Touch sensing device and touch sensing system

Abstract

The present invention provides a touch sensing device and a touch sensing system. Embodiments can reduce search time and reporting rate of an active pen by searching for the active pen locally.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This embodiment relates to technologies and display devices for sensing the touch or proximity of an active pen. Background Technology

[0002] The technology used to identify external objects approaching or touching a touch panel is called touch sensing technology. The touch panel is placed on a flat surface alongside the display panel. Therefore, users can input user operation signals to the touch panel while viewing an image on the display panel. Compared to previous user operation signal input types such as mouse or keyboard input, this method of generating user operation signals is very intuitive for the user.

[0003] Based on these advantages, touch sensing technology is applied to various electronic devices, including display panels. A touch sensing device can supply a driving signal to driving electrodes arranged in the touch panel, receive response signals formed in sensing electrodes, and sense the touch or proximity of an external object to the touch panel. The touch panel generates capacitance between the driving electrodes and the sensing electrodes. Changes in capacitance can generate the sensation of a touch or proximity of an external object.

[0004] In addition to inputting with their fingers, users can also use an active pen to input user manipulation signals. Data communication between the active pen and the touch sensing device can undergo the following processing: When the touch sensing device sends an uplink signal that can be recognized by the active pen, the active pen can receive the uplink signal and recognize the touch sensing device. Subsequently, when the active pen sends a downlink signal that can be recognized by the touch sensing device, the touch sensing device can receive the downlink signal and recognize the active pen.

[0005] The step up to sending an uplink signal by the touch sensing device can be defined as searching for the active pen. Conversely, the steps from sending the uplink signal to identifying each other and sending and receiving downlink signals via the touch sensing device and the active pen can be defined as sensing the active pen. As mentioned above, searching for the active pen and sensing the active pen can be distinguished from each other. The biggest difference is that searching can be an operation by which the touch sensing device discovers the presence of the active pen without knowing its existence, while sensing can be an operation by which the touch sensing device exchanges data with the active pen while knowing its presence.

[0006] However, traditionally, touch sensing devices sequentially search for and sense the active pen. That is, even though the active pen is located at the bottom of the touch panel, the touch sensing device also searches for or senses the active pen from the top of the touch panel. Because the touch sensing device searches for or senses even areas of the touch panel where there is no active pen, this method can lead to unnecessary processing and increased search or sensing time. In this case, the reporting rate of active pen sensing increases. If the active pen is released, i.e., detached from the touch panel, sensing stops, and the search for the active pen begins again; this phenomenon may repeat.

[0007] Regarding such technology, this embodiment aims to provide a technique for operating multiple active pens with a touch sensing device that can reduce search time and report rate. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In this context, the object of the present invention is to provide a technique for searching for an active pen at or near the location where it is released.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for searching for multiple active pens together at or near the location where multiple active pens are released.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique for allocating multiple touch intervals included in a frame to multiple active pens.

[0011] Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention provides a touch sensing device for sensing at least one active pen using touch electrodes, the touch sensing device comprising: a driving circuit configured to transmit an uplink signal; and a sensing circuit configured to receive a downlink signal corresponding to the uplink signal, wherein, in the event that reception of a first downlink signal from a first active pen via a first touch electrode ceases, the sensing circuit begins searching for the first active pen via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode proximate to the first touch electrode.

[0012] In this device, when the reception of the first downlink signal via the first touch electrode stops, the driving circuit can send a first uplink signal via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode close to the first touch electrode to search for the first active pen.

[0013] In this device, the sensing circuit can resume receiving the first downlink signal via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode near the first touch electrode, and can resume sensing the touch or proximity of the first active pen.

[0014] In this device, the sensing circuit can receive a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, and can receive the first downlink signal within some touch intervals to sense the first active pen.

[0015] In this device, the driving circuit can send a second uplink signal to the second active pen, and the sensing circuit can receive a second downlink signal corresponding to the second uplink signal from the second active pen via the second touch electrode. In the event that the reception of the second downlink signal via the second touch electrode stops, the circuit can start searching for the second active pen by waiting for the second downlink signal to be received via the second touch electrode or a touch electrode close to the second touch electrode.

[0016] In this device, the sensing circuit can sense both the first active pen and the second active pen in each frame.

[0017] In this device, the sensing circuit can receive a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, and can sense the first active pen in some touch intervals within a frame and sense the second active pen in other touch intervals within the same frame.

[0018] In this device, the driving circuit can send a touch driving signal to the touch electrode, and the sensing circuit can sense the touch or proximity of an object to the panel in response to the response signal of the touch electrode to the touch driving signal.

[0019] In this device, if the first downlink signal is not received within a predetermined time, the sensing circuit can begin searching for the first active pen.

[0020] In another aspect, the present invention provides a touch sensing system for sensing a plurality of active pens, the touch sensing system comprising: a panel including a first touch area and a second touch area; and a touch sensing device configured to sense the touch or proximity of a first active pen in the first touch area and to sense the touch or proximity of a second active pen in the second touch area, wherein, when sensing of the first active pen in the first touch area ceases, the touch sensing device searches in or near the first touch area to check for the presence of the first active pen.

[0021] In this system, when the sensing of the second active pen in the second touch area stops, the touch sensing device can perform both the search for the first active pen in the first touch area and the search for the second active pen in the second touch area.

[0022] In this system, the touch sensing device can receive a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, can search for the first active pen within some touch intervals of a frame, and can search for the second active pen within other touch intervals of the same frame.

[0023] In this system, when sensing of the first active pen and the second active pen is restored, the touch sensing device can sense the first active pen within some touch intervals and can sense the second active pen within other touch intervals.

[0024] In this system, the touch sensing device can identify the position of the first active pen through the search.

[0025] As described above, according to the present invention, the search time and reporting rate of the active pen can be reduced by locally searching the active pen.

[0026] Furthermore, according to the present invention, multiple active pens can be operated simultaneously. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display device according to an embodiment.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a diagram used to describe the link signal exchange between an active pen and a panel.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a diagram used to describe the multiple active pen and panel exchange link signals according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a diagram used to describe the release of the active pen according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a diagram used to illustrate the sensing concept of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a diagram used to describe the local sensing of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 8 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe the sequential sensing of a touch sensing device.

[0035] Figure 9 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe local sensing of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 10This is an exemplary diagram used to describe the sequential search of a touch sensing device.

[0037] Figure 11 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe a local search of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0038] Figure 12 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe, according to an embodiment, data received from only one active pen for each touch interval in the case of searching and sensing an active pen.

[0039] Figure 13 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe data received from multiple active pens for each touch interval in the case of searching and sensing active pens according to an embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a display device 100 according to an embodiment.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 The display device 100 may include a panel 110, a data driving device 120, a gate driving device 130, a touch sensing device 140, a data processing device 150, a host 160, etc.

[0042] At least one of the data driving device 120, gate driving device 130, touch sensing device 140, and data processing device 150 can be referred to as a display driving device. For example, data driving device 120 can be referred to as a display driving device. A driving device including data driving device 120 and touch sensing device 140 can be referred to as a display driving device. One driving device can be included in another driving device. For example, data driving device 120 can be included in touch sensing device 140. Optionally, gate driving device 130 can be included in data driving device 120. In embodiments, only some elements of one driving device can be included in another driving device.

[0043] The data driving device 120 can drive the data line DL connected to the pixel P. The gate driving device 130 can drive the gate line GL connected to the pixel P. In addition, the touch sensing device 140 can drive the touch electrode TE arranged in the panel 110.

[0044] The data driver device 120 can supply data voltage to the data line DL to display an image in each pixel P of the panel 110. The data driver device 120 may include at least one data driver integrated circuit (IC). The at least one data driver IC can be connected to the bonding pads of the panel 110 via a tape-on-board (TAB) method or a chip-on-glass (COG) method, or it can be formed directly on the panel 110. In some cases, at least one data driver IC can be integrated and formed on the panel 110. Furthermore, the data driver device 120 can be implemented using a chip-on-film (COF) method.

[0045] The data driving device 120 can receive image data and data control signals (DCS) from the data processing device 150. The data driving device 120 can generate data voltages based on the grayscale values ​​of each pixel indicated by the image data, and can drive the corresponding pixels.

[0046] The data control signal (DCS) may include at least one synchronization signal. For example, the DCS may include a vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC), a horizontal synchronization signal (HSYNC), a time-division signal, etc. The data driving device 120 can identify the frame segmentation indicated by the vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC) and can drive each pixel at intervals other than the vertical blanking interval indicated by the vertical synchronization signal (VSYNC). The data driving device 120 can check the image data of each horizontal line in response to the horizontal synchronization signal (HSYNC) and can supply data voltage for each horizontal line. The data driving device 120 can distinguish between display intervals and touch intervals in response to the time-division signal and can drive each pixel P within the display interval.

[0047] The gate driving device 130 can supply a scan signal to the gate line GL to turn on or off the transistors located in each pixel P. Depending on the driving method, the gate driving device 130 can be as follows: Figure 1 The gate drive device 130 shown is located only on one side of panel 110, or it may be divided into two drive devices, which may be located on either side of panel 110. Furthermore, the gate drive device 130 may include at least one gate driver IC. The at least one gate driver IC can be connected to the bonding pads of panel 110 via a TAB method or a COG method, or it can be implemented as a gate in-panel (GIP) and formed directly on panel 110. In some cases, at least one gate driver IC can be integrated and formed on panel 110. Additionally, the gate drive device 130 can be implemented via a COF method.

[0048] The gate driving device 130 can receive a gate control signal GCS from the data processing device 150. The gate control signal GCS may include multiple clock signals. In addition, the gate driving device 130 can use the clock signals to generate a scan signal and supply the scan signal to the gate line GL.

[0049] Panel 110 may include a display panel and may also include a touch screen panel (TSP). In this case, the display panel and the TSP may share some components. For example, the touch electrode TE for sensing touch in the TSP may (e.g., in the case of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel) serve as a common electrode in the display panel supplied with a common voltage. As another example, the touch electrode TE may (e.g., in the case of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel) serve as a cathode in the display panel supplied with a base voltage VSS. From the perspective of the display panel and TSP sharing some components, such a panel 110 is referred to as an integrated panel, but the invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, in-cell type panels are known as a form of integrated display panel and TSP, but this is only an example of panel 110. The panels to which the invention applies are not limited to such in-cell type panels.

[0050] Multiple touch electrodes TE can be arranged in panel 110. Touch sensing device 140 can drive touch electrodes TE using touch driving signals. Furthermore, touch sensing device 140 can generate sensing values ​​for touch electrodes TE in response to response signals formed in the touch electrodes TE based on the touch driving signals. Additionally, touch sensing device 140 can use the sensing values ​​for the multiple touch electrodes TE arranged in panel 110 to calculate the touch coordinates of object 20. The calculated touch coordinates can be sent to other devices (e.g., a host computer) and used by those devices.

[0051] The touch sensing device 140 can exchange signals with the active pen 10 via the touch electrode TE. The touch sensing device 140 can supply uplink signals to the touch electrode TE. The active pen 10 can receive the uplink signals by contacting the touch electrode TE. For example, the uplink signals may include information such as panel information and information about the protocol version, or synchronization signals. The active pen 10 can check information about the panel or protocol version by receiving the uplink signals and can synchronize the signals.

[0052] The active pen 10 can transmit downlink signals to the touch electrode TE. Furthermore, the touch sensing device 140 can receive downlink signals via the touch electrode TE. The downlink signals can include information about the state of the active pen. This information may include, for example, the position of the active pen, the button status of the active pen, the battery status of the active pen, and the tilt of the active pen.

[0053] Touch sensing device 140 can receive touch control signal TCS from data processing device 150. Touch control signal TCS may include at least one synchronization signal. For example, touch control signal TCS may include vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, time-division signal, touch synchronization signal TSYNC, etc. Touch sensing device 140 can distinguish between display interval and touch interval in response to time-division signal or touch synchronization signal TSYNC, and can drive touch electrode TE within touch interval.

[0054] In one embodiment, the synchronization signal may be the same signal or it may be a different signal. For example, the time-division signal may be the same signal as the touch synchronization signal, or it may be a different signal. In the following text, the time-division signal may be described by a specific name to emphasize a particular function, but such description is not limited to that specific name.

[0055] Basically, a synchronization signal can be generated based on the panel control signal PCS supplied from the host 160 to the data processing device 150.

[0056] The host 160 can send image data to the data processing device 150, and can also send a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC for segmenting image data in frames. The data processing device 150 can generate time-division signals, touch synchronization signals TSYNC, etc. based on the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, and can send the time-division signals, touch synchronization signals TSYNC, etc. to the respective drive devices 120, 130, and 140.

[0057] Figure 2 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0058] refer to Figure 2 The touch sensing device 140 may include a driving circuit 210 and a sensing circuit 220.

[0059] The drive circuit 210 can supply the uplink transmission signal UTX to the touch electrode TE during a first time interval. In this case, the uplink transmission signal UTX is the uplink signal formed in the touch electrode TE. The uplink signal formed in the active pen can be referred to as the uplink received signal.

[0060] The sensing circuit 220 can receive a downlink receive signal DRX from the touch electrode TE during a second time interval that does not overlap with the first time interval. In this case, the downlink receive signal DRX is a downlink signal formed in the touch electrode TE. The downlink signal formed in the active pen can be referred to as the downlink transmission signal.

[0061] During the search for the active pen, the driving circuit 210 can continuously send uplink signals to the active pen via the touch electrodes. The sensing circuit 220 can wait to receive downlink signals via the touch electrodes.

[0062] The touch electrode TE can be a common electrode in an LCD panel to which a common voltage is supplied. Alternatively, the touch electrode TE can be the cathode electrode of an OLED panel.

[0063] Figure 3 This is a diagram used to describe the link signal exchange between an active pen and a panel.

[0064] refer to Figure 3 This illustrates the process of transmitting and receiving link signals between an active pen 10 and a panel 110. The process of transmitting and receiving link signals can be divided into a search step (search) and a sensing step (sensing). In the search step, the touch sensing device can transmit an uplink signal UL via the panel 110 to identify the presence of the active pen. In the sensing step, after identifying the presence of the active pen, the touch sensing device can receive a downlink signal DL to receive data from the active pen.

[0065] During the search step, the drive circuit of the touch sensing device can send an uplink signal UL to the active pen 10 via the touch electrodes. When the active pen 10 touches the panel 110 including the touch electrodes or approaches the panel 110 including the touch electrodes within a predetermined distance, the active pen 10 can receive the uplink signal UL. The uplink signal UL can be sent to the active pen 10 via a portion of the panel 110 or the entire panel 110.

[0066] During the sensing step, the sensing circuit of the touch sensing device can receive a downlink signal DL from the active pen 10 via the touch electrodes. When the active pen 10 receives an uplink signal UL, the active pen 10 can transmit the downlink signal DL. The downlink signal DL can be transmitted to the touch electrodes located at the point touched or near by the active pen.

[0067] When the touch sensing device receives the downlink signal DL, it can continuously exchange data with the active pen 10. If the touch sensing device does not receive the downlink signal DL from any time interval, it can search for the active pen again. That is, the touch sensing device can repeat the above process by sending the uplink signal UL to the active pen again. In this case, if the touch sensing device does not receive the downlink signal DL from any time interval, this can be interpreted as the active pen 10 being released.

[0068] Figure 4 This is a diagram used to describe the link signals exchanged between multiple active pens and the panel according to an embodiment.

[0069] refer to Figure 4 This illustrates the process of sending and receiving link signals between a plurality of active pens and panel 110 according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, an example of three active pens 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 touching or approaching panel 110 is shown, but the invention is not limited thereto. In the search step, the touch sensing device can identify the presence of the three active pens 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3. In the sensing step, the touch sensing device can receive downlink signals from the three active pens 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3.

[0070] During the search step, the driving circuit of the touch sensing device can send uplink signals to multiple active pens. The driving circuit can independently send uplink signals to the multiple active pens at different timings. For example, the driving circuit can send a first uplink signal UL1 to the first active pen 10-1 at a first time interval, a second uplink signal UL2 to the second active pen 10-2 at a second time interval, and a third uplink signal UL3 to the third active pen 10-3 at a third time interval. In this case, the driving circuit can send the first to third uplink signals UL1 to UL3 at different timings, ensuring that the first to third uplink signals UL1 to UL3 do not overlap.

[0071] Furthermore, the sensing circuit of the touch sensing device can search for multiple active pens by waiting to receive a downlink signal corresponding to the uplink signal via the touch electrodes. After receiving a downlink signal for the first time while searching for multiple active pens, the sensing circuit can continuously receive the next downlink signal from the active pen that has already sent that downlink signal. Optionally, after receiving another downlink signal from another active pen, the sensing circuit can continuously receive another downlink signal from that other active pen. In this case, the sensing circuit can alternately receive downlink signals from the first active pen and the other active pen.

[0072] During the sensing step, the sensing circuit can independently perform searches for multiple active pens at different timings. For example, the sensing circuit can wait to receive a first downlink signal DL1 from a first active pen 10-1 in a first time interval, wait to receive a second downlink signal DL2 from a second active pen 10-2 in a second time interval, and wait to receive a third downlink signal DL3 from a third active pen 10-3 in a third time interval. In this case, the sensing circuit can receive the first downlink signal DL1 to the third downlink signal DL3 at different timings, ensuring that the first downlink signal DL1 to the third downlink signal DL3 do not overlap. For example, the sensing circuit can receive the first downlink signal DL1 to the third downlink signal DL3 at different touch intervals, ensuring that the first downlink signal DL1 to the third downlink signal DL3 do not overlap.

[0073] To search for multiple active pens at different timings, the sensing circuit can search for one of the multiple active pens in each frame, or it can search for all of the multiple active pens in each frame. The sensing circuit can use one of the following methods: a first method focusing on searching for only one active pen in a frame, and a second method searching for all of the multiple active pens in a frame.

[0074] When the touch sensing device receives a downlink signal from one of the multiple active pens, it can continuously exchange data with that active pen. If the touch sensing device does not receive a downlink signal from any time interval, that is, when an active pen is released from the touch sensing device, it can search for multiple active pens again. In other words, the touch sensing device can repeat the above process by sending uplink signals to multiple active pens again.

[0075] Figure 5 This is a diagram used to describe the release of the active pen according to an embodiment.

[0076] refer to Figure 5 This shows the process of releasing the active pen 10.

[0077] During the search step (search), the touch sensing device can send an uplink signal UL to the active pen 10 to identify the presence of the active pen 10.

[0078] In the sensing step (sensing), when the active pen 10 receives the uplink signal UL and sends the corresponding downlink signal DL to the touch sensing device, the touch sensing device can receive the data from the active pen 10 through the downlink signal DL.

[0079] During the release step (release), communication of the downlink signal DL between the touch sensing device and the active pen 10 may be stopped. The cessation of communication of the downlink signal DL may occur due to external factors. If the distance between the active pen 10 and the panel 110 increases because the user of the active pen 10 leaves the space after inputting another symbol while inputting a symbol, communication for the downlink signal DL may be cut off, and the active pen 10 may be released.

[0080] When the active pen 10 is released, the touch sensing device can send an uplink signal UL to the active pen 10 to identify its presence. The touch sensing device then re-enters the search step.

[0081] Figure 6 This is a diagram used to illustrate the sensing concept of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0082] refer to Figure 6 The illustration shows an example of a touch sensing device 140 driving multiple touch electrodes TE of a panel 110 to sense the touch or proximity of an object, including an active pen or a finger. The touch sensing device 140 may drive multiple touch electrodes TE for each row.

[0083] Multiple touch electrodes TE can be arranged in the panel 110. The multiple touch electrodes TE can be grouped and driven according to a predetermined method.

[0084] Multiple touch electrodes TE can be arranged in a matrix. Multiple touch electrodes TE arranged in a row can be grouped together and driven together. In this figure, each channel may include four touch electrodes TE. A total of eight channels CH1 to CH8 and a total of thirty-two touch electrodes TE can be arranged in panel 110. When touch electrodes TE are selected from each channel in a row-like manner, the selected multiple touch electrodes TE can form a group. For example, the second group (group 2) could be a group of touch electrodes TE arranged in the second row of eight channels CH1 to CH8 (i.e., Figure 6 (Shadow touch electrode in the middle).

[0085] Touch sensing device 140 may include a series of MUXs. Touch sensing device 140 can select touch electrodes TE from various channels through the series of MUXs and can drive the selected touch electrodes TE. Touch sensing device 140 can form a row of multiple touch electrodes TE for each group of drives.

[0086] For example, a series of MUXs can select the second row of eight channels CH1 to CH8, that is, multiple touch electrodes TE of the second group (group 2). The touch sensing device 140 can sense the touch or proximity of an object in the second row.

[0087] Figure 7 This is a diagram used to describe the local sensing of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0088] refer to Figure 7 The touch sensing device 140 can perform local sensing. Local sensing can mean that the touch sensing device 140 continuously drives a predetermined area of ​​the panel 110 during a predetermined time period. The predetermined area of ​​the panel 110 continuously driven by the touch sensing device 140 can be named the Local Sensing Area (LSA). Specifically, when sensing an active pen, the touch sensing device 140 can continuously transmit uplink signals and receive downlink signals only within the LSA.

[0089] In the display device, the touch electrodes of panel 110 can be divided into areas and driven by a plurality of touch sensing devices 140. Each touch sensing device 140 can select the touch electrodes arranged in each area through a MUX and can drive the selected touch electrodes.

[0090] For example, panel 110 can be divided into a first region (region 1) to a third region (region 3). Each touch sensing device 140 can drive only the touch electrodes included in each region. Figure 7 As shown, each touch sensing device 140 can drive the touch electrodes for each row. Figure 7 In this configuration, multiple touch electrodes can form a total of six rows (rows 1 to 6). Each touch sensing device 140 can drive the touch electrodes included in the second, fourth, and fifth rows (rows 2, 4, and 5).

[0091] A region of the panel 110 driven independently by multiple touch sensing devices 140 can form an LSA. For example, touch electrodes driven in the second row (row 2) of the first to third regions (regions 1 to 3) can form a first LSA (LSA1). Touch electrodes driven in the fourth and fifth rows (rows 4 and 5) of the first to third regions (regions 1 to 3) can form a second LSA (LSA2).

[0092] Furthermore, each of the multiple touch sensing devices 140 can form LSAs in various forms by driving different rows in each region. That is, LSAs can vary in a way that does not have a row form.

[0093] Figure 8 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe the sequential sensing of a touch sensing device.

[0094] refer to Figure 8The touch sensing device can perform sequential sensing based on local sensing. Sequential sensing can mean that the touch sensing device drives the touch electrodes in a predetermined order regardless of the position of the object in the panel 110. Specifically, in the case of sequentially sensing an active pen, the touch sensing device can send uplink signals in areas of the panel 110 where the active pen is not present to identify its presence. An example of the touch sensing device sequentially driving the touch electrodes from the first row to the last row is described below. The sensing area in the panel can be indicated as a shaded area.

[0095] For example, the touch sensing device can receive data from the active pen 10 via a downlink signal. The active pen 10 may be located in the last row. The multiple touch electrodes of the panel 110 can form a total of six rows. The touch sensing device can drive the touch electrodes sequentially from the first row to the sixth row. Although the active pen 10 is located in the last row, the touch sensing device may drive the touch electrodes sequentially from the first row to the sixth row in a predetermined order.

[0096] Figure 9 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe local sensing of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0097] refer to Figure 9 The touch sensing device can perform local sensing for two or more active pens. Local sensing can mean that the touch sensing device drives touch electrodes at or near the location of an object in panel 110 by taking into account the position of the object. Specifically, in the case of local sensing for active pens, the touch sensing device can receive downlink signals in the area of ​​panel 110 where the active pens are present. An example of the touch sensing device performing local sensing for two active pens is described below. The sensing area in the panel can be indicated as a shaded area.

[0098] For example, the touch sensing device can receive multiple data from the first active pen 10-1 and the second active pen 10-2 via multiple downlink signals. The first active pen 10-1 may be located in the second row, while the second active pen 10-2 may be located in the fifth row. The multiple touch electrodes of the panel 110 can form a total of six rows. The touch sensing device can drive the touch electrodes based on the positions of the first active pen 10-1 and the second active pen 10-2. To sense the first active pen 10-1, the touch sensing device can continuously sense the second row. To sense the second active pen 10-2, the touch sensing device can continuously sense the fifth row.

[0099] Even if the active pen moves within the panel 110, the touch sensing device can track the position of the active pen and continuously drive the touch electrode at or near the position of the active pen.

[0100] For example, even if the first active pen 10-1 moves from the second row to the third row, the touch sensing device can still sense the first active pen 10-1 by driving the third row. Even if the second active pen 10-2 moves from the fifth row to the sixth row, the touch sensing device can still sense the second active pen 10-2 by driving the sixth row.

[0101] As described above, the touch sensing device can drive the touch electrode based on a first local sensing area including the location of the first active pen, and can simultaneously drive the touch electrode based on a second local sensing area including the location of the second active pen.

[0102] In this scenario, the touch sensing device can perform localized sensing of each active pen unless communication with each active pen ceases. This could include situations where the user inputs a continuous path onto the touch panel without releasing any of the active pens. If the user releases any active pen by inputting a discontinuous path onto the touch panel, the touch sensing device can resume searching for active pens. Such a search is also performed locally and will be described later.

[0103] Figure 10 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe the sequential search of a touch sensing device.

[0104] refer to Figure 10 The touch sensing device can perform a sequential search based on sequential sensing. The search targets an active pen within an object and can mean that the touch sensing device continuously sends uplink signals to the active pen or waits to receive downlink signals from the active pen. Furthermore, the search is a process of identifying the presence of an active pen before it is sensed, and can also be applied to situations where the active pen is separated from the panel 110 during sensing, i.e., the active pen is released. Therefore, if the active pen sends a downlink signal to the touch sensing device during the search and the touch sensing device resumes receiving downlink signals, the touch sensing device can resume sensing the active pen. When the presence of the active pen is detected, the touch sensing device can also obtain the position of the active pen.

[0105] Sequential searching means that regardless of the position of the active pen in panel 110, the touch sensing device sends uplink signals through the touch electrodes in a predetermined order. That is, the touch sensing device can identify the presence of the active pen by sending uplink signals. The touch sensing device can also identify the presence of the active pen by sending uplink signals even in areas of panel 110 where no active pen is present. An example is described below of releasing any active pen and the touch sensing device sending uplink signals sequentially from the first row to the last row. The search area in the panel can be indicated as a shaded area.

[0106] For example, the multiple touch electrodes of panel 110 can form a total of six rows. When the touch sensing device senses the active stylus 10 in the fifth row, the active stylus 10 may be released. Figure 10 In this context, the point where the active pen 10 is released can be indicated as R. Even if the active pen 10 has already been released in the fifth row, the touch sensing device may still search starting from the first row. The touch sensing device may send uplink signals sequentially from the first row to the sixth row.

[0107] Figure 11 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe a local search of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment.

[0108] refer to Figure 11 The touch sensing device can perform a local search based on a sequential search. A local search can mean that the touch sensing device sends an uplink signal via a touch electrode at or near the location of the active pen, taking into account the position of the active pen in the panel 110. In this case, the position of the active pen can be the point where the active pen was finally sensed when it was released.

[0109] The touch sensing device can sense the touch or proximity of the active pen 10 in a touch area. When the sensing of the active pen 10 in the touch area stops, the touch sensing device can search in or around the touch area to check for the presence of the active pen 10.

[0110] For example, the multiple touch electrodes of panel 110 can form a total of six rows. When the touch sensing device senses the active stylus 10 in the fifth row, the active stylus 10 may be released. Figure 11 In this context, the point where the active pen 10 is released can be indicated as R. When the active pen 10 is released in the fifth row, the touch sensing device can search the fifth row, which includes the point where the active pen 10 was released.

[0111] Such a local search can also be equivalently applied to the case of releasing one active pen while sensing multiple active pens. When the touch sensing device senses the touch or proximity of the first active pen in the first touch area and senses the touch or proximity of the second active pen in the second touch area, when the sensing of the first active pen in the first touch area stops, the touch sensing device can search in or around the first touch area to check for the presence of the first active pen.

[0112] In this situation, when the sensing of the second active pen in the second touch area also stops, the touch sensing device can perform both the search for the first active pen in the first touch area and the search for the second active pen in the second touch area.

[0113] Furthermore, the touch sensing device can variably adjust the search area. For example, the touch sensing device can also search for rows near the position where the active pen 10 is released. The touch sensing device can drive the fourth and fifth rows, the fifth and sixth rows, or the fourth to the sixth rows.

[0114] Figure 12 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe, according to an embodiment, data received from only one active pen for each touch interval in the case of searching and sensing an active pen. Figure 13 This is an exemplary diagram used to describe data received from multiple active pens for each touch interval in the case of searching and sensing active pens according to an embodiment.

[0115] The touch sensing device can receive downlink signals from the active pen during multiple touch intervals in each frame, and can also receive data from the active pen from the downlink signals.

[0116] The sensing circuit of the touch sensing device can receive a synchronization signal (SYNC) and can identify multiple touch intervals through the SYNC signal. Within a touch interval, the stylus can send downlink signals to the touch electrodes. The touch sensing device can then receive the downlink signals from the touch electrodes.

[0117] The SYNC signal together determines the touch interval and the display interval of the output image data. The SYNC signal can include a time-division signal or a touch synchronization signal to define the touch interval. In this diagram, the display interval can be indicated as D, and the touch interval can be indicated as T.

[0118] Touch interval can be defined as the time interval between the output of image data from one set of lines in a frame and the output of image data from the next set of lines. Touch intervals generated using this method can be called long horizontal blanking (LHB).

[0119] A single Internet Load Balancer (LHB) can be shared and used by a touch sensing device to search for or sense an active pen. The search and sensing described below can include the concepts of local search and local sensing. For example, if an LHB is allocated to and used to search for one of multiple active pens, that LHB can be used to sense that one active pen without any modification. A touch sensing device can search for an active pen by sending an uplink signal within that LHB and waiting to receive a downlink signal, and can receive a downlink signal from that active pen in the same manner within that LHB.

[0120] The touch sensing device can sense both the stylus and the finger simultaneously. Therefore, it can receive data from the stylus within the LHB and also receive capacitance change data F from the finger. The stylus data may include beacons for initiating communication, the stylus position (POS), the stylus tilt (TILT), and stylus status information (DATA), etc.

[0121] Figure 12 This shows data received from only one active pen for each touch interval in the case of searching and sensing an active pen.

[0122] For example, if the touch sensing device only senses the first active pen (pen 1) (pen 1 sensing), the first active pen (pen 1) can transmit the beacon, the position (POS), the tilt (TILT), and the status information (DATA) of the active pen to the touch sensing device via downlink signals in 16 LHBs. Furthermore, the first active pen (pen 1) may not operate during certain touch intervals and may not exchange signals (MUTE) with the touch sensing device.

[0123] Even during the search for an active pen, a frame's LHB can be dedicated solely to that one active pen. In this case, the touch sensing device sends an uplink signal in one frame's LHB and waits to receive a downlink signal from that single active pen.

[0124] Figure 13 The data received from all multiple active pens for each touch interval is shown in the case of searching and sensing active pens.

[0125] For example, if the touch sensing device senses a first active pen (pen 1) (pen 1 sensing) and simultaneously senses a second active pen (pen 2) (pen 2 sensing), then the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2) can each transmit the beacon, the position (POS), the tilt (TILT), and the status information (DATA) of the active pen to the touch sensing device via downlink signals in 16 LHBs. Furthermore, the first active pen (pen 1) or the second active pen (pen 2) may remain inactive for certain touch intervals and may not exchange signals (MUTE) with the touch sensing device. The silent state of the first active pen (pen 1) or the second active pen (pen 2) can alternate for each touch interval within a frame, as will be described later.

[0126] Furthermore, the touch sensing device can diversify its search methods to prevent the detection of multiple active pens within the same touch interval. Specifically, only one active pen can be searched or sensed within a single touch interval. For example, the touch sensing device can alternately search for or sense a first active pen (pen 1) and a second active pen (pen 2) in each frame. Alternatively, the touch sensing device can search for or sense the first active pen (pen 1) in one frame and search for or sense the second active pen (pen 2) in another frame. In this case, the second active pen (pen 2) can be silent in that one frame, and the first active pen (pen 1) can be silent in that other frame.

[0127] Even during the search for multiple active pens, a single frame's LHB can be specifically used only for the active pens that have been assigned that LHB. That is, during the search step, only a specific active pen can use a specific LHB. In this case, the touch sensing device sends different uplink signals for each LHB within a frame and waits to receive different downlink signals from the multiple active pens.

[0128] Even if an active pen is released and the released active pen is searched for or sensed again, the touch sensing device can exchange signals with the active pen within the same LHB as before the release of the active pen.

[0129] For example, when the first active pen (pen 1) is released and sensed again, such as Figure 12 As shown, the touch sensing device can allocate a touch interval (e.g., LHB) to the first active pen (pen 1). The method by which the touch sensing device receives downlink signals from the first active pen (pen 1) to sense the first active pen (pen 1) after releasing the first active pen (pen 1) can be the same as before.

[0130] Furthermore, even if one of the multiple active pens is released and at least one of the released active pens is searched for or sensed again, the touch sensing device can exchange signals with multiple active pens within the same LHB as before the release of multiple active pens.

[0131] For example, such as Figure 13 As shown, when the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2) are released and sensed again, the touch sensing device can allocate a touch interval (e.g., LHB) to the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2). The method by which the touch sensing device senses the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2) by receiving different downlink signals from the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2) before and after releasing them can be the same.

[0132] In this configuration, the touch sensing device can evenly distribute the LHB to the first active pen (pen 1) and the second active pen (pen 2). The touch sensing device receives both the downlink signal from the first active pen (pen 1) and the downlink signal from the second active pen (pen 2), but can receive the downlink signals alternately.

[0133] For example, the touch sensing device can use the fifth to seventh LHBs to search for and sense the second active pen (pen 2). Conversely, the touch sensing device can use the ninth to eleventh LHBs to search for and sense the first active pen (pen 1). In the fifth to seventh LHBs, when the second active pen (pen 2) sends its position (POS) and status information (DATA) to the touch sensing device, the first active pen (pen 1) may be in a silent state (in which the first active pen (pen 1) does not send any signal) and may not perform any operation with the touch sensing device. Conversely, in the ninth to eleventh LHBs, when the first active pen (pen 1) sends its position (POS) and status information (DATA) to the touch sensing device, the second active pen (pen 2) may be in a silent state (in which the second active pen (pen 2) does not send any signal) and may not perform any operation with the touch sensing device.

[0134] Optionally, the touch sensing device may specifically allocate the LHB (Local Uplink Signal) of each frame to any one of the multiple active pens. For example, the touch sensing device may specifically allocate the LHB of each frame to either the first active pen (pen 1) or the second active pen (pen 2). The touch sensing device may send an uplink signal to the first active pen (pen 1) in one frame and send an uplink signal to the second active pen (pen 2) in another frame. The touch sensing device may receive a downlink signal only from the first active pen (pen 1) in one frame and receive a downlink signal only from the second active pen (pen 2) in another frame.

[0135] Cross-references to related applications

[0136] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0021327, filed on February 21, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, as if fully set forth herein.

Claims

1. A touch sensing device for sensing at least one active pen using touch electrodes, the touch sensing device comprising: The driver circuit is configured to transmit uplink signals; as well as A sensing circuit is configured to receive a downlink signal corresponding to the uplink signal. Specifically, if reception of the first downlink signal from the first active pen via the first touch electrode ceases, the sensing circuit begins searching for the first active pen via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode near the first touch electrode. The touch sensing device is configured to sense the touch or proximity of the first active pen in a first touch area of ​​the panel, and to sense the touch or proximity of the second active pen in a second touch area of ​​the panel. Wherein, when the sensing of the first active pen in the first touch area stops and the sensing of the second active pen in the second touch area stops, the touch sensing device is configured to perform both a search for the presence of the first active pen in the first touch area or near the first touch area and a search for the presence of the second active pen in the second touch area or near the second touch area.

2. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, When the reception of the first downlink signal via the first touch electrode stops, the driving circuit sends a first uplink signal via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode close to the first touch electrode to search for the first active pen.

3. The touch sensing device according to claim 2, wherein, The sensing circuit resumes receiving the first downlink signal via the first touch electrode or a touch electrode near the first touch electrode, and resumes sensing the touch or proximity of the first active pen.

4. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The sensing circuit receives a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, and receives the first downlink signal within some touch intervals to sense the first active pen.

5. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The driving circuit sends a second uplink signal to the second active pen, and the sensing circuit receives a second downlink signal corresponding to the second uplink signal from the second active pen via the second touch electrode. If the reception of the second downlink signal via the second touch electrode stops, the circuit starts searching for the second active pen by waiting for the second downlink signal to be received via the second touch electrode or a touch electrode close to the second touch electrode.

6. The touch sensing device according to claim 5, wherein, The sensing circuit senses both the first active pen and the second active pen in each frame.

7. The touch sensing device according to claim 6, wherein, The sensing circuit receives a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, and senses the first active pen within some touch intervals of a frame, and senses the second active pen within other touch intervals of the same frame.

8. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The driving circuit sends a touch driving signal to the touch electrode, and the sensing circuit senses the touch or proximity of an object to the panel in response to the response signal of the touch electrode to the touch driving signal.

9. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, If the first downlink signal is not received within the predetermined time, the sensing circuit begins to search for the first active pen.

10. A touch sensing system for sensing a plurality of active pens, the touch sensing system comprising: The panel includes a first touch area and a second touch area; as well as A touch sensing device configured to sense the touch or proximity of a first active pen in the first touch area, and to sense the touch or proximity of a second active pen in the second touch area. Wherein, if the sensing of the first active stylus in the first touch area ceases, the touch sensing device searches within or near the first touch area to detect the presence of the first active stylus. Specifically, when the sensing of the second active pen in the second touch area stops, the touch sensing device performs both a search for the first active pen in the first touch area or near the first touch area and a search for the second active pen in the second touch area or near the second touch area.

11. The touch sensing system according to claim 10, wherein, The touch sensing device receives a synchronization signal for defining the display interval and the touch interval, searches for the first active pen within some touch intervals of a frame, and searches for the second active pen within other touch intervals of the same frame.

12. The touch sensing system according to claim 11, wherein, Upon resuming sensing of the first active pen and the second active pen, the touch sensing device senses the first active pen within some touch intervals and senses the second active pen within other touch intervals.

13. The touch sensing system according to claim 10, wherein, The touch sensing device identifies the location of the first active pen through the search, so as to check the presence of the first active pen in or near the first touch area.

14. The touch sensing system according to claim 10, wherein, The touch sensing device sends a touch driving signal to the first touch area and the second touch area, and senses the touch or proximity of an object to the panel in response to a response signal to the touch driving signal.

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