Capacitive touch sensor and noise reduction method
The RX electrode's loop antenna configuration in capacitive touch sensors cancels out external noise by opposing current flows, addressing noise susceptibility and improving sensor reliability.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HOSIDEN CORP
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-29
AI Technical Summary
Conventional capacitive touch sensors are susceptible to external noise due to weak Coulomb forces between adjacent divided electrodes, leading to interference.
The RX electrode is designed with a loop antenna shape comprising conductor portions that cancel out external noise by opposing current flows, reducing susceptibility to noise interference.
The design effectively minimizes the impact of external noise on the capacitive touch sensor, enhancing its performance and reliability.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an RX electrode for a capacitive touch sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, and a noise reduction method.
Background Art
[0002] The following Patent Document 1 describes a conventional capacitive touch sensor. This touch sensor includes a substrate and at least one RX electrode provided on this substrate. The at least one RX electrode has three divided electrodes that are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the substrate and are electrically connected to each other.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In a conventional touch sensor, the Coulomb force generated between adjacent divided electrodes among the three divided electrodes is weak, and it is easily affected by external noise (immunity noise).
[0005] The present invention provides an RX electrode for a capacitive touch sensor that is hardly affected by external noise, a capacitive touch sensor, and a noise reduction method.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] An RX electrode for a capacitive touch sensor according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an electrode body. The electrode body has a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first and second conductor portions are arranged in close proximity with a gap between them in a first direction, and extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. When external noise is applied to the electrode body, currents flow in opposite directions through the first and second conductor portions, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion to cancel each other out. The first direction is the direction in which the first and second conductor portions are aligned. The first and second conductor portions have a first end on one side of the second direction and a second end on the other side of the second direction. The third conductor portion connects the first end of the first conductor portion and the first end of the second conductor portion and is located on one side of the second direction with respect to the gap between the first and second conductor portions. The fourth conductor section connects the second end of the first conductor section and the second end of the second conductor section, and is located on the other side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first and second conductor sections. Any of the first, second, third, and fourth conductor sections has a connecting section. 。
[0007] In this configuration of an RX electrode, the electrode body of the RX electrode forms a loop antenna shape with a first conductor section, a second conductor section, a third conductor section, and a fourth conductor section. When external noise is applied to the electrode body of this RX electrode, currents flow in opposite directions through the first and second conductor sections, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor section and the electric field generated in the second conductor section to cancel each other out. As a result, the RX electrode becomes less susceptible to the effects of external noise.
[0008] The largest distance between the first conductor and the second conductor in the first direction can be, for example, 0.05 mm or more. The largest distance between the first conductor and the second conductor in the first direction can also be, for example, 2 mm to 0.05 mm or 1 mm to 0.05 mm.
[0009] A capacitive touch sensor according to one aspect of the present invention can be configured to include an insulating substrate, an RX electrode provided on the substrate according to any of the above-described embodiments, and a TX electrode provided on the substrate and positioned near the RX electrode.
[0010] The touch sensor can be configured such that the signal on the RX electrode changes in response to changes in capacitance between the detected object and the RX electrode due to the object approaching the RX electrode, and changes in capacitance between the TX electrode and the RX electrode due to the object approaching both electrodes.
[0011] The substrate can be configured to have at least one dielectric material having insulating properties. The at least one dielectric material may include a plurality of stacked insulating dielectric materials.
[0012] The electrode bodies of the TX electrode and the RX electrode are provided on the same plane of at least one dielectric material. good .
[0013] The electrode bodies of the TX electrode and the RX electrode may be provided on different surfaces of one of the multiple dielectric materials. Alternatively, the TX electrode may be provided on the surface of one of the multiple dielectric materials, and the electrode body of the RX electrode may be provided on the surface of another dielectric material other than one of the multiple dielectric materials.
[0014] The TX electrode may have at least one of a substantially annular first TX electrode, a second TX electrode, and a third TX electrode arranged around the RX electrode.
[0015] The first TX electrode can be a roughly ring-shaped electrode positioned around the RX electrode.
[0016] The first TX electrode may have a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first conductor portion of the first TX electrode may extend in a second direction and be positioned on one side in the first direction relative to the first conductor portion of the RX electrode. The first conductor portion of the first TX electrode may have a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The second conductor portion of the first TX electrode may extend in a second direction and be positioned on the other side in the first direction relative to the second conductor portion of the RX electrode. The second conductor portion of the first TX electrode may have a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The third conductor portion of the first TX electrode may extend from the first end of the first conductor portion of the first TX electrode to the first end of the second conductor portion of the first TX electrode and be positioned on one side in the second direction relative to the RX electrode. The fourth conductor portion of the first TX electrode may extend from the second end of the first conductor portion of the first TX electrode to the second end of the second conductor portion of the first TX electrode and be positioned on the other side in the second direction relative to the RX electrode.
[0017] The second TX electrode may extend in a second direction and be positioned on one side in the first direction relative to the first conductor portion of the RX electrode.
[0018] The third TX electrode may extend in the second direction and be positioned on the other side of the first direction relative to the second conductor portion of the RX electrode.
[0019] A noise reduction method according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for suppressing external noise applied to an RX electrode in any of the above-described aspects, wherein when external noise is applied to the electrode body of the RX electrode, reverse currents flow through the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion of the electrode body, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion to cancel each other out. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0020] [Figure 1A] This is a schematic perspective view of a capacitive touch sensor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 1B] This is a schematic front view of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 1C] It is a schematic side view of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 2A] It is a schematic plan view of the first dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 2B] It is a schematic bottom view of the first dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 2C] It is a schematic plan view of the second dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 2D] It is a schematic bottom view of the second dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of Example 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view of the capacitive touch sensor according to the comparative example. [Figure 4A] It is a schematic plan view of the first dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of the comparative example. [Figure 4B] It is a schematic bottom view of the first dielectric of the substrate of the touch sensor of the comparative example. [Figure 5A] It is a graph regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the first model. [Figure 5B] It is a chart regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the first model. [Figure 5C] It is a graph regarding the VSWR obtained by the simulation of the first model. [Figure 6A] It is a graph regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the second model. [Figure 6B] It is a chart regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the second model. [Figure 6C] It is a graph regarding the VSWR obtained by the simulation of the second model. [Figure 7A] It is a graph regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the third model. [Figure 7B] It is a chart regarding the SParameter obtained by the simulation of the third model. [Figure 7C] This is a graph of VSWR obtained from the simulation of the third model. [Figure 8A] This is a graph showing the S-parameters obtained from the simulation of the fourth model. [Figure 8B] This chart shows the S-parameters obtained from the simulation of the fourth model. [Figure 8C] This is a graph of VSWR obtained from the simulation of the fourth model. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0021] The following describes several embodiments of the present invention, including Embodiment 1 and its design modifications. It should be noted that the components of the embodiments and design modifications described later can be combined with each other, as long as they do not contradict each other. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, numbers, and arrangements of the components in each embodiment and design modification described later are merely illustrative examples, and can be arbitrarily modified as long as similar functions can be achieved. [Examples]
[0022] The following describes capacitive touch sensors S according to multiple embodiments of the present invention, including Embodiment 1 and its design modifications, with reference to Figures 1A to 2D. Figures 1A to 2D show the touch sensor S of Embodiment 1. The touch sensor S has a configuration that combines self-capacitance and mutual capacitiveness. Figures 1C to 2D show the Y-Y' direction (first direction). The Y-Y' direction includes the Y direction (one of the first directions) and the Y' direction (the other of the first directions). Figures 1B and 2A to 2D show the X-X' direction (second direction), which is approximately orthogonal to the Y-Y' direction. The X-X' direction includes the X direction (one of the second directions) and the X' direction (the other of the second directions). Figures 1B to 1C show the Z-Z' direction (third direction), which is approximately orthogonal to the Y-Y' direction and the X-X' direction. The Z-Z' direction includes the Z direction (one of the third directions) and the Z' direction (the other of the third directions).
[0023] The touch sensor S comprises an insulating substrate 100. The substrate 100 may have a flat shape extending in the Y-Y' and X-X' directions (see Figures 1A to 1C), or it may have a curved shape that is partially or entirely convex in the Z or Z' direction (not shown). The substrate 100 has at least one insulating dielectric. The at least one dielectric includes one insulating dielectric (not shown) or a plurality of insulating dielectrics stacked in the Z-Z' direction (see Figures 1A to 1C). For example, at least one dielectric can be configured in one of the following ways: (1) a configuration including a first dielectric 110 (not shown), (2) a configuration including a first dielectric 110 and a second dielectric 120 stacked in the Z-Z' direction (not shown), or (3) a configuration including a first dielectric 110 and a second dielectric 120 stacked in the Z-Z' direction and one or more third dielectrics 130, with one or more third dielectrics 130 interposed between the first dielectric 110 and the second dielectric 120 (see Figures 1A to 2D).
[0024] The first dielectric 110 has a first surface 111 on the Z-direction side and a second surface 112 on the Z'-direction side. The second dielectric 120 has a first surface 121 on the Z-direction side and a second surface 122 on the Z'-direction side. One or more third dielectrics 130 have a first surface 131 on the Z-direction side and a second surface 132 on the Z'-direction side.
[0025] The touch sensor S is further equipped with an RX electrode 200 (receiving electrode). The RX electrode 200 has an electrode body 210.
[0026] The electrode body 210 has a first conductor portion 211 and a second conductor portion 212. The first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are composed of a transparent conductive film or a conductor and may be provided on the first or second surface of any one of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100. For example, if at least one dielectric has any of the above configurations (1) to (3), the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 may be provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The transparent conductive film can be composed of, for example, ITO (indium oxide + tin oxide), CNT (carbon nanotube), IZO (indium oxide + zinc oxide), AZO (Alien-doped zinc oxide), or a conductive polymer (PEDOT or PSS). The conductor can be, for example, photosensitive silver, silver nanoink, silver nanowire, vapor-deposited copper, rolled copper, or copper nanoink.
[0027] The first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 extend in the X-X' direction. The dimensions of the first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 in the X-X' direction are larger than the dimensions of the first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 in the Y-Y' direction. The first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 are arranged in close proximity with a gap G in the Y-Y' direction. The Y-Y' direction corresponds to the direction in which the first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 are aligned.
[0028] The first conductor section 211 has a first end 211a on the X-direction side, a second end 211b on the X'-direction side, an inner end 211c on the Y'-direction side, and an outer end 211d on the Y-direction side. The second conductor section 212 has a first end 212a on the X-direction side, a second end 212b on the X'-direction side, an inner end 212c on the Y-direction side, and an outer end 212d on the Y'-direction side. The inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212 face each other with a gap G in the Y-Y' direction. The inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212 further have one of the following configurations (A) to (E).
[0029] (A) The inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212 extend linearly in the X-X' direction (see Figures 1A and 2A). In this case, the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212 is approximately constant from the X-direction side end of the inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the X'-direction side end of the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212.
[0030] (B) The inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 is arc-shaped so as to be convex in the Y' direction, and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is arc-shaped so as to be convex in the Y direction (not shown). In this case, the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the top of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the top of the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is smallest, and the X direction of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 side The X direction of the end and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 side The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the end and / or the X' direction of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211. side The X' direction of the end and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 side The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the edge and the point is largest.
[0031] (C) The inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 is Y direction It is arc-shaped so as to be concave on the side, and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is Y' direction It is arc-shaped with a concave side (not shown). In this case, the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the top of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the top of the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is the largest, and the X direction of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 side The X direction of the end and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 side The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the end and / or the X' direction of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211. side The X' direction of the end and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 side The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the edge and the point is smallest.
[0032] (D) The inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 is arc-shaped so as to be convex toward the Y' direction and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is arc-shaped so as to be concave toward the Y' direction (not shown), or the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 is arc-shaped so as to be concave toward the Y direction and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is arc-shaped so as to be convex toward the Y direction (not shown). In this case, the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 is approximately constant from the X-direction end of the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the X'-direction end of the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212.
[0033] (E) The distance between the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 gradually expands or contracts from the X-direction side of the inner ends 211c and 212c to the X'-direction side of the inner ends 211c and 212c (not shown). In the former case (when expanding), the inner end 211c X' direction The side edge and the inner edge 212c X' direction The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the side end and the inner end 211c is the largest. X direction The side edge and the inner edge 212c X direction The smallest distance is in the Y-Y' direction between the side edge and the edge. In the latter case (when shrinking), the opposite is true.
[0034] In any case, the largest distance in the Y-Y' direction between the first conductor section 211 and the second conductor section 212 (i.e., the largest distance in the Y-Y' direction between the inner end 211c of the first conductor section 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor section 212 (hereinafter also referred to as "dimension of gap G")) can be, for example, 0.05 mm or more. The dimension of gap G may be, for example, 2 mm to 0.05 mm, or 1 mm to 0.05 mm. The dimension of gap G can be 0.2 mm or 0.1 mm.
[0035] The shape of the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 is arbitrary. For example, the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 may extend linearly in the X-X' direction (see Figures 1A and 2A), may be arc-shaped so as to be convex toward the Y direction (not shown), may be arc-shaped so as to be concave toward the Y' direction (not shown), may be inclined toward the Y' and X directions (not shown), or may be inclined toward the Y and X directions (not shown).
[0036] The shape of the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 is arbitrary. For example, the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 may extend linearly in the X-X' direction (see Figures 1A and 2A), Y' direction It may also be an arc shape that is convex to the side (not shown in the diagram), Y direction It may be an arc shape with a concave side (not shown), or it may be inclined in the Y' direction and the X direction, or it may be inclined in the Y direction and the X direction (not shown).
[0037] The electrode body 210 further comprises a third conductor portion 213 and a fourth conductor portion 214. The third conductor portion 213 of the electrode body 210 connects the first end 211a of the first conductor portion 211 and the first end 212a of the second conductor portion 212, and is located on the X-direction side with respect to the gap G between the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212. The fourth conductor portion 214 connects the second end 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the second end 212b of the second conductor portion 212, and is located on the X'-direction side with respect to the gap G between the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212. In this way, the RX electrode 200 has a loop antenna shape.
[0038] One of the first conductor section 211, the second conductor section 212, the third conductor section 213, and the fourth conductor section 214 has a connecting section. For example, if the fourth conductor section 214 has a connecting section, the third conductor section 213 and the fourth conductor section 214 can be configured as follows.
[0039] The third conductor portion 213 is composed of the transparent conductive film or conductor described above and is provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 on which the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are provided. If the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, then the third conductor portion 213 is also provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 (see Figures 1A and 2A). The third conductor portion 213 may extend linearly in the Y-Y' direction from the first end 211a of the first conductor portion 211 to the first end 212a of the second conductor portion 212 (see Figures 1A and 2A), or it may extend in an arc shape from the first end 211a of the first conductor portion 211 to the first end 212a of the second conductor portion 212 so as to be convex in the X direction (not shown).
[0040] The fourth conductor portion 214 also serves as a connection portion. Specifically, the fourth conductor portion 214 is a through-hole electrode (see Figures 1A to 2D) that penetrates all of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, a via-hole electrode (not shown) that penetrates some of the dielectrics (fewer dielectrics than all dielectrics) of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, or an electrode (not shown) provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 on which the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are provided, and is connected to the second end 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the second end 212b of the second conductor portion 212. The fourth conductor portion 214 may, but is not limited to, being connected to the Y'-direction corner of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the Y-direction corner of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212 (see Figures 1A and 2A). The fourth conductor portion 214 may be positioned so as to be partially convex to the X'-direction end of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the X'-direction end of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212 (see Figures 1A and 2A), or the fourth conductor portion 214 may be positioned so that, in the X-X' direction, its X'-direction end substantially coincides with the X'-direction end of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the X'-direction end of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212 (not shown).
[0041] If the third conductor portion 213 has a connecting portion (not shown), the third conductor portion 213 can have the same configuration as the fourth conductor portion 214 described in the previous paragraph, except that it connects the first end portion 211a of the first conductor portion 211 and the first end portion 212a of the second conductor portion 212. Furthermore, the fourth conductor portion 214 can have the same configuration as the third conductor portion 213, which is made of the transparent conductive film or conductor described above, except that it connects the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212. The fourth conductor portion 214 may extend linearly in the Y-Y' direction from the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 to the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212, or it may extend in an arc shape from the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 to the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212 so as to be convex in the X' direction.
[0042] If the first conductor portion 211 or the second conductor portion 212 has a connection portion (not shown), the first conductor portion 211 or the second conductor portion 212 can be configured to have the transparent conductive film or conductor and the connection portion. The connection portion of the first conductor portion 211 or the second conductor portion 212 can be a through-hole electrode that penetrates all of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 connected to the transparent conductive film or conductor in the Z-Z' direction, a via-hole electrode that penetrates some of the dielectrics (fewer dielectrics than all dielectrics) of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, or an electrode provided on the surface on which the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are provided, among the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics of the substrate 100. In this case, the third conductor portion 213 and the fourth conductor portion 214 are made of the transparent conductive film or conductor described above. Furthermore, the third conductor section 213 or the fourth conductor section 214 can also be configured to have the transparent conductive film or conductor described above and a connecting section. In this case, the connecting section of the third conductor section 213 or the fourth conductor section 214 can have the same configuration as the connecting section of the first conductor section 211 or the second conductor section 212.
[0043] The touch sensor S further comprises a TX electrode 300 (transmitting electrode). The TX electrode 300 is provided on the substrate 100 and is located near the RX electrode 200. The TX electrode 300 and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 may be provided on the same surface of one dielectric from at least one dielectric of the substrate 100, or they may be provided on different surfaces of one dielectric from a plurality of dielectrics of the substrate 100, or the TX electrode 300 may be provided on the surface of one dielectric from a plurality of dielectrics and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 may be provided on the surface of another dielectric other than one of the plurality of dielectrics.
[0044] The TX electrode 300 may have, for example, a substantially annular first TX electrode 300a, a second TX electrode 300b, and a third TX electrode 300c.
[0045] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has one of the configurations described in (1) to (3) above, the first TX electrode 300a may be provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided, and may be spaced apart around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, or it may be provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of the said dielectric on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is not provided, and may be spaced around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has one of the configurations described in (2) or (3) above, the first TX electrode 300a may be provided on the first or second surface of any dielectric other than the dielectric on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided, and may be spaced around the RX electrode 200.
[0046] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has any of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c may be provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided, and may be spaced apart from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y direction and Y' direction, or they may be provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of the dielectric on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is not provided, and may be spaced apart from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y direction and Y' direction. If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) or (3) above, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c may be provided on the first or second surface of a dielectric other than the dielectric on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 of any of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 is provided, and may be arranged on the Y-direction side and the Y'-direction side with respect to the RX electrode 200. In either case, it should be noted that the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c and the first TX electrode 300a are not provided on the same surface of a single dielectric.
[0047] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (1) above and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c may have the following configurations of (a) or (b) (not shown).
[0048] (a) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0049] (b) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0050] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) above and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, then the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c may have any of the following configurations (c) to (h) (not shown).
[0051] (c) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0052] (d) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0053] (e) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0054] (f) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0055] (g) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0056] (h) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200. The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200.
[0057] If at least one dielectric material has the configuration described in (3) above, and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric material 110, then the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c may have any of the following configurations (i) to (n).
[0058] (i) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (see Figures 1A to 2D). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first or second surface of one of the dielectrics, the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130, and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first or second surface of the said dielectric and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200. Note that in Figures 1A to 2D, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120.
[0059] (j) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first or second surface of one of the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown).
[0060] (k) The first TX electrode 300a is on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110. It is locatedFurthermore, it is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first surface of any one of the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130 (except on the first surface 131 of one third dielectric 130 when one dielectric is one third dielectric 130, and on the first surface 131 of the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction when it is the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction among multiple third dielectrics 130) or on the second surface, and is arranged on the Y direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first surface of the dielectric (except on the first surface 131 of the third dielectric 130 when the dielectric is one third dielectric 130, and on the first surface 131 of the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction when it is the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction among a plurality of third dielectrics 130) or on the second surface, and is positioned on the Y' direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown).
[0061] (l) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface (excluding the first surface 131 of one of the dielectrics among the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130, and the first surface 131 of the third dielectric 130 when one dielectric is one third dielectric 130, and the first surface 131 of the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction when it is the third dielectric 130 furthest to the Z direction among multiple third dielectrics 130) or on the second surface and is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged on the Y' direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown).
[0062] (m) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first or second surface of one of the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130, and is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the second or first surface of the dielectric (i.e., on the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is not provided) and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the second or first surface of the dielectric (i.e., on the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is not provided) and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown).
[0063] (n) The first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first or second surface of one of the third dielectrics 130 and is arranged around the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The second TX electrode 300b is provided on the first or second surface of another dielectric from the one or more third dielectrics 130 other than the aforementioned one and is arranged on the Y-direction side with respect to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown). The third TX electrode 300c is provided on the first or second surface of the other dielectric and is arranged on the Y'-direction side with respect to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 (not shown).
[0064] Regardless of which of the above configurations the first TX electrode 300a has, the first TX electrode 300a has a first conductor portion 310a, a second conductor portion 320a, a third conductor portion 330a, and a fourth conductor portion 340a. The first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a is partitioned by the first conductor portion 310a, the second conductor portion 320a, the third conductor portion 330a, and the fourth conductor portion 340a.
[0065] The first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a extends in the X-X' direction and is positioned on the Y-direction side relative to the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a extends in the X-X' direction and is positioned on the Y' direction relative to the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200. The first conductor portion 310a and the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a have a first end on the X-direction side and a second end on the X'-direction side. The third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a extends in the Y-Y' direction from the first end of the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a to the first end of the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a and is positioned on the X-direction side relative to the RX electrode 200. The fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a extends in the Y-Y' direction from the second end of the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a to the second end of the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a, and is positioned on the X' side relative to the RX electrode 200.
[0066] When the first TX electrode 300a and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 (on the same surface), the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is spaced apart from the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y direction, the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a is spaced apart from the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y' direction, the third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a is spaced apart from the RX electrode 200 in the X direction, and the fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a is spaced apart from the RX electrode 200 in the X' direction. The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a and the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200, the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a and the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200, the distance in the X-X' direction between the third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a and the RX electrode 200, and the distance in the X-X' direction between the fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a and the RX electrode 200 are preferably about the same, but may be different.
[0067] If the fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200 is partially convex compared to the X' direction end of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the X' direction end of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212, the fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a may have a concave recess 341a on the X' direction side.
[0068] The dimensions of the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c in the X-X' direction can be larger than the dimensions of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the X-X' direction, and the same as or smaller than the dimensions of the first TX electrode 300a in the X-X' direction.
[0069] When the second TX electrode 300b and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 (on the same plane), the second TX electrode 300b is positioned at a distance in the Y direction from the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. When the third TX electrode 300c and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 (on the same plane), the third TX electrode 300c is positioned at a distance in the Y' direction from the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200. The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the second TX electrode 300b and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the third TX electrode 300c and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are preferably about the same, but may be different.
[0070] The TX electrode 300 further comprises one or more first through-hole electrodes 300d that penetrate all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, or one or more first via-hole electrodes (not shown) that penetrate some of the dielectrics of all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, and one or more second through-hole electrodes 300e that penetrate all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, or one or more second via-hole electrodes that penetrate some of the dielectrics of all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction. The first TX electrode 300a and the second TX electrode 300b are electrically connected to each other via one or more first through-hole electrodes 300d or one or more first via-hole electrodes (not shown). The first TX electrode 300a and the third TX electrode 300c are electrically connected to each other via one or more second through-hole electrodes 300e or one or more second via-hole electrodes. The second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are electrically connected to each other via the first TX electrode 300a.
[0071] The touch sensor S may further include a detection panel (not shown) to which a detection target such as a finger or stylus approaches. The detection panel may be a flat plate positioned on the Z-direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 and TX electrode 300 of the RX electrode 200, or it may be substantially O-shaped in cross-sectional views in the Y-Y' and Z-Z' directions (for example, the housing of the touch sensor S), and may have a configuration comprising: a first part positioned on the Z-direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 and TX electrode 300 of the RX electrode 200; a second part positioned on the Y-direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 and TX electrode 300 of the RX electrode 200; a third part positioned on the Y'-direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 and TX electrode 300 of the RX electrode 200; and a fourth part positioned on the Z'-direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 and TX electrode 300 of the RX electrode 200. The touch sensor S may further include one or more intervening members. If one intervening member is provided, the intervening member is interposed (sandwiched) between the base body 100 and the detection panel. If multiple intervening members are provided, the multiple intervening members are interposed (sandwiched) between the base body 100 and the detection panel and are stacked between the base body 100 and the detection panel. One or more intervening members may be made of a dielectric material, for example, resin, rubber, sponge, or cushion. One or more intervening members The relative permittivity should ideally be 2 or higher, but it is not limited to this.
[0072] Alternatively, instead of the touch sensor S, the electronic device on which the touch sensor S is mounted may have a detection panel. If the detection panel is flat, the touch sensor S is positioned on the Z' side relative to the detection panel when mounted on the electronic device. If the detection panel is a roughly O-shaped housing of the electronic device on which the touch sensor S is mounted (for example, the housing of a car door handle), the touch sensor S is positioned on the Z' side relative to the first part of the detection panel, on the Y side relative to the second part of the detection panel, on the Y' side relative to the third part of the detection panel, and on the Z' side relative to the fourth part of the detection panel when mounted on the electronic device. The electronic device may further include one or more intervening members. With the touch sensor S mounted, one or more intervening members are interposed between the base 100 of the touch sensor S and the detection panel of the electronic device, as in the previous paragraph.
[0073] Note that one or more intervening members can be omitted.
[0074] The touch sensor S may further include a first wiring 400, a second wiring (not shown), and a control unit 600. The first wiring 400 is provided on at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 and connects the connection part of the RX electrode 200 to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 is shown only in Figure 2A and is omitted from Figures 1A to 1C.
[0075] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (1) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction (not shown), then the first wiring 400 and the control unit 600 can have the following configurations: (a) The first wiring 400 has a first part 410, a second part 420, a third part 430, and a fourth part 440. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the connection portion of the RX electrode 200. The third part 430 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and is arranged on the outside (around) the first TX electrode 300a. The second part 420 of the first wiring 400 is a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction, and connects the first part 410 of the first wiring 400 and the third part 430 of the first wiring 400. The fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 is an electrode provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400. (a) While the above-described first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is provided, the second part 420, third part 430 and fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0076] In the case where at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (1) above, at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, the connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is an electrode on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 (not shown), or at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 is the above In the configuration of (1), where at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is an electrode on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and the first TX electrode 300a is not provided (not shown), the first wiring 400 and the control unit 600 may have the following configuration (c), or the configuration of (a) or (b) above. (c) The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the connection portion of the RX electrode 200. The second part 420, third part 430 and fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0077] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 (not shown), then the connection portion, first wiring 400 and control unit 600 of the RX electrode 200 can have the following configurations: (d) The connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is a via-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction or a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 and the second dielectric 120 in the Z-Z' direction. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, or the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, and is connected to the connection part of the RX electrode 200. The third part 430 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and is arranged on the outside (around) the first TX electrode 300a. The second part 420 of the first wiring 400 is a via-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction or a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110 and the second dielectric 120 in the Z-Z' direction, and connects the first part 410 of the first wiring 400 and the third part 430 of the first wiring 400. The fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 is an electrode provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400. (o) RX electrode 200 Connection part The above-mentioned through-hole electrode is shown. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is connected to the connection part of the RX electrode 200, while the second part 420, third part 430, and fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0078] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, on the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, or on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 (not shown), or if at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and the first TX electrode 300a is not provided (not shown), then the connection portion, first wiring 400 and control unit 600 of the RX electrode 200 may have the configuration of (k) below, or the configuration of (d) or (e) above. (c) The connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is an electrode on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the connection portion of the RX electrode 200, while the second part 420, third part 430, and fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0079] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (3) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, then the connection portion, first wiring 400 and control unit 600 of the RX electrode 200 can have the following configurations of (k) or (h). (k) The connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is a via-hole electrode (not shown) that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction, a via-hole electrode (not shown) that penetrates the first dielectric 110 and at least one of the one or more third dielectrics 130 in the Z-Z' direction, or a through-hole electrode (see Figures 1A to 2D) that penetrates the first dielectric 110, the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130 (all dielectrics) in the Z-Z' direction. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, or on the first or second surface of any one of the dielectrics among the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130, and is connected to the connection portion of the RX electrode 200. Note that in Figures 1A to 2D, the first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120. The third part 430 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and is arranged on the outside (around) the first TX electrode 300a. The second part 420 of the first wiring 400 is a via-hole electrode (not shown) that penetrates the first dielectric 110 in the Z-Z' direction, a via-hole electrode (not shown) that penetrates the first dielectric 110 and at least one of the one or more third dielectrics 130 in the Z-Z' direction, or a through-hole electrode (see Figures 1A to 2D) that penetrates the first dielectric 110, the second dielectric 120, and one or more third dielectrics 130 (all dielectrics) in the Z-Z' direction, and connects the first part 410 of the first wiring 400 and the third part 430 of the first wiring 400. The fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 is an electrode provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400.(c) The connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is the through-hole electrode described above. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, while the second part 420, third part 430, and fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0080] At least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (3) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, and the first TX electrode 300a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, or on the first or second surface of any one of the dielectrics of the second dielectric 120 and one or more third dielectrics 130 (not shown), or In the case where at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (3) above, and at least the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and the first TX electrode 300a is not provided (not shown), the connection portion of the RX electrode 200, the first wiring 400 and the control unit 600 may have the following configuration of (k), or they may have the configuration of (ki) or (ku) above. (k) The connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is an electrode on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. The first part 410 of the first wiring 400 is provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the connection portion of the RX electrode 200, while the second part 420, the third part 430 and the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 are omitted. The control unit 600 is mounted on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110 and is connected to the first part 410 of the first wiring 400.
[0081] The second wiring is provided on at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 and connects the TX electrode 300 and the control unit 600. The second wiring can have the same configuration as any of the first wiring 400s described above, except that it connects the TX electrode 300 and the control unit 600. Note that the first wiring 400 and the second wiring are optional.
[0082] The control unit 600 is a logic circuit such as an IC, and has a configuration that charges and discharges the RX electrode 200 via the first wiring 400 and a configuration that supplies a drive pulse to the TX electrode 300 via the second wiring (not shown).
[0083] When the control unit 600 charges and discharges the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the capacitance (self-capacitance) between the detection target and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 changes as the detection target approaches the detection panel (i.e., the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200) from the Z-direction side. When the control unit 600 supplies a drive pulse to the TX electrode 300, the RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300 become electrostatically coupled. At this time, the capacitance (mutual capacitance) between the RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300 changes as the detection target approaches the detection panel (i.e., the RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300) from the Z-direction side. The signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 changes in accordance with the changes in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance.
[0084] The control unit 600 further has a configuration that monitors the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200, compares the signal of the RX electrode 200 with a threshold value in the internal memory or external memory of the control unit 600, and detects the approach of a detection target (touch of the detection target, etc.) to the Z-direction side of the RX electrode 200 when the signal of the RX electrode 200 exceeds the threshold value as a result of this comparison.
[0085] The control unit 600 is optional. If the control unit 600 is omitted, the RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300 can be electrically connected to an external control unit of the touch sensor S (for example, the control unit of an electronic device on which the touch sensor S is mounted (logic circuits such as ICs, or software processed by logic circuits)), and the external control unit may control the touch sensor S in any of the above-described manner instead of the control unit 600.
[0086] The touch sensor S may further include at least one ground conductor. The at least one ground conductor can be configured to have at least one of a first ground conductor 500a and a second ground conductor 500b.
[0087] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (1) above and the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c have the configuration of (a) above, then (a1) the first ground conductor 500a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is spaced apart between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c (not shown). The Y-Y' dimension of the first ground conductor 500a can be smaller than the Y-Y' spacing between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c and approximately the same as or greater than the Y-Y' dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. The X-X' dimension of the first ground conductor 500a can be larger than the X-X' dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, and the same as or smaller than the X-X' dimensions of the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c, respectively. The first ground conductor 500a is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' side. In this case, the second ground conductor 500b is omitted.
[0088] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (1) above and the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c have the configuration of (b) above, then (b1) the first ground conductor 500a is provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110 and is arranged within the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a with a gap between it and the periphery of the first opening 301a. The Y-Y' dimension of the first ground conductor 500a can be smaller than the Y-Y' dimension of the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a and approximately the same as or larger than the Y-Y' dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. The dimension of the first ground conductor 500a in the X-X' direction can be smaller than the dimension of the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a in the X-X' direction, and approximately the same as or larger than the dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the X-X' direction. The first ground conductor 500a is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' direction side. In this case, the second ground conductor 500b is omitted (not shown).
[0089] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) above, and the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c have any of the configurations of (c) to (h) above, then the first ground conductor 500a and the second ground conductor 500b can have the following configurations. The first ground conductor 500a is provided on the surface of the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, and the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 on which the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided, and is positioned with a gap between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c, or it is provided on the surface of the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, the first surface 131 of one or more third dielectric 130s, and the second surface 132 of one or more third dielectric 130s on which the first TX electrode 300a is provided, and is positioned within the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a with a gap between it and the periphery of the first opening 301a. When the first ground conductor 500a is positioned at a distance between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c, the dimensions of the first ground conductor 500a in the Y-Y' direction and the X-X' direction are as described in (a1) above, and the first ground conductor 500a is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' direction side. When the first ground conductor 500a is positioned within the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a at a distance from the periphery of the first opening 301a, the dimensions of the first ground conductor 500a in the Y-Y' direction and the X-X' direction are as described in (b1) above, and the first ground conductor 500a is positioned on the Z' direction side relative to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. If there are other surfaces among the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, and the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 that are not the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is provided, and the surface on which the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided, the second ground conductor 500b is provided on any one of those surfaces.The dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the Y-Y' direction is the same as or greater than the dimension of the first TX electrode 300a in the Y-Y' direction, and / or the dimension of the second TX electrode 300b in the Y direction. side From the end, in the Y' direction of the third TX electrode 300c side The dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the X-X' direction can be approximately the same as or greater than the distance in the Y-Y' direction to the end. The dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the X-X' direction is the same as or greater than the dimension of the first TX electrode 300a in the X-X' direction, and / or the dimension of the second TX electrode 300b in the X direction. side From the end, in the X' direction of the second TX electrode 300b side The dimensions can be approximately the same as or greater than the distance in the X-X' direction to the end. The second ground conductor 500b is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c in the Z-Z' direction. If there are no other surfaces of the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, and the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120 other than the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is provided and the surfaces on which the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided, the second ground conductor 500b is omitted.
[0090] If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (3) above and the first TX electrode 300a, second TX electrode 300b and third TX electrode 300c have any of the configurations of (i) to (l) above, the first ground conductor 500a and the second ground conductor 500b can have the following configuration. The first ground conductor 500a is provided on the surface where the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided, among the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, the first surface 131 of one or more third dielectrics 130 and the second surface 132 of one or more third dielectrics 130, and is provided with a gap between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c. The first ground conductor 500a is placed on the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is provided, among the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, the first surface 131 of one or more third dielectrics 130, and the second surface 132 of one or more third dielectrics 130, and is arranged within the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a with a gap between it and the periphery of the first opening 301a. When the first ground conductor 500a is arranged with a gap between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c, the dimensions of the first ground conductor 500a in the Y-Y' direction and the dimensions in the X-X' direction are as described in (a1) above, and the first ground conductor 500a is arranged so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. When the first ground conductor 500a is positioned within the first opening 301a of the first TX electrode 300a with a gap between it and the periphery of the first opening 301a, the dimensions of the first ground conductor 500a in the Y-Y' direction and the dimensions in the X-X' direction are as described in (b1) above, and the first ground conductor 500a is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' direction side.If there are surfaces other than the surface on which the first TX electrode 300a is provided and the surfaces on which the second TX electrode 300b and third TX electrode 300c are provided among the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, the first surface 131 of one or more third dielectrics 130 and the second surface 132 of one or more third dielectrics 130, the second ground conductor 500b is provided on any one of those surfaces. The dimensions of the second ground conductor 500b in the Y-Y' direction and the dimensions of the second ground conductor 500b in the X-X' direction are as described in the previous paragraph. The second ground conductor 500b is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c in the Z-Z' direction. If there are no other surfaces among the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120, the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, the first surface 131 of one or more third dielectrics 130, and the second surface 132 of one or more third dielectrics 130 that are not provided with the first TX electrode 300a and the second TX electrode 300b and third TX electrode 300c, the second ground conductor 500b is omitted.
[0091] When the second ground conductor 500b is positioned in the Z-Z' direction between the first TX electrode 300a and the second TX electrode 300b and third TX electrode 300c, the second ground conductor 500b is provided with one or more first openings 501b to avoid interference with one or more first through-hole electrodes 300d or one or more first via-hole electrodes, and one or more second openings 502b to avoid interference with one or more second through-hole electrodes 300e or one or more second via-hole electrodes. When the connection portion of the RX electrode 200 is a through-hole electrode or a via-hole electrode, the first ground conductor 500a and the second ground conductor 500b are provided with third openings 501a and 503b to avoid interference with the connection portion.
[0092] When both the first ground conductor 500a and the second ground conductor 500b are provided, at least one ground conductor further has one or more third through-hole electrodes 500c that penetrate all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction, or one or more third via-hole electrodes (not shown) that penetrate some of the dielectrics of all (at least one) of the dielectrics of the substrate 100 in the Z-Z' direction. The first ground conductor 500a and the second ground conductor 500b are electrically connected to each other via one or more third through-hole electrodes 500c or one or more third via-hole electrodes. The first TX electrode 300a is provided with one or more second openings 302a to avoid interference with one or more third through-hole electrodes 500c or one or more third via-hole electrodes.
[0093] Note that at least one ground conductor can be omitted.
[0094] The noise reduction method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below. This method is a method for suppressing external noise (immunity noise) applied to the RX electrode 200 in any of the above embodiments. As described above, the RX electrode 200 has a loop antenna shape, and the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 extend in the X-X' direction and are arranged in close proximity with a gap G between them, so the Coulomb force generated between the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 is strong. Therefore, when external noise is applied to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, currents in opposite directions flow through the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion 211 and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion 212 to cancel each other out. As a result, the radiation efficiency of the RX electrode 200 as a loop antenna deteriorates. Since a decrease in radiation efficiency also means a decrease in reception efficiency, the RX electrode 200 is designed with a shape that worsens its reception efficiency as a loop antenna, making it less susceptible to external noise. However, even if the reception efficiency of the RX electrode 200 as an antenna decreases, the RX electrode 200 is not used as an antenna. The control unit 600 or an external control unit can monitor the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 as described above, compare it with a threshold, and detect the approach of the target (touch of the target, etc.).
[0095] In the touch sensor S, if the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric material, the first TX electrode 300a functions as a guard ring for the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. This improves the immunity to external noise (EMC immunity) of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. Alternatively, if the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are arranged on both sides of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric material, the immunity to external noise (EMC immunity) of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is improved.
[0096] In the comparative example touch sensor, where the TX electrode 300 is not provided and the second ground conductor 500b is positioned on the Z' side relative to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the second ground conductor 500b is positioned close to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in order to improve the immunity to external noise (EMC immunity) of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. When the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, if conductive deposits such as water adhere to the first and second parts, or the first and third parts, of the approximately O-shaped detection panel, spanning the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the second ground conductor 500b, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will be affected by the adhesion of the conductive deposits. Change △C increases by 1 minute.
[0097] On the other hand, in the touch sensor S, if the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric, and the second ground conductor 500b is arranged on the Z' side relative to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, then, as described above, the first TX electrode 300a improves the immunity to external noise (EMC immunity) of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, so that the second ground conductor 500b can be placed farther away from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. When the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is being supplied to the first TX electrode 300a, if a conductive deposit adheres to the first and second parts, or the first and third parts, of the roughly O-shaped detection panel, so as to span the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, and the second ground conductor 500b, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will be affected by the adhesion of the conductive deposit. Change △C increases by 2. However, Change △C2 is, ChangeBecause it is smaller than △C1, the touch sensor S suppresses the increase in the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 due to the adhesion of conductive deposits more effectively than the touch sensor of the comparative example. In other words, the touch sensor S suppresses changes in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to changes in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance when conductive deposits are present, thus reducing the possibility that the control unit 600 or an external control unit may falsely detect that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold due to the adhesion of conductive deposits.
[0098] Furthermore, in the touch sensor S, if the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same surface of at least one dielectric, and the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided on a surface of at least one dielectric that is on the Z' side of the surface on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first TX electrode 300a are provided, and the first ground conductor 500a is provided between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c on the Z' side surface (without regard to whether the second ground conductor 500b is provided), then, as described above, the immunity to external noise (EMC immunity) of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is improved by the first TX electrode 300a, so that the first ground conductor 500a can be placed farther away from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. When the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is being supplied to the TX electrode 300, if a conductive deposit adheres to the first, second, and fourth parts of the detection panel, or to the first, third, and fourth parts of the detection panel, such that the conductive deposit spans the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the TX electrode 300, and the first ground conductor 500a, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will decrease due to the adhesion of the conductive deposit. Change △C increases by 3 minutes. However, Change △C3 is, ChangeBecause it is smaller than △C1, the touch sensor S suppresses the increase in the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 due to the adhesion of conductive deposits more effectively than the touch sensor of the comparative example. In other words, the touch sensor S suppresses changes in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to changes in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance when conductive deposits are present, thus reducing the possibility that the control unit 600 or an external control unit may falsely detect that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold due to the adhesion of conductive deposits.
[0099] In the touch sensor S, the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric, the second ground conductor 500b is arranged on the Z' side relative to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first distance from the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 to the Y-side end of the second ground conductor 500b is equidistant, and from the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 When the second distance to the Y'-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b is equidistant, the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is located between the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the Y-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b during the first distance stroke, and the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a is located between the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the Y'-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b during the second distance stroke.
[0100] The first distance is measured from the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y direction of the plane on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side The straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction to the edge and the Y-direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. sideThe second distance is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Z-Z' direction from the end to the Y-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric second ground conductor 500b is provided, and the straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction from the Y-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric second ground conductor 500b is provided to the Y-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b. The second distance is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Z-Z' direction from the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 to the Y' direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side The straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction to the edge and the Y' direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side It is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Z-Z' direction from the end of the surface to the Y'-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric second ground conductor 500b is provided, and the straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction from the Y'-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric second ground conductor 500b is provided to the Y'-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b.
[0101] In a touch sensor S with such a configuration, when the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is supplied to the first TX electrode 300a, if a conductive deposit adheres to the first and second parts, or the first and third parts, of the roughly O-shaped detection panel, so as to span the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, and the second ground conductor 500b, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will be affected by the adhesion of the conductive deposit. ChangeWhile the capacitance increases by ΔC2, the conductive deposits are electrically suspended from the ground, so the mutual capacitance between the first TX electrode 300a and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 increases by the capacitance of the conductive deposits. At this time, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in its own capacitance and the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in mutual capacitance cancel each other out at least partially. Therefore, even if conductive deposits adhere, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in its own capacitance and mutual capacitance is suppressed. Thus, the possibility of the control unit 600 or an external control unit falsely detecting that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold due to the adhesion of conductive deposits is reduced. In contrast, when the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is being supplied to the first TX electrode 300a, if the object to be detected approaches the first and second parts, or the first and third parts, of the roughly O-shaped detection panel, so as to straddle the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, and the second ground conductor 500b, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will increase due to the approach of the object to be detected. Change While the capacitance increases by ΔC4, the mutual capacitance decreases because charge escapes from the mutual capacitance between the first TX electrode 300a and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 through the detection target to ground. At this time, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in mutual capacitance partially cancel each other out, but the cancellation effect when the detection target approaches is lower than the cancellation effect when conductive deposits are attached. In other words, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance due to the approach of the detection target is greater than the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance when conductive deposits are attached, so the control unit 600 or an external control unit can detect the approach of the detection target by indicating that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold.
[0102] Furthermore, in the touch sensor S, the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric, the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c are provided on a plane of at least one dielectric that is on the Z' side of the plane on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first TX electrode 300a are provided, the first ground conductor 500a is provided between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c on the Z' side plane, and the third distance from the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 to the Y-side end of the first ground conductor 500a is equidistant. Furthermore, if the fourth distance from the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 to the Y'-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a is equidistant, then in the third distance stroke, the first conductor portion 310a and the second TX electrode 300b of the first TX electrode 300a are located between the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the Y-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a, and in the fourth distance stroke, the second conductor portion 320a and the third TX electrode 300c of the first TX electrode 300a are located between the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the Y'-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a.
[0103] The third distance is measured from the outer end 211d of the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y direction of the plane on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side The straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction to the edge and the Y-direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side The fourth distance is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Z-Z' direction from the end to the Y-side end of the surface on which at least one dielectric first ground conductor 500a is provided, and the straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction from the Y-side end of the surface on which at least one dielectric first ground conductor 500a is provided to the Y-side end of the first ground conductor 500a. The fourth distance is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Y' direction from the outer end 212d of the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 to the Y' direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. sideThe straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction to the edge and the Y' direction of the surface on which at least one dielectric RX electrode 200 is provided. side It is the sum of the straight-line distance in the Z-Z' direction from the end of the surface to the Y'-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric first ground conductor 500a is provided, and the straight-line distance in the Y-Y' direction from the Y'-direction end of the surface on which at least one dielectric first ground conductor 500a is provided to the Y'-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a.
[0104] In a touch sensor S with such a configuration, when the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is being supplied to the TX electrode 300, if a conductive deposit adheres to the first, second, and fourth parts of the detection panel, or to the first, third, and fourth parts of the detection panel, such that the conductive deposit spans the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the TX electrode 300, and the first ground conductor 500a, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will be affected by the adhesion of the conductive deposit. Change While the capacitance increases by ΔC3, the conductive deposits are electrically floating from the ground, so the mutual capacitance between the electrode body 210 of the TX electrode 300 and the RX electrode 200 increases by the capacitance of the conductive deposits. At this time, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in its own capacitance and the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in mutual capacitance cancel each other out at least partially. Therefore, even if conductive deposits adhere, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in its own capacitance and mutual capacitance is suppressed. Thus, the possibility of the control unit 600 or an external control unit falsely detecting that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold due to the adhesion of conductive deposits is reduced. In contrast, when the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is being charged and discharged, and a drive pulse is being supplied to the TX electrode 300, if the object to be detected approaches the first, second, and fourth parts of the detection panel, or the first, third, and fourth parts of the detection panel, such that it straddles the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the TX electrode 300, and the first ground conductor 500a, the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 will decrease due to the approach of the object to be detected. ChangeWhile the capacitance increases by △C5, the mutual capacitance decreases because charge escapes from the mutual capacitance between the electrode body 210 of the TX electrode 300 and the RX electrode 200 through the detection target to ground. At this time, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in mutual capacitance partially cancel each other out, but the cancellation effect when the detection target approaches is lower than the cancellation effect when conductive deposits are attached. In other words, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance due to the approach of the detection target is greater than the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 in response to the change in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance when conductive deposits are attached, so the control unit 600 or an external control unit can detect the approach of the detection target by indicating that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold.
[0105] In the touch sensor S, if the first TX electrode 300a is arranged at intervals around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the same plane of at least one dielectric and the detection panel is the housing of a car door handle, the car door itself is at the same potential as ground, the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is located between the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the door, and the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a is located between the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the door. In this case, even if the conductive deposit adheres to the door handle and door so as to span across the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, the first TX electrode 300a, and the door, as described above, the adhesion of the conductive deposit increases the self-capacitance of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the mutual capacitance between the first TX electrode 300a and the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. As a result, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 corresponding to the change in self-capacitance and the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 corresponding to the change in mutual capacitance cancel each other out at least partially. Therefore, even if the conductive deposit adheres, the change in the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 corresponding to the change in self-capacitance and mutual capacitance is suppressed, reducing the possibility that the control unit 600 or an external control unit may erroneously detect that the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 has exceeded a threshold due to the adhesion of the conductive deposit.
[0106] Here, we performed the following simulations 1 through 4. In the simulations 1 through 4, we analyzed the S-parameters (S11) using the EM simulator (ANSYS HFSS from ANSYS Corporation) under the following conditions.
[0107] [Conditions for the first simulation] The CAD data of the touch sensor S in Example 1, shown in Figures 1A to 2D, was input into the EM simulator, and the EM simulator created a first model based on the CAD data.
[0108] The touch sensor S in the first model is as shown in Figures 1A to 2D, and comprises a base 100, an RX electrode 200, a TX electrode 300, a first wiring 400, a first ground conductor 500a, and a second ground conductor 500b. The first model does not include a second wiring or a control unit 600.
[0109] The substrate 100 has a first dielectric 110, a second dielectric 120, and a third dielectric 130 stacked in the Z-Z' direction. The third dielectric 130 is located between the first dielectric 110 and the second dielectric 120. The Z-Z' dimension of the first dielectric 110 is 0.1 mm, the Z-Z' dimension of the second dielectric 120 is 0.1 mm, and the Z-Z' dimension of the third dielectric 130 is 0.6 mm.
[0110] The electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first TX electrode 300a of the TX electrode 300 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, as shown in Figures 1A and 2A. The dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Y-Y' direction is 6.5 mm, and the dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the X-X' direction is 41.15 mm. The dimension of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the Z-Z' direction is 0.051 mm.
[0111] The electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 has a roughly rectangular first conductor portion 211, a roughly rectangular second conductor portion 212, a third conductor portion 213, and a fourth conductor portion 214. The first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 are rectangular conductors extending in the X-X' direction and are arranged in close proximity in the Y-Y' direction with a gap G between them. The dimension of the gap G between the inner end 211c of the first conductor portion 211 and the inner end 212c of the second conductor portion 212 in the Y-Y' direction is constant and is 0.2 mm. The dimensions of the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 in the Y-Y' direction are 3.15 mm, and the dimensions of the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212 in the X-X' direction are 41.15 mm. The third conductor portion 213 extends linearly in the Y-Y' direction from the first end 211a of the first conductor portion 211 to the first end 212a of the second conductor portion 212, and is located on the X-direction side with respect to the gap G between the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212. The dimension of the third conductor portion 213 in the Y-Y' direction is 0.2 mm, and the dimension of the third conductor portion 213 in the X-X' direction is 0.25 mm. The fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200 is a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110, the second dielectric 120, and the third dielectric 130 in the Z-Z' direction, and also serves as a connection portion. The fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200 is connected to the Y'-direction corner of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the Y-direction corner of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212, and is located on the X'-direction side with respect to the gap G between the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212. The fourth conductor portion 214 is positioned to be partially convex compared to the X'-direction end of the second end portion 211b of the first conductor portion 211 and the X'-direction end of the second end portion 212b of the second conductor portion 212.
[0112] The first TX electrode 300a is a roughly rectangular annular shape arranged around the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200. The first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is roughly rectangular in shape extending in the X-X' direction and is positioned at a distance from the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200 on the Y side. The second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a is roughly rectangular in shape extending in the X-X' direction and is positioned at a distance from the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200 on the Y' side. The third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a is roughly rectangular in shape extending in the Y-Y' direction from the first end of the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a to the first end of the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a and is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the X side. The fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a is substantially rectangular in shape, extending in the Y-Y' direction from the second end of the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a to the second end of the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a, and is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 in the X' direction. The fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a is A recessed area 341a is provided on the X' side.
[0113] The dimension of the first TX electrode 300a in the Y-Y' direction is 11 mm, and the dimension of the first TX electrode 300a in the X-X' direction is 62.527 mm. The dimension of the first TX electrode 300a of the TX electrode 300 in the Z-Z' direction is 0.051 mm. The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the first conductor portion 211 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a, and the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the second conductor portion 212 of the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a are both 1 mm. The distance in the X-X' direction between the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a, and the distance in the X-X' direction between the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a are both 1 mm.
[0114] As shown in Figure 2D, the second TX electrode 300b of the TX electrode 300 is substantially rectangular in shape, provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, and positioned at a distance in the Y direction from the first conductor portion 211 of the RX electrode 200. The third TX electrode 300c of the TX electrode 300 is substantially rectangular in shape, provided on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120, and positioned at a distance in the Y' direction from the second conductor portion 212 of the RX electrode 200. The Y-Y' dimension of the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c is 2.05 mm, and the X-X' dimension of the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c is the same as the X-X' dimension of the first TX electrode 300a.
[0115] The first TX electrode 300a and the second TX electrode 300b are connected by twelve first through-hole electrodes 300d, and the first TX electrode 300a and the third TX electrode 300c are connected by twelve second through-hole electrodes 300e. The twelve first through-hole electrodes 300d and the twelve second through-hole electrodes 300e are arranged at equal intervals and spaced apart in the X-X' direction.
[0116] The first ground conductor 500a is substantially rectangular in shape and is provided with a gap between the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c on the second surface 122 of the second dielectric 120. The first ground conductor 500a is positioned so as to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 on the Z' direction side. The first ground conductor 500a is provided with a third opening 501a to avoid interference with the fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200.
[0117] The dimension of the first ground conductor 500a in the Y-Y' direction is 6.5 mm, and the dimension of the first ground conductor 500a in the X-X' direction is the same as the X-X' dimensions of the second TX electrode 300b and the third TX electrode 300c, respectively. The dimension of the first ground conductor 500a in the Z-Z' direction is 0.051 mm. The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the first ground conductor 500a and the second TX electrode 300b, and the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the first ground conductor 500a and the third TX electrode 300c, are both 0.2 mm.
[0118] As shown in Figure 2C, the second ground conductor 500b is substantially rectangular in shape with its four corners missing, and is provided on the first surface 121 of the second dielectric 120. The second ground conductor 500b is positioned to overlap the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first TX electrode 300a on the Z' direction side with respect to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 and the first TX electrode 300a. The second ground conductor 500b is positioned to overlap the second TX electrode 300b, the third TX electrode 300c and the first ground conductor 500a on the Z direction side with respect to the second TX electrode 300b, the third TX electrode 300c and the first ground conductor 500a. The second ground conductor 500b is provided with twelve first openings 501b to avoid interference with twelve first through-hole electrodes 300d, twelve second openings 502b to avoid interference with twelve second through-hole electrodes 300e, and a third opening 503b to avoid interference with the fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200.
[0119] The dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the Y-Y' direction is the same as the dimension of the first TX electrode 300a in the Y-Y' direction, and the dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the X-X' direction is 62.5 mm. The dimension of the second ground conductor 500b in the Z-Z' direction is 0.041 mm.
[0120] The X-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a and the X-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b are connected by four third through-hole electrodes 500c on the X-direction side, and the X'-direction end of the first ground conductor 500a and the X'-direction end of the second ground conductor 500b are connected by four third through-hole electrodes 500c on the X'-direction side. The first TX electrode 300a Third conductor section 330a It is provided with four second openings 302a to avoid interference with the four third through-hole electrodes 500c on the X-direction side, and the first TX electrode 300a Fourth conductor section 340a It is provided with four second openings 302a to avoid interference with the four third through-hole electrodes 500c on the X' direction side.
[0121] The first wiring 400 has a first part 410, a second part 420, a third part 430, and a fourth part 440. The second part 420 is a through-hole electrode, as shown in Figures 1A and 2A to 2D, and is located on the X' side (outside) of the first TX electrode 300a. The first part 410 is a conductive line provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, as shown in Figure 2B, and extends from the fourth conductor portion 214 of the RX electrode 200 to the second part 420. Folded twice It's extending. Part 3 430 As shown in Figures 1A and 2A, this is a conductive line provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110. 、 It extends from part 2, section 420 to part 4, section 440. The dimension of the first wiring, section 400, in the Z-Z' direction is 0.041 mm.
[0122] In the first simulation, the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 was set as Port1 in the EM simulator, and the frequency band of the analysis signal was set to 0-3 GHz, and the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200 of the first model described above were analyzed. As a result, the results of the first simulation shown in Figures 5A to 5C were obtained.
[0123] [Conditions for the second simulation] The CAD data of the touch sensor S in Example 1, shown in Figures 1A to 2D, was input into the EM simulator, and a second model was created based on this CAD data using the EM simulator. The second model has the same configuration as the first model, except that the dimension of the gap G is 1.0 mm.
[0124] In the second simulation, the EM simulator was used to set the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 as Port1 and the frequency band of the analysis signal to 0-3 GHz, and the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200 of the second model described above were analyzed. As a result, the results of the second simulation shown in Figures 6A to 6C were obtained.
[0125] [Conditions for the third simulation] The EM simulator is input with CAD data of the touch sensor S of Embodiment 1 shown in Figures 1A to 2D, and the EM simulator performs calculations based on the CAD data. Third model I created it. Third model It has the same configuration as the first model, except that the dimension of the gap G is 2.0 mm. be.
[0126] In the third simulation, the EM simulator was used to set the fourth part 440 of the first wiring 400 as Port1 and the frequency band of the analysis signal to 0-3GHz, and the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200 of the third model described above were analyzed. As a result, the results of the third simulation shown in Figures 7A to 7C were obtained.
[0127] [Conditions for the fourth simulation] The CAD data of the comparative example touch sensor SC shown in Figures 3 to 4B was input into the EM simulator, and the EM simulator created a fourth model based on that CAD data.
[0128] The fourth model has the same configuration as the first model, except that an RX electrode 200' is provided instead of the RX electrode 200, and a first wiring 400' is provided instead of the first wiring 400. Therefore, only the differences will be explained, and the parts of the fourth model that are identical to those of the first model will not be explained.
[0129] The electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' and the first TX electrode 300a of the TX electrode 300 are provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, as shown in Figures 3 and 4A. The electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' has a rectangular first conductor portion 211', a rectangular second conductor portion 212', and a connecting line 213'. The first conductor portion 211' and the second conductor portion 212' are rectangular conductors extending in the X-X' direction and are arranged in close proximity with a gap G1' in the X-X' direction. The connecting line 213' is substantially L-shaped and has a first line and a second line. The first line extends from the first conductor portion 211' in the X' direction and is arranged in close proximity to the second conductor portion 212' with a gap G2' in the Y-Y' direction. The second line extends in the Y direction from the X-direction end of the first line to the second conductor section 212'. The second conductor section 212' has a connection section 212a' in addition to the rectangular conductor. The connection section 212a' is a through-hole electrode that penetrates the first dielectric 110, the second dielectric 120, and one third dielectric 130 in the Z-Z' direction, and is connected to the Y-direction and X'-direction corners of the conductor of the second conductor section 212'. The connection section 212a' is connected to the Y-direction of the second conductor section 212'. side It is positioned so as to be partially convex compared to the edge.
[0130] The dimension of the RX electrode 200' in the Y-Y' direction is 6.5 mm, and the dimension of the RX electrode 200' in the X-X' direction is 41.15 mm. The dimension of the RX electrode 200' in the Z-Z' direction is 0.051 mm. The dimension of the first conductor section 211' in the Y-Y' direction is 6.5 mm, and the dimension of the first conductor section 211' in the X-X' direction is 21.25 mm. The dimension of the conductor of the second conductor section 212' in the Y-Y' direction is 5.95 mm, and the dimension of the conductor of the second conductor section 212' in the X-X' direction is 19.65 mm. The dimension of the first line of the connecting line 213' in the Y-Y' direction is 0.25 mm, and the dimension of the second line of the connecting line 213' in the Y-Y' direction is 0.3 mm. The distance between the first conductor section 211' and the second conductor section 212' in the X-X' direction is constant and is 0.25 mm. The distance between the second conductor section 212' and the first line of the connecting line 213' in the Y-Y' direction is constant and is 0.3 mm.
[0131] The first TX electrode 300a is a roughly angular annular shape positioned around the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200'. The first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is roughly rectangular in shape extending in the X-X' direction and is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' in the Y direction. The first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a is A recessed portion 311a is provided on the Y-direction side. The second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a is substantially rectangular in shape and extends in the X-X' direction, and is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' on the Y' direction side. The third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' on the X direction side. The fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a is positioned at a distance from the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' on the X' direction side.
[0132] The distance in the Y-Y' direction between the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' and the first conductor portion 310a of the first TX electrode 300a, and the distance in the Y-Y' direction between the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' and the second conductor portion 320a of the first TX electrode 300a, are both 1 mm. The distance in the X-X' direction between the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' and the third conductor portion 330a of the first TX electrode 300a, and the distance in the X-X' direction between the electrode body 210' of the RX electrode 200' and the fourth conductor portion 340a of the first TX electrode 300a, are also both 1 mm.
[0133] The first wiring 400' has a first part 410', a second part 420', a third part 430', and a fourth part 440'. The second part 420' is a through-hole electrode, as shown in Figures 3 and 4A to 4B, and is located on the X' side (outside) of the first TX electrode 300a. The first part 410' is a linear conductive line provided on the second surface 112 of the first dielectric 110, as shown in Figure 4B, and extends from the connection part 212a' of the RX electrode 200' to the second part 420'. The third part 430' is a conductive line provided on the first surface 111 of the first dielectric 110, as shown in Figures 3 and 4A, and extends from the second part 420' to the fourth part 440'. The Z-Z' dimension of the first wiring 400' is 0.041 mm.
[0134] In the fourth simulation, the EM simulator was used to set the fourth part 440' of the first wiring 400' to Port 1 and the frequency band of the analysis signal to 0-3 GHz, and the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model described above were analyzed. As a result, the results of the fourth simulation shown in Figures 8A to 8C were obtained.
[0135] The results of the first to fourth simulations are compared below. (See Figures 5A and 6A) 、 Figure 7A shows the frequency of the analyzed signal on the horizontal axis and the first on the vertical axis. , second, thirdFigure 8A is a graph showing the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200 of the model, with the horizontal axis representing the frequency of the analyzed signal and the vertical axis representing the S-parameters (S11) of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model.
[0136] As shown in Figure 8A, the S-parameter (S11) value of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model is -7.00 dB near the peak frequency (2.75 GHz), indicating that the return loss (reflection loss) of the RX electrode 200' is low. This low return loss (reflection loss) of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model indicates good matching between the impedance of the RX electrode 200' and the impedance of the first wiring 400, as seen from the connection point of the RX electrode 200', resulting in good radiation efficiency. Specifically, the radiation efficiency of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model is 80%. This high radiation efficiency also means that the reception efficiency of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model is high near the same frequency (2.75 GHz). Therefore, it can be seen that the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model is susceptible to external noise near the same frequency (2.75 GHz).
[0137] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 5A, the S-parameter (S11) value of the first model RX electrode 200 is -0.80 dB at the same frequency (2.75 GHz), indicating that the return loss of RX electrode 200' is higher than that of the fourth model RX electrode 200'. The S-parameter (S11) value of the second model RX electrode 200 is also -0.80 dB at the same frequency (2.75 GHz), as shown in Figure 6A, indicating that the return loss of RX electrode 200' is higher than that of the fourth model RX electrode 200'. Return lossIt can be seen that the return loss of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model is higher. As shown in Figure 7A, the S-parameter (S11) value of the RX electrode 200 of the third model is -0.80 dB at the same frequency (2.75 GHz), indicating that the return loss of the RX electrode 200' is higher than that of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model. Thus, the high return loss (reflection loss) of the RX electrode 200 of the first to third models indicates that, from the perspective of the connection point of the RX electrode 200, there is a mismatch between the impedance of the RX electrode 200 and the impedance of the first wiring 400, resulting in poor radiation efficiency of the RX electrode 200. Specifically, the radiation efficiency of the RX electrode 200 of the first to third models is 17%, so it can be expected that the radiation efficiency of the RX electrode 200 of the first to third models will be approximately 63% lower than that of the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model at the same frequency (2.75 GHz). This decrease in radiation efficiency also means that the receiving efficiency of the RX electrode 200 of models 1 to 3 is lower than that of the RX electrode 200' of model 4 at the same frequency (2.75 GHz). Therefore, it was found that the RX electrode 200 of models 1 to 3 are less susceptible to external noise at frequencies around 2.75 GHz.
[0138] On the other hand, the first, second, and third models of the RX electrode 200 have the same configuration except for the difference in the dimensions of the gap G, which are 0.2 mm, 1.0 mm, and 2.0 mm, as described above. It is assumed that if the dimension of the gap G is large, external noise will be applied to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, causing currents to flow in opposite directions in the first conductor part 211 and the second conductor part 212, making it difficult for the electric field generated in the first conductor part 211 and the electric field generated in the second conductor part 212 to cancel each other out. However, comparing the results of the first to third simulations, as shown in Figures 5A, 6A, and 7A, it can be seen that there is no significant change in the waveform of the S-parameter (S11) of the first to third models of the RX electrode 200 in the frequency band of the analysis signal 0 to 3 GHz. In other words, even if the dimension of the gap G is changed as described above, no significant change is observed in the reflection efficiency (i.e., reception efficiency) of the first to third models of the RX electrode 200. Therefore, in the frequency band of the analysis signal from 0 to 3 GHz, the RX electrodes 200 of the first to third models are all equally resistant to the influence of external noise. However, if the dimension of the gap G is reduced, the area of the RX electrode 200 increases without changing its external shape when viewed from the Z direction, and the electric field generated in the first conductor part 211 and the electric field generated in the second conductor part 212 are more likely to cancel each other out when currents flow in opposite directions through the first conductor part 211 and the second conductor part 212 due to the application of external noise. Therefore, it is preferable for the dimension of the gap G to be small.
[0139] The results of the above simulation comparison show that the RX electrode 200 of models 1 to 3 is more susceptible to the influence of external noise at specific frequencies than the RX electrode 200' of model 4. received It can be said that this is becoming more difficult. Furthermore, the specific frequency of the external noise is not limited to the example above (2.75 GHz), and is presumed to vary depending on the shape of the RX electrode 200 of the first to third models and the RX electrode 200' of the fourth model, the shape and arrangement of the surrounding TX electrode 300 and other conductors, and the shape and arrangement of circuits such as the control unit 600 (however, only if such circuits are provided).
[0140] Furthermore, the RX electrode and touch sensor of the touch sensor described above are not limited to the above embodiment, and can be arbitrarily modified within the scope of the claims. Details are described below.
[0141] The dimensions of the gap G described above are not limited to 2mm to 0.05mm or 1mm to 0.05mm, but are sufficient if the gap is such that when external noise is applied to the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200, reverse currents flow through the first conductor portion 211 and the second conductor portion 212, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion 211 and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion 212 to cancel each other out.
[0142] The TX electrode 300 in any of the above embodiments may have a fourth TX electrode (not shown) in addition to the first TX electrode 300a, or in place of the first TX electrode 300a. If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has any of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the fourth TX electrode is provided on the surface of the first and second surfaces of any one of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 on which the electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 is not provided. If at least one dielectric of the substrate 100 has the configuration of (2) or (3) above, 4th TX electrode The electrode body 210 of the RX electrode 200 of any of the dielectrics (at least one dielectric) of the substrate 100 is provided on the first or second surface of a dielectric other than the dielectric on which it is provided. The Y-Y' dimension of the fourth TX electrode is larger than the Y-Y' dimension of the RX electrode 200 in any of the above embodiments. The fourth TX electrode has a second TX electrode 300b and a third TX electrode 300c. That is, the Y-direction end of the fourth TX electrode is the second TX electrode 300b, and the Y'-direction end of the fourth TX electrode is the third TX electrode 300c. Note that the fourth TX electrode and the first TX electrode 300a are not provided on the same surface of a single dielectric. The TX electrode 300 in any of the above embodiments only needs to have at least one of the first TX electrode 300a, the second TX electrode 300b, and the third TX electrode 300c.
[0143] The RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300 in any of the above embodiments may be made of a metal plate or the like. In this case, the base 100 may be omitted, or the base 100 may hold the RX electrode 200 and the TX electrode 300.
[0144] The touch sensor S in any of the above-described embodiments can be either self-capacitive or mutually capacitive. When the touch sensor S is self-capacitive, the TX electrode 300 is omitted, and the control unit 600 or an external control unit is configured to charge and discharge the RX electrode 200 via the first wiring 400, and while monitoring the signal (voltage or current, etc.) of the RX electrode 200 which changes in accordance with the change in self-capacitance, the signal of the RX electrode 200 and control unit The system has a configuration that compares the signal of the RX electrode 200 with a threshold value in the internal or external memory, and when the signal of the RX electrode 200 exceeds the threshold value as a result of this comparison, it detects the approach of the object to be detected (such as a touch of the object to be detected) to the part of the RX electrode 200 on the Z-direction side. In this case, the configuration of supplying a drive pulse to the TX electrode 300 of the control unit 600 or an external control unit is omitted. When the touch sensor S is of the mutual capacitance type, the control unit 600 or an external control unit has a configuration of supplying a drive pulse to the TX electrode 300, and while monitoring the signal of the RX electrode 200 (voltage or current, etc.) which changes in accordance with the change in mutual capacitance, it has a configuration of comparing the signal of the RX electrode 200 with a threshold value in the internal or external memory, and control unit The system has a configuration that compares the signal from the RX electrode 200 with a threshold value in the internal or external memory, and when the signal from the RX electrode 200 exceeds the threshold value as a result of this comparison, it detects the approach of the object to be detected (such as touching the object to be detected) to the portion of the RX electrode 200 on the Z-direction side. In this case, the configuration for charging and discharging the RX electrode 200 via the control unit 600 or the first wiring 400 of an external control unit is omitted.
[0145] A touch sensor S in any of the above-described embodiments can be used as a touch panel to detect the coordinate position of a touch area. If the touch sensor S is configured to be both self-capacitive and mutually capacitive, or if it is mutually capacitive, the touch sensor S may include a plurality of RX electrodes 200 in any of the above-described embodiments and a plurality of TX electrodes 300 in any of the above-described embodiments. If the touch sensor S is self-capacitive, the touch sensor S may include a plurality of RX electrodes 200 in any of the above-described embodiments. In any case, the control unit 600 or an external control unit detects the coordinate position of the touch area based on the signals of the RX electrodes 200 that exceed the threshold due to the above-described comparison. [Explanation of symbols]
[0146] S: Touch sensor 100: Substrate 110: First dielectric 111: First surface of the first dielectric 112: Second surface of the first dielectric 120: Second dielectric 121: First surface of the second dielectric 122: Second surface of the second dielectric 130: Third dielectric 131: First surface of the third dielectric 132: Second surface of the third dielectric 200: RX electrode 210: Electrode body 211: First conductor part 212: Second conductor part 213: Third conductor part 214: Fourth conductor part G: Gap 300: TX electrode 300a: First TX electrode 310a: First conductor portion of the first TX electrode 320a: Second conductor portion of the first TX electrode 330a: Third conductor portion of the first TX electrode 340a: Fourth conductor portion of the first TX electrode 300b: Second TX electrode 300c: Third TX electrode 300d: First through-hole electrode 300e: Second through-hole electrode 400: First wiring 410: Part 1 of the first wiring 420: Part 2 of the first wiring 430: Part 3 of the first wiring 440: Part 4 of the first wiring 500a: First ground conductor 500b: Second ground conductor 600: Control Unit
Claims
1. An insulating substrate, The substrate is provided with an RX electrode for a capacitive touch sensor, The system comprises a TX electrode provided on the substrate and positioned near the RX electrode, The substrate has a plurality of stacked insulating dielectrics, The RX electrode comprises an electrode body, The electrode body has a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first conductor portion and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode are arranged in close proximity with a gap in a first direction, and extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the largest distance between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion in the first direction is 0.2 mm to 0.05 mm, and when external noise is applied to the electrode body, reverse currents flow through the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion to cancel each other out, the first direction is the direction in which the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion are aligned, and the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion have a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction, The third conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode connects the first end of the first conductor portion and the first end of the second conductor portion, and is located on one side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. The fourth conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode connects the second end of the first conductor portion and the second end of the second conductor portion, and is located on the other side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. The RX electrode has a connection portion in any of the first conductor portion, second conductor portion, third conductor portion, and fourth conductor portion of the electrode body. The TX electrode and the electrode body of the RX electrode are provided on different surfaces of one of the plurality of dielectrics, or the TX electrode is provided on the surface of one of the plurality of dielectrics and the electrode body of the RX electrode is provided on the surface of another dielectric other than one of the plurality of dielectrics. A capacitive touch sensor in which the signal of the RX electrode changes in response to a change in capacitance between the detection target and the RX electrode due to the detection target approaching the RX electrode, and a change in capacitance between the TX electrode and the RX electrode due to the detection target approaching both the TX electrode and the RX electrode.
2. In the capacitive touch sensor according to Claim 1, A capacitive touch sensor wherein the largest distance in the first direction between the first conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode is 0.2 mm or 0.1 mm.
3. In the capacitive touch sensor according to claim 1 or 2, The TX electrode has a substantially annular first TX electrode arranged around the RX electrode, The first TX electrode has a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first conductor portion of the first TX electrode extends in the second direction and is positioned on one side in the first direction relative to the first conductor portion of the RX electrode, and the first conductor portion of the first TX electrode has a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The second conductor portion of the first TX electrode extends in the second direction and is positioned on the other side in the first direction relative to the second conductor portion of the RX electrode, and the second conductor portion of the first TX electrode has a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The third conductor portion of the first TX electrode extends from the first end of the first conductor portion of the first TX electrode to the first end of the second conductor portion of the first TX electrode and is positioned on one side in the second direction relative to the RX electrode. The fourth conductor portion of the first TX electrode extends from the second end of the first conductor portion of the first TX electrode to the second end of the second conductor portion of the first TX electrode and is positioned on the other side in the second direction relative to the RX electrode.
4. A substrate having insulating properties, The substrate is provided with an RX electrode for a capacitive touch sensor, The system comprises a TX electrode provided on the substrate and positioned near the RX electrode, The RX electrode comprises an electrode body, The electrode body has a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first conductor portion and the second conductor portion are arranged in close proximity with a gap between them in a first direction, extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and when external noise is applied to the electrode body, currents flow in opposite directions to the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion to cancel each other out. The first direction is the direction in which the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion are aligned, and the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion have a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The third conductor portion connects the first end of the first conductor portion and the first end of the second conductor portion, and is located on one side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. The fourth conductor portion connects the second end of the first conductor portion and the second end of the second conductor portion, and is located on the other side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. Any of the first conductor portion, the second conductor portion, the third conductor portion, and the fourth conductor portion has a connecting portion. The TX electrode has at least one of the second TX electrode and the third TX electrode. The second TX electrode extends in the second direction and is positioned on one side in the first direction relative to the first conductor portion of the RX electrode. The third TX electrode extends in the second direction and is positioned on the other side in the first direction relative to the second conductor portion of the RX electrode. A capacitive touch sensor in which the signal of the RX electrode changes in response to a change in capacitance between the detection target and the RX electrode due to the detection target approaching the RX electrode, and a change in capacitance between the TX electrode and the RX electrode due to the detection target approaching both the TX electrode and the RX electrode.
5. In the capacitive touch sensor according to claim 4, A capacitive touch sensor wherein the largest distance in the first direction between the first conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode is 2 mm to 0.05 mm.
6. In a method for reducing external noise applied to the RX electrode of a capacitive touch sensor, The touch sensor comprises an insulating substrate, The RX electrode provided on the substrate, The system comprises a TX electrode provided on the substrate and positioned near the RX electrode, The substrate has a plurality of stacked insulating dielectrics, The RX electrode comprises an electrode body, The electrode body has a first conductor portion, a second conductor portion, a third conductor portion, and a fourth conductor portion. The first conductor portion and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode are arranged in close proximity with a gap in a first direction and extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the largest distance between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion in the first direction being 0.2 mm to 0.05 mm, the first direction being the direction in which the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion are aligned, and the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion each have a first end on one side in the second direction and a second end on the other side in the second direction. The third conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode connects the first end of the first conductor portion and the first end of the second conductor portion, and is located on one side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. The fourth conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode connects the second end of the first conductor portion and the second end of the second conductor portion, and is located on the other side in the second direction with respect to the gap between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. The RX electrode has a connection portion in any of the first conductor portion, second conductor portion, third conductor portion, and fourth conductor portion of the electrode body. The TX electrode and the electrode body of the RX electrode are provided on different surfaces of one of the plurality of dielectrics, or the TX electrode is provided on the surface of one of the plurality of dielectrics and the electrode body of the RX electrode is provided on the surface of another dielectric other than one of the plurality of dielectrics. The touch sensor is configured such that the signal of the RX electrode changes in response to a change in capacitance between the detection target and the RX electrode when the detection target approaches the RX electrode, and a change in capacitance between the TX electrode and the RX electrode when the detection target approaches both the TX electrode and the RX electrode. The noise reduction method includes a noise reduction method in which, when external noise is applied to the electrode body of the RX electrode, reverse currents flow through the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode, causing the electric field generated in the first conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode and the electric field generated in the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode to cancel each other out.
7. In the noise reduction method according to claim 6, A noise reduction method wherein the largest distance in the first direction between the first conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode and the second conductor portion of the electrode body of the RX electrode is 0.2 mm or 0.1 mm or more.