Input device, input/output device, and data processing device

• US 10,324,570 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Cerullo, Liliana
• Application Number:
  US15/404,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041662 using alternate mutual and self-capacitive scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A novel input device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. A novel input/output device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. A semiconductor device is provided. The present inventors have reached an idea of a structure including a plurality of conductive films configured to be capacitively coupled to an approaching object, a driver circuit that selects a conductive film from a plurality of conductive films in a predetermined order, and a sensor circuit having a function of supplying a search signal and a sensing signal.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a first conductive film electrically connected to a first signal line;

a second conductive film electrically connected to a second signal line; and

a driver circuit electrically connected to a sensor circuit and a wiring configured to supply a common potential,

wherein the second conductive film comprises a region that does not overlap with the first conductive film,

wherein each of the first conductive film and the second conductive film is configured to be capacitively coupled to an approaching object,

wherein the driver circuit comprises a first switch between the first signal line and the wiring, a second switch between the first signal line and the sensor circuit, and a third switch between the second signal line and the wiring,

wherein one terminal of the first switch is directly connected to the first signal line,

wherein the other terminal of the first switch is directly connected to the wiring, and

wherein one terminal of the third switch is directly connected to the wiring.

2. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to select the first signal line or the second signal line,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the first signal line to the sensor circuit in a period during which the first signal line is selected,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the second signal line to the sensor circuit in a period during which the second signal line is selected,

wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply a search signal,

wherein the first signal line is configured to receive the search signal,

wherein the first signal line is configured to supply a potential or a current that is changed in accordance with the search signal and a capacitance coupled to the first conductive film, and

wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply a sensing signal based on the potential or the current.

3. An input/output device comprising:

a display device; and

the input device according to claim 2,

wherein the input device is configured to sense an object approaching a display surface side of the display device,

wherein the display device comprises a first pixel that comprises a region overlapping with the first conductive film,

wherein the display device comprises a second pixel that comprises a region overlapping with the second conductive film,

wherein the first pixel comprises a first display element, and

wherein the second pixel comprises a second display element.

4. The input/output device according to claim 3,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the second signal line to the wiring in the period during which the first signal line is selected,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the first signal line to the wiring in the period during which the second signal line is selected,

wherein the first display element comprises a first pixel electrode and a layer comprising a liquid crystal material,

wherein the first pixel electrode is disposed such that an electric field that controls orientation of the liquid crystal material is formed between the first conductive film and the first pixel electrode,

wherein the second display element comprises a second pixel electrode and the layer comprising the liquid crystal material, and

wherein the second pixel electrode is disposed such that an electric field that controls orientation of the liquid crystal material is formed between the second conductive film and the second pixel electrode.

5. A data processing device comprising:

an arithmetic device; and

the input/output device according to claim 3,

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to receive a positional data and supply image data and control data,

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to determine a moving speed of a pointer in accordance with the positional data, and

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to determine contrast or brightness of the image data in accordance with the moving speed of the pointer.

6. The data processing device according to claim 5, further comprising an input portion,

wherein the input portion comprises at least one of a keyboard, a hardware button, a pointing device, a touch sensor, an illuminance sensor, an imaging device, an audio input device, a viewpoint input device, and a posture detection device.

7. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the second conductive film is disposed such that an electric field that is shielded by the approaching object is formed between the first conductive film and the second conductive film,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to select the first signal line and the second signal line,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the first signal line and the second signal line to the sensor circuit in a period during which the first signal line and the second signal line are selected,

wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply a search signal,

wherein the first signal line is configured to receive the search signal,

wherein the second signal line is configured to supply a potential or a current that is changed in accordance with the search signal and the electric field formed between the first conductive film and the second conductive film, and

wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply a sensing signal based on the potential or the current.

8. An input/output device comprising:

a display device; and

the input device according to claim 7,

wherein the input device is configured to sense an object approaching a display surface side of the display device,

wherein the display device comprises a first pixel that comprises a region overlapping with the first conductive film,

wherein the display device comprises a second pixel that comprises a region overlapping with the second conductive film,

wherein the first pixel comprises a first display element, and

wherein the second pixel comprises a second display element.

9. The input/output device according to claim 8,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect another signal line to the wiring in the period during which the first signal line and the second signal line are selected,

wherein the driver circuit is configured to electrically connect the first signal line and the second signal line to the wiring in a period during which the other signal line is selected,

wherein the first display element comprises a first pixel electrode and a layer comprising a liquid crystal material,

wherein the first pixel electrode is disposed such that an electric field that controls orientation of the liquid crystal material is formed between the first conductive film and the first pixel electrode,

wherein the second display element comprises a second pixel electrode and the layer comprising the liquid crystal material, and

wherein the second pixel electrode is disposed such that an electric field that controls orientation of the liquid crystal material is formed between the second conductive film and the second pixel electrode.

10. A data processing device comprising:

an arithmetic device; and

the input/output device according to claim 8,

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to receive a positional data and supply image data and control data,

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to determine a moving speed of a pointer in accordance with the positional data, and

wherein the arithmetic device is configured to determine contrast or brightness of the image data in accordance with the moving speed of the pointer.

11. The data processing device according to claim 10, further comprising an input portion,

wherein the input portion comprises at least one of a keyboard, a hardware button, a pointing device, a touch sensor, an illuminance sensor, an imaging device, an audio input device, a viewpoint input device, and a posture detection device.

12. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the driver circuit further comprises a third switch between the second signal line and the wiring and a fourth switch between the second signal line and the sensor circuit, and

wherein one terminal of the third switch is directly connected to the second signal line.

13. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a shift register configured to control the first switch and the second switch.

14. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit further comprises a shift register electrically connected to the first switch and the second switch.

15. The input device according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor circuit comprises:

a pulse signal output circuit; and

a current measurement unit between the driver circuit and the pulse signal output circuit.

16. The input device according to claim 15, wherein the current measurement unit comprises a resistor and a voltage measurement unit.

17. The input device according to claim 15, wherein the current measurement unit comprises an operational amplifier and a capacitor.