Force detection apparatus, display apparatus, and organic electro-luminescence display apparatus

• US 10,353,507 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2017
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takafumi, Hosaka, Shota, Nakamori, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham Lu, Ngan T
• Application Number:
  US15/665,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20180039367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 345174
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1343 Electrodes reflective electrodes G02F1/133553
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041662 using alternate mutual and self-capacitive scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• 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

Abstract

According to an aspect, a force detection apparatus includes: a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal; a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential; a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor; a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor. The second electrode is supplied with the reference potential. A signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode.

Claims

1. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode, and

wherein a change amount per unit force of a first capacitance obtained when a thickness of the first dielectric layer is decreased by the force is equal to a change amount per unit force of a second capacitance obtained when a thickness of the second dielectric layer is decreased by the force, the first capacitance being capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second capacitance being capacitance between the third electrode and the conductor.

2. The force detection apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the second electrodes are arranged in a matrix in a plan view and the third electrodes are arranged in a matrix in a plan view.

3. A display apparatus comprising:

the force detection apparatus according to claim 1; and

a display function layer,

wherein the display function layer overlaps with the first electrode in plan view.

4. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode,

wherein the second electrode has a strip shape and extends in a first direction,

wherein the third electrode has a strip shape and extends in the first direction, and

wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are adjacent to each other in a second direction intersecting with the first direction in plan view.

5. The force detection apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein a length of the second electrode in the first direction is equal to a length of the third electrode in the first direction.

6. The force detection apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein a plurality of the third electrodes is included, and

wherein the third electrodes are arranged on both sides of the second electrode in the second direction.

7. The force detection apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein a plurality of the second electrodes is included, and

wherein the second electrodes are arranged on both sides of the third electrode in the second direction.

10. A display apparatus comprising:

the force detection apparatus according to claim 4; and

a display function layer,

wherein the display function layer overlaps with the first electrode in plan view.

8. An organic electro-luminescence display apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode;

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor; and

an organic electro-luminescence display device arranged opposite the second electrode and the third electrode across the first electrode, and configured to display an image toward the input surface,

wherein the first electrode is coupled with an anode or a cathode of an organic electro-luminescence element,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with a reference potential, and

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode, and

wherein a change amount per unit force of a first capacitance obtained when a thickness of the first dielectric layer is decreased by the force is equal to a change amount per unit force of a second capacitance obtained when a thickness of the second dielectric layer is decreased by the force, the first capacitance being capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second capacitance being capacitance between the third electrode and the conductor.

9. An organic electro-luminescence display apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode;

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor; and

an organic electro-luminescence display device arranged opposite the second electrode and the third electrode across the first electrode, and configured to display an image toward the input surface,

wherein the first electrode is coupled with an anode or a cathode of an organic electro-luminescence element,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with a reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode,

wherein the second electrode has a strip shape and extends in a first direction,

wherein the third electrode has a strip shape and extends in the first direction, and

wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are adjacent to each other in a second direction intersecting with the first direction in plan view.

11. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a plurality of third electrodes arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrodes; and

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second and third electrodes, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrodes, and

wherein the third electrodes are arranged on both sides of the second electrode in the second direction.

12. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

an air layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and

a dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential, and

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode.

13. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

a first dielectric layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and

a second dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode, and

wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are arranged in the same layer.

14. A force detection apparatus comprising:

a first electrode facing an input surface to which an object to be detected applies force, and configured to be supplied with a drive signal;

a conductor facing the first electrode, and supplied with a reference potential;

a second electrode and a third electrode arranged between the first electrode and the conductor;

an air layer arranged between the first electrode, and the second electrode and the third electrode; and

a dielectric layer arranged between the second electrode and the third electrode, and the conductor,

wherein the second electrode is supplied with the reference potential,

wherein a signal that is the same as the drive signal is supplied in synchronization with the drive signal to the third electrode, and

wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are arranged in the same layer.