Sensor-equipped display device and method of controlling the same

• US 9,720,536 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Japan Display Incorporated
• Inventors: Azumi, Kohei, Mizuhashi, Hiroshi, Kurasawa, Hayato
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Carolyn R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M
• Application Number:
  US14/852,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20160092020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 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 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3655 Details of drivers for counter electrodes, e.g. common electrodes for pixel capacitors or supplementary storage capacitors

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a first substrate includes a gate line extending in a first direction, a source line extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a switching element SW which is connected to the gate line and the source line, and a pixel electrode which is connected to the switching element SW. The first substrate includes a common electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrode, and a detection electrode element Tx necessary for sensing a state of closeness of a conductor brought externally, that extends parallel to the common electrode and is formed of a metallic material. By this structure, power consumption of a drive electrode of an input sensor can be reduced, and improvement of a drive frequency can be obtained.

Claims

1. A sensor-equipped display device comprising:

a first substrate comprising a gate line extending in a first direction, a source line extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a switching element which is electrically connected to the gate line and the source line, and a pixel electrode which is electrically connected to the switching element;

a common electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrode and extending in the first direction; and

a detection electrode element which extends parallel to the common electrode, is formed of a metallic material, and is driven for sensing a state of closeness of a conductor brought externally,

wherein;

common electrodes, each corresponding to the common electrode of the first substrate, are driven by a first driving circuit for each bundle (or group) of n electrodes (where n is a positive integer), and detection electrode elements, each corresponding to the detection electrode element of the first substrate, are paired with the common electrodes and are driven by a second driving circuit for each bundle (or group) of n elements (where n is a positive integer); and

when one bundle of the detection electrode elements is given a drive pulse from the second driving circuit, the first driving circuit allows a bundle of the common electrodes corresponding to the one bundle of the detection electrode elements being driven to be in a floating state, and fixes the remaining common electrodes at a predetermined direct-current voltage.

2. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 1, wherein a second substrate, which is opposed to the first substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, is opposed to the gate line and the detection electrode element, and comprises a light-shielding film extending in the first direction.

3. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 2, wherein the second substrate comprises second detection electrode elements which output detection signals when the detection electrode elements provided in the first substrate are driven.

4. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 2, wherein the second substrate comprises second detection electrode elements which are usable for a self-detection method.

5. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 1, wherein the detection electrode element is positioned in a same layer as a layer in which the common electrode is arranged.

6. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 1, wherein the detection electrode element is positioned in a same layer as a layer in which the pixel electrode is arranged.

7. The sensor-equipped display device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of detection electrode elements are provided close to each other and parallel such that they correspond to the common electrode.

8. A method of controlling a display device comprising a first substrate and a second substrate,

the first substrate comprising:

a gate line extending in a first direction, and a source line extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction;

a switching element which is electrically connected to the gate line and the source line, and a pixel electrode which is electrically connected to the switching element;

a common electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrode and extending in the first direction; and

a detection electrode element which extends parallel to the common electrode, is formed of a metallic material, and is necessary for sensing a state of closeness of a conductor brought externally,

the second substrate being opposed to the first substrate with a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, opposed to the gate line and the detection electrode element, and comprising a light-shielding film extending in the first direction, wherein;

common electrodes, each corresponding to the common electrode of the first substrate, are driven by a first driving circuit for each bundle (or group) of n electrodes (where n is a positive integer), and detection electrode elements, each corresponding to the detection electrode element of the first substrate, are paired with the common electrodes and are driven by a second driving circuit for each bundle (or group) of n elements (where n is a positive integer); and

when one bundle of the detection electrode elements is given a drive pulse from the second driving circuit, the first driving circuit allows a bundle of the common electrodes corresponding to the one bundle of the detection electrode elements being driven to be in a floating state, and fixes the remaining common electrodes at a predetermined direct-current voltage.

9. The method of controlling the display device of claim 8, wherein when a pixel signal is written in a region of the pixel electrode selected by the gate line and the source line, and/or the written pixel signal is retained, the second driving circuit sets the detection electrode elements to be at a same direct-current potential as the common electrode.