U.S. patent application number 15/399160 was filed with the patent office on 2017-04-27 for touch controller, electronic device and display device including touch controller, and touch sensing method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yoon-kyung CHOI, Bum-soo KIM, Jin-bong KIM, Steve J. KIM, Jong-oh LEE.
Application Number | 20170115817 15/399160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52809263 |
Filed Date | 2017-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170115817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Jin-bong ; et
al. |
April 27, 2017 |
TOUCH CONTROLLER, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING
TOUCH CONTROLLER, AND TOUCH SENSING METHOD
Abstract
A touch sensing device includes a touch screen panel including a
touch sensor configured to generate a first electrical change
corresponding to a touch and a touch controller configured to
detect touch position data with respect to an area on the touch
screen panel associated with the touch, based on the first
electrical change of the touch sensor.
Inventors: |
KIM; Jin-bong; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; CHOI; Yoon-kyung; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE;
Jong-oh; (Anyang-si, KR) ; KIM; Bum-soo;
(Seoul, KR) ; KIM; Steve J.; (Seongnam-si,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
52809263 |
Appl. No.: |
15/399160 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14332520 |
Jul 16, 2014 |
9569046 |
|
|
15399160 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0416 20130101;
G06F 3/044 20130101; G06F 3/041 20130101; G06F 2203/04104 20130101;
G06F 3/0446 20190501; G06F 2203/04108 20130101; G06F 2203/04101
20130101; G06F 3/041662 20190501 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 3/044 20060101 G06F003/044 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 11, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0121504 |
Claims
1. A display device comprising: a touch screen panel including a
plurality of sensing units; and a touch controller configured: to
detect first sensing values of the plurality of sensing units using
a first touch sensing method when the display device is in a first
mode; to detect second sensing values of the plurality of sensing
units using a second touch sensing method when the display device
is in the first mode; and to detect third sensing values of the
plurality of sensing units using the second touch sensing method
when the display device is in a second mode different from the
first mode, wherein the first touch sensing method is different
from the second touch sensing method
2. The display device of the claim 1, wherein the second sensing
method is a mutual capacitance method.
3. The display device of the claim 1, wherein the touch controller
is configured to periodically check the touch screen panel whether
a touch input is made.
4. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the display device
further comprises a display driving unit, and wherein the touch
controller is configured to periodically check whether the touch
input is made when the display driving unit is in a sleep
state.
5. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the touch controller
is further configured to simultaneously apply a driving voltage to
at least two of a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the
plurality of sensing units.
6. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the touch controller
is further configured to apply a driving voltage to a plurality of
sensing electrodes connected to the plurality of sensing units row
by row.
7. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the touch controller
is further configured to apply a driving voltage to a plurality of
sensing electrodes connected to the plurality of sensing units
column by column.
8. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the first touch
sensing method is a self-capacitance method.
9. The display device of the claim 3, wherein the touch controller
includes a driving and amplifying unit, and the driving and
amplifying unit is configured to apply a first driving voltage to a
plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the plurality of
sensing units, and configured to apply a second driving voltage to
the plurality of sensing electrodes.
10. The display device of the claim 9, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to receive the first sensing
values of the plurality of sensing units in response to the first
driving voltage, and configured to receive the second sensing
values of the plurality of the sensing units in response to the
second driving voltage.
11. A touch controller comprising: a driving and amplifying unit
comprising a negative input and a positive input, the driving and
amplifying unit being configured: to apply a first driving voltage
to a plurality of sensing electrodes in a first mode; to apply a
second driving voltage to the plurality of sensing electrodes in a
second mode different from the first mode; to receive first sensing
values of a plurality of sensing units connected to the plurality
of the sensing electrodes in response to the first driving voltage;
and to receive second sensing values of the plurality of the
sensing units in response to the second driving voltage, wherein
the driving and amplifying unit is configured to apply the first
driving voltage to the negative input, and configured to receive
the first sensing value from the negative input.
12. The touch controller of claim 11, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to detect the first sensing
values using a first touch sensing method in the first mode, and
configured to detect the second sensing values using a second touch
sensing method different from the first touch sensing method in the
second mode.
13. The touch controller of claim 12, wherein the first sensing
method is a self-capacitance method, and the second sensing method
is a mutual capacitance method.
14. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to simultaneously apply the
second driving voltage to at least two of the plurality of the
sensing electrodes.
15. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to apply the second driving
voltage to the plurality of the sensing electrodes row by row.
16. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to apply the second driving
voltage to the plurality of the sensing electrodes column by
column.
17. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the driving and
amplifying unit is further configured to apply the second driving
voltage to a portion of the plurality of the sensing electrodes
based on the first sensing value.
18. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the touch controller
is further configured to periodically check whether a touch input
is made when a display panel is turned off.
19. A touch controller comprising: a driving unit configured to
apply a first driving voltage to a plurality of sensing electrodes
connected to a plurality of sensing units in a first mode, and
configured to apply a second driving voltage to the plurality of
the sensing electrodes in a second mode that is different from the
first mode; and an amplifying unit configured to receive first
sensing values and second sensing values from the plurality of the
sensing units, wherein the driving unit is configured to apply the
first and second driving voltages to the negative input.
20. The touch controller of claim 19, wherein the driving unit is
further configured to detect the first sensing values using a
self-capacitance method in the first mode, and configured to detect
the second sensing values using a mutual capacitance method in the
second mode.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of and claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120/121 to U.S. application Ser. No.
14/332,520 filed Jul. 16, 2014, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0121504,
filed on Oct. 11, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office,
the entire contents of each of these applications are incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Some inventive concepts relate to a touch controller, a
display device and an electronic device including the touch
controller, and/or a touch sensing method.
SUMMARY
[0003] Some inventive concepts provide a touch controller capable
of improving touch sensitivity, a display device and an electronic
device including the touch controller, and a touch sensing
method.
[0004] Some inventive concepts provide a touch controller that is
capable of operating with low power consumption, a display device
and an electronic device including the touch controller, and a
touch sensing method
[0005] According to an example embodiment of inventive concepts,
there is provided a touch sensing device including a touch screen
panel including a touch sensor configured to generate a first
electrical change corresponding to a touch and a touch controller
configured to detect touch position data with respect to an area on
the touch screen panel in which the touch is generated, based on
the first electrical change of the touch sensor, the touch
controller including, a first detection unit configured to detect
the first electrical change in the touch sensor in a first mode as
a plurality of pieces of candidate position data with respect to an
area where at least two hoverings are generated and a second
detection unit configured to detect a second electrical change in
at least one area of the touch sensor corresponding to the
plurality of pieces of candidate position data in a second mode
that is different from the first mode, to select the touch position
data with respect to the at least two hoverings based on the second
electrical change.
[0006] According to an example embodiment of inventive concepts,
there is provided a touch sensing device including a touch screen
panel comprising a touch sensor in which an electrical change
corresponding to a touch is generated and a touch controller for
receiving the electrical change by applying a driving voltage to
the touch sensor and outputting data corresponding to an area where
the touch is generated, wherein in a hovering mode, the touch
controller primarily processes the electrical change corresponding
to the touch in a single touch mode, and secondarily processes the
electrical change corresponding to the touch in a multi-touch
mode.
[0007] According to another example embodiment of inventive
concepts, there is provided a display device including a touch
screen panel including a sensing array having a plurality of rows
and a plurality of columns connected to a plurality of sensing
units, the sensing array configured to generate a change in
capacitance in areas of the sensing array corresponding to a
plurality of concurrently generated hoverings and a touch
controller configured to detect a plurality of pieces of candidate
position data based on a first reception voltage corresponding to
the change in capacitance in a single touch mode, process the
plurality of pieces of candidate position data in a multi-touch
mode, and detect touch position data with respect to an area of the
sensing array corresponding to each of the plurality of
hoverings.
[0008] According to another example embodiment of inventive
concepts, there is provided a touch sensing method including
determining whether a hovering is generated with respect to a touch
screen panel, extracting touch position data including a ghost,
with respect to the hovering, in a single touch mode based on the
determining, removing the ghost from the touch position data in a
multi-touch mode, based on the touch position data extracted in the
single touch mode and processing the touch position data from which
the ghost is removed, as position data with respect to the
hovering.
[0009] At least one example embodiment discloses a touch sensing
device including a touch panel including a plurality of sensing
circuits, the plurality of sensing circuits configured to generate
sensing signals in response to a driving voltage and a touch
controller configured to apply the driving voltage to the sensing
circuits in a first mode and apply the driving voltage to at most a
portion of the sensing circuits in a second mode based on the
sensing signals
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Example embodiments of inventive concepts will be more
clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a touch sensing
device according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a diagram to explain a change in capacitance due
to a touch when a mutual capacitive touch screen panel is used;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a graph showing a variation in capacitance
according to a touch;
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a display device including
the touch sensing device of FIG. 1, according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a display device including
the touch sensing device of FIG. 1, according to another example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0017] FIG. 7A is a diagram to explain a first detection unit of
FIG. 1 operating in a single touch mode, according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0018] FIG. 7B is a diagram to explain a detection object of the
first detection unit of FIG. 7A, according to an example embodiment
of inventive concepts;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a diagram to explain an operation of switches of
FIG. 7A according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts;
[0020] FIG. 9A illustrates a signal processing unit that is further
included in the first detection unit of FIG. 7A, according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0021] FIG. 9B is a diagram to explain an operating principle of
the signal processing unit of FIG. 9A, according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0022] FIG. 10 illustrates candidate position data with respect to
a hovering according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts;
[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates candidate position data with respect to
a hovering according to another example embodiment of inventive
concepts;
[0024] FIGS. 12 and 13A are diagrams to explain a second detection
unit of FIG. 1 operating in a multi-touch mode, according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0025] FIGS. 13B and 13C illustrate a sensing operation in the
multi-touch mode of FIG. 13A, according to an example embodiment of
inventive concepts;
[0026] FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of
FIG. 1 with respect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0027] FIG. 15 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of
FIG. 1 with respect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A
according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0028] FIG. 16 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of
FIG. 1 with respect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A
according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0029] FIG. 17 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of
FIG. 1 with respect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A
according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0030] FIG. 18 illustrates a signal processing unit of the second
detection unit of FIG. 12 according to an example embodiment of
inventive concepts;
[0031] FIG. 19 is a diagram to explain an operation of the signal
processing unit of FIG. 18 according to an example embodiment of
inventive concepts;
[0032] FIG. 20 illustrates candidate position data that is
different from that of FIG. 13A, according to another example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0033] FIG. 21 illustrates a second detection unit that is adaptive
to the candidate position data of FIG. 20, according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0034] FIG. 22 illustrates a touch controller 140 having a
structure in which the first detection unit and the second
detection unit of FIG. 1 are commonly included;
[0035] FIG. 23 is a detailed view illustrating a driving unit and
an amplifying unit of FIG. 22, according to an example embodiment
of inventive concepts;
[0036] FIG. 24 illustrates the touch controller of FIG. 1 according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0037] FIG. 25 illustrates the touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to
another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0038] FIG. 26 illustrates the touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to
another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0039] FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a touch sensing method
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0040] FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0041] FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0042] FIG. 30 illustrates a display device according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0043] FIG. 31 illustrates a relationship between a timing and a
power voltage between a touch controller and a display driving unit
of FIG. 30, according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts;
[0044] FIG. 32 illustrates a printed circuit board (PCB) structure
of a display device mounted with a touch screen panel according to
an example embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0045] FIG. 33 illustrates a PCB structure in which a touch screen
panel and a display panel are integrated, according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts;
[0046] FIG. 34 illustrates a display device mounted with a
semiconductor chip including a touch controller and a display
driving unit, according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts; and
[0047] FIG. 35 illustrates application examples of electronic
products including a touch sensing device according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0048] The attached drawings for illustrating example embodiments
of inventive concepts are referred to in order to gain a sufficient
understanding of inventive concepts, the merits thereof, and the
objectives accomplished by the implementation of inventive
concepts. Hereinafter, inventive concepts will be described in
detail by explaining example embodiments with reference to the
attached drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote
like elements.
[0049] As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all
combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Expressions such as "at least one of," when preceding a list of
elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the
individual elements of the list.
[0050] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a touch sensing
device 100 according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts. The touch sensing device 100 includes a touch screen
panel 120 and a touch controller 140. The touch screen panel 120
generates an electrical change ECG corresponding to a touch that is
generated by contacting or approaching the touch screen panel 120.
The electrical change ECG may be sensed in response to a driving
voltage DV applied by using the touch controller 140. The
electrical change ECG may be transmitted to the touch controller
140 as a sensing value SEN.
[0051] Hereinafter, a touch generated by contacting the touch
screen panel 120 will be referred to as a contact touch. Also, a
touch generated by approaching the touch screen panel 120 but not
actually touching it, that is, a touch generated at a distance
spatially apart from the touch screen panel 120 will be referred to
as a hovering. The touch screen panel 120 includes a touch sensor
122 that generates an electrical change ECG with respect to a
contact touch or a hovering.
[0052] FIG. 2 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according
to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS.
1 and 2, the touch sensor 122 may include a sensing array SARY
including a plurality or rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn, to which a
plurality of sensing units SU are electrically connected, and a
plurality of columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm, to which a plurality of
sensing units SU are electrically connected. The touch sensor 122
may be a mutual capacitive touch sensor in which the sensing units
SU generate a change in capacitance, according to a touch.
[0053] FIG. 3 is a diagram to explain a change in capacitance due
to a touch when a mutual capacitance touch screen panel is used.
Referring to FIG. 3, according to a mutual capacitance method, a
voltage pulse is applied to a driving electrode, and a charge
corresponding to a voltage pulse is collected by a receive
electrode. When the finger of a person is placed between two
electrodes, an electrical field (dotted line) is changed. A change
in the electrical field causes a change in capacitance. Although
FIG. 3 illustrates a contact touch, a hovering also causes a change
in an electrical field. Also, although a contact touch by the
finger is illustrated in FIG. 3, a change in an electrical field is
also generated due to a touch via other conductors such as a touch
pen.
[0054] Capacitance between electrodes is changed by a change in an
electrical field between two electrodes, and a touch is sensed
based on the change in the electrical field. However, example
embodiments of inventive concepts are not limited thereto. While
FIG. 3 illustrates that a change in an electrical field due to a
touch is sensed by a receive electrode, a change in capacitance may
also be sensed from both electrodes.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a graph showing a variation in capacitance
according to a touch. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the
sensing units SU has a parasitic capacitance component Cb. For
example, each of the sensing units SU may have a parasitic
capacitance component Cb including a horizontal parasitic
capacitance component generated between adjacent sensing units and
a vertical parasitic capacitance component between arbitrary
electrodes (e.g., a common voltage electrode or a ground voltage
electrode). The vertical parasitic capacitance component will be
described in further detail.
[0056] FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a display device 500
including the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 5, the
display device 500 may include a display panel 520 and a touch
screen panel 120. The display device 500 may be, for example, a
liquid crystal device (LCD), a field emission display device (FED),
an organic light emitting display (OLED), or a plasma display
device (PDP). The display panel 520 may have a structure and may be
formed of a material corresponding to a type of the display device
500.
[0057] To provide process or price competitiveness, the touch
screen panel 120 may be integrated with the display panel 520 of
the display device 500. FIG. 5 illustrates the touch screen panel
120 mounted on the display panel 520. However, example embodiments
of inventive concepts are not limited thereto, and the touch screen
panel 120 may also be disposed under the display panel 520. For
convenience of description, an example in which the touch screen
panel 120 is disposed on the display panel 520 will be described.
The touch screen panel 120 may be spaced apart from the display
panel 520 by a distance or may be attached to an upper plate of the
display panel 520. For example, when the display panel 520 is a
liquid crystal display panel, the upper plate of the display panel
520 may include a common voltage electrode 522. In this case, a
vertical parasitic capacitance component Cv may be formed between
each of the sensing units SU and the common voltage electrode 522.
However, example embodiments of inventive concepts are not limited
thereto, and a vertical parasitic capacitance component Cv may also
be formed between each of the sensing units SU and a ground voltage
electrode included in the touch screen panel 120.
[0058] While FIG. 5 illustrates an On-cell type display in which
the display panel 520 is included as panel or a layer that is
separate from the touch screen panel 120, example embodiments of
inventive concepts are not limited thereto.
[0059] FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a display device 600
including the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1, according to
another example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG.
6, the display device 600 may be an In-Cell type display in which
display pixels DPX used in displaying and sensing units SU used in
sensing a touch are formed in the same layer.
[0060] While FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement in which the same
number of display pixels DPX and the same number of sensing units
SU are alternately arranged on a common panel, other arrangements
may be implemented. Unlike FIG. 6, more display pixels DPX may be
included than sensing units SU. Alternatively, display pixels DPX
and sensing units SU may be arranged in a different arrangement
from that of FIG. 6. Also, each of the display pixels DPX of FIG. 6
may include R, G, and B pixels.
[0061] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 again, in the sensing array SARY
including a parasitic capacitance as described above, a capacitance
Csen of the sensing unit SU may have a value Cb corresponding to a
parasitic capacitance in a section A of FIG. 4 where no touch is
generated. A section B of FIG. 4 denotes an example where a
conductive material has contacted the sensing unit SU. In this
case, a capacitance (Csen'=Cb+Csig) increases as the parasitic
capacitance component Cb and a capacitance component Csig generated
between the finger and the touch screen panel 120 are additionally
generated.
[0062] However, example embodiments of inventive concepts are not
limited thereto. While FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which
capacitance increases due to a touch, the touch sensing device 100
of FIG. 1 may also be designed such that capacitance decreases due
to a touch. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, as a portion of
an electrical field formed between a driving electrode and a
receive electrode is blocked due to a touch, capacitance that is
proportional to an intensity of an electrical field may be reduced.
In this case, the touch sensing device 100 may perceive this as a
touch generated in a section of the sensing array SARY where
capacitance decreases.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 1 again, in response to the change in
capacitance as described above, the touch controller 140 detects
touch position data TPD with respect to an area on the touch screen
panel 120 where a touch is generated is generated. The touch
position data TPD, that is, the area where a touch is generated,
may be represented as a position of at least one sensing unit SU on
the sensing array SARY of FIG. 2. Hereinafter, a structure and
operation of the touch controller 140 will be described in further
detail.
[0064] The touch controller 140 includes a first detection unit 142
and a second detection unit 144. If at least two hoverings occur
with respect to the touch screen panel 120, the first detection
unit 142 detects an electrical change ECG of the touch sensor 122
in a first mode, as a plurality of pieces of candidate position
data CPD with respect to each hovering. The second detection unit
144 detects an electrical change in an area of the touch sensor 122
corresponding to the plurality of pieces of candidate position data
CPD in a second mode different from the first mode to select the
touch position data TPD with respect to the at least two
hoverings.
[0065] The first mode is a touch sensing mode in which a sensing
sensitivity with respect to a hovering is higher than the second
mode, and the second mode may be a touch sensing mode in which more
touches may be sensed at a time than in the first mode. For
example, the first mode may be a single touch mode in which only a
single touch is recognized at a time, and the second mode may be a
multi-touch mode in which multiple touches are sensed at a time.
The single touch mode may use a touch sensing method in which a
change in capacitance between the sensing unit SU and an arbitrary
electrode is sensed. A multi-touch mode may use a mutual touch
sensing method in which a change in capacitance between adjacent
sensing units SU of FIG. 2 due to a touch is sensed.
[0066] The multi-touch mode is a mode in which concurrent touches
may be sensed, and in the present specification, concurrent touches
refer to touches that are physically concurrent with respect to the
touch screen panel 120 or multiple touches that are concurrent in
terms of an operating timing even though there is a time
difference. In addition, the same applies to "simultaneous" used in
the present specification. For example, in regard to the
description with reference to FIG. 8 of switches SWR1, SWR2, . . .
, SWRn, SWC1, SWC2, . . . , SWCm of FIG. 7A being simultaneously
turned on, it may indicate that the switches are either physically
simultaneously turned on or the touch controller 140 may process
the switches by treating them as being simultaneously turned
on.
[0067] FIG. 7A is a diagram to explain the first detection unit 142
of FIG. 1 operating in a single touch mode. FIG. 7B is a diagram to
explain a detection object of the first detection unit 142 of FIG.
7A. First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 7A, the first detection unit
142 may include an operating unit OU connected to each of rows R1,
R2, . . . , Rn and each of columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the
sensing array SARY. Alternatively, it may also be described that
each operating unit OU is respectively connected to each of the
rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and each of the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm
of the sensing array SARY through channels connected to the each of
rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and the each of columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm
of the sensing arrays SARY. Each operating unit OU includes a
driver, a switch, and an amplifying unit.
[0068] For example, the operating unit OU connected to a first row
R1 will be described. The operating unit OU connected to the first
row R1 includes a driver DRV, a switch SWR1, and an amplifying unit
AMP. The driver DRV applies a driving voltage DV to the first row
R1 that is electrically connected to the operating unit OU. The
driving voltage DV may be applied as a voltage pulse. The driver
DRV may be electrically connected to the first row R1 when a switch
SWR1 is turned on.
[0069] The amplifying unit AMP outputs an output value OUTR1
corresponding to a sensing value SEN obtained by sensing a change
in capacitance of the first row R1 as the driving voltage DV is
applied to the first row R1. The output value OUTR1 has different
values according to whether a hovering is generated in the first
row R1. The amplifying unit AMP may be a charge AMP that converts
the output value OUTR1 into a voltage value and amplifies the
voltage value according to capacitance of the first row R1. A
capacitor Cr and a resistor Rr may be connected in parallel between
a first input end (e.g., an inverse terminal) and an output
terminal of the amplifying unit AMP. While not illustrated in FIG.
7A, noise of the output value OUTR1 of the amplifying unit AMP may
be removed using a filter, and the output value OUTR1 from which
noise is removed may be output as a digital value, by using an
analog-digital converter.
[0070] A structure and operation of the operating unit OU connected
to other rows R2, . . . , Rn and the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of
the sensing array SARY may be the same as the structure and
operation of the operating unit OU connected to the first row R1.
For example, the operating unit OU connected to the first column C1
includes a driver DRV, a switch SWC1, and an amplifying unit AMP.
The driver DRV applies a driving voltage DV to the first column C1,
when a switch SWC1 is turned on. The amplifying unit AMP outputs a
change in capacitance of the first column C1 as an output value
OUTC1 corresponding to a sensing value SEN obtained by sensing the
change, according to application of the driving voltage DV to the
first column C1. That is, when a change Csig in capacitance is
generated by a hovering in sensing electrodes as illustrated in
FIG. 7B by an operation of the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 7A,
an output value OUTC1 corresponding to the change Csig is
output.
[0071] FIG. 8 is a diagram to explain an operation of switches of
FIG. 7A according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the switches SWR1, SWR2, . . . , SWRn,
and SWC1, SWC2, . . . , SWCm included in each operating unit OU of
the first detection unit 142 may be simultaneously turned on. That
is, a driving voltage DV may be simultaneously applied to all rows
R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the
sensing array SARY. Thus, each operating unit OU may simultaneously
output a sensing value SEN with respect to a connected row or a
connected column as an output value OUTR1, OUTR2, . . . , or OUTRn
or OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , or OUTCm.
[0072] FIG. 9A illustrates a signal processing unit 142_2 that is
further included in the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 7A
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring
to FIGS. 1, 2, and 9A, the signal processing unit 142_2 receives
respective output values OUTR1, OUTR2, . . . , and OUTRn, and
respective output values OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , and OUTCm of
operating units OU with respect to the respective rows R1, R2, . .
. , Rn and the respective columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing
array SARY to thereby output candidate position data CPD with
respect to each hovering. That is, the candidate position data CPD
may be a result of signal processing on the output value OUTR1,
OUTR2, . . . , or OUTRn or OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , or OUTCm of each
operating unit OU. However, the candidate position data CPD may
also be a result of signal processing performed on a value obtained
by filtering the output value of each operating unit OU or by
performing analog-digital conversion on the output value of each
operating unit OU by using a filter or an analog-digital
converter.
[0073] For example, the signal processing unit 142_2 may compare
voltages of the output values OUTR1, OUTR2, . . . , OUTRn of the
operating unit OU of each of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of the
sensing array SARY to detect a row that is included in an area
where a hovering is generated. Also, the signal processing unit
142_2 may compare voltages of output values OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . ,
OUTCm of the operating unit OU of each of the columns C1, C2, . . .
, Cm of the sensing array SARY to detect a column included in an
area corresponding to a hovering. FIG. 9B is a diagram to explain
an operating principle of the signal processing unit of FIG. 9A.
For example, referring to FIG. 9B, the signal processing unit 142_2
may interpolate a profile with respect to an x-axis (row axis) and
a profile with respect to a y-axis (column axis) and detect a row
and a column included in an area where a hovering is generated.
According to this operation, the signal processing unit 142_2 may
output an area where the detected row and the detected column cross
each other as candidate position data (CPD) corresponding to the
hovering.
[0074] FIG. 10 illustrates candidate position data CPD with respect
to a hovering according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, the number of pieces of
the candidate position data CPD generated by using the first
detection unit 142 may correspond to the number of generated
hoverings. For example, when N hoverings are generated, 2N pieces
of candidate position data CPD may be detected. For example, if a
hovering is generated by four fingers (marked with circles) as
illustrated in FIG. 10, that is, if four hoverings HOV1, HOV2,
HOV3, and HOV4 are generated, the first detection unit 142 may
detect sixteen pieces of candidate position data CPD.
[0075] The candidate position data CPD includes not only hoverings
HOV1, HOV2, HOV3, and HOV4 that are actually generated, but also
data comprising a ghost marked X. A ghost refers to an event that
is processed as a touch or a hovering although it is not actually a
generated touch or hovering. In the example of FIG. 10, sixteen
pieces of candidate position data CPD with respect to actually
generated four hoverings HOV1, HOV2, HOV3, and HOV4 and twelve
ghosts are generated. As described above, according to the first
detection unit 142 having a structure as illustrated in FIGS. 7A
and 8, a sensing operation is performed with respect to all rows
R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the
sensing array SARY, from a row where an actually generated hovering
is generated, a plurality of pieces of candidate position data CPD
may be calculated by another hovering generated in another row.
[0076] In FIG. 10, from among the concurrently generated hoverings,
a first hovering HOV1 is generated at an intersection point between
a second row R2 and a third column C3, and three ghosts of the
second row R2 are detected in a column where second through fourth
hoverings HOV2 through HOV4 are generated. For example, a first
ghost GHS1 of the second row R2 is detected from an intersection
point with respect to the first column C1 where the second hovering
HOV2 is generated. That is, when a sensing operation is
concurrently performed with respect to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn
and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cn of the sensing array SARY, the
first detection unit 142 perceives this as four separate hoverings
generated with respect to four rows and four columns regarding the
four hoverings. Thus, the first detection unit 142 detects sixteen
pieces of candidate position data CPD with respect to the
intersection points of the respective rows and the respective
columns.
[0077] FIG. 11 illustrates candidate position data with respect to
a hovering according to another example embodiment of inventive
concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 11, when one hovering HOV1 is
generated, although a sensing operation is performed with respect
to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm
of the sensing array SARY, the first detection unit 142 perceives
this as a hovering generated only at a single row and a single
column with respect to the one hovering HOV1, and thus, a ghost is
not recognized. As described above, a detailed operation of the
touch controller 140 in the case where a single hovering is
generated will be described in detail later.
[0078] For reference, in FIGS. 10 and 11, an area indicated by the
candidate position data CPD is illustrated with an intersection
point between a row and a column. However, as described above, a
hovering may be generated in an area including at least two rows or
at least two columns. Accordingly, the candidate position data CPD
may be data with respect to an area including at least two rows or
at least two columns.
[0079] Also, in FIGS. 10 and 11, a sensing array SARY having a
different structure from that of FIG. 2 is illustrated. In the
sensing array SARY of FIG. 2, the sensing units SU of the rows R1,
R2, . . . , Rn and the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm may be formed in
the same layer, and the sensing of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn may
be connected one another via jumpers, and the sensing units SU of
the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm may be connected to one another via
jumpers. On the other hand, the sensing array SARY of FIG. 10 may
be an orthogonal sensing array in which areas where electrodes
formed in different layers perpendicularly cross one another
operate as sensing units SU. The sensing array SARY may be one of
the sensing arrays SARY of FIG. 2 and FIG. 10. Furthermore, the
sensing array SARY may have a different structure from that of the
sensing array FIG. 2 or FIG. 10.
[0080] Referring to FIG. 1 again, the second detection unit 144
removes a ghost from the candidate position data CPD based on the
candidate position data CPD detected using the first detection unit
142 to thereby detect touch position data TPD with respect to an
actual hovering. The second detection unit 144 may detect the touch
position data TPD in a second mode that is different from the first
mode. As described above, the first mode may be a single touch
mode, and the second touch mode may be a multi-touch mode.
[0081] FIGS. 12 and 13A are diagrams to explain the second
detection unit 144 of FIG. 1 operating in a multi-touch mode,
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring
to FIGS. 1, 12, and 13A, the second detection unit 144 may include
a candidate position data processing unit 144_2, a driving unit
144_4, an amplifying unit 144_6, and a signal processing unit
144_8. The candidate position data processing unit 144_2 may
provide the driving unit 144_4 with row information Rinf of the
sensing array SARY corresponding to the candidate position data CPD
and column information Cinf of the sensing array SARY corresponding
to the candidate position data CPD.
[0082] The driving unit 144_4 and the amplifying unit 144_6 operate
in a multi-touch mode. In detail, a driving voltage DV is applied
to a row of the sensing array SARY by using the driving unit 144_4,
and a change in capacitance caused between a sensing unit SU of a
corresponding row and an adjacent sensing unit SU, by the driving
voltage DV applied to the row, is transferred to the amplifying
unit 144_6 through an arbitrary column of the corresponding row.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, the driving unit 144_4 may
be sequentially activated to sequentially scan a row.
Intercapacitance between an activated row and each column is
detected by using the amplifying unit 144_6. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 13C, as an electrical field is blocked at an
intersection point between a row and a column at a position where a
hovering is generated, intercapacitance between the activated row
and the each column may be reduced, and the amplifying unit 144_6
detects this change.
[0083] The driving unit 144_4 may include a plurality of drivers
DRV respectively connected to the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of the
sensing array SARY. The drivers DRV of the driving unit 144_4 may
be respectively connected to the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn through a
transmission channel Tx. In response to the row information Rinf,
the driving unit 144_4 activates a driver DRV connected to a row
corresponding to the candidate position data CPD among the
plurality of drivers DRV connected to the row. The activated driver
DRV may apply a driving voltage DV to the connected row.
[0084] FIGS. 13B and 13C illustrate a sensing operation in the
multi-touch mode of FIG. 13A according to example embodiments of
inventive concepts.
[0085] The amplifying unit 144_6 may include a plurality of
amplifying units AMP respectively connected to the columns C1, C2,
. . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY. The amplifying units AMP of
the amplifying unit 144_6 may be respectively connected to the
columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm through a reception channel Rx. In
response to the column information Cinf, the amplifying unit 144_6
activates an amplifying unit AMP connected to a column
corresponding to the candidate position data CPD among the
plurality of amplifying units AMP respectively connected to the
columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY. The activated
amplifying unit AMP may receive a sensing value SEN from a
connected column, and may output an output value OUT_C
corresponding to the sensing value SEN. Although not illustrated in
FIG. 13A, the amplifying unit 144_6 of FIG. 13A may be a charge
amp, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, or may further include a capacitor
and a resistor that are connected in parallel between a first input
end and an output end of the amplifying unit AMP. Also, although
not illustrated in FIG. 13A, like the first detection unit 142 of
FIG. 7A, the second detection unit 144 may further include a filter
that filters an output value OUT_C of the amplifying unit 144_6
and/or an analog-digital converter that converts an output value
OUT_C or a filtered output value OUT_C to digital data.
[0086] Hereinafter, an operation of the second detection unit 144
will be described in further detail, by referring to the example
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13A, in which first through fourth
candidate position data CPD1 through CPD4 are transmitted from the
first detection unit 142 to the second detection unit 144; the
first candidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate
position data CPD2 respectively denote areas formed by fourth
through sixth columns C4 through C6 and tenth through twelfth
column C10 through C12 in the second through fourth columns R2
through R4; and the third candidate position data CPD3 and the
fourth candidate position data CPD4 respectively denote areas
formed by fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 and tenth
through twelfth column C10 through C12 in the eighth through tenth
columns R8 through R10.
[0087] FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection 144
unit of FIG. 1 with respect to the candidate position data CPD of
FIG. 13A according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts.
Referring to FIGS. 12 through 14, the driving unit 144_4 of the
second detection unit 144 may sequentially apply a driving voltage
DV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 and the eighth
through tenth rows R8 through R10 in response to row information
Rinf received from the candidate position data processing unit
144_2.
[0088] For example, after a driver DRV connected to the second row
R2 applies a driving voltage DV to the second row R2, a driver DRV
connected to the third row R3 may apply a driving voltage DV to the
third row R3, and then, a driver DRV connected to the fourth row R4
may apply a driving voltage DV to the fourth row R4. Next, after a
driver DRV connected to the eighth row R8 applies a driving voltage
DV to the eighth row R8, a driver DRV connected to the ninth row R9
may apply a driving voltage DV to the ninth row R9, and then, a
driver DRV connected to the tenth row R10 may apply a driving
voltage DV to the tenth row R10.
[0089] In response to the column information Cinf received from the
candidate position data processing nit 144_2, the amplifying unit
144_6 of the second detection unit 144 may sequentially receive a
sensing value SEN from the fourth through sixth columns C4 through
C6 and the tenth through twelfth columns C10 through C12. For
example, after the amplifying unit AMP connected to the fourth
column C4 receives a sensing value SEN from the fourth column C4,
and the amplifying unit AMP receives a sensing value SEN from the
fifth column C5, the amplifying unit AMP connected to the sixth
column C6 may receive a sensing value SEN from the sixth column C6.
Next, after the amplifying unit AMP connected to the tenth column
C10 receives a sensing value SEN from the tenth column C10, and the
amplifying unit AMP connected to the eleventh column C11 receives a
sensing value SEN from the eleventh column C11, the amplifying unit
AMP connected to the twelfth column C12 may receive a sensing value
SEN from the twelfth column C12.
[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 14, when a driving voltage DV is
sequentially applied to the rows, a period of time during which a
driving voltage DV is applied to each row may be represented as a
first period TD. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 14, when a
sensing value SEN is received from the columns, a period of time
during which a sensing value SEN is received with respect to each
column may be represented as a first period of time TD.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 12 again, the second detection unit 144
may further include a signal processing unit 144_8 that receives an
output value OUT_C of the amplifying unit 144_6 to output touch
position data TPD. The signal processing unit 144_8 may compare an
output value OUT_C with respect to candidate position data CPD
indicating the same row or the same row group to select touch
position data TPD. The signal processing unit 144_8 of the second
detection unit 144 will be described in further detail later.
[0092] The touch sensing apparatus 100 may generate candidate
position data CPD based on the candidate position data CPD that is
sensed in a single (self) touch mode with a good sensing
sensitivity, thereby performing an accurate sensing operation with
respect to a hovering for which high sensing sensitivity than a
contact touch is required. Also, the touch sensing apparatus 100
may sense in a multi-touch mode regarding just the candidate
position CPD, thereby reducing power consumption. Hereinafter, the
operation of the second detection unit 144 according to various
example embodiments of inventive concepts will be described.
[0093] FIG. 15 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit
144 of FIG. 1 with respect to the candidate position data of FIG.
13A according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts.
Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 15, in response to the row
information Rinf received from the candidate position data
processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 of the second
detection unit 144 may simultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to
the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect to first
candidate position data CPD1 and second candidate position data
CPD2, and then apply a driving voltage DV to the eighth through
tenth rows R8 through R10 with respect to the third candidate
position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4.
[0094] For example, after the drivers DRV connected to the second
through fourth rows R2 through R4 simultaneously apply a driving
voltage DV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4,
respectively, the drivers DRV connected to the second through
fourth rows R2 through R4 may simultaneously apply a driving
voltage DV to the second through fourth rows R4, respectively.
Thus, by increasing a period of time for a driving voltage DV
applied to each row, the same operating time may be consumed
overall, but an accurate sensing operation may be performed at the
same time.
[0095] A plurality of rows with respect to candidate position data
indicating the same rows may be referred to as a row group. For
example, the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect
to the first candidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate
position data CPD2 may be referred to as a first row group (R2-R4),
and the eighth through tenth rows R8 through R10 with respect to
the third candidate position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate
position data CPD4 may be referred to as a second row group
(R8-R10).
[0096] Furthermore, when referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 15, in
response to the column information Cinf received from the candidate
position data processing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit 144_6 of
the second detection unit 144 may sequentially receive a sensing
value SEN from the fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 and
from the tenth through twelfth columns C10 through C12. For
example, after the amplifying unit AMP connected to the fourth
column C4 receives a sensing value SEN from the fourth column C4,
and the amplifying unit AMP connected to the fifth column C5
receives a sensing value SEN from the fifth column C5, the
amplifying unit AMP connected to the sixth column C6 may receive a
sensing value SEN from the sixth column C6. Next, after the
amplifying unit AMP connected to the tenth column C10 receives a
sensing value SEN from the tenth column C10, and the amplifying
unit AMP connected to the eleventh column C11 may receive a sensing
value SEN from the eleventh column C11, the amplifying unit AMP
connected to the twelfth column C12 may receive a sensing value SEN
from the twelfth column C12.
[0097] FIG. 16 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit
144 of FIG. 12 with respect to the candidate position data of FIG.
13A according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts.
Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 16, in response to the row
information Rinf received from the candidate position data
processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 of the second
detection unit 144 may sequentially apply a driving voltage DV to
the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 and the eighth through
tenth rows R8 through R10.
[0098] For example, after the driver DRV connected to the second
row R2 applies a driving voltage DV to the second row R2, the
driver DRV connected to the third row R3 may apply a driving
voltage DV to the third row R3, and then the driver DRV connected
to the fourth row R4 may apply a driving voltage DV to the fourth
row R4. Next, after the driver DRV connected to the eighth row R8
applies a driving voltage DV to the eighth row R8, the driver DRV
connected to the ninth row R9 may apply a driving voltage DV to the
ninth row R9, and then the driver DRV connected to the tenth row
R10 may apply a driving voltage DV to the tenth row R10.
[0099] In response to the column information Cinf received from the
candidate position data processing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit
144_6 of the second detection unit 144 may simultaneously receive a
sensing value SEN from the fourth through sixth columns C4 through
C6 with respect to the first candidate position data CPD1 and the
third candidate position data CPD3, and then may simultaneously
receive a sensing value SEN from the tenth through twelfth columns
C10 through C12 with respect to the second candidate position data
CPD2 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4.
[0100] For example, after the amplifying unit AMP connected to the
tenth through twelfth rows C10 through C12 simultaneously applies a
sensing value SEN to the tenth through twelfth rows C10 through
C12, respectively, the amplifying unit AMP connected to the tenth
through twelfth rows C10 through C12 may simultaneously apply a
sensing value SEN to the tenth through twelfth rows C10 through
C12. Thus, by increasing a period of time for a sensing value SEN
applied to each row, the same operating time may be consumed
overall, but an accurate sensing operation may be performed at the
same time.
[0101] A plurality of columns with respect to candidate position
data indicating the same columns may be referred to as a column
group. For example, the fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6
with respect to the first candidate position data CPD1 and the
second candidate position data CPD2 may be referred to as a first
column group (C4-C6), and the tenth through twelfth columns C10-C12
with respect to the third candidate position data CPD3 and the
fourth candidate position data CPD4 may be referred to as a second
column group (C10-C12).
[0102] FIG. 17 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a
driving unit and an amplifying unit of the second detection unit
144 of FIG. 12 with respect to the candidate position data of FIG.
13A according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts.
Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 17, in response to the row
information Rinf received from the candidate position data
processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 of the second
detection unit 144 may simultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to
the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect to the
first candidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate
position data CPD2, and then may simultaneously apply a driving
voltage DV to the eighth through tenth rows R8 through R10 with
respect to the third candidate position data CPD3 and the fourth
candidate position data CPD4.
[0103] For example, after the drivers DRV respectively connected to
the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 simultaneously apply a
driving voltage DV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4,
the drivers DRV connected to the second through fourth rows R2
through R4 may simultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to the
second through fourth rows R4.
[0104] In response to the column information Cinf received from the
candidate position data processing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit
144_6 of the second detection unit 144 may receive a sensing value
SEN that is accumulated during a period corresponding to the number
of columns included in each column group. For example, the
amplifying unit 144_6 may receive a sensing value SEN from the
first column group (C4 through C6) during three periods TD, and
then may receive a sensing value SEN from the second column group
(C10 through C12) during (another) three periods TD. The amplifying
units AMP of the first column group (C4 through C6) may
sequentially or simultaneously receive a sensing value SEN from a
connected column, and the amplifying units AMP of the second column
group (C10 through C12) may sequentially or simultaneously receive
a sensing value SEN from a connected column. Thus, by accumulating
the sensing values SEN received from the columns, a more accurate
sensing operation may be performed for the same amount of time and
using the same resources.
[0105] While an example embodiment in which the second detection
unit 144 simultaneously activates only an amplifying unit with
respect to some of the columns indicated by the candidate position
data CPD is described, the amplifying unit with respect to all
columns indicated by the candidate position data CPD may also be
simultaneously activated.
[0106] FIG. 18 illustrates a signal processing unit 144_8 of the
second detection unit 144 of FIG. 12 according to an example
embodiment of inventive concepts. FIG. 19 is a diagram to explain
an operation of the signal processing unit 144_8 of FIG. 18
according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. First,
referring to FIGS. 12 and 18, as described above, the signal
processing unit 144_8 may compare an output value OUT_C with
respect to candidate position data CPD indicating the same row or
the same row group to select touch position data TPD. To this end,
the signal processing unit 144_8 may include a comparing unit
144_82 and a selecting unit 144_84.
[0107] The comparing unit 144_82 may perform a comparing operation
by receiving an output value OUT_C with respect to candidate
position data CPD indicating the same row or the same row group. In
regard to the example of FIG. 13A, the comparing unit 144_82 may
compare output values OUT_C with respect to the first candidate
position data CPD1 and the second candidate position data CPD2
indicating the second through fourth rows R2 through R4. The output
value OUT_C with respect to the first candidate position data CPD1
may be a sum SUM1 of output values OUT_C of the fourth through
sixth columns C4 through C6 represented by the first candidate
position data CPD1. Likewise, the output value OUT_C with respect
to the second candidate position data CPD2 may be a sum SUM1 of
output values OUT_C of the tenth through twelfth columns C10
through C12 represented by the second candidate position data
CPD2.
[0108] Referring to FIG. 19, the output value OUT_C with respect to
the first candidate position data CPD1 may be a first value VAL1,
and the output value OUT_C with respect to the second candidate
value CPD2 may be a second value VAL2. While FIG. 19 illustrates an
operation of the signal processing unit 144_8 regarding the example
of the second detection unit 144, the second detection unit 144 may
also operate in the same manner with respect to FIGS. 14 through 16
or the like.
[0109] Also, with respect to the example of FIG. 13A, the comparing
unit 144_82 compares output values OUT_C with respect to the third
candidate position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data
CPD4 indicating the eighth through tenth rows R8 through R10. The
output value OUT_C with respect to the fourth candidate position
data CPD4 may be a sum SUM2 of output values OUT_C of the fourth
through sixth columns C4 through C6 indicated by the third
candidate position data CPD3. Likewise, the output value OUT_C with
respect to the fourth candidate position data CPD4 may be a sum
SUM2 of the tenth through twelfth C10 through C12 represented by
the fourth candidate position data CPD4. Referring to FIG. 19, the
output value OUT_C with respect to the third candidate position
data CPD3 may be a third value VAL3, and the output value OUT_C
with respect to the fourth candidate value CPD4 may be a fourth
value VAL4.
[0110] The comparing unit 144_82 may compare the first value VAL1
and the second value VAL2 and compare the third value VAL3 and the
fourth value VAL4 to output a comparison result CRST. With respect
to the example of FIG. 19, the comparing unit 144_82 may output a
comparison result CRST indicating that the second value VAL2 is
greater than the first value VAL1 and the third value VAL3 is
greater than the fourth value VAL4.
[0111] In response to the comparison result CRST, the selecting
unit 144_84 may select touch position data TPD indicating a
position of an actually generated hovering from the candidate
position data CPD. For example, based on the comparison result CRST
indicating that the second value VAL2 is greater than the first
value VAL1, the selecting unit 144_84 may select the first
candidate position data CPD1, from among the first candidate
position data CPD1 and the second candidate position data CPD2, as
the touch position data TPD. Also, based on the comparison result
CRST indicating that the third value VAL3 is greater than the
fourth value VAL3, the selecting unit 144_84 may select the third
candidate position data CPD3, from among the third candidate
position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4, as
the touch position data TPD.
[0112] As described above, as a magnetic field generated between
the two electrodes of FIG. 3 decreases by a hovering or a contact
touch, a charge amount in a column where the hovering or the
contact touch is generated may decrease. Accordingly, an output
value of the column in which the hovering or the contact touch is
generated may be smaller than an output value of a column where a
hovering or a contact touch is not generated.
[0113] Above described is the operation of the second detection
unit 144 of FIG. 12 with respect to the candidate position data CPD
of FIG. 13A. Here, the candidate position data CPD of FIG. 13A,
that is, the first through fourth candidate position data CPD1
through CPD4 are data with respect to an area of the same size. In
other words, the first through fourth candidate position data CPD1
through CPD4 of FIG. 13A represent data about an intersection area
having the same number of rows and the same number of columns.
However, the embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited
thereto.
[0114] FIG. 20 illustrates candidate position data different from
that of FIG. 13A, according to another example embodiment of
inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 20, the first through
fourth candidate position data CPD1 through CPD4 may respectively
represent data regarding different areas. For example, in FIG. 20,
the first candidate position data CPD1 may be data representing an
intersection area of three rows (second through fourth rows R2
through R4) and three columns (fourth through sixth columns C4
through C6), whereas the fourth candidate position data CPD4 may be
data representing an intersection area of two rows (eighth and
ninth rows R8 and R9) and three columns (tenth through twelfth
columns C10 through C12).
[0115] The intersection areas above may be varied according to a
difference in surface areas of hoverings that are generated at a
distance perpendicularly spaced apart from the touch screen panel
120, for example, according to a difference in surface areas of
hoverings according to an inclination between the fingers of a
person who performs a hovering and the touch screen panel 120.
Also, in regard to candidate position data with respect to a ghost,
candidate position data with respect to an actual hovering and an
area indicating the data may vary in size due to, for example, a
detection capability of the first detection unit 142.
[0116] FIG. 21 illustrates a second detection unit 144 that is
adaptive to the candidate position data of FIG. 20, according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 20 and
21, the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 21 may include, like the
second detection unit 144 of FIG. 12, the candidate position data
processing unit 144_2, a driving unit 144_4, amplifying unit 144_6,
and a signal processing unit 144_8. The candidate position data
processing unit 144_2 receives candidate position data CPD from the
first detection unit 142. Also, the candidate position data
processing unit 144_2 may provide the driving unit 144_4 with row
information Rinf of the sensing array SARY corresponding to the
candidate position data CPD and column information Cinf of the
sensing array SARY corresponding to the candidate position data
CPD. The driving unit 144_4 and the amplifying unit 144_6 operate
in a multi-touch mode. In detail, a driving voltage DV is applied
to a row of the sensing array SARY by using the driving unit 144_4,
and a change in capacitance, which is generated between the sensing
unit SU of the corresponding row and an adjacent sensing unit SU,
by the driving voltage DV applied to the row, is transferred to the
amplifying unit 144_6 through a column of the corresponding
row.
[0117] Furthermore, the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 21 may
further include a first control unit 211. The first control unit
211 may receive row information Rinf and column information Cinf
from the candidate position data processing unit 144_2 to thereby
determine a size of an area represented by each piece of candidate
position data CPD, that is, the number of rows and the number of
columns. The first control unit 211 generates a first control
signal based on the number of rows or the number of columns
indicated by each piece of candidate position data CPD. The first
control signal XCON1 is transmitted to the driving unit 144_4 or
the amplifying unit 144_6.
[0118] In response to the first control signal XCON1, the driving
unit 144_4 or the amplifying unit 144_6 may perform an additional
driving or amplifying operation with respect to each piece of
candidate position data CPD. For example, in response to the first
control signal XCON1, the driving unit 144_4 or the amplifying unit
144_6 may vary the number of rows or columns that are
simultaneously activated as illustrated in FIG. 15 or 16, according
to a size of an area represented by each piece of candidate
position data CPD. Alternatively, for example, the amplifying unit
144_6 may vary a period in which the sensing value SEN is
accumulated, as illustrated in FIG. 17, according to a size of an
area represented by each piece of candidate position data CPD.
[0119] Above described is an example embodiment in which the first
detection unit 142 and the second detection unit 144 are
implemented as separate circuits. However, this structure is merely
provided to clearly describe the concept of the operation of the
touch controller 140 according to inventive concepts. That is, each
of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and each of the columns C1, C2, . .
. , Cm of the sensing array SARY of FIG. 13A may be in any
structure in which the operation of the first detection unit 142 of
FIG. 7A and the operation of the second detection unit 144 of FIG.
7A may be selectively performed.
[0120] FIG. 22 illustrates a touch controller 140 having a
structure in which the first detection unit and the second
detection unit of FIG. 1 are commonly included. FIG. 23 is a
detailed view illustrating a driving unit and an amplifying unit of
FIG. 22. Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the touch controller 140 may
include a second control unit 212, a common driving unit 222, a
common amplifying unit 224, a common signal processing unit 226,
and a candidate position data processing unit 144_2. In response to
a clock signal CLK, the second control unit 212 may generate a
second control signal XCON2 through which the common driving unit
222, the common amplifying unit 224, and the common signal
processing unit 226 are controlled.
[0121] For example, the second control unit 212 may generate a
second control signal XCON2 so that the touch controller 140
operates like the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 1 in a first
period of the clock signal CLK. For example, the second control
unit 212 may control the common driving unit 222, the common
amplifying unit 224, and the common signal processing unit 226 so
that they operate in a first mode (e.g., a single touch mode) in a
first section of the clock signal CLK to thereby generate candidate
position data CPD. Also, the second control unit 212 may generate a
second control signal XCON2 so that the touch controller 140
operates like the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 1 in a second
section of the clock signal CLK. For example, the second control
unit 212 may control the common driving unit 222, the common
amplifying unit 224, and the common signal processing unit 226 so
that they operate in a second mode (e.g., a multi-touch mode) with
respect to candidate position data CPD in the second section of the
clock signal CLK to thereby generate touch position data TPD.
[0122] The first and second sections of the clock signal CLK may be
set such that they are alternately generated. The first and second
sections of the clock signal CLK may be set at different times.
[0123] As illustrated in FIG. 23, the common driving unit 222 and
the common amplifying unit 224 may be respectively connected to
each row and each column of the sensing array SARY. The common
driving unit 222 outputs a primary driving voltage DV_1.sup.st
regarding a single touch mode and a secondary driving voltage
DV_2.sup.nd regarding a multi-touch mode in regard to processing
touch position data TPD with respect to concurrently generated
multiple hoverings. In regard to processing touch position data TPD
with respect to concurrently generated multiple hoverings, the
common amplifying unit 224 receives a primary sensing value
SEN_1.sup.st with respect to a single touch mode and a secondary
sensing value SEN_2.sup.nd with respect to a multi-touch mode. A
detailed structure and a detailed operation of the common driving
unit 222 and the common amplifying unit 224 are similar to those of
FIG. 7A or FIG. 13A described above, and thus description thereof
is omitted. The difference is simply that in order for the touch
controller 140 to perform an operation of the second detection unit
144 described above, the common amplifying unit 224 connected to
each row and the common driving unit 222 connected to each column
may be inactivated in response to the second control signal
XCON2.
[0124] In response to the second control signal XCON2, the common
signal processing unit 226 may output candidate position data CPD
in the same manner as the first detection unit 142 described above,
in the first section of a clock signal CLK. Also, in response to
the second control signal XCON2, the common signal processing unit
226 may output touch position data TPD in the same manner as the
second detection unit 144 in the second section of the clock signal
CLK.
[0125] Above described is a touch screen panel that processes
multi-hovering, that is, a plurality of hoverings. However, as
described above, a single hovering may also be generated with
respect to the touch screen panel 120. This will be described
below.
[0126] FIG. 24 illustrates the touch controller 140 of FIG. 1
according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts.
Referring to FIG. 24, the touch controller 140 may include a first
detection unit 142, a second detection unit 144, and a third
control unit 213. When at least two hoverings are generated with
respect to the touch screen panel 120, the first detection unit 142
detects an electrical change ECG of the touch sensor 122 in a first
mode as multiple pieces of candidate position data CPD with respect
to each hovering. The second detection unit 144 may detect an
electrical change in an area of the touch sensor 122 corresponding
to multiple pieces of candidate position data CPD in a second mode
that is different from the first mode to thereby select touch
position data TPD with respect to at least two hoverings from among
the multiple pieces of the candidate position data CPD. As
described above, the first mode may be a single touch mode with a
higher sensing sensitivity with respect to a hovering than the
second mode, and the second mode may be a multi-touch mode in which
a large number of touches may be sensed at a time, that is,
multiple concurrent touches may be sensed. This applies also
below.
[0127] The third control unit 213 may count the number of pieces of
candidate position data CPD generated by using the first detection
unit 142, and if there is one piece of candidate position data CPD,
the third control unit 213 may generate a third control signal
XCON3. The second detection unit 144 may be inactivated in response
to the third control signal XCON3. Also, if a single hovering is
generated, the third control unit 213 does not have to remove a
ghost, and thus the third control unit 213 may output candidate
position data CPD as touch position data TPD. As described above,
the first detection unit 142 and the second detection unit 144 of
the touch controller 140 are simply distinguished by functions and
may not be physically separated. This also applies to the third
control unit 213.
[0128] Above described is the touch controller 140 that processes a
hovering. However, example embodiments of the inventive concept are
not limited thereto. The touch sensing device 100 may also process
a contact touch. This will be described below.
[0129] FIG. 25 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according
to another embodiment of the inventive concept. Referring to FIG.
25, the touch controller 140 may include a first detection unit
142, a second detection unit 144, and a fourth control unit 214.
When at least two hoverings are generated with respect to the touch
screen panel 120, the first detection unit 142 detects an
electrical change ECG of the touch sensor 122 in a single touch
mode as multiple pieces of candidate position data CPD with respect
to the respective hoverings. The second detection unit 144 may
detect an electrical change in an area of the touch sensor 122
corresponding to the multiple pieces of candidate position data CPD
in a multi-touch mode to thereby select touch position data TPD
with respect to at least two hoverings from among the multiple
pieces of candidate position data CPD.
[0130] The fourth control unit 214 may determine whether a touch
generated in the touch screen panel 120 is a hovering or a contact
touch to thereby generate a fourth control signal XCON4. For
example, when a sensing value SEN sensed using the touch sensor 122
is equal to or greater than a first size, the fourth control unit
214 may determine that a hovering is generated, and generate a
fourth control signal XCON4 as a first value. On the other hand,
when a sensing value SEN sensed using the touch sensor 122 is
smaller than the first size, the fourth control unit 214 may
determine that a contact touch is generated, and generate a fourth
control signal XCON4 as a second value. As an electrical change by
a hovering and by a contact touch varies (for example, a change in
a magnetic field of FIG. 3 by a hovering is smaller than that by a
contact touch), in the case of a hovering or a contact touch, the
first size may be set based on a statistical value of the sensing
value SEN.
[0131] The first detection unit 142 and the second detection unit
144 may each generate candidate position data CPD described above
and touch position data TPD based on the candidate position data
CPD in response to the fourth control value XCON4 of the first
value. On the other hand, the first detection unit 142 may be
inactivated in response to the fourth control signal XCON4 of the
second value. Also, in response to the fourth control signal XCON4
of the second value, the second detection unit 144 may apply a
driving voltage DV to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of the sensing
array SARY and receive a sensing value SEN from all columns C1, C2,
. . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY.
[0132] That is, in response to the fourth control signal XCON4 of
the second value, when a contact touch is generated, the second
detection unit 144 may immediately generate touch position data TPD
with respect to a contact touch in a multi-touch mode without
generating candidate position data CPD. Since a sensing sensitivity
required for a contact touch is relatively low compared to a
hovering, a single touch mode with a high sensing sensitivity
required with respect to a hovering may not have to be performed.
Thus, sensing may be immediately performed in a multi-touch mode
for a contact touch in order to reduce power consumption.
[0133] As described above, the first detection unit 142 and the
second detection unit 144 of the touch controller 140 may be merely
distinguished according to functions as described above, and may
not be physically separated. The same applies to the fourth control
unit 214. For example, the fourth control unit 214 may share a
physical structure of the second detection unit 144 to receive a
sensing value SEN from the touch screen panel 120.
[0134] FIG. 26 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to
FIG. 26, the touch controller 140 may include a first detection
unit 142, a second detection unit 144, a fourth control unit 214,
and a fifth control unit 215. The first detection unit 142, the
second detection unit 144, and the fourth control unit 214 may be
the same as the first detection unit 142, the second detection unit
144, and the fourth control unit 214 of FIG. 25, respectively.
[0135] Accordingly, when a hovering is generated with respect to
the touch screen panel 120, the fourth control unit 214 may
generate a fourth control signal XCON4 of a first value, and when a
contact touch is generated with respect to the touch screen panel
120, the fourth control unit 214 may generate a fourth control
signal XCON4 of a second value. In response to the fourth control
signal XCON4 of the first value, the first detection unit 142 and
the second detection unit 144 may generate candidate position data
CPD described above and touch position data TPD based on the
candidate position data CPD. On the other hand, the first detection
unit 142 may be inactivated in response to the fourth control
signal XCON4 of the second value. Also, in response to the fourth
control signal XCON4 of the second value, the second detection unit
144 may apply a driving voltage DV to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn
of the sensing array SARY of, for example, FIG. 2, and receive a
sensing value SEN from all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the
sensing array SARY, thereby generating touch position data TPD with
respect to a contact touch in a multi-touch mode.
[0136] In response to the fourth control signal XCON4, the fifth
control unit 215 may generate a fifth control signal XCON5 through
which an operating period is differently set according to whether
the second detection unit 144 processes a hovering or a contact
touch. For example, in response to the fifth control signal XCON5,
when the second detection unit 144 processes a hovering, the second
detection unit 144 may apply a driving voltage DC to a row of FIG.
14 or may set a longer period in which a sensing value SEN is
received from a column of FIG. 14 than a period in the case when
processing a contact touch. Accordingly, as a sensing value SEN is
received for a relatively long period for a hovering, the
requirement for a relatively high sensing sensitivity may be
fulfilled. Also, in the case of a contact touch, sensing accuracy
thereof is relatively high, and thus, a sensing value SEN may be
reduced within a relatively short time, thereby reducing power
consumption.
[0137] FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according
to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG.
27, the method includes operating in a hovering mode (operation
S2710), determining whether a hovering is detected (operation
S2720), and if a hovering is generated ("YES" of operation S2720),
extracting touch position data including a ghost with respect to
the hovering, in a single touch mode (operation S2730). Thus, the
candidate position data CPD of FIG. 1 may be generated. Next, the
method includes removing a ghost from the touch position data in a
multi-touch mode based on the touch position data extracted in a
single touch mode (operation S2740) and processing the touch
position data from which the ghost is removed, as position data
with respect to the hovering (operation S2750).
[0138] In the touch sensing method, if no hovering is generated
("NO" of operation S2720), the method may be on standby while in a
hovering mode. The hovering mode may be set by using the fourth
control unit 214 of FIG. 25 described above. The touch sensing
method of FIG. 27 may be performed in the touch sensing device 100
of FIG. 1 or the like. For example, the touch sensing method of
FIG. 27 may be performed under a control by a processor of an
electronic device in which the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1
or the like is included. This also applies to a sensing method
described below.
[0139] FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts. The touch
sensing method of FIG. 28 is similar to the touch sensing method of
FIG. 27 except that the method may further include counting the
number of pieces of candidate position data (operation S2760) after
performing sensing in a single touch mode (operation S2730). If
there is more than one piece of candidate position data ("YES" of
operation S2760), like FIG. 27, removing a ghost by performing a
sensing operation in a multi-touch mode (operation S2740) and
generating touch position data (operation S2750) may be performed.
However, if there is one piece of candidate position data ("NO" of
operation S2760), the removing of a ghost by performing a sensing
operation in a multi-touch mode (operation S2740) may be omitted
but generating the candidate position data as touch position data
(operation S2750) may be performed instead.
[0140] FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according
to another example embodiment of inventive concepts. The touch
sensing method of FIG. 29 is similar to the touch sensing method of
FIG. 27 except that the method may further include, before
operating in a hovering mode (operation S2710), setting a touch
mode (operation S2770) and determining a hovering mode (operation
S2780). As described above, a touch mode indicates either a mode
for sensing a hovering or a mode for sensing a contact touch.
Setting of a touch mode may be performed using a processor of an
electronic device in which the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1
or the like is included. Alternatively, a touch mode may be
internally set with respect to the touch controller 140 by using
the fourth control unit 214 of FIG. 25 described above. For
example, the fourth control unit 214 of FIG. 25 may alternately set
a hovering mode and a contact touch mode in synchronization with a
clock signal CLK.
[0141] When a hovering mode is determined ("YES" of operation
S2780), touch position data is generated using the touch sensing
method of FIG. 27. On the other hand, if a contact touch mode is
determined instead of a hovering mode ("NO" of operation S2780), as
illustrated in FIG. 25 described above, a single touch mode may not
be performed but touch position data may be generated in a
multi-touch mode in operation S2790.
[0142] FIG. 30 illustrates a display device 3000 according to an
example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1 and
30, the display device 3000 according to the current embodiment of
the inventive concept may include a touch sensing device 100, a
display panel 3020, a display driving unit 3040, and a host
controller 3060. The touch sensing device 100 may be the touch
sensing device 100 of FIG. 1. The touch sensing device 100 may
detect a position of a touch generated with respect to the touch
screen panel 120 as touch position data TPD by using the touch
controller 140. The touch controller 140 controls an operation of
the touch sensing device 100. For example, the touch controller 140
may apply a driving voltage to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all
columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY in a single
touch mode, and may receive a sensing value SEN from all of the
rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all of the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm
of the sensing array SARY to thereby detect candidate position data
CPD. Alternatively, the touch controller 140 may apply, in a
multi-touch mode, a driving voltage to a row of the sensing array
SARY with respect to the candidate position data CPD and receive a
sensing value SEN from a column of the sensing array SARY with
respect to the candidate position data CPD to thereby detect touch
position data TPD.
[0143] The touch controller 140 may receive at least one piece of
timing information used in driving the display panel 3020, and use
the at least one piece of timing information in an operation of
generating touch position data. The timing information may be
generated from the timing controller 3042 in the driving unit 3040,
and also, the timing information may be directly generated from the
host controller 3060. The touch controller 140 may perform the
above operation according to timing information. For example, the
touch controller 140 may use timing information as a clock signal
CLK of FIG. 22 or the like.
[0144] The display panel 3020 displays an image. As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 above, the display panel 3020 and the touch screen
panel 120 may be an On-Cell type or an In-Cell type. The display
driving unit 3040 may include a timing controller 3042, a gate
driver 3044, and a source driver 3046 for displaying an image on
the display panel 3020. The timing controller 3042 generates at
least one signal for adjusting a timing of a display operation; for
example, the timing controller 3042 may immediately receive a
vertical synchronization signal Vsync and a horizontal
synchronization signal Hsync from the host controller 3060 or may
generate a vertical synchronization signal Vsync and a horizontal
synchronization signal Hsync based on a data enable signal (not
shown) provided by using the host controller 3060. The vertical
synchronization signal Vsync and the horizontal synchronization
signal Hsync may be used as timing signals described above. Also,
at least one timing signal may be generated to control generation
of a common electrode voltage (e.g., a VCOM voltage) and a gate
line signal. The gate driver 3044 and the source driver 3046
respectively drive a gate and a source of the display panel 3020
under control of the timing controller 3042.
[0145] The host controller 3060 transmits a timing signal to the
touch controller 140 and the timing controller 3042 to control the
overall operation of the display device 3000. Also, the touch
controller 140 generates touch position data TPD above, the host
controller 3060 may receive a sensing value SEN from the touch
controller 140 to generate the same as touch position data TPD.
[0146] FIG. 31 illustrates a relationship between a timing and a
power voltage between the touch controller 140 and the display
driving unit 3040 of FIG. 30. As illustrated in FIG. 31, a
semiconductor chip 3100 for driving the display device 3000 may
include the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040,
and the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 may
transmit or receive at least one piece of information such as
timing information and status information, to and from each other.
Also, the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040
may supply or receive a power voltage to or from each other. The
touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 are briefly
illustrated in FIG. 31 for convenience of description, and an
analog front end (AFE) included in the touch controller 140 may be
a block including a voltage reading circuit, an amplification
circuit, an integration circuit, and an analog-to-digital converter
(ADC).
[0147] According to the display device 3000, the touch controller
140 provides the display driving unit 3040 with sleep state
information. Also, an example embodiment in which a power voltage
used in the touch controller 140 is provided by using the display
driving unit 3040 will be described below.
[0148] When a screen is turned off and an touch input is not
provided (when the touch controller and the display driver are both
in a sleep state), the display driving unit 3040 blocks a power
voltage or timing information from being provided to the touch
controller 140. In this case, the display driving unit 3040 may
maintains only a register state thereinside as a previous state. In
this case, power consumption may be minimized. Meanwhile, if a
touch input is blocked and only the display operation is activated
(when the touch controller is in a sleep state and the display
driver is in a normal state), the display driving unit 3040 may
generate a power voltage for self consumption but the touch
controller 140 does not consume power and thus does not provide a
power voltage to the touch controller 140. Also, the display
driving unit 3040 does not provide timing information to the touch
controller 140.
[0149] Meanwhile, if a touch input is activated but a display is
inactivated (TSC is in a normal state and Display is in a sleep
mode), as a touch input is activated, whether a touching operation
is periodically performed is checked. In this case, the display
driving unit 3040 operates in a low consumption mode to maintain an
inactivated state. However, to check a touching operation, the
display driving unit 3040 may generate a power voltage used in the
touch controller 140 and provides the power voltage to the touch
controller 140. Meanwhile, when a touch input and a display are
both activated (the touch controller and the display driver are
both in a normal state), the display driving unit 3040 may generate
timing information and a power voltage, and provides the timing
information and the power voltage to the touch controller 140.
[0150] A power voltage generating unit of the display driving unit
3040 may generate a power voltage if at least one of the touch
controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 is activated.
Also, a control logic of the display driving unit 3040 may generate
timing information only when the touch controller 140 operates and
provide the timing information to the touch controller 140. The
control logic of the display driving unit 3040 may include the
timing controller 3042.
[0151] FIG. 32 illustrates a printed circuit board (PCB) structure
of a display device 3200 mounted with a touch screen panel 120
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. The
display device 3200 of FIG. 32 has a structure in which the touch
screen panel 120 and the display panel 3020 are distinguished. As
illustrated in FIG. 32, the display device 3200 may include a
window glass 3210, a touch screen panel 120, and a display panel
3020. Also, a polarization plate 3230 may be further disposed
between the touch screen panel 120 and the display panel 3020 to
enhance optical characteristics of the display device 3200.
[0152] The window glass 3210 is typically formed of an acryl or a
tempered glass to thereby protect a module including the display
panel 3020 from external impacts or scratches due to repetitive
touches. The touch screen panel 120 may be formed by patterning an
electrode using a glass substrate or a transparent electrode such
as an indium tin oxide (ITO) on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The touch controller 140 may be mounted in the form of a chip on
board (COB) on a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), and may
sense a change in capacitance from each electrode to extract touch
coordinates and provide the touch coordinates to a host controller.
The display panel 3020 is typically formed by bonding two sheets of
glasses which are included as an upper plate and a lower plate.
Also, the display driving unit 3040 is typically attached on a
display panel for a mobile device in the form of a chip on glass
(COG).
[0153] FIG. 33 illustrates a PCB structure in which a touch screen
panel and a display panel are integrated. As illustrated in FIG.
33, the display device 3300 may include a window glass 3210, a
display panel 3320, and a polarization plate 3230. When
implementing a touch screen panel, the touch screen panel is not
formed on a separate glass substrate but the touch screen panel may
be formed by patterning a transparent electrode on an upper plate
of the display panel 3320. FIG. 33 illustrates an example
embodiment in which a plurality of sensing units SU are formed on
the upper plate of the display panel 3320. Also, when a panel
structure as described above is formed, a semiconductor chip 3100
in which a touch controller and a display driving unit are
integrated may preferably be applied.
[0154] When the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit
3040 are integrated on the one semiconductor chip 3100 as
illustrated in FIG. 32, a voltage signal T_sig from the sensing
unit SU and image data I_data from an external host are provided to
the semiconductor chip 3100. Also, the semiconductor chip 3100
processes the image data I_data to generate gradation data for
driving an actual display device and provides the gradation data to
a display panel. To this end, the semiconductor chip 3100 may
include a pad related to touch data T_data and a pad related to the
image data I_data and gradation data (not shown). The semiconductor
chip 3100 receives a voltage signal T_sig from a sensing unit
through a conductive line connected to a first side of the touch
screen panel. When arranging pads on the semiconductor chip 3100,
in regard to reduction in noise of data a position of a pad that
receives the voltage signal T_sig may preferably be arranged
adjacent to a conductive line through which the voltage signal
T_sig is transmitted.
[0155] While not illustrated in FIG. 33, when a conductive line
through which gradation data is to be provided to a display panel
is disposed opposite to the conductive line through which the touch
data voltage signal T_sig, a pad for providing the gradation data
may also be disposed opposite to the pad that receives the voltage
signal T_sig.
[0156] FIG. 34 illustrates a display device mounted with a
semiconductor chip including a touch controller and a display
driving unit, according to an example embodiment of inventive
concepts. In FIG. 34, a semiconductor chip is disposed on a glass
of a display panel in the form of a chip on glass (COG), and in
FIG. 34, the semiconductor chip is disposed on a film of a display
panel in the form of a chip on film (COF). When a touch controller
and a display driving unit are disposed as different chips, the
touch controller may typically be disposed as a COF and the display
driving unit may be typically disposed as a COG but the
semiconductor chip in which the touch controller and the display
driving unit a may be disposed either in the form of the COG or
COF.
[0157] FIG. 35 illustrates various application examples of
electronic products including the touch sensing device 100
according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring
to FIG. 35, the touch sensing device 100 may be applied in various
electronic products. For example, the touch sensing device 100 may
be widely used in various electronic devices such as a mobile
phone, a TV, an automatic teller machine (ATM) of banks that
enables automatic cash input and withdrawal, an elevator, a ticket
issuing machine for subways, a portable multimedia player (PMP), an
e-book, a navigation device, or an electronic blackboard.
[0158] While inventive concepts have been particularly shown and
described with reference to example embodiments thereof, it will be
understood that various changes in form and details may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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