Force sensor and display device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11567601-B2
Application number	US-202117494021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2021
Priority date	Nov 16, 2018
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A force sensor includes first and second substrates. The second substrate faces the first substrate. A driving electrode is disposed on a first surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate. A sensing electrode is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate and is spaced apart from the driving electrode. A force sensitive layer is disposed on a first surface of the second substrate, facing the first substrate. The driving electrode includes a main driving protrusion that protrudes from a side surface of the driving electrode, facing the sensing electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor, comprising:
a first substrate;
a plurality of sensing cells disposed ort a first surface of the first substrate;
a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes respectively facing each other in each of the plurality of sensing cells; and
a plurality of sensing lines respectively connecting the plurality of sensing electrodes to a plurality of sensing pads,
wherein a maximum width of a first sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines is different from a maximum width of a second sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines, and
wherein the maximum width of the first sensing line is dependent upon a length of the first sensing line and the maximum width of the second sensing line is dependent upon a length of the second sensing line.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a first sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells, and wherein a second sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a second sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells.

3. The sensor of claim 2 , wherein the second sensing line longer than the first sensing line.

4. The sensor of claim 2 , wherein a width of the second sensing line increases step by step.

5. The sensor of claim 4 , wherein the second sensing line outside one side of the second sensing cell has a wider width than the first sensing line outside one side of the first sensing cell.

6. The sensor of claim 2 , the plurality of sensing lines further includes:
a third sensing line connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a third sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells; and
a fourth sensing line connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a fourth sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells.

7. The sensor of claim 6 , wherein the fourth sensing line is disposed closer to a second edge of the first substrate than the third sensing line, and a maximum width of the fourth sensing line is larger than a maximum width of the third sensing line.

8. The sensor of claim 6 , wherein the fourth sensing line is longer than the third sensing line.

9. The sensor of claim 6 , wherein a width of the fourth sensing line increases step by step.

10. The sensor of claim 6 , wherein the fourth sensing line outside one side of the third sensing cell has a same width with the first sensing line outside one side of the first sensing cell.

11. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the second sensing line outside one side of the second sensing cell has a wider width than the first sensing line outside one side of the first sensing cell.

12. The sensor of claim 6 , wherein the number of sensing lines disposed in a first edge of the first substrate among the plurality of sensing lines is smaller than the number of sensing lines disposed in a second edge of the first substrate among the plurality of sensing lines.

13. The sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first sensing line and the second sensing line are disposed in the first edge of the first substrate, and wherein the third sensing line and the fourth sensing line are disposed in the second edge of the first substrate.

14. The sensor of claim 13 , wherein the first sensing line has a first width larger than a third width of the third sensing line.

15. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the second sensing line outside one side of the second sensing cell has a second width larger than a fourth width of the fourth sensing line outside one side of fourth sensing cell.

16. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a main protrusion that protrudes from a side surface of a driving electrode among the plurality of driving electrodes or a sensing electrode among the plurality of sensing electrodes;
a first protrusion protruding from a first side surface of the main protrusion;
a second protrusion protruding from a second side surface of the main protrusion; and
a third protrusion protruding from a third side surface, facing the second side surface, of the main protrusion.

17. The sensor of claim 16 , wherein each of the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion has a size smaller than a size of the main protrusion.

18. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second substrate facing the first substrate; and
an adhesive layer configured to adhere the first substrate to the second substrate and at least partially overlap at least one of the plurality of driving lines and the plurality of sensing lines.

19. Me sensor of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of sensing pads are not covered by the second substrate and the adhesive layer.

20. A sensor, comprising:
a first substrate;
a plurality of sensing cells disposed on a first surface of the first substrate;
a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes respectively facing each other in each of the plurality of sensing cells; and
a plurality of sensing lines respectively connecting the plurality of sensing electrodes to a plurality of sensing pads,
wherein a maximum width of a first sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines is different from a maximum width of a second sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines,
wherein the first sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a first sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells, and wherein a second sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing cells, and wherein a second sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a second sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells, and
wherein the second sensing line is disposed closer to a first edge of the first substrate than the first sensing line, and the maximum width of the second sensing line is larger than the maximum width of the first sensing line.

21. A sensor, comprising:
a first substrate;
a plurality of sensing cells disposed on a first surface of the first substrate;
a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes respectively facing each other in each of the plurality of sensing cells; and
a plurality of sensing lines respectively connecting the plurality of sensing electrodes to a plurality of sensing pads,
wherein a maximum width of a first sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines is different from a maximum width of a second sensing line among the plurality of sensing lines,
wherein the first sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a first sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells, and wherein a second sensing line is connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes of a second sensing cell among the plurality of sensing cells, and
herein the second sensing line outside one side of the first sensing cell has a same width with the first sensing line outside one side of the first sensing cell.

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hong Won Ki
• Park Sung Kook
• Park So Hee
• Seomoon Hee
• Seo Young Seok
• Lee Tae Hee

Classifications

• G06F3/0414 Primary

  using force sensing means to determine a position · CPC title

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G01L1/142

  using capacitors · CPC title

• G01L1/20

  by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids (of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18); by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress · CPC title

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title