Touch display device, touch driving circuit, and touch controller

Abstract

To provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit and touch controller capable of supporting various touch sensing modes.SOLUTION: A touch display device and a touch driving circuit are discussed. An operation period of the touch display device can include a first touch sensing mode period in which a first touch driving signal having a first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor, and a second touch sensing mode period in which a second touch driving signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor. The first touch driving signal can be sequentially applied to each of a plurality of first touch electrodes during the first touch sensing mode period. During the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch driving signal can be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes, or the second touch driving signal can be simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, touch display devices that sense touches by a user's finger or pen and provide touch-based input processing functions have been developed.

[0003] In order for such touch display devices to provide more diverse application functions, there are requirements for various forms of touch sensing. For example, wearable devices may require not only a function of sensing contact touches in a form where the user touches the screen, but also a function of sensing non-contact touches (hover touches) in a state where the user is not touching the screen.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can support various touch sensing modes.

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can efficiently sense contact touches and hover touches.

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a circuit structure and a control structure that can efficiently sense contact touches and hover touches.

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a control signal system that can efficiently support a display mode, a touch sensing mode, and a hover touch sensing mode. **Means for Solving the Problems**

[0008] A touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch sensor including a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes, and a touch driving circuit for driving the touch sensor.

[0009] The operation modes of the touch display device may include a display mode and a touch sensing mode. The display mode and the touch sensing mode may be switched with each other or may be advanced simultaneously.

[0010] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may be advanced in time-separated time zones. That is, the first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may not overlap with each other in time.

[0011] As described above, the operation period of the touch display device may include a first touch sensing mode period in which a first touch driving signal having a first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor and a second touch sensing mode period in which a second touch driving signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor.

[0012] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first touch driving signal may be sequentially or simultaneously applied to the plurality of first touch electrodes.

[0013] During the second touch sensing mode period, a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes, and a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.

[0014] For example, the first touch sensing mode period may be a period for sensing a contact touch that touches the screen, and the second touch sensing mode period may be a period for sensing a hover touch that does not touch the screen.

[0015] The second amplitude of the second touch drive signal in the second touch sensing mode period may be greater than the first amplitude of the first touch drive signal in the first touch sensing mode period.

[0016] The second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0017] During the first sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes.

[0018] During the second sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.

[0019] The touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels and a plurality of touch electrodes, a display driving circuit for driving the plurality of sub-pixels, a touch driving circuit for supplying a touch drive signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes, a display controller for controlling the display driving circuit and supplying a first mode control signal to the touch controller, and a touch controller for supplying a second mode control signal to the touch driving circuit.

[0020] The operation period of the touch display device can include a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period, and the touch sensing mode period may include a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

[0021] The display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period can be divided by a first mode control signal and a second mode control signal.

[0022] For example, the first mode control signal includes a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage, and the second mode control signal may include a third signal section having a third level voltage and a fourth signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage.

[0023] For example, during the display mode period, the first mode control signal may have a second level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have a third level voltage.

[0024] For example, during the period of the first touch sensing mode, the first mode control signal may have a first level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have a third level voltage.

[0025] For example, during the second touch sensing mode period, the first mode control signal may have a first level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have a fourth level voltage.

[0026] For example, the first mode control signal may be a control signal for dividing the operation period into a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period, and the second mode control signal may be a control signal for dividing the touch sensing mode period into a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

[0027] For example, the first mode control signal may be a vertical synchronization signal for dividing one display frame period into an active period and a blank period, the active period may be a display mode period, and the blank period may be a touch sensing mode period.

[0028] The touch driving circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes two or more amplifiers corresponding to a plurality of first touch electrodes, two or more charge amplifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of second touch electrodes and each including a feedback capacitor, a first control switch circuit for controlling whether all or part of the plurality of first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more amplifiers, or whether all or part of the plurality of first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or for controlling the plurality of first touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more amplifiers and two or more charge amplifiers, and a second control switch circuit for controlling whether all or part of the plurality of second touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or for controlling all or part of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more charge amplifiers.

[0029] The operation period of the touch driving circuit includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period that do not overlap with each other, and the second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0030] During the first sub-sensing period, two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes may be electrically connected to each other, and during the second sub-sensing period, two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes may be electrically connected to each other.

[0031] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit may sequentially connect two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers in a corresponding manner, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in an associated manner.

[0032] The second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0033] During the first sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit connects two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may separate two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers.

[0034] During the second sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit separates two or more first touch electrodes from two or more amplifiers and two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier.

[0035] Each of the two or more charge amplifiers may further include an operational amplifier including a first input node, a second input node, and an output node.

[0036] The feedback capacitor may be connected between the second input node and the output node.

[0037] The specific charge amplifier may further include an additional feedback capacitor and a capacitance control switch connected between the second input node and the output node.

[0038] A touch drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first signal input unit configured to receive an input of a reference touch drive signal and a touch mode control signal, and a first signal output unit configured to output a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude or a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude to a touch sensor based on the reference touch drive signal and the touch mode control signal.

[0039] The touch mode control signal may have a first level voltage or a second level voltage.

[0040] When the touch mode control signal has a first level voltage, at a certain point in time, a first touch drive signal may be applied to N touch electrodes among a plurality of touch electrodes included in the touch sensor.

[0041] When the touch mode control signal has a second level voltage, at a certain point in time, a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to M touch electrodes more than N among a plurality of touch electrodes included in the touch sensor.

[0042] A touch controller for controlling the touch sensing operation of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a second signal input unit configured to receive an input of a first mode control signal from a display controller, and a second signal output unit configured to output a reference touch drive signal and configured to output a second mode control signal generated based on the first mode control signal.

[0043] The first mode control signal may include a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage.

[0044] When the first mode control signal is a second signal section having a second level voltage, the second mode control signal may have a third level voltage.

[0045] When the first mode control signal is a first signal section having a first level voltage, the second mode control signal may include a signal section having a third level voltage and a signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage.

Advantages of the Invention

[0046] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch drive circuit, and a touch controller that can support various touch sensing modes.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can efficiently sense contact touch and hover touch.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a circuit structure and a control structure that can efficiently sense contact touch and hover touch.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a control signal system that can efficiently support a display mode, a contact touch sensing mode, and a hover touch sensing mode.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in terms of driving time, display driving, contact touch sensing, and hover touch sensing can be efficiently performed, and low-power driving may be enabled.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0051]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0052] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. When adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components can be given the same reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown on different drawings. In addition, when explaining the present disclosure, if it is determined that a specific explanation of a related known configuration or function obscures the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed explanation thereof may be omitted. When terms such as "including", "having", and "performed" are used in this specification, other parts may be added unless "only" is used. When a component is expressed in the singular, it may include the case where a plurality are included unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0053] Also, when explaining the components of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), B, etc. may be used. These terms are for distinguishing the components from other components, and the essence, order, procedure, number, etc. of the components are not limited by these terms.

[0054] In the description of the positional relationship of components, when it is described that two or more components are "connected", "coupled", or "connected", it should be understood that the two or more components may be directly "connected", "coupled", or "connected", but it is also possible that another component may be "interposed" between the two or more components and then "connected", "coupled", or "connected". Here, another component may be included in one or more of the two or more components that are "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to each other.

[0055] In the description of the temporal flow relationship regarding components, operating methods, manufacturing methods, etc., for example, when the temporal front-back relationship or flow front-back relationship is described by "after ~", "subsequent to ~", "after ~", "before ~", etc., it may include non-continuous cases unless "immediately" or "directly" is used.

[0056] On the other hand, when referring to a numerical value of a component or its corresponding information (for example, level, etc.), even without separate explicit description, the numerical value or its corresponding information can be interpreted as including an error range that may be caused by various factors (for example, process factors, internal or external impacts, noise, etc.).

[0057] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1, a touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel 110 and a display driving circuit as components for video display.

[0060] The display driving circuit is a circuit for driving the display panel 110, and may include a data driving circuit 120 and a gate driving circuit 130, and may further include a display controller 140, etc.

[0061] The display panel 110 may include a display area DA where an image is displayed and a non-display area NDA where an image is not displayed. The non-display area NDA may be an outer area of the display area DA, which can also be referred to as a bezel area. All or part of the non-display area NDA may be an area visible from the front of the touch display device 100, or may be an area that is bent and not visible from the front of the touch display device 100.

[0062] The display panel 110 may include a plurality of sub-pixels SP and various types of signal wirings for driving the plurality of sub-pixels SP.

[0063] The various types of signal wirings may include a plurality of data lines DL for transmitting data signals (which may also be data voltages or video signals) and a plurality of gate lines GL for transmitting gate signals (which may also be scan signals).

[0064] The plurality of data lines DL and the plurality of gate lines GL may cross each other. Each of the plurality of gate lines GL may be arranged while extending in a first direction. Each of the plurality of data lines DL may be arranged while extending in a second direction. Here, the first direction may be the row direction, and the second direction may be the column direction. Or the first direction may be the column direction, and the second direction may be the row direction.

[0065] The data driving circuit 120 is a circuit for driving the plurality of data lines DL and can output data signals to the plurality of data lines DL. The gate driving circuit 130 is a circuit for driving the plurality of gate lines GL and can output gate signals to the plurality of gate lines GL.

[0066] The display controller 140 may receive input data FDATA and a display drive control signal DDCS from the host system 180. For example, the display drive control signal DDCS may include a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, a data enable signal DE, etc. Here, the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC is a signal indicating the time for displaying one horizontal line on the screen, and the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC may be a signal indicating the time for displaying one frame of the screen. The data enable DE may be a signal for indicating the period during which the data voltage is supplied to the pixel.

[0067] The display controller 140 may supply video data DATA to the data drive circuit 120 based on the input data FDATA. Also, the display controller 140 is a device for controlling the data drive circuit 120 and the gate drive circuit 130, and may control the drive timing for a plurality of data lines DL and the drive timing for a plurality of gate lines GL. The display controller 140 may supply a data drive control signal DCS to the data drive circuit 120 to control the data drive circuit 120, and supply a gate drive control signal GCS to the gate drive circuit 130 to control the gate drive circuit 130.

[0068] The data drive circuit 120 may supply data signals to a plurality of data lines DL according to the drive timing control of the display controller 140. The data drive circuit 120 may receive digital-form video data DATA from the display controller 140, convert the received video data DATA into an analog-form data signal, and output it to a plurality of data lines DL.

[0069] The gate driving circuit 130 can supply gate signals to a plurality of gate lines GL according to the timing control of the display controller 140. The gate driving circuit 130 is supplied with a first gate voltage corresponding to the turn-on level voltage and a second gate voltage corresponding to the turn-off level voltage, together with various gate driving control signals GCS, to generate a gate signal and supply the generated gate signal to the plurality of gate lines GL. For example, the first gate voltage may be higher than the second gate voltage. Alternatively, the second gate voltage may be higher than the first gate voltage.

[0070] For example, the data driving circuit 120 can be connected to the display panel 110 in a tape automated bonding (TAB) method, or connected to the bonding pads of the display panel 110 in a chip on glass (COG) or chip on panel (COP) method, or implemented in a chip on film (COF) method and connected to the display panel 110.

[0071] For example, the gate driving circuit 130 can be connected to the display panel 110 in a tape automated bonding (TAB) method, or connected to the bonding pads of the display panel 110 in a chip on glass (COG) or chip on panel (COP) method, or connected to the display panel 110 according to the chip on film (COF) method. Alternatively, the gate driving circuit 130 can be of the gate in panel (GIP) type and formed in the non-display area NDA of the display panel 110. The gate driving circuit 130 may be disposed on the substrate or connected to the substrate. That is, when the gate driving circuit 130 is of the GIP type, it can be disposed in the non-display area NDA of the substrate. When the gate driving circuit 130 is of the chip on glass (COG) type, chip on film (COF) type, etc., it can be connected to the substrate.

[0072] On one hand, at least one of the driving circuits of the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 can be arranged in the display area DA of the display panel 110. For example, the gate driving circuit 130 can be arranged in the display area DA. In this case, the gate driving circuit 130 can be arranged so as not to overlap with the sub-pixel SP, or can be arranged so that part or all of it overlaps with the sub-pixel SP.

[0073] According to the driving method, panel design method, panel shape, etc., the data driving circuit 120 can be connected to one side of the display panel 110, or connected to one side and the other side of the display panel 110, or connected along the side surface of the display panel 110.

[0074] According to the driving method, panel design method, panel shape, etc., the gate driving circuit 130 can be connected to one side of the display panel 110, or connected to one side and the other side of the display panel 110, or connected along the side surface of the display panel 110.

[0075] The display controller 140 can be implemented as a separate component from the data driving circuit 120, or can be integrated with the data driving circuit 120 and configured as an integrated circuit.

[0076] The display controller 140 can be a timing controller used in normal display technology, or a control device that includes a timing controller and can further perform other control functions, or a control device different from the timing controller, or a circuit in the control device. The display controller 140 can be composed of various circuits and electronic components such as an IC (Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a processor (Processor).

[0077] The display controller 140 is mounted on a printed circuit board, a flexible printed circuit, etc., and can be electrically connected to the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 through the printed circuit board, the flexible printed circuit, etc.

[0078] The display controller 140 can transmit and receive signals with the data driving circuit 120 according to one or more predetermined interfaces. Here, for example, the interface may include a LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) interface, an EPI (Embedded Clock Point-Point Interface), an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), etc.

[0079] The touch display device 100 may be a liquid crystal display device or the like, or may be a self-luminous display device in which the display panel 110 emits light by itself. That is, the display panel 110 may be a liquid crystal display panel or a self-luminous display panel.

[0080] On the other hand, the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch sensor and a touch sensing circuit 150 in order to provide not only a video display function but also a touch sensing function.

[0081] The touch sensing circuit 150 can sense a touch panel and detect whether a touch (finger touch, pen touch) has occurred by a touch object such as a finger or a pen, or can detect a touch position.

[0082] The touch sensing circuit 150 may include a touch driving circuit 160 that drives and senses a touch sensor and generates and outputs touch sensing data, and a touch controller 170 that can sense the occurrence of a touch or detect a touch position using the touch sensing data.

[0083] The touch sensor may include a plurality of touch electrodes. The plurality of touch electrodes may be electrically connected to the touch driving circuit 160 via a plurality of touch lines. The touch sensor will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0084] The touch driving circuit 160 and the touch controller 170 included in the touch sensing circuit 150 may be implemented as separate devices or may be configured as one device. Also, the touch driving circuit 160 and the data driving circuit 120 may be configured as separate devices or may be configured as one device.

[0085] For example, the touch driving circuit 160 may be configured by a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). Alternatively, the touch driving circuit 160 and the data driving circuit 120 may be integrated and configured by a source and readout integrated circuit (SRIC). The touch controller 170 may be configured by a micro control unit (MCU).

[0086] The touch display device 100 may further include a power supply circuit that supplies various power supplies to the display driving circuit and / or the touch sensing circuit 150.

[0087] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet, or may be a monitor or a television (TV) of various sizes, etc., and is not limited thereto, and may be various types and various sizes of displays that can display information or images.

[0088] Alternatively, the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be a wearable device that can be worn on the body, such as a smartwatch.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows the touch sensor TS of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0090] Referring to FIG. 2, the touch drive circuit 160 can sense the touch sensor TS, generate touch sensing data as a sensing result, and provide it to the touch controller 170.

[0091] Referring to FIG. 2, the touch sensor TS may include a plurality of touch electrodes TE. The plurality of touch electrodes TE may be electrically connected to the touch drive circuit 160 via a plurality of touch lines TL.

[0092] Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of touch electrodes TE may include a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2. For example, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may cross each other. Each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may extend in a first direction, and each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may extend in a second direction. According to this, each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may overlap with the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2.

[0093] Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 can be electrically connected to the touch drive circuit 160 via a plurality of first touch lines TL1, and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be electrically connected to the touch drive circuit 160 via a plurality of second touch lines TL2. For example, the touch drive circuit 160 can sense the touch sensor TS via the plurality of first touch lines TL1 and the plurality of second touch lines TL2, generate touch sensing data as a sensing result, and supply the touch sensing data to the touch controller 170.

[0094] The touch sensor TS is implemented in a touch panel and may exist separately outside the display panel 110 or may exist inside the display panel 110.

[0095] The external touch sensor TS existing outside the display panel 110 can be combined with the display panel 110 during the assembly process after being separately manufactured from the display panel 110. The external touch sensor can be composed of a touch panel including a substrate and a plurality of touch electrodes on the substrate.

[0096] The built-in touch sensor TS existing inside the display panel 110 can be formed together when electrodes and wirings related to display driving are formed during the manufacturing process of the display panel 110. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the touch sensor TS is the built-in touch sensor TS existing inside the display panel 110.

[0097] The touch driving circuit 160 can supply a touch driving signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the touch sensor TS, and sense at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes to generate touch sensing data. Here, the touch driving signal may be a signal whose voltage level fluctuates.

[0098] The touch sensing circuit 150 can sense a touch in a mutual-capacitance sensing method or a self-capacitance sensing method.

[0099] When the touch sensing circuit 150 performs touch sensing in the mutual-capacitance sensing method, the touch sensing circuit 150 can perform touch sensing based on the capacitance between the first touch electrode TE1 and the second touch electrode TE2.

[0100] According to the mutual-capacitance sensing method, the plurality of touch electrodes TE are divided into driving touch electrodes (also referred to as transmitting touch electrodes) and sensing touch electrodes (also referred to as receiving touch electrodes). The touch driving circuit 160 can drive the driving touch electrodes and sense the sensing touch electrodes. Hereinafter, mutual-capacitance sensing may also be described as "mutual sensing".

[0101] For example, during mutual sensing, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes), and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes). As another example, during mutual sensing, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes), and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes). Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the case where the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 are driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes) and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 are sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes) will be taken as an example.

[0102] When the touch sensing circuit 150 performs touch sensing in the self-capacitance sensing method, the touch sensing circuit 150 can perform touch sensing based on the capacitance between each touch electrode TE and a touch object (for example, a finger, a pen, etc.).

[0103] According to the self-capacitance sensing method, each of the plurality of touch electrodes TE can serve as both a driving touch electrode and a sensing touch electrode. The touch driving circuit 160 can drive all or part of the plurality of touch electrodes TE and sense all or part of the plurality of touch electrodes TE. Hereinafter, self-capacitance sensing may also be referred to as "self-sensing".

[0104] For example, during self-sensing, the touch driving circuit 160 can supply a touch driving signal to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and sense at least one of the first touch electrodes TE1 to which the touch driving signal is supplied. The touch driving circuit 160 can supply a touch driving signal to at least one of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 and sense at least one of the second touch electrodes TE2 to which the touch driving signal is supplied.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 2, one first touch line TL1 may be connected to each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1. Alternatively, two first touch lines TL1 may be connected to each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1. In this case, the first touch lines TL1 may be connected to one end and the other end of one first touch electrode TE1, respectively.

[0106] One second touch line TL2 may be connected to each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2. Alternatively, two second touch lines TL2 may be connected to each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2. In this case, the second touch lines TL2 may be connected to one end and the other end of one second touch electrode TE2, respectively.

[0107] As an example, each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be rod-shaped.

[0108] As another example, each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be composed of a plurality of sub-electrodes that are electrically connected to each other by bridge electrodes.

[0109] As yet another example, each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be integral, and each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be composed of a plurality of sub-electrodes that are electrically connected to each other by bridge electrodes.

[0110] As yet another example, each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be integral, and each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be composed of a plurality of sub-electrodes that are electrically connected to each other by bridge electrodes.

[0111] As an example, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be disposed in a first sensor metal layer, and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be disposed in a second sensor metal layer. Here, a sensor interlayer insulating film may be disposed between the first sensor metal layer and the second sensor metal layer.

[0112] As another example, when each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 is integral and each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 is composed of a plurality of sub - electrodes that are electrically connected to each other by bridge electrodes, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of sub - electrodes are disposed within a sensor metal layer, and the bridge electrodes for electrically connecting the plurality of sub - electrodes may be disposed within a bridge metal layer. Here, a sensor interlayer insulating film may be disposed between the sensor metal layer and the bridge metal layer.

[0113] As yet another example, when each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 is integral and each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 is composed of a plurality of sub - electrodes that are electrically connected to each other by bridge electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 and the plurality of sub - electrodes are disposed within a sensor metal layer, and the bridge electrodes for electrically connecting the plurality of sub - electrodes may be disposed within a bridge metal layer. Here, a sensor interlayer insulating film may be disposed between the sensor metal layer and the bridge metal layer.

[0114] FIG. 3 shows a touch sensing system of a touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0115] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch sensor TS, a touch driving circuit 160, a touch controller 170, and a display controller 140.

[0116] The touch driving circuit 160 can drive the touch sensor TS by supplying a touch driving signal TDS to the touch sensor TS and can sense the touch sensor TS. The fact that the touch driving circuit 160 senses the touch sensor TS may mean sensing the capacitance between the touch electrodes TE or may mean sensing the capacitance of the touch electrodes TE. For example, sensing the touch sensor TS by the touch driving circuit 160 may mean sensing the mutual capacitance between the touch electrodes TE and may also mean sensing the self - capacitance of the touch electrodes TE.

[0117] The touch controller 170 can supply a reference touch drive signal TDS_REF to the touch drive circuit 160. The reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a signal whose voltage level varies. The reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a signal having a reference amplitude ΔV0. For example, the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a rectangular wave, a sine wave, a triangular wave, or the like. For example, the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a Pulse Width Modulation signal.

[0118] The touch drive circuit 160 can generate a touch drive signal TDS to be supplied to the touch sensor TS using the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF.

[0119] The touch drive signal TDS may be either a first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to the touch sensor TS during a first period (e.g., a first touch sensing mode period) or a second touch drive signal TDS2 applied to the touch sensor TS during a second period (e.g., a second touch sensing mode period).

[0120] The first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be signals whose voltage levels vary. The first touch drive signal TDS1 may be a signal having a first amplitude ΔV1, and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be a signal having a second amplitude ΔV2. For example, the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be a rectangular wave, a sine wave, a triangular wave, or the like. For example, the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be Pulse Width Modulation signals. The frequencies of the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be the same as the frequency of the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF.

[0121] The touch controller 170 can control the touch driving circuit 160. Therefore, the touch controller 170 can control the operation timing of the touch driving circuit 160 by generating a second mode control signal MCS2 based on the first mode control signal MCS1 received from the display controller 140 and supplying it to the touch driving circuit 160. Here, the second mode control signal MCS2 can also be referred to as a "touch mode control signal".

[0122] The operation timing and operation type of the touch driving circuit 160 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can be defined by the combination of the first mode control signal MCS1 and the second mode control signal MCS2. Also, the operation timing and operation type of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can be defined by the combination of the first mode control signal MCS1 and the second mode control signal MCS2.

[0123] The touch driving circuit 160 and the touch controller 170 according to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure will be described again.

[0124] The touch driving circuit 160 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first signal input unit 310 configured to receive an input of a reference touch driving signal 310 and a touch mode control signal, and a first signal output unit 320 configured to output a first touch driving signal TDS1 having a first amplitude ΔV1 or a second touch driving signal TDS2 having a second amplitude ΔV2 different from the first amplitude ΔV1 to the touch sensor TS based on the reference touch driving signal TDS_REF and the second mode control signal MCS2.

[0125] When the second mode control signal MCS2 has a first level voltage, the first signal output unit 320 can output the first touch driving signal TDS1 to N touch electrodes TE. N is a natural number of 1 or more.

[0126] When the second mode control signal MCS2 has a second level voltage, the first signal output unit 320 can output the second touch driving signal TDS2 to M touch electrodes TE. Here, M may be a value larger than N.

[0127] According to the above, the second mode control signal MCS2 may have a first level voltage or a second level voltage. When the second mode control signal MCS2 has the first level voltage, at a certain point in time, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be applied to the N touch electrodes TE. When the second mode control signal MCS2 has the second level voltage, at a certain point in time, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be applied to M touch electrodes TE more than N.

[0128] The touch controller 170 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a control device for controlling the touch sensing operation of the touch display device 100, and may include a second signal input unit 330 and a second signal output unit 340.

[0129] The second signal input unit 330 may be configured to receive an input of the first mode control signal MCS1 from the display controller 140.

[0130] The second signal output unit 340 may be configured to output a reference touch drive signal TDS_REF and may be configured to output a second mode control signal MCS2 generated based on the first mode control signal MCS1.

[0131] The first mode control signal MCS1 may include a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage. When the first mode control signal MCS1 is in the first signal section having the first level voltage or the second signal section having the second level voltage, the second mode control signal MCS2 may be configured to have another signal section.

[0132] When the first mode control signal MCS1 is in the second signal section having the second level voltage, the second mode control signal MCS2 may have a third level voltage.

[0133] When the first mode control signal MCS1 is in a first signal section having a first level voltage, the second mode control signal MCS2 may include a signal section having a third level voltage and a signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage.

[0134] FIG. 4 shows a driving timing diagram of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 shows an operation mode definition table of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0135] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have various operation modes. The various operation modes may include a display mode for displaying an image and a touch sensing mode for sensing a touch.

[0136] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode may be a contact touch sensing mode for sensing a contact touch, which is a touch that touches the screen, and the second touch sensing mode may be a hover touch sensing mode for sensing a hover touch, which is a touch that is close within a predetermined distance from the screen without touching the screen.

[0137] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hover touch can also be said to be a non-contact touch. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hover touch may mean an action in which the user's body or pen points to a location on the screen without the user touching the screen, or may mean a gesture such as a waving or movement of the user's body or pen on the screen.

[0138] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, sensing hover touch may mean detecting the position of a body or a pen in a state of not touching the screen (non-contact state), or detecting the movement of a body or a pen in a state of not touching the screen (non-contact state). For example, hover touch may mean gestures such as the movement or waving of a user's body or pen on or above the screen without the user touching the screen.

[0139] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation period of the touch display device 100 may include a display mode period Td and a touch sensing mode period Tt, and the touch sensing mode period Tt may include a first touch sensing mode period Tt1 and a second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0140] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the display mode period Td may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the display mode, and the touch sensing mode period Tt may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the touch sensing mode.

[0141] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first touch sensing mode period Tt1 may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the first touch sensing mode (contact touch sensing mode), and the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the second touch sensing mode (hover touch sensing mode). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first touch sensing mode period Tt1 may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the first touch sensing mode (e.g., hover touch sensing mode), and the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may be a period during which the touch display device 100 operates in the second touch sensing mode (e.g., contact touch sensing mode).

[0142] During the touch sensing mode period Tt, the touch driving circuit 160 may supply a touch driving signal TDS to the touch sensor TS.

[0143] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the touch driving circuit 160 may supply a first touch driving signal TDS1 to the touch sensor TS. Here, the first touch driving signal TDS1 is a signal whose voltage level changes over time and may have a first frequency and a first amplitude ΔV1.

[0144] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the touch driving circuit 160 may supply a second touch driving signal TDS2 to the touch sensor TS. Here, the second touch driving signal TDS2 is a signal whose voltage level changes over time and may have a second frequency and a second amplitude ΔV2. The second frequency may be the same as or different from the first frequency. The second amplitude ΔV2 may be different from the first amplitude ΔV1.

[0145] The operation period of the touch display device 100 can also be said to be the operation period of the display panel 110.

[0146] Referring to FIG. 4, since the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 is a hover touch sensing mode period, in order to improve the hover touch sensing performance, the second amplitude ΔV2 of the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be larger than the first amplitude ΔV1 of the first touch driving signal TDS1. For example, the second frequency of the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be the same as the first frequency of the first touch driving signal TDS1, and the second amplitude ΔV2 of the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be larger than the first amplitude ΔV1 of the first touch driving signal TDS1. Alternatively, the second frequency of the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be different from the first frequency of the first touch driving signal TDS1, and the second amplitude ΔV2 of the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be larger than the first amplitude ΔV1 of the first touch driving signal TDS1. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0147] Referring to FIG. 4, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, a first touch driving signal TDS1 may be applied to the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1. For example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch driving signal TDS1 may be sequentially applied to each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1.

[0148] Referring to FIG. 4, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may operate as if electrically connected to form one large first touch electrode TE1. Also, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may operate as if electrically connected to form one large second touch electrode TE2.

[0149] Referring to FIG. 4, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 that are electrically connected to each other, and the second touch driving signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 that are electrically connected to each other.

[0150] As described above, the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a display driving circuit that drives a plurality of sub-pixels SP, a display controller 140 that controls the display driving circuit and supplies a first mode control signal MCS1 to the touch controller 170, and a touch controller 170 that supplies a second mode control signal MCS2 to the touch driving circuit 160. Here, the display driving circuit may include a data driving circuit 120, a gate driving circuit 130, and the like.

[0151] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the display mode period Td, the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, and the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may be divided and defined by the first mode control signal MCS1 and the second mode control signal MCS2.

[0152] The first mode control signal MCS1 may be a control signal for distinguishing between a display mode period Td and a touch sensing mode period Tt, and the second mode control signal MCS2 may be a control signal for distinguishing between a first touch sensing mode period Tt1 and a second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0153] Referring to FIG. 4, for example, the first mode control signal MCS1 may be a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC for dividing one display frame period into an active period and a blank period. In the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, the active period may be the display mode period Td, and the blank period may be the touch sensing mode period Tt.

[0154] The vertical synchronization signal VSYNC may be one of the display drive control signals DDCS provided from the host system 180 to the display controller 140.

[0155] The display controller 140 may provide the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC received from the host system 180 to the touch controller 170 as the first mode control signal MCS1.

[0156] Referring to FIG. 4, for example, the second mode control signal MCS2 may be a hover enable signal (HOVER_EN) for enabling the hover touch sensing mode which is the second touch sensing mode.

[0157] Referring to FIG. 4, the first mode control signal MCS1 may include a first signal section S1 having a first level voltage LV1 and a second signal section S2 having a second level voltage LV2 different from the first level voltage LV1.

[0158] The second mode control signal MCS2 may include a third signal section S3 having a third level voltage LV3 and a fourth signal section S4 having a fourth level voltage LV4 different from the third level voltage LV3.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 4, during the display mode period Td, the first mode control signal MCS1 can have the second level voltage LV2, and the second mode control signal MCS2 can have the third level voltage LV3.

[0160] Referring to FIG. 4, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first mode control signal MCS1 can have the first level voltage LV1, and the second mode control signal MCS2 can have the third level voltage LV3.

[0161] Referring to FIG. 4, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the first mode control signal MCS1 can have the first level voltage LV1, and the second mode control signal MCS2 can have the fourth level voltage LV4.

[0162] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel 110 including a plurality of sub-pixels SP and a plurality of touch electrodes TE, a display driving circuit for driving the plurality of sub-pixels SP, a touch driving circuit 160 for supplying a touch driving signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes TE, a display controller 140 for controlling the display driving circuit and supplying the first mode control signal MCS1 to the touch controller 170, and a touch controller 170 for supplying the second mode control signal MCS2 to the touch driving circuit 160.

[0163] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the display mode period Td, the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, and the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 can be distinguished by the first mode control signal MCS1 and the second mode control signal MCS2.

[0164] FIG. 6 shows the touch driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 shows the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0165] Referring to FIG. 6, the touch drive circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a sensing unit block SUBLK for sensing the touch sensor TS. The sensing unit block SUBLK may include a plurality of sensing units SU.

[0166] Referring to FIG. 6, the touch drive circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a first switch circuit SWC1, a second switch circuit SWC2, and an analog-to-digital converter ADC.

[0167] Referring to FIG. 6, the first switch circuit SWC1 may connect a touch electrode TE to be sensed among a plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the touch sensor T to the sensing unit block SUBLK. The first switch circuit SWC1 may include a plurality of switches and can also be said to be a multiplexer circuit.

[0168] Referring to FIG. 6, the second switch circuit SWC2 may connect one of a plurality of sensing units SU included in the sensing unit block SUBLK to the analog-to-digital converter ADC. The second switch circuit SWC2 may include a plurality of switches and can also be said to be a multiplexer circuit.

[0169] Referring to FIG. 6, each of the plurality of sensing units SU may include a charge amplifier CAMP, an integrator INTG, and a sample and hold circuit (Sample and hold circuit, SHA).

[0170] Referring to FIG. 6, the charge amplifier CAMP may be electrically connected to one or two or more touch electrodes TE selected by the first switch circuit SWC1 among the plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the touch sensor TS. For example, the charge amplifier CAMP may be electrically connected to one or more touch electrodes TE among the plurality of touch electrodes TE included in the touch sensor TS via the first switch circuit SWC1.

[0171] The charge amplifier CAMP can receive a touch sensing signal from one or more touch electrodes TE selected as sensing targets from among a plurality of connectable touch electrodes TE.

[0172] Referring to FIG. 6, the first switch circuit SWC1 connects a touch electrode TE that is a sensing target among a plurality of connectable touch electrodes TE to a charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU among a plurality of sensing units SU.

[0173] Thereby, the charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU can receive a touch sensing signal from the touch electrode TE that is the sensing target. That is, the charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU can sense a touch sensing signal from the touch electrode TE that is the sensing target. Here, the touch sensing signal sensed from the touch electrode TE may correspond to the capacitance (mutual capacitance or self - capacitance) related to the touch electrode TE.

[0174] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the charge amplifier CAMP can output an output signal VOUT corresponding to the touch sensing signal sensed from the touch electrode TE.

[0175] Referring to FIG. 7, the charge amplifier CAMP may include an operational amplifier (OP - AMP) including a first input node IN1, a second input node IN2, and an output node OUT, and a feedback capacitor Cfb between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT.

[0176] Referring to FIG. 7, the first input node IN1 may be a node to which an input signal VIN is input. The second input node IN2 may be a node electrically connected to the touch electrode TE selected by the first switch circuit SWC1. The output node OUT may be a node connected to the integrator INTG and may be a node from which an output signal VOUT is output.

[0177] Referring to FIG. 7, the charge corresponding to the capacitance (self-capacitance or mutual capacitance) in the touch electrode TE may be charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb, and an output signal VOUT corresponding to the amount of charge charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb may be output. Here, the fact that the touch drive circuit 160 senses a touch sensing signal from the touch electrode TE can mean sensing the capacitance (self-capacitance or mutual capacitance) of the touch electrode TE, charging the amount of charge corresponding to the capacitance (self-capacitance or mutual capacitance) of the touch electrode TE to the feedback capacitor Cfb, and outputting an output signal VOUT corresponding to the charged amount of charge.

[0178] Referring to FIG. 7, the charge amplifier CAMP may further include a reset switch RST that controls the connection between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT. For example, the reset switch RST may be disposed between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT.

[0179] Referring to FIG. 6, the integrator INTG may output an integration value obtained by integrating the output signal VOUT of the charge amplifier CAMP. Here, the charge amplifier CAMP and the integrator INTG may be integrally configured.

[0180] The sample and hold circuit SHA may store the integration value output from the integrator INTG until the next integration value is output from the integrator INTG.

[0181] The second switch circuit SWC2 may connect any one of a plurality of sensing units SU included in the sensing unit block SUBLK to the analog-to-digital converter ADC.

[0182] The analog-to-digital converter ADC may convert the integration value stored in the sample and hold circuit SHA in the sensing unit SU selected by the second switch circuit SWC2 into a digital value to generate touch sensing data.

[0183] The touch drive circuit 160 can transmit the touch sensing data generated by the analog-to-digital converter ADC to the touch controller 170. At this time, the touch sensing data can be transmitted in the form of a differential signal.

[0184] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 7, the input signal VIN input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be a signal whose voltage level does not fluctuate or a signal whose voltage level fluctuates (swings).

[0185] The type of the input signal VIN may vary depending on the sensing method.

[0186] More specifically, when touch sensing is performed in the mutual sensing method, the input signal VIN may be a reference voltage whose voltage level does not fluctuate. When touch sensing is performed in the self-sensing method, the input signal VIN may be a second touch drive signal TDS2 whose voltage level fluctuates.

[0187] The type of the input signal VIN may vary depending on the type of the touch sensing mode.

[0188] More specifically, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the input signal VIN may be a reference voltage whose voltage level does not fluctuate. During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the input signal VIN may be a second touch drive signal TDS2 whose voltage level fluctuates.

[0189] Hereinafter, the circuit structure and operation during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1 and the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 will be described in more detail.

[0190] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an operation method of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0191] Referring to FIG. 8, a method of operating a touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a step (S100) in which a display driving circuit performs display driving for displaying an image via a display panel 110 during a display mode period Td, and a step (S200) in which a touch sensing circuit 150 performs touch sensing during a touch sensing mode period Tt.

[0192] The touch sensing mode period Tt may include a first touch sensing mode period Tt1 and a second touch sensing mode period Tt2 that do not overlap with each other in time.

[0193] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, contact touch sensing may be performed in a mutual-sensing manner. During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, hover touch sensing (non-contact touch sensing) may be performed in a self-sensing manner.

[0194] Referring to FIG. 8, step S200 may include a step (S210) in which the touch sensing circuit 150 senses a contact touch in a mutual-sensing manner during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, and a step (S220) in which the touch sensing circuit 150 senses a hover touch (non-contact touch) in a self-sensing manner during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0195] The second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may include a first sub-sensing period Tt21 and a second sub-sensing period Tt22 that do not overlap with each other. The first sub-sensing period Tt21 may be a period for sensing a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 in a self-sensing manner, and the second sub-sensing period Tt22 may be a period for sensing a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 in a self-sensing manner.

[0196] Referring to FIG. 8, step S220 may include a step (S221) in which the touch sensing circuit 150 senses a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 in a self-sensing manner during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, and a step (S222) in which the touch sensing circuit 150 senses a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 in a self-sensing manner during the second sub-sensing period Tt22.

[0197] In step S221, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes TE1 that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1.

[0198] In step S222, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes TE2 that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2.

[0199] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing driving situations when the operation period of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is the first touch sensing mode period Tt1.

[0200] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, operations for sensing a contact touch in a mutual sensing manner may be performed.

[0201] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the touch drive circuit 160 may apply a first touch drive signal TDS1 having a first amplitude ΔV1 to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1.

[0202] For example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be sequentially applied to the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1. That is, at a certain point in the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be applied to one first touch electrode TE1.

[0203] As another example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be grouped into a plurality of first touch electrode groups. Each of the plurality of first touch electrode groups may include two or more first touch electrodes TE1. During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, a first touch drive signal TDS1 may be sequentially applied to the plurality of first touch electrode groups. That is, at a certain point in the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes TE1 included in one first touch electrode group. Thus, when the first touch drive signal TDS1 is simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes TE1 included in one first touch electrode group during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to at least one of the two or more first touch electrodes TE1 and the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to the remaining first touch electrodes TE1 may have a phase difference. For example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to at least one of the two or more first touch electrodes TE1 and the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to the remaining first touch electrodes TE1 may have an inverse phase relationship (a phase difference of 180 degrees).

[0204] Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, a reference voltage VREF in the form of a direct current voltage (DC voltage) whose voltage level does not change may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160.

[0205] Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160 may be electrically connected to at least one second touch electrode TE2 of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2.

[0206] Referring to FIGS. 9a and 9b, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, a mutual capacitance Cm may be formed between the first touch electrode TE1 and the second touch electrode TE2. Referring to FIG. 9b, the feedback capacitor Cfb may be disposed between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT of the charge amplifier CAMP. The charge corresponding to the mutual capacitance Cm between the first touch electrode TE1 and the second touch electrode TE2 may charge the feedback capacitor Cfb of the charge amplifier CAMP. An output voltage VOUT corresponding to the amount of charge charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb may be output to the output node OUT of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0207] FIGS. 10a and 10b are diagrams showing the driving situation when the operation period of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is the first sub-sensing period Tt21 in the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0208] FIGS. 11a and 11b are diagrams showing the driving situation when the operation period of the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is the second sub-sensing period Tt22 in the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0209] Referring to FIGS. 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, an operation for sensing a hover touch in a self-sensing method may be performed.

[0210] Referring to FIGS. 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the first sub-sensing period Tt21 may be advanced first, and subsequently the second sub-sensing period Tt22 may be advanced. Alternatively, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second sub-sensing period Tt22 may be advanced first, and subsequently the first sub-sensing period Tt21 may be advanced.

[0211] Referring to FIGS. 10a and 10b, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be in an electrically floating state. That is, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be in a state where no electrical signal or voltage is applied.

[0212] Referring to FIGS. 10a and 10b, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, a second touch drive signal TDS2 with a varying voltage level may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160. The second touch drive signal TDS2 may have a second amplitude ΔV2 greater than the first amplitude ΔV1. For example, the second frequency of the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be the same as the first frequency of the first touch drive signal TDS1, and the second amplitude ΔV2 of the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be greater than the first amplitude ΔV1 of the first touch drive signal TDS1. Alternatively, the second frequency of the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be different from the first frequency of the first touch drive signal TDS1, and the second amplitude ΔV2 of the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be greater than the first amplitude ΔV1 of the first touch drive signal TDS1. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0213] Referring to FIGS. 10a and 10b, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160 may be electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1.

[0214] Thereby, the second touch drive signal TDS2 input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be applied to at least one of the first touch electrodes TE1 connected to the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0215] Referring to FIGS. 10a and 10b, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21, a self-capacitance Cs may be formed on the first touch electrode TE1. The charge corresponding to the self-capacitance Cs formed on the first touch electrode TE1 may be charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb of the charge amplifier CAMP. An output voltage VOUT corresponding to the amount of charge charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb may be output to the output node OUT of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0216] Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be in an electrically floating state. That is, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 may be in a state where no electrical signal or voltage is applied.

[0217] Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, a second touch drive signal TDS2 may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160.

[0218] Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160 may be electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2. For example, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160 may be electrically connected to two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2.

[0219] Thereby, the second touch drive signal TDS2 input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be applied to at least one of the second touch electrodes TE2 connected to the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0220] Referring to FIGS. 11a and 11b, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, a self-capacitance Cs may be formed on the second touch electrode TE2. The charge corresponding to the self-capacitance Cs formed on the second touch electrode TE2 may be charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb of the charge amplifier CAMP. An output voltage VOUT corresponding to the amount of charge charged to the feedback capacitor Cfb may be output to the output node OUT of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0221] FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 are diagrams briefly showing the operation of the touch driving circuit 160 during the touch sensing mode period Tt according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0222] Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, and 14, the touch driving circuit 160 may include an amplifier AMP, a charge amplifier CAMP, a first control switch circuit CSC1, and a second control switch circuit CSC2.

[0223] The amplifier AMP may be configured to output a first touch driving signal TDS1.

[0224] The charge amplifier CAMP may be configured to output a second touch driving signal TDS2.

[0225] The first control switch circuit CSC1 may control whether the first touch electrode TE1 is connected to the amplifier AMP, or control whether the first touch electrode TE1 is connected to the charge amplifier CAMP, or control so that the first touch electrode TE1 is not connected to (i.e., separated from) the amplifier AMP and the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0226] The second control switch circuit CSC2 may control whether the second touch electrode TE2 is connected to the charge amplifier CAMP, or control so that the second touch electrode TE2 is not connected to (i.e., separated from) the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0227] Referring to FIG. 12, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first control switch circuit CSC1 can connect the first touch electrode TE1 to the amplifier AMP. Thereby, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be applied to the first touch electrode TE1 via the amplifier AMP.

[0228] Referring to FIG. 12, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can connect the second touch electrode TE2 to the charge amplifier CAMP. Thereby, the charge amplifier CAMP can sense the second touch electrode TE2.

[0229] Referring to FIG. 13, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the first control switch circuit CSC1 can connect the first touch electrode TE1 to the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0230] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP. The second touch drive signal TDS2 input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be applied to the first touch electrode TE1 via the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0231] The charge amplifier CAMP can be connected to the second input node IN2 and sense the first touch electrode TE1 to which the second touch drive signal TDS2 is applied.

[0232] Referring to FIG. 13, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can separate two or more second touch electrodes TE2 from two or more charge amplifiers CAMP.

[0233] Referring to FIG. 14, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the first control switch circuit CSC1 can separate the first touch electrode TE1 from the amplifier AMP and the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0234] Referring to FIG. 14, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can connect the second touch electrode TE2 to the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0235] During the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP. The second touch drive signal TDS2 input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be applied to the second touch electrode TE2 via the second input node IN2 of the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0236] The charge amplifier CAMP is connected to the second input node IN2 and can sense the second touch electrode TE2 to which the second touch drive signal TDS2 is applied.

[0237] On the other hand, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, hover touch sensing may be performed in a self-sensing manner. For efficient hover touch sensing, when hover touch sensing is performed in a self-sensing manner, the touch drive circuit 160 can electrically connect two or more touch electrodes TE and sense them simultaneously. That is, for efficient hover touch sensing, the touch drive circuit 160 can sense two or more touch electrodes TE as one group.

[0238] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, when hover touch sensing is performed in a self-sensing manner, driving two or more touch electrodes TE as one group and sensing them simultaneously is referred to as "Channel binding driving".

[0239] Hereinafter, the channel binding driving of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19.

[0240] FIG. 15 shows a plurality of channel binding group regions CHBG included in the touch sensor TS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0241] Referring to FIG. 15, the touch sensor TS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2. Each of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 extends in a first direction, and each of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may extend in a second direction different from the first direction. Thereby, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may intersect. For example, the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 and the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may intersect each other in a mesh shape.

[0242] Referring to FIG. 15, the touch sensor TS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of channel binding group regions CHBG. Each of the plurality of channel binding group regions CHBG may be a region where two or more first touch electrodes TE1 and two or more second touch electrodes TE2 intersect.

[0243] Referring to FIG. 15, two or more first touch electrodes TE1 can pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in the first direction, and two or more second touch electrodes TE2 can pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in the second direction.

[0244] Referring to FIG. 15, when hover touch sensing is performed in a self-sensing method, channel binding driving may be applied. However, when contact touch sensing is performed in a mutual sensing method, channel binding driving is not applied.

[0245] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, when channel binding driving is performed to sense hover touch in a self-sensing manner, two or more first touch electrodes TE1 passing through one channel binding group region CHBG in the first direction can be electrically connected as if they were one large first touch electrode.

[0246] During the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, when channel binding driving is performed to sense hover touch in a self-sensing manner, two or more second touch electrodes TE2 passing through one channel binding group region CHBG in the second direction can be electrically connected as if they were one large second touch electrode.

[0247] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19, the touch sensing method (touch driving method) and the channel binding driving method for two touches (contact touch, hover touch) according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above will be described in more detail.

[0248] FIG. 16 shows a touch driving circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 16, m first touch electrodes TE1_1, TE1_2, …, TE1_m can be arranged to pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in the first direction. m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m can be connected to the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more.

[0250] Referring to FIG. 16, n second touch electrodes TE2_1, TE2_2, …, TE2_n can be arranged to pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in the second direction. n second touch lines TL2_1, TL2_2, …, TL2_n can be connected to the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n. Here, n is a natural number of 2 or more.

[0251] Referring to FIG. 16, the touch drive circuit 160 may include m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm, n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, a first control switch circuit CSC1, and a second control switch circuit CSC2.

[0252] Referring to FIG. 16, the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm may correspond to m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m. The m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm may be configured to output a first touch drive signal TDS1 having a first amplitude ΔV1.

[0253] Referring to FIG. 16, the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may correspond to n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n.

[0254] Referring to FIG. 16, each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may include an operational amplifier OAMP and a feedback capacitor Cfb. The operational amplifier OAMP of each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may include a first input node IN1_1 to IN1_n, a second input node IN2_1 to IN2_n, and an output node OUT1 to OUTn.

[0255] Referring to FIG. 16, a reference voltage VREF with an unchanging voltage level or a second touch drive signal TDS2 having a second amplitude ΔV2 may be input to the first input nodes IN1_1 to IN1_n of the operational amplifier OAMP of each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0256] Referring to FIG. 16, the feedback capacitor Cfb of each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can be connected between the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n and the output nodes OUT1 to OUTn of the operational amplifier OAMP. The reset switch RST of each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can be connected between the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n and the output nodes OUT1 to OUTn of the operational amplifier OAMP. For example, the reset switch RST of each of the N charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn is connected between the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n and the output nodes OUT1 to OUTn of the operational amplifier OAMP, and can control the connection between the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n and the output nodes OUT1 to OUTn of the operational amplifier OAMP.

[0257] Referring to FIG. 16, the first control switch circuit CSC1 can be configured to control the connection between the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m and the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm, and the connection between the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m and the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0258] The first control switch circuit CSC1 can control such that all or part of the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to all or part of the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm, or all or part of the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to all or part of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, or the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are separated from the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm and the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0259] Referring to FIG. 16, the first control switch circuit CSC1 may include m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm. Each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm included in the first control switch circuit CSC1 may include m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm connected to m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm and m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm connected to one first shared line TSH.

[0260] The m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm may be electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn via one first shared line TSH.

[0261] Referring to FIG. 16, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm may electrically connect the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m and the m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm sequentially or simultaneously. In this case, the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m may be supplied with the first touch drive signal TDS1 from the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm sequentially or simultaneously.

[0262] Referring to FIG. 16, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm may electrically connect the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m and the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm simultaneously. In this case, the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m may be connected to the second input node IN2_n of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn via one first shared line TSH to which the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm are connected.

[0263] As a result, the second touch drive signal TDS2 output from the second input node IN2_n of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be applied to m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m via m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m. The specific charge amplifier CAMPn can sense m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m via m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m.

[0264] Referring to FIG. 16, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm can electrically isolate the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m from the m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm and the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm.

[0265] Referring to FIG. 16, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can be configured to control the connection between the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n and the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0266] The second control switch circuit CSC2 can control all or part of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to connect to all or part of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, or can control all or part of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to disconnect from the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0267] Referring to FIG. 16, the second control switch circuit CSC2 may include n second control switches SRX1, SRX2, …, SRXn that control the connection between the n second touch lines TL2_1, TL2_2, …, TL2_n and the second input nodes IN2_1, IN2_2, …, IN2_n of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0268] Referring to FIG. 16, the second control switch circuit CSC2 may further include a shared control switch SRSH for controlling the connection between n second touch lines TL2_1, TL2_2, …, TL2_n.

[0269] Referring to FIG. 16, a specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may drive and sense one channel binding group region CHBG. At this time, among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, the charge amplifiers other than the specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) may not operate. For example, among the N charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, a specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) may operate to drive and sense one channel binding group region CHBG. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0270] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may simultaneously drive and sense m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m related to one channel binding group region CHBG.

[0271] During the second sub-sensing period Tt22 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may simultaneously drive and sense n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n related to one channel binding group region CHBG.

[0272] Referring to FIG. 16, a specific charge amplifier (for example, CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may further include an additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb and a capacitance control switch SCFB connected between the second input node IN2_n and the output node OUTn.

[0273] Referring to FIG. 16, when the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) is turned on, an additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb can be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT.

[0274] When the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) is turned off, the additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb may be disconnected from the feedback capacitor Cfb between the second input node IN2 and the output node OUT of the specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn).

[0275] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) may be in the off state. During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) may be in the on state.

[0276] When the shared control switch SRSH of a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) is in the off state and m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm via m first control switches STX1, STX2,..., STXm, the capacitance control switch SCFB of the specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) may be in the off state.

[0277] When m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to the first shared line TSH via m first control switches STX1, STX2,..., STXm, the capacitance control switch SCFB may be in the on state.

[0278] When the shared control switch SRSH is in the on state, the capacitance control switch SCFB may be in the on state.

[0279] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21, two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 are electrically connected to each other, and during the second sub-sensing period Tt22, two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 may be electrically connected to each other.

[0280] Hereinafter, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the operation of the touch driving circuit 160 in FIG. 16 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 17, and during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the operation of the touch driving circuit 160 in FIG. 16 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19.

[0281] FIG. 17 shows the touch driving circuit 160 during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0282] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, contact touch sensing may be performed in a mutual sensing method. For this purpose, the touch driving circuit 160 supplies the first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m via two or more amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm, and may sense two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n via two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more, and n may be a natural number of 2 or more.

[0283] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the touch driving circuit 160 may sequentially supply the first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m by sequentially using two or more amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm. For this purpose, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first control switch circuit CSC1 may sequentially connect the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m and the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm so as to correspond to each other.

[0284] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm included in the first control switch circuit CSC1 can sequentially electrically connect the m first touch lines TL1_1 to TL1_m and the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, one of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm, the first control switch STX1, can electrically connect the first touch line TL1_1 and the amplifier AMP1, and subsequently, another first control switch STX2 can electrically connect the second touch line TL1_2 and the amplifier AMP2.

[0285] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm can sequentially connect the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m and the m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm. In this case, the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m may be sequentially or simultaneously supplied with the first touch drive signal TDS1 from the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm.

[0286] Unlike FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the touch driving circuit 160 can simultaneously supply the first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m using two or more amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm. At this time, at least one of the first touch driving signals TDS1 simultaneously supplied to the two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m may have a phase difference from the others. For this purpose, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm included in the first control switch circuit CSC1 can simultaneously connect the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m and the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm. That is, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm can simultaneously connect the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m and the m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm. In this case, the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m may be simultaneously supplied with the first touch driving signal TDS1 from the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm.

[0287] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can connect the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n and the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn in a corresponding manner to each other.

[0288] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the n second control switches SRX1, SRX2, …, SRXn can electrically connect the n second touch lines TL2_1 to TL2_n and the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn. At this time, the shared control switch SRSH may be in an off state.

[0289] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm can be configured to output the first touch driving signal TDS1 having the first amplitude ΔV1 to the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m.

[0290] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may be input with a reference voltage VREF whose voltage level does not change via the first input nodes IN1_1 to IN1_n.

[0291] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can sense the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n. That is, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can detect (receive) touch sensing signals from each of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input nodes IN2_1 to IN2_n.

[0292] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the capacitance control switch SCFB included in a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in an off state. Thereby, the additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the specific charge amplifier CAMPn is not connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb, so that the feedback capacitance does not increase.

[0293] In other words, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in an off state. When the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm via the m first control switches STX1, STX2,..., STXm during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in an off state.

[0294] During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, when m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm via m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm, the shared control switch SRSH included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may be in the off state.

[0295] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a touch drive circuit 160 during a second touch sensing mode period Tt2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0296] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, hover touch sensing may be performed in a self-sensing manner.

[0297] For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 18, the touch drive circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch drive signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m electrically connected to each other via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, and can sense two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more, and n may be a natural number of 2 or more.

[0298] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 19, the touch drive circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch drive signal TDS1 to two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to each other via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, and can sense two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more, and n may be a natural number of 2 or more.

[0299] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may supply the second touch drive signal TDS2 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m or two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n.

[0300] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may sense two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m or two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n.

[0301] That is, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may detect (receive) a touch sensing signal from two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m or two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n.

[0302] Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may include a first sub-sensing period Tt21 for sensing a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1 in a channel binding group driving manner and a second sub-sensing period Tt22 for sensing a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2 in a channel binding group driving manner.

[0303] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of the specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in an on state. During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a second touch drive signal TDS2 having a voltage level that varies with time and having a second amplitude ΔV2 may be applied to the first input node IN1_n of the specific charge amplifier CAMPn.

[0304] As described above, the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may include a first sub-sensing period Tt21 and a second sub-sensing period Tt22. Hereinafter, the operation of the touch driving circuit 160 during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 will be described with reference to FIG. 18. Subsequently, the operation of the touch driving circuit 160 during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 will be described with reference to FIG. 19.

[0305] FIG. 18 shows a touch driving circuit 160 during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0306] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, hover touch sensing may be performed in a self-sensing manner.

[0307] For this purpose, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the touch driving circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected to each other via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, and may sense two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more, and n may be a natural number of 2 or more.

[0308] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm do not operate.

[0309] For this purpose, referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm can electrically connect the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m and the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm simultaneously. Thereby, the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m can be connected to the second input node IN2_n of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn via one first shared line TSH to which the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm are connected.

[0310] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can supply the second touch drive signal TDS2 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n.

[0311] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can sense two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m electrically connected together with the second input node IN2_n.

[0312] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a plurality of first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m can be driven and sensed by a self-sensing method and a channel binding group driving method.

[0313] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm included in the first control switch circuit CSC1 can connect two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m to a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn. Thereby, two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m can be commonly connected to the first common line TSH.

[0314] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the n second control switches SRX1, SRX2, …, SRXn included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may be in an off state. Thereby, two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n can be electrically separated from two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn. At this time, the common control switch SRSH included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may be in an off state.

[0315] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may receive a second touch drive signal TDS2 having a second amplitude ΔV2 via the first input node IN1_n.

[0316] Referring to FIG. 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn supplies the second touch drive signal TDS2 received via the first input node IN1_n simultaneously to m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically commonly connected and pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in a first direction, and can simultaneously sense the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically commonly connected.

[0317] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in the on state. As a result, the additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the specific charge amplifier CAMPn can be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb. Therefore, the feedback capacitance may be increased.

[0318] When m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m are connected to the first shared line TSH via m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in the on state.

[0319] FIG. 19 shows a touch driving circuit 160 during a second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0320] Referring to FIG. 19, hover touch sensing may be performed in a self-sensing manner during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0321] For this purpose, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the touch driving circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n that are electrically connected to each other via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, and can sense two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n that are electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number of 2 or more, and n may be a natural number of 2 or more.

[0322] During the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm do not operate.

[0323] For this purpose, referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, each of the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm can electrically isolate the m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, …, TL1_m from all of the m first nodes NM1, NM2, …, NMm and the m second nodes NS1, NS2, …, NSm.

[0324] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can supply the second touch drive signal TDS2 to two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected to the second input node IN2_n.

[0325] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can sense two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n electrically connected together with the second input node IN2_n.

[0326] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a plurality of second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n can be driven and sensed in a self-sensing method and a channel binding group driving method.

[0327] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the m first control switches STX1, STX2, …, STXm included in the first control switch circuit CSC1 can separate two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m from two or more amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm and two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

[0328] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second control switch circuit CSC2 can connect two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to a specific charge amplifier CAMPn.

[0329] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, all of the shared control switches SRSH included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may be turned on, and only the second control switch SRXn corresponding to a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n second control switches SRX1, SRX2,..., SRXn included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 is turned on, and the remaining second control switches SRX1, SRX2,... may be turned off.

[0330] Thereby, all of the second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n are electrically connected and can be commonly connected to the second input node IN2_n of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn.

[0331] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may receive a second touch drive signal TDS2 having a second amplitude ΔV2 through the first input node IN1_n.

[0332] Referring to FIG. 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn supplies the second touch drive signal TDS2 received through the first input node IN1_n to the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n that pass through one channel binding group region CHBG in the second direction simultaneously, and can sense the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n simultaneously.

[0333] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in the on state. As a result, an additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the specific charge amplifier CAMPn can be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb. Therefore, the feedback capacitance may increase.

[0334] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, when the shared control switch SRSH is in the on state, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a specific charge amplifier CAMPn may be in the on state.

[0335] The touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be configured as a wearable device worn on a body (e.g., wrist, head, waist, etc.) or on a fabric or clothing. For example, the wearable display may include a smart watch, a helmet, gloves, smart clothing, smart glasses, and the like.

[0336] As described above, the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can provide a sensing function not only for contact touches but also for hover touches. Therefore, when a wearable device worn on a user's body is implemented with the touch display device 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the wearable device 2000 can provide various application functions suitable for wearable characteristics through not only contact touch sensing but also hover touch sensing.

[0337] Briefly describing the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, it is as follows.

[0338] The touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a touch sensor including a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes, and a touch driving circuit for driving the touch sensor.

[0339] The operation modes of the touch display device may include a display mode and a touch sensing mode. The display mode and the touch sensing mode may be switched between each other or may be advanced simultaneously.

[0340] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may be advanced in time-separated time zones. That is, the first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may not overlap with each other in time.

[0341] According to the above, the operation period of the touch display device may include a first touch sensing mode period in which a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor and a second touch sensing mode period in which a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor.

[0342] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first touch drive signal may be sequentially applied to each of the plurality of first touch electrodes.

[0343] During the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other, and the second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other.

[0344] For example, the first touch sensing mode period may be a period for sensing a contact touch that touches the screen, and the second touch sensing mode period may be a period for sensing a hover touch that does not touch the screen.

[0345] The second amplitude of the second touch drive signal in the second touch sensing mode period may be greater than the first amplitude of the first touch drive signal in the first touch sensing mode period.

[0346] The second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0347] During the first sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch driving signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes.

[0348] During the second sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch driving signal may be simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.

[0349] The touch driving circuit may include two or more amplifiers, two or more charge amplifiers, a first control switch circuit, and a second control switch circuit.

[0350] The first control switch circuit may control so that all or part of two or more first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of two or more amplifiers, or control so that all or part of two or more first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of two or more charge amplifiers, or control so that two or more first touch electrodes are separated from two or more amplifiers and two or more charge amplifiers.

[0351] The second control switch circuit may control so that all or part of two or more second touch electrodes are connected to all or part of two or more charge amplifiers, or control so that all or part of two or more second touch electrodes are separated from two or more charge amplifiers.

[0352] The operations of the first control switch circuit and the second control switch circuit are as follows.

[0353] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit sequentially connects two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers in a corresponding manner, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in an associated manner.

[0354] During the first sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit connects two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may separate two or more second touch electrodes from two or more charge amplifiers.

[0355] During the second sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit separates two or more first touch electrodes from two or more amplifiers and two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier.

[0356] Each of the two or more charge amplifiers may include an operational amplifier including a first input node, a second input node, and an output node, and a feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

[0357] The remaining charge amplifiers except a specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers may operate only during the first touch sensing mode period.

[0358] A specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers may operate during both the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period.

[0359] However, during the second touch sensing mode period, the operation of the specific charge amplifier may be different from the operation of the specific charge amplifier during the first touch sensing mode period.

[0360] During the first touch sensing mode period, the operation of the specific charge amplifier may be the same as the operation of the remaining charge amplifiers except the specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers.

[0361] For this purpose, a particular charge amplifier may further include an additional feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node, and a capacitance control switch that controls the connection between one of the second input node and the output node and the additional feedback capacitor.

[0362] When the capacitance control switch is turned on, the additional feedback capacitor may be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

[0363] When the capacitance control switch is turned off, the additional feedback capacitor may be disconnected from the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

[0364] During the period of the first touch sensing mode, the capacitance control switch is in the off state, and a reference voltage whose voltage level does not vary with time may be applied to each first input node of two or more charge amplifiers.

[0365] During the period of the second touch sensing mode, the capacitance control switch is in the on state, and a second touch drive signal whose voltage level varies with time and has a second amplitude may be applied to the first input node of a particular charge amplifier.

[0366] A touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels and a touch sensor, a display driving circuit that drives the plurality of sub-pixels, a display controller that controls the display driving circuit and supplies a first mode control signal to a touch controller, and a touch controller that supplies a second mode control signal to a touch driving circuit.

[0367] The operation period of the touch display device can include a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period, and the touch sensing mode period can include a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

[0368] The display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period can be distinguished by a first mode control signal and a second mode control signal.

[0369] The first mode control signal may be a control signal for distinguishing between the display mode period and the touch sensing mode period, and the second mode control signal may be a control signal for distinguishing between the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period.

[0370] For example, the first mode control signal may be a vertical synchronization signal for dividing one display frame period into an active period and a blank period, the active period may be the display mode period, and the blank period may be the touch sensing mode period.

[0371] For example, the second mode control signal may be a hover enable signal for enabling a hover touch sensing mode which is the second touch sensing mode.

[0372] For example, the first mode control signal can include a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage, and the second mode control signal can include a third signal section having a third level voltage and a fourth signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage.

[0373] For example, during the display mode period, the first mode control signal may have the second level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have the third level voltage.

[0374] For example, during the period of the first touch sensing mode, the first mode control signal may have a voltage at a first level, and the second mode control signal may have a voltage at a third level.

[0375] For example, during the period of the second touch sensing mode, the first mode control signal may have a voltage at a first level, and the second mode control signal may have a voltage at a fourth level.

[0376] The touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels and a plurality of touch electrodes, a display driving circuit for driving the plurality of sub-pixels, a touch driving circuit for supplying a touch driving signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes, a display controller for controlling the display driving circuit and supplying a first mode control signal to a touch controller, and a touch controller for supplying a second mode control signal to the touch driving circuit.

[0377] The operation period of the touch display device may include a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period, and the touch sensing mode period may include a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

[0378] The display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period may be distinguished by the first mode control signal and the second mode control signal.

[0379] The first mode control signal includes a first signal section having a voltage at a first level and a second signal section having a voltage at a second level different from the voltage at the first level, and the second mode control signal may include a third signal section having a voltage at a third level and a fourth signal section having a voltage at a fourth level different from the voltage at the third level.

[0380] During the period of the display mode, the first mode control signal may have a voltage at a second level, and the second mode control signal may have a voltage at a third level.

[0381] During the period of the first touch sensing mode, the first mode control signal may have a first level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have a third level voltage.

[0382] During the period of the second touch sensing mode, the first mode control signal may have a first level voltage, and the second mode control signal may have a fourth level voltage.

[0383] The first mode control signal is a control signal for dividing the operation period into a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period, and the second mode control signal may be a control signal for dividing the touch sensing mode period into a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

[0384] The touch driving circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes two or more amplifiers corresponding to a plurality of first touch electrodes, two or more charge amplifiers respectively corresponding to a plurality of second touch electrodes and each including a feedback capacitor, a first control switch circuit for controlling whether all or part of the plurality of first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more amplifiers, or whether all or part of the plurality of first touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or for controlling the plurality of first touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers, and a second control switch circuit for controlling whether all or part of the plurality of second touch electrodes are connected to all or part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or for controlling all or part of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more charge amplifiers.

[0385] The operation period of the touch driving circuit includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period that do not overlap with each other, and the second touch sensing mode period may include a first subsensing period and a second subsensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0386] During the first sub-sensing period, two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes may be electrically connected to each other, and during the second sub-sensing period, two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes may be electrically connected to each other.

[0387] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit may sequentially connect two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers in a corresponding manner, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in an associated manner.

[0388] The second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0389] During the first sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit may connect two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may separate two or more second touch electrodes from two or more charge amplifiers.

[0390] During the second sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit may separate two or more first touch electrodes from two or more amplifiers and two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier.

[0391] Each of the two or more charge amplifiers may further include an operational amplifier including a first input node, a second input node, and an output node.

[0392] The feedback capacitor may be connected between the second input node and the output node.

[0393] The specific charge amplifier may further include an additional feedback capacitor and a capacitance control switch connected between the second input node and the output node.

[0394] When the capacitance control switch turns on, an additional feedback capacitor can be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

[0395] When the capacitance control switch turns off, the additional feedback capacitor may be disconnected from the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

[0396] A touch drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first signal input unit configured to receive inputs of a reference touch drive signal and a touch mode control signal, and a first signal output unit configured to output a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude or a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude to a touch sensor based on the reference touch drive signal and the touch mode control signal.

[0397] During the first touch sensing mode period, two or more amplifiers may be configured to output a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude to the first touch electrode.

[0398] During the second touch sensing mode period, a second touch drive signal having a voltage level that changes over time and having a second amplitude may be applied to the first input node of one of two or more charge amplifiers (e.g., a specific charge amplifier).

[0399] During the first sub-sensing period, one of two or more charge amplifiers (e.g., a specific charge amplifier) may receive a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude via the first input node.

[0400] During the second sub-sensing period, one of two or more charge amplifiers (e.g., a specific charge amplifier) may receive a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude via the first input node.

[0401] The second amplitude may be greater than the first amplitude.

[0402] The touch mode control signal may have a first level voltage or a second level voltage.

[0403] When the touch mode control signal has a first level voltage, at a certain point in time, a first touch drive signal may be applied to N touch electrodes among a plurality of touch electrodes included in the touch sensor.

[0404] When the touch mode control signal has a second level voltage, at a certain point in time, a second touch drive signal may be simultaneously applied to M touch electrodes more than N among a plurality of touch electrodes included in the touch sensor.

[0405] A touch controller for controlling the touch sensing operation of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a second signal input unit configured to receive an input of a first mode control signal from a display controller, and a second signal output unit configured to output a reference touch drive signal and configured to output a second mode control signal generated based on the first mode control signal.

[0406] The first mode control signal may include a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage.

[0407] When the first mode control signal is a second signal section having a second level voltage, the second mode control signal may have a third level voltage.

[0408] When the mode control signal is a first signal section having a first level voltage, the second mode control signal may include a signal section having a third level voltage and a signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage.

[0409] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a touch display device, a touch drive circuit, and a touch controller that can support various touch sensing modes may be provided.

[0410] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can efficiently sense contact touch and hover touch.

[0411] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a circuit structure and a control structure that can efficiently sense contact touch and hover touch.

[0412] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller having a control signal system that can efficiently support a display mode, a contact touch sensing mode, and a hover touch sensing mode.

[0413] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in terms of driving time, it is possible to efficiently perform display driving, contact touch sensing, and hover touch sensing, and low-power driving may be enabled.

[0414] The above description merely exemplarily explains the technical idea of the present disclosure. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs can make various modifications and deformations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure. In addition, the embodiments disclosed in the present disclosure are for the purpose of explaining rather than limiting the technical idea of the present disclosure, so the scope of the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited by such embodiments.

Claims

1. a touch sensor including a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes; and a touch drive circuit for driving the touch sensor. an operation period of the touch display device including a first touch sensing mode period in which a first touch driving signal having a first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor and a second touch sensing mode period in which a second touch driving signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor; During the first touch sensing mode period, the first touch driving signal is sequentially or simultaneously applied to the first touch electrodes; During the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch drive signal is simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes, or the second touch drive signal is simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.

2. The touch display device of claim 1 , wherein the second amplitude is greater than the first amplitude.

3. the second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap each other; The second touch driving signal is simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes during the first sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period; 2 . The touch display device of claim 1 , wherein the second touch driving signal is simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes during the second sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period.

4. The touch driving circuit includes: Two or more amplifiers; two or more charge amplifiers; a first control switch circuit that controls all or a part of the two or more first touch electrodes to be connected to all or a part of the two or more amplifiers, or controls all or a part of the two or more first touch electrodes to be connected to all or a part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls the two or more first touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers; and a second control switch circuit that controls all or a portion of the two or more second touch electrodes to be connected to all or a portion of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls all or a portion of the two or more second touch electrodes to be isolated from the two or more charge amplifiers.

5. During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit sequentially connects the two or more first touch electrodes to the two or more amplifiers so as to correspond to each other; the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes and the two or more charge amplifiers in a corresponding manner to each other; the second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap each other; During the first sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit connects the two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers; the second control switch circuit isolating the two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers; During the second sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit isolating the two or more first touch electrodes from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers; The touch display device of claim 4 , wherein the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes to the particular charge amplifier.

6. each of the two or more charge amplifiers includes an operational amplifier having a first input node, a second input node, and an output node, and a feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node; the particular charge amplifier further includes an additional feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node, and a capacitance control switch that controls a connection between one of the second input node and the output node and the additional feedback capacitor; When the capacitance control switch is turned on, the additional feedback capacitor is connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node; The touch display device of claim 5 , wherein when the capacitance control switch is turned off, the additional feedback capacitor is disconnected from the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

7. During the first touch sensing mode period, The capacitance control switch is turned off, A first input node of each of the two or more charge amplifiers is connected to a time-dependent A reference voltage whose voltage level does not fluctuate is applied, During the second touch sensing mode period, The capacitance control switch is turned on, The touch display device of claim 6 , wherein the second touch drive signal having a voltage level that varies with time and the second amplitude is applied to a first input node of the particular charge amplifier.

8. a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels and the touch sensor; a display driver circuit for driving the plurality of sub-pixels; a touch controller for providing a second mode control signal to the touch driving circuit; a display controller that controls the display driving circuit and provides a first mode control signal to the touch controller; The operation period of the touch display device includes a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period; the touch sensing mode period includes the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period, The touch display device of claim 1 , wherein the display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period are differentiated by the first mode control signal and the second mode control signal.

9. the first mode control signal is a control signal for distinguishing the display mode period from the touch sensing mode period, The touch display device of claim 8 , wherein the second mode control signal is a control signal for distinguishing between the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period.

10. the first mode control signal is a vertical synchronization signal for dividing one display frame period into an active period and a blank period, the active period being the display mode period, and the blank period being the touch sensing mode period; The touch display device of claim 8 , wherein the second mode control signal is a hover enable signal for enabling a hover touch sensing mode, which is the second touch sensing mode.

11. the first mode control signal includes a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage; the second mode control signal includes a third signal section having a third level voltage and a fourth signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage; During the display mode period, the first mode control signal has the second level voltage; the second mode control signal has the third level voltage; During the first touch sensing mode period, the first mode control signal has the first level voltage; the second mode control signal has the third level voltage; During the second touch sensing mode period, the first mode control signal has the first level voltage; The touch display device according to claim 8 , wherein the second mode control signal has the fourth level voltage.

12. The first touch sensing mode period is a period for sensing a contact touch on a screen, The touch display device of claim 1 , wherein the second touch sensing mode period is a period for sensing a hover touch that does not touch the screen.

13. a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels and a plurality of touch electrodes; a display driver circuit for driving the plurality of sub-pixels; a touch drive circuit that supplies a touch drive signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes; a touch controller for providing a second mode control signal to the touch driving circuit; a display controller that controls the display driving circuit and provides a first mode control signal to the touch controller, The operation period of the touch display device includes a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period; the touch sensing mode period includes the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period, The display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period are differentiated by the first mode control signal and the second mode control signal.

14. the first mode control signal includes a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage; the second mode control signal includes a third signal section having a third level voltage and a fourth signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage; During the display mode period, the first mode control signal has the second level voltage; the second mode control signal has the third level voltage; During the first touch sensing mode period, the first mode control signal has the first level voltage; the second mode control signal has the third level voltage; During the second touch sensing mode period, the first mode control signal has the first level voltage; The touch display device according to claim 13 , wherein the second mode control signal has the fourth level voltage.

15. the first mode control signal is a control signal for dividing the operation period into the display mode period and the touch sensing mode period, The touch display device of claim 13 , wherein the second mode control signal is a control signal for dividing the touch sensing mode period into the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period.

16. two or more amplifiers corresponding to the plurality of first touch electrodes; two or more charge amplifiers each corresponding to a plurality of second touch electrodes, the charge amplifiers each including a feedback capacitor; a first control switch circuit that controls all or a part of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or a part of the two or more amplifiers, or controls all or a part of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or a part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls the plurality of first touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers; a second control switch circuit that controls all or a part of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be connected to all or a part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls all or a part of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more charge amplifiers, The operation period of the touch driving circuit includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period that do not overlap each other, and the second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap each other; During the first sub-sensing period, two or more of the first touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other; During the second sub-sensing period, two or more second touch electrodes of the plurality of second touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

17. 17. The touch drive circuit of claim 16, wherein during the first touch sensing mode, the two or more amplifiers are configured to output a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude to the first touch electrode.

18. 20. The touch drive circuit of claim 17, wherein during the second touch sensing mode, a second touch drive signal having a time-varying voltage level and a second amplitude is applied to a first input node of one of the two or more charge amplifiers.

19. During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit sequentially connects the two or more first touch electrodes to the two or more amplifiers so as to correspond to each other; the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes and the two or more charge amplifiers in a corresponding manner to each other; the second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap each other; During the first sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit connects the two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers; the second control switch circuit isolating the two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers; During the second sub-sensing period, the first control switch circuit isolating the two or more first touch electrodes from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers; The touch drive circuit of claim 16 , wherein the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes to the particular charge amplifier.

20. each of the two or more charge amplifiers further includes an operational amplifier including a first input node, a second input node, and an output node; the feedback capacitor is connected between the second input node and the output node; the particular charge amplifier further comprising an additional feedback capacitor and a capacitance control switch connected between the second input node and the output node; When the capacitance control switch is turned on, the additional feedback capacitor is connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node; 20. The touch drive circuit of claim 19, wherein when the capacitance control switch is turned off, the additional feedback capacitor is disconnected from the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

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