USOO8946574B2
`
`(12) Unlted States Patent
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 8,946,574 B2
`
`Guard et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Feb. 3, 2015
`
`(54) TWO-LAYER SENSOR STACK
`
`(75)
`
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`~
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`Inventors. EDaVltélirent guardéHamgillrleéqB),
`sat
`1 Inez:
`anta ml:
`(
`),
`Tsung-Chlng W11, Saramga, CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Atmel Corporation, San Jose, CA (US)
`:1:
`~
`.
`~
`~
`~
`~
`) Notlce.
`Subject. to any (Esglalmeé, the tiermgifthls
`patent 1s exten e or a Juste un er 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/312,405
`
`.
`~
`Ffled‘
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`Dec' 6’ 2011
`_
`_
`_
`Prlor Publlcatlon Data
`
`US 2012/0261242 A1
`
`Oct. 18, 2012
`
`7,864,503 B2
`7,875,814 B2
`7,920,129 B2
`8,031,094 B2
`8,031,174 B2
`8,040,326 B2
`8,049,732 B2
`8,179,381 132
`8,217,902 B2
`8,355,006 B2
`8,456,444 B2
`8,723,824 B2
`8,797,285 B2
`2002/0167619 A1
`
`2004/0239650 A1
`2006/0097991 A1
`2008/0158183 A1*
`2008/0309635 A1
`2009/0205879 A1
`
`1/2011 Chang
`1/2011 Chen
`4/2011 Hotelling
`10/2011 Hotelling
`10/2011 Hamblin
`10/2011 Hotelling
`11/2011 Hotelling
`5/2012 Frey
`7/2012 Chang
`1/2013 Park et al.
`6/2013 Ishizaki et a1.
`5/2014 Myers
`8/2014 Guard et al.
`11/2002 Bietsch et al.
`
`12/2004 Mackey
`5/2006 Hotelling et 31.
`7/2008 Hotelling et al.
`12/2008 Matsuo
`8/2009 Halsey, 1v et al.
`.
`(Contlnued)
`
`............. 345/173
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`W0
`
`WO 2012/129247
`
`9/2012
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 13/089,061, filed on
`Apr. 18, 2011, now Pat. No. 8,797,285.
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`Int Cl
`H03K 17/96
`G06F 3/044
`(52) US. Cl.
`CPC ...... G06F 3/044 (2013.01), G06F 2203/04103
`(2013.01); G06F 2203/04112 (2013.01)
`USPC ........................................... 200/181; 345/172
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ....................... H01H 13/702; H01H 2239/006
`See application file for complete search history.
`_
`References Clted
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,924,789 B2*
`7,382,139 B2
`7,663,607 B2
`
`8/2005 Bick ............................. 345/168
`6/2008 Mackey
`2/2010 Hotelling
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S.App1. No. 61/454,936, filed Mar. 21, 2011, Myers.
`(C0nt1nued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Renee Luebke
`Assistant Examiner * Ahmed Saeed
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm 7 Baker Botts LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In one enlbodfinent3 an method apparatus includes an 0pti-
`cally clear adhesive (OCA) layer between a cover sheet and a
`substrate. The substrate has drive or sense electrodes of a
`touch sensor disposed on a first surface and a second surface
`of the substrate. The first surface is opposite the second sur-
`face and the drive or sense electrodes are made of a conduc-
`
`tive mesh of conductive material including metal.
`
`15 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
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`33 ”*2.
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`V
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` /
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`3b”
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`4 (X)
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`Display
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 1
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 1
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`

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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`Page 2
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`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2009/0219257 A1*
`2009/0273570 A1
`2009/0315854 A1
`2010/0045614 A1
`2010/0045615 A1
`2010/0045632 A1
`2010/0302201 A1
`2011/0007020 A1
`2011/0310033 A1
`2011/0310037 A1
`2012/0075238 A1
`2012/0242588 A1
`2012/0242592 A1
`2012/0243151 A1
`2012/0243719 A1
`2012/0262382 A1
`2012/0262412 A1
`2013/0076612 A1
`2013/0127772 A1
`2013/0234974 A1
`
`..................... 345/173
`9/2009 Frey et al.
`11/2009 Degner et al.
`12/2009 Matsuo
`2/2010 Gray et al.
`2/2010 Gray et al.
`2/2010 Yilmaz et al.
`12/2010 Ritter et a1.
`1/2011 Hong et a1.
`12/2011 Liu et al.
`12/2011 Moran et al.
`3/2012 Minami et al.
`9/2012 Myers
`9/2012 Rothkopf
`9/2012 Lynch
`9/2012 Franklin
`10/2012 Guard et al.
`10/2012 Guard et al.
`3/2013 Myers
`5/2013 Guardet a1.
`9/2013 Guard
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. Appl. No. 61/454,950, filed Mar. 21, 2011, Lynch.
`U.S. Appl. No. 61/454,894, filed Mar. 21, 2011, Rothkopf.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/089,061, Non-final Office Action,
`NoV. 23, 2012.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/089,061, Response to Non-final
`Office Action, Mar. 25, 2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/089,061, Non-final Office Action,
`Jun. 20, 2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/089,061, Response to Non-final
`Office Action, Dec. 17, 2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/331,022, Non-final Office Action,
`Oct. 7, 2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/331,022, Response to Non-final
`Office Action, Jan. 7, 2014.
`
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Non-final Office Action,
`NoV. 2, 2012.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Response to Non-final
`Office Action, Mar. 4, 2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Final Office Action, May21,
`2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, RCE and Response, Sep. 20,
`2013.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Non-Final Office Action,
`NoV. 1, 2013.
`Guard, U.S. Appl. No. 13/413,306, Non-final Office Action, Oct. 8,
`2013.
`Guard, U.S. Appl. No. 13/413,306, Response to Non-final Office
`Action, Jan. 8,2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/312,405 Notice ofAllowance dated
`Mar. 27, 2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/312,405 Issue Notification dated Jul.
`16, 2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/331,022 Final Office Action dated
`Apr. 15,2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/331,022 Request for Continued
`Examination dated Jul. 15, 2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859 Appeal Briefdated Mar. 28,
`2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859 Examiner’s Answer dated
`Jul. 17,2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/413,306 Final Office Action dated
`Apr. 11,2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/413,306 Request for Continued
`Examination dated Jul. 11, 2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Notice oprpeal, Jan. 31,
`2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Applicant-Initiated Inter-
`View Summary, Feb. 6, 2014.
`Guard et al., US. Appl. No. 13/347,859, Applicant Summary of
`Interview with Examiner, Mar. 10, 2014.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`PETITIONERS
`
`Exhibit 1001, Page 2
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 2
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 1 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FiG. 1
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 3
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 2 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FIG. 2a
`
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`s
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`11
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`Li”
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 4
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 4
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 3 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 5
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 5
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 4 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`10p\/\/\/
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`12a
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`FIG. 30
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 6
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 6
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 5 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FIG. 4
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`FIG. 5
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 7
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 7
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 6 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FIG. 7
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`g,,# 2 9
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 8
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 7 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FIG. 8
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`FIG. 10
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`FIG. 9
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 9
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 9
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 8 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`FIG. 13
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 10
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 10
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 3, 2015
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`Sheet 9 of9
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 11
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 11
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`

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`1
`TWO-LAYER SENSOR STACK
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`US 8,946,574 B2
`
`2
`
`This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of 5
`US. patent application Ser. No. 13/089,061, filed 18 Apr.
`2011.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This disclosure generally relates to touch sensors.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`A position sensor can detect the presence and location of a
`touch by a finger or by an object, such as a stylus, within an
`area of an external interface of the position sensor. In a touch
`sensitive display application, the position sensor enables, in
`some circumstances, direct interaction with information dis-
`played on the screen, rather than indirectly Via a mouse or
`touchpad. Position sensors can be attached to or provided as
`part of devices with a display. Examples of devices with
`displays include, but are not limited to, computers, personal
`digital assistants, satellite navigation devices, mobile tele-
`phones, portable media players, portable game consoles, pub-
`lic information kiosks, and point of sale systems. Position
`sensors have also been used as control panels on various
`appliances.
`There are a number of different types of position sensors.
`Examples include, but are not limited to resistive touch
`screens, surface acoustic wave touch screens, capacitive
`touch screens, and the like. A capacitive touch screen, for
`example, may include an insulator coated with a transparent
`conductor in a particular pattern. When an object, such as a
`finger or a stylus, touches the surface of the screen there may
`be a change in capacitance. This change in capacitance may
`be sent to a controller for processing to determine where the
`touch occurred on the touch screen.
`In a mutual capacitance configuration, for example, an
`array of conductive drive electrodes or lines and conductive
`sense electrodes or lines can be used to form a touch screen
`having capacitive nodes. A node may be formed where a drive
`electrode and a sense electrode overlap. The electrodes may
`be separated by an insulator to avoid electrical contact. The
`sense electrodes may be capacitively coupled with the drive
`electrodes at the nodes. A pulsed or alternating voltage
`applied on a drive electrode may therefore induce a charge on
`the sense electrodes that overlap with the drive electrode. The
`amount of induced charge may be susceptible to external
`influence, such as from the proximity of a nearby finger.
`When an object touches the surface of the screen, the capaci-
`tance change at each node on the grid can be measured to
`determine the position of the touch.
`While clear conductors such as ITO may be used for elec-
`trodes, opaque metal electrodes also may be used. The opaque
`metal electrodes may be made of a conductive mesh of thin
`conductors, which may be of copper, silver or other conduc-
`tive materials. The thin conductors may be made very thin as
`to be substantially invisible to the naked eye.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`An electrode pattern for a position sensing panel may have
`an array of mesh cells formed by sinusoidaly shaped conduc-
`tive lines extending between vertices of the mesh cells.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`The figures depict one or more implementations in accor-
`dance with the present disclosure, by way of example, not by
`
`10
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`way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer
`to the same or similar elements.
`
`FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary touch
`sensitive panel and a display;
`FIGS. 2a-b illustrate schematically exemplary electrode
`patterns useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate schematically an arrangement of
`two of the electrode patterns of FIG. 2a overlying one
`another;
`FIG. 4 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 7 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 8 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 9 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 10 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 11 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 12 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 13 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 14 illustrates schematically another electrode pattern
`useable in the touch sensitive panel of FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`In the following detailed description, numerous specific
`details are set forth by way of examples. In order to avoid
`unnecessarily obscuring examples of the present disclosure,
`those methods, procedures, components, and/or circuitry that
`are well-known to one of ordinary skill in the art have been
`described at a relatively high level.
`Reference is now made in detail to the examples illustrated
`in the accompanying figures and discussed below.
`A display may be overlaid with a touch position-sensing
`panel to implement a touch sensitive display device. Exem-
`plary displays include liquid crystal displays, active matrix
`liquid crystal displays, electroluminescent displays, electro-
`phoretic displays, plasma displays, cathode-ray displays,
`OLED displays, or the like. It will be appreciated that light
`emitted from the display may be able to pass through the
`touch position-sensing panel with minimal absorption or
`obstruction.
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary touch position-sensing
`panel 1 which overlies a display 2. In the illustrated example,
`the panel 1 includes an insulating substrate 3 having two
`opposing faces.Although touch sensors may implement other
`types of touch sensing, for discussion purposes, the drawing
`shows an example of a structure that may be used to imple-
`ment a mutual capacitance type touch sensitive panel.
`The panel 1 includes a number of electrodes 4 (X) and a
`number of electrodes 5 (Y) provided on opposite faces 3a and
`3b of the substrate 3. The electrodes 4 (X), which may be on
`face 3b, may be arranged in one direction and the electrodes
`5 (Y), which may be on face 3a, may be arranged in a direc-
`tion different than the direction of electrodes 4 (X). Other
`conductive tracks may also be provided on the opposing faces
`3a and 3b ofthe substrate 3. Such other conductive tracks may
`provide drive and sense connections to the electrodes 4 (X)
`PETITIONERS
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`Exhibit 1001, Page 12
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`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 12
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`US 8,946,574 B2
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`3
`and 5 (Y). The substrate 3 may be provided adjacent to the
`display 2 such that electrodes 4 (X) are arranged between the
`display 2 and the substrate 3. An adhesive layer 6 of an
`optically clear adhesive may be between the electrodes 4 (X)
`and a transparent covering sheet 7. Another adhesive layer 8
`of an optically clear adhesive may be between the electrodes
`5 (Y) and a transparent covering sheet 9. A gap may be formed
`between the display 2 and the transparent covering sheet 7.
`The transparent covering sheet 7 and the adhesive layer 6 of
`optically clear adhesive may encapsulate the electrodes 4 (X),
`and any other conductive tracks formed on face 3b of the
`substrate 3. The transparent covering sheet 9 and the adhesive
`layer 8 of optically clear adhesive may encapsulate the elec-
`trodes 5 (Y), and any other conductive tracks formed on face
`3a of the substrate 3. The encapsulation of the electrodes 4
`(X) and 5 (Y), and any other conductive tracks, may provide
`protection from physical and environmental damage. In some
`examples, portions of the conductive tracks may be exposed
`to provide connection points for connection to external drive
`circuitry.
`In the mutual capacitance example, electrodes 4 Ci) may
`be drive electrodes provided on face 3b ofthe substrate 3, and
`electrodes 5 (Y) may be sense electrodes provided on the
`opposing face 3a of the substrate 3. Capacitive sensing chan-
`nels may be formed by capacitive coupling nodes in the
`localized regions at an around where electrodes 4 (X) and 5
`(Y) cross over each other and are separated by the substrate 3.
`One or both ofthe sets of electrodes 4 Ci) and 5 (Y) may be
`formed from a conductive material, such as a metal. Suitable
`metals include copper, silver, gold, aluminum, tin and other
`metals used in conductive wiring. In some examples, the
`sense electrodes may be patterned in narrow lines to allow
`most of the light emitted from the display and incident on the
`sense electrode layer to pass through the electrode layer
`between the narrow metal lines. The narrow lines may be no
`more than 20 microns wide. An exemplary range may be 1-5
`microns. Narrower lines have reduced visibility to the naked
`eye. By forming electrodes 4 (X) or 5 (Y) from narrow con-
`ductive lines, the position-sensing panel may be formed such
`that no more than about 10% of the active area is covered by
`the metal lines of the electrodes. Less coverage of the active
`area allows for greater transparency of the position-sensing
`panel reduces visibility ofthe electrodes to the human eye and
`reduces perceptible darkening or other loss of display quality.
`An exemplary coverage may be less than 5%.
`In some examples, the electrodes 4 Ci) may be formed
`from a clear conductive material and the electrodes 5 (Y) may
`be formed from narrow conductive lines. In other examples,
`the electrodes 4 Ci) may be formed from narrow conductive
`lines and the electrodes 5 (Y) may be formed from a clear
`conductive material.
`
`In an example where other conductive tracks in addition to
`the electrodes 4 Ci) and 5 (Y) are provided on the substrate 3,
`the other conductive tracks may also be formed from a clear
`conductive material or narrow conductive lines, in a manner
`similar to the electrode layers 4 Ci) and 5 (Y). In an example
`where the other conductive tracks, or parts of the other con-
`ductive tracks, lie outside a visible region ofthe display 2, the
`light-transmissibility of the other conductive tracks is of no
`concern.
`
`FIG. 2a illustrates an exemplary electrode pattern 10 which
`may be used in the touch position-sensing panel 1. The exem-
`plary electrode pattern may be used to form any one electrode
`of either set of the electrodes 4 Ci) and 5 (Y). The electrode
`pattern 10 may be formed by a number of straight conductive
`lines 11 arranged to interconnect at connection points to
`define a conductive grid or mesh pattern made up of an array
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`of square shaped mesh cells 13 arranged in a layer. The
`connection points of the conductive lines 11 are the vertices
`12 of the square shaped mesh cells 13. The conductive lines
`may be formed of copper with a width in the range approxi-
`mately 1 pm to approximately 10 um and size of the mesh
`pattern, that is, the spacing ofthe vertices, may be in the range
`approximately 500 pm to approximately 10 mm. In one
`example, the electrode pattern 10 may be arranged so that no
`more than approximately 5% of the surface of the touch
`position-sensing panel is covered by the conductive lines 11.
`Thus, the contribution of the conductive lines to the attenua-
`tion of light through a sensor should not be more than
`approximately 5%. Accordingly, although the conductive
`lines 11 may be opaque, in this example, the combined optical
`transmissivity of the electrode pattern 10 and all other elec-
`trode patterns on the panel may be 90% or more, allowing any
`display below the touch position-sensing panel 1 to be visible
`with little perceptible darkening or other loss of display qual-
`ity.
`In other examples, the electrode pattern may be formed by
`a number of square shaped mesh cells 1311 that do not have
`four metal lines meet at vertices. Instead of the connection
`
`points of the conductive lines being the vertices of the square
`shaped mesh cells as shown in FIG. 2a, in FIG. 2b, each ofthe
`square shaped mesh cells 1311 may be separated from adjacent
`cells by a connecting segment 14. This arrangement may
`result in reduced line density on the vertices 12 by reducing
`the number of converging metal lines 1111 from 4 to 3. While
`the connecting segments 14 in FIG. 2b are straight, in other
`examples, the connecting segments may be sinusoidal or
`non-linear, and may be at any angle relative to the vertices
`12a.
`
`FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate an example of electrode patterns
`10a and 10b formed so that the two electrode patterns 10a and
`10b overlay one another. The two electrode patterns 10a and
`10b may be offset so that the vertices 12a, 12b ofeach one of
`the electrode patterns 10a and 10b are located at, or near to,
`the centers of the square shapes 13a, 13b of the other one of
`the electrode patterns 10a and 10b. As a result of this offset-
`ting ofthe two electrode patterns 10a and 10b, the conductive
`lines 1111 and 11b of the two electrode patterns 10a and 10b
`may be distributed evenly across the touch position-sensing
`panel 1.
`In other examples, the mesh pattern may be made up of an
`array of other regular trapezoid shaped mesh cells. In one
`example, the mesh pattern may be made up of an array oftwo
`different diamond shaped mesh cells which tessellate to form
`the mesh pattern.
`An example of a portion ofan electrode pattern 14 is shown
`in FIG. 4. In this illustrated example, the electrode pattern 14
`may be formed of conductive lines 15 arranged to intercon-
`nect at connection points to define a conductive grid or mesh
`pattern made up of an array of substantially square shaped
`mesh cells 17 arranged in a layer. The connection points ofthe
`conductive lines 15 form vertices 16 of the square shaped
`mesh cells 17. In FIG. 4, a single substantially square shaped
`mesh cell 17 is shown together with parts of the conductive
`lines 15 defining adjacent substantially square shaped mesh
`cells 17.
`
`In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, the conductive lines 15
`extending between the vertices 16 are not straight. As can be
`seen in the illustrated example, each of the conductive lines
`15 may have a sinusoidal shape. Each conductive metal line
`15 may be arranged as a sinusoidal line centered on a path that
`would be taken by a straight line between the vertices 16
`linked by the conductive metal line 15. Thus, comparing the
`examples illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, each sinusoidal
`PETITIONERS
`
`Exhibit 1001, Page 13
`
`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 13
`
`

`

`US 8,946,574 B2
`
`5
`conductive metal line 15 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be centered
`about, and may extend to either side of, one of the straight
`conductive lines 11 illustrated in FIG. 2, shown as dotted lines
`in FIG. 4. The mesh cells 17 shown in FIG. 4 may be
`described as substantially square because, although the ver-
`tices 16 are arranged in a square, the sinusoidal shape of the
`conductive lines 15 may result in mesh cells 17 that are
`substantially, but not precisely, square shaped.
`The sinusoidal shape ofthe conductive lines 15 as shown in
`FIG. 4 may reduce diffraction effects which may be encoun-
`tered if straight conductive lines are used. Such diffraction
`effects may result in the appearance of “starburst” patterns
`when a touch position-sensing panel is subject to bright ambi-
`ent light. Such diffraction effects may result in color shifting,
`changing the apparent colors of liquid crystal display (LCD)
`elements ofa display visible through a touch position-sensing
`panel, and may obscure the image being displayed.
`The sinusoidal shape of the conductive lines 15 in the
`illustrated example may reduce the visibility of reflections
`from the conductive lines when a touch position sensing panel
`is illuminated by light from a point illumination source, such
`as the sun on a clear day. The sinusoidal shape of the conduc-
`tive lines 15 may tend to distribute or disperse the apparent
`position on the touch position sensing panel of such reflec-
`tions, and so may minimize the perceived visibility of repeti-
`tive reflection patterns. Such repetitive reflection patterns are
`readily perceived by the human eye.
`In FIG. 4, each sinusoidal conductive metal line makes two
`complete sinusoidal cycles between two vertices 16. In other
`examples, each sinusoidal conductive line may make a dif-
`ferent number of cycles between two vertices 16.
`In some examples, the sinusoidal conductive lines may be
`formed as continuous curves. In other examples, the sinusoi-
`dal conductive lines may be formed by a number of short
`straight line sections arranged in a triangular waveform shape
`to approximate a sinusoidal shape. In other examples, the
`conductive lines may be shaped as other types of curves. In
`some examples, the conductive lines may be shaped as curves
`extending from a path that would be taken by a straight line
`between the vertices linked by the conductive metal line.
`Another example of an electrode pattern 18 is shown in
`FIG. 5. In this example, the electrode pattern 18 may be
`formed by conductive lines 20 arranged to interconnect at
`connection points to define a conductive grid or mesh pattern
`made up of an array of substantially diamond shaped mesh
`cells 19 arranged in a layer. The connection points of the
`conductive lines 20 form vertices 21 of the diamond shaped
`mesh cells 19. In FIG. 5 a single substantially diamond
`shaped mesh cell 19 is shown, together with parts of the
`conductive lines 20 defining adjacent ones ofthe substantially
`diamond shaped mesh cells 19. The mesh cells 19 in FIG. 5
`may be substantially diamond shaped. For example, although
`the vertices 21 are arranged in a diamond, the sinusoidal
`shape of the conductive lines 20 may result in mesh cells 19
`that are substantially diamond shaped, varying from a straight
`line, as shown by the dotted lines.
`In other examples, the mesh pattern may be made up of an
`array of other substantially regular trapezoid shaped mesh
`cells. In one example, the mesh pattern may be made up of a
`tessellated array of two different substantially diamond
`shaped mesh cells.
`In other examples, the amplitude of the sinusoidal shape of
`the sinusoidal conductive lines may be varied. For example,
`the distance the peaks of the sinusoidal shaped conductive
`lines extend away from a path that would be taken by a
`straight line between the vertices linked by the sinusoidal
`conductive lines may be varied. The amplitude of the sinu-
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
`
`40
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`6
`soidal shape of the sinusoidal conductive lines may be varied
`between the different sinusoidal conductive lines, and may
`also be varied at different points along one, some or all of the
`sinusoidal conductive lines.
`
`A portion of another electrode pattern 22 is shown in FIG.
`6. In this example, the electrode pattern 22 may be formed by
`conductive lines 23 arranged to interconnect at connection
`points to define a conductive grid or mesh pattern made up of
`an array of substantially square shaped mesh cells 24
`arranged in a layer. The connection points of the conductive
`lines 23 form vertices 25 ofthe corners ofthe mesh cell 24. In
`
`FIG. 6, a single mesh cell 24 is shown, together with parts of
`the conductive lines 23 defining adjacent mesh cells 24.
`Although the vertices 25 may be arranged at the corners ofthe
`mesh cell to form a square shape, the sinusoidal shape of the
`conductive lines 23 may vary from a straight line and results
`in mesh cells 24 that may be substantially square.
`For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the conductive lines 23
`extending between the vertices 25 may have a sinusoidal
`shape similar to the example illustrated in FIG. 4. Each con-
`ductive metal line 23 may be arranged as a sinusoidal line
`centered on a path that would be taken by a straight line
`between the vertices 25 linked by the sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 23.
`
`In FIG. 6, the sinusoidal conductive lines 23 may have
`varying amplitudes. For example, sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 23a and sinusoidal conductive metal line 23b may
`have different amplitudes. The conductive metal line 2311 may
`have a smaller amplitude than the sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 23b. Further, a sinusoidal conductive metal line 230
`may have sections 23d and 236 with different amplitudes. The
`section 23d of the sinusoidal conductive metal line 230 may
`have a larger amplitude than the sections 236 ofthe sinusoidal
`conductive metal line 230.
`
`As shown, the sinusoidal conductive lines in FIG. 6 may
`have two different amplitudes. In other examples, the sinu-
`soidal conductive lines may have other number of different
`amplitudes.
`In an example of an electrode using the cell of FIG. 6, the
`mesh pattern may be made up of an array of substantially
`square shaped mesh cells, such as an array of other substan-
`tially regular
`trapezoid shaped mesh cells.
`In another
`example, the mesh pattern may be made up of an array of
`substantially diamond shaped mesh cells. In one example, the
`mesh pattern may be made up of a tessellated array of two
`different substantially diamond shaped mesh cells.
`In other examples, the wavelength of the sinusoidal shape
`of the sinusoidal conductive lines may be varied. That is, the
`distance between the crossing points where the sinusoidal
`shaped conductive lines cross a path that would be taken by a
`straight line between the vertices linked by the sinusoidal
`conductive lines may be varied. The wavelength of the sinu-
`soidal shape of the sinusoidal conductive lines may be varied
`between the different sinusoidal conductive lines and/or may
`be varied at different points along one, some or all of the
`sinusoidal conductive lines.
`
`A portion of another electrode pattern 26 is shown in FIG.
`7. In this example, the electrode pattern 26 may be formed by
`conductive lines 27 arranged to interconnect at connection
`points to define a conductive grid or mesh pattern made up of
`an array of substantially square shaped mesh cells 28
`arranged in a layer, similar to the electrode pattern 14 illus-
`trated in FIG. 4. The connection points ofthe conductive lines
`27 form vertices 29 of the square shaped mesh cells 28. In
`FIG. 7, a single substantially square shaped mesh cell 28 is
`shown, together with parts ofthe conductive lines 27 defining
`adjacent substantially square shaped mesh cells 28.
`PETITIONERS
`
`Exhibit 1001, Page 14
`
`PETITIONERS
`Exhibit 1001, Page 14
`
`

`

`US 8,946,574 B2
`
`7
`As shown in FIG. 7, the conductive lines 27 extending
`between the vertices 29 may have a sinusoidal shape. Each
`conductive metal line 27 may be arranged as a sinusoidal line
`centered on a path that would be taken by a straight line
`between the vertices 29 linked by the sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 27.
`
`In this example, the sinusoidal conductive lines 27 may
`have varying wavelengths. As is illustrated in FIG. 7, a sinu-
`soidal conductive metal line 2711, a sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 27b, and a sinusoidal conductive metal line 270
`may each have different wavelengths. The conductive metal
`line 2711 may have a smaller wavelength than the sinusoidal
`conductive metal line 27b. In turn, the sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 27b may have a smaller wavelength than the sinu-
`soidal conductive metal line 270. Further, a sinusoidal con-
`ductive metal line 27d may have sections 276 and 27f with
`different wavelengths. The section 276 of the sinusoidal con-
`ductive metal line 27d may have a shorter wavelength than the
`sections 27fof the sinusoidal conductive metal line 27d.
`As shown, the sinusoidal conductive lines of FIG. 7 may
`have three different wavelengths. In other examples, the sinu-
`soidal conductive lines may have any number of different
`wavelengths.
`In other examples, both the amplitude and the wavelength
`ofthe sinusoidal shape ofthe sinusoidal conductive lines may
`be varied. The amplitude and/or the wavelength of the sinu-
`soidal shape of the sinusoidal conductive lines may be varied
`between the different sinusoidal conductive lines, and may
`also be varied at different points along one, some or all of the
`sinusoidal conductive lines.
`
`A portion of another electrode pattern 30 is shown in FIG.
`8. In this example, the electrode pattern 30 may be formed by
`conductive lines 31 arranged to interconnect at connection
`points to define a conductive grid or mesh pattern made up of
`an array of substantially square shaped mesh cells 32
`arranged in a layer. The connection points of the conductive
`lines 31 form vertices 33 of the square shaped mesh cells 32.
`In FIG. 8, a single substantially square shaped mesh cell 32 is
`shown, together with parts of the conductive lines 31 defining
`adjacent substantially square shaped mesh cells 32. The mesh
`cells 32 in the example shown in FIG. 8 may be substantially
`square.
`In the example of FIG. 8, the conductive lines 31 extending
`between the vertices 33 have a varying sinusoidal shape. Each
`conductive metal line 31 may be arranged as an irregular
`sinusoidal line centered on a path that would be taken by a
`straight line between the vertices 33 linked by the sinusoidal
`conductive metal line 31.
`
`In this example, the conductive lines 31 have varying
`amplitudes and varying wavelengths of the sinusoids. As is
`illustrated in FIG. 8, a sinusoidal conductive metal line 31a
`and a sinusoidal conductive metal line 31b have different
`
`amplitudes and wavelengths. The sinusoidal conductive
`metal line 31a may have a longer wa