KR20170040408A - Flexible display device having touch sensor integarted bend sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, the flexible display device is configured to be used as a resistance sensor for detecting the deformation by using an electrode of a touch sensor. The present invention is implemented by using touch electrodes for sensing a touch input and a deformation recognition sensor module connected to both ends of at least a part of the touch electrodes, or by enabling the sensor module connected to the touch electrode to detect both the touch and the deformation from the change of the voltage gradient. According to the present invention, there is provided a structure used as the resistance sensor for detecting the deformation by using the electrode for the touch input, such that additional sensor layer is unnecessary to detect deformation recognition. Therefore, a product can be thinner and lighter, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a flexible display device having a touch sensor integral type recognition sensor,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a flexible display device, and more particularly, to a flexible display device having a deformation recognition sensor for detecting a deformation of a flexible display device.

BACKGROUND ART Various input devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, a joystick, and a digitizer are used to configure an interface between a user and a home appliance or various information communication devices. However, the use of the above-described input device requires the user to learn how to use the device, and a separate space for the input device must be provided. Thus, as the need for an input device that is convenient and simple and capable of reducing malfunctions increases, the use of a touch sensor, in which the user directly touches the screen of the display device with a finger or pen, and inputs information, is increasing.

The touch sensor is simple in operation, has few malfunctions, can be directly input to the display device without using a separate input device, and can be quickly and easily operated by the user through the contents displayed on the screen of the display device The application is expanding because of convenience.

The touch sensor can be classified into an add-on type, a top plate type (on-cell type), and a touch sensor type (in-cell type) depending on the structure. In the top plate attaching type, a touch panel is attached to an upper plate of a display device after separately manufacturing a display device and a touch panel formed with a touch sensor. In the top plate shared type, a touch sensor is directly formed on the upper substrate surface of a display device to share a substrate. In the integrated touch sensor, the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode of the touch sensor is commonly used as a common electrode of the display device.

The top panel mounting type has a structure in which the completed touch panel is mounted on the display device and is mounted thereon, and the thickness of the touch panel is thick, and the brightness of the display device is reduced, thereby reducing visibility. In the case of the top plate sharing type, a separate touch sensor is formed on the top surface of the display device. Though the thickness of the touch sensor can be reduced compared to the top plate attachment type, the thickness of the driving electrode layer, sensing electrode layer, There was an increasing problem. On the other hand, in the case of the touch sensor integrated type, since the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode of the touch sensor can be commonly used as a common electrode of the display device, it has many advantages such as reducing the number of fixed water and reducing thickness.

1 is a view showing a structure in which a touch sensor layer is integrally formed on a display panel.

The touch sensor layer includes a display area DA, a bezel area BA and a pad area PA. The display area DA includes components for touch sensing. For example, a touch driving electrode Tx_E and a touch sensing electrode Rx_E. In some cases, the display common electrode may include the functions of the touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E.

The bezel area BA collectively refers to an outer part surrounding the display area DA and includes a drive extension line Tx_L for transmitting and receiving signals to components for touch sensing disposed in the display area DA, And a wiring Rx_L.

The pad area PA is disposed in the bezel area BA. The pad area PA includes touch pads Tx_P and Rx_P for attaching an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) for a touch sensor connected to the wirings to drive the touch sensor.

The touch pad includes a touch driving pad Tx_P and a touch sensing pad Rx_P. The touch driving pad Tx_P is formed at the end of the drive extension wiring Tx_L and the touch sensing pad Rx_P is formed at the end of the sensing extension wiring Rx_L. The touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E may be formed in different layers with an insulating film interposed therebetween so as to have a structure in which they do not contact with each other but cross each other.

On the other hand, a flexible display capable of being deformed according to an external physical force has been developed and researches for application to an image display device have been actively conducted. The flexible display device refers to a display device that is bent, bent, folded, or curled like a paper while maintaining the display characteristics of a conventional flat panel display device.

The flexible display device can transform the shape of the display device by applying a force by a user. Researches have been also conducted to utilize shape transformation of the display device as one input device.

2 is a diagram for explaining the basic structure of a flexible display device.

As shown, the flexible display device 20 includes a substrate 22, a driver 24, a display panel 26, and a protective layer 28.

The substrate 22 may be embodied as a plastic substrate (for example, a polymer film) that can be deformed by external pressure.

The plastic substrate may have a structure in which a base film is treated with a barrier coating on both sides. In the case of the base material, it can be realized by various resins such as PI (Polyimide), PC (Polycarbonate), PET (Polyethyleneterephtalate), PES (Polyethersulfone), PEN (Polysilene Epthalate) and FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic). And, the barrier coating is performed on the surfaces facing each other in the base material, and an organic film or an inorganic film can be used to maintain flexibility.

The substrate 22 may be formed of a flexible material such as a thin glass or a metal foil in addition to a plastic substrate.

The driving unit 24 functions to drive the display panel 26. The driving unit 24 applies a driving voltage to a plurality of pixels constituting the display panel 26 and may be implemented as an a-Si TFT, a low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) TFT, or an OTFT (organic TFT).

The driving unit 24 may be implemented in various forms according to the embodiment of the display panel 26. For example, the display panel 26 may include an organic light-emitting layer including a plurality of pixel cells and an electrode layer covering both surfaces of the organic light-emitting layer. In this case, the driving unit 24 may include a plurality of transistors corresponding to each pixel cell of the display panel 26.

The display panel 26 may be implemented as an EL, an electrophoretic display (EPD), an electrochromic display (ECD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an AMLCD, a plasma display panel (PDP) However, in the case of an LCD, a separate backlight is required because it can not emit light by itself. For LCDs where no backlight is used, ambient light is used. Therefore, in order to use the LCD display panel 26 without a backlight, conditions such as an outdoor environment with a large amount of light must be satisfied.

The protective layer 28 functions to protect the display panel 26. For example, materials such as ZrO ₂ , CeO ₂ , and ThO ₂ may be used for the protective layer 28. The protective layer 28 may be formed in the form of a transparent film so as to cover the entire surface of the display panel 26.

Meanwhile, the flexible display device may be implemented as an electronic paper. Electronic paper is a kind of display that applies the characteristics of common ink to paper, and differs from ordinary flat panel displays in that it uses reflected light. On the other hand, the electronic paper can be changed by using a twist ball or electrophoresis using a capsule.

The flexible display device may include a deformation recognition sensor for sensing deformation of the flexible display. The deformation recognition sensor is used to utilize the deformation of the flexible display as one input signal, and it can be realized by an optical fiber bend sensor, a pressure sensor, a resistance sensor, and the like.

However, if a deformation-sensing sensor for detecting deformation is implemented by adding a separate layer, the thickness of the flexible display device increases accordingly, and the increase in the thickness of the flexible display device lowers the characteristic of being flexibly deformed Can be imported.

The present invention provides a flexible display device including a touch sensor-integrated deformation-recognizing sensor that utilizes a touch-driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode of a touch sensor as a resistance sensor of a deformation-recognizing sensor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device having a deformation recognition sensor for recognizing a deformation of a flexible display as described above and to detect a deformation state of the flexible display using a deformation recognition sensor, So that the device can be controlled so that the flexible display device can utilize the variation of the flexible display as one input means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible display device having a touch input function, in which a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode for sensing a touch input is utilized as a resistance sensor in a deformation recognition sensor, A flexible display device which is advantageous for thinning of a product is provided.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a flexible display device capable of additionally detecting deformation of a bezel area in addition to a display area.

A flexible display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch driving electrode and a touch sensing electrode for sensing a touch input, a touch sensor electrode connected to one end of the touch driving electrode and one end of the touch sensing electrode, And a deformation recognition sensor module connected to both ends of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode to sense deformation.

According to the above example, since the touch driving electrode of the touch sensor or the touch sensing electrode is used as the resistance sensor of the deformation recognition sensor module, the manufacturing process of the flexible display device can be simplified, The device can be made slim.

The deformation-recognizing sensor module may sense a deformation from a change in resistance value of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode connected thereto.

This structure makes it possible to utilize the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode as a resistance sensor in the deformation recognition sensor as it is without changing the material of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode or changing the shape.

All of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode may be used as a resistance sensor, but only a part of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode may be connected to the deformation recognition sensor module to be used as a resistance sensor.

Since the strain sensing sensor does not require high sensitivity such as a touch sensor, only a part of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode can be utilized as a resistance sensor, and a relatively low-resolution strain sensing module can be applied.

Preferably, the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module operate selectively in a time division manner.

This is to reduce the occurrence of an error due to interference when the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode is commonly used in the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module.

In addition, in order to enlarge the recognition range of the deformation-recognizing sensor module, the deformation-recognizing sensor module may further include a deformation-recognizing electrode connected to both ends of the deformation-recognizing sensor module, in addition to utilizing the touch-driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode as a resistance sensor.

The touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode is mainly disposed in the display region. In order to further detect the deformation of the bezel region, a separate deformation recognition electrode may be provided in the bezel region.

At this time, it is preferable that the deformation recognition electrode is formed on the same layer as the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode. This is because the deformation recognition electrode is not formed as a separate process, So that they can be formed together.

Meanwhile, the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module may be integrally formed. If the pad for the touch sensor module and the pad for the deformation recognition sensor module are not separately provided, the pad area of the flexible display device can be reduced and the width of the bezel can be reduced.

Further, in order to improve the sensitivity of deformation recognition, the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode connected to the deformation recognition sensor module may have a narrower section that is smaller in line width than other portions in a portion that does not overlap with the counter electrode, The section can be made to have a different linewidth depending on the placement position.

The narrower section increases the resistance value according to the length change and improves the sensitivity of the deformation recognition. Further, when the linewidth is varied for each section, the section in which the deformation occurs can be more accurately detected.

A self-cap type touch sensor comprising: a touch electrode for sensing a touch input; and a sensor module connected to the touch electrode, wherein the sensor module is capable of detecting both a capacitance change and a change in resistance value, It is possible to recognize the touch from the change in capacitance and to recognize the deformation of the display device from the change in the resistance value.

The self-capping method operates to charge / discharge the touch electrode and to detect a change in capacitance due to a change in voltage slope with time. When the touch electrode is deformed, the resistance value of the touch electrode changes accordingly, Since the voltage gradient is changed, it is also possible to detect a change in the resistance value from a change in the voltage gradient.

In addition, the touch electrode can be connected to the sensor module with two wires so that the resistance value of the touch electrode can be measured directly from the sensor module.

In this case, the sensor module can detect the change in the capacitance and detect the change in the resistance value in a time division manner or simultaneously.

The flexible display device according to the present invention includes a deformation recognition sensor, and can detect and recognize the deformation of the flexible display device due to an external force, and can utilize the form of deformation as one input means.

In addition, since the flexible display device according to the present invention utilizes a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode for sensing a touch input by a deformation recognition sensor, a separate additional layer for the deformation recognition sensor is not needed, And the manufacturing process can be simplified.

In the flexible display device according to the present invention, the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode may be used as a resistance sensor of the deformation recognition sensor, and a deformation sensing electrode for additional deformation sensing may be additionally provided in the bezel region. So that various types of deformation can be detected.

1 is a view showing a structure in which a touch sensor layer is integrally formed on a display panel.
2 is a diagram for explaining the basic structure of a flexible display device.
FIG. 3 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.
4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the principle of deformation detection using a resistance sensor.
FIG. 6 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch sensing electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.
FIG. 7 illustrates a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode and a touch sensing electrode are used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.
FIG. 8 illustrates a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognizing sensor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognizing sensor, As shown in FIG.
9 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognizing sensor according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a form for improving the deformation detection sensitivity of a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode used as a resistance sensor .
FIG. 10 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch sensor and a deformation recognition sensor are integrated with each other in a self-capping manner.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The terms including ordinals such as first, second, etc. in the following can be used to describe various elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by such terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

In addition, in the present invention, the term " in the present invention " means that a certain portion is in a state of being directly on the other portion in contact with the other portion, It may mean that it is on top of another part.

Sensing methods for touch sensing include a resistive type and a capacitive type. The electrostatic capacity type is again a self cap type and a mutual cap type.

The present invention provides a technique for using the touch sensor and the deformation recognition sensor in common, or integrating the touch sensor and the deformation recognition sensor in an integrated manner. Here, the term " integral type " includes both meaning that the whole is integrated, and that some parts are commonly used and integrated.

First, an embodiment of a mutual cap type touch sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flexible display device includes a touch driving electrode Tx_E, a touch sensing electrode Rx_E, a touch sensor module (not shown), and a deformation recognition sensor module (not shown).

The touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are for sensing the touch input and are disposed in the display area DA of the display device.

The touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are provided to sense a change in capacitance due to a touch of a user and are formed so as to have different structures Lt; / RTI > layer. In the illustrated embodiment, the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is disposed above the touch driving electrode Tx_E, or conversely, the touch driving electrode Tx_E may be disposed above the touch sensing electrode Rx_E.

One end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E is connected to the touch driving pad Tx_P through the driving extension wiring Tx_L and one end of the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is connected to the touch sensing pad Rx_L through the sensing extension wiring Rx_L Rx_P.

The touch driving pad Tx_P and the touch sensing pad Rx_P are connected to the touch sensor module.

The touch sensor module measures the change of capacitance before and after the touch to detect the touch position.

The present invention is characterized in that the above-described touch driving electrode (Tx_E) or the touch sensing electrode (Rx_E) is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.

The touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are formed of conductors and have a resistance value. When the flexible display device is deformed, the touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are deformed together and expanded or contracted. . Accordingly, the deformation of the flexible display device can be detected by utilizing the touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E as a resistance sensor.

In the illustrated embodiment, the touch-driving electrode Tx_E is used as a resistance sensor.

As shown in the drawing, both ends of the touch-driving electrode Tx_E are connected to the deformation-recognizing sensor module, so that the deformation-recognizing sensor module can detect a change in resistance value of the touch-driving electrode Tx_E before and after deformation.

To this end, both ends of the touch driving electrode Tx_E must be connected to the deformation recognition sensor module. Since one end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E is connected to the touch driving pad Tx_P and the other end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E not connected to the touch driving pad Tx_P is deformed Can be connected to the sensing pad BS_P. At this time, the touch driving pad Tx_P can be commonly connected to the deformation detecting sensor.

The deformation recognition sensor module is connected to the deformation sensing pad BS_P and the touch driving pad Tx_P so that the deformation recognition sensor module uses the touch driving electrode Tx_E as a resistance sensor to detect the touch driving electrode Tx_E, The deformation of the flexible display can be recognized from the change in resistance value before and after the deformation of the flexible display.

The sensing of the touch input is performed by the touch sensor module, and the deformation of the flexible display device is performed by the deformation recognition sensor module. If the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module operate simultaneously, a recognition error may occur in a common electrode. Accordingly, it is preferable that the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module operate in a time division manner.

In other words, when the touch sensor module operates, the deformation recognition sensor module stops operating and stops when the deformation recognition sensor module operates, without operating the touch sensor module.

The configuration in which the above-described touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is used as the resistance sensor of the deformation recognition sensor module is applied to both the on-cell type and the touch sensor integrated type .

4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the principle of deformation detection using a resistance sensor.

4 shows a Wheatstone bridge circuit. As shown in the figure, when a Wheatstone bridge circuit is constituted by using four resistors and the input voltage Vin is applied to the circuit, and the output voltage Vout is measured, the output voltage Vout is expressed by the following equation.

Vout = Vin [R4 / (R3 + R4) - R2 / (R1 + R2)

Since the resistance value of the resistance sensor R3 is determined by measuring the output voltage Vout since the resistance value of the resistance sensor R3 is changed when the deformation occurs, Can be measured.

Fig. 5 shows changes in length and cross-sectional area of the wire when the wire is drawn.

When tension is applied to the wire, the length is increased and the cross-sectional area is reduced, thereby changing the resistance value.

The strain rate is defined as the ratio of the initial length to the strain length (ΔL / L).

The gage factor that determines the sensitivity of the resistance sensor is defined as the ratio of the rate of change in length to the rate of change in resistance ([(ΔR / R) / (ΔL / L)]) The larger the material is used, the more precise the change in length can be detected.

Table 1 shows the gage factors depending on the material.

material
Gage Factor Low strain High Strain Copper 2.6 2.2 Constantan 2.1 1.9 Nickel -12 2.7 Platinum 6.1 2.4 Silver 2.9 2.4

As shown in Table 1, copper, constantan, platinum, and silver materials have a high gauge factor and are suitable as materials for resistance sensors. Considering the cost of materials, copper (or copper alloy) or silver (or silver alloy) material would be preferable. Aluminum or aluminum alloy material is also applicable, though it is not shown in the table.

FIG. 6 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch sensing electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.

In the above embodiment, all of the touch driving electrode Tx_E can be utilized as a resistance sensor in the deformation recognition sensor module. However, in the present embodiment, only a part of the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is used as a resistance sensor in the deformation recognition sensor module Respectively.

In the case of a touch sensor for detecting a touch input, relatively high resolution sensing is required, but in the case of a deformation recognition sensor for recognizing a deformation of a flexible display, a relatively low resolution sensing may be sufficient.

Accordingly, as shown in the figure, only a part of the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is connected to the deformation recognition sensor module, thereby reducing the sensing load of the deformation recognition sensor module.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode and a touch sensing electrode are used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognition sensor.

In the case of the first embodiment of FIG. 3, the use of the longitudinally arranged touch-driving electrode Tx_E as a resistance sensor in the deformation recognition sensor is suitable for detecting deformation of the longitudinal bending. In the case of the second embodiment of FIG. 6 The use of the horizontally arranged touch sensing electrode (Rx_E) as a resistance sensor in the deformation recognition sensor is suitable for deformation detection in lateral bending. However, the flexible display device may be realized in a form capable of bending freely with respect to both directions (longitudinal and transverse directions), as well as a form capable of only bending in the longitudinal direction or the transverse direction depending on the form.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, both the touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E can be used as the resistance sensor of the deformation detecting sensor. To this end, both ends of the touch driving electrode Tx_E and both ends of the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are connected to the deformation recognition sensor module.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E is connected to the deformation recognition sensor module via the deformation recognition sensor pad BS_P via the deformation recognition connection wiring BS_L, and the lower end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E And is connected to the touch sensor module via the touch connection pad Tx_P through the driving connection wiring Tx_L. In addition, the lower end of the touch driving electrode Tx_E must be connected to the deformation recognition sensor module. For this purpose, a deformation recognition sensor pad BS_P may be provided on the opposite side of the touch driving pad Tx_P. In this case, the drive connection wiring Tx_L also serves as a function of the strain recognition wiring BS_L. Of course, the deformation recognition sensor pad BS_P may not be provided, and the deformation recognition sensor may commonly use the touch drive pad Tx_P.

In the case of the touch sensing electrode Rx_E, one end is connected to the touch sensor module via the touch sensing pad Rx_P and the other end is connected to the deformation recognition sensor module via the deformation recognition sensor pad BS_P .

In the above description, it is assumed that the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module are separately provided. However, one integrated module may perform the functions of the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module.

In the illustrated embodiment, all the touch driving electrodes Tx_E are arranged in parallel, the touch sensing electrodes Rx_E are all arranged in parallel, the touch driving electrodes Tx_E and the touch sensing electrodes Rx_E are orthogonal The touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E may be arranged so as not to be parallel but angled with respect to each other according to the modification of the flexible display, And the touch sensing electrodes may be disposed in a concentric shape.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognizing sensor according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode is used as a resistance sensor of a deformation recognizing sensor, As shown in FIG.

The present embodiment is characterized in that the touch sensing electrode Rx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E is used as a resistance sensor and further includes a deformation recognition electrode BS_E for deformation recognition only.

As shown in the drawing, the deformation recognition electrode BS_E is not connected to the touch driving pad Tx_P and the touch sensing pad Rx_P but is connected only to the deformation recognition pad BS_P. The touch driving electrode Tx_E and the touch sensing electrode Rx_E are formed mainly in the display region DA and the deformation recognition electrode BS_E is provided in the bezel region BA to more accurately detect the deformation of the bezel region BA. So that the deformation of the bezel portion can be more accurately detected. Of course, the deformation recognition electrode BS_E may be formed in the display area DA.

In the illustrated embodiment, the deformation-recognizing electrode BS_E is formed diagonally at the corner portion, but the shape and direction of the deformation-recognizing electrode BS_E may be variously modified depending on the type of deformation to be sensed .

The deformation recognition electrode BS_E may be formed on the same layer as the touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E. In this case, since the touch driving electrode Tx_E or the touch sensing electrode Rx_E can be formed at the same time, an additional process is not required.

 9 is a view of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognizing sensor according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a form for improving the deformation detection sensitivity of a touch driving electrode or a touch sensing electrode used as a resistance sensor .

In the illustrated embodiment, both ends of the touch driving electrode Tx_E are connected to the deformation recognizing sensor module through the deformation recognizing pad BS_P and used as a resistance sensor. In order to improve the deformation recognizing sensitivity, the touch driving electrode Tx_E (NA_11, NA_12, NA_13, NA_14, NA_15) in which the line width is relatively narrow. Narrow width sections (NA_11, NA_12, NA_13, NA_14, and NA_15) have a relatively narrow line width, resulting in a larger resistance value change with respect to the length variation. It is preferable that the narrow sections NA_11, NA_12, NA_13, NA_14, and NA_15 are disposed at portions not overlapped with other electrodes (touch sensing electrodes in this embodiment) in order not to affect the sensitivity of the touch sensor.

Furthermore, by making the widths of the narrow sections (NA_11, NA_12, NA_13, NA_14, and NA_15) to be different from each other depending on the positions and changing the resistance value depending on where the transformation is performed, It can be detected.

Hereinafter, an embodiment applied to a self-cap type touch sensor will be described with reference to FIG.

10 is a block diagram of a flexible display device having a touch sensor integrated deformation recognition sensor according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The sixth embodiment is applied to a self-cap type capacitive touch sensor.

The electrostatic capacitive touch sensor of the self-cap system has the touch electrode Sc_E divided into block units and each touch electrode Sc_E is connected to the sensing pad Sc_P of the pad area PA through the electrode extension wiring Sc_L ). The sensing pad Sc_P is connected to the sensor module.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the touch electrodes Sc_E is connected to the sensor module through a single wire, but one touch electrode Sc_E may be connected to the sensor module through two wires.

The self-cap type capacitive touch sensor applies a driving pulse to the touch electrode Sc_E, analyzes the sensing signal received from the touch electrode Sc_E, determines whether the corresponding touch electrode is touched, .

The determination as to whether or not the touch is performed uses the charging and discharging of the touch voltage. More specifically, the self-cap method detects whether or not a touch is made by using a change in the voltage gradient according to a change in capacitance when the touch is performed and when the touch is not performed.

When the touch electrode Sc_E is connected by a single wire, a drive pulse is applied and a signal is received through a single wire. When the touch electrode Sc_E is connected by two wires, a drive pulse is applied through one wire, Lt; / RTI >

However, the change of the voltage gradient is also caused by the change of the resistance value. In a typical flat panel display, the shape of the touch electrode does not change, so that the touch electrode Sc_E has a constant resistance value. However, in the case of the flexible display device, as the display device is deformed, the touch electrode Sc_E is also deformed, and the resistance value of the touch electrode is also changed by the deformation of the touch electrode Sc_E.

The sensor module according to the present invention is characterized in that it can detect a change in capacitance of the touch electrode Sc_E and a change in resistance value of the touch electrode from a change in voltage slope.

To do so, the sensor module must be able to determine whether the change in voltage slope is due to a touch of the touch electrode Sc_E or a change in resistance due to shape deformation of the touch electrode. For this purpose, it is desirable to change the scale of the voltage gradient change resulting from the change of the resistance value due to the shape deformation and the scale of the voltage gradient change resulting from the capacitance change due to the touch.

In another embodiment, the change of the resistance value of the touch electrode Sc_E can be directly measured by the sensor module. In order for the sensor module to directly measure the resistance value of the touch electrode Sc_E, the touch electrode Sc_E must be connected to the sensor module through two wires. The resistance value of the touch electrode is directly measured through the two wirings to which the sensor module is connected so that the change of the resistance value can be detected.

At this time, the sensor module may perform the capacitance change detection and the resistance value change detection in a time division manner, and may perform the capacitance change detection and the resistance value change detection at the same time.

As described above, in the self-cap type touch sensor, it is possible to integrate the touch sensor and the deformation recognition sensor by adding the logic that can determine the change of the resistance value from the voltage gradient change while using the touch electrode as it is In addition, by allowing the sensor module to measure the resistance value, the touch sensor and the deformation recognition sensor can be integrated.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. It is therefore to be understood that such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention unless they depart from the scope of the present invention.

DA: display area
BA: Bezel area
PA: pad area
Tx_E: Touch-operated electrode
Rx_E: Touch sensing electrode
BS_E: Deformation recognition electrode
Sc_E: touch electrode
Tx_P: Touch-activated pad
Rx_P: Touch sensing pad
BS_P: Variation recognition pad
Sc_E: sensing pad
Tx_L: drive extension wiring
Rx_L: Sensing extension wiring
BS_L: Variation recognition extended wiring
Sc_L: electrode extension wiring

Claims (12)

A touch driving electrode and a touch sensing electrode for sensing a touch input;
A touch sensor module connected to one end of the touch driving electrode and one end of the touch sensing electrode to sense a touch input; And
And a deformation recognition sensor module connected to both ends of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode to detect deformation.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the deformation recognition sensor module senses a deformation from a change in resistance of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode connected thereto.
The method according to claim 1,
And wherein only a part of the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode is connected to the deformation recognition sensor module.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module are selectively operated in a time division manner.
The method according to claim 1,
And a deformation recognition electrode connected to both ends of the deformation recognition sensor module.
6. The method of claim 5,
And the deformation recognition electrode is formed on the same layer as the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch sensor module and the deformation recognition sensor module are integrally formed.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the touch driving electrode and the touch sensing electrode are arranged to cross each other,
Wherein the touch driving electrode or the touch sensing electrode connected to the deformation-recognizing sensor module has a narrower section having a line width smaller than that of the other portion in a portion not overlapping with the counter electrode.
9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the narrow width section is different in line width depending on a layout position.
A touch electrode for sensing a touch input; And
And a sensor module connected to the touch electrode,
Wherein the sensor module senses a change in capacitance of the touch electrode to recognize a touch and recognizes a change in resistance of the touch electrode to recognize a change in the touch electrode.
11. The method of claim 10,
The touch electrode is connected to the sensor module through a single wiring,
Wherein the sensor module charges and discharges the touch electrode through a single wire, detects a change in voltage slope with time, and senses a change in capacitance and a change in resistance from a change in voltage slope.
11. The method of claim 10,
The touch electrode is connected to the sensor module through two wires,
Wherein the sensor module senses a capacitance change by charging and discharging the touch electrode, and measures a resistance value of the touch electrode to sense a change in resistance value.

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