Dual mode touch sensing module and dual mode touch sensing display

• US 9,063,607 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hung-Ta Liu
• Original Assignee: Hung-Ta Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Hung-Ta
• Primary Examiner(s): RABINDRANATH, ROY P
• Application Number:
  US13/339,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20120169400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04166 Details of scanning methods, e.g. sampling time, grouping of sub areas or time sharing with display driving Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally G06F3/04184
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A dual mode touch sensing display includes a display module, and a dual mode touch sensing module disposed at the display module. The dual mode touch sensing module includes a plurality of first conductors, a plurality of second conductors, and a switch unit. The first conductors extend in a first direction. The second conductors extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The switch unit includes a first switch circuit coupled to the first conductors and capable of interconnecting at least a portion of the first conductors to form sensing loops, and a second switch circuit coupled to the second conductors and capable of interconnecting at least a portion of the second conductors to form sensing loops.

Claims

1. A dual mode touch sensing module comprising:

a plurality of first conductors that are disposed parallel to each other and that extend in a first direction;

a plurality of second conductors that are disposed parallel to each other and that extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, said second conductors crossing said first conductors at an angle;

an insulating layer that is disposed at intersections of said first conductors and said second conductors to space said first conductors apart from said second conductors;

a switch unit including a first switch circuit coupled to said first conductors, and a second switch circuit coupled to said second conductors;

said first switch circuit being capable of interconnecting at least a portion of said first conductors to form sensing loops, said second switch circuit being capable of interconnecting at least a portion of said second conductors to form sensing loops; and

a sensing unit that is configured to sense signals on said first conductors and said second conductors, said sensing unit including a first sensing circuit coupled to one end of each of said first conductors, a second sensing circuit coupled to one end of each of said second conductors, and a timing controller coupled to said first sensing circuit, said second sensing circuit, said first switch circuit, and said second switch circuit;

wherein said timing controller is configured to divide a frame time into first, second and third time periods, the first time period being provided for image display;

wherein the second time period is electromagnetic sensing time, during which bidirectional electromagnetic sensing is to be performed, and said timing controller is configured to control said first switch circuit to electrically interconnect in sequence one of two adjacent said first conductors and two said first conductors spaced at a first predetermined distance, so that the sensing loops are formed, said timing controller being further configured to control said first sensing circuit to generate a detecting signal, and to detect changes associated with a current flow of the detecting signal through a respective one of the sensing loops, so as to sense a touch, after all sensing processes of said first conductors are successfully completed, said timing controller is further configured to control said second switch circuit to electrically interconnect in sequence one of two adjacent said second conductors and two said second conductors spaced at a second predetermined distance, so that the sensing loops are formed, said second sensing circuit being capable of sensing signals on all of said second conductors so as to determine a touch position after the bidirectional electromagnetic sensing is performed; and

wherein the third time period is capacitive sensing time, during which said timing controller is configured to turn said first switch circuit and said second switch circuit off, so that said first conductors are not coupled electrically with each other, said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit utilizing capacitors formed at the intersections of said first and second conductors, and induction capacitors formed between said first and second conductors to sense changes in at least one of electric charge, capacitance, voltage, and current on said capacitors so as to detect the touch position.

2. The dual mode touch sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first conductors are M in number, and said second conductors are N in number, each of the numbers M and N being independently a positive integer greater than 1, said first conductors crossing said second conductors to form a M×

N sensing matrix, the angle at which said first conductors cross said second conductors ranging from 60 degrees to 120 degrees.

3. The dual mode touch sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first switch circuit includes a first common line, at least one first control line, a plurality of first switch members, and a first gate driver coupled to said at least one first control line,

said first switch members corresponding in number to said first conductors,

each of said first switch members having a first end coupled to one end of a respective one of said first conductors, a second end coupled to said first common line, and a control end coupled to said at least one first control line.

4. The dual mode touch sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second switch circuit includes a second common line, at least one second control line, a plurality of second switch members, and a second gate driver coupled to said at least one second control line,

said second switch members corresponding in number to said second conductors,

each of said second switch members having a first end coupled to one end of a respective one of said second conductors, a second end coupled to said second common line, and a control end coupled to said at least one second control line.

5. The dual mode touch sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first conductors are disposed at a first layer, said second conductors are disposed at a second layer, and said first and second layers are spaced apart from each other by said insulating layer.

6. The dual mode touch sensing module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first conductors and a first segment of said second conductors are disposed at a first layer and are covered by and spaced apart from each other by said insulating layer, and wherein a second segment of said second conductors is disposed at a second layer on one side of said insulating layer opposite to said first layer and extends through said insulating layer to connect electrically with said first segment of said second conductors.

7. A dual mode touch sensing display comprising:

a display module; and

a dual mode touch sensing module disposed at said display module and including;

a plurality of first conductors that are disposed parallel to each other and that extend in a first direction,

a plurality of second conductors that are disposed parallel to each other and that extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, said second conductors crossing said first conductors at an angle,

an insulating layer that is disposed at intersections of said first conductors and said second conductors to space said first conductors apart from said second conductors,

a switch unit including a first switch circuit coupled to said first conductors, and a second switch circuit coupled to said second conductors;

said first switch circuit being capable of interconnecting at least a portion of said first conductors to form sensing loops, and said second switch circuit being capable of interconnecting at least a portion of said second conductors to form sensing loops; and

a sensing unit that is configured to sense signals on said first conductors and said second conductors, said sensing unit including a first sensing circuit coupled to one end of each of said first conductors, a second sensing circuit coupled to one end of each of said second conductors, and a timing controller coupled to said first sensing circuit, said second sensing circuit, said first switch circuit, and said second switch circuit;

wherein said timing controller is configured to divide a frame time into first, second and third time periods, the first time period being provided for image display;

wherein the second time period is electromagnetic sensing time, during which bidirectional electromagnetic sensing is to be performed, and said timing controller is configured to control said first switch circuit to electrically interconnect in sequence one of two adjacent said first conductors and two said first conductors spaced at a first predetermined distance, so that the sensing loops are formed, said timing controller being further configured to control said first sensing circuit to generate a detecting signal, and to detect changes associated with a current flow of the detecting signal through a respective one of the sensing loops, so as to sense a touch, after all sensing processes of said first conductors are successfully completed, said timing controller is further configured to control said second switch circuit to electrically interconnect in sequence one of two adjacent said second conductors and two said second conductors spaced at a second predetermined distance, so that the sensing loops are formed, said second sensing circuit being capable of sensing signals on all of said second conductors so as to determine a touch position after the bidirectional electromagnetic sensing is performed; and

wherein the third time period is capacitive sensing time, during which said timing controller is configured to turn said first switch circuit and said second switch circuit off, so that said first conductors are not coupled electrically with each other, said first sensing circuit and said second sensing circuit utilizing capacitors formed at the intersections of said first and second conductors, and induction capacitors formed between said first and second conductors to sense changes in at least one of electric charge, capacitance, voltage, and current on said capacitors so as to detect the touch position.

8. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display module is a liquid crystal display module including a plurality of layers, said layers including in sequence a first polarizer, a first substrate, a color filter, a common electrode layer, a liquid crystal layer, a pixel layer, a second substrate, and a second polarizer, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at any adjacent two of said layers between said second polarizer and said pixel layer.

9. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display module is a liquid crystal display module including a plurality of layers, said layers including in sequence a first polarizer, a first substrate, a pixel layer, a liquid crystal layer, a common electrode layer, an insulator, a color filter, a second substrate, and a second polarizer, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at any adjacent two of said layers between said second polarizer and said insulator.

10. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display module is a liquid crystal display module including a plurality of layers, said layers including in sequence a first polarizer, a first substrate, a common electrode and pixel layer, a liquid crystal layer, an overcoat layer, a color filter, a second substrate, and a second polarizer, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at any adjacent two of said layers between said second polarizer and said liquid crystal layer.

11. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display module is an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Display (AMOLED) including in sequence a first substrate, an organic light emitting element, an insulator, and a second substrate, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at one of one side of said second substrate away from said insulator, and between said second substrate and said insulator.

12. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a housing for accommodating said display module and said dual mode touch sensing module, said housing including a protection panel corresponding in position to said display module, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at one of

between said protection panel and said display module,

at one side of said protection panel away from said display module, and in said protection panel.

13. The dual mode touch sensing display as claimed in claim 7, wherein said display module is an Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Display (AMOLED) including in sequence a first substrate, an organic light emitting element, an insulator, and a second substrate,

said dual mode touch sensing display further comprising a housing for accommodating said AMOLED and said dual mode touch sensing module, said housing including a protection panel corresponding in position to said display module, said first conductors and said second conductors of said dual mode touch sensing module being respectively disposed at one of

at one side of said second substrate away from said insulator,

between said second substrate and said insulator,

between said protection panel and said display module,

at one side of said protection panel away from said display module, and

in said protection panel.