Display device including touch sensor and driving method thereof

• US 10,691,263 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bok, Seung Lyong, Hong, Won Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Tony O
• Application Number:
  US16/508,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20190332224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 345170-178
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• 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 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality

Abstract

A display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, a curved display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof, are presented. The display device includes: a touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors; and at least one touch surface curved to along a first direction, wherein the touch surface includes a center region and edge regions positioned at both sides of the center region along the first direction, and wherein a sensitivity of the touch sensor in the center region is higher than a sensitivity of the touch sensors in the edge regions.

Claims

1. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer comprises at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer;

a substrate on the encapsulation layer;

first touch electrodes arranged in a first direction on the substrate;

a dielectric layer on the first touch electrodes; and

second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction on the dielectric layer,

wherein the display panel has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are curved, and the third portion between first portion and second portion is substantially flat,

wherein the substrate has a fourth portion, a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the fourth portion and the fifth portion are curved, and the sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion is substantially flat,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fifth portion in the plan view,

wherein the third portion substantially entirely overlaps with the sixth portion in the plan view,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view, and

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes have a substantially quadrangular shape.

2. The organic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein an area of the first touch electrode in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion is different from an area of the second touch electrode in the sixth portion.

3. The organic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the sixth portion.

4. The organic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are symmetric with respect to a center of the third portion.

5. The organic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein a touch sensing sensitivity at the fourth portion or the fifth portion is different from a touch sensing sensitivity at the sixth portion.

6. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer comprises at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer; and

a touch sensor unit including an insulating layer, a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires on the insulating layer;

wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes arranged in a first direction on the insulating layer, and a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction,

wherein the display panel has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are curved, and the third portion between first portion and second portion is substantially flat,

wherein the insulating layer of the touch sensor unit has a fourth portion, a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the fourth portion and the fifth portion are curved, and the sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion is substantially flat,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fifth portion in the plan view,

wherein the third portion substantially entirely overlaps with the sixth portion in the plan view,

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are on a same layer,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view, and

wherein the touch sensors are metal mesh.

7. The organic light emitting display device of claim 6, wherein an area of the first touch electrode in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion is different from an area of the second touch electrode in the sixth portion.

8. The organic light emitting display device of claim 6, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the sixth portion.

9. The organic light emitting display device of claim 6, wherein the first portion and the second portion are symmetric with respect to a center of the third portion.

10. The organic light emitting display device of claim 6, wherein a touch sensing sensitivity at the fourth portion or the fifth portion is different from a touch sensing sensitivity at the sixth portion.

11. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer; and

a touch sensor unit including an insulating layer, a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires on the insulating layer,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes on the insulating layer,

wherein the plurality of touch wires comprises a plurality of first touch wires and a plurality of second touch wires on the insulating layer,

wherein each of the first touch electrodes connects to each of the first touch wires,

wherein the display panel has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are curved, and the third portion between first portion and second portion is substantially flat,

wherein the insulating layer including the touch sensor unit has a fourth portion, a fifth portion and a sixth portion, the fourth portion and the fifth portion are curved, and the sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion is substantially flat,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fifth portion in the plan view,

wherein the third portion is substantially entirely overlaps with the sixth portion in the plan view,

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are on a same layer,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view, and

wherein the touch sensors are metal mesh.

12. The organic light emitting display device of claim 11, wherein an area of the first touch electrode in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion is different from an area of the second touch electrode in the sixth portion.

13. The organic light emitting display device of claim 11, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion or in the fifth portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the sixth portion.

14. The organic light emitting display device of claim 11, wherein the first portion and the second portion are symmetric with respect to a center of the third portion.

15. The organic light emitting display device of claim 11, wherein a touch sensing sensitivity at the fourth portion or the fifth portion is different from a touch sensing sensitivity at the sixth portion.

16. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer;

a substrate on the encapsulation layer;

first touch electrodes on the substrate arranged in a first direction;

a dielectric layer on the first touch electrodes; and

second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction on the dielectric layer,

wherein the display panel has a first portion and a second portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the substrate including the first touch electrodes has a third portion and a fourth portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the first portion and the third portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the second portion and the fourth portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the third portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in the plan view,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view, and

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes have a substantially polygonal shape.

17. The organic light emitting display device of claim 16, wherein an area of the first or second touch electrode in the third portion is different from an area of the first or second touch electrode in the fourth portion.

18. The organic light emitting display device of claim 16, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the third portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion.

19. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer comprises at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer; and

a touch sensor unit on the display element layer, the touch sensor unit comprising a substrate and plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires on the substrate,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes arranged in a first direction on the substrate, and a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction on the substrate,

wherein the display panel has a first portion and a second portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the substrate includes the first and second touch electrodes and has a third portion and a fourth portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the first portion and the third portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the second portion and the fourth portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the third portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in the plan view,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view,

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are on a same layer, and

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes have a substantially polygonal shape.

20. The organic light emitting display device of claim 19, wherein an area of the first or second touch electrode in the third portion is different from an area of the first or second touch electrode in the fourth portion.

21. The organic light emitting display device of claim 19, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the third portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion.

22. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer comprises at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer; and

a touch sensor unit including an insulating layer, a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires on the insulating layer,

wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes arranged in a first direction on the insulating layer, and a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged in a second direction on the insulating layer,

wherein the display panel has a first portion and a second portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the insulating layer of the touch sensor unit has a third portion and a fourth portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the first portion and the third portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the second portion and the fourth portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the third portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in the plan view,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view,

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are on a same layer, and

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes have a substantially polygonal shape.

23. The organic light emitting display device of claim 22, wherein an area of the first or second touch electrode in the third portion is different from an area of the first or second touch electrode in the fourth portion.

24. The organic light emitting display device of claim 22, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the third portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion.

26. The organic light emitting display device of claim 22, wherein an area of the first or second touch electrode in the third portion is different from an area of the first or second touch electrode in the fourth portion.

25. An organic light emitting display device comprising:

a display panel having a display element layer and an encapsulation layer on the display element layer, wherein the display element layer comprises;

a plurality of pixels including a plurality of light emitting layers between pixel electrodes and an opposed electrode; and

a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of thin film transistors, the encapsulation layer comprises at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer; and

a touch sensor unit including an insulating layer, a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires on the insulating layer;

wherein the plurality of touch sensors comprises a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes on the insulating layer,

wherein the plurality of touch wires comprises a plurality of first touch wires and a plurality of second touch wires on the insulating layer.

wherein each of the first touch electrodes connects to each of the first touch wires,

wherein the display panel has a first portion and a second portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the insulating layer of the touch sensor unit has a third portion and a fourth portion that are curved in opposite directions,

wherein the first portion and the third portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the second portion and the fourth portion are curved in the same direction,

wherein the first portion substantially entirely overlaps with the third portion in a plan view,

wherein the second portion substantially entirely overlaps with the fourth portion in the plan view,

wherein the first touch electrodes and the second touch electrodes are on a same layer,

wherein the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so that the second touch electrodes do not overlap the first touch electrodes in the plan view, and

wherein the touch sensors are metal mesh.

27. The organic light emitting display device of claim 25, wherein the first or second touch electrodes in the third portion are not connected to the first or second touch electrodes in the fourth portion.