Portable display device

By integrating touch sensors and driver circuits of multiple planes and folded areas on the display panel of the portable display device, analyzing the user's touch operation data to display icons or menu bars, the problem of difficult to achieve high-performance control of user interface features in the prior art is solved, and higher user interface performance and operation convenience are achieved.

CN120215752APending Publication Date: 2025-06-27SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202411950978.4
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2023-12-27
Filing Date
2024-12-27
Publication Date
2025-06-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The user interface features of existing portable display devices are difficult to achieve high-performance user control, especially in multi-function and multi-tasking scenarios.

Method used

By integrating touch sensors and driver circuits with multiple flat display areas and folded areas on the display panel, the user's touch operation position, movement direction and time are analyzed to display icons or menu bars, and users can accurately control the screen control function and operation control function.

Benefits of technology

It improves the user interface performance of the portable display device, enhances user operation convenience and satisfaction, and supports more complex user interaction and control functions.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

A portable display device includes: a display panel including a flat display area and at least one folding area; a touch sensor on a front surface of the display panel to sense a touch of a user; a touch driver circuit for dividing a touch sensing area of the touch sensor into a planar sensing area and at least one folded sensing area, and detecting a touch position and a touch movement position in the planar sensing area and the at least one folded sensing area to generate at least one touch coordinate data; and a display driver circuit for analyzing a touch position, a touch movement direction, and a touch movement time in the planar sensing area and the at least one folding sensing area to display an icon or menu bar image on the display panel, thereby enabling a user to control a screen control function and operate a control function.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a portable display device. Background Art

[0002] With the development of multimedia technology, display devices have become increasingly important. Accordingly, various types of display devices such as organic light emitting display (OLED) devices and liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are currently used.

[0003] Recently, the mobility of display devices carried by users has become more desirable. In particular, various portable display devices having performance comparable to that of desktop computers and mobile phones have recently been sold.

[0004] Portable display devices have a reduced size and weight. Accordingly, a user can perform various functions such as watching videos, running office programs, and basic data transmission and reception functions while walking. Therefore, it may be desirable to allow a user to more conveniently and accurately control a portable display device.

[0005] Recently, portable display devices include various sensors and perform operations according to a user's control actions. Therefore, with the advancement of technology, the degree of recognition of a user's movement and the sensitivity of sensors have been improved. Accordingly, improved performance of interface features of portable display devices may be desirable.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this background art section is for enhancing understanding of the background of the present disclosure and, thus, may include information that does not constitute the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to a portable display device having improved user interface features by displaying icons or a menu bar that allow a user to select or control built-in features according to the position of a user's touch operation / drawing operation.

[0008] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure may relate to a portable display device that can control specific built-in features using only a single-point touch movement by sensing touch operations / drawing operations in a folding area and adjacent areas of a foldable display device.

[0009] However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above aspects and features, and the above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a portable display device includes: a display panel including a plurality of planar display regions and at least one folding region; a touch sensor located on a front surface of the display panel to sense a user's touch; a touch driver circuit configured to divide a touch sensing region of the touch sensor into a plurality of planar sensing regions and at least one folding sensing region, and detect a touch position and a touch movement position in the plurality of planar sensing regions and the at least one folding sensing region to generate at least one touch coordinate data; and a display driver circuit configured to analyze a touch position, a touch movement direction, and a touch movement time in the plurality of planar sensing regions and the at least one folding sensing region to display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel, thereby enabling a user to control a screen control function and an operation control function of the display panel.

[0011] In an embodiment, the touch driver circuit may be configured to: divide a plurality of planar sensing regions respectively overlapping with the planar display regions, at least one folding sensing region overlapping with the at least one folding region, and a plurality of divided sensing regions adjacent to the folding sensing region among the plurality of planar sensing regions into a predetermined size, and distinguish the plurality of planar sensing regions, the at least one folding sensing region, and the plurality of divided sensing regions from each other. Each of the plurality of divided sensing regions may be divided into an area or a size that is 1 / n of an area or a size of a corresponding planar sensing region among the plurality of planar sensing regions, where n may be a positive integer.

[0012] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: analyze at least one touch coordinate data to detect a number of single-touch or multi-touch occurring in parallel with each other; analyze a touch movement position in each of the plurality of divided sensing regions of the single-touch or multi-touch and a touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing regions among the plurality of divided sensing regions; and display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel according to an analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between the adjacent divided sensing regions.

[0013] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: check at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and when a touch position coordinate in a first divided sensing region of a first planar sensing region among the plurality of planar sensing regions is recognized, check multi-touch position coordinates input in parallel with each other and generated to detect a number of single-touch or multi-touch occurring in parallel with each other.

[0014] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: detect a touch movement position and a touch movement time in a first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing touch coordinate data generated by a single-point touch in the first divided sensing area for touch coordinates in the first divided sensing area; check whether touch position coordinates in a second divided sensing area of a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area among a plurality of planar sensing areas are detected to detect a touch movement position and a touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; detect a first touch movement time, which may be a time interval between the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; and when the first touch movement time is less than reference time information, determine a first interface command of a user to display a first screen menu as an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel.

[0015] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: detect a touch movement position and a touch movement time in a first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing multi-point touch coordinate data generated by a multi-point touch in the first divided sensing area for touch coordinates in the first divided sensing area; check whether touch position coordinates in a second divided sensing area of a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area among a plurality of planar sensing areas are detected to detect a touch movement position and a touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; detect a second touch movement time, which may be a time interval between the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; and when the second touch movement time is less than reference time information, determine a second interface command of a user to display a second screen menu as an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel.

[0016] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: analyze at least one touch coordinate data to detect the number of single-point touches or multi-point touches occurring in parallel with each other; analyze the touch movement position of the single-point touch or multi-point touch in each of a plurality of planar sensing areas and a plurality of divided sensing areas and the touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing areas among the plurality of divided sensing areas; and display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel according to the analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between the adjacent divided sensing areas.

[0017] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: check at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and when detecting touch position coordinates in a first planar sensing region among a plurality of planar sensing regions and a first divided sensing region of the first planar sensing region, check multi-touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel with each other to detect the number of single-touch or multi-touch occurring in parallel with each other.

[0018] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: detect touch movement positions and touch movement times in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region by sequentially analyzing touch coordinates in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region for touch coordinate data generated by a single-touch in the first planar sensing region; check whether touch position coordinates in a second planar sensing region adjacent to the first divided sensing region among a plurality of planar sensing regions and a second divided sensing region of the second planar sensing region are detected to detect touch movement positions and touch movement times in the second planar sensing region and the second divided sensing region; detect a third touch movement time, which may be a time interval between the touch movement time in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing region and the second divided sensing region; and when the third touch movement time is less than reference time information, determine a third interface command of a user to display a third screen menu as an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel.

[0019] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: detect touch movement positions and touch movement times in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region by sequentially analyzing touch coordinates in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region for multi-touch coordinate data generated by a multi-touch in the first planar sensing region; check whether touch position coordinates in a second planar sensing region adjacent to the first divided sensing region among a plurality of planar sensing regions and a second divided sensing region of the second planar sensing region are detected to detect touch movement positions and touch movement times in the second planar sensing region and the second divided sensing region; detect a fourth touch movement time, which may be a time interval between the touch movement time in the first planar sensing region and the first divided sensing region and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing region and the second divided sensing region; and when the fourth touch movement time is less than reference time information, determine a fourth interface command of a user to display a fourth screen menu as an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel.

[0020] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a portable display device includes: a display panel including a plurality of flat display regions and at least one folding region; a touch sensor located on a front surface of the display panel to sense a user's touch; a touch driver circuit configured to: divide a touch sensing region of the touch sensor into a plurality of flat sensing regions overlapping with the flat display regions and at least one folding sensing region overlapping with the at least one folding region; and detect a touch position and a touch movement position in the plurality of flat sensing regions and the at least one folding sensing region to generate at least one touch coordinate data; and a display driver circuit configured to analyze a touch position, a touch movement direction, and a touch movement time in the plurality of flat sensing regions and the at least one folding sensing region to display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel, thereby enabling a user to control a screen control function and an operation control function of the display panel. The touch driver circuit is configured to: for each of the plurality of flat sensing regions, divide a plurality of divided sensing regions adjacent to the at least one folding sensing region into a specific size; and for each of the plurality of flat sensing regions, distinguish the plurality of flat sensing regions from the at least one folding sensing region to detect a touch position.

[0021] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: analyze the at least one touch coordinate data to detect a number of single touches or multi - touches occurring in parallel with each other; analyze a touch movement position of the single touch or multi - touches in each of the plurality of divided sensing regions and a touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing regions among the plurality of divided sensing regions; and display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel according to an analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing regions.

[0022] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: check the at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and when identifying touch position coordinates in a first divided sensing region of a first flat sensing region among the plurality of flat sensing regions, check multi - touch position coordinates input in parallel with each other and generated to detect a number of single touches or multi - touches occurring in parallel with each other.

[0023] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: check the at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and when identifying touch position coordinates in a first divided sensing region of a first flat sensing region among the plurality of flat sensing regions, check multi - touch position coordinates input in parallel with each other and generated to detect a number of single touches or multi - touches occurring in parallel with each other.

[0024] In an embodiment, the display driver circuit may be configured to: analyze at least one touch coordinate data to detect the number of single-touch or multi-touch events occurring in parallel with each other; analyze the touch movement position in each of a plurality of planar sensing regions and a plurality of divided sensing regions for the single-touch or multi-touch, and the touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing regions among the plurality of divided sensing regions; and display an icon or a menu bar image on the display panel based on the analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between the adjacent divided sensing regions.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the interface function and user convenience of the portable display device can be improved by displaying an icon or a menu bar that allows a user to select or control built-in features according to the position of the user's touch operation / drawing operation.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the user satisfaction and reliability of the portable display device can be improved by supporting the user to control a specific built-in feature with only a single-touch movement by sensing touch operations / drawing operations in the folding region and adjacent regions of the foldable display device.

[0027] However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above aspects and features, and the above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be partially described in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings and will be partially obvious from the detailed description, or can be learned by practicing one or more embodiments presented in the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The above and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable portable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a portable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 3 is shown in more detail Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of one side of the portable display device shown in;

[0032] Figure 4 is a view showing the layout of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] Figure 5 is a view showing the layout of a touch sensing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 6 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, multiple planar sensing areas, and multiple division sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the first embodiment;

[0035] Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the first division sensing area, folding sensing area, and second division sensing area that sense a user's touch;

[0036] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the touch sensing process of the touch sensing unit and touch driver circuit and the screen menu display process of the display driver circuit;

[0037] Figure 9 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, multiple planar sensing areas, and multiple division sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the second embodiment;

[0038] Figure 10 is a view showing an image of a display screen that displays an icon and a menu bar according to single-point and two-point movement sensing;

[0039] Figure 11 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, multiple planar sensing areas, and multiple division sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the third embodiment;

[0040] Figure 12 is an enlarged view showing the first planar sensing area, first division sensing area, folding sensing area, second division sensing area, and second planar sensing area that sense a user's touch;

[0041] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the touch sensing process of the touch sensing unit and touch driver circuit and the screen menu display process of the display driver circuit;

[0042] Figure 14 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, multiple planar sensing areas, and multiple division sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the fourth embodiment;

[0043] Figure 15 is a view showing an image of a display screen that displays an icon according to single-point and two-point movement sensing;

[0044] Figure 16 is a perspective view of a display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 17 is a view showing Figure 16Perspective view when the display device shown in [the figure] is folded;

[0046] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0047] Figure 19 is Figure 18 a perspective view of the display device shown in [the figure] in a multi-folded state. Detailed Description

[0048] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals always refer to like elements. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments shown herein. Rather, 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 not necessary for a person 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 denote the same elements throughout the drawings and the written description, and thus, their redundant description may not be repeated.

[0049] When a certain embodiment can be implemented differently, a specific process order may be different from the described order. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, or may be performed in an order opposite to the described order.

[0050] In addition, as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, in view of the overall content of the present disclosure, each suitable feature of each of the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or wholly combined or integrated with each other, and may be combined and operated technically in various suitable ways, and each embodiment may be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other in any suitable way, unless otherwise stated or implied.

[0051] In the drawings, for clarity, the relative dimensions, thicknesses, and proportions of elements, layers, and regions may be exaggerated and / or simplified. For ease of explanation, spatially relative terms such as "below", "beneath", "under", "below", "above", and "on" may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another (other) element or feature as shown in the drawings. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings, spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device during use or operation. For example, if the device in the drawing is flipped, an element described as "below" or "beneath" or "under" another element or feature will then be oriented "above" that other element or feature. Thus, the example terms "below" and "beneath" can encompass both an above and a below orientation. The device may be oriented in other ways (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0052] In the drawings, the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction are not limited to directions corresponding to the three axes of a rectangular coordinate system and may be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction may be perpendicular to each other or substantially perpendicular to each other, or may represent different directions that are not perpendicular to each other.

[0053] 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. Thus, a 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.

[0054] 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, and / or may be indirectly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or element, with one or more intervening layers, regions, or elements therebetween. Additionally, it will also 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.

[0055] The terms used in this disclosure are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular form "a" is also intended to include the plural form, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that when used in this specification, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and "having" specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the expression "A and / or B" means A, B, or A and B. When an expression such as "at least one of" is placed after a list of elements, it modifies the entire list of elements and not individual elements in the list. For example, the expressions "at least one of a, b, and c" and "at least one selected from the group consisting of a, b, and c" indicate only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, or variants thereof.

[0056] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and similar terms are used as approximate terms and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations of measured or calculated values that would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, when describing embodiments of the disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the disclosure." As used herein, the terms "use" and "is used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "utilize" and "is utilized," respectively.

[0057] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this 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 art and / or this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0058] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foldable portable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Reference Figure 1, a portable display device (also referred to as display device 10) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a foldable display device and may be applied to various suitable portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs, mobile communication terminals, electronic notebooks, e-books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation devices, and ultra-mobile personal computers (UMPCs). As another example, the display device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used as a display unit (e.g., a monitor or a display screen) of a television, a laptop computer, a monitor, an electronic billboard, or an Internet of Things (IoT) device.

[0060] As used herein, a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be the short side direction (e.g., the horizontal direction such as that of the display device 10) of the display device 10 when it is folded. A second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may be the long side direction (e.g., the vertical direction such as that of the display device 10) of the display device 10 when it is folded. A third direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) may refer to the thickness direction of the display device 10.

[0061] In Figure 1 the example shown, the display device 10 is a foldable display device that can be folded once in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). The display device 10 may be switched between a folded state in which the display device 10 is folded once, a bent state in which the display device 10 is bent at a certain angle (e.g., a predetermined angle), and a flat state in which the display device 10 is fully unfolded, and / or may be held in one of these states.

[0062] The display device 10 may be folded inward such that the front surface on which an image is displayed is located inside (e.g., in an inward folding manner). When the display device 10 is bent or folded in an inward folding manner, a part of the front surface of the display device 10 may face another part of the front surface. As another example, the display device 10 may be folded outward such that the front surface on which an image is displayed is located outside (e.g., in an outward folding manner). When the display device 10 is bent or folded in an outward folding manner, a part of the rear surface of the display device 10 may face another part of the rear surface.

[0063] The image display area of the display device 10 may be divided into a plurality of non-folding areas DA1 and DA2 and a first folding area FOU1. For example, the first folding area FOU1 may be located between the first non-folding area DA1 and the second non-folding area DA2. A non-display area NDA may be formed at the boundary of the entire image display area (e.g., the boundary of the plurality of non-folding areas DA1 and DA2 and the first folding area FOU1).

[0064] The first folding region FOU1 may be located between the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2, and may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). The first folding region FOU1 may be folded inward or outward in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). In other words, the first non-folding region DA1 may be located on one side of the first folding region FOU1 (e.g., such as the left side). The second non-folding region DA2 may be located on the opposite side of the first folding region FOU1 (e.g., such as the right side). The first folding region FOU1 and the first folding line FOL1 and the second folding line FOL2 may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction), and the display device 10 may be folded in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction).

[0065] When the first folding region FOU1 is folded inward, the front surfaces of the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 may face each other. Therefore, when the first folding region FOU1 extends in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) and is folded inward or outward in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), the width of the display device 10 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be reduced to approximately half.

[0066] When the first folding region FOU1 and the first folding line FOL1 and the second folding line FOL2 are arranged along the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) such that they extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction), the width of the first folding region FOU1 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be smaller or narrower than the length of the first folding region FOU1 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). In addition, the width of the first non-folding region DA1 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be greater than the width of the first folding region FOU1 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). The width of the second non-folding region DA2 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may also be formed to be greater than the width of the first folding region FOU1 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction).

[0067] The image display region on the front surface of the display device 10 may overlap with the first non-folding region DA1, the first folding region FOU1, and the second non-folding region DA2. Therefore, when the display device 10 is unfolded as shown in Figure 1 the image may be displayed on the front surface of the first folding region FOU1, the first non-folding region DA1, and the second non-folding region DA2 of the display device 10.

[0068] Figure 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of a portable display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 is shown in more detail Figure 2Cross-sectional view of one side of the portable display device shown in the figure.

[0069] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 Depending on the way of displaying images, the display device 10 according to the current embodiment can be classified into various suitable devices. For example, the display device 10 can be classified and implemented as an organic light-emitting display device (OLED), an inorganic light-emitting display device (inorganic EL), a quantum dot light-emitting display device (QED), a micro LED display device (micro LED), a nano LED display device (nano LED), a plasma display device (PDP), a field emission display device (FED), a liquid crystal display device (LCD), an electrophoretic display device (EPD), etc. Hereinafter, the organic light-emitting display device (OLED) will be described in more detail as a representative example of the display device 10. The organic light-emitting display device (OLED) can be abbreviated as the display device 10 unless it is necessary to distinguish between them. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the organic light-emitting display device (OLED), and one of the above display devices or any other suitable display device known to those of ordinary skill in the art can be used as the display device 10.

[0070] As Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in [references], the display device 10 includes a touch sensing module. The touch sensing module includes a touch sensing unit (e.g., a touch sensor or a touch sensing panel) TSU disposed on the front surface of the display panel 100 and at least one touch driver circuit 400 for generating touch coordinate data of the touch sensing unit TSU.

[0071] More specifically, the display panel 100 of the display device 10 may include a display unit (e.g., a display or a display layer) DU for displaying images, and the touch sensing unit TSU is disposed on the display unit DU of the display panel 100 to sense the touch of a touch input device (e.g., an electronic pen) and / or a part of the human body (e.g., a finger).

[0072] The display unit DU of the display panel 100 may include a plurality of pixels. Images can be displayed through the plurality of pixels. Each pixel may include a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel or a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a white sub-pixel.

[0073] The touch sensing unit TSU may be installed on the front surface of the display panel 100 or may be integrally formed with the display panel 100 on the front surface thereof. The touch sensing unit TSU may include a plurality of touch electrodes to sense a user's touch by using capacitive sensing of the touch electrodes. The touch sensing unit TSU may be installed on the display unit DU of the display panel 100 or may be integrally formed with the display unit DU.

[0074] The touch driver circuit 400 may be implemented as at least one microprocessor electrically connected to the touch sensing unit TSU (e.g., electrically connected to the touch sensing area). The touch driver circuit 400 may supply a touch driving signal to a plurality of touch electrodes arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing unit TSU and may sense a change amount of capacitance between the plurality of touch electrodes. The touch driver circuit 400 may determine whether a user's touch is input and may generate touch coordinate data based on the change amount of capacitance between the touch electrodes. Elements and structural features of the touch driver circuit 400 and the touch sensing unit TSU will be described in more detail below.

[0075] The display driver circuit 200 may output a control signal and a data voltage for driving pixels (e.g., sub-pixels divided into red sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, blue sub-pixels, and / or white sub-pixels, etc.) of the display unit DU. The display driver circuit 200 may supply the data voltage to data lines connected to the sub-pixels. The display driver circuit 200 may apply a power voltage to a voltage line and may supply a gate control signal to at least one gate driver 210. The display driver circuit 200 may be divided into a timing controller for performing a timing control function and a data driver for supplying the data voltage to the data lines. In this case, the timing controller may supply at least one timing control signal to the gate driver 210 and the data driver to control driving timings of the gate driver 210 and the data driver.

[0076] The display driver circuit 200 may control an overall function of the display device 10. For example, the display driver circuit 200 may receive touch coordinate data regarding the touch sensing unit TSU from the touch driver circuit 400 to determine a user's touch coordinates and may generate digital video data based on the touch coordinates. In addition, the display driver circuit 200 may run an application indicated by an icon displayed at the user's touch coordinates. As another example, the display driver circuit 200 may receive coordinate data from an electronic pen to determine touch coordinates of the electronic pen and may generate digital video data according to the touch coordinates, or may run an application indicated by an icon displayed at the touch coordinates of the electronic pen.

[0077] Reference Figure 3, the display panel 100 can be divided into a main area MA and a sub - auxiliary area SBA. The main area MA can include a display area DA provided with sub - pixels for displaying an image and a non - display area NDA located around the display area DA. In the display area DA, light can be emitted from the emission area or the opening area of each corresponding sub - pixel to display an image. Thus, each of the sub - pixels arranged in the display device DA can include a self - light - emitting element, a pixel circuit including a switching element, and a pixel defining layer defining the emission area or the opening area.

[0078] The non - display area NDA can be a peripheral area (e.g., an outer area) of the display area DA. The non - display area NDA can be defined as an area of the main area MA corresponding to the edge of the display area DA of the display panel 100. The non - display area NDA can include at least one gate driver 210 that supplies gate signals to gate lines and fan - out lines that connect the display driver circuit 200 to the display area DA.

[0079] The sub - auxiliary area SBA can extend from one side of the main area MA. The sub - auxiliary area SBA can include a flexible material that can be bent, folded, or curled. For example, when the sub - auxiliary area SBA is bent, the sub - auxiliary area SBA can overlap the main area MA in the thickness direction (e.g., the Z - axis direction). The sub - auxiliary area SBA can include pads connected to the display driver circuit 200 and the circuit board 300. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the sub - auxiliary area SBA can be omitted as needed or desired, and the display driver circuit 200 and the pads can be provided in the non - display area NDA.

[0080] The circuit board 300 can be attached to the pad area of the display panel 100 using an anisotropic conductive film (ACF). The leads of the circuit board 300 can be electrically connected to the pads of the display panel 100. The circuit board 300 can be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), a rigid printed circuit board (PCB), or a flexible film such as a chip - on - film (COF).

[0081] Figure 3 The substrate SUB of the display panel 100 shown in can be a base substrate or a base member. The substrate SUB can be of a flat or substantially flat type. As another example, the substrate SUB can be a flexible substrate that can be bent, folded, or curled. For example, the substrate SUB can include, but is not limited to, a glass material or a metal material. As another example, the substrate SUB can include a polymer resin such as polyimide (PI).

[0082] The thin film transistor layer TFTL may be disposed on the substrate SUB. The thin film transistor layer TFTL may include a plurality of thin film transistors for forming pixel circuits of sub-pixels. The thin film transistor layer TFTL may include gate lines, data lines, voltage lines, gate control lines, fan-out lines for connecting the display driver circuit 200 to the data lines, and / or leads for connecting the display driver circuit 200 to pads, etc. When the gate driver 210 (e.g., a plurality of gate drivers 210) is formed on one side and the opposite side of the non-display area NDA of the display panel 100, each gate driver 210 may also include thin film transistors.

[0083] The thin film transistor layer TFTL may be selectively disposed in the display area DA, the non-display area NDA, and the auxiliary area SBA. The gate lines, data lines, voltage lines in the thin film transistor layer TFTL, and the thin film transistors in each of the pixels may be disposed in the display area DA. The gate control lines and fan-out lines in the thin film transistor layer TFTL may be disposed in the non-display area NDA. The leads of the thin film transistor layer TFTL may be disposed in the auxiliary area SBA.

[0084] The emission material layer EML may be disposed on the thin film transistor layer TFTL. The emission material layer EML may include a plurality of light emitting elements (each of the plurality of light emitting elements includes a first electrode, an emission layer, and a second electrode sequentially stacked one by one to emit light) and a pixel defining layer for defining each of the sub-pixels. The light emitting elements of the emission material layer EML may be disposed in the display area DA.

[0085] The encapsulation layer TFEL may cover the upper surface and the side surface of the emission material layer EML, and may protect the emission material layer EML. The encapsulation layer TFEL may include at least one inorganic layer and at least one organic layer for encapsulating the emission material layer EML.

[0086] A touch sensing unit TSU including a touch sensing area may be disposed on the encapsulation layer TFEL of the display panel 100. The touch sensing area of the touch sensing unit TSU may include a plurality of touch electrodes for sensing a user's touch by capacitive sensing and touch driving lines for connecting the plurality of touch electrodes to at least one touch driver circuit 400. In each of the touch sensing areas, the touch electrodes may be arranged in a matrix to sense a user's touch by self-capacitive sensing or mutual-capacitive sensing.

[0087] The touch sensing unit TSU may not be formed integrally with the display panel 100 and may be disposed on a separate substrate or film provided on the display unit DU of the display panel 100. In this case, the substrate or film supporting the touch sensing unit TSU may be a base member encapsulating the display unit DU. Hereinafter, representative examples in which the touch sensing unit TSU is formed integrally with the front surface of the display unit DU will be described in more detail.

[0088] Touch electrodes may be provided in a touch sensing area overlapping the display area DA. On the other hand, touch lines for transmitting touch driving signals or touch sensing signals may be arranged in a touch peripheral area overlapping the non-display area NDA.

[0089] A touch driver circuit 400 for generating touch coordinate data regarding the touch sensing area may be provided in the non-display area NDA or the auxiliary area SBA of the display panel 100. As another example, the touch driver circuit 400 for generating touch coordinate data may be mounted on a separate circuit board 300. The touch driver circuit 400 may be implemented as an integrated circuit (IC).

[0090] The touch driver circuit 400 supplies a touch driving signal to the touch electrodes of the touch sensing area overlapping the display area DA and measures a change amount of a capacitance formed by the touch electrodes of each of a plurality of touch nodes. The touch driver circuit 400 measures the change amount of the capacitance of the touch nodes according to a change in an amount of voltage or current of the touch sensing signal received through the touch electrodes. Accordingly, the touch driver circuit 400 may determine a touch position and a touch movement direction of a user based on the change amount of the capacitance of each of the touch nodes. The touch driving signal may be a pulse signal having an appropriate frequency (e.g., a predetermined frequency). The touch driver circuit 400 may determine whether there is a touch input device or a touch of a part of a user's body (e.g., a finger), and if there is a touch, the touch driver circuit 400 may determine touch coordinates of each of the touch sensing areas based on the change amount of the capacitance between the touch electrodes in each of the touch sensing areas.

[0091] The touch driver circuit 400 pre - differentiates a plurality of planar sensing regions overlapping with a plurality of display regions DA from at least one folding sensing region (e.g., the first folding region FOU1). Additionally, the touch driver circuit 400 divides each of the planar sensing regions to define divided sensing regions of a suitable size (e.g., a predetermined size) adjacent to the folding sensing region (e.g., the first folding region FOU1). Each divided sensing region can be adjacent to the folding sensing region and can be preset to a predetermined size or area (e.g., 1 / 2, 1 / 3, 1 / 4, ……, 1 / n) of the corresponding planar sensing region and can be differentiated accordingly, where n is a positive integer. Accordingly, the touch driver circuit 400 can divide the touch sensing region of the touch sensing unit TSU into a plurality of planar sensing regions, at least one folding sensing region, and a plurality of divided sensing regions to generate and output touch coordinate data regarding a single - point touch or multi - point touches occurring in parallel or simultaneously with each other.

[0092] The touch driver circuit 400 can use the coordinates of touch nodes formed and arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing region to pre - divide and differentiate the touch sensing region into a plurality of planar sensing regions, a plurality of divided sensing regions, and at least one folding sensing region. When touch coordinate data is generated upon the occurrence and sensing of a touch, the touch driver circuit 400 can compare the coordinates of the touch nodes with the touch coordinates of the touch coordinate data to determine the position of the touch in each of the plurality of planar sensing regions, the plurality of divided sensing regions, and at least one folding sensing region. The touch driver circuit 400 can transmit the touch coordinate data together with region codes respectively for the plurality of planar sensing regions, the plurality of divided sensing regions, and at least one folding sensing region to the display driver circuit 200.

[0093] The display driver circuit 200 detects the number of single - point touches or multi - point touches occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other through the touch coordinate data from the touch driver circuit 400, and analyzes the touch movement positions of the single - point touch or multi - point touches in each of the plurality of divided sensing regions and the touch movement time between the plurality of divided sensing regions. Based on the results of the analysis, at least one user interface icon or menu bar (e.g., icons and / or menu bars, etc.) can be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100 such that a user can select or control the built - in features of the display device 10.

[0094] In addition, the display driver circuit 200 may analyze the touch movement positions of single-touch or multi-touch in each of the multiple planar sensing regions and the multiple divided sensing regions, as well as the touch movement time between the multiple divided sensing regions. Based on the analysis results, icons and / or a menu bar, etc. may be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100, enabling the user to select or control the built-in features of the display device 10. The interface performance regarding the touch movement positions and drawing analysis of single-touch or multi-touch according to the display driver circuit 200 will be described in more detail below.

[0095] Figure 4 is a view showing the layout of a display unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. More specifically, Figure 4 is a view showing a part of the layout of the display area DA and the non-display area NDA of the display unit DU before forming the touch sensing unit TSU.

[0096] The display area DA displays an image therein and may be defined as the central area of the display panel 100. For example, the display area DA may include a plurality of sub-pixels SP, a plurality of gate lines GL, a plurality of data lines DL, and a plurality of voltage lines VL, etc. Each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP may be defined as the smallest unit for outputting red light, green light, blue light, or white light, etc.

[0097] The plurality of gate lines GL may supply gate signals received from at least one gate driver 210 to the plurality of sub-pixels SP. The plurality of gate lines GL may extend in the X-axis direction and may be spaced apart from each other in the Y-axis direction intersecting the X-axis direction.

[0098] The plurality of data lines DL may supply data voltages received from the display driver circuit 200 to the plurality of sub-pixels SP. The plurality of data lines DL may extend in the Y-axis direction and may be spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0099] The plurality of voltage lines VL may apply power voltages received from the display driver circuit 200 or a separate power supply unit (e.g., a separate power supply) to the plurality of pixels SP. The power voltage may be at least one of a driving voltage, an initialization voltage, and a reference voltage. The plurality of voltage lines VL may extend in the Y-axis direction and may be spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0100] The non-display area NDA is a peripheral area surrounding the display area DA (e.g., around the display area DA of the displayed image) and may be defined as a border area. The non-display area NDA may include a gate driver 210, fan-out lines FOL, and gate control lines GCL. The gate driver 210 may generate a plurality of gate signals based on gate control signals and may sequentially supply the plurality of gate signals to the plurality of gate lines GL in a suitable order (e.g., a predetermined order).

[0101] The fan-out line FOL may extend from the display driver circuit 200 to the display area DA. The fan-out line FOL may supply data voltages received from the display driver circuit 200 to a plurality of data lines DL.

[0102] The gate control line GCL may extend from the display driver circuit 200 to the gate driver 210. The gate control line GCL may supply gate control signals received from the display driver circuit 200 to the gate driver 210.

[0103] The display driver circuit 200 may output signals and voltages for driving the display panel 100 to the fan-out line FOL. The display driver circuit 200 may provide data voltages to the data lines DL through the fan-out line FOL. The data voltages may be applied to a plurality of sub-pixels SP such that the brightness of the plurality of sub-pixels SP may be determined. The display driver circuit 200 may supply gate control signals to the gate driver 210 through the gate control line GCL.

[0104] The display driver circuit 200 may divide a plurality of planar sensing regions overlapping with respective planar display regions (e.g., the first non-folded region DA1 and the second non-folded region DA2), at least one folded sensing region (e.g., the first folded region FOU1), and a plurality of divided sensing regions adjacent to the folded sensing region of the planar sensing regions into appropriate sizes (e.g., a predetermined size), and may distinguish them from each other. Accordingly, the coordinates of touch nodes arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing region may be used such that the plurality of planar sensing regions, the at least one folded sensing region, and the plurality of divided sensing regions adjacent to the folded sensing region may be pre-divided and may be distinguished from each other.

[0105] When a touch occurs, the display driver circuit 200 compares the touch coordinates of the touch coordinate data input from the touch driver circuit 400 with the coordinates of the touch nodes. Then, the display driver circuit 200 detects the number of single touches or multi-touches occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other based on the comparison result, and analyzes the touch movement positions of the single touch or multi-touches in each of the divided sensing regions and the touch movement time between the divided sensing regions.

[0106] The display driver circuit 200 may generate digital video data for controlling built-in features (e.g., predetermined built-in features) corresponding to the touch movement positions in each of the divided sensing regions and the touch movement time between the divided sensing regions for single-touch or multi-touch. For example, the display driver circuit 200 may create digital video data such as icons or a menu bar based on the number of touch movements, the touch movement positions, and the touch movement time between the divided sensing regions, enabling a user to check and control screen control functions such as brightness, chroma, resolution, and contrast, and operation control functions such as volume, power, and mute. Additionally, based on the user's touch actions determined and recognized in real time through touch coordinate data, the display driver circuit 200 may control built-in features such as screen control functions and operation control functions, and may run application programs.

[0107] Figure 5 is a view showing the layout of a touch sensing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. More specifically, Figure 5 is a view showing the layout of the structure of a touch sensing region TSA corresponding to a display region DA when viewed from the top (e.g., in a plan view).

[0108] Referring to Figure 5 , the touch sensing unit TSU may include a touch sensing region TSA that senses a user's touch and a touch peripheral region TPA around the touch sensing region TSA.

[0109] The touch sensing region TSA may cover the display region DA and the non-display region NDA of the display unit DU and may overlap with the display region DA and the non-display region NDA. Since the non-display region NDA is a border region, the outer region of the touch sensing region TSA that overlaps and aligns with the non-display region NDA corresponds to the border region.

[0110] The touch peripheral region TPA corresponds to the region where the gate driver 210 is provided. Accordingly, the touch sensing region TSA is extended to overlap with the non-display region NDA except for the region where the gate driver 210 is provided and is provided on the non-display region NDA except for the region where the gate driver 210 is provided.

[0111] The touch sensing region TSA may include a plurality of touch electrodes SEN and a plurality of dummy electrodes DME. The plurality of touch electrodes SEN may form mutual capacitance or self-capacitance to sense the touch of an object or a person. The plurality of touch electrodes SEN may include a plurality of driving electrodes TE and a plurality of sensing electrodes RE.

[0112] A plurality of driving electrodes TE may be arranged along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The plurality of driving electrodes TE may be spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. The driving electrodes TE adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction may be electrically connected to each other through a plurality of connection electrodes CE.

[0113] The plurality of driving electrodes TE may be connected to a first touch pad through driving lines TL. The driving lines TL may include a lower driving line TLa and an upper driving line TLb. For example, some of the driving electrodes TE provided on the lower side of the touch sensing area TSA among the driving electrodes TE may be connected to the first touch pad through the lower driving line TLa, and some other driving electrodes TE provided on the upper side of the touch sensing area TSA among the driving electrodes TE may be connected to the first touch pad through the upper driving line TLb. The lower driving line TLa may extend to the first touch pad through the lower side of the touch peripheral area TPA. The upper driving line TLb may extend to the first touch pad along the upper side, left side, and lower side of the touch peripheral area TPA. The first touch pad may be connected to at least one touch driver circuit 400 through a circuit board 300.

[0114] The driving electrodes TE adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction may be electrically connected to each other through a plurality of connection electrodes CE. Even if one of the connection electrodes CE is disconnected, the driving electrodes TE may be stably connected to each other through the other remaining connection electrodes CE. The driving electrodes TE adjacent to each other may be connected to each other through two connection electrodes CE, but the number of the connection electrodes CE is not limited thereto. The connection electrodes CE may be bent at least once. Although the connection electrodes CE may have a shape of a chevron "<" or ">" when viewed from the top (e.g., in a plan view), the shape of the connection electrodes CE is not limited thereto.

[0115] The connection electrodes CE may be provided in a layer different from the layer of the plurality of driving electrodes TE and the plurality of sensing electrodes RE (e.g., middle or upper). The driving electrodes TE adjacent to each other in the Y-axis direction may be electrically connected to each other through the connection electrodes CE provided in a layer different from the layer of the plurality of driving electrodes TE or the plurality of sensing electrodes RE (e.g., middle or upper). The connection electrodes CE may be formed on a subsequent layer (e.g., a lower layer) of the layer where the driving electrodes TE and the sensing electrodes RE are formed (e.g., middle or upper). The connection electrodes CE are electrically connected to the driving electrodes TE through a plurality of contact holes. Accordingly, even if the connection electrodes CE overlap with the plurality of sensing electrodes RE in the Z-axis direction, the plurality of driving electrodes TE and the plurality of sensing electrodes RE may be insulated from each other. A mutual capacitance may be formed between the driving electrodes TE and the sensing electrodes RE.

[0116] The sensing electrodes RE adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction can be electrically connected to each other through connection portions provided in the same layer as the layer of the plurality of driving electrodes TE or the plurality of sensing electrodes RE (e.g., middle or upper). In other words, the plurality of sensing electrodes RE can extend in the X-axis direction and can be spaced apart from each other in the Y-axis direction. The plurality of sensing electrodes RE can be arranged along the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the sensing electrodes RE adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction can be electrically connected to each other through the connection portions.

[0117] The touch nodes TN can be formed at the intersection or crossing points of the connection electrodes CE connected between the driving electrodes TE and the connection portions of the sensing electrodes RE. The touch nodes TN can be arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing area TSA.

[0118] The plurality of sensing electrodes RE can be connected to the second touch pad through the sensing lines RL. For example, some of the sensing electrodes RE provided on the right side of the touch sensing area TSA among the sensing electrodes RE can be connected to the second touch pad through the sensing lines RL. The sensing lines RL can extend along the right side and the lower side of the touch peripheral area TPA to the second touch pad. The second touch pad can be connected to at least one touch driver circuit 400 through the circuit board 300.

[0119] Each of the plurality of dummy electrodes DME can be surrounded by a corresponding driving electrode TE or a corresponding sensing electrode RE (e.g., around the periphery of the corresponding driving electrode TE or the corresponding sensing electrode RE). Each of the plurality of dummy electrodes DME can be spaced apart from and insulated from the corresponding driving electrode TE or the corresponding sensing electrode RE. Accordingly, the dummy electrodes DME can be electrically floating.

[0120] The touch driver circuit 400 supplies a touch driving signal to the driving electrode TE. The touch driver circuit 400 receives the signal fed back from each of the driving electrodes TE as the touch sensing signal of the driving electrode TE, and receives the touch sensing signal on the sensing electrode RE from each of the sensing electrodes RE. Accordingly, the touch driver circuit 400 measures the change in the magnitude of the touch sensing signal received from the driving electrode TE and the sensing electrode RE, and measures the change amount of the capacitance formed by the driving electrode TE and the sensing electrode RE in each of the touch nodes TN. The touch driver circuit 400 can determine the user's touch position and touch movement direction based on the change amount of the capacitance in each of the touch nodes TN. As described above, the touch driver circuit 400 can determine whether there is a touch of a touch input device or a part of the user's body (e.g., finger), and if there is a touch, the touch driver circuit 400 can determine the touch coordinates in each of the touch sensing areas TSA based on the change amount of the capacitance between the touch electrodes SEN.

[0121] Figure 6 is a view showing Figure 5 the fold sensing area, a plurality of planar sensing areas, and a plurality of divided sensing areas that are distinguishable from each other in the touch sensing area according to the first embodiment.

[0122] Referring Figure 6 , the touch sensing area TSA of the touch sensing unit TSU can be transformed into a bent state in which the touch sensing area TSA and the display unit DU of the display panel 100 are bent at a certain angle (e.g., a predetermined angle) θk, a flat state in which the touch sensing area TSA is fully unfolded, or a folded state in which the touch sensing area TSA is folded once. The touch sensing area TSA of the touch sensing unit TSU detects the number and touch position of a single-point touch or multi-point touches that occur in parallel or substantially simultaneously even in the bent state in which it is bent at the above angle (e.g., a predetermined angle) θk, and senses drawing operations such as the touch movement position of a single-point touch or multi-point touches.

[0123] The touch driver circuit 400 divides and differentiates at least one fold sensing area (e.g., the first fold area FOU1) and a plurality of planar sensing areas TD1 and TD2 that respectively overlap the planar display area DA.

[0124] In addition, the touch driver circuit 400 divides each of the divided sensing areas DO1 and DO2 adjacent to at least one fold sensing area (e.g., the first fold area FOU1) of the planar sensing areas TD1 and TD2 into a suitable size (e.g., a predetermined size) and differentiates them. For example, the touch driver circuit 400 can divide and differentiate the first divided sensing area DO1 adjacent to the first fold area FOU1 from the first planar sensing area TD1, and can divide and differentiate the second divided sensing area DO2 adjacent to the first fold area FOU1 from the second planar sensing area TD2. Each of the divided sensing areas DO1 and DO2 can be predetermined (e.g., can be preset), and can be divided into sizes or areas such as 1 / 2, 1 / 3, 1 / 4,..., or 1 / n, etc. of the corresponding planar sensing areas TD1 or TD2, where n is a positive integer. The touch driver circuit 400 can transmit the touch coordinate data of a single-point touch or multi-point touches that occur in parallel or substantially simultaneously to the display driver circuit 200 together with the area codes for the planar sensing areas TD1 and TD2, at least one fold area FOU1, and the plurality of divided sensing areas DO1 and DO2.

[0125] Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the first divided sensing area, the fold sensing area, and the second divided sensing area that sense a user's touch.

[0126] ReferringFigure 6 and Figure 7 , first, the user can touch a first divided sensing area DO1 of a first planar sensing area TD1 as indicated by an arrow A1, and then can keep touching while moving downward (e.g., drawing) as indicated by an arrow A2 to a second divided sensing area DO2 of a second planar sensing area TD2.

[0127] In this case, the touch driver circuit 400 can transmit touch coordinate data (which sequentially includes a user touch position in the first divided sensing area DO1 of the first planar sensing area TD1, a touch movement position in the first divided sensing area DO1, a user touch position in the second divided sensing area DO2 of the second planar sensing area TD2, and a touch movement position in the second divided sensing area DO2) to the display driver circuit 200. In addition, the touch driver circuit 400 can transmit an area code for each of the first divided sensing area DO1 and the second divided sensing area DO2 together with the touch coordinate data to the display driver circuit 200.

[0128] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing a touch sensing process of a touch sensing unit and a touch driver circuit and a screen menu display process of a display driver circuit.

[0129] Refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the touch driver circuit 400 can supply a touch driving signal to touch electrodes SEN arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing unit TSU, and can sense a change amount of capacitance between the touch electrodes SEN to detect a user's touch operation and touch position in real time (step SS1). For example, in addition to the area codes for the first divided sensing area DO1 and the second divided sensing area DO2, the touch driver circuit 400 can transmit touch coordinate data sequentially including a user's touch position and a touch movement position to the display driver circuit 200.

[0130] The display driver circuit 200 checks the touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit 400 in real time. If touch position coordinates in the first divided sensing area DO1 of the first planar sensing area TD1 are recognized, the display driver circuit 200 checks the number of touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other to detect the number of single-point touches or multi-point touches occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other (step SS2).

[0131] When only a single-point touch occurs in the first divided sensing area DO1, the display driver circuit 200 sequentially analyzes the touch coordinates in the first divided sensing area DO1 to detect a touch movement position and a touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1 (step SS3).

[0132] After detecting the touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1 of the first plane sensing area TD1, the display driver circuit 200 checks whether the touch position coordinates in the second divided sensing area DO2 of the second plane sensing area TD2 are detected, and can sequentially analyze the touch coordinates in the second divided sensing area DO2 to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2 (step SS4).

[0133] After detecting the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2, the display driver circuit 200 detects a first touch movement time Ts2 that is the time interval between the touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1 and the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2. The display driver circuit 200 compares the first touch movement time Ts2 of the movement of the touch position between the first divided sensing area DO1 and the second divided sensing area DO2 with reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (step SS5).

[0134] If the first touch movement time Ts2 is less than the reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (e.g., if the first touch movement time Ts2 is shorter than the reference time information RTs), the display driver circuit 200 determines that it is the user's first interface command. In this case, a first screen menu including a first icon (e.g., a predetermined first icon) or a first menu bar can be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can select or control the built-in features of the display device 10 (step SS6).

[0135] Figure 9 is a view showing the mutually distinguishable folded sensing areas, a plurality of plane sensing areas, and a plurality of divided sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the second embodiment Figure 5

[0136] Reference Figure 9 , first, the user can touch the first divided sensing area DO1 of the first plane sensing area TD1 with a finger as shown by arrow B1, and then can move downward (e.g., draw) while maintaining the touch to the second divided sensing area DO2 of the second plane sensing area TD2 as shown by arrow B2.

[0137] The touch driver circuit 400 can transmit touch coordinate data including touch coordinates and touch movement positions together with area codes for the first divided sensing area DO1 and the second divided sensing area DO2 to the display driver circuit 200.

[0138] Reference Figure 9 and in combination with​Figure 8 The display driver circuit 200 checks in real time the multiple touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit 400, and checks the coordinates of the multi-touch positions in the first divided sensing area DO1 of the first plane sensing area TD1. Once the touch position coordinates are recognized, the number of touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other is checked to detect the number of single touches or multi-touches occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other (step SS2).

[0139] If a multi-touch occurs in the first divided sensing area DO1, the display driver circuit 200 sequentially analyzes the single-touch coordinate data in the first divided sensing area DO1 to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1 (step SS7).

[0140] After detecting the touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1, the display driver circuit 200 checks whether touch position coordinates in the second divided sensing area DO2 of the second plane sensing area TD2 are detected, and sequentially analyzes the single-touch coordinate data in the second divided sensing area DO2 to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2 (step SS8).

[0141] After detecting the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2, the display driver circuit 200 detects a first touch movement time Ts2 that is the time interval between the touch movement time Ts1 in the first divided sensing area DO1 and the touch movement time Ts3 in the second divided sensing area DO2. The display driver circuit 200 compares the first touch movement time Ts2 according to the movement of the touch position between the first divided sensing area DO1 and the second divided sensing area DO2 with reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (step SS9).

[0142] If the first touch movement time Ts2 is less than the reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (e.g., if the first touch movement time Ts2 is shorter than the reference time information RTs), the display driver circuit 200 determines that it is a second interface command of the user. In this case, a second screen menu including a second icon (e.g., a predetermined second icon) or a second menu bar can be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can select or control the built-in features of the display device 10 (step SS10).

[0143] Figure 10 is a view showing an image of a display screen for displaying an icon and a menu bar according to single-point and two-point movement sensing.

[0144] ReferenceFigure 10 When the display driver circuit 200 determines the user's first interface command based on the single-touch movement position and time, the display driver circuit 200 can display a first screen menu 1002 including a first icon on the screen of the display panel 100, enabling the user to check and control operation control functions such as muting the display device 10 and turning off the display device 10.

[0145] When the display driver circuit 200 determines the user's second interface command based on the touch movement position and time, the display driver circuit 200 can display a second screen menu 1004 including a second menu bar on the screen of the display panel 100, enabling the user to check and control the resolution, brightness, contrast, and / or color mode of the display device 10, etc.

[0146] Figure 11 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, a plurality of planar sensing areas, and a plurality of dividing sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the third embodiment. Figure 12 is an enlarged view showing the first planar sensing area, the first dividing sensing area, the folding sensing area, the second dividing sensing area, and the second planar sensing area that sense the user's touch.

[0147] Reference Figure 11 and Figure 12 First, as shown by arrow C1, the user can touch the first planar sensing area TD1, move to the first dividing sensing area DO1 while maintaining the touch, and then move downward (e.g., drawing) to the second dividing sensing area DO2 and the second planar sensing area TD2 while maintaining the touch, as shown by arrow C2.

[0148] Accordingly, the touch driver circuit 400 can transmit touch coordinate data sequentially including the user's touch positions in the first planar sensing area TD1 and the first dividing sensing area DO1 and the touch movement positions in the first dividing sensing area DO1 and the second planar sensing area TD2 to the display driver circuit 200.

[0149] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the touch sensing process of the touch sensing unit and the touch driver circuit and the screen menu display process of the display driver circuit.

[0150] Reference Figure 12 and Figure 13, the touch driver circuit 400 supplies touch drive signals to touch electrodes SEN arranged in a matrix in the touch sensing unit TSU. Accordingly, the touch driver circuit 400 can detect touch coordinate data sequentially including a user touch position in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 and a touch movement position in the first divided sensing region DO1 and the second plane sensing region TD2, and transmit the touch coordinate data to the display driver circuit 200 (step SS1).

[0151] The display driver circuit 200 checks the touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit 400 in real time. If the touch position coordinates in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 are sequentially or continuously recognized, the display driver circuit 200 checks the number of touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other to detect the number of single-touch or multi-touch events occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other (step SS12).

[0152] If only a single-touch event occurs in the first plane sensing region TD1, the display driver circuit 200 sequentially analyzes the touch coordinates continuously or sequentially generated in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 to detect the touch movement position and touch movement time Ts4 in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 (step SS13).

[0153] After detecting the touch movement time Ts4 in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1, the display driver circuit 200 checks whether touch position coordinates in the second divided sensing region DO2 are detected, and sequentially analyzes the touch coordinates in the second plane sensing region TD2 and the second divided sensing region DO2 to detect the touch movement position and touch movement time Ts6 in the second plane sensing region TD2 and the second divided sensing region DO2 (step SS14).

[0154] After detecting the touch movement time Ts6 in the second plane sensing region TD2 and the second divided sensing region DO2, the display driver circuit 200 detects a second touch movement time Ts5 that is the time interval between the touch movement time Ts4 in the first plane sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 and the touch movement time Ts6 in the second plane sensing region TD2 and the second divided sensing region DO2. The display driver circuit 200 compares the second touch movement time Ts5 according to the movement of the touch position between the first divided sensing region DO1 and the second divided sensing region DO2 with reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (step SS15).

[0155] If the second touch movement time Ts5 is less than the reference time information RTs (e.g., if the second touch movement time Ts5 is shorter than the reference time information RTs), the display driver circuit 200 determines that it is the user's third interface command. In this case, a third screen menu including a third icon (e.g., a predetermined third icon) or a third menu bar may be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can select or control the built-in features of the display device 10 (step SS16).

[0156] Figure 14 is a view showing Figure 5 the distinguishable folding sensing area, a plurality of planar sensing areas, and a plurality of divided sensing areas in the touch sensing area according to the fourth embodiment.

[0157] Reference Figure 14 , first, the user can touch the first planar sensing area TD1 and the first divided sensing area DO1 with a finger as shown by the arrow D1, and then can keep touching and move downward (e.g., draw) as shown by the arrow D2 to the second divided sensing area DO2 and the second planar sensing area TD2.

[0158] Reference Figure 14 and in combination with Figure 13 , once the touch position coordinates are recognized, the display driver circuit 200 checks the number of touch position coordinates input in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other to detect the number of single touches or multi - touches occurring in parallel or substantially simultaneously with each other (step SS12).

[0159] If a multi - touch occurs in the first planar sensing area TD1, the display driver circuit 200 sequentially analyzes the single - touch coordinates in the first planar sensing area TD1 and the first divided sensing area DO1 to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time Ts4 in the first planar sensing area TD1 and the first divided sensing area DO1 (step SS17).

[0160] After detecting the touch movement time Ts4 in the first planar sensing area TD1 and the first divided sensing area DO1, the display driver circuit 200 checks whether the touch position coordinates in the second divided sensing area DO2 and the second planar sensing area TD2 are detected, and detects the touch movement position and the touch movement time Ts6 in the second divided sensing area DO2 and the second planar sensing area TD2 (step SS18).

[0161] After detecting the touch movement time Ts6 in the second divided sensing region DO2 and the second planar sensing region TD2, the display driver circuit 200 detects a second touch movement time Ts5 that is the time interval between the touch movement time Ts4 in the first planar sensing region TD1 and the first divided sensing region DO1 and the touch movement time Ts6 in the second divided sensing region DO2 and the second planar sensing region TD2. The display driver circuit 200 compares the second touch movement time Ts5 with reference time information (e.g., predetermined reference time information) RTs (step SS19).

[0162] If the second touch movement time Ts5 is less than the reference time information RTs (e.g., if the second touch movement time Ts5 is shorter than the reference time information RTs), the display driver circuit 200 determines that it is the user's fourth interface command. In this case, a fourth screen menu including a fourth icon (e.g., a predetermined fourth icon) or a fourth menu bar can be displayed on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can select or control the built-in features of the display device 10 (step SS20).

[0163] Figure 15 It is a view showing an image of a display screen for displaying icons according to single-point and two-point movement sensing.

[0164] Reference Figure 15 When the display driver circuit 200 determines the user's third interface command based on the single-touch movement position and time, the display driver circuit 200 can display a third screen menu 1502 including a third icon on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can check and control the operation control functions of the display device 10 such as volume control.

[0165] On the other hand, when the display driver circuit 200 determines the user's fourth interface command based on the touch movement position and time, the display driver circuit 200 can display a fourth screen menu 1504 including a fourth menu bar on the screen of the display panel 100 so that the user can check and control the brightness, chromaticity, and / or sensitivity, etc. of the display device 10.

[0166] Figure 16 It is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 17 It is shown Figure 16 A perspective view when the display device shown in

[0167] In Figure 16 and Figure 17 In the embodiments shown, the display device 10 is a foldable display device that can be folded in a second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). The display device 10 can be kept folded or unfolded.

[0168] The foldable display device 10 that is folded in a second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may also include a first folding region FOU1, a first non-folding region DA1, and a second non-folding region DA2. The first folding region FOU1 may be a portion of the display device 10 that can be folded. The first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 may be portions of the display device 10 that cannot be folded.

[0169] The first folding region FOU1 may be disposed between the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 and may extend in a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). The first non-folding region DA1 may be disposed on one side (e.g., the lower side) of the first folding region FOU1. The second non-folding region DA2 may be located on the opposite side (e.g., the upper side) of the first folding region FOU1. The first folding region FOU1 may be a region that is bent at a certain curvature (e.g., a predetermined curvature) at a first folding line FOL1 and a second folding line FOL2. Accordingly, the first folding line FOL1 may be a boundary between the first folding region FOU1 and the first non-folding region DA1, and the second folding line FOL2 may be a boundary between the first folding region FOU1 and the second non-folding region DA2. In this case, the first folding region FOU1 may be folded in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction), and by folding the first folding region FOU1, the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 may be folded in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). As another example, the first folding region FOU1 may extend in an oblique direction between the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) and the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) of the display device 10. In this case, the display device 10 may be folded into a triangular shape.

[0170] When the first folding region FOU1 extends in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), the length of the first folding region FOU1 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may be less than the length of the first folding region FOU1 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). Additionally, the length of the first non-folding region DA1 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may be greater than the length of the first folding region FOU1 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). The length of the second non-folding region DA2 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may be greater than the length of the first folding region FOU1 in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction).

[0171] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing a display device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 19 is Figure 18 a perspective view of the display device shown in a multi-folded state.

[0172] In Figure 18 and Figure 19 In the embodiment shown, the display device 10 may be a multi-foldable display device that can be folded multiple times in a first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). The display device 10 may be maintained in a folded state at least once and unfolded. The display device 10 may be folded inward such that the front surface on which the display image is formed is located inside (e.g., in an inward folding manner). When the display device 10 is bent or folded in the inward folding manner, a part of the front surface of the display device 10 may face another part of the front surface. As another example, the display device 10 may be folded outward such that the front surface on which the display image is formed is located outside (e.g., in an outward folding manner). When the display device 10 is bent or folded in the outward folding manner, a part of the rear surface of the display device 10 may face another part of the rear surface.

[0173] The entire image display area of the display device 10 may be divided into a plurality of non-fold regions DA1 to DA3 and one or more fold regions FOU1 and FOU2. As an example, the first fold region FOU1 and the second fold region FOU2 may be located at different positions from each other in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) and may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). Accordingly, the first non-fold region DA1 and the second non-fold region DA2 may be positioned in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), with the first fold region FOU1 between the first non-fold region DA1 and the second non-fold region DA2, and the second non-fold region DA2 and the third non-fold region DA3 may be positioned in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), with the second fold region FOU2 between the second non-fold region DA2 and the third non-fold region DA3. In addition, a non-display region NDA may be formed at the boundary of the entire image display area (e.g., formed at the boundary of the plurality of non-fold regions DA1 to DA3 and the one or more fold regions FOU1 and FOU2).

[0174] The first folding region FOU1 may be disposed between the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2, and may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). Additionally, the first folding region FOU1 may be folded inwardly or outwardly in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). Accordingly, when the first folding region FOU1 is folded outwardly, the rear surfaces of the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 may face each other. When the first folding region FOU1 is folded inwardly, the front surfaces of the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 may face each other. Thus, when the first folding region FOU1 extends in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) and is folded inwardly or outwardly in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), the width of the display device 10 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be reduced to approximately two-thirds.

[0175] The second folding region FOU2 may be disposed between the second non-folding region DA2 and the third non-folding region DA3, and may extend in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction). Additionally, the second folding region FOU2 may be folded inwardly or outwardly in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction). When the second folding region FOU2 is folded inwardly, the front surfaces of the second non-folding region DA2 and the third non-folding region DA3 may face each other. When the second folding region FOU2 is folded outwardly, the rear surfaces of the second non-folding region DA2 and the third non-folding region DA3 may face each other. Thus, when the second folding region FOU2 extends in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) and is folded inwardly or outwardly in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), the width of the display device 10 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be reduced to approximately two-thirds.

[0176] As Figure 18 and Figure 19 shown in, the display device 10 may be a G-type or inverted G-type foldable display device, in which the first folding region FOU1 and the second folding region FOU2 are folded inwardly such that the front surfaces of the second non-folding region DA2 and the third non-folding region DA3 face each other, while the front surface of the first non-folding region DA1 faces the rear surface of the third non-folding region DA3. When the G-type or inverted G-type foldable display device is folded, the length of the display device 10 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) may be reduced to approximately one-third, enabling the user to more easily carry the display device 10.

[0177] On the other hand, the multi-foldable display device 10 may be an S-shaped or inverted S-shaped foldable display device, in which the first folding region FOU1 is folded outward such that the rear surfaces of the first non-folding region DA1 and the second non-folding region DA2 face each other, while the second folding region FOU2 is folded inward such that the front surfaces of the second non-folding region DA2 and the third non-folding region DA3 face each other. When the first folding region FOU1 is folded inward and the second folding region FOU2 is folded outward or the first folding region FOU1 is folded outward and the second folding region FOU2 is folded inward in the S-shaped or inverted S-shaped foldable display device, the width of the display device 10 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) can be reduced to approximately one-third, enabling the user to carry the display device 10 more easily.

[0178] An electronic or electrical device and / or any other related device or component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure described herein may be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, various components of these devices may be formed on an integrated circuit (IC) chip or on separate IC chips. Additionally, various components of these devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or may be formed on a substrate. Further, various components of these devices may be processes or threads running on one or more processors in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions, and interacting with other system components to perform the various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory that can be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device (e.g., such as a random access memory (RAM)). The computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., such as a CD-ROM or a flash drive, etc.). Moreover, those skilled in the art should recognize that the functions of various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the functions of a particular computing device may be distributed over one or more other computing devices without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0179] The foregoing is an illustration of some embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting thereof. Although some embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It will be understood that the description of the features or aspects in each embodiment is generally considered applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments, unless otherwise described. Thus, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the features, characteristics, and / or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment can be used alone or in combination with the features, characteristics, and / or elements described in connection with other embodiments, unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it should be understood that the foregoing is an illustration of various example embodiments and should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, and that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments and other example embodiments are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A portable display device, comprising: A display panel comprising a plurality of planar display areas and at least one folding area; A touch sensor, located on the front surface of the display panel to sense a user's touch; The touch driver circuit is configured as: Dividing a touch sensing area of ​​the touch sensor into a plurality of planar sensing areas and at least one folded sensing area; and detecting touch positions and touch movement positions in the plurality of planar sensing areas and the at least one folding sensing area to generate at least one touch coordinate data; as well as A display driver circuit is configured to analyze the touch positions, touch movement directions, and touch movement times in the multiple planar sensing areas and the at least one folded sensing area to display icons or menu bar images on the display panel, thereby enabling the user to control screen control functions and operation control functions of the display panel.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: The touch driver circuit is configured as: The plurality of planar sensing areas respectively overlapping the planar display area, the at least one folding sensing area overlapping the at least one folding area, and a plurality of divided sensing areas of the plurality of planar sensing areas adjacent to the folding sensing area are divided into predetermined sizes; and the plurality of planar sensing areas, the at least one folding sensing area, and the plurality of divided sensing areas are distinguished from each other, and Each of the plurality of divided sensing regions is divided into an area or size that is 1 / n of an area or size of a corresponding planar sensing region among the plurality of planar sensing regions, wherein n is a positive integer.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: analyzing the at least one touch coordinate data to detect a single touch or a number of multiple touches occurring in parallel with each other; analyzing the touch movement position of the single touch or the multi-touch in each of the plurality of divided sensing areas and a touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing areas among the plurality of divided sensing areas; and displaying the icon or menu bar image on the display panel according to the analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between the adjacent divided sensing areas, Wherein, the display driver circuit is configured as follows: checking the at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and When the touch position coordinates in the first divided sensing area of ​​the first planar sensing area among the plurality of planar sensing areas are identified, the number of touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel with each other is checked to detect the single touch or the number of multi-touches occurring in parallel with each other.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: detecting the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing touch coordinates in the first divided sensing area for single-point touch coordinate data generated by the single-point touch in the first divided sensing area; checking whether a touch position coordinate in a second divided sensing area of ​​a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area among the plurality of planar sensing areas is detected to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; detecting a first touch movement time, the first touch movement time being a time interval between the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; and When the first touch movement time is less than the reference time information, a first interface command of the user is determined to display a first screen menu on the display panel as the icon or menu bar image.

5. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: detecting the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing touch coordinates in the first divided sensing area for multi-touch coordinate data generated by the multi-touch in the first divided sensing area; checking whether a touch position coordinate in a second divided sensing area of ​​a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area among the plurality of planar sensing areas is detected to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; detecting a second touch movement time, the second touch movement time being a time interval between the touch movement time in the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second divided sensing area; and When the second touch movement time is less than the reference time information, a second interface command of the user is determined to display a second screen menu on the display panel as the icon or menu bar image.

6. The display device according to claim 2, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: analyzing the at least one touch coordinate data to detect a single touch or a number of multiple touches occurring in parallel with each other; analyzing the touch movement position of the single touch or the multi-touch in each of the plurality of planar sensing areas and the plurality of divided sensing areas and a touch movement time between adjacent divided sensing areas among the plurality of divided sensing areas; and The icon or menu bar image is displayed on the display panel according to the analysis result of the touch movement position and the touch movement time between the adjacent divided sensing areas.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: checking the at least one touch coordinate data received from the touch driver circuit; and When the touch position coordinates in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area of ​​the first planar sensing area among the multiple planar sensing areas are detected, the multi-point touch position coordinates input and generated in parallel with each other are checked to detect the single touch or the number of the multi-point touches occurring in parallel with each other.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: detecting the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing the touch coordinates in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area for touch coordinate data generated by the single-point touch in the first planar sensing area; checking whether a touch position coordinate in a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area and a second divided sensing area of ​​the second planar sensing area among the plurality of planar sensing areas is detected to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing area and the second divided sensing area; detecting a third touch movement time, the third touch movement time being a time interval between the touch movement time in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing area and the second divided sensing area; and When the third touch movement time is less than the reference time information, a third interface command of the user is determined to display a third screen menu on the display panel as the icon or menu bar image.

9. The display device according to claim 7, wherein: The display driver circuit is configured as follows: detecting the touch movement positions and the touch movement times in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area by sequentially analyzing touch coordinates in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area for multi-touch coordinate data generated by the multi-touch in the first planar sensing area; checking whether a touch position coordinate in a second planar sensing area adjacent to the first divided sensing area and a second divided sensing area of ​​the second planar sensing area among the plurality of planar sensing areas is detected to detect the touch movement position and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing area and the second divided sensing area; detecting a fourth touch movement time, the fourth touch movement time being a time interval between the touch movement time in the first planar sensing area and the first divided sensing area and the touch movement time in the second planar sensing area and the second divided sensing area; and When the fourth touch movement time is less than the reference time information, a fourth interface command of the user is determined to display a fourth screen menu on the display panel as the icon or menu bar image.

10. A portable display device comprising: A display panel comprising a plurality of planar display areas and at least one folding area; A touch sensor, located on the front surface of the display panel to sense a user's touch; The touch driver circuit is configured as: dividing a touch sensing area of ​​the touch sensor into a plurality of planar sensing areas overlapping the planar display area and at least one folding sensing area overlapping the at least one folding area; and detecting touch positions and touch movement positions in the plurality of planar sensing areas and the at least one folding sensing area to generate at least one touch coordinate data; as well as a display driver circuit configured to analyze the touch positions, touch movement directions, and touch movement times in the plurality of planar sensing areas and the at least one folded sensing area to display icons or menu bar images on the display panel, thereby enabling the user to control a screen control function and an operation control function of the display panel, Wherein, the touch driver circuit is configured as follows: for each of the plurality of planar sensing regions, dividing a plurality of divided sensing regions adjacent to the at least one folded sensing region into specific sizes; and For each of the plurality of planar sensing regions, the plurality of planar sensing regions are distinguished from the at least one folded sensing region to detect the touch position.