IP Library Patent Application 15134044
Patent Application
App. No. 15/134,044

Touch Sensor Mesh Designs

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/134,044
Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first conductive layer of a touch sensor comprising a mesh of conductive lines coupled to a substrate. The mesh comprises two periodic series of conductive lines comprising a first and second plurality of conductive lines that intersect. Additionally, a first conductive line and an adjacent second conductive line of the first plurality of conductive lines comprise: an at least bi-chromatic conductive line that covers at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixels of an alternating pixel display, the plurality of sub-pixels being arranged according to an alternating pixel display pattern, each sub-pixel corresponding to a particular sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors; and another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic line, cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color.

Claims (103)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a substrate; and

a first conductive layer of a touch sensor coupled to the substrate, the first conductive layer comprising a first mesh of conductive lines, the first mesh comprising:

a first periodic series of conductive lines comprising a first plurality of conductive lines; and

a second periodic series of conductive lines comprising a second plurality of conductive lines;

the first plurality of conductive lines intersecting at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines; and

a first conductive line and an adjacent second conductive line of the first plurality of conductive lines comprising:

an at least bi-chromatic conductive line adapted to cover at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixels of an alternating pixel display, the plurality of sub-pixels being arranged according to an alternating pixel display pattern, each sub-pixel corresponding to a particular sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors; and

another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic conductive line, are adapted to cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-pixel colors comprises red, blue, and green.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the first plurality of conductive lines comprise at least 5 adjacent conductive lines;

adjacent conductive lines of the at least 5 adjacent conductive lines are separated by a separation distance of about an odd integer multiple of a pixel pitch of the alternating pixel display, divided by an integer greater than or equal to 2;

at least 50 percent of the at least 5 adjacent conductive lines of the first plurality of conductive lines are pseudo-chromatic conductive lines adapted to cover at least a portion of each of the plurality of sub-pixel colors; and

the pseudo-chromatic conductive lines, collectively, cover substantially equal amounts (within about 33% of each other or less) of each of the plurality of sub-pixel colors.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form at least one substantially quadrilateral shape; and

an aspect ratio of the at least one substantially quadrilateral shape is between about 2:1 and about 0.7:1.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

adjacent conductive lines of the first plurality of conductive lines are separated by a separation distance; and

the separation distance is greater than or less than about an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of the alternating pixel display.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

a first substantially quadrilateral shape from among the at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices; and

a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 260 micrometers and about 340 micrometers.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second conductive layer of a touch sensor, the second conductive layer comprising a second mesh of conductive lines layered above or below the first mesh, the second mesh comprising:

a third periodic series of conductive lines comprising a third plurality of conductive lines; and

a fourth periodic series of conductive lines comprising a fourth plurality of conductive lines;

the third plurality of conductive lines intersecting at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines; and

a third conductive line and an adjacent fourth conductive line of the third plurality of conductive lines comprising:

an at least bi-chromatic conductive line adapted to cover at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display; and

another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic conductive line, are adapted to cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form a first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

intersections of the third plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines form a second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

a first substantially quadrilateral shape from among the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

a second substantially quadrilateral shape from among the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

for the first substantially quadrilateral shape, a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 520 micrometers and about 680 micrometers; and

for the second substantially quadrilateral shape, a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 520 micrometers and about 680 micrometers.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form a first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

intersections of the third plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines form a second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

the first and second meshes are layered such that a plurality of the vertices of the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape are located within an about 30 micrometer radius of the center of the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape; and

the first and second meshes are layered such that a plurality of the vertices of the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape are located within an about 30 micrometer radius of the center of the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape.

10 . An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sub-pixels of an alternating pixel display arranged according to an alternating pixel display pattern, each sub-pixel corresponding to a particular sub-pixel color of a plurality of sub-pixel colors; and

a first conductive layer of a touch sensor, the first conductive layer comprising a first mesh of conductive lines, the first mesh comprising:

a first periodic series of conductive lines comprising a first plurality of conductive lines; and

a second periodic series of conductive lines comprising a second plurality of conductive lines;

the first plurality of conductive lines intersecting at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines; and

a first conductive line and an adjacent second conductive line of the first plurality of conductive lines comprising:

an at least bi-chromatic conductive line that covers at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display; and

another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic conductive line, cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sub-pixel colors comprises red, blue, and green.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

the first plurality of conductive lines comprise at least 5 adjacent conductive lines;

adjacent conductive lines of the at least 5 adjacent conductive lines are separated by a separation distance of about an odd integer multiple of a pixel pitch of the alternating pixel display, divided by an integer greater than or equal to 2;

at least 50 percent of the at least 5 adjacent conductive lines of the first plurality of conductive lines are pseudo-chromatic conductive lines adapted to cover at least a portion of each of the plurality of sub-pixel colors; and

the pseudo-chromatic conductive lines, collectively, cover substantially equal amounts (within about 33% of each other or less) of each of the plurality of sub-pixel colors.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form at least one substantially quadrilateral shape; and

an aspect ratio of the at least one substantially quadrilateral shape is between about 2:1 and about 0.7:1.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein:

adjacent conductive lines of the first plurality of conductive lines are separated by a separation distance; and

the separation distance is greater or less than about an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of the alternating pixel display pattern.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

a substantially quadrilateral shape from among the at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices; and

a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 260 micrometers and about 340 micrometers.

16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:

a second conductive layer of a touch sensor, the second conductive layer comprising a second mesh of conductive lines layered above or below the first mesh, the second mesh comprising:

a third periodic series of conductive lines comprising a third plurality of conductive lines; and

a fourth periodic series of conductive lines comprising a fourth plurality of conductive lines;

the third plurality of conductive lines intersecting at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines; and

a third conductive line and an adjacent fourth conductive line of the third plurality of conductive lines comprising:

an at least bi-chromatic conductive line that covers at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display; and

another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic conductive line, cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:

adjacent conductive lines of the third plurality of conductive lines are separated by a separation distance; and

the separation distance is greater than or less than about an integer multiple of a pixel pitch of the alternating pixel display pattern.

18 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form a first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

intersections of the third plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines form a second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

a first substantially quadrilateral shape from among the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

a second substantially quadrilateral shape from among the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

for the first substantially quadrilateral shape, a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 520 micrometers and about 680 micrometers; and

for the second substantially quadrilateral shape, a furthest distance between any two of the four vertices is between about 520 micrometers and about 680 micrometers.

19 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein:

intersections of the first plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines form a first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

intersections of the third plurality of conductive lines and the at least two of the fourth plurality of conductive lines form a second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape;

the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape comprises four vertices;

the first and second meshes are layered such that a plurality of the vertices of the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape are located within an about 30 micrometer radius of the center of the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape; and

the first and second meshes are layered such that a plurality of the vertices of the second at least one substantially quadrilateral shape are located within an about 30 micrometer radius of the center of the first at least one substantially quadrilateral shape.

20 . A method comprising:

forming, on a substrate, a first periodic series of conductive lines comprising a first plurality of conductive lines; and

forming, on the substrate, a second periodic series of conductive lines comprising a second plurality of conductive lines;

the first plurality of conductive lines intersecting at least two of the second plurality of conductive lines to form a first mesh of conductive lines of a first conductive layer of a touch sensor; and

a first conductive line and an adjacent second conductive line of the first plurality of conductive lines comprising:

an at least bi-chromatic conductive line adapted to cover at least a portion of two sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixel colors of a plurality of sub-pixels of an alternating pixel display, the plurality of sub-pixels being arranged according to an alternating pixel display pattern, each sub-pixel corresponding to a particular sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors; and

another conductive line that, collectively with the at least bi-chromatic conductive line, are adapted to cover at least a portion of each sub-pixel color of the plurality of sub-pixel colors of the plurality of sub-pixels of the alternating pixel display.

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 Sep 14, 2016
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039736/0403 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2016
From: GUARD, DAVID BRENT
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES, U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 038335/0608 →