Sensing apparatus and driving method thereof

• US 9,256,306 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2012
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chan, Isaac Wing-Tak, Lin, Chen-Wei, Hsu, Chih-Chieh
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Assistant Examiner(s): HONG, RICHARD J
• Application Number:
  US13/439,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-178, 178 1801- 2004
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04164 Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads
• 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

Abstract

A sensing apparatus including a first scan line, a second scan line, a readout line, a first sensing device and a second sensing device is provided. The first sensing device is coupled to the first scan line and the readout line, and senses a first energy, and outputs a first readout signal corresponding to the first energy to the readout line in response to a first scan signal on the first scan line. The first sensing device is reset in response to the first scan signal and a reference signal on the readout line. The first sensing device includes a first reset unit configured for resetting the first sensing device, where a first terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the first scan line, and a control terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the readout line. A driving method thereof is also provided.

Claims

1. A sensing apparatus, comprising:

a first scan line;

a second scan line;

a readout line;

a first sensing device, coupled to the first scan line and the readout line, and configured for sensing a first energy, wherein the first sensing device outputs a first readout signal corresponding to the first energy to the readout line in response to a first scan signal on the first scan line, and the first sensing device is reset in response to the first scan signal and a reference signal provided by an external interpretation unit on the readout line, wherein the first sensing device comprises;

a first reset unit, configured for resetting the first sensing device, wherein a first terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the first scan line, and a control terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the readout line;

a first sensing unit, configured for sensing the first energy, and converting the sensed first energy to a first data signal;

a first storage unit, coupled to the first scan line and the first sensing unit, and configured for storing the first data signal, wherein one terminal of the first storage unit is coupled to the first scan line, and another terminal of the first storage unit is coupled to a second terminal of the first reset unit,

wherein the sensing apparatus further comprising;

a second sensing device, coupled to a second scan line and the readout line, and configured for sensing a second energy, wherein the second sensing device outputs a second readout signal corresponding to the second energy to the readout line in response to a second scan signal on the second scan line, and the first scan signal and the second scan signal enable the first sensing device and the second sensing device in sequence,

wherein when the reference signal provided by the external interpretation unit on the readout line is in a high voltage level, the first scan signal on the first scan line enables the first terminal of the first reset unit to be conducted with the second terminal, and the first scan signal is at a low voltage such that the terminal and the other terminal of the first storage unit are both in a low voltage level, so as to reset the first storage unit.

2. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensing device comprises:

a first amplification unit, having a control terminal coupled to the reset unit, the first scan line and the readout line, the first amplification unit is configured to output the first readout signal corresponding to the first data signal to the readout line in response to the first scan signal from the first scan line.

3. The sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first storage unit is a capacitor, and a capacitance value of the capacitor is greater than 10 times or more of a parasitic capacitance value between a current input terminal and the control terminal of the first amplification unit.

4. The sensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first sensing unit is an electromagnetic sensing unit, a pressure sensing unit, a temperature sensing unit or a touch sensing unit.

5. The sensing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic sensing unit is a photodiode, a photoresistor, a photoconductor or a phototransistor.

6. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first reset unit is configured for resetting the first storage unit in response to the first scan signal on the first scan line and the reference signal on the readout line.

7. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second sensing device comprises:

a second reset unit, configured for resetting the second sensing device, wherein a first terminal of the second reset unit is coupled to the second scan line, and a control terminal of the second reset unit is coupled to the readout line; and

a second amplification unit, having a control terminal coupled to the second reset unit, the second scan line and the readout line, wherein the second amplification unit is configured to output the second readout signal corresponding to the second data signal to the readout line in response to the second scan signal from the second scan line.

8. The sensing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second sensing device further comprises:

a second sensing unit, configured for sensing the second energy, and converting the sensed second energy to a second data signal;

a second storage unit, coupled to the second scan line and the second sensing unit, and configured for storing the second data signal, wherein one terminal of the second storage unit is coupled to the second scan line, and the other terminal of the second storage unit is coupled to the second terminal of the second reset unit.

9. The sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second reset unit is configured for resetting the second storage unit in response to the second scan signal on the second scan line and the reference signal on the readout line.

10. The sensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second storage unit is a capacitor, and a capacitance value of the capacitor is greater than 10 times or more of a parasitic capacitance value between the current input terminal and the control terminal of the second amplification unit.

11. The sensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first energy and the second energy are light energy, electromagnetic energy, mechanical energy, heat energy or electric energy.

12. A driving method, applicable to a sensing apparatus, comprising:

in the sensing apparatus, providing a first sensing device and a second sensing device to respectively sense a first energy and a second energy;

making the first sensing device output a first readout signal corresponding to the first energy in response to a first scan signal;

making the second sensing device output a second readout signal corresponding to the second energy in response to a second scan signal; and

resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to a reset voltage respectively applied to them having at least one pulse signal,

wherein the step of resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal comprises;

when a reference voltage on the readout line connected to the first sensing device and the second sensing device is at a high voltage, repeating a read frame procedure for at least two times, to obtain a plurality of readout signals of a plurality of frames, wherein each read frame procedure comprises applying a first positive voltage pulse scan signal through the first scan line connected to the first sensing device to enable the first sensing device, and after the first sensing device is enabled, applying a second positive voltage pulse scan signal through the second scan line connected to the second sensing device to enable the second sensing device; and

in a plurality of reset time intervals of a reset frame after repeating the read frame procedure for at least two times, applying a first negative voltage pulse scan signal through the first scan line connected to the first sensing device to reset the first sensing device, and after the first sensing device is reset, applying a second negative voltage pulse scan signal through the second scan line connected to the second sensing device to reset the second sensing device.

13. The driving method of claim 12, wherein the first scan signal and the second scan signal respectively enable the first sensing device and the second sensing device in sequence.

14. The driving method of claim 12, wherein the step of making the first sensing device output the first readout signal corresponding to the first energy in response to the first scan signal comprises:

converting the sensed first energy to a first data signal;

storing the first data signal; and

outputting the first readout signal corresponding to the first data signal in response to the first scan signal.

15. The driving method of claim 14, wherein the step of making the second sensing device output the second readout signal corresponding to the second energy in response to the second scan signal comprises:

converting the sensed second energy to a second data signal;

storing the second data signal; and

outputting the second readout signal corresponding to the second data signal in response to the second scan signal.

16. The driving method of claim 15, wherein the step of resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal comprises:

executing a column reset procedure, wherein the column reset procedure is that when the first scan signal and the second scan signal are both in a low voltage level, the first scan signal resets the stored first data signal, and the second scan signal resets the stored second data signal, as enabled by a reference signal at a high voltage level provided by the readout line connected to both the first sensing device and the second sensing device.

17. The driving method of claim 15, wherein the step of resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal comprises:

executing a global reset procedure, wherein the global reset procedure is that when all scan signals in the sensing device are in a low voltage level, all the scan signals reset all data signals stored by all sensing devices in the sensing apparatus, as enabled by a plurality of reference signals in a high voltage level provided by all readout lines in the sensing device at the same time.

18. The driving method of claim 15, wherein the step of resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal comprises:

repeating the read frame procedure for at least two times, to obtain the plurality of readout signals of the plurality of frames, wherein each read frame procedure makes all sensing devices in the sensing apparatus output the readout signals corresponding to a plurality of energies respectively in response to a plurality of corresponding scan signals;

averaging the readout signals of the frames to obtain a plurality of readout signals of an average frame; and

after repeating the read frame procedure for at least two times, making the first sensing device and the second sensing device to be reset at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal.

19. The driving method of claim 15, wherein the step of resetting the first sensing device and the second sensing device at the same time or in sequence in response to the reset voltage having the at least one pulse signal further comprises:

in a reset time interval of a reset frame after repeating the read frame procedure for at least two times, providing a plurality of negative voltage pulse scan signals at the same time through all scan lines to respectively reset all sensing devices in the sensing apparatus.

20. The driving method of claim 12, wherein the first energy and the second energy are light energy, electromagnetic energy, mechanical energy, heat energy or electric energy.

21. A driving method, applicable to a sensing apparatus, comprising:

providing a plurality of sensing devices in the sensing apparatus;

respectively disposing a plurality of reset units in the sensing devices; and

applying a plurality of direct current biases of a preset time interval at the same time through a plurality of readout lines respectively connected to a plurality of control terminals of the reset units, or applying a plurality of negative scan biases of the preset time interval at the same time through a plurality of scan lines connected to the reset units, to program a plurality of threshold voltages of the control terminals of the reset units, wherein the preset time interval is at least one hour,

wherein the sensing apparatus comprises;

a first scan line of the plurality of scan lines;

a second scan line of the plurality of scan lines;

a specific readout line of the plurality of readout lines;

a first sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices, coupled to the first scan line and the specific readout line, and configured for sensing a first energy, wherein the first sensing device outputs a first readout signal corresponding to the first energy to the specific readout line in response to a first scan signal on the first scan line, and the first sensing device is reset in response to the first scan signal and a reference signal provided by an external interpretation unit on the specific readout line, wherein the first sensing device comprises;

a first reset unit, configured for resetting the first sensing device, wherein a first terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the first scan line, and a control terminal of the first reset unit is coupled to the specific readout line;

a first sensing unit, configured for sensing the first energy, and converting the sensed first energy to a first data signal;

a first storage unit, coupled to the first scan line and the first sensing unit, and configured for storing the first data signal, wherein one terminal of the first storage unit is coupled to the first scan line, and another terminal of the first storage unit is coupled to a second terminal of the first reset unit,

wherein the sensing apparatus further comprising;

a second sensing device of the plurality of sensing devices, coupled to the second scan line and the specific readout line, and configured for sensing a second energy, wherein the second sensing device outputs a second readout signal corresponding to the second energy to the specific readout line in response to a second scan signal on the second scan line, and the first scan signal and the second scan signal enable the first sensing device and the second sensing device in sequence,

wherein when the reference signal provided by the external interpretation unit on the specific readout line is in a high voltage level, the first scan signal on the first scan line enables the first terminal of the first reset unit to be conducted with the second terminal, and the first scan signal is at a low voltage such that the terminal and the other terminal of the first storage unit are both in a low voltage level, so as to reset the first storage unit.

22. The driving method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying the direct current biases of the preset time interval at the same time through the readout lines respectively connected to the control terminals of the reset units comprises:

applying the direct current bias of the preset time interval on the control terminals of the reset units at the same time through the readout lines, wherein the direct current bias is a negative voltage.

23. The driving method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying the direct current biases of the preset time interval at the same time through the readout lines respectively connected to the control terminals of the reset units comprises:

applying the direct current bias of the preset time interval on the control terminals of the reset units at the same time through the readout lines, wherein the direct current bias is a positive voltage.

24. The driving method of claim 21, wherein the step of applying the negative scan biases of the preset time interval at the same time through the scan lines connected to the reset units comprises:

applying the negative scan biases of the preset time interval on a plurality of corresponding terminals of the reset units electrically connected to the scan lines at the same time through the scan lines.