Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R1/00—Details of instruments or arrangements of the types included in groups G01R5/00 - G01R13/00 and G01R31/00
  • G01R1/02—General constructional details
  • G01R1/04—Housings; Supporting members; Arrangements of terminals
  • G01R1/0408—Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K1/00—Printed circuits
  • H05K1/16—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
  • H05K1/162—Printed circuits incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor incorporating printed capacitors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/96—Touch switches
  • H03K17/962—Capacitive touch switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2017/9602—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/960765—Details of shielding arrangements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
  • H03K2217/960755—Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
  • H03K2217/960775—Emitter-receiver or "fringe" type detection, i.e. one or more field emitting electrodes and corresponding one or more receiving electrodes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
  • H05K2201/09—Shape and layout
  • H05K2201/09145—Edge details
  • H05K2201/0919—Exposing inner circuit layers or metal planes at the side edge of the printed circuit board [PCB] or at the walls of large holes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
  • H05K2201/09—Shape and layout
  • H05K2201/09209—Shape and layout details of conductors
  • H05K2201/09654—Shape and layout details of conductors covering at least two types of conductors provided for in H05K2201/09218 - H05K2201/095
  • H05K2201/09672—Superposed layout, i.e. in different planes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to printed circuits covered by H05K1/00
  • H05K2201/10—Details of components or other objects attached to or integrated in a printed circuit board
  • H05K2201/10007—Types of components
  • H05K2201/10151—Sensor

Definitions

• the invention relates to a printed circuit board, which comprises an evaluation device and at least one electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor, as well as to an electric handheld device, which comprises at least one printed circuit board according to the invention.
• Electric handheld devices for example mobile radio units, computer mice, remote controls or the like increasingly are provided with capacitive touch sensors and proximity sensors in order to detect a contact of the handheld device by a hand or an approach of a hand towards the handheld device, respectively, and to activate a predetermined device function at a contact with or an approach towards the handheld device.
• Capacitive sensors such as those used in electric handheld devices, substantially consist of an evaluation device and of a number of electrodes or sensor electrodes, respectively, coupled with the evaluation device.
• the electrodes are manufactured or assembled separately and are arranged on a rigid or flexible printed circuit board specifically provided for the electrodes.
• the electrodes or the printed circuit board, respectively, on which the electrodes are arranged, are connected via plug-in connections to the evaluation device, which also is arranged on a printed circuit board.
• the electrodes In order to reduce the time and effort and the cost for manufacturing capacitive sensor devices, in particular for handheld devices, it is known to simplify the design and the manufacturing process of the printed circuit boards comprising the electrodes arranged thereon. For example, whenever possible only one-sided printed circuit boards without a ground surface on the backside are used. Furthermore, it is feasible to produce the electrodes by means of applying electrically conductive color onto a cost-effective carrier material. In a further alternative embodiment, for example, the electrodes may be realized as pierced sheet metal parts.
• the material cost of a capacitive sensor device may be reduced, however, the time and effort and the cost, respectively, for manufacturing the capacitive sensor device substantially remain the same, so that by means of the measures mentioned the effort for manufacturing an electric handheld device comprising at least one capacitive sensor cannot be reduced substantially.
• a printed circuit board comprising an evaluation device and at least one electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor, wherein the electrode configuration has at least two electrodes arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other, which each are formed by portions of at least one electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board, and wherein at least one electrode of the electrode configuration is coupled with the evaluation device via a conductor path of the printed circuit board.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration may be coupled with the evaluation device via a conductor path of the printed circuit board.
• the electrode configuration may have a third electrode, arranged between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, wherein one electrode of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is operable as a transmitting electrode and the respective other electrode of the upper electrode and the lower electrode is operable as a receiving electrode, and wherein the third electrode may be operated as a compensation electrode and/or as a ground electrode.
• the electrode configuration may also have a third electrode arranged between an upper electrode and a lower electrode, wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode, respectively, may be operated as a ground electrode and wherein the third electrode may be operated as a loading electrode.
• the electrode configuration may have at least one further electrode, which is arranged between the upper electrode and the lower electrode of the electrode configuration, and wherein one of the two electrodes arranged between the upper electrode and the lower electrode may be operated as a compensation electrode and the respective other one of the two electrodes arranged between the upper electrode and the lower electrode may be operated as a ground electrode.
• the at least one electrode configuration may be arranged on the printed circuit board at the edge region thereof.
• the arrangement of the at least one electrode configuration at the edge region on the printed circuit board may be selected such that at least one electrode of the electrode configuration extends all the way to the completion border of the printed circuit board.
• At least one electrode of the electrode configuration may be arranged at least partially circumferential around the printed circuit board.
• At least two electrodes of the electrode configuration may be formed by portions of the same electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board.
• At least one of the electrodes of the electrode configuration or at least one further electrode may be formed by means of an electrically conductive layer arranged at the surface at the edge of the printed circuit board.
• the printed circuit board may have at least two electrode configurations arranged at the edge region, preferably at two opposite completion borders of the printed circuit board, wherein at least one electrode of the one electrode configuration may be operated as a transmitting electrode and at least one electrode of the other electrode configuration may be operated as a receiving electrode.
• At least two electrodes of the electrode configuration may be loaded with different electric alternating signals.
• the evaluation device may be operated in at least two operating modes, wherein depending on the operating mode of the evaluation device a number of the electrodes of the electrode configuration each is loaded with an electric alternating signal.
• the printed circuit board may be a double-sided printed circuit board, wherein at least one of the electrodes of the electrode configuration is arranged at the upper side of the printed circuit board and the remaining electrodes of the electrode configuration are arranged at the lower side of the printed circuit board.
• the printed circuit board at least in part may be formed flexible.
• Arranged on the printed circuit board may be at least one further electrode, which is not directly coupled with the evaluation device and which may be coupled with at least one electrode of the electrode configuration in a capacitive or galvanic manner.
• the at least one further electrode may be formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board.
• an electric handheld device comprising at least one printed circuit board.
• the handheld device may comprise electrically conductive layers at the inner side of the housing, wherein at least one of these electrically conductive layers may be coupled in a capacitive or galvanic manner with at least one electrode of the electrode configuration of the printed circuit board according to the invention.
• the electric handheld device may be a smart phone, a mobile radio unit, a cell phone, a computer mouse, a remote control, a digital camera, a mobile mini computer, a tablet-PC or another electric handheld device.
• Fig. la shows a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention, in a top view, a view from the front and a side view;
• Fig. lb shows a section of a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration arranged on the printed circuit board at the edge region;
• Fig. 2 shows a further example of a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention in a top view, a view from the front and a side view;
• Fig. 3 shows yet a further example of a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention in a top view, a view from the front and a side view;
• Fig. 4 shows an example of a printed circuit board comprising a number of electrode configurations arranged on the printed circuit board
• Fig. 5 shows a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention, which circumferentially is arranged at the edge region at the printed circuit board;
• Fig. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention, wherein a part of the electrodes is arranged at the upper side of the printed circuit board and the remaining part of the electrodes is arranged at the lower side of the printed circuit board;
• Fig. 7a shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising an electrode arranged at a sidewall of the printed circuit board, which is coupled with the electrode configuration in a galvanic manner;
• Fig. 7b shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising two electrodes arranged at a side wall of the printed circuit board, each of which are coupled capacitively with the electrode configuration; and Fig. 8 shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising four electrode configurations according to the invention.
• the electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor is integrated into the printed circuit board, which also comprises the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor.
• the electrode configuration has at least two electrodes arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other, wherein the electrodes each are formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board, which comprises several electrically conductive layers.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration each are coupled with the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor via a conductor path, wherein also the conductor paths preferably are formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board. At least one electrode is loaded by an electric alternating signal, so that an electric alternating field is formed at this electrode.
• the electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor may be integrated into a first printed circuit board, while the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor is arranged on a second printed circuit board.
• the electrode configuration has at least two electrodes arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other, wherein the electrodes each are formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the first printed circuit board, which has several electrically conductive layers.
• the two printed circuit boards may be connected to each other via plug- in connections.
• the first printed circuit board also may be coupled directly with the evaluation device via a plug-in connection.
• a stacked or layered sensor electrode or electrode unit is provided, which is integrated into the printed circuit board.
• the electrodes of the capacitive sensor device such, in an advantageous manner, may be manufactured on the printed circuit board in one working step together with the other conductive structures (for example conductor paths). According to that, manufacturing separate boards comprising sensor electrodes arranged thereon does not apply. Furthermore, no connecting elements, as for example plug-in connections or springs, are required to connect the electrodes with the printed circuit board, on which the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor is arranged, which on the one hand leads to a significant cost reduction and on the other hand leads to a simpler production of the capacitive sensor system.
• so called multi-layer printed circuit boards are chosen, which have at least two electrically conductive layers.
• also printed circuit boards may be used, which have a number of conductive layers on both sides (upper side and lower side) of the printed circuit board, as for example shown with regard to Fig. 6.
• the electrode configuration of the stacked or layered electrodes is arranged on the printed circuit board at the edge region.
• the electrodes each are formed by areas at the edge regions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration each arranged at the edge region extend all the way to the completion border of the printed circuit board, as for example shown with regard to Fig. lb.
• an electrode distance of about 0.5 mm or more of the electrodes extending all the way towards the completion border of the printed circuit board, it also may be ensured during milling at the edge region of the printed circuit board that electrically conductive chips cannot create a short between two electrodes.
• the electrode configuration and the electrodes of the electrode configuration, respectively, are arranged at the printed circuit board such that the electric alternating field created by them preferably propagates towards the side, especially preferred propagates only towards the side and in particular may be affected by an approach from the side.
• exemplary embodiments of a printed circuit board according to the invention each comprising three or four electrodes and electrode layers, respectively, arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other, this is to mean in a stacked manner.
• electrode configurations comprising only two electrodes and electrode layers, respectively, arranged one upon the other or comprising more than four electrodes arranged one upon the other.
• Electrodes may be formed by means of portions of the same electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board, so that several electrodes may be arranged in an electrode layer of the electrode configuration. These electrodes of an electrode layer may be arranged at different edges of the printed circuit board.
• Fig. la shows a first exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board P according to the invention in a top view, a side view and a frontal view.
• the printed circuit board P (multi- layer PCB) substantially is comprised of several electrically conductive layers between which each an electrically isolating material is arranged.
• the electrically conductive layers are provided for manufacturing the electrodes as well as the conductor paths.
• an evaluation device E Arranged on the printed circuit board P is an evaluation device E of a capacitive sensor device.
• Arranged in addition to the evaluation device E may be further electric and electronic components, for example a microcontroller of an electric handheld device.
• the printed circuit board P Provided at the edge region on the printed circuit board P are three electrodes A, B and C, which are arranged one upon the other and are spaced from one another, so that the electrodes together form a layered or stacked sensor electrode or electrode unit.
• the electrodes themselves each are formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board.
• the printed circuit board P comprises at least three electrically conductive layers, by which in each case an electrode of the electrode configuration is formed.
• the lower electrode C is formed by a portion of the lower electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P
• the upper electrode A is formed by a portion of the upper electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P
• the electrode B arranged between the electrode A and the electrode C is formed by a portion of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P, which is arranged between the lower conductive layer and the upper conductive layer.
• the electrodes A, B and C each are coupled with the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor by means of a conductor path LB.
• the conductor paths LB preferably also are formed by the respective electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P.
• the upper electrode A not necessarily has to be formed by the uppermost or outermost electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration also may be formed by means of electrically conductive layers of the printed circuit board P located in the inside.
• the three electrodes of an electrode configuration according to the invention comprising three electrodes in a 5 layer multi-layer- PCB may be formed by means of the second, third and fourth electric conductive layer of the printed circuit board P.
• the lower electrode C and the upper electrode A substantially have the same dimensions, while the electrode B arranged between the electrode A and the electrode C is wider as well as also longer than the electrodes A and C.
• the electrodes A and C each may have a width of 2 mm and a length of about 40 mm, while the electrode B may have a width of 4 mm and a length of about 45 mm.
• the electrodes also may be larger or smaller than the electrodes shown here, which in the end depends on the specific application or on the specific requirements for the capacitive sensor device.
• the electrically conductive layers of the printed circuit board P and therefore also the electrodes of the electrode configuration may comprise copper.
• the distance between the individual electrodes for example, may be 150 ⁇ and the thickness of the individual electrodes, for example, may be 35 ⁇ , wherein here the distances and the thicknesses of the electrodes as well depend on the specific requirements for the capacitive sensor device.
• the electrode A is used as a transmitting electrode
• the electrode B is used as a compensation electrode
• the electrode C is used as a receiving electrode.
• the evaluation device E may be designed to load the electrode A as well as the electrode B each with an electric alternating signal and to tap an electric signal at the electrode C.
• the electric alternating signals supplied to the electrodes A and B may be different with respect to phase and/or amplitude.
• the electrode B also may be used as ground electrode or may be coupled with the ground of the evaluation device.
• Fig. lb shows an edge section of a printed circuit board P according to the invention comprising an electrode configuration according to the invention.
• the electrodes A, B and C of the electrode configuration each extend all the way to the completion border K of the printed circuit board P. This way it is feasible that an object approaching the printed circuit board P at the edge region, for example a finger, manipulates the electric flux lines forming at the edge region, which may be detected or analyzed by means of the evaluation device E.
• the electrode A is operated as the transmitting electrode
• the electrode C is operated as the receiving electrode
• the electrode B is operated as the compensation electrode, as already described with respect to Fig. la.
• the transmitting electrode A as well as the compensation electrode B are loaded with an electric alternating signal, than an electric alternating field substantially arranged at the edge region is emitted from them, which is coupled into the receiving electrode C.
• the electric alternating field substantially is emitted perpendicular with respect to the completion border K of the printed circuit board P.
• Fig. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising an evaluation device E and an electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration are arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration are arranged at the edge region of the printed circuit board P.
• the electrode configuration here has four electrodes A, B, C and D, wherein the electrodes B and D are formed by portions of the middle electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P arranged between the upper electrically conductive layer and the lower electrically conductive layer.
• the electrode B is operated as compensation electrode and the electrode D is operated as ground electrode.
• the evaluation device E may be operated in several operating modes, so that using the electrode configuration shown here, on the one hand a calibration of the capacitive sensor device and on the other hand a detection of an approach or a contact may be carried out.
• an electric signal may be supplied to the compensation electrode B, wherein the function substantially is described as with regard to Fig. lb.
• the electrode B also may be operated as ground electrode.
• the capacitive coupling between the electrode A and the electrode C of the electrode configuration is measured.
• a capacitive coupling between the electrode A of the one electrode configuration and the electrode C of the other electrode configuration may be measured, which then is advantageous, when, for example, a grasping of the handheld device is to be detected.
• Fig. 3 shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising an evaluation device E and an electrode configuration, which comprises four electrodes A, B, C and D arranged one upon the other and spaced from each other.
• the electrodes B and D here each are formed by a portion of two electrically conductive layers arranged one upon the other, so that substantially an electrode configuration comprising four electrode layers is provided.
• the electrode B here is operated as a compensation electrode and the electrode D is operated as a ground electrode, wherein the effect substantially equals the one as described with respect to Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 shows a printed circuit board P comprising four layer electrodes or electrode configurations SEl to SE4, respectively, arranged on the printed circuit board P at the edge region.
• the electrode configurations SEl to SE4 may be designed as shown with respect to Fig. la to Fig. 3.
• the electrode configurations SEl and SE2 may be provided to detect a grasping of an electric handheld device as already described here with respect to Fig. 2.
• the electrode configuration SE2 may be operated as a transmitter and the electrode configuration SEl may be operated as a receiver.
• the electrode configuration SE2 operated as a transmitter some or all electrodes may be loaded with an electric alternating signal, so that an electric alternating field is emitted at some or all electrodes that is coupled into the receiver, i.e. into the electrode configuration SEl, via the hand grasping the handheld device.
• the electrode configuration SEl operated as a receiver some or all electrodes may be operated as receiving electrodes.
• the two layer electrodes and the electrode configurations SEl and SE2, respectively also may be provided for detecting an approach towards the respective electrode configuration, as for example described with respect to Fig. lb. It is advantageous when the evaluation device to which the electrode configurations SE1 and SE2 are connected may be operated in at least two different operating modes, wherein in one operating mode a grasping of the handheld device and in the other operating mode an approach towards the respective electrode configuration may be detected. Depending on the respective operating mode the electrodes of an electrode configuration each may be loaded with different electric alternating signals.
• the electrode configurations SE3 and SE4 may be used as capacitive key buttons, wherein the two electrode configurations each may be operated as described with respect to Fig. lb.
• Fig. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board P according to the invention comprising an electrode configuration of a capacitive sensor, wherein the middle electrode B is arranged circumferential around the printed circuit board P and at the edge region on the printed circuit board P.
• the upper electrode in part is arranged circumferential around the printed circuit board P and arranged at the edge region on the printed circuit board P, wherein the upper electrode is formed by the electrode segments A, A' A" and A'".
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration are arranged only partially circumferential around the printed circuit board P, for example in cases where predefined areas of the edge region of the printed circuit board P may not be provided with electrically conductive layers, for example for reasons of production processes.
• Fig. 6 in a sectional drawing shows a further exemplary embodiment of a printed circuit board P according to the invention.
• the printed circuit board P here is comprised of an electrically non-conductive carrier material T, which comprises a number of electrically conductive layers L each at the lower side U as well as at the upper side O.
• the electrode configurations according to the invention may be formed by the electrically conductive layers at the upper side of the printed circuit board as well as by the electrically conductive layers at the lower side of the printed circuit board.
• some electrodes of the electrode configuration are formed by electrically conductive layers on the upper side O of the printed circuit board P and the other electrodes of the electrode configuration are formed by electrically conductive layers at the lower side U of the printed circuit board P.
• the electrode A of an electrode configuration according to the invention may be formed by portions of the uppermost electrically conductive layer at the upper side O of the printed circuit board P and the electrodes B and C each may be formed by portions of the two uppermost electrically conductive layers at the lower side U of the printed circuit board P.
• respective printed circuit boards P are described in which the electrodes of the respective electrode configuration in each case are formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P.
• the electrodes formed by portions of the electrically conductive layers of the printed circuit board P which are coupled with the evaluation device of the capacitive sensor via the conductor paths LB
• further electrodes may be provided, which are not directly coupled with the evaluation device E.
• These further electrodes each also may be formed by portions of an electrically conductive layer of the printed circuit board P.
• these further electrodes also may be formed by means of an electrically conductive material additionally applied to the printed circuit board P.
• These further electrodes preferably are arranged relative to the electrodes of the electrode configuration such that they may be brought into a capacitive coupling with at least one electrode of the electrode configuration. In doing so, for example the effective surface or capacity of the respective electrode of the electrode configuration may be changed. However, these further electrodes also may be coupled in a galvanic manner with at least one electrode of the electrode configuration according to the invention.
• Fig. 7a in a top view and in a cross-sectional view shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising an additional electrode VE arranged at a sidewall of the printed circuit board.
• this additional electrode VE may be applied as electrically conductive lacquer.
• the electrode VE here is coupled with the upper electrode A of the electrode configuration galvanically, so that the effective electrode surface of the electrode A is increased, which corresponds to an amplification of the electric alternating field emitted at the electrode A in case the electrode A is operated as a transmitting electrode.
• the additional electrode VE increases the effective coupling surface.
• the additional electrode VE In order to couple the additional electrode VE with the electrode A of the electrode configuration galvanically it may be advantageous to extend the electrode A at least in part all the way to the completion border K of the printed circuit board P as can be seen in the top view. Furthermore, the width of the additional electrode VE and its position relative to the electrode A preferably are chosen such that it does not cover the other electrodes B and C.
• each additional electrode may galvanically be coupled with a respective electrode of the electrode configuration.
• Fig. 7b shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising two electrodes VE1 and VE2 additionally arranged at a sidewall of the printed circuit board.
• the electrode VE1 is coupled capacitively (capacity CI) with the upper electrode A and the electrode VE2 is coupled capacitively (capacity C2) with the lower electrode C.
• a third additional electrode may be provided, which may be coupled capacitively with the middle electrode B.
• the capacitive coupling with the electrodes of the electrode configuration has the advantage over the galvanic coupling (see Fig.
• the width of the additional electrodes VE1 and VE2 as well as their position relative to the electrode A and the electrode C, respectively, preferably are chosen such that they do not cover the middle electrode B.
• some of the additional electrodes arranged at a sidewall of the printed circuit board may be coupled galvanically with electrodes of the electrode configuration and some of the additional electrodes arranged at a sidewall of the printed circuit board may be coupled capacitively with electrodes of the electrode configuration.
• Which type of coupling galvanic, capacitive or a combination of both) in fact is used substantially depends on the specific requirements for the capacitive sensor system.
• Fig. 8 shows a printed circuit board according to the invention comprising four electrode configurations El to E4 according to the invention, which each are arranged on the printed circuit board as previously described.
• the electrodes of the electrode configurations El, E2 and E4 are formed by the three uppermost electrically conductive layers of the printed circuit board, respectively.
• the electrodes of the electrode configuration E3 here are formed by the uppermost, the lowest and an inner (i.e. inside lying) conductive layer of the printed circuit board.
• the electrode configurations El to E4 each may be operated and used, respectively, in different manners as described in the following.
• the evaluation device E is not shown here.
• the electrode configurations El to E4 may be coupled with a single evaluation device E. Alternatively, a respective dedicated evaluation device may be provided for each electrode configuration.
• each of the electrodes substantially may be operated as - a transmitting electrode (an electric signal is supplied to the transmitting electrode, so that an electric alternating field is emitted from there),
• an electric signal is supplied to the compensation electrode, so that an electric alternating field is emitted from there.
• the supplied signal may be shifted in phase relative to the signal supplied to the transmitting electrode and/or may have a different amplitude
• a receiving electrode (tapped at the receiving electrode is an electric signal, which preferably is analyzed and processed, respectively, by the evaluation device),
• a field measurement electrode (tapped at the field measurement electrode is an electric signal, which preferably is analyzed and processed, respectively, by the evaluation device), or as
• the capacitive sensor device may be operated in three different operating modes, wherein the electrodes of the electrode configurations El and E2 are used differently depending on the operating mode.
• the first operating mode is named "transmission mode".
• transmission mode the electrode Al of the electrode configuration El is used as a transmitting electrode and the electrode A2 of the electrode configuration E2 is used as a receiving electrode.
• the electrodes Bl and B2 each are connected to ground.
• the capacitive coupling between the two electrodes Al and A2 is analyzed.
• the electrode Al In the transmission mode the electrode Al is loaded with an electric alternating signal, so that an electric alternating field is emitted from there.
• the electric alternating field emitted at the electrode Al is coupled into the electrode A2 via the hand, so that a capacitive coupling between the electrode Al and the electrode A2 is created, and a presently low capacitive coupling is increased.
• the capacitive coupling between the two electrodes Al and A2 changes during a further approach of the hand towards the sensor device, so that a variation of the coupling capacity between the electrodes Al and A2 may be used as an indication for the approach of a hand towards the sensor device. Since the electrode configurations El and E2 are arranged on two opposite sides of the printed circuit board also a grasping of a handheld device, in which the printed circuit board is arranged, may be detected.
• the electrodes CI and C2 are not used in this case. However, they also may be operated as a transmitting electrode (CI) and a receiving electrode (C2), respectively.
• the second operating mode is named "loading mode".
• a capacitive load between an electrode and a reference ground is used for detecting the approach of a hand towards the electrode.
• a capacitive load means that a strength of an electric field effective from the electrode to the reference ground is increased by the approach of the electrically conductive hand and thus the capacity between electrode and reference ground increases.
• the capacitive load is a measure for the strength of an electric field effective between the electrode and the reference ground and is a measure for the capacity between electrode and reference ground, respectively.
• the electrode Al of the first electrode configuration El is used as loading electrode, in order to detect an approach towards the electrode Al .
• the electrode Bl may be connected to ground.
• the electrode is not used.
• electrodes of the second electrode configuration E2 may be used. In an embodiment the electrode configurations El and E2 may be used as loading sensors alternatingly.
• the third operating mode also is named transmission mode, wherein in this case, however, not the capacitive coupling between two different electrode configurations is detected, but the capacitive coupling between respective two electrodes of an electrode configuration is detected.
• the capacitive coupling between two electrodes of the first electrode configuration El and between two electrodes of the second electrode configuration E2 is detected.
• the electrodes Al and A2 each are operated as transmitting electrode
• the electrodes CI and C2 each are operated as receiving electrodes.
• the electrodes Bl and B2 may be connected to ground.
• An electric alternating field is emitted at the electrodes Al and A2, respectively, which may be coupled into electrodes CI and C2, respectively.
• an approach of a hand towards the electrode configurations leads to a reduction or to an increase of the capacitive coupling between the electrodes Al and CI, and A2 and C2, respectively, at the respective electrode configuration.
• the received signal tapped at the respective receiving electrode CI or C2 may be tested for meeting predefined tolerances so that in the third operating mode also a system test of the capacitive sensor device may be carried out.
• the electrode configurations El, E2 and E3 may be provided to detect with an electric handheld device in which the printed circuit board according to the invention is arranged a grasping of the handheld device, wherein at the same time it may be detected if the handheld device is oriented towards the palm with its backside or with its front side.
• the electrode Al is used as transmitting electrode and the electrode A2 is used as receiving electrode.
• the electrodes CI and C2 may be used as transmitting electrode and receiving electrode, respectively.
• the electrodes Bl and B2 may be connected to ground.
• the electrodes A3 and C3 of the third electrode configuration E3 are used as field measurement electrodes, at which a received signal is scanned and analyzed.
• the electrode B3 is coupled with ground to substantially reach a capacitive decoupling of the electrode A3 from the electrode C3.
• the electrode A3 is arranged at the upper side of the printed circuit board, the electrode C3 is arranged at the lower side of the printed circuit board.
• the electric alternating field emitted at the transmitting electrode Al couples into field measurement electrode A3 and C3, respectively, via the hand grasping the handheld device.
• the capacitive coupling between the electrode Al and the electrode A3 or the capacitive coupling between the electrode Al and the electrode C3 is greater.
• the first operating mode only a grasping is detected.
• the second operating mode it is only detected, which side of the handheld device is oriented towards the palm.
• a switching from the first operating mode into the second operating mode only takes place when in fact a grasping is detected in the first operating mode.
• the electrode A2 and the electrode C2, if applicable, which is operated as a receiving electrode in the first operating mode, also may be operated as a transmitting electrode.
• a touch-sensitive button may be realized at a sidewall of the handheld device by using the fourth electrode configuration E4.
• the electrode A4 of the fourth electrode configuration E4 is used as a field measurement electrode.
• the electrode B4 may be connected to ground.
• the electric alternating field emitted at the transmitting electrode Al (and at the electrode A2, if applicable) couples into the electrode A4 via the hand grasping the handheld device.
• the electrode configuration E4 only then is activated, when a grasping has been detected.
• the electrode configuration E4 may be active, wherein in this case the electrode configuration either may be operated in transmission mode (A4 - transmitting electrode, C4 - receiving electrode) or in loading mode (A4 - transmitting electrode) to realize a touch-sensitive button.
• Described in the following is an embodiment of the electrode configuration and the printed circuit board, respectively, according to the invention, in which at least one of the electrodes of the electrode configurations El to E4 is used as a compensation electrode.
• the electrode Al is operated as a transmitting electrode and the electrode A2 is operated as a receiving electrode.
• the electrode C2 is operated as a compensation electrode.
• the electrodes Bl and B2 may be connected to ground.
• the transmitting electrode Al is loaded with an electric alternating signal.
• the compensation electrode C2 also is loaded with an electric alternating signal, which preferably has the waveform and the frequency of the electric alternating signal by which the transmitting electrode Al is loaded.
• the electric alternating signal of the compensation electrode C2 may be shifted in phase with respect to the electric alternating signal of the transmitting electrode Al and/or may have a different amplitude.
• the electric alternating signal supplied to the transmitting electrode Al is designed such that the electric alternating field emitted by the transmitting electrode Al may be coupled into the receiving electrode A2.
• the electric alternating signal supplied to the compensation electrode C2 is designed such that the electric alternating field emitted by the compensation electrode C2 also may be coupled into the receiving electrode A2.
• the electrode CI of the first electrode configuration El may be used as a transmitting electrode.
• a grasping of the handheld device may be detected.
• example 3 also may be used for a single electrode configuration, for example for the electrode configuration El .
• the electrode Al may be used as a transmitting electrode
• the electrode CI may be used as a receiving electrode
• the electrode Bl may be used as a compensation electrode.
• the mode of operation is the same as previously described.
• the third electrode configuration E3 may be provided for detecting if the handheld device is oriented towards the palm with its front side or its backside. To do so it may be sufficient to operate the electrode Al as the transmitting electrode only. It may be advantageous to operate the capacitive sensor device in two operating modes, wherein in the first operating mode a grasping of the handheld device and in the second operating mode the orientation of the handheld device relative to the palm is detected. In the second operating mode the electrode CI or C2, respectively, used as compensation electrode in the first operating mode may be used as a further transmitting electrode.
• the fourth electrode configuration E4 may be provided for realizing a touch-sensitive button.
• the mode of operation is the same as described with respect to example 2.
• the printed circuit board P according to the invention at least in part may be formed flexible.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
• Structure Of Printed Boards (AREA)
• Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Electric Means (AREA)
• Printing Elements For Providing Electric Connections Between Printed Circuits (AREA)

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• 2011
  • 2011-06-24 DE DE102011078077A patent/DE102011078077A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2012
  • 2012-06-20 WO PCT/EP2012/061900 patent/WO2012175580A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-06-20 EP EP12730884.9A patent/EP2724464B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2012-06-20 CN CN201280039513.2A patent/CN103733518B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-06-20 KR KR1020147001022A patent/KR101911842B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-06-20 JP JP2014516332A patent/JP6081996B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-06-20 US US14/128,998 patent/US9702902B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2012-06-22 TW TW101122553A patent/TWI556693B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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