JP2000276296A - Input/output element and its driving method, input/output device, and information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable thickness reduction and size reduction and to obtain accurate correspondence between input and output by enabling one active element to have a function of controlling the light emission of a light emitting element and a function of detecting the incidence of light having luminance higher than specified. SOLUTION: In the front-half period of an output frame, a controller 1E scans image data expanded in a VRAM 1F in order and supplies them as image data 1MG to a data driver 1D. After the fetch of image data 1MG of one line is completed, the data driver 1D outputs a voltage to respective data lines DL for the front-half period of one selection period according to the illumination and nonillumination of the image data 1MG. In the latter-half period of one selection period, a top gate driver 1B maintains the output state at the end of the front half. The data driver 1D, on the other hand, outputs a voltage reverse to that in the front-half period, i.e., a voltage corresponding to the illumination and nonillumination of organic EL elements 1AB on a selected light to respective data lines DL.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input / output device, a method of driving the input / output device, an input / output device, and an information processing apparatus to which the input / output device is applied. About things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional touch panel has a two-layer structure in which a transparent digitizer for detecting coordinates indicating a position touched by a pen or the like and a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image or the like are overlapped with each other. It has both functions of the output device. When the touch panel is used as an input device, for example, a plurality of icons are displayed on a liquid crystal display panel, coordinates indicating a position corresponding to the icon touched by the operator are detected by a digitizer, and an input is performed based on the detected coordinates. Will be

[0003]

However, when the touch panel is applied to a portable information terminal or the like that requires a particularly small size, the conventional touch panel has a structure of a plurality of sheets as described above. That is, it is difficult to reduce the size.

In the portable information terminal as described above, an operator looks at an icon or the like displayed on a liquid crystal display panel via a digitizer and touches a desired position to input a coordinate position. And perform the desired processing. However, due to the parallax due to the thickness of the digitizer and the distance between the digitizer and the liquid crystal panel, there have been cases where it is not possible to accurately touch the coordinates of the digitizer corresponding to the positions of the icons displayed on the liquid crystal panel.

[0005] By the way, the portable information terminal has traces (eg, characters) of an operator tracing the digitizer with a pen or the like.
On a liquid crystal display panel, that is, a so-called handwriting input function. However, conventional touch panels
Generally, the resolution (the number of detectable coordinates) of the digitizer is lower than the resolution (the number of pixels) of the liquid crystal panel from the viewpoint of manufacturing cost and the like. For this reason, traces traced on the digitizer could not be accurately displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. In addition, due to the parallax between the digitizer and the liquid crystal panel as described above, there is a problem that, when viewed from the operator, no trace is displayed on the liquid crystal panel so as to correspond to the traced position.

A touch panel using a self-luminous display panel such as an EL display panel instead of a liquid crystal display panel has been conventionally known. However, such a touch panel also has a two-piece structure of a transparent digitizer and a self-luminous display panel, and has the same problems as a touch panel using a liquid crystal display panel as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and is an input / output element which can be made thinner and smaller, and which can accurately correspond inputs and outputs. And a driving method thereof, an input / output device, and an information processing device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an input / output device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided on a substrate and provided on the substrate, and emits predetermined light by input of a drive current signal. A plurality of first light-emitting elements that emit light, a second light-emitting element that can arbitrarily emit predetermined light, and the drive current that is adjacent to the plurality of first light-emitting elements on the substrate and that is adjacent to the plurality of first light-emitting elements during a first output frame period A signal is output to the first light emitting element to hold a carrier generated by light emitted from the first light emitting element, and the driving is performed in a second output frame period according to the carrier held in the first output frame period. A plurality of active elements for outputting a current signal to the first light emitting element and outputting a signal corresponding to the incidence of light from the second light emitting element during an input frame period.

In the input / output element, a voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer is supplied to the first control terminal, and a voltage according to output data is supplied to the first or second current supply terminal. Thus, the corresponding first light emitting element can emit light. On the other hand, by supplying a voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer to the first control terminal and supplying a voltage for inhibiting channel formation to the second control terminal,
Formation of a channel in the semiconductor layer and detection of whether light is incident on the semiconductor layer from the second light-emitting element can be detected.

Therefore, the same active element can have both the function of controlling the light emission of the light emitting element in the input / output element and the function of detecting the incidence of light having a predetermined luminance or more from the outside. Since both the active element and the first light emitting element are formed on the same substrate, the input / output element can be reduced in thickness, and the area per pixel can be reduced, thereby reducing the size. Further, if the light from the second light emitting element is transmitted through the substrate, the correspondence between the input and the output can be accurately obtained. Further, since the number of active elements included in the entire input / output element can be minimized, the possibility of manufacturing an input / output element having a defective active element is reduced, and the manufacturing yield is increased.

[0011] In the input / output device, a set composed of one each of the active device and the first light emitting device may be arranged in a predetermined arrangement.

In the input / output device, the second light emitting element can emit light to the active element at an arbitrary position.

In the above input / output device, the first light emitting element may be made of, for example, an organic electroluminescent material.

In order to achieve the above object, an input / output device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises: a semiconductor layer which generates carriers substantially when a predetermined amount or more of light is incident thereon; A first control terminal to which a channel formation voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer is supplied, and a first control terminal formed opposite to the first control terminal and opposed to the semiconductor layer. An active element having a second control terminal to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel formation voltage is supplied; first and second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer; A light-emitting element that emits light by a current flowing through the channel, and causes the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer via one of the first and second control terminals.

The input / output element is formed on the other side of the first and second control terminals, and substantially transmits only light having a predetermined luminance or more and is connected to the first and second control terminals. The semiconductor device may further include a light-shielding unit that causes the light to enter the semiconductor layer via the other side.

[0016] The light-shielding means can prevent the incident light from being incident on a predetermined amount or more of the external light semiconductor layer and generating carriers in an environment in which the input / output element is normally used. Only strong light can be transmitted through the other of the first and second control terminals, and more than a predetermined amount of light can be incident on the semiconductor layer. As a result, malfunction can be prevented.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for driving an input / output element according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer that substantially generates carriers inside when a predetermined amount or more of light enters. A first control terminal formed to face the semiconductor layer and supplied with a channel forming voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer; and a first control terminal facing the semiconductor layer on a side opposite to the first control terminal. A second control terminal to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel formation voltage is supplied, and an active element having first and second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer; A light-emitting element that emits light by a current flowing through a channel formed in the layer and causes the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer through one of the first and second control terminals. Prepare An input / output element preparing step, a channel forming voltage supplying step of supplying the channel forming voltage to the first control terminal, and a channel being formed in the semiconductor layer by the channel forming voltage supplied in the channel forming voltage supplying step. Of the active device
Or an output data voltage supply step of supplying a voltage corresponding to data to be output to a second current supply terminal, and supplying the channel formation voltage to the first control terminal and supplying the second control terminal with the channel formation voltage. The channel forming voltage / reverse polarity voltage supplying step of supplying the voltage of the opposite polarity, and the channel forming voltage / reverse polarity voltage supplying step;
When the respective voltages are supplied to the second control terminal, light of the predetermined amount or more is incident through the other of the first and second control terminals, and the carrier substantially enters the semiconductor layer. And a channel formation detecting step of detecting whether a channel is formed in the semiconductor layer by the generated carrier.

In the driving method of the input / output element, in the output data supply step, when a voltage is supplied to the first or second current supply terminal of the active element, the voltage is supplied to the second control terminal. The voltage level of the opposite polarity to inhibit the channel formation to the semiconductor layer,
The method may further include a channel inhibition voltage supply step of gradually changing the voltage to a voltage level at which a part of the carriers generated in the semiconductor layer is held.

In order to achieve the above object, an input / output device according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises: a semiconductor layer which generates carriers substantially when a predetermined amount or more of light is incident thereon; A first control terminal to which a channel formation voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer is supplied, and a first control terminal formed opposite to the first control terminal and opposed to the semiconductor layer. A plurality of second control terminals to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel formation voltage is supplied, and a first and a second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer, the plurality of control terminals being arranged in a matrix. An active element, which emits light by a current flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer of the corresponding active element and adjacent to each of the plurality of active elements, and emitting one of the first and second control terminals; An input / output element including a plurality of light emitting elements that cause the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer through the active layer; and selecting the active element for each row of the matrix to form a channel in the semiconductor layer. For supplying voltage to the corresponding first control terminals, respectively.
Selecting means for selecting the active element for each row of the matrix, and supplying a voltage for inhibiting channel formation in the semiconductor layer to a corresponding second control terminal. Data driving means for supplying a voltage corresponding to image data to be displayed to a first or second current supply terminal of the active element for each column of the matrix; The active element in which the channel is formed in the semiconductor layer is discharged through the channel in which the predetermined voltage supplied for each column of the matrix is formed by the light of the predetermined amount or more incident through the other. Input detection means for detecting the potential change based on the potential change.

In the above-mentioned input / output device, the first selecting means includes:
The second selection means can be common to the input system and the output system. Therefore, not only the size of the input / output device itself but also the size of the drive system can be reduced, so that the overall size of the input / output device can be considerably reduced.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention performs processing in accordance with an external input, and outputs a processing result to the outside; An input / output device that displays an image corresponding to the output, and inputs information regarding a position where light is irradiated to the processing device, the input / output device includes:
A semiconductor layer which generates carriers substantially when light of a predetermined amount or more is incident therein, and a channel formation voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer, which is formed to face the semiconductor layer, is supplied. A first control terminal, a second control terminal formed on the opposite side of the first control terminal to the semiconductor layer, and supplied with a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel formation voltage; The first connected to the layer,
A plurality of active elements arranged in a matrix, comprising a second current supply terminal, and flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer of the corresponding active element adjacent to each of the plurality of active elements. An input / output element comprising: a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light by an electric current and cause the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer via one of the first and second control terminals; and A voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer by selecting the active element and corresponding to a first voltage, respectively.
And a second control terminal for selecting a voltage for inhibiting channel formation in the semiconductor layer by selecting the active element for each row of the matrix. Second selection means for supplying
Data driving means for supplying a voltage corresponding to image data to be displayed to a first or second current supply terminal of the active element for each column of the matrix;
The active element in which a channel is formed in the semiconductor layer by the predetermined amount or more of light that has entered through the other of the control terminals is connected via a channel in which a predetermined voltage supplied to each column of the matrix is formed. And an input detecting means for detecting by a potential change caused by the discharge.

In the above information processing apparatus, the change in potential detected by the input / output detection means varies according to the amount of light incident on the semiconductor layer via the other of the first and second control terminals. It may be.

The information processing device irradiates the input / output element with light by being pressed by the input / output element, and outputs the light by a predetermined amount or more through the other of the first and second control terminals. The semiconductor device may further include a light irradiation unit that causes light to enter the semiconductor layer.

In the above information processing apparatus, the light irradiating means may include means for sensing the intensity of the pressure applied to the input / output element, and a range of light to be applied and / or A device for changing the light amount may be provided.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable information terminal according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this portable information terminal comprises a portable information terminal main body 1 and a laser pen 2.
It is composed of The portable information terminal body 1 has a pen holder 2 for housing a power switch 1S and a laser pen 2.
In addition to A, an input / output integrated panel 1A is provided. The portable information terminal body 1 and the input / output integrated panel 1A arranged thereon
Will be described later in more detail.

The laser pen 2 emits laser light from its tip when the user touches the input / output integrated panel 1A. The laser pen 2 has a sensor that senses the intensity of pressing of the pen tip, and expands the beam diameter of the emitted laser light according to the intensity of pressing detected by the sensor.
It has a function of increasing the intensity (luminance) of the emitted laser light.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the portable information terminal main unit 1 of FIG. As shown in the figure, the portable information terminal main unit 1 has C
PU (Central Processing Unit) 11 and ROM (Rea
d Only Memory) 12 and RAM (Random Access Memor)
y) 13 and an input / output device 14.

The CPU 11 has a ROM 12 or a RAM 1
3 and controls each unit in the portable information terminal body 1. The ROM 12 stores basic data such as an operating system, application programs, and fixed data. The RAM 13 stores an application program executed by the CPU 11, input data, and the like.
It is used as a work area when the PU 11 executes a program.

As shown in FIG. 3, the input / output device 14 includes a top gate driver 1B, a bottom gate driver 1C, a data driver 1D, and a controller 1E, in addition to the input / output integrated panel 1A shown in FIG. , VRAM (Vide
o RAM) 1F.

As shown in the equivalent circuit diagram of FIG. 3, the integrated input / output panel 1A has a plurality of input / output pixels arranged in a matrix. Each pixel includes a double-gate transistor 1AA and an organic electroluminescent device. Luminescence (E
L) Element 1AB.

The structure of one pixel of the input / output integrated panel 1A will be described with reference to a plan view shown in FIG. 4A and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 4A shown in FIG. 4B. ,explain.

As shown in these figures, in the integrated input / output panel 1A, first, a bottom gate line BGL and a bottom gate electrode 1b are integrally formed on a substrate 1a made of a transparent glass or plastic plate. ing. The bottom gate electrode 1b includes a light-shielding portion 1ba made of CrOx or the like and a conductive ITO (Indium Tin Oxid
e) has a two-layer structure of a transparent electrode 1bb.

The light-shielding portion 1ba substantially blocks external light (up to the level of the brightness of sunlight) that has entered through the substrate 1a, thereby preventing the light from entering a semiconductor layer 1d described later. On the other hand, the light-shielding portion 1ba transmits laser light emitted from the laser pen 2 when touching the input / output integrated panel 1A to such an extent that a sufficient amount of carriers are generated in the semiconductor layer 1d as described later.

A gate insulating film 1c made of SiN is formed on the substrate 1a so as to cover the bottom gate electrode 1b and the bottom gate line BGL. At a position on the gate insulating film 1c facing the bottom gate electrode 1b,
A semiconductor layer 1d made of amorphous silicon (a-Si) or polysilicon (p-Si) is formed.

The data line D is provided on the gate insulating film 1c.
A drain electrode 1e integrally formed with L and a source electrode 1f connected to the organic EL element 1AB via a contact hole 1x described later are formed so as to sandwich the semiconductor layer 1d. Then, the semiconductor layer 1d, the drain electrode 1e, the source electrode 1f, and the data line DL
, A gate insulating film 1g is further formed on the gate insulating film 1c.

A top gate electrode 1h made of transparent ITO is formed on the gate insulating film 1g at a position facing the semiconductor layer 1d.
Is made of a material such as aluminum that is opaque to light in the wavelength range emitted by the organic EL layer 1n, and light is incident on the semiconductor layer 1d from the organic EL layer 1n of an adjacent pixel. Is formed integrally with the top gate line TGL.

The double gate transistor 1 is formed by the bottom gate electrode 1b, the semiconductor layer 1d, the drain electrode 1e, the source electrode 1f, the top gate electrode 1h and the like described above.
AA is configured. Then, an insulating protective film 1j is formed so as to cover the top gate electrode 1h, the light shielding electrode 1i, and the top gate line TGL.

An anode electrode 1k made of transparent ITO is formed at a position on the pixel region and the insulating protective film 1j where the top gate line TGL, the data line DL and the bottom gate line BGL are not formed.
The anode electrode 1k is connected to the source electrode 1f via the contact hole 1x. The anode electrode 1k
Is also formed on the top gate electrode 1h. Further, an organic EL layer 1n, MgAg, M
A grounded cathode electrode 1m made of gIn, AlLi, or the like is formed in this order.

The organic EL layer 1n is formed by sequentially stacking a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, and an electron transport layer in the direction from the anode electrode 1k to the cathode electrode 1m. The hole transport layer is N,
N'-di (α-naphthyl) -N, N'-diphenyl-1,1'-biphenyl-4,
4'-diamine, the light-emitting layer is 4,4'-bis (2,2-dipheny
lvinylene) biphenyl and 4,4'-bis ((2-carbazole) vinyle
ne) a mixture with biphenyl, and the electron transport layer
Consists of num-tris (8-hydroxyquinolinate).

The organic EL layer 1n has such a configuration, and emits light of a predetermined color by absorbing energy associated with recombination of electrons and holes generated when a current flows inside. The cathode electrode 1m is made of organic E
While having reflectivity to the light emitted from the L layer 1n, the light incident on the cathode electrode 1m from the top of the figure is blocked,
It is prevented from being incident on the semiconductor layer 1d of the double gate transistor 1AA.

The organic EL element 11 is constituted by the organic EL layer 1n, the anode electrode 1k and the cathode electrode 1m described above. That is, the organic EL layer 1n is a self-luminous element that emits light by applying a voltage higher than a threshold value between the anode electrode 1k and the cathode electrode 1m, causing a current to flow in the organic EL layer 1n.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top gate electrode 1h of the double gate transistor 1AA is connected to a top gate line TGL provided for each row of the matrix.
, The bottom gate electrode 1b is connected to the bottom gate driver 1G via a bottom gate line BGL provided for each row, and the drain electrode 1e is provided for each column of the matrix. Connected to the data driver 1D via the data line DL.

Next, the driving principle of the double gate transistor 1AB shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described in detail with reference to the schematic diagram of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is +5 (V), and the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is 0 (V). V), no n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d, and +8 (V) is applied to the drain electrode 1e (D).
Is supplied, no current flows between the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f. In this state, holes accumulated in the semiconductor layer 1d are discharged as described later. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as a reset state.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is -20 (V), and the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is 0. In the case of (V), no n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d, and +8 is applied to the drain electrode 1e (D).
Even if the voltage of (V) is supplied, the drain electrode (D) 1e
No current flows between the gate electrode and the source electrode (S) 1f.

As described above, the semiconductor layers 1d below the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f, respectively.
Is affected by the electric field between the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f disposed between the top gate electrode (TG) 1h and the top gate electrode (TG) 1h.
Since a continuous channel cannot be formed by an electric field of only h, if the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is 0 (V), it is applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h. Regardless of the applied voltage, no n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is +5 (V), and the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is +10 (V). V), an n-channel is formed on the side of the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b of the semiconductor layer 1d.
Accordingly, when the resistance of the semiconductor layer 1d is reduced and a voltage of +8 (V) is supplied to the drain electrode 1e, a current flows between the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f. Further, even in this state, as described later, the semiconductor layer 1d
The holes accumulated in are discharged and reset state is reached.

As shown in FIG. 5D, a sufficient amount of holes are not accumulated in the semiconductor layer 1d as will be described later, and the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is -20.
(V), even if the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is +10 (V),
The depletion layer spreads inside 15, the n-channel is pinched off, and the resistance of the semiconductor layer 1d is increased. Therefore, even when a voltage of +8 (V) is supplied to the drain electrode 1e, no current flows between the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f.

As shown in FIG. 5E, the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is 0 to -20.
(V), when the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is +10 (V) and the semiconductor layer 1d is irradiated with light, the semiconductor layer 1d has a hole-electron pair. Occurs. The holes thus accumulated in the semiconductor layer 1d according to the electric field of the top gate electrode (TG) 1h are not discharged from the semiconductor layer 1d until the holes are reset.

As shown in FIG. 5F, the voltage applied to the top gate electrode (TG) 1h is -20 (V), and the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode (BG) 1b is +10 (V), when holes are accumulated in the semiconductor layer 1d, the accumulated holes are attracted to and held by the top gate electrode 1h to which a negative voltage is applied, and the top gate It works in a direction to reduce the influence of the negative voltage applied to the electrode 1h on the semiconductor layer 1d. Therefore, the bottom gate electrode (B
G) When an n-channel is formed on the 1b side and the resistance of the semiconductor layer 1d is reduced and a voltage of +8 (V) is supplied to the drain electrode 1e, the drain electrode (D) 1e and the source electrode (S) 1f Current flows during

Referring back to FIG. 3, the top gate driver 1B receives the control signal T from the controller 1E.
cnt, the top gate electrode 1h of the double gate transistor 1AA via the top gate line TGL.
, A predetermined voltage is applied to each row.

The bottom gate driver 1G receives the double gate transistor 1AA via the bottom gate line BGL according to the control signal Bcnt from the controller 1E.
A predetermined voltage is applied to the bottom gate electrode 1b for each row. The pixels of the input / output integrated panel 1AA are selected for each row by outputting a predetermined voltage from the top gate driver 1B and the bottom gate driver 1G.

The data driver 1D includes a controller 1E
, A predetermined voltage is applied to the drain electrode 1E of the double gate transistor 1AA via the data line DL for each column. The data driver 1D sequentially captures the image data IMG supplied from the controller 1E, and outputs a voltage corresponding to the captured image data IMG in an output frame described later to the data line DL. In an input frame described later, the data driver 1D first supplies a voltage of +8 (V) to all data lines DL, and thereafter detects a potential on the data line DL that changes according to the state of the double gate transistor 1AA. It also has functions. The data driver 1D supplies the detected potential on the data line DL to the controller 1E as input image data img.

The controller 1E is connected to the bus 10 and, based on data transmitted from the bus 10,
Image data to be displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A is generated. Further, the input image data img read from the input / output integrated panel 1A is sent to the CPU 11 via the bus 10.
The controller 1E also controls the control signals Tcnt, Bcn
The top gate driver 1B, the bottom gate driver 1G, and the data driver 1D are respectively controlled by t and Dcnt.

The VRAM 1F is an image memory for expanding image data to be displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A in the processing by the controller 1E. The image data expanded in the VRAM 1F is output in an output frame described later.
The image data IMG is sequentially supplied from the controller 1E to the data driver 1D.

The operation of the portable information terminal according to this embodiment will be described below. First, the driving operation of the input / output device 14 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a driving operation of the input / output device 14. As shown in the figure, the input device 14 includes an output frame for displaying an image on the input / output integrated panel 1A and an input frame for detecting a touch operation of the laser pen 2 on the input / output integrated panel 1A. In accordance with the control signals Tcnt, Bcnt, and Dcnt from 1G, for example, the switching is alternately performed every 1/30 second and repeated. Hereinafter, the operation of the input / output device 14 will be described separately for an output frame and an input frame.

(1) Output Frame When switching to the output frame, the VRAM 1F contains
The image data is expanded based on the information sent via the bus 10. Further, all the double gate transistors 1AA of the input / output integrated panel 1A have been reset, and the carrier is being discharged from the semiconductor layer 1d. Such a state was created just before the period of the input frame.

In the first half period of the output frame, the bottom gate driver 1 G
+10 to all bottom gate lines BGL of A
(V) is output. Thus, the voltages of the bottom gate electrodes 1b of all the double gate transistors 1AA on the integrated input / output panel 1A are +10 (V).

In the first half of the output frame,
The controller 1E sequentially scans the image data developed in the VRAM 1F and supplies the image data to the data driver 1D as image data IMG. Image data IMG for one line
When the capture of the image data IMG is completed, according to the control signal Dcnt from the controller 1E, the data driver 1D sets +8 (V) or 0 according to the emission / non-emission of the image data IMG.
The voltage (V) is output to each data line DL only during the first half of one selection period (one horizontal period).

Further, in synchronization with the output of the voltage to the data line DL, the top gate driver 1B controls the data line D according to the control signal Tcnt from the controller 1E.
A voltage of +5 (V) is output to the top gate line BGL of the row (selected row) corresponding to the voltage output to L, and a voltage of −20 (V) is output to the top gate lines BGL other than the selected row.

Thus, in the double gate transistor 1AA in the selected row, an n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d as shown in FIG. And in the selection row,
In the double-gate transistor 1AA in the column where the voltage of +8 (V) is output to the data line DL, between the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f via the n-channel,
Further, a current flows through the organic EL element 1AB, and the organic EL layer 1n emits light. At this time, even in the double gate transistor 1AA in which the n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d by the accumulation of carriers in the unselected row and the column selected before this, as shown in FIG. Current flows between the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f through the gate electrode and further to the organic EL element 1AB, and the organic EL layer 1
n emits light.

On the other hand, in the selected row, 0
In the double-gate transistor 1AA of the column to which the voltage of (V) is output, no current flows even if the n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d, so that no current flows to the corresponding organic EL element 1AB. The organic EL layer 1n does not emit light. At this time, the organic EL layer 1 in a non-selected row in the column
n also does not emit light.

Next, the top gate driver 1B changes the voltage output to the top gate line TGL of the selected row to -20 (V) according to the control signal Tcnt from the controller 1E until the half of one selection period ends. And gradually lower it. As a result, in the double-gate transistor 1AA in the selected row, the voltage of the top gate electrode 1h drops to −20 (V), but the light emitted by the organic EL layer 1n in the process up to that point causes the semiconductor layer 1d to ,
Since the current flows while the n-channel is formed as shown in FIG. 5F, the organic EL layer 1n maintains the light emitting state.

Next, in the second half of one selection period,
The top gate driver 1B maintains the output state at the end of the first half of one selection period. On the other hand, the data driver 1D
Is 0, corresponding to the voltage opposite to that of the first half period, that is, light emission / non-light emission of the organic EL element 1AB in the selected row.
(V) and +8 (V) are output to each of the data lines DL.

As a result, in the previously selected non-selected row and the column where the voltage of +8 (V) is output to the data line DL, as shown in FIG. Is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d, a current flows between the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f via the n-channel and further to the organic EL element 1AB, and the organic EL layer 1n emits light. . For this reason, in the previously selected unselected rows,
As shown in FIG. 5 (f), the accumulation of carriers causes the corresponding semiconductor layer 1d of the double gate transistor 1AA to have n
The organic EL layer 1n in the row where the channel is formed emits light only during the same period in one selection period.

The selection of the rows of the integrated input / output panel 1A is sequentially performed from the first row to the last row in the first half of the output frame. Next, when the period of the latter half of the output frame is entered, the first to last rows are sequentially selected for each selection period.
Top gate driver 1B and bottom gate driver 1G
Are control signals Tcnt, Bcn from the controller 1E
The voltages output to the top gate line TGL and the bottom gate line BGL are +5 (V), 0
(V). In addition, the data driver 1D outputs a voltage of +8 (V) and a voltage of the other half 0 (V) to all the data lines DL for half of one selection period according to a control signal from the controller 1E.

Thus, the double gate transistor 1
A is sequentially reset for each row, and the organic EL layer 1n stops emitting light for each row. In this manner, in the output frame, the organic EL layer 1n indicating that the corresponding image data IMG should emit light emits light for about a quarter of the period of the output frame.

During the input frame described below, all the organic EL elements 1AB on the input / output integrated panel 1A do not emit light, and no image is actually displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A. It is supposed to be. However, the image displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A in the intermittently repeated output frame is recognized as an image displayed continuously due to the afterimage effect of human eyes.

(2) Input Frame In the input frame, the top gate driver 1B and the bottom gate driver 1G sequentially control the control signal from the controller 1E for one selection period (here, almost twice as long as one selection period in the output frame). According to Tcnt and Bcnt, each of the top gate line TGL and the bottom gate line BGL in any of the first to last rows is -2.
It outputs voltages of 0 (V) and +10 (V). Further, the data driver 1D receives a control signal D from the controller 1E.
According to cnt, a predetermined period at the beginning of one selection period,
A voltage of +8 (V) is output to all data lines DL.

In the selected row, the corresponding position on the input / output integrated panel 1A is pressed by the laser pen 2, and the light emitted from the laser pen 2 is incident on the semiconductor layer 1d. As shown in (f), an n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d by the accumulation of carriers, and a current flows between the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f. Therefore, the data line D of the corresponding column
The L potential is discharged.

On the other hand, the double gate transistor 1AA in which the corresponding position on the input / output integrated panel 1A is not pressed by the laser pen 2 and light is not incident on the semiconductor layer 1d,
As shown in FIG. 5D, the n-channel in the semiconductor layer 1d is pinched off, and the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f
No current flows between Therefore, the potential of the data line DL in the corresponding column remains at +8 (V).

Next, in a predetermined period toward the end of one selection period, the data driver 1D responds to the control signal Dcnt from the controller 1E to set the potential of each data line DL on the integrated input / output panel 1A, that is, the selected row. Of the laser pen 2 is read out. Then, the read potential of the data line DL is set to the input image data i
The values are sequentially supplied to the controller 1E as mg.

For the row for which the selection period has ended, the top gate driver 1B and the bottom gate driver 1G
Are control signals Tcnt, Bcn from the controller 1E
According to t, the voltages output to the top gate line TGL and the bottom gate line BGL are respectively +5 (V),
0 (V). As a result, the double gate transistors 1A in the row are reset by discharging carriers from the semiconductor layer 1d as shown in FIG. 5A.

Based on the input image data img supplied as described above, the controller 1E generates information relating to the coordinate position on the input / output integrated panel 1A that has been pressed by the laser pen 2 in the input frame, and generates this information. It is supplied to the CPU 11 via the bus 10.

In the input frame, the organic EL layer 1n corresponding to the position pressed by the laser pen 2 is
When a current flows between the drain electrode 1e and the source electrode 1f of the double gate transistor 1AA, light is emitted for only one selection period, but the period is negligibly short compared to the light emission in the output frame. There is no practical problem.

Next, the operation of the portable information terminal as a whole according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). Here, as a specific usage example of the portable information terminal, a case where a figure such as a map is input by handwriting will be described as an example.

As shown in FIG. 7A, when the pen pressure by the laser pen 2 is strong, that is, when the input / output integrated panel 1A is strongly pressed, the beam diameter of the laser light emitted from the tip of the laser pen 2 becomes large. Become. For this reason, in the input frame, the range of the double-gate transistor 1AA that detects light incident on the semiconductor layer 1d through the light-shielding portion 1ba with respect to the position of the tip of the laser pen 2 is increased,
The input image data img in the wide range is supplied from the data driver 1D to the controller 1E.

The controller 1E sends information on the position of the input image data img having a wide pressing range to the CPU 11 via the bus 10. Then, upon receiving this information, the CPU 11 issues an instruction to display an image corresponding to the wide pressing range to the controller 1 of the input / output device 14.
Send to E. In accordance with an instruction from the CPU 11, the controller 1E converts the image data corresponding to the wide range into VR
AM1F, and output image data I
The data is sequentially supplied to the data driver 1D as MG. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7A, an image in which the trace traced by the laser pen 2 is indicated by a thick line is displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the writing pressure of the laser pen 2 is weak, that is, the input / output integrated panel 1A.
When the intensity of pressing is weak, the beam diameter of the laser light emitted from the tip of the laser pen 2 becomes narrow. For this reason, in the input frame, the range of the double gate transistor 1AA that detects the incidence of light on the semiconductor layer 1d through the light-shielding portion 1ba becomes narrower with respect to the position of the tip of the laser pen 2; The input image data img is supplied from the data driver 1D to the controller 1E.

The controller 1E sends information on the position of the input image data img having a narrow pressing range to the CPU 11 via the bus 10. Then, upon receiving this information, the CPU 11 issues an instruction to display an image corresponding to the narrow pressing range to the controller 1 of the input / output device 14.
Send to E. The controller 1E converts the image data corresponding to the narrow range into a VR
AM1F, and output image data I
The data is sequentially supplied to the data driver 1D as MG. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7B, an image in which traces traced by the laser pen 2 are indicated by thin lines is displayed on the input / output integrated panel 1A.

In either case of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the trace traced by the laser pen 2 is displayed as an image continuously by the output frame which is intermittently repeated. So that the user can recognize. The user can accurately determine the position on the input / output integrated panel 1A to be pressed next by the laser pen 2, according to the image recognized as being continuously displayed.

As described above, in the portable information terminal according to this embodiment, the input / output integrated panel 1A used for displaying images and inputting information is substantially one.
Since the portable information terminal body 1 can be configured to be thin with a single piece structure, the portable information terminal body 1 can also be configured to be thin. Also, in the input / output integrated panel 1A, the double gate transistor 1AA
Has both a function for selecting and maintaining the issuance of the organic EL element 1B and a function for detecting the touch position of the laser pen 2 on the input / output integrated panel 1A, so that the area per pixel is reduced. And can be miniaturized. As a result, the portable information terminal itself can be downsized.

Further, in the input / output device 14, if the operations of the top gate driver 1B, the bottom gate driver 1G, and the data driver 1D are switched between the output frame and the input frame, the output drive system and the input drive system can be switched. Need not be provided separately. Thereby, the input / output device 1
4 can be made small, and the portable information terminal itself can be made small.

In the input / output integrated panel 1A, the pixels for displaying the image and the pixels for inputting the information are provided at substantially the same position. Correspondence with output can be taken accurately.

Further, in the input / output integrated panel 1A, only one double gate transistor 1AA is provided as an active element for each pixel serving both as an output and an input. For this reason, the number of active elements provided as a whole in the input / output integrated panel 1A can be suppressed to the minimum number, so that the probability that a defective active element is included in the manufactured input / output integrated panel 1A is reduced. Thus, the production yield of the input / output integrated panel 1A can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

In the above embodiment, the bottom gate electrode 1b has a two-layer structure of the light-shielding portion 1ba and the transparent electrode 1bb. Only the light emitted from the laser pen 2 is substantially transmitted and incident on the semiconductor layer 1d. However, such means for blocking / transmitting light may be provided on the side of the semiconductor layer 1d with respect to the transparent electrode 1bb, or may be realized by a non-conductor which does not also function as an electrode.

In the above embodiment, in the double gate transistor 1AA, the top gate electrode 1b is formed on the substrate 1a side. However, the positional relationship between the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode may be reversed. That is, a structure in which the bottom gate electrode is formed on the substrate side may be employed. In this case, the bottom gate electrode may have a two-layer structure of a light-shielding portion and a transparent electrode, and the top gate electrode may have a single-layer structure of only a transparent electrode.

In the above embodiment, the double-gate transistor 1AA is an n-channel type in which an n-channel is formed in the semiconductor layer 1d, but may be a p-channel type in which a p-channel is formed. . in this case,
The polarity of the voltage applied to the bottom gate electrode 1a and the top gate electrode 1h may be reversed from the above case.

In the above embodiment, the output frame and the input frame are completely independent in terms of period. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the period of the output frame may overlap with the period of the input frame. In this case, the top gate electrode and the bottom gate electrode of the double-gate transistor 1AA are arranged such that the organic EL element 1AB that has started emitting light in the input frame maintains the emission until the corresponding row is selected in the next output frame. May be applied.

In the above embodiment, the output frame and the input frame are alternately switched every 1/30 second. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
The number of output frames may be different from the number of input frames, such as one input frame for two output frames. In particular, even if the number of input frames is smaller than the number of output frames as shown in FIG. 9, no problem occurs due to the speed of human hand movement. Further, one frame period is not limited to 1/30 second, and one output frame period and one input frame period may be different.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable information terminal has been described. However, the input / output device 14 described above can be applied to other information processing devices, for example, an ATM terminal of a bank, a ticket vending machine, and the like. Further, if the input / output device 14 described above is applied to a CAD (Computer Assisted Design) system, the input / output can be prevented from being displaced.
The object can be designed.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The input / output element, the device, and the information processing device can be configured to be thin and small. Further, the output position and the input position can be accurately associated with each other.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a portable information terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a main body of the portable information terminal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the input / output device of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the structure of the input / output integrated panel of FIGS. 1 and 3, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view and FIG.

FIGS. 5A to 5F are schematic diagrams illustrating driving of the double gate transistor of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a driving example of the input / output device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a usage example of the portable information terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of driving the input / output device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of driving the input / output device of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ・ ・ ・ Main body of portable information terminal device, 2 ・ ・ ・ Laser pen, 10 ・ ・
・ Bus, 11 ・ ・ ・ CPU, 12 ・ ・ ・ ROM, 13 ・ ・ ・ RA
M, 14: input / output device, 1A: input / output integrated panel, 1
B: top gate driver, 1G: bottom gate driver, 1D: data driver, 1E: controller,
1F: VRAM, 1AA: double gate transistor, 1AB: organic EL element, 1a: substrate, 1b: bottom gate electrode, 1ba: light shielding portion, 1bb: transparent electrode, 1c: gate insulating film, 1d: semiconductor layer, 1e ...
Drain electrode, 1f: source electrode, 1g: gate insulating film, 1h: top gate electrode, 1i: light shielding electrode, 1j
... Insulating protective film, 1k ... Anode electrode, 1n ... Organic E
L layer, 1 m: cathode electrode, TGL: top gate line, BGL: bottom gate line, DL: data line

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A substrate, a plurality of first light emitting elements provided on the substrate and emitting predetermined light in response to input of a drive current signal, and a second light emitting element capable of emitting predetermined light arbitrarily; The driving current signal is output to the first light emitting element during a first output frame period, and the carrier generated by the light emitted from the first light emitting element is adjacent to the plurality of first light emitting elements on the substrate. Holding, outputting the drive current signal to the first light emitting element according to the carrier held during the first output frame period during the second output frame period, and transmitting light from the second light emitting element during the input frame period. An input / output element comprising: a plurality of active elements that output a signal according to incident light. 2. The input / output element according to claim 1, wherein sets each including one of said active element and said first light emitting element are arranged in a predetermined arrangement. 3. The input / output element according to claim 1, wherein the second light emitting element is capable of emitting light to the active element at an arbitrary position. 4. The input / output device according to claim 1, wherein said first light emitting device is made of an organic electroluminescent material. 5. A semiconductor layer which generates carriers substantially when a predetermined amount or more of light is incident thereon, and a channel which is formed to face the semiconductor layer and forms a channel in the semiconductor layer. A first control terminal to which a forming voltage is supplied, and a second control formed opposite to the first control terminal to face the semiconductor layer and to supply a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel forming voltage. An active element having a terminal and first and second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer; and a light-emitting element configured to emit light by a current flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer; An input / output element comprising: a light-emitting element configured to allow the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer via one of the control terminals. 6. The first and second control terminals are formed on the other side, and substantially transmit only light having a predetermined brightness or more and pass through the other of the first and second control terminals. 6. The input / output device according to claim 5, further comprising a light shielding unit for making the light incident on the semiconductor layer. 7. A semiconductor layer which generates carriers substantially when a predetermined amount or more of light is incident thereon, and a channel which is formed to face the semiconductor layer and forms a channel in the semiconductor layer. A first control terminal to which a forming voltage is supplied, and a second control formed opposite to the first control terminal to face the semiconductor layer and to supply a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel forming voltage. An active element having a terminal, first and second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer, and a light emitting device that emits light by a current flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer; An input / output element preparing step of preparing an input / output element including a light emitting element for causing the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer via one of the control terminals; and applying the channel forming voltage to the first control terminal. Supply A channel forming voltage supply step, and data to be output to a first or second current supply terminal of an active element having a channel formed in the semiconductor layer by the channel forming voltage supplied in the channel forming voltage supplying step. An output data voltage supply step of supplying a voltage according to the following: a channel formation voltage for supplying the channel formation voltage to the first control terminal and supplying the voltage of the opposite polarity to the second control terminal. A polarity voltage supplying step, and when the respective voltages are supplied to the first and second control terminals in the channel forming voltage / reverse polarity voltage supplying step, the other of the first and second control terminals is supplied. The predetermined amount or more of light is incident on the semiconductor layer, and substantially carriers are generated in the semiconductor layer, and the generated carriers impinge on the semiconductor layer. The driving method of the input and output elements, characterized in that it comprises a channel formation detecting step of detecting whether Yaneru is formed. 8. In the output data supply step, when a voltage is supplied to a first or second current supply terminal of the active element, the voltage of the opposite polarity voltage supplied to the second control terminal is supplied. The method further includes a channel inhibition voltage supply step of changing a level to a voltage level that inhibits channel formation in the semiconductor layer and gradually changes the level to a voltage level that retains a part of carriers generated in the semiconductor layer. A method for driving an input / output element according to claim 7. 9. A semiconductor layer which substantially generates carriers therein when a predetermined amount or more of light is incident thereon, and a channel formed opposite to the semiconductor layer for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer. A first control terminal to which a forming voltage is supplied, and a second control formed opposite to the first control terminal to face the semiconductor layer and to supply a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the channel forming voltage. A plurality of active elements arranged in a matrix, comprising a terminal and first and second current supply terminals connected to the semiconductor layer; and a corresponding active element adjacent to each of the plurality of active elements A plurality of light-emitting devices, which emit light by a current flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer, and cause the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer through one of the first and second control terminals. A first input / output element for selecting a corresponding one of the active elements for each row of the matrix and supplying a voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer to a corresponding first control terminal; Selecting means for selecting the active element for each row of the matrix and supplying a voltage for inhibiting channel formation in the semiconductor layer to a corresponding second control terminal;
A data driving unit that supplies a voltage corresponding to image data to be displayed to the first or second current supply terminal of the active element for each column of the matrix; An active element in which a channel is formed in the semiconductor layer by the predetermined amount or more of light incident through the other of the control terminals is connected to a channel in which a predetermined voltage supplied to each column of the matrix is formed. An input / output device comprising: input detection means for detecting a potential change due to discharge. 10. A processing device for performing processing in accordance with an external input and outputting the processing result to an external device, displaying an image corresponding to the output from the processing device, and displaying information on a position irradiated with light. An input / output device for inputting to the processing device, wherein the input / output device is formed facing the semiconductor layer with a semiconductor layer that substantially generates carriers inside when a predetermined amount or more of light enters. A first control terminal to which a channel forming voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer is supplied; and a first control terminal formed opposite to the first control terminal and facing the semiconductor layer, A second control terminal to which a voltage having a polarity opposite to the voltage is supplied; and a first control terminal connected to the semiconductor layer.
A plurality of active elements arranged in a matrix, comprising a second current supply terminal, and flowing through a channel formed in the semiconductor layer of the corresponding active element adjacent to each of the plurality of active elements. An input / output element comprising: a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light by an electric current and cause the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer through one of the first and second control terminals; and First selecting means for selecting the active element and supplying a voltage for forming a channel in the semiconductor layer to a corresponding first control terminal, and selecting the active element for each row of the matrix And supplying a voltage for inhibiting channel formation in the semiconductor layer to the corresponding second control terminal.
A data driving unit that supplies a voltage corresponding to image data to be displayed to a first or second current supply terminal of the active element for each column of the matrix; An active element in which a channel is formed in the semiconductor layer by the predetermined amount or more of light incident through the other of the control terminals is connected to a channel in which a predetermined voltage supplied to each column of the matrix is formed. An information processing apparatus comprising: input detection means for detecting a potential change due to discharge. 11. A change in potential detected by said input / output detection means differs according to the amount of light incident on said semiconductor layer via the other of said first and second control terminals. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10. 12. The input / output element is irradiated with light by being pressed by said input / output element, and said first and second light-emitting elements are illuminated.
The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a light irradiating unit that causes the predetermined amount or more of light to enter the semiconductor layer through the other one of the control terminals. 13. The light irradiating means is means for sensing the intensity of the pressure applied to the input / output element, and changes the range and / or the amount of light to be applied according to the intensity of the pressure sensed by the means. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a unit.