Display-integrated type tablet device

• US 5,410,329 A
• Filed: 05/21/1993
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• 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: Takahama, Kengo, Kako, Noritoshi, Tagawa, Takao, Okamura, Kazunari
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US08/065,610
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 345/178, 345/182, 345/104, 345/174, 178/18, 178/19, 307/351, 307/354, 307/358, 328/151, 328/162, 328/165
• US Class Current: 345/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• 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

Abstract

A detection and hold circuit outputs a reference signal having a level proportional to an x-coordinate detection pulse input from an X-coordinate signal amplifier. A delay element delays the reference signal. An adder adds the x-coordinate detection pulse from the X-coordinate signal amplifier and a delayed signal from the delay element. Comparators obtain a coordinate detection pulse making a detection signal from another detection and hold circuit for an LCD voltage inversion pulse serve as a reference signal. Thus noise following the x-coordinate detection pulse is removed to generate a coordinate detection pulse with a reference value corresponding to the level of the LCD voltage inversion pulse to allow a stable coordinate detection to be achieved. A correction signal generation circuit reads out correction data stored in an internal memory and transmits the data as a correction signal to a correction voltage generation circuit in an x-coordinate detection period when the segment electrode placed in the lower position is scanned. The correction voltage generation circuit generates a correction voltage for canceling a voltage induced at the common electrode placed in the upper position based on the input correction signal and a bias power source input from a DC power supply circuit.

Claims

1. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between segment electrodes and common electrodes crossing each other at right angles and is driven by a duty ratio control type drive method, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the segment electrodes and the common electrodes of the display panel, a segment electrode drive circuit for driving the segment electrodes, a common electrode drive circuit for driving the common electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the segment electrode drive circuit and the common electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the segment electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the segment electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the segment electrodes and for controlling the common electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the common electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the common electrodes in a coordinate detection period composed of a first scanning period and a second scanning period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the segment electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the common electrodes, wherein

the detection control circuit controls the segment electrode drive circuit and the common electrode drive circuit so that ones of the scanning electrodes and the common electrodes which are positioned closer to the detection pen are scanned in the first scanning period and the others of the scanning electrodes and common electrodes are scanned in the second scanning period subsequent to the first scanning period,

the display-integrated type tablet device further comprises a detection circuit which receives output signals from the detection pen to detect and hold voltage variation quantities of said ones of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes and outputs reference signals corresponding to the voltage variation quantities of said ones of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes in the first scanning period, and

the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each operate to detect, respectively, an x-coordinate detection pulse and a y-coordinate detection pulse in the output signals from the detection pen based on the reference signals from the respective coordinate detection circuits.

2. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises:

a detection circuit for detecting and holding a coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen and outputting a detection signal;

a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal from the detection circuit for a specified period of time; and

a synthesis circuit for synthesizing the detection signal from the delay circuit and the output signal from the detection pen,

thereby suppressing noise following a peak of the coordinate detection pulse in the detection signal.

3. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of:

the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

4. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of:

the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

5. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit further comprises a clamp circuit which operates in synchronization with the coordinate detection period to take in and clamp the output signal from the detection pen in the coordinate detection period before clamping the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period and the output signal from detection pen in the common electrode scanning period.

6. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between segment electrodes and common electrodes crossing each other at right angles and is driven by a duty ratio control type drive method, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the segment electrodes and the common electrodes of the display panel, a segment electrode drive circuit for driving the segment electrodes, a common electrode drive circuit for driving the common electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the segment electrode drive circuit and the common electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the segment electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the segment electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the segment electrodes and for controlling the common electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the common electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the common electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the segment electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the common electrodes,

the display-integrated type tablet device further comprising a detection circuit for receiving an output signal from the detection pen to detect and hold voltage variation quantities of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes and outputting reference signals corresponding to the voltage variations of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes in the image display period, and

the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each operating to detect, respectively an x-coordinate detection pulse and a y-coordinate detection pulse, in the output signals from the detection pen based on the reference signals from the respective coordinate detection circuits.

7. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises:

a detection circuit for detecting and holding the coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen and outputting a detection signal;

a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal from the detection circuit for a specified period of time; and

a synthesis circuit for synthesizing the detection signal from the delay circuit and the output signal from the detection pen,

thereby suppressing noise following a peak of the coordinate detection pulse in the detection signal.

8. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of:

the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

9. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

10. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between segment electrodes and common electrodes crossing each other at right angles and is driven by a duty ratio control type drive method, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the segment electrodes and the common electrodes of the display panel, a segment electrode drive circuit for driving the segment electrodes, a common electrode drive circuit for driving the common electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the segment electrode drive circuit and the common electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the segment electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the segment electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the segment electrodes and for controlling the common electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the common electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the common electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the segment electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the common electrodes,

the display-integrated type tablet device further comprising a detection circuit for receiving output signals from the detection pen to detect and hold a voltage quantities of ones of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes closer to the detection pen and outputting reference signals corresponding to the voltage variations of the ones of the segment electrodes and the common electrodes in the image display period, and

the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each operating to detect, respectively, an x-coordinate detection pulse and a y-coordinate detection pulse in the output signals from the detection pen based on the reference signals from the respective coordinate circuits.

11. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises:

a detection circuit for detecting and holding a coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen and outputting a detection signal;

a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal from the detection circuit for a specified period of time; and

a synthesis circuit for synthesizing the detection signal from the delay circuit and the output signal from the detection pen,

thereby suppressing noise following a peak of the coordinate detection pulse in the detection signal.

12. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of:

the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

13. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a segment electrode scanning period, or a common electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the segment electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the common electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

14. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between first electrodes and second electrodes crossing each other, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the display panel, a first electrode drive circuit for driving the first electrodes, a second electrode drive circuit for driving the second electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the first electrode drive circuit and the second electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the first electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the first electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the first electrodes and for controlling the second electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the second electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the second electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the first electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the second electrodes,

the display-integrated type tablet device further comprising a reference signal generation circuit for receiving output signals from the detection pen and outputting reference signals in the image display period, and wherein

at least one of the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit operates to detect a coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen based on the reference signal from the reference signal generation circuit.

15. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a first electrode scanning period, or a second electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the first electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the second electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which possibly occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

16. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first electrodes are segment electrodes and the second electrodes are common electrodes.

17. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the selected ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes are ones thereof closer to the detection pen.

18. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the reference signal generation circuit detects and holds a voltage variation quantity of at least one of the first electrodes and the second electrodes for outputting the reference signal.

19. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between first electrodes and second electrodes crossing each other, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the display panel, a first electrode drive circuit for driving the first electrodes, a second electrode drive circuit for driving the second electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the first electrode drive circuit and the second electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the first electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the first electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the first electrodes and for controlling the second electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the second electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the second electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the first electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the second electrodes, wherein

the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises:

a detection circuit for detecting and holding the output signal from the detection pen and outputting a detection signal;

a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal from the detection circuit for a specified period of time; and

a synthesis circuit for synthesizing the detection signal from the delay circuit and the output signal from the detection pen,

thereby suppressing noise following a peak of the coordinate detection pulse in the detection signal.

20. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a first electrode scanning period or a second electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the first electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the second electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which possibly occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

21. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first electrodes are segment electrodes and the second electrodes are common electrodes.

22. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the selected ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes are ones thereof closer to the detection pen.

23. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between first electrodes and second electrodes crossing each other, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the display panel, a first electrode drive circuit for driving the first electrodes, a second electrode drive circuit for driving the second electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the first electrode drive circuit and the second electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the first electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the first electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the first electrodes and for controlling the second electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the second electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the second electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the first electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the second electrodes, wherein

each of the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a first electrode scanning period, or a second electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the first electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the second electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which possibly occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or in the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

24. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first electrodes are segment electrodes and the second electrodes are common electrodes.

25. A display-integrated type tablet device including a display panel which has a display material interposed between first electrodes and second electrodes crossing each other at right angles and is driven by a duty ratio control type drive method, a detection pen having at a tip of the detection pen an electrode electrostatically coupled with the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the display panel, a first electrode drive circuit for driving the first electrodes, a second electrode drive circuit for driving the second electrodes, a display control circuit for displaying an image on the display panel by controlling the first electrode drive circuit and the second electrode drive circuit in a display period for displaying the image, a detection control circuit for controlling the first electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the first electrodes of the display panel by applying a scanning voltage successively to the first electrodes and for controlling the second electrode drive circuit to sequentially scan the second electrodes by applying a scanning voltage successively to the second electrodes in a coordinate detection period, an x-coordinate detection circuit for detecting an x-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the first electrodes, and a y-coordinate detection circuit for detecting a y-coordinate value designated on the display panel by the tip of the detection pen according to an output signal generating timing of the detection pen and a scanning timing of the second electrodes,

the display-integrated type tablet device further comprising a detection circuit for receiving output signals from the detection pen to detect and hold voltage variation quantities of selected ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes closer to the detection pen and outputting reference signals corresponding to the voltage variations of the selected ones of the first electrodes and the second electrodes in the image display period, and

the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each operate to detect a coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen based on the reference signal from the detection circuit.

26. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises:

a detection circuit for detecting and holding a coordinate detection pulse in the output signal from the detection pen and outputting a detection signal;

a delay circuit for delaying the detection signal from the detection circuit for a specified period of time; and

a synthesis circuit for synthesizing the detection signal from the delay circuit and the output signal from the detection pen,

thereby suppressing noise following a peak of the coordinate detection pulse in the detection signal.

27. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit each comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a first electrode scanning period, or a second electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period;

the output signal from the detection pen in the first electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the second electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which possibly occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

28. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 25, wherein each of the x-coordinate detection circuit and the y-coordinate detection circuit comprises three clamp circuits which respectively operate in synchronization with the image display period, a first electrode scanning period, or a second electrode scanning period to take in one of the output signal from the detection pen in the image display period, the output signal from the detection pen in the first electrode scanning period;

or the output signal from the detection pen in the second electrode scanning period,

thereby preventing mutual interference, which possibly occurs in the x-coordinate detection circuit or the y-coordinate detection circuit, between a display voltage inversion pulse, an x-coordinate detection pulse, and a y-coordinate detection pulse, which are forming a time series as included in the output signal from the detection pen.

29. A display-integrated type tablet device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first electrodes are segment electrodes and the second electrodes are common electrodes.