U.S. patent application number 16/080077 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-13 for touch panel and driving method thereof, and touch device.
The applicant listed for this patent is BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Xueyou CAO, Chih Jen CHENG, Xiaoliang DING, Yanling HAN, Wei LIU, Haisheng WANG, Pengpeng WANG, Ping ZHANG.
Application Number | 20220011919 16/080077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006048735 |
Filed Date | 2022-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220011919 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
CAO; Xueyou ; et
al. |
January 13, 2022 |
TOUCH PANEL AND DRIVING METHOD THEREOF, AND TOUCH DEVICE
Abstract
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch panel and
a driving method thereof, and a touch device. The touch panel
includes a plurality of touch electrodes and at least one first
switch element. Each of the at least one first switch element is
provided between two touch electrodes of the plurality of touch
electrodes, and is configured to be turned on according to a first
signal from a first signal terminal such that the corresponding
touch electrodes among the plurality of touch electrodes are
connected via the at least one first switch element to form a
coil.
Inventors: |
CAO; Xueyou; (Beijing,
CN) ; WANG; Haisheng; (Beijing, CN) ; DING;
Xiaoliang; (Beijing, CN) ; HAN; Yanling;
(Beijing, CN) ; CHENG; Chih Jen; (Beijing, CN)
; LIU; Wei; (Beijing, CN) ; WANG; Pengpeng;
(Beijing, CN) ; ZHANG; Ping; (Beijing,
CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD. |
Beijing |
|
CN |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20210200412 A1 |
July 1, 2021 |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006048735 |
Appl. No.: |
16/080077 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
February 5, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2018/075247 PCKC 00 |
371 Date: |
August 27, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04166 20190501;
G06F 3/044 20130101; G06F 3/0412 20130101; H01Q 7/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/041 20060101
G06F003/041; G06F 3/044 20060101 G06F003/044; H01Q 7/00 20060101
H01Q007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2017 |
CN |
201710535984.7 |
Claims
1. A touch panel comprising: a plurality of touch electrodes; and
at least one first switch element, wherein each of the at least one
first switch element is provided between two touch electrodes of
the plurality of touch electrodes, and is configured to be turned
on according to a first signal from a first signal terminal, such
that the corresponding touch electrodes of the plurality of touch
electrodes are connected via the at least one first switch element
to form a coil.
2. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising a
rectifying circuit configured to rectify, according to a second
signal from a second signal terminal, a signal sensed by the coil,
wherein a first input terminal of the rectifying circuit is coupled
to a first terminal of the coil, wherein a second input terminal of
the rectifying circuit is coupled to a second terminal of the coil,
and wherein an output terminal of the rectifying circuit is
configured to output the rectified signal.
3. The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the rectifying
circuit comprises: a switch sub-circuit configured to couple the
first terminal of the coil to a rectifying sub-circuit according to
the second signal; and the rectifying sub-circuit configured to
rectify the signal sensed by the coil according to the second
signal.
4. The touch panel according to claim 3, wherein the switch
sub-circuit comprises a second switch element, wherein a control
electrode of the second switch element is coupled to the second
signal terminal, wherein a first electrode of the second switch
element is coupled to the first terminal of the coil, and wherein a
second electrode of the second switch element is coupled to the
rectifying sub-circuit.
5. The touch panel according to claim 4, wherein the rectifying
sub-circuit comprises a first diode, a first capacitor, a second
diode, and a second capacitor, wherein an anode of the first diode
is coupled to the switch sub-circuit, and wherein a cathode of the
first diode is coupled to an output terminal of the rectifying
circuit; wherein a first end of the first capacitor is coupled to
the cathode of the first diode, and wherein a second end of the
first capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the coil;
wherein an anode of the second diode is coupled to the cathode of
the first diode, and wherein a cathode of the second diode is
coupled to the switch sub-circuit; and wherein a first end of the
second capacitor is coupled to the anode of the second diode, and
wherein a second end of the second capacitor is coupled to the
second terminal of the coil.
6. The touch panel according to claim 5, wherein the rectifying
sub-circuit further comprises a third switch element and a fourth
switch element, wherein a control electrode of the third switch
element is coupled to the second signal terminal, wherein a first
electrode of the third switch element is coupled to the cathode of
the first diode, and wherein a second electrode of the third switch
element is coupled to the first end of the first capacitor; and
wherein a control electrode of the fourth switch element is coupled
to the second signal terminal, wherein a first electrode of the
fourth switch element is coupled to the anode of the second diode,
and wherein a second electrode of the fourth switch element is
coupled to the first end of the second capacitor.
7. The touch panel according to claim 5, wherein the first diode
and the second diode are provided outside a touch area of the touch
panel.
8. The touch panel according to claim 6, further comprising a
display circuit, wherein at least one of the first switch element,
the second switch element, the third switch element, and the fourth
switch element is a switch element in the display circuit.
9. The touch panel according to claim 6, wherein at least one of
the first switch element, the second switch element, the third
switch element, and the fourth switch element is a transistor.
10. The touch panel according to claim 1, further comprising a
display circuit, wherein the first switch element is a switch
element in the display circuit.
11. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the first switch
element is a transistor.
12. The touch panel according to claim 2, further comprising a
processing circuit configured to process a signal outputted by the
rectifying circuit, wherein a first input terminal of the
processing circuit is coupled to the output terminal of the
rectifying circuit, wherein a second input terminal of the
processing circuit is coupled to the second terminal of the coil,
and wherein an output terminal of the processing circuit is
configured to output the processed signal.
13. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the touch
electrode is a self-capacitive touch electrode.
14. The touch panel according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
touch electrodes comprise a plurality of driving touch electrodes
and a plurality of sensing touch electrodes, and wherein each of
the at least one first switch element is provided between two
driving touch electrodes, or between two sensing touch electrodes,
or between one driving touch electrode and one sensing touch
electrode.
15. The touch panel according to claim 14, wherein at least some of
the plurality of driving touch electrodes are connected through
signal lines; and wherein at least some of the plurality of sensing
touch electrodes are connected through signal lines.
16. A method for driving the touch panel according to claim 1, the
method comprising: in a first time period, applying a touch signal
to a touch electrode of the plurality of touch electrodes, and
applying the first signal to the first signal terminal, such that
the touch panel can perform a touch function, wherein the first
signal is an invalid signal; and in a second time period, providing
the first signal to the first signal terminal, and connecting the
corresponding touch electrodes in the touch panel so as to form the
coil, wherein the first signal is a valid signal.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the touch panel
further comprises a rectifying circuit configured to rectify a
signal sensed by the coil according to a second signal of a second
signal terminal, wherein a first input terminal of the rectifying
circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the coil, wherein a
second input terminal of the rectifying circuit is coupled to a
second terminal of the coil, and wherein an output terminal of the
rectifying circuit is configured to output the rectified signal,
the method further comprising: in the first time period, providing
the second signal to the second signal terminal, wherein the second
signal is an invalid signal; and in the second time period,
providing the second signal to the second signal terminal, wherein
the second signal is a valid signal.
18. A touch device comprising the touch panel according to claim
1.
19. The touch panel according to claim 3, wherein the rectifying
sub-circuit comprises a first diode, a first capacitor, a second
diode, and a second capacitor, wherein an anode of the first diode
is coupled to the switch sub-circuit, and wherein a cathode of the
first diode is coupled to an output terminal of the rectifying
circuit; wherein a first end of the first capacitor is coupled to
the cathode of the first diode, and wherein a second end of the
first capacitor is coupled to the second terminal of the coil;
wherein an anode of the second diode is coupled to the cathode of
the first diode, and wherein a cathode of the second diode is
coupled to the switch sub-circuit; and wherein a first end of the
second capacitor is coupled to the anode of the second diode, and
wherein a second end of the second capacitor is coupled to the
second terminal of the coil.
20. The touch panel according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of
touch electrodes comprise a plurality of driving touch electrodes
and a plurality of sensing touch electrodes, and wherein each of
the at least one first switch element is provided between two
driving touch electrodes, or between two sensing touch electrodes,
or between one driving touch electrode and one sensing touch
electrode.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application is a National Stage Entry of
PCT/CN2018/075247 filed on Feb. 5, 2018, which claims the benefit
and priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201710535984.7 filed
on Jul. 4, 2017, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety as part of the present
application.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of touch display
technologies, and in particular, to a touch panel and a driving
method thereof, and a touch device.
[0003] Touch panels can be classified into resistive and capacitive
types according to different sensing technologies. Nowadays,
capacitive touch panels are widely used in electronic products. The
capacitive touch panel works by utilizing current sensing of the
human body, and senses touch signals by utilizing electrodes in
combination with human body characteristics. When the human body
(finger) touches a screen, due to the electric field of the human
body, coupling capacitance is formed between the finger and a
conductor layer of the touch screen. Current generated by the
electrode on the touch screen then flows to the touch point, so
that the position of the touch point can be accurately determined
in time.
[0004] Antennas are used for transmitting or receiving radio waves
so as to transmit or exchange radio signals. Electronic products
with wireless network communication functions (such as mobile
phones, etc.) typically transmit or receive wireless signals
through built-in antennas for transmission of related data. At
present, antennas of mobile phones mostly have plate-like
structures and are provided within the casing of mobile phones.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a touch panel
and a driving method thereof, and a touch device.
[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a touch
panel. The touch panel may include a plurality of touch electrodes
and at least one first switch element. Each of the at least one
first switch element is provided between two touch electrodes of
the plurality of touch electrodes, and is configured to be turned
on according to a first signal from a first signal terminal, such
that the corresponding touch electrodes among the plurality of
touch electrodes are connected via the at least one first switch
element to form a coil.
[0007] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch panel
may further include a rectifying circuit configured to rectify,
according to a second signal from a second signal terminal, a
signal sensed by the coil. A first input terminal of the rectifying
circuit is coupled to a first terminal of the coil, a second input
terminal of the rectifying circuit is coupled to a second terminal
of the coil, and an output terminal of the rectifying circuit is
configured to output the rectified signal.
[0008] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rectifying
circuit may include a switch sub-circuit and a rectifying
sub-circuit. The switch sub-circuit is configured to couple the
first terminal of the coil to the rectifying sub-circuit according
to the second signal. The rectifying sub-circuit is configured to
rectify the signal sensed by the coil according to the second
signal.
[0009] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the switch
sub-circuit may include a second switch element. A control
electrode of the second switch element is coupled to the second
signal terminal, a first electrode of the second switch element is
coupled to the first terminal of the coil, and a second electrode
of the second switch element is coupled to the rectifying
sub-circuit.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rectifying
sub-circuit may include a first diode, a first capacitor, a second
diode, and a second capacitor. An anode of the first diode is
coupled to the switch sub-circuit, and a cathode of the first diode
is coupled to an output terminal of the rectifying circuit. A first
end of the first capacitor is coupled to the cathode of the first
diode, and a second end of the first capacitor is coupled to the
second terminal of the coil. An anode of the second diode is
coupled to the cathode of the first diode, and a cathode of the
second diode is coupled to the switch sub-circuit. A first end of
the second capacitor is coupled to the anode of the second diode,
and a second end of the second capacitor is coupled to the second
terminal of the coil.
[0011] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the rectifying
sub-circuit further includes a third switch element and a fourth
switch element. A control electrode of the third switch element is
coupled to the second signal terminal, a first electrode of the
third switch element is coupled to the cathode of the first diode,
and a second electrode of the third switch element is coupled to
the first end of the first capacitor. A control electrode of the
fourth switch element is coupled to the second signal terminal, a
first electrode of the fourth switch element is coupled to the
anode of the second diode, and a second electrode of the fourth
switch element is coupled to the first end of the second
capacitor.
[0012] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first diode
and the second diode are provided outside a touch area of the touch
panel.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch panel
may further include a display circuit. At least one of the first
switch element, the second switch element, the third switch
element, and the fourth switch element is a switch element in the
display circuit.
[0014] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of
the first switch element, the second switch element, the third
switch element, and the fourth switch element may be a
transistor.
[0015] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch panel
may further include a processing circuit. The processing circuit is
configured to process a signal outputted by the rectifying circuit.
A first input terminal of the processing circuit is coupled to the
output terminal of the rectifying circuit, a second input terminal
of the processing circuit is coupled to the second terminal of the
coil, and an output terminal of the processing circuit is
configured to output the processed signal.
[0016] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch
electrode is a self-capacitive touch electrode.
[0017] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of
touch electrodes includes a plurality of driving touch electrodes
and a plurality of sensing touch electrodes. Each of the at least
one first switch element is provided between two driving touch
electrodes, between two sensing touch electrodes, or between one
driving touch electrode and one sensing touch electrode.
[0018] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least some of
the plurality of driving touch electrodes are connected through
signal lines. At least some of the plurality of sensing touch
electrodes are connected through signal lines.
[0019] A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method
for driving the touch panel according to the first aspect of the
present disclosure described above. In the method, in a first time
period, a touch signal is applied to a touch electrode, and a first
signal is applied to the first signal terminal, such that the touch
panel can perform a touch function, wherein the first signal is an
invalid signal. In a second time period, a first signal is provided
to the first signal terminal, and the corresponding touch
electrodes in the touch panel are connected so as to form a coil,
wherein the first signal is a valid signal.
[0020] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may
further include providing a second signal to the second signal
terminal in the first time period, wherein the second signal is an
invalid signal, and providing a second signal to the second signal
terminal in the second time period, wherein the second signal is a
valid signal.
[0021] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a touch
device. The touch device may include the touch panel according to
the first aspect of the present disclosure described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the
present disclosure more clearly, the drawings of the embodiments
will be briefly described below. It should be appreciated that the
drawings described below are only related to some of the
embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than limiting the
present disclosure, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to
another embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a touch panel
including a rectifying circuit, according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an exemplary circuit diagram of a rectifying
circuit that can be used in a touch panel according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a touch panel
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 5 illustrates a timing diagram of signals for driving a
touch panel of an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a method for driving a
touch panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
and
[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a method for driving a
touch panel according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] In order to make the technical solutions and advantages of
the embodiments of the present disclosure clearer, the technical
solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be
clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. Apparently, the described embodiments are
merely part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather
than all of the embodiments. According to the described
embodiments, all the other embodiments obtained by those of
ordinary skill in the art without creative labor also fall within
the scope of protection of the present disclosure.
[0032] In the following text, the expression "the element A is
coupled/connected to the element B" means that the element A is
"directly" connected to the element B or "indirectly" connected to
the element B through one or more other elements, unless otherwise
stated.
[0033] FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a touch panel 100A
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in
FIG. 1A, the touch panel is provided with a plurality of touch
electrodes and at least one first switch element. In this example,
the touch panel is provided with 16 touch electrodes E1-E16 and 13
first switch elements S1-S13. In FIG. 1A, the touch electrodes
E1-E16 are represented by diamonds, and the first switch elements
S1-S13 are represented by squares.
[0034] In the present example, the first switch elements S1-S13 are
respectively provided between two touch electrodes. Referring to
FIG. 1A, the first switch element S1 is provided between the touch
electrodes E13 and E9, the first switch element S2 is provided
between the touch electrodes E9 and E5, the first switch element S3
is provided between the touch electrode E5 and E1, the first switch
element S4 is provided between the touch electrodes E1 and E2, the
first switch element S5 is provided between the touch electrodes E2
and E3, the first switch element S6 is provided between the touch
electrodes E3 and E4, the first switch element S7 is provided
between the touch electrodes E4 and E8, the first switch element S8
is provided between the touch electrodes E8 and E12, the first
switch element S9 is provided between the touch electrodes E12 and
E11, the first switch element S10 is provided between the touch
electrodes E11 and E10, the first switch element S11 is provided
between the touch electrodes E10 and E6, the first switch element
S12 is provided between the touch electrodes E6 and E7, and the
first switch element S13 is provided between the touch electrodes
E7 and E11.
[0035] The control electrode of each of the first switch elements
S1-S13 is respectively coupled to the first signal terminal G1,
such that each of the first switch elements S1-S13 can be turned on
or off according to the first signal from the first signal terminal
G1. In a state in which all of the first switch elements S1-S13 are
turned on, the corresponding touch electrodes E13, E9, E5, E1, E2,
E3, E4, E8, E12, E11, E10, E6, and E7 among the touch electrodes
E1-E16 can be connected via the first switch elements S1-S6 to form
a coil. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a coil refers
to a line formed into a winding that can be used as an antenna for
receiving or transmitting signals, particularly a near field
communication (NFC) antenna.
[0036] The touch panel 100A shown in FIG. 1A can be used for a
self-capacitive touch panel, and the touch electrodes can be
self-capacitive touch electrodes.
[0037] Although as an example, 16 touch electrodes and 13 first
switch elements are shown in FIG. 1A, those skilled in the art
should know that the numbers of the touch electrodes and the first
switch elements are not limited thereto. Moreover, the number and
positions of the first switch elements can be set as required to
form different coils.
[0038] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the switch
elements on the touch panel may be implemented with transistors,
wherein the transistors may be N-type transistors or P-type
transistors. Specifically, the transistors may be N-type or P-type
field effect transistors (MOSFETs), or N-type or P-type bipolar
transistors (BJTs). In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a
gate of a transistor can be referred to as a control electrode.
Since a source and a drain of a transistor are symmetrical, the
source and the drain are not distinguished, that is, the source of
the transistor can be the first electrode (or the second
electrode), and the drain can be the second electrode (or the first
electrode). Further, any controlled switch device having a gating
signal input can be used to implement the function of the
transistor. A controlled middle terminal of a switch device for
receiving a control signal (e.g., for turning on and off the
controlled switch device) can be referred to as a control
electrode, and the other two terminals can be referred to as a
first electrode and a second electrode, respectively.
[0039] In addition, the touch panel may include a display circuit
in which a transistor (TFT) is provided. In an embodiment of the
present disclosure, the transistor (TFT) in the display circuit can
be used as the switch elements for connecting the touch electrodes.
Therefore, the touch panel can maintain the existing structure
without adding additional processes.
[0040] FIG. 1B shows a schematic diagram of a touch panel 100B
according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown
in FIG. 1B, the touch panel is provided with a plurality of touch
electrodes and at least one first switch element. The plurality of
touch electrodes may include a plurality of driving touch
electrodes and a plurality of sensing touch electrodes, each first
switch element being provided between two driving touch electrodes,
between two sensing touch electrodes, or between one driving touch
electrode and one sensing touch electrode.
[0041] In this example, the touch panel is provided with 16 touch
electrodes E1-E16 and six first switch elements S1-S6. In FIG. 1B,
the touch electrodes E1-E16 are represented by diamonds, and the
first switch elements S1-S6 are represented by squares.
[0042] In this example, the touch electrodes in the same column are
connected through signal lines to form a touch electrode line. A
driving touch electrode line can be formed by connecting a
plurality of driving touch electrodes, and a sensing touch
electrode line can be formed by connecting a plurality of sensing
touch electrodes. For example, the touch electrodes E1, E5, E9, and
E13 may be driving touch electrodes, which are connected to form a
driving touch electrode line, and E2, E6, E10, and E14 may be
sensing touch electrodes, which are connected to form a sensing
touch electrode line.
[0043] Further, the first switch elements S1-S6 are respectively
provided between two touch electrodes that are not connected
through signal lines. Specifically, the first switch element S1 is
provided between the touch electrodes E1 and E2, the first switch
element S2 is provided between the touch electrodes E2 and E3, the
first switch element S3 is provided between the touch electrodes E3
and E4, the first switch element S4 is provided between the touch
electrodes E11 and E12, the first switch element S5 is provided
between the touch electrodes E1.degree. and E11, and the first
switch element S6 is provided between the touch electrodes E6 and
E7. The control electrodes of the first switch elements S1-S6 are
respectively coupled to the first signal terminal G1, and are
turned on or off according to the first signal from the first
signal terminal G1. In a state in which all of the first switch
elements S1-S6 are turned on, the corresponding touch electrodes
E13, E9, E5, E1, E2, E3, E4, E8, E12, E11, E10, E6, and E7 among
the touch electrodes E1-E16 are connected via the first switch
elements S1-S6 and signal lines, to form a coil.
[0044] The touch panel 100B shown in FIG. 1B can be used for a
mutual-capacitive touch panel.
[0045] Although it is shown in FIG. 1B that the touch electrodes in
the same column are connected through signal lines, those skilled
in the art should know that the touch electrodes in the same row
may also be connected through signal lines. The touch electrodes
connected through signal lines may all be driving touch electrodes
or may all be sensing touch electrodes.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a touch panel 200
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The touch
panel 200 includes a touch/antenna circuit 210, a rectifying
circuit 220, and a processing circuit 230. The touch/antenna
circuit 210 may include a plurality of touch electrodes and first
switch elements as shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. The touch/antenna
circuit 210 can operate in a touch mode or in an antenna mode. In
the touch mode, each of the first switch elements in the
touch/antenna circuit 210 is turned off according to the first
signal G1. In this way, when the touch panel is touched, the
corresponding touch electrodes generate a touch signal, thereby
realizing the touch function. In the antenna mode, each of the
first switch elements in the touch/antenna circuit 210 is turned on
under the control of the first signal G1. Therefore, the
corresponding touch electrodes form a connected coil as an antenna,
thereby receiving or transmitting a signal. The rectifying circuit
220 can rectify a signal sensed by the touch/antenna circuit 210
according to a second signal from the second signal terminal. In an
embodiment of the present disclosure, the rectifying circuit 220
may be, for example, a full-wave rectifying circuit. In this case,
the rectifying circuit 220 maintains a positive half-cycle signal
in an AC signal sensed by the touch/antenna circuit 210 unchanged,
and changes the direction of a negative half-cycle signal but
maintains the amplitude thereof unchanged, thereby rectifying the
sensed AC signal into a unidirectional signal. The processing
circuit 230 can perform data processing on the signal outputted
from the rectifying circuit 220, for example, perform
analog-to-digital conversion on the outputted signal.
[0047] A first input terminal of the rectifying circuit 220 is
coupled to a first terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210, a
second input terminal of the rectifying circuit 220 is coupled to a
second terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210, and an output
terminal of the rectifying circuit 220 outputs the rectified
signal. The rectifying circuit 220 includes a switch sub-circuit
222 and a rectifying sub-circuit 226. The switch sub-circuit 222
couples the first terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210 to the
rectifying sub-circuit 226 according to the second signal G2. The
rectifying sub-circuit 226 can rectify the signal sensed by the
touch/antenna circuit 210.
[0048] A first input terminal of the processing circuit 230 is
coupled to the output terminal of the rectifying circuit 220, a
second input terminal of the processing circuit 230 is coupled to
the second terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210, and the
output terminal of the processing circuit 230 outputs the processed
signal to an operating device such as a central processing unit
(CPU).
[0049] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary circuit diagram of the rectifying
circuit 220 for rectifying signals sensed by the touch/antenna
circuit 210 described above. In the example, N-type field effect
transistors (NMOSs) are employed as the switch elements, and are
described in detail. In addition, other types of switch elements
can also be used, and the details thereof are not described
herein.
[0050] In the rectifying circuit 220, the switch sub-circuit 222
includes a second transistor T2, of which a control electrode is
coupled to the second signal terminal G2, a first electrode is
coupled to the first terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210, and
a second electrode is coupled to the rectifying sub-circuit
226.
[0051] The rectifying sub-circuit 226 includes a first diode D1, a
first capacitor C1, a second diode D2, and a second capacitor C2.
An anode of the first diode D1 is coupled to a second electrode of
the second transistor T2, and a cathode of the first diode D1 is
coupled to the output terminal of the rectifying circuit 220. A
first end of the first capacitor C1 is coupled to the cathode of
the first diode D1, and a second end of the first capacitor C1 is
coupled to the second terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210. An
anode of the second diode D2 is coupled to the cathode of the first
diode D1, and a cathode of the second diode D2 is coupled to the
second electrode of the second transistor T2. A first end of the
second capacitor C2 is coupled to the anode of the second diode,
and a second end of the second capacitor C2 is coupled to the
second terminal of the touch/antenna circuit 210.
[0052] Further, the rectifying sub-circuit 226 may further include
a third transistor T3 and a fourth transistor T4. A control
electrode of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the second
signal terminal G2, a first electrode of the third transistor T3 is
coupled to the cathode of the first diode D1, and a second
electrode of the third transistor T3 is coupled to the first end of
the first capacitor C1. A control electrode of the fourth
transistor T4 is coupled to the second signal terminal G2, a first
electrode of the fourth transistor T4 is coupled to the anode of
the second diode D2, and a second electrode of the fourth
transistor T4 is coupled to the first end of the second capacitor
C2. Thus, in the touch mode, transistors T4, T3 are controlled to
be turned off, thereby avoiding the impact of the first capacitor
C1 and the second capacitor C2 on the touch.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a touch panel
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the
example, N-type field effect transistors (NMOSs) are still employed
as the switch elements. The touch panel shown in FIG. 4 is a
mutual-capacitive touch panel, wherein six transmitting electrodes
(TX1-TX6) are respectively coupled to the driving touch electrodes
via longitudinal signal lines to form a transmitting touch
electrode line. Six receiving electrodes (RX1-RX6) are respectively
coupled to the sensing touch electrodes via lateral signal lines to
form a receiving touch electrode line. The touch electrodes can be
made into a diamond shape during the manufacturing process.
Further, the shape of the touch electrodes is not limited thereto,
and may be a square, an I-shape or the like. The touch electrodes
can be made of an indium tin oxide (ITO) material.
[0054] As an example, the driving touch electrodes on the
transmitting touch electrode line are indicated with row numbers
(1-6) and column numbers (1-6), for example, E11-E66. The first
transistors T1 are respectively provided between the driving touch
electrodes E12 and E13, between E13 and E14, between E14 and E15,
between E64 and E65, between E63 and E64, and between E33 and E34.
The control electrode of each of the first transistors T1 is
coupled to the first signal terminal G1. Therefore, when the first
signal of the first signal terminal G1 is at a high level, each of
the first transistors T1 is turned on, and the driving touch
electrodes E62, E52, E42, E3, E22, E12, E13, E14, E15, E25, E35,
E45, E55, E65, E64, E63, E53, E43, E33, E34, E44, and E54 are
connected via signal lines and the six first transistors T1, so as
to form a coil. In this situation, the driving touch electrode E54
is configured as the first terminal of the coil, and the driving
touch electrode E62 is configured as the second terminal of the
coil.
[0055] It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present
disclosure, there is no limitation for the touch electrodes
constituting the coil. Any touch electrodes provided on the touch
panel can be used. For example, the touch electrodes are not
limited to the driving touch electrodes on the transmitting touch
electrode line, and can also be the sensing touch electrodes on the
receiving touch electrode line or a combination of the touch
electrodes on the two lines. In addition, the embodiment of the
present disclosure is also applicable to a self-capacitive touch
panel, on which only a receiving touch electrode line is provided.
In this structure, the connection manner of the touch electrodes is
the same as the above connection manner, and will not be described
again.
[0056] In FIG. 4, the specific connecting manner of the second
transistor T2, the third transistor T3, the fourth transistor T4,
the first capacitor C1, the second capacitor C2, the first diode
D1, and the second diode D2 in the rectifying circuit is the same
as that in FIG. 3 and will not be described again. Further, the
second transistor T2, the third transistor T3, the first diode D1,
the first capacitor C1, the fourth transistor T4, the second diode
D2, and the second capacitor C2 may be formed simultaneously with
the touch panel.
[0057] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first diode
D1 and the second diode D2 are provided outside the touch area of
the touch panel. Thus, when the touch panel is used in combination
with the display panel, the impact of the optical characteristics
of a display device in the display panel on the unidirectional
continuity of the diodes can be avoided. In addition, the first
capacitor C1 and the second capacitor C2 can be provided outside
the touch area of the touch panel. Otherwise, the material layers
of the touch panel can be used to form the first capacitor C1 and
the second capacitor C2, to integrate the capacitors into the touch
area of the touch panel.
[0058] As described above, in the case that the touch panel has a
display circuit, the transistors (TFTs) provided in the display
circuit can also be used as the second transistor T2, the third
transistor T3, and the fourth transistor T4. In addition,
applicable transistors or other type of switch elements can be
additionally provided within the touch panel.
[0059] The touch panel according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure can form an antenna coil by using the touch electrodes
on the touch panel. Therefore, it can not only provide touch
control but also serve as an antenna.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a timing diagram of signals for driving a touch
panel of an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0061] At time T0 to time T1 (touch mode), a touch signal, such as
a square wave signal shown in FIG. 5, is provided to the touch
electrodes of the touch panel. A first signal G1 at a low level is
supplied to the first signal terminal, and a second signal G2 at a
low level is supplied to the second signal terminal, so that the
transistors connecting the touch electrodes and the transistors in
the rectifying circuit are turned off. In this case, the touch
panel can perform a touch function, and a low level signal can be
outputted from the rectifying circuit and the processing
circuit.
[0062] At time T1 to time T2 (antenna mode), a first signal G1 at a
high level is supplied to the first signal terminal, and a second
signal G2 at a high level is supplied to the second signal
terminal, so that the transistors connecting the touch electrodes
and the transistors in the rectifying circuit are turned on. A
connected coil is formed on the touch panel to serve as an antenna.
The rectified signal can be outputted from the rectifying
circuit.
[0063] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch mode
and the antenna mode may share the same frame driving timing, and
the two modes are alternately and independently executed. In order
to improve the performances of the two modes, the frequency of the
driving timing can be increased, for example, 120 Hz.
[0064] The touch panel according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure can implement an antenna coil, and can implement a touch
function and an antenna function by employing frequency division,
thereby saving space, reducing cost, and not affecting the touch
performance.
[0065] FIG. 6 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for driving a
touch panel as shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, in step
S610, in a first time period, the touch signal is an operation
signal, the first signal is an invalid signal, and the touch panel
performs a touch function. Then, in step S620, in the second time
period, the first signal is a valid signal, the touch signal is a
non-operational signal, and the corresponding touch electrodes in
the touch panel are connected to form a coil. In the embodiment of
the present disclosure, the valid signal refers to a signal that
controls a switch element to turn on, connecting the first and
second electrodes of the switch element, and the invalid signal
refers to a signal that controls a switch element to turn off,
disconnecting the first and second electrodes of the switch
element. For example, in the case that the switch elements are
N-type transistors, the valid signal is a high level signal and the
invalid signal is a low level signal.
[0066] FIG. 7 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for driving a
touch panel as shown in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7, in step S710, in the first
time period, the touch signal is an operational signal, the first
signal and the second signal are invalid signals, and the touch
panel performs a touch function. Then, in step S720, in the second
time period, the first signal and the second signal are valid
signals, the touch signal is a non-operational signal, the
corresponding touch electrodes in the touch panel are connected to
form a coil, and the signal sensed by the coil is rectified by the
rectifying circuit. As above, the valid signal refers to a signal
that controls a switch element to turn on, connecting the first and
second electrodes of the switch element, and the invalid signal
refers to a signal that controls a switch element to turn off,
disconnecting the first and second electrodes of the switch
element.
[0067] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there
is further provided a touch device including the above touch panel.
The touch device can be, for example, a touch display screen, a
mobile phone, a tablet, a camera, a wearable device, or the
like.
[0068] Several embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described in detail above, but the scope of protection of the
present disclosure is not limited thereto. Apparently, those of
ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications,
substitutions or variants to the embodiments of the present
disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present disclosure. The scope of protection of the present
disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *