IP Library Granted Patent US 9,791,992
Granted Patent B2
US 9,791,992 · App. 15/083,417 · Granted Oct 17, 2017

Oncell single-layer touch sensor

Inventors: Matthew Trend (Fareham, GB); Gareth Jones (Ringwood, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/044G06F3/0416G06F2203/04103G06F2203/04108
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,791,992
App. No.
15/083,417
Granted
Oct 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one embodiment, a device includes a display stack including a number of layers. The layers include a cover layer and one or more other layers. The device also includes a touch sensor disposed on a surface of a particular layer of the plurality of layers of the display stack. The touch sensor includes a number of first electrodes oriented along a first direction. Each of the first electrodes includes a plurality of first conductive regions. The touch sensor also includes a number of second electrodes oriented along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the second electrodes includes a second conductive region. The second conductive region of each of the second electrodes being interdigitated with a respective adjacent first conductive region of multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes.

Claims (47)

1. A device comprising:

a display stack comprising a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers comprises a cover layer and one or more other layers; and

a touch sensor disposed on a surface of a particular layer of the plurality of layers of the display stack, wherein the touch sensor comprises:

a plurality of first electrodes oriented along a first direction, each of the first electrodes comprising a plurality of first conductive regions; and

a plurality of second electrodes oriented along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, each of the second electrodes comprising a second conductive region, the second conductive region of each of the second electrodes being interdigitated with a respective adjacent first conductive region of multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes such that the second electrode does not intersect in a touch sensitive area the multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the particular layer of the plurality of layers is the cover layer of the display stack.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first electrodes is configured to operate as a sense electrode of the touch sensor; and

each of the second electrodes is configured to operate as a drive electrode of the touch sensor.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first electrodes is configured to operate as a drive electrode of the touch sensor; and

each of the second electrode lines is configured to operate as a sense electrode of the touch sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the first conductive regions comprises an extent along the second direction and one or more projections from its extent along the first direction;

each of the second conductive regions comprises an extent along the second direction and one or more projections from its extent along the first direction; and

the one or more projections of the second conductive region of a second electrode of the plurality of second electrodes capacitively couple to the one or more projections of the respective adjacent first conductive region of the multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover panel; and

an adhesive layer disposed between the touch sensor and the cover panel.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive regions comprise a mesh of conductive material.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein respective edges of the first conductive regions have a sinusoidal shape.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductive regions are coupled along the first direction by a track of conductive material.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ground lines, wherein a respective ground line of the plurality of ground lines separates an adjacent pair of second electrodes.

11. A device comprising:

a display stack comprising a plurality of layers, wherein the plurality of layers comprises a cover layer and one or more other layers;

a touch sensor disposed on a surface of a particular layer of the plurality of layers of the display stack, wherein the touch sensor comprises:

a plurality of first electrodes along a first direction, each of the first electrodes comprising a plurality of first conductive regions; and

a plurality of second electrodes oriented along a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, each of the second electrodes comprising a second conductive region, the second conductive region of each of the second electrodes being interdigitated with a respective adjacent first conductive region of multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes such that the second electrode does not intersect in a touch sensitive area the multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes; and

one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured to, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to control the touch sensor.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the particular layer of the plurality of layers is the cover layer of the display stack.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the first electrodes is configured to operate as a sense electrode of the touch sensor; and

each of the second electrodes is configured to operate as a drive electrode of the touch sensor.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the first electrodes is configured to operate as a drive electrode of the touch sensor; and

each of the second electrode lines is configured to operate as a sense electrode of the touch sensor.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the first conductive regions comprises an extent along the second direction and one or more projections from its extent along the first direction;

each of the second conductive regions comprises an extent along the second direction and one or more projections from its extent along the first direction; and

the one or more projections of the second conductive region of a second electrode of the plurality of second electrodes capacitively couple to the one or more projections of the respective adjacent first conductive region of the multiple first electrodes of the plurality of first electrodes.

16. The device of claim 11 , further comprising:

a cover panel; and

an adhesive layer disposed between the touch sensor and the cover panel.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the first conductive regions comprise a mesh of conductive material.

18. The device of claim 11 , wherein an edge of the first conductive regions has a sinusoidal shape.

19. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first conductive regions are coupled along the first direction by a track of conductive material.

20. The device of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of ground lines, wherein a respective ground line of the plurality of ground lines separates an adjacent pair of second electrodes.

Assignments (11)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
To: NEODRÓN LIMITED
Reel/Frame 048259/0840 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047976/0884 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Dec 21, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047976/0937 →
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2016
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040033/0106 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2016
From: TREND, MATTHEW; JONES, GARETH
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 040032/0837 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13951300 · Jul 25, 2013
Related Publication 20160266683A1 · Sep 15, 2016