Display device, display system, and method of driving display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device, a display system, and a method of driving the display device. The display device includes: a display panel including pixels; a display driver configured to operate in units of frame periods including an active period and a blank period, and display an image on the display panel in the active period of the frame periods based on the image data; a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes; a touch driver configured to transmit uplink signals including different information to an external device proximate to the touch array through the touch electrodes in an uplink period, and receive sensing signals generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals from the external device; and a touch controller configured to determine an uplink period based on the image data.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0091359, filed on July 13, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device supporting a touch function. Background Art

[0004] With the development of mobile electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers, display devices having touch electrodes on display panels to detect touch inputs have been widely used. Recently, there is a growing demand for display devices that can recognize not only touch inputs with fingers but also touch inputs with other tools such as active pens.

[0005] However, there are many difficulties for display devices to relatively effectively support both touch input from a finger or the like and touch input from an active pen or stylus while still providing basic display functions. For example, with the trend toward larger and faster displays in display devices, there is a risk that sensing performance for touch recognition will be reduced, which may result in reduced reliability in the operation of the display device and the electronic device.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore, the information discussed in this Background section does not necessarily constitute prior art. Summary of the invention

[0007] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a display device supporting a touch function, and for example, to a display device that detects a user's touch using a touch electrode, a display system, and a method of operating the display device.

[0008] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure include a display device and a display system capable of identifying a position of an external device on a touch array with relatively improved reliability.

[0009] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of driving a display device.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a display device includes: a display panel including pixels; a display driver configured to operate in units of frame periods including an activation period and a blank period, and display an image on the display panel in an activation period of the frame period based on image data; a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes; a touch driver configured to transmit an uplink signal including different information to an external device close to the touch array through the touch electrodes in an uplink period, and receive a sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals from the external device; and a touch controller configured to determine the uplink period based on the image data.

[0011] According to some embodiments, the uplink period may overlap with the activation period.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the uplink period may further overlap with the blank period.

[0013] According to some embodiments, a blank period may be provided after an active period in a frame period.

[0014] According to some embodiments, a blank period may be provided before an active period in a frame period.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the touch controller may determine the up period with reference to the gray level of the data pixel in the image data.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the touch controller may compare data pixels in image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among the pixels. According to some embodiments, based on the comparison result, the up period may overlap with a time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period.

[0017] According to some embodiments, the touch controller may compare data pixels in the image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among the pixels. According to some embodiments, based on the comparison result, the up period may overlap with a period other than the period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period.

[0018] According to some embodiments, the first image frame may be received as image data of a first frame period, and the second image frame may be received as image data of a second frame period after the first frame period. According to some embodiments, the touch controller may compare data pixels to be displayed on some pixels among the pixels in the first image frame with data pixels to be displayed on the some pixels in the second image frame. According to some embodiments, based on the result of the comparison, the up period may overlap with a time period within the activation period of the second frame period except for a time period in which the some pixels emit light.

[0019] According to some embodiments, the touch electrode may include a first touch electrode extending in a first direction and a second touch electrode extending in a second direction. According to some embodiments, the touch driver may generate an uplink signal by encoding respective different information of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a display system includes: a display device including a display panel including pixels and a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes, the display device being configured to operate in units of frame periods including an activation period and a blank period, and displaying an image on the display panel in an activation period of the frame period based on image data; and an external device configured to communicate with the display device through the touch array. According to some embodiments, the display device can transmit an uplink signal including different information to an external device close to the touch array through the touch electrodes in an uplink period, receive a sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals from the external device, and determine the uplink period based on the image data. According to some embodiments, the external device can generate a sensing signal using at least some of the uplink signals received through the touch electrodes in the uplink period.

[0021] According to some embodiments, the external device may calculate the noise component with reference to the gray levels of data pixels in the image data.

[0022] According to some embodiments, the external device may cancel the noise component from the sensing signal generated using at least some of the uplink signals.

[0023] According to some embodiments, the uplink period may overlap with the activation period.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the uplink period may further overlap with the blank period.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the display device may determine the up period with reference to the gray level of the data pixel in the image data.

[0026] According to some embodiments, the display device may compare data pixels in image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among pixels. According to some embodiments, based on the comparison result, the up period may overlap with a time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period.

[0027] According to some embodiments, the display device may compare data pixels in the image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among the pixels. According to some embodiments, based on the comparison result, the up period may overlap with a period other than the period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the first image frame may be received as image data of a first frame period, and the second image frame may be received as image data of a second frame period after the first frame period. According to some embodiments, the display device may compare data pixels to be displayed on some pixels among the pixels in the first image frame with data pixels to be displayed on the some pixels in the second image frame. According to some embodiments, based on the result of the comparison, the up period may overlap with a time period within the activation period of the second frame period except for a time period in which the some pixels emit light.

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in a method for driving a display device, the display device is configured to operate in units of frame periods including an activation period and a blank period, and display an image on a display panel in an activation period of the frame period based on image data. The display device may include a display panel including pixels and a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes. The method may include: determining an uplink period based on the image data, in which an uplink signal including different information is transmitted through the touch electrode; transmitting the uplink signal to an external device close to the touch array in the uplink period; and receiving a sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals from the external device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II'.

[0032] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 2 A block diagram of aspects of a display panel.

[0033] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of aspects of a touch sensor.

[0034] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 1 A block diagram of aspects of a display device.

[0035] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 A block diagram of aspects of the display module.

[0036] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 A block diagram of aspects of the touch module.

[0037] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 A block diagram of a touch module and external devices.

[0038] Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an example of noise that may be included in an uplink signal according to some embodiments.

[0039] Fig.10 is a timing diagram illustrating aspects of a method of transmitting an uplink signal according to some embodiments.

[0040] Fig.11 is a diagram for describing another example of noise that may be included in an uplink signal.

[0041] Fig.12 is a timing diagram illustrating aspects of a method of transmitting an uplink signal according to some embodiments.

[0042] Fig.13 is a diagram for describing a process for determining a location of an external device in a manner in which the external device receives at least one uplink signal according to some embodiments.

[0043] Fig.14 is an illustration of a method according to some embodiments of the present invention being applied to Fig.13 A timing diagram of the signal for each touch electrode.

[0044] Fig.15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a display device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Hereinafter, aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, only the parts required for understanding the operation in accordance with the present disclosure will be described, and the explanation of other parts will be omitted so as not to make the subject matter of the present disclosure unclear. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but may be embodied in other types. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the technical spirit of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0046] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as "combined" or "connected" to another element, the element may be directly combined or connected to the other element, or may be indirectly combined or connected to the other element and an intermediate element is between the element and the other element. The terms used herein are only used to describe the purpose of a specific embodiment, and are not intended to be limited. In this specification, when an element is referred to as "including" or "comprising" a component, another component is not excluded, but other components may be further included unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "At least one of X, Y and Z" and "at least one selected from the group consisting of X, Y and Z" may be interpreted as any combination of only X, only Y, only Z or two or more of X, Y and Z (e.g., XYZ, XY, YZ and XZ). As used herein, the term "and / or" may include any and all combinations of one or more of the items listed in association.

[0047] Although the terms "first", "second", etc. can be used in this article to describe various types of elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another element. Therefore, the first element discussed below can be referred to as the second element without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display device DD according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 1 If the display device DD is an electronic device having a display surface on one surface thereof (for example, a smart phone, a television, a tablet computer, a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-reader, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a workstation, a server, a PDA, a portable multimedia player (PMP), an MP3 player, a medical device, a camera, or a wearable device), then the embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied to the display device DD.

[0049] The display device DD may be provided in various forms, for example, in the form of a rectangular plate having two pairs of parallel sides, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the case where the display device DD is provided in the form of a rectangular plate, any pair of the two pairs of sides may be longer than the other pair of sides. Although in the accompanying drawings, the display device DD has an angular corner formed by a straight line, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to some embodiments, in a display device DD provided in the form of a rectangular plate, a corner where a long side intersects with a short side may have a circular shape. In addition, in a plan view, the display device DD may have a substantially circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, for ease of explanation, an example is illustrated in which the display device DD has a rectangular form with a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. The direction in which the long side extends refers to the second direction DR2, the direction in which the short side extends refers to the first direction DR1, and the direction perpendicular to the long side and the short side refers to the third direction DR3. The first to third directions DR1, DR2, and DR3 may refer to directions indicated by the first to third directions DR1, DR2, and DR3, respectively.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the display device DD may have flexibility, and the display device DD may be folded at the portion having flexibility.

[0052] The display device DD may include a display area DA provided to display an image and a non-display area NDA provided on at least one side of the display area DA. The non-display area NDA may be an area where an image is not displayed. However, embodiments according to the present disclosure are not limited thereto. According to some embodiments, the shape of the display area DA and the shape of the non-display area NDA may be designed relative to each other.

[0053] Figure 2 is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II'.

[0054] refer to Figure 2 , the display device DD may include a display panel DP, a touch sensor TS and a window WD.

[0055] The display panel DP can display an image through the display area DA. A self-emissive display panel such as an organic light-emitting display panel (OLED panel) using an organic light-emitting diode as a light-emitting element, an ultra-small light-emitting diode (nano-LED) display panel using an ultra-small LED as a light-emitting element, and a quantum dot organic light-emitting display panel (QDOLED panel) using quantum dots and organic light-emitting diodes can be used as the display panel DP. In addition, a non-emissive display panel such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an electrophoretic display (EPD) panel, or an electrowetting display (EWD) panel can be used as the display panel DP. In the case where a non-emissive display panel is used as the display panel DP, the display device DD may include a backlight unit configured to supply light to the display panel DP.

[0056] The window WD may be provided on the display panel DP and the touch sensor TS to protect the exposed surface. The window WD may protect the display panel DP and the touch sensor TS from external impacts and provide an input surface and / or a display surface to the user. The window WD may be bonded to the display panel DP and the touch sensor TS by an optically transparent adhesive (or bonding agent) OCA.

[0057] The window WD may have a multilayer structure selected from a glass substrate, a plastic film, and a plastic substrate. The multilayer structure may be formed by a continuous process or an adhesive process using an adhesive layer. The window WD may be completely or partially flexible.

[0058] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 2 A block diagram of the display panel DP with further details.

[0059] refer to Figure 3 , the display panel DP may include a substrate SUB, a pixel circuit layer PCL, a display element layer DPL and a thin film encapsulation layer TFE.

[0060] The substrate SUB may be a rigid substrate or a flexible substrate. Here, in the case where the substrate SUB is a rigid substrate, the substrate SUB may be one of a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a glass ceramic substrate, and a crystallized glass substrate. In the case where the substrate SUB is a flexible substrate, the substrate SUB may be a thin film substrate or a plastic substrate including a polymer organic material. In addition, the substrate SUB may include glass reinforced plastic (FRP).

[0061] The pixel circuit layer PCL may be located on the substrate SUB. The pixel circuit layer PCL may include a plurality of thin film transistors and lines connected to the thin film transistors. For example, each thin film transistor may have a structure formed by sequentially stacking a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode / drain electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. The semiconductor layer may include amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon (e.g., low temperature polycrystalline silicon) and an organic semiconductor. Although each of the gate electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode may include one of aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti) and molybdenum (Mo), the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the pixel circuit layer PCL may include at least one insulating layer.

[0062] The display element layer DPL may be located on the pixel circuit layer PCL. The display element layer DPL may include a light-emitting element configured to emit light. Although the light-emitting element may be, for example, an organic light-emitting diode, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. According to some embodiments, the light-emitting element may be an inorganic light-emitting element including an inorganic light-emitting material, or a light-emitting element (quantum dot display element) that uses quantum dots to emit light while changing the wavelength of the light to be emitted. The organic light-emitting diode may have, for example, a structure formed by sequentially stacking an anode electrode, a hole transport layer, an organic emission layer, an electron transport layer, and a cathode electrode, but embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0063] The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be located on the display element layer DPL. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may be in the form of an encapsulation substrate or an encapsulation layer having a multilayer structure. In the case where the thin film encapsulation layer TFE has the form of an encapsulation layer, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may include an inorganic layer and / or an organic layer. For example, the thin film encapsulation layer TFE may have a structure formed by sequentially stacking an inorganic layer, an organic layer, and an inorganic layer. The thin film encapsulation layer TFE may prevent or reduce external air, moisture, or contaminants from penetrating into the display element layer DPL or the pixel circuit layer PCL.

[0064] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of further details of the touch sensor TS.

[0065] refer to Figure 4 , the touch sensor TS (or touch array) can be directly located on the display surface of the display panel DP to receive touch input and / or hover input from the user. Here, "directly located" means that the touch sensor TS can be formed by a continuous process rather than being attached by a separate adhesive layer (or temporary adhesive layer). The touch sensor TS can identify touch input and / or hover input on the display device DD by detecting touch capacitance, which occurs through contact and / or proximity of a user's hand or a similar separate input tool (such as a conductor). Here, "touch input" may refer to direct touch (or contact) by a user's hand or a separate input tool, while "hover input" may mean that the user's hand or a separate input tool is near the display device DD including the touch sensor TS but not in direct contact with them.

[0066] The touch sensor TS may have a multi-layer structure. The touch sensor TS may include at least one conductive layer and at least one insulating layer.

[0067] The touch sensor TS may include a base layer BSL, a first conductive layer CPL1, a first insulating layer TS_INS1, a second conductive layer CPL2, and a second insulating layer TS_INS2.

[0068] The first conductive layer CPL1 may be directly located on the thin film encapsulation layer TFE of the display panel DP, but is not limited thereto according to embodiments of the present disclosure. According to some embodiments, another insulating layer (e.g., a base layer BSL) may be located between the first conductive layer CPL1 and the thin film encapsulation layer TFE. In this case, the first conductive layer CPL1 may be directly located on the base layer BSL.

[0069] Each of the first conductive layer CPL1 and the second conductive layer CPL2 may have a single layer structure, or may have a multilayer structure in which multiple layers are stacked in the third direction DR3. The conductive layer CPL1 or CPL2 having a single layer structure may include a conductive material. For example, the conductive material may include a metal such as molybdenum (Mo), silver (Ag), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al), and alloys thereof, or a transparent conductive oxide such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zinc oxide (ZnO), or indium tin zinc oxide (ITZO).

[0070] The conductive layer CPL1 or CPL2 having a multi-layer structure may include a plurality of metal layers. The plurality of metal layers may have a triple structure of titanium (Ti) / aluminum (Al) / titanium (Ti), but is not limited thereto. The conductive layer CPL1 or CPL2 having a multi-layer structure may include a plurality of metal layers and a transparent conductive layer.

[0071] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first conductive layer CPL1 and the second conductive layer CPL2 may include a sensor pattern (refer to Figure 5 RX, TX) and scan lines (reference Figure 5 in SL).

[0072] Each of the first insulating layer TS_INS1 and the second insulating layer TS_INS2 may include an inorganic material or an organic material. The inorganic material may include silicon nitride (SiN x ), silicon oxide (SiO x ), silicon oxynitride (SiO x N y ) and such as aluminum oxide (AlO x ). The organic material may include at least one of acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, polyisoprene resin, vinyl resin, epoxy resin, urethane resin, cellulose resin, siloxane resin, polyimide resin, polyamide resin and perylene resin.

[0073] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 1 A block diagram of the display device DD is shown with further details.

[0074] refer to Figure 5 The display device DD may include a display module 200 and a touch module 300. The display module 200 may include a display panel 210 (corresponding to Figure 2 The touch module 300 may include a touch array 310 (corresponding to a display panel DP in the display panel 210) and a display driver 220 configured to drive the display panel 210. Figure 2The touch array 310 includes a touch sensor TS and a touch driver 320 configured to drive the touch array 310.

[0075] In an embodiment, the display panel 210 and the touch array 310 may be manufactured separately from each other, and may be combined with each other to at least partially overlap each other. In an embodiment, the display panel 210 and the touch array 310 may be manufactured as an integrated body. Figure 5 , the touch array 310 is illustrated as being disposed above the display panel 210, but the touch array 310 is not limited thereto.

[0076] The display panel 210 may include a pixel PX formed in a substrate (not shown). The pixel PX may be located in a display area DA. The pixel PX may be connected to a scan line SL and a data line DL. The pixel PX may be selected by a drive signal of a conduction level supplied via the scan line SL, and may receive a data signal via the data line DL. Therefore, the pixel PX may emit light having a brightness corresponding to the data signal, so that an image may be displayed in the display area DA.

[0077] The touch array 310 may include a sensing area SA capable of sensing a touch and a non-sensing area NSA formed around the sensing area SA. The sensing area SA may at least partially overlap with the display area DA. The display device DD may not only display an image through the sensing area SA, but may also sense a touch input made on the display surface or sense light incident from the front. Although the non-sensing area NSA may surround the sensing area SA, the above example is for illustrative purposes only and is not limited thereto according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0078] The touch array 310 may include a substrate (not shown) and touch electrodes TX and sensing electrodes RX formed on the substrate. The touch electrodes TX and the sensing electrodes RX may be located on the substrate in a sensing area SA.

[0079] According to some embodiments, the display driver 220 and the touch driver 320 may be formed of separate integrated chips (ICs). According to some embodiments, the display driver 220 and the touch driver 320 may be mounted in a single IC.

[0080] The display driver 220 may be electrically connected to the display panel 210 to drive the pixels PX. The touch driver 320 may be connected to the touch array 310 to drive the touch array 310. Figure 7 Detailed information about the touch array 310 and the touch driver 320 is provided.

[0081] The display driver 220 may display an image on the display panel 210 on a frame period basis. The touch driver 320 may sense a touch on a frame period basis. For example, during a frame period, the touch driver 320 may transmit an uplink signal from a touch electrode of the touch array 310 to an external device, and receive a sensing signal including a touch position on the touch array 310 from the external device to detect a touch from a user. Here, the frame period for display and the frame period for sensing may be synchronized with each other, or may be asynchronous.

[0082] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 2 is a block diagram showing further details of the display module 200.

[0083] refer to Figure 6 The display module 200 may include a display panel 210 and a display driver 220 . The display driver 220 may include a timing controller 221 , a data driver 222 , and a scan driver 223 .

[0084] According to some embodiments, the display panel 210 may include pixels PX, and data lines DL1 to DLj and scan lines SL1 to SLi connected to the pixels PX. Here, i and j may each be a natural number greater than 1.

[0085] The data driver 222 may receive the data driver control signal DCS and the second image data DATA2 from the timing controller 221, thereby generating a data signal. The data driver 222 may supply the generated data signal to the data lines DL1 to DLj. In order to be connected to the data lines DL1 to DLj, the data driver 222 may be directly mounted on a substrate provided with the pixels PX, or connected to the substrate through a separate component such as a flexible circuit board.

[0086] The scan driver 223 may supply a scan signal to the scan lines SL1 to SLi in response to the scan driver control signal SCS. For example, the scan driver 223 may sequentially supply a scan signal to the scan lines SL1 to SLi. In order to be connected to the scan lines SL1 to SLi, the scan driver 223 may be directly mounted on a substrate provided with the pixels PX, or connected to the substrate through a separate component such as a flexible circuit board.

[0087] For example, if a scan signal is supplied to a specific scan line, some pixels PX connected to the specific scan line may receive data signals transmitted from corresponding data lines DL1 to DLj. Therefore, some pixels PX may emit light having brightness corresponding to the received data signal.

[0088] The timing controller 221 may generate a control signal using an external input signal to control the data driver 222 and the scan driver 223. For example, the control signal may include a scan driver control signal SCS for controlling the scan driver 223 and a data driver control signal DCS for controlling the data driver 222. The external input signal may include first image data DATA1 (hereinafter also referred to as image data DATA1) and a vertical synchronization signal Vsync. For example, the vertical synchronization signal Vsync may be a signal for synchronizing image data and may be a signal input in a frame period to distinguish frames.

[0089] The timing controller 221 may provide a scan driver control signal SCS to the scan driver 223, and provide a data driver control signal DCS to the data driver 222. The timing controller 221 may convert first image data DATA1 input from an external device into second image data DATA2 corresponding to the specification of the data driver 222, and then supply the second image data DATA2 to the data driver 222.

[0090] exist Figure 6 , an example in which the timing controller 221, the data driver 222, and the scan driver 223 are provided separately is illustrated, but at least some of the foregoing components may be integrated with each other as needed.

[0091] Electrodes supplied with voltage and / or signals to drive the display panel 210 may be referred to as panel electrodes. The panel electrodes may correspond to data lines DL1 to DLj, scan lines SL1 to SLi, a first power source ELVDD and a second power source ELVSS, etc. A driving voltage may be supplied to the panel electrodes. For example, each of the pixels PX may generate light corresponding to a data signal by a current flowing from the first power source ELVDD to the second power source ELVSS via a light emitting element. The first power source ELVDD may have a high potential voltage, and the second power source ELVSS may have a low potential voltage.

[0092] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 A block diagram of the touch module 300 is provided for further details.

[0093] refer to Figure 7 , the touch array 310 may include first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq and first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp. The first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq may be connected to the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq, respectively. The first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp may be connected to the first to pth sensing lines RXL1 to RXLp, respectively.

[0094] Each of the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq may include first cells CL1 arranged in the first direction DR1 and electrically connected to each other. Each of the first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp may include second cells CL2 arranged in the second direction DR2 and electrically connected to each other. Figure 7 , each of the first unit CL1 and the second unit CL2 is illustrated as having a rhombus shape. Here, the rhombus shape is merely illustrative, and at least one of various shapes such as a circle, a rectangle, a triangle, or a grid may be used. In addition, each of the first unit CL1 and the second unit CL2 may be formed as a single layer or multiple layers. In this way, the shapes and arrangements of the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq and the first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp may be modified in various ways.

[0095] The touch array 310 may be provided as Figure 5 A touch array 310 is provided.

[0096] The touch array 310 may further include input pads IPD connected to the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq. The touch driver 320 may be connected to the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq through the input pads IPD. The touch array 310 may further include output pads OPD connected to the first to pth sensing lines RXL1 to RXLp. The touch driver 320 may be connected to the first to pth sensing lines RXL1 to RXLp through the output pads OPD.

[0097] The touch array 310 may include a first touch electrode and a second touch electrode forming a mutual capacitance with the first touch electrode. The first touch electrode may be provided as the first to qth touch electrodes TX1, TX2, TX3, ..., TX(q-1) and TXq (where q is a positive integer). The second touch electrode may be provided as the first to pth sensing electrodes RX1, RX2, ..., RX(p-2), RX(p-1) and RXp (where p is a positive integer). The first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq may extend in the first direction DR1 and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction DR2. The first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp may extend in the second direction DR2 and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction DR1. The first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp may be electrically separated from the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq while intersecting with the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq, thereby forming a mutual capacitance with the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq.

[0098] When a touch from a user is provided to the touch array 310, one or more of the mutual capacitances may change. For example, a touch may include at least one of various types of inputs that cause a change in mutual capacitance, such as physical contact with a user and hovering. The touch driver 320 may sense such a change in mutual capacitance and recognize a touch.

[0099] The touch driver 320 may be connected to the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq through the first to qth driving lines TXL1, TXL2, TXL3, ..., TXL(q-1), and TXLq. The touch driver 320 is connected to the first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp through the first to pth sensing lines RXL1, RXL2, ..., RXL(p-2), RXL(p-1), and RXLp.

[0100] The touch driver 320 may apply a driving signal to the first to qth touch electrodes TX1 to TXq through the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq, and detect a sensing signal from the first to pth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp through the first to pth sensing lines RXL1 to RXLp. The touch driver 320 may sense a change in mutual capacitance based on the sensing signal.

[0101] According to some embodiments, the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq are divided into a plurality of driving line groups. The touch driver 320 may simultaneously apply driving signals to the driving lines included in a single driving line group. For example, the touch driver 320 may adopt a multi-channel driving scheme. The multi-channel driving scheme may reduce the duration of a single sensing frame period, but may cause relatively large electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to the simultaneously applied driving signals.

[0102] Figure 5 The display device DD may transmit and receive signals with the external device 400 through the touch electrodes TX1 to TXq. The touch driver 320 may supply driving signals to the touch electrodes TX1 to TXq, thereby transmitting the uplink signal to the external device 400.

[0103] When the external device 400 contacts or approaches the touch electrodes TX1 to TXq on the touch array 310, the external device 400 may receive an uplink signal. The external device 400 may decode the received uplink signal to determine a touch position of the external device 400 on the touch array 310. In an embodiment, the external device 400 may be an active pen.

[0104] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a method according to some embodiments Figure 5 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of further details of the touch module 300 and the external device 400.

[0105] refer to Figure 5 and Figure 8 The display system 10 can transmit and receive an uplink signal US and a downlink signal DS between the display device DD and the external device 400 , thereby sensing a touch position of the external device 400 on the touch array 310 .

[0106] The display system 10 may include a display device DD, a host 100 , and an external device 400 .

[0107] The display device DD may include Figure 6 The display module 200 and Figure 7 The touch module 300. Figure 8 In the embodiment of the present invention, the display module 200 is omitted for convenience of explanation. The touch module 300 may include a touch array 310, a touch driver 320, and a touch controller 330.

[0108] The external device 400 may be configured to communicate with the display device DD through the touch array 310 of the touch module 300 .

[0109] The display device DD may transmit an uplink signal US to the external device 400 through the touch electrodes included in the touch array 310 during the uplink period. Each of the uplink signals US refers to the position information of the corresponding touch electrode. According to some embodiments, each of the uplink signals US may be an identifier of the corresponding touch electrode. The display device DD may receive a sensing signal generated by the external device 400 as a downlink signal DS from the external device 400.

[0110] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the display device DD may determine an uplink period based on the image data DATA1, and transmit an uplink signal US in the determined uplink period. The external device 400 may process at least one of the uplink signals US, and generate a sensing signal related to the position of the external device 400 on the touch array 310, while removing a noise component that may be caused by the image data DATA1 from the sensing signal.

[0111] The host 100 may provide image data DATA1 to the display device DD and the external device 400. According to some embodiments, the host 100 may include an application processor or a central processing unit (CPU), etc. to control the display device DD. According to some embodiments, the host 100 may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) to control the display device DD. In addition, the host 100 may include at least one of various devices configured to provide the image data DATA1 to the display device DD. The host 100 may receive a touch position of the external device 400 on the touch array 310, and perform various operations using the received touch position.

[0112] The host 100 may transmit the image data DATA1 to the touch controller 330. The host 100 may transmit the image data DATA1 to the sensing controller 430 of the external device 400. According to some embodiments, the host 100 may transmit the image data DATA1 to the sensing controller 430 of the external device 400. communication) to provide the image data DATA1 to the sensing controller 430.

[0113] The touch controller 330 may determine an uplink period for transmitting an uplink signal US based on the image data DATA1. The touch controller 330 may periodically receive a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, which defines a frame period including an activation period and a blank period. The touch controller 330 may further determine an uplink period based on the vertical synchronization signal Vsync. The touch controller 330 may transmit an uplink timing signal UTS indicating the determined uplink period to the touch driver 320.

[0114] The touch controller 330 may determine the uplink period with reference to the grayscale of the data pixels in the image data DATA1. According to some embodiments, the touch controller 330 may estimate the noise component caused by the image data DATA1 based on the difference in grayscale between the data pixels in the preset sensing area for each pixel unit or pixel row unit in the current frame. Here, the image data DATA1 may include data of RGB pixels. The RGB pixels may have respective grayscales. For example, the touch controller 330 may estimate the noise component of each data pixel according to the image data DATA1 representing the grayscale of each data pixel in each frame period using a lookup table storing the noise component for each grayscale. More specifically, the noise component stored in the lookup table may occur more densely as the difference in grayscale between adjacent data pixels increases. The noise component may be calculated using the average value of the grayscale of the data pixels included in the preset sensing area.

[0115] The touch controller 330 may determine the up period to overlap with the active period in the frame period based on the image data DATA1. The touch controller 330 may further determine the up period to overlap with a blank period provided after the active period in the frame period or a blank period provided before the active period.

[0116] According to some embodiments, the touch controller 330 may compare the data pixels in the image data DATA1 to be displayed on the adjacent pixels among the pixels, and may overlap the up period with the time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period based on the result of the comparison. Alternatively, the touch controller 330 may overlap the up period with the time period other than the time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period based on the result of the comparison. For example, the touch controller 330 may estimate the noise component based on the difference in grayscale between the adjacent data pixels by comparing the data pixels in the image data DATA1.

[0117] When the difference in grayscale between data pixels in a single frame period is relatively large, the touch controller 330 may estimate a noise period in which noise components are concentrated. Therefore, the touch controller 330 may determine an up-going period to avoid the estimated noise period in the active period. Here, the touch controller 330 may perform a series of processes to estimate the noise period according to the image data DATA1 and determine an up-going period within one frame period. Figures 9 to 12 A detailed description of the uplink period is given.

[0118] The touch driver 320 may transmit the uplink signal US through the touch array 310 with reference to the uplink timing signal UTS received from the touch controller 330. The touch driver 320 may transmit the uplink signal US including different information to the external device 400 through the touch electrodes of the touch array 310 in the uplink period determined by the touch controller 330, thereby transmitting the uplink signal US in the period in which the noise component caused by the image data DATA1 is minimized or reduced.

[0119] When in contact with or close to the touch electrodes of the touch array 310, the external device 400 may receive an uplink signal US from the touch electrodes through the communication interface 410. For example, when the external device 400 is in contact with or close to the touch electrodes, an electric field may be generated between the communication interface 410 of the external device 400 and the touch electrodes. A virtual capacitor due to the electric field may be formed between the external device 400 and the touch electrodes. As the external device 400 approaches the touch electrodes, the capacitance of the formed capacitor may decrease. As a result, the transmission of the uplink signal US from the touch electrodes of the touch array 310 to the communication interface 410 of the external device 400 may be facilitated.

[0120] The communication interface 410 may perform an operation of amplifying the received uplink signal US. The uplink signal US amplified by the communication interface 410 may be received in the form of an input signal and transmitted to the sensing driver 420.

[0121] The sensing driver 420 may generate a sensing signal SS_DN by decoding the uplink signal US based on a modulation matrix associated with the driving signal. The sensing signal SS_DN may be transmitted from the sensing driver 420 to the sensing controller 430.

[0122] The sensing signal SS_DN transmitted to the sensing controller 430 may include a noise component caused by the image data DATA1. In view of this, the sensing controller 430 may be configured to include a separate signal processing circuit to cancel the noise component. The sensing controller 430 may analyze the image data DATA1 to estimate the noise component based on the grayscale level and cancel the noise component from the sensing signal SS_DN.

[0123] According to some embodiments, the sensing controller 430 may filter the sensing signal SS_DN based on the grayscale of the data pixel in the image data DATA1. For example, the sensing controller 430 may use a lookup table storing noise components for each grayscale to filter out noise components exceeding a reference level among the noise components estimated according to the image data DATA1 in each frame period. For example, the sensing controller 430 may indicate a data pixel generating a noise component exceeding a reference level, and adjust the grayscale of the corresponding data pixel to reduce the grayscale. Alternatively, the sensing controller 430 may generate an inverted signal corresponding to the estimated noise component, and add the inverted signal to the sensing signal. However, the above example is illustrative and is not limited as long as it can offset the noise component. The sensing signal SS from which the noise component caused by the image data DATA1 has been offset may be retransmitted to the sensing driver 420.

[0124] The sensing driver 420 may calculate the touch position information of the external device 400 using the sensing signal SS from which the noise component has been canceled. Here, the touch position information may be a digital signal including the coordinates of the touch position on the touch array 310 that the external device 400 contacts or approaches. The sensing driver 420 may transmit the sensing signal SS to the touch driver 320 as a downlink signal DS.

[0125] The touch driver 320 may receive a downlink signal DS transmitted from the external device 400 through the touch electrodes of the touch array 310. The downlink signal DS may include touch position information of the external device 400 acquired by decoding by the external device 400. In addition, the downlink signal DS may further include status information about the external device 400, such as a button status, a battery status, and a tilt of the external device 400 contacting the touch array 310.

[0126] The touch driver 320 may transmit the touch position information to the host 100. However, the downlink signal DS belongs to an example in which the external device 400 transmits the touch position information. If wireless communication is performed, the sensing driver 420 can also transmit the touch position information directly to the host 100 through wireless communication.

[0127] Fig. 9 is a diagram for describing an example of noise that may be included in the uplink signal US.

[0128] refer to Fig. 9 , the signal strength of the up signal US of each of the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq arranged in the first direction DR1 may be explained with respect to the case where there is a significant data change between data lines in a single frame period.

[0129] According to some embodiments, when the external device 400 contacts or approaches a specific area of ​​the touch array 310, the up signal US may be transmitted to the external device 400 through a driving line corresponding to the specific area among the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq. Therefore, the signal strength represented by the signal strength curve 510 of the up signal US may be relatively high on the driving line corresponding to the specific area among the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq.

[0130] Here, in the case where there is a relatively large data change between data pixels depending on the image data corresponding to a single frame period, the uplink signal US transmitted from the display device DD to the external device 400 may contain a noise component caused by the image data. For example, in the case of a pattern area 500 in which white and black are alternately displayed in the image data, the data pixels corresponding to the pattern area 500 may generate a noise component due to the difference in grayscale between adjacent data pixels. The noise component caused by the image data may affect the drive line corresponding to the data pixel through parasitic capacitance, etc. Therefore, in a specific time period, the noise component caused by the image data may be contained in the uplink signal US transmitted through the drive line arranged in the pattern area 500.

[0131] Specifically, in the case where a specific area on the touch array 310 that is in contact with or close to the external device 400 overlaps with the corresponding pattern area 500, the signal strength represented by the signal strength curve 520 of the uplink signal US may be relatively high in the form of a noise component included in the driving line corresponding to the specific area. When the uplink signal US containing the noise component is transmitted to the external device 400, the touch position information of the external device 400 may be incorrectly sensed. Therefore, the display device DD may determine the uplink period to overlap with the activation period while avoiding the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is concentrated, and transmit the uplink signal to the external device 400 during the determined uplink period.

[0132] Fig.10 is a timing diagram illustrating further details of a method of transmitting an uplink signal US according to some embodiments.

[0133] refer to Figure 5 and Fig.10 , each frame period may include an active period in which the display panel 210 displays an image and a blank period BP in which the display panel 210 does not display an image. For example, the first frame period FR1 may include a first active period AP1 and a blank period BP provided before / after the first active period AP1. The second frame period FR2 may include a second active period AP2 and a blank period BP provided before / after the second active period AP2.

[0134] Each blank period BP may be placed between the first active period AP1 and the second active period AP2. For example, the blank period BP of the first frame period FR1 may include a first back porch period VBP1 and a first front porch period VFP1.

[0135] The blank period BP of the second frame period FR2 may include a second trailing edge period VBP2 and a second leading edge period VFP2. The zeroth leading edge period VFP0 may be included in the zeroth frame period before the first frame period FR1. The zeroth leading edge period VFP0 may be a time period between the zeroth time point T0 and the first time point T1. The second leading edge period VFP2 may be included in the second frame period FR2 before the third frame period. The second leading edge period VFP2 may be a time period between the fourteenth time point T14 and the fifteenth time point T15.

[0136] The display device DD may be operated in units of frame periods FR divided from each other by a vertical synchronization signal Vsync. The vertical synchronization signal Vsync may include a high level period and a low level period. The period of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync may correspond to the period of the frame period FR. For example, the first time point T1 may be a time point at which the vertical synchronization signal Vsync transitions to a high level, and corresponds to a time point at which the first frame period FR1 begins. The eighth time point T8 may be a time point at which the vertical synchronization signal Vsync transitions to a high level, and corresponds to a time point at which the second frame period FR2 begins.

[0137] Each frame period FR may include an uplink period in which an uplink signal US is transmitted from the touch array 310 to the external device 400. Specifically, in the case where the display device DD has an increased resolution or is used with a finger touch sensing scheme, the uplink period for transmitting the uplink signal may be insufficient. In this case, Fig.10 As illustrated in FIG. 2 , in each frame period, the display device DD may determine the up period to overlap with the active period.

[0138] The first image frame may be received as image data of the first frame period FR1. At the second time point T2, the display device DD may provide a first data signal DLS1 as a data signal DLS in response to the first image frame. The data signal DLS may be applied to the first to qth data lines DL1 to DLj (reference Figure 6 ) to display a voltage of a valid image in a corresponding frame period. A time period in which the data signal DLS is applied to the first to qth data lines DL1 to DLj to display an image may be defined as an active period. Fig.10 , the first data signal DLS1 is applied between the second time point T2 and the seventh time point T7. Therefore, a time period between the second time point T2 and the seventh time point T7 may be defined as a first active period AP1.

[0139] If the first image frame includes a pattern area in which white and black are alternately displayed, a noise component may densely occur in a time period between a third time point T3 and a fourth time point T4 to which a data signal corresponding to the pattern area is applied. In view of this, the display device DD may determine the first uplink period UP1 to overlap with a time period other than the first noise period NP1 in which noise components densely occur within the first activation period AP1 of the first frame period FR1. The first uplink period UP1 may overlap with a time period between a fifth time point T5 and a sixth time point T6, which is a time period other than the first noise period NP1. The display device DD may transmit a first uplink signal US1 in the first uplink period UP1 of the first frame period FR1.

[0140] The second image frame may be received as image data of a second frame period FR2 after the first frame period FR1. At the ninth time point T9, the display device DD may provide the second data signal DLS2 as the data signal DLS to the display panel 210 through the data lines DL1 to DLj in response to the second image frame. In the time period between the ninth time point T9 and the fourteenth time point T14, the second data signal DLS2 may be applied. The time period between the ninth time point T9 and the fourteenth time point T14 may be defined as a second activation period AP2.

[0141] If the second image frame includes a pattern area in which white and black are alternately provided at different positions, the time period to which the data signal corresponding to the pattern area is applied may be changed. In the second frame period FR2, during the time period between the twelfth time point T12 and the thirteenth time point T13, the noise component may occur densely. In view of this, the display device DD may determine the second uplink period UP2 to overlap with the time period other than the second noise period NP2 in which the noise component occurs densely within the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2. The second uplink period UP2 may overlap with the time period between the tenth time point T10 and the eleventh time point T11, which is a time period other than the second noise period NP2. The display device DD may transmit the second uplink signal US2 in the second uplink period UP2 of the second frame period FR2.

[0142] In this way, the first uplink period UP1 can overlap with the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced in the first activation period AP1 of the first frame period FR1. The second uplink period UP2 can overlap with the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced in the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2. For example, the uplink period can be set to a different time period for each frame period. Accordingly, the influence of the noise component on the transmission of the uplink signal can be minimized or reduced, thereby enhancing the sensing accuracy.

[0143] Fig.11 is a diagram for describing another example of noise that may be included in the uplink signal US.

[0144] refer to Fig.11 , the signal strength of the up signal US of each of the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq arranged in the first direction DR1 may be explained with respect to a case where there is a significant data change between frame periods in consecutive frame periods.

[0145] According to some embodiments, when the external device 400 is in contact with or close to a specific area of ​​the touch array 310, the uplink signal US may be transmitted to the external device 400 through a driving line corresponding to the specific area among the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq. Therefore, the signal strength represented by the signal strength curve 610 of the uplink signal US may be relatively high on the driving line corresponding to the specific area among the first to qth driving lines TXL1 to TXLq.

[0146] Here, in the case where there is a relatively large data change between frame periods depending on the image data corresponding to the continuous frame periods, the uplink signal US transmitted from the display device DD to the external device 400 may contain a noise component caused by the image data. For example, in a scene such as a flicker occurring in a dark scene, if a previous frame period with a black background is transitioned to a current frame period with a white background, a noise component may occur in the data pixels corresponding to the entire area 600 due to the difference in grayscale between the continuous frame periods. The noise component caused by the image data may affect the drive line corresponding to the data pixel through parasitic capacitance, etc. Therefore, the noise component caused by the image data may be completely contained in the uplink signal US transmitted through the drive line arranged in the entire area 600.

[0147] In another example, when transitioning from a previous frame period having a white background to a current frame period having a pattern alternating in the entire region 600, a noise component may occur in data pixels corresponding to the entire region 600 in the current frame period due to a difference in grayscale. Therefore, the noise component due to the image data may be included in the uplink signal US as a whole.

[0148] Specifically, the signal strength represented by the signal strength curve 620 of the uplink signal US may be relatively high in the form of including noise components in the entire area except for the driving line corresponding to the specific area on the touch array 310 with which the external device 400 is in contact or close. When the uplink signal US containing the noise component is transmitted to the external device 400, the touch position information of the external device 400 may be incorrectly sensed. Therefore, the display device DD may determine the uplink period to overlap with the activation period and the period before / after the activation period while avoiding the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is concentrated, and transmit the uplink signal to the external device 400 during the determined uplink period. In addition, in the case where the noise component is included as a whole, the external device 400 may calculate the noise component with reference to the grayscale level of the data pixel in the image data, and then offset the calculated noise component from the sensing signal generated using the received uplink signal.

[0149] Fig.12is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a method of transmitting an uplink signal US according to some embodiments.

[0150] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 8 and Fig.12 , in the case where there is a large data change between frame periods in consecutive frame periods, the operation of the display device DD transmitting the uplink signal to the external device 400 can be described. Here, the operation in the frame period is similar to that in the reference Fig.10 The operations in the described frame period are the same; therefore, redundant explanations thereof will be omitted.

[0151] The first image frame having a black background may be received as image data of the first frame period FR1. At the second time point T2, the display device DD may provide the first data signal DLS1 as the data signal DLS in response to the first image frame. Fig.12 , the first data signal DLS1 is applied between the second time point T2 and the fifth time point T5. Therefore, the time period between the second time point T2 and the fifth time point T5 can be defined as the first active period AP1. The display device DD can transmit the first uplink signal US1 in the first uplink period UP1 of the first frame period FR1.

[0152] On the other hand, the second image frame having a white background may be received as image data of the second frame period FR2 after the first frame period FR1. At the seventh time point T7, the display device DD may provide the second data signal DLS2 as the data signal DLS in response to the second image frame. Fig.12 , the second data signal DLS2 is applied between the seventh time point T7 and the tenth time point T10. Therefore, the time period between the seventh time point T7 and the tenth time point T10 can be defined as the second activation period AP2. The display device DD can transmit the second uplink signal US2 in the second uplink period UP2 of the second frame period FR2.

[0153] The display device DD may compare data pixels according to the first data signal DLS1 in the first image frame and data pixels according to the second data signal DLS2 in the second image frame with each other. Depending on the result of the comparison, the display device DD may determine the second up period UP2 to overlap with a time period within the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2 except for a time period in which some pixels emit light.

[0154] The second data signal DLS2 corresponding to the second image frame may be a signal different from the first data signal DLS1 corresponding to the first image frame. Therefore, the data pixel may show a difference in grayscale between frame periods. Specifically, in the case where there is a relatively large change between the first image frame and the second image frame, the data signal DLS between the first frame period FR1 and the second frame period FR2 may also show a considerable change. In this case, the noise component may occur as a whole in the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2. More specifically, in the second frame period FR2, the noise component may occur during the time period between the eighth time point T8 and the ninth time point T9.

[0155] In consideration of this, the display device DD may determine the second up period UP2 to overlap with a time period other than the first noise period NP1 in which noise components densely occur within the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2. The second up period UP2 may overlap with a time period between the ninth time point T9 and the eleventh time point T11. The display device DD may transmit the second up signal US2 in some periods of the second activation period AP2 and in a second front edge period VFP2 provided after the second activation period AP2.

[0156] In this way, in the continuous frame period, the first uplink period UP1 can overlap with the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced in the first activation period AP1 of the first frame period FR1. The second uplink period UP2 can overlap with the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced in the second activation period AP2 of the second frame period FR2. However, if the noise component caused by the image data occurs as a whole in the corresponding frame period, the uplink period can also selectively overlap with the blank period after the corresponding activation period. Accordingly, the influence of the noise component on the transmission of the uplink signal can be minimized or reduced. In addition, the display device DD can select the transmission frequency of the uplink signal without restriction, thereby improving the degree of freedom and facilitating high-speed operation. In addition, the display device DD can apply a low voltage for transmitting the uplink signal, thereby providing the benefit of reducing the possibility of image quality degradation and reducing total power consumption.

[0157] Fig.13 is a diagram for describing a process for determining a location of an external device in a manner in which the external device receives at least one uplink signal US.

[0158] refer to Fig.13 , an operation of the external device 400 receiving the up signal through the capacitor formed between the external device 400 and the adjacent touch electrode may be explained.

[0159] like Fig.13 As shown in FIG. 1 , the touch driver 320 may apply corresponding touch drive signals TDS1 to TDS9 including different position information to the first to ninth touch electrodes TX1 to TX9 of the touch array 310. If the external device 400 is adjacent to the touch array 310, the external device 400 may receive the uplink signal through the capacitor formed between the pen electrode of the external device 400 and the adjacent touch electrodes TX3 to TX7. The external device 400 may obtain the capacitance information of the capacitors 311 to 315 formed by the corresponding touch electrodes from the uplink signal. For example, the uplink signal transmitted from the fifth touch electrode TX5 closest to the external device 400 may include the capacitance information of the capacitor 313 formed between the fifth touch electrode TX5 and the external device 400. The uplink signal transmitted from the corresponding third to seventh touch electrodes TX3 to TX7 may include both digital components corresponding to the corresponding touch drive signals TDS3 to TDS7 having different position information and analog components related to the capacitance information of the capacitors 311 to 315.

[0160] The sensing driver 420 of the external device 400 may decode the uplink signal received from the adjacent touch electrodes TX3 to TX7, and apply the decoded uplink signal to a preset algorithm to calculate the position information of the external device 400. Here, the position information of the external device 400 may be calculated based on the corresponding digital components included in the touch drive signals TDS3 to TDS7 including different position information. For example, the sensing driver 420 may estimate the corresponding feature vector based on the decoded uplink signal, and calculate the position information of the external device 400 by assigning a certain weight to each feature vector in the feature vector.

[0161] However, it should be noted that for the purpose of illustration, Fig.13 The touch electrodes illustrated in FIG. 5 are described as including nine touch electrodes TX1 to TX9 , but the number of touch electrodes is not limited thereto. In addition, the same principle can also be applied to the sensing electrodes RX1 to RXp.

[0162] Fig.14 is an illustration of a method according to some embodiments of the present invention being applied to Fig.13 FIG. 1 is a timing diagram of an example of a signal of each touch electrode TX1 to TX9.

[0163] refer to Fig.14 , the touch drive signal TDS applied to the third to seventh touch electrodes TX3 to TX7 adjacent to the external device 400 may be interpreted. The touch drive signal may be encoded based on different position information and may be a signal based on an encoded digital modulation component. The touch drive signal may be generated as a signal of various waveforms such as a pulse, a sine wave, and a triangle wave.

[0164] According to some embodiments, the touch drive signal may be a pulse signal of different forms including 1 or 0 in a plurality of bit columns. For example, the touch drive signal TDS3 applied to the third touch electrode TX3 may be a signal including a digital component of 101010101. The touch drive signal TDS4 applied to the fourth touch electrode TX4 may be a signal including a digital component of 001001100. The touch drive signal TDS5 applied to the fifth touch electrode TX5 may be a signal including a digital component of 010101010. The touch drive signal TDS6 applied to the sixth touch electrode TX6 may be a signal including a digital component of 001100110. The touch drive signal TDS7 applied to the seventh touch electrode TX7 may be a signal including a digital component of 110011001. However, it should be noted that the above description of the touch drive signal including different position information is for exemplary purposes only and is not limited thereto.

[0165] Fig.15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a display device DD according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0166] Reference below Fig.15 In the description of the invention, a method will be provided in which a display device transmits an uplink signal to an external device and receives a sensing signal from the external device to detect a touch. Here, the display device operates in units of frame periods, each frame period includes an activation period and a blank period, and an image can be displayed on a display panel in the activation period of the frame period based on image data.

[0167] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 8 and Fig.13 , at step S1010 , the display device DD may sense a touch approaching the touch array 310 .

[0168] At step S1020, the display device DD may determine an uplink period based on the image data. The touch controller 330 may determine the uplink period with reference to the grayscale of the data pixel in the image data. For example, the display device DD may compare the data pixels in the image data to be displayed on the adjacent pixels among the pixels, and based on the result of the comparison, determine the uplink period to overlap with the time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light in the activation period or the time period other than the time period in which the adjacent pixels emit light. As a result, the uplink period may overlap with the time period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced within the activation period, and may also overlap with the blank period provided before / after the activation period.

[0169] In step S1030, the display device DD may transmit an uplink signal to the external device 400 adjacent to the touch array 310 in the determined uplink period. The display device DD may encode data representing the position information of the corresponding touch electrodes, thereby generating an uplink signal US. The position information of the corresponding touch electrodes may be different information as the corresponding identifiers of the touch electrodes. The display device DD may transmit an uplink signal US representing the touch position information of the external device 400 to the external device 400 in an uplink period in which the noise component caused by the image data is minimized or reduced. The uplink signal US to be transmitted may further include a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, panel information, information about a protocol version, and the like.

[0170] At step S1040 , the display device DD may receive a sensing signal generated by the external device 400 from the external device 400 .

[0171] The external device 400 may calculate a noise component with reference to the grayscale of the data pixel in the image data, and then cancel the calculated noise component from the sensing signal generated using the received uplink signal. The display device DD may receive the sensing signal from which the noise component is canceled as a downlink signal DS from the external device 400. The downlink signal DS may include touch position information of the external device 400 on the touch array 310 acquired by decoding by the external device 400. The downlink signal DS may further include state information of the external device 400.

[0172] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure may include a touch device and a touch system capable of identifying a position of an external device on a touch array with relatively improved reliability.

[0173] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the foregoing, and other various effects are expected herein.

[0174] Although certain embodiments and implementations have been described herein, other embodiments and modifications will be apparent from the foregoing description. Accordingly, the concepts of the present disclosure are not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but are limited to the broader scope of the claims set forth and various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: A display panel, including pixels; a display driver configured to operate in units of a frame period including an active period and a blank period, and to display an image on the display panel in the active period of the frame period based on image data; A touch array, on the display panel and comprising touch electrodes; a touch driver configured to transmit uplink signals including different information to an external device close to the touch array through the touch electrodes in an uplink period, and receive, from the external device, a sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals; as well as The touch controller is configured to determine the uplink period based on the image data.

2. The display device according to claim 1, in, The uplink period overlaps with the activation period.

3. The display device according to claim 2, in, The uplink period further overlaps with the blank period, and Among them, in the frame period, the blank period is after the activation period or before the activation period.

4. The display device according to claim 1, in, The touch controller is configured to determine the up period with reference to a gray level of a data pixel in the image data.

5. The display device according to claim 4, in, The touch controller is configured to compare the data pixels in the image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among the pixels, and Wherein, based on the result of the comparison, the up period overlaps with a time period in which the adjacent pixel emits light during the activation period.

6. The display device according to claim 4, in, The touch controller is configured to compare the data pixels in the image data to be displayed on adjacent pixels among the pixels, and Wherein, based on the result of the comparison, the up period overlaps with a period except for a period in which the adjacent pixel emits light during the activation period.

7. The display device according to claim 1, in, a first image frame is received as the image data of a first frame period, and a second image frame is received as the image data of a second frame period following the first frame period, wherein the touch controller is configured to compare data pixels to be displayed on some of the pixels in the first image frame with data pixels to be displayed on the some pixels in the second image frame, and Wherein, based on the result of the comparison, the up period overlaps with a time period within the activation period of the second frame period except for a time period in which some pixels emit light.

8. A display system comprising: A display device, comprising a display panel including pixels and a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes, the display device being configured to operate in units of a frame period including an active period and a blank period, and to display an image on the display panel in the active period of the frame period based on image data; as well as an external device configured to communicate with the display device through the touch array, The display device is configured to transmit uplink signals including different information to the external device close to the touch array through the touch electrodes in an uplink period, receive a sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals from the external device, and determine the uplink period based on the image data, and The external device is configured to generate the sensing signal using at least some of the uplink signals received through the touch electrodes in the uplink period.

9. The display system according to claim 8, in, The external device is configured to calculate a noise component with reference to gray levels of data pixels in the image data, and cancel the noise component from the sensing signal generated using the at least some of the uplink signals.

10. A method of driving a display device, the display device being configured to operate in units of a frame period including an active period and a blank period, and displaying an image on a display panel in the active period of the frame period based on image data, The display device includes the display panel including pixels and a touch array on the display panel and including touch electrodes. The method comprises: determining an uplink period based on the image data, in which an uplink signal including different information is transmitted through the touch electrode; transmitting the uplink signal to an external device close to the touch array in the uplink period; and A sensing signal generated by the external device using at least some of the uplink signals is received from the external device.

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