Touch controller, touch sensing device including the same, and operating method thereof

Abstract

A touch sensing device can include a touch sensor array including at least one beacon drive portion including a plurality of first touch electrodes and at least one compensation portion including a plurality of second touch electrodes; and a touch controller connected to the touch sensor array by at least one first drive channel and at least one second drive channel, the touch controller configured to provide at least one beacon signal to the at least one first drive channel and at least one compensation signal to the at least one second drive channel during a first uplink period for communication with an active pen, the at least one compensation signal being an inverse of the at least one beacon signal.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This U.S. non-provisional application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0001058, filed on January 5, 2021, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to touch sensing devices, and more specifically, to touch controllers capable of communicating with an active pen, touch sensing devices including touch controllers, systems including touch controllers, and / or methods of operating touch controllers. Background Technology

[0004] A touchscreen may include a display panel for displaying images and a touch panel for sensing touch. As touchscreens become increasingly thin, the distance between the display panel and the touch panel decreases, potentially increasing parasitic capacitance between them. This parasitic capacitance can cause observable noise, and as a result, the image quality of the image displayed on the display panel may be reduced and / or degraded. Specifically, during the uplink phase of communication between a touchscreen device including the touchscreen and an active pen, the display panel may flicker as uplink signals are applied to the touch electrodes included in the touch panel. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to at least one example embodiment of the present invention, a touch sensing device is provided, comprising: a touch sensor array including at least one beacon driving section and at least one compensation section, the at least one beacon driving section including a plurality of first touch electrodes and the at least one compensation section including a plurality of second touch electrodes; and a touch controller connected to the touch sensor array via at least one first driving channel and at least one second driving channel, and the touch controller being configured to provide at least one beacon signal to at least one first driving channel and at least one compensation signal to at least one second driving channel during a first uplink period for communication with an active pen, the at least one compensation signal being an inverted signal of the at least one beacon signal.

[0006] According to at least one example embodiment of the present invention, a touch controller configured to drive a touch sensor array is provided. The touch controller includes: a driving circuit including a plurality of transmitters respectively connected to a plurality of driving channels, the plurality of driving channels including at least one first driving channel and at least one second driving channel parallel to each other; and at least one touch processor configured to control the driving circuit to provide at least one beacon signal to the at least one first driving channel and at least one compensation signal to the at least one second driving channel during a first uplink period for communication between the touch controller and an active pen. The at least one compensation signal is an inverted signal of the at least one beacon signal, and the at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal have the same amplitude.

[0007] According to at least one example embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a touch controller to drive a touchscreen, the touchscreen including a touch sensor array, is provided. The method includes: providing at least one beacon signal for communication with an active pen to at least one first drive channel connected to the touch sensor array during a first uplink period; providing at least one compensation signal to at least one second drive channel connected to the touch sensor array during the first uplink period, the at least one second drive channel being parallel to the at least one first drive channel, the at least one compensation signal being out of phase with the at least one beacon signal; providing at least one compensation signal to the at least one first drive channel during a second uplink period; and the at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal having the same amplitude. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Various exemplary embodiments of the concept of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating at least one example embodiment of a touchscreen device according to a concept of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 At least one exemplary embodiment of the concept according to the present invention is shown in more detail. Figure 1 A diagram of the touch panel and touch controller;

[0011] Figure 3 This illustrates in more detail at least one example embodiment of the concept according to the present invention. Figure 1 A diagram of a touchscreen;

[0012] Figure 4 This illustrates at least one example embodiment of the concept according to the present invention. Figure 1 The circuit diagram of the touchscreen;

[0013] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating communication between a touch sensing device and an active pen according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 6 This is a timing diagram illustrating the communication between a touch sensing device and an active pen according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the pen sensing mode of a touch sensing device according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the driving operation of a touch sensing device according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0017] Figures 9 to 14 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel in discovery mode according to some embodiments of the concept of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel in pairing mode according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 17 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 18 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 19 and 20 These are diagrams illustrating methods for driving a touch panel according to some exemplary embodiments of the concept of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 21 This is a diagram illustrating at least one example embodiment of a touchscreen device according to the concept of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 22 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 23 This is a flowchart of a method for operating a touch controller according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention; and

[0026] Figure 24 This is a block diagram illustrating at least one example embodiment of a touchscreen system according to the concept of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating at least one exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen device 1000 according to the concept of the present invention. The touchscreen device 1000 can be installed on various electronic devices and may also be referred to as a "touch sensing device," but is not limited thereto. For example, the touchscreen device 1000 can be installed on electronic devices such as personal computers (PCs), laptops, tablets, e-readers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), mobile terminals, smartphones, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, refrigerators, navigation devices, virtual reality and / or augmented reality devices, etc., but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Furthermore, the touchscreen device 1000 can be installed on electronic devices provided as components of vehicles, furniture, manufacturing facilities, doors, and / or various measuring devices, etc.

[0028] refer to Figure 1 The touchscreen device 1000 may include, but is not limited to, a touchscreen 100 and / or a touchscreen driver circuit 200 for driving the touchscreen 100. The touchscreen 100 may include a touch panel 110 and / or a display panel 120, etc., and may provide touch sensing (e.g., detection, measurement, etc.) functions and display functions, etc. The touchscreen driver circuit 200 may include a touch controller 210 and / or a display driver circuit 220, etc., but is not limited to. Although Figure 1 The touchscreen device 1000 shown includes a host 300, but exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and for example, the host 300 may be implemented separately from the touchscreen device 1000, etc.

[0029] Touchscreen 100 can display images and / or receive user touch input, etc. Touchscreen 100 can be used as an input / output device for an electronic device. In at least one example embodiment, touchscreen 100 may also include, for example, a fingerprint sensor, and touchscreen device 1000 can perform fingerprint recognition functions, etc.

[0030] The touch panel 110 can sense (e.g., detect and / or measure) touch (or touch input) on the touchscreen 100 and output a sensing signal S. SENHowever, touch is not limited to direct contact of a conductive object (e.g., a user's finger, palm, stylus, pen, active pen, etc.) on the touchscreen 100, but may also include a conductive object being close to the touchscreen 100. The touch panel 110 may be stacked on the display panel 120 and may be connected to the front surface of the display panel 120 (e.g., the surface from which light signals are emitted). In at least one example embodiment, the touch panel 110 may cover the front surface of the display panel 120, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0031] Touch panel 110 can be implemented as a transparent and / or translucent panel with a touch-sensitive surface. Alternatively, touch panel 110 can be implemented as a touch sensor array in which transparent (and / or translucent) electrodes are patterned. In one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, touch panel 110 may be referred to as a "touch sensor array" or a "touch sensing layer," but is not limited thereto. Touch panel 110 may include a plurality of touch electrodes arranged in rows and columns. A sensing signal S according to one of various touch sensing methods can be output through the touch electrodes. SEN For example, the touch electrodes can output sensing signals S according to methods such as capacitance sensing. SEN .

[0032] In at least one example embodiment, the touch electrode may include a plurality of driving electrodes, a plurality of receiving electrodes, and / or a plurality of sensing electrodes, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 110 may include a drive signal S applied thereto. TX Multiple driving electrodes and output sensing signal S to them SEN The device comprises multiple receiving electrodes, wherein driving electrodes may extend in a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction, etc.) and multiple sensing electrodes may extend in a second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction or the X-axis direction, etc.). The driving electrodes and sensing electrodes may intersect each other (e.g., correspond to each other) and mutual capacitance may be formed between the driving electrodes and sensing electrodes.

[0033] In at least one example embodiment, the touch electrode may include a plurality of sensing electrodes. For example, the touch panel 110 may include a plurality of sensing electrodes arranged in rows and columns, and it may be possible to form a capacitance in each sensing electrode. For example, a capacitance may be formed between each sensing electrode and ground (and / or a conductive layer in the touch screen 100, etc.), and this capacitance may be referred to as a self-capacitance, but is not limited thereto. Drive signal S TX A sensing signal S can be applied to each sensing electrode and output from each sensing electrode. SEN In other words, each sensing electrode can be used as a driving electrode and a receiving electrode, etc.

[0034] A drive signal S can be applied through the drive electrode.TX And it can be based on the driving signal S TX Generate a sensing signal S representing the capacitance (e.g., mutual capacitance and / or self capacitance) associated with the sensing electrode. SEN And it can output a sensing signal S through the receiving electrode. SEN When a conductive object, such as a human finger and / or an active pen, touches or approaches the electrodes, a sensing signal S corresponding to a change in capacitance of the touched electrode is generated and output from the touch panel 110. SEN It can be changed based on and / or on changes in capacitance. For example, the sensing signal S SEN The level (e.g., voltage level) can be relative to the sensing signal S prior to the touch. SEN The level increases and / or decreases, etc.

[0035] The display panel 120 may include a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, and a plurality of pixels, which are arranged in rows and columns at the points where the gate lines and source lines intersect, but are not limited thereto. Thus, the display panel 120 may include a "pixel array" and / or a "display layer" comprising pixels. Pixels may be based on image signals S received via the source lines and gate lines. IMG To display the image. The image can be updated based on the desired and / or set frame rate, but is not limited to this.

[0036] The display panel 120 may also include a common electrode located on the display layer. The common electrode may be between the display layer and / or the touch sensor array, but is not limited thereto. Gate lines, source lines, and / or pixels, etc., may be formed in the display layer. The voltage typically supplied to the pixels of the display panel 120, for example, ground voltage, may be applied to the common electrode.

[0037] The display panel 120 may be a light-emitting diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an electrochromic display (ECD), a digital mirror device (DMD), an actuator mirror device (AMD), a grating light valve (GLV), one of the plasma display panels (PDP), an electroluminescent display (ELD), a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), and other types of flat or flexible panels, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0038] although Figure 1 The touch panel 110 and display panel 120 are shown as separate components, but the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the touch screen 100 may be implemented as an in-cell panel in which the electrodes of the touch panel 110 and the pixels of the display panel 120 are combined with each other, and / or an in-cell panel in which the electrodes of the touch panel 110 are arranged on the display panel 120, etc., but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0039] Touch controller 210 can scan (e.g., drive and sense) touch panel 110. Touch controller 210 can provide drive signals S to touch panel 110 (e.g., touch sensor array). TX and / or receive drive signal S from touch panel 110, etc. TX The generated sensing signal S SEN Based on the sensing signal S SEN The touch controller 210 can determine whether a touch input has occurred and the location information corresponding to and / or associated with the location where the touch input occurred (e.g., touch coordinates Txy), and provide the touch coordinates Txy to the host 300. In at least one example embodiment, the touch controller 210 can calculate the touch pressure (e.g., the magnitude of the force corresponding to the touch gesture, etc.) and provide the touch pressure (e.g., touch pressure information) together with the touch coordinates Txy to the host 300.

[0040] In at least one example embodiment, during the uplink period for communication between the touchscreen device 1000 and the active pen, the touch controller 210 may send signals to one or more first drive channels (e.g., Figure 8 CH1, etc., transmits beacon signals (e.g., first phase signals, etc.) as positive phase signals and to one or more second drive channels (e.g., CH1, etc.). Figure 8 The example embodiment provides a compensation signal as an inverted signal (e.g., an inverted first phase signal and / or a second phase signal, etc.) to the beacon signal (CH2, etc.), but is not limited to this. Here, the beacon signal and the compensation signal may have the same amplitude, but are not limited to this. In this regard, the touch controller 210 may provide the beacon signal and the compensation signal to the first and second drive channels respectively, thereby driving the touch sensor array according to and / or based on a balanced drive scheme (where noise charge introduced into the common electrode through capacitive coupling between the touch sensor array and the common electrode is reduced and / or eliminated). Reference will be made later. Figure 8 A more detailed description of its example embodiments is given.

[0041] In at least one example embodiment, the first driving channel and the second driving channel may be parallel to each other, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. In at least one example embodiment, the touch panel 110 may include a touch sensor array, and the touch sensor array may include at least one beacon driving portion including first touch electrodes (e.g., multiple first touch electrodes, etc.) to which beacon signals are applied, and at least one compensation portion including second touch electrodes (e.g., multiple second touch electrodes, etc.) to which compensation signals are applied. For example, multiple rows in the touch sensor array may be divided into at least one beacon driving portion and at least one compensation portion, but are not limited thereto. Reference will be made later. Figure 12A more detailed description of example embodiments is given below. For example, multiple columns in a touch sensor array may be divided into at least one beacon driving section and at least one compensation section, but are not limited thereto. Reference will be made later. Figure 13 A more detailed description of its example embodiments is given.

[0042] In at least one exemplary embodiment, at least one compensation portion may include at least one first compensation portion and a second compensation portion that are separate from each other, and at least one beacon driving portion may be located between the first compensation portion and the second compensation portion. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto, and may include, for example, more than two compensation portions. Reference will be made later. Figure 10 A more detailed description of its exemplary embodiments is given below. In at least one exemplary embodiment, at least one compensation portion may include at least one first compensation portion and a second compensation portion separate from each other, at least one beacon driving portion may include at least one first beacon driving portion and a second beacon driving portion separate from each other, and the first compensation portion may be between the first beacon driving portion and the second beacon driving portion, etc., but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Reference will be made later. Figure 14 A more detailed description of its example embodiments is given.

[0043] The display driver circuit 220 can receive image data IDT from the host 300 (e.g., an external host, etc.) and drive the display panel 120 to display images on the display panel 120 according to and / or based on the image data IDT, but is not limited thereto. The display driver circuit 220 can convert the image data IDT into an image signal S as an analog signal. IMG and respectively the image signal S IMG The corresponding pixels are provided to the display panel 120. The touch controller 210 and / or display driver circuit 220 can send and / or receive synchronization signals and / or status information, etc., but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0044] The host 300 can perform overall control operations for the touch screen device 1000. The host 300 can generate data related to display operations, provide the data to the display driver circuit 220, receive information from the touch controller 210 indicating whether a touch has occurred, touch coordinates Txy and / or touch pressure (e.g., intensity), and / or perform at least one control operation based on touch coordinates Txy and / or touch pressure (e.g., intensity).

[0045] In at least one example embodiment, host 300 may include an application processor (AP), and the application processor may be implemented as a system-on-a-chip (SoC), but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The SoC may include a system bus (not shown) with an application-desired and / or predetermined standard bus protocol, and may include various intellectual property (IP) blocks connected to the system bus. As a standard protocol for the system bus, various types of protocols, such as the Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA) protocol for advanced RISC machines (ARM), may be applied, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0046] Figure 2 At least one exemplary embodiment of the concept according to the present invention is shown in more detail. Figure 1 A diagram of the touch panel 110 and the touch controller 210.

[0047] refer to Figure 2 Touch panel 110 and touch controller 210, etc., can constitute a touch sensing device, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Touch panel 110 may include multiple driving electrodes TE and multiple receiving electrodes RE (which may be referred to as multiple touch electrodes), multiple sensing electrodes, or multiple sensing units. In at least one example embodiment, the receiving electrodes RE may extend in a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), and the driving electrodes TE may extend in a second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction), but are not limited thereto. The first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other, and the receiving electrodes RE and the driving electrodes TE may intersect each other. Mutual capacitance C may be formed between the driving electrodes TE and the receiving electrodes RE. M To improve touch sensing characteristics (e.g., touch sensing sensitivity), the unit electrodes of multiple touch electrodes (e.g., driving electrodes TE and / or receiving electrodes RE) can have a specific shape (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 2 The diamond shape (or pattern) shown is not limited to this; however, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0048] The touch controller 210 may include a driving circuit 211, a receiving circuit 212, and / or a touch processor 213, etc. According to at least one example embodiment, the driving circuit 211, the receiving circuit 212, and / or the touch processor 213, etc., may be processing circuitry, and the processing circuitry may include hardware such as a processor, processor core, logic circuitry, storage device, etc.; hardware / software combinations such as at least one processor core executing software and / or executing any instruction set, etc.; or combinations thereof, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the processing circuitry may more specifically include, but is not limited to, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic units, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-a-chip (SoCs), etc. The driving circuit 211 may include multiple transmitters TX, which can provide a driving signal S to the driving electrode TE.TX According to some example embodiments, the drive circuit 211 may further include an encoder, and the encoder may be implemented separately from the drive circuit 211, but is not limited thereto. The receiving circuit 212 may include a plurality of receivers RX, and the receivers RX may receive the sensing signal S from the receiving electrode RE. SEN According to some example embodiments, the receiving circuit 212 may also include a decoder, and the decoder may be implemented separately from the receiving circuit 212, but is not limited thereto.

[0049] In at least one example embodiment, during the uplink period for communication between the touch controller 210 and the active pen, the drive signal S TX This may include beacon signals and / or compensation signals, and the transmitter TX may provide beacon signals and / or compensation signals to the drive electrode TE. For example, from a plurality of transmitters TX, the number of transmitters TX providing beacon signals may be the same and / or substantially the same as the number of transmitters TX providing compensation signals, but exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0050] Sensing signal S SEN It can represent the drive signal S TX The applied driving electrode TE and the received sensing signal S SEN The mutual capacitance C between the receiving electrodes RE M (For example, mutual capacitance value). For example, when a touch occurs at a point on the touch panel 110, the mutual capacitance C at that point... M It may decrease, and is related to the sensing signal S prior to the touch. SEN Compared to the level of the sensing signal S SEN The voltage level can be decreased or increased. The receiver RX can amplify and convert the received sensing signal S. SEN To generate multiple sense values.

[0051] In at least one example embodiment, the touch panel 110 may include a plurality of sensing electrodes, each functioning as both a driving electrode and a sensing electrode. The sensing electrodes may be arranged in rows and columns, and each sensing electrode may be referred to as a “dot sensor.” To provide a driving signal to each dot sensor and receive a sensing signal, the transmitter and receiver may be implemented as a single component. Reference will be made later. Figure 21 A more detailed description of its example embodiments is given.

[0052] Touch processor 213 can control the overall operation of touch controller 210, for example, it can control the timing of operation of drive circuit 211 and / or receiving circuit 212. In addition, touch processor 214 can determine whether a touch has occurred, the location of the touch and / or the intensity of the touch (e.g., pressure information) based on multiple sensing values ​​and / or multiple touch values ​​received from receiving circuit 212, but is not limited to these.

[0053] Figure 3 This illustrates in more detail at least one example embodiment of the concept according to the present invention. Figure 1 The image shows the touchscreen 100.

[0054] refer to Figure 3 The touchscreen 100 may include, but is not limited to, a substrate SUB, a display layer 121, a common electrode 122, and / or a touch panel 110 (or a "touch sensor array"), and may include, for example, more or fewer components. However, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and the touchscreen 100 may also include, for example, other layers between the aforementioned components. Furthermore, for example, the touchscreen 100 may also include, for example, a top glass on the touch panel 110.

[0055] The substrate SUB may include a first surface S1 extending in a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) and a second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). The display layer 121, common electrode 122, and / or touch panel 110, etc., may be stacked in a direction perpendicular to the first surface S1 of the substrate SUB (e.g., Z-axis d). Figure 3 As shown, the common electrode 122 can be located between the display layer 121 and the touch panel 110, but is not limited thereto. Parasitic capacitances (e.g., C) can be formed between multiple electrodes of the touch panel 110 (e.g., driving electrode TE, receiving electrode RE, and common electrode 122). TX and C RX Parasitic capacitances (e.g., C) can be formed between the source line SL and gate line GL of the common electrode 122 and the display layer 121. S and C G ).

[0056] Figure 4 This illustrates at least one example embodiment of the concept according to the present invention. Figure 1 Circuit diagram of touch screen 100.

[0057] Also refer to Figures 2 to 4 Mutual capacitance C can be formed between the driving electrode TE and the receiving electrode RE of the touch panel 110. M However, the example embodiment is not limited to this. A parasitic capacitance C can be formed between the common electrode 122, the driving electrode TE, and the receiving electrode RE of the display panel 120.TX and C RX A parasitic capacitance C can be formed between the common electrode 122 and the source line SL. S However, it is not limited to this.

[0058] Pixel PX may include a selection transistor T S , drive transistor T D Data capacitor C DT And / or organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), etc., but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Select transistor T S The first terminal can be connected to the source line SL, and the transistor T is selected. S The second terminal can be connected to the driving transistor T D The gate terminal of transistor T. S The gate terminal can be connected to the gate line GL. The first power supply voltage ELVDD can be applied to the drive transistor T. D The first terminal drives transistor T D The second end can be connected to the anode of the OLED. Data capacitor C DT It can be connected to the drive transistor T D The first end and the gate terminal.

[0059] The cathode of the OLED can be connected to a common electrode 122, and a second power supply voltage ELVSS can be applied to the common electrode 122. In some example embodiments, the common electrode 122 may also be referred to as the "cathode". The voltage level of the second power supply voltage ELVSS is lower than the voltage level of the first power supply voltage ELVDD. For example, the second power supply voltage ELVSS may be ground. The common electrode 122 may include a resistive component, such as a parasitic resistance R. COM However, it is not limited to this.

[0060] In at least one example embodiment, a thin-film encapsulation (TFE) may be provided between the touch panel 110 and the common electrode 122, etc. In this case, the TFE can be implemented as an ultrathin film with a thickness of, for example, less than 10 μm, but is not limited thereto. Therefore, the parasitic capacitance C between the driving electrode TE, the receiving electrode RE, and the common electrode 122 of the touch panel 110... TX and C RX It could be very large. Furthermore, the drive signal S applied to the drive electrode TE... TX Under voltage variations, noise charge may flow into the common electrode 122.

[0061] In this respect, in the driving signal S TXUnder voltage variations, noise charges can cause fluctuations in the second power supply voltage ELVSS through parasitic capacitance. The output brightness of the OLED may fluctuate due to these fluctuations, potentially causing flickering that can be observed and / or detected by the user.

[0062] Furthermore, when noise charge flowing into the common electrode 122 is applied to pixel PX, the driving transistor T... D The threshold voltage may be distorted and / or the current flowing through the OLED may deviate to an undesirable level. In such cases, the OLED's output brightness may fluctuate, resulting in user-perceptible flickering and / or screen jitter.

[0063] Figure 5 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating communication between a touch sensing device (TSD) and an active pen (AP) according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0064] refer to Figure 5 The touch sensing device (TSD) can communicate bidirectionally with the active pen (AP). Unlike a regular stylus that only provides touch to the touch sensing device (TD) (e.g., unidirectional communication), the active pen AP can receive information from the touch sensing device (TD) and / or provide information to the touch sensing device (TD) other than touch. For this purpose, the active pen AP may include various components, such as input buttons, transceivers, logic circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry), and / or memory, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0065] The signal provided by the touch sensing device TSD to the active pen AP can be called an "uplink signal," and the period during which the touch sensing device TSD provides an uplink signal can be called an "uplink period." The signal provided by the active pen AP to the touch sensing device TSD can be called a "downlink signal," and the period during which the active pen AP provides a downlink signal can be called a "downlink period."

[0066] The touch sensing device (TSD) may include a touch panel 110 and / or a touch controller 210, etc. The touch controller 210 generates an uplink signal for communication with an active pen AP, and the generated uplink signal can be transmitted to the active pen AP via capacitive coupling through multiple touch sensors arranged on the touch panel 110, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the active pen AP generates a downlink signal for communication with the touch controller 210, and the generated downlink signal can be transmitted to the touch controller 210 via capacitive coupling through touch sensors arranged on the touch panel 110, etc.

[0067] Figure 6This is a timing diagram illustrating the communication between a touch sensing device (TSD) and an active pen (AP) according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention. Specifically, Figure 6 The timing diagram illustrates an example of communication based on the Universal Stylus Active (USI) pen protocol as a protocol for an active pen AP. According to some example embodiments, the touch sensing device (TSD) and the active pen AP can be collectively referred to as a "USI system." Hereinafter, example embodiments of the inventive concept will be described primarily with reference to the USI pen protocol, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto, and other example embodiments of the inventive concept may be applied using other protocols, such as the Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP), etc.

[0068] Also refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The touch controller 210 and the active pen AP can communicate frame-by-frame and / or packet-by-packet. The first frame FR1 may include, but is not limited to, an uplink period 61 and a downlink period 62. For example, the frame may include only an uplink period, only a downlink period, and / or multiple uplink and / or downlink periods, etc. Furthermore, the second frame FR2 following the first frame FR1 may include an uplink period 63. Although not shown, the second frame FR2 may also include a downlink period following the uplink period 63. In this regard, communication between the touch controller 210 and the active pen AP may include multiple frames, each of which may include, but is not limited to, an uplink period and / or a downlink period, etc.

[0069] During uplink period 61, the touch controller 210 may send at least one beacon signal as an uplink signal to the active pen AP, and may include various information, such as downlink frequency, active pen configuration information, etc. After at least one beacon signal is received normally (e.g., successfully), the active pen AP may send an ACK signal to the touch sensing device TSD during downlink period 62, and may extract information from the beacon signal, etc.

[0070] Furthermore, during downlink period 62, the active pen AP can send downlink signals to the touch sensing device TSD based on the extracted information. In this regard, after receiving an ACK signal from the active pen AP, the touch sensing device TSD can receive downlink signals from the active pen AP. For example, downlink period 62 may include N time slots TS1 to TS2. N .

[0071] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the pen sensing mode of a touch sensing device (TSD) according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0072] Also refer to Figures 5 to 7The pen sensing modes can be defined as including discovery state and / or discovery mode DM, pairing state and / or pairing mode PM, hover state and / or hover mode HM, and ink state and / or ink mode IM, etc., but the example embodiment is not limited to these. Discovery mode DM is defined as the state in which the touch controller 210 sends a beacon signal to check whether the active pen AP (and / or any active pen AP) is close to the display device (e.g., within a desired distance of the display device). In discovery mode DM, the touch controller 210 may only receive ACK signals from the active pen AP. When the touch controller 210 senses an ACK signal in discovery mode DM, the touch sensing device TSD enters pairing mode PM. In pairing mode PM, the touch controller 210 may only receive ACK signals from the active pen A. When the ACK signal is maintained for a desired period of time and / or the pairing process is completed, for example, reaching 8 frames in pairing mode PM, but not limited to this, it is defined as the pairing completed state.

[0073] After pairing is complete, depending on whether pressure data is received, the touch sensing device TSD switches to Ink Mode (IM) and / or Hover Mode (HM). When the touch controller 210 receives pressure data, it switches from Pairing Mode (PM) to Ink Mode (IM). When the touch controller 210 does not receive pressure data, it switches from Pairing Mode (PM) to Hover Mode (HM). In Ink Mode (IM) and Hover Mode (HM), the touch controller 210 and the active pen AP can communicate in the order of beacon signals, ACK signals, position signals, and / or data packets, but are not limited to this.

[0074] Discovery mode (DM), pairing mode (PM), hover mode (HM), and ink mode (IM) all include uplink period 61. Therefore, touch controller 210 can generate uplink signals, such as beacon signals, but not limited to, in all discovery modes (DM), pairing modes (PM), hover modes (HM), and / or ink modes (IM). In this regard, touch controller 210 can send at least one beacon signal to a plurality of touch electrodes (e.g., drive electrodes) arranged on touch panel 110 for communication with active pen AP.

[0075] Figure 8 This is a diagram illustrating the driving operation of a touchscreen device 1000 according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0076] refer to Figure 8The touchscreen device 1000 may include a touch panel 110, a display panel 120, a first transmitter TX_N and / or a second transmitter TX_N+1, etc., but the example embodiments are not limited thereto; for example, it may have more or fewer components. The touch panel 110 may include a touch sensor array comprising a plurality of touch electrodes (e.g., a first touch electrode 10 and a second touch electrode TX_N+1, etc.). According to some example embodiments, the touch panel 110 may also include a plurality of transmitters, such as a first transmitter TX_N and a second transmitter TX_N+1, etc., which may correspond to, for example, those included in... Figure 2 The transmitter TX in the driving circuit 211 is an example, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The above references... Figure 2 and 4 The given description can also be applied to Figure 8 At least one example embodiment will be described, and the same descriptions as those described will be omitted, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0077] The first transmitter TX_N can provide at least one beacon signal BS to the first touch electrode TE_N through the first driving channel CH1, and the second transmitter TX_N+1 can provide a compensation signal CS to the second touch electrode TE_N+1 through the second driving channel CH2. In this regard, the first transmitter TX_N+1 and the second transmitter TX_N+1 can respectively provide the beacon signal BS and / or the compensation signal CS as driving signals. For example, the beacon signal BS is a positive-phase signal, while the compensation signal CS is the inverse of the beacon signal BS, wherein the beacon signal BS and the compensation signal CS can have the same amplitude, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Therefore, the first transmitter TX_N can drive the first touch electrode TE_N with a beacon signal, and the first driving channel CH1 can be referred to as the "beacon driving positive channel". Furthermore, the second transmitter TX_N+1 can compensate for the second touch electrode TE_N+1, and the second driving channel CH2 can be referred to as the "compensation driving negative channel".

[0078] During at least one uplink period of communication between the touchscreen device 1000 and the active pen AP, the first transmitter TX_N and the second transmitter TX_N+1 can provide beacon signals BS and / or compensation signals CS, etc., to the first touch electrode TE_N and / or the second touch electrode TE_N+1 through the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2. Therefore, during the first time period, the parasitic capacitance C between the first touch electrode TE_N and the common electrode 122 is utilized. TX_N The amount of noise charge applied from the first touch electrode TE_N to the common electrode 122 can be and / or become related to the parasitic capacitance C between the second touch electrode TE_N+1 and the common electrode 122. TX_N+1The amount of noise charge leaking from the common electrode 122 to the second touch electrode TE_N+1 is the same and / or substantially the same. Furthermore, during the second time period following the first time period, the parasitic capacitance C between the first touch electrode TE_N and the common electrode 122... TX_N+1 The amount of noise charge leaking from the common electrode 122 to the first touch electrode TE_N can be and / or become related to the parasitic capacitance C between the second touch electrode TE_N+1 and the common electrode 122. TX_N+1 The amount of noise charge applied from the second touch electrode TE_N+1 to the common electrode 122 is the same and / or substantially the same.

[0079] In this regard, by providing a beacon signal BS and a compensation signal CS with the same amplitude but opposite phase to the first touch electrode TE_N and the second touch electrode TE_N+1, respectively, noise charge can be removed from the common electrode 122 through the neutralization of noise charge. In other words, in the common electrode 122, the noise from the beacon signal BS and the noise from the compensation signal CS can be offset. Therefore, during the uplink period, since the noise charge introduced into the common electrode 122 can be reduced, prevented, and / or suppressed from being applied to the pixel PX, flicker can be prevented and / or reduced.

[0080] Figure 9 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0081] refer to Figure 9 The touch panel 110 may include, but is not limited to, a touch sensor array comprising multiple rows and columns. Each row may include multiple touch electrodes arranged in a first direction (e.g., the X direction), and each column may include multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), etc. For example, each row may receive drive signals through multiple drive channels respectively, and the drive signals may include beacon signals BS and / or compensation signals CS, etc.

[0082] In at least one example embodiment, the touch sensor array can be divided into multiple parts, such as first to third parts 311, 312, and 313, etc., but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the rows included in the touch panel 110 can be divided into, for example, first to third parts 311, 312, and 313, etc. During the first uplink period T1, the beacon signal BS can be transmitted to the active pen AP via the touch panel 110. During the second uplink period T2 following the first uplink period T1, the beacon signal BS can be transmitted to the active pen AP via the touch panel 110.

[0083] In the first uplink period T1, the first portion 311 and the second portion 312 may correspond to the beacon driving portion BDS, and the third portion 313 may correspond to the compensation portion CPS, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. One or more portions, such as the first portion 311 and the second portion 312 corresponding to the beacon driving portion BDS, may include multiple touch electrodes for applying the beacon signal BS, such as beacon driving electrodes BE. The portion corresponding to the compensation portion CPS, such as the third portion 313, may include multiple touch electrodes for applying the compensation signal CS, such as compensation driving electrodes CE. For example, in the first uplink period T1, multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may float, but the example embodiment of the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0084] In the second uplink period T2, as an example, the first portion 311 may correspond to the compensation portion CPS, and the second portion 312 and the third portion 313 may correspond to the beacon driving portion BDS, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The second portion 312 and the third portion 313 corresponding to the beacon driving portion BDS may include multiple touch electrodes for applying the beacon signal BS, such as beacon driving electrodes BE. The first portion 311 corresponding to the compensation portion CPS may include multiple touch electrodes for applying the compensation signal CS, such as compensation driving electrodes CE. For example, in the second uplink period T2, the multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may float, but the example embodiment of the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0085] According to at least one example embodiment, in the case of the second portion 312 between the first portion 311 and the third portion 313, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the touch electrodes during both the first uplink period T1 and the second uplink period T2, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. In other words, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the touch electrodes of the second portion 312 during the first uplink period T1, and the beacon signal BS can also be applied to the touch electrodes of the second portion 312 during the second uplink period T2. In this regard, by using the second portion 312 as an overlap region during beacon driving, the dead zone between the beacon driving portion BDS and the compensation portion CPS can be removed.

[0086] Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0087] refer to Figure 10The touch panel 110 may include a touch sensor array comprising multiple rows and columns. The touch sensor array may be divided into multiple parts, and these parts may be changed according to time periods (and / or different time periods). For example, in a first uplink time period T1, the rows in the touch sensor array may be divided into first to third parts 321, 322, and 323, and in the second uplink time period T2 and the third uplink time period T3, the rows in the touch sensor array may be divided into first part 324 and second part 325, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0088] like Figure 10 As shown, during the first uplink period T1, at least one beacon signal BS can be transmitted to the active pen AP via the touch panel 110. During the second uplink period T2 following the first uplink period T1, at least one beacon signal BS can be transmitted to the active pen AP via the touch panel 110. During the third uplink period T3 following the second uplink period T2, at least one beacon signal BS can be transmitted to the active pen AP via the touch panel 110.

[0089] In the first uplink period T1, the first portion 321 and the third portion 323 may correspond to the compensation portion CPS, and the second portion 322 may correspond to the beacon driving portion BDS, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The second portion 322 corresponding to the beacon driving portion BDS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a beacon signal BS is applied, such as beacon driving electrodes BE. The first portion 321 and the third portion 323 corresponding to the compensation portion CPS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a compensation signal CS is applied, such as compensation driving electrodes CE. For example, in the first uplink period T1, multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may float, but the example embodiment of the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0090] In the second uplink period T2, the first portion 324 may correspond to the beacon driving portion BDS, and the second portion 325 may correspond to the compensation portion CPS, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The first portion 324 corresponding to the beacon driving portion BDS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a beacon signal BS is applied, such as beacon driving electrodes BE. The second portion 325 corresponding to the compensation portion CPS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a compensation signal CS is applied, such as compensation driving electrodes CE. For example, in the second uplink period T2, the multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may float, but the example embodiment of the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0091] In the third uplink period T3, the first portion 324 may correspond to the compensation portion CPS, and the second portion 325 may correspond to the beacon driving portion BDS, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. The first portion 324 corresponding to the compensation portion CPS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a compensation signal CS is applied, such as compensation driving electrodes CE. The second portion 325 corresponding to the beacon driving portion BDS may include multiple touch electrodes to which a beacon signal BS is applied, such as beacon driving electrodes BE. For example, in the third uplink period T3, multiple touch electrodes arranged in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may float, but the example embodiment of the inventive concept is not limited thereto.

[0092] According to at least one example embodiment, the beacon drive portion (BDS) and the compensation portion (CPS) can be inverted during the second uplink period T2 and the third uplink period T3, but are not limited thereto. In this case, by inverting the frame over time, at least one factor causing flickering over time can be reduced and / or removed. Therefore, flickering in the display panel 120 can be further reduced.

[0093] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0094] refer to Figure 11 According to at least one example embodiment, the touch panel 110 may include a plurality of touch electrodes, and the driving method of the touch electrodes may change over time. For example, in a first uplink period T1, a beacon signal BS may be applied to a plurality of touch electrodes connected to a driving channel extending in a first direction (e.g., the X direction), and the plurality of touch electrodes connected to a driving channel extending in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be floating, etc. In a second uplink period T2, a compensation signal CS may be applied to the touch electrodes connected to the driving channel extending in the first direction (e.g., the X direction), and the touch electrodes connected to the driving channel extending in the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be floating, etc. In a third uplink period T3, a beacon signal BS may be applied to the touch electrodes connected to the driving channel extending in the first direction (e.g., the X direction), and the touch electrodes connected to the driving channel extending in the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be floating, etc.

[0095] According to at least one example embodiment, during the first to third uplink periods T1 to T3, beacon signals and compensation signals may be alternately applied to the touch electrodes, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. In this regard, by reversing the frame over time, at least one factor causing flickering over time can be reduced and / or removed. Therefore, flickering in the display panel 120 can be further reduced.

[0096] Figure 12 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0097] refer to Figure 12 The touch panel 110 can be divided into a first portion 331 and a second portion 332 that are adjacent to each other in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 110 may include an array of touch sensors comprising multiple rows and columns, and these rows may be divided into the first portion 331 and the second portion 332. For example, touch electrodes 110 corresponding to columns included in the touch panel may float, but the exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto.

[0098] In the first uplink period T1, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the first portion 331 to drive the touch electrode using a beacon (e.g., using a beacon signal), and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the second portion 332 to drive the touch electrode using a compensation signal. In the second uplink period T2, at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the first portion 331 to drive the touch electrode using a compensation signal, and at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the second portion 331 to drive the touch electrode using a beacon. In the third uplink period T3, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the first portion 331 to drive the touch electrode using a beacon, and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the row included in the second portion 332 to drive the touch electrode using a compensation signal.

[0099] Figure 13 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0100] refer to Figure 13 The touch panel 110 can be divided into a first portion 341 and a second portion 342 that are adjacent to each other in a first direction (e.g., the X direction), but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 110 may include an array of touch sensors comprising multiple rows and columns, and these columns may be divided into the first portion 341 and the second portion 342, etc. For example, touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the touch panel 110 may float, but the exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto.

[0101] In the first uplink period T1, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the first portion 341 to drive the touch electrode as a beacon, and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the second portion 342 to compensate for the touch electrode's operation. In the second uplink period T2, at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the first portion 341 to compensate for the touch electrode's operation, and at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the second portion 342 to drive the touch electrode as a beacon. In the third uplink period T3, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the first portion 341 to drive the touch electrode as a beacon, and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrode corresponding to the column included in the second portion 342 to compensate for the touch electrode's operation.

[0102] Figure 14 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in discovery mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0103] refer to Figure 14 The touch panel 110 can be divided into first to fourth portions 351, 352, 353, and 354 that are adjacent to each other in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), but the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the touch panel 110 may include an array of touch sensors comprising multiple rows and columns, and these rows may be divided into first to fourth portions 351, 352, 353, and 354, etc. For example, touch electrodes corresponding to the columns included in the touch panel 110 may float, but the exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are not limited thereto.

[0104] In the first uplink period T1, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the first portion 351 and the third portion 353 to drive the touch electrodes as beacons, and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the second portion 352 and the fourth portion 354 to drive the touch electrodes as compensations. In the second uplink period T2, at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the first portion 351 and the third portion 353 to drive the touch electrodes as compensations, and at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the second portion 352 and the fourth portion 354 to drive the touch electrodes as beacons. In the third uplink period T3, at least one beacon signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the first portion 351 and the third portion 353 to drive the touch electrodes as beacons, and at least one compensation signal can be applied to the touch electrodes corresponding to the rows included in the second portion 352 and the fourth portion 354 to drive the touch electrodes as compensations.

[0105] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in pairing mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0106] refer to Figure 15 When in pairing mode, the position of the active pen AP may change due to movement of the active pen AP. For example, the active pen AP may move from the middle area of ​​the touch panel 110 to its lower area. Therefore, during the first uplink period T1, the beacon driving portion BDS, to which the first beacon signal is applied, may correspond to the middle area of ​​the touch panel 110, and during the second uplink period T2, the beacon driving portion BDS, to which the second beacon signal is applied, may be moved to the lower area of ​​the touch panel 110. During the first uplink period T1 and the second uplink period T2, one or more compensation signals may be provided to the touch electrodes arranged in the portion other than the beacon driving portion BDS.

[0107] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0108] refer to Figure 16The active pen AP may be located in the central region CR of the touch panel 110, but is not limited thereto. In hover mode and / or ink mode, at least one beacon signal BS may be applied to all touch electrodes included in its central region CR, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to at least one example embodiment, the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2 may extend in a first direction (e.g., the X direction) and may be parallel to each other in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), while the third drive channel CH3 and the fourth drive channel CH4 may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) and may be parallel to each other in the first direction (e.g., the X direction), but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. In at least one example embodiment, at least one beacon signal BS may be applied to the first drive channel CH1 and the third drive channel CH3, and at least one compensation signal CS may be applied to the second drive channel CH2 and the fourth drive channel CH4, etc.

[0109] Figure 17 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0110] refer to Figure 17 The active pen AP can be located in the central region CR of the touch panel 110, but is not limited thereto. In hover mode and / or ink mode, a beacon signal BS can be applied to some touch electrodes, etc., included in its central region CR. According to at least one example embodiment, the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2 can extend in a first direction (e.g., the X direction) and can be parallel to each other in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), while the third drive channel CH3 can extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) and can be parallel to each other in the first direction (e.g., the X direction), but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. In at least one example embodiment, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to the first drive channel CH1, at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to the second drive channel CH2, and the third drive channel CH3 can float, etc.

[0111] Figure 18 This is a diagram illustrating a method of driving a touch panel 110 in hover mode and / or ink mode according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0112] refer to Figure 18The active pen AP can be located in the central region CR of the touch panel 110. In hover mode and / or ink mode, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to some touch electrodes included in its central region CR, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. Specifically, the first drive channel CH1 can extend in a first direction (e.g., the X direction) and can be parallel to each other in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), while the third drive channel CH3 and the fourth drive channel CH4 can extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) and can be parallel to each other in the first direction (e.g., the X direction), but are not limited thereto. In at least one example embodiment, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to the third drive channel CH3, at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to the fourth drive channel CH4, and the first drive channel CH1 can float, etc.

[0113] Figure 19 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel 110 according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0114] refer to Figure 19 The touch panel 110 can be driven using a "full-channel driving method," in which at least one driving signal is applied to all channels connected to the touch panel 110, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Specifically, according to the full-channel driving method, driving signals can be applied to row channels extending in a first direction (e.g., the X direction) and column channels extending in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). At this time, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to some row channels and some column channels, and at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to the remaining row channels and the remaining column channels. For example, the row channels can correspond to the first channel and the second channel respectively (e.g., ...). Figure 18 CH1 and CH2), the column channels can correspond to the third and fourth channels respectively (e.g., Figure 18 (CH3 and CH4), but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0115] For example, in the first uplink period T1 of the first frame, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the row and column channels corresponding to the first region R1, and the compensation signal CS can be applied to the remaining row and column channels, etc. Subsequently, in the second uplink period T2 of the second frame, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the row and column channels corresponding to the second region R2, and the compensation signal CS can be applied to the remaining row and column channels, etc. Subsequently, in the third uplink period T3 of the third frame, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the row and column channels corresponding to the third region R3, and the compensation signal CS can be applied to the remaining row and column channels, etc. Subsequently, in the fourth uplink period T4 of the fourth frame, the beacon signal BS can be applied to the row and column channels corresponding to the fourth region R4, and the compensation signal CS can be applied to the remaining row and column channels, etc. In this respect, the touch panel 110 can be divided into four regions, and one region can be driven by the uplink beacon in each frame, but the example embodiment is not limited to this. According to at least one example embodiment, in each uplink period, the row channels and column channels adjacent to the corresponding region can be identified as overlapping lines, and beacon signals BS can be applied to them.

[0116] Figure 20 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel 110 according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0117] refer to Figure 20 The touch panel 110 can be driven using a "full-channel driving method," wherein at least one driving signal is applied to all channels connected to the touch panel 110. The touch panel 110 can be divided into first to fourth regions R1 to R4, and one region can be driven by an uplink beacon per frame, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to at least one example embodiment, the touch panel 110 can include row lines L1 extending in a first direction (e.g., the X direction) and column lines L2 extending in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). The row lines L1 can correspond to rows of touch electrodes (and / or driving electrodes), and can be connected, for example, to a first driving channel and a second driving channel (e.g., ...). Figure 18 CH1 and CH2), but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Column lines L2 may correspond to columns of touch electrodes (and / or drive electrodes) respectively, and may be connected, for example, to a third drive channel and a fourth drive channel respectively (e.g., CH1 and CH2), but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Figure 18 (CH3 and CH4), but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0118] For example, in the first uplink time period T1 of the first frame, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to both row line L1 and column line L2 on the first region R1, and at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to column line L2 on the second region R2 and the fourth region R4, and row line L1 on the third region R3 and the fourth region R4, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. In this case, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to at least one column line in the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1, and at least one row line in the third region R3 adjacent to the first region R1, etc.

[0119] Subsequently, during the second uplink time period T2 of the second frame, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to both row line L1 and column line L2 on the second region R2, and at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to column line L2 on the first region R1 and the third region R3, and row line L1 on the third region R3 and the fourth region R4, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. At this time, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to at least one column line in the first region R1 adjacent to the second region R2, and at least one row line in the fourth region R4 adjacent to the second region R2, etc.

[0120] Subsequently, during the third uplink time period T3 of the third frame, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to both row line L1 and column line L2 on the third region R3, and at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to column line L2 on the second region R2 and the fourth region R4, as well as row line L1 on the first region R1 and the second region R2, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. At this time, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to at least one column line in the first region R1 adjacent to the third region R3 and at least one row line in the fourth region R4 adjacent to the third region R3, etc.

[0121] Subsequently, during the fourth uplink time period T4 of the fourth frame, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to both row line L1 and column line L2 on the fourth region R4, and at least one compensation signal CS can be applied to column line L2 on the first region R1 and the third region R3, and row line L1 on the first region R1 and the second region R2, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. At this time, at least one beacon signal BS can be applied to at least one column line in the third region R3 adjacent to the fourth region R4, and at least one row line in the second region R2 adjacent to the fourth region R4, etc.

[0122] In this regard, multiple areas of the touch panel 110 can be driven individually using a full-channel driving method. Although Figure 19 and 20The touch panel 110 is shown divided into four regions. However, this is not the only example embodiment of the present invention, and the number of regions of the touch panel 110 can vary. Here, the number of lines applying the beacon signal BS and / or the number of lines applying the compensation signal CS can be substantially similar to each other, and the driving method can be referred to as a "full-channel balanced driving method," but this is not the only example embodiment. According to the full-channel balanced driving method, flickering in the display panel beneath the touch panel 110 can be reduced.

[0123] Figure 21 This is a figure illustrating at least one example embodiment of a touchscreen device 1000a according to the concept of the present invention.

[0124] refer to Figure 21 The touchscreen device 1000a may include, but is not limited to, a touch panel 110a and / or a touch controller 210a. The touch panel 110a may include a plurality of sensing electrodes SE (e.g., “dot sensors”) arranged in rows and columns. Here, the touch panel 110a may sense touch according to a self-capacitance scheme, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0125] In at least one example embodiment, the touch controller 210a may include, but is not limited to, a receiving circuit 212a and / or a selection circuit 214a, etc. The receiving circuit 212a may include multiple receivers RX, and the selection circuit 214a may include multiple selectors, such as a multiplexer MUX, etc., but is not limited to. The receivers RX may each act as transmitters (e.g., Figure 2 The transmitter (TX) and receiver both operate, but are not limited to this. Sensing electrodes SE in the same column can be connected to the same multiplexer MUX, and the sensing electrode SE selected by the multiplexer MUX can be electrically connected to the receiver RX, but the example embodiment is not limited to this. At least one drive signal can be applied to the sensing electrode SE selected by the multiplexer MUX through the receiver RX, and at least one sensing signal generated based on the at least one drive signal can be output to the receiver RX, etc. For example, the drive signal can correspond to a beacon signal or a compensation signal. Although not shown, the touch controller 210a may also include an encoder, a decoder, and / or a touch processor, etc. (See above reference) Figure 2 The given description can be applied to the operation of encoders, decoders, and touch processors, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0126] Figure 22 This is a diagram illustrating a method for driving a touch panel 110a according to at least one example embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0127] refer to Figure 22The touch panel 110a can be divided into multiple regions, such as first to fourth regions R1 to R4, but is not limited thereto. During the first uplink period T1, a beacon signal can be applied to the point sensors arranged in the first region R1 and the fourth region R4, and a compensation signal can be applied to the point sensors arranged in the second region R2 and the third region R3, etc. The point sensors arranged in the first region R1 and the fourth region R4 can be beacon-driven, while the point sensors arranged in the second region R2 and the third region R3 can be compensation-driven, but is not limited thereto. During the second uplink period T2, a compensation signal can be applied to the point sensors arranged in the first region R1 and the fourth region R4, and a beacon signal can be applied to the point sensors arranged in the second region R2 and the third region R3, etc. The point sensors arranged in the first region R1 and the fourth region R4 can be compensation-driven, while the point sensors arranged in the second region R2 and the third region R3 can be beacon-driven, but is not limited thereto.

[0128] Figure 23 This is a flowchart of a method for operating a touch controller according to at least one exemplary embodiment of the concept of the present invention.

[0129] refer to Figure 23 The method of operating the touch controller is a method of driving a touchscreen that includes an array of touch sensors, and may include, for example, a method using a touch controller. Figure 1 The touch controller 210 performs operations in a time sequence, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. (See above references.) Figures 1 to 22 The given description can also be applied to Figure 23 At least one example embodiment will be described, and descriptions identical to those described herein will be omitted. Reference will also be made to... Figure 8 , 9 Descriptions are given in 24.

[0130] In operation S110, during the first uplink period for communication with the active pen, a beacon signal BS, as a positive-phase signal, is provided to the first drive channel CH1 connected to the touch sensor array, and a compensation signal, as an inverse signal (e.g., a negative-phase signal) of the beacon signal BS, is provided to the second drive channel CH2 connected to the touch sensor array. Here, the beacon signal BS and the compensation signal CS have the same amplitude. Furthermore, the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2 may be parallel to each other, but are not limited thereto. The touchscreen 100 also includes a pixel array and a common electrode between the pixel array and the touch sensor array, and by providing the compensation signal CS to the second drive channel CH2 in operation S110, noise charge introduced into the common electrode can be reduced and / or eliminated through capacitive coupling between the touch sensor array and the common electrode.

[0131] In operation S120, during the second uplink period following the first uplink period, a compensation signal is provided to the first driving channel CH1, and a beacon signal is provided to the second driving channel CH2. For example, the number of first driving channels CH1 may be the same as and / or substantially the same as the number of second driving channels CH2, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0132] In at least one example embodiment, operations S110 and S120 may correspond to a discovery mode between the touch controller and the active pen. In at least one example embodiment, the method of operating the touch controller may further include providing a beacon signal BS from a first drive channel CH1 and a second drive channel CH2 to a drive channel corresponding to the position of the active pen AP based on the movement of the active pen AP in a pairing mode between the touch controller 210 and the active pen AP, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0133] In at least one example embodiment, the method of operating the touch controller may further include providing a compensation signal CS to a first drive channel CH1, a beacon signal BS to a second drive channel CH2, and a third drive channel (e.g., orthogonal and / or substantially orthogonal to the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2) in a hover mode and / or ink mode between the touch controller 210 and the active pen AP. Figure 16 CH3) provides a beacon signal BS, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. In at least one example embodiment, the method of operating the touch controller may further include, in a hover mode and / or ink mode between the touch controller 210 and the active pen AP, providing a compensation signal CS to a first drive channel CH1, providing a beacon signal BS to a second drive channel CH2, and floating a third drive channel (e.g., CH3) orthogonal and / or substantially orthogonal to the first drive channel CH1 and the second drive channel CH2. Figure 17 CH3), but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0134] In at least one example embodiment, the method of operating the touch controller may further include, during a first uplink period, providing a beacon signal BS to a third driving channel CH3, which is connected to the touch sensor array and is orthogonal and / or substantially orthogonal to the first driving channel CH1 and the second driving channel CH2, and providing a compensation signal to a fourth driving channel CH4, which is connected to the touch sensor array and is orthogonal and / or substantially orthogonal to the first driving channel CH1 and the second driving channel CH2. Furthermore, in at least one example embodiment, the method of operating the touch controller may further include, during a second uplink period, providing a compensation signal CS to the third driving channel CH3 and a beacon signal BS to the fourth driving channel CH4, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0135] Figure 24This is a block diagram illustrating at least one example embodiment of a touchscreen system 2000 according to the concept of the present invention.

[0136] refer to Figure 24 The touchscreen system 2000 may include a touch panel 110, a display panel 120, a touch controller 210, a display driver circuit 220, at least one processor 2100, a storage device 2200, an interface 2300, and / or a bus 2400, etc., but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. According to at least one example embodiment, the touch controller 210, display driver circuit 220, at least one processor 2100, storage device 2200, interface 2300, and / or bus 2400, etc., of the touchscreen system 2000 may be processing circuitry, and the processing circuitry may include hardware such as a processor, processor core, logic circuitry, storage device, etc.; hardware / software combinations such as at least one processor core executing software and / or executing any instruction set; or combinations thereof, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the processing circuitry may more specifically include, but is not limited to, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic units, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), system-on-a-chip (SoCs), etc. The touch panel 110 is configured to detect touch events occurring at each point. Display panel 120 may include various types of panels, such as LED, OLED, and / or LCD, and is configured to display images and / or video, but the example embodiment is not limited thereto. Touch panel 110 and display panel 120 may be integrally formed to overlap each other. Touch controller 210 may control the operation of touch panel 110 and send the output of touch panel 110 to processor 2100.

[0137] The display driving circuit 220 controls the display panel 120 to display images on the display panel 120. Although not shown, the display driving circuit 220 may include a source driver, a grayscale voltage generator, a gate driver, a timing controller, a power supply, and / or an in-image interface, etc. Image data to be displayed on the display panel 120 can be stored in memory via the image interface and can be converted into analog signals using grayscale voltages generated by the grayscale voltage generator. The source driver and gate driver can drive the display panel 120 in response to vertical synchronization signals and / or horizontal synchronization signals provided by the timing controller.

[0138] The processor 2100 can execute commands and control the overall operation of the touchscreen system 2000. The program code or data requested by the processor 2100 can be stored in the storage device 2200. The interface 2300 can communicate with any external device and / or system. The processor 2100 may include a coordinate mapper 2110, etc. The positions on the touch panel 110 and the positions on the display panel 120 can be mapped to each other, and the coordinate mapper 2210 can extract the corresponding coordinates of the display panel 120 corresponding to the touch point on the touch panel 110 where the touch input occurs. Through the coordinate mapping between the touch panel 110 and the display panel 120, the user can perform input actions for selecting and controlling icons, menu items, and / or images displayed on the display panel 120, such as touch actions, dragging, squeezing, stretching, single-touch, and / or multi-touch actions, etc.

[0139] According to some example embodiments, the touchscreen system 2000 may be a smart home appliance with image display capabilities, but is not limited thereto. For example, smart home appliances may include televisions, digital video disc (DVD) players, Blu-ray players, audio equipment, refrigerators, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, ovens, microwave ovens, washing machines, air purifiers, set-top boxes, and TV boxes (e.g., Samsung HomeSync). TM Apple TV TM or Google TV TM At least one of the following: game console, electronic dictionary, electronic key, camera and / or electronic photo frame, but the example embodiments are not limited thereto.

[0140] According to some example embodiments, the touchscreen system 2000 may include at least one of various medical devices (e.g., magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), imaging equipment, ultrasound equipment, etc.), navigation devices, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, event data loggers (EDR), flight data loggers (FDR), automotive infotainment devices, marine electronic equipment (e.g., marine navigation equipment, gyrocompass, etc.), avionics, security devices, vehicle mainframes, industrial and / or home robots, automated teller machines (ATMs), and points of sale (POS) for financial institutions and / or stores.

[0141] According to some example embodiments, the touchscreen system 2000 may include at least one of the following: a piece of furniture and / or a part of a building / structure having image display capabilities, an electronic board, an electronic sign, an electronic signature receiving device, a projector, and / or various measuring devices (e.g., measuring devices for water, electricity, gas, and radio waves). Electronic devices including the touchscreen system 2000 of various example embodiments according to the concepts of the present invention may be combinations of one or more of the aforementioned devices. Furthermore, the touchscreen system 2000 may be a flexible device. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the touchscreen system 2000 of various example embodiments according to the concepts of the present invention is not limited to the devices described above.

[0142] While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been specifically shown and described with reference to various exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A touch sensing device, comprising: A touch sensor array includes at least one beacon driving section and at least one compensation section, the at least one beacon driving section including a plurality of first touch electrodes, and the at least one compensation section including a plurality of second touch electrodes; as well as A touch controller is connected to the touch sensor array via at least one first drive channel and at least one second drive channel. The touch controller is configured to operate during a first uplink period for communicating with the active pen. Provide at least one beacon signal to the at least one first driving channel, and At least one compensation signal is provided to the at least one second drive channel, the at least one compensation signal being the inverse of the at least one beacon signal.

2. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, further comprising: A pixel array, comprising multiple pixels; as well as At least one common electrode is located between the pixel array and the touch sensor array. The touch controller is also configured to eliminate noise charge introduced into the at least one common electrode through capacitive coupling between the touch sensor array and the at least one common electrode by providing the at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal to the at least one first driving channel and the at least one second driving channel, respectively.

3. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one first driving channel includes the same number of channels as the at least one second driving channel.

4. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, During the discovery mode between the touch sensing device and the active pen During the second uplink period, the touch controller is also configured to provide the at least one compensation signal to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one beacon signal to the at least one second drive channel.

5. The touch sensing device according to claim 4, wherein, The touch controller is connected to the touch sensor array via the at least one first driving channel, the at least one second driving channel, and at least one third driving channel between the at least one first driving channel and the at least one second driving channel; as well as The touch controller is also configured to provide the at least one beacon signal to the at least one third drive channel during the first uplink period and the second uplink period.

6. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal have the same amplitude.

7. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one first driving channel and the at least one second driving channel are parallel to each other.

8. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one compensation component includes at least a first compensation component and a second compensation component, and The at least one beacon driving portion is located between the first compensation portion and the second compensation portion.

9. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein The at least one compensation component includes at least a first compensation component and a second compensation component; The at least one beacon driving part includes at least a first beacon driving part and a second beacon driving part; as well as The first compensation portion is located between the first beacon driving portion and the second beacon driving portion.

10. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, During the pairing mode between the touch sensing device and the active pen The touch controller is also configured to change the position of the at least one beacon driving portion based on the movement of the active pen.

11. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, During hover mode and ink mode between the touch sensing device and the active pen, the touch controller is also configured to: The at least one beacon signal is provided to a plurality of first touch sensors through the at least one first driving channel; The at least one compensation signal is provided to the plurality of second touch sensors through the at least one second driving channel; The at least one beacon signal is provided to a plurality of third touch sensors through at least one third drive channel orthogonal to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one second drive channel; as well as The compensation signal is provided to a plurality of fourth touch sensors through at least one fourth drive channel parallel to the at least one third drive channel.

12. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein, During hover mode and ink mode between the touch sensing device and the active pen, the touch controller is also configured to: The at least one beacon signal is provided to the plurality of first touch sensors through the at least one first driving channel. The at least one compensation signal is provided to the plurality of second touch sensors through the at least one second driving channel, and At least one third driving channel that is orthogonal to the at least one first driving channel and the at least one second driving channel.

13. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein The touch controller is connected to the touch sensor array via at least one first driving channel and at least one second driving channel extending in a first direction, and at least one third driving channel and at least one fourth driving channel extending in a second direction; and During the first uplink period, the touch controller is also configured to provide the at least one beacon signal to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one third drive channel, and to provide the at least one compensation signal to the at least one second drive channel and the at least one fourth drive channel.

14. The touch sensing device of claim 13, wherein the touch controller is further configured to During the second uplink period, the at least one beacon signal is provided to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one fourth drive channel, and the at least one compensation signal is provided to the at least one second drive channel and the at least one third drive channel; During the third uplink period, the at least one beacon signal is provided to the at least one second drive channel and the at least one third drive channel, and the at least one compensation signal is provided to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one fourth drive channel; as well as During the fourth uplink period, the at least one beacon signal is provided to the at least one second drive channel and the at least one fourth drive channel, and the at least one compensation signal is provided to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one third drive channel.

15. The touch sensing device according to claim 1, wherein The touch sensor array includes multiple point sensors; The at least one beacon driving part includes at least a first beacon driving part and a second beacon driving part; as well as The at least one compensation component includes: The first compensation portion adjacent to the first beacon driving portion in the first direction, and A second compensation portion that is adjacent to the first beacon driving portion in the second direction and to the second beacon driving portion in the first direction.

16. A touch controller configured to drive a touch sensor array, the touch controller comprising: A driving circuit includes a plurality of transmitters respectively connected to a plurality of driving channels, the plurality of driving channels including at least one first driving channel and at least one second driving channel parallel to each other; as well as At least one touch processor is configured to control the driving circuitry to provide at least one beacon signal to the at least one first driving channel and at least one compensation signal to the at least one second driving channel during a first uplink period for communication between the touch controller and the active pen, the at least one compensation signal being the inverted signal of the at least one beacon signal. The at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal have the same amplitude.

17. The touch controller according to claim 16, wherein, During the discovery mode between the touch controller and the active pen The at least one touch processor is also configured to control the driving circuit to provide the at least one compensation signal to the at least one first driving channel and the at least one beacon signal to the at least one second driving channel during a second uplink period.

18. The touch controller of claim 17, wherein The plurality of drive channels further includes at least one third drive channel located between the at least one first drive channel and the at least one second drive channel; and The touch controller is also configured to control the driving circuitry to provide the at least one beacon signal to the at least one third driving channel during the first uplink period and the second uplink period.

19. The touch controller of claim 16, wherein The plurality of driving channels further includes at least one third driving channel and at least one fourth driving channel orthogonal to the at least one first driving channel and the at least one second driving channel; and During the first uplink period, the touch processor is also configured to provide the at least one beacon signal to the at least one first drive channel and the at least one third drive channel, and to provide the at least one compensation signal to the at least one second drive channel and the at least one fourth drive channel.

20. A method of operating a touch controller for driving a touchscreen, the touchscreen including a touch sensor array, the method comprising: During a first uplink period for communicating with the active pen, at least one beacon signal is provided to at least one first drive channel connected to the touch sensor array; During the first uplink period, at least one compensation signal is provided to at least one second drive channel connected to the touch sensor array, the at least one second drive channel being parallel to the at least one first drive channel, and the at least one compensation signal being out of phase with the at least one beacon signal; During the second uplink period, the at least one compensation signal is provided to the at least one first drive channel; as well as During the second uplink period, the at least one beacon signal is provided to the at least one second drive channel, and The at least one beacon signal and the at least one compensation signal have the same amplitude.

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