In-Cell Touch Screen Panel, Driving Method Thereof, and Display Device

• US 20170205932A1
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd. (BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.), BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co Ltd. (BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.), BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHEN, Xiaochuan, LIU, Yingming, ZHAO, Weijie, LIU, Hongjuan, LI, Wei, YANG, Shengji, DONG, Xue, WANG, Haisheng, WANG, Chunlei, XIE, Xiaobo, XU, Rui
• Granted Patent: US 9,910,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• 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 3/04184 Synchronisation with the driving of the display or the backlighting unit to avoid interferences generated internally
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0448 Details of the electrode shape, e.g. for enhancing the detection of touches, for generating specific electric field shapes, for enhancing display quality
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0861 with additional control of the display period without amending the charge stored in a pixel memory, e.g. by means of additional select electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0262 The addressing of the pixel, in a display other than an active matrix LCD, involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependent on signals of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/131 Interconnections, e.g. wiring lines or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/40 OLEDs integrated with touch screens

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses an in-cell touch screen panel, a driving method thereof and a display device. A plurality of sub-pixels are grouped into sub-pixel groups, each of which includes at least two sub-pixels. Cathode layers of different sub-pixel groups are independent of one another. The cathode layers are reused as self-capacitance electrodes. A driving chip determines a touch position by detecting a change in capacitance of the cathode layers, thereby achieving touch control functionality. The driving chip outputs, in a fourth phase, signals to the cathode layers and to the signal terminals of each sub-pixel circuit, each of the signals is a superposition of the signal output in a third phase with a touch scanning signal such that each sub-pixel circuit operates in the fourth phase in the same state as in the third phase.

Claims

1. An in-cell touch screen panel, comprising:

an array substrate;

a plurality of sub-pixels located on the array substrate, each of the plurality of sub-pixels comprising an organic light-emitting device and a sub-pixel circuit electrically connected with the organic light-emitting device, the organic light-emitting device comprising an anode layer, a light-emitting layer and a cathode layer that are located on the array substrate in turn; and

a driving chip;

wherein the plurality of sub-pixels are grouped into sub-pixel groups each comprising at least two sub-pixels, wherein the cathode layers of different sub-pixel groups are independent of one another; and

wherein the driving chip outputs signals to signal terminals of each sub-pixel circuit and to the cathode layer of each sub-pixel group, wherein each of the signals output in a touch scanning phase is a superposition of the signal output in a preceding phase with a touch scanning signal such that each sub-pixel circuit operates in the touch scanning phase in the same state as in the preceding phase.

2. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 1, wherein the sub-pixel circuit comprises a data write module, a reset module, a light-emitting control module, a driving control module, a compensating module, a data signal terminal, a write control signal terminal, a reset signal terminal, a reset control signal terminal, a light-emitting control signal terminal, and a reference signal terminal, wherein:

the driving control module has a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal;

the data write module has an input terminal connected with the data signal terminal, a control terminal connected with the write control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the input terminal of the driving control module;

the reset module has an input terminal connected with the reset signal terminal, a control terminal connected with the reset control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the control terminal of the driving control module;

the compensating module has a first input terminal connected with the reference signal terminal, a second input terminal connected with the output terminal of the driving control module, a control terminal connected with the write control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the control terminal of the driving control module; and

the light-emitting control module has a first input terminal connected with the reference signal terminal, a second input terminal connected with the output terminal of the driving control module, a control terminal connected with the light-emitting control signal terminal, a first output terminal connected with the input terminal of the driving control module, and a second output terminal connected with the anode layer of a corresponding organic light-emitting device; and

wherein the cathode layer of each of the sub-pixel groups is connected with the driving chip via a respective wire.

3. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 2, wherein:

the data write module is configured to, in response to the signal of the write control signal terminal being a write control signal, provide the signal of the data signal terminal to the input terminal of the driving control module;

the compensating module is configured to, in response to the signal of the write control signal terminal being a write control signal, begin to charge to make a voltage difference between the input terminal and control terminal of the driving control module a threshold voltage of the driving control module;

the reset module is configured to, in response to the signal of the reset control signal terminal being a reset control signal, provide a signal of the reset signal terminal to the control terminal of the driving control module; and

the light-emitting control module is configured to, in response to the signal of the light-emitting control signal terminal being a light-emitting control signal, control, together with the compensating module, the driving control module to drive the organic light-emitting device to emit light.

4. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 2, wherein the driving chip is configured during a frame period to:

output, in a first phase, a reset control signal to the reset control signal terminal and a reset signal to the reset signal terminal;

output, in a second phase, a write control signal to the write control signal terminal and a data signal to the data signal terminal;

output, in a third phase, a light-emitting control signal to the light-emitting control signal terminal; and

output, in a fourth phase that is the touch scanning phase, to the signal terminals of the sub-pixel circuit and to the cathode layer of each sub-pixel group a superposition of respective signals output to the signal terminals and the cathode layer in the third phase with a same touch scanning signal, and determine a touch position by detecting a change in capacitance of the cathode layer via the respective wire; and

wherein the driving chip outputs, from the first phase to the third phase, a first reference signal to the reference signal terminal, and a second reference signal to the cathode layer of the organic light-emitting device of the sub-pixel via the respective wire.

5. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 2, wherein the data write module comprises a first switch transistor, a gate thereof being the control terminal of the data write module, a source thereof being the input terminal of the data write module, and a drain thereof being the output terminal of the data write module.

6. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 5, wherein the reset module comprises a second switch transistor, a gate thereof being the control terminal of the reset module, a source thereof being the input terminal of the reset module, and a drain thereof being the output terminal of the reset module.

7. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 6, wherein the compensating module comprises a third switch transistor and a capacitor, wherein the third switch transistor has a gate that is the control terminal of the compensating module, a source that is the second input terminal of the compensating module, and a drain that is the output terminal of the compensating module, and wherein the capacitor has a terminal connected with the drain of the third switch transistor and another terminal that is the first input terminal of the compensating module.

8. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 7, wherein the driving control module comprises a drive transistor having a gate that is the control terminal of the driving control module, a source that is the input terminal of the driving control module, and a drain that is the output terminal of the driving control module.

9. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 8, wherein the light-emitting control module comprises a fourth switch transistor and a fifth switch transistor, wherein the fourth switch transistor has a gate that is the control terminal of the light-emitting control module, a source that is the first input terminal of the light-emitting control module, and a drain that is the first output terminal of the light-emitting control module, and wherein the fifth switch transistor has a gate connected with the gate of the fourth switch transistor, a source that is the second input terminal of the light-emitting control module, and a drain that is the second output terminal of the light-emitting control module.

10. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 8, wherein the drive transistor is a P-type transistor.

11. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 9, wherein the switch transistors each are a P-type transistor or an N-type transistor.

12. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 9, wherein the sub-pixel circuit is located between the anode layer and the array substrate, and wherein the array substrate further comprises data lines for connecting the data signal terminals of the sub-pixel circuits to the driving chip, the data lines being disposed in the same layer as and insulated from the wires.

13. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 12, wherein the transistors in the sub-pixel circuit each comprise an active layer, a gate insulating layer, a gate electrode, an insulating layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode that are located on the array substrate in turn, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the same layer as the data lines, and wherein the wires are connected with respective cathode layers through respective vias.

14. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 13, further comprising:

a planarized layer located between the layer where the source electrodes and the drain electrodes are disposed and the anode layers;

a sub-pixel defining layer located between the cathode layers and the planarized layer and surrounding the light-emitting layers; and

cathode connecting portions disposed on the same layer as the anode layers;

wherein the cathode connecting portions are connected with respective wires through respective vias running through the planarized layer, and wherein the cathode layers are connected with respective cathode connecting portions through respective vias running through the sub-pixel defining layer.

15. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels have a hexagonal shape and are arranged regularly on the array substrate,

wherein the sub-pixels are arranged side by side in a row direction, the sub-pixels at corresponding positions in every two adjacent rows are arranged staggered in a column direction, and the vias for connecting the cathode layers with the wires are arranged between every two adjacent sub-pixels in each row of sub-pixels, and wherein the in-cell touch screen panel further comprises vias arranged in a gap between two adjacent rows for connecting the anode layers with the drain electrodes.

16. A display device comprising the in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 1.

17. A method of driving the in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 1, comprising:

outputting, by the driving chip during a frame period, signals to signal terminals of each sub-pixel circuit and to the cathode layer of each sub-pixel group,

wherein each of the signals output in a touch scanning phase is a superposition of the signal output in a preceding phase with a touch scanning signal such that each sub-pixel circuit operates in the touch scanning phase in the same state as in the preceding phase.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sub-pixel circuit comprises a data write module, a reset module, a light-emitting control module, a driving control module, a compensating module, a data signal terminal, a write control signal terminal, a reset signal terminal, a reset control signal terminal, a light-emitting control signal terminal, and a reference signal terminal, wherein:

the driving control module has a control terminal, an input terminal, and an output terminal;

the data write module has an input terminal connected with the data signal terminal, a control terminal connected with the write control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the input terminal of the driving control module;

the reset module has an input terminal connected with the reset signal terminal, a control terminal connected with the reset control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the control terminal of the driving control module;

the compensating module has a first input terminal connected with the reference signal terminal, a second input terminal connected with the output terminal of the driving control module, a control terminal connected with the write control signal terminal, and an output terminal connected with the control terminal of the driving control module; and

the light-emitting control module has a first input terminal connected with the reference signal terminal, a second input terminal connected with the output terminal of the driving control module, a control terminal connected with the light-emitting control signal terminal, a first output terminal connected with the input terminal of the driving control module, and a second output terminal connected with the anode layer of a corresponding organic light-emitting device; and

wherein the cathode layer of each of the sub-pixel groups is connected with the driving chip via a respective wire,

the method comprising;

outputting, by the driving chip in a first phase of the frame period, a reset control signal to the reset control signal terminal, a reset signal to the reset signal terminal, a first reference signal to the reference signal terminal, and a second reference signal to the cathode layer of the organic light-emitting device of the sub-pixel through the respective wire, such that the reset module supplies the signal of the reset signal terminal to the control terminal of the driving control module;

outputting, by the driving chip in a second phase of the frame period, a write control signal to the write control signal terminal, a data signal to the data signal terminal, the first reference signal to the reference signal terminal, and the second reference signal to the cathode layer of the organic light-emitting device of the sub-pixel through the respective wire, such that the data write module supplies the signal of the data signal terminal to the input terminal of the driving control module, and the compensating module begins to charge to make a voltage difference between the input terminal and the control terminal of the driving control module a threshold voltage of the driving control module;

outputting, by the driving chip in a third phase of the frame period, a light-emitting control signal to the light-emitting control signal terminal, the first reference signal to the reference signal terminal, and the second reference signal to the cathode layer of the organic light-emitting device of the sub-pixel through the respective wire, such that the light-emitting control module and the compensating module jointly control the driving control module to drive the organic light-emitting device to emit light; and

outputting, by the driving chip in a fourth phase of the frame period that is the touch scanning phase, to the signal terminals of the sub-pixel circuit and to the cathode layer of each sub-pixel group a superposition of respective signals output to the signal terminals and the cathode layer in the third phase with a same touch scanning signal, and determining a touch position by detecting a change in capacitance of the cathode layer via the respective wire.

19. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 3, wherein the driving chip is configured during a frame period to:

output, in a first phase, a reset control signal to the reset control signal terminal and a reset signal to the reset signal terminal;

output, in a second phase, a write control signal to the write control signal terminal and a data signal to the data signal terminal;

output, in a third phase, a light-emitting control signal to the light-emitting control signal terminal; and

output, in a fourth phase that is the touch scanning phase, to the signal terminals of the sub-pixel circuit and to the cathode layer of each sub-pixel group a superposition of respective signals output to the signal terminals and the cathode layer in the third phase with a same touch scanning signal, and determine a touch position by detecting a change in capacitance of the cathode layer via the respective wire; and

wherein the driving chip outputs, from the first phase to the third phase, a first reference signal to the reference signal terminal, and a second reference signal to the cathode layer of the organic light-emitting device of the sub-pixel via the respective wire.

20. The in-cell touch screen panel according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of the sub-pixels each have a hexagonal shape and are arranged regularly on the array substrate, wherein the sub-pixels are arranged side by side in a column direction, the sub-pixels at corresponding positions in every two adjacent columns are arranged staggered in a row direction, and the vias for connecting the cathode layers with the wires are arranged between every two adjacent sub-pixels in each column, and wherein the in-cell touch screen panel further comprises vias arranged in a gap between two adjacent columns for connecting the anode layers with the drain electrodes.