DISPLAY DEVICE WITH LIGHT SENSORS

• US 20120105404A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gotoh, Toshimitsu, Okada, Atsushi, Kumada, Kouji, Nishio, Masaaki
• Application Number:
  US13/379,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105404A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/207
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/08 Details of timing specific for flat panels, other than clock recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

A recognition processing unit (22) performs recognition processing on a scan image based on a signal read from a light sensor (2) and outputs coordinate data (Co) indicating the position of an object to be detected. A mode control unit (24) determines a normal mode in which the recognition processing unit (22) is operated or a standby mode in which the operation of the recognition processing unit (22) is stopped. A thinned image memory (25) stores a thinned image when the normal mode is switched to the standby mode. The mode control unit (24) switches the standby mode to the normal mode when a newly supplied thinned image changes from the stored thinned image by a prescribed amount or more. Thus, it is possible to rapidly leave the standby mode and quickly detect the contact position.

Claims

1. A display device equipped with a plurality of light sensors, comprising:

a display panel including a plurality of pixel circuits and a plurality of light sensors arranged two dimensionally;

a drive circuit that performs an operation of writing a signal in accordance with display data to said pixel circuits, and performs an operation of reading a signal that corresponds to an amount of received light from said light sensors;

a recognition processing unit that performs a recognition processing on a recognition target image that is generated based on the signal read from said light sensors, and outputs coordinate data indicating a position of an object of detection;

a mode control unit that determines a normal mode or a standby mode, the mode control unit causing said recognition processing unit to operate in the normal mode, and causing said recognition processing unit to cease operating in the standby mode; and

an image storing unit that stores a comparison target image that is generated based on a signal read from said light sensors when the normal mode is switched to the standby mode,

wherein said mode control unit switches the standby mode to the normal mode when a newly supplied comparison target image changes from the comparison target image stored in said image storing unit by a prescribed amount or more.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said mode control unit compares the comparison target image stored in said image storing unit with the newly supplied comparison target image pixel by pixel, and switches the standby mode to the normal mode when the number of pixels at which a difference in pixel value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value is equal to or exceeds a second threshold value.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second threshold values is stored in a register that is capable of setting the value from outside.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said mode control unit switches the normal mode to the standby mode when a state that said coordinate data is not output continues for a prescribed time period.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein, immediately after the standby mode is switched to the normal mode, said mode control unit switches the normal mode to the standby mode when a state that said coordinate data is not output continues for a shorter period of time compared to when the normal mode has been continuously in effect.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said comparison target image includes a smaller number of pixels than said recognition target image.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein said comparison target image is an image generated by partially extracting pixel values from said recognition target image.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein an extraction range for said comparison target image is stored in a register that is capable of setting a value from outside.

9. The display device according to claim 7, wherein, according to a result determined by said mode control unit, in the standby mode, said drive circuit reads a smaller amount of signals from said light sensors than when in the normal mode.

10. The display device according to claim 7, further comprising:

an A/D converter that converts a signal read from said light sensors to a digital value,

wherein, according to a result determined by said mode control unit, said A/D converter performs a conversion to a digital value less frequently in the standby mode than in the normal mode.

11. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared backlight that emits infrared light,

wherein said mode control unit turns off said infrared backlight in the standby mode.

12. A method of controlling a display device that comprises a display panel including a plurality of pixel circuits and a plurality of light sensors arranged two dimensionally;

and a recognition processing unit that performs a recognition processing on a recognition target image based on a signal read from said light sensors, and outputs coordinate data indicating a position of a detection target object, the method comprising;

writing a signal in accordance with display data to said pixel circuits,

reading from said light sensors a signal corresponding to an amount of received light,

determining whether in a normal mode or in a standby mode,

operating said recognition processing unit in the normal mode, and stopping an operation of said recognition processing unit in the standby mode, and

storing a comparison target image based on a signal read from said light sensors when the normal mode is switched to the standby mode,

wherein said step of determining a mode causes the standby mode to be switched to the normal mode when a newly supplied comparison target image changes from the stored comparison target image by a prescribed amount or more.