IP Library Granted Patent US 12,366,942
Granted Patent B2
US 12,366,942 · App. 18/780,909 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Touch screen sensor

Inventors: Matthew H. Frey (Cottage Grove, MN); Michael J. Robrecht (Shorewood, WI); George F. Jambor (Burlington, WI)
Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
G06F3/044C23F1/02C23F1/14G01R27/2605G06F3/045G06F3/0412G06F2203/04108G06F2203/04112
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,366,942
App. No.
18/780,909
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A touch screen sensor includes a visible light transparent substrate and an electrically conductive micropattern disposed on or in the visible light transparent substrate. The micropattern includes a first region micropattern within a touch sensing area and a second region micropattern. The first region micropattern has a first sheet resistance value in a first direction, is visible light transparent, and has at least 90% open area. The second region micropattern has a second sheet resistance value in the first direction. The first sheet resistance value is different from the second sheet resistance value.

Claims (16)

1. An electrically conductive micropattern patterned to define a mesh in a viewing area of the micropattern and a plurality of second traces in a non-viewing area of the micropattern, the mesh patterned to define a plurality of electrically conductive mesh electrodes, each of the mesh electrodes comprising a plurality of first traces having a first width and intersecting one another to define a plurality of enclosed open areas, the mesh electrode electrically connected to a corresponding second trace in the plurality of second traces, the second trace electrically connected to an electrically conductive pad for making electrical contact with an electronic device, at least a portion of the second trace having a second width greater than the first width, wherein for each of the mesh electrodes, the first traces and the corresponding second trace and the electrically conductive pad include a same metal at approximately a same thickness, and wherein the mesh is further patterned to define one or more third traces disposed to increase an optical uniformity of the viewing area of the micropattern.

2. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 5 millimeter by 5 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 50% from the average for all of the square regions.

3. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 5 millimeter by 5 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 25% from the average for all of the square regions.

4. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 5 millimeter by 5 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 10% from the average for all of the square regions.

5. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 75% from the average for all of the square regions.

6. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 50% from the average for all of the square regions.

7. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 25% from the average for all of the square regions.

8. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for the viewing area having 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter square regions, none of the square regions has a shadowed area fraction that differs by greater than about 10% from the average for all of the square regions.

9. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein the one or more third traces and the first traces of each of the mesh electrodes include the same metal at approximately the same thickness.

10. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for at least one pair of adjacent mesh electrodes in the plurality of mesh electrodes, the one or more third traces comprises at least one trace disposed between the adjacent mesh electrodes.

11. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for at least one of the mesh electrodes, the one or more third traces comprises at least one trace disposed in an enclosed open area of the plurality of enclosed open areas.

12. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein when the electrically conductive pads make electrical contact with the electronic device, the one or more third traces does not make electrical contact with the electronic device.

13. A touch sensitive display comprising a touch sensor comprising the micropattern of claim 1 , the viewing and non-viewing areas of the micropattern disposed in respective viewing and non-viewing areas of the display.

14. The touch sensitive display of claim 13 , wherein the touch sensor is configured to detect positions of multiple simultaneous touches.

15. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein each of the mesh electrodes has an open area of greater than 50%.

16. The micropattern of claim 1 , wherein for each of the mesh electrodes, the electrically conductive pad has a largest dimension of greater than about 25 microns.

Continuity (18)
Continuation 18381392 · Oct 18, 2023
Continuation 18178845 · Mar 6, 2023
Continuation 17872190 · Jul 25, 2022
Continuation 16949548 · Nov 3, 2020
Continuation 15929543 · May 8, 2020
Division 16288651 · Feb 28, 2019
Continuation 16143557 · Sep 27, 2018
Continuation 16105030 · Aug 20, 2018
Continuation 16043778 · Jul 24, 2018
Continuation 16043799 · Jul 24, 2018
Continuation 15351695 · Nov 15, 2016
Continuation 15351695 · Nov 15, 2016
Continuation 14174199 · Feb 6, 2014
Continuation 13590523 · Aug 21, 2012
Continuation 12393194 · Feb 26, 2009
Provisional Application 61032273 · Feb 28, 2008
Provisional Application 61032269 · Feb 28, 2008
Related Publication 20240377912A1 · Nov 14, 2024
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