Semiconductor device and driving method of the same

• US 10,222,911 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2014
• Issued: 03/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Iwaki, Yuji, Yanagawa, Katsuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Xavier, Antonio
• Application Number:
  US14/243,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20140306935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/148 the light being detected by light detection means within each pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

To provide a semiconductor device to which information can be input in low-illuminance conditions or at a location distant from the semiconductor device. An ultrasonic wave sensor is provided in the semiconductor device with a display region having photosensors. An object to be detected is detected by switching the photosensors and the ultrasonic wave sensor in accordance with illuminance around the semiconductor device or a distance between the semiconductor device and the object. The photosensors and the ultrasonic wave sensor can be used concurrently.

Claims

1. A semiconductor device comprising:

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising;

a display element, the display element comprising;

a first transistor;

a first storage capacitor electrically connected to the first transistor;

and

a liquid crystal element electrically connected to the first transistor,

a first ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to output a first ultrasonic wave;

a second ultrasonic wave transmitter configured to output a second ultrasonic wave;

a first ultrasonic wave receiver configured to detect the first ultrasonic wave reflected by an object;

a second ultrasonic wave receiver configured to detect the second ultrasonic wave reflected by the object;

an arithmetic unit configured to calculate a distance between the display portion and the object based on the first ultrasonic wave and the second ultrasonic wave detected by the first ultrasonic wave receiver and the second ultrasonic wave receiver,

wherein the first ultrasonic wave receiver includes a first plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors arranged in a first direction,

wherein the second ultrasonic wave receiver includes a second plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors arranged in a second direction different from the first direction,

wherein a location of the object is identified with a photosensor or the first plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors and the second plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors,

wherein the location of the object is solely identified with the photosensor where an illuminance is higher than or equal to a reference illuminance, and

wherein the location of the object is solely identified with the first plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors and the second plurality of ultrasonic wave sensors where the illuminance is lower than the reference illuminance.

2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix.

3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,

wherein the first direction intersects with the second direction at right angles.

4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photosensor control portion; and

an ultrasonic sensor control portion.

5. An electronic equipment comprising the semiconductor device according to claim 1.

6. A method for driving a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device comprising:

a display portion comprising a pixel, the pixel comprising;

a display element, the display element comprising;

a first transistor;

a first storage capacitor electrically connected to the first transistor; and

a liquid crystal element electrically connected to the first transistor,

a photosensor,

an ultrasonic wave sensor, and

the method comprising steps of;

measuring illuminance around the semiconductor device with the photosensor; and

identifying a location of an object with the photosensor or the ultrasonic wave sensor,

wherein the location of the object is only identified with the photosensor where the illuminance is higher than or equal to a reference illuminance, and

wherein the location of the object is only identified with the ultrasonic wave sensor where the illuminance is lower than the reference illuminance.

7. A method for driving a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device comprising:

a display portion comprising a pixel, the pixel comprising;

a display element;

a photosensor;

an ultrasonic wave sensor, and

the method comprising steps of;

measuring a distance from the display portion to an object with the ultrasonic wave sensor; and

identifying a location of the object with the photosensor or the ultrasonic wave sensor,

wherein the location of the object is solely identified with the photosensor where the distance is shorter than a reference distance, and

wherein the location of the object is solely identified with the ultrasonic wave sensor where the distance is longer than or equal to the reference distance.