Single Layer Sensor Pattern

Abstract

A capacitive sensor array comprises large sensor electrodes and small sensor electrodes formed from a single layer of conductive material. Each sensor electrode of a first set of small sensor electrodes is electrically connected to a first pad. A first axis crosses two or more of the sensor electrodes of the first set of small sensor electrodes, and each small sensor electrode of the first set of small sensor electrodes is located on an opposite lateral side of one of the large sensor electrodes from another small sensor electrode of the first set. Each sensor electrode of a second set of small sensor electrodes is electrically connected to a second pad. A second axis crosses two or more of the sensor electrodes of the second set of small sensor electrodes, and each small sensor electrode of the second set is located on an opposite lateral side of one of the large sensor electrodes from another small sensor electrode of the second set.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A capacitive sensor array, comprising:
 a first plurality of long sensor electrodes disposed within an active sensing region;   a second plurality of short sensor electrodes disposed within the active sensing region, wherein the second plurality of short sensor electrodes comprises:
 a first group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled to each other, and 
 a second group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled each other, 
 wherein the first short group of short sensor electrodes and the second group of short sensor electrodes alternate along a first axis, and 
 wherein at least one short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes is disposed on first side of an adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes of the first plurality of long sensor electrodes and at least another short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes is disposed on a second side of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes of the first plurality of long sensor electrodes, the at least one short sensor electrode and the at least another short sensor electrode are aligned along a second axis and electrically coupled through a routing region; and 
   a plurality of bonding pads disposed in an edge region, the plurality of bonding pads electrically coupled to the first plurality of long sensor electrode and the second plurality of short sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         22 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a first long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a first unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, and   a second long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a second unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, and   
     
     
         23 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 21 , wherein:
 a first long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a first unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the second group of short sensor electrodes, and   a second long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a second unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the second group of short sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         24 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 21 , wherein short sensor electrodes of the first and second groups of short electrodes are electrically coupled to each other through routing traces, and wherein short sensor electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled through routing traces disposed in the routing region. 
     
     
         25 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 24 , wherein short sensor electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled through routing traces coupled to bonding pads in the edge region. 
     
     
         26 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 21 , wherein a first pad of the plurality of bonding pads is electrically coupled to a first short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes and to a second short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, wherein the first and second short sensor electrodes of the first group of short sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other through a routing trace in the routing region. 
     
     
         27 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 21  further comprising at least one ground trace disposed within the active region, wherein the ground trace is disposed between at least one short sensor electrode of the second plurality of short sensor electrodes and a long sensor electrode of the first plurality of long sensor electrodes. 
     
     
         28 . A capacitive sensor array comprising:
 a plurality of long sensor electrodes disposed as adjacent pairs in an active region;   a plurality of short sensor electrodes disposed in the active region and disposed on a first side of adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes and on a second side of adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes, the plurality of short electrodes comprising:
 a first group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled to each other, wherein short sensor electrodes on the first side and the second side of the adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other by routing traces disposed at least in part in an routing region, and 
 a second group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled to each other, wherein short sensor electrodes on the first side and the second side of the adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other by routing traces disposed at least in part in the routing region; and 
   a plurality of bonding pads disposed in an edge region and electrically coupled to the first plurality of long sensor electrodes and the second plurality of short sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         29 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28 , wherein:
 a first long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor sensor electrodes forms a first unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, and   a second long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a second unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, and   
     
     
         30 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28 , wherein:
 a first long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a first unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the second group of short sensor electrodes, and   a second long sensor electrode of the adjacent pair of long sensor electrodes forms a second unit cell with the at least one short sensor electrode of the second group of short sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         31 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28 , wherein a first pad of the plurality of bonding pads is electrically coupled to a first short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes and to a second short sensor electrode of the first group of short sensor electrodes, wherein the first and second short sensor electrodes of the first group of short sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other through a routing trace in the routing region. 
     
     
         32 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28 , wherein the routing region is disposed on a first end of the capacitive sensor array and the edge region is disposed on a second end of the capacitive sensor array, the first and second ends of the capacitive sensor array opposite each other. 
     
     
         33 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28  further comprising at least one ground trace disposed within the active region, wherein the ground trace is disposed between at least one short electrode of the second plurality of short sensor electrodes and a long sensor electrode of the first plurality of long sensor electrodes. 
     
     
         34 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 28 , wherein electrodes of the first group of short sensor electrodes and the second group of short sensor electrodes alternate along a first axis. 
     
     
         35 . The capacitive sensor array of  claim 34 , wherein electrodes of the first group of short sensor electrodes disposed on opposite sides of the adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes are disposed along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         36 . A method comprising:
 providing a plurality of long sensor electrodes disposed as adjacent pairs in an active region;   providing a plurality of short sensor electrodes disposed in the active region and disposed on a first side of adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes and on a second side of adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes, the plurality of short sensor electrodes comprising:
 a first group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled to each other, wherein short sensor electrodes on the first side and the second side of the adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other by routing traces disposed at least in part in an routing region, and 
 a second group of short sensor electrodes electrically coupled to each other, wherein short sensor electrodes on the first side and the second side of the adjacent pairs of long sensor electrodes are electrically coupled to each other by routing traces disposed at least in part in the routing region; and 
   providing a plurality of bonding pads disposed in an edge region and electrically coupled to the first plurality of long sensor electrodes and the second plurality of short sensor electrodes.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising providing at least one ground trace disposed within the active region, wherein the ground trace is disposed between at least one short sensor electrode of the second plurality of short sensor electrodes and a long electrode of the first plurality of long sensor electrodes. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising providing a first plurality of routing traces to electrically couple electrodes of the first group of short sensor electrodes to each other through the routing region and to a bonding pad of the plurality of bonding pads in the edge region. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising providing a second plurality of routing traces to electrically couple electrodes of the second group of short sensor electrodes to each other through the routing region and to a bonding pad of the plurality of bonding pads in the edge region. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  further comprising providing a plurality of routing traces to electrically couple electrodes of the plurality of long sensor electrodes to bonding pads.