Liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor

• US 6,501,529 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanzaki, Eisuke, Kiyooka, Fumitoshi, Kurihara, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Toan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHECHTER, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US09/627,517
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 349/12, 349/23, 345/173, 345/174
• US Class Current: 349/160
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13394 spacers regularly patterned on the cell subtrate, e.g. walls, pillars G02F1/133377 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

The present invention provides a newly constituted liquid crystal display element incorporating a touch sensor unit.

In a liquid crystal display element where a liquid crystal layer is inserted between a first substrate and a second substrate, a display electrode for displaying an image and a touch electrode for detecting a touch position are provided on the surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate opposing with each other. The display electrode may be used as the touch electrode. A pillar-shaped spacer may be formed to support the first substrate and the second substrate. Additionally, the touch electrode may be provided on a convex-shaped part formed on the substrate.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate opposing said first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer interposed between said first substrate and said second substrate;

a display electrode for an image display disposed on the surface adjacent to said liquid crystal layer of at least either the first substrate or the second substrate; and

a touch electrode comprising a first touch electrode disposed on said first substrate and a second touch electrode disposed on said second substrate, whereby detection of a touch point relative to said first substrate or said second substrate by contact of said first touch electrode and said second touch electrode is enabled.

2. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 1,

wherein said touch electrode is formed on said display electrode via an insulating layer.

3. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 1,

wherein said display electrode is formed in a pattern and said touch electrode is formed in the area where said display electrode is not formed.

4. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 3,

wherein a liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor further includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode drive wiring disposed on said first substrate, and said display electrode is composed of a first display electrode disposed on said first substrate and a second display electrode disposed on said second substrate, and said first display electrode is a pixel electrode and said second display electrode is a common electrode.

5. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 4,

wherein said first touch electrode is formed on said pixel electrode drive wiring via an insulating layer.

6. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 4,

wherein at least either said pixel electrode and said common electrode is a transparent conductive film.

7. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 1,

wherein said touch electrode is disposed on the surface adjacent to said liquid crystal layer on said first substrate, and said display electrode is disposed on the surface adjacent to said liquid crystal layer on said second substrate, and a touch point relative to said first substrate or said second substrate is detected by contact of said touch electrode and said display electrode.

8. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate opposing said first substrate;

a liquid crystal layer interposed between said first substrate and said second substrate;

a display electrode disposed on the surface adjacent to said liquid crystal layer of at least either said first substrate or said second substrate;

a convex-shaped part disposed on the surface adjacent to said liquid crystal layer of at least either said first substrate or said second substrate; and

a touch electrode for detecting a touch position disposed on said convex-shaped part.

9. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 8,

wherein said liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor further includes a pillar-shaped spacer for supporting said first substrate and said second substrate.

10. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 9,

wherein a height of said pillar-shaped spacer is 3 μ

m to 7 μ

m.

11. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 9,

wherein a height of said convex-shaped part is smaller by 1 μ

m to 4 μ

m than that of said pillar shaped spacer.

12. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 9,

wherein at least either said pillar shaped spacer or said convex-shaped part is made of a resist material.

13. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 9,

wherein said liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor further includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode drive wiring formed on the first substrate and a color filter and a black matrix formed on the second substrate, and said thin film transistor and said pixel electrode drive wiring are disposed on the area where said black matrix is overlapped.

14. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 13,

wherein said pillar-shaped spacer is formed on the area where said black matrix is substantially overlapped.

15. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 13,

wherein said pillar-shaped spacer is formed on the area where said pixel electrode drive wiring is substantially overlapped.

16. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 13,

wherein said convex-shaped part is formed on the area where said black matrix is substantially overlapped.

17. A liquid crystal display element integrated with a touch sensor according to claim 13,

wherein said convex-shaped part is formed on the area where said pixel electrode drive wiring is substantially overlapped.