JP6995917B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device having a display panel having a touch sensor function and having a non-rectangular display area and a substrate shape.

A display panel with a built-in touch panel, a so-called In-Cell type display device, which integrates a display panel and a touch panel, is mounted on various electronic devices.

In the active matrix type display panel, for example, scanning lines are arranged for each pixel row in a display area in which pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix, and video lines are arranged for each pixel column intersecting the scanning lines. Then, a circuit for inputting signals to the scanning line and the video line is arranged in the frame area outside the display area on the substrate of the display panel. Specifically, a pixel line is selected by a signal applied to a scanning line, and a video signal is input to the selected pixel by a video line.

The display area of a conventional display panel is generally rectangular, and a circuit that applies a signal to a scanning line extending in the horizontal direction (direction of a pixel row) in the display area is along the left and right sides of the display area. A circuit that is arranged and inputs a video signal to a video line extending in the vertical direction (direction of a pixel row) in the display area is arranged along the lower side of the display area, for example.

The capacitance type touch panel has a detection electrode and a drive electrode, a drive signal is applied to the drive electrode, and an object such as a finger approaching or touching the touch panel is detected by the output signal of the detection electrode. In a display device with a built-in touch panel, a common electrode (common electrode) for applying a common potential to each pixel of a display panel is divided into a plurality of parts and also used as a drive electrode for a touch sensor. A circuit for inputting a signal to the drive electrode is also arranged in the frame area of the substrate.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-292995

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of an in-cell type display panel having a rectangular display area. The scanning line 4 extends in the horizontal direction and the image line 6 extends in the vertical direction in the rectangular display area 2. FIG. 13 shows a configuration in which the drive electrodes extend in the vertical direction. That is, the plurality of drive electrodes 8 are vertically passed to the display area with a width extending over the plurality of pixel rows. Then, in the frame area 10, a scanning circuit 12 for applying a signal to the scanning line 4 is arranged along the left and right sides of the display area 2, and an image is transmitted from the driver IC 14 to the image line 6 along the lower side of the display area 2. A switch circuit 18 and a shift register circuit 20 are arranged as a circuit for applying a signal to a video signal transmission line and a selector 16 for inputting a signal, and a drive electrode 8. That is, as described above, the circuit that supplies a signal to the signal line that is horizontally passed through the display area 2 is arranged along the vertical side of the display area 2 in which the ends of the signal line are lined up, and the display area 2 is arranged. The circuits that supply signals to the signal lines and electrodes in the vertical direction are arranged along the horizontal sides of the display area 2 where the ends of the signal lines and the like are lined up, and both circuits are located on separate sides of the rectangle. Placed along.

The use of in-cell type display panels has expanded to include those that do not require a rectangular display area. For example, in automobile speedometers, game machines, watches, etc., the display area or product shape may not be rectangular from the viewpoint of design. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a layout of an in-cell type display panel 30 having a non-rectangular display area in the prior art. The display area 32 shows an example of a barrel shape in which the upper and lower edges are horizontal straight lines, while the left and right edges connecting the upper straight line edge and the lower straight line edge are outwardly convex arcs. There is. The scanning circuit 12 is located outside the left and right ends of the display area 32 in the horizontal direction, and is arranged, for example, linearly over the entire width of the display area 32 in the vertical direction. Further, the selector 16, the video signal transmission line, the switch circuit 18, and the shift register circuit 20 are arranged below the lower end of the display area 32 and linearly over the entire width of the display area 32 in the lateral direction. In this layout, the scanning circuits 12 arranged on the left and right sides of the display area 32 do not overlap with the vertical signal lines 34 and the like, and the circuits such as the selector 16 arranged below the display area 32 are horizontal signals. Since it does not overlap with the line 36 or the like, signal crosstalk is unlikely to occur. However, when the display panel 30 has a rectangular display area having the same vertical and horizontal dimensions as the display area 32, the display panel 30 has a smaller display area, but the size of the panel, that is, the substrate. There was a problem that it was disadvantageous for miniaturization and narrowing of the frame.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a display device having a touch sensor function, which can be miniaturized when the display area has a shape (deformed shape) different from that of a rectangle. The purpose is to do.

(1) The display device according to the present invention is a display device having a touch sensor function in addition to an image display function, and is formed in a non-rectangular display area, and has a plurality of image lines extending in a first direction and the above. A plurality of scanning lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a plurality of common electrodes formed in the display area and used for image display and touch detection, and a frame area outside the display area. A plurality of video signal transmission lines for supplying signals to the plurality of video lines, a plurality of scanning circuits provided in the frame area and applying scanning signals to the plurality of scanning lines, and a plurality of scanning circuits provided in the frame area. A common electrode signal transmission line for supplying a reference potential signal or a touch detection signal to the common electrode, and in a portion where the display region forms the non-rectangular shape, in the second direction. The video signal transmission line and the common electrode signal transmission line are arranged between the display area and the scanning circuit.

(2) The display device according to the present invention is a display device having a touch sensor function in addition to an image display function, each of which is a signal line formed in a display area in a substrate and extends in a first direction. And a plurality of scanning lines extending in the second direction intersecting with the first direction, and a plurality of commons formed extending in the first direction in the display area and used for video display and touch detection. A plurality of video signal transmission lines arranged along the first edge of the electrode, the edge of the signal line laying area where the video line and the scanning line are arranged, and the first of the edges of the signal line laying area. A plurality of scanning circuits arranged on the substrate along the two edges and applying a scanning signal to the scanning lines, and a third position of the edges of the signal line laying region facing the first edges. It has a signal transmission line for a common electrode, which is arranged on the substrate along the edge portion and for supplying a reference potential signal or a touch detection signal to the common electrode, and the signal line laying region is the first. It has a shape having a first overlapping edge portion where the first edge portion and the second edge portion overlap, and a second overlapping edge portion where the first edge portion and the third edge portion overlap, and is formed on the substrate. In the portion of the frame area located outside the signal line laying area and adjacent to the first overlapping edge portion, the scanning circuit is arranged outside the video signal transmission line, and the second of the frame areas. In the portion adjacent to the overlapping edge portion, the scanning circuit is arranged outside the signal transmission line for the common electrode.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of the display panel which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the element substrate in the display panel of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the schematic structure of an example of a common driver. It is a schematic plan view which shows the layout of the frame area of the element substrate in the display panel of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the element substrate which shows the example which the display area and the signal line laying area do not match. It is a schematic plan view which shows the layout of the frame area of the lower left part of an element substrate. It is a schematic plan view of the element substrate in the display panel of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the layout in the lower left part of the element substrate of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the element substrate in the display panel of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the layout in the upper left part of the element substrate of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic plan view of the element substrate in the display panel of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the layout in the upper left part of the element substrate of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the layout of the conventional in-cell type display panel. It is a schematic diagram which shows the layout in the prior art of an in-cell type display panel which has a non-rectangular display area.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

It should be noted that the disclosure is merely an example, and those skilled in the art can easily conceive of appropriate changes while maintaining the gist of the invention, which are naturally included in the scope of the present invention. Further, in order to clarify the explanation, the drawings may schematically represent the width, thickness, shape, etc. of each part as compared with the actual embodiment, but this is just an example, and the interpretation of the present invention is used. It is not limited. Further, in the present specification and each figure, the same elements as those described above with respect to the above-mentioned figures may be designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted as appropriate.

[First Embodiment]
The display device according to each embodiment of the present invention is a display panel 50 with a built-in touch panel in which a liquid crystal display panel and a capacitive touch panel are integrated, and FIG. 1 shows an outline of the display panel 50 according to the embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure. It should be noted that the positions and shapes of each part in FIG. 1 do not indicate the layout of the display panel 50 on the substrate. The layout will be described later.

The display panel 50 includes a scanning line driver 54, a video line driver 56, a common driver 58, a touch detection unit 60, and a control unit 62, in addition to the cell unit 52 having a touch sensor function and a display function.

The cell unit 52 has a structure in which both the touch sensor and the liquid crystal display cell are integrated, and basically corresponds to the display area of the display panel 50. The cell portion 52 includes an element substrate and a facing substrate arranged so as to face each other, and a liquid crystal display sandwiched between them.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of an element substrate 70 on which a thin film transistor (TFT) and a signal line are formed in the display panel 50 of the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, the TFT 74 and the pixel electrode 76 are formed on the liquid crystal side surface of the display area 72. Specifically, the pixel electrodes 76 and TFT 74 are arranged in a matrix corresponding to the pixel arrangement, respectively. Here, the matrix shape means that the pixels are arranged in the row direction and the column direction that are orthogonal to each other, and it means that the shape of the entire region where the pixels are arranged is rectangular. do not have.

Further, on the surface of the element substrate 70 on the liquid crystal side, a plurality of video lines 78 extending in the pixel column direction and a plurality of signal lines extending in the pixel row direction, which are signal lines spanning the display area 72, respectively. The scanning line 80 is formed. The scanning line 80 is provided for each pixel row and is commonly connected to the gate electrodes of the plurality of TFTs 74 in the row. The video line 78 is provided for each pixel row and is commonly connected to the drains of a plurality of TFTs 74 in the row. Further, a pixel electrode 76 corresponding to the TFT is connected to the source of each TFT 74.

The TFT 74 provided as an active element (switch element) in each pixel is an n-channel in the present embodiment, and a gate pulse rising in the positive direction as a scanning signal is applied from the scanning line 80 to turn it on in line units. The pixel electrode 76 is connected to the video line 78 via the TFT 74 turned on, and a voltage (pixel voltage) corresponding to the video signal is applied from the video line 78.

Similar to the pixel electrodes, a plurality of common electrodes 82 made of a transparent electrode material such as ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide) are further arranged in the display region 72 of the element substrate 70. Each common electrode 82 is a strip-shaped electrode elongated in the pixel row direction, and is spread over the display area 72 in the pixel row direction. For example, the common electrodes 82 each have a width that covers a plurality of columns of pixels, and are arranged in parallel to each other in the pixel row direction to cover the display area 72. The width of the common electrode 82 varies depending on the resolution of the display panel 50, but generally has a width covering 2 to 30 rows of pixels.

The common electrode 82 is used as a common electrode for applying a common reference potential (common potential) to each pixel in the image display function of the display panel 50, and is also used as a drive electrode for applying a drive signal in the touch sensor function. Specifically, regarding the image display function, the orientation of the liquid crystal is controlled for each pixel by the electric field generated according to the voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and the transmission rate for the light incident from the backlight unit is changed. As a result, an image is formed on the display surface.

On the other hand, regarding the touch sensor function, the display panel 50 further has a plurality of detection electrodes. For example, the detection electrode is formed on a facing substrate on the display surface side to which an object such as a finger can come into contact. Each detection electrode is arranged orthogonal to the common electrode 82, and is formed in the display region 72 in the pixel row direction. The plurality of detection electrodes are arranged in the pixel row direction in parallel with each other and arranged in the entire display area 72.

In the touch sensor function, an AC signal such as a rectangular pulse is input to the common electrode 82, and an electric signal generated in the detection electrode is detected. That is, the common electrode 82 functions as a transmission electrode, and the detection electrode functions as a reception electrode. The voltage change generated in the detection electrode due to the capacitive coupling with the common electrode 82 differs between the position where the object touches the display surface and the position where the object does not touch the display surface. Therefore, by sequentially selecting the common electrodes 82 and applying an AC signal, it is possible to specify the pair of the common electrodes 82 and the detection electrodes corresponding to the contact positions.

The scanning line driver 54 is a scanning circuit having a function of sequentially selecting one horizontal line to be displayed and driven by the display panel 50 based on a control signal supplied from the control unit 62. For example, the scanning line driver 54 is configured to include a shift register having a number of stages corresponding to the number of scanning lines 80, and the output terminal of each stage of the shift register is connected to the scanning line 80. Then, the scanning line driver 54 starts the operation in response to the trigger signal from the control unit 62, sequentially selects the scanning lines 80 in the order along the vertical scanning direction, and outputs the scanning signal to the selected scanning lines 80. The scanning line driver 54 is arranged on the element substrate 70 as shown in FIG.

The video line driver 56 receives a video signal from the control unit 62, and outputs a voltage corresponding to the video signal of the selected pixel line to each video line 78 in accordance with the selection of the scanning line 80 by the scanning line driver 54.

Here, the video line driver 56 and the video line 78 can be connected via a selector. The selector is connected to one video signal transmission line from the video line driver 56 to the input, connected to the video line 78 of a plurality of pixel strings to the output, and is the output destination of the video signal input from the video signal transmission line. The video line 78 is switched by time division according to the control signal from the control unit 62. For example, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the pixel arrangement in the cell portion 52 is a stripe arrangement of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels. In this arrangement, pixels of the same type (color) are arranged in the vertical direction of the image, and RGB is periodically arranged in the horizontal direction. In this case, three pixel rows, which are R pixel rows, G pixel rows, and B pixel rows, which are adjacent to each other, can be regarded as one group, and one selector can be arranged for each group.

In FIG. 2, the video line driver 56 is built in the driver IC 84 together with the control unit 62, and video signal transmission lines (not shown) are wired from the driver IC 84 to the plurality of selectors 86, respectively.

The common driver 58 is a drive circuit that supplies a reference potential signal and a drive signal for a touch panel to the common electrode 82 based on the control signal supplied from the control unit 62. Specifically, the common driver 58 sequentially applies the AC drive signal VCOMAC as the sensor drive signal to the common electrode 82 to be touch-detected, while sequentially applying the AC drive signal VCOMAC to the other common electrodes 82. , The DC drive signal VCOMDC used as the reference potential in the image display function is applied. The common driver 58 includes, for example, a switch circuit 88 shown in FIG. 2 and a shift register circuit 90 including a unit control circuit 90a described later.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of an example of the common driver 58. The common driver 58 includes, in addition to the switch circuit 88 and the shift register circuit 90, a drive signal transmission line 92 to which a drive signal is supplied from the control unit 62. The switch circuit 88 is provided corresponding to each common electrode 82, and switches the connection between the common electrode 82 and the drive signal transmission line 92. Further, the shift register circuit 90 controls the switching of the switch circuit 88. For example, the shift register circuit 90 has a unit circuit 94 having a number of stages corresponding to the number of common electrodes 82, receives a trigger signal from the control unit 62, starts operation, and each unit circuit 94 outputs pulses in order. do. The switch drive circuit 96 is provided corresponding to each switch circuit 88, and generates a signal for controlling switching of the switch circuit 88 based on the output of the unit circuit 94. Hereinafter, the set of the unit circuit 94 and the corresponding switch drive circuit 96 will be referred to as a unit control circuit 90a.

Specifically, the drive signal transmission line 92 includes a transmission line (VCOMAC line 92a) in which the AC drive signal VCOMAC is supplied from the control unit 62 and a transmission line (VCOMDC line 92b) in which the DC drive signal VCOMDC is supplied from the control unit 62. ), The switch circuit 88 has a switch 88a that turns on / off between the VCOMAC line 92a and the common electrode 82, and a switch 88b that turns on / off between the VCOMDC line 92b and the common electrode 82. include. The switch drive circuit 96 outputs, for example, a signal for turning on the switch 88a and a signal for turning off the switch 88b during a period in which a pulse rising to a high level (H level) potential is input from the unit circuit 94, and the unit is During the period when the output of the circuit 94 is the potential of the Low level (L level), a signal for turning off the switch 88a and a signal for turning on the switch 88b are output.

Each switch circuit 88 may include a plurality of pairs of switches 88a and 88b. That is, since the common electrode 82 has a large area formed over a plurality of rows, the transistors constituting the switches 88a and 88b are also required to have a large channel width, but from a transistor having a relatively small channel width and size. By providing a plurality of switches 88a and 88b in parallel, the request can be met.

Further, as the vertical width of the display area 72 becomes larger, the length and area of the common electrode 82 in that portion also become larger and the load becomes larger. Therefore, the channel widths of the switches 88a and 88b are increased or provided in parallel accordingly. You may increase the number.

The touch detection unit 60 detects an object that is close to or in contact with the display surface of the cell unit 52 based on the detection signal output from the detection electrode provided in the cell unit 52.

The control unit 62 inputs a video signal including a synchronization signal, generates a video signal representing a pixel value and outputs the video signal to the video line driver 56, and based on the synchronization signal, the scanning line driver 54, the video line driver 56, and the control unit 62. Each part such as the common driver 58 and the touch detection unit 60 generates a control signal for synchronization and supplies it to each part.

With the above configuration, the display panel 50 performs a touch detection operation while performing a display operation.

Next, the layout of the element substrate 70 will be described. The display panel 50 has a variant, i.e., a non-rectangular display area 72. FIG. 4 is a simplified view of FIG. 2, and the structure in the display area 72 is omitted. In FIG. 4 (or FIG. 2), the upper and lower edges of the display area 72 are horizontal straight lines, while the left and right edges connecting the upper straight line edge and the lower straight line edge are outwardly convex arcs. An example of the barrel shape is shown. The present invention aims to narrow the frame of the element substrate 70 with respect to the irregular display area 72, and to reduce the size of the display panel 50. As a result of narrowing the frame, the shape of the element substrate 70 is not a rectangle, but a variant similar to the display area 72 as shown in FIG. This narrowing and miniaturization depends on the layout of circuits and wiring arranged in the frame area.

Here, the circuit and wiring in the frame region are basically arranged outside the laying region (signal line laying region) of the video line 78 and the scanning line 80 formed in the cell portion 52. Therefore, basically matching the positions of the ends of the video lines 78 and the scanning lines 80 formed in the display area 72 with the edges of the display area 72 contributes to narrowing the frame. The same applies to the common electrode 82, and the position of the end portion of the common electrode 82 is basically aligned with the edge of the display area 72.

By the way, when the video line 78 and the scanning line 80 are bridged from one end to the other of the display area 72, in the case shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the signal line laying area where the video line 78 and the scanning line 80 are arranged. The 102 has basically the same shape as the display area 72. However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the display area 72e has a shape having the valley portion 100, the signal line laying area 102e may not match the display area 72e. In the example shown in FIG. 5, since the video line _78e is formed between the upper end _PU and the lower end PL of the display area 72 at the lateral position through which the video line passes, the valley portion 100 is also the signal line laying area 102e. This is because it will be included in. That is, since the signal line laying area is narrowed, it is basically set to fit the display area 72, but it does not always have the same shape as the display area 72, and the area is larger than the display area 72. Cases can occur.

Here, the position of the circuit or the like in the frame area is expressed in association with the position along the edge of the signal line laying area 102. As shown in FIG. 4, of the edges of the signal line laying region 102, the portion where the lower ends of the video line 78 and the common electrode 82 are lined up is referred to as the _first edge portion E1, and the portion where the ends of the scanning lines 80 are lined up is the second edge. _Let it be part E2. The display area 72 has a shape having a portion where the first edge portion E ₁ and the second edge portion E ₂ overlap, and the overlapping portion is referred to as a first overlapping edge portion _EX 1 and the first of the second edge portions E ₂ . The portion excluding the overlapping edge portion _EX1 is referred to as a non-overlapping edge portion _ES1 .

The driver IC 84 is arranged in a frame region along the first edge portion E ₁ , that is, in the frame region below the display region 72 in the element substrate 70 shown in FIG. The driver IC 84 is connected to an external circuit via a terminal provided in the terminal region 104 at the lower end of the element board 70. A group of video signal transmission lines 106 for transmitting a video signal from the video line driver 56 built in the driver IC 84 to the video line 78 are laid in a region along the _first edge portion E1 as shown in FIG. 6 to be described later. In particular, the video signal transmission line 106 to the video line 78 located laterally away from the driver IC 84 extends along the _first edge portion E1. In the present embodiment, the video signal transmission line 106 is connected to the three video lines 78 corresponding to the R pixel row, the G pixel row, and the B pixel row via the selector 86. As shown in FIG. 6, each selector 86 is arranged at a position close to the lower ends of the three video lines 78 to which the selector 86 is connected, and the video signal transmission line 106 is connected to the selector 86. Therefore, the selector 86 is arranged between the video signal transmission line 106 and the signal line laying area 102 along the _first edge portion E1 where the lower ends of the video lines 78 are lined up. Further, the common driver 58 can also be arranged on the element substrate 70 along the _first edge portion E1.

The first edge portion E ₁ is non-linear, and the frame can be narrowed by arranging the selector 86, the video signal transmission line 106, and the common driver 58 along the non-linear first edge portion E ₁ . ..

The scanning line driver 54 is arranged on the element substrate 70 along the _second edge portion E2. The second edge portion E ₂ is non-straight line, and the scanning line driver 54 can be arranged along the non-straight line second edge portion E ₂ to narrow the frame.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the scanning line driver 54 arranges each stage of the shift register included in the scanning line driver 54 along the _second edge portion E2. As a result, the non-linear layout of the scanning line driver 54 shown in FIG. 4 is realized.

In order to reduce the influence of pulse deterioration in the scanning line 80, scanning line drivers 54 are provided on both the left and right sides of the display area 72, and signals are supplied from both ends of the scanning line 80. For example, the left frame area and the right frame area of the display area 72 can basically have a symmetrical circuit layout.

In the case of a display panel in which the size of the display area 72 is small, the scanning line driver 54 may be arranged only on one side of the display area 72 without this limitation.

As described above, the display region 72 has a shape in which the _first edge portion E1 and the _second edge portion E2 of the signal line laying region 102 have the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 . In the portion of the frame area adjacent to the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 , the scanning line driver 54 is arranged outside the video signal transmission line 106 and the common driver 58.

Here, as the common driver 58, a unit control circuit 90a of the shift register circuit 90 and a switch circuit 88 are provided for each common electrode 82. In the present embodiment, among the circuits constituting the common driver 58, a plurality of switch circuits 88 are located at positions corresponding to the lateral arrangement of the common electrodes 82 as shown in FIG. 6, and along the _first edge portion E1. The drive signal transmission line 92, which is arranged and further transmits the drive signal to each switch circuit 88, is also extended along the _first edge portion E1. On the other hand, the unit control circuit 90a is arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping edge portion _ES1 and extends from the unit control circuit 90a to each switch circuit 88 along the _first edge portion E1 as shown in FIG. A control line 108 is provided. That is, among the configurations of the common driver 58, those arranged basically along the entire _first edge portion E1 in the present embodiment are the switch circuit 88, the drive signal transmission line 92, and the switch control line 108.

Further, in the present embodiment, the selector 86 arranged between the video signal transmission line 106 and the signal line laying area 102 is basically arranged along the entire _first edge portion E1. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the selector 86, the video signal transmission line 106, the switch circuit 88, and the switch control are sequentially arranged in the frame region of the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 from the signal line laying region 102 side toward the edge of the element substrate 70. The line 108 and the scanning line driver 54 are arranged.

The scan line driver 54 includes a shift register and uses a clock signal for its operation. By arranging the above-mentioned video signal transmission line 106 closer to the signal line laying area 102 than the scanning line driver 54, the wiring for transmitting the video signal does not cross the clock signal line of the scanning line driver 54, so that the clock signal line is concerned. Cross talk to the video signal can be suppressed.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of the circuit and the like in the frame region in more detail, and is a schematic plan view in which the lower left portion (the portion surrounded by the frame line A in FIG. 4) of the element substrate 70 is enlarged. In FIG. 6, the edge 99 of the signal line laying area 102 is shown by a alternate long and short dash line around the display area 72 in which the pixels 98 are arranged. Further, an example of arrangement of the scanning line driver 54 and the common driver 58 in the range of 5 pixel lines from the bottom of the second edge portion E ₂ on the left side of the signal line laying region 102, and along the first edge portion E ₁ . Of the selectors 86 to be arranged, seven arrangement examples at the left end are shown. In FIG. 6, the block “SEL” is the selector 86, and the four left sides are arranged along the portion where the first edge portion E ₁ and the second edge portion E ₂ overlap (the first overlapping edge portion _EX 1). ing. The block "GIP" is a scanning line driver 54, and basically corresponds to a circuit for one shift register of the scanning line driver 54. On the other hand, the block "ComSR" represents the unit control circuit 90a, which is a circuit for one stage of the shift register of the shift register circuit 90, and the "ComSW" represents the switch circuit 88.

Further, although FIG. 6 shows an example in which the common electrode 82 is formed over a width of 3 pixels for convenience, it is generally formed with a width of 2 to 30 rows as described above. As shown in FIG. 6, the "ComSR" and "ComSW" are provided corresponding to the common electrode 82.

As shown in FIG. 6, the VCOMAC line 92a and the VCOMDC line 92b are wired from the control unit 62 along the _first edge portion E1 with the switch circuit 88 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 6, the VCOMAC line 92a is arranged on the video signal transmission line 106 side with respect to the switch circuit 88, and the VCOMDC line 92b is arranged on the scanning line driver 54 side with respect to the switch circuit 88. The position of the VCOM DC line 92b can also be reversed.

When the signal line laying area 102 has a shape that is laterally convex at the second edge portion as in the barrel-shaped display area 72 of the present embodiment, a rectangular substrate is used as shown in FIG. The distance between the second edge of the signal line laying area and the edge of the board, that is, the width of the frame area, can be reduced at the position of the tip of the convex portion of the signal line laying area, but becomes larger as it approaches the rectangular corner of the board. There was a problem of becoming. On the other hand, according to the layout of the circuits and the like on the left and right of the signal line laying area 102 of the above embodiment, it is not necessary to make the element board rectangular, and the element board is convex in the lateral direction similar to the signal line laying area 102. Can be in the shape of. For example, the element substrate 70 has a shape in which the distance between an arbitrary point of the second edge portion E ₂ and the edge of the substrate is the same as or smaller than the distance at the tip of the second edge portion E ₂ in the lateral direction. be able to.

[Second Embodiment]
The display panel 50 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the display panel 50 has a deformed display area 72 and an element substrate 70.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the element substrate 70 in the display panel 50 of the second embodiment, and like FIG. 4, the structure in the display area 72 is omitted. Also in this embodiment, the common driver 58 is arranged along the _first edge portion E1 as in the first embodiment. The basic difference from the first embodiment is that the switch circuit 88 in addition to the unit control circuit 90a of the common driver 58 is also arranged only in the frame region in the non-overlapping edge portion _ES1 . The common driver 58 includes a drive signal distribution wiring extending along the _first edge portion E1 and connecting each switch circuit 88 to the corresponding common electrode 82, and is common from the switch circuit 88 via the drive signal distribution wiring. A drive signal is supplied to the electrode 82. That is, of the common driver 58, the drive signal component wiring is basically arranged along the entire _first edge portion E1.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of the unit control circuit 90a, the switch circuit 88, and the drive signal distribution wiring 152, and shows the layout in the lower left portion (the portion surrounded by the frame line B in FIG. 7) of the element substrate 70. .. In the first embodiment, the switch circuit 88 corresponding to each common electrode 82 is basically arranged adjacent to the common electrode 82, but in the present embodiment, the switch circuit 88 has an end portion in the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 . The switch circuit 88 corresponding to the common electrode 82 is arranged relatively away from the common electrode 82, and the drive signal distribution wiring 152 for transmitting the drive signal from the switch circuit 88 to the common electrode 82 is along the _first edge portion E1. It will be postponed. The drive signal distribution wiring 152 extends, for example, through between the selector 86 and the edge 99 of the signal line laying area 102. In the present embodiment, the VCOM DC line 92b is extended from the non-overlapping edge portion _ES1 in which the switch circuit 88 is arranged, and is located between the scanning line driver 54 and the video signal transmission line 106 at the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 . It will be laid. The stretched portion of the VCOM DC line 92b functions as a shield for suppressing noise from jumping from the scanning line driver 54 to the video signal transmission line 106.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the drive signal distribution wiring 152, the selector 86, and the video signal transmission line are sequentially arranged in the frame region of the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 from the signal line laying region 102 side toward the edge of the element substrate 70. 106, a VCOM DC line 92b, and a scanning line driver 54 are arranged.

[Third Embodiment]
The display panel 50 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment. Similar to the first embodiment, the display panel 50 has a deformed display area 72 and an element substrate 70.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of the element substrate 70 in the display panel 50 of the third embodiment, and like FIG. 4, the structure in the display area 72 is omitted.

The driver IC 84, the video signal transmission line 106, and the selector 86 are arranged in a frame region along the _first edge portion E1. On the other hand, the common driver 58 is arranged on the frame region along the portion ( _third edge portion E3) where the upper ends of the video line 78 and the common electrode 82 are lined up in the edge of the signal line laying region 102, and the common electrode 82 is arranged. A sensor drive signal is applied to the common electrode 82 from the end on the _third edge E3 side.

The display area 72 has a portion (first overlapping edge portion _EX1 ) in which the first edge portion E ₁ and the second edge portion E ₂ of the signal line laying region 102 overlap, and the first edge portion E ₁ and the third edge portion E 1 and the third. It has a shape having a portion ( _second overlapping edge portion _EX2 ) that overlaps with the edge portion E3. The first edge portion E ₁ is non-linear, and the selector 86 and the video signal transmission line 106 can be arranged along the non-linear first edge portion E ₁ to narrow the frame. Further, the third edge portion E3 is non-linear, and the common driver 58 can be arranged along the non-straight _{third edge portion E 3 to} narrow the frame. Further, as described in the first embodiment, the scanning line driver 54 can be arranged along the non-linear second edge portion E ₂ to narrow the frame.

In the portion of the frame area adjacent to the first overlapping edge portion _EX1 , the scanning line driver 54 is arranged outside the video signal transmission line 106. Further, in the portion adjacent to the second overlapping edge portion _EX2 , the scanning line driver 54 is arranged outside the common driver 58.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of the unit control circuit 90a, the switch circuit 88, and the switch control line 108, and shows the layout in the upper left portion (the portion surrounded by the frame line C in FIG. 9) of the element substrate 70. In the present embodiment, among the circuits constituting the common driver 58, a plurality of switch circuits 88 are arranged at positions corresponding to the lateral arrangement of the common electrodes 82 and along the _third edge portion E3, and each switch is further arranged. The drive signal transmission line 92 that transmits the drive signal to the circuit 88 is also extended along the _third edge portion E3. On the other hand, the unit control circuit 90a is arranged in the frame region in the portion of the _third edge portion E3 excluding the second overlapping edge portion _EX2 (non-overlapping edge portion _ES2 ), and each switch circuit 88 is arranged from the unit control circuit 90a. A switch control line 108 extending along the _third edge E3 is provided.

That is, among the configurations of the common driver 58, those arranged basically along the entire _third edge portion E1 in the present embodiment are the switch circuit 88, the drive signal transmission line 92, and the switch control line 108. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the switch circuit 88, the switch control line 108, and the scanning line driver 54 are arranged in order from the signal line laying area 102 side toward the edge of the element substrate 70 in the frame area of the second overlapping edge portion _EX2 . Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 10, the VCOMAC line 92a and the VCOMDC line 92b are wired along the _third edge portion E3 with the switch circuit 88 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 10, the VCOMAC line 92a is arranged on the signal line laying area 102 side with respect to the switch circuit 88, and the VCOMDC line 92b is arranged on the scanning line driver 54 side with respect to the switch circuit 88. The position of the VCOM DC line 92b can also be reversed. The VCOMAC line 92a and the VCOMDC line 92b are passed from the control unit 62 arranged on the lower side of the element substrate 70 to the frame region of the _second edge portion E2, and are passed through the switch circuit 88 arranged on the upper side of the element substrate 70. Supply a drive signal. Similarly, wiring for supplying a trigger signal and a clock signal from the control unit 62 to the shift register circuit 90 is provided.

Both the VCOMAC line 92a and the VCOMDC line 92b can be arranged along one _second edge E2 of the signal line laying area 102. Further, for example, the VCOMAC line 92a is arranged along the second edge portion E2 on the right side of the signal line laying area 102, and the VCOMDC line 92b is arranged along the _second edge portion E2 _on the left side of the signal line laying area 102. It is also possible to lead each other to the _third edge portion E3 of the signal line laying region 102 by different routes. FIG. 10 shows the arrangement of the drive signal transmission line 92 in the upper left of the element substrate 70 in this case.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The display panel 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on the differences from the above embodiments. The display panel 50 has a modified display area 72 and an element substrate 70, as in each of the above embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the element substrate 70 in the display panel 50 of the fourth embodiment, and like FIG. 9, the structure in the display area 72 is omitted. Also in this embodiment, the common driver 58 is arranged along the _third edge portion E3 as in the third embodiment. The basic difference from the third embodiment is that the switch circuit 88 in addition to the unit control circuit 90a of the common driver 58 is also arranged only in the frame region in the non-overlapping edge portion _ES2 . The common driver 58 is provided with a drive signal distribution wiring extending along the _third edge E3 and connecting each switch circuit 88 to the corresponding common electrode 82, and the switch circuit 88 to the common electrode via the drive signal distribution wiring. A drive signal is supplied to 82. That is, of the common driver 58, the drive signal component wiring is basically arranged along the entire _third edge portion E3.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of the shift register circuit 90, the switch circuit 88, and the drive signal distribution wiring 152, and shows the layout in the upper left portion (the portion surrounded by the frame line D in FIG. 11) of the element substrate 70. .. In the third embodiment, the switch circuit 88 corresponding to each common electrode 82 is basically arranged adjacent to the common electrode 82, but in the present embodiment, the switch circuit 88 has an end portion in the second overlapping edge portion _EX2 . The switch circuit 88 corresponding to the common electrode 82 is arranged relatively away from the common electrode 82, and the drive signal distribution wiring 152 for transmitting the drive signal from the switch circuit 88 to the common electrode 82 is along the _third edge portion E3. It will be postponed. The drive signal distribution wiring 152 extends between the scanning line driver 54 and the signal line laying area 102.

[Other embodiments]
In the first and third embodiments, the switch circuits 88 of the common driver 58 are arranged adjacent to the corresponding common electrodes 82, and the shift register circuit 90 has a first overlapping edge portion _EX1 and a second overlapping edge portion. Although the configuration is not arranged in _EX2 , the switch drive circuit 96 corresponding to each switch circuit 88, or the set of the switch drive circuit 96 and the unit circuit 94 may also be arranged adjacent to the common electrode 82.

In each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which the common electrode 82 is also used as the common electrode to which the reference potential is applied by the image display function and the drive electrode to which the drive signal is applied by the touch sensor function has been described. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which and are independently provided.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, an example in which the display area 72 has a barrel shape in which the upper and lower sides are linear is shown, but the entire shape may be circular, and the concept of the circuit layout of the present invention may be obtained. Is applicable as well

Further, although the example in which the display device of each of the above embodiments is a liquid crystal display panel has been described, other display panels may be used. For example, it may be an organic electroluminescence (EL) display device. The organic EL display device includes a lower electrode and an upper electrode that apply a voltage to the organic light emitting layer. For example, the lower electrode is formed for each pixel, while the upper electrode is formed as a common electrode. It is possible to use both the common electrode and the drive electrode of the touch sensor.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. Here, within the scope of the idea of the present invention, those skilled in the art can come up with various modified examples and modified examples, and it is understood that these modified examples and modified examples also belong to the scope of the present invention. To. For example, a person skilled in the art appropriately adds, deletes, or changes the design of each of the above-described embodiments, or adds, omits, or changes the conditions of the process, which is the gist of the present invention. Is included in the scope of the present invention as long as it is provided.

Further, it is naturally understood that the other functions and effects brought about by the embodiments described in the present embodiment are apparent from the description of the present specification, or those which can be appropriately conceived by those skilled in the art are brought about by the present invention.

50 display panel, 52 cell section, 54 scan line driver, 56 video line driver, 58 common driver, 60 touch detector, 62 control section, 70 element board, 72 display area, 74 TFT, 76 pixel electrode, 78 video line, 80 scanning line, 82 common electrode, 84 driver IC, 86 selector, 88 switch circuit, 88a, 88b switch, 90 shift register circuit, 90a unit control circuit, 92 drive signal transmission line, 92a
VCOMAC line, 92b VCOMDC line, 94 unit circuit, 96 switch drive circuit, 102 signal line laying area, 106 video signal transmission line, 108 switch control line, 152 drive signal division wiring, 202 drive signal division wiring.

Claims (11)

It is a display device that has a touch sensor function in addition to the video display function.
A plurality of video lines formed in a non-rectangular display area and extending in the first direction, and a plurality of scanning lines extending in the second direction intersecting the first direction.
A plurality of common electrodes formed in the display area and used for image display and touch detection, and
A plurality of video signal transmission lines provided in a frame area outside the display area and connected to one end of the plurality of video lines in order to supply signals to the plurality of video lines.
A plurality of scanning circuits provided in the frame region and applying scanning signals to the plurality of scanning lines, and a plurality of scanning circuits.
A signal transmission line for a common electrode provided in the frame region and for supplying a reference potential signal or a touch detection signal to the common electrode,
Have,
With the scanning circuit arranged on the side where one end of the plurality of video lines and the plurality of video signal transmission lines are connected, the display area is arranged outside the second direction of the portion forming the non-rectangular shape. The common electrode signal transmission line is arranged between the video signal transmission line and the video signal transmission line arranged inside the second direction of the scanning circuit.
A display device characterized by. In the display device according to claim 1,
The plurality of video signal transmission lines are arranged along the first edge portion of the edges of the display area.
The plurality of scanning circuits are arranged along the second edge of the edge of the display area.
The first edge portion and the second edge portion have a first overlapping edge portion that overlaps with each other, and the first overlapping edge portion corresponds to the portion in which the display area forms the non-rectangular shape.
The display device according to claim 1. In the display device according to claim 2,
The signal transmission line for the common electrode is
A first drive signal transmission line to which the touch detection signal is supplied and a second drive signal transmission line to which the reference potential signal is supplied, which are wirings extending along the first edge portion, respectively. And have
Further, the first edge portion has a common drive circuit, and the common drive circuit is
It is a circuit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of common electrodes and switching the connection between the respective common electrodes and the first and second drive signal transmission lines, and the arrangement of the plurality of common electrodes in the second direction. A plurality of switch circuits arranged along the first edge corresponding to the above, and
A circuit for controlling switching of the switch circuit, the switching control circuit arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion of the first edge portion excluding the first overlapping edge portion, and
A switch control line extending from the switching control circuit to each switch circuit along the first edge portion,
A display device characterized by having. In the display device according to claim 2,
The signal transmission line for the common electrode is
A first drive signal transmission line to which the touch detection signal is supplied and a second drive signal transmission line to which the reference potential signal is supplied, which are wirings extending along the first edge portion, respectively. And have
Further, the first edge portion has a common drive circuit, and the common drive circuit has a common drive circuit.
It is a circuit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of common electrodes and for switching the connection between the first drive signal transmission line and the second drive signal transmission line and the common electrodes, and is a circuit at the edge of the display area. Among the plurality of switch circuits arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion of the first edge portion excluding the first overlapping edge portion,
A circuit that controls switching of the switch circuit, the switching control circuit arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion, and the switching control circuit.
The drive signal distribution wiring extending from the switch circuit to each common electrode along the first edge portion,
A display device characterized by having. In the display device according to claim 2,
The video signal transmission line is provided for each group in which the video line is divided into a plurality of adjacent lines.
A circuit arranged between the video signal transmission line and the first edge portion, the selector in which the video signal transmission line is connected to the input and the video line of the group is connected to the output for each group. To have,
A display device characterized by. In the display device according to claim 2,
The display area has an arcuate shape at least in part at the second edge portion.
The substrate has an end shape along the second edge of the display area on the second edge side.
A display device characterized by. It is a display device that has a touch sensor function in addition to the video display function.
A plurality of video lines extending in the first direction and a plurality of scanning lines extending in the second direction intersecting the first direction, which are signal lines formed in the display area in the substrate, respectively.
A plurality of common electrodes formed extending in the first direction in the display area and used for image display and touch detection, and
Among the edges of the signal line laying area where the video line and the scanning line are arranged, a plurality of video signal transmission lines arranged along the first edge where one end of the video line is lined up , and
Among the edges of the signal line laying region, a plurality of scanning circuits arranged on the substrate along the second edge where the ends of the scanning lines are lined up and applying a scanning signal to the scanning lines, and a plurality of scanning circuits.
To supply a reference potential signal or a touch detection signal to the common electrode, which is arranged on the substrate along the third edge portion of the edge of the signal line laying region facing the first edge portion. Signal transmission line for common electrode and
Have,
The signal line laying region includes a first overlapping edge portion where the first edge portion and the second edge portion overlap, and a second overlapping edge portion where the second edge portion and the third edge portion overlap. It has a shape and has
In the portion of the frame region located outside the signal line laying region on the substrate and adjacent to the first overlapping edge portion, the scanning circuit is arranged outside the video signal transmission line.
In the portion of the frame region adjacent to the second overlapping edge portion, the scanning circuit is arranged outside the signal transmission line for the common electrode.
A display device characterized by. In the display device according to claim 7,
The signal transmission line for the common electrode is
The wiring extends along the third edge, respectively, and is a first drive signal transmission line to which the touch detection signal is supplied and a second drive signal transmission line to which the reference potential signal is supplied. And have
Further, the third edge portion has a common drive circuit, and the common drive circuit is
It is a circuit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of common electrodes and switching the connection between the respective common electrodes and the first and second drive signal transmission lines, and the arrangement of the plurality of common electrodes in the second direction. A plurality of switch circuits arranged along the third edge corresponding to the above, and
A circuit for controlling switching of the switch circuit, the switching control circuit arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion of the third edge portion excluding the second overlapping edge portion, and
A switch control line extending from the switching control circuit to each switch circuit along the third edge portion,
A display device characterized by having. In the display device according to claim 7,
The signal transmission line for the common electrode is
The wiring extends along the third edge, respectively, and is a first drive signal transmission line to which the touch detection signal is supplied and a second drive signal transmission line to which the reference potential signal is supplied. And have
Further, the third edge portion has a common drive circuit, and the common drive circuit has a common drive circuit.
It is a circuit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of common electrodes and for switching the connection between the first drive signal transmission line and the second drive signal transmission line and the common electrodes, and is a circuit of the signal line laying region. A plurality of switch circuits arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion of the edge excluding the second overlapping edge portion of the third edge portion, and
A circuit that controls switching of the switch circuit, the switching control circuit arranged in the frame region in the non-overlapping portion, and the switching control circuit.
The drive signal distribution wiring extending from the switch circuit to each common electrode along the third edge portion,
A display device characterized by having. In the display device according to claim 7,
The video signal transmission line is provided for each group in which the video line is divided into a plurality of adjacent lines.
A circuit arranged between the video signal transmission line and the first edge portion, the selector in which the video signal transmission line is connected to the input and the video line of the group is connected to the output for each group. To have,
A display device characterized by. In the display device according to claim 7,
The signal line laying region has an arc shape at least partially at the second edge portion.
The substrate has an end shape along the second edge of the signal line laying region on the second edge side.
A display device characterized by.

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