Micro-wire electrode structure with single-layer dummy micro-wires

Abstract

A micro-wire electrode structure includes a substrate having a surface. A plurality of first micro-wire electrodes spatially separated by first electrode gaps is located in a first layer in relation to the surface, each first micro-wire electrode including a plurality of electrically connected first micro-wires. A plurality of electrically isolated second micro-wire electrodes is located in a second layer in relation to the surface, the second layer at least partially different from the first layer. Each second micro-wire electrode includes a plurality of electrically connected second micro-wires. A plurality of first gap micro-wires is located in each first electrode gap, at least some of the first gap micro-wires located in a gap layer different from the first layer. The first gap micro-wires are electrically isolated from the first micro-wires.

1 . A micro-wire electrode structure, comprising:
 a substrate having a surface;   a plurality of first micro-wire electrodes spatially separated by first electrode gaps located in a first layer in relation to the surface, each first micro-wire electrode including a plurality of electrically connected first micro-wires;   a plurality of electrically isolated second micro-wire electrodes located in a second layer in relation to the surface, the second layer at least partially different from the first layer and each second micro-wire electrode including a plurality of electrically connected second micro-wires; and   a plurality of first gap micro-wires located in each first electrode gap, at least some of the first gap micro-wires located in a gap layer different from the first layer, the first gap micro-wires electrically isolated from the first micro-wires.   
     
     
         2 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , further including an unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the first micro-wires of the first micro-wire electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the gap layer is the second layer and wherein at least some of the first gap micro-wires are located within the second micro-wire electrodes and are electrically connected to the second micro-wires. 
     
     
         4 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second micro-wire electrodes are spatially separated by second electrode gaps and further including a plurality of second gap micro-wires located in each second electrode gap, the second gap micro-wires electrically isolated from the second micro-wires. 
     
     
         5 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 4 , wherein at least some of the second gap micro-wires and at least some of the first gap micro-wires are located in a common layer parallel to the surface or wherein the second gap micro-wires are located in the first layer. 
     
     
         6 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the second gap micro-wires are located within the first micro-wire electrodes and are electrically connected to the first micro-wires. 
     
     
         7 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the first gap micro-wires are within the second micro-wire electrodes and are electrically connected to the second micro-wires. 
     
     
         8 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 6 , wherein at least some of the first gap micro-wires are within the second electrode gap and are electrically connected to the second gap micro-wires. 
     
     
         9 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is between the second layer and the surface. 
     
     
         10 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 9 , further including an unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the first micro-wires of the first micro-wire electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 9 , wherein the first micro-wire electrodes are the drive electrodes of a capacitive touch screen and the second micro-wire electrodes are the sense electrodes of the capacitive touch screen. 
     
     
         12 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second layer is between the first layer and the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first micro-wire electrodes are the sense electrodes of a capacitive touch screen and the second micro-wire electrodes are the drive electrodes of the capacitive touch screen. 
     
     
         14 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a display cover or a display or the substrate is affixed to a display and the display is the source of electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         15 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first micro-wire electrodes extend in a first direction parallel to the surface, the second micro-wire electrodes extend in a second direction parallel to the surface. 
     
     
         16 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first micro-wires form a first pattern and the second micro-wires form a second pattern similar to the first pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 17 , wherein the first pattern is spatially offset from the second pattern in a direction parallel to the surface by a phase difference of 180 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The micro-wire electrode structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first micro-wire electrodes are electrically isolated. 
     
     
         20 . A capacitive touch screen device having the first micro-wire electrodes, the second micro-wire electrodes, and the first gap micro-wires of  claim 1 .