DISPLAY PANEL WITH MULTI-TOUCH FUNCTION

• US 20100134427A1
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Ma, Mei-Sheng, Cheng, Kuo-Hsing, Chia, Pang-Chiang, Wang, Chao-Chen, Tsai, Yu-Cheng
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,746 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 3/04144 using an array of force sensing means position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells G06F3/0447
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A display panel with multi-touch function includes a display area and a non-display area. The display area includes a data line, a gate line, a first sensing line, a second sensing line, and a sensing unit. The sensing unit electrically connects the first and second sensing lines according to a touch signal or electrically isolates the first sensing line from the second sensing line. The non-display area includes a gate driver, a first switch and a second switch. The first switch provides a path for charging the second sensing line according to a scan signal, and the second switch provides a path for discharging the second sensing line according to a reset signal.

Claims

1. A display panel with multi-touch function comprising:

a display area comprising;

a data line for transmitting a data signal corresponding to a display image;

a gate line for transmitting a scan signal;

a display unit coupled to the data line and the gate line for displaying images according to the scan signal and the data signal;

a first sensing line for outputting a sensing signal corresponding to the scan signal;

a second sensing line for transmitting the sensing signal; and

a sensing unit coupled between the first and second sensing lines for electrically connecting the first sensing line with the second sensing line according to a touch signal or electrically isolating the first sensing line from the second sensing line; and

a non-display area comprising;

a gate driver for outputting the scan signal and a reset signal;

a first switch coupled between the gate line and the second sensing line for providing a path to charge the second sensing line according to the scan signal; and

a second switch coupled to the second sensing line for providing a path to discharge the second sensing line.

2. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the display unit comprises:

a thin film transistor (TFT) switch having a control end coupled to the gate line and a first end coupled to the data line;

a liquid crystal capacitor coupled between a second end of the TFT switch and a common voltage; and

a storage capacitor coupled between the second end of the TFT switch and the common voltage.

3. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the first switch includes a diode or a TFT switch.

4. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the second switch includes a TFT switch.

5. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the second switch includes:

a first end coupled to the second sensing line;

a second end coupled to a ground level;

a control end coupled to the gate driver for electrically connecting the first end with the second end according to the reset signal or electrically isolating the first end from the second end.

6. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the non-display area further comprises a source driver for providing the data signal.

7. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the non-display area further comprises a detecting circuit coupled to the first sensing line for determining where the touch signal occurs according to the sensing signal.

8. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the gate driver further comprises a reset circuit for generating the reset signal.

9. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the gate driver, the first switch and the second switch are disposed on a same printed circuit board (PCB).

10. The display panel of claim 1 wherein the sensing unit includes a voltage sensor or a photo sensor.

11. The display panel of claim 10 wherein the voltage sensor includes a capacitive voltage sensor or a piezoelectric device.

12. The display panel of claim 10 wherein the photo sensor includes a photo diode or a photo transistor.

13. A display panel with multi-touch function comprising:

a display area comprising;

a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals corresponding to display images;

a plurality of gate lines for transmitting scan signals;

a plurality of display units each coupled to a corresponding data line among the plurality of data lines and to a corresponding gate line among the plurality of gate lines, each display unit displaying images according to the scan signal received from the corresponding gate line and the data signal received from the corresponding data line;

a plurality of first sensing lines;

a plurality of second sensing lines;

a plurality of sensing units each coupled between a corresponding first line and a corresponding second sensing line, each sensing unit electrically connecting the corresponding first sensing line with the corresponding second sensing line according to a corresponding touch signal or electrically isolating the first corresponding sensing line from the second corresponding sensing line; and

a non-display area comprising;

a gate driver for outputting scan signals and reset signals; and

a plurality of switch circuits for providing paths to charge the corresponding second sensing lines according to the corresponding scan signals and providing paths to discharge the corresponding second sensing lines according to the reset signals, respectively.

14. The display panel of claim 13 wherein each switch circuit comprises:

a first switch coupled between a corresponding gate line and a corresponding second sensing line for providing the path to charge the corresponding second sensing line according to the corresponding scan signal; and

a second switch coupled to the corresponding second sensing line for providing the path to discharge the corresponding second sensing line according to the reset signal.

15. The display panel of claim 14 wherein the second switch comprises:

a first end coupled to the corresponding second sensing line;

a second end coupled to a ground level; and

a control end coupled to the gate driver for electrically connecting the first end with the second end according to the reset signal or electrically isolating the first end from the second end.

16. The display panel of claim 14 wherein the first switch includes a diode or a TFT switch.

17. The display panel of claim 14 wherein the second switch includes a TFT switch.

18. The display panel of claim 13 wherein the non-display area further comprises a source driver for providing the data signal.

19. The display panel of claim 13 wherein the non-display area further comprises a detecting circuit coupled to the plurality of first sensing lines for determining where the touch signal occurs.

20. The display panel of claim 13 wherein the gate driver further comprises a reset circuit for generating the reset signal.

21. The display panel of claim 13 wherein the gate driver and the plurality of switch circuits are disposed on a same PCB.

22. The display panel of claim 13 wherein the plurality of sensing units include voltage sensors or photo sensors.

23. The display panel of claim 22 wherein the voltage sensors include capacitive voltage sensors or piezoelectric devices.

24. The display panel of claim 22 wherein the photo sensors includes photo diodes or photo transistors.