U.S. patent application number 13/910492 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for touch panel.
The applicant listed for this patent is MStar Semiconductor, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kai-Ting Ho, Guo-Kiang Hong, Wei-Lun Kuo.
Application Number | 20130329347 13/910492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49715132 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130329347 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo; Wei-Lun ; et
al. |
December 12, 2013 |
TOUCH PANEL
Abstract
A touch panel includes electrodes and routings disposed on a
single conductive layer. The electrodes and routings are connected
to drivers and sensors to sense mutual capacitance changes induced
by a touch among the electrodes. The touch panel includes a first
electrode, a second electrode, and a first routing connected to the
first electrode. The second electrode includes two sub-electrodes
respectively disposed at two sides of the first routing. The first
electrode has a first jigsaw section, and the second electrode has
a second jigsaw section mutually intervening with the first jigsaw
section in an insulated manner.
Inventors: |
Kuo; Wei-Lun; (Hsinchu City,
TW) ; Ho; Kai-Ting; (Taipei City, TW) ; Hong;
Guo-Kiang; (Zhubei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MStar Semiconductor, Inc. |
Hsinchu Hsien |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
49715132 |
Appl. No.: |
13/910492 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61656535 |
Jun 7, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2203/04104
20130101; G06F 3/041 20130101; H03K 17/9622 20130101; G06F 3/0446
20190501; G06F 3/0443 20190501; H05K 7/02 20130101; H03K 2017/9602
20130101; H03K 17/962 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679.01 |
International
Class: |
H03K 17/96 20060101
H03K017/96; H05K 7/02 20060101 H05K007/02 |
Claims
1. A touch panel, comprising: a first electrode, disposed on a
conductive layer; a first routing, arranged on the conductive layer
and connected to the first electrode; a second electrode, disposed
on the conductive layer, comprising two second sub-electrodes
respectively disposed at two sides of the first routing and
insulated from the first routing; two second routings, arranged on
the conductive layer, respectively connected to the two second
sub-electrodes to mutually connect the two second sub-electrodes;
and a third electrode, disposed on the conductive layer and
insulated from the first electrode and the second electrode;
wherein, two among the first electrode, the second electrode, and
the third electrode are respectively connected to a driver and a
sensor.
2. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the two second
routings respectively extend along two sides of the first
routing.
3. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a
first pad, disposed on the conductive layer; wherein two ends of
the first routing are respectively connected to the first pad and
the first electrode; and a second pad, disposed on the conductive
layer; wherein the two second routings respectively extend along
two sides of the first routing to connect the second pad to the two
second sub-electrodes.
4. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the first
electrode comprises two first sub-electrodes, and the first routing
is connected to one of the two first sub-electrodes.
5. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the two second
sub-electrodes are spaced by a first gap, and the first routing
extends along the first gap.
6. The touch panel according to claim 5, further comprising a
fourth electrode disposed on the conductive layer; wherein, the
second electrode is located between the first electrode and the
fourth electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises two fourth
sub-electrodes; the two fourth sub-electrodes are spaced by a
second gap, and the first routing and the two second routings
extend along the second gap.
7. The touch panel according to claim 1, comprising a touch control
region and a pad region; wherein the first electrode and the second
electrode are located in the touch control region; the first
routing passes through a first side of the touch control region to
extend to the pad region, and the two second routings also pass
through the first side to extend to the pad region.
8. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a
fourth electrode, disposed on the conductive layer; and a fourth
routing, arranged on the conductive layer and connected to fourth
electrode; wherein, the first electrode is located between the
second electrode and the fourth electrode; the touch panel
comprises a touch control region and a pad region, the first
electrode; the second electrode and the fourth electrode are
located in the touch control region; the first routing passes
through a first side of the touch control region to extend to the
pad region, the fourth routing passes through a second side of the
touch control region to extend to the pad region, and the first
side and the second side are two different sides of the touch
control region.
9. The touch panel according to claim 8, wherein the first routing
passes through first side along a first direction, and the fourth
routing passes through the second side along an opposite direction
to the first direction.
10. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein one of the first
electrode and the two second sub-electrodes and the third electrode
are two tessellation electrodes, and the two tessellation
electrodes are respectively a first tessellation electrode and a
second tessellation electrode; the first tessellation electrode has
a branch between two first points at a first side thereof, such
that a perimeter of the branch between the two first points is
greater than a linear distance between the two first points; the
second tessellation electrode has a dent between two second points
at a second side thereof, such that a perimeter of the dent between
the two second points is greater than a linear distance between the
two second points; the branch intervenes with the dent with a gap
in between.
11. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the two second
routings respectively locate at two sides of the first
electrode.
12. The touch panel according to claim 11, further comprising a
fourth electrode formed at the conductive layer; wherein the first
electrode is located between the second electrode and the fourth
electrode, and the fourth electrode comprises two fourth
sub-electrodes respectively connected to the two second
routings.
13. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of staggered pads, formed at the conductive layer,
comprising a first pad and a second pad; wherein the first pad is
connected to the first electrode via the first routing, and the
second pad is connected to the two second sub-electrodes via the
two second routings.
14. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a
first pad, formed at the conductive layer; wherein two ends of the
first routing are respectively connected to the first pad and the
first electrode; a third pad, formed at the conductive layer; and a
third routing, formed at the conductive layer, located at a same
side of the first routing as the third electrode to connect the
third pad to the third electrode.
15. The touch panel according to claim 14, further comprising: a
fourth electrode, formed at the conductive layer; wherein the
fourth electrode and the third electrode are located at two
different sides of the first routing; and a fourth routing, formed
at the conductive layer, located at a same side of the first
routing as the fourth electrode to connect the third pad to the
fourth electrode.
16. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a
floating dummy electrode, formed at the conductive layer, located
between two among the first electrode, the second electrode and the
third electrode, and insulated from the first electrode, the second
electrode and the third electrode.
17. A touch panel, comprising: a first electrode, formed at a
conductive layer, comprising a first border having a first jigsaw
section extending between two first points at the first border; and
a second electrode, formed at the conductive layer, comprising a
second border having a second jigsaw section extending between two
second points at the second border; wherein, the second jigsaw
section protrudes between the two first points, and the first
jigsaw section protrudes between the two second points.
18. The touch panel according to claim 17, wherein the first
electrode and the second electrode respectively connect to a driver
and a sensor.
19. The touch panel according to claim 17, wherein the border of
the second electrode further has a fourth jigsaw section, and the
touch panel further comprises: a third electrode, formed at the
conductive layer, comprising a third border having a third jigsaw
section extending between two third points at the third border;
wherein, the fourth jigsaw section protrudes between the two third
points.
20. The touch panel according to claim 17, further comprising: a
floating dummy electrode, formed at the conductive layer, located
between the first electrode and the third electrode, and insulated
from the first electrode and the third electrode.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application Ser. No. 61/656,535, filed Jun. 7, 2012, the subject
matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates in general to a touch panel, and more
particularly to a touch panel with a single conductive layer and
capable of sensing multi-touch control.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A touch panel, e.g., a capacitive multi-touch touch panel,
by offering a user with a convenient, friendly and intuitive
operation interface, prevails in various consumer electronic
devices, portable devices and handheld devices, e.g. remote
controllers, mobile handsets, digital cameras, video
recorders/players, portable pads and touch screens.
[0006] A multi-touch touch panel includes multiple driving
electrodes and multiple sensing electrodes distributed at a touch
control region. The driving electrodes are respectively connected
to different drivers, and the sensing electrodes are respectively
connected to different sensors. The drivers rapidly and
periodically drive the driving electrodes connected thereto in
turn. When a position of a user touch is proximate to a particular
driven driving electrode and a particular sensing electrode, mutual
capacitance between the driving electrode and the sensing electrode
changes. According to the position of the driven driving electrode
and the position of the sensing electrode where the capacitance
change occurs, the position of the user touch can be derived.
[0007] In a conventional touch panel, to analyze a touch position,
driving electrodes and sensing electrodes are horizontally and
vertically placed in a staggered arrangement. As the driving
electrodes and the sensing electrodes are respectively formed at
two different transparent conductive layers with higher cost and a
greater thickness, the prevalence and applications of the touch
control operation interface are hindered. Further, since an image
displayed by a display panel integrated with the conventional touch
panel needs to penetrate through a larger number of conductive
layers, display brightness and quality are degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To mitigate setbacks of a touch panel formed by multiple
conductive layers, driving electrodes and sensing electrodes may be
disposed at a single conductive layer, with routings and pads,
connecting the driving electrodes and sensing electrodes to drivers
and sensors, also formed on the same conductive layer. However, the
routings and driving electrodes of different drivers as well as the
routings and sensing electrodes of different sensors are mutually
insulated. Therefore, shapes and arrangements of the sensing
electrodes and the driving electrodes as well as directions of the
routings all need to be appropriately arranged.
[0009] A touch panel is provided by the present invention. The
touch panel includes a first electrode, a first routing, a second
electrode, two second routings and a third electrode, all of which
are formed on a single conductive layer. The first routing is
connected to the first electrode. The second electrode includes two
second sub-electrodes respectively disposed at two sides of the
first routing, and is insulated from the first routing. The two
second routings are respectively connected to the two second
sub-electrodes to mutually connect the two second sub-electrodes.
The third electrode is insulated from the first electrode and the
second electrode. Two among of the first, second and third
electrodes are respectively connected to a driver and a sensor.
[0010] The two second routings respectively extend along the two
sides of the first routing. The touch panel further includes a
first pad and a second pad, both of which are formed on the
conductive layer. Two ends of the first routing are respectively
connected to the first pad and the first electrode, and the two
second routings connect the second pad to the two second
sub-electrodes along the two sides of the first routing,
respectively. The first electrode includes two first sub-electrodes
and one other first routing is provided. The two first routings are
respectively connected to the two first sub-electrodes. The two
second sub-electrodes are spaced by an insulating first gap, and
the first routing extends along the first gap.
[0011] Preferably, the touch panel further includes a fourth
electrode, which is also formed on the foregoing conductive layer.
The second electrode is located between the first electrode and the
fourth electrode. The fourth electrode includes two fourth
sub-electrodes spaced by a second gap, and the first routing and
the two second routings extend along the second gap.
[0012] The touch panel comprises a touch control region and a pad
region. The electrodes of the touch panel are formed at the touch
control region, and the pads are formed at the pad region. The
routings, e.g., the foregoing first and second routings, of all
electrodes pass through a same side of the touch control region to
extend to the pad region to connect the electrodes to the pads.
Alternatively, the routings of particular electrodes and the
routings of some other electrodes respectively pass through two
different sides of the touch control region to extend to the pad
region. Alternatively, in addition to the first to third
electrodes, the touch panel further includes a fourth electrode and
a fourth routing. The first electrode is located between the second
electrode and the fourth electrode. The first routing passes
through a first side of the touch control region to extend to the
pad region, and the fourth routing passes through a second side of
the touch control region to extend to the pad region, with the
first and second sides of the touch control region being opposite
sides. When the first routing passes through the first side along a
first direction, the fourth routing passes through the second side
along an opposite direction to the first direction.
[0013] Preferably, the first electrode and the third electrode may
be a pair of tessellation electrodes, and/or one of the second
sub-electrodes and the third electrode may be a pair of
tessellation electrodes. The tessellation electrode pair includes a
first tessellation electrode and a second tessellation electrode. A
branch exists between two first points at a first side of the first
tessellation electrode, and has a perimeter between the two first
points greater than a linear distance between the two first points.
A dent is provided between two second points at a second side of
the second tessellation electrode, and has a perimeter between the
two second points greater than a linear distance between the two
second points. The branch intervenes with the dent with a gap in
between.
[0014] The two second routings are respectively located at two
different sides of the first electrode, and extend along the two
sides of the first electrodes. For another example, in addition to
the first to third electrodes, the touch panel may further include
a fourth electrode. The first electrode is located between the
second electrode and the fourth electrode, and the fourth electrode
includes two fourth sub-electrodes respectively connected to the
two second routings.
[0015] Preferably, the pad region is formed by multiple staggered
pads at the foregoing conductive layer. The pads include a first
pad and a second pad. The first pad is connected to the first
electrode via the first routing, and the second pad is connected to
the two second sub-electrodes via the two second routings. That is,
the two second sub-electrodes disposed at the two sides of the
first routing may respectively be connected to the same second pad
via the two second routings at the two sides of the first routing.
Similarly, when the third electrode and a fourth electrode are
respectively located at two different sides of the first routing,
the third electrode and the fourth electrode may respectively be
connected to the same third pad via a third routing and a fourth
routing. The third and fourth routings are located at the same side
of the first routing, and the fourth routing and the fourth
electrode are located at the other side of the first routing.
[0016] Preferably, the touch panel includes one or multiple
floating dummy electrodes formed at the conductive layer. The
floating dummy electrodes are located between two among the first,
second and third electrodes and insulated from the same.
[0017] A touch panel is further provided. The touch panel includes
a first electrode and a second electrode, which are formed at a
single conductive layer and respectively connected to a driver and
a sensor. The first electrode has a first border including a first
jigsaw section extended between two first points at the first
border. The second electrode has a second border including a second
jigsaw section extending between two second points at the second
border. The second jigsaw section protrudes at a connecting line
between the two first points along the conductive layer, and the
first jigsaw section also protrudes between the two second
points.
[0018] Preferably, the touch panel further includes one or multiple
floating dummy electrodes. The dummy electrodes are formed at the
foregoing conductive layer, located between the first and second
electrodes, and insulated from the same. The border of the second
electrode further includes a fourth jigsaw section. The touch panel
further includes a third electrode formed at the foregoing
conductive layer. The third electrode has a third border including
a third jigsaw section extending between two third points at the
third border. The fourth jigsaw section protrudes between two third
points.
[0019] The above and other aspects of the invention will become
better understood with regard to the following detailed description
of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following
description is made with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an electrode arrangement according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 to FIG. 11 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 14 to FIG. 16 show electrodes according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 19 shows a touch panel according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 20 shows a touch panel according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 21 shows a touch panel according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 22 shows pads and routings according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 23 shows pads and routings according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 24 shows a schematic diagram of dummy electrodes
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electrode arrangement
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrode
arrangement includes a plurality of electrodes D[1, 1], D[1, 2],
D[2, 1] and D[i, j] to D[Nr, j] as driving electrodes, and a
plurality of electrodes S[1, 1], S[1, 2], S[2, 1] and S[i, j] to
S[Nr-1, j] as sensing electrodes, where Nr is an integer. The
electrodes D[i, j] and the electrodes S[i, j] are in a grid
arrangement in an mutually insulated manner at a single conductive
layer. Borders of the electrode S[i, j] are spaced by an insulation
gap from neighboring electrodes D[i, j-1], D[i, j], D[i+1, j] and
D[i+1, j-1]. Similarly, borders of the electrode D[i, j] are spaced
by an insulation gap from neighboring electrodes S[i-1, j], S[i-1,
j+1], S[i, j+1] and S[i, j].
[0035] To analyze a touch position, at least one of the four
neighboring driving electrodes D[i, j] of each of the sensing
electrodes S[i, j] is connected to different drivers. Assume that a
particular electrode S[i1, j1] is neighboring to the electrodes
D[i1, j1-1], D[i1, j1], D[i1+1, j1] and D[i1+1, j1-1], and another
electrode S[i2, j2] is neighboring to the electrodes D[i2, j2-1],
D[i2, j2], D[i2+1, j2] and D[i2+1, j2-1], where i1 is not equal to
i2, and/or j1 is not equal to j2. One of the electrodes D[i1,
j1-1], D[i1, j1], D[i1+1, j1] and D[i1+1, j1-1] and one of the
electrodes D[i2, j2-1], D[i2, j2], D[i2+1, j2] and D[i2+1, j2-1]
may connect to two different drivers, i.e., two drivers that are
not simultaneously driven. Based on the above principle, the
drivers connected to the electrodes D[i, j] and the drivers
connected to the electrodes S[i, j] are allotted.
[0036] In an exemplary embodiment of a driving-sensing arrangement,
the electrode D[i, j] may be connected to a driver DU[i+Nr*mod(j+1,
2) (not shown, where mod(p, d) is a remainder of dividing p by d),
the electrode S[i, j] may be connected to a sensor SU[Ns*mod(i+1,
2)+mod(j-1, Ns)+1], where Ns is an integral constant. Under the
above arrangement, the electrodes D[1, 1] to D[Nr, 1] are
respectively connected to an Nr number of different drivers DU[1]
to DU[Nr], the electrodes D[1, 2] to D[Nr, 2] are respectively
connected to another Nr number of different drivers DU[Nr+1] to
D[2*Nr], the electrodes D[1, 3] to D[Nr, 3] are also respectively
connected to the drivers DU[1] to DU[Nr] as the electrodes D[1, 1]
and D[Nr, 1], the electrodes D[1, 4] to D[Nr, 4] are also
respectively connected to the drivers DU[Nr+1] to D[2*Nr] as the
electrodes D[1, 2] and D[Nr, 2], and so forth. The electrodes S[1,
1] to S[1, Ns] are respectively connected to the sensors SU[1] to
SU[Ns], the electrodes S[1, Ns+1] to S[1, 2*Ns] are also
respectively connected to the sensors SU[1] to SU[Ns], and so
forth. The electrodes S[2, 1] to S[2, Ns] are respectively
connected to the sensors SU[Ns+1] to SU[2*Ns], the electrodes S[3,
1] to S[3, Ns] are also respectively connected to the sensors SU[1]
to SU[Ns], and so forth.
[0037] The driving-sensing arrangement of the driving
electrodes/drivers and the sensing electrodes/sensors is not
limited to the above exemplary driving-sensing arrangement--many
other driving-sensing arrangements for achieving position analysis
of a touch position are available. For example, the electrode D[i,
j] may be connected to the driver DU[i+Nr*mod(j+1, 2)], and the
electrode S[i, j] may be connected to the sensor
SU[mod(i,2)*(mod(j-1, Ns)+1)+mod(i+1, 2)*(2*Ns-mod(j-1, Ns))]. For
example, the electrodes S[1, 1] to S[1, Ns] are respectively
connected to the sensors SU[1] to SU[Ns], and the electrodes S[2,
1] to S[2, Ns] are respectively connected to the sensors SU[2*Ns]
to SU[Ns+1]; the electrodes S[3, 1] to S[3, Ns] are also connected
to the sensors SU[1] to SU[Ns], and the electrodes S[4, 1] to [4,
Ns] are again connected to the sensors SU[2*Ns] to SU[Ns+1].
[0038] In a driving-sensing arrangement of an alternative exemplary
embodiment, the electrode D[i, j] may be connected to the driver
DU[i], and the electrode S[i, j] may be connected to the sensor
SU[j]. That is, the electrodes D[i, j1] and D[i, j2] at a same row
but different columns are respectively connected to the same driver
DU[i], and the electrodes D[i1, j] and D[i2, j] at a same column
but different rows are respectively connected to different drivers
DU[i1] and DU[i2]. In contrast, the electrodes S[i, j1] and S[i,
j2] at a same row but different columns are respectively connected
to different sensors SU[j1] and SU[j2], and the electrodes S[i1, j]
and S[i2, j] at a same column but different rows are connected to
the same sensor SU[j].
[0039] In a driving-sensing arrangement of another exemplary
embodiment, the electrodes S[i, j] is connected to the sensor
SU[j], the electrode D[i, j] is connected to the driver
DU[mod(j,2)*i+mod(j-1,2)*(Nr-i+1)]. That is, the electrodes D[1,
j], D[2, j] to D[Nr, j] at odd columns are respectively connected
to the drivers DU[1, j], DU[2, j] to DU[Nr, j]; the electrodes D[1,
j], D[2, j] to D[Nr, j] at even columns are respectively connected
to the drivers DU[Nr, j], DU[Nr-1, j] to DU[1, j].
[0040] FIG. 2 shows a touch panel 10a substantially implementing
the electrode layout and arrangement in FIG. 1 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10a includes a
touch control region 12a and a pad region 14a. The touch control
region 12a includes electrodes Da[1, j] to Da[Nr, j] and electrodes
Sa[1, j] to Sa[Nr-1, j], which are all disposed at a single
conductive layer and respectively serve as the electrodes D[1, j]
to D[Nr, j] and the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 1. In
the touch panel 12a, each electrode Sa[iu, j] of the electrodes
Sa[1, j] to Sa[Na-2, j] includes two electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and
Sa2[iu, j], where Na is a value between 1 and Nr. The electrodes
Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] may be regarded as two sub-electrodes of
the electrode Sa[iu, j]. Each electrode Sa[id, j] of the electrodes
Sa[Na+1, j] to Sa[Nr-1, j] comprises two electrodes Sa1[id, j] and
Sa2[id, j]. Similarly, each electrode Da[iu, j] of the electrodes
Da[1, j] to Da[Na-2, j] comprises two electrodes Da1[iu, j] and
Da2[iu, j], and each electrode Da[id, j] of the electrodes Da[Na+1,
j] to Da[Nr, j] comprises two electrodes Da1[id, j] and Da2[id,
j].
[0041] The two electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] may be regarded
as two left and right halves of the electrode Sa[iu, j], and are
spaced by an insulation gap extending along the y-axis to
accommodate a routing. The electrodes Sa1[id, j] and Sa2[id, j] are
spaced by a routable gap extending along the y-axis. Similarly, the
electrodes Da1[iu, j] and Da2[iu, j] are spaced by an insulation
gap extending along the y-axis to accommodate a routing, and the
electrodes Da1[id, j] and Da2[id, j] are also spaced by a routable
gap extending along the y-axis. In continuation of the embodiment
in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows directions of the routings of the
electrodes among the electrodes Sa[1, j] to Sa[Nr-1, j]. The
electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] and the electrodes Sa1[iu2, j]
and Sa2[iu2, j] may be two arbitrary pairs of electrodes among the
electrodes Sa1[1, j] and Sa2[1, j] to the electrodes Sa1[Na-2, j]
and Sa2[Na-2, j], and iu<iu2<(Na-1). The gap between the
electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] and the gap between the
electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and Sa2[iu2, j] may extend along the y-axis
to form a channel Hu[j] with a width in a distance d with respect
to the x-axis. The electrode Sa[Na-1, j] is connected to a routing
La[Na-1, j]. The routing La[Na-1, j] upwardly extends along the
positive y-axis, and passes through an upper side of the touch
region 12a to enter the pad region 14a (FIG. 2). In other words,
the electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] are respectively disposed
at left and right sides of the routing La[Na-1, j].
[0042] The touch region 12a further includes routings La1[iu, j],
La1[iu2, j] to La1[Na-2, j] and routings La2[iu, j], La2[iu2, j] to
La2[Na-2, j], which respectively connect the electrodes Sa1[iu, j],
Sa1[iu2, j] to Sa1[Na-2, j] to the electrodes Sa2[iu, j], Sa[iu2,
j] to Sa2[Na-2, j]. Since the electrodes Sa1[Na-2, j] and Sa2[Na-2,
j] are respectively located at the two sides of the routing
La[Na-1, j], the routings La1[Na-2, j] and La2[Na-2, j] also
respectively upwardly extend (i.e., towards the positive y
direction) at the left and right sides of the routing La[Na-1, j]
along the channel Hu[j], and pass through the upper side of the
touch control region 12a to enter the pad region 14a. In the pad
region 14a, the routings La1[Na-2, j] and La2[Na-2, j] may be
connected, in a way that the electrodes Sa1[Na-2, j] and Sa2[Na-2,
j] are connected to form the same electrode Sa[Na-2, j] (FIG.
2).
[0043] Positions of y coordinates of the electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and
Sa2[iu2, j] are higher than those of the electrodes Sa1[Na-1, j]
and Sa2[Na-1, j], and so the routings La1[iu2, j] and La2[iu2, j]
of the electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and Sa2[iu2, j] upwardly extend at
the left and right sides of the routings La1[Na-2, j] and La2[Na-2,
j] along the channel Hu[j], and pass through the upper side of the
touch control region 12a to enter the pad region 14a and become
mutually connected. Similarly, positions of y coordinates the
electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j] are higher than those of the
electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and Sa2[iu2, j], and so the routings La1[iu,
j] and La2[iu, j] of the electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j]
upwardly extend at the left and right sides of the routings
La1[iu2, j] and La2[iu2, j] along the channel Hu[j], and pass
through the upper side of the touch control region 12a to enter the
pad region 14a and become mutually connected. In other words, for
the electrodes Sa[1, j] to Sa[Na-1, j] having routings that extend
upwards, the routings connected to these electrodes are located
farther from a center of the channel Hu[j] as the positions of y
coordinates of these electrodes get higher. With the above routing
layout, the routings are kept free from intersecting one another in
cross-bridge connections, and can thus be formed at a single
conductive layer with the electrodes.
[0044] In FIG. 3, with reference to FIG. 2, the electrodes Sa1[id,
j] and Sa2[id, j] and the electrodes Sa1[id2, j] and Sa2[id2, j]
may be two arbitrary pairs of electrodes among the electrodes
Sa1[Na+1, j] and Sa2[Na+2, j] to the electrodes Sa1[Nr-1, j] and
Sa2[Nr-1, j], where Na<id<id2. A gap extending along the
y-axis is formed between the electrodes Sa1[id, j] and Sa2[id, j]
and between the electrodes Sa1[id2, j] and Sa2[id2, j], and the
gaps mutually connect along the y-axis to form a channel Hd[j]. The
electrode Sa[Na, j] is connected to a routing La[Na, j]. The
routing La[Na, j] downwardly extends, i.e. towards the negative
y-axis, along the channel Hd[j] to pass through a lower side (FIG.
2) of the touch control region 12a, and upwardly extends along the
left or right side of the touch control region 12 outside the touch
control region 12a to enter the pad region 14a, as shown in FIG.
2
[0045] The touch control region 12a further includes routings
La1[Na+1, j] to La1[id, j] and La1[id2, j], and routings La2[Na+1,
j] to La2[id, j] and La2[id2, j], which are respectively connected
to the electrodes Sa1[Na+1, j] to Sa1[id, j]and Sa1[id2, j], and
the electrodes Sa2[Na+1, j] to Sa2[id, j] and Sa2[id2, j]. Since
the electrodes Sa1[Na+1, j] and Sa2[Na+1, j] are located at the
left and right sides of the routing La[Na, j], the routings
La1[Na+1, j] and La2[Na+1, j] respectively downwardly extend at the
two sides of the routing La[Na, j] along the channel Hd[j] to pass
through the lower side of the touch control region 12a, and wind
along a border of the touch control region 12a, e.g., the left or
right side of the touch control region 12a, to reach the pad region
14a. In the pad region 14a, the routings La1[Na+1, j] and La2[Na+1,
j] are mutually connected to form the electrode Sa[Na+1, j] (FIG.
2).
[0046] When positions y coordinates of the electrodes Sa1[id, j]
and Sa2[id, j] are lower than those of the electrodes Sa1[Na+1, j]
and Sa2[Na+1, j], the routings La1[id, j] and La2[id, j] of the
electrodes Sa1[id, j] and Sa2[id, j] downwardly extend at left and
right sides of the routings La1[Na+1, j], La[Na, j] and La2[Na+1,
j] along the channel Hd[j], and exits the touch control region 12a
from the lower side of the touch control region 12a to wind to the
pad region 14a. Similarly, as positions of y coordinates the
electrodes Sa1[id2, j] and Sa2[id2, j] are lower than those of the
electrodes Sa1[id, j] and Sa2[id, j], the routings La1[id2, j] and
La2[id2, j] of the electrodes Sa1[id2, j] and Sa2[id2, j] extend at
the left and right sides of the routings La1[id, j] and La2[id, j]
in the channel Hd[j] to downwardly extend, pass through the lower
side of the touch control region 12a to wind into the pad region
14a, and become mutually connected. In short, for the electrodes
Sa[Na, j] to Sa[Nr-1] that downwardly extend, the routings
connected to these electrodes are located farther from a center of
the channel Hd[j] as the positions of y coordinates of these
electrodes get lower. As such, different routings do not intervene
with one another.
[0047] In the pad region 14a, the routings La1[iu, j] and La2[iu,
j], La1[iu2, j] and La2[iu2, j] to La1[Na-2, j], La2[Na-2, j],
La[Na-1, j], La[Na, j], La[Na+1, j] and La2[Na+1, j] to La1[id, j]
and La2[id, j], and La[id2, j] and La2[id2, j] may respectively
connect to the same or different pads P, so as to connect the
corresponding electrodes to the same or different sensors, as in
the previously discussed driving-sensing arrangement in FIG. 1.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, an insulation gap 16 may be formed in
the electrode Sa[Na-1, j]. Along the x-axis, the gap 16 extends by
a distance d0 associated with the distance d to render the shape,
area and electromagnetic characteristics of the electrode Sa[Na-1,
j] to approximate those of the electrode Sa[Na-2, j]. Similarly,
the design of the electrode Sa[Na, j] may also be similar to that
of the electrode Sa[Na-1, j]. The routing layout of the electrodes
Da[1, j] to Da[Nr, j] may follow that of the electrodes Sa[1, j] to
Sa[Nr-1]. In simple, in the embodiment in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, each
of the electrodes at the upper half of the touch control region 12a
may be divided into two sub-electrodes, such that the corresponding
routings are allowed to pass through and exit from the upper side
of the touch control region 12a along the channel between the two
sub-electrodes to extend to the pad region 14a. Each of the
electrodes at the lower half of the touch control region 12a may
also be divided into two sub-electrodes, such that the
corresponding routings are allowed to pass through and exit from
the lower side of the touch control region 12a along the channel
between the two sub-electrodes to wind along the periphery of touch
control region 12a to reach the pad region 14a.
[0049] FIGS. 4 to 6 show a touch panel 10b according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10b includes a
touch control region 12b and a pad region 14b. The touch control
region 12b includes electrodes Db[1, j] to Db[Nr, j] and electrodes
Sb[1, j] to Sb[Nr-1, j], which are all formed on a single
conductive layer and respectively serve as the electrodes D[1, j]
to D[Nr, j] and the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 1.
[0050] As previously discussed with reference to FIG. 1, in an
embodiment of the sensing-driving arrangement, the electrode S[i,
j] may be connected to the sensor SU[Ns*mod(i+1,2)+mod(j-1, Ns)+1].
That is, when the index i is an odd number (2*k-1), the electrode
S[(2*k-1), j] is connected to the sensor SU[mod(j-1, Ns)+1]; when
the index i is an even number (2*k), the electrode S[2*k, j] is
connected to the sensor SU[mod(j-1, Ns)+1+Ns]. In other words, the
electrodes S[1, j], S[3, j], S[5, j] . . . at the odd rows are
connected to the same sensor, and the electrodes S[2, j], S[4, j],
S[6, j] at the even rows are connected to the same sensor--the
touch panel 10b is capable of implementing such embodiment. As
shown in FIG. 5, in the touch panel 10b, two arbitrary even-row
electrodes Sb[2*k, j] and Sb[2*k2, j] among the electrodes Sb[1, j]
to Sb[Nr-j] are connected in series by a routing Lb[j]. The odd-row
electrode Sb[2*k2-1, j] is formed by two sub-electrodes Sb1[2*k-1,
j] and Sb2[2*k-1, j]. The electrodes Sb1[2*k-1, j] and Sb2[2*k-1,
j] are spaced by a gap extending along the y-axis, and the routing
Lb[j] passes through the gap. That is to say, the electrodes
Sb1[2*k-1, j] and Sb2[2*k-1, j] are respectively located at two
sides of the routing Lb[j]. Among the electrodes Sb[1, j] to
Sb[Nr-1, j], two arbitrary odd-row electrodes Sb1[2*k-1, j] and
Sb1[2*k2-1, j] are connected in series by a routing Lb1[j], and two
arbitrary odd-row electrodes Sb2[2*k-1, j] and Sb2[2*k2-1, j] are
connected in series by a routing Lb2[j].
[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, when passing by an arbitrary odd-row
electrode Sb[2*k, j], the routings Lb1[j] and Lb2[j] are located at
two different sides of the electrode Sb[2*k, j], and upwardly
extend along the electrode Sb[2*k, j] to reach the electrodes
Sb1[2*k-1] and Sb2[2*k-1, j]. Between the electrodes Sb[2*k-1] and
Sb[2*k], the routings Lb1[j] and Lb2[j] respectively extend along
two different sides of the routing Lb[j]. The routings Lb[j],
Lb1[j] and Lb2[j] pass through the upper side of the touch control
region 12b to extend to the pad region 14b. As such, the even-row
electrodes Lb[2*k, j] are allowed to connect to the same pad via
the routing Lb[j] to further connect to the same sensor. The
routings Lb1[j] and Lb2[j] may be jointly connected to another pad,
so that the electrode Sb[2*k-1, j] formed by the connected odd-row
electrodes Sb1[2*k-1, j] and Sb2[2*k-1, j] may be connected to
another sensor. In an embodiment, an loop-like insulation gap may
be defined in the even-row electrode Sb[2*k, j], as shown in the
electrode Sa[Na-1, j] in FIG. 3.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, an arbitrary electrode Db[i, j]
among the electrodes Db[1, j] to Db[Nr-1, j] is formed by two
electrodes Db1[i, j] and Db2[i, j]. The electrodes Db1[i, j] and
Db2[i, j] are spaced by a gap extending along the y-axis, and the
gap between the electrodes Db1[i, j] and Db2[i, j] to the gap
between the electrodes Db1[Nr-1, j] and Db2[Nr-1, j] become
connected to form a channel Hb[j] (FIG. 6) extending along the
y-axis. The touch panel 10b includes a routing Wb[Nr, j] connected
to the electrode Db[Nr, j]. The routing Wb[Nr, j] upwardly extends
along the channel Hb[j], and passes through the upper side of the
touch control region 12b to extend to the pad region 14b. For the
electrode pairs Db1[i, j] and Db2[i, j], the touch panel 10b also
provides routings Wb1[i, j] and Wb2[i, j]. The routing Wb1[i, j] is
connected to the electrode Db1[i, j], and the routing Wb2[i, j] is
connected to the electrode Db2[i, j]. The routings Wb1[i, j] and
Wb2[i, j] upwardly extend at the two sides of the routing Wb[Nr, j]
along the channel Hb[j], pass through the upper side of the touch
control region 12b to extend to the pad region 14b, and become
mutually connected in the pad region 14b to connect the electrodes
Db1[i, j] and Db2[i, j] into one same electrode Db[i, j]. As shown
in FIG. 6, among the electrodes Db[1, j] to Db[Nr-1, j], assuming
that one electrode Db[i2, j] (formed by electrodes Db1[i2, j] and
Db2[i2, j]) is arranged between the electrodes Db[i, j] and
Db[Nr-1, j], the routing Wb1[i2, j] of the electrode Db[i2, j] is
clamped between the routings Wb1[i, j] and Wb2[i, j] to upwardly
extend along the channel Hb[j], and the other routing Wb2[i2, j]
upwardly extends between the routings Wb2[Nr-1, j] and Wb2[i, j]
along the channel Hb[j]. In other words, for the electrodes Sa[1,
j] to Sa[Na-1, j] having routings that travel upwards, since the
routings of the electrodes Db[1, j] to Db[Nr, j] upwardly extend,
the routings connected to these electrodes are located farther from
a center of the channel Hb[j] as the positions of y coordinates of
these electrodes get higher. Thus, the routings are free from
mutual intervention, and the routings and electrodes are allowed to
be fabricated on a single conductive layer.
[0053] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a touch panel 10c implementing the
electrode layout and arrangement in FIG. 1 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10c includes a
touch control region 12c and a pad region 14c. The touch control
region 12c includes electrodes Dc[1, j] to Dc[Nr, j] and electrodes
Sc[1, j] to Sc[Nr-1, j], which are all disposed at a single
conductive layer and respectively serve as the electrodes D[1, j]
to D[Nr, j] and the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 1.
[0054] In the touch panel 10c, an arbitrary electrode Dc[i, j]
among the electrodes Dc[1, j] to Dc[Nr-1, j] is formed by two
electrodes Dc1[i, j] and Dc2[i, j] spaced by a gap extending along
the y-axis. The gap between the electrodes Dc1[i, j] and Dc2[i, j]
is connected with a gap between the electrodes Dc1[Nr-1, j] and
Dc2[Nr-1, j], and so the routings of the electrodes Dc[1, j] to
Dc[Nr-1, j] may be arranged with reference to FIG. 6. Similarly, an
arbitrary electrode Sc[i, j] among the electrodes Sc[1, j] to
Sc[Nr-2, j] is formed by two electrodes Sc1[i, j] and Sc2[i, j]
spaced by a gap extending along the y-axis. The gap between the
electrodes Sc1[i, j] and Sc2[i, j] is connected with a gap between
the electrodes Sc1[Nr-2, j] and Sc2[Nr-2, j] to form a channel
Hc[j] as shown in FIG. 8.
[0055] In the touch panel 10c, the electrode Sc[Nr-1, j] is
connected to a routing Lc[Nr-1, j]. The routing Lc[Nr-1, j]
upwardly extends along the channel Hc[j], and passes through the
upper side of the touch control region 12b to reach the pad region
14c. The electrodes Sc1[i, j] and Sc2[i, j] are respectively
connected to the routings Lc1[i, j] and Lc2[i, j]. The routings
Lc1[i, j] and Lc2[i, j] upwardly extend at two sides of the routing
Lc[Nr-1, j], pass through the upper side of the touch control
region 12c to extend to the pad region 14c, and mutually connect in
the pad region 14c to connect the electrodes Sc1[i, j] and Sc2[i,
j] into one same electrode Sc[i, j]. As shown in FIG. 8, among the
electrodes Sc[1, j] and Sc[Nr-2, j], assuming that one electrode
Sc[i2, j], comprising two electrodes Sc1[i2, j] and Sc2[i2, j]), is
arranged between the electrodes Sc[i, j] and Sc[Nr-1, j], the
routing Lc1[i2, j] of the electrode Sc[i2, j] upwardly extends
between the routings Lc1[i, j] and Lc1[Nr-1, j] along the channel
Hc[j], whereas the other routing Lc2[i2, j] upwardly extends
between the routings Lc2[Nr-1, j] and Lc2[i, j] along the channel
Hc[j]. As such, different routings are kept free from mutually
intersecting.
[0056] FIGS. 9 to 11 show a touch panel 10d according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10d, similar
to the touch panel 10a in FIG. 2, includes a touch control region
12d and a pad region 14d. The touch control region 12d includes
electrodes Dd[1, j] to Dd[Nr, j] and electrodes Sd[1, j] to
Sd[Nr-1, j], which are disposed at a single conductive layer and
respectively serve as the electrodes Da[1, j] to Da[Nr, j] and the
electrodes Sa[1, j] to Sa[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 1. Similar to the touch
panel 10a, in the touch panel 10d, each electrode Sd[iu, j] of the
electrodes Sd[1, j] to Sd[Na-2, j] is formed by two electrodes
Sd1[iu, j] and Sd[iu, j], and each electrode Sd[id, j] of the
electrodes Sd[Na+1, j] to Sd[Nr-1, j] is also formed by two
electrodes Sd1[id, j] and Sd2[id, j]. Each electrode Dd[iu, j] of
the electrodes Da[1, j] to Dd[Na-2, j] includes two electrodes
Dd1[iu, j] and Dd2[iu, j], and each electrode Dd[id, j] of the
electrodes Dd[Na+1, j] to Dd[Nr, j] is formed by two electrodes
Dd1[id, j] and Dd2[id, j].
[0057] As shown in FIG. 10, the electrode Sd[Na-1, j] is connected
to a routing Ld[Na-1, j]. The two electrodes Sd1[iu, j] and Sd2[iu,
j], regarded as two left and right sub-electrodes of the electrode
Sd[iu, j], are spaced by an insulation gap extending along the
y-axis, and are respectively connected to two routings Ld1[iu, j]
and Ld2[iu, j]. The insulation gaps of the electrodes Sd[1, j] to
Sd[Na-2, j] are connected to form a channel that upwardly extends,
i.e. towards the positive y direction. The routing Ld[Na-1, j]
upwardly extends along the channel and enters the pad region 14d
via the upper side of the touch control region 12d. The routings
Ld1[iu, j] and Ld2[iu, j] upwardly extend in parallel at the two
sides of the routing Ld[Na-1, j], pass through the upper side of
the touch control region 12d to enter the pad region 14d, and
become mutually connected to connect the electrode Sd1[iu, j] and
Sd2[iu, j] as the electrode Sd[iu, j].
[0058] Assuming that positions of y coordinates of a pair of
electrodes Sd1[iu2, j] and Sd2[iu2, j] (not shown) are lower than
those of the electrodes Sd1[iu, j] and Sd2[iu, j] (i.e.,
iu<iu2<(Na-1)), the routing Ld1[iu2, j] of the electrode
Sd1[iu2, j] upwardly extends between the routings Ld1[iu, j] and
Ld[Na-1, j], and the routing Ld2[iu2, j] of the electrode Sd2[iu2,
j] upwardly extends between the routings Ld[Na-1, j] and Ld2[iu,
j]. Under the above routing layout, the routings are kept free from
intersecting one another in cross-bridge connections, and can thus
be disposed at a single conductive layer with the electrodes.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 10, the electrode Sd[Na, j] is connected to
a routing Ld[Na, j]. The two electrodes Sd1[id, j] and Sd2[id, j],
regarded as two left and right sub-electrodes of the electrode
Sd[id, j], are spaced by an insulation gap extending along the
y-axis, and are respectively connected to two routings Ld1[id, j]
and Ld2[id, j]. The insulation gaps of the electrodes Sd[Na+1, j]
to Sd[Nr-1, j] are connected to form a downwardly extending channel
(towards the negative y direction). The routing Ld[Na, j]
downwardly extends along the channel to exit the lower side of the
touch control region 12d, and winds to the pad region 14d along the
periphery of the touch control region 12d (FIG. 9). The routings
Ld1[id, j[and Ld2[id, j] downwardly extend in parallel at opposite
sides of the routing Ld[Na, j], exit the lower side of the touch
control region 12d, and wind upwards along the periphery of the
touch control region 12 to reach the pad region 14d to become
mutually connected, so as to connect the electrodes Sd1[id, j] and
Sd2[id, j] to form the electrode Sd[id, j].
[0060] Assuming that positions of y coordinates of a pair of
electrodes Sd1[id2, j] and Sd2[id2, j] (not shown) are lower than
those of the electrodes Sd1[id, j] and Sd2[id, j], i.e.,
Na<id2<id, the routing Ld1[id2, j] of the electrode Sd1[id2,
j] downwardly extends between the routings Ld1[id, j] and Ld[Na,
j], and the routing Ld2[id2, j] of the electrode Sd2[id2, j]
downwardly extends between the routings Ld[Na, j] and Ld2[id, j].
Thus, the routings La[Na, j], Ld1[Na+1, j] to Ld1[Nr-1, j] and
Ld2[Na+1, j] to Ld2[Nr-1, j] are kept free from intersecting one
another in cross-bridge connections, and can thus be disposed at a
single conductive layer with the electrodes.
[0061] Similar to the routing layout of the electrodes Sd[1, j] to
Sd[Na-1, j] and Sd[Na, j] to Sd[Nr-1, j], the electrode Dd[Na-1, j]
is connected to a routing Wd[Na-1, j] (FIG. 10). The two electrodes
Dd1[iu, j] and Dd2[iu, j] are spaced by an insulation gap extending
along the y-axis, and are respectively connected to two routings
Wd1[iu, j] and Wd2[iu, j]. The routing Wd[Na-1, j] upwardly extends
to pass through the upper side of the touch control region 12d and
enters the pad region 14d. The routings Wd1[iu, j] and Wd2[iu, j]
upwardly extend in parallel at two opposite sides of the routing
Wd[Na-1, j], pass through the upper side of the touch control
region 12d to enter the pad region 14d, and connect the electrodes
Dd1[iu, j] and Dd2[iu, j] as the electrode Dd[iu, j].
[0062] The electrode Dd[Na, j] is connected to a routing Wd[Na, j].
The two electrodes Dd1[id, j] and Dd2[id, j] are spaced by an
insulation gap extending along the y-axis, and are respectively
connected to two routings Wd1[id, j] and Wd2[id, j]. The insulation
gaps of the electrodes Dd[Na+1, j]to Dd[Nr, j] are connected to
form a downwardly extending channel (towards the negative y
direction). The routing Ld[Na, j] downwardly extends along the
channel to exit the lower side of the touch control region 12d, and
winds back to the pad region 14d along the periphery of the touch
control region 12d. The routings Wd1[id, j] and Wd2[id, j]
downwardly extend in parallel at two opposite sides of the routing
Wd[Na, j], exit the touch control region 12d via the lower side of
the touch control region 12d, wind back to the pad region 14d along
the periphery of the touch control region 14d and become mutually
connected, so as to connect the electrodes Dd1[id, j] and Dd2[id,
j] to form the electrode Dd[id, j].
[0063] FIG. 11 shows an electrode shape exemplified by the
neighboring electrodes Sd[i, j], Dd[i, j] and Dd[i+1, j] according
to an embodiment. The electrode Sd2[i, j] and the electrode Dd1[i,
j] are two tessellation electrodes, and the electrode Sd2[i, j] and
the electrode Dd1[i+1, j] are also two tessellation electrodes. In
one embodiment, borders of two tessellation electrodes possess
jigsaw sections to allow the two tessellation electrodes to
mutually intervene with the presence of an insulation gap in
between. For example, the border of the electrode Sd2[i, j]
includes a jigsaw section sct3, which extends from one point pnt3a
to another point pnt3b at the border. To correspond to the jigsaw
shape of the jigsaw section sct3, the border of the electrode
Dd1[i+1, j] includes a corresponding jigsaw section sct4 extending
between two points pnt4a and ptn4b at the border, and intervenes
with the jigsaw section sct3 with a gap in between. Contributed by
the jigsaw shape of the jigsaw section sct3, the length of the
jigsaw section sct3 is greater than a linear distance between the
points pnt3a and pnt3b, and the jigsaw section sct4 greatly extends
and crosses a connection line between the points pnt3a and pnt3b.
Similarly, the length of the jigsaw section sct4 is greater than a
linear distance between the points pnt4a and pnt4b, and the jigsaw
section sct3 also crosses between the points pnt4a and pnt4b. Since
the jigsaw sections increase the corresponding border length
between the electrodes Sd2[i, j] and Dd1[i+1, j], mutual coupling
between the electrodes Sd2[i, j] and Dd1[41, j] is significantly
increased to more acutely sense the mutual capacitance change
induced by a touch control.
[0064] Similarly, the electrodes Sd2[i, j] and Dd1[i, j] are also
mutually intervened by jigsaw sections with an insulation gap in
between. For example, to form the jigsaw section of the electrode
Sd2[i, j], a border of the electrode Sd2[i, j] may include multiple
branches, e.g., a branch brn1, with a dent between the branches,
e.g., a dent blnk1. At the border of the electrode Sd2[i, j], the
branch brn1 protrudes between two points pnt1a and pnt1b, in a way
that a perimeter of the branch brn1 between the points pnt1a and
pnt1b (i.e., the section sct1) is greater than a linear distance
between the points pnt1a and pnt1b. The dent blnk1 is formed
between two points pnt2a and pnt2b, in a way that the perimeter of
the dent blnk1 between the points pnt2a and pnt2b (i.e., the
section sct2) is greater than a linear distance between the points
pnt2a and pnt2b. Thus, the branch brn1 of the electrode Sd2 extends
into the dent of the electrode Dd1[i, j], and the dent blnk1 of the
electrode Sd2[i, j] accommodates the protruding branch of the
electrode Dd1[i, j].
[0065] FIGS. 12 and 13 show a touch panel 10e according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10e implements
the routing layout in the touch panel 10c in FIG. 7 utilizing the
electrodes in FIG. 11. The touch panel 10e includes a touch control
region 12e and a pad region 14e. The touch control region 12e
includes electrodes De[1, j] to De[Nr, j] and electrodes Se[1, j]
to Se[Nr-1, j], which are all disposed at a single conductive
layer, similar to the electrodes Dc[1, j] to Dc[Nr, j] and the
electrodes Sc[1, j] and Sc[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 7. In the touch panel
10e, each electrode Se[i, j] of the electrodes Se[1, j] to Se[Nr-2,
j] includes two electrodes Se1[i, j] and Se2[i, j], and each
electrode De[i, j] of the electrodes De[1, j] to De[Nr-1, j]
comprises two electrodes De1[i, j] and De2[i, j].
[0066] As shown in FIG. 13, the electrode Se[Nr-1, j] is connected
to a routing Le[Nr-1, j]. Two electrodes Se1[i, j] and Se2[i, j],
regarded as two left and right sub-electrodes of the electrode
Se[i, j], are spaced by an insulation gap extending along the
y-axis, and are respectively connected to two routings Le1[i, j]
and Le2[i, j]. The insulation gaps of the electrodes Se[1, j] to
Se[Nr-2, j] are connected to form an upwardly extending insulation
channel. The routing Le[Nr-1, j] upwardly extends along the channel
and enters the pad region 14e via the upper side of the touch
control region 12e. The routings Le1[i, j] and Le2[i, j] upwardly
extend in parallel at two left and right sides of the routing
Le[Nr-1, j], enter the pad region 14e via the upper side of the
touch control region 12e as the routing Le[Nr-1, j] and become
mutually connected, so as to connect the electrodes Se1[i, j] and
Se2[i, j] to form the electrode Se[i, j].
[0067] Assuming that positions of y coordinates of a pair of
electrodes Se1[i2, j] and Se2[i2, j] (not shown) are lower than
those of the electrodes Se1[i, j] and Se2[i, j], i.e.,
i<i2<(Nr-1) a routing Le1[i2, j] of the electrode Se1[i2, j]
upwardly extends between the routings Le1[i, j] and Le[Nr-1, j],
and a routing Le2[i2, j] of the electrode Se2[i2, j] upwardly
extends between the routings Le1[Nr-1, j] and Le2[i, j]. Under the
above routing layout, the routings are kept free from intersecting
one another in cross-bridge connections, and can thus be disposed
at a single conductive layer with the electrodes.
[0068] Similarly, the electrode De[Nr, j] is connected to a routing
We[Nr, j]. Two electrodes De1[i, j] and De2[i, j], regarded as two
left and right sub-electrodes of the electrode De[i, j], are spaced
by an insulation gap extending along the y-axis, and are
respectively connected to two routings We1[i, j] and We2[i, j]. The
insulation gaps of the electrodes De[1, j] to De[Nr-1, j] are
connected to form an upwardly extending channel. The routing We[Nr,
j] upwardly extends along the channel, and enters the pad region
14e via the upper side of the touch control region 12e. The
routings We1[i, j] and We2[i, j] upwardly extend in parallel at two
left and right sides of the routing We[Nr, j], pass through the
upper side of the touch control region 12e as the routing We[Nr, j]
to enter the pad region 14e, and become mutually connected to
connect the electrodes De1[i, j] and De2[i, j] to one same
electrode De[i, j].
[0069] The electrodes Sd[Na-1, j], Sd[Na, j], Dd[Na-1, j] and
Dd[Na, j] in FIGS. 9 to 11, and/or the electrodes Se[Nr-1, j] and
De[Nr, j] in FIGS. 11 and 12 may also be defined with the loop-like
insulation gap 16 as shown in FIG. 3 therein, and the width of the
insulation gap 16 with respect to the x-axis may be similar to that
of the insulation gap between the two sub-electrodes.
[0070] FIG. 14 shows electrodes Sf[i, j] and Df[i, j] according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The electrodes Sf[i, j] and
Df[i, j] may replace the electrodes Sd[i, j] and Dd[i, j] of the
touch panel 10d (FIGS. 9 to 11), or the electrodes Se[i, j] and
De[i, j] of the touch panel 10e (FIGS. 12 and 13). The electrode
Sf[i, j] includes two electrodes Sf1[i, j] and Sf2[i, j], and are
spaced by an insulation gap along the x-axis that form a y-axis
channel for routings. The electrode Df[i, j] includes two
electrodes Df1[i, j] and Df2[i, j], and are spaced by an insulation
gap that forms a y-axis channel for routings. A jigsaw section is
formed between points pnt5a and pnt5b of the electrode Sf2[i, j],
and has a length greater than a linear distance between the points
pnt5a and pnt5b. Correspondingly, the electrode Df1[i, j] has a
jigsaw section formed between points pnt6a and pnt6b, and the
jigsaw section has a length greater than a linear distance between
the points pnt6a and pnt6b. The jigsaw section between the points
pnt6a and pnt6b intervenes with the jigsaw section between the
points pnt5a and pnt5b with a gap in between. The jigsaw section
between the points pnt5a and pnt5b crosses between the points pnt6a
and pnt6b, and the jigsaw section between the points pnt6a and
pnt6b crosses between the points pnt5a and pnt5b.
[0071] FIG. 15 shows electrodes Sg[i, j] and Dg[i, j] according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The electrodes Sg[i, j] and
Dg[i, j] may replace the electrodes Sd[i, j] and Dd[i, j] of the
touch panel 10d (FIGS. 9 to 11), or the electrodes Se[i, j] and
De[i, j] of the touch panel 10e (FIGS. 12 and 13). The electrode
Sg[i, j] includes two electrodes Sg1[i, j] and Sg2[i, j] spaced by
an insulation gap for forming a y-axis channel. A jigsaw section is
formed between points pnt7a and pnt7b of the electrode Sg2[i, j],
and has a length greater than a linear distance between the points
pnt7a and pnt7b. Correspondingly, a jigsaw section is formed
between points pnt8a and pnt8b of the electrode Dg1[i, j], and has
a length greater than a linear distance between the points pnt8a
and pnt8b. The jigsaw section between the points pnt7a and pnt7b
crosses between the points pnt8a and pnt8b, and the jigsaw section
between the points pnt8a and pnt8b crosses between the points pnt7a
and pnt7b.
[0072] FIG. 16 shows electrodes Sh[i, j] and Dh[i, j] according to
an embodiment of the present invention. The electrodes Sh[i, j] and
Dh[i, j] may replace the electrodes Sd[i, j] and Dd[i, j] of the
touch panel 10d (FIGS. 9 to 11), or the electrodes Se[i, j] and
De[i, j] of the touch panel 10e (FIGS. 12 and 13). The electrode
Sh[i, j] includes two electrodes Sh1[i, j] and Sh2[i, j] spaced by
an insulation gap to form a path along y-axis for routings. The
electrode Dh[i, j] includes two electrodes Dh1[i, j] and Dh2[i, j]]
spaced by an insulation gap to form a path along y-axis for
routings. A jigsaw section is formed between points pnt9a and pnt9b
of the electrode Sh2[i, j], and has a length substantially greater
than a linear distance between the points pnt9a and pnt9b.
Correspondingly, a jigsaw section is formed between points pnt10a
and pnt10b of the electrode Dh1[i, j], and has a length
substantially greater than a linear distance between the points
pnt10a and pnt10b.
[0073] FIGS. 17 and 18 show a touch panel 10i according to an
embodiment of the present invention. The touch panel 10i is capable
of implementing the electrode arrangement and routings in FIG. 1.
The touch panel 10i includes a touch control region 12i and a pad
region 14i. The touch control region 12i includes electrodes Di[1,
j] to Di[Nr, j] and electrodes Si[1, j] to Si[Nr-1, j], which are
all disposed at a single conductive layer and respectively serve as
the electrodes D[1, j] to D[Nr, j] and the electrodes S[1, j] and
S[Nr-1, j] in FIG. 1.
[0074] Similar to the embodiment in FIG. 15, a border of the
electrode Si[i, j] (where i may be iu or id) has two jigsaw
sections that intervene with a part of borders of two neighboring
electrodes Di[i, j] and Di[i+1, j] with an insulation gap in
between. At one other side to the two jigsaw sections, the
electrode Si[i, j] is spaced from two neighboring electrodes Di[i,
j-1] and Di[i+1, j-1] by an insulation gap along the x-axis to form
a routable y-axis channel. Similarly, a border of the electrode
Di[i, j] also has two jigsaw sections that intervene with a part of
borders of the electrodes Si[i-1, j] and Si[i, j] with an
insulation gap in between. At one other side to the two jigsaw
sections, the electrode Di[i, j] is spaced from two neighboring
electrodes Si[i-1, j+1] and Si[i, j+1] by an insulation gap along
the x-axis to form a routable y-axis channel.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 18, the electrode Si[1, j] and the
electrode Si[Na-1, j] are respectively connected to routings Li[1,
j] and Li[Na-1, j]. An arbitrary electrode Si[iu, j] of the
electrodes Si[1, j] to Si[Na-1, j] is connected to the routing
Li[iu, j] located between the routings Li[1, j] and Li[Na-1, j].
The routings Li[1, j], Li[iu, j] to Li[Na-1, j] upwardly extend to
pass through the upper side of the touch control region 12i and
enter the pad region 14i. Among the electrodes Si[1, j] to Si[Na-1,
j], when one electrode Si[iu2, j] is arranged between the
electrodes Si[iu, j] and Si[Na-1, j] (i.e., iu<iu2<(Na-1)), a
routing Li[iu2, j] connected to an electrode Si[iu2, j] is located
between the routings L[iu, j] and L[Na-1, j]. Thus, the routings
Li[1, j] to Li[Na-1, j] do not cross one another such that the
electrodes may be formed at a single conductive layer.
[0076] The electrode Si[Na, j] and the electrode Si[Nr-1, j] are
respectively connected to routings Li[Na, j] and Li[Nr-1, j]. An
arbitrary electrode Si[id, j] among of the electrodes Si[Na, j] to
Si[Nr-1, j] is connected to a routing Li[id, j] located between the
routings Li[Na, j] and Li[Nr-1, j]. The routings Li[Na, j], Li[id,
j] to Li[Nr-1, j] downwardly extend to pass through the lower side
of the touch control region 12i, and wind along the periphery of
the touch control region 12i to enter the pad region 14i. Among the
electrodes Si[Na, j] to Si[Nr-1, j], when one electrode Si[id2, j]
is arranged between the electrodes Si[id, j] and Si[Nr-1, j] (i.e.,
id<id2<(Nr-1)), the routing Li[id2, j] connected to the
electrode Si[id2, j] is located between the routings Li[id, j] and
Li[Nr-1, j] to prevent the routings from crossing one another.
[0077] Similarly, the electrode Di[1, j] and the electrode Di[Na-1,
j] are respectively connected to routings Wi[1, j] and Wi[Na-1, j].
An arbitrary electrode Di[iu, j] of the electrodes Di[1, j] to
Di[Na-1, j] is connected to a routing Wi[iu, j]. The routing Wi[iu,
j] is located between the routings Wi[1, j] and Wi[Na-1, j], and
upwardly extends with the routings Wi[1, j] and Wi[Na-1, j] to pass
through the upper side of the touch control region 12i and enter
the pad region 14i. The electrode Di[Na, j] and the electrode
Di[Nr, j] are respectively connected to routings Wi[Na, j] and
Wi[Nr, j]. An arbitrary electrode Di[id, j] of the electrodes
Di[Na, j] to Di[Nr, j] is connected to a routing Wi[id, j]. The
routing Wi[id, j] is located between the routings Wi[Na, j] and
Wi[Nr, j], and downwardly extends with the routings Wi[Na, j] and
Wi[Nr, j] to pass through the lower side of the touch control
region 12i, and winds along the periphery of the touch control
region 12i to enter the pad region 14i.
[0078] In the embodiment in FIGS. 17 and 18, the shape of the
electrode Si[i, j] may be the design of the electrode Sd2[i, j]
(FIG. 11), Sf2[i, j] (FIG. 14), Sg2[i, j] (FIG. 15) or Sh2[i, j]
(FIG. 16). Correspondingly, the shape of the electrode Di[i, j] may
be the design of the electrode Dd1[i, j] (FIG. 11), Df2[i, j] (FIG.
14), Dg2[i, j] (FIG. 15) or Dh2[i, j] (FIG. 16).
[0079] In the touch panel 10i in FIGS. 17 and 18, the routings of
the electrodes are extended via the upper and lower sides of the
touch control region 12i. Alternatively, the routings of the
electrodes may all be extended into the pad region 14i via the
upper side of the touch control region 12i.
[0080] FIG. 19 shows a touch panel 10j according to an embodiment
of the present invention. The touch panel 10j includes a touch
control region 12j and a pad region 14j. The touch control region
12j includes electrodes Dj[i, j] to Dj[Nr, j] and electrodes Sj[1,
j] to Sj[Nr-1, j], which are all formed at a single conductive
layer and respectively serve as the electrodes D[1, j] to D[Nr, j]
and the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr, j] in FIG. 1.
[0081] The electrodes Dj[1, j-1] and Dj[Nr, j-1] are respectively
connected to routings Wj[1, j-1] and Wj[Nr, j-1]. An arbitrary
electrode Dj[i, j-1] of the electrodes Dj[1, j-1] and Dj[Nr, j-1]
is connected to a routing Wj[i, j-1]. Similarly, the electrodes
Sj[1, j] and Sj[Nr-1, j] are respectively connected to routings
Lj[1, j] and Lj[Nr-1, j]. An arbitrary electrode of the electrodes
Sj[1, j] to Sj[Nr-1, j] is connected to a routing Lj[i, j].
[0082] In the touch control region 12j, between the electrodes
Dj[1, j-1] to Dj[Nr, j-1] and the electrodes Sj[1, j] to Sj[Nr-1,
j], a y-axis channel is formed. In the y-axis channel, the routing
Wj[i, j-1] is located between the routings Wj[1, j-1] and Wj[Nr,
j-1], and extends upwardly with the routings Wj[1, j-1] and Wj[Nr,
j-1] to reach the pad region 14j. The routing Lj[i, j] is located
between the routings Lj[1, j] and Lj[Nr-1, j], and upwardly extends
with the routings Lj[1, j] and Lj[Nr-1, j] to reach the pad region
14j. The routing Wj[1, j-1] to Wj[Nr, j-1] and the routings
Lj[Nr-1, j] to Lj[1, j] are kept free from crossing one another,
and can thus be formed at a single layer with the electrodes.
[0083] FIG. 20 shows a touch panel 10k according to an embodiment
of the present invention. The touch panel 10k includes a touch
control region 12k and a pad region 14k. The touch control region
12k includes an electrode Sk[j] and electrodes Dk[1, j] to Dk[Nr,
j], which are disposed at a single conductive layer. The electrodes
Dk[1, j] to Dk[Nr, j] may respectively implement the electrodes
D[1, j] to D[Nr, j] (FIG. 1), and the electrode Sk[j] is equivalent
to coupling the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr-1, j] together (FIG. 1).
A border of the electrode Sk[j] has multiple jigsaw sections, which
respectively intervene with the electrodes Dk[1, j] to Dk[Nr, j]
with an insulation gap in between. For example, a jigsaw section is
formed between points pnt11a and pnt11b of the electrode Sk[j].
Correspondingly, a jigsaw section is formed between points pnt12a
and pnt12b of the electrode Dk[1, j]. The electrodes Dk[1, j] to
Dk[Nr, k] and the electrode Sk[j+1] are also spaced by an
insulation gap for forming a routable channel Hk[j] extending along
the y-axis.
[0084] In the channel Hk[j], the electrode Sk[j] is connected to a
routing Lk[j], and the electrodes Dk[1, j], Dk[Na-1, j], Dk[Na, j]
and Kd[Nr, j] are respectively connected to routings Wk[1, j],
Wk[Na-1, j], Wk[Na, j] and Wk[Nr, j]. An arbitrary electrode Dk[iu,
j] of the electrodes Dk[1, j] to Dk[Na-1, j] is connected to a
routing Wk[iu, j]. The routing Wk[iu, j] is located between the
routings Wk[1, j] and Wk[Na-1, j], and upwardly extends with the
routings Wk[1, j] and Wk[Na-1, j] (and the routing Lk[j]) to pass
through the upper border of the touch control region 12k to enter
the pad region 14k. An arbitrary electrode Dk[id, j] of the
electrodes Dk[Na, j] to Kd[Nr, j] is connected to a routing Wk[id,
j]. The routing Wk[id, j] is located between the routings Wk[Na, j]
and Wk[Nr, j], downwardly extends with the routings Wk[Na, j] and
Wk[Nr, j] to pass through the lower border of the touch control
region 12k, and winds along the periphery of the touch control
region 12k to enter the pad region 14k. Alternatively, the routing
Lk[j] and the routings Wk[1, j] to Wk[Nr, j] all upwardly extend to
pass through the upper side of the touch control region 12k to
enter the pad region 14k.
[0085] FIG. 21 shows a touch panel 10L according to an embodiment
of the present invention. The touch panel 10L includes a touch
control region 12L and a pad region 14L. The touch control region
12L includes electrodes SL[j] and electrodes DL[1, j] to DL[Nr, j],
which are disposed at a single conductive layer. The electrodes
DL[1, j] to DL[Nr, j] may respectively implement the electrodes
D[1, j] to D[Nr, j] (FIG. 1), and the electrode SL[j] is equivalent
to coupling the electrodes S[1, j] to S[Nr-1] together. A border of
the electrode SL[j] has multiple jigsaw sections, which
respectively intervene with the electrodes DL[1, j] to DL[Nr, j]
with an insulation gap in between. The electrodes DL[1, j] to
DL[Nr, k] and the electrode SL[j+1] are also spaced by an
insulation gap for forming a routable channel HL[j] extending along
the y-axis. An opening opn[1] is formed at the upper side of the
electrode SL[j] to allow the a routing WL[1, j] of the electrode
DL[1, j] to upwardly extend. Multiple openings are also formed at
the right side of the electrode SL[j], e.g., openings opn[2] and
opn[3], to allow routings WL[2, j] and WL[3, j] of the electrodes
DL[2, j] and DL[3, j] to extend to the right to the channel HL[j],
and so forth. Alternatively, a particular part of the electrode
SL[j] may also connect at the right side and form an opening opn[i]
at the left side to allow a particular electrode(s) DL[i, j] to
extend to the left to the channel HL[j-1].
[0086] In the touch panel 10L, the routings of the electrodes DL[1,
j] to DL[Nr, j] may be divided into two groups that respectively
pass through the upper and lower sides of the touch control region
12L, or all pass through the upper side of the touch control region
12L to extend to the pad region 14L.
[0087] FIG. 22 shows a schematic diagram of pads and routings
according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pads and
routings of the embodiment are applied to a touch panel of the
present invention. In FIG. 22, a pad region 14m commonly refers to
the pad region 14a (FIG. 2), 14b (FIG. 4), 14c (FIG. 7), 14d (FIG.
9), 14e (FIG. 12), 14i (FIG. 17), 14j (FIG. 19), 14k (FIG. 20) and
14L (FIG. 21), and includes multiple pads, e.g., pads P[1], P[2] to
P[q] and P[q1] to P[q3]. In the embodiment in FIG. 22, the pads are
arranged in a row along the x-axis. Each of the pads P[q] connects
at least one routing Lm[q] to a corresponding pad on a circuit
board, e.g., a flexible circuit board (not shown), such that the
routing Lm[q] connects to a corresponding sensor or driver via the
circuit board. The routing Lm[1] commonly refers to a routing
extended from an arbitrary electrode of the touch control region,
e.g., the routings La1[iu, j], La2[iu, j], La1[id, j], La2[id, j],
La[Na-1, j] and La[Na, j] (FIG. 3), the routings Lb[j], Lb1[j] and
Lb2[j] (FIG. 5), the routings Wb[Nr, j], Wb1[i, j] and Wb2[i, j]
(FIG. 6), the routings Lc[Nr-1], Lc1[i, j] and Lc2[i, j] (FIG. 8),
the routings Ld[Na-1, j], Ld[Na, j], Ld1[iu, j], Ld2[iu, j],
Ld1[id, j], Ld2[id, j], Wd[Na-1, j], Wd[Na, j], Wd1[iu, j], Wd2[iu,
j], Wd1[id, j] and Wd2[id, j] (FIG. 10), the routings Le[Nr-1, j],
Le1[i, j], Le2[i, j], We[Nr, j], Wet [i, j] and We2[i, j] (FIG.
13), the routings Li[iu, j], Li[id, j], Wi[iu, j] and Wi[id, j]
(FIG. 18), the routings Lj[i, j] and Wj[i, j-1] (FIG. 19), the
routings Lk[j], Wk[iu, j] and Wk[id, j] (FIG. 20), and the routings
WI[1, j] to WL[3, j] (FIG. 21).
[0088] In FIG. 22, the routings of the same property may be
connected to the same pad, i.e., the same pad may connect to
multiple routings to reduce the number of pads. The routings of the
same property refer to routings that need to be connected to the
same sensor, the same driver or having the same voltage. For
example, two routings extended from two sub-electrodes of a same
electrode are routings of the same property. Further, as described
with reference to FIG. 1, in various embodiments of the
driving-sensing arrangement, different electrodes S[i1, j1] and
S[i2, j2] may be connected to the same sensor, and therefore the
routings of the electrodes S[i1, j1] and S[i2, j2] are of the same
property. Similarly, different electrodes D[i1, j1] and D[i2, j2]
may also be connected to the same driver, and so the routings of
the D[i1, j1] and D[i2, j2] are of the same property.
[0089] As each pad occupies a substantial area and an appropriate
distance needs to be kept between the pads. Thus, by connecting the
routings of the same property to the same pad, the number of pads
required can be significantly lowered to reduce the area occupied
by the pads. As shown in FIG. 22, the routings Lm[q1] and Lm[q4]
are of the same property, and can thus be connected to the same pad
P[q1]. Similarly, the routings Lm[q2] and Lm[q3] are of the same
property, and can thus be connected to the pad P[q2] via two ends
of the pad P[q2]. To keep the routing Lm[q4] and the connection
between the pad P[q1] to the routing Lm[q1] as well as the routing
Lm[q3] and the connection between the pad P[q2] and the routing
Lm[q2] free from crossing one another, the routings Lm[q2] and
Lm[q3] are maintained between the routings Lm[q1] and Lm[q4], and
the pad P[q2] to be connected to the routings Lm[q2] and Lm[q3] is
also located between the routings Lm[q4] and Lm[q1]. Since the
routing Lm[q4], the connection between the pad P[q1] and the
routing Lm[q1] as well as the routing Lm[q3] and the connection
between pad P[q2] and the routing Lm[q2] do not cross one another,
the pads, the routings and the electrodes may be formed at a single
conductive layer.
[0090] For example, the routing Lm[q5] connected to the pad P[q3]
may be the routing La[Na-1, j] connected to the electrode Sa[Na-1,
j] in FIG. 3. The routings Lm[q2] and Lm[q3] at the two sides of
the routing Lm[q5] may be the routings La1[iu2, j] and La2[iu2, j]
respectively connected to the electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and Sa2[iu2,
j]. The electrodes Sa1[iu2, j] and Sa2[iu2, j] are respectively
located at two opposite sides of the routing Lm[q5], such that the
connections of the electrode Sa2[iu2, j], the routing La2[iu2, j]
(the routing Lm[q3], the pad P[q2], the routing La1[iu2, j] (the
routing Lm[q2]) to the electrode Sa1[iu2, j] are encircled around
the electrode Sa[Na-1, j], the routing La[Na-1, j] (the routing
Lm[q5]) and the pad P[q3]. The routings Lm[q1] and Lm[q4] around
the routings Lm[q2] and Lm[q3] may be the routings La1[iu, j] and
La2[iu, j] in FIG. 3, which are respectively connected to the
electrodes Sa1[iu, j] and Sa2[iu, j]. The connections of the
electrodes Sa2[iu, j], the routing La2[iu, j] (the routing Lm[q4]),
the pad P[q1], the routing La1[iu, j] (the pad Lm[q1]) to the
electrode Sa1[iu, j] are encircled around the electrode Sa2[iu2,
j], the routing La2[iu2, j] (the routing Lm[q3]), the pad P[q2],
the routing La1[iu2, j] (the routing Lm[q2]) and the electrode
Sa1[iu2, j]. The pad P[q2] is arranged between the pads P[q1] and
P[q3], and the pads P[q1], P[q2] and P[q3] may also be three
non-neighboring pads.
[0091] An appropriate driving-sensing arrangement allows different
routings to share a same pad. For example, in the touch panel 10k
in FIG. 20, the electrode Dk[id, j] may be connected to the driver
DU[mod(j,2)*i+mod(j-1,2)*(Nr-id+1)]. That is, the electrodes Dk[id,
j] and Dk[Nr-id+1, j+1] are connected to the same driver. Thus, the
routing Wk[1, j] and the routing Wk[Nr, j+1] may be connected to a
same pad, e.g., the pad P[q1], the routing Wk[2, j] between the
routings Wk[1, j] and Wk[Nr, j+1] and the routing Wk[Nr-1, j+1] may
be connected to a same pad, e.g., the pad P[q2], and the routing
Wk[3, j] between the routings Wk[2, j] and Wk[Nr-1, j+1] and the
routing Wk[Nr-2, j+1] may be connected to a same pad, e.g., the pad
P[q3], and so forth.
[0092] FIG. 23 shows a schematic diagram of pads and routings
according to another embodiment of the present invention. As the
pad region 14m shown in FIG. 22, a pad region 14n in FIG. 23
commonly refers to the pad region 14a (FIG. 2), 14b (FIG. 4), 14c
(FIG. 7), 14d (FIG. 9), 14e (FIG. 12), 14i (FIG. 17), 14j (FIG.
19), 14k (FIG. 20) and 14L (FIG. 21), and includes multiple
staggered pads, e.g., pads P[1, 1], P[1, 2] to P[1, q] and P[2, 1],
P[2, 2] to P[2, q]. In FIG. 23, the pads are arranged in two rows.
The pads P[1, 1], P[1, 2] to P[1, q] are arranged in one row along
the x-axis, and the pads P[2, 1], P[2, 2] to P[2, q] are arranged
in another row along the x-axis. The x coordinate of the pad P[2,
1] is between those of the pads P[1, 2] and P[1, 2], the x
coordinate of the pad P[1, 2] is between those of the pads P[2, 1]
and P[2, 2], and so forth. Each of the pads P[1, q] and P[2, q] are
respectively connected to at least one routing. For example, the
pads P[1, 1], P[1, 2], P[2, 1] and P[2, 2] are respectively
connected to routings Ln[1] to Ln[4].
[0093] In FIG. 23, different routings of the same property may
encircle pads of a same row and/or pads of different rows to
connect to a same pad. The routings Ln[q1] and Ln[q4] of the same
property may be respectively connected to two ends of the pad P[1,
q1], and the other two routings Ln[q2] and Ln[q3] of the same
property may be jointly connected to the pad P[2, q2] at another
row. As the routings Ln[q2] and Ln[q3] stay between the routings
Ln[q1] and Ln[q4], and the pad P[2, q2] to be connected to the
routings Ln[q2] and Ln[q3] is also located between the routing
Ln[q4] and the pad P[1, q1], the connections of the routing Lm[q4],
the pad P[1, q1] to the routing Lm[q1]and the connections of the
routing Lm[q3], the pad P[2, q2] to the routing Lm[q2] are kept
free from intervening one another. That is, the pads in the
staggered arrangement is capable of reducing the x-axis width of
the pad region 14n, and different routings of the same property
(routings connected to different electrodes) may also be connected
to the same pad.
[0094] FIG. 24 shows an electrode arrangement according to an
embodiment of the present invention. Two electrodes Z1 and Z2 are
two neighboring electrodes in any of the foregoing embodiments, and
are spaced by an insulation gap 17a having a distance d1. For
example, the electrode Z1 may connect to a driver, and the
electrode Z2 may connect to a sensor. In the gap 17a, a dummy
electrode may be additionally disposed, e.g., dummy electrodes
zd[1], zd[2] to zd[r]. The dummy electrodes zd[1] to zd[r] are
insulated from one another, and are also insulated from the
electrodes Z1 and Z2. For example, the dummy electrode zd[1] is
spaced from the electrode Z1 by a gap 17b having a distance d2, and
is spaced from the electrode Z2 by a gap 17c having a distance d3.
Thus, the electrode Zd[r] is kept floating, and is unconnected to
any circuit, including the sensors and drivers. With the stuffing
provided by the dummy electrode zd[r], the insulation gap 17a
between the electrodes Z1 and Z2 originally having a greater width
is reduced to two gaps 17b and 17c having smaller distances. In
other words, the dummy electrode zd[r] partially stuffs the gap 17a
between the electrodes Z1 and Z2, in a way that the gap 17a appears
less obvious to thus not only impose reduced effects upon image
quality when the touch panel is integrated to a display panel but
also benefits processing and manufacturing of the electrodes.
Further, electric field power lines of the electrodes Z1 and Z2 may
be first coupled to the dummy electrode zd[r] via the electrode Z1
and then coupled to the electrode Z2 via the dummy electrode zd[r].
Therefore, the dummy electrode zd[r] converges the power lines
between the electrodes Z1 and Z2 to reduce the power line loss,
thereby facilitating the sensing of mutual capacitance changes.
[0095] In conclusion, for a multi-touch touch panel cooperating
drivers and sensors, a total solution is provided in various
aspects from an electrode arrangement, a routing layout to a pad
arrangement. As such, electrodes, routings and pads are allowed to
form at a single conductive layer to further reduce the size, area
and thickness of the touch panel while also lowering costs of the
touch panel. Further, the regularity in the routing layout of the
embodiment presents a spatial periodicity, thus allowing ambient
electrical environment of the electrodes to approach consistency
for enhancing touch sensing performance.
[0096] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that
the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore
should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass
all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.
* * * * *