PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8797282-B2
Application Number: US-90692110-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Touch sensor with secondary sensor and ground shield

Abstract:
A touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern is provided. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state or ground during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A touch surface, comprising:
 a touch sensor pattern including at least one touch sensor; and 
 at least one secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, 
 wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state during a touch scan cycle, and 
 the at least one secondary sensor is configured to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during the touch scan cycle; wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The touch surface of  claim 1 , further comprising a shielding material formed on a back side of the touch surface, the shielding material having a cutout portion for the secondary sensor. 
     
     
       3. The touch surface of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface coupled to the touch sensor pattern and the secondary sensor, the interface configured for multiplexing inputs to the touch sensor pattern and the secondary sensor. 
     
     
       4. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by alternating current (AC) shielding the at least one secondary sensor from the touch sensor pattern. 
     
     
       5. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by coupling the at least one secondary sensor to ground. 
     
     
       6. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary sensor is configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state by AC coupling the at least one secondary sensor to at least one of a direct current (DC) voltage or ground, for frequencies in-band with respect to operation of the touch sensor pattern. 
     
     
       7. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       8. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a flexible substrate including at least one of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), polymide, and polycarbinate. 
     
     
       9. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a glass substrate. 
     
     
       10. The touch surface of  claim 1 , wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within a touch sensor panel, which is part of a computing system. 
     
     
       11. The touch surface of  claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within an input device of the computing system. 
     
     
       12. The touch surface of  claim 10 , wherein the touch sensor is incorporated within a touch screen display of the computing system. 
     
     
       13. A method of forming a touch surface, comprising:
 forming a touch sensor pattern; 
 forming at least one secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern; and 
 grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle; wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises alternating current (AC) shielding the at least one secondary sensor from the touch sensor. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises coupling the at least one secondary sensor to ground. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein grounding or holding the at least one secondary sensor at a low-impedance state comprises AC coupling the at least one secondary sensor to at least one of a direct current (DC) voltage or ground. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one secondary sensor includes a proximity sensor. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the touch sensor and the at least one secondary sensor is formed on a substrate including at least one of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), polymide, and polycarbinate. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the touch sensor and at least one secondary sensor is formed on a glass substrate. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the touch sensor surface is incorporated within an input device. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the input device is incorporated within a computing system. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the touch sensor surface is incorporated within a touch screen display. 
     
     
       23. A system, comprising:
 a touch sensor surface, 
 wherein the touch sensor surface includes 
 a touch sensor pattern, and 
 at least one secondary sensor formed as part of the touch sensor pattern and configured to be grounded or held at a low-impedance state, in order to shield at least a portion of the touch sensor pattern during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor circuit; wherein the at least one secondary sensor is a button sensor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This relates generally to touch sensors, and more particularly to a touch sensor pattern with at least one secondary sensor, formed as part of the touch sensor pattern, and a ground shield. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     There exist today many styles of input devices for performing operations in a consumer electronic device. These operations often generally correspond to actions such as moving a cursor and making selections on a display screen. By way of example, the input devices may include buttons, switches, keyboards, mice, trackballs, touch pads, joy sticks, touch screens and the like. Each of these devices has advantages and disadvantages that may be taken into account when designing the consumer electronic device. In handheld computing devices, the input devices are often generally selected from buttons and switches. Buttons and switches are generally mechanical in nature and provide limited control with regards to the movement of a cursor (or other selector) and making selections. For example, they are generally dedicated to moving the cursor in a specific direction (e.g., arrow keys) or to making specific selections (e.g., enter, delete, number, etc.). 
     In portable computing devices such as laptop computers, the input devices are commonly track pads (also known as touch pads). With a track pad, the movement of an input pointer (i.e., cursor) usually corresponds to the relative movements of the user&#39;s finger (or stylus) as the finger is moved along a surface of the track pad. Some track pads can also make a selection on the display screen when one or more taps are detected on the surface of the track pad. In some cases, any portion of the track pad may be tapped, and in other cases a dedicated portion of the track pad may be tapped. In yet another example, the track pad may include a button switch circuit coupled thereto, such that a user can press a portion of the track pad that is configured to activate the button switch in order to make selections. 
     In the case of hand-held personal digital assistants (PDA) or mobile devices, the input devices tend to utilize touch-sensitive display screens. When using a touch screen, a user can make a selection on the display screen by pointing directly to objects on the screen using a stylus or finger. Touch screens are becoming increasingly popular because of their ease and versatility of operation as well as their declining price. Touch screens can include a touch sensor panel, which can be a clear panel with a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that can be positioned partially or fully behind the panel so that the touch-sensitive surface can cover at least a portion of the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens can allow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel using a finger, stylus or other object at a location often dictated by a user interface (UI) being displayed by the display device. In general, touch screens can recognize a touch event and the position of the touch event on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system can then interpret the touch event in accordance with the display appearing at the time of the touch event, and thereafter can perform one or more actions based on the touch event. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Presently disclosed embodiments are directed to solving issues relating to one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     This relates to a touch sensor pattern with at least one secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle. This shielding can be performed by grounding, or virtually grounding by being held at a constant direct current (DC) voltage, the secondary senor with respect to the touch sensor pattern. Alternatively, the secondary sensor can be held at a steady state by AC coupling the secondary sensor to at least one of a DC voltage or ground. 
     According to one embodiment, when the secondary sensor is held at a steady state, touch sensor pattern can perform a touch scan cycle even at a portion of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary pattern is formed. Accordingly, the touch sensor pattern can provide touch sensitivity over the entire surface area of a touch sensor device, including the portion where the secondary sensor is formed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is diagram of an input device including a touch sensor, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are simplified side views of an input device having a button touch pad, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C,  3 D and  3 E are exemplary circuit layouts for multiple layers of a touch sensor with a dome switch, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are exemplary timing diagrams of a touch sensor and a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are exemplary touch sensor stackups, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone that can include a touch sensor according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates an exemplary digital media player that can include a touch sensor according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates exemplary personal computer that can include a touch sensor according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which it is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that can be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. 
     This relates to a touch sensor pattern with a secondary sensor formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern. By forming the secondary sensor substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern, where the secondary sensor can be grounded, or driven to a low-impedance state, during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor, an overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the secondary sensor is formed can be significantly reduced. The reduction in the thickness can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the secondary sensor can shield the touch sensor pattern at the area of the touch sensor pattern where the secondary sensor is formed, during a touch scan cycle. In addition, the touch sensor pattern can provide touch sensitivity over the entire surface area of a touch sensor device, including the portion where the secondary sensor is formed. 
     Touch surfaces, such as track pads for example, can use a Cartesian coordinate system to monitor the position of a pointer device (e.g., finger or stylus), for example, as it is moved. The Cartesian coordinate system is generally defined as a two dimensional coordinate system (x, y) in which the coordinates of a point (e.g., position of finger) can be determined from a grid or array of touch sensors or pixels formed at intersecting electrodes, for example. In some cases, the electrodes can be arranged in a grid of columns and rows; however, various electrode patterns can be used. Distinct x and y position signals, which control the x, y movement of a pointer device on the display screen, can thus be generated when the pointer device is moved across the grid of sensors within the touch surface. The following discussion is directed to capacitive sensing technologies; however, it is noted that the other technologies can be similarly implemented and the present disclosure is not limited to any particular sensing technology. 
     Mutual capacitance touch sensors, for example, can be formed from a matrix of drive and sense electrodes of a conductive material. Drive signals can be transmitted through the drive electrodes, resulting in signal (mutual) capacitances between the drive and sense electrodes at the crossover points (touch pixels) of the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes. The changes in signal capacitances due to a touch can be determined from sense signals that appear on the sense electrodes. 
     Capacitive sensing surfaces generally contain several layers of material. For example, the capacitive sensing surface can include a protective/cosmetic shield (usually a dielectric material), one or more electrode layers and a substrate. The protective shield can cover the electrode layer(s), and the electrode layer(s) can be formed on the substrate. The substrate may be, for example, glass, polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), or any plastic or flex substrate, or a printed circuit board (PCB). The protective shield is the part of the capacitive sensing surface that can be touched by the user to perform functions such as control operations, gestures, or cursor movements on a display screen, for example. 
     The capacitive sensing surface can also be coupled to, or include, sensing electronics for detecting signals associated with the sense electrodes. As is described in further details below with reference to the figures, the sensing electronics can be adapted to detect the change in capacitance at each of the sense electrodes as a finger or other object passes over or contacts the touch surface. As explained below, the sensing electronics can include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that can be configured to detect a change in capacitance at each of the electrodes and to compute the position of finger movement based on the change in capacitance at each of the sense electrodes. The ASIC can also be configured to report this information to other logic within the computing device, such as a host processor. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a touch-sensitive surface  10 , according to an exemplary embodiment, will be described in greater detail. The touch-sensitive surface  10  may be a track pad, touch screen, touch mouse, or any other touch surface. A touch-sensitive surface is described herein as an exemplary touch sensor device including a secondary sensor. 
     The touch surface area can include a protective/cosmetic shield  12  and a plurality of touch pixels  14  that can, in some embodiments, be formed from the crossover points of drive and sense electrodes disposed underneath the protective shield  12 . The drive and sense electrodes forming touch pixels  14  can be formed on a substrate such as glass, plastic, or a printed circuit board (PCB). Each of the touch pixels  14  can determine an x, y position. For example, AC stimuli can be applied to one or more drive electrodes (e.g., the one or more rows of electrodes), and each stimulation signal on a drive electrode can cause a charge to be injected into the sense electrodes (e.g., one or more columns of electrodes) through the mutual capacitance present an “intersection” of a drive electrode and sense electrode, where the drive electrode passes above or below the sense electrode without making direct electrical contact. A change in the injected charge can be detected when a finger or other object is present at one or more of the affected touch pixels. The capacitance between drive and sense electrodes can appear as a stray capacitance when the given drive electrode is held at DC voltage levels and as a mutual signal capacitance when the given drive electrode is stimulated with an AC signal. The presence of a finger or other object near or on the touch sensor panel can be detected by measuring changes to a signal charge present at pixels being touched. 
     The sensing electronics (not shown) can detect changes in capacitance and signal charge, and produces an x, y input signal  18  corresponding to the allocation of a finger or other object touching the touch surface. In some embodiments, this input signal  18  can be sent to a host device  20  (e.g., a computing device) having a display screen  22 . The x, y input signal  18  can be used for a number of purposes, such as to control the movement of a cursor  24  on a display screen  22 . As shown, the input pointer can move in a similar x, y direction as the detected x, y finger motion. 
     In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, the touch surface can be a track pad that also includes a button sensor to allow the track pad to act as a depressible button. The touch surface can include one or a plurality of button sensors, such that one or more additional button functions can be implemented by pressing on a designated portion of the touch surface rather than tapping on the touch surface or using a separate button/separate zone. It should be noted that the touch surface in this exemplary embodiment can include any alternative or additional types of secondary sensor(s) (touch or non-touch sensors), and a button sensor is described herein for exemplary purposes only. As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , according to one embodiment, touch surface  34  is capable of moving between an upright (or neutral) position ( FIG. 2A ) and a depressed (or activate) position ( FIG. 2B ) when a force from a finger  16 , palm, hand, or other object is applied to the touch surface  34 . 
     The button signals can be used for various functionalities including but not limited to making selections or issuing commands associated with operating an electronic device. By way of example, in the case of a music player, the button functions can be associated with opening a menu, playing a song, fast forwarding a song, seeking through a menu and the like. In the case of a laptop computer, the button functions can be associated with opening a menu, selecting text, selecting an icon, and the like. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary touch sensor pattern  300 , according to an embodiment disclosed herein. The exemplary touch sensor pattern  300  can have a plurality of row traces (e.g., drive electrodes  310 ) and a plurality of column traces (e.g., sense electrodes  320 ), where in the depicted exemplary touch sensor pattern  300 , the sense electrodes  320  can be interconnected using any number of vias  314 . The conductive traces can be formed of any conductive material (e.g., copper, silver ink, etc.), and can be printed or laminated (or otherwise formed) on PET or any other suitable substrate. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drive electrodes  310  and sense electrodes  320  can be deposited or patterned on a substrate using a variety of techniques. In the case of a touch screen, for example, the row and column traces can be formed from a transparent conductive material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO) to mitigate visual artifacts, although other transparent and non-transparent materials such as copper can also be used. In some embodiments, the row and column electrodes can be generally perpendicular to each other, although in other embodiments non-Cartesian orientations are possible. For example, in a polar coordinate system, the sense electrodes  320  can be concentric circles and the drive electrodes  310  can be radially extending electrodes (or vice versa). The conductive electrodes can be formed using various design patterns, including (but not limited to) an interdigitated comb design, interconnected diamond patterns, etc. 
       FIG. 3B  shows a second layer of printed (or otherwise deposited) conductive material corresponding to jumpers  350  (which can allow the sense electrodes  320  to cross over the drive electrodes  310  on the second layer) and dome switch land pads (i.e., button pattern  330 ) according to some embodiments. In this exemplary touch sensor pattern  300 , a dome switch circuit is formed substantially as part of or integrated with the touch sensor pattern  300 ; however, various other types of secondary sensors can be formed as part of the touch sensor pattern  300 , without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, self-capacitance sensors, proximity sensors, tact switches, pressure sensors, or any other sensor that can be physically and/or time multiplexed with the touch sensor can be formed as part of touch sensor pattern  300 . Similarly, jumpers  350  and dome switch land pads  330  can be printed or otherwise deposited using silver ink, for example, on substrates such as glass, PET, polymide, polycarbinate or other plastic, PCB and the like. 
       FIG. 3C  shows yet another layer corresponding to a cover layer  340  that covers the dome land pads, according to some embodiments. The cover layer  340  can be any conductive material, such as carbon, for example. When the cover layer contacts the dome switch land pads (i.e., when the button is pushed (see FIG.  2 B)), the dome switch land pads (i.e., button pattern  330 ) can contact the dome button  370  (see  FIG. 3E ), causing a button signal to be transmitted to a control unit (not shown) to indicate that a selection, for example, by a user at the point indicated by the touch surface has been made. It is noted that the control unit can include any number of devices or device combinations as known in the art. These include, for example, general purpose processors, content addressable memory modules, digital signal processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, programmable logic arrays, discrete gate or transistor logic, or other such electronic components. 
       FIG. 3D  shows all three printed layers described above with reference to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C, including the touch sensor pattern  300 ; the drive electrodes  310  and sense electrodes  320 , dome switch land pads  330  and jumpers  350 ; and cover layer for the dome switch land pads, according to the illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 3E  shows the back of an exemplary touch surface  34  assembly housing touch sensor pattern  300  ( FIG. 3A ) and button pattern  330  ( FIG. 3B ). As noted above, a touch surface  34  assembly is described as a mere exemplary input device including a touch sensor pattern  300 , and various other touch devices could be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The back of the touch surface  34  can include a conductive shielding, or grounded material to prevent interference between any conductive components within the same device and below the touch surface  34 , and the touch sensor pattern  300  and/or button pattern  330 . The shield layer on the back of touch surface  34  can include a cutout portion  360  through which dome button  370  can be activated when a user depresses the button sensor. According to an embodiment, the back of touch surface  34  may not require shielding if the nearest conductor below the touch surface does not change significantly in relation to the touch surface  34  during operation and no interfering electrical signals are radiated from the electronics situated below the touch surface  34  (if any electronics or antennae are present). 
     One unique characteristic of the exemplary circuit layout of  FIGS. 3A-3E  is that the dome switch (button pattern)  330  can be formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern  300 , and in some embodiments, formed as part of the same process used to form one of the layers of the touch sensor pattern  300 . That is, with respect to the geometric area of the touch sensor pattern  300 , the area of the button pattern  330  can be substantially enveloped therein. In order to allow both sensors to be operational while one is formed as part of the other, inputs to the touch sensor pattern  300  and the secondary sensor (button pattern  330 , in this case) can be multiplexed through an interface such as a general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface (not shown). In such a manner, during a touch scan cycle of the touch sensor pattern  300 , the button pattern  330  can be held at a steady state from the perspective of the touch sensor pattern  300 . In order to hold the button pattern at a steady state, the button pattern  330  can be grounded, or virtually grounded by being held at a constant direct current (DC) voltage, with respect to the touch sensor pattern  300  (i.e., alternating current (AC) shielding the button sensor pattern  300 ). Alternatively, the button pattern  330  can be held at a steady state by AC coupling the button pattern  330  to at least one of a DC voltage or ground. 
     When the button pattern  330  is grounded or held at a steady state with respect to the touch sensor pattern  300 , touch sensor pattern  300  can perform a touch scan cycle even at a portion of the touch sensor pattern  300  where the button pattern  330  is formed. For example, in a case of a mutual capacitive touch sensor, AC stimuli Vstim (see  FIG. 4 ), for example, can be applied to one or more drive electrodes  310 , where Vstim can be at different frequencies and/or phases for each drive electrode  310 . Each stimulation signal on a drive electrode  310  can cause a charge to be injected into the sense electrodes  320  through the mutual capacitance present at pixels (i.e., an “intersection” of the drive electrode  310  and sense electrode  320 , where the drive electrode  310  passes above or below the sense electrode  320  without making direct electrical contact). A change in the injected charge can be detected when a finger or other object is present at one or more of the affected pixels. The capacitance between drive and sense electrodes can appear as a stray capacitance when the given drive electrode  310  is held at DC voltage levels and as a mutual signal capacitance when the given drive electrode  310  is stimulated with an AC signal. The presence of a finger or other object near or on the touch sensor panel can be detected by measuring changes to a signal charge present at one or more pixels being touched. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show exemplary timing diagrams of cycles of touch sensor pattern  300  and button pattern  330 , respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , during a scan cycle (t scan ), when touch sensor pattern  300  is stimulated (i.e., Vstim is applied to drive electrodes  310 ) ( FIG. 4A ), button pattern  330  can be can be grounded (GND) ( FIG. 4B ). A sine wave with any number of cycles can be implemented during scan cycle t scan , according to an embodiment. One of ordinary skill in the art would realize that t scan  can be implemented as a square wave, sinusoidal wave, or any other periodic waveform. As noted above, button pattern  330  can be virtually grounded by being held at a constant DC voltage with respect to the touch sensor  300 . Alternatively, button pattern  330  can be held at a steady state by AC coupling the button pattern  330  to at least one of a DC voltage or ground. When touch sensor pattern  300  is inactive (e.g., held at a constant DC voltage (V DC )), button pattern  330  can be stimulated (i.e., pulled up to logic 1, if the switch is open), since its noise effect on touch sensor pattern  330  is irrelevant. Of course, it is not necessary for the button pattern to be pulled up to logic 1 when touch sensor pattern  300  is inactive. Various states of the button pattern (switch open or closed) are depicted with dotted lines, while touch sensor pattern  300  is inactive. If button pattern  330  were not grounded with respect to the touch sensor pattern  300  at time t scan , capacitive interference or noise between the button pattern  330  and touch sensor pattern  300  could cause the touch sensor pattern  300  to malfunction at the area of the touch sensor pattern  300  at which button pattern  330  is formed. Touch sensing at this area could be unreliable or impossible in this case. 
     Further, at the back of touch surface  34  assembly where cutout portion  360  of the ground shield is located, touch sensor pattern  300  can be susceptible to noise interference cause by electrical components located below track pad assembly  34 . That is, a change in signal charge at one or more pixels, located proximate the cutout portion  360  of the ground shield, when a given drive electrode  310  is stimulated with an AC signal (which can indicate the presence of a finger or other object near or on the touch surface) may be immeasurable or inaccurately measured due to noise. However, holding the button pattern  330  at a steady state during a touch scan cycle can effectively shield the portion of the touch sensor pattern  300  that is exposed due to cutout portion  360  of the ground shield. Therefore, because the portion of the touch sensor pattern  300  can be shielded by holding button pattern  330  at a steady state during a touch scan cycle, the button pattern  330  can be formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern  300  without the need for additional shield layers or substrate layers, and without diminishing the touch sensitivity over any part of the entire area of the touch sensor pattern  300 . 
     On the other hand, if the button pattern  330  is not grounded, then it may be necessary to print or laminate the button pattern  330  to a portion of the flexible substrate such as PET, for example, that protrudes out from the touch sensor pattern  300  (i.e., a non-integrated portion of the substrate, with respect to the area of the touch sensor pattern  300 ). In that case, a ground shield layer can be placed over the entire touch sensor pattern  300 , and the protruding portion of the PET (with the button pattern printed or laminated thereon) can be folded over the ground shield layer, such that the button pattern  330  and the touch sensor pattern  300  can be shielded from each other and the touch sensor pattern  300  can be shielded from all other electrical components over its entire area. However, such a non-integrated design can essentially double, if not more than double, the thickness of the “critical stackup” of materials at the area of the touch sensor pattern  300  that is overlapped by the button pattern  330 . In this case, the “critical stackup” refers to layers of materials used at the area of the touch sensor pattern  300  where the button pattern  330  is located. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates an exemplary stackup (a cross section along length “a” (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 3B and 3C )) at the area of the touch sensor pattern  300  overlapped by the area of the button pattern  330 , according to an example where the button pattern is folded over the shield layer (i.e., a non-integrated design). The exemplary critical stackup at the cross section along length “a,” from the top down, can include: a carbon cover layer  500  (˜15 μm); an ink layer  510  (e.g., silver ink) for the dome switch land pads (˜10 μm); an insulating shield layer  420  (˜40 μm); another ink layer  510  (˜10 μm), which can be a routing layer for a secondary sensor signal, for example, that can connect a center signal contact; a substrate layer  540  (e.g., PET) (˜25 μm); an adhesive layer  530  (e.g., PSA) (˜60 μm); a shield layer  550  (˜75 μm); another adhesive layer  530  (˜60 μm); another substrate layer  540  (˜25 μm); an ink layer  510  for the touch sensor pattern (˜10 μm); another insulator layer  520  (˜40 μm); a final ink layer  510  of jumpers and drive and sense electrodes  310 ,  320  (˜10 μm); and a final insulator layer  529  (˜40 μm). The total thickness of the exemplary stackup of  FIG. 5B  measures ˜395 μm. Exemplary estimated thicknesses of each layer are provided for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art would realize that the layers described above may have varying thicknesses. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary stackup (a cross section along length “a” (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3D )) at the area of the touch sensor pattern  300  where the button pattern  330  is formed as a part thereof, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The exemplary stackup, from the top down, can include: a carbon cover layer  500  (˜15-30 μm); an ink layer  510  (e.g., silver ink) for the dome switch land pads, jumpers and drive and sense electrodes  310 ,  320  (˜10 μm); an insulating layer  520  (˜40 μm); an ink layer  510  for the touch sensor pattern  300  (˜10 μm); and a substrate layer  540  (e.g., PET) (˜25 μm). The total stackup in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 5B  measures ˜125 μm. A shield layer  550  can be used to cover the portion of the touch sensor that does not include the button pattern. However, a shield layer  550  may not be necessary between the button pattern  330  and the touch sensor pattern  300  in this embodiment, since the button pattern  330  can be formed substantially as part of the touch sensor pattern  300 . That is, the “critical stackup” at the area of the touch sensor  300  where the button pattern  330  is formed may not require a shield layer  550 . 
     Accordingly, since the PET  540  including the button pattern does not have to be folded back over a shield layer  550  separating the button pattern  330  from the touch sensor pattern  300 , a significant reduction in the overall thickness of the stackup at the area of the touch sensor where the button pattern is formed can be obtained. In fact, as compared with the stackup depicted in  FIG. 5B , the thickness of the exemplary stackup of  FIG. 5A  is more than double. The reduction in the thickness of the stackup in  FIG. 5B  can allow more space for other hardware such as a device battery, for example. Moreover, grounding the button pattern  330  can shield the touch sensor  300 , at the area of the touch sensor  300  where the button pattern  330  is formed, during a touch scan cycle from any undesired noise interference caused by contact with or proximity to a conductive object. In addition, touch sensor pattern  300  can provide touch sensitivity over the entire area of the touch sensor device, including the portion at which the button pattern  330  is formed. 
       FIG. 6   a  illustrates exemplary mobile telephone  636  including a touch screen device  630 , the touch screen device  630  including a touch sensor with a secondary sensor, according to one disclosed embodiment. As provided above, in the case of a touch screen device  630  including a touch sensor with a secondary sensor, the drive and sense electrodes and/or the secondary sensor pattern can be formed on a glass or other transparent substrate, and formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO or ATO, to mitigate visual artifacts, although other transparent and non-transparent materials such as copper can also be used. 
       FIG. 6   b  illustrates exemplary digital media player  640  that can include a touch screen device  630  and a track pad device  650 . The touch screen device  630  and/or the track pad device  650  can include a touch sensor with a secondary sensor, according to one disclosed embodiment. 
       FIG. 6   c  illustrates exemplary personal computer  644  that can include a display  630 , and a track pad  650  including a touch sensor with a secondary sensor, according to one disclosed embodiment. Track pad  650  can be generally configured to send information or data to an electronic device (not shown) in order to perform an action on display  630  (e.g., via a graphical user interface (GUI), such as moving an input pointer, making a selection, providing instructions, etc. The input device can interact with the electronic device through a wired (e.g., cable/connector) or wireless connection (e.g., IR, bluetooth, etc.). 
     Track pad  650  can be a stand alone unit or it may be integrated into the electronic device, as shown in  FIG. 6   c . In some cases, the input device can be removably coupled to the electronic device as for example through a docking station. By way of example, the personal computer  644  can correspond to a computer such as a desktop computer, laptop computer or PDA. 
     Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performed, for example, by firmware stored in memory (e.g., a peripheral) and executed by processor subsystem (not shown), or stored in program storage (not shown) and executed by host processor (not shown). The firmware can also be stored and/or transported within any computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable storage medium” can be any medium that can contain or store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The computer readable storage medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disc such a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or flash memory such as compact flash cards, secured digital cards, USB memory devices, memory sticks, and the like. 
     The firmware can also be propagated within any transport medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “transport medium” can be any medium that can communicate, propagate or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The transport readable medium can include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic or infrared wired or wireless propagation medium. 
     Although the disclosed embodiments have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20101018
Publication Date: 20140805
Grant Date: 20140805
Priority Date: 20101018
Inventors: LYON BENJAMIN B.
RICHARDS PETER W.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H03K2017/9602", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2017/9602", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/960765", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K2217/960765", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/9622", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H03K17/9622", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/03547", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45933720