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

Abstract

A method of making a micro-wire electrode structure includes providing 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 in a second layer is located 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. 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 electrically isolated from the first micro-wires.

1 . A method of making a micro-wire electrode structure, comprising:
 providing a substrate having a surface;   locating a plurality of first micro-wire electrodes spatially separated by first electrode gaps in a first layer in relation to the surface, each first micro-wire electrode including a plurality of electrically connected first micro-wires;   locating a plurality of electrically isolated second micro-wire electrodes 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   locating a plurality of first gap micro-wires 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 method of  claim 1 , further including locating an unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the first micro-wires of the first micro-wire electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including locating at least some of the first gap micro-wires and locating at least some of the second micro-wires in the second layer in a common step so that the 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. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including spatially separating the second micro-wire electrodes by second electrode gaps and locating a plurality of second gap micro-wires in each second electrode gap, the second gap micro-wires electrically isolated from the second micro-wires. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including locating at least some of the second gap micro-wires and at least some of the first gap micro-wires in a common layer parallel to the surface in a common step. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including locating at least some of the second gap micro-wires and locating at least some of the first gap micro-wires in a common step in the first layer and the first layer is the common layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including locating the second micro-wires and locating at least some of the first gap micro-wires within the second micro-wire electrodes and electrically connected to the second micro-wires in a common step. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further including locating the second gap micro-wires and locating at least some of the first gap micro-wires within the second electrode gap and electrically connected to the second gap micro-wires in a common step. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including locating the first layer between the second layer and the surface and before the second layer is located. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further including providing an unpatterned conductive layer in electrical contact with the first micro-wires of the first micro-wire electrodes before the second layer is located. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further including driving the first micro-wire electrodes with a signal and sensing the second micro-wire electrodes to provide a signal for a capacitive touch screen. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further including locating the second layer between the first layer and the surface before the first layer is located. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including driving the second micro-wire electrodes with a signal and sensing the first micro-wire electrodes to provide a signal for a capacitive touch screen. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further including providing a display substrate or a display cover having the surface or affixing the substrate to a display and wherein the display is the source of electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further including locating the first micro-wire electrodes extending in a first direction parallel to the surface and locating the second micro-wire electrodes extending in a second direction parallel to the surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further including forming a first pattern with the first micro-wires, and forming a second pattern similar to the first pattern with the second micro-wires. 
     
     
         18 . The method 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 method of  claim 1 , further including locating the first micro-wire electrodes so that the first micro-wire electrodes are electrically isolated.