System and method for ESD protection in a touch screen display

System and methods for ESD protection in a touch screen display are disclosed. A touch screen display for an Information Handling System (IHS) include a coverglass, an ESD ground ring on the coverglass; and a touch panel proximate to the coverglass. An information handling system includes a display housing including a bezel adapted to retain a plurality of display components; the plurality of display components including a coverglass, an ESD ground ring on the coverglass; and a touch panel proximate to the coverglass. Methods are also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to information handling systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for electrostatic discharge protection in a touch screen display.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a touch screen display for an Information Handling System (IHS) is disclosed. The IHS includes a coverglass, an ESD ground ring on the coverglass, and a touch panel proximate to the coverglass.

In another embodiments, an information handling system is disclosed. The information handling system includes a display housing including a bezel adapted to retain a plurality of display components, the plurality of display components including a coverglass, an ESD ground ring on the coverglass, and a touch panel proximate to the coverglass.

In a further embodiment, a method of manufacturing a touch panel display is disclosed. The method includes depositing an ESD ground ring on a coverglass, and affixing the coverglass to a touch panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, calculate, determine, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, communicate, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer (e.g., desktop or laptop), tablet computer, mobile device (e.g., personal digital assistant (PDA) or smart phone), server (e.g., blade server or rack server), a consumer electronic device, a network storage device, or another suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic, read only memory (ROM), and/or other types of nonvolatile memory. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more disk drives, one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports (e.g., network ports) for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen and/or a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communication between the various hardware components.

Particular embodiments are best understood by reference to the following figures, wherein like numbers are used to indicate like and corresponding parts.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of selected elements of an embodiment of information handling system100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular embodiments, one or more information handling systems100perform one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, one or more information handling systems100provide the functionality described or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, software running on one or more information handling systems100performs one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein or provides functionality described or illustrated herein. Particular embodiments include one or more portions of one or more information handling systems100. Herein, reference to an information handling system may encompass a computing device, and vice versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to an information handling system may encompass one or more information handling systems, where appropriate.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of information handling systems100. This disclosure contemplates information handling system100taking any suitable physical form. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may be an embedded information handling system, a system-on-chip (SOC), a single-board information handling system (SBC) (such as, for example, a computer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop information handling system, a laptop or notebook information handling system, an interactive kiosk, a mainframe, a mesh of information handling systems, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, a tablet information handling system, or a combination of two or more of these. Where appropriate, information handling system100may include one or more information handling systems100, be unitary or distributed, span multiple locations, span multiple machines, span multiple data centers, or reside in a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one or more networks. Where appropriate, one or more information handling systems100may perform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As an example and not by way of limitation, one or more information handling systems100may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. One or more information handling systems100may perform at different times or at different locations one or more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein, where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, information handling system100includes processor102, memory104, storage106, input/output (I/O) interface108, communication interface110, and bus112. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular information handling system having a particular number of particular components in a particular arrangement, this disclosure contemplates any suitable information handling system having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor102includes hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an example and not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor102may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory104, or storage106; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to an internal register, an internal cache, memory104, or storage106. In particular embodiments, processor102may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure contemplates processor102including any suitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. As an example and not by way of limitation, processor102may include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or more translation look aside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions in memory104or storage106, and the instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions by processor102. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory104or storage106for instructions executing at processor102to operate on; the results of previous instructions executed at processor102for access by subsequent instructions executing at processor102or for writing to memory104or storage106; or other suitable data. The data caches may speed up read or write operations by processor102. The TLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor102. In particular embodiments, processor102may include one or more internal registers for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosure contemplates processor102including any suitable number of any suitable internal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor102may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-core processor; or include one or more processors102. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, this disclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory104includes main memory for storing instructions for processor102to execute or data for processor102to operate on. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may load instructions from storage106or another source (such as, for example, another information handling system100) to memory104. Processor102may then load the instructions from memory104to an internal register or internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor102may retrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cache and decode them. During or after execution of the instructions, processor102may write one or more results (which may be intermediate or final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor102may then write one or more of those results to memory104. In particular embodiments, processor102executes only instructions in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory104(as opposed to storage106or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one or more internal registers or internal caches or in memory104(as opposed to storage106or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may each include an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor102to memory104. Bus112may include one or more memory buses, as described below. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units (MMUs) reside between processor102and memory104and facilitate access to memory104requested by processor102. In particular embodiments, memory104includes random access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, where appropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. This disclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory104may include one or more memories104, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates any suitable memory.

In particular embodiments, storage106includes mass storage for data or instructions. As an example and not by way of limitation, storage106may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage106may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. Storage106may be internal or external to information handling system100, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage106is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments, storage106includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. This disclosure contemplates mass storage106taking any suitable physical form. Storage106may include one or more storage control units facilitating communication between processor102and storage106, where appropriate. Where appropriate, storage106may include one or more storages106. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface108includes hardware, software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for communication between information handling system100and one or more I/O devices. Information handling system100may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. One or more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a person and information handling system100. As an example and not by way of limitation, an I/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse, printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen, trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination of two or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors. This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitable I/O interfaces108for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface108may include one or more device or software drivers enabling processor102to drive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface108may include one or more I/O interfaces108, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.

In particular embodiments, communication interface110includes hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between information handling system100and one or more other information handling systems100or one or more networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communication interface110may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosure contemplates any suitable network and any suitable communication interface110for it. As an example and not by way of limitation, information handling system100may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of the Internet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portions of one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As an example, information handling system100may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Information handling system100may include any suitable communication interface110for any of these networks, where appropriate. Communication interface110may include one or more communication interfaces110, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular communication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitable communication interface.

In particular embodiments, information handling system100may be a wireless-enabled, portable device that may include one or more processors102(e.g., dual core ARM processors), volatile memory104(e.g., RAM), non-volatile memory104(e.g., flash memory), input/output interfaces108(e.g., for display, for data, and for audio), networking/communications interfaces110, and one or more operating systems (e.g., stored in memory104and operated on by processors102). The input/output interfaces108may include display interfaces that support one or more of the Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) standard, the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard, or the Display Port (DP) standard. The input/output interfaces108may also include one or more USB ports (e.g., standard, mini or micro USB), one or more removable memory slots (e.g., SD card slots), and audio capabilities through the MHL, HDMI, or DP interfaces. Information handling system100may include networking or communication interfaces110that support IEEE 802.11 WLAN protocols (including a, b, g, n, or ac), single or dual band WiFi, BLUETOOTH communication, and near field communication (NFC). Information handling system100may include one or more operating systems, including versions of Android, Windows, Wyse ThinOS, Linux, or Apple iOS. Information handling system100may include one or more native applications, including, for example, a browser, a media player and recorder, voice over IP and video communication software, and software for remote access to cloud services or other remote content or services.

Information handling system100may include display114. Display114may be electrically coupled to information handling system100with a cable, wireless, or using any suitable electrical interconnection between display114and information handling system100. Display114may be physically coupled to information handling system100or may be remote from information handling system100. For example, in some embodiments, display114may be integrally formed with information handling system100. In some embodiments, display114may be coupled to information handling system100with a hinge. In further embodiments, display114may be remote from information handling system100. In yet further embodiments, components of information handling system100may be distributed between multiple physical housings, including, for example, a housing of display114.

Display114may be a touch screen display. A touch screen display may require protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD may include undesirable electrical discharges from any source. For example, ESD may include discharges of static electricity from a human body. Without ESD protection, ESD may damage display114. Accordingly, ESD protection may be used to safely route ESD away from vulnerable electronics to a safe destination. For example, ESD protection may route ESD to an electrical ground of display114or an electrical ground of information handling system100. In some embodiments, ESD protection may include one or more conductive grounds rings that surround a border of display114. These conductive grounds rings may operate to conduct ESD safely to electrical ground without damaging electrically sensitive components in display114.

FIG. 2illustrates an example cross section of display200, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Display200is one example of display114ofFIG. 1. In some embodiments, display200may include housing202. Housing202may be formed from plastic, metals such as aluminum, or any other suitable housing material. Housing202may include bezel204. Bezel204may include a portion of housing202that extends inwardly toward a center of display200. Bezel204may overhang other components of display200, and operate to retain those components within housing202and/or to prevent an edge of those components from being visible to a user.

For example, bezel204may retain coverglass206within housing202. Coverglass206may be a topmost physical layer of a touch screen. Coverglass206may be formed from glass, polymethylmethacrylate, or any suitable coverglass material. Coverglass206may include coatings (such as oleophobic or hydrophobic coatings), decorative ink, and/or holes for components (such as cameras, microphones, data interfaces, or other components).

Bezel202may further retain touch panel208within housing202. In some embodiments, touch panel208may be a film based panel, such as a metal mesh panel. Touch panel208may operate to sense locations on display200that have been touched. Touch panel208may include active sensor portion210and trace routing portion212. Active sensor portion210may include a portion of touch panel208that overlaps with an active area of display200. Trace routing portion212may include a portion of touch panel208where signal traces used to transmit touch data are routed.

Touch panel208may be coupled to coverglass206using an adhesive222, such as silicone gel, a urethane, or any other suitable adhesive. An adhesive222may be inserted between coverglass206and touch panel208, and may fill any gap between coverglass206and touch panel208. An adhesive222may be cured to affix coverglass206and touch panel208together while solidifying the adhesive222.

Bezel204may further retain protection layer214. Protection layer214may be composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or any other suitable protection layer material. Protection layer214may be coupled to touch panel208using an adhesive224, such as include silicone gel, a urethane, or any other suitable adhesive. An adhesive224may be inserted between touch panel208and protection layer214, and may fill any gap between touch panel208and protection layer214. An adhesive224may be cured to affix touch panel208and protection layer214together while solidifying the adhesive224.

Bezel204may additionally retain display element216. Display element216may include a light source to optically display information on display200. For example, display element216may be a liquid crystal display or an LED display, or may be any other suitable type of display element. Protection layer214may be affixed to display element216during manufacturing to prevent damage to display element216.

A narrower bezel may be desirable for certain information handling systems, for aesthetic or other reasons. In order to reduce a width of a bezel, a width of trace routing portion212may also need to be reduced because it is often undesirable for the user to see routing portion212. However, manufactures of touch panels may not be able to make a corresponding reduction in a width of trace routing portion212. In embodiments where touch panel208is a film based panel (such as a metal mesh panel), signaling traces and an ESD ground ring may be formed integrally with a film based panel.

Typically, in a film based panel (such as a metal mesh), an ESD ground ring is integrally formed with the film layer and is located in the trace routing portion. ESD ground rings may surround an outer border of a display, and may be formed from a conductive material. ESD ground rings may be electrically coupled to an electrical ground of an information handling system. In the event of an ESD event, an ESD ground ring may be the path of least resistance ground. Accordingly, any discharged electricity will be conducted via an ESD ground ring to electrical ground, and will not be transmitted to or through electrically sensitive system components. Because an ESD event may be at a high voltage or high current, an ESD ground ring may be designed to be large so that the discharged electricity may be conducted to ground without damaging the ESD ground ring. A width of trace routing portion may therefore depend on a minimum achievable feature pitch for signal traces and an ESD ground ring within trace routing portion212.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, ESD ground ring218may be located on coverglass206rather than integrally formed with touch panel208. For example, prior to affixing touch panel208to coverglass206, ESD ground ring218may be deposited on coverglass206. Because ESD ground ring218may be on a component of display202other than touch panel208, ESD ground ring218may partially overlap other traces in trace routing portion212of touch panel208. Accordingly, a width of trace routing portion212may be reduced as compared to information handling systems where an ESD ground ring is integrally formed with a touch panel.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a second ESD ground ring220may be located on protection layer214rather than integrally formed with touch panel208. Second ESD ground ring220may provide enhanced ESD protection and reliability. For example, if a first ESD ground ring cease to function, a second ESD ground ring may still provide ESD protection. In some embodiments, prior to affixing touch panel208to protection layer214, second ESD ground ring220may be deposited on protection layer214. Because ESD ground ring220may be on a different component of display202, ESD ground ring220may partially overlap other traces in trace routing portion212. Accordingly, a width of trace routing portion212may be reduced as compared to an trace routing portion of a touch panel where an ESD ground ring is integrally formed with the touch panel.

FIG. 3Aillustrates a front view of a coverglass layer including an ESD ground ring, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Coverglass206is discussed in further detail above with reference toFIG. 2. ESD ground ring218may partially surround a border of coverglass206. For example, ESD ground ring218may border three of the four sides of a rectangular coverglass206. In additional embodiments, ESD ground ring218may full surround a perimeter of coverglass206. For reference, exemplary locations of trace routing portion212is illustrated. As explained above, signaling traces may typically be located on a touch panel. However, when a touch panel is affixed to coverglass206as shown inFIG. 2, trace routing portion212may be aligned in the exemplary location illustrated inFIG. 3A.FIG. 3Atherefore illustrates that ESD ground ring218may partially overlap locations where trace routing portion212is aligned on coverglass206. This would not be possible if ESD ground ring218were on a touch panel rather than coverglass206.

ESD ground ring218may include one or more grounding points306. Grounding points306may include locations where ESD ground ring218is connected to an electrical ground of an IHS. In embodiments where coverglass206may be used in a display of an information handling system such as a laptop, ESD ground ring218may include two grounding points306. For example, ESD ground ring218may include a grounding point at each corner of a clamshell housing proximate to a hinge. Grounding points306may be electrically connected to a system ground of an information handling system.

ESD ground ring218may be composed of any suitable conducting material, such as silver ink. ESD ground ring218may be deposited by any suitable deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, evaporation, sputtering or printing.

FIG. 3Billustrates a front view of a protection layer including an ESD ground ring, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Protection layer226may have similar features as protection layer214, discussed above with reference toFIG. 2. ESD ground ring220may partially surround a border of protection layer226. For example, ESD ground ring220may border three of the four sides of a rectangular protection layer226. In additional embodiments, ESD ground ring220may full surround a perimeter of protection layer226. For reference, exemplary locations of trace routing portion212is illustrated. As explained above, signaling traces may be located on a touch panel. However, when a touch panel is affixed to protection layer226, trace routing portion212may be aligned in the exemplary location illustrated inFIG. 3B.FIG. 3Btherefore illustrates that ESD ground ring220may partially overlap locations where trace routing portion212would be aligned on protection layer226. This would not be possible if ESD ground ring220were on a touch panel rather than protection layer226.

ESD ground ring220may include one or more grounding points356. Grounding points356may include locations where ESD ground ring220is connected to an electrical ground of an IHS. In embodiments where protection ring226may be used in a display of an information handling system such as a laptop, ESD ground ring220may include two grounding points356. For example, ESD ground ring220may include a grounding point at each corner of a clamshell housing proximate to a hinge. Grounding points356may be electrically connected to a system ground of an information handling system.

ESD ground ring220may be composed of any suitable conducting material, such as silver ink. ESD ground ring220may be deposited by any suitable deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, evaporation, sputtering or printing.

FIG. 4illustrates an example method400for manufacturing a touch screen display, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Method400illustrates that embodiments of the present disclosure run counter to conventional wisdom in the industry. Specifically, in touch screens where an ESD ground ring is integrally formed with a touch panel, there is no need to deposit further ground rings. By moving an ESD ground ring to another component, additional manufacturing steps are introduced into method400, which many increase a cost to produce a display. Typically, it is desirable to use less complex and less expensive manufacturing processes. Here, however, the steps of method400yield an unexpected benefit of allowing a narrower bezel, and therefore a more compact display.

Method400may begin at405, where an ESD ground ring may be deposited on a protection layer. A protection layer may be composed of PET or any other suitable protection layer material. A protection layer may be affixed to a display element during manufacturing to prevent damage to a display element. An ESD ground ring may be composed of any suitable conducting material, such as silver ink. ESD ground ring may be deposited by any suitable deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, evaporation, sputtering or printing.

A protection layer may be coupled to a touch panel using an adhesive, such as silicone gel, a urethane, or any other suitable adhesive. An adhesive may be inserted between a touch panel and a protection layer, and may fill any gap between a touch panel and a protection layer. An adhesive may be cured to affix a touch panel and a protection layer together while solidifying the adhesive. A display element may include a light source to optically display information on a display. For example, a display element may be a liquid crystal display or an LED display, or may be any other suitable type of display element.

At410, a touch panel may be affixed to a protection layer. A touch panel may operate to sense locations on a display that have been touched. A touch panel may be a film based panel, such as metal mesh panel, or any other suitable touch panel architecture. A touch panel may include an active sensor portion and a trace routing portion. A active sensor portion may include a portion of a touch panel that overlaps with an active area of display. A trace routing portion may include a portion of a touch panel where signal traces used to transmit touch data are routed.

A touch panel may be coupled to a protection layer using an adhesive, such as silicone gel, a urethane, or any other suitable adhesive. An adhesive may be inserted between a protection layer and a touch panel, and may fill any gap a protection layer and a touch panel. An adhesive may be cured to affix a protection layer and a touch panel together while solidifying the adhesive.

At415, an ESD ground ring may be deposited on a coverglass. A coverglass may be a topmost physical layer of a touch screen. A coverglass may be formed from glass, polymethylmethacrylate, or any suitable coverglass material. A coverglass may include coatings (such as oleophobic, or hydrophobic coatings), decorative ink, and/or holes for components (such as cameras, microphones, data interfaces, or other components). An ESD ground ring may be composed of any suitable conducting material, such as silver ink. ESD ground ring may be deposited by any suitable deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, evaporation, sputtering or printing.

At420, a coverglass may be affixed to a touch panel. A coverglass may be coupled to a touch panel using an adhesive, such as silicone gel, a urethane, or any other suitable adhesive. An adhesive may be inserted between a touch panel and a coverglass, and may fill any gap between a touch panel and a coverglass. An adhesive may be cured to affix a touch panel and a coverglass together while solidifying the adhesive.

Particular embodiments may repeat one or more steps of the methods ofFIG. 4, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular steps of the methods ofFIG. 4as occurring in a particular order, this disclosure contemplates any suitable steps of the methods ofFIG. 4occurring in any suitable order. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates example methods including the particular steps of the methods ofFIG. 4, this disclosure contemplates any suitable method for performing the functionality described above which may include all, some, or none of the steps of the methods ofFIG. 4where appropriate. Furthermore, although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular components, devices, or systems carrying out particular steps of the methods ofFIG. 4, this disclosure contemplates any suitable combination of any suitable components, devices, or systems carrying out any suitable steps of the methods ofFIG. 4.