KR101747731B1 - Apparatus and method for driving touch sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor capable of reducing power consumption by group-by-area group sensing in a power save mode, and a touch sensor driving apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of lead- Wherein the touch sensor is divided into a plurality of regions in a power save mode, the scan lines in each of the divided regions are grouped and scanned, and the lead out lines in the corresponding region are grouped, And a touch controller which senses whether or not touching the touch screen and periodically performs group scanning and group sensing for each area.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for driving a touch sensor,

The present invention relates to a touch sensor driving system, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor capable of reducing power consumption by group sensing by area.

2. Description of the Related Art Today, a touch sensor (touch screen, touch panel) capable of inputting information by touching on the screen of various display devices is widely applied as an information input device of a computer system. The touch sensor allows the user to easily use the display information by simply touching the screen with a finger or a stylus to select or move the display information.

The touch sensor senses a touch and a touch position generated on the screen of the display device and outputs the touch information, and the computer system analyzes the touch information and executes an instruction. As a display device, a flat panel display device such as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display panel, and an organic light emitting diode display device is mainly used.

As the touch sensor technology, there are resistance film type, capacitive type, optical type, infrared type, ultrasonic type, and electromagnetic type depending on the sensing principle. The touch sensor may be constituted by an on-cell touch sensor manufactured in the form of a panel and attached to the upper part of the display device, or an in-cell touch sensor built in a pixel matrix of the display device ). As a touch sensor, a photo-touch sensor that recognizes a touch according to light intensity using a phototransistor and a capacitive touch sensor that recognizes a touch according to a capacitive variable are mainly used.

Generally, the touch sensor has a plurality of scan lines for supplying a driving signal from a touch controller and a plurality of lead-out lines for outputting a readout signal indicating whether the touch is performed. The touch controller sequentially drives a plurality of scan lines and senses a touch through a lead-out signal output from a plurality of lead-out lines depending on the touch. The host computer analyzes the touch information sensed by the touch controller and executes the corresponding command. In addition, when the touch information is not inputted from the touch controller for a predetermined time or more, the host computer switches the power supply save mode to the power save mode to save power consumption.

However, in the conventional touch controller, the entire scan line of the touch sensor is periodically scanned for each channel periodically in the power save mode, and a lead-out signal output for each channel from the lead-out line is calculated by a touch algorithm to determine whether or not the touch is detected. Accordingly, the conventional touch controller scans the entire area of the touch sensor in the power save mode, and performs a touch algorithm calculation for each channel to sense the touch, thereby limiting power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a touch sensor driving apparatus and method capable of reducing power consumption by group- .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch sensor driving apparatus including a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of lead-out lines, wherein in the power save mode, Grouping and scanning the scan lines in each divided area, grouping the lead-out lines in the corresponding area, sensing whether to touch each area, periodically performing group scanning and group sensing for each area And a touch controller.

When the touch area is generated by the area scanning and group sensing, the touch controller selects the touch area, scans the scan lines in the selected area on a channel-by-channel basis, and outputs a lead-out signal And senses whether or not the selected region is touched only for each channel.

The touch controller includes: a driving signal generator for generating and outputting a driving signal for driving the touch sensor; A touch driving circuit for grouping the scan lines for each of the regions, supplying a driving signal supplied from the driving signal generating unit to the grouped scan lines, and supplying the driving signals for the respective channels to the scan lines in the selected area; Out lines for each of the areas and outputs a read out signal from the grouped lead-out lines to sense whether the touch is performed for each of the areas, and outputs a read-out signal output from the lead- A lead-out circuit for outputting and sensing whether the touch is performed for each channel; Wherein the control circuit controls the scanning for each of the areas of the touch driving circuit and the scanning for each channel in the selected area and controls the sensing for each channel and the group sensing for each area of the readout circuit, And a microcontroller unit for selecting the touch area or calculating touch coordinates using sensing data.

A plurality of scan switches connected to the plurality of scan lines on a channel-by-channel basis and connected in common to the drive signal generation unit and switching the drive signals on a channel-by-channel basis under the control of the microcontroller unit; And a plurality of scan grouping switches connected between the scan lines in each of the areas and switching the scan lines of the respective areas under the control of the micro controller unit.

When the touch area is selected in the power save mode, the scan switches in the selected area are sequentially switched on a channel-by-channel basis under the control of the microcontroller unit. In a sensing mode different from the power save mode, When the scan switches are switched according to channels, the scan grouping switches are all turned off under the control of the microcontroller unit.

The lead-out circuit is connected to each of the plurality of lead-out lines on a channel-by-channel basis. The lead-out circuit switches a channel-by-channel according to the control of the microcontroller unit and outputs a lead-out signal supplied from the lead- Wow; A plurality of lead-out grouping switches connected between the lead-out lines in each of the areas, for grouping lead-out lines of the respective areas under the control of the micro-controller unit; And a sensing unit for sensing whether the touch is made from the read-out signal supplied for each channel or each region through the lead-out switch.

Out switches in the selected area are sequentially switched on a channel-by-channel basis under the control of the microcontroller unit when the touch area is selected in the power save mode, and in a sensing mode different from the power save mode, Out switches are sequentially switched on a channel-by-channel basis. When the lead-out switches are switched on a channel-by-channel basis, the lead-out grouping switches are all turned off under the control of the microcontroller unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a touch sensor including a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of lead-out lines, the method comprising: dividing the touch sensor into a plurality of regions in a power save mode; Grouping and scanning the scan lines in each of the divided regions, grouping the lead-out lines in the corresponding region, and sensing whether the scan lines are touched in each region; And repeating the group-by-area group scanning and group sensing periodically.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a touch sensor, including the steps of: determining whether a touch region is present using the sensed result; Maintaining the power save mode if the touch area is not present; Selecting the touch area if the touch area exists; Scanning the scan lines in the selected area for each channel, reading a readout signal for each channel from the lead-out lines in the selected area, and sensing whether the selected area is touched only for each channel.

The method of driving a touch sensor of the present invention further includes generating and outputting a driving signal for driving the touch sensor; The group-by-area group scanning and group sensing may include: grouping the scan lines by the area and supplying the driving signals to the grouped scan lines; Grouping the lead-out lines for each of the areas, and outputting a lead-out signal from the grouped lead-out lines to sense whether the touching is performed for each of the areas.

The scanning and sensing step for each channel in the selection area sequentially supplies the driving signals to the scan lines in the selection area for each channel; And sequentially reading the lead-out signal for each channel from the lead-out lines in the selected area to sense whether the touch is performed.

The method of driving a touch sensor according to the present invention includes the steps of sequentially scanning the plurality of scan lines on a channel basis in a sensing mode different from the power save mode; Reading out the read-out signals from the plurality of lead-out lines for each channel, and sensing whether the signals are touched for each channel.

The apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor according to the present invention divide a touch sensor into a plurality of areas in a power saving mode and periodically determine whether to touch each area by group scanning and group sensing per area, It is possible to shorten the touch sensor driving time and the touch algorithm calculation time compared to the case of scanning and sensing the area by the channel, thereby further reducing the power consumption.

In addition, the apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor according to the present invention selects only a region in which a touch is generated in a power save mode and determines whether to touch each channel by scanning and sensing the selected region only for each channel, It is possible to shorten the touch sensor drive time and the touch algorithm calculation time compared with the case of scanning and sensing by each other, thereby further reducing power consumption.

1 is a circuit block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a display device including a touch sensor driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the structure of the capacitive touch sensor shown in FIG. 1, for example.
3 is a circuit block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the touch sensor and the touch controller shown in Fig.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a touch controller according to an embodiment of the present invention in a power saving mode.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display device including a touch sensor driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 includes a display panel 10, a panel driver 16 including a data driver 12 and a gate driver 14 for driving the display panel 10, A timing controller 18 for controlling the driving unit 16, a touch sensor 20 on the display panel 10 and a touch controller 30 for driving the touch sensor 20. The timing controller 18 and the touch controller 30 are connected to the host computer 50.

The timing controller 18 and the data driver 12 may be integrated into respective integrated circuits (ICs), or the timing controller 18 may be embedded in the data drivers 12 and integrated into one IC. The touch controller 30 and the timing controller 18 may be integrated into respective ICs or the touch controller 30 may be embedded in the timing controller 18 and integrated into one IC.

The display panel 10 includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. The pixel array displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and other images including pointers or cursors. As the display panel 10, a flat panel display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter referred to as a liquid crystal panel), a plasma display panel, and an organic light emitting diode display panel can be mainly used. Hereinafter, a liquid crystal panel will be described as an example.

When a liquid crystal panel is used as the display panel 10, the display panel 10 includes a color filter substrate on which a color filter array is formed, a thin film transistor substrate on which a thin film transistor array is formed, a liquid crystal layer between the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor substrate And a polarizing plate attached to the outer surfaces of the color filter substrate and the thin film transistor substrate, respectively. The display panel 10 displays an image through a pixel matrix in which a plurality of pixels are arranged. Each pixel implements a desired color by a combination of red, green, and blue sub-pixels that adjust the light transmittance by varying the liquid crystal array according to the data signal. Each sub pixel includes a thin film transistor TFT connected to the gate line GL and the data line DL, a liquid crystal capacitor Clc connected in parallel with the thin film transistor TFT, and a storage capacitor Cst. The liquid crystal capacitor Clc charges the difference voltage between the data signal supplied to the pixel electrode through the thin film transistor TFT and the common voltage Vcom supplied to the common electrode, drives the liquid crystal according to the charged voltage, . The storage capacitor Cst stably maintains the voltage charged in the liquid crystal capacitor Clc. The liquid crystal layer is driven by a vertical electric field such as a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode or VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, or by a horizontal electric field such as an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode or an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode.

The data driver 12 supplies video data from the timing controller 18 to a plurality of data lines DL of the display panel 10 in response to a data control signal from the timing controller 18. [ The data driver 12 converts the digital data input from the timing controller 18 into a positive / negative analog data signal by using a gamma voltage, and outputs a data signal to the data line DL). The data driver 12 includes at least one data IC and is mounted on a circuit film such as TCP, COF, FPC or the like to be attached to the display panel 10 by TAB (Tape Automatic Bonding) On the display panel 10 as shown in Fig.

The gate driver 14 sequentially drives the plurality of gate lines GL formed in the thin film transistor array of the display panel 10 in response to the gate control signal from the timing controller 18. [ The gate driver 14 supplies the gate-on voltage during a corresponding scan period of each gate line GL and supplies the gate-off voltage during the remaining period during which the other gate line GL is driven. The gate driver 14 includes at least one gate IC and is mounted on a circuit film such as a tape carrier package (TCP), a chip on film (COF), or a flexible printed circuit (FPC) Automatic bonding, or may be mounted on the display panel 10 in a COG (Chip On Glass) manner. In addition, the gate driver 14 may be embedded in the display panel 10 in a GIP (Gate In Panel) manner and formed on the thin film transistor substrate together with the pixel array.

The timing controller 18 processes the video data input from the host computer 50 and supplies the video data to the data driver 12. [ For example, in order to improve the response speed of the liquid crystal, the timing controller 18 corrects the data by overdriving driving to add an overshoot value or an undershoot value according to the data difference between adjacent frames, can do. The timing controller 18 is connected to the data driver 12 using a plurality of synchronizing signals input from the host computer 50, that is, a vertical synchronizing signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, a data enable signal, ) And a gate control signal for controlling the driving timing of the gate driver 14 are generated. The timing controller 18 outputs the generated data control signal and gate control signal to the data driver 12 and the gate driver 14, respectively. The data control signal includes a source start pulse and a source sampling clock for controlling the latch of the data signal, a polarity control signal for controlling the polarity of the data signal, and a source output enable signal for controlling the output period of the data signal. The gate control signal includes a gate start pulse and gate shift clock for controlling the scanning of the gate signal, a gate output enable signal for controlling the output period of the gate signal, and the like. The timing controller 18 supplies the synchronizing signal (the vertical synchronizing signal Vsync and the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync) to the touch controller 30 and controls the driving timing of the liquid crystal panel 10 and the driving timing of the touch sensor 20 So that the operation timing of the touch controller 30 can be controlled.

The touch sensor 20 detects a user touch and allows the user to talk with the GUI displayed on the display panel 10. [ The touch sensor 20 mainly uses a capacitive type touch sensor that recognizes a touch by sensing a change in capacitance caused by a small amount of charge moving to a touch point when a conductor such as a human body or a stylus is touched. The touch sensor 20 may be mounted on the display panel 10 or embedded in the pixel array of the display panel 10. [

For example, the capacitive touch sensor 20 attached on the display panel 10 may include a plurality of first sensing electrodes 22 disposed in the lateral direction as shown in FIG. 2, Out lines X1 to Xm configured by electrically connecting the scan lines Y1 to Yn of the scan electrodes Y1 to Yn and the plurality of second sensing electrodes 24 arranged in the longitudinal direction. Each of the first and second sensing electrodes 22 and 24 is mainly formed in a rhombic shape and may be formed in various other shapes. The first and second sensing electrodes 22 and 24 are driven by the touch controller 30 to form a capacitance by a fringe field and a capacitor with a conductive touch object touching the touch sensor 20 And outputs a signal indicating whether or not the touch is made by changing the capacitance. The scan lines Y1 to Yn of the touch sensor 20 are driven by the touch controller 30 for each channel or divided into a plurality of areas and are grouped and driven by the areas, Respectively. The lead-out lines X1 to Xm of the touch sensor 20 output a lead-out signal indicating whether or not the touch sensor 20 is touching to the touch controller 30. [

The touch controller 30 supplies a driving signal to the touch sensor 20 and senses a touch using a lead-out signal output from the touch sensor 20. The touch controller 20 calculates touch information from the sensing result, . The touch information calculated from the touch controller 30 may include coordinates of a touch point calculated from the sensing result, the number of touch points, the number of touches within a unit time, a touch duration, and the like. The touch controller 30 is driven under the control of the host computer 50 in a sensing mode which is a normal driving mode and a power saving mode for power consumption reduction.

In the sensing mode, the touch controller 30 drives the scan lines Y1 to Yn of the touch sensor 20 for each channel while sensing the lead-out signals output from the lead-out lines X1 to Xm for each channel, And supplies the touch information to the host computer 50 in accordance with the result.

When the touch information on the touch sensor 20 remains untouched and the touch information is not input from the touch controller 30 for a predetermined time or more, the host computer 50 switches the drive mode of the touch controller 30 to the power save mode . When the host computer 50 switches to the power save mode, the touch controller 30 divides the touch sensor 20 into a plurality of areas and periodically performs group sensing for each area, Sensing. The group-by-area sensing means that a plurality of scan lines included in each area are grouped (shot) and simultaneously scanned, and a plurality of lead-out lines included in each area are grouped (shot) do. If the touch area is not detected by the group sensing by the area, the touch controller 30 periodically repeats group sensing per area while maintaining the power save mode. On the other hand, when the touch area is detected by group-by-area group sensing, the touch controller 30 selects the area where the touch is detected and performs fine sensing on the selected touch area for each channel. The host computer 50 causes the touch controller 30 to switch to the sensing mode when the touch information is input by fine sensing of the touch controller 30. [ Fine sensing refers to sequentially scanning a plurality of scan lines included in the selected area on a channel-by-channel basis, and sensing whether to touch each channel through a plurality of lead-out lines included in the selected area.

The host computer 50 supplies image data and a plurality of synchronizing signals to the timing controller 18, analyzes the touch information input from the touch controller 30, and executes a command corresponding to the touch operation of the user. If the touch information from the touch controller 30 is not input for a predetermined period of time or more, the host computer 50 switches the touch controller 30 to the power save mode to reduce power consumption. In the opposite case, 30) is driven in the sensing mode which is the normal driving mode, and the touch sensing force is maintained.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the touch controller shown in Fig.

The touch controller 30 shown in Fig. 3 includes a touch driving circuit 32 for driving the scan lines Y1 to Yn of the touch sensor 20 and an output circuit 32 for outputting from the lead out lines X1 to Xm of the touch sensor 20, A lead-out circuit 34 for calculating the lead-out signal by touch algorithm to sense touch or not, and a microcontroller unit (hereinafter referred to as an MCU) 34 for controlling the touch drive circuit 32 and the lead- And a PMW generator 38 for generating and supplying a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the touch driving circuit 32.

The touch sensor 20 includes n (n is a positive integer) scan lines Y1 to Yn and m (m is a positive integer) lead-out lines that are insulated from the scan lines Y1 to Yn (X1 to Xm). In the power save mode, the touch sensor 20 sets i x j = k (where i is an amount smaller than n in the vertical direction division number) so as to include a predetermined number of the scan lines Y1 to Yn and the lead out lines X1 to Xm (# 1 to # k), where j is a positive integer less than m, and k is a positive integer.

The PWM generator 38 generates a PWM signal as a driving signal for supplying the scan signal to the scan lines Y1 to Yn of the touch sensor 20 and supplies the PWM signal to the touch driving circuit 32. [

The touch driving circuit 32 switches the PWM signals supplied from the PWM generating unit 38 on a channel-by-channel or area-by-channel basis under the control of the MCU 36 and supplies them to the scan lines Y1 to Yn of the touch sensor 20 . To this end, the touch driving circuit 32 is configured such that n output lines are connected to n scan lines Y1 through Yn on a channel-by-channel basis, and n input lines are commonly connected to one output line of the PWM generator 38 n scan switches YS1 to YSn and a plurality of scan grouping switches YGS1 to YGSi connected between scan lines in each region. When each area includes p (p is a positive integer smaller than n) scan lines, p-1 scan grouping switches for grouping the p scan lines are connected between p scan lines, respectively. Therefore, a scan grouping switch (YGS) is not formed between the last scan line of each area and the first scan line of the next area. The scan switches YS1 to YSn are individually switched under the control of the MCU 36 and the scan grouping switches YGS1 to YGSi are grouped and switched according to the control of the MCU 36. [

Specifically, in a sensing mode, a plurality of scan grouping switches YGS1 to YGSi are turned off under the control of the MCU 36, n scan switches YS1 to YSn are switched for each channel, To the scan lines Y1 to Yn sequentially.

In the power saving mode, a plurality of scan grouping switches YGS1 to YGSi are grouped into i regions under the control of the MCU 36, and are switched by region. The scan grouping switches are turned on simultaneously under the control of the MCU 36 to short-circuit the scan lines in the corresponding area, and at least one of the scan switches in the corresponding area is turned on and off under the control of the MCU 36, And supplies the PWM signal. Accordingly, the scan lines shorted in the corresponding region are simultaneously driven by the PWM signal.

When at least one area in which the touch is generated among the k areas # 1 to #k is selected in the power save mode, the scan grouping switches YGS1 to YGSi are all turned off under the control of the MCU 36, The scan switches in the selected area are switched on a channel-by-channel basis under the control of the MCU 36 to sequentially supply PWM signals. Accordingly, the scan lines in the selected region are sequentially driven by the PWM signal for each channel.

The lead-out circuit 34 switches the lead-out signals from the lead-out lines X1 to Xm according to the channel or area according to the control of the MCU 36, Sensing data) to the MCU 36. To this end, the lead-out circuit 34 has m input lines corresponding to the m lead-out lines X1 to Xm and generates sensing data from the lead-out signals output from the lead-out lines X1 to Xm Outswitches XS1 to XSm connected on a channel-by-channel basis between the input lines of the lead-out lines X1 to Xm and the sensing unit 35, And a plurality of lead-out grouping switches (XGS1 to XGSj) connected between the lead-out lines for each area. When there are s lead-out lines in each area (s is a positive integer smaller than m), s-1 lead-out grouping switches for grouping the s lead-out lines are provided between the s lead- Respectively. Therefore, the lead-out grouping switch XGS is not formed between the last lead-out line of each area and the first lead-out line of the next area.

The sensing unit 35 sequentially samples the lead-out signals output from the lead-out lines X1 to Xm for each channel or area, compares the sampled lead-out signal with a reference voltage, And converts the generated analog sensing signal into digital sensing data and outputs the digital sensing data to the MCU 36.

The m lead-out switches XS1 through XSm are individually switched under the control of the MCU 36 and the lead-out grouping switches XGS1 through XGSj are grouped and switched according to the control of the MCU 36. [

Specifically, the lead-out grouping switches XGS1 to XGSj are all turned off under the control of the MCU 36 in the sensing mode, and the m lead-out switches YS1 to YSn are controlled by the MCU 36 Out signals output from the m lead-out lines X1 to Xm are sequentially supplied to the sensing unit 35. [ The sensing unit 35 sequentially senses the lead-out signals input on a channel-by-channel basis to generate sensing data for each channel and outputs the sensing data to the MCU 36.

Under the control of the MCU 36 in the power save mode, the lead-out grouping switches XGS1 to XGSj are grouped into j regions and switched by region. The lead-out grouping switches in each area are turned on simultaneously under the control of the MCU 36 to short-circuit the lead-out lines in the corresponding area, and at least one of the lead-out switches in the corresponding area is controlled by the MCU 36 And then turned on. Accordingly, a lead-out signal output from the lead-out lines shorted within the area is supplied to the sensing section 35 via the lead-out switch turned on. The sensing unit 35 sequentially senses the lead-out signals inputted for each region, generates sensing data for each region, and outputs the sensing data to the MCU 36.

When at least one area in which the touch is generated among the k areas # 1 to #k is selected in the power save mode, the lead-out grouping switches XGS1 to XGSj are all turned off under the control of the MCU 36 Out switches in the selected area are switched on a channel-by-channel basis under the control of the MCU 36 to sequentially supply the lead-out signals from the lead-out lines in the selected area to the sensing unit 35 for each channel. The sensing unit 35 sequentially senses a plurality of lead-out signals input in a selected region on a channel-by-channel basis, generates sensing data for each channel, and outputs the sensed data to the MCU 36.

The MCU 36 controls the touch driving circuit 32 to sequentially drive the n scan lines Y1 to Yn on a channel by channel basis or to group the n scan lines Y1 to Yn into i So as to be driven on a region-by-region basis. The MCU 36 controls the readout circuit 34 to read the lead-out signal for each channel from the m lead-out lines X1 to Xm according to the driving mode, or controls the m lead-out lines X1 to Xm, Are grouped into j regions and read out signals are read out for each region.

Specifically, in the sensing mode, the MCU 36 controls the touch driving circuit 32 to drive the n scan lines Y1 to Yn on a channel-by-channel basis, and the lead-out circuit 34 is connected to m lead-out lines X1 To Xm to read the lead-out signal for each channel. In the power save mode, the MCU 36 controls the touch driving circuit 32 to group the scan lines Y1 to Yn into i regions and to drive the scan lines Y1 to Yn for each region, and the lead- (X1 to Xm) are grouped into j regions and the readout signal is read out for each region. When the touch area is detected in the power saving mode, the corresponding touch area is selected and a plurality of scan lines included in the selected touch area are controlled to be driven for each channel. In addition, And controls the readout signal to be read for each channel.

The MCU 36 calculates the touch coordinates using the sensing data input from the lead-out circuit 34 on a channel-by-channel basis in the sensing mode, and supplies the calculated touch coordinates to the host computer 50. The MCU 36 calculates a touch coordinate value (XY coordinate) on the basis of the position information (X coordinate) of the lead-out line X where the touch data is generated and the position information (Y coordinate) of the driven scan line Y . In addition, the MCU 36 may calculate the number of touch points from the calculated touch coordinate values, count the number of touch points calculated within a unit time, calculate the number of touches, or calculate the touch duration time per unit time.

In addition, the MCU 36 selects the area where the touch is generated by using the sensing data input from the lead-out circuit 34 in each area in the power saving mode. The MCU 36 calculates the touch coordinates from the touch area selected in the power save mode by using the sensing data input for each channel through the lead-out circuit 34, and supplies the calculated touch coordinates to the host computer 50 .

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a touch controller in a power save mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S2, the touch controller 30 divides the touch sensor 20 into k areas # 1 to #n as shown in FIG. 3, periodically performs group-based group scanning and group sensing, In step S4 (S4), it is determined whether or not the area is touched (S2).

If the touch area is not detected in step S4, the touch controller 30 maintains the power save mode in step S6, and after a predetermined time elapses, the touch controller 30 performs the above-described step 2 (S2) And step 4 (S4) are repeated to determine whether to touch each area by group-by-area group scanning and group sensing.

If the touch area is detected in step S4, the touch controller 30 selects the touch area in step S8, performs channel-specific scanning and channel-specific sensing to calculate touch points, And outputs the calculated touch point coordinate information to the host computer 50. Accordingly, when the touch information is inputted from the touch controller 30 in the power save mode, the host computer 50 switches the touch controller 30 to the sensing mode so that the touch controller 30 is driven in the sensing mode.

As described above, the apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor according to the present invention divide a touch sensor into a plurality of areas in a power save mode, periodically determine whether the area is touched by group scanning and group sensing, The power consumption can be further reduced because the touch sensor driving time and the touch algorithm calculation time can be shortened compared with the case where the conventional entire area is scanned and sensed for each channel.

In addition, the apparatus and method for driving a touch sensor according to the present invention selects only a region in which a touch is generated in a power save mode and determines whether to touch each channel by scanning and sensing the selected region only for each channel, It is possible to shorten the touch sensor drive time and the touch algorithm calculation time compared with the case of scanning and sensing by each other, thereby further reducing power consumption.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be defined by the claims.

10: display panel 12: data driver
14: gate driver 16: panel driver
18: timing controller 20: touch sensor
30: touch controller 32: touch driving circuit
34: lead-out circuit 35:
36: Microcontroller unit (MCU) 38: PWM generator
50: Host computer Y1 to Yn: scan line
X1 to Xm: lead-out lines YS1 to YSn: scan switches
YGS1 to YGSi: Scan grouping switch XS1 to XSm: Lead-out switch
XGS1 to XGSj: Lead-out grouping switch

Claims (12)

A touch sensor driving apparatus comprising: a touch sensor including a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of lead-out lines; and a touch controller for driving the touch sensor in accordance with a sensing mode and a power save mode,
The touch controller includes a plurality of scan switches sequentially switching scan lines for respective channels;
A lead-out switch for sequentially switching a lead-out signal for each channel;
A plurality of scan grouping switches for dividing the touch sensor into a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of scan grouping switches being connected between the scan lines in each region, and switching to group the scan lines of the respective regions;
And a plurality of lead-out grouping switches connected between the lead-out lines in each of the regions, for switching the lead-out lines of the respective regions to be grouped,
Wherein the plurality of scan grouping switches and the plurality of lead-out grouping switches maintain a turn-off state in a sensing mode and maintain a turn-on state in a power save mode. delete The touch controller according to claim 1,
A driving signal generator for generating and outputting a driving signal for driving the touch sensor;
A touch driving circuit for supplying the driving signals to the scan lines on a channel-by-channel basis;
A lead-out circuit for outputting a lead-out signal output from the lead-out lines for each channel and sensing whether the lead-out signal is touched for each channel;
And a microcontroller unit for outputting a signal for controlling the operation of the plurality of scan grouping switches and the plurality of read-out grouping switches according to a sensing mode and a power save mode.
delete delete delete delete A method of driving a touch sensor driving apparatus including a touch sensor including a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of lead-out lines, and a touch controller outputting a touch sensor driving signal in accordance with a sensing mode and a power save mode,
Determining a sensing mode and a power save mode;
In the power saving mode, the touch sensor is divided into a plurality of regions, the scan lines in each divided region are grouped and periodically scanned, and the lead out lines in the corresponding region are grouped, ;
Determining whether there is a region where a touch is generated using the sensing result;
Maintaining the power save mode if the touch area is not present;
Selecting the touch area if the touch area exists;
Scanning the scan lines in the selected area on a channel-by-channel basis, reading a read-out signal for each channel from the lead-out lines in the selected area, and sensing whether the selected area is touched only for each channel A method of driving a touch sensor. delete The method of claim 8,
Further comprising generating and outputting a driving signal for driving the touch sensor;
The group-by-area group scanning and group-
Grouping the scan lines by the area and supplying the driving signals to the grouped scan lines;
And grouping the lead-out lines for each of the areas and outputting a read-out signal from the grouped lead-out lines to sense whether the touch is performed in each of the areas. delete delete

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