Input/output panel and semiconductor device having a current sensing circuit

• US 10,345,977 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime, Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): Dicke, Chad M
• Application Number:
  US15/725,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20180107301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 345174, 178 1806
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134309 characterised by their geometrical arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134372 for fringe field switching [FFS] where the common electrode is not patterned
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136227 Through-hole connection of the pixel electrode to the active element through an insulation layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136286 Wiring, e.g. gate line, drain line
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/121 common or background
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/123 pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/128 field shaping
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• 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 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/124 with a particular composition, shape or layout of the wiring layers specially adapted to the circuit arrangement, e.g. scanning lines in LCD pixel circuits wiring structures per se H01L23/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1255 integrated with passive devices, e.g. auxiliary capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1259 Multistep manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/3026 : Top emission
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/822 : characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1201 : Manufacture or treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/1213 : the pixel elements being TFTs
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 : Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 : OLEDs integrated with touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/80521 : characterised by their shape

Abstract

A novel input/output panel that is highly convenient and reliable is provided. The input/output panel includes a gate wiring, a first electrode, a second electrode, a current sensing circuit, and a pixel. The first electrode is electrically connected to the gate wiring. The second electrode intersects with the gate wiring and is provided so that capacitance is generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. The current sensing circuit is electrically connected to the second electrode and has a function of sensing a change in the capacitance. The pixel includes a transistor and a display element. The transistor includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The gate electrode is electrically connected to the gate wiring. The display element includes a third electrode and a liquid crystal material. The third electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode.

Claims

1. An input/output panel comprising:

a gate wiring;

a first wiring electrode;

a second wiring electrode;

a current sensing circuit; and

a pixel,

wherein the first wiring electrode is parallel to and directly electrically connected to the gate wiring via a third wiring electrode in a contact region,

wherein the second wiring electrode intersects with the gate wiring,

wherein the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode intersect and a capacitance is generated at the intersection,

wherein the current sensing circuit is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode,

wherein the current sensing circuit is configured to sense a change in the capacitance for determining a touch,

wherein the pixel comprises a transistor and a display element,

wherein the transistor comprises a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode,

wherein the gate electrode is electrically connected to the gate wiring,

wherein the display element comprises a third electrode and a liquid crystal material, and

wherein the third electrode is electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode.

2. The input/output panel according to claim 1,

wherein an electric field controlling alignment of the liquid crystal material is generated between the second wiring electrode and the third electrode, and

wherein the third electrode is between the liquid crystal material and the second wiring electrode.

3. The input/output panel according to claim 1,

wherein the display element comprises a fourth electrode,

wherein an electric field controlling alignment of the liquid crystal material is generated between the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the fourth electrode is electrically connected to a wiring supplied with a common potential, and

wherein the third electrode is between the liquid crystal material and the fourth electrode.

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

wherein the first wiring electrode comprises the same material as the third electrode, and

wherein the second wiring electrode comprises the same material as the fourth electrode.

5. The input/output panel according to claim 2, further comprising:

a backlight,

wherein one or both of the second wiring electrode and the third electrode have reflectance greater than or equal to 5% and less than 100% and light transmittance greater than or equal to 1% and less than 95% with respect to light with a wavelength in a range greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than 800 nm, and

wherein the backlight is configured to emit light through a layer comprising the liquid crystal material.

6. The input/output panel according to claim 3, further comprising:

a backlight,

wherein one or both of the third electrode and the fourth electrode have reflectance greater than or equal to 5% and less than 100% and light transmittance greater than or equal to 1% and less than 95% with respect to light with a wavelength in a range greater than or equal to 400 nm and less than 800 nm, and

wherein the backlight is configured to emit light through a layer comprising the liquid crystal material.

7. A semiconductor device comprising:

one or more of a keyboard, a hardware button, a pointing device, a touch sensor, an illuminance sensor, an imaging device, an audio input device, a sight input device, and a posture determination device; and

the input/output panel according to claim 1.

8. An input/output panel comprising:

a gate wiring;

a first wiring electrode;

a second wiring electrode;

a current sensing circuit; and

a pixel,

wherein the first wiring electrode is parallel to and directly electrically connected to the gate wiring via a third wiring electrode in a contact region,

wherein the second wiring electrode intersects with the gate wiring,

wherein the first wiring electrode and the second wiring electrode intersect and a capacitance is generated at the intersection,

wherein the current sensing circuit is electrically connected to the second wiring electrode,

wherein the current sensing circuit is configured to sense a change in the capacitance for determining a touch,

wherein the pixel comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a light-emitting element,

wherein the first transistor comprises a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode,

wherein the second transistor comprises a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode,

wherein the first gate electrode is electrically connected to the gate wiring,

wherein the first source electrode or the first drain electrode is electrically connected to the second gate electrode, and

wherein the second source electrode or the second drain electrode supplies electric power for driving the light-emitting element.

9. A semiconductor device comprising:

one or more of a keyboard, a hardware button, a pointing device, a touch sensor, an illuminance sensor, an imaging device, an audio input device, a sight input device, and a posture determination device; and

the input/output panel according to claim 8.