Display device and driving method thereof

Abstract

A display device and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The display device includes: a substrate; a light emitting region defined on the substrate, the light emitting region including a light emitting element configured to emit light; a touch area disposed adjacent to the light emitting area and configured to sense whether there is a touch; and a gate line commonly connected to the light emitting area and the touch area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device and a driving method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the progress of information technology, the market for display devices as a connection medium between users and information is expanding. Accordingly, the use of display devices such as light-emitting display devices (LEDs), micro-LED display devices, quantum dot display devices (QDDs), liquid crystal display devices (LCDs), etc. is increasing.

[0003] The above display device includes a display panel including sub-pixels, a driver configured to output a driving signal for driving the display panel, a power supply configured to generate power to be supplied to the display panel or the driver, and the like.

[0004] In such a display device, when a driving signal such as a scan signal, a data signal, etc. is provided to sub-pixels formed in the display panel, the selected sub-pixels among the sub-pixels transmit light through the selected sub-pixels or directly emit light, so that an image can be displayed. In addition, such a display device can receive an input of a user in the form of a touch based on a touch sensor and can execute a command corresponding to the touch input.

[0005] The description provided in the background art section should not be assumed to be prior art merely because it is mentioned in or related to the background art section. The background art section may include information describing one or more aspects of the subject technology. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to a display device and a driving method thereof that substantially eliminate one or more problems caused by limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to improve the yield of a display device including a touch sensor by minimizing the number of touch lines, eliminating the possibility of crosstalk caused by interference between the data lines and the touch lines based on the interval between the data lines and the touch lines, and enabling a touch electrode and a fault generation position capable of detecting whether a fault exists by itself.

[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to reduce the cost required to implement a display device including a touch sensor by omitting a separate inspection structure and a separate inspection device.

[0009] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above objects, and other objects of the present disclosure not described will be more clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

[0010] To achieve these objects and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, a display device includes: a substrate; a light-emitting region defined on the substrate, the light-emitting region including light-emitting elements configured to emit light; a touch region disposed adjacent to the light-emitting region and configured to sense the presence of a touch; and a gate line commonly connected to the light-emitting region and the touch region.

[0011] The gate line may be commonly connected to the gate of a switching transistor included in the light-emitting region and the gate of a touch transistor included in the touch region.

[0012] For one frame, the gate line may first transmit a scan signal of a first pulse, and then may transmit a scan signal of a second pulse after a predetermined time has elapsed since the transmission of the scan signal of the first pulse.

[0013] In response to the scan signal of the first pulse, a data voltage may be applied to the light-emitting region through the switching transistor, and a touch driving voltage may be applied to the touch region through the touch transistor. And in response to the scan signal of the second pulse, the touch driving voltage charged in the touch region may be sensed as a touch sensing voltage.

[0014] The touch sensing voltage may be sensed as a voltage higher than 0V.

[0015] The second pulse may have the same level as the first pulse, and for all the gate lines of the display device, the predetermined time between the first pulse and the second pulse may be constant.

[0016] The second pulse for one gate line may partially or completely overlap with the first pulse for another gate line of the display device.

[0017] The touch transistor may have the same structure as the switching transistor.

[0018] The touch region may include: a touch electrode configured to sense the presence of a touch; and a touch transistor connected to the gate line at its gate, connected to a touch line at its first electrode, and connected to the touch electrode at its second electrode.

[0019] The touch electrode may be formed of a transparent material.

[0020] The touch electrode and the cathode layer of the light-emitting element may be formed of the same electrode layer and may be electrically isolated from each other.

[0021] The touch area may further include at least one dummy touch electrode, which is arranged in the form of a closed curve surrounding the touch electrode and is spaced apart from the touch electrode.

[0022] The at least one dummy touch electrode may include a first dummy touch electrode and a second dummy touch electrode disposed between the first dummy touch circuit and the touch electrode, and the second dummy touch electrode may be disposed at a different layer from the first dummy touch electrode and the touch electrode so as to be spaced apart from the first dummy touch electrode and the touch electrode in the vertical direction.

[0023] In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a display device includes: a display panel including: pixels including a light-emitting region including a light-emitting element configured to emit light, and a touch area disposed adjacent to the light-emitting region, the touch area including a touch electrode configured to sense the presence of a touch; a gate line commonly connected to the light-emitting region and the touch area included in the pixel; a scan driver connected to the gate line; and a data driver connected to the pixel, the data driver including a first circuit configured to provide a data voltage to the light-emitting region and a second circuit configured to provide a touch driving voltage to the touch area.

[0024] For one frame, the scan driver may first output a scan signal of a first pulse, and then may output a scan signal of a second pulse through the gate line after a predetermined time from the output of the scan signal of the first pulse.

[0025] In response to the scan signal of the first pulse, the data driver may output a data voltage through a data line connected to the light-emitting region and may output a touch driving voltage through a touch line connected to the touch area. The data driver may sense the touch driving voltage charged in the touch area as a touch sensing voltage in response to the scan signal of the second pulse.

[0026] The gate line may be commonly connected to a gate of a switching transistor included in the light-emitting region and a gate of a touch transistor included in the touch area.

[0027] The scan driver may be controlled such that both the scan signal of the first pulse and the scan signal of the second pulse are sequentially applied to all the gate lines of the display panel. The data driver may be controlled to sense the touch sensing voltage from all the pixels of the display panel corresponding to the sequential application of the scan signal of the second pulse.

[0028] The light-emitting region may include red sub-pixels, green sub-pixels, blue sub-pixels, and white sub-pixels. The touch region may include at least one dummy touch electrode surrounding the touch electrode.

[0029] The touch transistor may be connected to the gate line at its gate, connected to the touch line at its first electrode, and connected to the touch electrode at its second electrode.

[0030] The second electrode of the touch transistor may be connected to the touch electrode through a connection electrode disposed at a higher layer or a lower layer than the at least one dummy touch electrode.

[0031] The touch region may include a transmissive region configured to transmit light incident thereon through the front surface or the back surface of the display panel.

[0032] In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a display device includes a display panel, the display panel including: a substrate; a light-emitting region defined on the substrate, the light-emitting region including light-emitting elements configured to emit light; a touch region disposed adjacent to the light-emitting region and configured to sense the presence of a touch; and a gate line commonly connected to the light-emitting region and the touch region. A driving method of the display device includes the following steps: a first step of outputting a scanning signal of a first pulse within one frame through the gate line; a second step of outputting a scanning signal of the second pulse within the one frame through the gate line, and the scanning signal of the second pulse being output after a predetermined time has elapsed since the output of the scanning signal of the first pulse.

[0033] In response to the scanning signal of the first pulse, a data voltage may be applied to the light-emitting region, a touch driving voltage may be applied to the touch region, and in response to the scanning voltage of the second pulse, the touch driving voltage charged in the touch region may be sensed as a touch sensing voltage.

[0034] The display device according to the present disclosure has the effect of being able to omit a separate readout integrated circuit (ROIC) because a touch electrode serving as a touch sensor is disposed in a transmissive region, a touch line is disposed in the same direction as a data line while being spaced apart from the data line, and the touch electrode is driven in a scanning manner. In addition, since the touch line is disposed in the same direction as the data line while being spaced apart from the data line, the display device according to the present disclosure can have the effect of minimizing the number of touch lines. In addition, the display device according to the present disclosure can have the effect of being able to eliminate the possibility of crosstalk caused by interference between the data line and the touch line based on the interval setting between the data line and the touch line. In addition, the display device according to the present disclosure can detect whether there is a touch electrode failure and the position where the failure occurs by itself, and thus can have the effect of improving production yield and eliminating the need to provide a separate inspection structure and separate inspection equipment.

[0035] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages will be or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the accompanying drawings and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages are intended to be included within this specification, within the scope of the present disclosure, and are protected by the appended claims. Any content in this section should not be regarded as a limitation on these claims. Other aspects and advantages are discussed in connection with the various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0036] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are both exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the claimed inventive concept. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application. The drawings illustrate aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a light-emitting display device;

[0039] Figure 2 is schematically showing Figure 1 a configuration diagram of the sub-pixels shown;

[0040] Figures 3 to 5 is a block diagram briefly explaining the configuration of a light-emitting display device having a touch sensor;

[0041] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view briefly explaining a display panel including a light-emitting region, a transmissive region, and a touch sensor disposed in the transmissive region;

[0042] Figure 8 is a diagram briefly showing the configuration of sub-pixels included in a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0043] Figure 9 is a first explanatory diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0044] Figure 10 is a second explanatory diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0045] Figure 11 and Figure 12 is a diagram showing the application of a touch driving voltage and the sensing of a touch driving voltage, which are distinguished from each other according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0046] Figure 13 is an explanatory waveform diagram supporting the understanding of the driving method according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0047] Figure 14 is a diagram briefly showing the configuration of sub-pixels included in a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0048] Figure 15 is a diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0049] Figure 16 is a diagram specifically explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment;

[0050] Figures 17 to 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the operations and waveforms of sub-pixels in the sequential steps of a driving method according to a second exemplary embodiment to support the understanding of the driving method of the second exemplary embodiment;

[0051] Figure 23 is a plan view of a first pixel having a first light-emitting region and a first contact region according to a third exemplary embodiment;

[0052] Figure 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1 - A2;

[0053] Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B1 - B2;

[0054] Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C1 - C2; and

[0055] Figure 27This is a diagram for explaining additional features of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a third exemplary embodiment.

[0056] Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same reference numerals should be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. For clarity, illustration, and convenience, the relative dimensions of these elements may be exaggerated and depicted. Detailed Description

[0057] Now, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail, examples of which may be shown in the drawings. In the following description, when the detailed description of well-known functions or configurations related to this document unnecessarily obscures the gist of the inventive concept, its detailed description will be omitted. The progress of the described processing steps and / or operations is an example; however, the order of the steps and / or operations is not limited to the order set forth herein and may be changed as known in the art, except for steps and / or operations that must occur in a specific order. The names of the respective elements used in the following description are merely selected for convenience in preparing the specification and may thus be different from the names used in actual products.

[0058] The advantages, features, and methods of achieving them of the present disclosure will be clarified by the following exemplary embodiments described with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure may be sufficiently thorough and complete to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims.

[0059] The shapes, sizes, dimensions (e.g., length, width, height, thickness, radius, diameter, area, etc.), ratios, angles, number of elements, etc. shown in the drawings for describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0060] When the terms "comprising", "having", and "including" described in the present disclosure can be used, another part may be added, unless a more restrictive term such as "only" is used. Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, terms in the singular form may include the plural form.

[0061] Any implementation described herein as an "example" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. The word "exemplary" is used to mean serving as an example or illustration. Aspects are example aspects. The terms "embodiment", "example", and "aspect" should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Unless otherwise specified, an embodiment, example, example embodiment, or aspect, etc. may refer to one or more embodiments, one or more examples, one or more example embodiments, one or more aspects, etc. Further, the term "may" includes all meanings of the term "can".

[0062] When interpreting an element, the element is interpreted as including a range of error or tolerance, even if there is no explicit description of such range of error or tolerance.

[0063] When describing a temporal relationship, for example, when a temporal order is described as, for example, "after", "subsequently", "next", and "before", discontinuous cases may be included unless more restrictive terms such as "exactly", "immediately", or "directly" are used.

[0064] In the description of various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the case of describing a positional relationship, for example, when the positional relationship between two components is described as, for example, "on", "above", "below", and "next", etc., one or more other components may be located between the two components unless more restrictive terms such as "exactly" or "directly" are used. For example, in the case where one element or layer is disposed "on" another element or layer, a third layer or element may be interposed therebetween.

[0065] Terms such as "below", "lower", "above", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship between elements as shown in the drawings. It should be understood that the terms are spatially relative and based on the orientation depicted in the drawings.

[0066] When describing elements of the present disclosure, terms such as "first", "second", "A", "B", "(a)", "(b)", etc. may be used. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element from another, and the essence, order, sequence, or quantity of the corresponding elements should not be limited by these terms.

[0067] The term "at least one" should be understood to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. For example, the meaning of "at least one of the first element, the second element, and the third element" includes the combination of all three listed elements, the combination of any two of the three elements, and each individual element (the first element, the second element, or the third element).

[0068] In the description of the embodiments, when a structure is described as being "on or above" or "under or below" another structure, such description should be construed to include cases where the structures are in contact with each other and cases where a third structure is disposed therebetween. The dimensions and thicknesses of each element shown in the drawings may be given only for convenience of description, and the embodiments of the present disclosure may not be limited thereto.

[0069] The features of the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be partially or wholly coupled or combined with each other and may interoperate with each other and be technically driven in various ways as can be fully understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be executed independently of each other or may be executed together in a mutually dependent relationship.

[0070] 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 the exemplary embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. For example, as should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, terms such as "portion" or "unit" may apply to, for example, a discrete circuit or structure, an integrated circuit, a computational block of a circuit device, or any structure configured to perform the described function.

[0071] The display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented as a television set, an image player, a personal computer (PC), a home theater, an automotive electric device, a smart phone, etc., but is not limited thereto. The display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented as a light-emitting display device (LED), a micro-LED display device, a quantum dot display device (QDD), a liquid crystal display device (LCD), etc. However, for convenience of description, the following description will be given by way of example in which the display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is a light-emitting display device configured to directly emit light based on an inorganic light-emitting diode or an organic light-emitting diode.

[0072] In addition, the thin film transistor to be described below may be implemented as an n-type thin film transistor, a p-type thin film transistor, or a form in which both n-type and p-type are present. Such a thin film transistor is a three-electrode element including a gate, a source, and a drain. The source is an electrode configured to supply carriers to the thin film transistor. In the thin film transistor, carriers flow from the source. The drain is an electrode configured to allow the carriers in the thin film transistor to be discharged to the outside of the thin film transistor. That is, the flow of carriers in the thin film transistor proceeds from the source to the drain.

[0073] In a p-type thin film transistor, the carriers are holes. Therefore, the source voltage is higher than the drain voltage so that holes can flow from the source to the drain. In a p-type thin film transistor, since holes flow from the source to the drain, the current flows from the source to the drain. On the contrary, in an n-type thin film transistor, the carriers are electrons. Therefore, in order for electrons to flow from the source to the drain, the source voltage is lower than the drain voltage. Since electrons flow from the source to the drain, the direction of the current in the n-type thin film transistor is from the drain to the source. However, the source and the drain of the thin film transistor can be interchanged according to the voltage applied to the thin film transistor. In this regard, in the following description, one of the source and the drain will be referred to as the "first electrode", and the other of the source and the drain will be referred to as the "second electrode".

[0074] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a light-emitting display device. Figure 2 is schematically shown Figure 1 a configuration diagram of the sub-pixel shown.

[0075] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, the light-emitting display device may include an image provider 110, a timing controller 120, a scan driver 130, a data driver 140, a display panel 150, a power supply 180, etc.

[0076] The image provider 110 (device system or host system) may output various driving signals and an image data signal provided from the outside thereof or an image data signal stored in an internal memory. The image provider 110 may provide a data signal and various driving signals to the timing controller 120.

[0077] The timing controller 120 may output a gate timing control signal GDC for controlling the operation timing of the scan driver 130, a data timing control signal DDC for controlling the operation timing of the data driver 140, various synchronization signals (vertical synchronization signal Vsync and horizontal synchronization signal Hsync), etc. The timing controller 120 may provide the data signal DATA provided from the image provider 110 and the data timing control signal DDC to the data driver 140. The timing controller 120 may be formed in the form of an integrated circuit (IC), and thus may be mounted on a printed circuit board, but is not limited thereto.

[0078] The scan driver 130 may output a scan signal (or a gate signal) in response to a gate timing control signal GDC, etc. provided from the timing controller 120. The scan driver 130 may provide the scan signal (or the gate signal) to sub-pixels included in the display panel 150 through gate lines GL1 to GLm. The scan driver 130 may be formed in the form of an IC, or may be directly formed on the display panel 150 in the form of an in-panel gate structure, but is not limited thereto. As an example, the scan driver 130 may be connected to the display panel 150 using a tape automated bonding (TAB) method, or may be connected to bonding pads of the display panel 150 using a chip on glass (COG) or chip on panel (COP) method, or may be implemented and connected to the display panel 150 using a chip on film (COF) method, but is not limited thereto.

[0079] The data driver 140 may sample and latch a data signal DATA in response to a data timing control signal DDC, etc. provided from the timing controller 120, may convert the data signal in digital form into a data voltage in analog form, and then may output the resulting data voltage. The data driver 140 may provide the data voltage to sub-pixels included in the display panel 150 through data lines DL1 to DLn. The data driver 140 may be formed in the form of an IC, and thus may be mounted on the display panel 150 or a printed circuit board, but is not limited thereto.

[0080] The power supply 180 may generate a first power at a high level and a second power at a low level based on an external input voltage provided from the outside, may output the first power through a first power supply line EVDD, and may output the second power through a second power supply line EVSS. The power supply 180 may not only generate and output the first power and the second power, but also generate and output voltages required to drive the scan driver 130, voltages required to drive the data driver 140, etc.

[0081] The display panel 150 may display an image corresponding to drive signals including a scan signal (or a gate signal) and a data voltage, the first power, the second power, etc. Sub-pixels of the display panel 150 may emit light directly or may transmit light. The display panel 150 may be manufactured based on a substrate or a film having stiffness or ductility such as glass, silicon, polyimide, etc. In the display panel 150, one pixel may be configured based on a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel, or one pixel may be configured based on a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel, and a white sub-pixel. Embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, sub-pixels of other colors such as cyan, magenta, or yellow may be alternatively or additionally included.

[0082] For example, a sub-pixel SP may include a pixel circuit connected to a first data line DL1, a first gate line GL1, a first power supply line EVDD, and a second power supply line EVSS. The pixel circuit may include a switching transistor, a driving transistor, a capacitor, an organic light-emitting diode, etc., but is not limited thereto.

[0083] The sub-pixel SP used in the light-emitting display device emits light directly, so its circuit configuration is complex. In addition, as an example, it may further include a compensation circuit configured to compensate for the degradation of an organic light-emitting diode configured to emit light, and / or a driving transistor configured to provide a driving current required to drive the organic light-emitting diode, etc., and may also have various configurations, but is not limited thereto. Therefore, it should be noted that in Figure 2 the sub-pixel SP is simply shown in the form of a block.

[0084] Meanwhile, so far, the timing controller 120, the scan driver 130, the data driver 140, etc. have been described as separate configurations. However, one or more of the timing controller 120, the scan driver 130, and the data driver 140 may be integrated in one IC according to the implementation method of the light-emitting display device.

[0085] Figures 3 to 5 is a block diagram briefly illustrating the configuration of a light-emitting display device having a touch sensor. Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view briefly illustrating a display panel including a light-emitting region, a transmissive region, and a touch sensor provided in the transmissive region.

[0086] As Figures 3 to 5 shown, a display panel (PNL) 150 configured to display an image while being included in the light-emitting display device may have a touch sensor (TNL) 155 configured to receive an input from a user in a touch manner. The touch sensor 155 may include touch electrodes configured to detect whether there is a touch on the display panel 150, touch position information, etc.

[0087] The display panel 150 may be driven by the data driver 140, and the touch sensor 155 may be driven by the touch driver 145. The display panel 150 and the touch sensor 155 may be formed by separate configurations that are distinguishable from each other, as Figure 3 shown, or may be integrated in the form of one panel, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown.

[0088] In the case where the display panel 150 and the touch sensor 155 are integrated in the form of one panel (PNL+TNL), the data driver 140 and the touch driver 145 may be provided as independent existences, as Figure 4shown, or may be provided such that the touch driver 145 is internally included in the data driver 140, as Figure 5 shown.

[0089] As Figure 6 shown, as an example, the display panel 150 may include a first substrate 150a, a second substrate 150b, and a first pixel region Spa and a second pixel region SPb interposed between the first substrate 150a and the second substrate 150b. The first pixel region Spa may be defined as a light-emitting region EMA, and the second pixel region SPb may be defined as a transmissive region TRA. The embodiment is not limited thereto. As an example, the display panel 150 may not include the transmissive region TRA.

[0090] The light-emitting region EMA is a region configured to emit light based on sub-pixels. The transmissive region TRA is a region configured to transmit light (natural light) incident through the front or back surface of the display panel 150 through the transmissive region TRA.

[0091] As an example, the second pixel region SPb may be defined not only as the transmissive region TRA but also as a touch region TEA, but is not limited thereto. The touch region TEA is a region configured to receive an input from a user in a touch manner. That is, the second pixel region SPb may be defined as a transmissive and touch region TRA&TEA (a region having both a touch sensing function and a natural light transmissive function). The embodiment is not limited thereto. As an example, the second pixel region SPb may be defined as a transmissive region TRA without a touch sensing function. As an example, the first pixel region Spa may be defined not only as the light-emitting region EMA but also as a touch region TEA, but is not limited thereto, or may be defined as a light-emitting region EMA without a touch sensing function. Alternatively, the second pixel region SPb may be defined as a touch region TEA without a natural light transmissive function.

[0092] As Figure 7 shown, the first pixel region Spa defined as the light-emitting region EMA may include an organic light-emitting diode OLED configured to emit light, a transistor TFT configured to drive the organic light-emitting diode OLED, and the like. As an example, the second pixel region SPb defined as the transmissive and touch region TRA&TEA may include a touch electrode TE configured to receive an input in a touch manner and an insulating layer INS configured to insulate the touch electrode TE, but is not limited thereto.

[0093] Of course, it should be noted that Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown and with reference to Figure 6 and Figure 7The described structure is given to understand the exemplary embodiments described below. In addition, for ease of description, it should be noted that the transmissive and touch area TRA&TEA will be simply referred to as the touch area TEA.

[0094] Figure 8 is a diagram briefly showing the configuration of sub-pixels included in a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment. Figure 9 is a first explanatory diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment. Figure 10 is a second explanatory diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0095] As Figure 8 shown, according to a first exemplary embodiment, the display panel may have a sub-pixel arrangement structure including a first sub-pixel SP1, a second sub-pixel SP2, a third sub-pixel SP3, etc. Although an example in which the first sub-pixel SP1, the second sub-pixel SP2, and the third sub-pixel SP3 are arranged in the vertical direction is shown and described, this is merely exemplary. As an example, the first sub-pixel SP1, the second sub-pixel SP2, and the third sub-pixel SP3 may be arranged in the horizontal direction or in a direction other than the vertical and horizontal directions, or may be arranged in different rows.

[0096] The first sub-pixel SP1 may include a first light-emitting area EMA1 and a first touch area TEA1. The first light-emitting area EMA1 may be connected to a first data line DL1, a first reference line REF1, and a first gate line GL1, while the first touch area TEA1 may be connected to a first touch line THL1 and the first gate line GL1. The first sub-pixel SP1 may operate in response to a first scan signal applied thereto through the first gate line GL1, and may perform a light-emitting operation and a touch sensing operation based on elements included in the first light-emitting area EMA1 and the first touch area TEA1.

[0097] The second sub-pixel SP2 may include a second light-emitting area EMA2 and a second touch area TEA2. The second light-emitting area EMA2 may be connected to the first data line DL1, the first reference line REF1, and a second gate line GL2, while the second touch area TEA2 may be connected to the first touch line THL1 and the second gate line GL2. The second sub-pixel SP2 may operate in response to a second scan signal applied thereto through the second gate line GL2, and may perform a light-emitting operation and a touch sensing operation based on elements included in the second light-emitting area EMA2 and the second touch area TEA2.

[0098] The third sub-pixel SP3 may include a third emission area EMA3 and a third touch area TEA3. The third emission area EMA3 may be connected to a first data line DL1, a first reference line REF1, and a third gate line GL3, while the third touch area TEA3 may be connected to a first touch line THL1 and the third gate line GL3. The third sub-pixel SP3 may operate in response to a third scan signal applied thereto through the third gate line GL3, and may perform an emission operation and a touch sensing operation based on elements included in the third emission area EMA3 and the third touch area TEA3.

[0099] As can be seen from the first sub-pixel SP1, elements included in the first emission area EMA1 and elements included in the first touch area TEA1 may be commonly connected to one gate line GL1. This configuration is also applied to the second sub-pixel SP2 and the third sub-pixel SP3 in the same manner. The embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, elements included in the emission area and elements included in the touch area may be connected to different gate lines. As an example, elements included in the emission area and elements included in the touch area may operate simultaneously or independently.

[0100] Meanwhile, it should be noted that, according to an example in which the touch driver 145 is internally included in the data driver 140, Figure 8 An example in which a first data line DL1, a first reference line REF1, and a first touch line THL1 are connected to the integrated driver 140+145 is shown. The integrated driver 140+145 can output both a touch driving voltage and a data voltage, and can sense the output of the touch driving voltage to distinguish whether a touch has occurred. The embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, the touch driver 145 and the data driver 140 may be separated from each other.

[0101] As Figure 9 shown, when the sub-pixels included in the display panel are configured as Figure 8 shown, the light-emitting display device of the first exemplary embodiment may have both a display driving period DSP and a touch driving period TSP for one frame 1Frame. For example, within one frame 1Frame, the display driving period DSP may be first executed, and then the touch driving period TSP may be executed before the end of the display driving period DSP, or, the touch driving period TSP may be first executed, and then the display driving period DSP may be executed before the end of the touch driving period TSA. As an example, in the light-emitting display device of the first exemplary embodiment, the display driving period DSP and the touch driving period TSP may be executed while partially overlapping each other.

[0102] Since the touch driving period TSP is included in one frame 1Frame, as Figure 10 shown, the display driving period DSP can be divided into a first display driving period DSP1 and a second display driving period DSP2.

[0103] Meanwhile, although Figure 10 an example in which the first display driving period DSP1 and the second display driving period DSP2 are divided in the same ratio is shown, the division ratio of the first display driving period DSP1 and the second display driving period DSP2 can vary according to the start time of the touch driving period TSP. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As an example, the first display driving period DSP1 can be longer than, equal to, or shorter than the second display driving period DSP2.

[0104] Figure 11 and Figure 12 are diagrams showing the application of a touch driving voltage and the sensing of a touch driving voltage that are distinguished from each other according to the first exemplary embodiment. Figure 13 is an illustrative waveform diagram that supports the understanding of the driving method according to the first exemplary embodiment.

[0105] As Figure 11 shown, when, for a first time, a first scan signal is applied through a first gate line GL1 and a touch driving voltage Driv is applied through a first touch line THL1, elements included in a first touch area TEA1 of a first sub-pixel SP1 can have a voltage charging state based on the touch driving voltage Driv.

[0106] When, for a second time, a second scan signal is applied through a second gate line GL2 and a touch driving voltage Driv is applied through the first touch line THL1, elements included in a second touch area TEA2 of a second sub-pixel SP2 can have a voltage charging state based on the touch driving voltage Driv.

[0107] When, for a third time, a third scan signal is applied through a third gate line GL3 and a touch driving voltage Driv is applied through the first touch line THL1, elements included in a third touch area TEA3 of a third sub-pixel SP3 can have a voltage charging state based on the touch driving voltage Driv.

[0108] When, for the (N + 1)-th time, a first scan signal is applied through the first gate line GL1, the voltage charged in the elements included in the first touch area TEA1 of the first sub-pixel SP1 can become a sensed voltage Senv sensed through the first touch line THL1, as Figure 12 shown.

[0109] When a second scan signal is applied through a second gate line GL2 at the (N + 2)-th time, the voltage charged in the elements included in a second touch area TEA2 of a second sub-pixel SP2 may become a touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through a first touch line THL1.

[0110] When a third scan signal is applied through a third gate line GL3 at the (N + 3)-th time, the voltage charged in the elements included in a third touch area TEA3 of a third sub-pixel SP3 may become a touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through a first touch line THL1.

[0111] Hereinafter, reference will be made to Figure 12 and Figure 13 to describe a touch sensing process of a first sub-pixel SP1.

[0112] As Figure 12 and Figure 13 shown, when a first scan signal Scan1 of a high voltage H is applied through a first gate line GL1, a first light emitting area EMA1 and a first touch area TEA1 of a first sub-pixel SP1 may become active at the same time. Here, "Scan_EMA" refers to the first scan signal Scan1 applied to the first light emitting area EMA1, and "Scan_TEA" refers to the first scan signal Scan1 applied to the first touch area TEA1.

[0113] The elements included in the first light emitting area EMA1 may become active to charge a data voltage applied thereto through a first data line DL1, and the elements included in the first touch area TEA1 may become active to charge a touch driving voltage Driv applied thereto through a first touch line THL1. This is because the elements included in the first light emitting area EMA1 and the first touch area TEA1 of the first sub-pixel SP1 share the first gate line GL1 with each other.

[0114] At the same time, since the elements included in the first touch area TEA1 are in a voltage charging state based on the touch driving voltage Driv, the touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through the first touch line THL1 may vary depending on whether a user touches the first touch area TEA1 (depending on a voltage change of a touch electrode caused by a coupling difference in a scan-off state).

[0115] For example, when a user touches the first touch area TEA1, the level of the touch sensing voltage Senv can increase by ΔV (because a finger touch voltage component is added to the touch driving voltage Driv). However, when there is no user touch on the first touch area TEA1, the level of the sensing voltage Senv can still be maintained at the voltage level of the charged state by the touch driving voltage Driv.

[0116] Therefore, the touch driver can determine whether a touch (TouchO) has occurred or not (TouchX) based on the change in the touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through the first touch line THL1.

[0117] Figure 14 is a diagram briefly showing the configuration of sub-pixels included in a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment. Figure 15 is a diagram briefly explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment. Figure 16 is a diagram specifically explaining a driving method of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[0118] As Figure 14 shown, according to the second exemplary embodiment, the display panel may have a sub-pixel arrangement structure including a first sub-pixel SP1, a second sub-pixel SP2, etc. Although an example in which the first sub-pixel SP1 and the second sub-pixel SP2 are arranged in the vertical direction is shown and described, this is merely exemplary.

[0119] The first sub-pixel SP1 may include a first light-emitting area EMA1 and a first touch area TEA1. The first light-emitting area EMA1 may be connected to a first data line DL1, a first reference line REF1, and a first gate line GL1, while the first touch area TEA1 may be connected to a first touch line THL1 and a first gate line GL1.

[0120] The first light-emitting area EMA1 may include a first switching transistor SW1, a first capacitor CST1, a first driving transistor DT1, a first sensing transistor ST1, and a first organic light-emitting diode OLED1. The first switching transistor SW1 may operate such that the data voltage applied through the first data line DL1 is charged into the first capacitor CST1. The first capacitor CST1 may operate to charge or discharge the data voltage required for the operation of the first driving transistor DT1. The first driving transistor DT1 may operate to generate the driving current required for the operation of the first organic light-emitting diode OLED1. The first sensing transistor ST1 may operate to sense the current or voltage of the first driving transistor DT1 or the first organic light-emitting diode OLED1 in order to compensate for the deterioration of the first driving transistor DT1 or the first organic light-emitting diode OLED1.

[0121] The first switching transistor SW1 may be connected to the first gate line GL1 at its gate, connected to the first data line DL1 at its first electrode, and connected to the first electrode of the first capacitor CST1 and the gate of the first driving transistor DT1 at its second electrode. The first capacitor CST1 may be connected to the second electrode of the first switching transistor SW1 and the gate of the first driving transistor DT1 at its first electrode, and connected to the second electrode of the first driving transistor DT1, the second electrode of the first sensing transistor ST1, and the anode of the first organic light-emitting diode OLED1 at its second electrode. The first driving transistor DT1 is connected to the second electrode of the first switching transistor SW1 and the first electrode of the first capacitor CST1 at its gate, connected to the first power supply line EVDD at its first electrode, and connected to the second electrode of the first capacitor CST1, the second electrode of the first sensing transistor ST1, and the anode of the first organic light-emitting diode OLED1 at its second electrode. The first organic light-emitting diode OLED1 is connected to the second electrode of the first capacitor CST1, the second electrode of the first driving transistor DT1, and the second electrode of the first sensing transistor ST1 at its anode, and connected to the second power supply line EVSS at its cathode. The embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, one or more transistors and / or capacitors may be further included. In addition, according to the design, at least one of the above components (e.g., the first sensing transistor ST1) may be omitted.

[0122] As an example, the first touch area TEA1 may include the first touch transistor TT1 and the first touch electrode TE1, but is not limited thereto. The first touch transistor TT1 may be used to charge the touch driving voltage applied thereto through the first touch line THL1 in the first touch electrode TE1, or operate to sense the touch driving voltage charged in the first touch electrode TE1 through the first touch line THL1. The first touch transistor TT1 is connected to the first gate line GL1 at its gate, connected to the first touch line THL1 at its first electrode, and connected to the first touch electrode TE1 at its second electrode. The embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, one or more transistors and / or capacitors may be further included.

[0123] The first sub-pixel SP1 may operate in response to the first scan signal applied thereto through the first gate line GL1, and may perform a touch sensing operation and an operation for emitting light based on the elements included in the first light-emitting area EMA1 and the first touch area TEA1.

[0124] The second sub-pixel SP2 may include a second light-emitting area EMA2 and a second touch area TEA2. The second light-emitting area EMA2 may be connected to a first data line DL1, a first reference line REF1, and a second gate line GL2, while the second touch area TEA2 may be connected to a first touch line THL1 and the second gate line GL2.

[0125] The second light-emitting area EMA2 may include a second switching transistor SW2, a second capacitor CST2, a second driving transistor DT2, a second sensing transistor ST2, and a second organic light-emitting diode OLED2. The second touch area TEA2 may include a second touch transistor TT2 and a second touch electrode TE2. The connection relationships of the elements included in the second light-emitting area EMA2 and the second touch area TEA2 of the second sub-pixel SP2 refer to the connection relationships of the elements included in the first light-emitting area EMA1 and the first touch area TEA1 of the first sub-pixel SP1.

[0126] The second sub-pixel SP2 may operate in response to a second scan signal applied thereto through the second gate line GL2, and may perform a touch sensing operation and an operation for emitting light based on the elements included in the second light-emitting area EMA2 and the second touch area TEA2.

[0127] As Figure 15 shown, in the case where the sub-pixels included in the display panel are configured as Figure 14 shown, the light-emitting display device of the second exemplary embodiment may have both a display driving period DSP and a touch driving period TSP for one frame 1Frame. For example, for one frame 1Frame, the display driving period DSP may be first executed, and then the touch driving period TSP may be executed before the end of the display driving period DSP. That is, in the light-emitting display device of the second exemplary embodiment, the display driving period DSP and the touch driving period TSP may be executed while partially overlapping each other. This can be referred to Figure 16 .

[0128] As Figure 16 shown, the first scan signal Scan1 (the scan signal of the first gate line) to the m-th scan signal Scanm (the scan signal of the last gate line) may be sequentially generated for one frame 1Frame (i.e., the first frame) in the display panel. This can be similarly executed for the second frame 2Frame after the first frame 1Frame.

[0129] As can be seen from the second pulse PLS2 having a high voltage and having a generation time difference with the first pulse PLS1 having a high voltage, the two scan signals can be sequentially generated in the display panel for one frame 1Frame while having a predetermined generation time difference therebetween. As an example, the second pulse PLS2 may have the same level as the first pulse PLS1, or may have a different level from the first pulse PLS1. As an example, the second pulse PLS2 may have the same pulse width as the first pulse PLS1, or may have a different pulse width from the first pulse PLS1. As an example, the predetermined generation time difference may be constant or may vary from the first scan signal Scan1 to the mth scan signal Scanm.

[0130] The data voltage and the touch driving voltage may be applied for the first time of the scan signal in which the first pulse PLS1 having a high voltage may be applied. In addition, the touch driving voltage may be sensed for the N+1th time of the scan signal in which the second pulse PLS2 having a high voltage is generated. Therefore, the period in which the first pulse PLS1 is generated at each of the first to m-th scan signals Scan1 to Scanm may be defined as the display driving period DSP, and the period in which the second pulse PLS2 is generated at each of the first to m-th scan signals Scan1 to Scanm may be defined as the touch driving period TSP.

[0131] Despite Figure 16 In the second exemplary embodiment, an example in which a scanning signal of a second pulse PLS2 for defining a touch drive period TSP is generated within the second half of a frame 1Frame has been shown, but it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As an example, a scanning signal of a second pulse PLS2 may be generated within the first half of a frame 1Frame. As an example, a second pulse PLS2 of a scanning signal may partially or completely overlap with a first pulse PLS1 of another scanning signal, or may not overlap with any first pulse PLS1 of any scanning signal.

[0132] In addition, each of the sub-pixels according to the second exemplary embodiment includes sensing transistors ST1 and ST2, and therefore, a sensing operation for compensating for degradation of an element (mobility compensation or threshold voltage compensation, etc.) can be performed according to the operation of the sensing transistors ST1 and ST2. Although it is shown that the gates of the sensing transistors ST1 and ST2 are also connected to the scan line, the embodiment is not limited thereto. As an example, the gates of the sensing transistors ST1 and ST2 may be connected to separate scan lines.

[0133] The sensing operation may not be performed on all sub-pixels, and thus, a brightness difference between the sensing lines and the non-sensing lines may be seen. To this end, a recovery operation DRP for recovering the data voltage may be performed after the scan signal for generating the second pulse PLS2 until the scan signal for generating the first pulse PLS1 is generated, so as to reduce or prevent the brightness difference between the sensing lines and the non-sensing lines from being visible.

[0134] The recovery operation DRP is a data voltage recovery operation for applying a recovery data voltage to the sensing sub-pixels selected through the sensing operation. The recovery data voltage may be selected by a voltage having a voltage value equal to or higher than the previously applied data voltage, but is not limited thereto.

[0135] Figures 17 to 22 is an illustrative diagram showing the operations and waveforms of the sub-pixels in consecutive steps of the driving method according to the second exemplary embodiment to support the understanding of the driving method of the second exemplary embodiment. In Figure 18 、 Figure 20 and Figure 22 ,"Scan_EMA" refers to the first scan signal Scan1 applied to the first emission area EMA1, and "Scan_TEA" refers to the first scan signal Scan1 applied to the first touch area TEA1.

[0136] As Figure 17 and Figure 18 shown, the period in which the first scan signal Scan1 for applying the first pulse PLS1 corresponding to the high voltage H may be defined as the writing period in which the data voltage Data and the touch driving voltage Driv are written.

[0137] For the writing period, the switching transistor SW of the first emission area EMA1 and the touch transistor TT of the first touch area TEA1 may be simultaneously turned on in response to the first scan signal Scan1 for the first pulse PLS1 corresponding to the high voltage H. The switching transistor SW may transmit the data voltage Data applied thereto through the first data line DL1 to the capacitor CST. The touch transistor TT may transmit the touch driving voltage Driv applied thereto through the first touch line THL1 to the touch electrode TE1. Accordingly, the data voltage Data is charged into the capacitor CST, and the touch driving voltage Driv may be charged into the touch electrode TE1.

[0138] As Figure 19 and Figure 20 shown, the period in which the first scan signal Scan1 for applying the first pulse PLS1 corresponding to the low voltage L may be defined as the light emission period. For the light emission period, at least one of the first data line DL1 or the first touch line THL1 may be in a voltage non-transmission state.

[0139] For a light emission period, a driving transistor DT of the first light emission area EMA1 can operate based on a data voltage transmitted thereto from a capacitor CST, and thus can generate a driving current. The organic light emitting diode OLED can emit light based on the driving current generated from the driving transistor DT. At the same time, for the light emission period, the first touch area TEA1 maintains a touch driving voltage Driv. Therefore, although this period is defined as a light emission period associated with the first light emission area EMA1, this period can also be defined as a holding period associated with the first touch area TEA1.

[0140] As Figure 21 and Figure 22 shown, a period of a second scan signal Scan2 to which a second pulse PLS2 corresponding to a high voltage H is applied can be defined as a sensing period in which the touch driving voltage Driv is sensed.

[0141] For the sensing period, the touch driving voltage charged in the first touch area TEA1 is sensed by a touch driver connected to a first touch line THL1, and thus can be obtained as a touch sensing voltage Senv. The touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through the first touch line THL1 can vary depending on whether a user touches the first touch area TEA1.

[0142] For example, when the user touches the first touch area TEA1, a level of the touch sensing voltage Senv can increase by ΔV. However, when the user does not touch the first touch area TEA1, the level of the touch sensing voltage Senv can still be maintained at a voltage level in a charged state by the touch driving voltage Driv. Therefore, the touch driver can determine that a touch (Touch O) has occurred or that no touch (Touch X) has occurred based on a change in the touch sensing voltage Senv sensed through the first touch line THL1.

[0143] As can be seen from Figures 16 to 22 it, the light emitting display device of the second exemplary embodiment can be implemented such that a display driving period DSP and a touch driving period TSP are performed while partially overlapping each other based on two scan signals sequentially generated for one frame 1Frame while having a predetermined generation time difference therebetween.

[0144] Therefore, the light-emitting display device according to the second exemplary embodiment can perform touch sensing while maintaining the driving frequency same as that of its previous display driving (there is no reduction in the driving frequency due to driving in a partially overlapping state according to the display driving period DSP and the touch driving period TSP). Since touch sensing can be performed based on touch lines arranged in the same direction as the data lines and spaced apart from the data lines, the light-emitting display device according to the second exemplary embodiment can eliminate the possibility of crosstalk caused by interference between the data lines and the touch lines.

[0145] Figure 23 FIG. is a plan view showing a first pixel having a first light-emitting region and a first contact region according to a third exemplary embodiment. Figure 24 FIG. is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A2. Figure 25 FIG. is a cross-sectional view taken along line B1-B2. Figure 26 FIG. is a cross-sectional view taken along line C1-C2. Figure 27 FIG. is a diagram for explaining additional characteristics of a light-emitting display device including a display panel according to a third exemplary embodiment.

[0146] As Figure 23 shown, the first pixel PIX1 may include a first light-emitting region EMA1 including sub-pixels configured to emit light, and a first touch region TEA1 configured to transmit light (natural light) incident through the front surface or the rear surface of the display panel and receive a touch input from a user. A first touch electrode TE1 and dummy touch electrodes DTE1 and DTE2 may be provided in the first touch region TEA1, and may be formed based on a transparent material so as to maintain a transmissive characteristic. The transparent material may be configured in a single layer or multiple layers.

[0147] The first light-emitting region EMA1 may include a red sub-pixel SPR, a green sub-pixel SPG, a blue sub-pixel SPB, and a white sub-pixel SPW. The red sub-pixel SPR and the green sub-pixel SPG may be disposed adjacent to each other at the upper end of the first light-emitting region EMA1. The blue sub-pixel SPB and the white sub-pixel SPW may be disposed adjacent to each other at the lower end of the first light-emitting region EMA1. The embodiment is not limited thereto. As an example, the arrangement of the sub-pixels may be changed in various ways according to design.

[0148] The first touch area TEA1 may include a first touch transistor TT1, a first touch electrode TE1, dummy touch electrodes DTE1 and DTE2, and a first touch line THL1. The first touch electrode TE1 may be configured to take the form of a bar (or rectangle) that is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction, but is not limited thereto. The dummy touch electrodes DTE1 and DTE2 may be configured to be spaced apart from the first touch electrode TE1 by a predetermined distance while taking the form of a closed curve surrounding the first touch electrode TE1. Although Figure 23 an example in which two dummy touch electrodes DTE1 and DTE2 are provided is shown, the provision of the dummy touch electrodes may vary according to the manufacturing method. As an example, one dummy touch electrode or three or more dummy touch electrodes may be provided. Alternatively, according to the design, the dummy touch electrodes may be omitted.

[0149] The first touch transistor TT1 may be provided on one side of the first touch area TEA1 and may be connected to the first touch line THL1 provided in the vertical direction. The first touch transistor TT1 may be connected to the first touch electrode TE1 through a connection electrode CNE. The connection electrode CNE may be provided at a layer higher or lower than the first touch electrode TE1 or the dummy touch electrodes DTE1 and DTE2 and may be connected to the first touch electrode TE1 in a connection area CNA.

[0150] Meanwhile, although Figure 23 an example in which the first touch transistor TT1 is provided at the upper end of the first touch area TEA1 is shown, this is merely exemplary, and the first touch transistor TT1 may be provided at any one of the upper side, lower side, left side, and right side of the first touch area TEA1. As an example, the first touch transistor TT1 may be provided on the first touch line THL1. In addition, although Figure 23 an example in which four sub-pixels constitute a pixel and a touch area is provided adjacent thereto is shown, this may vary according to the configuration and setting type of the pixel and the configuration and setting type of the touch electrode.

[0151] As Figure 24As shown, a first touch line THL1 may be disposed on a substrate SUB. The first touch line THL1 may be insulated by a buffer layer BUF covering the substrate SUB. An interlayer insulating layer ILD may be disposed on the buffer layer BUF. A first passivation layer PAS1 may be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer ILD. A second passivation layer PAS2 may be disposed on the first passivation layer PAS1. An overcoat layer OC may be disposed on the second passivation layer PAS2. A bank layer BNK may be disposed on the overcoat layer OC. An organic material layer EML may be disposed on the bank layer BNK. A first touch electrode TE1, a first dummy touch electrode DTE1, and a cathode layer CAT may be disposed on the organic material layer EML. As an example, the first touch electrode TE1 and the first dummy touch electrode DTE1 may be formed of the same material as the cathode layer CAT, but are not limited thereto.

[0152] According to the third exemplary embodiment, a first overcoat opening OC_OA1, a second overcoat opening OC_OA2, and a third overcoat opening OC_OA3 may be disposed on the substrate SUB. The first overcoat opening OC_OA1, the second overcoat opening OC_OA2, and the third overcoat opening OC_OA3 may be formed by patterning the overcoat layer OC to provide different structures, respectively.

[0153] The first overcoat opening OC_OA1 may have an opening configured to expose the upper surface of the second passivation layer PAS2 between portions of the overcoat layer OC disposed on opposite sides thereof. Each of the second overcoat opening OC_OA2 and the third overcoat opening OC_OA3 may have an opening configured to expose the upper surface of the buffer layer BUF, the side surface of the first passivation layer PAS1, and the side surface of the second passivation layer PAS2 between portions of the overcoat layer OC disposed on opposite sides thereof. As an example, the portions of the overcoat layer OC may have an undercut shape through the second overcoat opening OC_OA2 and the third overcoat opening OC_OA3, respectively, but are not limited thereto. As an example, the overcoat layer OC may have an undercut shape without passing through the second overcoat opening OC_OA2 and the third overcoat opening OC_OA3.

[0154] The organic material layer EML and the first touch electrode TE1 may be disposed within the first overcoat opening OC_OA1. The organic material layer EML and the first dummy touch electrode DTE1 may be disposed within the second overcoat opening OC_OA2. The organic material layer EML and the cathode layer CAT may be disposed within the third overcoat opening OC_OA3. The overcoat layer OC may be in a columnar form between the second overcoat opening OC_OA2 and the third overcoat opening OC_OA3. A second dummy touch electrode DTE2 may be disposed on the organic layer EML covering the overcoat layer OC in the columnar form.

[0155] As fromFigure 24 As can be seen from the region A1 - A2 of Figure 24 , the first touch electrode TE1, the first dummy touch electrode DTE1, the second dummy touch electrode DTE2, and the cathode layer CAT can be electrically isolated from each other through the overcoat openings OC_OA1, OC_OA2, and OC_OA3 formed in the substrate SUB.

[0156] As Figure 25 shown, the buffer layer BUF can be disposed on the substrate SUB. The interlayer insulating layer ILD covering the transistor layer TFT can be disposed on the buffer layer BUF. The first data line DL1 and the second power supply line EVSS can be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer ILD in a state of being spaced apart from each other, but are not limited thereto. As an example, the first data line DL1 and the second power supply line EVSS can be disposed on different layers. The first passivation layer PAS1 can be disposed on the interlayer insulating layer ILD. The power connection electrode CNT configured to electrically interconnect the second power supply line EVSS and the cathode layer CAT can be disposed on the first passivation layer PAS1.

[0157] The second passivation layer PAS2 can be disposed on the first passivation layer PAS1. The overcoat layer OC can be disposed on the second passivation layer PAS2. The anode layer ANO can be disposed on the overcoat layer OC. The bank layer BNK can be disposed on the overcoat layer OC to cover a part of the anode layer ANO. The organic material layer EML can be disposed on the anode layer ANO. The cathode layer CAT can be disposed on the organic material layer EML. The embodiments are not limited thereto. The arrangement of the components and / or layers in the sub - pixel can be changed in various ways according to the design.

[0158] As can be seen from Figure 25 the region B1 - B2 of Figure 25 , the first touch electrode TE1, the first dummy touch electrode DTE1, and the second dummy touch electrode DTE2 can be formed based on the same electrode layer as the cathode electrode CAT included in the organic light - emitting diode OLED. According to another exemplary embodiment, the first touch electrode TE1, the first dummy touch electrode DTE1, and the second dummy touch electrode DTE2 can be formed based on the same electrode of the anode layer ANO.

[0159] Meanwhile, according to the configuration such as the electrode layer included in the organic light - emitting diode OLED, the display panel can emit light in the direction of the cathode layer CAT, the direction of the anode layer ANO, or both the direction of the cathode layer CAT and the anode layer ANO.

[0160] As can be seen from Figure 26 the region C1 - C2 of Figure 26 , the first touch transistor TT1 can be implemented to have the same as Figure 25The structure of the transistor layer TFT shown is the same, but not limited thereto. As an example, the first touch transistor TT1 may be implemented to have the same structure as the switching transistor of the sub-pixel, but not limited thereto. Of course, this should be interpreted as an example. The first touch transistor TT1 may be connected to the first touch electrode TE1 at its first electrode through a connection electrode CNE provided between the substrate SUB and the buffer layer BUF and through a source / drain layer SDM provided on the interlayer insulating layer ILD.

[0161] As Figures 25 to 27 shown, the light-emitting display device including a display panel according to the third exemplary embodiment may check whether a short circuit (short-circuit generation position) has occurred based on the sensing operation of the touch driver. This will be described below with reference to an example.

[0162] The first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT may be formed based on the same electrode layer and may be electrically isolated from each other through the overcoat layer openings OC_OA1, OC_OA2, and OC_OA3. The embodiment is not limited thereto. As an example, the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT may be formed based on the same electrode layer and may be electrically isolated from each other without the overcoat layer openings OC_OA1, OC_OA2, and OC_OA3. As an example, the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT may be formed based on different electrode layers.

[0163] When the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT have a normal structure in which the first touch electrode TE1 is electrically isolated from the cathode layer CAT, the touch sensing voltage Senv detected through the sensing operation of the touch driver may be sensed as a voltage higher than 0V or the voltage applied to the second power supply line EVSS, but not limited thereto.

[0164] On the other hand, when the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT have an abnormal structure in which the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT are not electrically isolated from each other (the first touch electrode TE1 is short-circuited with the cathode layer CAT), the touch sensing voltage Senv detected by the sensing operation of the touch driver may be sensed as 0V, but is not limited thereto. This is because the cathode layer CAT and the second power supply line EVSS are in a connected state. Therefore, when the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT are short-circuited, the touch sensing voltage Senv can also be reduced to 0V by the voltage applied to the second power supply line EVSS. The embodiments are not limited thereto. As an example, the voltage applied to the second power supply line EVSS may not be 0V. In this case, when the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT have an abnormal structure in which the first touch electrode TE1 and the cathode layer CAT are not electrically isolated from each other (the first touch electrode TE1 is short-circuited with the cathode layer CAT), the touch sensing voltage Senv detected by the sensing operation of the touch driver may be sensed as the voltage applied to the second power supply line EVSS rather than 0V.

[0165] Therefore, the light-emitting display device including the display panel according to the third exemplary embodiment can detect whether there is a touch electrode failure and the failure occurrence position by itself, thereby improving production yield and omitting a separate inspection structure and separate inspection equipment.

[0166] As is obvious from the above description, the display device according to the present disclosure has the effect of being able to omit a separate readout integrated circuit (ROIC) because the touch electrode serving as a touch sensor is provided in the transmissive area, the touch lines are arranged in the same direction as the data lines while being spaced apart from the data lines, and the touch electrodes are driven in a scanning manner. In addition, since the touch lines are arranged in the same direction as the data lines while being spaced apart from the data lines, the display device according to the present disclosure can have the effect of being able to reduce or minimize the number of touch lines. In addition, the display device according to the present disclosure can have the possibility of eliminating crosstalk caused by interference between the data lines and the touch lines based on the interval setting between the data lines and the touch lines. In addition, the display device according to the present disclosure can detect whether there is a touch electrode failure and the failure occurrence position by itself, and thus can have the effects of being able to improve production yield and save providing a separate inspection structure and separate inspection equipment.

[0167] The effects of the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure are not limited to those shown above, and more various effects may be included in the specification.

[0168] While the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

[0169] Cross - reference to related applications

[0170] This application claims the benefit and priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2023 - 0197873, filed on December 29, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: substrate; a light emitting region defined on the substrate, the light emitting region including a light emitting element configured to emit light; a touch area, the touch area being disposed adjacent to the light emitting area and configured to sense whether a touch is present; as well as A gate line is commonly connected to the light emitting area and the touch area.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: The gate line is commonly connected to a gate of a switch transistor included in the light emitting region and a gate of a touch transistor included in the touch region.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein: The gate line first transmits a scan signal of a first pulse for one frame, and then transmits a scan signal of a second pulse after a predetermined time has elapsed from the transmission of the scan signal of the first pulse.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: In response to the scan signal of the first pulse, applying a data voltage to the light emitting area through the switch transistor, and applying a touch driving voltage to the touch area through the touch transistor; and In response to the scan signal of the second pulse, the touch driving voltage charged in the touch area is sensed as a touch sensing voltage.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein: The touch sensing voltage is sensed as a voltage higher than 0V.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: The touch area further includes at least one dummy touch electrode, and the at least one dummy touch electrode is provided in the form of a closed curve surrounding the touch electrode to be spaced apart from the touch electrode.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein: The at least one dummy touch electrode includes a first dummy touch electrode and a second dummy touch electrode disposed between the first dummy touch circuit and the touch electrode, and The second dummy touch electrode is disposed at a different layer from the first dummy touch electrode and the touch electrode, so as to be spaced apart from the first dummy touch electrode and the touch electrode in a vertical direction.

8. A display device, comprising: A display panel, the display panel comprising: a pixel, the pixel comprising a light emitting area and a touch area disposed adjacent to the light emitting area, the light emitting area comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, the touch area comprising a touch electrode configured to sense whether a touch exists; and a gate line, the gate line being commonly connected to the light emitting area and the touch area included in the pixel; a scan driver connected to the gate line; and A data driver is connected to the pixel, the data driver including a first circuit configured to provide a data voltage to the light emitting area and a second circuit configured to provide a touch driving voltage to the touch area.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein: The scan driver first outputs a scan signal of a first pulse for one frame, and then outputs a scan signal of a second pulse through the gate line after a predetermined time has elapsed from the output of the scan signal of the first pulse.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein: In response to the scan signal of the first pulse, the data driver outputs a data voltage through a data line connected to the light emitting area, and outputs a touch driving voltage through a touch line connected to the touch area; and The data driver senses a touch driving voltage charged in the touch area as a touch sensing voltage in response to the scan signal of the second pulse.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein: The gate line is commonly connected to a gate of a switch transistor included in the light emitting area and a gate of a touch transistor included in the touch area.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein: controlling the scan driver so that both the scan signal of the first pulse and the scan signal of the second pulse are sequentially applied to all gate lines of the display panel; and The data driver is controlled to sense the touch sensing voltage from all pixels of the display panel corresponding to sequential application of the scan signal of the second pulse.

13. The display device according to claim 11, wherein: The light emitting area includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a blue sub-pixel and a white sub-pixel; and The touch area includes at least one dummy touch electrode surrounding the touch electrode.

14. The display device according to claim 13, wherein: The touch transistor is connected to the gate line at a gate of the touch transistor, is connected to the touch line at a first electrode of the touch transistor, and is connected to the touch electrode at a second electrode of the touch transistor.

15. The display device according to claim 14, wherein: The second electrode of the touch transistor is connected to the touch electrode through a connection electrode provided at a higher layer or a lower layer than the at least one dummy touch electrode.

16. The display device according to claim 8, wherein: The touch area includes a transmission area configured to transmit light incident to the transmission area through a front surface or a rear surface of the display panel.

17. A method for driving a display device, the display device comprising a display panel, the display panel comprising: substrate; a light emitting region defined on the substrate, the light emitting region including a light emitting element configured to emit light; a touch area, the touch area being disposed adjacent to the light emitting area and configured to sense whether a touch is present; and a gate line commonly connected to the light emitting area and the touch area, the driving method comprising the following steps: In the first step, a scanning signal of a first pulse is outputted through the gate line in one frame; and The second step is to output a scanning signal of a second pulse through the gate line within the one frame, and The second pulse scanning signal is output after a predetermined time has passed since the first pulse scanning signal was output.

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