Image display system with light pen

• US 7,649,527 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Young-Jun, Park, Jong-Woung, Uh, Kee-Han, Kim, Hyung-Guel, Jung, Young-Bae, Lee, Myung-Woo, Cho, Jong-Whan, Park, Sang-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad; Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIS, RANDAL L
• Application Number:
  US10/846,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 345179-183, 345/207, 345/81, 345/104
• US Class Current: 345/182
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1354 having a particular photoconducting structure or material
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1362 Active matrix addressed cells G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03542 Light pens for emitting or receiving light
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means

Abstract

An image display system includes a light pen to generate light to input data, and a display panel to display images in response to the light provided from the light pen. The display panel includes a first substrate on which pixel electrodes are formed, a second substrate on which a common electrode are formed, and a photo-sensor formed on the first substrate. The photo-sensor detects the light provided from the light pen to generate a light detect signal. The image display system also includes a driving module to provide new image data to the display panel to display new images in response to the light detect signal from the photo-sensor.

Claims

1. A data input device interfacing with an image display device using light, comprising:

a body including a detector; and

a light converting part disposed at a selected portion of the body, the light converting part receiving image light provided from the image display device and converting the image light into first sensing light detected by the image display device,

wherein the detector detects an amount of the image light arriving at the light converting part and generates a detect signal in response to the detected amount of the light; and

wherein the light converting part provides a second sensing light to the image display device when the detect signal is less than a reference data.

2. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the light converting part includes a surface with a recession, the surface with the recession reflecting the image light and condensing the reflected image light to form the first sensing light.

3. The data input device of claim 1, further including a scratch preventing part disposed on a surface of the light converting part, the scratch preventing part having a round shape and being in contact with the image display device when performing data input.

4. The data input device of claim 1, further including a diffused reflection part formed on a surface of the light converting part, the diffused reflection part diffusively reflecting the image light to form the first sensing light.

5. The data input device of claim 4, wherein the diffused reflection part includes an embossed pattern formed on the surface of the light converting part.

6. The data input device of claim 1, wherein the body further includes:

a light generating module generating the second sensing light when the detect signal provided from the detector is less than a reference data.

7. The data input device of claim 6, wherein the light converting part includes a hole through which the second sensing light passes from the light generating module to the image display device.

8. The data input device of claim 6, wherein the light generating module includes:

a control unit to generate a control signal in response to the detect signal provided from the detector;

a power supply to supply electric power in response to the control signal from the control unit; and

a light source to generate the second sensing light by receiving the electric power from the power supply.

9. A display system to display images, comprising:

a display panel including;

a first substrate on which first electrodes are formed;

a second substrate on which a second electrode is formed; and

a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates, optical properties of the liquid crystal layer varying in association with changes of electric field formed between the first and second electrodes; and

a data input device interfacing with the display panel using light, the data input device including

a light converting part receiving image light provided from the display panel, and converting the image light into first sensing light detected by the display panel; and

a detector detecting an amount of the image light arriving at the light converting part, and generating a detect signal in response to the detected amount of the light;

wherein the light converting part provides a second sensing light to the image display device when the detect signal is less than a reference data.

10. The display system of claim 9, wherein the light converting part includes a surface with a recession, the surface with the recession reflecting the image light and condensing the reflected image light to form the first sensing light.

11. The display system of claim 9, wherein the data input device further including a scratch preventing part disposed on a surface of the light converting part, the scratch preventing part having a round shape and being in contact with the display panel when performing data input.

12. The display system of claim 9, wherein the data input device further including a diffused reflection part formed on a surface of the light converting part, the diffused reflection part diffusively reflecting the image light to form the first sensing light.

13. The display system of claim 9, wherein the data input device further includes

a light generating module generating the second sensing light when the detect signal provided from the detector is less than a reference data.

14. The display system of claim 9, wherein the display panel includes a light sensing part to detect the first sensing light provided from the data input device to generate a light detect signal, the light sensing part being disposed on the first substrate and between the first electrodes.

15. The display system of claim 14, further including a driving module to drive the display panel to display new images in response to the light detect signal provided from the light sensing part.

16. The display system of claim 15, wherein the light sensing part includes a photo-sensor electrically connected with sensor lines of the display panel, the photo-sensor detecting the first sensing light to generate the light detect signal to one of the sensor lines.

17. The display system of claim 14, wherein the display panel includes:

a first transmission region formed on the second substrate, the first transmission region having color filters to transmit color light; and

a second transmission region formed on the second substrate, the second transmission region being transparent to transmit white light,

wherein the light sensing part is disposed on the first substrate at a location corresponding to the second transmission region, the light sensing part detecting the first sensing light provided from the data input device through the second transmission region.

18. The display system of claim 17, wherein the first and second transmission regions are formed in a matrix form on the second substrate.

19. The display system of claim 17, wherein a first transistor is formed on the first substrate at a location corresponding to the first transmission region, the first transistor being electrically connected to corresponding one of the first electrodes.

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein the light sensing part includes:

a second transistor to detect the first sensing light from the data input device, the second transistor having a conduction path connected between a first driving signal line and a first sensor line of the display panel, the conduction path being controlled by a signal provided from a second sensor line of the display panel; and

a third transistor disposed between the second transistor and the first sensor line, the third transistor transferring a light detect signal from the second transistor to the first sensor line in response to a signal provided from a second driving signal line of the display panel.

21. The display system of claim 14, wherein the display panel includes an organic layer disposed between the first electrodes and the first substrate.

22. The display system of claim 21, wherein the first electrodes are formed on the organic layer and each of the first electrodes include a metal electrode having openings through which the first sensing light passes.

23. The display system of claim 22, wherein the first electrodes each include a transparent electrode formed between the metal electrode and the organic layer.

24. The display system of claim 21, wherein the organic layer has openings each formed at a location corresponding to the light sensing part, so that the first sensing light is provided to the light sensing part through the openings.

25. The display system of claim 24, wherein the light sensing part includes a second transistor to detect the first sensing light, the openings of the organic layer being each formed to expose a channel layer of the second transistor.

26. The display system of claim 14, wherein the display panel includes a color filter layer formed between the second substrate and the second electrode, the color filter layer having a light inflow part through which the first sensing light passes.

27. The display system of claim 26, wherein the light inflow part is disposed at a location corresponding to the light sensing part, so that the first sending light is provided to the light sensing part through the light inflow part.

28. The display system of claim 27, wherein the light inflow part is an opening formed in the color filter layer at the location corresponding to the light sensing part.

29. The display system of claim 26, wherein the light inflow part has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the color filter layer other than the light inflow part.