Line spacing in mesh designs for touch sensors
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 (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) 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. The first lines extend across the display at a first angle relative to the first axis.
1. 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 (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) 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;
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
[
3
m
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
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
[
3
n
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
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×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 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.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
k is equal to 1;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of
13
18
×
PP
x
.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
k is equal to 2;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of 2×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of
13
9
×
PP
x
.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
k is equal to 3;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of 3×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of
13
6
×
PP
x
.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
k is equal to 4;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of 4×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is within 1% of
26
9
×
PP
x
.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second lines of conductive material form a plurality of mesh cells, each mesh cell having a diagonal length of approximately 265 μm to 340 μm.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , 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 one or more segments of one or more of the first or second lines are substantially sinusoidal.
11. 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 (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) 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;
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 of
[
3
m
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein m is a first positive integer;
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
[
3
n
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein n is a second positive integer;
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×PP x , wherein k is a third positive integer; and
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
.
12. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5; and
n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5.
13. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
k is equal to 1;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to
13
18
×
PP
x
.
14. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
k is equal to 2;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to 2×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to
13
9
×
PP
x
.
15. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
k is equal to 3;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to 3×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to
13
6
×
PP
x
.
16. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
k is equal to 4;
the first-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to 4×PP x ; and
the second-line horizontal separation distance is approximately equal to
26
9
×
PP
x
.
17. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein the first and second lines of conductive material form a plurality of mesh cells, each mesh cell having a diagonal length of approximately 265 μm to 340 μm.
18. The touch sensor of claim 11 , wherein:
the first pixel pitch is approximately equal to the second pixel pitch;
m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
the first angle is approximately equal to 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°; and
the second angle is approximately equal to 30.96°, 36.87°, 56.31°, or 71.57°.
19. The touch sensor of claim 11 , 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. 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 (PP x ) along a first axis and a second pixel pitch (PP y ) 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;
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
[
3
m
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein m is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
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
[
3
n
×
PP
y
PP
x
]
,
wherein n is equal to 1, 2, 4, or 5;
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×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 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.