MICRO-WIRE ELECTRODES WITH DUMMY MICRO-DOTS

1 . A micro-wire multi-electrode structure having an area of substantially uniform optical density, comprising:

a plurality of spatially separated patterned electrodes in an electrode layer in the area, each electrode including a plurality of patterned conductive electrically connected electrode micro-wires;

a plurality of patterned electrically isolated dummy micro-dots between adjacent electrodes, arranged to provide a substantially uniform optical density in the area; and

an unpatterned conductive layer in the area, the unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the electrode micro-wires and dummy micro-dots.

2 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots have a circular cross section.

3 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots have a square or polygonal cross section.

4 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots are located in a plurality of lines in the area between adjacent electrodes.

5 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 4 , wherein the electrodes extend in a direction and the lines in which the dummy micro-dots are located extend in the same direction.

6 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 4 , wherein at least some of the electrode micro-wires extend in a direction and the lines in which the dummy micro-dots are located extend in the same direction.

7 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrode micro-wires form a pattern and the dummy micro-dots form a similar pattern in the area between adjacent electrodes.

8 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots are located randomly or pseudo-randomly in the area between adjacent electrodes.

9 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes are drive electrodes, the electrode layer is a drive layer, the electrode micro-wires are drive micro-wires, and the area is a touch-sensitive area and further including:

a sense layer separate from the drive layer;

a dielectric layer located between the drive layer and the sense layer; and

a plurality of spatially separated patterned sense electrodes in the sense layer in the area, each sense electrode including a plurality of patterned conductive electrically connected sense micro-wires.

10 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 9 , wherein the dummy micro-dots are located in the drive layer.

11 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 9 , further including additional dummy micro-dots located in the sense layer.

12 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots are located in the electrode layer.

13 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the dummy micro-dots and the electrode micro-wires are the same material.

14 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the area defines an edge and further including an edge electrode adjacent to the edge and edge dummy micro-dots located between the edge electrode and the edge of the area.

15 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 14 , further including an electrical wire electrically connected to electrodes and located adjacent to the edge of the area and outside the area and the edge dummy micro-dots are located between the electrodes and the electrical wire.

16 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein first dummy micro-dots are located between first adjacent electrodes in a first pattern and second dummy micro-dots are located between second adjacent electrodes in a second pattern different from the first pattern or that is the same as the first pattern.

17 . The micro-wire multi-electrode structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spatially separated patterned electrodes in the area form a regular array of electrodes.

18 . A touch-screen device having a touch-sensitive area of substantially uniform optical density, comprising:

a plurality of spatially separated patterned drive electrodes in a drive layer in the touch-sensitive area, each drive electrode including a plurality of patterned conductive electrically connected drive micro-wires;

a plurality of spatially separated patterned sense electrodes in a sense layer in the touch-sensitive area, each sense electrode including a plurality of patterned conductive electrically connected sense micro-wires;

a dielectric layer located between the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes;

one or more patterned electrically isolated dummy micro-dots randomly arranged in the touch-sensitive area located in drive layer between adjacent drive electrodes, and electrically disconnected from the adjacent drive electrodes, whereby the touch-sensitive area has a substantially uniform optical density;

a conductive layer that is unpatterned in the touch-sensitive area, the conductive layer in electrical contact with the drive micro-wires and dummy micro-dots; and

a controller electrically connected to the drive and sense electrodes for controlling the drive and sense electrodes.

19 . A method of making a micro-wire multi-electrode structure having an area of substantially uniform optical density, comprising:

providing a plurality of spatially separated patterned electrodes in an electrode layer in the area, each electrode including a plurality of patterned conductive electrically connected electrode micro-wires;

locating one or more patterned electrically isolated dummy micro-dots in the area, whereby the area has a substantially uniform optical density; and

locating an unpatterned conductive layer in the area, the unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the electrode micro-wires and dummy micro-dots.