Display device including integrated touch sensors

• US 8,134,535 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2007
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Jin-Young, Kim, Hyung-Guel, Uh, Kee-Han, Jeon, Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhou, Hong
• Application Number:
  US11/952,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20090002336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345 98-100, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178 1805- 1807
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/0445 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

Abstract

A display device including a plurality of sensing units, a plurality of first sensing signal lines, a first output unit, a first sensing output line, and a sensing signal processor. The sensing units are arranged in a matrix and generate a detection signal according to user contact. The first sensing signal lines transfer the detection signal of the sensing unit arranged in a first direction. The second sensing signal lines transfer the detection signal of the sensing units arranged in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The first output unit sequentially outputs the detection signals of the first sensing signal lines. The first sensing output line extends in the second direction for transferring the detection signal of the first output unit. The sensing signal processor determines whether contact is made or not by processing the detection signals of the first sensing signal lines and the second sensing signal lines. The non-display area of the liquid crystal panel assembly can be reduced by sequentially outputting the sensing data signals of the row and column sensing signal lines through the small amount of wiring. Therefore, an IC can be reduced in size.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display panel including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix;

a plurality of gate lines;

a plurality of data lines;

a gate driver configured to apply a gate signal to the plurality of pixels via the plurality of gate lines;

a data driver configured to apply a data signal to the plurality of pixels via the plurality of data lines;

a plurality of first and second sensing units arranged in a matrix, each sensing unit configured to generate a detection signal according to a physical contact, the plurality of first sensing units being arranged in a first direction, the plurality of second sensing units being arranged in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction;

a plurality of first sensing signal lines, each first sensing signal line configured to transfer the detection signal of one of the first sensing units in the first direction;

a plurality of second sensing signal lines, each second sensing signal lines configured to transfer the detection signal of one of the second sensing units in the second direction;

a first output unit including a plurality of switching elements, each of the plurality of switching elements including a control terminal connected to the gate driver via the plurality of gate lines, an input terminal connected to each of the first sensing signal lines, and an output terminal connected to a first sensing output line;

a sensing signal processor connected to the first sensing output line, and configured to determine whether contact is being made or not by processing the detection signals of the first sensing signal lines and the second sensing signal lines;

a plurality of second output units each configured to sequentially output detection signals of at least two of the second sensing signal lines; and

a plurality of second sensing output lines configured to transfer the detection signals from the second output units to the sensing signal processor.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the first output unit is configured to sequentially output the detection signal of the first sensing signal lines, the first sensing output line extending in the second direction is configured to transfer the detection signal of the first sensing signal lines, and

the sensing signal processor is configured to determine whether contact is being made or not by processing the detection signals of the first sensing output line and of the second sensing signal lines.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein the plurality of switching elements is configured to be sequentially turned ON and to sequentially transfer the detection signals of the first sensing signal lines to the first sensing output line.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein the gate driver is configured to sequentially apply a turn-on voltage to the switching elements.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein each of the second output units include a multiplexer.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the switching elements are turned on/off according to the gate signal.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the gate driver includes:

a first gate driving circuit for applying the gate signal to odd-numbered pixel lines; and

a second gate driving circuit for applying the gate signal to even-numbered pixel lines and wherein the plurality of switching elements includes;

a first switching element group for outputting the detections signal of a first portion of the first sensing signal lines according to the gate signal from the first gate driving circuit;

a second switching element group for outputting the detection signal of a second portion of the first sensing signal lines according to the gate signal from the second gate driving circuit.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the first and second output units are formed on the display panel.

9. The article of claim 8, further comprising a protrusion at each of the first and second sensing units between the second substrate and the common electrode.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein the display panel includes:

a first substrate having the sensing signal lines;

a connecting unit, including the first and second sensing signal lines, on the first substrate;

a second substrate facing the first substrate; and

a common electrode for applying a common voltage on the second substrate,

wherein the article outputs the common voltage as the detection signal when the common electrode and the connecting unit come into contact according to an externally applied force.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a liquid crystal capacitor, configured to display an image according to the orientation of the liquid crystal in each pixel;

a plurality of gate lines;

a gate driver for applying a gate signal to the pixels via the plurality of gate lines;

a plurality of variable capacitance capacitors arranged in a matrix, each of the variable capacitors configured to change its capacitance according to an externally applied pressure;

a plurality of first and second sensing signal lines, each of the plurality of first and second sensing signal lines being connected to at least one of the variable capacitors;

a first output unit including a plurality of switching elements, each of the plurality of switching elements including a control terminal connected to the gate driver via the plurality of gate lines, an input terminal connected to each of the plurality of first sensing signal lines, and an output terminal connected to a first sensing output line;

a sensing signal processor connected to the first sensing output line, and configured to determine whether physical contact with the apparatus is being made or not by processing the voltage across each the variable capacitors;

a plurality of second output units each configured to sequentially output detection signals of at least two of the second sensing signal lines; and

a plurality of second sensing output lines configured to transfer the detection signals from the second output units to the sensing signal processor.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the variable capacitance capacitors have liquid crystal as their dielectric.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of reference capacitors, each reference capacitor being series connected to a corresponding one of the variable capacitors,

wherein each of the plurality of sensing signal lines is connected to the corresponding one of the reference capacitors.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first output unit is configured to sequentially output a voltage of the variable capacitance capacitors to the plurality of sensing signal lines, and

the sensing signal processor is configured to sequentially receive a voltage of the sensing signal lines from the first sensing output line and determining contact information.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the switching elements are sequentially turned ON by the gate signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the gate driver is formed on the display panel.

17. A display device, comprising:

a first substrate including a plurality of touch sensing electrodes and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of gate lines extended in a direction;

a second substrate, wherein a dielectric material separates the first substrate from the second substrate;

a common electrode having a common voltage on the second substrate;

a gate driver for applying a gate signal to the pixels via the plurality of gate lines;

a plurality of first sensing signal lines, each first sensing signal lines being configured to transfer the common voltage at one or more of at least two of the touch sensing electrodes arranged in a first direction;

a plurality of second sensing signal lines, each second sensing signal line configured to transfer the common voltage at one or more of at least two of the touch sensing electrodes arranged in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;

a first output unit including a plurality of switching elements, each of the plurality of switching elements including a control terminal connected to the gate driver via the plurality of gate lines, an input terminal connected to each of the first sensing signal lines, and an output terminal connected to a first sensing output line; and

a sensing signal processor connected to the first sensing output line, and configured to determine whether an external force is being applied to the display device by detecting the common voltage at one or more of the touch sensing electrodes;

a plurality of second output units each configured to sequentially output detection signals of at least two of the second sensing signal lines; and

a plurality of second sensing output lines configured to transfer the detection signals from the second output units to the sensing signal processor.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the dielectric material is liquid crystal.

19. The display device of claim 17, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.

20. The display device of claim 17, wherein the sensing signal processor is configured to determine whether contact is being made or not by processing the common voltage detected on the first sensing signal lines and on the second sensing signal lines.

21. The display device of claim 17, wherein the sensing signal processor determines that contact is being made when the common electrode and at least two of the touch sensing electrodes come into contact according to an externally applied force.

22. The display device of claim 17, further comprising a protrusion at each touch sensing electrode, between each touch sensing electrode on the second substrate and the common electrode.