Reflection type input/output liquid crystal display

• US 5,677,744 A
• Filed: 04/28/1994
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1993
• 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: Yoneda, Hiroshi, Tagawa, Takao, Tsujioka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Tai V.
• Application Number:
  US08/234,000
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 359/54, 359/58, 359/59, 359/70, 359/85, 345/182, 345/104, 345/173, 345/174, 345/179, 178/18, 178/19, 178/20, 349/12, 349/42, 349/48, 349/139, 349/143, 349/162
• US Class Current: 349/12
• 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 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

The display apparatus of the invention includes: a first substrate and a second substrate which are disposed so as to face each other; a display medium having variable optical characteristics sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate; a display circuit provided on the first substrate; and a coordinate input section for inputting coordinates of a point on the first substrate. The coordinate input section includes: a plurality of coordinate input electrodes arranged in a matrix on the first substrate; signal lines, formed on the first substrate, for supplying coordinate determination signals to the coordinate input electrodes, respectively; active elements for electrically connecting the coordinate input electrodes to the signal lines, respectively; a coordinate designating member for, when the coordinate designating member is brought near the first substrate, forming an electrostatic capacitance with at least one of the coordinate input electrodes; and a coordinate determination circuit for receiving the coordinate determination signal from the coordinate input electrode, and for determining the coordinates of a point to which the coordinate designating member comes closer, based on the received coordinate determination signal.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate which are disposed to face each other;

a display medium sandwiched between the first substrate and said second substrate, said display medium having variable optical characteristics;

a display circuit provided on said first substrate;

a reflection counter electrode provided on said second substrate for reflecting light which has passed through said display medium, said reflection counter electrode being formed between said second substrate and said display medium and

a coordinate input means for inputting coordinates of a point on said first substrate; and

wherein said coordinate input means includes;

a plurality of coordinate input electrodes arranged in a matrix on said first substrate;

first signal lines for supplying the coordinate determination signals to said coordinate input electrodes, respectively, said first signal lines being formed on said first substrate;

first active elements for electrically connecting said plurality of coordinate input electrodes to said first signal lines, respectively;

a coordinate designating member for, when said coordinate designating member is brought near said first substrate, forming an electrostatic capacitance with at least one of said plurality of coordinate input electrodes; and

a coordinate determination means for receiving said coordinate determination signal from said at least one of said plurality of coordinate input electrodes, and for determining the coordinates of a point to which said coordinate designating member is closest, based on said received coordinate determination signal.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display circuit includes:

pixel electrodes;

second signal lines for applying driving signals to said pixel electrodes, said driving signals causing said optical characteristics of said display medium to be varied; and

second active elements for electrically connecting said second signal lines to said pixel electrodes in accordance with a control signal.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said first active elements and said second active elements has a carrier mobility of 5 cm² /V s or more.

4. A display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said coordinate input means further includes third signal lines provided on said first substrate, said third signal lines crossing said first signal lines at right angles, said third signal lines transmitting signals for controlling ON/OFF states of said first active elements,

wherein said first active elements are thin film transistors.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said display circuit further includes:

fourth signal lines provided on said first substrate, said fourth signal lines crossing said second signal lines at right angles, said fourth signal lines transmitting said control signals;

wherein said second active elements are thin film transistors connected to said second signal lines and said fourth signal lines, and the optical characteristics of said display medium are varied depending on a potential difference between said counter electrode and said pixel electrodes.

6. A display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first and second active elements are p-Si TFTs.

7. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the phase of said coordinate determination signal is different from the phase of the remaining coordinate determination signals.

8. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display circuit comprises a plurality of pixels, and wherein each of said pixels is associated with at least two of said coordinate input electrodes.