PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-9652088-B2
Application Number: US-84798710-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Fabrication of touch sensor panel using laser ablation

Abstract:
Fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation is disclosed. The fabricated touch sensor panel can have its touch sensors formed from conductive layers disposed on a surface such as an undersurface of the panel&#39;s cover substrate. A fabrication method can include ablating a first conductive layer to define the first part of the touch sensors and then ablating a second conductive layer proximate to the first conductive layer to define the second part of the touch sensors. The touch sensor panel can be incorporated into a mobile telephone, a digital media player, or a personal computer.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 ablating a first conductive layer to define first portions of touch sensors and a first plurality of dummy regions, the first portions connected by multiple crossover regions, wherein each dummy region of the first plurality of dummy regions is formed entirely by portions of the first conductive layer, and wherein each dummy region of the first plurality of dummy regions is electrically isolated from the first portions of touch sensors; 
 after ablating the first conductive layer, depositing a dielectric layer onto the first conductive layer, wherein the first portions of touch sensors and the first plurality of dummy regions are completely covered by the dielectric layer; and 
 after depositing the dielectric layer onto the first conductive layer, ablating a second conductive layer proximate to the first conductive layer to define second portions of the touch sensors and a second plurality of dummy regions, the second portions connected by multiple crossover regions, wherein each dummy region of the second plurality of dummy regions is formed entirely by portions of the second conductive layer, wherein each dummy region of the second plurality of dummy regions is electrically isolated from the second portions of touch sensors, wherein the first and second portions cross over at the respective crossover regions, wherein the first portions of touch sensors and the second plurality of dummy regions overlap, and wherein the second portions of touch sensors and the first plurality of dummy regions overlap. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the first conductive layer comprises defining either drive lines or sense lines of the touch sensors. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the second conductive layer comprises defining either drive lines or sense lines of the touch sensors. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the first conductive layer comprises separating the first conductive layer into electrically connected regions and electrically disconnected regions, the electrically connected regions comprising the first portions of the touch sensors. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the second conductive layer comprises separating the second conductive layer into electrically connected regions and electrically disconnected regions, the electrically connected regions comprising the second portions of the touch sensors. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising depositing a mask around a boundary of at least one of the first and second conductive layers. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , comprising forming a first set of contacts on the first portions of the touch sensors and a second set of contacts on the second portions of the touch sensors to electrically contact touch circuitry. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crossover regions are narrower than the first and second portions to reduce unwanted capacitive coupling between the first and second portions. 
     
     
       9. A method comprising:
 depositing a first conductive layer onto a substrate; 
 laser ablating the first conductive layer to create gaps in the first conductive layer that divide the first conductive layer into a first touch sensing pattern and a first plurality of dummy regions, wherein each dummy region of the first plurality of dummy regions is formed entirely by portions of the first conductive layer, and wherein each dummy region of the first plurality of dummy regions is electrically isolated from the first touch sensing pattern; 
 depositing a dielectric layer onto the first conductive layer, wherein the first touch sensing pattern and the first plurality of dummy regions are covered by the dielectric layer; 
 depositing a second conductive layer onto the dielectric layer; and 
 laser ablating the second conductive layer to create gaps in the second conductive layer that divide the second conductive layer into a second touch sensing pattern and a second plurality of dummy regions, wherein each dummy region of the second plurality of dummy regions is formed entirely by portions of the second conductive layer, wherein each dummy region of the second plurality of dummy regions is electrically isolated from the second touch sensing pattern, wherein the first plurality of dummy regions at least partially overlap the second touch sensing pattern, and wherein the second plurality of dummy regions at least partially overlap the first touch sensing pattern. 
 
     
     
       10. The method defined in  claim 9 , wherein laser ablating the first conductive layer comprises removing strips of the first conductive layer, and wherein laser ablating the second conductive layer comprises removing strips of the second conductive layer.

Description:
FIELD 
     This relates generally to touch sensor panels and, more particularly, to fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Touch sensor panels are increasingly used as input devices to a computing system. Generally, a touch sensor panel can include a cover substrate (formed from glass, polymer, or the like) to input information via touch and a sensor substrate (also formed from glass, polymer, or the like) with touch sensors to sense the touch on the cover substrate. In a drive to make a thinner touch sensor panel, it is desirable to eliminate the unwanted thickness of the sensor substrate. However, successfully providing a touch sensor panel without the sensor substrate has not been easy. 
     Elimination of the sensor substrate requires that the touch sensors be located on preferably another existing surface in the panel. One such surface has been the cover substrate. However, the cover substrate has proven to be a difficult option for at least some of the following reasons. In some embodiments, the cover substrate is glass that has been cut and shaped from a motherglass sheet. Then, for strength and durability, the cover glass is typically chemically treated with a strong ionic solution to strengthen all the glass surfaces, including the cut, shaped edges. Because chemical strengthening can damage the thin films of the touch sensors, it can be ineffective to place the touch sensors on the cover glass prior to strengthening. However, after the chemical strengthening has been completed, conventional touch sensor placement processes, such as photolithography and etching, which were developed for the larger motherglass sheets, can be either technically infeasible or too costly for the smaller cover glass. As a result, it can be difficult to use conventional placement processes to place the touch sensors on the cover glass after strengthening. 
     Accordingly, this approach to thinner touch sensor panels has been problematic. 
     SUMMARY 
     This relates to fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation, in which the panel&#39;s touch sensors can be formed from two conductive layers on a surface such as an undersurface of the panel&#39;s cover substrate. A fabrication method can include ablating a first conductive layer to define a first part of the touch sensors and then ablating a second conductive layer proximate to the first conductive layer to define a second part of the touch sensors. Another fabrication method can include ablating a first conductive layer to partially define the first part of the touch sensors, then ablating the first conductive layer and a proximate second conductive layer together to define the remainder of the first part of the touch sensors in the first conductive layer and to partially define the second part of the touch sensors in the second conductive layer, and finally ablating the second conductive layer to define the remainder of the second part of the touch sensors. These fabrication methods can advantageously provide touch sensors on an undersurface of a cover substrate of a touch sensor panel, thereby resulting in a thinner panel. Additionally, using conductive layers rather than discrete elements to form the touch sensors can avoid some visual artifacts that might otherwise appear in the panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 a  through 1 d    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary method for fabricating a touch sensor panel using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIGS. 3 a  through 3 c    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using the method of  FIG. 2  according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary method for fabricating a touch sensor panel using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIGS. 5 a  through 5 d    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using the method of  FIG. 4  according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone having a touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary digital media player having a touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary personal computer having a touch sensitive display and a touchpad fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of various 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 which 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 various embodiments. 
     This relates to fabrication of a touch sensor panel using laser ablation. The fabricated touch sensor panel can have touch sensors formed from two conductive layers disposed on a surface such as an undersurface of a cover substrate. A fabrication method can include depositing a first conductive layer onto a substrate, ablating the first conductive layer to define part of the touch sensors, depositing a dielectric material onto the first conductive layer to separate the first and subsequently deposited second conductive layers, depositing the second conductive layer onto the dielectric layer, and ablating the second conductive layer to define the remaining part of the touch sensors. Another fabrication method can include depositing a first conductive layer onto a substrate, ablating the first conductive layer to define first crossover portions of the touch sensors (crossover referring to portions of the touch sensors, e.g., rows and columns, crossing over each other), depositing a dielectric layer onto the first conductive layer to separate the first and subsequently deposited second conductive layers, depositing the second conductive layer onto the dielectric layer, ablating all three layers together to complete the portion of the touch sensors in the first conductive layer and to define part of the touch sensors in the second conductive layer, and further ablating the second conductive layer to define second crossover portions of the touch sensors to complete the portion of the touch sensors in the second conductive layer. 
     These fabrication methods can advantageously provide touch sensors on surfaces such as an undersurface of a cover substrate of a touch sensor panel, thereby resulting in a thinner panel. Additionally, using conductive layers that fully blanket the cover substrate can avoid some visual artifacts in the panel that might otherwise appear with discrete conductive elements. 
       FIGS. 1 a  through 1 d    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments.  FIG. 1 a    illustrates a plan view of the exemplary touch sensor panel&#39;s cover substrate&#39;s undersurface.  FIG. 1 b    illustrates a cross-sectional view of the panel.  FIG. 1 c    illustrates a plan view of a first conductive layer of the panel with horizontal components of the panel&#39;s touch sensors.  FIG. 1 d    illustrates a plan view of a second conductive layer of the panel with vertical components of the panel&#39;s touch sensors. In the examples of  FIGS. 1 a  through 1 d   , touch sensor panel  100  can include cover substrate  140  having touch surface  142  for touching by an object, such as a user&#39;s finger, a stylus, and the like. The touch sensor panel  100  can also include first conductive layer  136 , dielectric layer  166 , and second conductive layer  196  on an undersurface of the cover substrate  140 , where the conductive layers can form touch sensors  120  for sensing a touch on the touch surface  142  and the dielectric layer  166  can electrically isolate the conductive layers from each other. 
     The first conductive layer  136  can be ablated using a laser to define row components of the touch sensors  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 c   , the first conductive layer  136  can be ablated to make row gaps  102  to separate the rows  101  from dummy regions  151 . Although various gaps (e.g., row gaps, column gaps, contact gaps, row separation gaps, column separation gaps, and so on) are symbolically illustrated herein as lines, these gaps are actually areas at which the conductive layer material has been removed, thereby segmenting the conductive layer into multiple pieces. The row gaps  102  can isolate the rows  101 , which can be electrically charged during operation (as illustrated by the horizontal arrows), from the dummy regions  151 , which are electrically isolated during operation. By being electrically isolated, the dummy regions  151  can not electrically interfere with the columns  103  in the proximate second conductive layer  196 . The first conductive layer  136  can be further ablated to make row separation gaps  112  to separate the rows  101  from each other. The separation gaps  112  can prevent the rows  101  from electrically interfering with each other. 
     The second conductive layer  196  can be ablated using a laser to define column components of the touch sensors  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 d   , the second conductive layer  196  can be ablated to make column gaps  104  to separate the columns  103  from dummy regions  152 . The column gaps  104  can isolate the columns  103 , which are electrically charged during operation (as illustrated by the vertical arrows), from the dummy regions  152 , which are electrically isolated during operation. By being electrically isolated, the dummy regions  152  can not electrically interfere with the rows  101  in the proximate first conductive layer  136 . Optionally, the second conductive layer  196  can be further ablated to make column separation gaps  114  across the layer. The column separation gaps  114  can be regularly spaced with the column gaps  104  so as to reduce visual sensitivity to the column gaps had the column gaps been provided alone. In addition to simple lines, other patterns can be created in the dummy regions  151  and  152 , as well as in the regions of the rows  101  and the columns  103  to minimize visual sensitivity to the gaps defining the rows and columns. 
     The rows  101  of the first conductive layer  136  and the columns  103  of the second conductive layer  196  can cross over each other to form capacitive touch sensors  120 . The first conductive layer  136  and the second conductive layer  196  can be ablated to be substantially narrower at the crossover regions  128  so as to reduce the coupling area between the two layers, thereby reducing the amount of unwanted capacitive coupling therebetween. 
     In the example of  FIG. 1 a   , first conductive layer  136  is underneath the second conductive layer  196 , which is symbolically illustrated by dashed lines for the first conductive layer&#39;s row gaps  102  and row separation gaps  112 . It is to be understood however that the first and second conductive layers could be reversed with the second conductive layer underneath, depending on the needs of the panel. 
     In some embodiments, the rows  101  can be drive lines and the columns  103  can be sense lines, where the rows can drive the touch sensors  120  to sense a touch at the touch sensor panel  100  and the columns can transmit a touch signal indicative of the touch to sense circuitry (not shown). Column contacts  106  can electrically connect the columns  103  to the sense circuitry for further processing. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , each column  103  can have a column contact  106  disposed at one end of the column. Row contacts  105  can electrically connect the rows  101  to drive circuitry to receive drive signals. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 a  and 1 b   , each row  101  can have a row contact  105  disposed at one end of the row. Because the first conductive layer  136  is covered by the dielectric layer  166  and the second conductive layer  196 , openings can be made in the dielectric layer and the second conductive layer to reach the first conductive layer so as to contact the rows. To prevent the first and second conductive layers  136 ,  196  from unwanted coupling at the openings, the second conductive layer can be further ablated to form contact gap  107  around the row contacts  105  so as to electrically isolate the contacts from the second conductive layer. 
     In some alternate embodiments, the rows  101  can be the sense lines and the columns  103  can be the drive lines, where the columns can drive the touch sensors  120  to sense a touch and the rows can transmit a touch signal to sense circuitry for further processing. 
     The cover substrate  140  can be glass, polymer, or any suitable material for providing a touch surface and a touch sensor surface. The conductive layers  136 ,  196  can be indium-tin-oxide (ITO), polymers, or any suitable conductive material. The conductive material can be transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque according to the needs of the touch sensor panel. The dielectric layer  166  can be any suitable insulating material. The dielectric material can also be transparent, semi-transparent, or opaque according to the needs of the panel. The row and column contacts can be conductive carbon ink, silver ink, or any suitable conductive material. 
     It is to be understood that the touch sensors  120  are not limited to a row-column arrangement illustrated here, but can include radial, circular, diamond, and other arrangements capable of sensing a touch. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary method for fabricating a touch sensor panel using laser ablation according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 2 , a first conductive layer can be deposited onto a surface such as an undersurface of a cover substrate to blanket the undersurface, where the undersurface is opposite the cover substrate&#39;s touch surface ( 210 ). The conductive layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique, for example. 
     A laser can ablate the first conductive layer to define rows for touch sensors ( 220 ). The laser can remove some strips of the conductive layer to create gaps separating and electrically isolating the rows from each other and separating and electrically isolating the rows from dummy regions. The gaps can be patterned to divide the conductive layer into essentially horizontal continuous regions (forming rows) and essentially vertical discontinuous regions (forming dummy regions), where the horizontal regions can have narrowing portions at locations where the rows will cross over with the columns of the later deposited second conductive layer. Other patterns of the first conductive layer are also possible according to the desired touch sensor arrangement. 
     A dielectric layer can be deposited onto the first conductive layer to blanket the layer ( 230 ). The dielectric layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique or as a liquid polymer that is cured, for example. A second conductive layer can be deposited onto the dielectric layer to blanket the dielectric layer ( 240 ). The conductive layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique, for example. 
     A laser can ablate the second conductive layer to define columns for touch sensors ( 250 ). The laser can remove some strips of the conductive layer to create gaps separating and electrically isolating the columns from dummy regions. The gaps can be patterned to divide the conductive layer into essentially vertical continuous regions (forming columns) and essentially horizontal discontinuous regions (forming dummy regions), where the vertical regions can have narrowing portions at locations where the columns will cross over with the rows of the underlying first conductive layer. The laser can further remove some of the second conductive layer to create gaps separating and electrically isolating the layer from electrical contacts to the underlying rows. Optionally, the laser can remove some of the conductive layer to create vertical gaps at regular spacing between adjacent columns so as to reduce visual sensitivity to the column gaps. Other patterns of the second conductive layer are also possible according to the desired touch sensor arrangement. 
     The dielectric layer can absorb laser light during ablation of the second conductive layer to prevent the light from adversely affecting the underlying first conductive layer. 
     In some alternate embodiments, the first conductive layer can be ablated to define columns and the second conductive layer can be ablated to define rows similar to the method of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIGS. 3 a  through 3 c    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using the method of  FIG. 2 . In the example of  FIG. 3 a   , touch sensor  300  of a touch sensor panel can include first conductive layer  336  deposited onto a surface such as a cover substrate (not shown), where the conductive layer can be ablated to define row  301  and dummy region  351 . Row gap  302  made during the ablation can separate and electrically isolate the row  301  from the dummy region  351 . A horizontal row gap (not shown) made during the ablation can separate the row  301  from an adjacent row. The row  301  can include a narrowing portion at the crossover region with the to-be-defined column. In the example of  FIG. 3 b   , dielectric layer  366  can be deposited onto the first conductive layer  336  to cover the ablated row and dummy region pattern. The first conductive layer  336  being underneath the dielectric layer  366  is symbolically illustrated by the dashed lines for the row gaps  302 . In the example of  FIG. 3 c   , second conductive layer  396  can be deposited onto the dielectric layer  366  to cover the dielectric layer. The second conductive layer  396  can be ablated to define column  302  and dummy regions  352 . Column gap  304  made during the ablation can separate and electrically isolate the column  302  from the dummy regions  352 . A vertical column gap (not shown) can optionally be made during ablation between adjacent columns. The column  302  can include a narrowing portion at the crossover region  328  with the underlying row&#39;s  301  narrowing portion. The column gap  304  can be located so that the column  302  falls within the boundary of the first conductive layer&#39;s dummy region  351 , with some offset so that the gaps are not too close that they appear as one thick gap. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary method for fabricating a touch sensor panel using laser ablation according to various embodiments. In the example of  FIG. 4 , a first conductive layer can be deposited onto a surface such as an undersurface of a cover substrate to blanket the undersurface, where the undersurface is opposite the cover substrate&#39;s touch surface ( 410 ). The conductive layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique, for example. 
     A laser can ablate the first conductive layer to partially define rows for touch sensors ( 420 ). The laser can remove some of the conductive layer to create horizontal gaps at positions where the rows will cross over with the columns of the later deposited second conductive layer. The laser can also remove some of the first conductive layer to create gaps separating and electrically isolating the rows from each other. 
     A dielectric layer can be deposited onto the first conductive layer to blanket the layer ( 430 ). The dielectric layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique, for example. A second conductive layer can be deposited onto the dielectric layer to blanket the dielectric layer ( 440 ). The conductive layer can be deposited using a sputtering technique, for example. 
     A laser can ablate the first conductive layer further, the dielectric layer, and the second conductive layer at the same time to define the remaining portions of the rows for the touch sensors in the first conductive layer and to partially define columns for the touch sensors in the second conductive layer ( 450 ). For the first conductive layer, the laser can remove more of the conductive layer to create additional gaps that connect with the previously-made horizontal gaps, thereby completing the row gaps in the first conductive layer. The completed gaps can separate and electrically isolate the rows from dummy regions. The row gaps can be patterned to divide the conductive layer into essentially horizontal continuous regions (forming rows) and essentially vertical discontinuous regions (forming dummy regions), where the horizontal regions can have narrowing portions at locations where the rows will cross over with the columns of the later deposited second conductive layer. 
     For the second conductive layer, the laser can remove some of the conductive layer to create vertical gaps that define most of the columns, except the portions where the columns will cross over the underlying rows 
     A laser can further ablate the second conductive layer to define the crossover portions of the columns for the touch sensors ( 460 ). The laser can remove more of the conductive layer to create vertical gaps at the positions where the columns cross over the underlying rows. The vertical gaps can connect with the previously-made gaps to complete the column gaps in the second conductive layer. The completed gaps can separate and electrically isolate the columns from dummy regions. The column gaps can be patterned to divide the conductive layer into essentially vertical continuous regions (forming columns) and essentially horizontal discontinuous regions (forming dummy regions), where the vertical regions can have narrowing portions at locations where the columns will cross over with the rows of the underlying first conductive layer. The laser can further remove some of the conductive layer to create gaps separating and electrically isolating the layer from electrical contacts to the underlying rows. Optionally, the laser can remove some of the conductive layer to create vertical gaps at regular spacing between adjacent columns so as to reduce visual sensitivity to the column gaps. 
     Other patterns of the first and second conductive layers are also possible according to the desired touch sensor arrangement. 
     The laser wavelength, pulse duration, power, and the like can be tuned so that the laser can ablate the first conductive layer, then ablate both conductive layers and the dielectric layer together, and then ablate only the second conductive layer without adversely affecting the underlying first conductive layer. 
     In some alternate embodiments, the first conductive layer can be ablated to define columns and the second conductive layer can be ablated to define rows. In such an alternate embodiment, the first conductive layer can be ablated to form the pairs of vertical gaps. All the layers can be ablated to complete the columns in the first conductive layer and to partially define the rows in the second conductive layer. The second conductive layer can be ablated to form the pairs of horizontal gaps to complete the rows in the second conductive layer. 
       FIGS. 5 a  through 5 d    illustrate an exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using the method of  FIG. 4 . In the example of  FIG. 5 a   , touch sensor  500  of a touch sensor panel can include first conductive layer  536  deposited onto a cover substrate (not shown), where the conductive layer can be ablated to define a portion of a row. A pair of small horizontal row gaps  502  can form the narrowing portion of the row to cross over with the to-be-defined column in the second conductive layer. A longer horizontal row gap (not shown) made during the ablation can separate the row from an adjacent row. In the example of  FIG. 5 b   , dielectric layer  566  can be deposited onto the first conductive layer  536  to cover the ablated pattern. The first conductive layer  536  being underneath the dielectric layer  566  is symbolically illustrated by the dashed lines of the row gap  502 . In the example of  FIG. 5 c   , second conductive layer  596  can be deposited onto the dielectric layer  566  to cover the dielectric layer. The first conductive layer  536 , the dielectric layer  566 , and the second conductive layer  596  can be ablated together to complete the row in the first conductive layer and to define a portion of a column in the second conductive layer. The row and column gaps  508  can connect with the previously-made row gaps  502  in the first conductive layer  536  to separate and electrically isolate the row from a dummy region. In the example of  FIG. 5 d   , the second conductive layer  596  can be ablated to complete the column in the conductive layer. A pair of vertical column gaps  504  can form the narrowing portion of the column to cross over the underlying row&#39;s narrowing portion. The column gaps  504  can connect with the previously-made row and column gaps  508  in the second conductive layer  596  to separate and electrically isolate the column from a dummy region. A vertical column gap (not shown) can optionally be made during ablation between adjacent columns. Because all the layers are ablated together, the row in the first conductive layer can align with the dummy region in the second conductive layer and the column in the second conductive layer can align with the dummy region in the first conductive layer. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another exemplary touch sensor panel fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. The touch sensor panel of  FIG. 6  can be the same as the touch sensor panel of  FIGS. 1 a  through 1 d    with the following addition. In the example of  FIG. 6 , black mask  686  can be formed around the boundary of touch sensor panel  600  to form an aesthetic barrier. An opaque dielectric material forming the black mask can be printed around the boundary of the second conductive layer with a print device utilizing ink jet printing, screen printing, or other suitable printing techniques. 
     In some alternate embodiments, the black mask can be printed around the boundary of the cover substrate on the substrate&#39;s undersurface before the first conductive layer is deposited. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor panel of  FIG. 6 . After black mask  786  has been printed onto second conductive layer  796 , conductive carbon ink can be printed onto the second conductive layer to form column contact  706  with the second conductive layer. Silver ink can be printed onto the carbon ink to form traces for routing electrical signals between the column contact  706  and touch circuitry (not shown). Similarly, conductive carbon ink can be printed into openings in the second conductive layer  796  and dielectric layer  766  to form row contact  705  with first conductive layer  736 . Silver ink can be printed onto the carbon ink to form traces for routing electrical signals between the row contact  705  and touch circuitry (not shown). Other conductive inks and/or materials can be used according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone  800  that can include a display  836  and a touch sensor panel  824  fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary digital media player  900  that can include a display  936  and a touch sensor panel  924  fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary personal computer  1000  that can include a touch sensitive display  1036  and a touch sensor panel (trackpad)  1024 , where the touch sensitive display and the trackpad can be fabricated using laser ablation according to various embodiments. 
     The mobile telephone, media player, and personal computer of  FIGS. 8 through 10  can be thinner and can avoid some visual artifacts by utilizing a touch sensor panel fabricated according to various embodiments. 
     Although embodiments describe touch sensors, it is to be understood that proximity and other types of sensors can also be used. 
     Although embodiments describe the touch sensors being formed on a single side of a strengthened, formed cover substrate, it is to be understood that the touch sensors or portions thereof can be formed on multiple sides of the cover substrate or some other suitable substrate ready for use in a touch sensor panel. 
     Although 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 various embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20100730
Publication Date: 20170516
Grant Date: 20170516
Priority Date: 20100730
Inventors: HARLEY JONAH A.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F2203/04111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0445", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04111", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 45526210