Proximity detection device, method of detecting proximity and electronic apparatus

• US 9,235,282 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: Adachi, Koichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Application Number:
  US13/740,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 178/18.03, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• 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 proximity detection device includes a display unit which has a display image surface in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix shape and a proximity operation detecting unit in which a transparent electrode for proximity operation detection is arranged to form an operation surface at a position superposed on the display image surface and a conductive film pattern forming the transparent electrode has a pitch of a linear pattern which is equal to or smaller than an arrangement pitch in one direction of the pixel electrodes.

Claims

1. A proximity detection device comprising:

a display unit which has a display image surface in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix shape; and

a proximity operation detecting unit in which a plurality of detection electrodes for proximity operation detection are arranged to form an operation surface at a position superposed on the display image surface,

wherein each of the detection electrodes has a square-shaped pattern including;

a pair of extending portions that extends in a first direction; and

a pair of connector portions that extends in a second direction different from the first direction, each of the pair of connector portions electrically connecting an end of one of the pair of extending portions to an end of the other one of pair of extending portions, and

a dummy pattern portion that is disposed inside the square-shaped pattern and that is surrounded by the pair of extending portions and the pair of connector portions,

wherein each of the extending portions has first slits of bending lines having a first bending angle,

wherein the dummy pattern portion is divided by second slits of bending lines having a second bending angle, and

wherein the first bending angle and the second bending angle are the same.

2. The proximity detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the extending portions are divided by the first slits into stripes which are arranged by a first pitch, the first pitch is equal to or smaller than an arrangement pitch in the one direction of the pixel electrodes.

5. The proximity detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the dummy pattern portion extends in the first direction,

each of the first slits and each of the second slits have a same width in the second direction, and

each of the extending portions and the dummy pattern portion have a same width in the second direction.

6. The proximity detection device according to claim 1,

wherein each of the extending portions have a width larger than a width of each of the first slits.

7. The proximity detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the dummy pattern portion is further disposed between adjacent extending portions.

8. The proximity detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the extending portions and the dummy pattern portions are disposed on a same plane.

3. A method of detecting proximity comprising

detecting a proximity operation by using a plurality of detection electrodes in a proximity detection device in which the detection electrodes for proximity operation detection are arranged to form an operation surface at a position superposed on a display image surface in which a plurality of the pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix shape,

wherein each of the detection electrodes has a square-shaped pattern including:

a pair of extending portions that extends in a first direction; and

a pair of connector portions that extends in a second direction different from the first direction, each of the pair of connector portions electrically connecting an end of one of the pair of extending portions to an end of the other one of pair of extending portions, and

a dummy pattern portion, that is disposed inside the square-shaped pattern and that is surrounded by the pair of extending portions and the pair of connector portions,

wherein each of the extending portions has first slits of bending lines having a first bending angle,

wherein the dummy portion is divided by second slits of bending lines having a second bending angle, and

wherein the first bending angle and the second bending angle are the same.

4. An electronic apparatus including a proximity detection device, the proximity detection device comprising:

a display unit which has a display image surface in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix shape, and

a proximity operation detecting unit in which a plurality of detection electrodes for proximity operation detection are arranged to form an operation surface at a position superposed on the display image surface,

wherein each of the detection electrodes has a square-shaped pattern including;

a pair of extending portions that extends in a first direction; and

a pair of connector portions that extends in a second direction different from the first direction, each of the pair of connector portions electrically connecting an end of one of the pair of extending portions to an end of the other one of pair of extending portions; and

a dummy pattern portion that is disposed inside the square-shaped pattern and that is surrounded by the pair of extending portions and the pair of connector portions,

wherein each of the extending portions has first slits of bending lines having a first bending angle,

wherein the dummy pattern portion is divided by second slits of bending lines having a second bending angle, and

wherein the first bending angle and the second bending angle are the same.