Display module having haptic function

• US 8,659,536 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2011
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Park, Won-Sang, Oh, Jeong-Seok, Lee, Min-Su
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US12/983,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 345/102, 345156-184, 178 1801- 1811
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133394 Piezoelectric elements associated with the cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133615 Edge-illuminating devices, i.e. illuminating from the side
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display

Abstract

A display module having a haptic function includes a touch screen panel for detecting touch manipulation, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel for realizing image display on the touch screen panel, a backlight unit comprising at least one light source for providing illuminating light to the LCD panel, and a haptic actuator disposed adjacent to the light source for providing a haptic effect. The display module having a haptic function has improved space effectiveness, and is easily miniaturized and thinned.

Claims

1. A display module, comprising:

a touch screen panel disposed to detect human touch manipulation;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel providing a visual image display through the touch screen panel;

a backlight unit comprising at least two light sources providing illuminating light to the LCD panel; and

a haptic actuator disposed between said at least two light sources, providing a haptic effect.

2. The display module of claim 1, wherein the backlight unit comprises a light guide plate having one side surface used as a light receiving surface facing the light sources, and wherein light input through the light receiving surface is emitted toward a plate surface of the LCD panel.

3. The display module of claim 2, wherein the haptic actuator is disposed to face the light receiving surface.

4. The display module of claim 2, the at least two light sources arranged in a row so as to face the light receiving surface.

5. The display module of claim 1, wherein the haptic actuator comprises a piezoelectric device for generating a vibration effect.

6. The display module of claim 1, further comprising a haptic controller for outputting a driving signal to the haptic actuator.

7. The display module of claim 6, wherein the haptic controller is integrated into an LCD driver for driving the LCD panel.

8. The display module of claim 6, wherein the haptic controller is integrated into a controller for driving the touch screen panel.

9. A display module, comprising:

a touch screen panel disposed to sense human touch manipulation;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel for realizing image display on the touch screen panel;

a backlight unit providing illuminating light to the LCD panel;

a frame comprising upper and lower frames facing each other, the lower frame including a major bottom wall and a minor wall protruding from an edge of the major bottom wall, providing an internal installation space between the upper and lower frames for accommodating together the touch screen panel, the LCD panel, and the backlight unit; and

a haptic actuator disposed on the major bottom wall of the lower frame and between the minor wall of the lower frame and the backlight unit, providing a haptic effect.

10. The display module of claim 9, wherein the frame has a rectangular shape comprising long side portions extending parallel to each other, and short side portions extending from the long side portions and connecting the long side portions to each other.

11. The display module of claim 10, wherein the haptic actuator is disposed adjacent to one of the long side portions.

12. The display module of claim 10, wherein a light source of the backlight unit is disposed adjacent to one of the short side portions.

13. The display module of claim 9, further comprising a haptic controller for outputting a driving signal to the haptic controller.

14. The display module of claim 13, wherein the haptic controller is integrated into an LCD driver for driving the LCD panel.

15. The display module of claim 13, wherein the haptic controller is integrated into a controller for controlling the touch screen panel.

16. A display module, comprising:

a touch screen panel driven by a controller to sense human touch manipulation;

a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel driven by an LCD driver providing a visual image display through the touch screen panel;

a haptic actuator providing a haptic effect that is interposed between the touch screen panel and the LCD panel; and

a backlight unit providing illuminating light to the LCD panel;

the controller and the LCD driver interposed between the touch screen panel and the LCD panel so that the touch screen panel and the LCD panel overlap each other.

17. The display module of claim 16, wherein the controller, the LCD driver and the haptic actuator are disposed at different locations between the touch screen panel and the LCD panel.

18. The display module of claim 16, wherein the controller is integrated into the LCD driver, and wherein the haptic actuator is disposed adjacent to the LCD driver.