Uniform-density coplanar touch sensor with variable mesh density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current touch sensors, particularly capacitive touch screens, face challenges in accurately detecting touch or proximity inputs due to interference from conductive materials and patterns, which can lead to false readings and reduced accuracy in determining the precise location of touch or proximity on the screen.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a capacitive touch sensor with an array of drive and sense electrodes on flexible substrates, using indium tin oxide (ITO) and optically clear adhesive layers, which are capacitively coupled to detect changes in capacitance caused by touch or proximity, allowing for precise determination of touch location through a controller that processes these changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conductive materials and patterns are used in capacitive touch screens, then the touch sensor can detect touch or proximity inputs, but interference occurs leading to false readings and reduced accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes conductive materials and patterns from the touch sensor structure. By eliminating these interfering conductive elements, the patent resolves the contradiction between enabling touch detection and preventing false readings, thereby improving measurement precision without the harmful interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful interference from conductive materials into a benefit by completely removing the source of interference. This eliminates the false readings and accuracy issues while preserving the essential touch detection capability through alternative non-conductive sensing mechanisms
2Adaptability or versatility
If flexible substrates are used to enable deformation, then the touch sensor can be bent or folded, but maintaining structural integrity and detection accuracy under deformation becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible substrates as thin film structures that can bend and deform while maintaining their functional integrity. This allows the touch sensor to achieve adaptability for deformation while the thin film nature ensures structural integrity is maintained even under bent or folded conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the touch sensor into modular components that can independently accommodate deformation. This segmentation allows each component to flex and deform without compromising the overall structural integrity, enabling reliability under flexible conditions
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 solution enhances the accuracy and reliability of touch detection by minimizing interference and maintaining structural integrity even under deformation, enabling precise tracking of touch or proximity inputs on flexible substrates.
Implementation Method 1
capacitive touch sensor with an array of drive and sense electrodes on flexible substrates, using indium tin oxide (ITO) and optically clear adhesive layers, which are capacitively coupled to detect changes in capacitance caused by touch or proximity
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more drive electrodes and one or more sense electrodes of a touch sensor. Each drive electrode and each sense electrode includes a number of first and second conductive regions made of a conductive mesh of lines of conductive material. The first conductive regions have a first mesh density. The second conductive regions have a second mesh density. The first mesh density is greater than the second mesh density. The apparatus also includes one or more crossover areas of the touch sensor. Each crossover area includes at least a portion of a second conductive region of a drive electrode crossing over or under at least a portion of a second conductive region of a sense electrode. Each crossover area has a combined mesh density of the portions of the second conductive regions within it that is substantially equal to the first mesh density.