Display unit

• US 20050168450A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,633,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A display unit includes a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed, and (b) a touch panel covering the display screen therewith and detecting a touch thereto made by a user. The touch panel detects the touch in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input thereto. The display panel displays images in accordance with display-drive signals input thereto. The touch panel is switched between a first condition in which the touch-panel drive signals are input into the touch panel and a second condition in which the touch panel is electrically open.

Claims

1. A display unit comprising:

(a) a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed in accordance with received display-drive signals; and

(b) a cover panel covering said display screen therewith,

wherein said display-drive signals are input not only to said display panel, but also to said cover panel.

2. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover panel is comprised of a touch panel detecting a touch thereto made by a user.

3. The display unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said touch panel detects a touch made by a user, in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input thereto.

4. The display unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said touch panel is comprised of

(a) a first substrate;

(b) a second substrate arranged in facing relation to said first substrate;

(c) a first electrically conductive film formed on a surface of said first substrate facing said second substrate; and

(d) a second electrically conductive film formed on a surface of said second substrate facing said first substrate,

wherein said touch panel detects a touch made by a user, in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input to said first and second electrically conductive films.

5. The display unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first and second electrically conductive films are formed entirely over said first and second substrates, respectively.

6. The display unit as set forth in claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second electrically conductive films receives said display-drive signals.

7. The display unit as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a selector making a first condition in which said selector inputs said display-drive signals into at least one of said first and second electrically conductive films in place of said touch-panel drive signals, or a second condition in which said selector does not input said display-drive signals into said first and second electrically conductive films.

8. The display unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said selector renders an electrically conductive film into which said display-drive signals are not input among said first and second electrically conductive films, electrically open in said first condition.

9. The display unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said selector detects whether said touch panel is in use or not, and said selector turns said first condition to said second condition when said touch panel is detected to be in use.

10. The display unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said selector turns said second condition to said first condition when said touch panel is detected to be not in use.

11. The display unit as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a third electrically conductive film formed on said touch panel in electrical isolation from said first and second electrically conductive films, said third electrically conductive film being able to receive said display-drive signals.

12. The display unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said third electrically conductive film is formed on a surface of said touch panel facing said display panel.

13. The display unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said third electrically conductive film is formed entirely on said touch panel.

14. The display unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said third electrically conductive film is adapted to always receive said display-drive signals.

15. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover panel is comprised of a protection cover for protecting said display panel.

16. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive film formed on said cover panel, said electrically conductive film being adapted to receive said display-drive signals.

17. The display unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive film is formed on a surface of said cover panel facing said display panel.

18. The display unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive film is formed entirely on said cover panel.

19. The display unit as set forth in claim 16, wherein said electrically conductive film is adapted to always receive said display-drive signals.

20. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display panel is comprised of a first substrate, a second substrate arranged in facing relation to said first substrate, and drive electrodes formed on said first and second substrates,

images are displayed in accordance with display-drive signals input into said drive electrodes, and

said display-drive signals to be input into said cover panel is comprised of display-drive signals to be input into a drive electrode formed on one of said first and second substrates.

21. The display unit as set forth in claim 20, wherein said display-drive signals to be input into said cover panel is comprised of display-drive signals formed on a substrate arranged closer to said cover panel among said first and second substrates.

22. The display unit as set forth in claim 20, wherein said drive electrode into which said display-drive signal is input is formed entirely on said first or second substrate.

23. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display unit is comprised of a liquid crystal display unit.

24. A display unit comprising:

(a) a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed; and

(b) a touch panel covering said display screen therewith and detecting a touch thereto made by a user,

said touch panel detecting said touch in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input thereto,

said display panel displaying images in accordance with display-drive signals input thereto,

said touch panel being switched between a first condition in which said touch-panel drive signals are input into said touch panel and a second condition in which said touch panel is electrically open.

25. The display unit as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a selector which switches said first condition to said second condition.

26. The display unit as set forth in claim 25, wherein said selector detects whether said touch panel is in use or not, and said selector turns said first condition to said second condition when said touch panel is detected to be not in use.

27. The display unit as set forth in claim 25, wherein said selector detects said first condition to said second condition when a predetermined period of time has passed after said touch panel was detected to be not in use.

28. The display unit as set forth in claim 24, further comprising a second selector for switching said second condition into said first condition.

29. The display unit as set forth in claim 24, wherein said display unit is comprised of a liquid crystal display unit.

30. An electronic device including a display unit comprising:

(a) a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed in accordance with received display-drive signals; and

(b) a cover panel covering said display screen therewith,

wherein said display-drive signals are input not only to said display panel, but also to said cover panel.

31. The electronic device as set forth in claim 30, wherein said electronic device is comprised of a mobile communication terminal.

32. The electronic device as set forth in claim 31, wherein said electronic device is comprised of a mobile phone.

33. An electronic device including a display unit comprising:

(a) a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed; and

(b) a touch panel covering said display screen therewith and detecting a touch thereto made by a user,

said touch panel detecting said touch in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input thereto,

said display panel displaying images in accordance with display-drive signals input thereto,

said touch panel being switched between a first condition in which said touch-panel drive signals are input into said touch panel and a second condition in which said touch panel is electrically open.

34. The electronic device as set forth in claim 33, wherein said electronic device is comprised of a mobile communication terminal.

35. The electronic device as set forth in claim 34, wherein said electronic device is comprised of a mobile phone.