Input/output display panel with light pen

• US 5,151,688 A
• Filed: 04/16/1990
• Issued: 09/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Masaru, Ishii, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/509,178
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 340/707, 340/706, 340/708, 340/712, 340/784, 178/17, 178/18, 350/333, 350/342, 341/31, 359/59, 359/72
• US Class Current: 345/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

An information input and output apparatus includes an active matrix type display device and switching device. In the information input and output apparatus, the display device displays an image according to an image signal, and has plural pixel electrodes formed in a matrix shape on a transparent substrate. The switching device drives the display device in response to a predetermined voltage to be applied to one of row electrode lines and a predetermined voltage to be applied as the image signal to one of column electrode lines. A photoconductive layer is formed between each of the row electrode lines and each of the column electrode lines at each intersection of the row electrode lines and the column electrode lines in a structure relation to receive light projected from the light pen. When light projected from a light pen is incident onto the photoconductive layer, the resistance thereof decreases. Then, a detection circuit detects a position of the light pen located on the display means responsive to a signal corresponding to the decrease of the resistance of the photoconductive layer which is induced to each of the column electrode lines.

Claims

1. An information input and output apparatus comprising:

display means for displaying an image according to an image signal, said display means having plural pixel electrodes formed in a matrix shape on transparent substrate;

plural row electrode lines being formed on said transparent substrate so as to be parallel to each other;

plural column electrode lines being formed on said transparent substrate, parallel to each other, so as to cross said row electrode lines with an intersecting angle of substantially right angles;

switching means for driving said display means responsive to a predetermined voltage to be applied to one of the row electrode lines and a predetermined voltage to be applied as said image signal to one of the column electrode lines;

a light pen for projecting light onto said display means;

a photoconductive layer, having a predetermined length and width, being formed only between each of said row electrode lines and each of said column electrode lines at each intersection of said row electrode lines and said column electrode lines, the electrode line located above said photoconductive layer being of a lesser width than the width of the photoconductive layer, so that the photoconductive layer can effectively receive light projected from said light pen; and

detecting means for detecting a position of said light pen located on said display means to a signal induced to each of said column electrode lines.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising light shutter means for passing substantially only light projected from said light pen therethrough so as to be incident onto said photoconductive layer, said light shutter means being formed so as to oppose to said row electrode lines and said column electrode lines.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

light shutter means for passing substantially only light projected from said light pen therethrough so as to be incident onto said photoconductive layer, said light shutter means being formed at said intersections of said row electrode lines and said column electrode lines; and

light shielding means for completely blocking all light, said light shielding means being formed in areas except for said intersections and surrounding of said intersections along said row electrode lines and said column electrode lines.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said switching means is a thin film transistor;

each of said row electrode lines is a gate line which is connected to a gate electrode of said thin film transistor; and

each of said column electrode lines is a source line which is connected to a source electrode of said thin film transistor.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrode line located above said photoconductive layer is the source line.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the photoconductive layer has first and second surfaces, with said first and second surfaces being in physical contact with said row and column electrode lines respectively.