TOUCH PANEL AND SENSING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20110001723A1
• Filed: 10/25/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Inventors: Fan, Hsiang-Pin
• Application Number:
  US12/605,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20110001723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

The first substrate of the touch panel includes a pixel array and a plurality of sensing lines. The pixel array includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of pixel electrodes. The sensing lines are parallel arranged in the pixel array, adjacent to parts of the pixel electrodes, and electrically insulated from the scan lines, the data lines and the pixel electrodes. The second substrate of the touch panel includes a plurality of conductive protrusions disposed corresponding to the sensing lines. When there is no external force applied to the touch panel, the conductive protrusions are electrically insulated from the scan lines and the pixel array. When an external force is applied to the touch panel, at least one of the conductive protrusions may contact both one of the scan lines and parts of the pixel array.

Claims

1. A touch panel comprising:

a first substrate, comprising a pixel array and a plurality of sensing lines;

the pixel array comprising;

a plurality of scan lines, extended in a row direction;

a plurality of data lines, extended in a column direction; and

a plurality of pixel electrodes, disposed between the scan lines and the data lines and connected to corresponding scan lines and data lines;

the sensing lines, parallel in the pixel array, disposed near the pixel electrodes, and electrically insulated from the scan lines, the data lines and the pixel electrodes;

a second substrate, comprising a plurality of conductive protrusions, corresponded with the disposed sensing lines; and

a liquid crystal layer, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

wherein when an external force is applied, at least one of the conductive protrusions contacts one of the scan lines and part of the pixel array, and transfers a sensing signal through one of the sensing lines.

2. The touch panel display of claim 1, wherein the second substrate further comprises a plurality of pixel units aligning with the corresponding pixel electrodes, and the conductive protrusions are electrically insulated from the pixel units.

3. The touch panel display of claim 2, wherein the conductive protrusion further comprises a conductive layer and at least a photoresist layer, an organic layer, or a black matrix, wherein the conductive layer is disposed at parts of surfaces of the photoresist layer, the organic layer, or the black matrix.

4. The touch panel display of claim 1, wherein the sensing lines are extended in a column direction and aligned in parallel to each other in the pixel array;

when an external force is applied, at least one of the conductive protrusions contacts one of the sensing lines and one of the scan lines simultaneously, and transfers the sensing signal through one of the sensing lines.

5. The touch panel display of claim 1, wherein the sensing lines are extended in a column direction and aligned in parallel to each other in the pixel array;

when an external force is applied, at least one of the conductive protrusions contacts one of the sensing lines and one of the pixel electrodes simultaneously, and transfers the sensing signal through one of the sensing lines.

6. The touch panel display of claim 1, wherein the sensing lines are extended in a column direction and aligned in parallel to each other in the pixel array;

when an external force is applied, at least one of the conductive protrusions contacts one of the sensing lines and one of the data lines simultaneously, and transfers the sensing signal through one of the sensing lines.

7. A sensing method for a touch panel, the touch panel comprising:

a first substrate, comprising a pixel array and a plurality of sensing lines;

the pixel array comprising;

a plurality of scan lines, extended in a row direction;

a plurality of data lines, extended in a column direction; and

a plurality of pixel electrodes, disposed between the scan lines and the data lines and connected to corresponding scan lines and data lines;

the sensing lines, parallel to the pixel array, disposed near the pixel electrodes, and electrically insulated from the scan lines, the data lines, and the pixel electrodes;

a second substrate, comprising a plurality of conductive protrusions, corresponded with the disposed sensing lines; and

a liquid crystal layer, disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;

the sensing method comprising;

supplying a scan signal to the scan lines;

applying an external force to the touch panel causing at least one of the conductive protrusions to contact with one of the sensing lines and parts of the pixel array simultaneously;

using one of the sensing lines to transfer a sensing signal; and

determining a corresponding position of the sensing signal.

8. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 7, further comprising:

causing at least one of the conductive protrusions to contact with one of the sensing lines and one of the scan lines simultaneously.

9. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 8, further comprising analyzing an instant of a high voltage level of the corresponding sensing signals to determine a corresponding position of an external applied force.

10. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 7, further comprising:

causing the at least one of the conductive protrusions to contact with one of the sensing lines and one of the pixel electrodes simultaneously.

11. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 10, further comprising analyzing a change in voltage level of the sensing signals of the corresponding pixel electrodes to determine a corresponding position of an external applied force.

12. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a plurality of sensing data signals to the data lines respectively at each interval of providing scan signals to the scan lines.

13. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 12, further comprising:

causing at least one of the conductive protrusions to contact with one of the sensing lines and one of the data lines simultaneously.

14. The sensing method of the touch panel of claim 13, further comprising analyzing the sensing signals corresponding to the sensing data signals of one of the data lines to determine a corresponding position of an external applied force.