Display Device with Touch Sensor, and Drive Method for the Device

• US 20070262966A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakano, Toshihisa, Yamaguchi, Takeshi, Hamada, Hiroshi, Nishimura, Tomohiko, Miyamoto, Saburoh
• Granted Patent: US 8,274,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A touch-sensored display device 20 according to the present invention includes: a counter substrate 6 disposed on a viewer side of an active matrix substrate 8 via a display medium layer 4, the counter substrate 6 having a counter electrode 5 which opposes pixel electrodes; a display panel driving circuit 14 for supplying to the counter electrode 5 a common voltage which undergoes periodic inversion in polarity; a transparent conductive film 7 for position detection placed so as to oppose the counter electrode 5 via the counter substrate 6; a strobe signal generation circuit 32 for generating a strobe signal which is in synchronization with a polarity inversion period of the common voltage, and a noise-cut current signal generation circuit 30 for generating a noise-cut current signal which is obtained by eliminating based on the strobe signal a predetermined portion from a current flowing from a terminal connected to the transparent conductive film 7 for position detection.

Claims

1. A touch-sensored display device comprising:

a display panel including;

an active matrix substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, a display medium layer, and a counter substrate disposed on a viewer side of the active matrix substrate via the display medium layer, the counter substrate having a counter electrode which opposes the plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display panel driving circuit for supplying display signal voltages to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and supplying to the counter electrode a common voltage which undergoes periodic inversion in polarity;

a transparent conductive film for position detection, placed so as to oppose the counter electrode via the counter substrate;

a plurality of terminals connected to different points on the transparent conductive film for position detection;

an AC voltage generation circuit for supplying an AC voltage for position detection to the plurality of terminals; and

a position data generation circuit including;

a strobe signal generation circuit for generating a strobe signal which is in synchronization with a polarity inversion period of the common voltage, and a plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits each being connected to one of the plurality of terminals and generating a noise-cut current signal which is obtained by eliminating based on the strobe signal a predetermined portion from a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals, the position data generation circuit generating position data of a contact point which is formed directly or indirectly on the transparent conductive film for position detection, the position data being generated based on the noise-cut current signal.

2. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits includes:

a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals and outputting a current signal; and

a noise elimination circuit for eliminating a predetermined portion from the current signal based on the strobe signal.

3. The touch-sensored display device of claim 2, wherein, from the current signal which is output from the current detection circuit, the noise elimination circuit eliminates a portion containing a noise which occurs due to a polarity inversion of the common voltage.

4. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, wherein,

a horizontal synchronizing signal is supplied to the display panel driving circuit;

and

the strobe signal generation circuit generates the strobe signal based on the horizontal synchronizing signal.

5. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, wherein the strobe signal generation circuit generates a strobe signal containing a pulse which becomes active after the lapse of a predetermined time (Ts1) from a rise or fall of a pulse contained in the horizontal synchronizing signal, and which becomes inactive after the lapse of a predetermined time (Ts2) from a polarity inversion of the common voltage.

6. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, wherein,

the display panel driving circuit supplies to the display panel a common voltage which undergoes a polarity inversion after the lapse of a predetermined time (Tc) from a rise or fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal;

and

the strobe signal generation circuit generates a strobe signal containing a pulse which becomes active after the lapse of a predetermined time (Ts1) from the rise or fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal and which becomes inactive after the lapse of a predetermined time (Ts2) from the rise or fall of the horizontal synchronizing signal, where a relationship Ts1<

Tc<

Ts2 is satisfied.

7. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, wherein a pulse width of the strobe signal is an integer multiple of one period of the AC voltage for position detection.

8. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, wherein the AC voltage for position detection has a frequency which is an integer multiple of that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

9. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, wherein the AC voltage for position detection has a frequency which is an integer multiple of that of the strobe signal.

10. The touch-sensored display device of claim 4, further comprising an inverter, wherein,

a driving frequency of the inverter is a frequency which is an integer multiple or half integer multiple of that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

11. The touch-sensored display device of claim 10, wherein the inverter is a separately-excited inverter, the driving frequency of the inverter being equal to a frequency of the AC voltage for position detection.

12. The touch-sensored display device of claim 10, wherein the driving frequency of the inverter is a frequency which is an integer multiple or half integer multiple of that of the strobe signal.

13. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, further comprising an A/D converter which is provided commonly for the plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits, wherein the position data generation circuit generates the position data based on an output signal from the A/D converter.

14. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sample/hold circuits for simultaneously sampling/holding output signals from the plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits.

15. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, wherein,

each of the plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits has a current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals and outputting a current signal, and a noise elimination circuit for eliminating a predetermined portion from the current signal based on the strobe signal;

and

an independent compensation element is connected to each of the plurality of current detection circuits.

16. The touch-sensored display device of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of current detection circuits has a differential amplifier, one input of the differential amplifier being electrically connected to one of the plurality of terminals, and the other input being electrically connected to the compensation element.

17. The touch-sensored display device of claim 15, wherein impedances of the plurality of compensation elements are substantially equal to impedances of stray capacitances that exist when no contact point is formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

18. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit for retaining in an analog or digital manner the noise-cut current signal which is output from each of the plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits while no contact point is formed.

19. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, wherein,

a horizontal synchronizing signal is supplied to the display panel driving circuit;

and

the AC voltage for position detection has a frequency which is n times (where n is an integer) or 1/n times as large as that of the horizontal synchronizing signal, and is in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal.

20. The touch-sensored display device of claim 1, wherein,

a horizontal synchronizing signal is supplied to the display panel driving circuit;

and

a frequency of the AC voltage for position detection is a frequency between a first frequency which is n times (where n is an integer) or 1/n times as large as that of the horizontal synchronizing signal and a second frequency which is n+1 times or 1/(n+1) times as large as that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

21. The touch-sensored display device of claim 20, wherein the frequency of the AC voltage for position detection is set so as to be a frequency between the first frequency and the second frequency even when the frequency of the AC voltage for position detection is deviated due to an error in a constant of the AC voltage generation circuit.

22. The touch-sensored display device of claim 20, wherein the frequency of the AC voltage for position detection is distant by 1 kHz or more from both the first frequency and the second frequency.

23. The touch-sensored display device of claim 20, wherein a frequency which is m times (where m is an integer) or 1/m times as large as that of the AC voltage for position detection is substantially equal to a frequency which is M times (where M is an integer) or 1/M times as large as that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

24. A driving method for driving a touch-sensored display device which includes:

a display panel including an active matrix substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, a display medium layer, and a counter substrate disposed on a viewer side of the active matrix substrate via the display medium layer, the counter substrate having a counter electrode which opposes the plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display panel driving circuit for supplying display signal voltages to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and supplying to the counter electrode a common voltage which undergoes periodic inversion in polarity;

a transparent conductive film for position detection, placed so as to oppose the counter electrode via the counter substrate;

a plurality of terminals connected to different points on the transparent conductive film for position detection;

an AC voltage generation circuit for supplying an AC voltage for position detection to each of the plurality of terminals; and

a plurality of noise-cut current signal generation circuits each being connected to one of the plurality of terminals,

wherein the driving method comprises;

a step of supplying a horizontal synchronizing signal to the display panel driving circuit;

a step of supplying to the display panel the common voltage, the polarity of the common voltage being inverted at a point in time after the lapse of a predetermined period from a pulse of the horizontal synchronizing signal;

a step of generating a strobe signal having a pulse which rises or falls before the predetermined period elapses since a pulse of the horizontal synchronizing signal and which falls or rises after the predetermined period has elapsed;

a step of generating a plurality of noise-cut current signals obtained by eliminating a portion corresponding to the pulse of the strobe signal from a current flowing from each of the plurality of terminals; and

a step of, based on the plurality of noise-cut current signals, generating position data of a contact point which is formed directly or indirectly on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

25. The driving method of claim 24, wherein,

the step of generating the plurality of noise-cut current signals comprises:

a step of generating a plurality of current signals by detecting a current flowing from each of the plurality of terminals; and

a step of eliminating a portion corresponding to the pulse of the strobe signal from each of the plurality of current signals.

26. The driving method of claim 24, further comprising a step of retaining in an analog or digital manner the plurality of noise-cut current signals generated while no contact point is formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

27. The driving method of claim 26, further comprising a step of, based on the plurality of noise-cut current signals retained in an analog or digital manner, compensating for stray capacitances that exist when no contact point is formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

28. The driving method of claim 24, further comprising a step of amplifying an amount of change in current due to a contact point being formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

29. A touch-sensored display device comprising:

a display panel including;

an active matrix substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, a display medium layer, and a counter substrate disposed on a viewer side of the active matrix substrate via the display medium layer, the counter substrate having a counter electrode which opposes the plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display panel driving circuit for supplying display signal voltages to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and supplying a common voltage to the counter electrode;

a transparent conductive film for position detection, placed so as to oppose the counter electrode via the counter substrate;

a plurality of terminals connected to different points on the transparent conductive film for position detection; and

a position data generation circuit including a plurality of current detection circuits each detecting a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals and outputting a current signal, the position data generation circuit generating position data of a contact point which is formed directly or indirectly on the transparent conductive film for position detection, the position data being generated based on the current signals, wherein,

an independent compensation element is connected to each of the plurality of current detection circuits.

30. The touch-sensored display device of claim 29, wherein each of the plurality of current detection circuits has a differential amplifier, one input of the differential amplifier being electrically connected to one of the plurality of terminals, and the other input being electrically connected to the compensation element.

31. The touch-sensored display device of claim 29, wherein impedances of the plurality of compensation elements are substantially equal to impedances of stray capacitances that exist when no contact point is formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

32. The touch-sensored display device of claim 29, further comprising an AC voltage generation circuit for supplying an AC voltage for position detection to the plurality of terminals.

33. The touch-sensored display device of claim 32, wherein,

a horizontal synchronizing signal is supplied to the display panel driving circuit;

and

the AC voltage for position detection has a frequency which is an integer multiple of that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

34. The touch-sensored display device of claim 33, further comprising an inverter, wherein,

a driving frequency of the inverter is a frequency which is an integer multiple or half integer multiple of that of the horizontal synchronizing signal.

35. The touch-sensored display device of claim 34, wherein the inverter is a separately-excited inverter, the driving frequency of the inverter being equal to a frequency of the AC voltage for position detection.

36. The touch-sensored display device of claim 29, further comprising an A/D converter which is provided commonly for the plurality of current detection circuits, wherein the position data generation circuit generates the position data based on an output signal from the A/D converter.

37. The touch-sensored display device of claim 29, further comprising a plurality of sample/hold circuits for simultaneously sampling/holding output signals from the plurality of current detection circuits.

38. A driving method for driving a touch-sensored display device which includes:

a display panel including an active matrix substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, a display medium layer, and a counter substrate disposed on a viewer side of the active matrix substrate via the display medium layer, the counter substrate having a counter electrode which opposes the plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display panel driving circuit for supplying display signal voltages to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and supplying a common voltage to the counter electrode;

a transparent conductive film for position detection, placed so as to oppose the counter electrode via the counter substrate;

a plurality of terminals connected to different points on the transparent conductive film for position detection; and

a position data generation circuit including a plurality of current detection circuits each detecting a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals and outputting a current signal, the position data generation circuit generating position data of a contact point which is formed directly or indirectly on the transparent conductive film for position detection, the position data being generated based on the current signals,

wherein the driving method comprises;

(a) a step of supplying to the display panel a common voltage whose polarity is inverted every predetermined period;

(b) a step of generating position data of the contact point based on the current signals which are respectively output from the plurality of current detection circuits; and

(c) a step of compensating for a stray capacitance that exists when no contact point is formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.

39. The driving method of claim 38, wherein step (c) is performed before each of the plurality of current detection circuits detects a current flowing from one of the plurality of terminals.

40. The driving method of claim 38, further comprising a step of sampling/holding for a predetermined period the current signals which are respectively output from the plurality of current detection circuits.

41. The driving method of claim 38, further comprising a step of amplifying an amount of change in current due to a contact point being formed on the transparent conductive film for position detection.