DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING SENSING ELEMENTS AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20080117182A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Um, Yoon Sung, Lyu, Jae Jin, Park, Seung Beom
• Granted Patent: US 8,633,899 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 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A display device includes a plurality of touch sensors and a touch sensor controller. The touch sensor controller defines sensing units. Each of the sensing units includes at least two touch sensors. The touch sensor controller generates coordinates information of the sensing unit when all of the touch sensors of the sensing unit are generating an output signal or at least one of the touch sensors of the sensing unit is generating an output signal.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel including a first and a second substrates spaced apart by a distance t and a liquid crystal layer disposed therebetween;

a sensing unit disposed between the first and second substrates, the sensing unit comprising at least two touch sensors, each of the touch sensors generating an output signal in response to a compression of the liquid crystal display panel; and

a touch sensor controller in communication with the sensing unit, the touch sensor controller receiving the output signal and generating coordinates information based on the output signal.

2. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor controller generates the coordinates information when all of the touch sensors of the sensing unit are generating the output signal.

3. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensor controller generates the coordinates information when at least one of said touch sensors of the sensing unit is generating the output signal.

4. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the touch sensors of the sensing unit disposed adjacent to each other.

5. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein each of the touch sensors comprising a conductive pad and a conductive column spacer spaced apart from the conductive pad.

6. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, wherein the conductive pad is disposed within 0.01 to 0.1 times the distance t from the conductive column spacer.

7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 5, wherein the conductive pad is disposed on the first substrates and the conductive column spacer is disposed on the second substrate.

8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 7, wherein the first substrate comprising a first sensing line connected to the conductive pad and a second sensing line substantially perpendicular to the first sensing line.

9. The liquid crystal display device of claim 7, wherein the first substrate comprising a plurality of transistors and pixel electrodes disposed thereon.

10. The liquid crystal display device of claim 7, wherein the second substrate comprising a common electrode and a plurality of color filters disposed thereon.

11. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device further comprising a backlight assembly disposed below the liquid crystal display panel.

12. A flat panel display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate;

a plurality of touch sensors disposed between the first and second substrates, each of the touch sensors generating an output signal in response to a touch to the first substrate; and

a touch sensor controller defining at least one sensing unit comprising at least two of the touch sensors, receiving the output signal and generating coordinates information based on the output signal.

13. The flat panel display device of claim 12, wherein the touch sensor controller generates the coordinates information when all of the touch sensors of the sensing unit are generating the output signal.

14. The flat panel display device of claim 12, wherein the touch sensor controller generates the coordinates information when at least one of the touch sensors of the unit is generating the output signal.

15. The flat panel display device of claim 12, wherein the touch sensors of the sensing unit disposed adjacent to each other.

16. The flat panel display device of claim 12, wherein each of the touch sensors comprising a first conductive section and a second conductive section spaced apart therefrom.

17. The flat panel display device of claim 16, wherein the first conductive section is disposed on the first substrates and the second conductive section is disposed on the second substrate.

18. The flat panel display device of claim 17, wherein the first substrate comprising a first sensing line connected to the first conductive section and a second sensing line substantially perpendicular to the first sensing line.

19. A method of sensing a touch in a flat panel display device with a plurality of touch sensors and a touch sensor controller, said method comprising:

defining a sensing unit comprising at least two of the touch sensors;

receiving output signals sent from the touch sensors of the sensing unit, wherein the output signals are generated by a touch to the first substrate;

deciding whether the sensing unit senses the touch or not; and

generating coordinates information of the sensing unit.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of deciding whether the sensing unit senses the touch or not, the touch sensor controller deems the sensing unit senses the touch when all of the touch sensors of the unit sends signals.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of deciding whether the sensing unit senses the touch or not, the touch sensor controller deems the sensing unit senses the touch when at least one of the touch sensors of the unit sends signals.