Conductive components in an insulator layer of a touch sensor stackup

    公开(公告)号:US11036341B1

    公开(公告)日:2021-06-15

    申请号:US16578206

    申请日:2019-09-20

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A plurality of metallic components (e.g., conductive rods) can be included within an insulator layer of a touch sensor panel. The metallic components included within the insulator layer can be electrically floating. The metallic components can increase a signal coupling strength across the thickness of the insulator layer. In some examples, the metallic components can have a uniform spacing and uniform physical dimensions. In some examples, the metallic components can provide increased signal coupling in areas directly above touch sensitive regions of underlying touch sensor electrodes. In some examples, the metallic components can pass through the insulator in a straight line that is normal to opposing surfaces of the insulator layer. In some examples, the metallic components can be flared or otherwise pass through the insulator along a path that is not straight and/or not orthogonal to opposing surfaces of the insulator layer.

    Self-capacitance and mutual capacitance touch-sensor panel architecture

    公开(公告)号:US10739904B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-08-11

    申请号:US15998425

    申请日:2018-08-15

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A touch sensor panel is disclosed. The touch sensor panel includes a first set of touch electrodes configured to operate as drive lines and that are disposed in a first layer of the touch sensor panel. The touch sensor panel also includes a second set of touch electrodes configured to operate as sense lines and that are disposed in a second layer of the touch sensor panel, different than the first layer of the touch sensor panel, such that one or more mutual capacitance touch nodes are formed by the first set of touch electrodes and the second set of touch electrodes. The touch sensor panel also includes a third set of touch electrodes configured to operate as self-capacitance electrodes and that are disposed in the first layer or the second layer of the touch sensor panel.

    Active area routing for touch electrodes

    公开(公告)号:US11941214B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-03-26

    申请号:US17818695

    申请日:2022-08-09

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Touch sensor panels/screens can include metal mesh touch electrodes and routing in the active area. In some examples, the touch sensor panel/screen can include row electrodes and column electrodes disposed over the active area of the display. In some examples, the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in a border region and some of the routing traces for the row electrodes and/or column electrodes can be disposed in the active area. In some examples, some row electrodes can be shaved down to create an offset from the edge of the active area to accommodate routing traces in the active area. In some examples, the row electrodes can be formed in a first metal mesh layer and some routing traces in the active area can be formed in a second metal mesh layer, different from the first metal mesh layer.

    Single layer touch sensor panel architecture

    公开(公告)号:US10936135B2

    公开(公告)日:2021-03-02

    申请号:US16459314

    申请日:2019-07-01

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A touch sensor panel is disclosed. In some examples, the touch sensor panel comprises a first layer including a plurality of drive lines including drive electrodes, wherein the drive lines are configured to be coupled to drive circuitry during touch sensing on the touch sensor panel. In some examples, the first layer includes a plurality of sense lines including sense electrodes, wherein the sense lines are configured to be coupled to sense circuitry during the touch sensing on the touch sensor panel. In some examples, the first layer includes a plurality of first shielding electrodes, wherein the first shielding electrodes are disposed between the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes. In some examples, the touch sensor panel comprises a second layer, different than the first layer, including one or more bridges electrically coupling at least two of the first shielding electrodes together.

    Capacitive coupling reduction in touch sensor panels

    公开(公告)号:US10606430B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-03-31

    申请号:US16516037

    申请日:2019-07-18

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: Touch sensor panel configurations and methods for improving touch sensitivity of some or all of the electrodes or portions of the touch sensor panel are disclosed. The touch sensor panel configurations can allow increased speed at which the panel can operate. In some examples, the performance of a given touch electrode can differ from the performance of another touch electrode due to differences in capacitance and/or resistance. The performance of the touch sensor panel can be limited by the touch electrode with the lowest performance relative to the other touch electrodes. The configurations and methods can increase the performance of the touch sensor panel by minimizing the capacitive coupling and/or resistance of touch electrodes. Examples of the disclosure can provide configurations of touch sensor panels and methods for improving optical uniformity of the panel.

    Self-capacitance and mutual capacitance touch sensor panel architecture

    公开(公告)号:US12204730B2

    公开(公告)日:2025-01-21

    申请号:US17804237

    申请日:2022-05-26

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: A touch sensor panel includes a first set of touch electrodes configured to operate as drive lines and that are disposed in a first layer of the touch sensor panel. The touch sensor panel also includes a second set of touch electrodes configured to operate as sense lines and that are disposed in a second layer of the touch sensor panel, different than the first layer of the touch sensor panel, such that one or more mutual capacitance touch nodes are formed by the first set of touch electrodes and the second set of touch electrodes. The touch sensor panel also includes a third set of touch electrodes configured to operate as self-capacitance electrodes and that are disposed in the first layer or the second layer of the touch sensor panel.

    Touch electrodes with bar and stripe pattern

    公开(公告)号:US12045427B2

    公开(公告)日:2024-07-23

    申请号:US18154693

    申请日:2023-01-13

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: This relates to touch sensor panels/touch screens including touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern. The bar-and-stripe pattern can improve touch signal levels for touch detection and improve uniformity of touch signal as objects move across the touch sensor panel/touch screen. Touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern can be formed from metal mesh in one or more layers of metal mesh. In some examples, “stripes” can be formed from groups of touch electrode segments in a first layer of metal mesh and can be interconnected by bridges formed in a second layer of metal mesh, different from the first layer of metal mesh, in the active area of the touch screen. Multiple stripes can be interconnected in the border area and/or in the active area to form a row touch electrode. In some examples, “bars” may also include bridges in the second layer of metal mesh.

    Touch electrodes with bar and stripe pattern

    公开(公告)号:US11556216B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-01-17

    申请号:US16998812

    申请日:2020-08-20

    Applicant: Apple Inc.

    Abstract: This relates to touch sensor panels/touch screens including touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern. The bar-and-stripe pattern can improve touch signal levels for touch detection and improve uniformity of touch signal as objects move across the touch sensor panel/touch screen. Touch electrodes in a bar-and-stripe pattern can be formed from metal mesh in one or more layers of metal mesh. In some examples, “stripes” can be formed from groups of touch electrode segments in a first layer of metal mesh and can be interconnected by bridges formed in a second layer of metal mesh, different from the first layer of metal mesh, in the active area of the touch screen. Multiple stripes can be interconnected in the border area and/or in the active area to form a row touch electrode. In some examples, “bars” may also include bridges in the second layer of metal mesh.

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