IP Library Patent Application 15728227
Patent Application
App. No. 15/728,227

Variable-Pitch Tracking For Touch Sensors

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 None
App. No.
15/728,227
Abstract

In one embodiment, a touch sensor includes a touch-sensitive area, a first set of electrodes, a first set of connection pads, and a first set of tracks. The first set of tracks electrically couple the first set of connection pads of the touch sensor to the first set of electrodes of the touch sensor. A first portion and a second portion of the first set of tracks extend along an edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor. The first portion of the first set of tracks are closer in distance to the first set of connection pads than the second portion of the first set of tracks. A first pitch between two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks is less than a second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks.

Claims (49)

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A touch sensor comprising:

a touch-sensitive area;

a first set of electrodes;

a first set of connection pads; and

a first set of tracks, the first set of tracks configured to electrically couple the first set of connection pads of the touch sensor to the first set of electrodes of the touch sensor, a first portion and a second portion of the first set of tracks extending along an edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the first portion of the first set of tracks being closer in distance to the first set of connection pads than the second portion of the first set of tracks;

wherein a first pitch between two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks is less than a second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks.

22 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , further comprising:

a second set of electrodes;

a second set of connection pads; and

a second set of tracks, the second set of tracks configured to electrically couple the second set of connection pads of the touch sensor to the second set of electrodes of the touch sensor, a first portion and a second portion of the second set of tracks extending along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the first portion of the second set of tracks being closer in distance to the second set of connection pads than the second portion of the second set of tracks;

wherein the first portion of the second set of tracks comprises more tracks than the second portion of the second set of tracks.

23 . The touch sensor of claim 22 , wherein:

a third portion of the second set of tracks extends along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the second portion of the second set of tracks being closer in distance to the second set of connection pads than the third portion of the second set of tracks; and

the second portion of the second set of tracks comprises more tracks than the third portion of the second set of tracks.

24 . The touch sensor of claim 22 , wherein:

the first set of electrodes are sense electrodes; and

the second set of electrodes are drive electrodes.

25 . The touch sensor of claim 22 , further comprising a third set of tracks, wherein the third set of tracks are ground lines that extend along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor between the first set of tracks and the second set of tracks.

26 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , wherein the first set of tracks are arranged in a cascading pattern.

27 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , wherein the first pitch between the two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks being less than the second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks is caused at least in part by a separation distance between the two tracks.

28 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , wherein the first pitch between the two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks being less than the second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks is caused at least in part by different widths of the two tracks.

29 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , further comprising bridges configured to electrically couple the two tracks of the first set of tracks to the first set of connection pads.

30 . The touch sensor of claim 21 , wherein the first set of electrodes is made of a mesh of fine lines of conductive material.

31 . A device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising:

a touch-sensitive area;

a first set of electrodes;

a first set of connection pads; and

a first set of tracks, the first set of tracks configured to electrically couple the first set of connection pads of the touch sensor to the first set of electrodes of the touch sensor, a first portion and a second portion of the first set of tracks extending along an edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the first portion of the first set of tracks being closer in distance to the first set of connection pads than the second portion of the first set of tracks;

wherein a first pitch between two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks is less than a second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks; and

a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.

32 . The device of claim 31 , the touch sensor further comprising:

a second set of electrodes;

a second set of connection pads; and

a second set of tracks, the second set of tracks configured to electrically couple the second set of connection pads of the touch sensor to the second set of electrodes of the touch sensor, a first portion and a second portion of the second set of tracks extending along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the first portion of the second set of tracks being closer in distance to the second set of connection pads than the second portion of the second set of tracks;

wherein the first portion of the second set of tracks comprises more tracks than the second portion of the second set of tracks.

33 . The device of claim 32 , wherein:

a third portion of the second set of tracks extends along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor, the second portion of the second set of tracks being closer in distance to the second set of connection pads than the third portion of the second set of tracks; and

the second portion of the second set of tracks comprises more tracks than the third portion of the second set of tracks.

34 . The device of claim 32 , wherein:

the first set of electrodes are sense electrodes; and

the second set of electrodes are drive electrodes.

35 . The device of claim 32 , the touch sensor further comprising a third set of tracks, wherein the third set of tracks are ground lines that extend along the edge of the touch-sensitive area of the touch sensor between the first set of tracks and the second set of tracks.

36 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the first set of tracks are arranged in a cascading pattern.

37 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the first pitch between the two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks being less than the second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks is caused at least in part by a separation distance between the two tracks.

38 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the first pitch between the two tracks of the first portion of the first set of tracks being less than the second pitch between the two tracks of the second portion of the first set of tracks is caused at least in part by different widths of the two tracks.

39 . The device of claim 31 , the touch sensor further comprising bridges configured to electrically couple the two tracks of the first set of tracks to the first set of connection pads.

40 . The device of claim 31 , wherein the first set of electrodes is made of a mesh of fine lines of conductive material.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050986/0798 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050987/0430 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050950/0594 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2017
From: YILMAZ, ESAT; SHAIKH, JALIL
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043816/0940 →