WO2018117581A1 - Pressure sensing unit for detecting plurality of electric characteristics and touch input device including same - Google Patents

Abstract

A touch input device for detecting touch pressure according to an embodiment comprises: a display panel; and a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensing unit can detect a first electric characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electric characteristic of the pressure sensor, and calculate intensity of pressure on the basis of the first electric characteristic and the second electric characteristic.

Description

Pressure sensing unit for detecting a plurality of electrical characteristics and a touch input device including the same

The present invention relates to a pressure sensing unit for detecting a plurality of electrical characteristics and a touch input device including the same, and more particularly, to a pressure sensing unit for detecting at least two electrical characteristics and calculating a magnitude of pressure. It relates to a touch input device.

Various types of input devices are used for the operation of the computing system. For example, input devices such as buttons, keys, joysticks, and touch screens are used. Due to the easy and simple operation of the touch screen, the use of the touch screen is increasing in the operation of the computing system.

The touch screen may constitute a touch surface of the touch input device with a transparent panel having a touch-sensitive surface and a touch sensor which is a touch input means. Such a touch sensor may be attached to the front of the display screen such that the touch-sensitive surface covers the visible side of the display screen. By simply touching the touch screen with a finger or the like, the user can operate the computing system. In general, a computing system may recognize a touch and a touch location on a touch screen and interpret the touch to perform computation accordingly.

In such a touch input device, the pressure detector for detecting touch pressure detects one electrical characteristic. The pressure detection sensitivity of the electrical characteristic is deteriorated according to various conditions, or the accurate pressure cannot be detected using one electrical characteristic. there is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure sensing unit and a touch input device that can detect a plurality of electrical characteristics to detect the correct pressure.

A touch input device capable of detecting touch pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel; And a pressure sensor including a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor detects a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor, and detects the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic. The magnitude of the pressure can be calculated based on this.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device capable of detecting touch pressure may include a display panel; And a pressure sensing unit, wherein the pressure sensing unit includes a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor. Detect a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensing unit detects a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor, and magnitude of pressure based on the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic Can be calculated.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device capable of detecting touch pressure may include a display panel; And a pressure sensor including a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor is capable of detecting a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor, and does not detect the second electrical characteristic. A first mode for calculating a magnitude of pressure by detecting only a first electrical characteristic, a second mode for calculating a magnitude of pressure by detecting only the second electrical characteristic without detecting the first electrical characteristic, the first electrical characteristic and Any one of the third modes of detecting the second electrical characteristic and calculating the magnitude of the pressure may be selectively driven.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device capable of detecting touch pressure may include a display panel; And a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensing unit includes a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor. The first pressure detector may detect a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor, the second pressure detector may detect a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor, and the second electrical characteristic may not be detected. A first mode for calculating a magnitude of pressure by detecting only the first electrical characteristic, a second mode for calculating a magnitude of pressure by detecting only the second electrical characteristic without detecting the first electrical characteristic and the first electrical characteristic And a third mode that detects the second electrical characteristic and calculates a magnitude of pressure.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device capable of detecting N touch pressures may include a display panel; And a pressure sensor including a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor detects a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor, and detects the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic. The magnitudes of each of the N pressures can be calculated based on this.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device capable of detecting N touch pressures may include a display panel; And a pressure sensing unit, wherein the pressure sensing unit includes a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor. Detects a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensing unit detects a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor, and based on the first electrical characteristics and the second electrical characteristics, The magnitude of each pressure can be calculated.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a pressure sensing unit and a touch input device capable of detecting a plurality of electrical characteristics to detect an accurate pressure may be provided.

1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a capacitive touch sensor included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration for an operation thereof.

2A to 2E illustrate a control block for controlling touch position, touch pressure, and display operation in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3B are conceptual views illustrating a configuration of a display module in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device configured to detect a touch position and touch pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4B to 4H illustrate an example in which a pressure sensor is formed in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 illustrates a cross section of a sensor sheet according to an embodiment of the invention.

6A to 6C are cross-sectional views illustrating embodiments of a pressure sensor directly formed on various display panels of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7A, 7D-7F are plan views of exemplary pressure sensors capable of sensing pressure used in the touch input device according to the present invention.

7B and 7C illustrate exemplary pressure sensors that can be applied to a touch input device in accordance with the present invention.

8A to 8C are plan views of the pressure sensing unit in the form of an electrode sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

8D to 8G are cross-sectional views of the pressure sensing unit in the form of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9A to 9D are views illustrating shapes of a sensor included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different but need not be mutually exclusive. For example, certain shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be embodied in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention with respect to one embodiment. In addition, it is to be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Like reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions throughout the several aspects.

Hereinafter, a touch input device capable of detecting pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, the capacitive touch sensor 10 is illustrated, but a touch sensor 10 capable of detecting a touch position in any manner may be applied.

1A is a schematic diagram of a capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a configuration for its operation. Referring to FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm, and a plurality of driving electrodes for operation of the touch sensor 10. Touch by receiving a detection signal including information on the capacitance change according to the touch on the touch surface from the driving unit 12 for applying a driving signal to the TX1 to TXn, and the plurality of receiving electrodes (RX1 to RXm) And a detector 11 for detecting a touch position.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the touch sensor 10 may include a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. In FIG. 1A, although the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm of the touch sensor 10 form an orthogonal array, the present invention is not limited thereto. The electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may have any number of dimensions and application arrangements thereof, including diagonal, concentric circles, and three-dimensional random arrangements. Here, n and m are positive integers and may have the same or different values, and may vary in size according to embodiments.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be arranged to cross each other. The driving electrode TX includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn extending in the first axis direction, and the receiving electrode RX includes a plurality of receiving electrodes extending in the second axis direction crossing the first axis direction. RX1 to RXm).

9A and 9B, in the touch sensor 10 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm are formed on the same layer. Can be. For example, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on an upper surface of the display panel 200A, which will be described later.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9C, the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed on different layers. For example, any one of the plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm is formed on the upper surface of the display panel 200A, and the other one is formed on the lower surface of the cover to be described later or the display panel. It may be formed inside the 200A.

The plurality of driving electrodes TX1 to TXn and the plurality of receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be formed of a transparent conductive material (eg, tin oxide (SnO ₂ ), indium oxide (In ₂ O ₃ ), or the like. Oxide) or ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide). However, this is only an example and the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be formed of another transparent conductive material or an opaque conductive material. For example, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may include at least one of silver ink, copper, silver silver, and carbon nanotubes (CNT). Can be. In addition, the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX may be implemented with a metal mesh.

The driving unit 12 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may apply a driving signal to the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn. In an embodiment of the present invention, the driving signal may be applied to one driving electrode at a time from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn in sequence. The driving signal may be repeatedly applied again. This is merely an example, and a driving signal may be simultaneously applied to a plurality of driving electrodes in some embodiments.

The sensing unit 11 provides information about the capacitance Cm 14 generated between the driving electrodes TX1 to TXn to which the driving signal is applied and the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm. By receiving a sensing signal that includes a touch can detect whether the touch position. For example, the sensing signal may be a signal in which the driving signal applied to the driving electrode TX is coupled by the capacitance Cm 14 generated between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX. As described above, a process of sensing the driving signals applied from the first driving electrode TX1 to the nth driving electrode TXn through the receiving electrodes RX1 to RXm may be referred to as scanning the touch sensor 10. Can be.

For example, the detector 11 may include a receiver (not shown) connected to each of the reception electrodes RX1 to RXm through a switch. The switch is turned on in a time interval for detecting the signal of the corresponding receiving electrode RX, so that the detection signal from the receiving electrode RX can be detected at the receiver. The receiver may comprise an amplifier (not shown) and a feedback capacitor coupled between the negative input terminal of the amplifier and the output terminal of the amplifier, i.e., in the feedback path. At this time, the positive input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to ground. In addition, the receiver may further include a reset switch connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor. The reset switch may reset the conversion from current to voltage performed by the receiver. The negative input terminal of the amplifier may be connected to the corresponding receiving electrode RX to receive a current signal including information on the capacitance Cm 14, and then integrate and convert the current signal into a voltage. The sensor 11 may further include an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting data integrated through a receiver into digital data. Subsequently, the digital data may be input to a processor (not shown) and processed to obtain touch information about the touch sensor 10. In addition to the receiver, the detector 11 may include an ADC and a processor.

The controller 13 may perform a function of controlling the operations of the driver 12 and the detector 11. For example, the controller 13 may generate a driving control signal and transmit the driving control signal to the driving unit 12 so that the driving signal is applied to the predetermined driving electrode TX at a predetermined time. In addition, the control unit 13 generates a detection control signal and transmits the detection control signal to the detection unit 11 so that the detection unit 11 receives a detection signal from a predetermined reception electrode RX at a predetermined time to perform a preset function. can do.

In FIG. 1A, the driver 12 and the detector 11 may configure a touch detection device (not shown) capable of detecting whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and the touch position. The touch detection apparatus may further include a controller 13. The touch detection apparatus may be integrated and implemented on a touch sensing integrated circuit (IC) corresponding to the touch sensor controller 1100 to be described later in the touch input device including the touch sensor 10. The driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX included in the touch sensor 10 are included in the touch sensing IC through, for example, conductive traces and / or conductive patterns printed on a circuit board. It may be connected to the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11. The touch sensing IC may be located on a circuit board printed with a conductive pattern, for example, a touch circuit board (hereinafter referred to as touch PCB) in FIGS. 7A to 6I. According to an embodiment, the touch sensing IC may be mounted on a main board for operating the touch input device.

As described above, a capacitance Cm having a predetermined value is generated at each intersection point of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, and such capacitance when an object such as a finger approaches the touch sensor 10. The value of can be changed. In FIG. 1A, the capacitance may represent mutual capacitance (Cm). The electrical characteristics may be detected by the sensing unit 11 to detect whether the touch sensor 10 is touched and / or the touch position. For example, the touch and / or the position of the touch on the surface of the touch sensor 10 formed of the two-dimensional plane including the first axis and the second axis may be sensed.

More specifically, when the touch on the touch sensor 10 occurs, the position of the touch in the second axis direction may be detected by detecting the driving electrode TX to which the driving signal is applied. Similarly, the position of the touch in the first axis direction can be detected by detecting a change in capacitance from the received signal received through the receiving electrode RX when the touch sensor 10 is touched.

In the above, the operation method of the touch sensor 10 that detects the touch position has been described based on the mutual capacitance change amount between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, as shown in FIG. 1B, the touch position may be sensed based on the amount of change in self capacitance.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram illustrating another capacitive touch sensor 10 included in a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and an operation thereof. The touch sensor 10 illustrated in FIG. 1B includes a plurality of touch electrodes 30. As illustrated in FIG. 9D, the plurality of touch electrodes 30 may be disposed in a lattice shape at regular intervals, but is not limited thereto.

The driving control signal generated by the control unit 13 is transmitted to the driving unit 12, and the driving unit 12 applies the driving signal to the preset touch electrode 30 at a predetermined time based on the driving control signal. In addition, the sensing control signal generated by the controller 13 is transmitted to the sensing unit 11, and the sensing unit 11 receives the sensing signal from the touch electrode 30 preset at a predetermined time based on the sensing control signal. Receive input. In this case, the detection signal may be a signal for the change amount of the magnetic capacitance formed in the touch electrode 30.

At this time, whether the touch on the touch sensor 10 and / or the touch position is detected by the sensing signal detected by the sensing unit 11. For example, since the coordinates of the touch electrode 30 are known in advance, it is possible to detect whether the object touches the surface of the touch sensor 10 and / or its position.

In the above description, for convenience, the driving unit 12 and the sensing unit 11 are described as being divided into separate blocks, but the driving signal is applied to the touch electrode 30 and the sensing signal is input from the touch electrode 30. It is also possible to perform in one driving and sensing unit.

Although the capacitive touch sensor panel has been described in detail as the touch sensor 10, the touch sensor 10 for detecting whether or not a touch is detected in the touch input device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention Surface capacitive, projected capacitive, resistive, SAW (surface acoustic wave), infrared, optical imaging, and distributed signals other than those described above It can be implemented using any touch sensing scheme such as dispersive signal technology and acoustic pulse recognition scheme.

2A to 2E illustrate a control block for controlling touch position, touch pressure, and display operation in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in the touch input device 1000 configured to detect the touch pressure in addition to the display function and the touch position detection, the control block includes a touch sensor controller 1100 and a display for detecting the touch position described above. And a pressure sensor controller 1300 for detecting pressure and a display controller 1200 for driving the panel. The display controller 1200 receives input from a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or the like, which is a central processing unit on a main board for operating the touch input device 1000, to the display panel 200A. It may include a control circuit to display the desired content. Such a control circuit may be mounted on a display circuit board (hereinafter referred to as display PCB). Such control circuits may include display panel control ICs, graphic controller ICs, and other circuits necessary for operating the display panel 200A.

The pressure sensor controller 1300 for detecting pressure through the pressure sensing unit may be configured similarly to the configuration of the touch sensor controller 1100 to operate similarly to the touch sensor controller 1100. In detail, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pressure sensor controller 1300 may include a driving unit, a sensing unit, and a control unit, and detect the magnitude of the pressure by a sensing signal detected by the sensing unit. More specifically, the signal sensed from the pressure sensing unit 400 to be described later may be input to the pressure sensor controller 1300, and the magnitude of the pressure may be detected from the input signal. At this time, the pressure sensor controller 1300 calculates a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the signal sensed by the pressure sensing unit 400 and outputs the calculated value to the processor 1500.

In this case, the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be mounted on a touch PCB on which the touch sensor controller 1100 is mounted, or may be mounted on a display PCB on which the display controller 1200 is mounted.

According to an embodiment, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be included in the touch input device 1000 as different components. For example, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300 may be configured with different chips. In this case, the processor 1500 of the touch input device 1000 may function as a host processor for the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300.

The touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a tablet PC, an MP3 player, a notebook, or the like. It may include an electronic device including the same display screen and / or a touch screen.

In order to manufacture such a touch input device 1000 in a slim and light weight, the touch sensor controller 1100, the display controller 1200, and the pressure sensor controller 1300, which are separately configured as described above, are manufactured. Can be integrated into one or more configurations, depending on the embodiment. In addition, each of these controllers may be integrated into the processor 1500. In addition, in some embodiments, the touch sensor 10 and / or the pressure sensing unit may be integrated into the display panel 200A.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the first signal and the second signal detected from the pressure sensing unit 400 may be input to the pressure sensor controller 1300, and the pressure may be input from the input first and second signals. The size of can be detected. In this case, the first signal may be a signal including information on a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor, which will be described later, and the second signal includes information on a second electrical characteristic different from the first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor. May be a signal. At this time, the pressure sensor controller 1300 calculates a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the first signal and the second signal sensed by the pressure sensor 400, and converts the calculated value into the processor 1500. )

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2C, the first signal sensed by the pressure detector 400 is input to the first pressure sensor controller 1301 and the second signal sensed by the pressure detector 400 is the second pressure. The sensor controller 1302 may be input, and the magnitude of the pressure may be detected from the input first and second signals. At this time, the first pressure sensor controller 1301 calculates a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the first signal sensed by the pressure sensing unit 400, and converts the calculated value into the processor 1500. The second pressure sensor controller 1302 outputs a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the second signal sensed by the pressure sensing unit 400, and converts the calculated value to the processor 1500. Output

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2D, the first signal sensed by the first pressure detector 401 and the second signal sensed by the second pressure detector 402 may be input to the pressure sensor controller 1300. The magnitude of the pressure may be detected from the input first and second signals. At this time, the pressure sensor controller 1300 is normalized corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the first signal sensed by the first pressure detector 401 and the second signal sensed by the second pressure detector 402. ) Is calculated, and the calculated value is output to the processor 1500.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2E, the first signal sensed by the first pressure sensor 401 is input to the first pressure sensor controller 1301 and the second signal sensed by the second pressure sensor 402. May be input to the second pressure sensor controller 1302, and the magnitude of the pressure may be detected from the inputted first and second signals. At this time, the first pressure sensor controller 1301 calculates a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the first signal sensed by the first pressure sensor 401 and converts the calculated value into the processor 1500. ), And the second pressure sensor controller 1302 calculates a normalized value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure from the second signal sensed by the second pressure sensor 402, and converts the calculated value into a processor. Output to (1500).

In the touch input device 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment, the touch sensor 10 for detecting a touch position may be located outside or inside the display panel 200A. The display panel 200A of the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment is included in a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the like. It may be a display panel. Accordingly, the user may perform an input operation by performing a touch on the touch surface while visually confirming the screen displayed on the display panel.

3A and 3B are conceptual views illustrating the configuration of the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention. First, referring to FIG. 3A, a configuration of a display module 200 including a display panel 200A using an LCD panel will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the display module 200 includes a display panel 200A, which is an LCD panel, a first polarization layer 271 disposed on the display panel 200A, and a lower portion of the display panel 200A. The polarizing layer 272 may be included. In addition, the display panel 200A, which is an LCD panel, includes a liquid crystal layer 250 including a liquid crystal cell, a first substrate layer 261 and a liquid crystal layer 250 disposed on the liquid crystal layer 250. It may include a second substrate layer 262 disposed under the. In this case, the first substrate layer 261 may be a color filter glass, and the second substrate layer 262 may be a TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 261 and the second substrate layer 262 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In FIG. 3A, the second substrate layer 262 is formed of various layers including a data line, a gate line, a TFT, a common electrode (Vcom), a pixel electrode, and the like. Can be done. These electrical components can operate to produce a controlled electric field to orient the liquid crystals located in the liquid crystal layer 250.

Next, referring to FIG. 3B, the configuration of the display module 200 including the display panel 200A using the OLED panel will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the display module 200 may include a display panel 200A, which is an OLED panel, and a first polarization layer 282 disposed on the display panel 200A. In addition, the display panel 200A, which is an OLED panel, has an organic layer 280 including an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a first substrate layer 281 disposed above the organic layer 280, and a lower portion of the organic layer 280. The second substrate layer 283 may be disposed. In this case, the first substrate layer 281 may be encapsulation glass, and the second substrate layer 283 may be TFT glass. In some embodiments, at least one of the first substrate layer 281 and the second substrate layer 283 may be formed of a bendable material such as plastic. In the OLED panel illustrated in FIGS. 3D to 3F, an electrode used to drive the display panel 200A, such as a gate line, a data line, a first power line ELVDD, and a second power line ELVSS, may be included. Can be. OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) panel is a self-luminous display panel using the principle that light is generated when electrons and holes combine in the organic material layer when electric current flows through the fluorescent or phosphorescent organic thin film. Determine the color

Specifically, OLED uses a principle that the organic material emits light when the organic material is applied to glass or plastic to flow electricity. In other words, when holes and electrons are injected into the anode and cathode of the organic material and recombined in the light emitting layer, excitons are formed in a high energy state. Is to use the generated principle. At this time, the color of light varies according to the organic material of the light emitting layer.

OLED is composed of line-driven passive-matrix organic light-emitting diode (PM-OLED) and individual-driven active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM-OLED) depending on the operating characteristics of the pixels constituting the pixel matrix. exist. Since both require no backlight, the display module can be made very thin, the contrast ratio is constant according to the angle, and color reproducibility with temperature is good. In addition, undriven pixels are very economical in that they do not consume power.

In operation, the PM-OLED emits light only during a scanning time at a high current, and the AM-OLED maintains light emission during a frame time at a low current. Therefore, the AM-OLED has the advantages of better resolution, greater area display panel driving, and lower power consumption than PM-OLED. In addition, each device can be individually controlled by embedding a thin film transistor (TFT), so it is easy to realize a sophisticated screen.

In addition, the organic material layer 280 may include a HIL (Hole Injection Layer), a HTL (Hole Transfer Layer), an EIL (Emission Material Layer), an ETL (Electron Transfer Layer), and an EML. (Electron Injection Layer, light emitting layer) may be included.

Briefly described for each layer, HIL injects holes, using a material such as CuPc. HTL functions to move the injected holes, and mainly uses materials having good hole mobility. As the HTL, arylamine, TPD and the like can be used. EIL and ETL are layers for the injection and transport of electrons, and the injected electrons and holes combine and emit light in the EML. EML is a material expressing the color emitted, and is composed of a host that determines the lifetime of the organic material and a dopant that determines the color and efficiency. This is merely to describe the basic configuration of the organic material layer 280 included in the OLED panel, the present invention is not limited to the layer structure or material of the organic material layer 280.

The organic layer 280 is inserted between an anode (not shown) and a cathode (not shown). When the TFT is turned on, a driving current is applied to the anode to inject holes, and the cathode is injected into the cathode. Electrons are injected, and holes and electrons move to the organic layer 280 to emit light.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the LCD panel or OLED panel may further include other configurations and may be modified to perform display functions.

The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a configuration for driving the display panel 200A and the display panel 200A. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, the display module 200 may include a backlight unit (not shown) disposed below the second polarization layer 272, and may include an LCD panel. It may further include a display panel control IC, a graphic control IC and other circuitry for the operation of.

The display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a configuration for driving the display panel 200A and the display panel 200A. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, the display module 200 may include a backlight unit (not shown) disposed below the second polarization layer 272, and may include an LCD panel. It may further include a display panel control IC, a graphic control IC and other circuitry for the operation of.

The touch sensor 10 for detecting a touch position in the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be located outside or inside the display module 200.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed outside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, a touch sensor panel may be disposed on the display module 200, and the touch sensor 10 may be a touch sensor panel. Can be included. The touch surface for the touch input device 1000 may be a surface of the touch sensor panel.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A. In detail, the touch sensor 10 may be formed on upper surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281. In this case, the touch surface of the touch input device 1000 may be an upper surface or a lower surface of FIGS. 3A and 3B as an outer surface of the display module 200.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, at least some of the touch sensors 10 may be configured to be positioned in the display panel 200A according to an embodiment, and the touch sensor At least some of the other portions 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A. For example, any one of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX constituting the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned outside the display panel 200A, and the remaining electrodes are inside the display panel 200A. It may be configured to be located at. Specifically, any one of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX constituting the touch sensor 10 may be formed on upper surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281, and the remaining electrodes are formed on the first substrate layer ( 261 and 281 may be formed on the bottom surface or the top surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 in the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 may be configured to be positioned inside the display panel 200A. In detail, the touch sensor 10 may be formed on the bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 or the top surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

When the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display panel 200A, an electrode for operating the touch sensor may be additionally disposed, but various configurations and / or electrodes positioned inside the display panel 200A may perform touch sensing. It may be used as a touch sensor 10 for. Specifically, when the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, at least one of the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10 may include a data line, a gate line, a TFT, and a common electrode (Vcom: common). at least one of an electrode and a pixel electrode, and when the display panel 200A is an OLED panel, at least one of the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10 is a data line. The gate line may include at least one of a gate line, a first power line ELVDD, and a second power line ELVSS.

In this case, the touch sensor 10 may operate as the driving electrode and the receiving electrode described with reference to FIG. 1A to detect the touch position according to the mutual capacitance between the driving electrode and the receiving electrode. In addition, the touch sensor 10 may operate as the single electrode 30 described in FIG. 1B to detect the touch position according to the self capacitance of each of the single electrodes 30. In this case, when the electrode included in the touch sensor 10 is an electrode used to drive the display panel 200A, the display panel 200A is driven in the first time interval, and the second time is different from the first time interval. The touch position may be detected in the section.

Hereinafter, a configuration of a pressure sensing unit for detecting touch pressure in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

4A is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device configured to detect a touch position and touch pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the touch input device 1000 including the display module 200, the cover layer 100 including a touch sensor and a pressure sensing unit for detecting a touch position may be attached to the front surface of the display module 200. Accordingly, the display screen of the display module 200 may be protected and the touch detection sensitivity of the touch sensor may be increased.

Generally, even when the touch surface is touched without bending the cover layer 100, the capacitance 14 (Cm) between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX of the touch sensor changes. That is, the mutual capacitance Cm 14 may be reduced compared to the basic mutual capacitance at the touch of the touch sensor. This is because when an object such as a finger is close to the touch sensor, the object serves as a ground (GND) and the fringing capacitance of mutual capacitance Cm 14 is absorbed into the object. The basic mutual capacitance is a value of mutual capacitance between the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX when there is no touch on the touch sensor.

In this case, the pressure sensing unit may operate separately from the touch sensor for detecting the touch position. For example, the pressure sensing unit may be configured to detect pressure only independently of the touch sensor for detecting the touch position. In addition, the pressure sensing unit may be configured to detect the touch pressure in combination with the touch sensor for detecting the touch position. For example, at least one of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX included in the touch sensor for detecting the touch position may be used to detect the touch pressure.

In FIG. 4A, the pressure sensing unit may be combined with the cover layer 100 to detect the touch pressure. In order to detect the capacitance, which is a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit in FIG. 4A, the pressure sensing unit further includes a spacer layer 420 spaced apart from the cover layer 100 and the display module 200. It may include. The pressure sensing unit may include a reference potential layer spaced apart from the cover layer 100 through the spacer layer 420. In this case, the display module 200 may function as a reference potential layer.

The reference potential layer can have any potential that can cause a change in capacitance detected from a pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing portion. For example, the reference potential layer may be a ground layer having a ground potential. The reference potential layer may be a ground layer of the display module 200. In this case, the reference potential layer may have a plane parallel to the two-dimensional plane of the cover layer 100.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the cover layer 100 including the pressure sensing unit and the display module 200 which is the reference potential layer are spaced apart from each other. In this case, the spacer layer 420 between the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be implemented as an air gap according to the difference between the bonding method between the cover layer 100 and the display module 200. . The spacer layer 420 may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer 420 may be filled with a dielectric material in some embodiments.

In this case, in order to maintain the spacer layer 420, a frame 430 having a predetermined height may be formed along the edge of the upper portion of the display module 200. In this case, the frame 430 may be attached to the cover layer 100 with an adhesive tape (not shown). In addition, a double adhesive tape (DAT) itself for fixing the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be used as a frame without configuring a separate frame 430. For example, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 each have an overlapped area, and two layers are bonded to each other by a double-sided adhesive tape in the edge regions of the cover layer 100 and the display module 200. In the remaining areas, the cover layer 100 and the display module 200 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance d.

The cover layer 100 may be bent when pressure is applied when the object is touched by an object on the upper surface of the cover layer 100 including the pressure sensing unit. In this case, the value of the capacitance detected from the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit may change. This is because the cover layer 100 is bent so that the distance between the pressure sensing unit and the reference potential layer decreases from d to d ', so that the capacitance of the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit is absorbed into the reference potential layer.

In addition, the cover layer 100 may be bent when pressure is applied when the object is touched by an object on the upper surface of the cover layer 100 including the pressure sensing unit. At this time, the value of the resistance which is the second electrical characteristic detected from the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit may be changed. This is because, as the cover layer 100 is bent, the resistance of the pressure sensor is changed by changing the length of the pressure sensor of the pressure sensing unit included in the cover layer 100.

As described above, the touch position and the touch pressure may be detected by configuring the touch input device 1000 including the touch sensor and the pressure sensing unit on the display module 200.

However, as shown in FIG. 4A, when not only the touch sensor but also the pressure sensing unit is disposed on the display module 200, a problem occurs in that display characteristics of the display module are deteriorated. In particular, when the air gap 420 is included on the display module 200, the visibility and the light transmittance of the display module may be reduced.

In the touch input device 1000 of the present invention, an adhesive such as OCA (Optically Clear Adhesive) is formed between the cover layer 100 on which a touch sensor for detecting a touch position is formed and the display module 200 including the display panel 200A. It may be laminated. Accordingly, display color clarity, visibility, and light transmittance of the display module 200 which can be checked through the touch surface of the touch sensor may be improved.

4B to 4H illustrate an example in which a pressure sensor is formed in the touch input device according to the present invention.

Although the display panel 200A is directly attached to the cover layer 100 in FIG. 4B and in some drawings below, this is merely for convenience of description and the first polarization layers 271 and 282 are the display panel 200A. The upper display module 200 may be laminated and attached to the cover layer 100. When the LCD panel is the display panel 200A, the second polarizing layer 272 and the backlight unit are omitted.

In the description with reference to FIGS. 4B to 4H, as the touch input device 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a cover layer 100 having a touch sensor is formed on the display module 200 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may also include a case in which the touch sensor 10 is disposed inside the display module 200 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Can be. More specifically, in FIG. 4B to FIG. 4D, the cover layer 100 in which the touch sensor 10 is formed covers the display module 200 including the display panel 200A, but the touch sensor 10 is the display module. The touch input device 1000 disposed inside the 200 and covered with the cover layer 100 such as glass may be used as an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a tablet PC, an MP3 player, a notebook, or the like. It may include an electronic device including the same touch screen.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the substrate 300 may be, for example, a circuit board for operating the touch input device 1000 together with the housing 320 which is the outermost mechanism of the touch input device 1000. And / or wrap the mounting space 310 in which the battery may be located. In this case, a circuit board for operating the touch input device 1000 may be mounted with a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP) as a main board. The circuit board and / or the battery for the operation of the display module 200 and the touch input device 1000 are separated through the substrate 300, and the electrical noise generated from the display module 200 and the noise generated from the circuit board Can be blocked.

In the touch input device 1000, the touch sensor 10 or the cover layer 100 may be formed wider than the display module 200, the substrate 300, and the mounting space 310, and thus the housing 320 may be formed. The housing 320 may be formed to surround the display module 200, the substrate 300, and the circuit board together with the touch sensor 10.

The touch input device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention detects a touch position through the touch sensor 10, and is different from an electrode used to detect a touch position and an electrode used to drive a display. May be disposed and used as a pressure sensing unit to detect touch pressure. In this case, the touch sensor 10 may be located inside or outside the display module 200.

The configuration for the pressure detection is collectively referred to as a pressure sensing unit. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, the pressure sensing unit may include a sensor sheet 440, and in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4C, the pressure sensing unit may include pressure sensors 450 and 460.

In the touch input device according to the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, a sensor sheet 440 including pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300. As described above, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed directly on the lower surface of the display panel 200A.

In addition, the pressure sensing unit includes a spacer layer 420 formed of, for example, an air gap, which will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4B to 4H.

In some embodiments, the spacer layer 420 may be embodied as an air gap. The spacer layer may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer 420 may be filled with a dielectric material in some embodiments. According to an embodiment, the spacer layer 420 may be formed of a material having a recovery force that contracts upon application of pressure and returns to its original shape upon release of pressure. In some embodiments, the spacer layer 420 may be formed of an elastic foam. In addition, since the spacer layer is disposed under the display module 200, the spacer layer may be a transparent material or an opaque material.

In addition, the reference potential layer may be disposed under the display module 200. In detail, the reference potential layer may be formed on the substrate 300 disposed under the display module 200 or the substrate 300 may serve as the reference potential layer. In addition, the reference potential layer is disposed on the substrate 300 and disposed below the display module 200, and formed on a cover (not shown) that functions to protect the display module 200, or the cover itself is a reference. It can serve as a dislocation layer. As the display panel 200A is bent when the pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 and the display panel 200A is bent, the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may change. In addition, a spacer layer may be disposed between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460. In detail, a spacer layer may be disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 on which the reference potential layer is disposed or between the cover on which the display module 200 and the reference potential layer are disposed.

In addition, the reference potential layer may be disposed in the display module 200. In detail, the reference potential layer may be disposed on the top or bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 of the display panel 200A or the top or bottom surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283. As the display panel 200A is bent when the pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 and the display panel 200A is bent, the distance between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may change. In addition, a spacer layer may be disposed between the reference potential layer and the pressure sensors 450 and 460. In the touch input device 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a spacer layer may be disposed on or inside the display panel 200A.

Similarly, in some embodiments, the spacer layer may be implemented with an air gap. The spacer layer may be made of an impact absorbing material according to an embodiment. The spacer layer may be filled with a dielectric material in accordance with an embodiment. According to an embodiment, the spacer layer may be formed of a material having a recovery force that contracts upon application of pressure and returns to its original form upon release of pressure. In some embodiments, the spacer layer may be formed of an elastic foam. In addition, since the spacer layer is disposed on or inside the display panel 200A, the spacer layer may be a transparent material.

 In some embodiments, when the spacer layer is disposed inside the display module 200, the spacer layer may be an air gap included in manufacturing the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit. When the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit includes one air gap, the air gap may function as a spacer layer, and when the display panel 200A and / or the backlight unit includes the air gap, the plurality of air gaps may be integrated. As a result, the spacer layer may function.

4D is a perspective view of the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4B of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4D, in the first example of the present invention, the sensor sheet 440 may be disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 in the touch input device 1000. In this case, the touch input device 1000 may include a spacer layer disposed between the display module 200 of the touch input device 1000 and the substrate 300 to arrange the sensor sheet 440.

Hereinafter, the sensors 450 and 460 for detecting pressure are referred to as pressure sensors 450 and 460 so as to be clearly distinguished from the electrodes included in the touch sensor 10. In this case, since the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the rear surface of the display panel 200A, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be made of an opaque material as well as a transparent material. When the display panel 200A is an LCD panel, light must be transmitted from the backlight unit, and thus the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be made of a transparent material such as ITO.

In this case, in order to maintain the spacer layer 420 on which the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed, a frame 330 having a predetermined height may be formed along an edge of the upper portion of the substrate 300. In this case, the frame 330 may be attached to the cover layer 100 with an adhesive tape (not shown). In FIG. 4D, the frame 330 is formed on all the edges of the substrate 300 (eg, four sides of a quadrilateral), but the frame 330 is formed of at least a portion of the edge of the substrate 300 (eg, a quadrilateral). Only on three sides). According to an embodiment, the frame 330 may be integrally formed with the substrate 300 on the upper surface of the substrate 300. In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame 330 may be made of a material having no elasticity. In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when pressure is applied to the display panel 200A through the cover layer 100, the display panel 200A may be bent together with the cover layer 100. Even if there is no deformation of the body, the magnitude of the touch pressure can be detected.

Hereinafter, a method of detecting the capacitance, which is the first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor, according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this case, the pressure sensor may be an electrode.

4E is a cross-sectional view of a touch input device including a pressure sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4E, pressure sensors 450 and 460 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A as the spacer layer 420.

The pressure sensor for detecting the pressure may include a first sensor 450 and a second sensor 460. In this case, any one of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be a driving sensor, and the other may be a receiving sensor. A driving signal may be applied to the driving sensor and a sensing signal including information on electrical characteristics that change as pressure is applied through the receiving sensor may be obtained. For example, when a voltage is applied, mutual capacitance may be generated between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460.

4F is a cross-sectional view when pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000 shown in FIG. 4E. The upper surface of the substrate 300 may have a ground potential for noise shielding. When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the ground potential surface and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be reduced to d '. In this case, since the fringe capacitance is absorbed to the upper surface of the substrate 300 as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may decrease. . Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by obtaining a reduction amount of mutual capacitance from the detection signal obtained through the reception sensor.

In FIG. 4F, the case in which the upper surface of the substrate 300 is the ground potential, that is, the reference potential layer, has been described. However, the reference potential layer may be disposed in the display module 200. In this case, when pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance between the reference potential layer disposed inside the display module 200 and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is changed, and thus the magnitude of the touch pressure can be calculated by acquiring a change in capacitance from a detection signal acquired through the receiving sensor. Can be.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed in response to a touch applying a pressure. According to an exemplary embodiment, the position showing the largest deformation when the display panel 200A is bent or pressed may not coincide with the touch position, but the display panel 200A may indicate bending at least at the touch position. For example, when the touch position is close to the edge and the edge of the display panel 200A, the position where the display panel 200A is bent or pressed the most may be different from the touch position, but the display panel 200A may be at least the touch position. It may indicate bending or pressing at.

The first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are formed on the same layer, and each of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F is shown in FIG. 9A. As shown, it may be composed of a plurality of sensors having a rhombic shape. Here, the plurality of first sensors 450 are connected to each other in the first axis direction, and the plurality of second sensors 460 are connected to each other in the second axis direction perpendicular to the first axis direction. At least one of the 450 and the second sensor 460 may have a plurality of rhombic sensor types connected through a bridge such that the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are insulated from each other. In this case, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 illustrated in FIG. 6 may be configured as a sensor of the type shown in FIG. 9B.

In the above, it is illustrated that the touch pressure is detected from a change in mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460. However, the pressure sensing unit may be configured to include only one pressure sensor of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460, in which case one pressure sensor and a ground layer (substrate 300 or display module ( The magnitude of the touch pressure may be detected by detecting a change in capacitance, that is, a self capacitance, between the reference potential layers disposed therein. In this case, a driving signal may be applied to the one pressure sensor, and a change in magnetic capacitance between the pressure sensor and the ground layer may be detected from the pressure sensor.

For example, in FIG. 4E, the pressure sensor may include only the first sensor 450. In this case, the first sensor 450 and the substrate caused by the change of the distance between the substrate 300 and the first sensor 450 may be configured. The magnitude of the touch pressure can be detected from the capacitance change between 300. Since the distance d decreases as the touch pressure increases, the capacitance between the substrate 300 and the first sensor 450 may increase as the touch pressure increases. In this case, the pressure sensor does not have to have a comb-tooth shape or a trident shape, which is necessary to increase the mutual capacitance variation detection accuracy, and may have a single plate (eg, rectangular plate) shape, as shown in FIG. 9D. The plurality of first sensors 450 may be arranged in a grid shape at regular intervals.

4E and 4F, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the top surface of the substrate 300. In addition, the reference potential layer may be disposed on or in the display module 200.

4G illustrates the case where the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed in the spacer layer 420 on the top surface of the substrate 300 and the bottom surface of the display module 200. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the pressure sensing unit includes the sensor sheet, the sensor sheet includes the first sensor sheet 440-1 and the second sensor 460 including the first sensor 450. It may be composed of a second sensor sheet (440-2). In this case, any one of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be formed on the substrate 300, and the other may be formed on the lower surface of the display module 200. In FIG. 4H, the first sensor 450 is formed on the substrate 300, and the second sensor 460 is formed on the lower surface of the display module 200.

4H illustrates the case where the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed in the spacer layer 420 on the upper surface of the substrate 300 and the lower surface of the display panel 200A. In this case, the first sensor 450 is formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A, and the second sensor 460 includes a second sensor 460 formed on the first insulating layer 470. The second insulating layer 471 may be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 300 in the form of a sensor sheet, which is formed on the second sensor 460.

When pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. Accordingly, the distance d between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be reduced. In this case, as the distance d decreases, the mutual capacitance between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may increase. Therefore, the magnitude of the touch pressure may be calculated by acquiring an increase amount of mutual capacitance from the detection signal obtained through the reception sensor. In this case, since the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are formed in different layers in FIG. 4H, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 do not have to have a comb shape or a trident shape. One of the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may have a shape of one plate (eg, a square plate), and the other may have a plurality of sensors spaced apart at a predetermined interval, as shown in FIG. 9D. It may be arranged in a grid shape.

In the above description, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are directly formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A as illustrated in FIG. 4C, but the sensor sheets including the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are illustrated as shown in FIG. 4B. All of the embodiments in which 440 is disposed between the display module 200 and the substrate 300 may be applicable.

In this case, the upper surface of the substrate 300 may also have a ground potential for noise shielding. 5 illustrates a cross section of a sensor sheet according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5A, a cross section of the case in which the sensor sheet 440 including the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is attached on the substrate 300 or the display module 200 is illustrated. In this case, since the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are positioned between the first insulating layer 470 and the second insulating layer 471 in the sensor sheet 440, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are disposed on the substrate 300 or the display module 200. Short circuiting can be prevented. In addition, depending on the type and / or implementation manner of the touch input device 1000, the substrate 300 or the display module 200 to which the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are attached may not exhibit a ground potential or may exhibit a weak ground potential. In this case, the touch input device 1000 according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a ground electrode (not shown) between the substrate 300 or the display module 200 and the insulating layer 470. . According to an embodiment, another insulating layer (not shown) may be further included between the ground electrode and the substrate 300 or the display module 200. In this case, the ground electrode may prevent the size of the capacitance generated between the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460, which are pressure sensors, from becoming too large.

The first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be implemented in different layers to form a sensor layer according to the embodiment. FIG. 5B illustrates a cross section when the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are implemented on different layers. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the first sensor 450 is formed on the first insulating layer 470, and the second sensor 460 is second insulating positioned on the first sensor 450. May be formed on layer 471. In some embodiments, the second sensor 460 may be covered with a third insulating layer 472. That is, the sensor sheet 440 may include the first insulating layer 470 to the third insulating layer 472, the first sensor 450, and the second sensor 460. In this case, since the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 are located on different layers, they may be implemented to overlap each other. For example, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 may be formed similar to the pattern of the driving electrode TX and the receiving electrode RX arranged in the structure of MXN, as shown in FIG. 9C. . At this time, M and N may be one or more natural numbers. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9A, the first sensor 450 and the second sensor 460 having a rhombic shape may be located on different layers.

FIG. 5C illustrates a cross section when the sensor sheet 440 includes only the first sensor 450. As illustrated in FIG. 5C, the sensor sheet 440 including the first sensor 450 may be disposed on the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

FIG. 5D illustrates a second sensor sheet 440-attached with a first sensor sheet 440-1 including a first sensor 450 on a substrate 300 and including a second sensor 460. An example in which 2) is attached to the display module 200 is illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 5D, the first sensor sheet 440-1 including the first sensor 450 may be disposed on the substrate 300. In addition, the second sensor sheet 440-2 including the second sensor 460 may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display module 200.

As described with reference to FIG. 5A, when the substrate 300 or display module 200 to which the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are attached does not exhibit ground potential or exhibits a weak ground potential, FIG. In (d) to (d), the sensor sheet 440 may further include a ground electrode (not shown) between the substrate 300 or the display module 200 and the first insulating layers 470, 470-1, and 470-2. Can be. In this case, the sensor sheet 440 may further include an additional insulating layer (not shown) between the ground electrode (not shown) and the substrate 300 or the display module 200.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be directly formed on the display panel 200A. 6A to 6C are cross-sectional views illustrating an embodiment of a pressure sensor directly formed on various display panels in a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIG. 6A shows pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed in display panel 200A using an LCD panel. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 262. In this case, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the lower surface of the second polarization layer 272. When pressure is applied to the touch input device 1000, when detecting the touch pressure based on the mutual capacitance change amount, a driving signal is applied to the driving sensor 450, and the reference potential layer spaced apart from the pressure sensors 450 and 460. Receives an electrical signal from the receiving sensor 460 including information on the capacitance that changes in accordance with the distance change with the over-pressure sensor (450,460). When the touch pressure is detected based on the amount of change in the self capacitance, a driving signal is applied to the pressure sensors 450 and 460, and the distance between the reference potential layer spaced apart from the pressure sensors 450 and 460 and the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is changed. An electrical signal is received from the pressure sensors 450 and 460 that includes information about the changing capacitance. Here, the reference potential layer may be a substrate 300 or a cover disposed between the display panel 200A and the substrate 300 and performing a function of protecting the display panel 200A.

Next, FIG. 6B shows pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A using the OLED panel (especially, AM-OLED panel). In detail, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method of detecting the pressure is the same as the method described in Fig. 6a.

In the case of the OLED panel, since light is emitted from the organic layer 280, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the lower surface of the second substrate layer 283 disposed under the organic layer 280 may be made of an opaque material. However, in this case, since the pattern of the pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A may be visible to the user, in order to form the pressure sensors 450 and 460 directly on the lower surface of the second substrate layer 283, the second substrate may be used. After applying a light shielding layer such as black ink on the lower surface of the layer 283, pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the light shielding layer.

6B, pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed on the bottom surface of the second substrate layer 283, but a third substrate layer (not shown) is disposed below the second substrate layer 283. Pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the lower surface of the three substrate layer. In particular, when the display panel 200A is a flexible OLED panel, since the display panel 200A composed of the first substrate layer 281, the organic material layer 280, and the second substrate layer 283 is very thin and well bent, A third substrate layer that is relatively hard to be bent may be disposed below the substrate layer 283.

Next, Fig. 6C shows pressure sensors 450 and 460 formed in display panel 200A using an OLED panel. Specifically, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 283. At this time, the method of detecting the pressure is the same as the method described in Fig. 6a.

In addition, in FIG. 6C, the display panel 200A using the OLED panel has been described as an example, but pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed on the upper surface of the second substrate layer 272 of the display panel 200A using the LCD panel. It is possible.

6A to 6C, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed on the top or bottom surfaces of the second substrate layers 272 and 283, but the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are on the top and bottom surfaces of the first substrate layers 261 and 281. It is also possible to be formed in.

6A to 6C, the pressure sensing unit including the pressure sensors 450 and 460 is formed directly on the display panel 200A. However, the pressure sensing unit is directly formed on the substrate 300 and the potential layer is formed on the display panel. It may be 200A or a cover disposed between the display panel 200A and the substrate 300 to perform a function of protecting the display panel 200A.

6A to 6C, the reference potential layer is disposed below the pressure sensing unit. However, the reference potential layer may be disposed inside the display panel 200A. In detail, the reference potential layer may be disposed on the top or bottom surface of the first substrate layers 261 and 281 of the display panel 200A, or the top or bottom surface of the second substrate layers 262 and 283.

In addition, in the electrode sheet 440 of FIG. 5, the electrode sheet 440 is formed without the first insulating layer 470, that is, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are formed on one surface of the second insulating layer 471. It is also possible to form pressure sensors 450 and 460 directly on the display panel 200A by attaching the surface on which the insulating layer is not disposed, that is, the surface opposite to the second insulating layer 471, to the display panel 200A. . Specifically, the pressure sensors 450 and 60 may be directly formed on the display panel 200A by attaching a film having an electrode made of ITO to the display panel 200A.

In the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 for detecting the capacitance change amount are formed of the first sensor 450 and the sensor sheet which are directly formed on the display panel 200A. It may be composed of a second sensor 460 configured in the form. Specifically, the first sensor 450 is formed directly on the display panel 200A as described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C, and the second sensor 460 is configured in the form of a sensor sheet as described with reference to FIG. 4H and is touched. It may be attached to the input device 1000.

Hereinafter, a method of detecting a resistance that is a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4E, pressure sensors 450 and 460 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be disposed on the lower surface of the display panel 200A.

As shown in FIG. 4F, when pressure is applied to the surface of the cover layer 100 through the object 500, the cover layer 100 and the display panel 200A may be bent or pressed. As the display panel 200A is bent, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 disposed on the display panel 200A may be deformed, thereby changing resistance values of the pressure sensors 450 and 460. The magnitude of the touch pressure can be calculated from this change in resistance value.

7A, 7D and 7F are plan views of exemplary pressure sensors capable of sensing pressure applied to the touch input device according to the present invention. In this case, the pressure sensor may be a strain gauge. Strain gauges are devices in which the electrical resistance varies in proportion to the amount of strain. Generally, a metal bonded strain gauge may be used.

Materials that can be used for strain gauges are transparent materials, conductive polymers (PEDIOT: polyethyleneioxythiophene), ITO (indium tin oxide), ATO (antimony tin oxide), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and graphene ), Gallium zinc oxide, indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO), tin oxide (SnO ₂ ), indium oxide (In ₂ O ₃ ), zinc oxide (ZnO), gallium oxide (Ga ₂ O ₃ ), and cadmium oxide (CdO), other doped metal oxides, piezoresistive elements, piezoresistive semiconductor materials, piezoresistive metal materials, silver nanowires ( silver nanowires, platinum nanowires, nickel nanowires, and other metallic nanowires may be used. Opaque materials include silver ink, copper, nano silver, carbon nanotube (CNT), constantan alloy, karma alloys, doped Polycrystalline silicon, doped amorphous silicon, doped single crystal silicon, doped other semiconductor materials, and the like can be used.

As shown in Fig. 7A, the metal pressure sensor may be composed of metal foils arranged in a lattice manner. The lattice approach can maximize the amount of deformation of the metal wire or foil that is susceptible to deformation in the parallel direction. At this time, the vertical lattice cross section of the pressure sensor 450 shown in FIG. 7A can be minimized to reduce the effects of shear strain and Poisson strain.

In the example of FIG. 7A, pressure sensor 450 may include traces 451 that are not in contact but disposed close to each other while in an at rest state, that is, while not being strained or otherwise deformed. have. The pressure sensor may have a nominal resistance such as 1.8 KΩ ± 0.1% in the absence of strain or force. As a basic parameter of the pressure sensor, the sensitivity to strain may be expressed as a gauge factor (GF). At this time, the gauge coefficient can be defined as the ratio of the change in electrical resistance to the change in strain (strain), and can be expressed as a function of strain ε as follows.

Where ΔR is the amount of change in the pressure sensor resistance, R is the resistance of the undeformed pressure sensor, and GF is the gauge coefficient.

At this time, to measure small changes in resistance, pressure sensors are most often used in bridge configurations with voltage driven sources. 7B and 7C illustrate exemplary pressure sensors that can be applied to a touch input device in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the example of FIG. 7B, the pressure sensor is included in a Wheatstone bridge 3000 having four different resistors (shown as R1, R2, R3, R4) to indicate the applied pressure ( Change the resistance of the gauge relative to other resistors. The bridge 3000 is coupled to a pressure sensor interface (not shown), receives a drive signal (voltage V _EX ) from the touch controller (not shown) to drive the pressure sensor, and sense signal (voltage) representing the pressure applied for processing. V _O ) may be sent to the touch controller. In this case, the output voltage V _O of the bridge 3000 may be expressed as follows.

If the above equation is R1 / R2 = R4 / R3, the output voltage (V _O) it is zero. Under this condition, the bridge 3000 is in a balanced state. At this time, if the resistance value of any one of the resistors included in the bridge 3000 is changed, a non-zero output voltage V _O is output.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7C, when the pressure sensor 450 is R _G , and R _G changes, the change in the resistance of the pressure sensor 450 causes an unbalance in the bridge and an output voltage (V) other than zero (V). _O ) When the nominal resistance of the pressure sensor 450 is R _G , the change ΔR of the resistance induced by the deformation may be expressed as ΔR = R _G × GF × ε through the gauge coefficient equation. At this time, assuming that R1 = R2 and R3 = R _G , the bridge equation is rewritten as a function of strain? Of V _O / V _EX .

Although the bridge of FIG. 7C includes only one pressure sensor 450, up to four pressure sensors can be used in the locations shown by R1, R2, R3, R4 included in the bridge of FIG. 7B, in which case the gauges It will be appreciated that the resistance change can be used to sense the applied pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, when pressure is applied to the display panel 200A on which the pressure sensor 450 is formed, the display panel 200A is bent and the trace 451 as the display panel 200A is bent. ) And the trace 451 becomes longer and narrower, resulting in an increase in the resistance of the pressure sensor 450. As the pressure applied increases, the resistance of the pressure sensor 450 may increase correspondingly. Therefore, when the pressure sensor controller 1300 detects a rise in the resistance value of the pressure sensor 450, the rise may be interpreted as a pressure applied to the display panel 200A.

In another embodiment, the bridge 3000 may be integrated with the pressure sensor controller 1300, in which case at least one or more of the resistors R1, R2, R3 may be replaced by a resistance in the pressure sensor controller 1300. have. For example, resistors R2 and R3 may be replaced with resistors in pressure sensor controller 1300 and form bridge 3000 with pressure sensor 450 and resistor R1. As a result, the space occupied by the bridge 3000 may be reduced.

In the pressure sensor 450 shown in FIG. 7A, since the trace 451 is aligned in the horizontal direction, since the length variation of the trace 451 is large with respect to the horizontal deformation, the sensitivity of the horizontal sensor is high but vertical. Since the change in the length of the trace 451 is relatively small with respect to the deformation in the direction, the sensitivity to the deformation in the vertical direction is low. As shown in FIG. 7D, the pressure sensor 450 may include a plurality of subregions, and may configure different alignment directions of the trace 451 included in each subregion. By configuring the pressure sensor 450 including the traces 451 having different alignment directions, the sensitivity difference of the pressure sensor 450 with respect to the deformation direction can be reduced.

The touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a pressure sensor configured as a single channel by forming one pressure sensor 450 as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D under the display panel 200A. In addition, the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention may include a pressure sensor composed of a plurality of channels by forming a plurality of pressure sensors 450 under the display panel 200A as shown in FIG. 7E. By using the pressure sensor composed of the plurality of channels, it is also possible to simultaneously sense the magnitude of each of the plurality of pressures for the plurality of touches.

The temperature change may adversely affect the pressure sensor 450 because the increase in temperature may inflate the display panel 200A without the applied pressure, and as a result, the pressure sensor 450 formed in the display panel 200A may increase. . As a result, the resistance of the pressure sensor 450 increases and may be misinterpreted as the pressure applied to the pressure sensor 450.

To compensate for the temperature change, at least one or more of the resistors R1, R2, R3 of the bridge 3000 shown in FIG. 7C may be replaced by a thermistor. The change in resistance due to the temperature of the thermistor may correspond to the change in resistance due to the temperature of the pressure sensor 450 due to the thermal expansion of the display panel 200A in which the pressure sensor 450 is formed, thereby output voltage V due to the temperature _O ) can reduce the change.

In addition, two gauges can be used to minimize the effects of temperature variations. For example, as shown in FIG. 7F, when deformation in the horizontal direction occurs, the trace 451 of the pressure sensor 450 may be aligned in the horizontal direction parallel to the deformation direction, and the dummy pressure sensor 460. Trace 461 may be aligned in a vertical direction orthogonal to the deformation direction. At this time, the deformation affects the pressure sensor 450 and hardly affects the dummy pressure sensor 460, but the temperature has the same effect on both the pressure sensor 450 and the dummy pressure sensor 460. Therefore, since the temperature change is applied equally to the two gauges, the ratio of the nominal resistance R _G of the two gauges does not change. In this case, when these two gauges share the output node of the Wheatstone bridge, that is, when the two gauges are R1 and R2 in FIG. 7B, or R3 and R4, the output voltage V _O of the bridge 3000. Also, since it does not change, the influence of temperature change can be minimized.

Similarly, when the pressure sensors 450 and 460 are strain gauges in the touch input device 1000 according to the present invention, the pressure sensors 450 and 460 may be directly formed on the display panel 200A as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

8A to 8C are plan views of the pressure sensing unit in the form of an electrode sheet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 8A to 8C do not show an insulating layer disposed on the pressure sensor for convenience of illustration of the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit. 8D to 8G are cross-sectional views of the pressure sensing unit in the form of an electrode sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIGS. 8D to 8G, the pressure sensing unit in the form of an electrode sheet includes both the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may include only one of the second insulating layer and the third insulating layer. It is possible. In this case, the surface on which the insulating layer is not disposed may be directly attached to the touch input device. For example, the surface on which the insulating layer is not disposed may be attached to the lower surface of the display panel.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the pressure sensor 450 included in the pressure sensing unit may be configured in a rectangular shape having a high sensitivity of the first electrical characteristics. As shown in FIG. The included pressure sensor 450 may be configured in a thin and long shape having a high sensitivity of the second electrical characteristic.

At this time, the pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of pressure sensors 450, as shown in Figure 5 (a), a plurality of pressure sensors 450 may be arranged in one layer, as shown in Figure 8d As described above, the plurality of pressure sensors 450 are disposed on both sides with the first insulating layer 470 interposed therebetween, and the second insulating layer is disposed on the surface opposite to the first insulating layer 470 of the pressure sensor 450. 471 and a third insulating layer 472 may be disposed. In this case, the shape of the pressure sensor 450 disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer 470 may be the same as the shape shown in FIG. 8A or 8B.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the pressure sensing unit may be disposed above the display panel 200A, or as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4H, and may be disposed below the display panel 200A. Specifically, the pressure sensing unit may be included in the cover layer 100 as shown in FIG. 4A, or may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A as shown in FIG. 4E, and the pressure sensor of FIG. 4G ( 450 or the pressure sensor 460 of FIG. 4H may be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 300. 6A to 6C, the display panel 200A may be directly formed on the display panel 200A.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2B, a first signal including information about the first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor 450 and a second signal including information about the second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor 450. May be input to the pressure sensor controller 1300 from the pressure sensing unit. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2C, a first signal including information about a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor 450 is input from the pressure sensing unit to the first pressure sensor controller 1301, and the pressure sensor 450 is provided. The second signal including information on the second electrical characteristic of the second) may be input from the pressure sensing unit to the second pressure sensor controller 1302.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8E to 8G, the pressure sensing unit includes a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor 452 and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor 453. It may include. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8C, the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 may be disposed on the same layer. In addition, the shape of the first pressure sensor 452 and the shape of the second pressure sensor 453 may be different. Specifically, the first pressure sensor 452 included in the first pressure sensing unit may be configured in a rectangular shape having a high sensitivity of the first electrical characteristic, or the second pressure sensor included in the second pressure sensing unit ( 453 may be configured as a thin and long shape having a high sensitivity of the second electrical characteristic. In addition, the material constituting the first pressure sensor 452 may be different from the material constituting the second pressure sensor 453. Specifically, the material constituting the first pressure sensor 452 may be made of a metal such as copper having high sensitivity of capacitance, which is a first electrical characteristic detected by the first pressure sensor 452, and a second pressure sensor. The material constituting 453 may be made of silicon having a high sensitivity of resistance, which is a second electrical characteristic detected by the second pressure sensor 453. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8C, the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor are disposed so that the first pressure sensors 452 are not adjacent to each other and the second pressure sensors 453 are not adjacent to each other. 453 may be alternately arranged. In this way, by alternately disposing the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453, the first electrical characteristic detected from the first pressure sensor 452 and the second detected from the second pressure sensor 453. 2 Both electrical characteristics have the advantage of maintaining a uniform sensitivity regardless of the pressure applied position.

8E to 8G, the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 are disposed at both sides with the first insulating layer 470 interposed therebetween, and the first pressure sensor ( The second insulating layer 471 and the third insulating layer 472 may be disposed on a surface opposite to the first insulating layer 470 of the 452 and the second pressure sensor 453.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8E, a first pressure sensor 452 is disposed on one side of the first insulating layer 470, and a second pressure sensor 453 is disposed on the other side of the first insulating layer 470. Can be deployed. In this case, the shape of the first pressure sensor 452 disposed on one side of the first insulating layer 470 may be the same as the shape shown in FIG. 8A, and the second disposed on the other side of the first insulating layer 470. The shape of the pressure sensor 453 may be the same as the shape shown in FIG. 8B.

In addition, in FIG. 8E, the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit are included in one electrode sheet, but embodiments are not limited thereto. In detail, the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit may be disposed in the touch input device in a separate configuration. More specifically, any one of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on the display panel 200A, as shown in FIG. 4A, and the other is as shown in FIGS. 4B to 4H. Likewise, the display panel 200A may be disposed below the display panel 200A. In this case, the pressure sensing unit disposed on the display panel 200A may be included in the cover layer 100 as shown in FIG. 4A. In addition, the pressure sensing unit disposed below the display panel 200A may be disposed on the bottom surface of the display panel 200A as shown in FIG. 4E, and the pressure sensor 450 of FIG. 4G or the pressure sensor of FIG. 4H ( It may be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 300, such as 460. In addition, the pressure sensing unit disposed under the display panel 200A may be formed directly on the display panel 200A, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. In addition, as in the shape of the pressure electrodes 450 and 460 illustrated in FIGS. 4G, 4H, and 5D, any one of the first pressure detector and the second pressure detector may be a lower surface of the display panel 200A. The other may be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 300.

8F and 8G, the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 may be disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer 470.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8F, the first pressure sensor 452 may be disposed on an opposite surface of the first insulating layer 470 at the same position where the first pressure sensor 452 is disposed. The second pressure sensor 453 may be disposed on an opposite surface of the first insulating layer 470 at the same position where the second pressure sensor 453 is disposed. In this case, the shapes of the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer 470 may be the same as those shown in FIG. 8C. That is, the shapes of the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 may be different from each other, or materials may be different, and may be alternately disposed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 8G, the second pressure sensor 453 may be disposed on an opposite surface of the first insulating layer 470 at the same position where the first pressure sensor 452 is disposed. The first pressure sensor 452 may be disposed on an opposite surface of the first insulating layer 470 at the same position where the second pressure sensor 453 is disposed. That is, the first pressure sensor 452 and the first pressure sensor 452 are not adjacent to each other with the first insulating layer 470 interposed therebetween, and the second pressure sensors 453 are also not adjacent to each other. The two pressure sensors 453 may be alternately arranged with respect to the first insulating layer 470. In this case, the shapes of the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer 470 may be the same as those shown in FIG. 8C. That is, the shapes of the first pressure sensor 452 and the second pressure sensor 453 may be different from each other, or materials may be different, and may be alternately disposed.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2D, a first signal including information about a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor 452 is input from the first pressure sensor to the pressure sensor controller 1300, and The second signal including information on the second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor 453 may be input from the second pressure sensor to the pressure sensor controller 1300. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2E, a first signal including information about a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor 452 is input from the first pressure sensor to the first pressure sensor controller 1301, A second signal including information on a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor 453 may be input from the second pressure sensor to the second pressure sensor controller 1302.

As shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C, when the first signal and the second signal are input from the same pressure sensing unit, the pressure sensor controller is time-divided so as to detect the first electrical characteristics during the first time period. The signal may be applied to the pressure sensing unit, and a second driving signal for detecting the second electrical characteristic may be applied to the pressure sensing unit in a second time interval different from the first time interval. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 2E, when the first signal is received from the first pressure detector and the second signal is received from the second pressure detector, the pressure sensor controller detects the first electrical characteristics. The second driving signal for detecting the second electrical characteristics may be applied to the second pressure sensing unit at the same time interval as the time for applying the first driving signal to the first pressure sensing unit. Time-division to apply a first driving signal for detecting the first electrical characteristic to the first pressure section in the first time section, and to detect the second electrical characteristic in a second time section different from the first time section. The second driving signal may be applied to the second pressure sensing unit.

In this case, when the first electrical characteristic is capacitance and the second electrical characteristic is resistance, when the second pressure sensing unit is disposed between the first pressure sensing unit detecting the first electrical characteristic and the reference potential layer, the second pressure sensing unit is arranged. Since the pressure sensing unit may affect the sensing of the distance change between the first pressure sensing unit and the reference potential layer, the first time of applying the first driving signal for detecting the first electrical characteristic to the first pressure sensing unit. In the section, the second pressure sensor included in the second pressure sensing unit may be floated.

Hereinafter, a method of calculating the magnitude of pressure using the first signal and the second signal will be described.

First, a normalized first value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure is calculated from the first signal, and a normalized second value corresponding to the magnitude of the pressure is calculated from the second signal, and then a function of the first value and the second value. This can be determined by the magnitude of the pressure applied. Specifically, the first value and the second value may be weighted to determine the magnitude of the applied pressure. For example, a weight of 0.8 may be assigned to the first value, a weight of 0.2 is assigned to the second value, and the magnitude of the applied pressure may be calculated by adding the weighted first value and the second value. In summary, when the pressure value to be calculated is V, and the first value is V1 and the second value is V2, the pressure calculation using the weight may be expressed as an expression.

At this time, the weight may vary depending on the position where the pressure is applied. For example, the closer the pressure application position is to the center of the touch input device, the greater the weight given to the first value, and the closer the pressure application location to the edge of the touch input device, the greater the weight given to the second value Can be. This weight may be stored as a preset value for the pressure application position.

In addition, the weight may vary according to various states of the touch input device such as the temperature of the touch input device. For example, as the temperature of the touch input device increases, the weight given to the first value increases, and as the temperature of the touch input device decreases, the weight given to the second value increases. The state of the touch input device such as temperature may be sensed through various sensors, and the weight may be stored as a preset value for each state.

Alternatively, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the first value may be determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure, and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the second value may be determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure.

Specifically, the predetermined condition may be a condition in which the touch area is equal to or larger than a predetermined area. For example, if the touched area is calculated from the touch sensor, and if the touched area is equal to or larger than the predetermined area, the first value is determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure, otherwise, the second value is determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure. Can be determined. At this time, in the case of capacitance, the value changes according to the change in distance between the pressure sensor and the reference potential layer, so that the capacitance is suitable as an electrical property for detecting pressure when the touch input device is gently curved over a large area. In the case of resistance, since the value changes according to the change in the length of the pressure sensor, the resistance may be suitable as an electrical property for detecting pressure when the touch input device is rapidly bent over a narrow area.

In addition, similarly, the predetermined condition may be a condition in which the profile form of the first signal or the second signal corresponds to the preset form. As a relief, when the profile of the first signal or the second signal is compared to the preset form, when the profile of the first signal or the second signal is gently formed over a large area, the touch input device has a large area. Since it can be judged to be gently bent, when the capacitance is suitable as an electrical characteristic for detecting the pressure, and the profile of the first signal or the second signal is formed rapidly with respect to a narrow area, the touch input device has a small area. As it can be determined that the sharp bending with respect to the resistance, the resistance may be suitable as an electrical characteristic for detecting the pressure.

Also, similarly, the predetermined condition may be a condition that the touch input is a multi input. In the case of a single input, since only the pressure for one input needs to be detected, the capacitance is suitable as an electrical characteristic for detecting the pressure, and in the case of the multi input, the touch input device needs to detect the pressure of each of the multi inputs. Resistance, which is an electrical property that is easy to detect the pressure of each of the plurality of portions that are deflected, may be suitable.

The predetermined condition may be a condition in which the SNR value of the first signal is equal to or greater than the SNR value of the second signal. If the SNR value is small, the detected signal is more affected by changes caused by other factors such as noise than the change due to the pressure actually applied. It can indicate the size. Therefore, a signal having a large SNR value can be selected to determine the magnitude of the applied pressure.

Specifically, in FIGS. 2B and 2C, since the pressure sensor controller 1300 receives the first signal and the second signal, the pressure sensor controller 1300 calculates a first value from the first signal, and the second signal. The second value may be calculated from the signal, the magnitude of the applied pressure may be determined using the first value and the second value as described above, and then the calculated value may be output to the processor 1500. 2D and 2E, the processor 1500 receives the first value calculated from the first signal and the second value calculated from the second signal. The first value and the second value may be used to determine the magnitude of the applied pressure.

Hereinafter, a method of driving the touch input device for detecting the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic will be described.

First, according to the user's selection, the first mode does not detect the second electrical characteristic but calculates the magnitude of the pressure by detecting only the first electrical characteristic, the first electrical characteristic is not detected, and only the second electrical characteristic is detected. The touch input device may be manipulated by the user such that any one of the second mode calculating the magnitude of the pressure and the third mode calculating the magnitude of the pressure by detecting the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is driven.

In addition, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the touch input device may be set to drive any one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode.

In more detail, the predetermined condition may be a condition in which a temperature of the touch input device is included in a preset range. For example, the touch input device may be set to detect only the temperature affected by the temperature among the first electrical property and the second electrical property only when the temperature of the touch input device is lower than the preset temperature.

In addition, the predetermined condition may be a condition in which a magnitude of noise affecting the touch input device is included in a preset range. For example, the touch input device may be set to detect only when the noise affecting the touch input device is smaller than a predetermined size among the first electrical characteristics and the second electrical characteristics, which are affected by ambient noise such as display noise. .

Hereinafter, a method of detecting the magnitude of each of the plurality of pressures using the first electrical characteristics and the second electrical characteristics will be described.

When N touch pressures are applied to the touch input device and detect the first electrical characteristics and the second electrical characteristics from the pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit, N based on the detected first electrical characteristics and the second electrical characteristics. The magnitude of each of the two pressures can be calculated. Specifically, the pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of pressure sensors, and detects a first signal including information on the first electrical characteristic from at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors, and the different M pressures among the plurality of pressure sensors. M second signals each including information on the second electrical characteristic may be detected from the sensor. Then, the first value is calculated from the first signal, the N second values are calculated from the M second signals, and the magnitude of each of the N pressures is calculated based on the calculated first value and the N second values. Can be calculated.

Similarly, when N touch pressures are applied to the touch input device and detect the first electrical characteristic from the first pressure sensor included in the pressure sensing unit, and detect the second electrical characteristic from the second pressure sensor, The magnitude of each of the N pressures may be calculated based on the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic. In detail, the first signal including the information on the first electrical characteristics is detected from the first pressure sensor, and the pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of second pressure sensors, and M different M among the plurality of second pressure sensors M second signals may be detected from the two pressure sensors, each of which includes information about a second electrical characteristic. Then, the first value is calculated from the first signal, the N second values are calculated from the M second signals, and the magnitude of each of the N pressures is calculated based on the calculated first value and the N second values. Can be calculated.

At this time, the total magnitude of the N pressures can be calculated from the first value, and the ratio of each of the N pressures to the total magnitude of the N pressures can be calculated from the N second values. The magnitude of each of the N pressures can then be calculated from the total magnitude of the N pressures and the ratio of each of the N pressures. Specifically, when the i-th pressure value to be calculated is Vi, the first value is V1, and the i-th second value is V2i, each of N pressures using the first value and N second values, respectively. Calculating the size of can be expressed as the following equation.

For example, if N = 3, the first value is 2, and the three second values are 2, 3, and 5, respectively, the first pressure value is 2 x (2 / (2 + 3 + 5)) = 0.4 And the second pressure value may be 2 × (3 / (2 + 3 + 5)) = 0.6 and the third pressure value may be 2 × (2 / (2 + 3 + 5)) = 1.0.

In the above, N and M are natural numbers, and M may be equal to or greater than N.

In this case, the first electrical characteristic may be a capacitance, and the second electrical characteristic may be a resistance. When a plurality of pressures are applied, in the case of capacitance, as the display module is bent, not only the capacitance of the pressure sensor corresponding to the position where the pressure is applied but also the capacitance of the pressure sensor located in the vicinity thereof are changed together. do. On the other hand, in the case of resistance, as the display module is bent, the resistance of the pressure sensor corresponding to the position at which the pressure is applied is greatly changed, but the resistance of the pressure sensor located in the vicinity thereof is relatively little changed. Therefore, the first electrical characteristic used to calculate the magnitude of the total pressure is suitable for capacitance with high pressure detection sensitivity, and the second electrical characteristic used to calculate the ratio of each of the N pressures is a difference between a plurality of respective pressure values. Relatively clearly distinguished resistors may be suitable.

Although the capacitance has been described as the first electrical characteristic and the resistance has been described as the second electrical characteristic, for example, the present invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to calculate the magnitude of the pressure by detecting the electrical characteristics other than the capacitance and the resistance.

In addition, the above description has been made with reference to the embodiment, which is merely an example, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be illustrated as above without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It will be appreciated that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. And differences relating to such modifications and applications will have to be construed as being included in the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a pressure sensing unit and a touch input device capable of detecting a plurality of electrical characteristics to detect an accurate pressure may be provided.

Claims (46)

1. In the touch input device which can detect the touch pressure,

   Display panel; And

   And a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor.

   The pressure sensing unit detects a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor,

   Calculating a magnitude of pressure based on the first electrical property and the second electrical property,

   Touch input device.
2. The method of claim 1,

   The pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of pressure sensors,

   The plurality of pressure sensors are disposed in one layer,

   Touch input device.
3. The method of claim 1,

   The pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of pressure sensors and a first insulating layer,

   The plurality of pressure sensors are disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer,

   Touch input device.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

   The pressure sensing unit is disposed above the display panel,

   Touch input device.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

   The pressure sensing unit is disposed below the display panel,

   Touch input device.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

   The pressure sensing unit is directly formed on the lower surface of the display panel,

   Touch input device.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

   A first driving signal for detecting the first electrical characteristic is applied to the pressure sensing unit in a first time interval,

   A second driving signal for detecting the second electrical characteristic is applied to the pressure sensing unit at a second time interval different from the first time interval.

   Touch input device.
8. In the touch input device which can detect the touch pressure,

   Display panel; And

   It includes a pressure sensing unit;

   The pressure sensing unit may include a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor.

   The first pressure detector detects a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor,

   The second pressure detector detects a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor,

   Calculating a magnitude of pressure based on the first electrical property and the second electrical property,

   Touch input device.
9. The method of claim 8,

   Wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are disposed on the same layer,

   Touch input device.
10. The method of claim 9,

    The first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are alternately arranged,

    Touch input device.
11. The method of claim 8,

    The pressure sensing unit further includes a first insulating layer,

    The first pressure sensor is disposed on one side of the first insulating layer,

    The second pressure sensor is disposed on the other side of the first insulating layer,

    Touch input device.
12. The method of claim 8,

    The pressure sensing unit further includes a first insulating layer,

    The first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are disposed on both sides of the first insulating layer,

    The first pressure sensor disposed on one side of the first insulating layer and the second pressure sensor disposed on one side of the first insulating layer are alternately disposed;

    The first pressure sensor disposed on the other side of the first insulating layer and the second pressure sensor disposed on the other side of the first insulating layer are alternately disposed;

    Touch input device.
13. The method of claim 12,

    Wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor are alternately disposed with respect to the first insulating layer,

    Touch input device.
14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13,

    The pressure sensing unit is disposed above the display panel,

    Touch input device.
15. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13,

    The pressure sensing unit is disposed below the display panel,

    Touch input device.
16. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13,

    The pressure sensing unit is directly formed on the lower surface of the display panel,

    Touch input device.
17. The method of claim 8,

    One of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on the display panel,

    The other one of the first pressure detector and the second pressure detector is disposed under the display panel,

    Touch input device.
18. The method of claim 17,

    The other of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on the lower surface of the display panel,

    Touch input device.
19. The method of claim 17,

    And a substrate disposed spaced apart from the lower portion of the display panel.

    The other one of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate,

    Touch input device.
20. The method of claim 17,

    The other one of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is formed directly on the lower surface of the display panel,

    Touch input device.
21. The method of claim 8,

    And a substrate disposed spaced apart from the lower portion of the display panel.

    One of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on a lower surface of the display panel,

    The other one of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate,

    Touch input device.
22. The method of claim 21,

    One of the first pressure sensing unit and the second pressure sensing unit is directly formed on a lower surface of the display panel.

    Touch input device.
23. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and 17 to 22,

    The shape of the first pressure sensor is different from the shape of the second pressure sensor,

    Touch input device.
24. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and 17 to 22,

    The material constituting the first pressure sensor is different from the material constituting the second pressure sensor,

    Touch input device.
25. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and 17 to 22,

    A first driving signal for detecting the first electrical characteristic is applied to the first pressure sensing unit in a first time interval,

    The first driving signal for detecting the second electrical characteristics is applied to the first pressure sensing unit in a second time interval different from the first time interval,

    Touch input device.
26. The method of claim 25,

    The second pressure sensor is floated in the first time interval,

    Touch input device.
27. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 and 17 to 22,

    A first driving signal for detecting the first electrical characteristic is applied to the first pressure sensing unit in a first time interval,

    A second driving signal is applied to the second pressure sensing unit to detect the second electrical characteristic in the first time period.

    Touch input device.
28. The method according to claim 1 or 8,

    Calculating a first value from a first signal including information about the first electrical characteristic,

    Calculating a second value from a second signal including information on the second electrical characteristic,

    Determining the magnitude of the applied pressure as a function of the first value and the second value,

    Touch input device.
29. The method of claim 28,

    Determining a magnitude of the applied pressure by giving predetermined weights to the first value and the second value, respectively,

    Touch input device.
30. The method of claim 29,

    The weight depends on where the pressure is applied,

    Touch input device.
31. The method according to claim 1 or 8,

    Calculating a first value from a first signal including information about the first electrical characteristic,

    Calculating a second value from a second signal including information on the second electrical characteristic,

    When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the first value is determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure, and when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the second value is determined as the magnitude of the applied pressure.

    Touch input device.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein

    The predetermined condition is a condition in which the touch area is equal to or larger than a predetermined area.

    Touch input device.
33. The method of claim 31, wherein

    The predetermined condition is a condition in which a profile form of the first signal corresponds to a preset form.

    Touch input device.
34. The method of claim 31, wherein

    The predetermined condition is a condition that the touch input is a multi-input,

    Touch input device.
35. The method of claim 31, wherein

    The predetermined condition is a condition in which the SNR value of the first signal is equal to or greater than the SNR value of the second signal.

    Touch input device.
36. In the touch input device which can detect the touch pressure,

    Display panel; And

    And a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor.

    The pressure sensing unit may detect a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor,

    A first mode of detecting the first electrical characteristic without detecting the second electrical characteristic and calculating the magnitude of pressure, and calculating the magnitude of the pressure by detecting only the second electrical characteristic without detecting the first electrical characteristic. Any one of a second mode, a third mode of detecting the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic and calculating a magnitude of pressure is selectively driven.

    Touch input device.
37. In the touch input device which can detect the touch pressure,

    Display panel; And

    And a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor.

    The pressure sensing unit may include a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor.

    The first pressure sensing unit may detect a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor,

    The second pressure sensing unit may detect a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor,

    A first mode of detecting the first electrical characteristic without detecting the second electrical characteristic and calculating the magnitude of pressure, and calculating the magnitude of the pressure by detecting only the second electrical characteristic without detecting the first electrical characteristic. Any one of a second mode, a third mode of detecting the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic and calculating a magnitude of pressure is selectively driven.

    Touch input device.
38. The method of claim 36 or 37,

    According to the user's selection, any one of the first mode, the second mode and the third mode is driven,

    Touch input device.
39. The method of claim 36 or 37,

    When a predetermined condition is satisfied, any one of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode is driven.

    Touch input device.
40. The method of claim 39,

    The predetermined condition is a condition in which a temperature of the touch input device is included in a preset range.

    Touch input device.
41. The method of claim 39,

    The predetermined condition is a condition in which a magnitude of noise affecting the touch input device is included in a preset range.

    Touch input device.
42. In a touch input device capable of detecting N touch pressures,

    Display panel; And

    And a pressure sensing unit including a pressure sensor.

    The pressure sensing unit detects a first electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor and a second electrical characteristic of the pressure sensor,

    Calculating a magnitude of each of the N pressures based on the first and second electrical characteristics;

    Touch input device.
43. The method of claim 42, wherein

    The pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of pressure sensors,

    Detecting a first signal including information on the first electrical characteristic from at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors,

    Calculating a first value from the first signal,

    Detecting M second signals including information on the second electrical characteristics from M pressure sensors which are different from each other among the plurality of pressure sensors,

    Calculating N second values from the M second signals,

    Calculating a magnitude of each of the N pressures based on the first value and the N second values,

    Touch input device.
44. In a touch input device capable of detecting N touch pressures,

    Display panel; And

    It includes a pressure sensing unit;

    The pressure sensing unit may include a first pressure sensing unit including a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensing unit including a second pressure sensor.

    The first pressure detector detects a first electrical characteristic of the first pressure sensor,

    The second pressure detector detects a second electrical characteristic of the second pressure sensor,

    Calculating a magnitude of each of the N pressures based on the first and second electrical characteristics;

    Touch input device.
45. The method of claim 44,

    Calculating a first value from a first signal detected from the first pressure sensor and including information about the first electrical characteristic,

    The second pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of second pressure sensors,

    Detecting M second signals including information on the second electrical characteristics from M second pressure sensors which are different from each other among the plurality of second pressure sensors,

    Calculating N second values from the M second signals,

    Calculating a magnitude of each of the N pressures based on the first value and the N second values,

    Touch input device.
46. 46. The method of claim 43 or 45,

    Calculate the total magnitude of the N pressures from the first value,

    Calculating the ratio of each of the N pressures to the total magnitude of the N pressures from the N second values,

    Calculating the magnitude of each of the N pressures from the total magnitude of the N pressures and the ratio of each of the N pressures,

    Touch input device.

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