IP Library Granted Patent US 8,896,573
Granted Patent B1
US 8,896,573 · App. 14/159,981 · Granted Nov 25, 2014

Line spacing in mesh designs for touch sensors

Inventor: David Brent Guard (Southampton, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/044
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,896,573
App. No.
14/159,981
Granted
Nov 25, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

An apparatus includes a touch sensor that includes a mesh of multiple first and second lines of conductive material extending across a display, where the display includes multiple pixels. 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 (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The first pixel pitch is equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis, and the second pixel pitch is equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis. The first and second lines extend across the display at first and second angles, respectively, relative to the first axis.

Claims (192)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a touch sensor comprising a mesh of conductive material, wherein:

the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material extending across a display, the first lines being substantially parallel to each other, the second lines being substantially parallel to each other, the display comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a first pixel pitch (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first pixel pitch being equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis, the second pixel pitch being equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis;

the first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis;

the second lines extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis;

first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a first-line separation distance that is within 3% of k×3×PP x , wherein k is a positive integer; and

second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a second-line separation distance that is within 3% of

k

×

13

6

×

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

k is equal to 1;

the first-line separation distance is within 3% of 3×PP x ; and

the second-line separation distance is within 3% of

13

6

×

PP

x

.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

k is equal to 2;

the first-line separation distance is within 3% of 6×PP x ; and

the second-line separation distance is within

3

%

of

13

3

×

PP

x

.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first angle is within 1° of the arctangent of

[

3

m

×

PP

y

PP

x

]

,

wherein m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5; and

the second angle is within 1° of the arctangent of

[

3

n

×

PP

y

PP

x

]

,

wherein n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

m is different from n; and

the first angle is different from the second angle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

m is equal to n; and

the first angle and the second angle are approximately equal.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:

the first pixel pitch is approximately equal to the second pixel pitch;

the first angle is within 1° of 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°; and

the second angle is within 1° of 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first angle is oriented counterclockwise relative to the first axis; and

the second angle is oriented clockwise relative to the first axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first axis is horizontal;

the second axis is vertical;

the first pixel pitch along the first axis is a pixel width; and

the second pixel pitch along the second axis is a pixel height.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sub-pixels are substantially rectangular.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one or more segments of one or more of the first or second lines are substantially sinusoidal.

12. A touch sensor comprising:

a mesh of conductive material, wherein:

the mesh comprises a plurality of first lines and a plurality of second lines of conductive material extending across a display, the first lines being substantially parallel to each other, the second lines being substantially parallel to each other, the display comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a first pixel pitch (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, the first pixel pitch being equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the first axis, the second pixel pitch being equal to a distance between corresponding features of two adjacent pixels along the second axis;

the first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis;

the second lines extend across the display at a second angle relative to the first axis;

first lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a first-line separation distance that is within 3% of k×3×PP x , wherein k is a positive integer; and

second lines that are adjacent to each other are separated from each other along the first axis by a second-line separation distance that is within

3

%

of

k

×

13

6

×

PP

x

.

13. The touch sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

k is equal to 1;

the first-line separation distance is within 3% of 3×PP x ; and

the second-line separation distance is within

3

%

of

13

6

×

PP

x

.

14. The touch sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

k is equal to 2;

the first-line separation distance is within 3% of 6×PP x ; and

the second-line separation distance is within

3

%

of

13

3

×

PP

x

.

15. The touch sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

the first angle is within 1° of the arctangent of

[

3

m

×

PP

y

PP

x

]

,

wherein m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5; and

the second angle is within 1° of the arctangent of

[

3

n

×

PP

y

PP

x

]

,

wherein n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5.

16. The touch sensor of claim 15 , wherein:

m is different from n; and

the first angle is different from the second angle.

17. The touch sensor of claim 15 , wherein:

m is equal to n; and

the first angle and the second angle are approximately equal.

18. The touch sensor of claim 15 , wherein:

the first pixel pitch is approximately equal to the second pixel pitch;

the first angle is within 1° of 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°; and

the second angle is within 1° of 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°.

19. The touch sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

the first angle is oriented counterclockwise relative to the first axis; and

the second angle is oriented clockwise relative to the first axis.

20. The touch sensor of claim 12 , wherein:

the first axis is horizontal;

the second axis is vertical;

the first pixel pitch along the first axis is a pixel width; and

the second pixel pitch along the second axis is a pixel height.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050987/0430 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050986/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050950/0594 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038375/0490 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 032294 FRAME: 0811. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 30, 2014
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033446/0389 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 15, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 032908/0485 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2014
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 032294/0811 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2014
From: GUARD, DAVID BRENT
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 032011/0053 →