Capacitive Touch Sensor Single-Layer Grid Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional capacitive touchpads require multiple manufacturing steps, increasing costs and complexity, while still needing to accurately determine object positions in two dimensions.
Innovation Solution
A capacitive touch sensing apparatus featuring a substrate with a conductive crossbar and resistive elements that can be formed in a single layer, allowing for reduced manufacturing costs and unambiguous position determination using changes in electrical charge responsive to an excitation signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional capacitive touchpads use multiple manufacturing steps to form sensor electrodes in rows and columns with insulating material, then position sensing capability is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the formation of row and column sensor electrodes into a single manufacturing step by forming all sensor electrodes simultaneously in a grid pattern on the substrate, eliminating the need for separate steps to form rows and columns with insulating material in between. This single-step approach reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the capacitive sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor electrode structure into conductive elements arranged in a grid pattern that can be formed simultaneously, allowing independent addressing of individual electrodes while simplifying the manufacturing process. The segmentation enables precise position determination through capacitive coupling with objects while using a streamlined manufacturing approach.
2Measurement precision
If conventional capacitive touchpads use multiple manufacturing steps, then position sensing is enabled, but the process becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the formation of multiple sensor electrodes into a single manufacturing step while maintaining the grid arrangement necessary for precise two-dimensional position determination. The simultaneous formation of all sensor electrodes in a grid pattern preserves the measurement precision required for accurate position sensing while dramatically reducing manufacturing process complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensor electrodes are formed in rapid succession with insulating material between rows and columns, then capacitive sensing works, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the formation of sensor electrodes into a single step without requiring insulating material between rows and columns, as the electrodes are formed simultaneously in a grid pattern. This approach maintains capacitive sensing capability by preserving the electrical isolation and coupling characteristics needed for reliable object detection while eliminating the cost of additional insulating materials and manufacturing steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces manufacturing costs and complexity while maintaining accurate two-dimensional position determination, making it more cost-effective and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor electrodes within sensing range of the object will experience a change in the amount of electrical charge they are carrying due to capacitive coupling with the object
Data Source
AI summary
An object position sensing apparatus including a substrate, a conductive crossbar, and a plurality of resistive elements coupled to the crossbar is described. The resistive elements are coupled to circuitry that can apply an excitation signal, such as a voltage change, to the resistive elements. For each resistive element, an electrical effect responsive to the excitation signal, such as a change in charge flowing to the resistive element, is determined. When an object is proximate to the plurality of resistive elements, the electrical effects change, and a position of the object in one or multiple dimensions can be determined from changes in the electrical effects.