Input/output display device comprising an input portion having a sensing element to sense an approaching object and data processor having the same

• US 10,534,212 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Hirakata, Yoshiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul C
• Application Number:
  US15/405,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13624 having more than one switching element per pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136245 having complementary transistors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04112 Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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: H01L 27/1225 with semiconductor materials not belonging to the group IV of the periodic table, e.g. InGaZnO
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14616 characterised by the channel of the transistor, e.g. channel having a doping gradient
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/78648 arranged on opposing sides of the channel

Abstract

A novel input/output device that is highly convenient or reliable, or a novel data processor and a novel semiconductor device are provided. The inventors have devised a structure in which a display portion and an input portion are included; the display portion includes a first display element, a first conductive film electrically connected to the first display element, a second conductive film including a region overlapping with the first conductive film, an insulating film including a region between the second conductive film and the first conductive film, a pixel circuit electrically connected to the second conductive film, and a second display element electrically connected to the pixel circuit; the insulating film includes an opening; and the second conductive film is electrically connected to the first conductive film through the opening. The input portion has a function of sensing an object that approaches a region overlapping with the display portion.

Claims

1. An input/output device comprising:

a display portion comprising;

a signal line; and

a pixel electrically connected to the signal line, the pixel comprising;

a first display element;

a first conductive film electrically connected to the first display element;

a second conductive film;

a first insulating film between the first conductive film and the second conductive film;

a pixel circuit electrically connected to each of the signal line and the second conductive film, the pixel circuit comprising a first transistor and a second transistor;

a second insulating film comprising a first surface and a second surface which face each other; and

a second display element electrically connected to the pixel circuit; and

an input portion configured to sense an object approaching a region overlapping with the display portion, the input portion comprising a sensing element,

wherein the sensing element comprises a control line and the signal line,

wherein the signal line is positioned so that an electric field which is partly blocked by the object is formed between the signal line and the control line,

wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film overlap each other,

wherein the first insulating film comprises a first opening,

wherein the second conductive film is electrically connected to the first conductive film through the first opening,

wherein the first transistor and the second transistor overlap each other,

wherein the first transistor comprises a first semiconductor film,

wherein the second transistor comprises a second semiconductor film,

wherein the first surface is in contact with the first semiconductor film,

wherein the second surface is in contact with the second semiconductor film, and

wherein the display portion and the input portion overlap each other.

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

wherein the first semiconductor film and the second semiconductor film overlap each other,

wherein the first semiconductor film comprises a first region in which a channel is formed,

wherein the second semiconductor film comprises a second region in which a channel is formed, and

wherein the first region and the second region do not overlap each other.

3. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the second display element is positioned so that display using the second display element can be seen from part of a range from which display using the first display element can be seen.

4. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein the second display element is configured to perform display in a portion surrounded by a portion where the first display element is configured to perform display.

5. The input/output device according to claim 1,

wherein the first display element comprises a reflective film,

wherein the reflective film is configured to reflect incident light,

wherein the first display element is configured to control an intensity of reflected light by the reflective film,

wherein the reflective film comprises a second opening, and

wherein the second display element is configured to emit light toward the second opening.

6. The input/output device according to claim 1,

wherein the control line comprises a first light-transmitting conductive film,

wherein the signal line comprises a second light-transmitting conductive film, and

wherein the pixel and any one of the control line and the signal line overlap each other.

7. The input/output device according to claim 1,

wherein the control line comprises a third conductive film comprising a third opening,

wherein the signal line comprises a fourth conductive film comprising a fourth opening, and

wherein the pixel and one of the third opening and the fourth opening overlap each other.

8. The input/output device according to claim 7,

wherein the first display element further comprises an electrode, and

wherein a gap greater than or equal to 0.2 μ

m and less than or equal to 16 μ

m is provided between the control line and the electrode or between the signal line and the electrode.

9. The input/output device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first functional film comprising a circularly polarizing film; and

a second functional film comprising a light diffusion film,

wherein the sensing element is positioned between the first functional film and the first display element, and

wherein the second functional film is positioned between the first functional film and the first display element.

10. The input/output device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first semiconductor film and the second semiconductor film comprises an oxide semiconductor.

11. A data processor comprising:

the input/output device according to claim 1; and

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 an attitude determination device.

12. An input/output device comprising:

a first display element comprising a first conductive film;

a first insulating film over the first conductive film;

a pixel circuit comprising;

a first transistor over the first insulating film, the first transistor comprising a first semiconductor film;

a second insulating film over the first transistor; and

a second transistor over the first transistor, the second transistor comprising a second conductive film and a second semiconductor film;

a second display element over the second transistor, the second display element electrically connected to the pixel circuit; and

a sensing element configured to sense an object approaching the sensing element,

wherein the sensing element and any one of the first display element and the second display element overlap each other,

wherein the first conductive film and the second conductive film overlap each other,

wherein the first insulating film comprises a first opening,

wherein the second conductive film is electrically connected to the first conductive film through the first opening, and

wherein the first semiconductor film and the second semiconductor film overlap each other.

13. The input/output device according to claim 12, wherein a first channel of the first transistor and a second channel of the second transistor do not overlap each other.

14. The input/output device according to claim 12,

wherein the first display element comprises a reflective film,

wherein the first display element is configured to control an intensity of reflected light by the reflective film,

wherein the reflective film comprises a second opening, and

wherein the second display element and the second opening overlap each other.

15. The input/output device according to claim 12, wherein the first display element is positioned over the sensing element.

16. The input/output device according to claim 12,

wherein the sensing element comprises a control line and a signal line, and

wherein the sensing element is configured to sense electrostatic capacitance change.

17. The input/output device according to claim 16,

wherein the control line comprises a first light-transmitting conductive film, and

wherein the signal line comprises a second light-transmitting conductive film.

18. The input/output device according to claim 12, wherein each of the first semiconductor film and the second semiconductor film comprises an oxide semiconductor.

19. A data processor comprising:

the input/output device according to claim 12; and

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 an attitude determination device.

20. An electronic device comprising the input/output device according to claim 12.