide;

conductive plastic; and

conductive ink.

13. A user interface comprising:

a panel;

a capacitive sensor configured to generate an electric field at least between the panel and the capacitive sensor and to detect a change in the electric field due to a user input disturbance; and

a grid disposed between the capacitive sensor and an external surface of the panel, the grid comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a first direction and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a different second direction such that the first plurality of electrically conductive lines intersects with the second plurality of electrically conductive lines at a plurality of intersections disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel, for forming a plurality of mesh eyes, wherein the grid is not in contact with the capacitive sensor.

14. The user interface according to claim 13 , wherein the panel further comprises an internal surface opposing the external surface, the internal surface facing the capacitive sensor, wherein the external surface comprises a touch-screen configured to receive a touch object by a user and the capacitive sensor is configured to detect a change in the electric field caused by the touch object.

15. An electronic device comprising a user input and a sensor arrangement, said sensor arrangement comprising:

a capacitive sensor configured to generate an electric field in an area of the user input and to detect a change in the electric field, the user input comprising a panel; and

a grid disposed between said capacitive sensor and an external surface of the panel, the grid comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a first direction and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a different second direction such that the first plurality of electrically conductive lines intersects with the second plurality of electrically conductive lines at a plurality of intersections of the grid disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and forming a plurality of mesh eyes, wherein the grid is not in contact with the capacitive sensor.

16. A method comprising:

providing a panel;

arranging a capacitive sensor at a distance from said panel, the capacitive sensor configured to generate an electric field at least between the panel and the capacitive sensor and to detect a change in the electric field due to a user input disturbance; and

disposing a grid between the capacitive sensor and an external surface of the panel, the grid comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a first direction and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a different second direction such that the first plurality of electrically conductive lines intersects with the second plurality of electrically conductive lines at a plurality of intersecting points disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel, for forming a plurality of mesh eyes, wherein the grid is not in contact with the capacitive sensor.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

electrically grounding the grid; and

applying a voltage to the capacitive sensor for generating the electric field.

18. A device comprising:

means for providing a panel;

means for arranging a capacitive sensor configured to generate an electric field at least between the panel and the capacitive sensor and to detect a change in the electric field due to a user input disturbance; and

means for arranging a grid between the capacitive sensor and an external surface of the panel, the grid comprising a first plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a first direction and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel and arranged in a different second direction such that the first plurality of electrically conductive lines intersects with the second plurality of electrically conductive lines at a plurality of intersections disposed, at least in part, between the capacitive sensor and the external surface of the panel, for forming a plurality of mesh eyes, wherein the grid is not in contact with the capacitive sensor.

19. The device according to claim 18 , further comprising:

means for electrically grounding the grid; and

means for providing a voltage to the capacitive sensor for generating the electric field.