Touch display device with multiple ambient light sensors

Abstract

The utility model provides a touch display device with a plurality of ambient light sensors. The touch display device comprises a plurality of ambient light sensors, an analog front-end circuit, a display touch integration controller and an ambient light sensing driver. The analog front-end circuit is coupled to the plurality of ambient light sensors. The display touch control integration controller obtains ambient light sensing signals of the ambient light sensors through the analog front-end circuit. The ambient light sensing driver is coupled to and drives the plurality of ambient light sensors. The number of the analog front-end circuits is smaller than the number of the ambient light sensors. According to the touch display device with the ambient light sensors, the configuration number of the ambient light sensors is increased, meanwhile, the number of analog front-end circuits is reduced, the hardware cost is saved, and the chip area is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a touch display device with multiple ambient light sensors. BACKGROUND

[0002] Portable display devices (such as smart phones, tablet computers or notebook computers) have become essential tools in people's lives, and usually use touch technology as the input method of portable display devices.

[0003] On the other hand, the ambient light sensor can sense the change of the ambient light source. The portable display device can dynamically adjust the screen backlight brightness according to the sensing result of the ambient light sensor, thereby saving energy. Since one ambient light sensor needs to be correspondingly configured with one analog front-end circuit, when multiple ambient light sensors need to be set on the portable display device, the corresponding number of analog front-end devices need to be set, thereby increasing the burden of hardware cost. SUMMARY

[0004] The utility model provides a touch display device with multiple ambient light sensors, which increases the number of ambient light sensor configurations, saves the number of analog front-end circuits, and thus saves hardware costs and reduces chip area.

[0005] The touch display device of the utility model comprises multiple ambient light sensors, an analog front-end circuit, a display touch integrated controller and an ambient light sensing driver. The analog front-end circuit is coupled to the multiple ambient light sensors. The display touch integrated controller is coupled to the analog front-end circuit. The display touch integrated controller obtains the ambient light sensing signals of the multiple ambient light sensors through the analog front-end circuit. The ambient light sensing driver is coupled to the display touch integrated controller and the multiple ambient light sensors, and drives the multiple ambient light sensors through the display touch integrated controller. The number of analog front-end circuits is less than the number of multiple ambient light sensors.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the utility model, the ambient light sensing driver controls the multiple ambient light sensors through multiple control signals respectively. One of the multiple ambient light sensors is started by one of the multiple control signals and transmits the corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit, and the others of the multiple ambient light sensors that are not started by one of the multiple control signals do not transmit the corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present application, the multiplexer is disposed in the display touch integration controller.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present application, the multiplexer is disposed in the display touch integration controller.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present application, the touch panel is coupled to the display touch integration controller.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present application, the plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed on at least one side of the touch panel, or the plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed around the touch panel.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the plurality of ambient light sensors form a sensing matrix, and the sensing matrix is disposed adjacent to a display area on the touch panel.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present application, the photosensitive components of the plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed on the touch panel through a semiconductor process of the display panel.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present application, the photosensitive components of the plurality of ambient light sensors are one of a photosensitive resistor, a photodiode, a photosensitive transistor, and a photoelectric chip, or a combination thereof.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present application, the analog front-end circuit, the display touch integration controller, and the ambient light sensing driver are integrated into a chip.

[0015] Based on the above, in the embodiment of the present application, the touch display device with the plurality of ambient light sensors switches these ambient light sensors in a time division multiplexing manner (for example, through a plurality of control signals to start different ambient light sensors in different time periods) or by increasing a multiplexer, saves the number of analog front-end circuits under the premise of increasing the number of ambient light sensor configurations, and thus saves the hardware cost and reduces the chip area. The touch display device with the plurality of ambient light sensors can also quickly detect the gesture motion track of the user by processing the sensing results (for example, the light source brightness change) of the ambient light source through the display touch integration controller, thereby serving as another input mode of the touch display device.

[0016] To make the above features and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following embodiments are described in detail below, and the detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a touch display device according to the first embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of a touch display device according to the second embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figures 3A-3B is a schematic diagram of a touch display device with multiple ambient light sensors. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The touch display device with multiple ambient light sensors in the embodiments of the present application can switch these ambient light sensors by time division multiplexing (e.g., by using multiple control signals to activate different ambient light sensors at different time periods) (e.g., the corresponding first embodiment) or by adding multiplexers (e.g., the corresponding second embodiment). Therefore, the number of analog front-end circuits can be saved under the premise of increasing the number of ambient light sensor configurations, thereby saving hardware costs and reducing chip area. The following describes each embodiment consistent with the present application in detail. Figure 1 Figure 2

[0021] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a touch display device 100-1 according to the first embodiment of the present application. The touch display device 100-1 mainly includes multiple ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N, an analog front-end circuit 120, a display touch integration controller 130, and an ambient light sensing driver 140-1. The touch display device 100-1 further includes a touch panel 105. The touch panel 105 is coupled to the display touch integration controller 130 for picture display and user touch sensing. The ambient light sensing driver 140-1 is coupled to and drives the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N. The ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N are provided corresponding to a single analog front-end circuit 120.

[0022] The light sensing components of the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N can be one or a combination of a photoresistor, a photodiode, a photo transistor, and a photo IC. The material or technology of the light sensing components in the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N can be adjusted according to the needs of the application, as long as the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N can sense the brightness of the ambient light source. ​​

[0023] The analog front-end circuit 120 is coupled with the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-N. The display touch integration controller 130 is coupled with the analog front-end circuit 120. The display touch integration controller 130 obtains the ambient light sensing signals of the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-N through the analog front-end circuit 120. In the embodiment, the display touch integration controller 130 can be a touch with display driver integrated circuit (TDDI). The display touch integration controller 130 can include the functions of a display driver, a timing controller and a touch signal processor. The number of the analog front-end circuits 120 is less than the number of the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-N.

[0024] In the first embodiment, the ambient light sensing driver 140-1 controls the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-N through a plurality of control signals, respectively. The “N” in the embodiment is a positive integer and N is greater than or equal to 2. Figure 1 For example, the “N” is equal to 2. Therefore, the ambient light sensor 110-N is the ambient light sensor 110-2. The ambient light sensing driver 140-1 controls the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-2 through two control signals CS1~CS2. The number of the analog front-end circuits 120 is less than the number of the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-N.

[0025] One of the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-2 (e.g., the ambient light sensor 110-1) is activated by one of the control signals CS1~CS2 (e.g., the control signal CS1) and transmits the corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit 120. The other of the ambient light sensors 110-1~110-2 (e.g., the ambient light sensor 110-2) which is not activated by one of the control signals CS1~CS2 (e.g., the control signal CS1) does not transmit the corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit 120.

[0026] For example, in the time period TP1, the control signal CS1 is enabled and the control signal CS2 is disabled. Therefore, the ambient light sensor 110-1 is activated based on the enabled control signal CS1 and the ambient light sensor 110-1 transmits the sensed ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit 120. In contrast, the ambient light sensor 110-2 is disabled in the time period TP1. On the other hand, in the time period TP2, the control signal CS2 is enabled and the control signal CS1 is disabled. Therefore, the ambient light sensor 110-2 is activated based on the enabled control signal CS2 and the ambient light sensor 110-2 transmits the sensed ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit 120. In contrast, the ambient light sensor 110-1 is disabled in the time period TP2. Figure 1 Figure 1 ​In period TP2, control signal CS2 is enabled and control signal CS1 is disabled. Therefore, ambient light sensor 110-2 is activated based on the enabled control signal CS2, and ambient light sensor 110-2 transmits the sensed ambient light sensing signal to analog front-end circuit 120. In contrast, ambient light sensor 110-1 is disabled in period TP2. That is, ambient light sensing drivers 140-1 and 140-2 transmit the sensing results of ambient light sensors 110-1 and 110-2 to analog front-end circuit 120 in a time-division multiplexing manner through control signals CS1 and CS2, respectively.

[0027] Figure 1 Analog front-end circuit 120, display touch integration controller 130, and ambient light sensing driver 140-1 can be integrated into one chip 160-1. Due to the structure of touch display device 100-1 in the present embodiment, the input terminals of analog front-end circuit 120 can be coupled to the output terminals of ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N, and one of ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N is activated in a period to transmit the sensing result to analog front-end circuit 120 in the time-division multiplexing manner. Therefore, the number of external connection points of chip 160-1 can be reduced. In comparison with the prior design in which the number of analog front-end circuits is equal to the number of ambient light sensors, the number of analog front-end circuits 120 in chip 160-1 is greatly reduced, and multiple ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N can be arranged corresponding to a single analog front-end circuit 120. Therefore, the layout area inside chip 160-1 is saved.

[0028] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of a touch display device 100-2 according to a second embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 Touch display device 100-2 and Figure 1 The main difference between touch display device 100-2 and Figure 2 Touch display device 100-2 further includes multiplexer 150, and ambient light sensing driver 140-2 uses a single control signal CS to uniformly control ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N. Analog front-end circuit 120 is coupled to ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-N through multiplexer 150.

[0029] In detail, the plurality of inputs of the multiplexer 150 are coupled to one of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-N respectively. The output of the multiplexer 150 is coupled to the analog front-end circuit 120. The multiplexer 150 is controlled by the display touch integration controller 130. The timing controller in the display touch integration controller 130 can control the multiplexer 150 as it desires. The display touch integration controller 130 selects one of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-N through the multiplexer 150. The selected one of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-N transmits a corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front-end circuit 120. The other ones of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-N that are not selected do not transmit ambient light sensing signals to the analog front-end circuit 120.

[0030] Figure 2 The analog front-end circuit 120, the display touch integration controller 130, the multiplexer 150, and the ambient light sensing driver 140-2 can be integrated into an entire chip 160-2, and the multiplexer 150 can also be disposed outside the chip 160-2. Since the number of analog front-end circuits 120 in the chip 160-2 is greatly reduced, a plurality of ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-N can be disposed corresponding to a single analog front-end circuit 120, thereby saving the layout area inside the chip 160-2.

[0031] Figures 3A-3B is a schematic diagram of a touch display device in which a plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed. In Figure 3A , the display panel 310-1 presents a display area 315-1 and the disposition positions of a plurality of ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14. In Figure 3A , the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14 can be disposed around the touch panel 310-1. In embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14 can be disposed on at least one side of the touch panel 310-1. According to Figure 3A the disposition positions of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14 in , the present embodiment can detect the gesture motion trajectory of a user when approaching the display panel 310-1 through the sensing results of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14. For example, when the user's hand is waved rapidly above the display panel 310-1, the light-dark changes of the ambient light source will be converted into the sensing results of the ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-14.

[0032] In Figure 3B , the display panel 310-2 presents a display area 315-2 and the disposition positions of a sensing matrix composed of a plurality of ambient light sensors 110-1 ~ 110-9. The disposition positions of the sensing matrix are adjacent to the positions of the touch area 315-2 on the touch panel 310-2. According to Figure 3BThe configuration positions of the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-9 in the embodiment can use the sensing results of the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-9 to determine the motion trajectory of the user's gesture when close to the display panel 310-1. For example, when the user's hand quickly waves across the sensing matrix on the display panel 310-2, the brightness changes of the ambient light source will be converted into the sensing results of the ambient light sensors 110-1 to 110-9.

[0033] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The ambient light sensor in the device obtains light sensing data by sensing the brightness of the light source. The light sensing data is processed by the display touch integrated controller and converted into touch results. Therefore, the user's gestures do not need to touch the touch panel, but can be detected by the display touch integrated controller in a non-contact manner at a predetermined distance from the touch panel.

[0034] In this embodiment, a hole is opened on the display panel to place Figure 3A and Figure 3B The ambient light sensor in . Or, Figure 3A and Figure 3B The light-sensing element of the ambient light sensor can be configured on the touch panels 310-1 to 310-2 through the semiconductor manufacturing process of the display panels 310-1 to 310-2. Figure 3A and Figure 3B The ambient light sensor is not shown as being placed above the display regions 315-1 to 315-2. However, users of this embodiment will appreciate that the photosensitive component of the ambient light sensor may be transparent. Therefore, the ambient light sensor can be placed above the display regions 315-1 to 315-2 without affecting the images displayed by the display regions 315-1 to 315-2. Alternatively, the photosensitive component of the ambient light sensor can sense changes in the brightness of the ambient light source through the display regions 315-1 to 315-2.

[0035] In summary, in the embodiments of the present invention, a touch display device equipped with multiple ambient light sensors switches these ambient light sensors by time-division multiplexing (e.g., activating different ambient light sensors at different time periods via multiple control signals) or by adding a multiplexer. This reduces the number of analog front-end circuits while increasing the number of configured ambient light sensors, thereby saving hardware costs and reducing chip area. A touch display device equipped with multiple ambient light sensors can also quickly detect the user's gesture motion trajectory by processing the sensing results of the ambient light source (e.g., changes in the brightness of the light source) through the display touch integrated controller, thereby serving as another input method for the touch display device.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, but not limited to them; although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that: it can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent replacement to part or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A touch display device, characterized in that, Comprising: a plurality of ambient light sensors; an analog front end circuit coupled to the plurality of ambient light sensors; a display touch integrated controller coupled to the analog front end circuit, wherein the display touch integrated controller obtains respective ambient light sensing signals of the plurality of ambient light sensors through the analog front end circuit; and an ambient light sensing driver coupled to the display touch integrated controller and the ambient light sensors, and driving the plurality of ambient light sensors through the display touch integrated controller, wherein a number of the analog front end circuits is less than a number of the plurality of ambient light sensors. 2.The touch display device of claim 1, wherein, The ambient light sensing driver controls the plurality of ambient light sensors through a plurality of control signals respectively, one of the plurality of ambient light sensors is activated by one of the plurality of control signals and transmits a corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front end circuit, and other ones of the plurality of ambient light sensors not activated by one of the plurality of control signals do not transmit corresponding ambient light sensing signals to the analog front end circuit. 3.The touch display device of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a multiplexer having a plurality of inputs respectively coupled to one of the plurality of ambient light sensors, and having an output coupled to the analog front end circuit, the multiplexer being controlled by the display touch integrated controller, the display touch integrated controller selecting one of the plurality of ambient light sensors through the multiplexer, the selected one of the plurality of ambient light sensors transmitting a corresponding ambient light sensing signal to the analog front end circuit. 4.The touch display device of claim 3, wherein, The multiplexer is disposed within the display touch integrated controller.

5. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a touch panel coupled to the display touch integrated controller. 6.The touch display device of claim 5, wherein, The plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed on at least one side of the touch panel, or the plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed around the touch panel. 7.The touch display device of claim 5, wherein, The plurality of ambient light sensors form a sensing matrix, and the sensing matrix is disposed adjacent to a position of a display area on the touch panel. 8.The touch display device of claim 1, wherein, Photosensitive components of the plurality of ambient light sensors are disposed on the touch panel through a semiconductor process of a display panel.

9. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein, The photosensitive components of the plurality of ambient light sensors are one or a combination of a photoresistor, a photodiode, a photosensitive transistor, and a photo chip. 10.The touch display device of claim 1, wherein, The analog front end circuit, the display touch integrated controller, and the ambient light sensing driver are integrated into a chip.

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