Display and method for driving the display

• US 8,803,838 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2014
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd. (Tianma Microelectronics Company Limited)
• Inventors: Haga, Hiroshi, Yanase, Jiro, Kitagishi, Yoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hegarty, Kelly B
• Application Number:
  US14/150,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• Field of Search: 345/104, 345/173, 345/174, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.05, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes

Abstract

A display is provided. The display includes electro-optical material arranged between first and second planes facing each other; a first substrate arranged on the first plane and including a conductor; first electrically conductive film arranged on the second plane; second electrically conductive film arranged outside an area sandwiched between the first and second planes; current detection circuit detects current on the second electrically conductive film; and control circuit that, during a time period the current is detected by the current detection circuit, applies substantially the same voltage as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to one of the conductor and the first electrically conductive film, which is arranged closer to the second electrically conductive film, and sets the other in a floating state, or applies substantially the same voltage as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to both the conductor and the first electrically conductive film.

Claims

1. A display, comprising:

an electro-optical material arranged between first and second planes facing each other;

a first substrate arranged on the first plane and including a conductor that affords an electrical signal to the electro-optical material;

a second substrate arranged on the second plane and including a first electrically conductive film that affords an electrical signal to the electro-optical material;

a second electrically conductive film arranged outside an area sandwiched between a plane of the first substrate, on which the electro-optical material is not arranged, and a plane of the second substrate, on which the electro-optical material is not arranged;

a current detection circuit that detects a current on the second electrically conductive film;

a control circuit that, during a first time period the current is detected by the current detection circuit, applies a voltage with substantially the same amplitude and phase as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to one of the conductor extending from inside to outside of a viewing area and the first electrically conductive film, and sets the other in a floating state, or applies a voltage with substantially the same amplitude and phase as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to both the conductor extending from inside to outside of a viewing area and the first electrically conductive film; and

a detecting unit that detects, based on the current detected by the current detection circuit, whether or not touch has been made by a finger or a pointer and where the touch has been made, wherein

the floating means that an impedance value between the conductor extending from inside to outside of a viewing area and a voltage source connected thereto during the first time period is higher than that during a second time period other than the first time period, or an impedance value between the first electrically conductive film and a voltage source connected thereto during the first time period is higher than that during the second time period.

2. An electronic apparatus, comprising the display according to claim 1.

3. A display, comprising:

an electro-optical material sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate;

a conductor that is arranged on the first substrate, extends from inside to outside of a viewing area, and affords an electrical signal to the electro-optical material;

a first electrically conductive film that is arranged on the second substrate and affords an electrical signal to the electro-optical material;

a second electrically conductive film arranged outside an area sandwiched between a plane of the first substrate, on which the electro-optical material is not arranged, and a plane of the second substrate, on which the electro-optical material is not arranged;

a current detection circuit that detects a current on the second electrically conductive film;

a control circuit that, during a first time period the current is detected by the current detection circuit, applies a voltage with substantially the same amplitude and phase as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to one of the conductor and the first electrically conductive film, and sets the other in a floating state, or applies a voltage with substantially the same amplitude and phase as that applied to the second electrically conductive film to both the conductor and the first electrically conductive film; and

a detecting unit that detects, based on the current detected by the current detection circuit, whether or not touch has been made by a finger or a pointer and where the touch has been made, wherein

the floating means that an impedance value between the conductor extending from inside to outside of a viewing area and a voltage source connected thereto during the first time period is higher than that during a second time period other than the first time period, or an impedance value between the first electrically conductive film and a voltage source connected thereto during the first time period is higher than that during the second time period.

4. An electronic apparatus, comprising the display according to claim 3.