KR20080048608A - Electro-phoretic touch panel and electro-phoretic display device having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An electro-phoretic touch panel and an electro-phoretic display device having the same are provided to form a pair of first and second reference sensors corresponding to the maximum and minimum light amount to the outline of a display area. A sensing pixel member(Ps) includes a display switching device connected with a pixel electrode. A sensing switching device senses the light amount and outputs the sensing signal. The first reference sensor(RTr1) is formed at the circumferential portion of a display region with the sensing pixel members. The second reference sensor(RTr2) is formed adjacently to the first reference sensor at the circumferential portion of the display region. An opening corresponding to the first reference sensor is formed and a light shielding layer covers the second reference sensor. A display driving member(210) outputs the data signal to the display switching device. A read out member(240) reads out the first and second reference signals. A sensing signal processing member(250) detects the touch sensing signal on the basis of the first and second reference signals.

Description

ELECTRO-PHORETIC TOUCH PANEL AND ELECTRO-PHORETIC DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING THE SAME}

1 is a plan view of an electrophoretic display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrophoretic touch panel shown in FIG.

3 is an exemplary diagram for describing a method of detecting a touch sensing signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

4 illustrates sensing signals sensed at respective positions of FIG. 3.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: electrophoretic touch panel 210: display driver

220: display gate driver 230: sensing gate driver

240: lead-out unit 250: sensing signal processing unit

RTr1, RTr2: first and second reference sensors Ps: sensing pixel portion

DTr: display switching element STr: sensing switching element

The present invention relates to an electrophoretic touch panel and an electrophoretic display device having the same, and more particularly, to an electrophoretic touch panel and an electrophoretic display device having the same.

In general, an electrophoretic display device has a reflective structure that displays an image by reflecting light incident from the outside. Specifically, the electrophoretic display includes a positive electrode by mixing a negatively charged white ink fine particle and a positively charged black ink fine particle, a microcapsule surrounding a transparent dielectric fluid, and the microcapsule with a binder. It has a structure arranged in between. The electrophoretic display device is driven by applying a directional electric field to both electrodes to display white when fine particles of white ink are collected in the viewing direction, and black when fine particles of black ink are collected.

Recently, a touch screen panel is disposed on an electrophoretic display or an optical sensor is formed integrally with the electrophoretic display to develop a combined input device.

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention was conceived in this respect, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrophoretic touch panel for improving the reliability of the touch position detection.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrophoretic display device including the electrophoretic touch panel.

An electrophoretic touch panel according to an embodiment for realizing the object of the present invention includes a sensing pixel unit, a first reference sensor, and a second reference sensor. The sensing pixel unit may include a display switching device electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a sensing switching device configured to sense a quantity of light and output a sensing signal. The first reference sensor is formed outside the display area in which the sensing pixel parts are formed. The second reference sensor is formed adjacent to the first reference sensor on the outside of the display area.

An electrophoretic display device according to an embodiment for realizing another object of the present invention includes an electrophoretic touch panel, a display driver, a lead out unit, and a sensing signal processor. The electrophoretic touch panel includes a sensing pixel unit including a display switching element electrically connected to a pixel electrode, a sensing switching element for sensing a light amount and outputting a sensing signal, and an outer portion of the display area in which the sensing pixel units are formed. A first reference sensor for sensing the maximum amount of light and a second reference sensor for sensing the minimum amount of light.

The display driver outputs a data signal to the display switching element.

The readout unit reads out the sensing signals sensed by the sensing switching element, the first reference signal sensed by the first reference sensor, and the second reference signal sensed by the second reference sensor. The sensing signal processor detects a touch sensing signal based on the first and second reference signals among the sensing signals.

According to such an electrophoretic touch panel and an electrophoretic display device having the same, sensing that is read out based on the first and second reference signals sensed through the first and second reference sensors disposed in pairs on the outside of the display area Among the signals, the touch sensing signal generated by the actual object contact can be easily detected.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail the present invention.

1 is a plan view of an electrophoretic display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electrophoretic display device includes an electrophoretic touch panel 100, a display driver 210, a display gate driver 220, a sensing gate driver 230, a readout unit 240, and a sensing signal processor ( 250).

The electrophoretic touch panel 100 includes a display area DA in which pixel parts are formed, and a peripheral area PA surrounding the display area DA. The pixel units include a display switching element DTr electrically connected to the data line DL, a display gate line GLd, an electrophoretic capacitor EPC and a storage capacitor CST connected to the display switching element DTr. It includes.

The pixel parts include sensing pixel parts Ps. Each sensing pixel portion Ps includes the display switching element DTr, an electrophoretic capacitor EPC, and a storage capacitor CST, and includes a sensing gate line GLs, a bias voltage line BL, and a read line RL. It further comprises a sensing switching element (STr) electrically connected to the) to sense the amount of light to output the sensing signal to the outside.

A plurality of first reference sensors RTr1 and second reference sensors RTr2 are formed in a pair outside the display area DA. Although not illustrated, the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 are not shown, but the sensing gate line GLs, the bias voltage line BL, and the read line RL are the same as the sensing switching element STr. Electrically connected to each other, the amount of light is sensed to output the first reference signal and the second reference signal to the outside, respectively.

The first reference sensor RTr1 senses the maximum amount of light in a state where external light is incident into the pool without blocking and outputs a first reference signal, and the second reference sensor RTr2 has a minimum value in which the external light is blocked. The amount of light is sensed and output as the second reference signal.

In the peripheral area PA, a display driver 210, a display gate driver 220, a sensing gate driver 230, a lead out part 240, and a sensing signal processor 250 are electrically connected to the pixel parts. do.

The display driver 210 outputs to the data lines DL using a data signal for displaying an image, and the display gate driver 220 outputs a display gate signal to the display gate lines GLd. do. The display switching elements DTr are driven by the display driver 210 and the display gate driver 220. As a result, the electrophoretic capacitor EPC and the storage capacitor CST are driven to display an image.

The sensing gate driver 230 outputs a sensing gate signal to the display gate lines GLs to drive the sensing switching element, the first reference sensor, and the second reference sensor STr, RTr1, and RTr2. Although not shown, a bias voltage is applied to each of the bias voltage lines BL connected to the sensing switching element, the first reference sensor, and the second reference sensors STr, RTr1, and RTr2.

The readout unit 240 may be configured to detect the sensing signals output from the sensing switching elements STr and the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 formed in pairs on the outside of the display area DA, respectively. The sensed first reference signal and the second reference signal are input.

The sensing signal processor 250 detects a touch sensing signal generated by substantially contacting an object based on the first and second reference signals among the sensing signals provided from the readout unit 240.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the electrophoretic touch panel shown in FIG.

1 and 2, the electrophoretic touch panel 100 includes an array substrate 110, an opposing substrate 120, and an electrophoresis interposed between the array substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120. Layer (not shown).

The electrophoretic touch panel 100 includes an array substrate 110 on which a pixel electrode PE is formed, an opposing substrate 120 on which a common electrode CE is formed, and an electrophoresis interposed between the substrates 110 and 120. Layer 130.

The array substrate 110 includes a first base substrate 111. A plurality of pixel parts is formed on the first base substrate 111. The pixel units include the data line DL and a display switching element DTr electrically connected to the display gate line GLd, and the sensing pixel unit Ps of the pixel units is the sensing gate line GLs. And the sensing switching element STr electrically connected to the over bias voltage line BL and the read line RL.

The display switching element DTr may include a first control electrode GEd connected to the display gate line GLd, a first input electrode SEd connected to the data line DL, and a first electrode connected to the pixel electrode PE. It includes a first output electrode (DEd), and includes a first channel portion (CHd) formed between the first input electrode (SEd) and the first output electrode (DEd). The display switching element DTr is electrically connected to the electrophoretic capacitor EPC and the storage capacitor CST.

The sensing switching device STr is connected to the second control electrode GEs connected to the sensing gate line GLs, the second input electrode SEs connected to the data line DL, and the read line RL. It includes a second output electrode (DEs), and includes a second channel portion (CHs) formed between the second input electrode (SEs) and the second output electrode (DEs).

First and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 are formed outside the display area DA where the pixel parts are formed. Although not shown, the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 are the same as the sensing switching element STr, but the sensing gate line GLs, the bias voltage line BL, and the read line RL are the same. The second control electrode GEs, the second input electrode SEs, the second output electrode DEs, and the second channel portion CHs are electrically connected to each other.

A gate insulating layer 102 is formed on the first and second control electrodes GEd and GEs, and a protective insulating layer 103 is formed on the first and second input / output electrodes SEd, SEs, DEd, and DEs. do. The protective insulating layer 103 is a double film structure in which a passivation layer and an organic insulating layer are stacked, or a single film structure formed of the passivation layer or the organic insulating layer.

The opposing substrate 120 includes a second base substrate 121. The second base substrate 121 may be made of a plastic material having excellent light transmittance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and the like. The second base substrate 121 includes a common electrode CE formed to correspond to the pixel electrode PE. In addition, the second base substrate 121 further includes a light blocking layer 122 defining a transmission area and a light blocking area.

The light blocking layer 122 is formed between the pixel electrodes PE of the display area DA and is generally formed in the peripheral area PA. That is, the light blocking layer 122 is not formed in the portion where the pixel electrode PE is formed. Therefore, the sensing switching device STr senses the amount of incident external light and outputs it as a sensing signal.

An opening 122a is formed in the light blocking layer 122 to correspond to the first reference sensor RTr1 formed at an outer portion of the display area DA. The first reference sensor RTr1 outputs a first reference signal by sensing a maximum amount of light in a full incident state to the external light through the opening 122a.

Meanwhile, the light blocking layer 122 is formed to completely cover the second reference sensor RTr2 formed at the outer portion of the display area DA. The second reference sensor RTr2 senses the minimum amount of light in the state where the external light is blocked by the light blocking layer 122 and outputs the second reference signal as a second reference signal.

The electrophoretic layer 130 includes a plurality of microcapsules 137 and a binder 139 for binding the microcapsules 137. Each microcapsule 137 includes white ink fine particles 131 charged with negative or positive charges, and black ink fine particles 133 charged with charges opposite to the white ink fine particles 131. Transparent dielectric 135. For example, the white ink fine particles 131 are charged with a positive charge (+), and the black ink fine particles 132 are charged with a negative charge (−). The external light incident from the outside is directly reflected by the white ink fine particles 131 to display white color.

Specifically, when a negative voltage (−) is applied to the pixel electrode PE with respect to the common voltage VCOM applied to the common electrode CE, the white ink fine particles 131 having the positive charge are arranged in the array. The black ink fine particles 133 moving toward the substrate 110 and having relatively negative electric charges move to the opposite substrate 120 to view the black image. On the contrary, when a positive voltage (+) relative to the common voltage VCOM is applied to the pixel electrode PE, the black ink fine particles 133 having the negative charge move toward the array substrate 110. The white ink fine particles 131 having relatively positive charges are moved toward the opposite substrate 120 to view the white image.

3 is an exemplary diagram for describing a method of detecting a touch sensing signal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a sensing signal sensed at each position of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electrophoretic touch panel 400 includes a pair of first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 in the first and second outer areas A and B of the display area DA. A plurality of sensing switching elements STr are formed in the display area DA by sensing pixel units. The first area C of the display area DA is in contact with an object, for example, a human finger or a pen. In addition, the second area D of the display area DA has a shadow formed by an arbitrary object.

The sensing signals sensed by the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 and the sensing switching elements STr formed on the electrophoretic touch panel 400 are illustrated in FIG. 4.

The waveform diagrams of the sensing signals sensed by the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 and the sensing switching elements STr disposed on the first horizontal line L1 of FIG. 3 are shown in FIG. 4. Same as the waveform diagram LS1.

Referring to the first waveform diagram LS1, the first reference sensor RTr1 formed in the first and second outer regions A and B may have a first reference of a high level VH corresponding to a maximum light quantity. The signal is output, and the second reference sensor RTr2 outputs a second signal having a low level VL corresponding to the minimum amount of light. Meanwhile, the sensing switching elements STr formed in the display area DA output sensing signals having a high level VH corresponding to the maximum light amount.

The waveform diagrams of the sensing signals sensed by the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 and the sensing switching elements STr disposed on the second horizontal line L2 of FIG. 3 are shown in FIG. 4. Same as the waveform diagram LS2.

Referring to the second waveform diagram LS2, the first reference sensor RTr1 formed in the first and second outer regions A and B outputs a first reference signal having a high level VH, The second reference sensor RTr2 outputs the second reference signal of the low level VL. On the other hand, the sensing switching elements STr disposed in the first region C in which an object or the like is in contact with each other output a sensing signal of the first level h1.

That is, as the external light is blocked by the object or the like, the amount of light sensed by the sensing switching element STr is smaller than the maximum light amount and larger than the minimum light amount. Therefore, the first level h1 of the sensing signal sensed in the first region C is smaller than the high level VH and larger than the low level VL.

Next, waveform diagrams of the sensing signals sensed by the first and second reference sensors RTr1 and RTr2 and the sensing switching elements STr disposed on the third horizontal line L3 of FIG. 3 are shown in FIG. 4. As shown in the third waveform diagram LS3.

Referring to the third waveform diagram LS3, the first reference sensor RTr1 formed in the first and second outer regions A and B outputs a first reference signal having a high level VH, The second reference sensor RTr2 outputs the second reference signal of the low level VL.

Meanwhile, the sensing switching elements STr disposed in the shadowed second region D output the sensing signal of the second level h2. As the external light is blocked by the shadow in the second area D, the amount of light is relatively higher than when the external light is directly blocked by an object or the like as in the first area C. Accordingly, the second level h2 of the sensing signal sensed in the second area D is smaller than the high level VH and larger than the low level VL, but is not a substantial touch sensing signal.

As a result, the second level h2 is set as a threshold value, and a touch of a sensing signal of a level smaller than the threshold value is smaller than the high level VH and greater than the low level VL among the sensing signals. It is determined by the sensing signal.

Therefore, an error of judging the sensed sensing signal as the touch sensing signal when the touch signal is not a real touch event such as a shadow can be prevented to detect a more reliable touch position.

As described above, according to the present invention, a pair of first and second reference sensors may be formed outside the display area to easily detect the actual touch sensing signal among the sensing signals.

Specifically, the second reference signal corresponds to a minimum amount of light in a state in which the first reference signal corresponding to the maximum amount of light in a state where the external light sensed by the first reference sensor is incident into the pool and the sensed external light in the second reference sensor are blocked. The actual touch sensing signal can be detected using the reference signal.

Although described above with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. I can understand.

Claims (12)

A sensing pixel unit including a display switching device electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a sensing switching device configured to sense a light amount and output a sensing signal; A first reference sensor formed outside the display area in which the sensing pixel parts are formed; And An electrophoretic touch panel comprising a second reference sensor formed adjacent to the first reference sensor on the outside of the display area. The electrophoretic touch panel as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second reference sensors are formed in pairs on the outer side of the display area. The electrophoretic touch panel of claim 1, further comprising a light blocking layer formed in an opening corresponding to the first reference sensor and covering the second reference sensor. The electrophoretic touch panel of claim 3, wherein the first reference sensor senses a maximum amount of light, and the second reference sensor senses a minimum amount of light. The display device of claim 4, further comprising: an array substrate including the display switching device, the sensing switching device, the first reference sensor, and the second reference sensor; An opposing substrate facing the array substrate; And An electrophoretic touch panel interposed between the array substrate and the opposite substrate, the electrophoretic layer comprising electrophoretic particles. The electrophoretic touch panel as set forth in claim 5, wherein the light blocking layer is formed on the counter substrate. The electrophoretic touch panel of claim 5, wherein the opposing substrate further comprises a common electrode facing the pixel electrode. A sensing pixel unit including a display switching device electrically connected to the pixel electrode, a sensing switching device configured to sense a light amount, and output a sensing signal; An electrophoretic touch panel comprising a first reference sensor and a second reference sensor sensing a minimum amount of light; A display driver for outputting a data signal to the display switching device; A readout unit configured to read out sensing signals sensed by the sensing switching element, a first reference signal sensed by the first reference sensor, and a second reference signal sensed by the second reference sensor; And And a sensing signal processor configured to detect a touch sensing signal based on the first and second reference signals among the sensing signals. The electrophoretic display of claim 8, wherein the first and second reference sensors are formed in a plurality of pairs on the outside of the display area. The electrophoretic display of claim 8, wherein the level of the touch sensing signal is smaller than the level of the first reference signal and greater than the level of the second reference signal. The electrophoretic display of claim 8, wherein the level of the touch sensing signal is smaller than a set threshold. The electrophoretic display of claim 8, wherein the threshold is a level of a sensing signal corresponding to a shadow.

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