SENSOR, INPUT DEVICE, AND INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE

• US 20150355763A1
• Filed: 04/30/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: MIYAKE, Hiroyuki, WATANABE, Kazunori
• Application Number:
  US14/638,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20150355763A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04102 Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04103 Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells

Abstract

[Problem] A novel input sensor that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. Furthermore, a novel input device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. Furthermore, a novel input/output device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided.

[Solution] The following structure including a window portion which transmits visible light, a light-transmitting sensor element which includes a flexible insulating layer and a pair of electrodes, between which it is interposed, and overlaps with the window portions, a sensing circuit which supplies a sensor signal on the basis of a change in the capacitance of the sensor element, and a flexible base layer supporting the sensor element and the sensor circuit is achieved.

Claims

1. A sensor comprising:

a window portion transmitting visible light;

a sensor element having a light transmitting property and overlapping with the window portion;

a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element; and

a flexible base layer supporting the sensor element and the sensor circuit,

wherein the sensor element comprises a flexible insulating layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode between which the insulating layer is interposed, and

wherein the sensor circuit supplies a sensor signal on the basis of a change in a capacitance of the sensor element.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element contains a silicone gel in the insulating layer and can be folded at a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 1 mm.

3. The sensor according to claim 1,

wherein the sensor circuit comprises:

a first transistor comprising a gate electrically connected to the first electrode of the sensor element and a first electrode electrically connected to a wiring through which a ground potential can be supplied;

a first switch comprising a control terminal electrically connected to a wiring through which a selection signal can be supplied, a first terminal electrically connected to a second electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a wiring through which the sensor signal can be supplied; and

a second switch comprising a control terminal electrically connected to the wiring through which a reset signal can be supplied, a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode of the sensor element, and a second terminal electrically connected to the wiring through which the ground potential can be supplied.

4. An input device comprising:

a plurality of sensor units arranged in a matrix;

scan lines to which the plurality of sensor units placed along a row direction are electrically connected;

signal lines to which the plurality of sensor units placed along a column direction are electrically connected; and

a flexible base layer on which the sensor units, the scan lines, and the signal lines are placed,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a window portion transmitting visible light, a sensor element overlapping with the window portion, and a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element,

wherein the sensor element comprises a flexible insulating layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode between which the insulating layer is interposed,

wherein the sensor circuit is supplied with a selection signal and supplies a sensor signal on the basis of a change in a capacitance of the sensor element,

wherein the selection signal can be supplied through the scan lines, and

wherein the signal lines can be supplied with the sensor signal.

5. The input device according to claim 4, wherein the sensor element contains a silicone gel in the insulating layer and can be folded at a radius of curvature greater than or equal to 1 mm.

6. The input device according to claim 4,

wherein the sensor circuit comprising:

a first transistor comprising a gate electrically connected to a first electrode of the sensor element and a first electrode electrically connected to a wiring through which a ground potential can be supplied;

a first switch comprising a control terminal electrically connected to a wiring through which the selection signal can be supplied, a first terminal electrically connected to a second electrode of the first transistor, and a second terminal electrically connected to a wiring through which the sensor signal can be supplied; and

a second switch comprising a control terminal electrically connected to a wiring through which a reset signal can be supplied, a first terminal electrically connected to the first electrode of the sensor element, and a second terminal electrically connected to the wiring through which the ground potential can be supplied.

7. The input device according to claim 4, wherein an area of the second electrode of the sensor element is 10 times or more as large as a sum of areas of the first electrodes included in the plurality of sensor elements electrically connected to one signal line.

8. An input/output device comprising:

a flexible input device comprising;

a plurality of sensor units that comprise window portions transmitting visible light and are arranged in a matrix;

scan lines to which the plurality of sensor units placed along a row direction are electrically connected;

signal lines to which the plurality of sensor units placed along a column direction are electrically connected; and

a first flexible base layer supporting the plurality of sensor units, the scan lines, and the signal lines; and

a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and overlap with the window portions and a second flexible base layer supporting the pixels,

wherein the sensor unit comprises a sensor element overlapping with the window portion and a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element,

wherein the sensor element comprises a flexible insulating layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode between which the insulating layer is interposed,

wherein the sensor circuit is supplied with a selection signal and supplies a sensor signal on the basis of a change in a capacitance of the sensor element,

wherein the selection signal can be supplied through the scan lines,

wherein the sensor signal can be supplied through the signal lines, and

wherein the sensor circuit is placed so as to overlap with gaps between the plurality of window portions.

9. The input/output device according to claim 8, further comprising a coloring layer between a sensor unit and a pixel.