Flexible touch sensor panel with metal mesh and solid conductor
A touch sensor panel can include a first touch electrode of a first type associated with a first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the first touch electrode electrically connected to a first trace configured to couple the first touch electrode to first touch circuitry, and a second touch electrode of a second type associated with the first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the second touch electrode electrically connected to a second trace configured to couple the second touch electrode to second touch circuitry. The first touch electrode can be formed by a solid and transparent conductive material in the touch sensor panel, the solid and transparent conductive material configured to provide shielding with respect to circuitry external to the touch sensor panel. The second touch electrode can be formed by a first metal mesh material in the touch sensor panel.
1. A touch sensor panel configured to fold along an axis, the touch sensor panel comprising:
a plurality of touch electrodes of a first type including a first touch electrode associated with a first touch node on the touch sensor panel and a third touch electrode associated with a second touch node on the touch sensor panel, the first touch electrode electrically connected to a first trace configured to couple the first touch electrode to first touch circuitry and the third touch electrode electrically connected to a third trace configured to couple the third touch electrode to the first touch circuitry;
a second touch electrode of a second type associated with the first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the second touch electrode electrically connected to a second trace configured to couple the second touch electrode to second touch circuitry; and
a substrate layer;
wherein:
the plurality of touch electrodes of the first type is formed by a solid and transparent conductive material in the touch sensor panel, the solid and transparent conductive material configured to provide shielding with respect to circuitry external to the touch sensor panel;
the second touch electrode is formed by a first metal mesh material in the touch sensor panel;
the axis of folding is between the first touch electrode and the third touch electrode without intersecting the first touch electrode or the third touch electrode; and
the substrate layer is disposed between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode.
2. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , wherein the second touch circuitry is configured to sense a mutual capacitance between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, the first touch electrode comprises one or more drive lines, and the second touch electrode comprises one or more sense lines.
3. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , further comprising a second metal mesh material, electrically unconnected from the first metal mesh material, disposed adjacent to the first touch electrode.
4. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , further comprising a a display, wherein the first touch electrode is disposed between the substrate layer and the display.
5. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , wherein the second touch electrode is disposed above the substrate layer, and layers between the substrate layer and the second touch electrode do not include a solid and transparent conductive material.
6. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , wherein the solid and transparent conductive material comprises indium tin oxide.
7. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , wherein the solid and transparent conductive material comprises silver nanowire.
8. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , further comprising a substrate layer and a polarizer, wherein the second touch electrode is disposed between the polarizer and the substrate layer.
9. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , further comprising a substrate layer and an anti-reflective layer, wherein the second touch electrode is disposed between the anti-reflective layer and the substrate layer.
10. The touch sensor panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
a polarizer; and
a display;
wherein:
the first touch electrode is disposed between the substrate layer and the display;
the second touch electrode is disposed between the polarizer and the substrate layer; and
layers between the substrate layer and the second touch electrode do not include a solid and transparent conductive material.
11. A method for fabricating a touch sensor panel configured to fold along an axis, the method comprising:
forming a plurality of touch electrodes of a first type including a first touch electrode and a third touch electrode, a first trace, and a third trace, wherein the first touch electrode is associated with a first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the first touch electrode is electrically connected to the first trace, the first trace is configured to couple the first touch electrode to first touch circuitry, the third touch electrode is associated with a second touch node on the touch sensor panel, the third touch electrode is electrically connected to the third trace, and third trace is configured to couple the third touch electrode to the first touch circuitry;
forming a second touch electrode of a second type and a second trace, wherein the second touch electrode is associated with the first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the second touch electrode is electrically connected to the second trace, and the second trace is configured to couple the second touch electrode to second touch circuitry; and
disposing a substrate layer between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode;
wherein:
the plurality of touch electrodes of the first type is formed by a solid and transparent conductive material in the touch sensor panel, the solid and transparent conductive material configured to provide shielding with respect to circuitry external to the touch sensor panel,
the second touch electrode is formed by a first metal mesh material in the touch sensor panel; and
the axis of folding is between the first touch electrode and the third touch electrode without intersecting the first touch electrode or the third touch electrode.
12. An electronic device comprising:
an energy storage device;
communication circuitry; and
a touch sensor panel configured to fold along an axis, the touch sensor panel comprising:
a plurality of touch electrodes of a first type including a first touch electrode associated with a first touch node on the touch sensor panel and a third touch electrode associated with a second touch node on the touch sensor panel, the first touch electrode electrically connected to a first trace configured to couple the first touch electrode to first touch circuitry and the third touch electrode electrically connected to a third trace configured to couple the third touch electrode to the first touch circuitry;
a second touch electrode of a second type associated with the first touch node on the touch sensor panel, the second touch electrode electrically connected to a second trace configured to couple the second touch electrode to second touch circuitry; and
a substrate layer,
wherein:
the plurality of touch electrodes of the first type is formed by a solid and transparent conductive material in the touch sensor panel, the solid and transparent conductive material configured to provide shielding with respect to circuitry external to the touch sensor panel;
the second touch electrode is formed by a first metal mesh material in the touch sensor panel;
the axis of folding is between the first touch electrode and the third touch electrode without intersecting the first touch electrode or the third touch electrode; and
the substrate layer is disposed between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode.
13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second touch circuitry is configured to sense a mutual capacitance between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, the first touch electrode comprises one or more drive lines, and the second touch electrode comprises one or more sense lines.
14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensor panel further comprises a second metal mesh material, electrically unconnected from the first metal mesh material, disposed adjacent to the first touch electrode.
15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensor panel further comprises a display, wherein the first touch electrode is disposed between the substrate layer and the display.
16. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the second touch electrode is disposed above the substrate layer, and layers between the substrate layer and the second touch electrode do not include a solid and transparent conductive material.
17. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the solid and transparent conductive material comprises indium tin oxide.
18. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the solid and transparent conductive material comprises silver nanowire.
19. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the touch sensor panel further comprises a polarizer, wherein the second touch electrode is disposed between the polarizer and the substrate layer.
20. The electronic device of claim 12 , the touch sensor panel further comprising:
a polarizer; and
a display;
wherein:
the first touch electrode is disposed between the substrate layer and the display;
the second touch electrode is disposed between the polarizer and the substrate layer; and
layers between the substrate layer and the second touch electrode do not include a solid and transparent conductive material.