Touch sensor arrays with integrated inter-layer contacts

Abstract

Touch pad structures are provided that gather touch sensor data. The data may be used to control a computer or other electronic device. The touch pad structures may be integrated into a computer or other computing equipment or may be provided as a stand-alone accessory. The touch pad structures may include a touch sensor array. The touch sensor array may include rows and columns of touch sensor electrodes, interconnect lines, and other conductive structures. The conductive structures on the touch sensor array may be formed from patterned layers of ink. Interconnect line segments in different layer of ink may be connected in rectangular contact regions. The touch sensor array may have a tail. A layer of insulator may be removed from the substrate across a tip portion of the tail to allow the line segments to be connected.

1 . A touch sensor panel, comprising:
 a substrate; and   one or more conductive touch sensor structures formed on the substrate for providing electrical connectivity to the touch sensor panel;   wherein at least one of the conductive touch sensor structures includes first and second layers of conductive material electrically connected at a contact region, the first and second layers having widths at the contact region that are substantially the same width as at least a portion of the second layer of conductive material outside the contact region; and   wherein the second layer of at least one of the conductive touch sensor structures having electrically connected first and second layers of conductive material at the contact region is at least partially uncovered by a layer of insulator.   
     
     
         2 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers of conductive material have a common longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second layers of conductive material comprise conductive ink. 
     
     
         5 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 4 , wherein the conductive ink comprises screen printed silver ink. 
     
     
         6 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of conductive material comprises a lower layer of conductive ink and wherein the second layer of conductive material comprises an upper layer of conductive ink. 
     
     
         7 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the conductive touch sensor structures form parallel interconnect lines. 
     
     
         8 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the parallel interconnect lines is formed from a lower layer of conductive ink. 
     
     
         9 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the contact region is rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 7 , wherein the parallel interconnect lines each have a respective width and at least one of the parallel interconnect lines has a width-changing step at which the width of that parallel interconnect line changes. 
     
     
         11 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         12 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a sensor array region and a tail that extends from the sensor array region. 
     
     
         13 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures are formed in the sensor array region and at least some of the conductive touch sensor structures are formed in the tail. 
     
     
         14 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 12 , wherein the tail has a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         15 . A touch sensor panel, comprising:
 a substrate;   one or more conductive interconnect lines formed on the substrate from at least one of a patterned upper conductive ink layer and a patterned lower conductive ink layer; and   a layer of insulator;   wherein some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the patterned upper conductive ink layer and the substrate, and some of the layer of insulator is interposed between the patterned upper conductive ink layer and the patterned lower conductive ink layer;   wherein at least one of the conductive interconnect lines includes patterned lower and upper conductive ink layers electrically connected at a contact region, an upper line segment formed from the patterned upper conductive ink layer and a lower line segment formed from the patterned lower conductive ink layer having widths at the contact region that are substantially the same width as at least a portion of the patterned upper conductive ink layer outside the contact region; and   wherein the patterned lower conductive ink layer of at least one of the conductive interconnect lines having electrically connected first and second layers of conductive material at the contact region is at least partially uncovered by a layer of insulator.   
     
     
         16 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate includes a touch sensor array portion and a tail that protrudes from the touch sensor array portion. 
     
     
         17 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 16 , wherein the contact region is rectangular and wherein the layer of insulator has a straight edge that extends across at least some of the tail. 
     
     
         18 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 17 , wherein the conductive interconnect lines each have a respective width and at least one of the parallel interconnect lines has a width-changing step at which the width of that parallel interconnect line changes. 
     
     
         19 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more conductive interconnect lines have a common longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The touch sensor panel of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate comprises a flexible polymer.