IP Library Granted Patent US 8,860,690
Granted Patent B2
US 8,860,690 · App. 13/327,381 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Touch sensor with capacitive nodes having a capacitance that is approximately the same

Inventors: Matthew Trend (Fareham, GB); Paul Clements (Whiteley, GB)
Assignee: Atmel Corporation
G06F3/044G06F2203/04111
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,860,690
App. No.
13/327,381
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a touch sensor has a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge. The touch sensor includes a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge, and a second plurality of electrodes. Each of the second plurality of electrodes has a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine. At least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge. The touch sensor further includes a plurality of nodes. Each node is formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes. The capacitance of each node is approximately the same.

Claims (46)

1. A touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor comprising:

a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge;

a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and

a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and

wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same;

wherein the plurality of conductive elements of each of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a gap;

wherein one of the gaps of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the other gaps of the second plurality of electrodes.

2. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the capacitance of each node is the same.

3. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the spine of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the spine of at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

4. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has two spines that are separated from each other by a first gap;

wherein the spines of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a second gap; and

wherein the first gap has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the second gaps.

5. The touch sensor of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of one of the other conductive elements of the second plurality of electrodes.

6. A touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor comprising:

a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge;

a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a plurality of spines coupled to one another, each of the spines being approximately parallel to the second edge, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and

a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and

wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same;

wherein at least one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has one or more conductive elements physically coupled to the spine, wherein each of the conductive elements is approximately parallel to the first edge, wherein none of the conductive elements couple the spines together, wherein at least one of the spines of another electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is devoid of any conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and that do not couple the at least one of the spines to another spine of the another electrode.

7. The touch sensor of claim 6 , wherein the capacitance of each node is the same.

8. The touch sensor of claim 6 , wherein the one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of a spine at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

9. A device, comprising:

a controller; and

a touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor coupled to the controller, the touch sensor comprising:

a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge;

a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a spine that is approximately parallel to the second edge and a plurality of conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and in physical contact with the spine, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and

a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and

wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same;

wherein the plurality of conductive elements of each of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a gap;

wherein one of the gaps of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the other gaps of the second plurality of electrodes.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the capacitance of each node is the same.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the spine of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of the spine of at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has two spines that are separated from each other by a first gap;

wherein the spines of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes are each separated from each other by a second gap; and

wherein the first gap has a width that is less than a width of at least one of the second gaps.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of conductive elements of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of one of the other conductive elements of the second plurality of electrodes.

14. A device, comprising:

a controller; and

a touch sensor having a first edge and a second edge approximately perpendicular to the first edge, the touch sensor coupled to the controller, the touch sensor comprising:

a first plurality of electrodes approximately parallel to the first edge;

a second plurality of electrodes, each of the second plurality of electrodes having a plurality of spines coupled to one another, each of the spines being approximately parallel to the second edge, wherein at least one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is adjacent to the second edge; and

a plurality of nodes, each node formed by a capacitive coupling between an electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and an electrode of the second plurality of electrodes; and

wherein the capacitance of each node is approximately the same;

wherein at least one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has one or more conductive elements physically coupled to the spine, wherein each of the conductive elements is approximately parallel to the first edge, wherein none of the conductive elements couple the spines together, wherein at least one of the spines of another electrode of the second plurality of electrodes is devoid of any conductive elements that are approximately parallel to the first edge and that do not couple the at least one of the spines to another spine of the another electrode.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the capacitance of each node is the same.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the one of the spines of the one electrode of the second plurality of electrodes that is adjacent to the second edge has a width that is greater than a width of a spine at least one of the other electrodes of the second plurality of electrodes.

Assignments (13)
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 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 7, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038376/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2014
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031912/0173 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2012
From: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027558/0344 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2011
From: TREND, MATTHEW; CLEMENTS, PAUL
To: ATMEL TECHNOLOGIES U.K. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027391/0692 →
Continuity (1)
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