Touch module

Abstract

A touch module includes: a touch array including a first touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in a first direction and positioned along a second direction crossing the first direction, and a second touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in the second direction and positioned along the first direction; and a touch driver configured to output an uplink signal to an external device adjacent to the touch array through each of the first touch electrode group and the second touch electrode group, the uplink signal being used by the external device to calculate position information. The touch driver is configured to output an uplink signal by applying a touch driving signal to some of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and by applying at least one synchronization signal to the other some of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and at least some of the touch driving signals are synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0116965 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on September 4, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electronic device for supporting a touch function. Background Art

[0004] A touch device having a function for indicating a position by touch is widely used. For example, with the widespread popularity of mobile electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet computers, touch devices have been widely used. Recently, there is a growing demand for a technology for recognizing a touch on a touch array by using not only a finger but also other tools such as an active pen.

[0005] However, electronic devices may have considerable difficulty effectively providing both finger touch and active pen touch while generally providing display functionality. For example, as display devices in electronic devices tend to become larger and faster, the sensing performance for identifying touches on the touch array may deteriorate, which may result in reduced reliability of operation of the touch device, display device, and electronic device.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the invention

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch module (eg, a touch device, a touch panel, or a touch layer) capable of recognizing a touch with improved reliability, and an electronic device including the touch module.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a touch module includes: a touch array including a first touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in a first direction and positioned along a second direction intersecting the first direction and a second touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in the second direction and positioned along the first direction; and a touch driver configured to output an uplink signal to an external device adjacent to the touch array through each of the first touch electrode group and the second touch electrode group, the uplink signal being used by the external device to calculate position information. The touch driver is configured to output the uplink signal by applying a touch drive signal to some of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and by applying at least one synchronization signal to other touch electrodes of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and at least some of the touch drive signals are synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal.

[0009] In an embodiment, the touch driver can be configured to apply a touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and apply the above-mentioned at least one synchronization signal to a second touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and the touch driver can be configured to apply the touch drive signal and the above-mentioned at least one synchronization signal concurrently with each other.

[0010] In an embodiment, the at least one synchronization signal may include a first synchronization signal and a second synchronization signal. The touch driver may be configured to apply the touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and to apply the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal to a second touch electrode and a third touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, respectively, and the first touch electrode may be positioned between the second touch electrode and the third touch electrode.

[0011] In an embodiment, the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group may be grouped into sub-touch electrode groups, and the touch driver may be configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal to each of the sub-touch electrode groups.

[0012] In an embodiment, the touch drive signal may include a first touch drive signal to an m-th touch drive signal, and the at least one synchronization signal may include a first synchronization signal. The touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group may include a first touch electrode to an m-th touch electrode and an m+1-th touch electrode sequentially positioned along the second direction. The touch driver may be configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the m-th touch drive signal to the first touch electrode to the m-th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, respectively, and apply the first synchronization signal to the m+1-th touch electrode. Here, m may be a natural number greater than 1.

[0013] In an embodiment, the at least one synchronization signal mentioned above may further include a second synchronization signal, the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group may further include a zeroth touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode in a direction opposite to the second direction, and the touch driver may be configured to apply the second synchronization signal to the zeroth touch electrode.

[0014] In an embodiment, the touch drive signal may include a first touch drive signal to an m-th touch drive signal, and the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group may include a first touch electrode, a second touch electrode to an m-th touch electrode, and an m+1-th touch electrode sequentially positioned along the second direction. The touch driver may be configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the m-th touch drive signal to the first touch electrode to the m-th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group in a first time interval, respectively, and apply the at least one synchronization signal to the m+1-th touch electrode. Here, m may be a natural number greater than 1.

[0015] In an embodiment, the touch driver can be configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the mth touch drive signal to the second touch electrode to the m+1th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group in the second time interval, respectively, and apply the above-mentioned at least one synchronization signal to the first touch electrode.

[0016] In an embodiment, the at least one synchronization signal may include a pulse signal with a constant period.

[0017] In an embodiment, the touch drive signal may include codes that are different from each other, and the codes may be orthogonal to each other.

[0018] In an embodiment, the touch driver may be configured to output an uplink signal by applying a touch drive signal to some of the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group and by applying the at least one synchronization signal to other touch electrodes of the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group. At least some of the touch drive signals applied to the second touch electrode group may be synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal applied to the second touch electrode group.

[0019] In an embodiment, the touch driver may be configured to apply a touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group and apply the at least one synchronization signal to a second touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group. The touch driver may be configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal concurrently with each other.

[0020] In an embodiment, the at least one synchronization signal may include a first synchronization signal and a second synchronization signal. The touch driver may be configured to apply the touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group and to apply the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal to a second touch electrode and a third touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group, respectively. The first touch electrode may be positioned between the second touch electrode and the third touch electrode.

[0021] In an embodiment, the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group may be grouped into sub-touch electrode groups, and the touch driver may be configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal to each of the sub-touch electrode groups.

[0022] In an embodiment, the touch drive signal may include a first touch drive signal to an nth touch drive signal, and the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group may include a first touch electrode to an nth touch electrode and an n+1th touch electrode sequentially positioned along the first direction. The touch driver may be configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the nth touch drive signal to the first touch electrode to the nth touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group in a third time interval and apply the at least one synchronization signal to the n+1th touch electrode. Here, n may be a natural number greater than 1.

[0023] In an embodiment, the touch driver can be configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the nth touch drive signal to the second touch electrode to the n+1th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group in a fourth time interval, respectively, and apply the above-mentioned at least one synchronization signal to the first touch electrode.

[0024] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device includes: a touch array including a first touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in a first direction and positioned along a second direction intersecting the first direction and a second touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in the second direction and positioned along the first direction; a touch driver configured to output an uplink signal through each of the first touch electrode group and the second touch electrode group; and a host configured to receive position information calculated based on the uplink signal from an external device adjacent to the touch array and configured to receive the uplink signal. The touch driver is configured to output the uplink signal by applying a touch drive signal to some of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and by applying at least one synchronization signal to other touch electrodes of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and at least some of the touch drive signals are synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of illustrative, non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device including a touch module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A block diagram of an embodiment of a display module.

[0028] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a touch system including an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A block diagram of an embodiment of a touch module.

[0030] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 3 A block diagram of an embodiment of an external device.

[0031] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 3 A flow chart of the operation of the touch system.

[0032] Figure 7 It is shown by Figure 3 A diagram of an uplink signal received by an external device.

[0033] Figure 8 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a touch driving signal and a synchronization signal applied to a touch electrode.

[0034] Figures 9 to 11 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a first touch electrode group.

[0035] Figure 12 to Figure 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a second touch electrode group.

[0036] Fig.15 and Fig.16 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a first touch electrode group.

[0037] Fig.17 and Fig.18 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a second touch electrode group. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals always refer to the same elements. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided as examples so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the aspects and features of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, processes, elements and techniques that are unnecessary for those of ordinary skill in the art to fully understand the aspects and features of the present disclosure may not be described. Unless otherwise stated, the same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout the drawings and written descriptions, and therefore, their redundant descriptions may not be repeated.

[0039] When a certain embodiment can be implemented differently, the specific process order may be different from the described order. For example, two processes described successively may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in the reverse order of the described order.

[0040] In the accompanying drawings, for clarity, the relative size, thickness and ratio of elements, layers and zones can be exaggerated and / or simplified. For ease of explanation, spatially relative terms such as "below", "below", "lower", "under", "above" and "on" can be used in this article to describe the relationship between an element or feature shown in the drawings and another (some) element or feature. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings, spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or in operation. For example, if the device in the drawings is flipped, the element described as "below" or "below" or "below" of other elements or features will be oriented to "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the example terms "below" and "under" can include both above and below orientations. The device can be oriented in other ways (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used in this article should be interpreted accordingly.

[0041] In the drawings, the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 are not limited to directions corresponding to the axes of the rectangular coordinate system and can be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 can be perpendicular to each other or substantially perpendicular to each other, or can represent different directions that are not perpendicular to each other.

[0042] It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or part from another element, component, region, layer or part. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer or part described below may be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer or part without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, the element or layer may be directly on, directly connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or there may be one or more intervening elements or layers. Similarly, when a layer, region, or element is referred to as being "electrically connected to" another layer, region, or element, the layer, region, or element may be directly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or element, or may be indirectly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or element with one or more intervening layers, regions, or elements between the layer, region, or element and the other layer, region, or element. In addition, it will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "between" two elements or layers, the element or layer may be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or there may also be one or more intervening elements or layers.

[0044] The terms used in this article are used to describe the purpose of a particular embodiment and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in this article, the singular form "one" is intended to also include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "include", "comprise", "contain", and "have" indicate the presence of the features, integral bodies, steps, operations, elements, and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or increase of one or more other features, integral bodies, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or their groups. As used in this article, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. For example, the expression "A and / or B" means A, B, or A and B. When after the element list, expressions such as "at least one of" modify the entire element list and do not modify the single element in the list. For example, the expression "at least one of a, b, and c" and "at least one of the groups selected from a, b, and c" represent only a, only b, only c, a and b, a and c, b and c, a, b, and c, all or their variations.

[0045] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "approximately," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to take into account the inherent deviations of measurements or calculations that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. In addition, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure." As used herein, the terms "use" and "used" may be considered equivalent to the terms "utilizing" and "utilized," respectively.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this article have the same meaning as those commonly understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which the present disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant field and / or this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this article.

[0047] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device including a touch module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] refer to Figure 1 , the display device DD may include a touch module (eg, a touch device, a touch panel, or a touch layer) 100 and a display module (eg, a display, a display panel, or a display layer) 200 .

[0049] The touch module 100 may include a touch array 110 and a touch driver 120 for driving the touch array 110. The display module 200 may include a display panel 210 and a display driver 220 for driving the display panel 210.

[0050] In one or more embodiments, the touch array 110 and the display panel 210 may be manufactured separately from each other and then combined to at least partially overlap each other. In other embodiments, the touch array 110 and the display panel 210 may be manufactured integrally with each other as a single body. In this case, the touch array 110 may be directly formed on at least one layer constituting the display panel 210 (e.g., an upper substrate, a thin film encapsulation layer, or an insulating layer such as the display panel 210).

[0051] Figure 1 The touch array 110 is shown to be disposed above the display panel 210 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the touch array 110 may be disposed below the display panel 210 .

[0052] The touch array 110 may include a sensing area SA capable of sensing a touch and a non-sensing area NSA around the sensing area SA (e.g., adjacent to the sensing area SA). The sensing area SA may overlap at least partially with the display area DA. The display device DD may display an image through the sensing area SA, and may also detect a touch input made on the display surface and / or detect light incident from the front. The non-sensing area NSA may surround the sensing area SA (e.g., around the periphery of the sensing area SA), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0053] The touch array 110 may include a substrate and drive electrodes TX and sensing electrodes RX formed on the substrate. The drive electrodes TX and the sensing electrodes RX may be disposed in the sensing area SA on the substrate. In one or more embodiments, the substrate may be a rigid substrate including a suitable material such as glass (e.g., tempered glass). In other embodiments, the substrate may be a flexible substrate including a suitable material such as plastic or metal. In one or more embodiments, at least one layer constituting the display panel 210 may be used as a substrate of the touch array 110.

[0054] The display panel 210 may include a display area DA for displaying an image and a non-display area NDA around the display area DA (e.g., adjacent to the display area DA). The non-display area NDA may at least partially surround the display area DA (e.g., at least partially around the periphery of the display area DA). The display panel 210 may include pixels PX formed on a substrate. The pixels PX may be arranged in the display area DA. In one or more embodiments, the substrate may be a rigid substrate including a suitable material such as glass (e.g., tempered glass). In other embodiments, the substrate may be a flexible substrate including a suitable material such as plastic or metal.

[0055] The pixel PX is connected to the scan line SL and the data line DL. The pixel PX is selected by the on-level driving signal supplied through the scan line SL, and receives the data signal through the data line DL. Accordingly, the pixel PX emits light with a desired brightness corresponding to the data signal, and an image is displayed in the display area DA.

[0056] Wirings and / or built-in circuits connected to the pixels PX may be disposed in the non-display area NDA. For example, a scan driver may be disposed in the non-display area NDA.

[0057] In one or more embodiments, the display panel 210 may include an organic light emitting diode, an inorganic light emitting diode, or a quantum dot / quantum well light emitting diode as a pixel PX. In other embodiments, the display panel 210 may be implemented as a liquid crystal display panel. In this case, a light source such as a backlight unit (e.g., a backlight panel or a backlight layer) may be additionally included.

[0058] In one or more embodiments, the touch driver 120 and the display driver 220 may include (eg, may be implemented as) separate integrated circuits (ICs) from each other. In other embodiments, the touch driver 120 and the display driver 220 may be mounted together in a single IC.

[0059] The display driver 220 may be electrically connected to the display panel 210 to drive the pixels PX. Figure 2 The display driver 220 and the display panel 210 are described in more detail.

[0060] The touch driver 120 may be connected to the touch array 110 to drive the touch array 110. Figure 4 The touch array 110 and the touch driver 120 are described in more detail.

[0061] The touch driver 120 may transmit an uplink signal to the external device 300 by applying a touch drive signal and at least one synchronization signal to the touch array 110. In addition, the external device 300 may receive the uplink signal and may detect a user's touch by calculating position information on the touch array 110 based on the uplink signal.

[0062] For example, the display device DD can be applied in various suitable electronic devices such as computers (e.g., laptop computers), cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), digital TVs, digital cameras, portable game consoles, navigation devices, wearable devices, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, Internet of Everything (IoE) devices, e-books, virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) devices, car navigation systems, video phones, monitoring systems, autofocus systems, tracking systems and / or motion detection systems, etc.

[0063] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A block diagram of an embodiment of a display module.

[0064] refer to Figure 2 , 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 .

[0065] The display module 200 may receive an external input signal from the host. The display module 200 may receive the first image data DATA1 as an external input signal. In one or more embodiments, the host may include an application processor or a central processing unit (CPU) or the like for controlling the display module 200. In one or more embodiments, the host may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) for controlling the display module 200. In addition, the host may include at least one of various suitable devices for providing the first image data DATA1 to the display module 200.

[0066] The timing controller 221 may generate control signals for controlling the data driver 222 and the scan driver 223 by using an external input signal. 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. In addition to including a signal containing position information corresponding to the external device 300 on the touch array 110, the external input signal may also include a data enable signal DE and a vertical synchronization signal Vsync. In more detail, the vertical synchronization signal Vsync may be a signal for synchronizing image data. The vertical synchronization signal Vsync, as a signal for distinguishing each frame, may be a signal input in a frame cycle. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the vertical synchronization signal Vsync may be generated internally in the timing controller 221. For example, the timing controller 221 may include a logic circuit for generating a vertical synchronization signal Vsync based on a signal (e.g., a data enable signal DE) received from a host.

[0067] In one or more embodiments, a vertical synchronization signal Vsync may be provided to Figure 1 The touch driver 120 may generate an uplink signal ULS in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal Vsync (eg, see Figure 3 ).

[0068] The timing controller 221 may supply a scan driver control signal SCS to the scan driver 223, and may supply a data driver control signal DCS to the data driver 222. In addition, the timing controller 221 may convert first image data DATA1 input from the outside into second image data DATA2 satisfying the specification of the data driver 222, and may supply the second image data DATA2 to the data driver 222.

[0069] According to an embodiment, 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, j and i may each be a natural number greater than 1.

[0070] The data driver 222 may receive the data driver control signal DCS and the second image data DATA2 from the timing controller 221, and may generate 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 on which the pixels PX are formed, or may be connected to the substrate through a separate component (e.g., a flexible circuit board).

[0071] The scan driver 223 may supply a scan signal to the scan lines SL1 to SLi in response to a scan driver control signal SCS. For example, the scan driver 223 may sequentially supply a scan signal to the scan lines SL1 to SLi. To be connected to the scan lines SL1 to SLi, the scan driver 223 may be directly mounted on a substrate on which the pixels PX are formed, or may be connected to the substrate through a separate component (e.g., a flexible circuit board).

[0072] For example, when a scan signal is supplied to a specific scan line, some of the pixels PX connected to the specific scan line may receive data signals transmitted from the data lines DL1 to DLj, and the some of the pixels PX may emit light having desired brightness corresponding to the received data signals.

[0073] Although the timing controller 221, the data driver 222 and the scan driver 223 Figure 2 1 and 2 are shown separately, but at least some of these components may be integrated together as needed or desired.

[0074] The electrode supplied with the voltage and / or signal for driving the display panel 210 may be referred to as a panel electrode. The panel electrode may include (for example, may be) data lines DL1 to DLj, scan lines SL1 to SLi, a line for transmitting the first power ELVDD, and a line for transmitting the second power ELVSS, etc. The driving voltage may be supplied to the panel electrode. For example, the pixel PX may generate light corresponding to the data signal by means of a current flowing from the line for transmitting the first power ELVDD through the light emitting device to the line for transmitting the second power ELVSS. The first power ELVDD may be a high potential voltage, and the second power ELVSS may be a low potential voltage.

[0075] Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a touch system including an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the touch system TS may include an electronic device ED and an external device 300 . The electronic device ED may include a touch module 100 and a host 400 .

[0077] The touch module 100 may include a touch array 110 and a touch driver 120. The touch driver 120 may generate an uplink signal ULS by applying a touch drive signal to the touch array 110. The touch driver 120 may transmit the generated uplink signal ULS to the external device 300 by means of capacitive coupling through a plurality of touch electrodes provided in the touch array 110. Therefore, the uplink signal ULS may be transmitted to the external device 300 through a capacitor formed between the touch electrodes of the touch array 110 and the external device 300. For example, the uplink signal ULS may include position information corresponding to the touch drive signal, synchronization information, information about the touch array 110, and / or protocol information, etc.

[0078] The host 400 may include an internal memory, an interface, and one or more processors. The host 400 may run various software programs through the processor to perform various functions of the electronic device ED, and may perform processing and control for data communication. In addition, the host 400 may communicate with any suitable external device and / or system through various interfaces. For example, the electronic device ED including the host 400 and the touch module 100 may include a computing device such as a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a wearable device. As another example, the host 400 may be a separate computing device connected to the touch module 100 through communication.

[0079] The host 400 can communicate with the external device 300. For example, the host 400 may include a processor that executes a method for performing operations such as a serial bus (I 2 C), serial communication for direct connection such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) and / or RS-232, and wireless communication for indirect connection such as Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth low energy), WiFi Direct, Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Local Area Network (LAN) and / or Wide Area Network (WAN)).

[0080] The host 400 may communicate with the external device 300 or the touch module 100 through a transmission means. For example, the host 400 may transmit position information corresponding to the external device 300 received from the external device 300 through Bluetooth communication to the touch module 100 through serial communication.

[0081] like Figure 3As shown in , the touch module 100 may transmit an uplink signal ULS to the external device 300, and the external device 300 may receive the uplink signal ULS. In addition, the external device 300 may calculate the position information corresponding to the external device 300 by using the uplink signal ULS. The external device 300 may transmit the calculated position information corresponding to the external device 300 to the host 400 through Bluetooth communication. As another example, the external device 300 may transmit a downlink signal DLS including the calculated position information corresponding to the external device 300 to the touch module 100.

[0082] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A block diagram of an embodiment of a touch module.

[0083] refer to Figure 4 The touch electrodes of the touch array 110 may include first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn. Here, m and n may each be a natural number greater than 1.

[0084] The first to m-th drive electrodes TX1 to TXm may each extend in the first direction DR1 and may be spaced apart from each other along the second direction DR2. The first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may each extend in the second direction DR2 and may be spaced apart from each other along the first direction DR1. The first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may be electrically separated from the first to m-th drive electrodes TX1 to TXm while crossing the first to m-th drive electrodes TX1 to TXm, and may form mutual capacitance with the first to m-th drive electrodes TX1 to TXm. When a user's touch is applied to the touch array 110, the mutual capacitance may change. For example, the touch may include at least one of various suitable types of inputs such as a user's physical contact or hovering that cause a change in the mutual capacitance.

[0085] The first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm may be connected to the first to m-th driving lines TXL1 to TXLm, respectively. The first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may be connected to the first to n-th sensing lines RXL1 to RXLn, respectively. In this case, the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm may be provided as Figure 1 The driving electrode TX, and the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may be provided as Figure 1 The sensing electrode RX.

[0086] Each of the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm may include first cells CL1 arranged along the first direction DR1 and electrically connected to each other. Each of the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may include second cells CL2 arranged along the second direction DR2 and electrically connected to each other. Figure 4 , each of the first cell CL1 and the second cell CL2 is shown to have a rhombus shape. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the first cell CL1 and the second cell CL2 may have at least one of various shapes such as a circular shape, a square shape, a triangular shape, or a mesh shape. In addition, the first cell CL1 and the second cell CL2 may be formed of a single layer or a plurality of layers. Therefore, the shapes and arrangements of the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn may be modified differently as needed or desired.

[0087] In one or more embodiments, the first cell CL1 and the second cell CL2 may have conductivity by including at least one of various suitable conductive materials such as metal materials and / or transparent conductive materials. For example, the first cell CL1 and the second cell CL2 may each include at least one of various suitable metal materials such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), aluminum (Al), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), copper (Cu), platinum (Pt), or any suitable alloy thereof.

[0088] The touch array 110 may be provided as Figure 1 A touch array 110 is provided.

[0089] The touch array 110 may further include input pads IPD connected to the first to m-th drive lines TXL1 to TXLm. The touch driver 120 may be connected to the first to m-th drive lines TXL1 to TXLm through the input pads IPD. In addition, the touch array 110 may further include output pads OPD connected to the first to n-th sensing lines RXL1 to RXLn. The touch driver 120 may be connected to the first to n-th sensing lines RXL1 to RXLn through the output pads OPD.

[0090] The touch driver 120 may apply touch drive signals including different codes to the touch electrodes of the touch array 110 to transmit the uplink signal ULS (eg, see Figure 3 ) is transmitted to an external device 300 adjacent to the touch array 110.

[0091] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4, the touch module 100 may transmit the uplink signal ULS to the external device 300 through the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and / or the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn. For example, the touch driver 120 may transmit the uplink signal ULS to the external device 300 by applying the touch drive signal to the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm through the first to m-th driving lines TXL1 to TXLm. The touch driver 120 may transmit the uplink signal ULS to the external device 300 by applying the touch drive signal to the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn through the first to n-th sensing lines RXL1 to RXLn.

[0092] When the external device 300 touches the touch array 110 or is adjacent to the touch array 110, the external device 300 may receive the uplink signal ULS through at least some of the first to m-th driving electrodes TX1 to TXm and at least some of the first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn. The external device 300 may calculate position information corresponding to the external device 300 on the touch array 110 by decoding the received uplink signal ULS.

[0093] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 3 A block diagram of an embodiment of an external device.

[0094] refer to Figure 5 , the external device 300 may include a processor 301 , a position sensor 302 , a functional block 303 , a communication interface 304 , and a receiving electrode 305 .

[0095] In one or more embodiments, the external device 300 may be any suitable external device such as an active pen, a robot, various accessories, and / or a game card.

[0096] The processor 301 may control the overall operation of the external device 300. For example, the processor 301 may control the position sensor 302. The processor 301 may control the operation of the position sensor 302 by transmitting a position sensor control signal to the position sensor 302. The position sensor 302 may control the operation of the position sensor 302 by responding to an uplink signal ULS (e.g., see FIG. 1 ) received from the communication interface 304. Figure 3 ) is decoded to calculate the position information corresponding to the external device 300.

[0097] The processor 301 may receive position information from the position sensor 302, and may transmit the received position information to the function block 303. The function block 303 may perform various suitable functions by using the received position information. For example, the function block 303 may include a motor for moving the external device 300 in a specific direction. In this case, the function block 303 may move the external device 300 by driving the motor according to the received position information.

[0098] In one or more embodiments, the processor 301 may control the position sensor 302 and the communication interface 304 to transmit the position information to the touch module 100 (eg, see Figure 1 ). In this case, the position sensor 302 may encode the position information corresponding to the external device 300, and may provide the encoded position information to the communication interface 304. The communication interface 304 may perform wireless communication for indirect connection such as Bluetooth (e.g., Bluetooth Low Energy), WiFi Direct, IrDA, LAN, and / or WAN. The communication interface 304 may transmit a data signal obtained by encoding the position information to the host 400 (e.g., see Figure 3 As another example, the communication interface 304 may transmit a downlink signal DLS (eg, see Figure 3 ) is transmitted to the touch array 110 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0099] The receiving electrode 305 of the external device 300 may be connected to the communication interface 304. When the receiving electrode 305 is adjacent to the touch array 110, a capacitor having a relatively small capacitance may be formed between the receiving electrode 305 and the driving electrode TX (eg, see Figure 1 ) and between at least some of the receiving electrodes 305 and the sensing electrodes RX (eg, see Figure 1 ) between at least some of the electrodes 1 and 2. In this case, the external device 300 may transmit the uplink signal ULS and / or the downlink signal DLS to the corresponding driving electrode TX and / or sensing electrode RX through a capacitor having a relatively small capacitance.

[0100] The communication interface 304 may amplify the received signal. For example, the communication interface 304 may amplify the signal received through the receiving electrode 305 during the process of receiving the uplink signal ULS. For example, the communication interface 304 may amplify the signal received from the position sensor 302 during the process of receiving the downlink signal DLS.

[0101] The communication interface 304 may convert an analog signal into a digital signal, and may convert a digital signal into an analog signal. For example, the communication interface 304 may convert an uplink signal ULS received through the receiving electrode 305 into a digital signal, and may provide the digital signal to the position sensor 302. For example, the communication interface 304 may convert a digital signal received from the position sensor 302 into a downlink signal DLS, and may output the downlink signal DLS through the receiving electrode 305.

[0102] The touch module 100 may receive the downlink signal DLS through a touch electrode adjacent to the receiving electrode 305 among the driving electrodes TX and the sensing electrodes RX of the touch array 110 .

[0103] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 3 A flow chart of the operation of the touch system.

[0104] refer to Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 , the touch module 100 may transmit the uplink signal ULS to the external device 300, and the external device 300 may calculate position information and transmit the position information to the host 400. The touch module 100 and the host 400 may be included in the electronic device ED.

[0105] The touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS through the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1 (step S110). In addition, the touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS through the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 (step S120). The touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS by applying the touch drive signal and at least one synchronization signal to the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1. The touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS by applying the touch drive signal and at least one synchronization signal to the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2. For example, after transmitting the uplink signal ULS through the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1, the touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS through the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2. As another example, the touch module 100 can transmit the uplink signal ULS concurrently or substantially simultaneously through the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1 and the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2.

[0106] Thereafter, the external device 300 may calculate the location information corresponding to the external device 300 based on the received uplink signal ULS (step S130). The external device 300 may align different codes included in the received uplink signal ULS using at least one synchronization signal. For example, the external device 300 may receive a synchronization signal together with the uplink signal ULS, may align the codes included in the uplink signal ULS by using the synchronization signal, and may calculate the location information corresponding to the external device 300 according to the aligned codes. Since the external device 300 calculates the location information according to the aligned codes, the calculated location information may have high reliability.

[0107] Thereafter, the external device 300 may transmit the calculated position information to the host 400 (step S140). The external device 300 may transmit the calculated position information through a communication channel. In addition, the external device 300 may transmit the state information and position information corresponding to the external device 300 to the host 400 through a wireless communication channel based on Bluetooth communication. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the types of communication channels are not limited thereto.

[0108] Figure 7 It is shown by Figure 3 A diagram of an uplink signal received by an external device.

[0109] refer to Figure 7 , shows an operation in which the external device 300 receives the uplink signal ULS through a capacitor formed between the external device 300 and the touch electrode adjacent to each other. Figure 7 , the external device 300 is illustrated as an active pen, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0110] like Figure 7 As shown in , the touch driver 120 may respectively apply touch driving signals TDS1 to TDS9 including different codes to the first to ninth driving electrodes TX1 to TX9 of the touch array 110. When the external device 300 is adjacent to the touch array 110, the external device 300 may receive the uplink signal ULS through the capacitors 111 to 115 formed between the external device 300 and the third to seventh driving electrodes TX3 to TX7 adjacent to each other.

[0111] The uplink signal ULS may include a digital component indicating a different code and an analog component of a capacitor formed between the touch electrode and the object. For example, the uplink signal ULS transmitted from the third touch electrode TX3 to the seventh touch electrode TX7 may each include a digital component according to a corresponding touch drive signal and an analog component according to a corresponding capacitor.

[0112] The external device 300 may calculate the position information corresponding to the external device 300 based on the uplink signal ULS received from the third touch electrode TX3 to the seventh touch electrode TX7. For example, the external device 300 may determine the weight of each uplink signal ULS based on the analog components according to the capacitors 111 to 115, and may apply the determined weight to each uplink signal ULS. The external device 300 may calculate the position information corresponding to the external device 300 by decoding the uplink signal ULS and / or its digital component to which the weight is applied. A suitable algorithm may be applied to decode the uplink signal ULS and / or its digital component. Therefore, the external device 300 may determine the position information corresponding to the external device 300 based on the uplink signal ULS received from at least one touch electrode adjacent to the external device 300.

[0113] For ease of illustration, Figure 4 The first to ninth driving electrodes TX1 to TX9 of a portion of the touch array 110 are Figure 7 However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the case where the uplink signal ULS is transmitted through other touch electrodes (eg, sensing electrodes RX) may be performed in the same or substantially the same (or similar) manner.

[0114] Figure 8 is a timing diagram illustrating an example of a touch driving signal and a synchronization signal applied to a touch electrode.

[0115] refer to Figure 8 , the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 and at least one synchronization signal CDS may be applied to the touch array 110 concurrently or substantially simultaneously (eg, see Figure 1 ). The touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 having four different codes are Figure 8 , but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Less than or more than four touch drive signals may be applied concurrently or substantially simultaneously to the touch array 110. For example, the number of touch drive signals may be determined according to the number of touch electrodes to which touch drive signals are concurrently or substantially simultaneously applied, included in each touch electrode sub-group.

[0116] The synchronization signal CDS may be a clock signal (eg, a pulse signal) having a period (eg, a specific or predetermined period). The period of the synchronization signal CDS may define the first to third time intervals C1 to C3.

[0117] For example, the synchronization signal CDS can be used to distinguish the unit (e.g., period) of the code included in the touch drive signal. The synchronization signal CDS can be generated so that the touch is sensed based on the unit in which the code is repeated. The synchronization signal CDS can be switched in a cycle (e.g., a specific or predetermined cycle), and the cycle of the synchronization signal CDS can correspond to the unit in which the code is repeated. The first time point t1 can be the time point when the synchronization signal CDS transitions to a high level, and can correspond to the time point when the first time interval C1 starts. The second time point t2 can be the time point when the synchronization signal CDS transitions to a high level, and can correspond to the time point when the second time interval C2 starts. The third time point t3 can be the time point when the synchronization signal CDS transitions to a high level, and can correspond to the time point when the third time interval C3 starts.

[0118] The first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may each be repeated with a period (e.g., a specific or predetermined period), and the period of at least some of the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may match the period of the synchronization signal CDS. The period of at least some of the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may be an integer multiple of the period of the synchronization signal CDS.

[0119] For example, the first touch drive signal MTDS1 may have a code value of 1. The second touch drive signal MTDS2 may have a code value of 1, -1, 1, and -1 in each of the first time interval C1 to the third time interval C3. The third touch drive signal MTDS3 may have a code value of 1, 1, -1, and -1 in each of the first time interval C1 to the third time interval C3. The fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 may have a code value of 1, -1, -1, and 1 in each of the first time interval C1 to the third time interval C3. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and each of the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may have any suitable code that may be different from each other.

[0120] In other words, since the touch drive signal can be encoded based on codes different from each other and modulated based on the encoded signal, the touch drive signal can include a digital component. The touch drive signal can be generated as various suitable types of signals such as a pulse signal (e.g., a square wave signal), a sine wave signal, and / or a triangular wave signal.

[0121] According to an embodiment, the first to fourth touch driving signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may include codes different from each other generated based on a matrix having different bits according to the number of grouped touch electrodes. Different codes generated based on the matrix may be orthogonal to each other.

[0122] For example, each of the codes constituting the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 may satisfy orthogonality. When performing a logic operation on a digital signal or performing a digital logic operation by modulating an analog signal into a digital signal, the term "orthogonality" may mean a characteristic of a variable that outputs a value of 1 when the same variable as itself is calculated and outputs a value of 0 when other variables other than itself are calculated. In other words, a value of 1 is output when the same variable is calculated, and a value of 0 is output when different variables are calculated.

[0123] As another example, each of the codes constituting the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may be generated by variables of an orthogonal matrix. The orthogonal matrix may be a real matrix having row vectors and column vectors forming a standard orthogonal basis of a Euclidean space. In more detail, each of the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 may be generated by variables of the 1st to 4th rows of the orthogonal matrix.

[0124] Therefore, the external device 300 may improve touch accuracy by performing signal processing of the touch driving signal in synchronization with the clock signal of the synchronization signal CDS included in the received uplink signal ULS.

[0125] Figures 9 to 11 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a first touch electrode group.

[0126] refer to Figures 9 to 11 , based on touch drive signals applied concurrently or substantially simultaneously to each other, the first drive electrode TX1 to the mth drive electrode TXm (where m is a natural number greater than 1) can be grouped into sub-touch electrode groups TXSG1 to TXSGq (where q is a natural number greater than 1 and less than m).

[0127] For example, Fig. 9 As shown in , when the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 are applied, the sub-touch electrode group adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 may include five drive electrodes. For example, the first to fifth drive electrodes TX1 to TX5 may be grouped into a first sub-touch electrode group TXSG1. In this case, the m-4th drive electrode TX(m-4) to the mth drive electrode TXm may be grouped into a qth sub-touch electrode group TXSGq.

[0128] The sub touch electrode group spaced apart from the edge of the touch array 110 may include six driving electrodes. For example, the fourth to ninth driving electrodes TX4 to TX9 may be grouped into the second sub touch electrode group TXSG2.

[0129] refer to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1 ) The first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the first synchronization signal CDS1 may be applied to the first sub touch electrode group TXSG1 concurrently or substantially simultaneously. The first synchronization signal CDS1 may be the same signal as the synchronization signal CDS. Because the first sub touch electrode group TXSG1 in the first touch electrode group TXG1 includes the first drive electrode TX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110, the touch driver 120 may not apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 (for example, see Fig.10 ). For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the first to fourth drive electrodes TX1 to TX4, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the fifth drive electrode TX5 adjacent to the first to fourth drive electrodes TX1 to TX4.

[0130] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the first drive electrode TX1 through the first drive line TXL1. The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the second drive electrode TX2 through the second drive line TXL2. The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the third drive electrode TX3 through the third drive line TXL3. The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the fourth drive electrode TX4 through the fourth drive line TXL4. In addition, the touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the fifth drive electrode TX5 through the fifth drive line TXL5. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the first synchronization signal CDS1. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0131] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.10 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1) The first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4, the first synchronization signal CDS1 and the second synchronization signal CDS2 may be applied to the second sub-touch electrode group TXSG2 concurrently or substantially simultaneously. The second synchronization signal CDS2 may be the same signal as the first synchronization signal CDS1. In the first touch electrode group TXG1, the second sub-touch electrode group TXSG2 may include the fourth drive electrode TX4 to the ninth drive electrode TX9 spaced apart from each other, wherein the first drive electrode TX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 is between the edge and the second sub-touch electrode group TXSG2. For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the fifth drive electrode TX5 to the eighth drive electrode TX8, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 and the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the ninth drive electrode TX9 and the fourth drive electrode TX4 adjacent to the fifth drive electrode TX5 to the eighth drive electrode TX8, respectively. The driving electrodes to which the first to fourth touch driving signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 are applied may be disposed between the driving electrodes to which the first synchronization signal CDS1 is applied and the driving electrodes to which the second synchronization signal CDS2 is applied.

[0132] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fifth drive electrode TX5 through the fifth drive line TXL5. The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the sixth drive electrode TX6 through the sixth drive line TXL6. The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the seventh drive electrode TX7 through the seventh drive line TXL7. The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the eighth drive electrode TX8 through the eighth drive line TXL8. The touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the ninth drive electrode TX9 through the ninth drive line TXL9, and may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the fourth drive electrode TX4 through the fourth drive line TXL4. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4, the first synchronization signal CDS1, and the second synchronization signal CDS2. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0133] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.11 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1) The first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 and the second synchronization signal CDS2 may be applied to the qth sub-touch electrode group TXSGq concurrently or substantially simultaneously. Because the qth sub-touch electrode group TXSGq in the first touch electrode group TXG1 includes the mth drive electrode TXm adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110, the touch driver 120 may not apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 (for example, see Fig. 9 ). For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the m-3rd to m-th drive electrodes TX(m-3) to TXm, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the m-4th drive electrode TX(m-4) adjacent to the m-3rd to m-th drive electrodes TX(m-3) to TXm.

[0134] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the m-3rd drive electrode TX(m-3) through the m-3rd drive line TXL(m-3). The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the m-2nd drive electrode TX(m-2) through the m-2nd drive line TXL(m-2). The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the m-1st drive electrode TX(m-1) through the m-1st drive line TXL(m-1). The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the mth drive electrode TXm through the mth drive line TXLm. The touch driver 120 may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the m-4th drive electrode TX(m-4) through the m-4th drive line TXL(m-4). Therefore, the touch driver 120 can convert the uplink signal ULS (eg, see FIG. 1 ) into a first touch drive signal MTDS1 or a fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the second synchronization signal CDS2. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0135] The touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the first to m-th drive electrodes TX1 to TXm one by one. For example, the fifth drive electrode TX5 may be included in both the first sub-touch electrode group TXSG1 and the second sub-touch electrode group TXSG2. However, the first synchronization signal CDS1 may be applied to the fifth drive electrode TX5 included in the first sub-touch electrode group TXSG1, and the first touch drive signal MTDS1 may be applied to the fifth drive electrode TX5 included in the second sub-touch electrode group TXSG2. In other words, even when the fifth drive electrode TX5 is commonly included in different sub-touch electrode groups, the touch driver 120 may apply only one touch drive signal to the fifth drive electrode TX5 at a time.

[0136] In addition, the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 may include first to n-th sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn sequentially arranged along the first direction DR1, where n is a natural number greater than 1. Figure 12 to Figure 14 The signals applied to the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 are described in more detail.

[0137] Figure 12 to Figure 14 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a second touch electrode group.

[0138] refer to Figure 12 to Figure 14 , based on touch drive signals applied concurrently or substantially simultaneously to each other, the first sensing electrodes RX1 to the nth sensing electrodes RXn (where n is a natural number greater than 1) may be grouped into sub-touch electrode groups RXSG1 to RXSGp (where p is a natural number greater than 1 and less than n).

[0139] For example, Fig.12 As shown in , when the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 are applied, the sub-touch electrode groups adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 may each include five sensing electrodes. For example, the first to fifth sensing electrodes RX1 to RX5 may be grouped into a first sub-touch electrode group RXSG1. The n-4th sensing electrodes RX(n-4) to the nth sensing electrodes RXn may be grouped into a pth sub-touch electrode group RXSGp.

[0140] The sub touch electrode group spaced apart from the edge of the touch array 110 may include six sensing electrodes. For example, the fourth to ninth sensing electrodes RX4 to RX9 may be grouped into the second sub touch electrode group RXSG2.

[0141] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.12, touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1 ) The first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the first synchronization signal CDS1 may be applied to the first sub touch electrode group RXSG1 concurrently or substantially simultaneously. Because the first sub touch electrode group RXSG1 in the second touch electrode group TXG2 includes the first sensing electrode RX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110, the touch driver 120 may not apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 (for example, see Fig.13 ). For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the first to fourth sensing electrodes RX1 to RX4, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 adjacent to the first to fourth sensing electrodes RX1 to RX4.

[0142] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the first sensing electrode RX1 through the first sensing line RXL1. The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the second sensing electrode RX2 through the second sensing line RXL2. The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the third sensing electrode RX3 through the third sensing line RXL3. The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the fourth sensing electrode RX4 through the fourth sensing line RXL4. The touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 through the fifth sensing line RXL5. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (e.g., see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the first synchronization signal CDS1. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0143] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.13 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1) The first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4, the first synchronization signal CDS1, and the second synchronization signal CDS2 may be applied to the second sub-touch electrode group RXSG2 concurrently or substantially simultaneously. In the second touch electrode group TXG2, the second sub-touch electrode group RXSG2 may include the fourth sensing electrode RX4 to the ninth sensing electrode RX9 spaced apart from each other, wherein the first sensing electrode RX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 is between the edge and the second sub-touch electrode group RXSG2. For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 to the eighth sensing electrode RX8, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 and the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the ninth sensing electrode RX9 and the fourth sensing electrode RX4 adjacent to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 to the eighth sensing electrode RX8, respectively. The sensing electrodes to which the first to fourth touch driving signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 are applied may be disposed between the sensing electrodes to which the first synchronization signal CDS1 is applied and the sensing electrodes to which the second synchronization signal CDS2 is applied.

[0144] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 through the fifth sensing line RXL5. The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the sixth sensing electrode RX6 through the sixth sensing line RXL6. The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the seventh sensing electrode RX7 through the seventh sensing line RXL7. The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the eighth sensing electrode RX8 through the eighth sensing line RXL8. The touch driver 120 may apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 to the ninth sensing electrode RX9 through the ninth sensing line RXL9, and may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the fourth sensing electrode RX4 through the fourth sensing line RXL4. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (e.g., see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4, the first synchronization signal CDS1, and the second synchronization signal CDS2. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0145] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.14 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1) The first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 and the second synchronization signal CDS2 may be applied to the p-th touch electrode group RXSGp concurrently or substantially simultaneously. Because the p-th touch electrode group RXSGp in the second touch electrode group TXG2 includes the n-th sensing electrode RXn adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110, the touch driver 120 may not apply the first synchronization signal CDS1 (for example, see Fig.12 ). For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the n-3rd to n-th sensing electrodes RX(n-3) to RXn, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the n-4th sensing electrode RX(n-4) adjacent to the n-3rd to n-th sensing electrodes RX(n-3) to RXn.

[0146] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the n-3th sensing electrode RX(n-3) through the n-3th sensing line RXL(n-3). The touch driver 120 may apply the second touch drive signal MTDS2 to the n-2th sensing electrode RX(n-2) through the n-2th sensing line RXL(n-2). The touch driver 120 may apply the third touch drive signal MTDS3 to the n-1th sensing electrode RX(n-1) through the n-1th sensing line RXL(n-1). The touch driver 120 may apply the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 to the n-th sensing electrode RXn through the n-th sensing line RXLn. The touch driver 120 may apply the second synchronization signal CDS2 to the n-4th sensing electrode RX(n-4) through the n-4th sensing line RXL(n-4). Therefore, the touch driver 120 can convert the uplink signal ULS (eg, see FIG. 1 ) into a first touch drive signal MTDS1 or a fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal MTDS1 to the fourth touch drive signal MTDS4 and the second synchronization signal CDS2. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0147] The touch driver 120 may apply the first to fourth touch drive signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 to the first to nth sensing electrodes RX1 to RXn one by one. For example, the fifth sensing electrode RX5 may be included in both the first sub-touch electrode group RXSG1 and the second sub-touch electrode group RXSG2. However, the first synchronization signal CDS1 may be applied to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 included in the first sub-touch electrode group RXSG1, and the first touch drive signal MTDS1 may be applied to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 included in the second sub-touch electrode group RXSG2. In other words, even when the fifth sensing electrode RX5 is commonly included in different sub-touch electrode groups, the touch driver 120 may apply only one touch drive signal to the fifth sensing electrode RX5 at a time.

[0148] Fig.15 and Fig.16 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a first touch electrode group.

[0149] refer to Fig.15 and Fig.16 , when the touch driver 120 (eg, see Figure 1 ) When all channels are driven concurrently or substantially simultaneously with each other, the touch drive signal and at least one synchronization signal may be applied to the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1 once in each of the first time interval and the second time interval. However, a synchronization signal instead of the touch drive signal may be applied to the first drive electrode TX1 or the mth drive electrode TXm (where m is a natural number greater than 1) adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 in one of the first time interval and the second time interval.

[0150] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.15 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1 ) can concurrently or substantially simultaneously apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the m-1th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) and the synchronization signal CDS to the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1 in the first time interval C1. Figure 8 Like the codes of the first to fourth touch driving signals MTDS1 to MTDS4 shown in FIG. 1 , the first to (m−1)th touch driving signals STDS1 to STDS(m−1) may include codes different from each other.

[0151] For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to m-1th touch drive signals STDS1 to STDS(m-1) to the first to m-1th drive electrodes TX1 to TX(m-1), respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the m-th drive electrode TXm adjacent to the m-1th drive electrode TX(m-1).

[0152] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the m-1th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) to the first drive electrode TX1 to the m-1th drive electrode TX(m-1) through the first drive line TXL1 to the m-1th drive line TXL(m-1) in the first time interval C1, respectively. The touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the mth drive electrode TXm through the mth drive line TXLm adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 in the first time interval C1. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the m-1th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) and the synchronization signal CDS in the first time interval C1. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0153] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.16 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1 ) can concurrently or substantially simultaneously apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the (m-1)th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) and the synchronization signal CDS to the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1 in a second time interval C2 after the first time interval C1.

[0154] For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first to m-1 touch drive signals STDS1 to STDS(m-1) to the second to m-th drive electrodes TX2 to TXm, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the first drive electrode TX1 adjacent to the second drive electrode TX2.

[0155] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the m-1th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) to the second drive electrode TX2 to the m-1th drive electrode TXm through the second drive line TXL2 to the m-1th drive line TXLm, respectively, in the second time interval C2 after the first time interval C1. The touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the first drive electrode TX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 through the first drive line TXL1 in the second time interval C2. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the m-1th touch drive signal STDS(m-1) and the synchronization signal CDS in the second time interval C2 after the first time interval C1. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0156] When the touch driver 120 drives all channels concurrently or substantially simultaneously with each other, the synchronization signal CDS may be alternately applied to the first driving electrode TX1 and the m-th driving electrode TXm adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110. Accordingly, the touch driving signal may be applied to all of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group TXG1. In addition, since the synchronization signal CDS is alternately applied to the left and right sides of the touch array 110, the external device 300 may accurately receive the synchronization signal CDS regardless of the position of the external device 300 on the touch array 110, thereby improving touch accuracy.

[0157] Fig.17 and Fig.18 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a method for transmitting an uplink signal through touch electrodes of a second touch electrode group.

[0158] refer to Fig.17 and Fig.18 , when the touch driver 120 (eg, see Figure 1 ) When all channels are driven concurrently or substantially simultaneously with each other, the touch drive signal and at least one synchronization signal may be applied to the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 once in each of the third time interval and the fourth time interval. However, a synchronization signal instead of the touch drive signal may be applied to the first sensing electrode RX1 or the nth sensing electrode RXn (where n is a natural number greater than 1) adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 in one of the third time interval and the fourth time interval.

[0159] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.17 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1) can concurrently or substantially simultaneously apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) and the synchronization signal CDS to the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 in a third time interval C3 after the second time interval C2.

[0160] For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) to the first sensing electrode RX1 to the n-1th sensing electrode RX(n-1), respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the n-th sensing electrode RXn adjacent to the n-1th sensing electrode RX(n-1).

[0161] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) to the first sensing electrode RX1 to the n-1th sensing electrode RX(n-1) through the first sensing line RXL1 to the n-1th sensing line RXL(n-1) in the third time interval C3, respectively. The touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the nth sensing electrode RXn through the nth sensing line RXLn adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 in the third time interval C3. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) and the synchronization signal CDS in the third time interval C3. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0162] refer to Figure 8 and Fig.18 , touch driver 120 (see, for example, Figure 1 ) can concurrently or substantially simultaneously apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) and the synchronization signal CDS to the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2 in a fourth time interval after the third time interval C3.

[0163] For example, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) to the second sensing electrode RX2 to the n-th sensing electrode RXn, respectively. Concurrently or substantially simultaneously (e.g., at the same time), the touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the first sensing electrode RX1 adjacent to the second sensing electrode RX2.

[0164] In more detail, the touch driver 120 may apply the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) to the second sensing electrode RX2 to the n-1th sensing electrode RXn through the second sensing line RXL2 to the n-th sensing line RXLn, respectively, in a fourth time interval after the third time interval C3. The touch driver 120 may apply the synchronization signal CDS to the first sensing electrode RX1 adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110 through the first sensing line RXL1 in the fourth time interval. Therefore, the touch driver 120 may apply the uplink signal ULS (for example, see FIG. 1 ) by concurrently or substantially simultaneously applying the first touch drive signal STDS1 to the n-1th touch drive signal STDS(n-1) and the synchronization signal CDS in the fourth time interval after the third time interval C3. Figure 3 ) is output to an external device 300 (see, for example, Figure 1 ).

[0165] When the touch driver 120 drives all channels concurrently or substantially simultaneously with each other, the synchronization signal CDS may be alternately applied to the first sensing electrode RX1 and the nth sensing electrode RXn adjacent to the edge of the touch array 110. Accordingly, the touch drive signal may be applied to all of the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group TXG2. In addition, since the synchronization signal CDS is alternately applied to the left and right sides of the touch array 110, the external device 300 may accurately receive the synchronization signal CDS regardless of the position of the external device 300 on the touch array 110, thereby improving touch accuracy.

[0166] The electronic device or electrical device and / or any other related device or component according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described herein can be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., application specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of these devices can be formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or on a separate IC chip. Further, the various components of these devices can be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), or a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a substrate. Further, the various components of these devices can be processes or threads that run on one or more processors in one or more computing devices, execute computer program instructions, and interact with other system components to perform various functions described herein. Computer program instructions are stored in a memory that can be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device (such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM)). Computer program instructions can also be stored in other non-temporary computer-readable media (such as, for example, a CD-ROM or a flash drive, etc.). In addition, those skilled in the art should recognize that the functions of various computing devices can be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the functions of a specific computing device can be distributed on one or more other computing devices without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0167] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch module capable of recognizing a touch with improved reliability and an electronic device including the touch module can be provided.

[0168] However, aspects and features according to embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned aspects and features, and further aspects and features may be apparent from the foregoing description or may be learned by practicing one or more of the presented embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0169] The foregoing is an explanation of some embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. Although some embodiments have been described, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood that, unless otherwise described, the description of the features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered to be applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Therefore, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that, unless otherwise specifically noted, the features, characteristics and / or elements described in conjunction with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in conjunction with the features, characteristics and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the foregoing is an explanation of various example embodiments and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other example embodiments are intended to be included in the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A touch module, comprising: A touch array comprising: a first touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in a first direction and positioned along a second direction crossing the first direction; and a second touch electrode group including touch electrodes extending in the second direction and positioned along the first direction; and a touch driver configured to output an uplink signal to an external device adjacent to the touch array through each of the first touch electrode group and the second touch electrode group, wherein the uplink signal is used by the external device to calculate position information, wherein the touch driver is configured to output the uplink signal by applying a touch drive signal to some of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and by applying at least one synchronization signal to other touch electrodes of the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and Wherein, at least some of the touch drive signals are synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal.

2. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The touch driver is configured to apply the touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and to apply the at least one synchronization signal to a second touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, and The touch driver is configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal concurrently with each other.

3. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one synchronization signal comprises a first synchronization signal and a second synchronization signal, wherein the touch driver is configured to apply the touch drive signal to a first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group and to apply the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal to a second touch electrode and a third touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, respectively; and The first touch electrode is positioned between the second touch electrode and the third touch electrode.

4. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group are grouped into sub-touch electrode groups, and The touch driver is configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal to each of the sub-touch electrode groups.

5. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The touch drive signal includes a first touch drive signal to an mth touch drive signal, and the at least one synchronization signal includes a first synchronization signal, The touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group include a first touch electrode to an m-th touch electrode and an m+1-th touch electrode sequentially positioned along the second direction, wherein the touch driver is configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the m-th touch drive signal to the first touch electrode to the m-th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group, respectively, and apply the first synchronization signal to the m+1-th touch electrode, and Here, m is a natural number greater than 1.

6. The touch module according to claim 5, wherein: The at least one synchronization signal further comprises a second synchronization signal, The touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group further include a zeroth touch electrode adjacent to the first touch electrode in a direction opposite to the second direction, and The touch driver is configured to apply the second synchronization signal to the zeroth touch electrode.

7. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The touch driving signal includes a first touch driving signal to an mth touch driving signal, The touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group include a first touch electrode, a second touch electrode to an m-th touch electrode and an m+1-th touch electrode sequentially positioned along the second direction, The touch driver is configured to apply the first touch drive signal to the m-th touch drive signal to the first touch electrode to the m-th touch electrode among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group in a first time interval and apply the at least one synchronization signal to the m+1-th touch electrode, respectively. Here, m is a natural number greater than 1.

8. The touch module according to claim 7, wherein: The touch driver is configured to apply the first to the mth touch driving signals to the second to the (m+1)th touch electrodes among the touch electrodes of the first touch electrode group in a second time interval, respectively, and to apply the at least one synchronization signal to the first touch electrode.

9. The touch module according to claim 1, wherein: The touch driver is configured to output the uplink signal by applying the touch drive signal to some of the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group and by applying the at least one synchronization signal to other touch electrodes of the touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group, and Wherein, at least some of the touch drive signals applied to the second touch electrode group are synchronized with the at least one synchronization signal applied to the second touch electrode group.

10. The touch module according to claim 9, wherein: The touch electrodes of the second touch electrode group are grouped into sub-touch electrode groups, and The touch driver is configured to apply the touch drive signal and the at least one synchronization signal to each of the sub-touch electrode groups.

Images