PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8970504-B2
Application Number: US-11011708-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Reliability metal traces

Abstract:
The formation of improved reliability conductive traces in touch sensor panels that are less prone to failures due to environmental effects is disclosed. Conductive traces, which can be formed from a stackup of metal layers or a single metal layer, can be protected with an additional photoimageable passivation layer of a material such as an organic polymer. This photoimageable coating can be patterned so that it does not appear in the visible area of the touch sensor panel, with much finer tolerances than conventional passivation layers to help keep product dimensions to a minimum.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A touch sensor panel including a viewing area and improved reliability conductive traces for carrying signals on a touch sensor panel, comprising:
 a first layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) formed on a substrate; 
 a second layer of Aluminum Neodymium (Al/Nd) formed on the first layer, the first layer for adhering the second layer to the substrate; 
 a third layer of the Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) formed on the second layer, the third layer for protecting the second layer; and 
 an organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer formed on the third layer without overlapping with the viewing area; 
 wherein the first, second and third layers are patterned to form the conductive traces and fully sealed over the substrate by only the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 1 , further comprising a first passivation layer formed between the third layer and the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer. 
     
     
       3. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 2 , the first passivation layer comprising silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). 
     
     
       4. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 1 , the first, second and third layers patterned using photolithographic techniques having tolerances of less than +/−10 microns to minimize an overall size of the touch sensor panel. 
     
     
       5. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 1 , the improved reliability conductive traces formed within a touch sensor panel. 
     
     
       6. The improved reliability conductive trace of  claim 5 , the touch sensor panel incorporated within a computing system. 
     
     
       7. A touch sensor panel including a viewing area and improved reliability conductive traces for carrying signals on a touch sensor panel, comprising:
 a Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) layer patterned on a substrate to form the conductive traces with controlled wall angles; and 
 an organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer formed over the conductive traces without overlapping with the viewing area, 
 wherein the Mo/Nb layer is fully sealed over the substrate by only the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer. 
 
     
     
       8. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 7 , further comprising a first passivation layer formed between the Mo/Nb layer and the organic photoimageable passivation layer. 
     
     
       9. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 8 , further comprising a conductive layer formed between the Mo/Nb layer and the first passivation layer. 
     
     
       10. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 9 , the conductive layer comprising Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). 
     
     
       11. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 8 , the first passivation layer comprising silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). 
     
     
       12. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 7 , the organic photoimageable passivation layer patterned using photolithographic techniques having tolerances of less than +/−10 microns to minimize an overall size of the touch sensor panel. 
     
     
       13. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 7 , the improved reliability conductive traces formed within a touch sensor panel. 
     
     
       14. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 13 , the touch sensor panel incorporated within a computing system. 
     
     
       15. A touch sensor panel including a viewing area and improved reliability conductive traces for carrying signals on a touch sensor panel, comprising:
 a first layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) formed on a substrate; 
 a second layer of a second conductive material formed on the first layer, the first and second layers configured as transparent conductive electrodes and border electrical connections; and 
 an organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer formed over the first and second layers without overlapping with the viewing area, 
 wherein the first and second layers are fully sealed over the substrate by only the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer. 
 
     
     
       16. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 15 , the second layer formed from Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). 
     
     
       17. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 15 , further comprising a first passivation layer formed between the second layer and the organic photoimageable passivation layer. 
     
     
       18. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 17 , the first passivation layer comprising silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ). 
     
     
       19. The improved reliability conductive traces of  claim 15 , the organic photoimageable passivation layer patterned using photolithographic techniques having tolerances of less than +/−10 microns to minimize an overall size of the touch sensor panel. 
     
     
       20. A mobile telephone including a touch sensor panel including a viewing area and containing a plurality of improved reliability conductive traces, the improved reliability conductive traces comprising:
 a first layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) formed on a substrate; 
 a second layer of Aluminum Neodymium (Al/Nd) formed on the first layer, the first layer for adhering the second layer to the substrate; 
 a third layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) formed on the second layer, the third layer for protecting the second layer; and 
 an organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer formed on the third layer without overlapping with the viewing area; 
 wherein the first, second and third layers are patterned to form the conductive traces and fully sealed over the substrate by only the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer. 
 
     
     
       21. A digital media player including a touch sensor panel including a viewing area and containing a plurality of improved reliability conductive traces, the improved reliability conductive traces comprising:
 a Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb) layer with a thickness of between 3000-5000 angstroms formed and patterned on a substrate to form the conductive traces with controlled wall angles; and 
 an organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer with a thickness of at least 2.0 microns formed over the conductive traces without overlapping with the viewing area, 
 wherein the Mo/Nb layer is fully sealed over the substrate by only the organic polymer photoimageable passivation layer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This relates generally to the formation of metal traces on substrates, and more particularly, to the formation of improved reliability conductive traces on touch sensor panels that are less prone to failures due to environmental effects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many types of input devices are presently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch sensor panels, touch screens and the like. Touch screens, in particular, 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 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. 
     Mutual capacitance touch sensor panels can be formed from a matrix of drive and sense lines of a substantially transparent conductive material such as Indium Tim Oxide (ITO), often arranged in rows and columns in horizontal and vertical directions on a substantially transparent substrate. In some touch sensor panel designs, the substantially transparent drive lines can be routed to one edge of the substrate for off-board connections using conductive (e.g. metal) traces in the border areas of the substrate where transparency is not required. These conductive traces can be formed by depositing or otherwise forming layers of conductive material on the substrate. The conductive traces can then be protected by passivation layers. Passivation layers are often inorganic compositions (e.g. silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) or silicon nitride (SiNx)) formed over conductive material such as ITO and other layers to protect those materials from corrosion and other environmental effects. These inorganic compositions are typically formed from simple, small molecules and can be applied using techniques such as sputtering. However, even with the addition of a passivation layer, there are reliability issues involved in the fabrication of these conductive traces. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This relates to the formation of improved reliability conductive traces in touch sensor panels that are less prone to failures due to environmental effects. Conductive traces, which can be formed from a stackup of metal layers or a single metal layer, can be protected with an additional photoimageable passivation layer of a material such as an organic polymer. This photoimageable coating can be patterned so that it does not appear in the visible area of the touch sensor panel, with much finer tolerances than conventional passivation layers to help keep product dimensions to a minimum. 
     In some embodiments, the primary conductive trace used for carrying the signal of interest can be a layer of Aluminum Neodymium (Al/Nd). Because Al/Nd does not adhere well to the substrate, a layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb), another metal, can be first formed on the substrate to enhance the adhesion of the Al/Nd to the substrate, although other materials with similar properties can also be used. The Al/Nd layer can then be formed over Mo/Nb layer. A second layer of Mo/Nb (or other similar material) can then be formed over the Al/Nd layer as an additional measure of protection from the atmosphere for the Al/Nd, which is highly corrosive. A first passivation layer of a material that can be sputtered (e.g. SiO 2 ) can then be applied over the traces to protect the formed traces, although other materials with similar properties can also be used. 
     After the first passivation layer has been applied over the conductive trace layer stackup, a photoimageable passivation layer (e.g. organic polymer) can be applied to further protect the stackup from being corroded by moisture, temperature, or foreign materials and otherwise block chemical penetration. The organic polymer layer can be applied in liquid form (spin-coating or slit-coating), which can be advantageous for filling in voids as compared to inorganic compositions applied using thin film deposition (e.g. sputtering) because of its superior conforming properties. The organic polymer can be a photosensitive material that can be patterned using photolithography. Alternatively, any other photoimageable protective material that provides corrosion and chemical protection can be used. 
     In other embodiments, the Mo/Nb, Al/Nd and Mo/Nb tri-layer stackup is replaced by a single thicker and wider layer of conductive material such as Mo/Nb. The thickness of the Mo/Nb layer can be varied to provide the conductivity required by the particular application. After the Mo/Nb layer is deposited at the preferred thickness, it can be patterned (etched) to form traces. A protective first passivation layer (e.g. SiO 2 ) can then formed over the Mo/Nb layer, and a photoimageable passivation layer of a photoimageable material such as an organic polymer can then be formed over the first passivation layer. 
     In further embodiments, a single thicker and wider layer of Mo/Nb can be formed on the substrate. After the Mo/Nb layer is deposited at the preferred thickness, it can be patterned (etched) to form traces. A layer of conductive material such as ITO can then be formed over the Mo/Nb layer. To give an extra measure of protection, the Mo/Nb layer can be formed and patterned first, followed by the conductive material layer. The conductive material layer can be patterned to form the drive or sense lines that couple to the metal traces, and can also be patterned over the Mo/Nb traces to form another protective layer for the Mo/Nb traces. A first passivation layer (e.g. SiO 2 ) and a photoimageable passivation layer (e.g. organic polymer) can then be formed over the conductive material layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  illustrates an exemplary improved reliability conductive trace layer stackup formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1   b  illustrates a top view of an exemplary touch sensor panel with conductive trace layer stackups formed on a substrate. 
         FIG. 1   c  illustrates a top view of an exemplary touch sensor panel with improved reliability conductive trace layer stackups formed on a substrate according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates another exemplary improved reliability conductive trace layer stackup formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates yet another improved reliability exemplary conductive trace layer stackup formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary DITO touch sensor panel having improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 5   a  illustrates a top view of an exemplary touch sensor panel with rows and columns coupled to improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 5   b  illustrates a top view of another exemplary touch sensor panel with rows and columns coupled to improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary computing system including a touch sensor panel utilizing improved reliability traces according to embodiments of the invention 
         FIG. 7   a  illustrates an exemplary mobile telephone having a touch sensor panel that includes improved reliability traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7   b  illustrates an exemplary digital media player having a touch sensor panel that includes improved reliability traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 7   c  illustrates an exemplary personal computer having a touch sensor panel (trackpad) and/or display that includes improved reliability traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description of preferred 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 in which the invention 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 embodiments of this invention. 
     This relates to the formation of improved reliability conductive traces in touch sensor panels that are less prone to failures due to environmental effects. Conductive traces, which can be formed from a stackup of metal layers or a single metal layer, can be protected with an additional photoimageable passivation layer of a material such as an organic polymer. This photoimageable coating can be patterned so that it does not appear in the visible area of the touch sensor panel, with much finer tolerances than conventional passivation layers to help keep product dimensions to a minimum. 
     Although embodiments of the invention may be described and illustrated herein in terms of mutual capacitance touch sensor panels, it should be understood that embodiments of this invention are not so limited, but are additionally applicable to self-capacitance sensor panels, and both single and multi-touch sensor panels in which the fabrication of conductive traces is required. Furthermore, although embodiments of the invention may be described and illustrated herein in terms of double-sided ITO (DITO) touch sensor panels, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention are also applicable to other touch sensor panel configurations, such as configurations in which the drive and sense lines are formed on different substrates or on the back of a cover glass, and configurations in which the drive and sense lines are formed on the same side of a single substrate. 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates an exemplary improved reliability conductive trace layer stackup  100  formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. In the example of  FIG. 1   a , the primary conductive trace used for carrying the signal of interest can be a layer of Aluminum Neodymium (Al/Nd)  102 , although other materials with similar properties can also be used. (The signal of interest, as defined herein, includes but is not limited to alternating current (AC) signals, direct current (DC) signals at a substantially constant voltage, and pulse or other momentary perturbations in a DC signal.) Because Al/Nd does not adhere well to substrate  106 , a layer of Molybdenum Niobium (Mo/Nb)  104 , another metal, can be first formed on substrate  106  to enhance the adhesion of the Al/Nd to the substrate, although other materials with similar properties can also be used. Al/Nd layer  102  can then be formed over Mo/Nb layer  104 . A second layer of Mo/Nb  108  (or other similar material) can then be formed over Al/Nd layer  102  as an additional measure of protection from the atmosphere for the Al/Nd, which is highly corrosive. These three layers can be applied in essentially one step as an in-line process, with three chambers used to apply each layer in successive fashion. The three layers can then be etched together to form the traces, although in other embodiments, each of the three layers can be applied and patterned individually before the next layer is applied. First passivation layer  110  of a material that can be sputtered (e.g. SiO 2 ) can then be applied over the traces to protect the formed traces, although other materials with similar properties can also be used. 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates a top view of an exemplary touch sensor panel  114  with conductive trace layer stackups  100  formed on substrate  106  as described above. Shadow masks are used in the sputtering process to form the first passivation layer  110 , with tabs  118  protecting the areas of the conductive trace layer stackups to be bonded to a flex circuit. The flex circuit can be conductively bonded to the exposed conductive traces using a conductive adhesive such as anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The ACF can also form an environmental barrier to protect conductive trace layer stackups  100 . With a shadow mask, first passivation layer  110  can be sputtered over touch sensor panel  114 , conductive trace layer stackups  100 , and shadow mask  116 . However, because the tolerances involved in forming shadow mask  116  on the panel are on the order of about ±350 microns, slightly smaller tabs may have to be designed, and a smaller FPC opening can be necessary to account for these tolerances. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1   a , because Mo/Nb layers  104  and  108  and Al/Nd layer  102  can be first deposited individually and then etched all at once, it can be difficult to control the wall angles of the resulting traces. In other words, as the unwanted layers of Mo/Nb  104  and  108  and Al/Nd  102  are etched away, the various conductive layers can be etched away at different rates. For example, Al/Nd  102  can be etched away to a greater degree than Mo/Nb  104  and  104 , resulting in void  112  in the Al/Nd layer. When first passivation layer  110  is formed over the conductive layer stackup, void  112  may remain (i.e. it may not get filled in by the first passivation layer). If mechanical or chemical stresses or manufacturing flaws cause a crack to form in the brittle SiO 2  layer  110 , void  112  creates an area of exposure to foreign materials (corrosive agents) for Al/Nd  102 , and corrosion and other negative effects can occur to the Al/Nd layer. For example, corrosion of Al/Nd layer  102  due to cracks in first passivation layer  110  can create a larger void  112 , which can further remove support for the first passivation layer and can accelerate and increase the cracks in the first passivation layer. Larger cracks can cause further corrosion to Al/Nd layer  102 . Thus, the process can feed on itself and eventually create a catastrophic failure in the trace. This can be especially problematic for touch sensor panels, because unlike other applications of conductive thin film layers such as in LCDs where the conductive thin film layers are formed, sandwiched and therefore protected between two glass substrates, the conductive traces on touch sensor panels can be exposed and subject to corrosive environmental agents. 
     Therefore, according to embodiments of the invention, after first passivation layer  110  has been applied over conductive trace layer stackup  100 , a photoimageable passivation layer  120  (e.g. organic polymer) can be applied to further protect the stackup from being corroded by moisture, temperature, or foreign materials and otherwise block chemical penetration. It should be noted that organic polymer is conventionally used for planarization (smoothing of surfaces). However, in embodiments of the invention, organic polymer can be used to form photoimageable passivation layer  120 . The organic polymer layer can be applied in liquid form (spin-coating or slit-coating), which can be advantageous for filling in voids as compared to inorganic compositions applied using thin film deposition (e.g. sputtering) because of its superior conforming properties. The organic polymer can be a photosensitive material that can be patterned using photolithography. Alternatively, any other photoimageable protective material that provides corrosion and chemical protection can be used. Typical thicknesses for the materials of stackup  100  can be about 100-700 ångstroms (Å) for Mo/Nb layer  104 , about 1500-3000 Å for Al/Nd layer  102 , about 300-800 Å for Mo/Nb layer  108 , about 300-1000 Å for first passivation layer  110 , and about 2.0 microns or greater for photoimageable passivation layer  120 . 
     As mentioned above, one disadvantage of using only a single passivation layer of a sputtered material such as SiO 2  is that the tolerances for forming the shadow mask on the touch sensor panel are on the order of about ±350 microns. Accordingly, a smaller FPC opening is necessary to compensate for these tolerances. An additional benefit of applying photoimageable passivation layer  120  of a material such as organic polymer that can be formed using photolithography is that the tolerances of photolithography are on the order of about ±5 microns. Therefore, the panel design need not be made large enough to account for the shadow mask tolerances, and even if the first passivation layer is not precisely applied and does not provide complete coverage due to tolerance errors, the photoimageable passivation layer is present as a backup. 
       FIG. 1   c  illustrates a top view of an exemplary touch sensor panel  114  with improved reliability conductive trace layer stackups  100  formed on substrate  106  according to embodiments of the invention. As compared to a liquid crystal display (LCD), which can be placed partially or fully behind touch sensor panel  114  in touch screen embodiments, the touch sensor panel is closer to the user, and therefore the negative visual artifacts from the photoimageable passivation layer can be more pronounced. Accordingly, to minimize these negative visual artifacts, the photoimageable passivation layer can be kept away from the center viewing area, and formed only over the metal traces in the nontransparent border regions using photolithographic techniques. In the example of  FIG. 1   b , the photoimageable passivation layer can be applied only over conductive trace layer stackups  100  in border areas  122  of the substrate. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another exemplary improved reliability conductive trace layer stackup  200  formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the Mo/Nb, Al/Nd and Mo/Nb tri-layer stackup of  FIG. 1   a  is replaced by a single thicker and wider layer of conductive material such as Mo/Nb  204 . In comparing the primary signal-carrying layer in the two embodiments, Mo/Nb layer  204  of  FIG. 2  is less reactive and corrodes less easily than the Al/Nd layer of  FIG. 1   a . The Al/Nd layer of  FIG. 1   a  has better conductivity as compared to Mo/Nb layer  204  of  FIG. 2 , but the Mo/Nb layer is sufficiently conductive given its larger cross-sectional area, and also adheres well to substrate  206 . 
     The thickness of Mo/Nb layer  204  can be varied to provide the conductivity required by the particular application. After Mo/Nb layer  204  is deposited at the preferred thickness, it can be patterned (etched) to form traces. Note that because only a single conductive layer is formed in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the problem of side wall control is eliminated. A protective first passivation layer  210  (e.g. SiO 2 ) can then formed over Mo/Nb layer  204 , and a photoimageable passivation layer  220  of a photoimageable material such as an organic polymer can then be formed over the first passivation layer. Typical thicknesses for the materials of stackup  200  can be about 3000-5000 Å for Mo/Nb layer  204 , about 300-1000 Å for first passivation layer  210 , and about 2.0 microns or greater for photoimageable passivation layer  220 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates yet another improved reliability exemplary conductive trace layer stackup  300  formed on a touch sensor panel according to embodiments of the invention. In the example of  FIG. 3 , as in  FIG. 2 , a single thicker and wider layer of Mo/Nb  304  having a thickness of about 3000-5000 Å can be formed on substrate  306 . After Mo/Nb layer  304  is deposited at the preferred thickness, it can be patterned (etched) to form traces. A layer of conductive material  324  such as ITO can then be formed over Mo/Nb layer  304 . Note that one of the purposes of the conductive traces described herein is for coupling to either the drive or sense lines on the touch sensor panel. In the previously described embodiments, the conductive traces are formed on top of the drive or sense lines (not shown in the preceding figures). However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , to give an extra measure of protection, Mo/Nb layer  304  can be formed and patterned first, followed by conductive material layer  324 . Conductive material layer  324  can be patterned to form the drive or sense lines that couple to the metal traces, and can also be patterned over Mo/Nb traces  304  to form another protective layer for the Mo/Nb traces. First passivation layer  310  (e.g. SiO 2 ) and photoimageable passivation layer  320  (e.g. organic polymer) can then be formed over conductive material layer  324 . Typical thicknesses for the materials of stackup  300  can be about 3000-5000 Å for Mo/Nb layer  304 , about 100-200 Å for conductive material layer  324 , about 300-1000 Å for first passivation layer  310 , and about 2.0 microns or greater for photoimageable passivation layer  320 . Although  FIG. 3  illustrates Mo/Nb layer  304  under a layer of conductive material  324  such as ITO, in alternative embodiments, the trace could be formed from conductive material under a layer of Mo/Nb. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary DITO touch sensor panel  400  having improved reliability conductive traces  416  according to embodiments of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 4  (with the z-direction greatly exaggerated for clarity of illustration), DITO multi-touch sensor panel  400  can have column traces  402  (e.g. sense lines) that can terminate at a short edge  404  of substrate  406 , requiring flex circuit  424  having wide flex circuit portion  408  extending the full width of the short edge that can bond to bond pads  410  on the top side of the substrate. 
     It can be undesirable to have column traces  402  (e.g. sense lines) and row traces  412  (e.g. drive lines) cross over each other at bonding area  414 , and it can also be undesirable to have bond pads  410  and  418  formed on directly opposing sides of substrate  406  because such areas can generate unwanted stray mutual capacitance and coupling of signals. Therefore, row traces  412  can be routed to the same short edge  404  of substrate  406  as column traces  402  using improved reliability conductive traces  416  running along the borders of the substrate. 
       FIG. 5   a  illustrates top view  500  of an exemplary touch sensor panel with rows  504  and columns  506  coupled to improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. In  FIG. 5 , the grid of rows and columns is symbolic—the rows and columns can be diamond-shaped, rectangular, or any of a number of shapes. Upper rows  508  can be routed to the bottom short edge of substrate  502  using improved reliability conductive traces  510  running along the left border of the substrate, outside visible area  512 . Lower rows  514  can be routed to the bottom short edge of substrate  502  using improved reliability conductive traces  516  running along the right border of the substrate, outside visible area  512 . By coupling the rows to conductive traces at only one end, the conductive traces can take up less width in the border areas and can be made wider, lowering their resistivity or enabling the use of more environmentally robust but higher resistivity materials. Improved reliability conductive traces  510  and  516  can be coupled to bond pads in small connector areas  518  near the middle of the bottom short edge of substrate  502 . The column traces can be routed to center  520  of the small connector area using improved reliability conductive traces. 
       FIG. 5   b  illustrates top view  500  of exemplary substrate  502  with rows  504  and columns  506  coupled to improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. In the example embodiment of  FIG. 5   b , all rows  504  can be coupled on both the left and right sides to improved reliability conductive traces  508  and  510  running within the left and right borders of substrate  502 . Because rows  504  only need to be driven for half of the width of substrate  502 , the phase delay differences between rows is reduced. However, one drawback is that because double the number of improved reliability conductive traces can be needed as compared to  FIG. 5   a , the traces must be made narrow, which increases their resistivity. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates exemplary computing system  600  that can include one or more of the embodiments of the invention described above. Computing system  600  can include one or more panel processors  602  and peripherals  604 , and panel subsystem  606 . Peripherals  604  can include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timers and the like. Panel subsystem  606  can include, but is not limited to, one or more sense channels  608 , channel scan logic  610  and driver logic  614 . Channel scan logic  610  can access RAM  612 , autonomously read data from the sense channels and provide control for the sense channels. In addition, channel scan logic  610  can control driver logic  614  to generate stimulation signals  616  at various frequencies and phases that can be selectively applied to drive lines of touch sensor panel  624 . In some embodiments, panel subsystem  606 , panel processor  602  and peripherals  604  can be integrated into a single application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). 
     Touch sensor panel  624  can include a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of drive lines and a plurality of sense lines, although other sensing media can also be used. Either or both of the drive and sense lines can be coupled to improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. Each intersection of drive and sense lines can represent a capacitive sensing node and can be viewed as picture element (pixel)  626 , which can be particularly useful when touch sensor panel  624  is viewed as capturing an “image” of touch. (In other words, after panel subsystem  606  has determined whether a touch event has been detected at each touch sensor in the touch sensor panel, the pattern of touch sensors in the multi-touch panel at which a touch event occurred can be viewed as an “image” of touch (e.g. a pattern of fingers touching the panel).) Each sense line of touch sensor panel  624  can drive sense channel  608  (also referred to herein as an event detection and demodulation circuit) in panel subsystem  606 . 
     Computing system  600  can also include host processor  628  for receiving outputs from panel processor  602  and performing actions based on the outputs that can include, but are not limited to, moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device coupled to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, changing the volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephone communications such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, received calls, missed calls, logging onto a computer or a computer network, permitting authorized individuals access to restricted areas of the computer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with a user&#39;s preferred arrangement of the computer desktop, permitting access to web content, launching a particular program, encrypting or decoding a message, and/or the like. Host processor  628  can also perform additional functions that may not be related to panel processing, and can be coupled to program storage  632  and display device  630  such as an LCD display for providing a UI to a user of the device. Display device  630  together with touch sensor panel  624 , when located partially or entirely under the touch sensor panel, can form touch screen  618 . 
     Note that one or more of the functions described above can be performed by firmware stored in memory (e.g. one of the peripherals  604  in  FIG. 6 ) and executed by panel processor  602 , or stored in program storage  632  and executed by host processor  628 . The firmware can also be stored and/or transported within any computer-readable 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 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 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. 
       FIG. 7   a  illustrates exemplary mobile telephone  736  that can include touch sensor panel  724  and display device  730 , the touch sensor panel including improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 7   b  illustrates exemplary digital media player  740  that can include touch sensor panel  724  and display device  730 , the touch sensor panel including improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 7   c  illustrates exemplary personal computer  744  that can include touch sensor panel (trackpad)  724  and display  730 , the touch sensor panel and/or display of the personal computer (in embodiments where the display is part of a touch screen) including improved reliability conductive traces according to embodiments of the invention. The mobile telephone, media player and personal computer of  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c  can achieve improved overall reliability by utilizing the improved reliability traces according to embodiments of the invention. 
     Although embodiments of this invention 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 embodiments of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20080425
Publication Date: 20150303
Grant Date: 20150303
Priority Date: 20080425
Inventors: HUANG LILI
ZHONG JOHN Z.
HOTELLING STEVE PORTER
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G06F3/044", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04164", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0443", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/04164", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0443", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F3/0446", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G06F2203/04103", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 41213885