Opaque thin film passivation

Abstract

A touch sensitive device that includes a touch sensor having an opaque passivation layer is disclosed. The opaque passivation layer can be made from an organic or inorganic material, such as acrylic. The opaque passivation layer can be positioned in the touch sensitive device between the cover material of the device and conductive traces located on the touch sensor to hide the conductive traces from the user's view and protect the conductive traces from corrosion. Processes for making the touch sensitive devices that include a touch sensor having an opaque passivation layer are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a cover material;   a touch sensor comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a first set of conductive traces disposed on a first surface of the substrate; 
   a first opaque passivation layer disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, wherein at least a portion of the first opaque passivation layer is disposed between the set of conductive traces and the cover material; and   an optically clear adhesive laminating the cover material to the touch sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from an outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first opaque passivation layer is greater than a distance from the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the set of conductive traces. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer has a thickness of less than 5 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer has a thickness between 2-3 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device excludes a black mask. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first set of touch sensor lines disposed on the first surface of the substrate and coupled to the set of conductive traces.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second set of touch sensor lines disposed on the second surface of the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer has an optical density greater than or equal to 3. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second set of conductive traces disposed on the second surface of the substrate, wherein the second set of conductive traces are coupled to ends of a plurality of touch sensor lines.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 at least one of a second opaque passivation layer and a black mask disposed on the second set of conductive traces.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the second opaque passivation layer has a gradient thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer comprises acrylic. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a touch sensitive display. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer contacts the cover material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer is configured to conceal all of the first set of conductive traces. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer is configured to conceal a portion of the first set of conductive traces. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a device, the method comprising:
 depositing a first set of touch sensor lines capable of measuring a touch object;   depositing a first set of conductive traces on a first surface of a substrate, the first set of conductive traces coupled to the first set of touch sensor lines;   depositing a first opaque passivation layer between the first set of conductive traces and a cover material;   laminating the substrate to the cover material using an optically clear adhesive.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first opaque passivation layer is deposited such that the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first opaque passivation layer is greater than a distance from the outer edge of the device to an inner edge of the first set of conductive traces. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first set of touch sensor lines are deposited on the first surface of the substrate, the method further comprising:
 depositing a second set of touch sensor lines on the second surface of the substrate and proximate to the first opaque passivation layer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 depositing a second set of conductive traces on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface; and   depositing a second opaque passivation layer on the second set of conductive traces.