Touch circuit, touch display device and touch driving method thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method. The present invention relates to a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method, and more particularly, to a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for simply configuring a system for transmitting a signal between a touch display device and a stylus by uniformly arranging intervals between touch driving periods in a touch frame.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application filed on October 16, 2020, with application number 202011110816.1 and invention title "Touch Circuit, Touch Display Device and Touch Driving Method".

[0002] Cross-reference to related applications

[0003] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0134267, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 28, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0004] This disclosure relates to a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method. Background art

[0005] With the development of an information-oriented society, various demands for display devices for displaying images have increased. Recently, various types of display devices have been utilized, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, plasma display panel (PDP) devices, and organic light emitting display devices.

[0006] In a liquid crystal display device among display devices, an image is displayed by adjusting the light transmittance of liquid crystal using an electric field. To this end, a liquid crystal display device generally includes: a liquid crystal display panel on which liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix form; and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display panel.

[0007] In a pixel array of a liquid crystal display panel, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines intersect each other, and thin film transistors (TFTs) for driving liquid crystal cells are formed in regions where each gate line and each data line intersect. In addition, a storage capacitor for holding the voltage of the liquid crystal cell at a specific level is formed in the liquid crystal display panel, and the liquid crystal cell includes a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer. By a data voltage applied to the pixel electrode and a common voltage applied to the common electrode, an electric field passing through the liquid crystal layer included in the liquid crystal cell is formed. At this time, the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer can be adjusted by the electric field; thus, an image can be generated.

[0008] The driving circuit may include: a gate driving circuit for sequentially providing gate signals to the gate lines; and a data driving circuit for providing image signals (i.e., data voltages) to the data lines. The data driving circuit can provide a data voltage to the liquid crystal cells by driving the data lines. The gate driving circuit selects the liquid crystal cells on one horizontal line of the display panel to which the data voltage is provided by sequentially driving the gate lines.

[0009] To generate gate signals in sequence, the gate driving circuit includes a gate shift register configured with multiple stages. Each stage of the shift register alternately performs charging and discharging; thus, a gate output signal including a gate clock signal of a low voltage level is output. The output terminals of the respective stages are respectively connected to the gate lines one-to-one. A gate signal of a first level is sequentially generated from each stage once per frame, and then the gate signal is provided to each gate line GL.

[0010] Meanwhile, in the case where a touch input function is provided in a display device, in order to provide a thin portable device such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, etc., an in-cell type touch display device in which components of a touch screen are integrated inside a display panel of the touch display device has been developed and utilized.

[0011] Such a touch display device uses a common electrode for driving each pixel as a touch electrode for touch sensing. Therefore, during a display period, a common voltage is provided to at least one thin film transistor, and during a touch period, a touch driving signal is provided to at least one touch electrode.

[0012] In a touch display device, the driving for touch is typically driven only once during one frame, which is one cycle of the image refresh rate or frame frequency of the display panel.

[0013] For example, when the frame frequency is 60 Hz, after performing display driving for turning on or off one or more pixels through N gate lines constituting a touch screen panel (TSP) during a horizontal period of 1 / 60 s, then, touch driving for touch sensing is performed during a preconfigured interval. In other words, this can be expressed as a touch reporting rate of 60 Hz.

[0014] Meanwhile, for touch input of a touch display device, not only a passive stylus such as a finger can be used, but also an active stylus capable of sending signals to and / or receiving signals from the display panel can be used.

[0015] In the case of using an active stylus, the touch display device sends a beacon signal or a challenge signal including information about the display panel to the active stylus, and subsequently, the active stylus can determine the state of the display panel and perform synchronization processing.

[0016] Generally, since a beacon signal or a challenge signal having an asymmetric interval has been used for transmission from a touch display device to an active stylus, the complexity of signal processing increases, and sometimes there is a problem that noise is included in the synchronization processing between the active stylus and the touch display device. Summary of the Invention

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for simply configuring a system for transmitting signals between a touch display device and a stylus by evenly arranging intervals between touch driving periods in a touch frame.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for reducing the number of verification signals in a touch frame period and reducing the power consumption of a stylus by evenly arranging intervals between touch driving periods in a touch frame.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for improving touch sensitivity by evenly arranging intervals between touch driving periods in a touch frame.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for enabling synchronization between a touch display device and a stylus to be maintained in one or more remaining periods by evenly arranging intervals between touch driving periods in a touch frame even when noise is included in a period of transmitting a beacon signal.

[0021] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch display device including: a display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes and allowing display driving and touch driving to be alternately performed based on a frame period including a plurality of display driving periods and a plurality of touch driving periods; and a touch circuit configured to provide a touch driving signal to the plurality of touch electrodes in the frame period including a vertical blank period, wherein, in one frame period, the number of the plurality of display driving periods and the number of the plurality of touch driving periods are the same as each other, and in one frame period, each interval between the plurality of display driving periods is the same as each other.

[0022] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit including: a pulse width modulation generator configured to generate a touch synchronization signal in which, in one frame period including a vertical blank period, the number of a plurality of display driving periods and the number of a plurality of touch driving periods are the same as each other and each interval between the plurality of display driving periods is the same as each other, and configured to provide the touch synchronization signal to a display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes; a touch controller configured to control an operation of the pulse width modulation generator; and an interface processor configured to provide an interface signal between the touch controller and a driving circuit of the display panel.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a touch driving method is provided, including: generating a touch synchronization signal in which the number of multiple display driving periods and the number of multiple touch driving periods are the same in one frame period including a vertical blank period, and each interval between the multiple display driving periods is the same; and providing a touch driving signal to a display panel according to the touch synchronization signal.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a touch display device is provided. The touch display device includes: a display panel in which a touch screen panel including multiple touch electrodes is embedded; and a touch circuit that generates a touch synchronization signal in which intervals between multiple touch driving periods are uniform in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period, and provides a touch driving signal to the display panel according to the generated touch synchronization signal.

[0025] The touch circuit can generate a touch synchronization signal in which intervals between multiple touch driving periods are uniform by dividing the vertical blank period into time intervals equal to the number of multiple touch driving periods included in the touch frame period and adding the divided time intervals to each touch driving period.

[0026] The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal can include a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0027] The interval between multiple touch driving periods can correspond to the interval between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

[0028] The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal can include a beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and an inspection signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period. In this case, the inspection signal may not be provided after the second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0029] The interval between multiple touch driving periods can correspond to the interval between the beacon signal and the inspection signal.

[0030] The touch driving signal provided in the second touch driving period including the inspection signal can be a direct current signal.

[0031] The touch circuit can provide a touch driving signal for sensing a downlink signal provided from the stylus at a time when a specific offset time has elapsed from the interval between multiple touch driving periods in a touch driving period in which no beacon signal is provided.

[0032] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch circuit including: a pulse width modulation generator that generates a touch synchronization signal in which intervals between a plurality of touch driving periods are uniform in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period, and provides the touch synchronization signal to a display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes; a touch controller that controls an operation of the pulse width modulation generator; and an interface processor that provides an interface signal between the touch controller and a driving circuit of the display panel.

[0033] According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a touch driving method including: generating a touch synchronization signal in which intervals between a plurality of touch driving periods are uniform in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period; and providing a touch driving signal to a display panel according to the generated touch synchronization signal.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for simply configuring a system for transmitting signals between a touch display device and a stylus can be provided.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for reducing the number of verification signals transmitted in a touch frame period and reducing power consumption of a stylus can be provided.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method for improving touch sensitivity can be provided.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch circuit, a touch display device, and a touch driving method that enable synchronization between a touch display device and a stylus to be maintained in one or more remaining periods even when noise is included in a period of transmitting a beacon signal can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 A touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0039] Figure 2 A timing for configuring a display driving period and a touch driving period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0040] Figure 3 Dividing one display frame period into a plurality of display driving periods and a plurality of touch driving periods in time in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] Figure 4 Shows the touch driving timing independent of the display driving timing in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 5 Shows the operation between a touch display device and a stylus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 6 Shows an example of the timing for performing touch driving of a stylus in a touch display system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 7 Shows an example of an asymmetric phenomenon where the intervals between LHBs are not equal during a touch frame period in a touch display device.

[0045] Figure 8 Shows an example of the signal timing for explaining a method of arranging LHBs such that the intervals between adjacent LHBs are equal during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure by modulating a touch synchronization signal.

[0046] Figure 9 Shows the signal timing representing the process of configuring the intervals between LHBs to be equal during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure by modulating a touch synchronization signal.

[0047] Figure 10 Shows the signal timing when the intervals between LHBs are equally arranged during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 11 Shows another example presenting a situation where the intervals between LHBs are not equal during a touch frame period in a touch display device.

[0049] Figure 12 Shows another signal timing when the intervals between LHBs are equally arranged during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 13 Shows the signal timing when a downlink signal sent from a stylus is sensed in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 14 Shows the signal timing when beacon signals are arranged adjacent to each other during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 15Shows the signal timing when a downlink signal of a protocol in which sensing is performed in synchronization using both a beacon signal and a challenge signal in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] Figure 16 Shows the signal timing when synchronization and sensing of a downlink signal are performed by using only a beacon signal and a challenge signal once in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 17 Shows the signal timing when a DC touch drive signal is applied at an LHB to which a challenge signal is applied in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] Figure 18 Shows a block diagram of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0056] In the following description of examples or embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which specific examples or embodiments that can be implemented are shown by way of illustration, and the same reference numerals and symbols in the drawings can be used to represent the same or similar components, even if these components are shown in different drawings from each other. Further, in the following description of examples or embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of known functions and components incorporated herein may obscure the subject matter in some embodiments of the present invention, such description will be omitted. Terms such as "comprising", "having", "including", "constituting", "consisting of", and "formed of" used herein generally intend to allow the addition of other components, unless these terms are used together with the term "only". As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0057] Terms such as "first", "second", "A", "B", "(A)", or "(B)" may be used herein to describe elements of the present invention. Each of these terms is not used to define the nature, order, sequence, or number of elements, etc., but is only used to distinguish the corresponding elements from other elements.

[0058] When referring to a first element being "connected or coupled to" a second element, "contacting or overlapping" with the second element, etc., it should be construed that the first element can not only be "directly connected or coupled to" the second element or "directly contact or overlap" with the second element, but also a third element can be "interposed" between the first element and the second element, or the first element and the second element can be "connected or coupled", "contacted or overlapped", etc. with each other via a fourth element. Here, the second element can include at least one element among two or more elements that are "connected or coupled", "contacted or overlapped", etc. with each other.

[0059] When using temporal relation terms such as "after", "subsequently", "next", "before", etc. to describe the processing or operation of an element or configuration, or the flow or steps in an operation, process, manufacturing method, these terms can be used to describe discontinuous or non-sequential processing or operations unless the terms "directly" or "immediately" are used together.

[0060] In addition, when referring to any dimension, relative size, etc., it should be considered that the numerical value or corresponding information (e.g., level, range, etc.) of an element or feature includes a tolerance or error range that may be caused by various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external influences, noise, etc.), even if the relevant description is not indicated. Furthermore, the term "may" fully encompasses all meanings of the term "can".

[0061] Figure 1 A block diagram of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0062] Referring to Figure 1 , the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be, for example, a display device that can provide a function of sensing the touch of a passive stylus such as a finger, a conductive object, etc. and a function of sensing the touch of an active stylus such as a pen in addition to the function of displaying an image.

[0063] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be a display device in which a touch screen panel TSP including a plurality of touch electrodes TE as touch sensors is embedded in a display panel 110. For example, the touch display device 100 can be a TV, a monitor, etc., or can be a mobile device such as a tablet computer, a smart phone, etc.

[0064] For example, the touch display device 100 can divide a common electrode used during a display period into a plurality of groups, and then use the plurality of divided groups as the plurality of touch electrodes TE.

[0065] In another example, the touch display device 100 can use the plurality of touch electrodes TE as touch sensing electrodes or touch driving electrodes.

[0066] The display panel 110 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel, etc.

[0067] For example, when the display panel 110 is an LCD panel, the touch display device 100 may divide a common electrode that is applied with a common voltage and forms an electric field with a pixel electrode into a plurality of groups, and then use the plurality of divided groups as corresponding touch electrodes TE.

[0068] In another example, when the display panel 110 is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel, the touch display device 100 may include a first electrode that is an anode of the organic light emitting diode (OLED), an organic light emitting layer, a second electrode, a packaging layer located on the OLED and having a packaging function, and a touch sensor metal layer located on the packaging layer. Here, a plurality of touch electrodes may be formed on the touch sensor metal layer.

[0069] Hereinafter, for ease of description and understanding, it is assumed that the plurality of touch electrodes TE are used as touch driving electrodes (touch sensors) in the touch driving process and as common electrodes in the display driving process.

[0070] The touch display device 100 may include a touch circuit TIC that performs touch sensing and stylus sensing using signals received through the display panel 110 by driving the display panel 110 in which the touch screen panel TSP is integrated.

[0071] The touch circuit TIC may include a first circuit for receiving signals through the display panel 110 by driving the display panel 110, and a second circuit for performing passive touch sensing (e.g., finger touch sensing) and active touch sensing using the signals received through the display panel 110.

[0072] The first circuit may be referred to as a touch driving circuit ROIC, and the second circuit may be referred to as a touch controller TCR.

[0073] The touch driving circuit ROIC may be implemented as an integrated driving circuit SRIC together with a data driving circuit SDIC that drives data lines.

[0074] The integrated driving circuit SRIC may be implemented as a chip on film (COF) type in which the integrated driving circuit SRIC is mounted on a film.

[0075] The film on which the integrated driving circuit SRIC is mounted may be attached to a bonding portion of the display panel 110 and a bonding portion of the printed circuit board PCB.

[0076] The touch controller TCR, etc. may be mounted on the printed circuit board PCB.

[0077] The touch driving circuit ROIC and the data driving circuit SDIC can be implemented as separate driving chips. The touch driving circuit ROIC can be electrically connected to a plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110 through a plurality of signal lines SL.

[0078] At this time, the touch driving circuit ROIC can perform touch sensing during a touch period compared to a display period separately divided in time. In another example, a display period and a touch period during which touch sensing is performed can be performed simultaneously, and in this case, the touch period can have a time period equal to or different from the display period.

[0079] Figure 2 Shows a timing for configuring a display driving period and a touch driving period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] Refer to Figure 2 , the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure performs display driving for displaying an image during a pre-defined display driving period DP, and performs touch driving for sensing a touch input from a finger or a stylus during a pre-defined touch driving period TP.

[0081] The display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP can be equal in time, completely overlap each other in time or partially overlap each other in time, or be separated from each other in time.

[0082] When the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP are equal in time, display driving and touch driving can be performed simultaneously.

[0083] Hereinafter, for ease of description, it is assumed that the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP are separated from each other in time. In this case, the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP can be alternately arranged.

[0084] Therefore, when the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP are separated from each other in time and alternately arranged, the touch driving period TP can correspond to a blank period Blank in which display driving is not performed.

[0085] The touch display device 100 can generate a touch synchronization signal Tsync that swings between a high level and a low level, and thereby can identify or control the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP. That is, the touch synchronization signal Tsync can be a driving timing control signal for defining the touch driving period TP.

[0086] For example, the high-level period (or low-level period) of the touch synchronization signal Tsync may correspond to the display driving period DP, and the low-level period (or high-level period) of the touch synchronization signal Tsync may correspond to the touch driving period TP.

[0087] Meanwhile, regarding the method of allocating the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP in one display frame period, for example, one display frame period may be divided into a display driving period DP and a touch driving period TP, and display driving may be performed during one display driving period DP, and touch driving for sensing touch inputs from a finger and a stylus may be performed during one touch driving period TP corresponding to the blank period Blank.

[0088] In another example, one display frame period may be divided into two or more display driving periods DP and two or more touch driving periods TP, and display driving may be performed during two or more display driving periods DP in one display frame period, and touch driving for sensing touch inputs from a finger and a stylus once or twice or more times on all or at least a part of the display screen may be performed during two or more touch driving periods TP in one display frame period.

[0089] In this way, when one display frame period is divided into two or more display driving periods DP and two or more touch driving periods TP, and then display driving and touch driving are performed, each of the two or more blank periods corresponding to the two or more touch driving periods TP in one display frame period is sometimes referred to as a long horizontal blank ("LHB").

[0090] Therefore, the two or more periods for performing touch sensing from a stylus or a finger in the display frame period may be referred to as LHB or touch driving periods, and the touch driving performed during two or more LHBs in one touch frame period (which will be described below with reference to Figure 4 is referred to as "LHB driving".

[0091] Figure 3 Shows the timing when one display frame period is temporally divided into a plurality of display driving periods and a plurality of touch driving periods in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] Referring to Figure 3 , one display frame period may be temporally divided into 16 display driving periods (DP1 to DP16) and 16 touch driving periods (TP1 to TP16).

[0093] In this case, 16 touch driving periods (TP1 to TP16) may correspond to 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16).

[0094] In the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, display driving and touch driving may be alternately performed in a state where one display frame period is divided into one or more display driving periods and one or more touch driving periods.

[0095] In another example, in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the touch driving period TP may be executed independently of the display driving period DP.

[0096] Figure 4 A touch driving timing independent of a display driving timing in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0097] Refer to Figure 4 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the display driving process and the touch driving process may be performed at different times from each other or simultaneously.

[0098] Therefore, the touch synchronization signal Tsync may be used to distinguish between the display driving period DP and the touch driving period TP, or may be used to indicate only the touch driving period TP by being separated.

[0099] For example, 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) may correspond to one touch frame period. Here, the touch frame period may mean a period in which a touch from a finger or a stylus can be sensed once over the entire area of the display screen.

[0100] Here, an example in which touch driving is performed in a period in which the touch synchronization signal Tsync remains at a high level is shown, and in another example, touch driving may be performed in a period in which the touch synchronization signal Tsync remains at a low level. The display driving and the touch driving may be performed simultaneously or by being divided in time.

[0101] In addition, in the touch driving periods (LHB1 to LHB16), a touch driving process for sensing a touch from a finger may be performed, or a touch driving process for sensing a touch from a stylus may be performed.

[0102] Figure 5 An operation between a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a stylus is shown.

[0103] Refer to Figure 5When driving a touch sensor, such as a touch electrode, to sense a touch from a stylus, the touch display device 100 may send at least one uplink signal to the stylus, and the at least one uplink signal includes several types of information for controlling the driving of the stylus or several types of information required to drive the stylus.

[0104] More specifically, the touch circuit TIC of the touch display device 100 may provide at least one uplink signal to one or more of the touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110, and the at least one uplink signal includes several types of information for controlling the driving of the stylus or several types of information required to drive the stylus.

[0105] Accordingly, the stylus adjacent to the display panel 110 may receive at least one uplink signal through the tip of the stylus. That is, the stylus may receive at least one uplink signal through one or more of the multiple touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110.

[0106] The stylus may output a downlink signal indicating the position, tilt, or several types of additional information of the stylus in response to at least one uplink signal sent from the touch display device 100.

[0107] The downlink signal output from the stylus may be applied to at least one of the multiple touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110.

[0108] The touch circuit TIC of the touch display device 100 may receive the downlink signal output from the stylus through at least one touch electrode TE, and obtain the position, tilt, or several types of additional information of the stylus based on the received downlink signal.

[0109] Here, the uplink signal may include, for example, a beacon signal Beacon, a ping signal Ping, etc.

[0110] The beacon signal Beacon may be a control signal for enabling the touch display device 100 to control the driving of the stylus or notify the stylus of necessary information, and includes several types of information required to drive the stylus.

[0111] For example, the beacon signal Beacon may include one or more of the following information: basic information of the display panel 110 (e.g., status information, identification information, type information such as in-box type, etc.), driving mode information of the display panel 110 (e.g., mode recognition information such as stylus search mode, stylus sensing mode, etc.), characteristic information about the downlink signal (e.g., frequency, number of pulses, etc.), information related to the driving timing, multiplexer driving information, power mode information (e.g., information about one or more LHBs that are not driven in the display panel and the stylus to reduce power consumption); and may also include information for synchronizing between the display panel 110 and the stylus.

[0112] The ping signal can be a control signal for synchronizing the downlink signal.

[0113] The additional information that can be included in the downlink signal may include, for example, one or more of pressure, stylus ID information, button information, battery information, and information for checking and correcting information errors.

[0114] Figure 6 An example of the timing for performing touch driving of the stylus in a touch display system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0115] In Figure 6 , the display frame period may correspond to the touch frame period, and each touch frame period may include 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16). Here, the touch frame period may be a period for sensing both a passive conductive object such as a finger and the stylus.

[0116] In the touch frame period, the beacon signal, which is one of the uplink signals, may be transmitted from the display panel 110 to the stylus one or more times. The beacon signal may be transmitted in any touch driving period among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16).

[0117] For example, the beacon signal may be transmitted to the stylus in the first LHB LHB1 and the ninth LHB LHB9 among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in the touch frame.

[0118] When the beacon signal is transmitted from the display panel 110 to the stylus, the stylus may output a downlink signal in a preconfigured touch driving period in response to the beacon signal according to a predefined protocol.

[0119] The downlink signal output from the stylus can be a downlink signal for enabling the touch display device 100 to sense the position of the stylus or to sense data of the stylus. Herein, the data of the stylus can be several types of information about the stylus, such as pressure, stylus ID, button information, battery information, information for checking and correcting information errors, etc.

[0120] The downlink signal output from the stylus can be applied to at least one touch electrode TE among the plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110.

[0121] Meanwhile, the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in the touch frame period can include one or more active driving periods for enabling the sensing of the position or data of the stylus. For example, the active driving periods can correspond to LHB2 to LHB3 (LHB2 to LHB3), LHB5 to LHB7 (LHB5 to LHB7), LHB10 to LHB11 (LHB10 to LHB11), and LHB13 to LHB15 (LHB13 to LHB15) among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16).

[0122] In this way, the stylus can output a downlink signal according to one or more active driving periods (e.g., LHB2 to LHB3, LHB5 to LHB7, LHB10 to LHB11, LHB13 to LHB15) allocated for sensing the stylus.

[0123] When the downlink signal output from the stylus is a downlink signal regarding the position of the stylus, the downlink signal can be a signal composed of periodically oscillating pulses.

[0124] When the downlink signal output from the stylus is a downlink signal regarding the data of the stylus, the downlink signal can be a signal composed of non-periodic pulses indicating the corresponding data.

[0125] Meanwhile, the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in the touch frame period can include one or more passive driving periods for sensing touches from fingers. For example, the passive driving periods can correspond to LHB4, LHB8, LHB12, and LHB16 among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16).

[0126] As described above, according to the stylus sensing timing defined in the corresponding protocol, when a downlink signal is output from the stylus, the touch circuit TIC can receive the downlink signal through the display panel 110 and perform stylus sensing processing based on the received downlink signal.

[0127] Here, the stylus sensing process may include one or more of a process of sensing the position of the stylus and a process of sensing data of the stylus.

[0128] In addition, according to the finger sensing timing defined in the corresponding protocol, the touch circuit TIC may supply a touch drive signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes TE of the display panel 110, and receive a sensing signal from the display panel 110, and thus perform a finger sensing process for sensing a touch from a finger.

[0129] In order to distinguish frames, a vertical blank period Vblank is arranged between the touch frames for sensing the stylus or the finger, and thus an asymmetric phenomenon occurs in which the intervals between adjacent LHBs arranged in the touch frame period are not equal.

[0130] Figure 7 An example of the asymmetric phenomenon in which the intervals between adjacent LHBs in the touch frame period in the touch display device are not equal is shown.

[0131] Refer to Figure 7 , in order to distinguish frames, a vertical blank period Vblank is arranged between the touch frame periods.

[0132] Sixteen LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) for touch driving may be arranged in the remaining period other than the vertical blank period Vblank in the touch frame period. Due to such an arrangement, an asymmetric phenomenon occurs in which the intervals between adjacent LHBs among the sixteen LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) arranged in the touch frame period and the interval between the 16th LHB LHB16 and the first LHB LHB1 in the subsequent touch frame period are inconsistent.

[0133] For example, when beacon signals are included in the first LHB LHB1 and the ninth LHB LHB9, the time interval BBT1 between the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 and the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 is different from the time interval BBT2 between the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 and the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 in the subsequent touch frame period.

[0134] At this time, the time interval BBT1 between the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 and the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 and the time interval BBT2 between the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 and the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 in the subsequent touch frame period have different values due to the vertical blanking period Vblank; therefore, the intervals (LT1 to LT15) between adjacent LHBs among the first LHB LHB1 to the sixteenth LHB LHB16 and the interval LT16 between the sixteenth LHB LHB16 and the first LHB LHB1 in the subsequent touch frame period can be different from each other.

[0135] Due to such an asymmetric phenomenon, there is a problem that the associated system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and the stylus becomes complicated. In addition, in order to reduce the LHB asymmetric period, it is necessary to transmit multiple beacon signals Beacon in one touch frame period; therefore, the power consumption of the stylus is increased and the corresponding touch sensing period is reduced, resulting in a decrease in touch sensitivity.

[0136] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, regardless of the vertical blanking period Vblank, by equally arranging the intervals between LHBs in the touch frame period, the transmission system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and the stylus can be simplified, and the touch sensitivity can be improved while reducing the power consumption of the stylus.

[0137] Figure 8 An example of a signal timing for explaining a method of arranging LHBs such that the intervals between adjacent LHBs are equal in a touch frame period by modulating a touch synchronization signal in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0138] Refer to Figure 8 , the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure arranges LHBs by adjusting the pulse width of the touch synchronization signal Tsync via a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) arranged in the touch frame period are equal.

[0139] To this end, in order to prevent the last LHB (LHB16) arranged within one touch frame period from avoiding the vertical blanking period Vblank, the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs are evenly arranged even when located in the vertical blanking period Vblank.

[0140] The 16th LHB, i.e., LHB16, can be used as an active driving period for stylus sensing, a passive driving period for finger sensing, or a pseudo period for one or more other purposes.

[0141] Thus, in order to make the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs uniform, the time period of the vertical blanking period Vblank can be divided into the number of LHBs (here, 16 LHBs), and then the divided vertical blanking period can be evenly distributed to the time points at which each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) starts (e.g., the falling edge), so as to sequentially delay the start time points of the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16).

[0142] Figure 9 The signal timing showing the process of configuring the intervals between LHBs to be equal in the touch frame period by modulating the touch synchronization signal in the touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0143] Referring to Figure 9 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vertical blanking period Vblank can be composed of a specific multiple (N-H) of the horizontal period. For example, the vertical blanking period Vblank can be arranged at a time interval of 5H corresponding to 5 times of one horizontal period 1H.

[0144] One horizontal period 1H can be changed according to the operation frequency of the touch display device 100. Since the value stored in a memory (such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) in the touch display device 100 is used to determine the multiple N of the horizontal period H of the vertical blanking period Vblank, one horizontal period 1H used for displaying an image in the touch display device 100 can be used to determine the vertical blanking period Vblank.

[0145] Since one horizontal period 1H used for displaying an image in the touch display device 100 is equal to the data enable input period (DE period) during which the data enable signal DE is applied to the display panel 110 in one frame, one horizontal period 1H can be obtained by measuring the data enable input period (DE period) during which the data enable signal DE is applied to the display panel 110 in one frame.

[0146] For example, when the vertical blanking period Vblank is 5H and one horizontal period 1H is 32 μs, the corresponding vertical blanking period Vblank is 160 μs obtained by multiplying 32 μs by 5.

[0147] If 16 LHBs are included in a touch frame period, a time delay (D1 to D16) of 10 μs obtained by dividing 160 μs by 16 can be added to each LHB.

[0148] Therefore, for the touch synchronization signal Tsync before the LHBs are evenly arranged, by adding the time delay Dn to each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) in the touch frame period, a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM in which the LHBs are evenly arranged can be generated.

[0149] Figure 10 The signal timing when the intervals between LHBs are equally arranged in a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0150] Refer to Figure 10 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is generated such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16 and LHB1) arranged in the touch frame period are equal, regardless of the vertical blank period Vblank arranged between touch frame periods.

[0151] As described above, by dividing the time period of the vertical blank period Vblank into the number of LHBs (here, 16 LHBs), and then evenly distributing the divided vertical blank period to the time points at which each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) starts (for example, the falling edge) to modulate the touch synchronization signal Tsync so as to sequentially delay the start time points of the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16), a method of generating a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) arranged in the touch frame period are equal can be performed.

[0152] In this case, when beacon signals are included in the first LHB LHB1 and the ninth LHB LHB9, the time interval BBT1 between the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 and the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 can be equal to the time interval BBT2 between the beacon signal of the ninth LHB LHB9 and the beacon signal of the first LHB LHB1 in a consecutive touch frame period.

[0153] Therefore, it can be determined that all intervals (LT1 to LT8) between adjacent LHBs among the first LHB to the ninth LHB (LHB1 to LHB9) are equal to the intervals (LT9 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs from the ninth LHB LHB9 to the first LHB LHB1 included in the consecutive touch frame periods.

[0154] Therefore, since the time intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among all LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in one touch frame period are equal, the touch display device can arrange the LHBs at equal time intervals (LT = LT1 =... = LT16) starting from the time point when the touch frame period starts, and send an uplink signal to the stylus or receive a downlink signal from the stylus in the corresponding LHBs.

[0155] Accordingly, the associated system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and the stylus can be simply configured.

[0156] In addition, after the beacon signal Beacon is sent at the first LHB LHB1 in one touch frame period, since synchronization can be performed through the interval LT between the LHBs without sending the beacon signal Beacon in consecutive LHBs, the power consumption of the stylus can be reduced.

[0157] In addition, even when the beacon signal Beacon is sent only at the first LHB LHB1 in one touch frame period, since synchronization can be performed in the touch frame period, the touch sensitivity can be improved by enabling the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB16) to be used as touch sensing periods.

[0158] In addition, even when noise is included in the LHB LHB1 where the beacon signal Beacon is sent, since the time intervals (LT1 to LT16) of the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB16) are equal, synchronization between the touch display device 100 and the stylus can also be performed.

[0159] The touch driving method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a stylus driving method implemented through other protocols.

[0160] Figure 11 Another example is shown presenting a case where the intervals between LHBs in a touch frame period in a touch display device are not equal.

[0161] Figure 11This shows the following situation: A protocol in which a beacon signal Beacon that enables the touch display device 100 to send an uplink signal for controlling the driving of a stylus is used at the first LHB LHB1, a ping signal Ping is sent at a partial period of each LHB from the second LHB LHB2 to the 16th LHB LHB16, and a downlink signal is received from the stylus at the remaining period of each LHB from the second LHB LHB2 to the 16th LHB LHB16.

[0162] The stylus receives the uplink signal through one or more of the plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the display panel 110, and outputs a downlink signal indicating the position, tilt, or several types of additional information about the stylus to the display panel 110 at the remaining period of the LHB except for the partial period for sending the ping signal Ping in response to the uplink signal.

[0163] Similarly, the beacon signal Beacon may include one or more of the following information: basic information of the display panel 110 (e.g., status information, identification information, type information such as in - cell type, etc.), driving mode information of the display panel 110 (e.g., mode identification information such as stylus search mode, stylus sensing mode, etc.), characteristic information about the downlink signal (e.g., frequency, number of pulses, etc.), information related to the driving timing, multiplexer driving information, power mode information (e.g., information about one or more LHBs not driven in the display panel and the stylus to reduce power consumption), and may also include information for synchronization between the display panel 110 and the stylus.

[0164] The ping signal Ping may be a control signal for synchronization of the downlink signal.

[0165] The additional information included in the downlink signal sent from the stylus may include one or more of, for example, pressure, stylus ID information, button information, battery information, and information for checking and correcting information errors.

[0166] Even in the case of a signal transmission system according to such a protocol, the vertical blank period Vblank for discriminating frames is arranged between touch frame periods.

[0167] Even in this case, since the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) for touch driving are arranged in the remaining period of the touch frame period except for the vertical blank period Vblank, an asymmetric phenomenon occurs in which the intervals between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in the touch frame period and the interval between the 16th LHB (LHB16) and the first LHB LHB1 included in the consecutive touch frame period are not equal.

[0168] Therefore, a problem occurs in that the system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and the stylus becomes complex, and in order to reduce the LHB asymmetric period, it is necessary to transmit a plurality of beacon signals Beacon in one touch frame period. Therefore, since the power consumption of the stylus increases and the corresponding touch sensing period decreases, a problem of reduced touch sensitivity occurs.

[0169] In this way, even when the beacon signal Beacon is transmitted at the first LHB LHB1 and both the interrogation signal Ping and the downlink signal are processed in one or more of the second LHB LHB2 to the 16th LHB LHB16, regardless of the vertical blank period Vblank, the intervals between the LHBs in the touch frame period are arranged unequally.

[0170] Figure 12 Another signal timing when the intervals between LHBs in the touch frame period are arranged equally in the touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0171] Refer to Figure 12 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is generated such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16 and LHB1) arranged in the touch frame period are equal regardless of the vertical blank period Vblank arranged between the touch frame periods.

[0172] As described above, by dividing the time period of the vertical blank period Vblank into the number of LHBs (here, 16 LHBs), and then evenly distributing the divided vertical blank period to the time points at the start (e.g., falling edge) of each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) to modulate the touch synchronization signal Tsync so as to sequentially delay the start time points of the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16), a method of generating a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) arranged in the touch frame period are equal can be performed.

[0173] In this case, when a beacon signal Beacon is included in the first LHB LHB1, and both a ping signal Ping and a downlink signal are included in one or more LHBs among the second to sixteenth LHBs LHBLHB2 to LHB16, the time interval LT1 between the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2 may be equal to the time interval LT2 between the second LHB LHB2 and the third LHB LHB3, and similarly, equal to the interval LT16 between the sixteenth LHB LHB16 and the first LHB LHB1 included in the consecutive touch frame period.

[0174] Therefore, since the time intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among all the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in one touch frame period are equal, the touch display device can arrange the LHBs at equal time intervals (LT = LT1 =... = LT16) from the time point when the touch frame period starts, and send an uplink signal to the stylus or receive a downlink signal from the stylus in the corresponding LHB.

[0175] Accordingly, the associated system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and the stylus can be simply configured.

[0176] In addition, since the time intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among all the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16) included in one touch frame period are equal, for each LHB, there is no need to send a ping signal Ping for synchronization between the touch display device 100 and the stylus. In this case, since the ping signal Ping may only need to be included in the second LHB LHB2, the power consumption of the stylus can be reduced.

[0177] In addition, since synchronization can be performed in the touch frame period even when only the beacon signal Beacon is sent at the first LHB LHB1 and only the ping signal Ping is sent at the second LHBLHB2, the touch sensitivity can be improved by making the remaining LHBs (LHB3 to LHB16) available as touch sensing periods in one touch frame period.

[0178] In addition, even when noise is included in the LHB LHB1 that sends the beacon signal Beacon, since the time intervals (LT1 to LT16) of the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB16) are equal, synchronization between the touch display device 100 and the stylus can also be performed.

[0179] Since the intervals between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are arranged to be equal, the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can more accurately sense the downlink signal from the stylus.

[0180] Figure 13 The signal timing in the touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when a downlink signal transmitted from the stylus is sensed is shown.

[0181] Referring to Figure 13 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the time point for sensing the downlink signal transmitted from the stylus may be the time point after a preconfigured offset time (Offset) from the start time points of the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB8, LHB10 to LHB16) that transmit the downlink signal except for one or more LHBs (LHB1, LHB9) that transmit the beacon signal Beacon.

[0182] As described above, since the intervals LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal, it is possible to easily synchronize the time points (TS1 to TS16) for sensing the downlink signal in each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) with the time point for receiving the downlink signal from the stylus.

[0183] That is, since all the intervals between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal, the time point TS1 for sensing the first LHB LHB1 may be the offset time, and the time point TS2 for sensing the second LHB LHB2 may be the time point after the offset time from the first interval LT between the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2 (LT + Offset). Similarly, the time point TS16 for sensing the 16th LHB LHB16 may be the time point after the offset time from the 15th interval (15×LT) between the 15th LHB LHB15 and the 16th LHB LHB16 ((15×LT)+Offset). That is, the time point TSn for sensing the nth LHB LHBn can be set as the time point after the offset time from the (n - 1)th interval between the (n - 1)th LHB LHBn - 1 and the nth LHB LHBn ((n - 1)×LT + Offset).

[0184] In this way, when the interval LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period is arranged to be equal, the time point for sensing the downlink signal transmitted from the stylus can be determined simply and accurately.

[0185] In the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the intervals between adjacent LHBs are arranged to be equal during a touch frame period, it is not necessary to separately arrange the beacon signal Beacon during one touch frame period.

[0186] That is, even when the beacon signals Beacon are arranged adjacent to each other during a touch frame period and are not separately arranged during that touch frame period, since the interval LT between adjacent LHBs can be determined, the influence of noise according to voltage change can be reduced.

[0187] Figure 14 The signal timing when the beacon signals are arranged adjacent to each other during a touch frame period in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0188] Refer to Figure 14 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is generated such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16 and LHB1) arranged during a touch frame period are equal.

[0189] In addition, the beacon signal Beacon is arranged to be adjacent to each other in the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2.

[0190] In this case, a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is generated such that the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs among the 16 LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16 and LHB1) arranged during a touch frame period are equal.

[0191] Since the intervals (LT1 to LT16) between adjacent LHBs are equal among all the LHBs (LHB1 to LHB16), it is not necessary to separate the second beacon signal Beacon from the first beacon signal Beacon.

[0192] Therefore, by transmitting the beacon signal at the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2, the interval LT between the LHBs can be determined quickly.

[0193] After the interval LT between the LHBs is determined, as described above, the time points (TS1 to TS16) for sensing the downlink signals for each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) can be accurately synchronized with the time points for receiving the downlink signals from the stylus.

[0194] That is to say, since all the intervals between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal, the time point TS3 for sensing the third LHB LHB3 can be the time point ((2×LT)+Offset) obtained by offsetting from the second interval (2×LT) between the second LHB LHB2 and the third LHB LHB3. Similarly, the time point TS16 for sensing the 16th LHB LHB16 can be the time point ((15×LT)+Offset) obtained by offsetting from the 15th interval (15×LT) between the 15th LHB LHB15 and the 16th LHB LHB16.

[0195] In this way, when the interval LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period is arranged to be equal, the time point for sensing the downlink signal sent from the stylus can be determined simply and accurately.

[0196] Thus, compared with the case of arranging beacon signals separately, the influence of noise according to voltage changes can be reduced.

[0197] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be applied to a stylus protocol that uses both a beacon signal Beacon and a challenge signal Ping.

[0198] Figure 15 The signal timing when sensing a downlink signal of a protocol that performs synchronization using both a beacon signal and a challenge signal in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0199] Refer to Figure 15 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the time point for sensing the downlink signal sent from the stylus can be the time point obtained by offsetting a preconfigured offset time from the start time point of the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB16) that send the challenge signal Ping except for the LHB LHB1 that sends the beacon signal Beacon.

[0200] As described above, since the interval LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period is equal, it is easy to synchronize the time points (TS1 to TS16) for sensing the downlink signal in each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) with the time point for receiving the downlink signal from the stylus.

[0201] That is to say, since all intervals between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal, the time point TS2 for sensing the second LHB LHB2 can be the time point (LT + Offset) after the offset time from the first interval LT between the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2. Similarly, the time point TS16 for sensing the 16th LHB LHB16 can be the time point ((15×LT)+Offset) after the offset time from the 15th interval (15×LT) between the 15th LHB LHB15 and the 16th LHB LHB16.

[0202] In this way, when the intervals LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are arranged to be equal, the time points for sensing the downlink signals sent from the stylus can be determined simply and accurately.

[0203] In the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the intervals between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are arranged to be equal, it is not necessary to send a verification signal Ping through multiple LHBs.

[0204] That is to say, even when a verification signal Ping is sent once between beacon signals Beacon during the touch frame period, since the intervals between LHBs during the touch frame period can be arranged to be equal, the touch sensing sensitivity can be improved and the influence of noise can be reduced.

[0205] Figure 16 The signal timing when synchronizing and sensing the downlink signal by using only one beacon signal and one verification signal in the touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0206] Refer to Figure 16 , in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as described above, the time points for sensing the downlink signals sent from the stylus can be the time points after a preconfigured offset time from the start time points of the remaining LHBs (LHB2 to LHB16) that send the verification signal Ping except for the LHB LHB1 that sends the beacon signal Beacon.

[0207] Therefore, since all intervals LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal, the time points (TS1 to TS16) for sensing the downlink signals in each LHB (LHB1 to LHB16) can be easily synchronized with the time points for receiving the downlink signals from the stylus.

[0208] In this case, since the modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is generated such that all intervals LT between LHBs are equal during the touch frame period, the beacon signal Beacon and the interrogation signal Ping for determining the interval LT between LHBs can be transmitted only once in respective adjacent periods to each other.

[0209] For example, in the case where the beacon signal Beacon is transmitted at the first LHB LHB1 and the interrogation signal Ping is transmitted at the second LHB LHB2, since all intervals LT between adjacent LHBs during the touch frame period are equal to the interval LT1 between the first LHB LHB1 and the second LHB LHB2, it is no longer necessary to transmit the interrogation signal Ping from the third LHB LHB3 of the touch display device 100 to the stylus for synchronization between the touch display device 100 and the stylus.

[0210] Accordingly, by reducing the number of interrogation signals Ping during the touch frame period, the touch sensing sensitivity can be improved and the influence of noise can be reduced.

[0211] Meanwhile, in order to sense the stylus or a finger in one or more LHBs, one or more touch driving signals in the form of pulse width modulation (PWM) or direct current (DC) may be applied to one or more touch electrodes TE or a common electrode.

[0212] The interrogation signal Ping and the touch driving signal included in one LHB may have different voltage magnitudes or voltage levels, and generally, the voltage level of the interrogation signal is greater than the voltage level of the touch driving signal.

[0213] Accordingly, after providing the interrogation signal Ping from the touch electrode TE to the stylus in the LHB, signal delay and distortion may occur in the process of changing to the touch driving signal having a low level for touch sensing.

[0214] Figure 17 FIG. shows a signal timing when a DC touch driving signal is applied at an LHB where an interrogation signal is applied in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0215] Refer to Figure 17 , when the interrogation signal Ping is applied at all LHBs, such signal delay and distortion are not prevented. However, in the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the interrogation signal Ping is transmitted once after the beacon signal Beacon is applied during the touch frame period, signal delay and distortion are reduced by applying a touch driving signal having a direct current (DC) at the LHB where the interrogation signal Ping is applied.

[0216] That is, since the LHB to which the verification signal Ping is applied corresponds to one of the 16 LHBs, and a touch driving signal having direct current (DC) instead of pulse width modulation (PWM) is applied to the LHB including the verification signal Ping, the corresponding LHB can be used as a dedicated sensing period for the stylus.

[0217] Here, since one or more touch driving signals having pulse width modulation (PWM) or direct current (DC) can be applied to the remaining LHBs to which the verification signal Ping is not applied, both stylus sensing and finger sensing can be performed.

[0218] Figure 18 A block diagram of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0219] Referring to Figure 18 , the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can use a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator to arrange the LHBs such that the intervals between adjacent LHBs are equal in a touch frame period.

[0220] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a touch circuit TIC that performs touch sensing and stylus sensing by driving a display panel 110 in which a touch screen panel TSP is integrated, using signals received through the display panel 110.

[0221] The touch circuit TIC can include a first circuit that receives signals through the display panel 110 by driving the display panel 110, and a second circuit that performs passive touch sensing (e.g., finger touch sensing) and active touch sensing using the signals received through the display panel 110.

[0222] The first circuit can be referred to as a touch driving circuit ROIC, and the second circuit can be referred to as a touch controller TCR.

[0223] The touch driving circuit ROIC can be implemented as an integrated driving circuit SRIC together with a data driving circuit SDIC that drives data lines.

[0224] Here, the touch controller TCR is provided in the touch circuit TIC, and the integrated driving circuit SRIC is outside the touch circuit TIC. In another example, the integrated driving circuit SRIC and the touch controller TCR can be implemented in one touch circuit TIC.

[0225] The timing controller T-CON provides timing control signals, such as a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, a touch synchronization signal Tsync, a data enable signal DE, etc., from a host system (not shown) to a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator inside the touch circuit TIC.

[0226] The timing controller T-CON controls the operation of the display panel 110 based on scan timing control signals such as a gate start pulse GSP, a gate shift clock, a gate output enable signal GOE, etc. In addition, the timing controller T-CON controls the data applied to the display panel 110 based on data timing control signals such as a source sampling clock SSC, a polarity control signal POL, a source output enable signal SOE, etc.

[0227] The touch circuit TIC may be formed on an external substrate connected to the display panel 110. The touch controller TCR inside the touch circuit TIC is connected to the display panel 110 through a plurality of sensing lines, and the touch circuit TIC may sense the presence, absence, or position of a touch from a stylus or a finger based on the capacitance difference between touch electrodes TE formed on the display panel 110.

[0228] The touch controller TCR may send signals to or receive signals from the integrated drive circuit SRIC through one or more of a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface, a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI), and a serial interface. Here, as an example, an interface processor (LVDS Tx, LVDS Rx) using the LVDS interface is shown.

[0229] When a capacitance difference appears between the position touched by a stylus or a finger and a non-contact position, the touch circuit TIC may sense the presence, absence, or position of the touch using a method of sensing the capacitance difference, generate a touch sensing signal for the presence, absence, and position of the touch, and send the generated signal to the microcontroller MCU.

[0230] The pulse width modulation (PWM) generator inside the touch circuit TIC is controlled by the touch controller TCR, and uses the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, the touch synchronization signal Tsync, and the data enable signal DE provided from the timing controller T-CON to generate a modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM, a gate low voltage VGL, and a common voltage VCOM.

[0231] The modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is a signal generated to equally arrange the intervals between LHBs during a touch frame period. The modulated touch synchronization signal Tsync_PWM is provided to the touch power integrated circuit TPIC and the integrated drive circuit SRIC.

[0232] The touch power integrated circuit TPIC generates a touch drive signal TDS with an amplitude between a common voltage VCOM having a low level and a common voltage VCOM having a high level using the common voltage VCOM provided from a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator.

[0233] In addition, the touch power integrated circuit TPIC receives a DC gate low voltage VGL from a pulse width modulation (PWM) generator, and the gate low voltage VGL is a voltage capable of turning on a thin film transistor (TFT) provided in the display panel 110.

[0234] In addition, the pulse width modulation (PWM) generator may generate a sense clock CLK and provide the generated clock to the integrated drive circuit SRIC to sense a touch signal of a touch from a stylus or a finger applied via the display panel 110 during a touch drive period. The sense clock CLK provided from the pulse width modulation (PWM) generator may be provided to the integrated drive circuit SRIC through a buffer.

[0235] The microcontroller MCU may be implemented as one integrated circuit (IC) together with the touch circuit TIC, or may be implemented as one integrated circuit (IC) together with the timing controller T-CON.

[0236] As described above, in the touch circuit TIC, the touch display device 100, and the touch drive method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by uniformly arranging intervals of touch drive periods in a touch frame period, a system for transmitting signals between the touch display device 100 and a stylus can be simply configured.

[0237] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by uniformly arranging intervals of touch drive periods in a touch frame, the number of beacon signals in the touch frame period can be reduced, the power consumption of the stylus can be reduced, and touch sensitivity can be improved.

[0238] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, even when noise is included in a period of transmitting a beacon signal, since synchronization between the touch display device and the stylus can be maintained in one or more remaining periods, the accuracy of touch sensing can also be improved.

[0239] Regarding embodiments including the above embodiments, the following technical solutions are also disclosed:

[0240] Solution 1. A touch display device, comprising:

[0241] A display panel on which a touch screen panel including a plurality of touch electrodes is integrated; and

[0242] A touch circuit, the touch circuit being configured to generate a touch synchronization signal in which an interval between a plurality of touch driving periods in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period is uniform, and to provide a touch driving signal to the display panel according to the generated touch synchronization signal.

[0243] Solution 2. The touch display device according to Solution 1, wherein the touch circuit is configured to generate the touch synchronization signal in which the interval between the plurality of touch driving periods is uniform by dividing the vertical blank period into time intervals equal in number to the number of the plurality of touch driving periods included in the touch frame period and adding the divided time intervals to respective touch driving periods.

[0244] Solution 3. The touch display device according to Solution 1, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0245] Solution 4. The touch display device according to Solution 3, wherein the interval between the plurality of touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

[0246] Solution 5. The touch display device according to Solution 1, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and an inspection signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period, and the inspection signal is not provided after the second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0247] Solution 6. The touch display device according to Solution 5, wherein the interval between the plurality of touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the beacon signal and the inspection signal.

[0248] Solution 7. The touch display device according to Solution 5, wherein the touch driving signal provided in the second touch driving period including the inspection signal is a direct current signal.

[0249] Solution 8. The touch display device according to Solution 1, wherein the touch circuit is configured to provide a touch driving signal for sensing a downlink signal provided from a stylus at a time when a specific offset time has elapsed from at least one of the intervals between the plurality of touch driving periods in a touch driving period in which no beacon signal is provided.

[0250] Solution 9. A touch circuit, comprising:

[0251] A pulse width modulation generator configured to generate a touch synchronization signal in which intervals between a plurality of touch driving periods in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period are uniform, and to provide the touch synchronization signal to a display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes;

[0252] A touch controller configured to control the operation of the pulse width modulation generator; and

[0253] An interface processor configured to provide an interface signal between the touch controller and a driving circuit of the display panel.

[0254] Solution 10. The touch circuit according to Solution 9, wherein the pulse width modulation generator is configured to generate the touch synchronization signal in which intervals between the plurality of touch driving periods are uniform by dividing the vertical blank period into time intervals equal in number to the number of the plurality of touch driving periods included in the touch frame period and adding the divided time intervals to respective touch driving periods.

[0255] Solution 11. The touch circuit according to Solution 9, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0256] Solution 12. The touch circuit according to Solution 9, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and an inspection signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period, and the inspection signal is not provided after the second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0257] Solution 13. The touch circuit according to Solution 9, wherein the pulse width modulation generator provides a touch driving signal for sensing a downlink signal provided from a stylus at a time when at least one of intervals between the plurality of touch driving periods has passed a specific offset time in a touch driving period in which no beacon signal is provided.

[0258] Solution 14. A touch driving method, comprising the following steps:

[0259] Generate a touch synchronization signal in which the intervals between multiple touch driving periods in a touch frame period including a vertical blank period are uniform; and

[0260] Provide a touch driving signal to the display panel according to the touch synchronization signal.

[0261] Solution 15. The touch driving method according to Solution 14, wherein the step of generating the touch synchronization signal includes:

[0262] Divide the vertical blank period into time intervals equal in number to the number of the multiple touch driving periods included in the touch frame period; and

[0263] Add the divided time intervals to each touch driving period.

[0264] Solution 16. The touch driving method according to Solution 14, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0265] Solution 17. The touch driving method according to Solution 16, wherein the interval between the multiple touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

[0266] Solution 18. The touch driving method according to Solution 14, wherein the touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the touch frame period and an inspection signal provided in a second touch driving period in the touch frame period, and the inspection signal is not provided after the second touch driving period in the touch frame period.

[0267] Solution 19. The touch driving method according to Solution 18, wherein the interval between the multiple touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the beacon signal and the inspection signal.

[0268] Solution 20. The touch driving method according to Solution 14, wherein the step of providing the touch driving signal includes sensing a downlink signal provided from the stylus at a time when at least one of the intervals between the multiple touch driving periods has passed a specific offset time in a touch driving period in which no beacon signal is provided.

[0269] The above description has been given so that any person skilled in the art can make and use the technical concept of the present invention, and the above description has been provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications, additions, and substitutions to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The above description and the drawings provide only examples of the technical concept of the present invention for illustrative purposes. That is, the disclosed embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be consistent with the broadest scope consistent with the claims. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted based on the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the scope of their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A touch display device, comprising: A display panel, the display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes, and allowing display driving and touch driving to be alternately performed based on a frame period including a plurality of display driving periods and a plurality of touch driving periods. A touch circuit, the touch circuit being configured to provide a touch driving signal to the plurality of touch electrodes in the frame period including a vertical blanking period. Wherein, in one frame period, the number of the plurality of display driving periods and the number of the plurality of touch driving periods are the same as each other, and in one frame period, each interval between the plurality of display driving periods is the same as each other.

2. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the plurality of touch driving periods overlaps with the vertical blanking period.

3. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein: The touch circuit is configured to divide the vertical blanking period into sub-periods equal in number to the number of the plurality of touch driving periods in one frame period, add the divided sub-periods to the plurality of touch driving periods respectively, and generate a touch synchronization signal in which each interval between the plurality of touch driving periods in one frame period is uniform.

4. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein: The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the frame period.

5. The touch display device according to claim 4, wherein, The interval between the plurality of touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

6. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein, The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to a stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the frame period and an inspection signal provided in a second touch driving period in the frame period, and the inspection signal is not provided after the second touch driving period in the frame period.

7. The touch display device according to claim 6, wherein, The interval between the plurality of touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the beacon signal and the inspection signal.

8. The touch display device according to claim 6, wherein The touch driving signal provided in the second touch driving period including the inspection signal is a direct current signal.

9. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein, The touch circuit is configured to provide a touch driving signal for sensing a downlink signal provided from a stylus at a time after passing a specific offset time from at least one of the intervals between the plurality of touch driving periods in a touch driving period in which no beacon signal is provided.

10. A touch circuit, comprising: A pulse width modulation generator, the pulse width modulation generator being configured to generate a touch synchronization signal in which, in one frame period including a vertical blanking period, the number of a plurality of display driving periods and the number of a plurality of touch driving periods are the same as each other and each interval between the plurality of display driving periods is the same as each other, and being configured to provide the touch synchronization signal to a display panel including a plurality of touch electrodes. A touch controller, the touch controller being configured to control the operation of the pulse width modulation generator. And An interface processor configured to provide an interface signal between the touch controller and a driving circuit of the display panel.

11. The touch circuit according to claim 10, wherein At least one of the plurality of touch driving periods overlaps with the vertical blanking period.

12. The touch circuit according to claim 10, further comprising a touch power integrated circuit configured to generate a touch driving signal, Among them, The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to the stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the frame period.

13. A touch driving method, comprising: Generating a touch synchronization signal in which the number of a plurality of display driving periods and the number of a plurality of touch driving periods are the same in a frame period including a vertical blanking period, and each interval between the plurality of display driving periods is the same; And Providing a touch driving signal to the display panel according to the touch synchronization signal.

14. The touch driving method according to claim 13, wherein: The touch driving signal is an uplink signal provided to the stylus through the display panel, and the touch driving signal includes a first beacon signal provided in a first touch driving period in the frame period and a second beacon signal provided in a second touch driving period in the frame period.

15. The touch driving method according to claim 13, wherein: The interval between the plurality of touch driving periods corresponds to the interval between the first beacon signal and the second beacon signal.

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