Foldable display device, method of driving the foldable display device, and electronic display device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a foldable display device, a method of driving the foldable display device, and an electronic display device. The foldable display device may include: a first layer; a second layer disposed on a lower surface of the first layer; a display panel including a first region, a second region, and a third region configured to be bent along a folding axis between the first region and the second region, and pixels; a touch sensor disposed between an upper surface of the display panel and a lower surface of the second layer; a first digital converter under the display panel to overlap the first area; a second digitizer under the display panel to overlap with the second area; and a memory configured to store a matching table including a matching relationship between first touch data received from the touch sensor and second touch data received from the first digital converter and / or the second digital converter, the first region and the second region including a non-folding region, and the third region including a folding region.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0164114, filed on Dec. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with application date of November 13, 2020, application number 202011271610.7, and invention name “Foldable display device and method for driving a foldable display device”. Technical Field

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a foldable display device, and more particularly, to a foldable display device, a method of driving the foldable display device, and an electronic display device. Background Art

[0005] With the development of information technology, the importance of display devices that provide a connection medium between users and information has been emphasized. Due to the importance of display devices, the use of various types or kinds of display devices such as liquid crystal display devices, organic light emitting display devices, and plasma display devices has increased.

[0006] Recently, research on foldable display devices, bendable display devices, rollable display devices, etc., which take advantage of a flexible display panel that is bendable and / or foldable, has been conducted. Such a display device can be applied to various suitable fields, for example, not only to portable electronic devices and wearable devices, but also to televisions, monitors, etc.

[0007] Foldable display devices may be classified into an inner folding type or category in which the display devices are folded so that their display surfaces face each other and an outer folding type or category in which the display devices are folded so that their display surfaces are oriented outward (eg, oriented away from each other).

[0008] The display device includes a touch sensor and a keyboard and / or a mouse as an input device. When a user presses or touches the display screen of the display device with a finger or a pen, the touch sensor detects a signal generation position (e.g., a position signal) caused by the occurrence of touch or a change in capacitance, and then transmits the signal generation position (e.g., a position signal) to various suitable controllers. Summary of the invention

[0009] Aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a foldable display device having both a touch sensor and a digitizer.

[0010] Furthermore, aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method of driving a foldable display device, which ensures uniform touch performance by matching touch data of a touch sensor and a digitizer with each other.

[0011] However, the aspects and features of the present disclosure are not limited to the aspects and features described above, and various appropriate modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] The foldable display device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve the above aspects and features.

[0013] An embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a foldable display device, wherein the foldable display device includes a first area, a second area, and a third area configured to bend along a folding axis between the first area and the second area, and wherein the foldable display device includes: a display panel including pixels in the first area, the second area, and the third area; a touch sensor overlapping the third area and on an upper surface of the display panel; a first digitizer below the display panel to overlap the first area; and a second digitizer below the display panel to overlap the second area.

[0014] The foldable display device may further include a shock absorber coupled to a lower surface of the display panel via an adhesive layer to protect the display panel.

[0015] The shock absorber may be located between at least one selected from the first digitizer and the second digitizer and the display panel.

[0016] The foldable display device may further include: a first shielding electrode on a lower surface of the first digitizer to shield electromagnetic noise; and a second shielding electrode on a lower surface of the second digitizer to shield the electromagnetic noise.

[0017] The first digitizer and the second digitizer may be spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap with the third area.

[0018] The touch sensor may overlap the first area and the second area.

[0019] The foldable display device may further include a touch controller configured to receive touch data from the touch sensor, the first digitizer, and the second digitizer, and to correct and output the received touch data.

[0020] The foldable display device may further include: a memory configured to store a matching table in which a matching relationship between first touch data received from the touch sensor and second touch data received from the first digitizer or the second digitizer is set.

[0021] The touch controller may include: a touch data selector configured to select the first touch data or select the second touch data according to a set reference; and a touch data corrector configured to correct the first touch data transmitted from the touch data selector with reference to the matching table.

[0022] If both the first touch data and the second touch data are received and the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the third area, the touch data selector may transmit the first touch data to the touch data corrector.

[0023] If both the first touch data and the second touch data are received and the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the first area or the second area, the touch data selector may select the second touch data.

[0024] If the second touch data is not received and the first touch data is received, the touch data selector may transfer the first touch data to the touch data corrector.

[0025] The touch data corrector may refer to the matching table to correct the pen pressure level of the first touch data with the pen pressure level of the second touch data matched with the pen pressure level of the first touch data.

[0026] The touch data corrector may correct the position coordinates of the first touch data by a position coordinate difference between the position coordinates of the first touch data and the position coordinates of the second touch data with reference to the matching table.

[0027] The method of driving a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can achieve the above aspects and features.

[0028] Another embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method for driving a foldable display device, wherein the display device includes a first area, a second area, and a third area configured to bend along a folding axis between the first area and the second area, the method including: acquiring at least one selected from first touch data and second touch data; and outputting one of the corrected first touch data and the second touch data according to a set reference.

[0029] The first touch data may be data collected from a touch sensor on an upper surface of a display panel of the display device.

[0030] The second touch data may be data collected from at least one selected from a first digitizer under the display panel to overlap the first area and a second digitizer under the display panel to overlap the second area.

[0031] If the acquiring is receiving both the first touch data and the second touch data and the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the first area or the second area, the outputting may be outputting the second touch data.

[0032] If the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the third area, the outputting may include correcting the first touch data.

[0033] The correcting the first touch data may refer to a matching table to correct the pen pressure level of the first touch data with the pen pressure level of the second touch data matching the pen pressure level of the first touch data.

[0034] The correcting the first touch data may correct the position coordinates of the first touch data by a position coordinate difference between the position coordinates of the first touch data and the position coordinates of the second touch data with reference to a matching table.

[0035] If the acquiring is to acquire the first touch data and not to acquire the second touch data, the outputting may be to output the corrected first touch data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The drawings, together with the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, and, together with the description, serve to explain principles of the embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0037] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable display device in a non-folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a foldable display device in an inwardly folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line CC'.

[0040] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A plan view of a touch sensor is shown in FIG.

[0041] Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first digitizer and a connection group coupled to the first digitizer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 7 is Figure 6 A block diagram of a touch controller and memory is shown in FIG.

[0044] Figure 8 It is shown by Figure 6 A first example view of touch data received by a touch controller.

[0045] Fig. 9 It is shown by Figure 6 A second example view of touch data received by the touch controller.

[0046] Fig.10 is an exemplary view illustrating first touch data and second touch data according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Fig.11 is a diagram illustrating a first matching table according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Fig.12 is a diagram illustrating a second matching table according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Fig.13 It is shown Figure 7 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the touch data selector.

[0050] Fig.14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can implement the present disclosure. The present disclosure can be implemented in various suitable forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein below.

[0052] In the accompanying drawings, parts not related to the present disclosure may be omitted to more clearly explain the present disclosure. Reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, and similar reference numerals are used throughout the accompanying drawings to represent similar components. Therefore, the aforementioned reference numerals may be used in one or more of the accompanying drawings.

[0053] As used herein, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of the term "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure." As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0054] In the drawings, for ease of explanation, the size of each component and the thickness of the line showing the component may be exaggerated, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the drawings, the thickness of the component may be exaggerated to clearly show several layers and regions.

[0055] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable display device in a non-folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a foldable display device in an inwardly folded state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the foldable display device DD may include a display area DA that displays an image according to image data using pixels in a third direction DR3 perpendicular to a plane defined by a first direction DR1 and a second direction DR2, and a non-display area NDA outside the display area DA. For example, the non-display area NDA may partially or entirely surround the display area DA. In addition, the foldable display device DD may include a plurality of areas defined according to an operation type or category (e.g., an operation type or category of an area). The foldable display device DD may include a first area NFA1, a second area NFA2, and a third area FA disposed between the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2. The third area FA is an area that can be folded (or bent) relative to a folding axis FX. When the foldable display device DD is in a folded state, the third area FA may be an area that substantially forms a curvature (e.g., substantially bent). The folding axis FX may be parallel to (e.g., substantially parallel to) the second direction DR2, and the third area FA may have a width in the first direction DR1 that is perpendicular to (e.g., substantially perpendicular to) the second direction DR2. Each of the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2 may be referred to as a non-folding area, and the third area FA may be referred to as a folding area. The width of the third area FA may be relatively smaller than the width of each of the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2 (eg, the width of each of the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2 in the first direction DR1 ).

[0057] Reference Figure 2, the foldable display device DD can be folded inwardly so that the display area DA of the first area NFA1 and the display area DA of the second area NFA2 face each other. Here, for convenience, the folding axis FX is shown as one axis, but the folding axis FX may be composed of (e.g., provided as) a plurality of axes parallel to (e.g., substantially parallel to) the second direction DR2. The area of ​​the third area FA may not be fixed, but may vary depending on the radius of curvature of the rotation around the folding axis FX.

[0058] Hereinafter, a case where the foldable display device DD is folded inwardly will be described. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto, and a case where the foldable display device DD is folded outwardly is included in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line CC'.

[0060] Figure 3 It is a simplified diagram (or enlarged diagram) for explaining the stacking relationship of some components included in the foldable display device DD. This should be interpreted as explaining the relative arrangement between the components, and the thickness and / or area of ​​each component should not be understood restrictively.

[0061] Reference Figure 3 The foldable display device DD may include a cover window 50 (e.g., a glass cover), an optically clear adhesive (OCA) 90, a polarizer 40, a touch sensor 20, a display panel 10, a shock absorber 70, a digitizer 30, an adhesive layer 80, and a shielding electrode 60.

[0062] The cover window 50 may be provided on the foldable display device DD (relative to Figure 1 The cover window 50 allows the image of the display panel 10 to pass through the cover window 50 as it is (e.g., without modification or significant modification), and protects the display panel 10 from external impact, scratches, etc. The cover window 50 may include (e.g., may be) a transparent material having suitable rigidity and / or flexibility. For example, the cover window 50 may include (e.g., may be) ultra-thin glass (UTG) and / or colorless polyimide (CPI).

[0063] The polarizer 40 can prevent or reduce the reflection of external light, thereby improving visibility in bright places such as outdoors. For example, the polarizer 40 can be a film that can pass or block vertical or horizontal polarization of incident light, and can include (for example, can be) a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and / or a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) film. The polarizer 40 can be bonded to the lower surface of the cover window 50 by the OCA 90.

[0064] OCA 90 may be a transparent adhesive material that fills the air gap between polarizer 40 and cover window 50 to prevent or reduce light loss and increase light transmittance. For example, OCA may be located between polarizer 40 and cover window 50. Here, OCA 90 should be interpreted as an example adhesive material, but may be replaced with another adhesive material (e.g., any suitable adhesive material).

[0065] The display panel 10 may be a flexible display panel. For example, the display panel 10 may include a flexible substrate such as a plastic film, and may display an image using a pixel circuit (e.g., a plurality of transistors) and a light-emitting element such as an organic light-emitting diode arranged on the flexible substrate. The light-emitting element and the pixel circuit may be covered with a thin film encapsulation layer. The thin film encapsulation layer seals the light-emitting element from an external environment including water and / or oxygen, thereby preventing or reducing degradation of characteristics. The light-emitting element of the present disclosure is not limited to an organic light-emitting diode. For example, the light-emitting element may be an inorganic light-emitting element including (e.g., being) an inorganic light-emitting material, or may be a light-emitting element (e.g., a quantum dot display element) that emits light while using quantum dots to change the wavelength of light to be emitted.

[0066] The touch sensor 20 may overlap the entire display area DA of the foldable display device DD, or may overlap the third area FA of the display area DA to sense the user's touch and / or sense information about the user's fingerprint. The user's touch may include a pen PN operated by the user (see Figure 5 )’s touch coordinates and touch pressure.

[0067] The touch sensor 20 may be disposed on or directly disposed on the upper surface of the display panel 10. Here, the expression "directly disposed" may mean that no separate adhesive layer or adhesive member is disposed between the display panel 10 and the touch sensor 20. The touch sensor 20 may be formed on the substrate surface provided by the display panel 10 through a continuous process (or formed in an on-cell manner). In more detail, the touch sensor 20 may be formed by patterning the sensing electrode on the thin film encapsulation layer included in the display panel 10 (see Figure 4 ) to form.

[0068] The display panel 10 on which the touch sensor 20 is disposed may be coupled to the polarizer 40 via an adhesive layer 80. The adhesive layer 80 may include a conductive adhesive member having both adhesive strength and conductivity. For example, the adhesive layer 80 may be a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), which is one of the conductive adhesive members. In some embodiments, the conductive adhesive member included in the adhesive layer 80 (e.g., constituting the adhesive layer 80) may be any suitable type of conductive adhesive member.

[0069] The shock absorber 70 may be coupled to the lower surface of the display panel 10 via the adhesive layer 80. The shock absorber 70 may absorb shock from the outside and protect the display panel 10.

[0070] The digitizer 30 (e.g., the first digitizer 30-1 and the second digitizer 30-2) may be coupled to the lower surface of the shock absorber 70 via an adhesive layer 80 (e.g., the first adhesive layer 80-1 and the second adhesive layer 80-2), and may sense the coordinates and pen pressure of the pen PN in the display area DA. For example, the digitizer 30 may sense the coordinates and pen pressure of the pen PN in the display area DA by an electromagnetic resonance (EMR) method. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer 80 coupling the shock absorber 70 to the display panel 10, the adhesive layer 80 coupling the touch sensor 20 to the polarizer 40, and the adhesive layer 80 coupling the digitizer 30 to the shock absorber 70 may be spatially separated adhesive layers.

[0071] Shielding electrodes 60 (eg, first and second shielding electrodes 60-1 and 60-2) may be disposed on the lower surface of the digitizer 30. The shielding electrodes 60 may shield or block unnecessary electromagnetic signals and / or electromagnetic noise, or may assist the digitizer 30 in smoothly performing electromagnetic resonance with the pen PN.

[0072] In some embodiments, the digitizer 30 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include Figure 1 The first digitizer 30-1 overlaps the first area NFA1 and the second digitizer 30-2 overlaps the second area NFA2. The first digitizer 30-1 and the second digitizer 30-2 may not overlap the third area FA, or may overlap only a portion of the third area FA. Unlike the digitizer 30, the touch sensor 20 may overlap the third area FA, and may also overlap the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2.

[0073] The shielding electrode 60 may include a first shielding electrode 60 - 1 coupled to a lower surface of the first digitizer 30 - 1 and a second shielding electrode 60 - 2 coupled to a lower surface of the second digitizer 30 - 2 .

[0074] The adhesive layer 80 coupling the digitizer 30 to the shock absorber 70 may include a first adhesive layer 80-1 and a second adhesive layer 80-2. The first digitizer 30-1 may be coupled to the lower surface of the shock absorber 70 via the first adhesive layer 80-1, and the second digitizer 30-2 may be coupled to the lower surface of the shock absorber 70 via the second adhesive layer 80-2.

[0075] exist Figure 32 shows that the touch sensor 20 completely overlaps the display panel 10. However, the touch sensor 20 is not limited thereto, and the touch sensor 20 may overlap the display panel 10 in an area corresponding to the third area FA, and may not overlap the display panel 10 in an area corresponding to all or some of the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2.

[0076] Therefore, in order to prevent or reduce the occurrence of problems such as damage to the digitizer 30 or wiring breakage caused by the folding operation, the digitizer 30 may overlap with the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2, which are, for example, non-folding areas not affected by the folding operation, and may not overlap with all or some of the third area FA. In order to supplement touch recognition in the third area FA, a touch sensor 20 overlapping the third area FA may be provided in the foldable display device DD.

[0077] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 3 A plan view of a touch sensor is shown in FIG.

[0078] Reference Figure 4 , the touch sensor 20 may include first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4. The first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may overlap all or some of the display area DA (e.g., the third area FA).

[0079] The first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may have a grid shape (e.g., a pattern). In addition, the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 are arranged to not overlap with the pixels (or sub-pixels of each of the pixels) included in the display panel 10 through the grid shape, so that the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may not be visually recognized by the user of the foldable display device DD. For example, in some embodiments, the pixel (or the sub-pixel of each of the pixels) is positioned to overlap with the openings in the grid shape of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4. Each of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 having a grid shape may include (for example, may be) silver, aluminum, copper, chromium, nickel, and / or titanium, etc., which may be processed by a low temperature process, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0080] Each of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 has a shape extending in the second direction DR2. For example, in some embodiments, each of the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 has a shape extending in the first direction DR1. The second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 are arranged alternately with each other in the second direction DR2, and the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 are arranged alternately with each other in the first direction DR1. In some embodiments, the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 cross the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5.

[0081] Each of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 may include a first sensor SP1 and a first connector CP1. Each of the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may include a second sensor SP2 and a second connector CP2. In each of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5, the first sensors SP1 may be arranged alternately with each other in the second direction DR2. In each of the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4, the second sensors SP2 may be arranged alternately with each other in the first direction DR1. Each of the first connectors CP1 couples adjacent first sensors SP1 to each other. Each of the second connectors CP2 couples adjacent second sensors SP2 to each other.

[0082] The touch sensor 20 may also include first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4 and SL1-5 electrically coupled to one end of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4 and IE1-5 and second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3 and SL2-4 electrically coupled to one end or both ends of the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3 and IE2-4. For example, each of the first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4, and SL1-5 may be electrically coupled to one end of a corresponding one of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5, and each of the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3, and SL2-4 may be electrically coupled to one end or both ends of a corresponding one of the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 , each of the second signal lines SL2 - 1 , SL2 - 2 , SL2 - 3 , and SL2 - 4 is electrically coupled to both ends of a corresponding one of the second sensing electrodes IE2 - 1 , IE2 - 2 , IE2 - 3 , and IE2 - 4 .

[0083] Each of the first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4, and SL1-5 and the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3, and SL2-4 may include a line portion SL-L and a pad portion SL-P. The pad portion SL-P may be arranged in the pad area NDA-PD. The touch sensor 20 may include a signal pad. The signal pad may be arranged in the pad area NDA-PD.

[0084] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4 and SL1-5 and the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3 and SL2-4 may be replaced by a printed circuit board that may be separately manufactured and coupled to other components.

[0085] The spacing and width of the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may vary depending on the purpose of the touch sensor 20. In the case of sensing the touch of the user, the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may have a width in the range of several millimeters (mm) to tens of millimeters (mm). In the case of sensing the fingerprint of the user, the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4, and IE1-5 and the second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 may have a width in the range of tens of micrometers (μm) to hundreds of micrometers (μm).

[0086] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the driving method of the touch sensor 20 can sense touch (or fingerprint) pressure by a mutual capacitance method (e.g., mutual capacitance method) and / or a self capacitance method (e.g., self capacitance method), but the driving method of the touch sensor 20 is not limited thereto.

[0087] Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first digitizer and a connection group coupled to the first digitizer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0088] Reference Figure 5 , the first digitizer 30-1 may include conductive patterns PTA and PTB for receiving input from the pen PN based on electromagnetic induction (e.g., for detecting position coordinates and pressure of the pen PN based on electromagnetic induction). The conductive patterns PTA and PTB may be set or predetermined patterns formed by patterning a conductor (e.g., a patterned conductive layer) on the flexible printed circuit board DPN or by printing on the flexible printed circuit board DPN using conductive ink.

[0089] The conductive patterns PTA and PTB may include a first conductive pattern PTA in which a plurality of annular coils are arranged in a row in a first direction DR1 and a second conductive pattern PTB in which a plurality of annular coils are arranged in a second direction DR2 orthogonal to (e.g., perpendicular to) the first direction DR1. For example, the annular coils of the first conductive pattern PTA may extend in the second direction DR2 and may be arranged alternately with each other along the first direction DR1 (in the first direction DR1), and the annular coils of the second conductive pattern PTB may extend in the first direction DR1 and may be arranged alternately with each other along the second direction DR2 (in the second direction DR2). However, the patterns of the conductive patterns PTA and PTB are not limited thereto, and various suitable patterns may be applied to detect the coordinates (e.g., position coordinates) and pen pressure of the pen PN through interaction with the pen PN.

[0090] The conductive patterns PTA and PTB can generate a magnetic field by an input current supplied via the transmission line DTL1 of the connection group CS, and the generated magnetic field can be absorbed by the pen PN. In addition, the pen PN can release the absorbed magnetic field again, and the magnetic field released by the pen PN can be absorbed by the conductive patterns PTA and PTB. For example, the pen PN can create a magnetic field in response to the magnetic field generated by the conductive patterns PTA and PTB, and the conductive patterns PTA and PTB can absorb the magnetic field created by the pen PN. The input current can be supplied to the conductive patterns PTA and PTB via the current driver CD coupled to the transmission line DTL1.

[0091] The pen PN may include a resonance circuit PNC having a capacitor and an inductor, and may transmit a magnetic field to the conductive patterns PTA and PTB through the resonance circuit PNC.

[0092] Therefore, if the pen PN is close to the digitizer 30 (eg, Figure 5 ), the magnetic field of the conductive patterns PTA and PTB is changed by the interaction between the magnetic field output from the conductive patterns PTA and PTB and the magnetic field output from the resonant circuit PNC of the pen PN, and the change in the magnetic field of the conductive patterns PTA and PTB is output via the receiving line DRL1 of the connection group CS. For example, in some embodiments, the change in the magnetic field near the conductive patterns PTA and PTB generates a current or changes the current, and the current is output through the receiving line DRL1. The coordinates (e.g., position coordinates) and pen pressure of the pen PN can be detected by the conductive patterns PTA and PTB in which the change in the magnetic field and / or electric field is sensed. In this case, the change in the magnetic field of the conductive patterns PTA and PTB can be amplified by the amplifier AMP of the connection group CS to be output to the receiving line DRL1. For example, in some embodiments, the generated current or the change in the current caused by the change in the magnetic field can be amplified via the amplifier AMP.

[0093] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pen PN may include a resonance circuit PNC, and may also include a Figure 3 The touch sensor 20 electromagnetically resonates to generate the coil PNL of the induced current. In addition, the pen tip PNT of the pen PN may include a conductive material for electromagnetic resonance with the touch sensor 20 (for example, may be made of a conductive material for electromagnetic resonance with the touch sensor 20). Therefore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first digital converter 30-1 and the second digital converter 30-2 may interact with the resonant circuit PNC of the pen PN to sense the position coordinates and pen pressure of the pen PN, and the touch sensor 20 may interact with the coil PNL for electromagnetic resonance of the pen PN to sense the position coordinates of the pen PN.

[0094] In order to change the pen pressure depending on the pen PN and Figure 3 The pen tip PNT of the pen PN may include a soft material or a deformable material (for example, may be made of a soft material or a deformable material) depending on the contact strength. Therefore, by sensing the change in the mutual capacitance value depending on the change in the area where the pen tip PNT of the pen PN forms contact with the touch sensor 20, Figure 4 The touch sensor 20 may sense the pen pressure of the pen PN.

[0095] exist Figure 5 , only the transmission line DTL1 and the reception line DRL1 of the connection group CS are coupled to the first conductive pattern PTA of the first digital converter 30-1. However, the transmission line DTL1 and the reception line DRL1 of the connection group CS may also be coupled to the second conductive pattern PTB. The transmission line DTL1 of the connection group CS may be defined as a term collectively referring to the transmission line coupled to the first conductive pattern PTA and the second conductive pattern PTB. The reception line DRL1 of the connection group CS may be defined as a term collectively referring to the reception line coupled to the first conductive pattern PTA and the second conductive pattern PTB.

[0096] Since the second digital converter 30-2 may have the same shape as that of the first digital converter 30-1, the above description (e.g., the above description of the first digital converter 30-1) should be interpreted as being applicable thereto (e.g., applicable to the second digital converter 30-2). Here, the conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the second digital converter 30-2 may be arranged with respect to the center line of the third area FA (in more detail, passing through the second direction DR2 in a direction parallel to (e.g., substantially parallel to) the second direction DR2). Figure 1 The conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the first digitizer 30-1 are symmetrical (eg, reflection symmetrical) to the conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the first digitizer 30-1.

[0097] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0098] Reference Figure 6 , the foldable display device DD according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a timing controller 200 , a data driver 400 , a scan driver 300 , a display panel 10 , a touch sensor 20 , a digitizer 30 , a touch controller 100 , and a memory 500 .

[0099] The timing controller 200 may provide a grayscale value for each frame of an input image and a control signal, etc. to the data driver 400. In addition, the timing controller 200 may provide a clock signal and / or a control signal, etc. to the scan driver 300.

[0100] The data driver 400 may generate data voltages to be supplied to the data lines D1, D2, and Dq (e.g., to be supplied to the data lines D1 to Dq) using the grayscale values ​​and control signals received from the timing controller 200. For example, the data driver 400 may sample the grayscale values ​​using the control signals, and may apply data voltages corresponding to the grayscale values ​​to the data lines D1 to Dq based on pixel rows (e.g., pixels coupled to the same scan line). The number q is an integer greater than 0.

[0101] The scan driver 300 may receive a clock signal, a control signal, etc. from the timing controller 200, and may generate a scan signal to be provided to the scan lines SC1, SC2, and SCp (e.g., to be provided to the scan lines SC1 to SCp). For example, the scan driver 300 may sequentially provide a scan signal having an on-level pulse (e.g., an on-amplitude pulse) to the scan lines SC1 to SCp. For example, the scan driver 300 may generate a scan signal by sequentially transmitting a carry signal having an on-level pulse (e.g., an on-amplitude pulse) to the next level in response to the clock signal. The number p may be an integer greater than 0. For example, the scan driver 300 may be configured in the form of a shift register.

[0102] The display panel 10 includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel may be coupled to a corresponding data line, a corresponding scan line, a corresponding sensing line, and a corresponding receiving line. For example, a pixel may refer to a pixel circuit in which a scan transistor is coupled to the i-th scan line and coupled to the j-th data line. Here, the numbers i and j may each be an integer greater than 0.

[0103] The touch controller 100 may receive touch data from the touch sensor 20, the first digitizer 30-1, and the second digitizer 30-2, and may correct and output the received touch data. Here, the touch controller 100 may be electrically coupled to the first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4, and SL1-5 of the touch sensor 20 and the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3, and SL2-4 to receive touch data from the touch sensor 20. In addition, the touch controller 100 may include a connection group CS of the first digitizer 30-1 and a connection group of the second digitizer 30-2. The connection group CS of the first digitizer 30-1 may include a transmission line DTL1 and a reception line DRL1 coupled to the conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the first digitizer 30-1. The connection group of the second digitizer 30-2 may include a transmission line DTL2 and a reception line DRL2 coupled to the conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the second digitizer 30-2. Therefore, the touch controller 100 may receive touch data of the first digitizer 30 - 1 and the second digitizer 30 - 2 through the connection group CS of the first digitizer 30 - 1 and the connection group of the second digitizer 30 - 2 .

[0104] like Figure 3 As shown in , the first digitizer 30-1 may overlap with the first area NFA1 of the foldable display device DD, the second digitizer 30-2 may overlap with the second area NFA2 of the foldable display device DD, and the touch sensor 20 may overlap with the third area FA of the foldable display device DD.

[0105] The memory 500 may receive and store the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x, y) from the touch controller 100 in advance, may receive and store the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x, y) from an external administrator or user, and may provide the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x, y) to the touch controller 100. For example, in some embodiments, the memory 500 may receive and store the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x, y) from the touch controller 100 or from an external source such as an administrator or a user.

[0106] Figure 7 is Figure 6 A block diagram of a touch controller and memory is shown in FIG. Figure 8 It is shown by Figure 6 A first example view of touch data received by a touch controller. Fig. 9 It is shown by Figure 6 A second example view of touch data received by the touch controller.

[0107] Reference Figure 7 , the touch controller 100 may include a touch data matcher 110 , a touch data selector 120 and / or a touch data corrector 130 .

[0108] The touch data matcher 110 may match the first touch data TDATA1 received from the touch sensor 20 with the second touch data TDATA2 received from the first digitizer 30-1 and / or the second digitizer 30-2 in advance (or before shipping or selling the product) to generate a first matching table MT[lv] and a second matching table MT(x, y). The first matching table MT[lv] may be data obtained by matching the pen pressure of the first touch data TDATA1 and the pen pressure of the second touch data TDATA2 with each other (see the description to be made later). Figure 8 The second matching table MT(x, y) may be data obtained by matching the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2 with each other (see a table to be described later). Figure 8 ).

[0109] The touch data matcher 110 may store the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x,y) in the memory 500. In some embodiments, the first matching table MT[lv] and the second matching table MT(x,y) may be generated in advance from an external user or administrator and input into the memory 500.

[0110] Reference Figure 8 , the touch controller 100 may receive both the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2. Figure 8 As shown in , when the user touches a first point (x1, y1) included in the first area NFA1 of the display area DA using the pen PN, the touch controller 100 may receive the first touch data TDATA1 from the touch sensor 20, and may receive the second touch data TDATA2-1 from the first digitizer 30-1. In addition, when the user touches a second point (x2, y2) included in the second area NFA2 of the display area DA using the pen PN, the touch controller 100 may receive the first touch data TDATA1 from the touch sensor 20, and may receive the second touch data TDATA2-2 from the second digitizer 30-2.

[0111] When both the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 are received, the touch data selector 120 may select the first touch data TDATA1 or select the second touch data TDATA2. For example, if the first touch data TDATA1 is selected, the touch data selector 120 may transmit the first touch data TDATA1 to the touch data corrector 130. If the second touch data TDATA2 is selected, the touch data selector 120 may output the second touch data TDATA2 to the output terminal. For example, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the second touch data TDATA2 received from the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2 is regarded as reference data, and the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 are received concurrently or simultaneously, the touch controller 100 selects (e.g., preferentially selects) and outputs the second touch data TDATA2.

[0112] Reference Fig. 9 , the touch controller 100 may receive the first touch data TDATA1, and may not receive the second touch data TDATA2 (eg, Fig. 9 2-1 and TDATA2-2 are schematically shown). For example, Fig. 9 As shown in , when the user touches the third point (x3, y3) included in the third area FA of the display area DA using the pen PN, the touch controller 100 can receive the first touch data TDATA1 from the touch sensor 20, but does not receive the second touch data TDATA2-1 and TDATA2-2 from the first digitizer 30-1 and the second digitizer 30-2.

[0113] When the first touch data TDATA1 is received and the second touch data TDATA2 is not received, the touch data selector 120 may transmit the received first touch data TDATA1 to the touch data corrector 130. For example, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, if only the first touch data TDATA1 is received, the touch data corrector 130 of the touch controller 100 may correct the received first touch data TDATA1, and then transmit the corrected first touch data TDATA1′ (such as Figure 7 ) is output to the output terminal (or the first output terminal).

[0114] When the first touch data TDATA1 is not received and the second touch data TDATA2 is received, the touch data selector 120 may output the received second touch data TDATA2 to the output terminal. Because it is understood that when the first touch data TDATA1 is not received and the second touch data TDATA2 is received, there is an error in the touch sensor 20, an error message about the touch sensor 20 may be output to the output terminal (or second output terminal) together with the second touch data TDATA2.

[0115] If receiving the first touch data TDATA1 from the touch data selector 120, the touch data corrector 130 may correct the first touch data TDATA1 with reference to the first and second matching tables MT[lv] and MT(x,y) stored in the memory 500 and output the corrected first touch data TDATA1' to the output terminal.

[0116] The second touch data TDATA2 or the corrected first touch data TDATA1 ′ output by the touch controller 100 may be displayed on the display panel 10 by the timing controller 200 in a shape according to corresponding position coordinates and corresponding pen pressure.

[0117] Fig.10 is an exemplary view illustrating first touch data and second touch data according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0118] First, a case where the user touches a point (x, y) of the first area NFA1 or the second area NFA2 belonging to the display area DA of the foldable display device DD with the pen PN at a certain pen pressure level lv will be described.

[0119] The touch controller 100 may acquire the second touch data TDATA2 through the receiving line DRL1 included in the connection group CS of the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2. Here, the second touch data TDATA2 may acquire (e.g., include) the position coordinates CORD (x, y) of the pen PN and the pen pressure resonance frequency RF [lv]. If the pen pressure level lv of the pen PN changes, the resonance frequency between the resonance circuit PNC in the pen PN and the conductive patterns PTA and PTB of the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2 changes. Therefore, the pen pressure resonance frequency RF [lv] included in the second touch data TDATA2 is expressed as a resonance frequency value for each pen pressure level lv.

[0120] In addition, the touch controller 100 can obtain the first touch data TDATA1 through the first signal lines SL1-1, SL1-2, SL1-3, SL1-4 and SL1-5 and the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3 and SL2-4 coupled to the touch sensor 20. The first touch data TDATA1 can obtain (for example, include) the position coordinates CORT (x, y) and the pen pressure ADC [lv] of the pen PN. Since the pen tip PNT of the pen PN is made of a soft material or a deformable material, if the pen pressure level lv of the pen PN changes, the contact area of ​​the pen tip PNT with the touch sensor 20 changes depending on the contact strength. Since the pen tip PNT of the pen PN includes a conductive material (for example, made of a conductive material), the first sensing electrodes IE1-1, IE1-2, IE1-3, IE1-4 and IE1-5 (see Figure 4 ) and second sensing electrodes IE2-1, IE2-2, IE2-3, and IE2-4 coupled to the second signal lines SL2-1, SL2-2, SL2-3, and SL2-4 (see Figure 4 ) between the mutual capacitance values. Therefore, if the change in the mutual capacitance value caused by the pen pressure is converted into a digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 105, the pen pressure ADC [lv] for each pen pressure level lv included in the first touch data TDATA1 can be acquired.

[0121] Thus, the pen pressure ADC[lv] of the first touch data TDATA1 and the pen pressure resonance frequency RF[lv] of the second touch data TDATA2 may have different forms and values. In addition, due to different sensing methods and arrangements (see Figure 3 ), the position coordinates CORT(x, y) of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates CORD(x, y) of the second touch data TDATA2 may be different from each other.

[0122] Therefore, by matching the pen pressure ADC[lv] of the pen PN received from the touch sensor 20 with the pen pressure resonance frequency RF[lv] of the pen PN received from the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2, the touch data matcher 110 can generate a first matching table MT[lv]. In addition, by matching the position coordinates CORT(x,y) of the pen PN received from the touch sensor 20 with the position coordinates CORD(x,y) of the pen PN received from the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2, the touch data matcher 110 can generate a second matching table MT(x,y).

[0123] Fig.11is a diagram illustrating a first matching table according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0124] The pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 has a set or preset pen pressure level lv. The pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 may vary depending on the pen pressure level lv supported by the touch sensor 20 and the pen PN. For example, when the pen pressure level lv according to the change in the mutual capacitance value between the touch sensor 20 and the pen PN is one of 0 to 16384, the pen pressure level lv included in the first touch data TDATA1 may support from 0 (ADC[0]) to 16384 (ADC

[16384] ).

[0125] The pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 has a set or preset pen pressure level lv. The pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 may vary depending on the pen pressure level lv supported by the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2 and the pen PN. For example, when the pen pressure level lv caused by the change in the resonance frequency between the first digitizer 30-1 or the second digitizer 30-2 and the pen PN is one of 0 to 4096, the pen pressure level lv included in the second touch data TDATA2 may support from 0 (pen pressure resonance frequency RF[0]) to 4096 (pen pressure resonance frequency RF

[4096] ).

[0126] When the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 is equal to the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2, the touch data matcher 110 may match the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 in a one-to-one correspondence, thereby generating a first matching table MT[lv]. Therefore, the first matching table MT[lv] stored in the memory 500 may include data obtained by matching the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0127] When the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 is different from the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2, the touch data matcher 110 may interpolate the pen pressure level lv of the touch data having the larger pen pressure level lv, thereby generating the first matching table MT[lv]. Therefore, when the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 is different from the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2, the first matching table MT[lv] stored in the memory 500 may be pre-generated by interpolating the pen pressure level lv of the touch data having the larger pen pressure level lv.

[0128] For example, when the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 have Fig.11 When the difference in the pen pressure level lv shown in the left figure is , the four pen pressure levels lv of the first touch data TDATA1 are matched with one pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2, so that the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 and the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 can be as shown in FIG. Fig.11 1:1 matching as shown in the right figure of . For example, in some embodiments, four pen pressures ADC

[16381] , ADC

[16382] , ADC

[16383] , and ADC

[16384] of the first touch data TDATA1 can be matched with one pen pressure resonance frequency RF

[4096] of the second touch data TDATA2, so that four pen pressure levels lv of the first touch data TDATA1 can be matched with one pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2.

[0129] Here, the touch data matcher 110 may generate the first matching table MT[lv] by matching the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 to which each pen pressure level lv is applied in 1:1 at one or more identical positions.

[0130] In addition, by correcting (or replacing) the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 matching the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with reference to the first matching table MT[lv], the touch data corrector 130 may output the corrected first touch data TDATA1'. For example, in some embodiments, the touch data corrector 130 may correct or replace the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 by using the first matching table MT[lv]. For example, in some embodiments, the touch data corrector 130 may replace the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 matching the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 according to the first matching table MT[lv].

[0131] Fig.12 is a diagram illustrating a second matching table according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0132] When the pen PN is touched at the same position, the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2 should be equal to each other. However, even if the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 recognize the same position using different arrangements and touch recognition methods, the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 may be different from the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2. In order to solve this problem, the second matching table MT (x, y) obtained by matching the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 with the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2 can be stored in the memory 500 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0133] For example, refer to Fig.12 , when the pen PN is touched at the same position, a difference Diff(x,y) may occur between the position coordinates CORT(x,y) of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates CORD(x,y) of the second touch data TDATA2. Here, the difference Diff(x,y) includes an x-axis difference Diff(x) and a y-axis difference Diff(y) between the position coordinates CORT(x,y) of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates CORD(x,y) of the second touch data TDATA2. In more detail, the difference Diff(x,y) may be a value obtained by subtracting the position coordinates CORT(x,y) of the first touch data TDATA1 from the position coordinates CORD(x,y) of the second touch data TDATA2.

[0134] The touch data matcher 110 may calculate the difference between the position coordinates CORT(x, y) of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates CORD(x, y) of the second touch data TDATA2 measured at a plurality of touch positions (e.g., a plurality of touch positions belonging to the third area FA), and may generate a second matching table MT(x, y) as an average value of the calculated differences. Therefore, the second matching table MT(x, y) stored in the memory 500 may include the difference between the position coordinates CORT(x, y) of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates CORD(x, y) of the second touch data TDATA2 measured at a plurality of touch positions (e.g., a plurality of touch positions belonging to the third area FA) or the average value of the difference.

[0135] The touch data corrector 130 may output the corrected first touch data TDATA1' by adding the average value of the differences included in the second matching table MT(x, y) to the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1. In some embodiments, the touch data corrector 130 may correct or replace the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 by using the second matching table MT(x, y). For example, in some embodiments, the touch data corrector 130 may correct the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 by adding the average value of the differences included in the second matching table MT(x, y) or the specific differences of the second matching table MT(x, y) associated with the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 to the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1.

[0136] Fig.13 It is shown Figure 7 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the operation of the touch data selector.

[0137] Reference Fig.13 , when the user touches the display area DA with the pen PN, the position coordinates included in the first touch data TDATA1 and / or the second touch data TDATA2 may be in the range from (0,0) to (n,m), where the numbers n and m are any integers. As the touch position advances in the first direction DR1, for example, from the position (0,0) to the position (0,m), the y coordinates of the position coordinates may increase from 0 to m. In addition, as the touch position advances in the second direction DR2', for example, from the position (0,0) to the position (n,0), the x coordinates of the position coordinates may increase from 0 to n.

[0138] In this case, the third area FA of the display area DA may have a position coordinate having a y coordinate between c1 and c2, and may refer to, for example, Fig.13 The region defined by the two line segments indicated by (r, c1) and (r, c2) in , where r is the x-coordinate between 0 and n. Figure 3 Due to the arrangement of the first digitizer 30 - 1 and the second digitizer 30 - 2 , the position coordinates of the third area FA belonging to the display area DA are not recognized by the first digitizer 30 - 1 and the second digitizer 30 - 2 .

[0139] Therefore, the touch data selector 120 may determine whether the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 belong to the third area FA of the display area DA.

[0140] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 do not belong to the third area FA of the display area DA, the second touch data TDATA2 may be used, and the first touch data TDATA1 may not be used. Therefore, when the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 do not belong to the third area FA of the display area DA, the touch data selector 120 may select and output the second touch data TDATA2 from among the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2.

[0141] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 belong to the third area FA of the display area DA, the first touch data TDATA1 may be used, and the second touch data TDATA2 may not be used (or the second touch data TDATA2 may not be received due to the layout structure of the first digitizer 30-1 and the second digitizer 30-2). Therefore, when the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 belong to the third area FA of the display area DA, the touch data selector 120 may select the first touch data TDATA1 from among the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2, and may transmit the first touch data TDATA1 to the touch data corrector 130.

[0142] Fig.14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of driving a foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0143] The method for driving the foldable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be performed by Figures 1 to 13 For example, the foldable display device DD may include a first area NFA1, a second area NFA2, and a third area FA that may be bent along a folding axis FX between the first area NFA1 and the second area NFA2.

[0144] Reference Fig.14 , the method of driving the foldable display device DD may first include a task S100 of generating a matching table by matching the first touch data TDATA1 with the second touch data TDATA2.

[0145] The first touch data TDATA1 may be data collected from the touch sensor 20 disposed on or directly disposed on the upper surface of the display panel 10 of the foldable display device DD.

[0146] The second touch data TDATA2 may be data collected from the first digitizer 30 - 1 overlapping the first area NFA1 under the display panel 10 and the second digitizer 30 - 2 overlapping the second area NFA2 under the display panel 10 .

[0147] The task S100 of generating a matching table may include a task of generating a first matching table MT[lv] by matching the pen pressure of the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure of the second touch data TDATA2.

[0148] The task S100 of generating a matching table may include a task of generating a second matching table MT(x, y) by matching the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 with the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2.

[0149] The second matching table may include a position coordinate difference between the position coordinate of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinate of the second touch data TDATA2 .

[0150] The task S100 of generating a matching table may be performed in advance before product shipment of the foldable display device DD, or may be performed during an initialization phase, and may include a task of storing (multiple) matching tables generated externally in the memory 500 of the foldable display device DD.

[0151] After the task S100 of generating the matching table, the method of the foldable display device DD may further include a task S110 of acquiring at least one selected from the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 .

[0152] For example, when Figure 8 As shown in , when the user touches the position coordinates in the first area NFA1 or the second area NFA2, both the first touch data TDATA1 and the second touch data TDATA2 can be acquired. Fig. 9 As shown in , when the user touches the position coordinates within the third area FA, the first touch data TDATA1 may be acquired and the second touch data TDATA2 may not be acquired.

[0153] When the first touch data TDATA1 is acquired at task S120 and the second touch data TDATA2 is acquired at task S130 , one of the corrected first touch data TDATA1 ′ and the second touch data TDATA2 may be output according to a set or preset reference.

[0154] For example, at task S140, it is determined whether the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 belong to a set or preset range. If it is determined at task S150 that the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 do not belong to the set or preset range, the second touch data TDATA2 can be output at task S160. Here, the set or preset range can be the position coordinates included in the third area FA.

[0155] Furthermore, if it is determined at task S150 that the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 belong to a set or preset range, the first touch data TDATA1 may be corrected with reference to the matching table at task S170 and the corrected first touch data TDATA1′ may be output at task S180.

[0156] The task S170 of correcting the first touch data TDATA1 may include a task of correcting the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with the pen pressure level lv of the second touch data TDATA2 matched with the pen pressure level lv of the first touch data TDATA1 with reference to the matching table.

[0157] The task S170 of correcting the first touch data TDATA1 may include a task of correcting the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 by a position coordinate difference between the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 and the position coordinates of the second touch data TDATA2 with reference to the matching table.

[0158] If the first touch data TDATA1 is acquired at task S120 and the second touch data TDATA2 is not acquired at task S130 , task S170 of correcting the first touch data TDATA1 may be performed.

[0159] In addition, unless the first touch data TDATA1 is acquired at task S120, an error message may be output at task S130 or the second touch data TDATA2 may be acquired, so that task S140 and task S150 may be omitted, and the second touch data TDATA2 may be immediately output at task S160. For example, in some embodiments, if the first touch data TDATA1 is not acquired at task S120, an error message may be output, and in addition, the second touch data TDATA2 may be immediately output at task S160 by skipping task S130, task S140, and task S150, or task S130, task S140, and task S150 may be performed to determine at task S130 that the second touch data TDATA2 has been acquired, and to determine at task S140 and task S150 that the position coordinates of the first touch data TDATA1 that has not been acquired are not within a set or preset range, so that the second touch data TDATA2 is output at task S160.

[0160] The foldable display device and the method of driving the foldable display device according to the present disclosure can ensure stable touch recognition performance in the foldable area.

[0161] Furthermore, by reducing or minimizing the reduction in durability due to the folding operation, the product life of the display device can be improved, and uniform touch recognition performance can be ensured in both the foldable area and the planar area.

[0162] The display device and / or any other related device or component according to the embodiment of the present invention 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 the display device can be formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or on a separate IC chip. In addition, the various components of the display device can be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a substrate. In addition, the various components of the display device 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 for performing various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory, and the memory can be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device such as a random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions can also be stored in other non-temporary computer-readable media such as a CD-ROM or a flash drive. In addition, those skilled in the art should recognize that, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, 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 across one or more other computing devices.

[0163] The detailed description of the present disclosure described with reference to the accompanying drawings is only illustrative, and the detailed description of the present disclosure is only for the purpose of describing the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the meaning or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various suitable modifications and their equivalents are possible.

Claims

1. A foldable display device, wherein: The foldable display device comprises: First floor; a second layer disposed on a lower surface of the first layer; A display panel comprising a first area, a second area, and a third area configured to be bent along a folding axis between the first area and the second area, and pixels in the first area, the second area, and the third area; A touch sensor, disposed between the upper surface of the display panel and the lower surface of the second layer; a first digitizer, located below the display panel to overlap the first area; a second digitizer, below the display panel to overlap the second area; a memory configured to store a matching table, the matching table including a matching relationship between first touch data received from the touch sensor and second touch data received from the first digitizer and / or the second digitizer, and wherein the first region and the second region include non-folding regions, and Wherein, the third area includes a folding area.

2. The foldable display device according to claim 1, in, The first layer is a cover window for protecting the display panel.

3. The foldable display device according to claim 2, in, The first layer includes at least one of ultra-thin glass and colorless polyimide.

4. The foldable display device according to claim 2, in, The second layer is a polarizer coupled to the lower surface of the first layer via a first adhesive layer.

5. The foldable display device according to claim 4, in, The second layer includes at least one of a polyethylene terephthalate film and a triacetyl cellulose film.

6. The foldable display device according to claim 4, in, The first adhesive layer includes a transparent adhesive material for filling an air gap between the first layer and the second layer.

7. The foldable display device according to claim 1, in, The touch sensor is coupled to the lower surface of the second layer via a second adhesive layer.

8. The foldable display device according to claim 7, in, The second adhesive layer includes a transparent adhesive member having adhesive strength and conductivity.

9. The foldable display device according to claim 8, in, The second adhesive layer includes a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive.

10. The foldable display device according to claim 1, in, The first digitizer and the second digitizer are spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap the third area.

11. The foldable display device according to claim 1, in, The touch sensor overlaps the first area, the second area, and the third area, The first digital converter and the second digital converter do not overlap with the third area.

12. The foldable display device according to claim 11, wherein: The foldable display device further includes: a touch controller that receives the first touch data from the touch sensor and receives the second touch data from the first digitizer and / or the second digitizer, The touch controller is configured to correct the first touch data according to the matching relationship to output the corrected first touch data when the first touch data corresponds to a touch in the third area.

13. A method for driving a foldable display device, the foldable display device comprising a first layer, a second layer disposed on a lower surface of the first layer, and a display panel, the display panel comprising a first area, a second area, and a third area configured to bend along a folding axis between the first area and the second area, wherein: The method comprises: acquiring at least one touch data selected from the first touch data and the second touch data; and outputting one of the corrected first touch data corrected from the first touch data and the second touch data, The first touch data is data collected from a touch sensor disposed between the upper surface of the display panel and the lower surface of the second layer, wherein the second touch data is data collected from at least one digitizer selected from a first digitizer under the display panel to overlap the first area and a second digitizer under the display panel to overlap the second area, wherein the first region and the second region include non-folding regions, and Wherein, the third area includes a folding area.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: If both the first touch data and the second touch data are received and the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the first area or the second area, the output is to output the second touch data.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein: If the position coordinates of the first touch data correspond to the third area, the outputting includes correcting the first touch data.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein: The foldable display device is configured to store a first matching table including pen pressure levels matched with the first touch data, the pen pressure levels being associated with third touch data acquired from at least one digitizer selected from the first digitizer and the second digitizer.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The corrected first touch data is determined by correcting a pen pressure level of the first touch data to the pen pressure level of the first matching table.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein: The foldable display device is configured to further store a second matching table including coordinate correction values ​​matched with the first touch data, and The coordinate correction value includes an average value of a difference between a position coordinate of the first touch data and a position coordinate of fourth touch data measured at a plurality of touch positions, the fourth touch data being acquired from at least one digitizer selected from the first digitizer and the second digitizer.

19. The method according to claim 18, in, The corrected first touch data is determined by adding the average value to the position coordinates of the first touch data.

20. An electronic display device, wherein: The electronic display device comprises: First floor; a second layer disposed on a lower surface of the first layer; A display panel comprising a first area, a second area, and a third area configured to be bent along a folding axis between the first area and the second area, and pixels in the first area, the second area, and the third area; A touch sensor, disposed between the upper surface of the display panel and the lower surface of the second layer; a first digitizer, located below the display panel to overlap the first area; a second digitizer, below the display panel to overlap the second area; a memory configured to store a matching table, the matching table including a matching relationship between first touch data received from the touch sensor and second touch data received from the first digitizer and / or the second digitizer, and wherein the first region and the second region include non-folding regions, and Wherein, the third area includes a folding area.

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