KR102192520B1 - Touch screen device and method for driving thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch screen device with improved linear characteristics of a pen touch and a driving method thereof. The touch screen device and a driving method thereof according to the present invention include a first touch on a plurality of lines when sensing a touch of a touch input pen. A driving pulse is supplied individually, a second touch driving pulse is further supplied to two adjacent lines at the same time, and the touch of the touch input pen is sensed by receiving a signal induced from the touch input pen to the antenna loop according to the touch driving pulse. I can.

Description

A touch screen device and its driving method TECHNICAL FIELD [TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRIVING THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a touch screen device, and more specifically, to a touch screen device capable of sensing a finger touch and a pen touch, and a driving method thereof.

The touch screen device is installed in an image display device such as a liquid crystal display device, a field emission display device, a plasma display device, an electroluminescent display device, an electrophoretic display device, and an organic light emitting display device. It is a type of input device that directly contacts the screen and inputs information.

Recently, touch panels include mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, e-books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation, ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), mobile phones, smart phones, personal computers (tablets), and watch phones. ), as well as input devices for various electronic devices such as televisions, notebook computers, and monitors. In particular, since the touch input method using a pen enables more detailed input than input by a finger, it is suitable for performing graphic tasks such as handwriting, sketching, and drawing a detailed picture.

The touch panel may be classified into a resistive type, a capacitive type, and an electromagnetic type according to a touch sensing method. The resistance method detects a position pressed by pressure while applying a DC voltage by a change in the amount of current. Capacitance method detects using capacitance coupling while AC voltage is applied. In the electromagnetic method, an electromagnetic signal generated by driving a resonance circuit provided in the active pen (or touch input pen) is guided to an antenna loop formed on the touch panel, and the touch coordinates of the active pen are determined using the electromagnetic signal induced by the antenna loop. To detect.

Recently, a touch screen device capable of sensing a finger touch and an active pen touch by providing an antenna loop at the edge of the touch screen device has been proposed.

The sensing of the finger touch is performed using mutual capacitive touch sensing, and the presence or absence of a finger touch is determined by sensing mutual capacitance formed at the intersection of the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode that cross each other.

Sensing of the active pen touch uses self-capacitive touch sensing, which uses a touch driving electrode for both the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode, and the resonance circuit provided in the active pen according to the touch driving pulse applied to the touch driving electrode. The presence or absence of a pen touch is determined by receiving an electromagnetic signal generated by the resonance frequency and induced to the antenna loop.

The sensing of the finger touch and the sensing of the active pen touch are affected by the pitch of the electrode. Sensing of an active pen touch is a self-capacitive method, and as the pitch of the electrode is minimized, the optimum sensing performance is obtained. On the other hand, sensing of a finger touch must have a minimum pitch at which mutual capacitance can be formed in a mutual capacitance method. Therefore, since the performance of the finger touch and the active pen touch cannot be simultaneously satisfied, the pitch of the touch is set to be optimized for finger touch sensing.

1 is a diagram for describing touch sensing of an active pen touch in a conventional touch screen device.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional touch screen device supplies a touch driving pulse TDP to each of the first to third electrodes A, B, and C spaced apart at a predetermined pitch, while supplying the first to third electrodes A and The presence or absence of a pen touch is determined by receiving an electromagnetic signal generated by the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit provided in the active pen 1 according to the touch driving pulses applied to B and C) and induced to the antenna loop. At this time, the self-correcting capacitance formed on the first to third electrodes A, B, C is the largest when the active pen 1 is positioned at each of the first to third electrodes A, B, and C. Will have.

However, when the active pen 1 moves from the first electrode A to the third electrode C, the self-capacitance formed between the first to third electrodes A, B, C is abnormally small. In this way, the linear characteristics of pen touch sensing between the first to third electrodes A, B, and C are deteriorated.

FIG. 2 is a line graph showing pen sensing raw data for adjacent first to fifth electrodes in a conventional touch screen device.

In FIG. 2, channels 1 to 5 refer to receiving channels of pen sensing raw data generated whenever a touch driving pulse is supplied to the first to fifth electrodes.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, since a conventional touch screen device senses a pen touch every time a touch driving pulse is supplied to each of the first to fifth electrodes to generate sensing raw data, between the first to fifth electrodes It can be seen that the linear characteristics of pen touch sensing are deteriorated.

The contents of the background technology described above are technical information that the inventor of the present application possessed for derivation of the present invention or acquired during the derivation process of the present invention, and must be referred to as known technology disclosed to the general public prior to filing the present invention. I can't.

The present invention has been conceived to solve the above-described problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a touch screen device with improved linear characteristics of a pen touch and a driving method thereof.

In order to achieve the above-described technical problem, a touch screen device and a driving method thereof according to the present invention include individually supplying a first touch driving pulse to a plurality of lines when sensing a touch of a touch input pen, and providing a second touch drive pulse to two adjacent lines. The touch driving pulse is further supplied at the same time, and the touch of the touch input pen may be sensed by receiving a signal induced from the touch input pen to the antenna loop according to the touch driving pulse.

According to the solution to the above problem, the present invention generates a virtual electrode between two adjacent electrodes by overlapping two adjacent electrodes to sense the pen touch, so that the resolution of pen touch sensing is approximately twice as much as the number of virtual electrodes compared to the prior art. The effect of increasing the degree can be seen, and the linear characteristics of the pen touch can be improved.

In addition to the effects of the present invention mentioned above, other features and advantages of the present invention will be described below or will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from such technology and description.

1 is a diagram for describing touch sensing of an active pen touch in a conventional touch screen device.
2 is a line graph showing pen sensing raw data for adjacent first to fifth electrodes in a conventional touch screen device.
3 is a schematic diagram of a touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a waveform diagram illustrating an example of a touch driving pulse supplied to each line in the touch screen of the present invention.
5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the touch driving integrated circuit shown in FIG. 3 and a method of sensing a pen touch.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the touch driver illustrated in FIG. 5.
7 is a waveform diagram illustrating a modified example of a touch driving pulse supplied to each line in the touch screen of the present invention.
8 is a waveform diagram for explaining another modified example of a touch driving pulse supplied to each line in the touch screen of the present invention.
9A is a graph showing self capacitance formed on each of first to third electrodes in a touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
9B is a diagram illustrating a virtual electrode formed between first to third electrodes.
FIG. 10 is a line graph showing pen sensing raw data for adjacent first to fifth electrodes in a touch screen device and a pen touch sensing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The meaning of the terms described in this specification should be understood as follows.

Singular expressions should be understood as including plural expressions unless clearly defined differently in context, and terms such as "first" and "second" are used to distinguish one element from other elements, The scope of rights should not be limited by these terms. It is to be understood that terms such as "comprise" or "have" do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof. The term “at least one” is to be understood as including all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, the meaning of “at least one of the first item, the second item, and the third item” means 2 among the first item, the second item, and the third item as well as each It means a combination of all items that can be presented from more than one. The term "on" is meant to include not only a case where a certain structure is formed directly on the upper surface of another structure, but also a case where a third structure is interposed between these elements.

Hereinafter, preferred examples of a touch screen device and a method for sensing a pen touch according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In adding reference numerals to elements of each drawing, the same elements may have the same numerals as possible even if they are indicated on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the subject matter of the present invention, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

3 is a schematic diagram of a touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the touch screen device according to the present invention includes a touch screen 110, an antenna loop 120, and a touch driving integrated circuit 130.

The touch screen 110 includes an active area AA and a peripheral area surrounding the active area AA.

The active area AA includes first to mth (wherein m is a natural number) lines L1 to Lm. A pad portion PP having a pad connected to each of the first to m-th lines L1 to Lm in a one-to-one manner is provided at one side of the peripheral area surrounding the active area AA. The pad part PP is connected to the touch driving integrated circuit 130.

The first to m-th lines L1 to Lm may be divided into a touch driving electrode group Tx and a touch sensing electrode group Rx.

The touch driving electrode group Tx is composed of first to i-th (where i is a natural number less than m/2) lines L1 to Li of the first to m-th lines L1 to Lm, and such touch The lines L1 to Li of the driving electrode group Tx may be provided on the active area AA along the first direction Y of the touch screen 110 at predetermined intervals. That is, each of the first to i-th lines L1 to Li is at a predetermined interval along the first direction Y of the active area AA so as to have a length parallel to the second direction X of the active area AA. Is placed. In the following description, the first to i-th lines L1 to Li will be defined as a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li.

The plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li may be formed of a transparent conductive metal material, for example, an indium tin oxide (ITO) material. Each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li is connected one-to-one to the corresponding pad provided in the pad unit PP through a plurality of first routing lines (not shown) formed in the peripheral area.

The touch sensing electrode group Rx is composed of i+1 to m-th lines (Li+1 to Lm) among the first to m-th lines L1 to Lm, and the line of the touch sensing electrode group Rx The fields Li+1 to Lm may be provided on the active area AA along the second direction X of the touch screen 110 at predetermined intervals. That is, each of the i+1 to m-th lines Li+1 to Lm extends the second direction X of the active area AA to have a length parallel to the first direction Y of the active area AA. They are arranged at regular intervals along the way. In the following description, the i+1 to m-th lines Li+1 to Lm are defined as a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm crossing each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. To

The plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm may be formed of a transparent conductive metal material, for example, an ITO material. Each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm is connected one-to-one to the corresponding pad provided on the pad unit PP through a plurality of second routing lines (not shown) formed in the peripheral area.

In one example, the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li may be formed on a first substrate, and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm may be formed on a second substrate. In this case, The first and second substrates may be bonded to each other by a transparent adhesive layer. In addition, the first and second substrates which are bonded to each other may be attached to a transparent cover, a transparent plate, or a lower surface of the transparent glass by a transparent adhesive layer. Here, the first and second substrates are PET (polyethyleneterephthalate) films and serve as insulators for forming mutual capacitance at an intersection between the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode.

In another example, the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm are provided to cross each other with an insulating layer therebetween, so that the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode are crossed. In the part, mutual capacitance is formed by the insulating layer. The mutual capacitance serves as a touch sensor for detecting a finger touch. Each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm may be formed in a bar shape or a rhombus shape, but is not limited thereto. It can also be changed into other forms that can be formed.

The antenna loop 120 is a type of coil capable of inducing inductance, and is for sensing a pen touch by receiving an electromagnetic signal generated and induced by a resonance frequency of a resonance circuit provided in a touch input pen. Here, the antenna loop 120 may be a coil operating through an air core between the touch input pens. The antenna loop 120 is provided on a peripheral area along the outer portion of the touch screen 110, and one end and the other end are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to be connected to the pad portion PP. That is, the antenna loop 120 may be provided on the peripheral area to surround the remaining active area AA except for a portion of the active area AA adjacent to the pad part PP.

The antenna loop 120 may be formed of at least two or more loop lines provided in a peripheral area of the touch screen 110 so as to have a predetermined interval while surrounding the active area AA.

The touch driving integrated circuit 130 is mounted on the flexible circuit film 140 and connected to the pad unit PP provided on the touch screen 110, and thus a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li through the pad unit PP. And a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm and connected to one end and the other end of the antenna loop 120, respectively. Here, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (not shown). In this case, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 includes a pad portion PP of the touch screen 110 and a printed circuit. A plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li, a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm, and one end and the other end of the antenna loop 120 may be connected through a signal transmission film (not shown) connected between the substrates. have.

The touch driving integrated circuit 130 operates the touch screen 110 in a finger touch sensing mode or a pen touch sensing mode in response to a touch sensing mode signal supplied from the main controller of the host system. For example, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 drives the touch screen 110 in a pen touch sensing mode and a finger touch sensing mode in units of one frame, or a pen touch sensing mode and a finger touch sensing mode within one frame. Can be time-division driven.

In the finger touch sensing mode, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 sequentially applies a touch driving pulse to a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li, and a power failure of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm By sensing the change in capacity, raw data for finger sensing is generated and provided to the main control unit of the host system.

In the pen touch sensing mode, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 generates a touch driving pulse based on an intrinsic resonance frequency, and according to a preset order, a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes ( Li+1 ~ Lm) sequentially and each time a touch driving pulse is applied, an electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 is received by an electromagnetic signal generated from the resonance circuit of the touch input pen according to the touch driving pulse. . In addition, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 generates pen sensing raw data corresponding to each of the electrodes L1 to Lm based on the electromagnetic signal received from the antenna loop 120 and provides it to the main controller of the host system.

In particular, in the pen touch sensing mode, the touch driving integrated circuit 130, as shown in FIG. 4, includes a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm, respectively. The electrode driving period EDP of is divided into an individual driving period T1 and an overlap driving period T2, thereby increasing the linear characteristics and touch resolution of the touch input pen sensing. Here, the overlap driving section T2 of each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm is a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes (Li+1 ~ Lm) It can be set between each individual driving section (T1).

The individual driving period T1 is defined as a period in which a first touch driving pulse P1 is individually supplied to each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. I can. For example, in an individual driving period T1, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 drives a first touch to each of a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. The pulses P1 are sequentially supplied, and an electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 from the touch input pen is received by the first touch driving pulse P1 whenever the first touch driving pulse P1 is supplied, Based on the received electromagnetic signal, pen sensing raw data corresponding to the corresponding electrode may be generated.

The overlap driving period T2 may be defined as a period in which the second touch driving pulse P2 is simultaneously supplied to two adjacent electrodes. For example, in the overlap driving period T2, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 drives one touch driving the second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping the two touch driving electrodes L1 to Li adjacent vertically. A second touch driving pulse (P2) overlapping the two touch sensing electrodes (Li+1 to Lm) adjacent to each other is sequentially supplied to the upper and lower touch driving electrodes while shifting by electrode unit, and one touch sensing While shifting by electrode unit, the two touch sensing electrodes are sequentially supplied to the left and right. Further, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 receives and receives an electromagnetic signal induced from the touch input pen to the antenna loop 120 by the second touch driving pulse whenever the second touch driving pulse P2 is applied. Based on the generated electromagnetic signal, pen sensing raw data corresponding to a virtual line between two lines may be generated.

5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the touch driving integrated circuit shown in FIG. 3 and a method of sensing a pen touch.

First, the touch input pen 10 includes a primary coil (L1) and a secondary coil (L2), a resonance capacitor (Cre), a switch (SW), and a touch tip (TT).

The primary coil L1 and the secondary coil L2 are wound along the length direction of the touch input pen 10 so as to surround a magnetic core disposed on the inner central axis of the touch input pen 10, thereby providing a first mutual inductance. It is coupled to (MI1).

One end of the primary coil L1 is electrically connected to the touch tip TT, and the other end of the primary coil L1 is grounded to the ground part 12. Here, the ground part 12 according to an example may be a user who comes into contact with the touch input pen 10. In this case, when the touch input pen 10 and the user contact each other, the user acts as a dielectric material, A grounding capacitance Cg may be generated between the input pen 10 and the ground terminal. The ground part 12 according to another example may be a ground strap connected between the touch input pen 10 and the touch screen 110.

One end of the secondary coil L2 is connected to the resonance capacitor Cre, and the other end of the secondary coil L2 is connected to one end of the switch SW. The resonance capacitor Cre is connected between one end of the secondary coil L2 and the other end of the switch SW2. The inductance of the secondary coil L2 and the capacitance of the resonance capacitor Cre are virtual sensing formed by capacitive coupling from the capacitance provided at the intersection of each line L1 to Lm of the touch screen 110 The frequency of the touch driving pulse input through the capacitor Cse and the value at which electromagnetic resonance can be generated are set. Here, the sensing capacitor Cse is not a passive element having a physical circuit configuration, but a capacitive coupling at the touch portion when the touch tip TT of the touch input pen 10 touches the touch screen 110 It is a virtual capacitor that is generated as a result.

The switch SW is connected between the secondary coil L2 and the resonance capacitor Cre, and is electrically insulated from the touch tip TT and the magnetic core. Here, the switch SW may be made of a spring or an elastic material. This switch (SW) operates (On) when the touch tip (TT) contacts the touch screen (110) with a constant pressure, and electrically connects the secondary coil (L2) and the resonance capacitor (Cre) in series to A resonance circuit is formed inside the input pen 10.

The touch tip TT protrudes from the lower surface of the touch input pen 10 to a certain length, and is electrically connected to one end of the primary coil L1 through a connection line inside the touch input pen 10. In particular, the touch tip TT is physically connected to the switch SW so as to be movable in the length direction of the touch input pen 10 according to the contact pressure with the touch screen 110.

The operation of the touch input pen 10 will be described as follows.

First, when the touch input pen 10 contacts the touch screen 110 and the touch tip TT is raised and the switch SW is closed, one end of the primary coil L1 is touched through the touch tip TT. A virtual sensing capacitor Cse is formed by capacitive coupling with the lines Tx and Rx of 110. Accordingly, the touch driving signal applied to the lines Tx and Rx of the touch screen 110 is applied to the primary coil L1 through the virtual sensing capacitor Cse, and applied to the primary coil L1. The signal is applied to the secondary coil L2 by a first mutual inductance MI1 formed between the primary coil L1 and the secondary coil L2, and thereby, the secondary coil L2 and the resonance capacitor Cre ) And the closed circuit of the switch SW, a resonance circuit is formed, and an electromagnetic signal is generated by the pen resonance frequency of the process circuit. This electromagnetic signal is induced to the antenna loop 120 by a second mutual inductance MI2 between the secondary coil L2 (or primary coil L1) and the antenna loop 120. At this time, since the antenna loop 120 is formed to surround the outer periphery of the touch screen 110, it serves as a tertiary coil L3 in a circuit.

In addition, when the magnetic core is pushed upward by the pressure applied to the touch tip TT, the pen resonance frequency of the resonant circuit increases or decreases as the inductance value of the secondary coil L2 changes. 120) decreases the intensity of the electromagnetic signal induced.

The touch driving integrated circuit 130 according to an example includes a touch control unit 131, a touch driver 133, and a pen touch sensing unit 135.

The touch control unit 131 generates a touch sensing mode signal TMS corresponding to a finger touch sensing mode or a pen touch sensing mode and provides it to the touch driver 133. In addition, the touch control unit 131 generates a driving reference signal DRS having the same frequency as the pen resonance frequency of the resonance circuit formed in the touch input pen 10 and provides it to the touch driver 133.

In the finger touch sensing mode, the touch controller 131 controls the touch driving unit 133 to sequentially supply touch driving pulses to the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. In addition, the touch controller 131 receives the finger sensing raw data FSRD provided from the touch driver 133 according to the finger touch sensing mode, and provides the received finger sensing raw data FSRD to the main controller of the host system. do. The main control unit compares the finger sensing raw data FSRD provided from the touch control unit 131 with a preset threshold value, and analyzes the finger sensing raw data FSRD greater than the threshold value according to a predetermined algorithm to determine the presence or absence of a finger touch. After calculating the finger touch coordinates, an application program linked to the finger touch coordinates is executed.

In the pen touch sensing mode, the touch control unit 131 receives the first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2 as shown in FIG. 4 with a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes The touch driver 133 is controlled to be sequentially supplied to (Li+1 to Lm). In addition, the touch control unit 131 receives the pen sensing raw data PSRD provided from the pen touch sensing unit 135 according to the pen touch sensing mode, and transmits the received pen sensing raw data PSRD to the main control unit of the host system. To provide. The main control unit compares the pen sensing raw data PSRD provided from the touch control unit 131 with a preset threshold value, and analyzes the pen sensing raw data PSRD greater than the threshold value according to a predetermined algorithm to determine the presence or absence of a pen touch. After calculating the pen touch coordinates, an application program or graphic task linked to the pen touch coordinates is executed. Additionally, the main control unit calculates the pen resonance frequency based on the original pen sensing data (PSRD), analyzes the amount of change of the calculated pen resonance frequency relative to the natural resonance frequency according to a predetermined algorithm to calculate pen pressure data, Execute an application program or graphic task linked to the pen pressure data.

The touch driver 133 drives the touch screen 110 in a finger touch sensing mode or a pen touch sensing mode in response to a touch mode signal TMS provided from the touch controller 131.

In the finger touch sensing mode, the touch driving unit 133 sequentially applies a touch driving pulse to the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li while changing the capacitance of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. By sensing, raw finger sensing data FSRD is generated and provided to the touch controller 131.

In the pen touch sensing mode, the touch driver 133 generates first and second touch driving pulses based on a natural resonance frequency, and as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of The first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2 are supplied to the touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm of.

The pen touch sensing unit 135 is connected to both ends of the antenna loop 120, and a touch input pen (P1, P2) supplied from the touch driver 133 to each of the electrodes L1 to Lm. An electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 is received from the resonance circuit of 10) to generate original pen sensing data. That is, the pen touch sensing unit 135 applies the first touch driving pulse P1 to the corresponding electrodes L1 to Lm for each individual driving period in which the first touch driving pulse P1 is supplied to each of the electrodes L1 to Lm. ) To generate the original pen sensing data by receiving an electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 from the resonance circuit of the touch input pen 10. In addition, the pen touch sensing unit 135 drives the first touch applied to the corresponding electrodes L1 to Lm in each overlap driving period in which the first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2 are simultaneously supplied to two adjacent electrodes. An electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 from the resonance circuit of the touch input pen 10 is received by the pulse P1 to generate pen sensing raw data. To this end, the pen touch sensing unit 135 according to an example includes an operational amplifier 135a, an analog-to-digital conversion unit 135b, and a pen sensing data processing unit 135c.

The operational amplifier 135a is connected to one end and the other end of the antenna loop 120 to amplify a voltage difference received at one end and the other end of the antenna loop 120 and output a pen sensing signal.

The analog-to-digital converter 135b converts the pen sensing signal supplied from the operational amplifier 135a to analog-digital to generate pen sensing raw data PSRD.

The pen sensing data processing unit 135c receives the pen sensing raw data PSRD supplied from the analog-to-digital conversion unit 135b and sequentially stores the pen sensing raw data PSRD stored in the internal memory. Is provided to the touch control unit 135. Accordingly, the touch control unit 131 receives the pen sensing raw data PSRD provided from the pen sensing data processing unit 135c of the pen touch sensing unit 135 and provides it to the main control unit of the host system.

Meanwhile, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 according to the present invention described above may be integrated into a single readout integrated circuit (ROIC) chip. Optionally, the touch control unit 131 may be implemented as a micro controller unit (MCU) of a host system without being integrated into the ROIC chip.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the touch driver illustrated in FIG. 5.

5 and 6, the touch driver 133 according to an example includes a timing generator 210, a driving pulse supply unit 220, a switching unit 230, a finger touch sensing unit 240, and a finger sensing. It includes a data processing unit 250.

The timing generator 210 includes a driving pulse supply unit 220, a switching unit 230, a finger touch sensing unit 240, and a finger data processing unit based on a touch mode signal TMS supplied from the touch control unit 131. (250) Generates an internal control signal for controlling each operation. Here, the internal control signal is a sensing start signal (SSS) and a channel setup signal (CSS) for controlling the driving pulse supply unit 220, a switching control signal (SCS) for controlling the switching unit 230, and a finger touch sensing unit. It may be a sampling start signal for the control of 240, and the like.

When the touch mode signal TMS is a finger sensing mode signal, the timing generator 210 sets up a sensing start signal SSS and a channel for sequentially applying a touch driving pulse to a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. A signal CSS is generated, and a switching control signal SCS for connecting each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm to the finger touch sensing unit 240 is generated.

When the touch mode signal TMS is a pen sensing mode signal, as shown in FIG. 4, the timing generator 210 includes a plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1. ~ Lm) Each electrode driving period EDP is divided into an individual driving period T1 and an overlap driving period T2, and a first touch driving pulse (EDP) is divided into an individual driving period T1 of each line L1 to Lm. A sensing start signal (SSS), a channel setup signal (CSS), and a switching control signal (SSS) for supplying P1) and supplying the second touch driving pulse P2 to the overlap driving period T2 of each line (L1 to Lm). SCS).

The driving pulse supply unit 220 generates a touch driving pulse based on the sensing start signal SSS supplied from the timing generator 210 according to the finger sensing mode, and generates the touch driving pulse to the timing generation unit 210 The plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li are sequentially supplied according to the channel setup signal CSS supplied from Here, the driving pulse driver 220 may continuously supply at least two touch driving pulses to one touch driving electrode L1 to Li, which is a touch driving pulse supplied to the touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. This is to increase the sensing sensitivity by increasing the amount of charge of the corresponding capacitance. In this case, the pulse driving unit 220 may generate a touch driving pulse according to one of a frequency, an amplitude (or voltage), and a number of pulses. Here, the amount of charge of the electrostatic capacitance increases as the frequency of the touch driving pulse decreases, increases as the amplitude of the touch driving pulse increases, and may increase as the number of touch driving pulses increases.

In addition, the driving pulse supply unit 220 generates first and second touch driving pulses based on the sensing start signal SSS supplied from the timing generator 210 according to the pen sensing mode, and generates the first and second touch driving pulses. The second touch driving pulse is supplied to the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li and the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm according to the channel setup signal CSS supplied from the timing generator 210. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving pulse supply unit 220 touches the first touch driving pulse P1 for each individual driving period T1 of each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. Individually supplying the driving electrodes L1 to Li, and supplying the first touch driving pulse P1 to the switching unit 230 for each individual driving period T1 of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm do. In addition, the driving pulse supply unit 220 is overlapped with two touch driving electrodes vertically adjacent to each other for each overlap driving period T2 set between the individual driving periods T1 of each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. The second touch driving pulse P2 is sequentially supplied to two adjacent touch driving electrodes vertically while shifting the second touch driving pulse P2 in units of one touch driving electrode, and individual driving sections of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm ( T1) The second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping with two touch sensing electrodes adjacent to the left and right is shifted in units of one touch sensing electrode and supplied to the switching unit 230 for each overlap driving period T2 set between. .

Accordingly, the first touch driving pulse P1 and the second touch driving pulse P2 are continuously supplied to the first touch driving electrode L1 among the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li at predetermined time intervals. In addition, the second to i-1th touch driving electrodes L2 to Li-1 of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li have a second touch driving pulse P2, a first touch driving pulse P1, and a 2 Touch driving pulses P2 are continuously supplied at regular time intervals. In addition, the second touch driving pulse P2 and the first touch driving pulse P1 are continuously supplied to the i-th touch driving electrode Li among the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li at predetermined time intervals. Accordingly, the first second touch driving pulse P2 supplied to the second to i-1th touch driving electrodes L2 to Li-1 is driven by the second touch supplied to the previous touch driving electrodes L1 to Li-2. The second second touch driving pulse P2 overlapped with the pulse P2 and supplied to the second to i-1th touch driving electrodes L2 to Li-1 is supplied to the next touch driving electrodes L3 to Li. It overlaps with the second touch driving pulse P2. As a result, in the pen sensing mode, the driving pulse supply unit 220 uses the first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2 to individually drive and adjacent two touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. Overlap driving of the touch driving electrodes is alternately performed.

The switching unit 230 applies a finger touch sensing unit 240 to each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm in response to the switching control signal SCS supplied from the timing generator 210 according to the finger sensing mode. ).

In addition, the switching unit 230 supplies each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm in response to the switching control signal SCS supplied from the timing generator 210 according to the pen sensing mode. 220) to supply the first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2 supplied from the driving pulse supply unit 220 to each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching unit 230 is supplied from the driving pulse supply unit 220 for each individual driving period T1 of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. 1 Touch driving pulse P1 is individually supplied to the corresponding sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. In addition, the switching unit 230 is supplied from the driving pulse supply unit 220 for each overlap driving period T2 set between the individual driving periods T1 of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. 2 The touch driving pulse P2 is simultaneously supplied to the corresponding two touch sensing electrodes.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, among the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm, the first touch sensing electrode Li+1 has a first touch driving pulse P1 and a second touch driving pulse P2) is continuously supplied at regular time intervals. In addition, the second to j-1th touch driving electrodes Li+2 to Lm-1 of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm have a second touch driving pulse P2 and a first touch driving pulse ( P1) and the second touch driving pulse P2 are continuously supplied at predetermined time intervals. In addition, a second touch driving pulse P2 and a first touch driving pulse P1 are continuously supplied to the j-th touch sensing electrode Lm among the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm at predetermined time intervals. . Accordingly, the first second touch driving pulse P2 supplied to the second to j-1th touch sensing electrodes Li+2 to Lm-1 is supplied to the previous touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm-2. The second second touch driving pulse P2 overlapped with the second touch driving pulse P2 and supplied to the second to j-1th touch driving electrodes Li+2 to Lm-1 is the next touch driving electrode Li It overlaps with the second touch driving pulse P2 supplied to +2 to Lm). As a result, in the pen sensing mode, the driving pulse supply unit 220 is adjacent to the individual driving of each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm using the first and second touch driving pulses P1 and P2. Overlap driving of the two touch sensing electrodes is alternately performed.

The finger sensing unit 240 is connected to each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm by switching of the switching unit 230 according to the finger touch mode, and starts sampling supplied from the timing generator 210 A finger touch signal is generated by sensing the change in current (or correction capacity) from each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes (Li+1 ~ Lm) according to the signal SS, and the finger touch signal is converted to analog-digital to sense the finger. The raw data FSRD is generated and provided to the finger sensing data processing unit 250. The finger sensing unit 240 according to an example includes first to j-th sensing units 2401 to 240j connected to the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm through the switching unit 230.

Each of the first to jth sensing units 2401 to 240j includes an operational amplifier (not shown) and an analog-to-digital converter (not shown).

The operational amplifier is connected to the corresponding touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm and senses a change in current (or correction capacity) of the corresponding touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm to generate a finger touch signal.

The analog-to-digital conversion unit analog-digital converts a finger touch signal supplied from a corresponding operational amplifier to generate finger sensing raw data FSRD, and converts the generated finger sensing raw data FSRD to a finger sensing data processing unit 250 To supply.

The finger sensing data processing unit 250 receives the finger sensing raw data FSRD provided from each of the first to j-th sensing units 2401 to 240j of the finger sensing unit 240 and sequentially stores the finger sensing data FSRD in the temporary memory 260. It is stored as it is, and provides the finger sensing raw data FSRD stored in the temporary memory 260 to the touch controller 131. Accordingly, the touch control unit 131 receives the finger sensing raw data FSRD provided from the finger sensing data processing unit 250 of the touch driver 133 and provides it to the main control unit of the host system.

7 is a waveform diagram illustrating a modified example of a touch driving pulse supplied to each line in the touch screen of the present invention.

5 to 7, in the pen touch sensing mode, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 according to another example of the present invention includes a first touch driving pulse P1 on each of the first to mth lines L1 to Lm. ) Is sequentially supplied, and touch input according to the first touch driving pulse P1 supplied to each line L1 to Lm whenever the first touch driving pulse P1 is supplied to each line L1 to Lm An electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 is received by an electromagnetic signal generated from the resonance circuit of the pen 10 to generate pen sensing raw data corresponding to each line L1 to Lm.

Then, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 shifts the second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping the two touch driving electrodes L1 to Li adjacent to each other in a single touch driving electrode unit. While sequentially supplying the touch driving electrodes L1 to Li, and shifting the second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping the two touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm adjacent to the left and right, in units of one touch sensing electrode, Second touch drive supplied to two adjacent electrodes whenever a second touch driving pulse P2 is supplied to two adjacent electrodes while sequentially supplying to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm left and right By receiving the electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 from the touch input pen 10 by the pulse P2, pen sensing raw data corresponding to a virtual line between two adjacent lines is generated.

8 is a waveform diagram for explaining another modified example of a touch driving pulse supplied to each line in the touch screen of the present invention.

5, 6 and 8, in the pen touch sensing mode, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 according to another example of the present invention drives a first touch to each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes L1 to Li. A first touch driving pulse supplied to each of the touch driving electrodes L1 to Li whenever the first touch driving pulse P1 is supplied to each of the touch driving electrodes L1 to Li while sequentially supplying the pulse P1 Pen sensing raw data corresponding to each touch driving electrode (L1 to Li) by receiving an electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 by an electromagnetic signal generated from the resonance circuit of the touch input pen 10 according to (P1) Create

Then, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 shifts the second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping the two touch driving electrodes L1 to Li adjacent to each other in a single touch driving electrode unit. While sequentially supplying the touch driving electrodes L1 to Li, a second touch driving pulse P2 supplied to two adjacent touch driving electrodes whenever a second touch driving pulse P2 is supplied to two adjacent touch driving electrodes ) To generate the original pen sensing data corresponding to the virtual electrode between the two adjacent touch driving electrodes by receiving an electromagnetic signal induced from the touch input pen 10 to the antenna loop 120.

Then, while sequentially supplying the first touch driving pulse P1 to each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm, the first touch driving pulse P1 to each of the touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm. ) Is supplied to each of the touch sensing electrodes (Li+1 to Lm) according to the first touch driving pulse P1. ), and generates pen sensing raw data corresponding to each touch sensing electrode (Li+1 to Lm).

Then, the touch driving integrated circuit 130 shifts the second touch driving pulse P2 overlapping the two touch sensing electrodes Li+1 to Lm adjacent to the left and right by one touch sensing electrode unit, and A second touch supplied to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes whenever a second touch driving pulse P2 is supplied to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes while sequentially supplying two touch sensing electrodes (Li+1 to Lm) By receiving the electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop 120 from the touch input pen 10 by the driving pulse P2, pen sensing raw data corresponding to the virtual electrode between two adjacent touch sensing electrodes is generated.

As described above, the touch screen device according to an embodiment of the present invention individually supplies the first touch driving pulse P to the first to m-th lines L1 to Lm when the touch input pen 10 senses the touch. Pen sensing raw data is calculated for each line (L1 to Lm), and a second touch driving pulse P2 is further supplied to two adjacent lines at the same time to obtain the pen sensing raw data for a virtual line between two adjacent lines. By calculating, the linear characteristics of the pen touch can be improved. That is, in the present invention, a virtual electrode is formed between two adjacent electrodes by overlapping two adjacent electrodes to sense the pen touch, thereby increasing the resolution of pen touch sensing by about twice as much as the number of virtual electrodes compared to the prior art. In addition, the linear characteristics of the pen touch can be improved.

9A is a graph showing self capacitance formed on each of the first to third electrodes in the touch screen device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a graph showing a virtual electrode formed between the first to third electrodes. It is a drawing showing.

As can be seen from FIGS. 9A and 9B, the method of sensing a touch screen device and a pen touch according to the present invention includes a second touch driving pulse being simultaneously supplied to two adjacent electrodes L1 and L2 (L2, L3). A virtual self-capacitance is formed between the two electrodes L1, L2 and L2, L3, and thus, the self-capacitance between the two adjacent electrodes L1 and L2 (L2, L3) is conventional ( It increases compared to the dotted line). Accordingly, the present invention forms a virtual electrode between two adjacent electrodes L1 and L2 (L2, L3) by simultaneously supplying a second touch driving pulse to two adjacent electrodes L1 and L2 (L2, L3). And, by sensing the pen touch by receiving the electromagnetic signal induced to the antenna loop from the touch input pen by the touch driving pulse applied to the virtual electrode, the resolution of the pen touch sensing can be increased by about twice. The linear characteristics of the touch can be improved.

FIG. 10 is a line graph showing pen sensing raw data for adjacent first to fifth electrodes in a touch screen device and a pen touch sensing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 10, channels 1 to 10 refer to receiving channels of pen sensing raw data generated whenever a touch driving pulse is supplied to the first to fifth electrodes.

As can be seen from FIG. 10, the touch screen device and the pen touch sensing method according to an embodiment of the present invention sense the pen touch whenever a touch driving pulse is supplied to each of the first to fifth electrodes to obtain original pen sensing data. Whenever a touch driving pulse is generated and shifted by one electrode unit and simultaneously supplied to two adjacent electrodes, a virtual electrode is formed between two adjacent electrodes to additionally generate pen sensing raw data. It can be seen that the data reception channel is increased to twice the number of electrodes, and the linear characteristics of pen touch sensing are improved due to the pen sensing raw data corresponding to the virtual electrodes between two adjacent electrodes.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and that various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible within the scope of the technical matters of the present invention. It will be obvious to those who have the knowledge of. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims to be described later, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

10: touch input pen 110: touch screen
120: antenna loop 130: touch drive integrated circuit
131: touch controller 133: touch driver
135: pen touch sensing unit 210: timing generating unit
220: driving pulse supply unit 230: switching unit
240: finger touch sensing unit 250: finger sensing data processing unit

Claims (14)

A touch screen including a plurality of lines provided in an active region and an antenna loop provided along an outer portion of the active region; And
A touch driving integrated circuit connected to the plurality of lines and the antenna loop,
When sensing the touch of the touch input pen, the touch driving integrated circuit separately supplies a first touch driving pulse to the plurality of lines during an individual driving period, and simultaneously applies a second touch driving pulse to two adjacent lines during the overlap driving period. And sensing a touch of the touch input pen by receiving a signal induced from the touch input pen to the antenna loop according to the first and second touch driving pulses. delete The method of claim 1,
The overlap driving period is between the individual driving periods, the touch screen device. The method of claim 1,
Some lines of the plurality of lines are a plurality of touch driving electrodes provided at predetermined intervals on the active region, and the remaining lines of the plurality of lines are provided at predetermined intervals so as to cross the plurality of touch driving electrodes on the active region. A touch screen device that is a plurality of touch sensing electrodes. The method of claim 4,
Each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes is driven in the respective driving period in which the first touch driving pulse is supplied and the overlap driving period in which the second touch driving pulse is supplied,
Each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes is driven in the individual driving period in which the first touch driving pulse is supplied and the overlap driving period in which the second touch driving pulse is supplied,
The overlap driving period is between the individual driving periods, the touch screen device. The method of claim 4,
The touch driving integrated circuit,
The first touch driving pulses are sequentially individually supplied to the plurality of touch driving electrodes and the plurality of sensing electrodes during the respective driving period,
Simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch driving electrodes during the overlap driving period,
A touch screen device for simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes during the overlap driving period. The method of claim 4,
The touch driving integrated circuit,
The first touch driving pulses are sequentially individually supplied to the plurality of touch driving electrodes during the individual driving period, and then the second touch driving pulses are simultaneously supplied to two adjacent touch driving electrodes during the overlap driving period,
A touch screen that sequentially individually supplies the first touch driving pulse to the plurality of touch sensing electrodes during the individual driving period and then simultaneously supplies the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes during the overlap driving period Device. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
The touch screen further includes a capacitance provided at an intersection of the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode,
When sensing a touch of a finger, the touch driving integrated circuit sequentially supplies a touch driving pulse to the plurality of touch driving electrodes, and senses a change in the capacitance according to a finger touch through each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes. Screen device. A touch sensing method of a touch input pen using a touch screen including a plurality of lines provided in an active region and an antenna loop provided along an outer portion of the active region,
Individually supplying a first touch driving pulse to the plurality of lines during an individual driving period and simultaneously supplying a second touch driving pulse to two adjacent lines during an overlap driving period (A); And
And (B) sensing a touch of the touch input pen by receiving a signal induced from the touch input pen to the antenna loop according to the first and second touch driving pulses. delete The method of claim 9,
Some lines of the plurality of lines are a plurality of touch driving electrodes provided at predetermined intervals on the active region, and the remaining lines of the plurality of lines are provided at predetermined intervals so as to cross the plurality of touch driving electrodes on the active region. It is a plurality of touch sensing electrodes,
Each of the plurality of touch driving electrodes is driven in the respective driving period in which the first touch driving pulse is supplied and the overlap driving period in which the second touch driving pulse is supplied,
Each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes is driven in the respective driving period in which the first touch driving pulse is supplied and the overlap driving period in which the second touch driving pulse is supplied,
The driving method of the touch screen device, wherein the overlap driving period is between the individual driving periods. The method of claim 9,
Some lines of the plurality of lines are a plurality of touch driving electrodes provided at predetermined intervals on the active region, and the remaining lines of the plurality of lines are provided at predetermined intervals so as to cross the plurality of touch driving electrodes on the active region. It is a plurality of touch sensing electrodes,
The step (A),
Sequentially separately supplying the first touch driving pulses to the plurality of touch driving electrodes and the plurality of sensing electrodes during the individual driving periods;
Simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch driving electrodes during the overlap driving period; And
And simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes during the overlap driving period. The method of claim 9,
Some lines of the plurality of lines are a plurality of touch driving electrodes provided at predetermined intervals on the active region, and the remaining lines of the plurality of lines are provided at predetermined intervals so as to cross the plurality of touch driving electrodes on the active region. It is a plurality of touch sensing electrodes,
The step (A),
Sequentially separately supplying the first touch driving pulses to the plurality of touch driving electrodes during the individual driving periods and then simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulses to two adjacent touch driving electrodes during the overlap driving period; And
And sequentially individually supplying the first touch driving pulse to the plurality of touch sensing electrodes during the individual driving period, and then simultaneously supplying the second touch driving pulse to two adjacent touch sensing electrodes during the overlap driving period. That, the driving method of the touch screen device. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
When sensing a touch of a finger, a touch driving pulse is sequentially supplied to the plurality of touch driving electrodes, and a change in capacitance provided at an intersection of the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode is sensed through each of the plurality of touch sensing electrodes. The method of driving a touch screen device further comprising the step.

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