Display/touch temporal separation

• US 9,772,704 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2013
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Yousefpor, Marduke
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa-Gibson, Gloryvid
• Application Number:
  US13/968,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20150049041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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 3/36 using liquid crystals

Abstract

Touch sensitive displays are disclosed that can include circuitry that is segmented into multiple portions that can be independently operated. Touch sensitive display circuitry can be split in half with an upper portion and a lower portion that can each be independently operated. The separate circuitry portions can be used for performing display operations and for performing touch sensing operations. Display operations can be performed in one portion of the display while touch sensing operations are simultaneously performed in another portion of the display. Periodically, the operation being performed in a given portion of the display can be switched so as to alternatingly update that portion of the display and sense touch events in that region.

Claims

1. An integrated touch sensitive display comprising:

a first portion of the display comprising first integrated display and touch sensing circuitry, the first integrated display and touch sensing circuitry including a first plurality of data lines that extend in parallel from a first edge of the display to a gap area dividing the display; and

a second portion of the display comprising second integrated display and touch sensing circuitry, the second integrated display and touch sensing circuitry including a second plurality of data lines, different from the first plurality of data lines, that extend in parallel from a second edge of the display opposite that of the first edge to the gap area;

wherein the second integrated display and touch sensing circuitry is configurable to perform touch sensing operations during a first time period, and the first integrated display and touch sensing circuitry is configurable to perform display operations simultaneous with the performance of the touch sensing operations by the second integrated display and touch sensing circuitry during the first time period, the second plurality of data lines configurable to carry second touch signals and the first plurality of data lines configurable to carry first display signals during the first time period; and

wherein the second plurality of data lines are configurable to carry second display signals and the first plurality of data lines are configurable to carry first touch signals during a second time period different from the first time period.

2. The display of claim 1, further comprising:

a first display driver configured for driving the first portion of the display; and

a second display driver configured for driving the second portion of the display.

3. The display of claim 1, further comprising:

a first touch controller configured for sensing touch events in the first portion of the display; and

a second touch controller configured for sensing touch events in the second portion of the display.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein the gap area separates the first plurality of data lines from the second plurality of data lines.

5. The display of claim 1 incorporated into at least one of a mobile phone or a tablet.

6. A touch sensitive display comprising:

first display and touch sensing circuitry configured for carrying first signals and second signals associated with a first portion of the display, the second signals carried on a first plurality of data lines that extend in parallel from a first edge of the display to a gap area dividing the display; and

second display and touch sensing circuitry configured for carrying third signals and fourth signals associated with a second portion of the display, the fourth signals carried on a second plurality of data lines, different from the first plurality of data lines, that extend in parallel from a second edge of the display opposite that of the first edge to the gap area;

wherein the first display and touch sensing circuitry is configurable for performing first display operations independently from a performance of second touch sensing operations at the second display and touch sensing circuitry during a first time period, the first plurality of data lines configurable to carry first display signals and the second plurality of data lines configurable to carry second touch signals during the first time period; and

wherein the first plurality of data lines are configurable to carry first touch signals and the second plurality of data lines are configurable to carry second display signals during a second time period different from the first time period.

7. The display of claim 6, wherein the first display and touch sensing circuitry is further configured for performing the first display operations alternatingly with first touch sensing operations.

8. The display of claim 7,

wherein the second display and touch sensing circuitry is further configured for performing the second touch sensing operations alternatingly with second display operations.

9. The display of claim 8, wherein the first display operations of the first display and touch sensing circuitry are capable of being performed concurrently with the second touch sensing operations of the second display and touch sensing circuitry;

and

wherein the first touch sensing operations of the first display and touch sensing circuitry are capable of being performed concurrently with the second display operations of the second display and touch sensing circuitry.

10. The display of claim 6;

wherein the first display and touch sensing circuitry is configured for transmitting first stimulation signals to and receiving first sense signals from a first plurality of touch nodes in the first portion of the display; and

wherein the second display and touch sensing circuitry is configured for transmitting second stimulation signals to and receiving second sense signals from a second plurality of touch nodes in the second portion of the display.

11. A touch sensitive display comprising:

a first portion of the display, the first portion of the display including a first plurality of data lines that extend in parallel from a first edge of the display to a gap area dividing the display;

first circuitry configured for carrying first signals for performing first display or touch sensing operations to the first plurality of data lines in the first portion of the display;

a second portion of the display, the second portion of the display including a second plurality of data lines that extend in parallel from a second edge of the display opposite that of the first edge to the gap area; and

second circuitry configured for carrying second signals for performing second touch sensing or display operations to the second plurality of data lines in the second portion of the display;

wherein the first and second portions of the display are configured for switchably performing the display and touch sensing operations therebetween.

12. The display of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the display comprises a first plurality of display pixels capable of displaying first display data in the first portion;

wherein the second portion of the display comprises a second plurality of display pixels capable of displaying second display data in the second portion; and

wherein the first portion of the display is capable of operating independently from the second portion of the display.

13. The display of claim 11, wherein the first circuitry is further configurable for generating first stimulation signals and the second circuitry is further configurable for generating second stimulation signals;

wherein the first portion of the display comprises a first plurality of touch drive lines and touch sense lines;

wherein the second portion of the display comprises a second plurality of touch drive lines and touch sense lines; and

wherein the first plurality of touch drive lines and touch sense lines is separated by the gap area from the second plurality of touch drive lines and touch sense lines.

14. The display of claim 11, wherein the first portion of the display comprises a first plurality of touch nodes capable of detecting first touch events in the first portion;

wherein the second portion of the display comprises a second plurality of touch nodes capable of detecting second touch events in the second portion; and

wherein the first portion of the display is capable of operating independently from the second portion of the display.

15. The display of claim 11, wherein the first circuitry is configurable for performing the first display operations and the first touch sensing operations using a first plurality of common signal lines in the first portion of the display at different times;

and

wherein the second circuitry is configurable for performing the second display operations and the second touch sensing operations using a second plurality of common signal lines in the second portion of the display at different times.

16. A method comprising:

driving a first portion of a touch sensitive display with a first voltage and carrying the first voltage from a first edge of the display to a gap area dividing the display;

driving a second portion of the touch sensitive display with a second voltage and carrying the second voltage from a second edge of the display opposite that of the first edge to the gap area;

sensing first touch events on the first portion of the display;

updating second display data on the second portion of the display concurrently with sensing the first touch events on the first portion of the display; and

switching the first voltage and the second voltage to sense second touch events on the second portion of the display and update first display data on the first portion of the display.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

alternating between a first mode and a second mode;

wherein the first mode comprises concurrently sensing the first touch events on the first portion of the display and updating the second display data on the second portion of the display; and

wherein the second mode comprises concurrently sensing the second touch events on the second portion of the display and updating the first display data on the first portion of the display.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the display comprises first integrated display and touch circuitry in the first portion of the display that is independently operable from second integrated display and touch circuitry in the second portion of the display.

19. A system comprising:

a first active display/touch area in a touch sensitive display including

first display circuitry operable to transmit first display data signals for refreshing first display data to a first plurality of data lines in the first active display/touch area, the first plurality of data lines extending in parallel from a first edge of the display to a gap area dividing the display, and

first touch sensing circuitry operable to transmit first touch stimulation signals for sensing first touch events to the first plurality of data lines in first active display/touch area; and

a second active display/touch area in the touch sensitive display including

second display circuitry operable to transmit second display data signals for refreshing second display data to a second plurality of data lines in the second active display/touch area, the second plurality of data lines extending in parallel from a second edge of the display opposite that of the first edge to the gap area, and

second touch sensing circuitry operable to transmit second touch stimulation signals for sensing second touch events to the second plurality of data lines in the second active display/touch area;

wherein the first display refreshing and touch sensing in the first active display/touch area are independently operable from the second display refreshing and touch sensing in the second active display/touch area, the first active display/touch area and the second active display/touch area perform display refreshing and touch sensing switchably therebetween.

20. The system of claim 19,

wherein the first active display/touch area is capable of being operated independently from the second active display/touch area.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the first active display/touch area and the second active display/touch area comprise a display stack with multiple layers;

wherein the first active display/touch area comprises;

a first plurality of touch nodes in a first layer in the display stack; and

a first plurality of display pixels in a second layer in the display stack; and

wherein the second active display/touch area comprises;

a second plurality of touch nodes in the first layer in the display stack; and

a second plurality of display pixels in the second layer in the display stack.