Display device including sensing elements

• US 20060097975A1
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Joo-Hyung, Uh, Kee-Han, Kim, Hyung-Guel
• Application Number:
  US11/270,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/98
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13312 Circuits comprising photodetectors for purposes other than feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• 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 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

A display device is provided, which includes: a display panel unit; a first sensor formed on the display panel unit and generating a first sensing signal based on an external light; and a second sensor formed on the display panel unit and generating a second sensing signal in response to a touch.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display panel unit;

a first sensor formed on the display panel unit and generating a first sensing signal based on an external light; and

a second sensor formed on the display panel unit and generating a second sensing signal in response to a touch.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a switch connectable to a predetermined voltage in response to the touch.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the switch connects to the predetermined voltage in response to pressure exerted by the touch.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the switch comprises a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and connected to the predetermined voltage, wherein the second electrode and the first electrode form an electrical connection in response to a pressure applied to the second sensor.

5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel unit comprises a first panel and a second panel facing the first panel and spaced apart from the first panel, wherein a distance between the first panel and the second panel is varied by a pressure exerted on the second panel.

6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the first sensor comprises a first sensing electrode disposed on the first panel and a second sensing electrode disposed on the second panel.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the display panel unit further comprises a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first panel and the second panel.

8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the display panel unit further comprises a first display electrode disposed on the first panel and a second display electrode disposed on the second panel.

9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the second sensing electrode is electrically connected to the second display electrode and the second sensing electrode and the second display electrode are formed in a continuous plane.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein a distance between the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode is less than a distance between the first display electrode and the second display electrode.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the second sensing electrode and the first sensing electrode form an electrical connection in response to a pressure exerted on the second panel.

12. The display device of claim 10, wherein the second panel further comprises a rising disposed under the second sensing electrode and facing the first display electrode.

13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the distance between the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode is from about 0.1 microns to about 1.0 microns.

14. The display device of claim 12, wherein the display panel unit further comprises a spacer disposed between the first panel and the second panel.

15. A display device for detecting a touch, comprising:

a display panel;

a first sensor formed on the display panel and sensing a first physical quantity; and

a second sensor formed on the display panel and sensing a second physical quantity different from the first physical quantity,

wherein a touch on the display panel varies the first and the second physical quantities.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the touch causes a variation of the first physical quantity over a larger area than a variation of the second physical quantity caused by the touch.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the second physical quantity comprises luminance of light.

18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the first physical quantity comprises pressure.

19. The display device of claim 15, wherein the first sensor comprises a switch generating a bistate output signal in response to the variation of the second physical quantity.

20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the second sensor generates an indication signal having a magnitude that depends on a magnitude of the second physical quantity.

21. The display device of claim 20, wherein the second physical quantity is more sensitive than the first physical quantity to a stimulus other than a touch.

22. A display device comprising:

a display panel unit;

a plurality of first sensors formed on the display panel unit and generating first sensing signals based on an external light; and

a plurality of second sensors formed on the display panel unit and generating second sensing signals in response to a touch.

23. The display device of claim 22, wherein each of the second sensors comprises a switch connectable to a predetermined voltage in response to the touch.

24. The display device of claim 23, wherein the switch connectable to the predetermined voltage in response to pressure exerted by the touch.

25. The display device of claim 24, wherein each of the second sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode and connected to the predetermined voltage, wherein the second electrode and the first electrode form an electrical connection in response to a pressure applied to the second sensor.

26. The display device of claim 22, wherein the second sensors have a resolution less than a resolution of the first sensors.

27. The display device of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of pixels displaying images, wherein the resolution of the first sensors is about one quarter of a resolution of the pixels.

28. The display device of claim 22, wherein at least two of the second sensors have commonly connected outputs.

29. The display device of claim 28, wherein the at least two of the second sensors simultaneously output the second sensing signals.

30. The display device of claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of first sensor data lines, each first sensor data line being connected to a respective output of one of the first sensors; and

a plurality of second sensor data lines, each second sensor data line being connected to a respective output of one of the second sensors and arranged alternately with the first sensor data lines.

31. The display device of claim 30, wherein at least two of the second sensor data lines are connected to each other.

32. The display device of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of sensor scanning lines connected to the second sensor units and transmitting signals that cause the second sensors to output the second sensing signals.

33. The display device of claim 32, wherein at least two of the sensor scanning lines are connected to each other.

34. The display device of claim 33, further comprising a plurality of pixels formed on the display panel for displaying images.

35. The display device of claim 34, wherein the pixels are supplied with a common voltage and the second sensors are supplied with the common voltage in response to the touch.

36. The display device of claim 35, wherein the common voltage swings between first and second levels and the first and the second sensors output the second sensing signals when the common voltage has the first level.

37. The display device of claim 34, wherein the first sensors and the second sensors are disposed outside of the pixels.