Granted Patent B2

US 8,711,292 · App. 13/422,410 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Abstract

Claims (38)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen, the display stack comprising a plurality of layers in which a top layer comprises a substantially transparent cover layer, the plurality of layers further comprising a first polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a second polarizer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer and a liquid crystal layer, the display stack being configured to display a color image; and

a touch sensor within the display stack, the touch sensor comprising:

a plurality of first conductive electrodes contacting a layer of a subset of the plurality of layers, the subset being below the substantially transparent cover layer; and

a plurality of second conductive electrodes contacting the layer of the subset of the plurality of layers;

wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes are located between the first polarizer and the second polarizer;

wherein the display stack is devoid of a polarizing layer between the first and second polarizers;

wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes are also in contact with the first polarizer; and

wherein:

the plurality of first conductive electrodes comprise a plurality of drive electrodes;

the plurality of second conductive electrodes comprise a plurality of sense electrodes; and

the plurality of drive electrodes and the plurality of sense electrodes are also in contact with a same side of the first polarizer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the display stack further comprises a color filter layer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer; and

the subset of the plurality of layers is between the substantially transparent cover layer and the color filter layer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the display stack further comprises a color filter layer that is below the substantially transparent cover layer; and

the subset of the plurality of layers is below both the substantially transparent cover layer and the color filter layer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the plurality of layers comprises a layer of non-birefringent material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display stack is a liquid crystal display stack.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes comprise fine line metal electrodes.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the subset of the plurality of layers comprises one layer; and

the plurality of first conductive electrodes and the plurality of second conductive electrodes contact a same side of the one layer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display stack comprises a flexible display stack and the touch sensor comprises a flexible touch sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display stack with the touch sensor provided therein is substantially free of air gaps.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a first polarizer disposed as a lower layer of a display stack for a touch-sensitive screen, the first polarizer being configured to polarize light from a light source prior to that light reaching a liquid crystal layer of the display stack, the liquid crystal layer located above the first polarizer in the display stack;

a substantially transparent cover layer disposed as a top layer of the display stack, the substantially transparent cover layer being configured to receive a touch input;

a second polarizer disposed between the first polarizer and the substantially transparent cover layer;

a touch sensor located in the display stack between the first polarizer and the cover layer;

wherein a plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor are located between the first polarizer and the second polarizer;

wherein the display stack is devoid of a polarizing layer between the first and second polarizers;

wherein the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor are in contact with the second polarizer; and

wherein:

the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor comprise a plurality of drive electrodes and a plurality of sense electrodes; and

the plurality of drive electrodes and the plurality of sense electrodes are also in contact with a same side of the second polarizer.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the layer of the display stack on which the plurality of electrodes of the touch sensor are located comprises a layer of non-birefringent material.

Assignments (14)