Sensor and display device having the same

• US 10,139,974 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hong, Won Ki, Seo, Young Seok, Hong, Jong Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US15/362,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20170357344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/773 Nanoparticle, i.e. structure having three dimensions of 100 nm or less

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a sensor provided on at least one surface of the display panel and configured to sense a touch location and a touch pressure. The sensor includes a sensing unit having sensing electrodes formed on a same layer, and of which a capacitance changes according to a touch, and a resistance element disposed on the sensing unit, and of which a resistance changes according to a pressure of the touch. Accordingly, touch and touch intensity can both be sensed.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display panel configured to display an image; and

a sensor provided on at least one surface of the display panel and configured to sense a touch location and a touch pressure,

wherein the sensor comprises;

a sensing unit comprising sensing electrodes formed on a same layer, and of which a capacitance changes according to a touch; and

a resistance element disposed on the sensing unit, and of which a resistance changes according to a pressure of the touch.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the resistance element comprises at least one of nano-particles and a force-sensing resistor.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the resistance element comprises nano-particles selected from the group consisting of carbon, graphite, metalloid, metal, a conductive oxide of metalloid or metal, a conductive nitride of metalloid or metal, particles of core shell structures of insulating beads coated with the particles, and combinations thereof.

4. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate having an upper surface on which the sensing unit and the resistance element are disposed.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the resistance element is arranged regularly on the substrate.

6. The display device of claim 4, wherein the resistance element is arranged irregularly on the substrate.

7. The display device of claim 4, wherein the resistance element is disposed in different densities according to its location on the substrate.

8. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a first line and a second line connected to both sides of the sensing unit.

9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the sensing unit is provided in plural, and at least some of the sensing units are connected to the first line in parallel.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the second line is provided in plural, and each second line is connected to each sensing unit.

11. The display device of claim 8, wherein the sensing units are provided in plural in a matrix form, the sensing units of a column direction are connected to the first lines in series, and the sensing units of a row direction are connected to the second lines in series.

12. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrodes comprise a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode spaced apart from each other.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first and second sensing electrodes comprise a same material.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first sensing electrode has first branches, the second sensing electrode has second branches, and the first branches and the second branches are arranged alternately.

15. The display device of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the first branches and the second branches extend in a first direction.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the first branches comprise first protrusions protruding in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and the second branches comprise second protrusions protruding in the second direction.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the first branches further comprise first sub protrusions protruding from the first protrusions and protruding in a third direction that is different from the second direction, and the second branches further comprise second sub protrusions protruding from the second protrusions and protruding in the third direction.

18. The display device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate having a first surface and a second surface;

and

an adhesive provided between the display panel and the substrate, and configured to adhere the display panel and the substrate to each other,

wherein the sensing unit and the resistance element are provided on the first surface of the substrate.

19. The display device of claim 18, wherein one surface of the display panel and the first surface of the substrate face each other.

20. The display device of claim 18, wherein one surface of the display panel and the second surface of the substrate face each other.

21. The display device of claim 18, wherein the substrate is a polarizer provided on a front surface of the display panel.

22. The display device of claim 18, wherein the substrate is a protection film provided on a rear surface of the display panel.

23. The display device of claim 18, wherein the substrate is a window provided on a front surface.

24. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sensing electrodes are formed by being patterned from a same layer.

25. A touch sensor comprising:

a substrate;

a sensing unit comprising sensing electrodes formed on a same layer on the substrate, and of which a capacitance changes according to a touch; and

a resistance element provided on the sensing unit, and of which a resistance changes according to a pressure of the touch.