Edgeless Single-Layer Touch Sensor

Abstract

A device and a touch sensor having a substrate and a plurality of columns of electrodes disposed on a side of the substrate. Each column has a drive electrode and a plurality of sense electrodes. The columns include a first column, a second column, and one or more interior columns between the first and second columns. The drive electrode of a particular interior column has a main electrode line that extends a length of the particular interior column. A first sense electrode and a second sense electrode of the sense electrodes of the particular interior column are located on opposite sides of the drive electrode. The touch sensor may also include one or more ground lines. The substrate may have two opposite ends corresponding to opposite edges of the touch sensor, and the first column and the second column are disposed on the opposite ends of the substrate.

1 . A touch sensor comprising:
 a substrate; and   a plurality of columns of electrodes disposed on a side of the substrate, each column comprising a drive electrode and a plurality of sense electrodes, the plurality of columns comprising:
 a first column; 
 a second column; and 
 one or more interior columns between the first and second columns, wherein:
 the drive electrode of a particular interior column of the one or more interior columns comprises a main electrode line that extends a length of the particular interior column; and 
 a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode of the sense electrodes of the particular interior column are located on opposite sides of the drive electrode. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The touch sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising ground lines located within channels between the first column, the one or more interior columns, and the second column. 
     
     
         3 . The touch sensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a ground line located partially around a perimeter of the plurality of columns of electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has two opposite ends corresponding to opposite edges of the touch sensor, and wherein the first column and the second column are disposed on the opposite ends of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the drive electrode of a particular interior column of the one or more interior columns includes first and second sets of electrode teeth pointing in opposite first and second directions respectively, and
 wherein the first sense electrode includes a third set of electrode teeth, and the second sense electrode includes a fourth set of electrode teeth, and wherein the third set of electrode teeth point in the second direction and the fourth set of electrode teeth point in the first direction.   
     
     
         6 . The touch sensor of  claim 1 , wherein the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes each comprise:
 a main electrode line; and   a plurality of electrode teeth coupled to the main electrode line;   wherein for each of the plurality of columns, the plurality of electrode teeth of the drive electrodes are interdigitated with the plurality of electrode teeth of the sense electrodes.   
     
     
         7 . The touch sensor of  claim 6 , further comprising a substantially uniform gap between the interdigitated plurality of electrode teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The touch sensor of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is substantially filled with a conductive material that is electrically isolated from the main electrode lines and the plurality of electrode teeth. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 a touch sensor comprising:
 a substrate; and 
 a plurality of columns of electrodes disposed on a side of the substrate, each column comprising a drive electrode and a plurality of sense electrodes, the plurality of columns comprising: 
 a first column; 
 a second column; and 
 one or more interior columns between the first and second columns, wherein: 
 the drive electrode of a particular interior column of the one or more interior columns comprises a main electrode line that extends a length of the particular interior column; and 
 a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode of the sense electrodes of the particular interior column are located on opposite sides of the drive electrode; and 
   one or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is configured when executed to control the touch sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The touch sensor of  claim 9 , further comprising ground lines located within channels between the first column, the one or more interior columns, and the second column. 
     
     
         11 . The touch sensor of  claim 9 , further comprising a ground line located partially around a perimeter of the plurality of columns of electrodes. 
     
     
         12 . The touch sensor of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate has two opposite ends corresponding to opposite edges of the touch sensor, and wherein the first column and the second column are disposed on the opposite ends of the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The touch sensor of  claim 9 , wherein the drive electrode of a particular interior column of the one or more interior columns includes first and second sets of electrode teeth pointing in opposite first and second directions respectively, and
 wherein the first sense electrode includes a third set of electrode teeth, and the second sense electrode includes a fourth set of electrode teeth, and wherein the third set of electrode teeth point in the second direction and the fourth set of electrode teeth point in the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The touch sensor of  claim 9 , wherein the drive electrodes and the sense electrodes each comprise:
 a main electrode line; and   a plurality of electrode teeth coupled to the main electrode line;   wherein for each of the plurality of columns, the plurality of electrode teeth of the drive electrodes are interdigitated with the plurality of electrode teeth of the sense electrodes.   
     
     
         15 . The touch sensor of  claim 14 , further comprising a substantially uniform gap between the interdigitated plurality of electrode teeth. 
     
     
         16 . The touch sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the gap is substantially filled with a conductive material that is electrically isolated from the main electrode lines and the plurality of electrode teeth. 
     
     
         17 . A touch sensor comprising:
 a substrate; and   a plurality of rows of electrodes disposed on a side of the substrate, each row comprising a drive electrode and a plurality of sense electrodes, the plurality of rows comprising:
 a first row; 
 a second row; and 
 one or more interior rows between the first and second rows, wherein: 
 the drive electrode of a particular interior row of the one or more interior rows comprises a main electrode line that extends a length of the particular interior row; and 
 a first sense electrode and a second sense electrode of the sense electrodes of the particular interior row are located on opposite sides of the drive electrode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The touch sensor of  claim 17 , further comprising ground lines located within channels between the first row, the one or more interior rows, and the second row. 
     
     
         19 . The touch sensor of  claim 18 , wherein the substrate has two opposite ends corresponding to opposite edges of the touch sensor, and wherein the first row and the second row are disposed on the opposite ends of the substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The touch sensor of  claim 17 , further comprising a ground line located partially around a perimeter of the plurality of rows of electrodes.