CN116700517A

CN116700517A - Touch electrode architecture for high transmittance touch screen

Info

Publication number: CN116700517A
Application number: CN202310185226.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·布隆丹; A·V·格哥特; R·A·彼得森; W·S·瑞都特-路易斯; 车宇驰
Original assignee: Apple Inc
Current assignee: Apple Inc
Priority date: 2022-03-01
Filing date: 2023-03-01
Publication date: 2023-09-05

Abstract

The present application relates generally to touch electrode architectures for high transmittance touch screens. Touch electrode architecture techniques may be used to reduce or eliminate metallic grids within one or more high transmittance regions of a touch screen that includes one or more high transmittance regions. In some examples, one or more optical devices may be integrated with a touch screen such that light associated with the one or more optical devices passes through one or more layers of the touch screen. In some such examples, to avoid degrading the performance of the optical device, one or more high transmittance regions may be used. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, high transmittance may be achieved using touch electrode architecture techniques that use transparent or translucent materials in place of opaque metal mesh within the high transmittance region.

Description

Touch electrode architecture for high transmittance touch screen

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/268,754, filed on 1 month 3 of 2022, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/174,425, filed on 24 months 2 of 2023, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to touch sensor panels, and more particularly to touch electrode architectures for high transmittance touch screens or touch screens that include high transmittance regions.

Background

Many types of input devices are currently available for performing operations in a computing system, such as buttons or keys, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, a touch sensor panel, a touch screen, and the like. In particular, touch screens are popular because of their simplicity and flexibility in operation and their ever-decreasing price. The touch screen may include a touch sensor panel, which may be a transparent panel having a touch-sensitive surface, and a display device, such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display, or an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display, which may be positioned partially or fully behind the panel such that the touch-sensitive surface may cover at least a portion of the viewable area of the display device. Touch screens may allow a user to perform various functions by touching the touch sensor panel with a finger, stylus, or other object at a location generally indicated by a User Interface (UI) displayed by the display device. Generally, a touch screen may identify a touch and the location of the touch on the touch sensor panel, and the computing system may then interpret the touch according to what appears when the touch occurred, and may then perform one or more actions based on the touch. For some touch sensing systems, detecting a touch does not require a physical touch on the display. For example, in some capacitive touch sensing systems, the fringe electric field used to detect a touch may extend beyond the surface of the display, and objects near the surface may be detected near the surface without actually touching the surface.

Capacitive touch sensor panels may be formed from a matrix of partially or fully transparent or non-transparent conductive plates (e.g., touch electrodes) made of a material such as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). In some examples, the conductive plate may be formed from other materials, including conductive polymers, metal grids, graphene, nanowires (e.g., silver nanowires), or nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes). As described above, some capacitive touch sensor panels may be overlaid on a display to form a touch screen, in part because they are substantially transparent. Some touch screens may be formed by integrating touch sensing circuitry partially into a display pixel stack-up structure (i.e., stacked layers of material forming display pixels).

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates generally to touch sensor panels, and more particularly to touch electrode architectures for high transmittance touch screens or touch screens that include high transmittance regions. In some examples, one or more optical devices may be integrated with the touch screen such that light associated with the one or more optical devices passes through one or more layers of the touch screen. In some such examples, to avoid degrading the performance of the optical device, one or more high transmittance regions may be used. In some examples, high transmittance may be achieved using touch electrode architecture techniques that reduce or eliminate metal grids within the high transmittance region. Additionally or alternatively, high transmittance may be achieved using touch electrode architecture techniques that use transparent or translucent materials in place of opaque metal grids within the high transmittance region.

Drawings

Fig. 1A-1E illustrate an exemplary system that may include a touch screen according to examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing system including a touch screen according to examples of this disclosure.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example touch sensor circuit corresponding to a self-capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode and a sensing circuit, according to examples of this disclosure.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example touch sensor circuit corresponding to mutual capacitance drive and sense lines and sense circuitry, according to examples of this disclosure.

Fig. 4A illustrates a touch screen with touch electrodes arranged in rows and columns according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 4B illustrates a touch screen having touch node electrodes arranged in a pixelated touch node electrode configuration according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5A illustrates an example touch screen laminate structure including a metal mesh layer according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5B illustrates a top view of a portion of a touch screen according to an example of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example cell that may be repeated on a touch sensor panel to form vertical and horizontal stripe patterns in accordance with examples of this disclosure.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a touch sensor panel formed of cells according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 illustrates a metal grid corresponding to a portion of a cell according to an example of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 to 12 illustrate portions of an exemplary touch screen including a high transmittance region according to examples of the present disclosure.

Fig. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary touch screen including a high transmittance region according to an example of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In the following description of the examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples which may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosed examples.

The present invention relates generally to touch sensor panels, and more particularly to touch electrode architectures for high transmittance touch screens or touch screens that include high transmittance regions. In some examples, one or more optical devices may be integrated with the touch screen such that light associated with the one or more optical devices passes through one or more layers of the touch screen. In some such examples, to avoid degrading the performance of the optical device, one or more high transmittance regions may be used. In some examples, high transmittance may be achieved using touch electrode architecture techniques that reduce or eliminate metal grids within the high transmittance region. Additionally or alternatively, high transmittance may be achieved using touch electrode architecture techniques that use transparent or translucent materials in place of opaque metal grids within the high transmittance region. As described herein, high transmittance may refer to a transmittance above a threshold level (e.g., above 80% transmittance, above 85% transmittance, above 90% transmittance, above 95% transmittance, above 98% transmittance, etc.).

Fig. 1A-1E illustrate an exemplary system that may include a touch screen according to examples of the present disclosure. Fig. 1A illustrates an exemplary mobile phone 136 including a touch screen 124 according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary digital media player 140 including a touch screen 126 according to an example of the present disclosure. FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary personal computer 144 including a touch screen 128 according to examples of the disclosure. Fig. 1D illustrates an exemplary tablet computing device 148 including a touch screen 130 according to examples of the present disclosure. Fig. 1E illustrates an example wearable device 150 including a touch screen 132 and attachable to a user using straps 152, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the touch screen may also be implemented in other devices.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be based on self capacitance. A self-capacitance based touch system may include a matrix of conductive material or a single set of conductive material plates forming a larger conductive area, which may be referred to as a touch electrode or touch node electrode (as described below with reference to fig. 4B). For example, a touch screen may include a plurality of individual touch electrodes, each touch electrode identifying or representing a unique location (e.g., touch node) on the touch screen where a touch or proximity is to be sensed, and each touch node electrode electrically isolated from other touch node electrodes in the touch screen/panel. Such a touch screen may be referred to as a pixelated self-capacitive touch screen, although it should be appreciated that in some examples touch node electrodes on the touch screen may be used to perform scans other than self-capacitive scans (e.g., mutual capacitance scans) on the touch screen. During operation, an Alternating Current (AC) waveform may be utilized to excite the touch node electrode, and the self capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode may be measured. As an object approaches the touch node electrode, the self capacitance to ground of the touch node electrode may change (e.g., increase). This change in self capacitance of the touch node electrode may be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the location of multiple objects when they touch or are in proximity to the touch screen. In some examples, touch node electrodes of a self-capacitance based touch system may be formed from rows and columns of conductive material, and changes in the self-capacitance to ground of the rows and columns may be detected, similar to that described above. In some examples, the touch screen may be multi-touch, single-touch, projection scan, full-imaging multi-touch, capacitive touch, or the like.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be based on mutual capacitance. A mutual capacitance-based touch system may include electrodes arranged as drive and sense lines that may cross each other on different layers (in a double-sided configuration) or may be adjacent to each other on the same layer (e.g., as described below with reference to fig. 4A). The intersecting or adjacent locations may form touch nodes. During operation, the drive lines may be stimulated with an AC waveform, and the mutual capacitance of the touch nodes may be measured. As an object approaches a touch node, the mutual capacitance of the touch node may change (e.g., decrease). This change in the mutual capacitance of the touch node may be detected and measured by the touch sensing system to determine the location of the plurality of objects when they touch or are in proximity to the touch screen. As described herein, in some examples, a mutual capacitance-based touch system may form touch nodes from a small matrix of a single sheet of conductive material.

In some examples, touch screens 124, 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be based on mutual capacitance and/or self capacitance. The electrodes may be arranged in a matrix of small, separate sheets of conductive material (e.g., as in touch node electrodes 4B in touch screen 402 in fig. 408), or in drive and sense lines (e.g., as in row and column touch electrodes 404, 406 in touch screen 400 in fig. 4A), or in another pattern. The electrodes may be configured for mutual capacitance or self-capacitance sensing, or a combination of mutual and self-capacitance sensing. For example, in one mode of operation, the electrodes may be configured to sense the mutual capacitance between the electrodes, and in a different mode of operation, the electrodes may be configured to sense the self capacitance of the electrodes. In some examples, some of the electrodes may be configured to sense a mutual capacitance between each other, and some of the electrodes may be configured to sense their self-capacitance.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example computing system including a touch screen according to examples of this disclosure. Computing system 200 may be included in, for example, a mobile phone, tablet, touchpad, portable or desktop computer, portable media player, wearable device, or any mobile or non-mobile computing device that includes a touch screen or touch sensor panel. Computing system 200 may include a touch sensing system including one or more touch processors 202, peripherals 204, touch controller 206, and touch sensing circuitry (described in more detail below). Peripheral 204 may include, but is not limited to, random Access Memory (RAM) or other types of memory or storage, watchdog timers and the like. Touch controller 206 may include, but is not limited to, one or more sense channels 208, channel scan logic 210, and driver logic 214. The channel scan logic 210 can access the RAM212, autonomously read data from the sense channels and provide control for the sense channels. In addition, the channel scan logic 210 may control the driver logic 214 to generate stimulus signals 216 at various frequencies and/or phases that may be selectively applied to drive regions of touch sensing circuitry of the touch screen 220, as described in more detail below. In some examples, the touch controller 206, the touch processor 202, and the peripheral 204 may be integrated into a single Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and in some examples may be integrated with the touch screen 220 itself.

It should be apparent that the architecture shown in FIG. 2 is merely one exemplary architecture of computing system 200, and that the system may have more or fewer components than shown or differently configured components. In some examples, computing system 200 may include an energy storage device (e.g., a battery) to provide power and/or communication circuitry to provide wired or wireless communication (e.g., cellular, bluetooth, wi-Fi, etc.). The various components shown in fig. 2 may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof (including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits).

The computing system 200 may include a host processor 228 for receiving output from the touch processor 202 and performing actions based on the output. For example, host processor 228 may be connected to program storage 232 and a display controller/driver 234 (e.g., a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) driver). It should be appreciated that although some examples of the present disclosure may be described with reference to LCD displays, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may be extended to other types of displays, such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) displays, including Organic LED (OLED), active Matrix Organic LED (AMOLED), and Passive Matrix Organic LED (PMOLED) displays. The display driver 234 may provide voltages on select (e.g., gate) lines to each pixel transistor and may provide data signals along the data lines to these same transistors to control the pixels to display an image.

The host processor 228 can use the display driver 234 to generate a display image, such as a display image of a User Interface (UI), on the touch screen 220, and can use the touch processor 202 and the touch controller 206 to detect touches on or near the touch screen 220, such as touches input to the displayed UI. Touch input may be used by a computer program stored in program storage device 232 to perform actions that may include, but are not limited to: moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting a control setting, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device connected to the host device, answering a telephone call, placing a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, changing volume or audio settings, storing information related to telephone communications (such as addresses, frequently dialed numbers, missed calls), logging onto a computer or computer network, allowing an authorized individual to access a restricted area of the computer or computer network, loading a user profile associated with a user-preferred arrangement of computer desktops, allowing access to web page content, initiating a particular program, encrypting or decrypting information, and so forth. Host processor 228 can also perform additional functions that may not be relevant to touch processing.

It is noted that one or more of the functions described herein may be performed by firmware stored in memory (e.g., one of the peripheral devices 204 in fig. 2) and executed by the touch processor 202, or stored in the program memory 232 and executed by the host processor 228. The firmware may also be stored and/or transported within any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a "non-transitory computer readable storage medium" may be any medium (excluding signals) that can contain or store the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. In some examples, RAM 212 or program storage 232 (or both) may be non-transitory computer-readable storage media. One or both of RAM 212 and program storage 232 may have instructions stored therein that, when executed by touch processor 202 or host processor 228, or both, may cause a device comprising computing system 200 to perform one or more functions and methods of one or more examples of the present disclosure. The computer-readable storage medium may include, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a Random Access Memory (RAM) (magnetic), a read-only memory (ROM) (magnetic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) (magnetic), a portable optical disc such as a CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R, or DVD-RW, or a flash memory such as a compact flash card, a secure digital card, a USB memory device, a memory stick, etc.

The firmware may also be propagated within any transport medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a "transmission medium" may be any medium that can communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Transmission media can include, but are not limited to, electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or infrared wired or wireless propagation media.

Touch screen 220 may be used to derive touch information at a plurality of discrete locations of the touch screen, referred to herein as touch nodes. Touch screen 220 can include touch sensing circuitry that can include a capacitive sensing medium having a plurality of drive lines 222 and a plurality of sense lines 223. It should be noted that the term "wire" is sometimes used herein to refer to a simple conductive path, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and is not limited to strictly straight paths, but includes paths that change direction, as well as paths that have different sizes, shapes, materials, etc. Drive lines 222 can be driven from driver logic 214 by stimulation signals 216 through drive interface 224, and the resulting sense signals 217 generated in sense lines 223 can be transferred to sense channels 208 in touch controller 206 through sense interface 225. In this way, the drive and sense lines can be part of a touch sensing circuit that can interact to form a capacitive sensing node, which can be considered a touch pixel (touch pixel), and is referred to herein as a touch node, such as touch nodes 226 and 227. This understanding may be particularly useful when the touch screen 220 is considered to capture an "image" of a touch ("touch image"). In other words, after the touch controller 206 determines whether a touch has been detected at each touch node in the touch screen, the pattern of touch nodes in the touch screen where the touch occurred may be considered an "image" of the touch (e.g., the pattern of fingers touching the touch screen). As used herein, an electronic component "coupled to" or "connected to" another electronic component includes a direct or indirect connection that provides an electrical path for communication or operation between the coupled components. Thus, for example, drive line 222 may be connected directly to driver logic 214 or indirectly to driver logic 214 via drive interface 224, and sense line 223 may be connected directly to sense channel 208 or indirectly to sense channel 208 via sense interface 225. In either case, an electrical path for driving and/or sensing the touch node may be provided.

In some examples, computing system 200 may also include one or more optical devices 201, which may also be referred to herein as optical components. In some examples, one or more optical devices 201 may include components for light emission and/or light sensing. In some examples, the one or more optical devices 201 may include light emitting diodes (e.g., LEDs, OLEDs, etc.), cameras, lasers (e.g., vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, etc.), photodetectors, photodiodes, and the like. In some examples, the operation of the optical device may be controlled by the host processor 228 or an optical controller (not shown) to perform functions using the optical device. The functions may include, but are not limited to, projected light, imaging, proximity sensing and ranging, ambient light sensing, photography, and the like, among other possibilities. In some examples, one or more optical devices 201 may be implemented near the touch screen 220 (e.g., on the perimeter of the touch screen 220 or on a notch region along the perimeter of the touch screen). As described in more detail herein, in some examples, one or more optical devices 201 may be integrated with the touch screen 220 such that light passes through one or more layers of the touch screen. In some such examples, to avoid degrading the performance of the optical device 201, a high-transmittance touch screen or a touch screen including one or more high-transmittance regions may be used. In some examples, high transmittance may be achieved using the touch electrode architecture techniques described herein with respect to fig. 9-13.

Fig. 3A illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit 300 corresponding to a self capacitance measurement of a touch node electrode 302 and a sensing circuit 314 according to an example of the present disclosure. Touch node electrode 302 may correspond to touch electrode 404 or 406 of touch screen 400 or touch node electrode 408 of touch screen 402. Touch node electrode 302 may have an inherent self capacitance to ground associated with it and also an additional self capacitance to ground that is formed when an object such as finger 305 approaches or touches the electrode. The total self capacitance to ground of touch node electrode 302 may be shown as capacitance 304. Touch node electrode 302 can be coupled to sensing circuitry 314. The sense circuit 314 may include an operational amplifier 308, a feedback resistor 312, and a feedback capacitor 310, although other configurations may be employed. For example, feedback resistor 312 may be replaced with a switched capacitor resistor to minimize parasitic capacitance effects that may be caused by a variable feedback resistor. Touch node electrode 302 may be coupled to an inverting input (-) of operational amplifier 308. AC voltage source 306 (V _ac ) May be coupled to the noninverting input (+) of the operational amplifier 308. The touch sensor circuit 300 may be configured to sense a change (e.g., an increase) in the total self capacitance 304 of the touch node electrode 302 caused by a finger or object touching or approaching the touch sensor panel. The processor may use the output 320 to determine the presence of a proximity event or touch event, or the output may be input into a discrete logic network to determine the presence of a proximity event or touch event.

FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary touch sensor circuit 350 corresponding to the mutual capacitance drive 322 and sense line 326 and sense circuit 314, according to an example of the present disclosure. The drive line 322 may be stimulated by a stimulation signal (e.g., an AC voltage signal) output from the AC voltage source 306. The stimulation signals can be capacitively coupled to sense line 326 through a mutual capacitance 324 between drive line 322 and the sense line. As an object, such as finger 305, approaches a touch node formed by the intersection of drive line 322 and sense line 326, mutual capacitance 324 can change (e.g., decrease). As described herein, each otherThis change in capacitance 324 may be detected to indicate a touch event or a proximity event at the touch node. The sense signal coupled onto sense line 326 can be received by sense circuit 314. The sensing circuit 314 may include an operational amplifier 308 and at least one of a feedback resistor 312 and a feedback capacitor 310. Fig. 3B shows a general case of using both a resistive feedback element and a capacitive feedback element. The sense signal (referred to as vin) may be input into the inverting input of op-amp 308, and the non-inverting input of the op-amp may be coupled to reference voltage vin _{Reference to} . The operational amplifier 308 may drive its output to a voltage V _{Output of} So as to V _{Input device} Substantially equal to V _{Reference to} And can thus maintain V _{Input device} Constant or virtual ground. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in this context, an equivalent may include up to 15% deviation. Thus, the gain of the sensing circuit 314 may generally be a function of the ratio of the mutual capacitance 324 and the feedback impedance, which is made up of the resistor 312 and/or the capacitor 310. The output Vo of the sense circuit 314 may be filtered and heterodyned or homodyne by feeding it into a multiplier 328, where Vo may be multiplied by a local oscillator 330 to produce V _{Detection of} 。V _{Detection of} May be input into filter 332. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the placement of filter 332 may be varied; thus, the filter may be placed after multiplier 328, as shown, or two filters may be used: one placed before the multiplier and the other placed after the multiplier. In some examples, there may be no filter at all. V (V) _{Detection of} May be used to determine whether a touch event or a proximity event has occurred. Note that although fig. 3A-3B indicate that demodulation at multiplier 328 occurs in the analog domain, the output Vo may be digitized by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and multiplier 328, filter 332, and oscillator 330 may be implemented digitally (e.g., multiplier 328 may be a digital demodulator, filter 332 may be a digital filter, and oscillator 330 may be a digital NCO (digitally controlled oscillator)).

Referring back to FIG. 2, in some examples, touch screen 220 may be an integrated touch screen in which touch sensing circuit elements of the touch sensing system may be integrated into a display pixel-stack structure of the display. The circuit elements in touch screen 220 may include, for example, elements present in an LCD or other display (LED display, OLED display, etc.), such as one or more pixel transistors (e.g., thin Film Transistors (TFTs)), gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes, and a common electrode. In a given display pixel, the voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode may control the brightness of the display pixel. The voltage on the pixel electrode may be provided by the data line through the pixel transistor, which may be controlled by the gate line. It is noted that the circuit element is not limited to the entire circuit component, such as the entire capacitor, the entire transistor, etc., but may include a portion of the circuit, such as only one of the two plates of a parallel plate capacitor. Additionally, as described herein, in some examples, an integrated touch screen may include an optical device and one or more high transmittance regions corresponding to the optical device.

Fig. 4A illustrates a touch screen 400 having touch electrodes 404 and 406 arranged in rows and columns according to an example of the present disclosure. In particular, touch screen 400 may include a plurality of touch electrodes 404 arranged in rows and a plurality of touch electrodes 406 arranged in columns. Touch electrode 404 and touch electrode 406 may be located on the same or different layers of material on touch screen 400 and may intersect each other as shown in FIG. 4A. In some examples, the electrodes may be formed on opposite sides of a transparent (partially or fully) substrate and formed of a transparent (partially or fully) semiconductor material such as ITO, although other materials are also possible. Electrodes shown on layers on different sides of the substrate may be referred to herein as a dual-sided sensor. In some examples, the touch electrodes may be formed on the same layer, and may be referred to herein as a single-sided sensor. In some examples, touch screen 400 may sense self capacitance of touch electrodes 404 and 406 to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen 400, and in some examples, touch screen 400 may sense mutual capacitance between touch electrodes 404 and 406 to detect touch and/or proximity activity on touch screen 400.

Fig. 4B illustrates a touch screen 402 having touch node electrodes 408 arranged in a pixelated touch node electrode configuration, according to an example of the disclosure. In particular, the touch screen 402 may include a plurality of individual touch node electrodes 408, each of which identifies or represents a unique location on the touch screen where a touch or proximity (i.e., touch event or proximity event) is to be sensed, and each of which is electrically isolated from other touch node electrodes in the touch screen/panel, as previously described. Touch node electrode 408 may be located on the same or different material layers on touch screen 400. In some examples, the touch screen 402 may sense self capacitance of the touch node electrodes 408 to detect touch and/or proximity activity on the touch screen 402, and in some examples, the touch screen 402 may sense mutual capacitance between the touch node electrodes 408 to detect touch and/or proximity activity on the touch screen 402.

As described herein, in some examples, some or all of the touch electrodes of the touch screen may be formed from a metal mesh. Fig. 5A illustrates an example touch screen laminate structure including a metal mesh layer according to an example of the present disclosure. Touch screen 500 can include a substrate 509 (e.g., a printed circuit board) on which display LEDs 508 (optionally OLEDs) can be mounted. In some examples, LEDs 508 may be partially or fully embedded in substrate 509 (e.g., components may be placed in recesses in the substrate). The substrate 509 may include wiring traces in one or more layers (e.g., represented by metal layer 510 in fig. 5A) to direct the LEDs to display driver circuitry (e.g., display driver 234). The stacked structure of touch screen 500 may also include one or more passivation layers deposited over LEDs 508. For example, the stacked structure of the touch screen 500 shown in fig. 5A may include a passivation layer 507 (e.g., transparent epoxy) and a passivation layer 517. Passivation layers 507 and 517 may planarize the surface of the corresponding metal mesh layer. In addition, the passivation layer may provide electrical isolation (e.g., between the metal mesh layers and between the LEDs and the metal mesh layers). A metal mesh layer 516 (e.g., copper, silver, etc.) may be deposited on the planarized surface of passivation layer 517 over display LEDs 508, and a metal mesh layer 506 (e.g., copper, silver, etc.) may be deposited on the planarized surface of passivation layer 507. In some examples, passivation layer 517 may include a material for encapsulating LEDs to protect the LEDs from corrosion or other environmental exposure. The metal mesh layer 506 and/or the metal mesh layer 516 may include a pattern of conductor material in a mesh pattern as described below. In some examples, metal mesh layer 506 and metal mesh layer 516 may be coupled by one or more vias. In addition, although not shown in fig. 5A, the border area around the active area of the display may include metallization (or other conductive material) that may or may not be a metal mesh pattern. In some examples, the metal mesh is formed of a non-transparent material, but the metal mesh lines are thin and sparse enough to appear transparent to the human eye. The touch electrode (and some wiring) may be formed from portions of the metal mesh in the metal mesh layer. In some examples, polarizer 504 may be disposed over metal mesh layer 506 (optionally, another planarization layer is disposed over metal mesh layer 506). A cover glass (or front crystal) 502 may be disposed over polarizer 504 and form an outer surface of touch screen 500. It should be appreciated that while two metal mesh layers (and two corresponding planarization layers) are shown, in some examples, more or fewer metal mesh layers (and corresponding planarization layers) may be implemented. Additionally, it should be appreciated that in some examples, the LED508, substrate 509, metal layer 510, and/or passivation layer 517 may be replaced by a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD display (or other type of display). In addition, it should be understood that polarizer 504 may include one or more transparent layers including a polarizer, an adhesive layer (e.g., optionally a transparent adhesive), and a protective layer.

Fig. 5B illustrates a top view of a portion of a touch screen 500 in a diamond pattern according to an example of the present disclosure. The top view shows the metal mesh 540 (e.g., a portion of the metal mesh layer 506) along with the LEDs 508 of the touch screen 500. The LEDs may be arranged in groups of three adjacent LEDs, including a red LED (e.g., red LED 544), a green LED (e.g., green LED 546), and a blue LED (e.g., blue LED 548) to form a standard red-green-blue (RGB) display pixel. Although described herein primarily in terms of RGB display pixels, it should be understood that other touch pixels having different numbers of LEDs and/or different colors of LEDs are also possible. The metal mesh may be formed of conductors (e.g., metal mesh lines formed of conductive material such as copper, silver, etc.) arranged in a pattern to allow light to pass (at least vertically) through gaps in the mesh (e.g., LEDs 508 may be arranged in the LED layers opposite openings in the metal mesh arranged in metal mesh layers 506 and/or 516). In other words, the conductors of the metal mesh layer may be patterned such that conceptually the metal mesh layer and the LEDs are flattened into the same layer, the conductors and LEDs not overlapping. In some examples, the metal grid lines in the metal grid layer may overlap (at least partially) with some of the LEDs 508, but may be thin enough or sparse enough not to block human view of the LEDs. The metal mesh 540 may be formed in a diamond pattern around LEDs arranged in a diamond configuration. The pattern of LEDs forming the display pixels may be repeated across the touch screen to form the display. During manufacture, the metal mesh pattern may be repeated across the touch screen to form a touch screen with uniform optical characteristics. It should be understood that the arrangement of LEDs and corresponding metal grids are merely examples, and that other arrangements of LEDs and corresponding metal grid patterns are also possible. For example, in some examples, the metal mesh may form a rectangular shape (or other suitable shape, including polygonal shapes, etc.) around the rectangular LED.

As described herein, the touch electrodes and/or wiring may be formed from a metal mesh. To form an electrically isolated touch electrode or group of electrically isolated touch electrodes (e.g., a group of touch electrodes forming a row electrode or a column electrode), the metal mesh may be cut (e.g., chemically etched or laser etched, among other possibilities) to form a boundary between two adjacent touch electrodes, between two adjacent wiring traces, or between a wiring trace and an adjacent touch electrode. The cuts in the metal mesh may electrically isolate the metal mesh forming the first touch electrode (or first set of touch electrodes) from the metal mesh forming the second touch electrode (or second set of touch electrodes). Similarly, the metal mesh may be cut to electrically isolate the metal mesh forming the first touch electrode from the first routing trace or to electrically isolate the first routing trace from the second routing trace.

Referring back to FIG. 5A, in some examples, although metal mesh layers 506 and 516 are shown, it should be understood that in some examples, alternative materials may be used in these layers to implement the touch electrode. In addition, although LEDs 508 are described, it should be understood that additional optical components (e.g., optical device 201) other than display pixels may be implemented on substrate 509 (or on another layer within the stacked structure). Additionally, in some examples, one or more of metal mesh layers 506 and 516 may be used to implement a touch electrode or portions of one or more touch electrodes with different materials to improve transmittance in the region corresponding to the optical component.

As described herein, in some examples, touch electrodes may be arranged in rows and columns, formed in a first layer. In some examples, the touch electrodes may be arranged in a vertical stripe and a horizontal stripe pattern. The column touch electrodes illustrated in fig. 6-7 are referred to as "vertical stripes" and the row touch electrodes may be formed of interconnected touch electrode sections, which may be referred to as "horizontal stripes" (e.g., interconnected via bridges). FIG. 6 illustrates an example cell that may be repeated on a touch sensor panel to form vertical and horizontal stripe patterns in accordance with examples of this disclosure. Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a touch sensor panel formed of nine cells (3 x 3) corresponding to the exemplary cell of fig. 6 (with some modifications). It should be understood that other touch electrode patterns may be implemented within the scope of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary cell corresponding to a touch node according to an example of the present disclosure. The cell 600 may include a portion of a column touch electrode 602 (corresponding to a "vertical stripe") and a portion of a row electrode formed by touch electrode sections 604A-604F (corresponding to a "horizontal stripe"). The mutual capacitance between the column touch electrodes and the row touch electrodes may change due to the proximity of an object (e.g., a finger) at the touch node corresponding to the cell. The column touch electrode 602 may correspond to an adjoining electrical connection region, including a region surrounding the touch electrode sections 604A-604F. The touch electrode sections 604A-604F of the row electrodes may be electrically connected using one or more bridges 606A-606H that bridge across the neck regions 608A-608D of the column touch electrodes 602 between the touch electrode sections 604A-604F. In some examples, one bridge may be used to interconnect two touch electrode segments (e.g., bridges 606A-606D). In some examples, more than one bridge may be used to interconnect two touch electrode segments (e.g., bridges 606A and 606E, bridges 606B and 606F, etc.). The bridged touch electrode segments 604A-604C (e.g., corresponding to a first "lateral stripe" in the vertical and lateral stripe patterns) and the bridged touch electrode segments 604D-604F (e.g., corresponding to a second "lateral stripe" in the vertical and lateral stripe patterns) may be electrically connected outside of the cell region (e.g., as illustrated in fig. 7). In some examples, the first and second cross straps may be electrically connected to each other (e.g., with a bridge) within the cell region. In some examples, bridges 606A-606H may be obtained using wire bonds or other conductors formed without using a metal mesh layer (e.g., ITO, etc.). In some examples, bridges 606A-606H may be formed using a different metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 516) than the metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 506) used to form column touch electrodes 602 and touch electrode sections 604A-604F. In some examples, the connection between the metal mesh layers may also include vias (or other interconnects) to establish a connection between the first metal mesh layer and the second metal mesh layer. It should be appreciated that bridges 606A-606H may include a plurality of metal gridlines (e.g., increasing the width of the bridges) to meet the resistance requirements of the row touch electrodes.

The distribution of touch electrode segments within a cell can improve the touch signal level (and thus the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for touch sensing) because the mutual capacitance in a single layer touch sensor panel can be a function of the distance between the driven and sensed touch electrodes. For example, the mutual capacitance along the boundary between the driven touch electrode and the sensed touch electrode may be greater than the center of the two touch electrodes. Thus, by dividing the row electrodes into multiple transverse strips (thereby reducing the maximum spacing between the regions of the drive electrodes and the regions of the sense electrodes in the cell), the signal measured at the cell can be increased relative to other touch electrode patterns (e.g., diamond-shaped touch electrode patterns, etc.). The effect of the distributed vertical and horizontal stripe patterns on mutual capacitance can provide increased modulation between the finger and the sensor. In addition, the distribution of touch electrode segments may provide improved linearity of touch signals detected as an object moves across the touch sensor panel (e.g., a more uniform signal measured by the object regardless of the position of the object on the touch sensor panel). Improved linearity may provide various benefits of improved touch performance, including more accurate and precise touch location detection, reduced wobble, and the like.

Although not shown in fig. 6, in some examples, a cell may include a buffer between a portion of a column touch electrode 602 and a touch electrode section of a row. The buffer may be a floating (or grounded or driven with an electrical potential in some examples) conductive material. The buffer region may reduce the baseline mutual capacitance of the touch node by increasing the distance between the drive region and the sense region. For example, referring to cell 712 in fig. 7, the touch electrode segments forming the rows in fig. 6 may be separated from column touch electrodes 702C by buffers 722A on a first boundary and may be separated from column electrodes 702C by buffers 722B on a second boundary. As shown in fig. 7, a similar buffer may be included between the column touch electrodes and the touch electrode sections forming rows on the touch sensor panel. While fig. 7 illustrates buffers on both sides of each of the touch electrode sections, it should be understood that in some examples, the buffers may be on fewer sides (one side or no side) or more sides (three sides or four sides) of the touch electrode sections. Increasing the spacing (e.g., surface area and/or width) may further decrease the baseline capacitance, while decreasing the spacing may increase the baseline capacitance. In some examples, as shown in fig. 7, the neck region may be free of buffers to reduce the impedance of the column touch electrodes. Additionally, while the buffers are shown as being continuous along respective boundaries of the touch electrode segments, it should be understood that the buffers may be discontinuous so as to be present in one or more segments along a portion of the boundary. In addition, while similar buffers are shown on all of the touch electrode sections in cell 712, it should be understood that different touch electrode sections in a cell may have different numbers of buffers or buffers with different properties (size, distribution, etc.).

Referring back to fig. 6, it should be appreciated that the cells may include fewer touch electrode segments and/or fewer interconnects between touch electrode segments. For example, instead of connecting the six touch electrode segments of fig. 6 with the four interconnects of fig. 6, two interconnects may be used to connect the four touch electrode segments. Reducing the number of interconnects may reduce the baseline mutual capacitance of the touch node because the interconnects of bridge 606 may cause an increase in mutual capacitance due to the proximity between the drive and sense regions at these interconnects. In addition, reducing the number of interconnects may reduce the resistance of the row touch electrodes. It should be understood that fewer or more interconnects and touch electrode segments may be employed.

It should be appreciated that while fig. 6 shows contiguous columns and segmented rows, in some examples, column touch electrodes may be formed of touch electrode segments that may be interconnected by bridges (e.g., in the neck region), and row touch electrodes may be formed of transverse strips, each of which may be contiguous (e.g., and may optionally be interconnected in the border region).

It should be appreciated that while cell 600 in fig. 6 illustrates two transverse strips (two rows of interconnected touch electrode segments) in a cell, in some examples the number of transverse strips may be greater than two (e.g., three, four, etc.) or less than two (e.g., one). It should be understood that cell 600 is an exemplary cell. The number and size of the touch electrode segments, the number and size of interconnections between the touch electrode segments (and between portions of the column touch electrodes), and the thickness and size of the neck region may vary depending on design considerations, including balancing the impedance of the row and/or column touch electrodes and the baseline capacitance of the cells, including the amount of touch signal desired, and including the linearity of the touch signal on the touch sensor panel. Although described separately above, in some examples, one or more of the above-described modifications of the cells may be combined. For example, the multiple bridges of FIG. 6 may be used with the buffers of FIG. 7. It should be appreciated that while the column touch electrodes are shown as being contiguous and the row touch electrodes are shown as being formed from touch electrode segments, in some examples the row touch electrodes may be contiguous and the column touch electrodes may be formed from touch electrode segments.

Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a touch sensor panel formed of cells according to an example of the present disclosure. For example, touch sensor panel 700 can include nine cells (3×3 touch nodes) corresponding to cells 712, which can correspond to the exemplary cells of fig. 6 (e.g., corresponding to cell 600, modified to show only a single bridge 706 between touch electrode segments 704 and include buffers, such as buffers 722A and 722B). Details of the cells are not repeated for the sake of brevity. As shown in fig. 7, touch sensor panel 700 can include three columns of touch electrodes 702A-702C ("vertical bars") that can be driven (e.g., by drive signals provided by routing traces labeled "drv_n-1", "drv_n", and "drv_n+1") during a touch sensing operation. The touch sensor panel 700 can also include three rows of touch electrodes. Each of the row touch electrodes illustrated in fig. 7 may include two "cross bars" formed by touch electrode sections 704. Each "cross-stripe" touch electrode segment 704 may be interconnected by a bridge 706 (e.g., a metal mesh) within the touch sensor panel active area (e.g., in the viewable area of the display in the touch screen). Although one bridge 706 between touch electrode segments is shown in fig. 7, it should be appreciated that additional bridges may be used to improve electrostatic discharge protection, improve mechanical and/or electrical reliability of the connections, and/or reduce impedance of the row touch electrodes. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 7, additional bridges may be used to provide the same or similar benefits for column touch electrodes. The two "cross-strips" of row electrodes may be connected in a border area (e.g., outside the active area of the touch sensor panel/outside the viewable area of the display) by conductive traces (e.g., metal mesh or otherwise). Each row electrode may be sensed during a touch sensing operation (e.g., through a sense channel coupled to routing traces labeled "SNS_N-1", "SNS_N", and "SNS_N+1"). The adjacencies of the respective columns of touch electrodes and the respective rows of touch electrodes may form respective touch nodes/cells of touch sensor panel 700.

Although exemplary cells 712 include one or more buffers, it should be understood that alternative cells, such as those described herein, may be used. For example, a cell may include only one "cross stripe", or multiple "cross stripes" of cells may not be connected by conductive traces in the border areas (e.g., one "cross stripe" per row electrode). Additionally, while a 3x3 cell group is shown, it should be understood that the panel may have smaller or larger dimensions (e.g., 2x2, 4x4, 5x5, 10x10, 16x16, etc.). In addition, although fig. 7 illustrates driven column touch electrodes and sensed row touch electrodes, in some examples, row touch electrodes may be driven and column touch electrodes may be sensed.

Although fig. 6-7 illustrate rectangular electrodes for row and column touch electrodes having linear boundaries, it should be appreciated that the actual shape of the touch electrode and its boundaries may not be rectangular due to the pattern of the metal mesh and in order to reduce the visibility of the metal mesh. Fig. 8 illustrates a metal grid corresponding to a portion of the cell of fig. 6, according to an example of the present disclosure. For example, the metal grid 800 may correspond to half of the cell 600 of fig. 6. The metal grid 800 may include a first metal grid portion 802 corresponding to the column touch electrodes 602 and second metal grid portions 804A-804C corresponding to the touch electrode sections 604A-604C. Due to the diamond pattern (with 45 degree angle) and in order to reduce the visibility of the boundary of the touch electrode, the first and second metal mesh portions may be non-linear along the boundary. In some examples, the boundaries between touch electrodes may be in a zig-zag or wavy pattern. For example, as illustrated in fig. 8, the boundary between the first metal mesh portion 802 and the second metal mesh portion 804B may have a zig-zag pattern, wherein the lengths of the sections 812 and 814 may each be the lengths of three metal mesh lines. Similar patterns may be implemented for other boundaries illustrated in fig. 8 (with slight variations at the corners to achieve continuity, depending on the geometry of the pattern). It should be appreciated that the lengths of sections 812 and 814 are exemplary and that other lengths are possible. In addition, the length may be different at different points along the boundary, or between two different boundaries. In some examples, the zig-zag pattern may be defined by other parameters, rather than defining the pattern by the length of the segments, such as segments 812 and 814.

The touch electrodes (and buffer areas) may be formed by metal grids in a metal grid layer (e.g., corresponding to metal grid layer 506) through cuts or electrical discontinuities in the metal grid lines between the touch electrodes (and/or buffer areas). In some examples, the cut or electrical discontinuity may be formed at the midpoint of the metal mesh line (or otherwise divide one or more metal mesh lines) rather than having a cut or electrical discontinuity at the vertices of two metal mesh lines in the metal mesh pattern.

In some examples, the virtual cuts may further reduce the visibility of the metal mesh boundary cuts. The virtual cut may interrupt one electrical path between two portions of the metal mesh (on either side of the virtual cut) without electrically isolating the metal mesh due to one or more other electrical paths between the two portions of the metal mesh (on either side of the virtual cut). In other words, the portions of the metal mesh may remain at substantially the same potential despite the internal cutout because the portions of the metal mesh are electrically connected. For example, virtual cuts may be made within first metal mesh portion 802 and/or second metal mesh portions 804A-804C that form physical spaces in the metal mesh without electrically separating the metal mesh in each respective portion. In some examples, the virtual kerfs can form a pattern that can be repeated across each of the touch electrodes. For example, a virtual kerf unit (e.g., a pattern of interrupted portions) may be defined and repeated across the touch screen to form virtual kerfs. In some examples, virtual cuts may also be implemented for buffers between column touch electrodes and touch electrode sections (e.g., buffers 722A-722B).

In some examples, virtual cuts in first metal mesh portion 802 may be limited to certain areas. For example, virtual cuts may be excluded or limited in the neck region 808 of the first metal mesh portion 802. In some cases, not including (or limiting) virtual cuts in the neck region 808 may be advantageous to reduce the impedance of the column touch sensors (due to the narrower width of the metal mesh in the neck region).

While fig. 6-8 illustrate column touch electrodes and row touch electrodes disposed in a first metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metal mesh layer 506), which may include interconnects in a second metal mesh layer (e.g., corresponding to metal mesh layer 516), it should be appreciated that in some examples, the column touch electrodes may be disposed in one layer and the row touch electrodes may be disposed in another layer (e.g., a double-sided touch sensor configuration as shown in fig. 4A).

As described herein, in some examples, touch electrode architecture may be improved for high transmittance touch screens or touch screens that include high transmittance regions. For example, one or more optical devices (e.g., optical device 201) may be integrated with touch screen 220 such that light passes through one or more layers of the touch screen. The improved transmittance may improve the performance of the optical device.

Fig. 9 to 12 illustrate portions of an exemplary touch screen including a high transmittance region according to examples of the present disclosure. Although fig. 9-12 illustrate circular high transmittance regions, it should be understood that the high transmittance regions may have different shapes (e.g., square, rectangular, shapes corresponding to the geometry of the optical component, irregular geometries, etc.). For example, the region 900 in FIG. 9 may correspond to a view of the region 720 of the touch sensor panel 700 shown in FIG. 7 that includes two columns of touch electrodes and two rows of touch electrodes (or two transverse strips of a single row electrode). The region 900 of the touch sensor panel can include portions of the first column of touch electrodes 902A including neck regions 908A and 908C and portions of the second column of touch electrodes 902B including neck regions 908B and 908D (e.g., corresponding to columns of touch electrodes 602A-602B, 702A-702B, and neck regions 608A-608D), portions of touch electrode sections 904A-904C interconnected using bridges 906A-906D (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 604A-604C, 704 interconnected using bridges 606A, 606B, 606E, 606F, 706), and portions of touch electrode sections 904D-904F interconnected using bridges 906E-906H (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 604D-604F, 704 interconnected using bridges 606C, 606D, 606G, 606H, 706). As described herein, the touch electrodes and bridges may be formed from metal grids in one or more metal grid layers (e.g., touch electrodes in a first metal grid layer and bridges in a second metal grid layer). Region 910 (e.g., corresponding to region 710) indicates a region of improved transmissivity of the touch electrode due to one or more optical components. Region 910 may intersect a first row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 904A-904C) and not intersect a second row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 904D-904F). As shown in fig. 9, the touch electrode sections 904A-904C (also referred to herein as first, second, and third touch electrode sections) are aligned on a horizontal axis with the touch electrode sections 904D-904F (also referred to herein as fourth, fifth, and sixth touch electrode sections). In addition, as shown in fig. 9, the neck regions 908A and 908C of the column touch electrode 902A are aligned on a horizontal axis, and the neck regions 908B and 908D of the column touch electrode 902B are aligned on a horizontal axis.

In some examples, to increase the transmissivity of the touch screen in a region corresponding to the optical component (e.g., region 910), the bridge may be removed from the region. Fig. 10 illustrates a region 1000 of a touch sensor panel (e.g., corresponding to region 900) that may include portions of a first column of touch electrodes 1002A that include neck regions 1008A and 1008C and portions of a second column of touch electrodes 1002B that include neck regions 1008B and 1008D (e.g., corresponding to columns of touch electrodes 902A-902B and neck regions 908A-908D), portions of touch electrode sections 1004A-1004C that are interconnected using bridges 1006A-1006D (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 904A-904C that are interconnected using bridges 906A-906D), and portions of touch electrode sections 1004D-1004F that are interconnected using bridges 1006E-1006H (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 904D-904F that are interconnected using bridges 906E-906H). Region 1010 (e.g., corresponding to region 910) indicates a region of improved transmissivity of the touch electrode due to one or more optical components. The region 1010 may intersect a first row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1004A-1004C) and not intersect a second row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1004D-1004F).

As shown in fig. 10, bridges 1006A-1006D are outside region 1010, unlike bridges 906A-906D of fig. 9, which are partially or entirely within region 910. Moving the bridge outside the region 1010 may be achieved by modifying the touch electrode pattern of the region at and around the region 1010. In particular, the touch electrode sections 1004A and 1004C (e.g., corresponding to the first row electrodes) may have an increased spacing (e.g., D2 of fig. 10 is greater than D1 of fig. 9) compared to the touch electrode sections 1004D and 1004F (e.g., corresponding to the second row electrodes that do not intersect the high transmittance region), and the touch electrode section 1004B may have an increased width (e.g., W2 of fig. 10 is greater than W1 of fig. 9) compared to the touch electrode section 904B. Another way to observe the modification of fig. 10 is the displacement of the neck regions 908A and 908B of the column touch electrodes/risers strips outside of region 1010, as compared to neck regions 1008A and 1008B shown in fig. 9 as being partially or fully within region 910. Thus, the neck regions 1008A and 1008C of column touch electrode 1002A are offset on a horizontal axis, and the neck regions 1008B and 1008D of column touch electrode 1002B are offset on a horizontal axis. As a result of the modification, the touch electrode sections 1004A-1004C are only partially aligned with the touch electrode sections 1004D-1004F along the horizontal axis.

Shifting the bridge outside the high transmittance region may allow the remaining metal mesh of the touch electrode in region 1010 to have uniformity within that region to improve optical performance (while the bridge creates some non-uniformity in the different metal mesh layers). Additionally, shifting the bridge out of the high transmissivity region may allow the resistance of the column touch electrodes to be maintained (e.g., the size of the neck regions 1008A-1008D of the column touch electrodes is unchanged from the size of the neck regions 908A-908D).

It should be appreciated that in some examples, the bridge may only partially move out of region 1010, and that partial movement of the bridge may also provide partial improvement in transmissivity. It should also be appreciated that in some examples, changes to the touch electrode sections 1004A-1004C in fig. 10 may be applied to other areas of the touch sensor panel (e.g., to the touch electrode sections 1004D-1004F) to achieve pattern uniformity.

In some examples, in addition to removing the bridge from the area of the panel corresponding to the optical component, the metal mesh of the touch electrode may be removed from that area. Fig. 11 illustrates a region 1100 of a touch sensor panel (e.g., corresponding to regions 900, 1000) that includes portions of a first column touch electrode 1102A and a second column touch electrode 1102B (e.g., corresponding to column touch electrodes 902A-902B, 1002A-1002B). Fig. 11 also shows portions of the touch electrode sections 1104A-1104C that are interconnected using bridges 1106A-1106D (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 904A-904C, 1004A-1004C that are interconnected using bridges 906A-906D, 1006A-1006D), and portions of the touch electrode sections 1104D-1104F that are interconnected using bridges 1106E-1106H (e.g., corresponding touch electrode sections 904D-904F, 1004A-1004F that are interconnected using bridges 906E-906H, 1006E-1006H). Region 1110 (e.g., corresponding to regions 910, 1010) indicates a region of improved transmissivity of the touch electrode due to one or more optical components, which may intersect a first row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1104A-1104C) and not intersect a second row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1104D-1104F).

As shown in fig. 11, bridges 1106A to 1106D are outside zone 1110, unlike bridges 906A to 906D of fig. 9, which are partially or entirely within zone 910. In addition, the touch electrode section 1104B (e.g., on the perimeter of the region 1110) and the column touch electrodes 1102A-1102B may be disposed outside of the region 1110 (e.g., on the perimeter of the touch electrode section 1104B). Moving the bridge and touch electrode outside of region 1110 may be accomplished by modifying the touch electrode pattern of the area at and around region 1110. In particular, the touch electrode segments 1104A and 1104C (e.g., corresponding to the first row electrodes) may have increased spacing (e.g., D3 of fig. 11 is greater than D1 of fig. 9, and possibly D3 of fig. 11 is greater than D2 of fig. 10) compared to the touch electrode segments 1104D and 1104F (e.g., corresponding to the second row electrodes that do not intersect the high transmittance region) and in some examples compared to the touch electrode segments 1004A and 1004C. The pattern of column touch electrodes 1102A-1102B and touch electrode section 1104B can be modified to remove any pattern from region 1110. For example, as shown in fig. 11, the touch electrode section 1104B optionally surrounds the region 1110, and the column touch electrodes 1102A-1102B optionally together surround the touch electrode section 1104B. In some examples, the touch electrode section 1104B can be designed to have a size that allows the first row electrodes that include the touch electrode section 1104B to have the same resistance (or within a threshold such as 1%, 5%, 10%, etc.) as the second row electrodes that include the touch electrode section 1104E. In some examples, the touch electrode section 1104B may have the same area as the area of the touch electrode section 1104E (or within a threshold such as 1%, 5%, 10%, etc.), such that the capacitive coupling of the touch electrode sections 1104B and 1104E may be the same (or within the threshold). In some examples, the touch electrode section 1104B may be disk-shaped, with the inner diameter of the disk matching the boundaries of the region 1110. It should be appreciated that when region 1110 has a different shape than shown, the shape (e.g., inner dimensions) of touch electrode section 1104B may be different. In addition, it should be appreciated that the inner and outer dimensions of the touch electrode segments may be different (e.g., circular inner dimensions, polygonal outer dimensions, etc.). Additionally, it should be appreciated that the touch electrode section 1104B may not completely surround the region 1110. For example, the touch electrode section 1104B may be implemented using an arc or semi-circle to create a path between the touch electrode sections 1104A and 1104B (using two or more of the bridges 1106A-1106D).

Shifting the bridge and touch electrode outside the high transmittance region may allow for improved optical performance by removing the non-transparent or opaque metal mesh. In addition, the touch electrode architecture allows for remaining connected to form column touch electrodes (e.g., using neck regions) and row touch electrodes (e.g., using bridges) outside of region 1110. As shown in fig. 11, the connection for forming row electrodes may be achieved by guiding the touch electrode section 1104B along with other touch electrodes around the region 1110 in one metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 516), and using a bridge in the other metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 506) to bridge the neck regions of the column touch electrodes.

It should be appreciated that in some examples, the bridge and/or touch electrode may only partially move out of region 1110, and that partial movement of the bridge and/or touch electrode may also provide partial improvement in transmissivity. It should also be appreciated that in some examples, the changes to the touch electrode sections 1104A-1104C in fig. 11 may be applied to other areas of the touch sensor panel (e.g., for pattern uniformity).

Fig. 12 illustrates a region 1200 (e.g., corresponding to regions 900, 1000, 1100) of a touch sensor panel that includes a first column touch electrode 1202A and a portion of a second column touch electrode 1202B (e.g., corresponding to column touch electrodes 902A-902B, 1002A-1002B, 1102A-1102B). Fig. 12 also shows portions of touch electrode segments 1204A and 1204C that are interconnected using bridges 1206A-1206B, and portions of touch electrode segments 1204D-1204F that are interconnected using bridges 1206E-1206H (e.g., corresponding touch electrode segments 904D-904F, 1004D-1004F, 1104D-1104F that are interconnected using bridges 906E-906H, 1006E-1006H, 1106E-1106H). Region 1210 (e.g., corresponding to regions 910, 1010, 1110) indicates a region of improved transmissivity of the touch electrode due to one or more optical components, which may intersect a first row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1204A and 1204C) and not intersect a second row electrode (e.g., corresponding to touch electrode segments 1204D through 1204F).

As shown in fig. 12, bridges 1206A-1206B are outside of region 1210, unlike bridges 906A-906D of fig. 9, which are partially or entirely within region 910. Additionally, column touch electrodes 1202A-1202B may be disposed outside of region 1210 (e.g., on the perimeter of region 1210). The touch electrode segments (e.g., such as touch electrode segments 904B, 1004B, 1104B) that were originally located between touch electrode segments 1204A and 1204C are completely removed from region 1200. Instead, bridges 1206A and 1206B are implemented as longer bridges than bridges 906A through 906D, 1006A through 1006D, 1106A through 1106D. The bridge may be directed around the outside of the region 1210 in a different layer than the touch electrode. In some examples, region 1200 may represent the appearance of a portion of the touch sensor panel corresponding to a first row electrode, and region 900 may represent the appearance of a different portion of the touch sensor panel corresponding to a second row electrode, but does not include high transmittance region 910 (e.g., regions 900 and 1200 are horizontally aligned in the touch sensor panel). As with the touch electrode architecture of fig. 11, the touch electrode architecture of fig. 12 may also have increased spacing between touch electrode segments 1204A and 1204C (e.g., corresponding to first row electrodes) compared to touch electrode segments 1204D and 1204F (e.g., corresponding to second row electrodes that do not intersect the high transmittance region) and in some examples compared to touch electrode segments 1004A and 1004C (e.g., D3 of fig. 12 is greater than D1 of fig. 9, and possibly D3 of fig. 12 is greater than D2 of fig. 10). It should be appreciated that when the region 1210 has a different shape than shown, the shape of the bridges 1206A-1206B may be different. In addition, it should be appreciated that more and/or thicker bridges may be used in the touch electrode architecture of fig. 12 than the bridges of the touch electrode architecture of fig. 9-11 to compensate for the length of bridges 1206A-1206B than the bridges of fig. 9-11. It should also be appreciated that the bridge may be implemented in such a way that the bridge does not completely encircle the region 1210. For example, bridge 1206A may be implemented using a semicircle to create a path between touch electrode segments 1204A and 1204C along a half of the circumference of region 1210, rather than using a bridge along a second half of the circumference of region 1210.

Shifting the bridge and touch electrode outside the high transmittance region may allow for improved optical performance by removing the non-transparent or opaque metal mesh. In addition, the touch electrode architecture allows for remaining connected to form column touch electrodes (e.g., using neck regions) and row touch electrodes (e.g., using bridges) outside of the region 1210. As shown in fig. 12, the connections for forming row electrodes may be implemented by guiding bridges 1206A-1206B around region 1210 in one metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 516) that is different from another metal mesh layer (e.g., metal mesh layer 506) in which other touch electrodes are implemented.

It should be appreciated that in some examples, the bridge may only partially move out of the region 1210, and that partial movement of the bridge may also provide partial improvement in transmittance. It should also be appreciated that in some examples, changes to the touch electrode sections 1204A and 1204C and bridges 1206A-1206B in fig. 12 may be applied to other areas of the touch sensor panel (e.g., for pattern uniformity). In some examples, bridges 1206A and 1206B may be used in the touch electrode architecture of fig. 11 in place of bridges 1106A-1106D (e.g., to reduce the line resistance of the row electrodes).

In some examples, the transmittance may be improved by using a transparent or partially transparent material instead of an opaque material to form touch electrodes and/or bridges in areas where high transmittance is desired. The use of transparent or partially transparent materials instead of opaque materials may allow for uniformity of touch electrodes on the touch sensor panel to improve touch performance (e.g., better uniformity of touch signals on the panel) as well as to improve the transmissivity required for the areas due to the optical components. Referring back to fig. 9 (or similar to fig. 10), some or all of the first column of touch electrodes 902A, the second column of touch electrodes 902B, the touch electrode sections 904B-904C, and/or the bridges 906A-906D that overlap the region 910 may be implemented using a transparent or translucent material, while outside the region 910 (and outside the plurality of similar regions when the plurality of high transmittance regions are implemented), the touch electrodes and/or the bridges may be implemented using an opaque material (e.g., a metal mesh). In some examples, portions of the touch electrodes (e.g., first column touch electrode 902A, second column touch electrode 902B, touch electrode sections 904B-904C) may be implemented using transparent or translucent materials, while bridges 906A-906D may be implemented using opaque materials (e.g., optionally by shifting the bridges outside the high transmittance region, as in the architecture of fig. 10).

In some examples, the transparent or translucent material may include Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). In some examples, the transparent or translucent material may include a conductive polymer, graphene, nanowires (e.g., silver nanowires), or nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes). In some examples, the transparent or translucent material used to implement portions of the touch electrode may be implemented in the same layer in the laminated structure as the opaque metal mesh. For example, the metal mesh layer 506 in the laminated structure of the touch screen 500 may represent a layer in which an opaque metal mesh and a transparent or translucent material may be disposed, wherein the transparent or translucent material is disposed in the high transmittance region and the opaque metal mesh is disposed outside the high transmittance region. In some examples, within the high transmittance region, the transparent or translucent material may be patterned in a similar manner (e.g., a mesh) as the opaque metal mesh material forming the touch electrode outside the high transmittance region. In some examples, within the high transmittance region, the transparent or translucent material may be patterned in a different manner than the opaque metal mesh material forming the touch electrodes outside the high transmittance region. In some examples, within the high transmittance region, the transparent or translucent material may be solid (e.g., not a grid pattern) unlike the grid pattern of the touch electrode outside the high transmittance region.

In some examples, the transparent or translucent material forming the touch electrode and/or bridge may be formed in a different layer than the touch electrode formed from the opaque metal mesh (e.g., a layer above or below metal mesh layer 506). Fig. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary touch screen including a high transmittance region according to an example of the present disclosure. The cross-sectional view 1300 of fig. 13 is taken along line AA' shown in fig. 9 through region 910. Fig. 13 shows portions of column electrodes 1302A and 1302B in the first layer outside of high transmittance region 1308 (e.g., portions corresponding to column electrodes 902A through 902B and region 910 in fig. 9). Fig. 13 also shows portions of column touch electrodes 1302C and 1302D in different regions within high transmittance region 1308 (e.g., corresponding to other portions of column electrodes 902A-902B). In some examples, portions of column touch electrodes 1302C and 1302D extend partially outside of high transmittance region 1308 to enable coupling between portions of the column electrodes in two layers outside of region 1308. For example, as shown in fig. 13, a via 1310A (or multiple vias) may connect touch electrodes 1302A and 1302C outside of region 1308, and a via 1310B (or multiple vias) may connect touch electrodes 1302B and 1302D outside of region 1308. In some examples, the connection between touch electrodes in the two layers may be achieved using a via-like connection within region 1308 (e.g., near the perimeter of region 1308). In some examples, the through holes 1310A-1310B may be omitted such that the touch electrodes 1302C and 1302D are electrically floating. In such examples, touch electrodes 1302A and 1302C may be capacitively coupled and touch electrodes 1302B and 1302D may be capacitively coupled for touch sensing.

Although described primarily in the context of high transmittance regions, it should be understood that transparent materials may be used for touch electrodes on the touch sensor panel (e.g., both inside and outside of the high transmittance regions corresponding to the optical components).

It should be appreciated that although the touch electrode architectures of fig. 9-13 are described separately, these features may be combined in some examples. For example, the use of transparent materials in the high transmittance region may be applied to the touch electrode architecture of fig. 9 or 10. Additionally or alternatively, the wiring of the touch electrode architecture of fig. 12 can be used in conjunction with the touch electrode architecture of fig. 11 (including touch electrode section 1104B). It should be appreciated that while the touch electrode architecture of fig. 9-13 uses the vertical and horizontal stripe designs of cells 600 or 712, other patterns may be used and the boundaries of the touch electrodes and/or wiring may not be rectangular (e.g., as described with reference to fig. 8). It should also be appreciated that while fig. 9-13 illustrate high transmittance regions overlapping two columns and one row, the high transmittance regions may overlap fewer or more columns and/or more rows.

Thus, in accordance with the above, some examples of the present disclosure relate to touch screens. The touch screen may include: a display having an active area; an optical device located at a position corresponding to the first region in the effective region; and a plurality of touch electrodes formed of metal grids disposed in a first metal grid layer disposed over the active area of the display. The plurality of touch electrodes may include: a plurality of adjacent column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode; and a plurality of row touch electrodes including a first row touch electrode and a second row touch electrode. The first row of touch electrodes may be formed from a first plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least partially in a second metal mesh layer different from the first metal mesh layer. The second row of touch electrodes may be formed from a second plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a second plurality of bridges formed at least partially in the second metal mesh layer. The first plurality of touch electrode sections includes a first touch electrode section and a second touch electrode section. The first region is located between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section. The second plurality of touch electrode sections includes a fourth touch electrode section, a fifth touch electrode section, and a sixth touch electrode section. The fourth, fifth and sixth touch electrode sections may be continuous within the second row of touch electrodes. The distance between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section may be greater than the distance between the fourth touch electrode section and the sixth touch electrode section.

Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples the first plurality of touch electrode segments may include a third touch electrode segment outside the first region. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples the third touch electrode section may correspond to a first column of touch electrodes and a second column of touch electrodes. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first plurality of bridges may include a first bridge between the first touch electrode section and the third touch electrode section and a second bridge between the second touch electrode section and the third touch electrode section. The first bridge and the second bridge may be external to the first zone. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples the first bridge and the second bridge together encircle the first zone. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples the third touch electrode section surrounds the first region.

Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first plurality of bridges may include a first bridge between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section and a second bridge between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section. The first bridge and the second bridge may be external to the first zone. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples the first bridge and the second bridge together encircle the first zone.

Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a first neck region of the first column of touch electrodes corresponding to the first row of touch electrodes is offset on a horizontal axis from a second neck region of the first column of touch electrodes corresponding to the second row of touch electrodes.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to touch sensitive devices. The touch sensitive device may include: an energy storage device; a communication circuit; a touch controller; a touch screen. The touch screen may include: a display having an active area; an optical device located at a position corresponding to the first region in the effective region; and a plurality of touch electrodes formed of metal grids disposed in a first metal grid layer disposed over the active area of the display. The plurality of touch electrodes may include: a plurality of adjacent column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode; and a plurality of row touch electrodes including a first row touch electrode and a second row touch electrode. The first row of touch electrodes may be formed from a first plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least partially in a second metal mesh layer different from the first metal mesh layer. The second row of touch electrodes may be formed from a second plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a second plurality of bridges formed at least partially in the second metal mesh layer. The first plurality of touch electrode sections includes a first touch electrode section and a second touch electrode section. The first region is located between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section. The second plurality of touch electrode sections includes a fourth touch electrode section, a fifth touch electrode section, and a sixth touch electrode section. The fourth, fifth and sixth touch electrode sections may be continuous within the second row of touch electrodes. The distance between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section may be greater than the distance between the fourth touch electrode section and the sixth touch electrode section.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to touch screens. The touch screen may include: a display having an active area; an optical device located at a position corresponding to the first region in the effective region; and a plurality of touch electrodes disposed in a first layer disposed over an active area of the display. The plurality of touch electrodes may include: a plurality of column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode, the first column touch electrode and the second column touch electrode being at least partially formed from a metal mesh; and a plurality of row touch electrodes formed at least in part from a metal mesh. A first row of the plurality of row touch electrodes may be formed from a plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least partially in a second layer different from the first layer. The first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region may be formed of a transparent material. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, a first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or a first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region formed of a transparent material may be patterned with a first pattern. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the second portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the second portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the second portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections outside the first region may be formed from a metal mesh patterned with the first pattern. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region may be solid. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region may be disposed in the second layer or a third layer different from the first and second layers. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a first portion of the first column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be coupled to a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes outside the first region using a first via, a first portion of the second column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be coupled to a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes outside the first region using a second via, or a first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be coupled to a second portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections outside the first region using a third via. Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the examples disclosed above, in some examples, a first portion of the first column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be capacitively coupled to a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes outside the first region, a first portion of the second column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be capacitively coupled to a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes outside the first region, or a first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections disposed in the second layer or the third layer may be capacitively coupled to a second portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections outside the first region.

Some examples of the present disclosure relate to touch sensitive devices. The touch sensitive device may include: an energy storage device; a communication circuit; a touch controller; a touch screen. The touch screen may include: a display having an active area; an optical device located at a position corresponding to the first region in the effective region; and a plurality of touch electrodes disposed in a first layer disposed over an active area of the display. The plurality of touch electrodes may include: a plurality of column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode, the first column touch electrode and the second column touch electrode being at least partially formed from a metal mesh; and a plurality of row touch electrodes formed at least in part from a metal mesh. A first row of the plurality of row touch electrodes may be formed from a plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least partially in a second layer different from the first layer. The first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region may be formed of a transparent material.

Although examples of the present disclosure have been fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that such variations and modifications are to be considered included within the scope of the examples of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A touch screen, comprising:

a display having an active area;

an optical device located in the active area at a position corresponding to the first region; and

a plurality of touch electrodes disposed in a first layer disposed over the active area of the display, wherein the plurality of touch electrodes comprises:

a plurality of column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode, wherein the first column touch electrode and the second column touch electrode are at least partially formed from a metal mesh; and

a plurality of row touch electrodes formed at least in part from a metal mesh, wherein a first row touch electrode of the plurality of row touch electrodes is formed from a plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least in part in a second layer different from the first layer;

Wherein a first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, a first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or a first portion of at least one touch electrode section of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region is formed of a transparent material.

2. The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region formed of the transparent material is patterned with a first pattern.

3. The touch screen of claim 2, wherein a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes, a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is outside the first region is formed from the metal mesh patterned with the first pattern.

4. The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region formed of the transparent material is solid.

5. The touch screen of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region is disposed in the second layer or in a third layer different from the first layer and the second layer.

6. The touch screen of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region using a first via, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region using a second via, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is outside the first region using a third via.

7. The touch screen of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is capacitively coupled to a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is capacitively coupled to a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections disposed in the second layer or the third layer is capacitively coupled to a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is outside the first region.

8. The touch screen of claim 1 wherein the plurality of row touch electrodes comprises a second row touch electrode formed from a second plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a second plurality of bridges;

wherein the plurality of touch electrode sections includes a first touch electrode section and a second touch electrode section, wherein the first region is located between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section;

Wherein the second plurality of touch electrode sections includes a fourth touch electrode section, a fifth touch electrode section, and a sixth touch electrode section, wherein the fourth touch electrode section, the fifth touch electrode section, and the sixth touch electrode section are continuous within the second row of touch electrodes; and is also provided with

Wherein a distance between the first and second touch electrode sections is greater than a distance between the fourth and sixth touch electrode sections.

9. The touch screen of claim 8, wherein the first touch electrode section corresponds to the first column of touch electrodes, the second touch electrode section corresponds to the second column of touch electrodes, the fourth touch electrode section corresponds to the first column of touch electrodes, the fifth touch electrode section corresponds to the first column of touch electrodes and the second column of touch electrodes, and the sixth touch electrode section corresponds to the second column of touch electrodes.

10. The touch screen of claim 8, wherein the plurality of touch electrode sections includes a third touch electrode section, and wherein a distance across the third touch electrode section along a horizontal axis is greater than a distance across the fifth touch electrode section along the horizontal axis.

11. The touch screen of claim 10, wherein the third touch electrode section corresponds to the first column of touch electrodes and the second column of touch electrodes.

12. The touch screen of claim 10, wherein the first plurality of bridges comprises a first bridge between the first touch electrode section and the third touch electrode section and a second bridge between the second touch electrode section and the third touch electrode section, wherein the first bridge and the second bridge are outside the first zone.

13. The touch screen of claim 12, wherein the first bridge and the second bridge together define the first region.

14. A touch sensitive device, comprising:

an energy storage device;

a communication circuit;

a touch controller; and

a touch screen, the touch screen comprising:

a display having an active area;

15. The touch sensitive apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region formed of the transparent material is patterned with a first pattern.

16. The touch sensitive device of claim 15, wherein a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes, a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is outside the first region is formed from the metal mesh patterned with the first pattern.

17. The touch sensitive device of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region formed of the transparent material is solid.

18. The touch sensitive device of claim 14, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections within the first region is disposed in the second layer or in a third layer different from the first layer and the second layer.

19. The touch sensitive device of claim 18, wherein the first portion of the first column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the first column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region using a first via, the first portion of the second column of touch electrodes disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the second column of touch electrodes that is outside the first region using a second via, or the first portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is disposed in the second layer or the third layer is coupled to a second portion of the at least one of the plurality of touch electrode sections that is outside the first region using a third via.

20. A touch screen, comprising:

a display having an active area;

a plurality of touch electrodes formed of a metal mesh disposed in a first metal mesh layer disposed over the active area of the display, wherein the plurality of touch electrodes comprises:

a plurality of adjacent column touch electrodes including a first column touch electrode and a second column touch electrode; and

a plurality of row touch electrodes comprising a first row touch electrode and a second row touch electrode, wherein the first row touch electrode is formed from a first plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a first plurality of bridges formed at least partially in a second metal mesh layer different from the first metal mesh layer, and the second row touch electrode is formed from a second plurality of touch electrode segments interconnected by a second plurality of bridges formed at least partially in the second metal mesh layer;

Wherein the first plurality of touch electrode sections includes a first touch electrode section and a second touch electrode section, wherein the first region is located between the first touch electrode section and the second touch electrode section;