Display unit

• US 8,203,536 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ito, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDIN, SHAHEDA A
• Application Number:
  US12/024,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20080291176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-169, 345173-174, 345/104, 345 87- 89, 348/335, 348/376, 348/375, 178/18.01, 178 1901- 1904, 178/10
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

A display unit includes a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed, and (b) a touch panel covering the display screen therewith and detecting a touch thereto made by a user. The touch panel detects the touch in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input thereto. The display panel displays images in accordance with display-drive signals input thereto. The touch panel is switched between a first condition in which the touch-panel drive signals are input into the touch panel and a second condition in which the touch panel is electrically open.

Claims

1. A display unit comprising:

(a) a display panel having a display screen on which images are displayed in accordance with received display-drive signals; and

(b) a cover panel covering said display screen therewith,

wherein said display-drive signals are input not only to said display panel, but also to said cover panel, and

wherein said cover panel is comprised of a touch panel detecting a touch thereto made by a user, and

wherein said touch panel is comprised of;

(a) a first substrate;

(b) a second substrate arranged in facing relation to said first substrate;

(c) a first electrically conductive film formed on a surface of said first substrate facing said second substrate; and

(d) a second electrically conductive film formed on a surface of said second substrate facing said first substrate,

wherein said touch panel detects a touch made by a user, in accordance with touch-panel drive signals input to said first and second electrically conductive films,

further comprising a third electrically conductive film formed on said touch panel in electrical isolation from said first and second electrically conductive films, said third electrically conductive film being directly connected to the common electrode of the display panel to receive said display drive signals.

2. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third electrically conductive film is formed on a surface of said touch panel facing said display panel.

3. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third electrically conductive film is formed entirely on said touch panel.

4. The display unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third electrically conductive film is adapted to always receive said display-drive signals.