Touch display device

Abstract

A touch display device includes an array substrate, a counter substrate disposed on the array substrate, and a display medium disposed between the array substrate and the counter substrate. The array substrate includes multiple scan lines, multiple data lines and a common electrode. The data lines are interlaced with the scan lines and divided into multiple touch electrode groups. During a display period, each of the data lines receives a display signals, and during a touch period, each of the touch electrode groups receives a first touch signal. The common electrode is disposed on the data lines and includes multiple touch electrode patterns. During the display period, the common electrode receives a reference voltage, and during the touch period, each of the touch electrode patterns receives a second touch signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a touch display device, and more particularly to a touch display device that uses data lines and common electrodes as touch electrodes. Prior Technology

[0002] With advancements in electronics manufacturing technology, an increasing number of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, feature touch and display capabilities for user convenience. Currently, touch technologies for touch display devices include one-glass solution (OGS) touch technology, on-cell touch technology, and in-cell touch technology. Among these technologies, in-cell touch technology integrates the touch electrodes into the display panel, thus offering the advantage of a thinner and lighter design.

[0003] However, as the resolution of touch display devices increases, the pixel size becomes smaller and smaller. In order to set up touch electrodes, the area of ​​the pixel electrodes is sacrificed. In order to reduce the touch load, for example, the capacitance between the touch electrodes and the gate and drain is reduced, which leads to insufficient storage capacitance of the pixels, thus affecting the display quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a touch display device that can improve display quality without the need for additional touch electrodes that would sacrifice the area of ​​pixel electrodes and storage capacitance.

[0005] The touch display device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention includes an array substrate, a counter substrate, and a display medium. The counter substrate is disposed on the array substrate, and the display medium is disposed between the array substrate and the counter substrate. The array substrate includes a substrate, multiple scan lines, multiple data lines, multiple pixel electrodes, and a common electrode. The scan lines are disposed on the substrate. The data lines are disposed on the substrate and intersect with the scan lines. The data lines are divided into multiple touch electrode groups. During display, each data line receives a display signal, and during touch, each touch electrode group receives a first touch signal. The pixel electrodes are disposed on the data lines and are electrically connected to the data lines. The common electrode is disposed on the data lines and includes multiple touch electrode patterns. During display, the common electrode receives a reference voltage, and during touch, each touch electrode pattern receives a second touch signal.

[0006] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, during the display period, the plurality of scan lines respectively receive one of an on signal and an off signal, and during the touch period, the plurality of scan lines respectively receive a third touch signal, the waveform of the third touch signal is the same as the waveform of the first touch signal, and the voltage difference between the third touch signal and the off signal is the same as the voltage value of the first touch signal.

[0007] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the touch display device has a display area and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area, and further includes a driving circuit. The plurality of data lines extend from the display area to the peripheral area and are electrically connected to the driving circuit in the peripheral area. During the display period, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the plurality of data lines respectively, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the plurality of touch electrode groups respectively.

[0008] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the driving circuit includes a plurality of first pins, and the plurality of data lines are electrically connected to these first pins in the peripheral area respectively. During the display period, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the plurality of data lines through these first pins respectively, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the plurality of touch electrode groups through these first pins respectively.

[0009] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the driving circuit includes a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins, the plurality of data lines are electrically connected to these first pins in the peripheral area, and the array substrate further includes a plurality of switching elements located in the peripheral area and electrically connected to the plurality of data lines and the plurality of second pins. During the display, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the plurality of data lines through the first pins, and during the touch, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the plurality of touch electrode groups through the second pins.

[0010] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the driving circuit further includes a plurality of third pins, and the plurality of touch electrode patterns of the common electrode are electrically connected to these third pins in the peripheral area respectively. During the display, the driving circuit provides the reference voltage to the common electrode through these third pins respectively, and during the touch, the driving circuit provides the second touch signal to the plurality of touch electrode patterns through these third pins respectively.

[0011] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, during the display period, the plurality of switching elements respectively receive a low potential signal to turn off the plurality of switching elements, and during the touch period, the plurality of switching elements respectively receive a high potential signal to turn on the plurality of switching elements, so that the plurality of touch electrode groups respectively receive the first touch signal.

[0012] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, each of the touch electrode groups is a touch driving electrode, and each of the touch electrode patterns is a touch sensing electrode.

[0013] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the voltage difference between the second touch signal and the reference voltage is different from the voltage value of the first touch signal.

[0014] In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the width of each of the touch electrode groups and the width of each of the touch electrode patterns are 3 mm to 7 mm, respectively. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0015] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a touch display device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a top view of an array substrate according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A is an enlarged view of region A in Figure 2. Figure 3B is a cross-sectional schematic diagram drawn along line a-a' in Figure 3A. Figure 4 is a waveform schematic diagram of a touch display device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention during a frame period. Figure 5 is a top view of an array substrate according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Implementation

[0016] In the following text, to clearly present the technical features of the present invention, the dimensions (e.g., length, width, thickness, and depth) of the elements (e.g., layers, films, substrates, and regions) in the drawings will be enlarged proportionally, and the number of some elements may be reduced. Therefore, the description and explanation of the embodiments below are not limited to the number of elements in the drawings or the size and shape of the elements, but should cover the size, shape, and deviations from both caused by actual manufacturing processes and / or tolerances. For example, a flat surface shown in the drawings may have rough and / or non-linear characteristics, and an acute angle shown in the drawings may be rounded. Therefore, the elements presented in the drawings of the present invention are mainly for illustration and are not intended to accurately depict the actual shape of the elements, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[0017] Secondly, the terms "approximately," "approximately," or "substantially" used in this invention not only cover explicitly stated numerical values ​​and ranges, but also the permissible deviation range understandable to those skilled in the art. This deviation range can be determined by errors generated during measurement, which may arise from limitations of the measurement system or process conditions. For example, two objects (e.g., planes or traces of a substrate) are "substantially parallel" or "substantially perpendicular." "Substantially parallel" and "substantially perpendicular" respectively indicate that the parallelism and perpendicularity between the two objects can include non-parallelism and non-perpendicularity caused by permissible deviation ranges.

[0018] Furthermore, "approximately" can indicate that the value is within one or more standard deviations, such as ±30%, ±20%, ±10%, or ±5%. The terms "approximately," "approximately," or "substantially" used in this invention can be selected based on the optical, etching, mechanical, or other properties to determine an acceptable range of deviations or standard deviations, and do not apply a single standard deviation to all of the aforementioned optical, etching, mechanical, and other properties.

[0019] The spatial relative terms used in this invention, such as "below," "under," "above," and "above," are for the convenience of describing the relative relationship between one element or feature and another, as illustrated in the figures. The true meaning of these spatial relative terms includes other orientations. For example, when the illustration is rotated 180 degrees vertically, the relationship between one element and another may change from "below" or "under" to "above" or "above." Furthermore, the spatial relative descriptions used in this invention should be interpreted in the same way.

[0020] It should be understood that although the present invention may use terms such as "first," "second," and "third" to describe various elements or signals, these elements or signals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are primarily used to distinguish one element from another, or one signal from another. Furthermore, the term "or" as used in the present invention may, as appropriate, include any combination of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details of the present invention can also be combined, modified and changed in various embodiments based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a touch display device 10 according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. The touch display device 10 includes an array substrate 100, a counter substrate 200, and a display medium 300. The counter substrate 200 is disposed on the array substrate 100, and the display medium 300 is disposed between the array substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200.

[0023] Figure 2 is a top view of an array substrate 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A is an enlarged view of region A in Figure 2. Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view drawn along line a-a' in Figure 3A. Referring to Figures 2, 3A and 3B, the array substrate 100 includes a substrate 102, multiple scan lines GL, multiple data lines DL, multiple pixel electrodes PE and a common electrode CE.

[0024] These scan lines GL are disposed on the substrate 102, and these data lines DL are disposed on the substrate 102 and intersect with these scan lines GL. These data lines DL are divided into multiple touch electrode groups TG. These pixel electrodes PE are disposed on these data lines DL, and these pixel electrodes PE are electrically connected to these data lines DL respectively. A common electrode CE is disposed on these data lines DL and includes multiple touch electrode patterns TE.

[0025] Figure 4 is a waveform diagram of the touch display device 10 of at least one embodiment of the present invention during the frame period F. During the display period DP, the data lines DL respectively receive display signals VDH and VDL, and the common electrode CE receives the reference voltage VC. During the touch period TP, the touch electrode groups TG divided by the data lines DL respectively receive the first touch signal T1, and the touch electrode patterns TE of the common electrode CE respectively receive the second touch signal T2.

[0026] By dividing the frame period F into a display period DP and a non-display period TP, and with the data line DL and common electrode CE receiving display signals VDH, VDL and reference voltage VC respectively during the display period DP to achieve the display function, and by utilizing the touch electrode group TG formed by the data line DL and the touch electrode pattern TE formed by the common electrode CE to receive the first touch signal T1 and the second touch signal T2 respectively during the touch period TP to achieve the embedded mutual capacitance touch function, the touch display device 10 does not need to provide additional touch electrodes that would sacrifice the area of ​​the pixel electrodes and the storage capacitance, thus improving the display quality.

[0027] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, during the display period DP, these scan lines GL receive one of the on signal VGH and the off signal VGL, respectively. During the touch period TP, these scan lines GL receive a third touch signal T3. The waveform of the third touch signal T3 is the same as that of the first touch signal T1, and the voltage difference ΔV1 between the third touch signal T3 and the off signal VGL is the same as the voltage value of the first touch signal T1. Through the aforementioned signal design, the thin-film transistor (unlabeled) that is electrically connected to the scan lines GL and the data lines DL to transmit data to the pixel electrode PE can be kept in the off state during the touch period TP, thereby preventing the first touch signal T1 received by the data line DL from being written to the pixel electrode PE.

[0028] In some embodiments, the display period DP and the touch period TP occur alternately within the frame cycle F. The touch electrode group TG is a touch driving (Tx) electrode, and the touch electrode pattern TE is a touch sensing (Rx) electrode. The voltage difference ΔV2 between the second touch signal T2 and the reference voltage VC is different from the voltage value of the first touch signal T1, i.e., different from the voltage difference ΔV1 between the third touch signal T3 and the off signal VGL. For example, the voltage difference ΔV2 can be smaller than the voltage difference ΔV1 to achieve a power-saving effect, but this invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the voltage difference ΔV1 between the third touch signal T3 and the off signal VGL can be the same as or different from the voltage difference ΔV3 between the on signal VGH and the off signal VGL. For example, the voltage difference ΔV1 can be smaller than the voltage difference ΔV3 to achieve a power-saving effect, but this invention is not limited thereto.

[0029] Please refer to Figures 2 and 4. The touch display device 10 has a display area AA and a peripheral area PA adjacent to the display area AA, and further includes a driving circuit 400. These data lines DL extend from the display area AA to the peripheral area PA and are electrically connected to the driving circuit 400 in the peripheral area PA. During the display period DP, the driving circuit 400 provides display signals VDH and VDL to these data lines DL respectively, and during the touch period TP, the driving circuit 400 provides a first touch signal T1 to these touch electrode groups TG divided by these data lines DL respectively.

[0030] In some embodiments, the driving circuit 400 includes a plurality of first pins P1 and a plurality of second pins P2. The data lines DL are electrically connected to the first pins P1 in the peripheral area PA. The array substrate 100 further includes a plurality of switching elements SW located in the peripheral area PA and electrically connected to the data lines DL and electrically connected to the second pins P2 via traces (unlabeled) located in the peripheral area PA. During display DP, the driving circuit 400 provides display signals VDH and VDL to the data lines DL through the first pins P1. During touch TP, the driving circuit 400 provides a first touch signal T1 to the touch electrode groups TG divided by the data lines DL through the second pins P2.

[0031] In some embodiments, the switching elements SW may be thin-film transistors. During the display period DP, these switching elements SW receive a low-potential signal VSL to turn off these switching elements SW, while during the touch period TP, these switching elements SW receive a high-potential signal VSH to turn on these switching elements SW, so that these touch electrode groups TG respectively receive the first touch signal T1.

[0032] For example, the touch display device 10 may further include another driving circuit (not shown). For instance, the array substrate 100 may include a gate driver on array (GOA) circuit, and the gates (not labeled) of the scan lines GL and the switching elements SW are electrically connected to the aforementioned gate driver circuit. During display (DP), the aforementioned gate driver circuit provides one of an on signal VGH and an off signal VGL to the scan lines GL, and provides a low-level signal VSL to the switching elements SW. During touch (TP), the aforementioned gate driver circuit provides a third touch signal T3 to the scan lines GL, and provides a high-level signal VSH to the switching elements SW. In some embodiments, the potential of the high-level signal VSH may be the same as the potential of the on signal VGH, and the potential of the low-level signal VSL may be the same as the potential of the off signal VGL, to achieve a simplified panel circuit layout, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0033] In addition, the driving circuit 400 includes multiple third pins P3. The touch electrode patterns TE of the common electrode CE are electrically connected to these third pins P3 through traces (unlabeled) located in the peripheral area PA. During the display period DP, the driving circuit 400 provides a reference voltage VC to the common electrode CE through these third pins P3 respectively. During the touch period TP, the driving circuit 400 provides a second touch signal T2 to these touch electrode patterns TE through these third pins P3 respectively.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 2. The width W1 of the touch electrode assembly TG and the width W2 of the touch electrode pattern TE can be 3 mm to 7 mm respectively, and the touch electrode assembly TG and the touch electrode pattern TE overlap on the normal line of the substrate 102. Through the above design, touch sensitivity can be improved.

[0035] Please refer to Figures 3A and 3B. The array substrate 100 further includes an active layer AL, a drain DE, a gate insulating layer GI, a first insulating layer IL1, and a second insulating layer IL2. Specifically, the scan line GL is disposed on the substrate 102, the gate insulating layer GI is disposed on the scan line GL, the active layer AL is disposed on the gate insulating layer GI, and the data line DL and the drain DE are disposed on the active layer AL and electrically connected to the active layer AL.

[0036] A first insulating layer IL1 is disposed on the data line DL and the drain DE, a common electrode CE is disposed on the first insulating layer IL1, a second insulating layer IL2 is disposed on the common electrode CE, and a pixel electrode PE is disposed on the second insulating layer IL2 and electrically connected to the drain DE via a through-hole O. In this embodiment, the scan line GL is disposed below the active layer AL to form a bottom-gate thin-film transistor, but this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the scan line GL may also be disposed above the active layer AL to form a top-gate thin-film transistor. In some embodiments, a buffer layer (not shown) may be disposed between the substrate 102 and the scan line GL.

[0037] The opposing substrate 200 and substrate 102 can be transparent substrates, and their materials can include quartz, glass, polymer materials, or other suitable materials. The display medium 300 can be a liquid crystal layer. The active layer AL can be made of silicon semiconductor materials (e.g., polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, etc.), oxide semiconductor materials, or organic semiconductor materials. The scan lines GL, data lines DL, and drains DE can be made of metals with good conductivity, such as aluminum, molybdenum, titanium, copper, etc.

[0038] The materials of the gate insulating layer GI, the first insulating layer IL1, and the second insulating layer IL2 may include transparent insulating materials, such as transparent inorganic insulating materials or organic insulating materials. Inorganic insulating materials include silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, etc., while organic insulating materials include acrylic, siloxane, polyimide, epoxy resin, etc.

[0039] The materials for the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE may include indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), aluminum tin oxide (ATO), aluminum zinc oxide (AZO), indium Germanium zinc oxide (IGZO) or other suitable materials.

[0040] Figure 5 is a top view of an array substrate 100A according to at least another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 5, the embodiment in Figure 5 shares most of the same component structure, materials, and relative positional relationships with the embodiment in Figure 2; therefore, the same technical features will not be repeated here. The difference between the two embodiments is that the array substrate 100A in Figure 5 does not include multiple switching elements SW located in the peripheral region PA and electrically connected to these data lines DL respectively; therefore, the drive circuit 400A does not include multiple second pins P2 electrically connected to the multiple switching elements SW.

[0041] In detail, the driving circuit 400A includes multiple first pins P1A. These data lines DL are electrically connected to these first pins P1A in the peripheral area PA. During display (DP), the driving circuit 400A provides display signals VDH and VDL to these data lines DL via these first pins P1A. During touch (TP), the driving circuit 400A provides first touch signals T1 to the touch electrode groups TG formed by these data lines DL via these first pins P1A. That is, the display signals VDH and VDL received by the data lines DL, and the first touch signal T1 received by the touch electrode groups TG formed by the data lines DL, are all provided through the first pins P1A of the driving circuit 400A. This design reduces the number of pins required for the driving circuit, increasing the opportunity to use existing specification driving circuits without requiring the design of special specification driving circuits, thereby reducing costs. Furthermore, since the peripheral area does not require the installation of electrical connection data lines for switching elements and the wiring for connecting the switching elements to the drive circuit, the area of ​​the peripheral area can be reduced, thereby achieving the effect of a narrow bezel.

[0042] In summary, the touch display device of at least one embodiment of the present invention achieves display functionality by dividing the frame period into a display period and a non-display touch period. During the display period, the data lines and common electrode respectively receive display signals and reference voltages to achieve the display function. Furthermore, during the touch period, the touch electrode patterns formed by the touch electrode groups divided by the data lines and the common electrode respectively receive first touch signals and second touch signals to achieve embedded mutual capacitance touch functionality. Therefore, the touch display device does not require additional touch electrodes that would sacrifice the area of ​​the pixel electrodes and the storage capacitance, thus improving display quality.

[0043] Although the present invention has been disclosed above by way of embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

[0044] 10: Touch display device 100, 100A: Array substrate 102:Substrate 200: Opposing substrate 300: Display medium 400, 400A: Drive circuit A: Area AA: Display area AL: Active Layer a-a': line CE: Common Electrode DE: drain DL: Data Line DP: Display Period F: Picture frame cycle GI: Gate insulation layer GL: Scan line IL1: First insulating layer IL2: Second insulating layer O: Perforation P1, P1A: First pin P2: Second pin P3: Third pin PA: Surrounding Area PE: pixel electrode SW: Switching element T1: First touch signal T2: Second touch signal T3: Third touch signal TE: Touch electrode pattern TG: Touch electrode assembly TP: During touch VC: Reference voltage VDH, VDL: Display signals VGH: Enable signal VGL: Turn off signal VSH: High-potential signal VSL: Low Level Signal W1, W2: Width △V1, △V2, △V3: Voltage difference

[0045] Domestic storage information (please note in order of storage institution, date, and number): None. International storage information (please note in order of storage country, institution, date, and number): None.

Claims

1. A touch display device, comprising: An array substrate includes: a substrate; multiple scan lines disposed on the substrate; and multiple data lines disposed on the substrate and intersecting with the scan lines, wherein the data lines are divided into multiple touch electrode groups, and during a display period, the data lines respectively receive a display signal, and during a touch period, the touch electrode groups respectively receive a first touch signal. Multiple pixel electrodes are disposed on the data lines and electrically connected to the data lines respectively; and a common electrode is disposed on the data lines and includes multiple touch electrode patterns. During the display period, the common electrode receives a reference voltage, and during the touch period, the touch electrode patterns respectively receive a second touch signal. During the display period, the scan lines respectively receive one of an on signal and an off signal, and during the touch period, the scan lines respectively receive a third touch signal. The waveform of the third touch signal is the same as the waveform of the first touch signal, and the voltage difference between the third touch signal and the off signal is the same as the voltage value of the first touch signal; a pair of opposing substrates are disposed on the array substrate; and a display medium is disposed between the array substrate and the opposing substrate.

2. The touch display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch display device has a display area and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area, and further includes a driving circuit, wherein the data lines extend from the display area to the peripheral area and are electrically connected to the driving circuit in the peripheral area, wherein during the display period, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the data lines, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the touch electrode group.

3. The touch display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving circuit includes a plurality of first pins, the data lines being electrically connected to the first pins in the peripheral area, wherein during the display period, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the data lines through the first pins, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the touch electrode group through the first pins.

4. The touch display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving circuit includes a plurality of first pins and a plurality of second pins, the data lines being electrically connected to the first pins in the peripheral area, and the array substrate further includes a plurality of switching elements located in the peripheral area and electrically connected to the data lines and the second pins, wherein during the display period, the driving circuit provides the display signal to the data lines through the first pins, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the first touch signal to the touch electrode groups through the second pins.

5. The touch display device as described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the driving circuit further includes a plurality of third pins, wherein the touch electrode patterns of the common electrode are electrically connected to the third pins in the peripheral area, wherein during the display period, the driving circuit provides the reference voltage to the common electrode through the third pins, and during the touch period, the driving circuit provides the second touch signal to the touch electrode patterns through the third pins.

6. The touch display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein during the display period, the switching elements respectively receive a low potential signal to turn off the switching elements, and during the touch period, the switching elements respectively receive a high potential signal to turn on the switching elements, so that the touch electrode groups respectively receive the first touch signal.

7. The touch display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the touch electrode groups is a touch driving electrode, and each of the touch electrode patterns is a touch sensing electrode.

8. The touch display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the voltage difference between the second touch signal and the reference voltage is different from the voltage value of the first touch signal.

9. The touch display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of each touch electrode group and the width of each touch electrode pattern are 3 mm to 7 mm.

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