Touch sensing device and method

Abstract

A touch sensing device and method for efficiently and quickly processing a big touch having a large touch area by a plurality of touch ICs in response to the occurrence of a big touch on a touch panel includes a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region of the touch panel and a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel. When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region of the touch panel, the second touch IC determines whether there is a touch on a boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal. If there is a touch on the boundary surface, the second touch IC determines whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more. If there is a big touch, the second touch IC separates a boundary touch region adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch region and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch region to the first touch IC.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a touch sensing device including multiple touch ICs, and to a touch sensing device and method that can efficiently and quickly process big touches with large touch areas by using multiple touch ICs in response to the occurrence of big touches on a touch panel. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, touch sensing technology is a technology that recognizes a user's input operation by detecting a signal generated when an object approaches or touches a touch panel including a sensor.

[0003] There are various touch sensing technologies in use, including magnetic, resistive, and electrostatic, but electrostatic methods have become the mainstream in recent years.

[0004] A touch panel is provided with a large number of sensors, and the larger the area of ​​the touch panel or the higher the touch resolution, the more sensors are provided.

[0005] Recently, as touch panels have become larger in area and have higher resolution, the number of sensors arranged on the touch panel has also tended to increase.

[0006] As the number of sensors arranged on a touch panel increases, sensing signals can be distributed and processed using two or more touch ICs, rather than processing all sensing signals with one touch IC.

[0007] For example, a first touch IC among the plurality of touch ICs may process sensing signals for a first region of the touch panel, and a second touch IC may process sensing signals for a second region of the touch panel.

[0008] However, when a big touch, which has a large touch area, occurs in the boundary area including part of the first and second regions of the touch panel, the first touch IC cannot accurately determine whether the touch on the touch panel is a single touch or multiple touches, resulting in inaccurate touch sensing.

[0009] In addition, when the first touch IC processes all touch areas corresponding to big touches, there is a problem that the touch processing speed is significantly reduced due to the increase in communication time required to receive touch sensing data for the second area of ​​the touch panel from the second touch IC.

[0010] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a touch sensing device that can accurately recognize a big touch on a touch panel and process the big touch efficiently and quickly. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present disclosure is directed to solving the above-mentioned problems and other problems.

[0012] The present disclosure aims to provide a touch sensing device and method that can accurately recognize a big touch on a touch panel and process the big touch efficiently and quickly by transmitting only the necessary information of the boundary touch area out of the entire big touch area to an adjacent touch IC when the boundary touch between different areas of the touch panel is a big touch. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] A touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a touch sensing device for processing touches on a touch panel, and includes a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region of the touch panel and a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel. When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region of the touch panel, the second touch IC determines whether there is a touch on a boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal. If there is a touch on the boundary surface, the second touch IC determines whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or greater. If it is a big touch, the second touch IC separates a boundary touch region adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch region and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch region to the first touch IC.

[0014] A touch IC of a touch sensing device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is a touch IC connected to a touch sensor corresponding to one region of the touch panel, and includes a communication unit that is communicatively connected to other touch ICs connected to touch sensors corresponding to other regions of the touch panel, and a touch data processing unit that generates touch data for the one region of the touch panel. When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in one region of the touch panel, the touch data processing unit determines whether there is a touch on a boundary surface of one region adjacent to the other region based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more. If it is a big touch, it separates a boundary touch region adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch region, and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch region to the other touch IC.

[0015] A touch sensing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a touch sensing method for a touch sensing device including a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region of a touch panel and a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel. The touch sensing method may include, when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region of the touch panel, determining whether there is a touch on an interface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal; if there is a touch on the interface, determining whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or greater; if there is a big touch, the second touch IC separates an interface touch region adjacent to the interface from the entire big touch region; and transmitting interface touch information of the separated interface touch region to the first touch IC. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, when an interface touch between different areas of a touch panel is a big touch, the touch sensing device transmits only the necessary information of the interface touch area out of the entire area of ​​the big touch to an adjacent touch IC, thereby accurately recognizing the big touch on the touch panel and efficiently and quickly processing the big touch.

[0017] That is, when the boundary touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, only touch information of a separable portion of the boundary surface of the entire area of ​​the big touch is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, or if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, only part of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information transmission and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a touch-sensing device of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3-8] 3 to 8 are diagrams illustrating operations corresponding to touch positions of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9-11] 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining touch information transmitted between touch ICs. [Figure 12-14] 12 to 14 are diagrams illustrating the operation of a touch area separation method of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a touch IC of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16-18] 16 to 18 are diagrams illustrating a connection relationship between a touch panel and a touch IC according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 19-21] 19 to 21 are diagrams illustrating a touch sensing method of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless of the reference numerals, identical or similar components will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "unit" used in the following description are used to facilitate the preparation of the present specification and do not have any distinguishing meanings or functions. Furthermore, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, if it is determined that a detailed description of known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, such a detailed description will be omitted. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the technical concepts disclosed herein should not be limited by the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the concept and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0020] Terms including ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0021] When a component is said to be "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly coupled or connected to the other component, but that there may be other components in between. Conversely, when a component is said to be "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 10 may include a display panel 400 and a touch panel 100 .

[0024] Here, the display device 10 may be configured as a separate panel in which the display panel 400 and the touch panel 100 are separated from each other.

[0025] In some cases, the display device 10 may be configured as an integrated panel in which the display panel 400 and the touch panel 100 are combined together.

[0026] As an example, the display device 10 may include an in-cell type panel (not shown) as an integrated panel, and the in-cell type panel may use a display electrode or a touch electrode as a common electrode.

[0027] The display device 10 may include a driving device 500 for driving the display panel 400 and a touch sensing device 200 for driving the touch panel 100 and sensing touches.

[0028] The display device 10 may also include a host 300 that can transmit display information to the driver 500 and receive touch information from the touch sensing device 200 .

[0029] Here, in the display device 10, the driving device 500 and the touch sensing device 200 may be arranged separately, or may be integrated into a single integrated circuit device.

[0030] When the display device 10 includes an integrated panel in which the display panel 400 and the touch panel 100 are combined together, it is advantageous to configure the driving device 500 and the touch sensing device 200 as one integrated circuit device.

[0031] As an example, an in-cell type panel uses a display electrode or a touch electrode as a common electrode, so when the driving device 500 and the touch sensing device 200 are integrated into a single integrated circuit device, the common electrode can be driven as a display electrode or as a touch electrode using a single driving circuit.

[0032] The display panel 400 may include at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, and a 3D display.

[0033] Some of these display panels 400 may be configured as transparent or light-transmitting panels so that the outside can be seen through them.

[0034] This can be called a transparent display module, and a representative example of a transparent display module is a TOLED (Transparent OLED).

[0035] The display panel 400 may include a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines intersecting the data lines, a plurality of TFTs (Thin Film Transistors) formed at the intersections of the data lines and the gate lines, a plurality of display electrodes for charging the cells with data voltages, and storage capacitors connected to the display electrodes for maintaining the voltages of the cells.

[0036] The driver 500 can convert digital video data (RGB) input from the host 300 or a timing controller (not shown) into analog positive / negative gamma compensation voltages and output data voltages (DATA).

[0037] Here, a data voltage is supplied to the data line.

[0038] The driver 500 sequentially supplies gate pulses (SCAN) to the gate lines of the display panel 400 to select the gate line to which the data voltage (DATA) is applied.

[0039] In this way, the display panel 400 and the driver 500 can function to display an image on the screen of the display device 10.

[0040] Subsequently, the display device 10 can sense a touch operation by a user through the touch panel 100 and the touch sensing device 200.

[0041] Here, the touch panel 100 may be disposed separately above the display panel 400 .

[0042] In some cases, the touch panel 100 may be formed as an in-cell type together with the pixel array of the display panel 400 on the same substrate.

[0043] Additionally, the touch panel 100 may include multiple drive electrodes, multiple receiving electrodes, and multiple touch sensors.

[0044] Here, the driving electrodes and the receiving electrodes may have a cross structure in which they are located on different layers and cross each other.

[0045] In such a cross-over structure, the sensor may be a capacitor formed at the intersection of the drive and receive electrodes.

[0046] In some cases, the driving electrode and the receiving electrode may be located on the same layer to have a one-layer structure.

[0047] In such a one-layer structure, the sensor may be a capacitor formed horizontally between the drive electrode and the receive electrode.

[0048] Alternatively, the drive and receive electrodes may be self-structured.

[0049] In such a self-structure, the sensor may be a capacitor formed between the receiving electrode and the peripheral electrode.

[0050] In this way, the driving electrodes and receiving electrodes of the touch panel 100 can have various positional relationships.

[0051] Here, a capacitor located between the receiving electrode and the peripheral electrode or between the receiving electrodes can function as a touch sensor.

[0052] That is, the capacitance of the capacitor changes depending on an object approaching or touching the touch panel 100, thereby enabling touch sensing.

[0053] Next, the touch sensing device 200 can supply a driving signal (TX) to the driving electrode of the touch panel 100, sense the sensing signal (RX) of the touch sensor through the receiving electrode, generate touch coordinates, and transmit such touch coordinate data to the host 300.

[0054] Here, the touch sensing device 200 may include two or more touch ICs, and may perform distributed processing of sensing signals using the two or more touch ICs.

[0055] Each touch IC of the touch sensing device 200 may be responsible for touch sensing corresponding to a region of the touch panel 100 .

[0056] For example, when the touch panel 100 is divided into two regions, the touch sensing device 200 can sense touch signals corresponding to each divided region using two touch ICs.

[0057] As another example, when the touch panel 100 is divided into three regions, the touch sensing device 200 may use three touch ICs to sense touch signals corresponding to the respective divided regions.

[0058] In addition, each touch IC may include one or more ROICs (Read-out Integrated Circuits) that supply touch driving signals to the touch panel 100 and receive touch sensing signals from the touch panel 100, and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) that determines the presence and location of a big touch of the touch input using the touch sensing signal detection results.

[0059] Here, one or more ROICs may be embodied as separate components or as a single integrated component.

[0060] In some cases, each touch IC may include only an ROIC, and one MCU may be separately provided and commonly connected to multiple touch ICs.

[0061] Here, the MCU can determine whether or not a big touch has occurred based on the touch sensing signal received from the ROIC.

[0062] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a touch-sensing device of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 2, the touch sensing device 200 may include a first touch IC 210 that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and a second touch IC 220 that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 of the touch panel 100.

[0064] In some cases, the present disclosure may further include a third touch IC that generates third touch data corresponding to a third region adjacent to the second region R2 of the touch panel 100 when the touch panel 100 is divided into three regions.

[0065] For example, the number of touch ICs may be the same as the number of divided areas of the touch panel 100.

[0066] When the first touch IC 210 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, it processes first touch data of the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and when it receives boundary touch information of the boundary touch region from the second touch IC 220, it processes third touch data of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information.

[0067] Here, the boundary touch area may include the area between the boundary line BL between the first area R1 and the second area R2 and a preset criterion column (CC), and may include the area around the boundary line within the second area.

[0068] The first touch IC 210 can process the first touch data of the first region R1 and simultaneously receive boundary touch information of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 from the second touch IC 220.

[0069] Then, when the first touch IC 210 receives the boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220, it processes the first touch data of the first region R1, and then continuously processes the third touch data of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information.

[0070] In addition, after receiving boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220, the first touch IC 210 can check whether there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface of the first region R1 adjacent to the second region R2, and can check whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface of the first region R1 within the entire area of ​​the touch 110 is separable.

[0071] For example, the first touch IC 210 waits until it has received all of the boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220. When it has received all of the boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220, it checks whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable. If the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable, it processes the first touch data of the boundary touch area in the first region R1, and processes the third touch data of the boundary touch area in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information that has been continuously received.

[0072] Here, when the first touch IC 210 checks whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable, it acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire touch area of ​​the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, acquires the touch sensitivity for the boundary touch area in the second region R2 from the boundary touch information received from the second touch IC 220, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to check whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable.

[0073] In one embodiment, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the first touch IC 210 can be confirmed to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0074] Here, it can be confirmed that the first touch IC 210 can be separated based on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or higher than the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases.

[0075] In some cases, it may be confirmed that the first touch IC 210 can be separated based on the touch sensor with the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases.

[0076] In another case, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate and the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or higher than the reference value are gradually decreased and then increased, the first touch IC 210 may be determined to be capable of separating the touch sensor having the lowest touch sensitivity.

[0077] In another case, if the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the first touch IC 210 may recognize the touching means as a finger and determine that finger separation is possible.

[0078] As another example, the first touch IC 210 can input the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model and predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0079] In yet another embodiment, when the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the first touch IC 210 can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible based on the selected touch sensor.

[0080] Here, the first touch IC 210 can input the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model, and predict a separation reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0081] Next, when the first touch IC 210 is selected as the master IC, it receives the second touch data of the second region R2 from the second touch IC 220, generates big touch information based on the first touch data of the first region R1, the second touch data of the second region R2, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region R2, and transmits the generated big touch information to the host 300.

[0082] Here, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data of the first region R1 and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region R2, and then checks whether it has been pre-selected as the master IC. If pre-selected as the master IC, it can request the second touch IC to transmit the second touch data of the second region R2.

[0083] At this time, when the first touch IC 210 checks whether it has been previously selected as the master IC, it can check through pre-stored user setting information or through a user input requesting selection as the master IC.

[0084] In addition, when generating the big touch information, the first touch IC 210 may generate the big touch information including big touch coordinate information, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors.

[0085] Additionally, when generating the big touch information, the first touch IC 210 may further generate big touch information including big touch coordinate information, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors, as well as information on the overall size of the touch and information on the number of touch sensors on the boundary surface around the boundary line BL.

[0086] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate, the big touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and the number of big touch sensors may include the total number of touch sensors within the big touch area covered by the big touch.

[0087] In some cases, when generating big touch information, the first touch IC 210 may generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region R1, the second touch data of the second region R2, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region R2, and transmit the touch tracking information to the host 300 together with the big touch information.

[0088] Here, the touch tracking information may include information that links touch coordinates generated in a previous frame with touch coordinates generated in a current frame, and may include information that can sense consecutive touch motions such as a sliding touch.

[0089] The first touch IC 210 can receive boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220, including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors.

[0090] For example, when the first touch IC 210 receives boundary touch information, the first touch IC 210 may receive boundary touch information including touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0091] Here, when the first touch IC 210 receives boundary touch information including touch sensing data, if it determines that the touch in the second region R2 is not a big touch of a predetermined size or larger or that the big touch can be separated, it can receive boundary touch information including touch sensing data from the second touch IC 220.

[0092] As another example, when receiving the boundary touch information, the first touch IC 210 may receive the boundary touch information that does not include touch sensing data corresponding to each touch sensor within the boundary touch area.

[0093] Here, when the first touch IC 210 receives boundary touch information not including touch sensing data, if it determines that the touch in the second region R2 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger and that separation of the big touch is impossible, it can receive boundary touch information not including touch sensing data from the second touch IC 220.

[0094] For example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a boundary touch area covered by the touch.

[0095] Meanwhile, when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger. If it is a big touch, the second touch IC 220 separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210.

[0096] Here, before determining whether there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a first touch IC 210 that generates first touch data corresponding to the first region R1 of the touch panel 100 when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, and if there is a first touch IC 210, it can determine whether there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1.

[0097] At this time, if the first touch IC 210 is not present, the second touch IC 220 checks whether there is a touch 110 in the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signal, checks whether a portion of the touch region within the entire region of the touch 110 is separable, and if a portion of the touch region within the second region R2 is separable, it can first process the touch data of the separated portion of the touch region and then sequentially process the touch data of the remaining touch regions.

[0098] When determining whether a partial touch area is separable, the second touch IC 220 acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire touch area of ​​the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to determine whether a partial touch area in the second region R2 is separable.

[0099] Here, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having the touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the second touch IC 220 can be confirmed to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0100] For example, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity increases while gradually decreasing, the second touch IC 220 can be determined to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0101] As another example, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having the touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity increases while gradually decreasing, the second touch IC 220 may be determined to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0102] In yet another embodiment, the second touch IC 220 may be determined to be capable of separating the touch sensors with the lowest touch sensitivity level, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate and the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors with touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate and the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate gradually decrease and then increase.

[0103] In another embodiment, if the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the second touch IC 220 may recognize the touching means as a finger and determine that finger separation is possible.

[0104] In some cases, the second touch IC 220 may input the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model to predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0105] In another case, if the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the second touch IC 220 can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible around the selected touch sensor.

[0106] Here, the second touch IC 220 can input the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model, and predict a separation reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0107] In addition, when the second touch IC 220 checks whether there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1, if a touch sensing signal is input from at least one of the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region R2 based on the boundary line BL, it can recognize that there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1.

[0108] In some cases, if the second touch IC 220 does not receive a touch sensing signal from the touch sensors arranged in the first row of the second region R2 based on the boundary line BL, it may recognize that there is no touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1.

[0109] Here, when there is no touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region R1, the second touch IC 220 checks whether touch sensing signals are input from the touch sensors arranged in other columns except the first column of the second region R2, and when touch sensing signals are input from the touch sensors arranged in other columns, the second touch IC 220 can process second touch data of the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signals.

[0110] When the second touch IC 220 processes the second touch data of the second region R2, it stores the processed second touch data in a memory, and when it receives a request to transmit the second touch data from the first touch IC 210 pre-selected as the master IC, it can transmit the stored second touch data to the first touch IC 210.

[0111] In another embodiment, when the second touch IC 220 processes the second touch data of the second region R2, it stores the processed second touch data in a memory. When the second touch IC 220 is selected as the master IC, it receives the first touch data of the first region R1 from the first touch IC 210, generates touch information based on the first touch data of the first region R1 and the second touch data of the second region R2, and transmits the generated touch information to the host 300.

[0112] Here, the second touch IC 220 processes the second touch data of the second region R2 and then checks whether it has been pre-selected as the master IC, and if pre-selected as the master IC, it can request the first touch IC 210 to transmit the first touch data of the first region R1.

[0113] For example, when the second touch IC 220 checks whether it has been pre-selected as the master IC, it can check through pre-stored user setting information or through a user input requesting selection as the master IC.

[0114] In addition, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 may generate touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors.

[0115] In some cases, when the second touch IC 220 generates touch information, it may generate touch information including touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the touch area.

[0116] Here, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate, the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0117] In addition, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 can generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region R1 and the second touch data of the second region R2, and transmit the touch tracking information to the host 300 together with the touch information.

[0118] Next, when determining whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, the second touch IC 220 determines whether the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region R2 to the touch sensors arranged in the Nth reference column CC based on the boundary line BL, and if the touch 110 is continuous, the second touch IC 220 can recognize the touch 110 as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

[0119] In some cases, if the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region R2 to the touch sensor arranged in the (N-1)th column based on the boundary line BL, the second touch IC 220 may recognize the touch 110 as a normal touch that is smaller in magnitude than a big touch.

[0120] Here, when the second touch IC 220 recognizes the touch 110 as a general touch, it can transmit boundary touch information of a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface to the first touch IC 210.

[0121] When transmitting boundary touch information, the second touch IC 220 may transmit boundary touch information to the first touch IC 210, the boundary touch information including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0122] Next, when separating the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface, the second touch IC 220 checks whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary line BL among the entire area of ​​the big touch can be separated. If the boundary touch area can be separated, the second touch IC 220 separates the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210.

[0123] Here, when checking whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable, the second touch IC 220 acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to check whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable.

[0124] In this case, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having the touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the second touch IC 220 can be confirmed to be capable of separating the touch sensors having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0125] For example, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity increases while gradually decreasing, the second touch IC 220 may be separated based on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0126] As another example, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having the touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity increases while gradually decreasing, the second touch IC 220 can be confirmed to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0127] As another example, if the touch sensitivities of the touch sensors located at the X coordinate and the Y coordinate among the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having touch sensitivities above the reference value are gradually decreased and then increased, the second touch IC 220 can be determined to be capable of separating the touch sensors having the lowest touch sensitivity.

[0128] As another example, if the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the second touch IC 220 may recognize the touching means as a finger and determine that finger separation is possible.

[0129] In some cases, the second touch IC 220 may input the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model to predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0130] In another case, when the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the second touch IC 220 can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible based on the selected touch sensor.

[0131] Here, the second touch IC 220 can input the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model, and predict a separation reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0132] In addition, when the second touch IC 220 separates the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch, it can transmit boundary touch information to the first touch IC 210, including touch coordinate information of the separated boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0133] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a boundary touch area covered by the touch.

[0134] In some cases, if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is not separable, the second touch IC 220 may transmit big touch information of the big touch to the first touch IC 210, excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2.

[0135] Here, the second touch IC 220 may transmit big touch information, including big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors, to the first touch IC 210.

[0136] For example, the big touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the big touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of big touch sensors may include the total number of touch sensors within the entire touch area covered by the big touch.

[0137] Next, the second touch IC 220 transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210 and processes big touch data for the remaining big touch area excluding the boundary touch area based on the touch sensing signal.

[0138] Here, the second touch IC 220 processes the big touch data for the remaining big touch area excluding the boundary touch area, stores the processed big touch data in a memory, and when it receives a big touch data transmission request from the first touch IC 210 pre-selected as a master IC, it can transmit the stored big touch data to the first touch IC 210.

[0139] In some cases, when the second touch IC 220 processes the big touch data, it stores the processed big touch data in a memory. When it is selected as a master IC, it receives the first touch data of the first region R1 and the third touch data of the boundary touch region from the first touch IC 210, generates touch information based on the first touch data of the first region R1, the big touch data of the second region R2, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region, and transmits the generated touch information to the host 300.

[0140] Here, the second touch IC 220 processes the big touch data of the second region R2 and then checks whether it has been pre-selected as a master IC. If pre-selected as a master IC, the second touch IC 220 can request the first touch IC 210 to transmit the first touch data of the first region R1 and the third touch data of the boundary touch region.

[0141] At this time, when the second touch IC 220 checks whether it has been previously selected as the master IC, it can check through pre-stored user setting information or through a user input requesting selection as the master IC.

[0142] In addition, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 may generate touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors.

[0143] Here, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 may generate touch information including touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the touch area.

[0144] Additionally, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 may further generate touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors, as well as information on the overall size of the touch and information on the number of touch sensors on the boundary surface around the boundary line BL.

[0145] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0146] In some cases, when generating touch information, the second touch IC 220 may generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region R1, the big touch data of the second region R2, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region, and transmit the touch tracking information together with the touch information to the host 300.

[0147] In addition, each of the first and second touch ICs 210 and 220 may include one or more ROICs (Read-out Integrated Circuits) that supply touch driving signals to the touch panel 100 and receive touch sensing signals from the touch panel 100, and an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) that determines the presence and location of a big touch of the touch input using the touch sensing signal detection results.

[0148] Here, one or more ROICs may be embodied as separate components or as a single integrated component.

[0149] As another example, each of the first and second touch ICs 210 and 220 may include only an ROIC, and one MCU may be separately provided and commonly connected to the plurality of touch ICs.

[0150] Here, the MCU can determine whether or not a big touch has occurred based on the touch sensing signal received from the ROIC.

[0151] That is, when a touch sensing signal corresponding to the second region of the touch panel is input from the second touch IC 220, the MCU checks whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch on the boundary surface, checks whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, and if it is a big touch, separates a boundary touch region adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch region, and stores boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch region.

[0152] Next, when a touch sensing signal corresponding to the first region of the touch panel is input from the first touch IC 210, the MCU processes first touch data of the first region based on the touch sensing signal, and processes third touch data of the boundary touch region in the second region based on boundary touch information of the boundary touch region.

[0153] Here, when a touch sensing signal corresponding to the first region of the touch panel is input from the first touch IC 210, the MCU can determine based on the touch sensing signal whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of the first region adjacent to the second region, and can determine whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface of the first region from the entire touch area is separable.

[0154] That is, when boundary touch information is stored based on a touch sensing signal corresponding to a second region of the touch panel, the MCU checks whether the boundary touch area in the first region is separable based on a touch sensing signal corresponding to a first region of the touch panel, and if the boundary touch area in the first region is separable, processes first touch data of the boundary touch area in the first region, and processes third touch data of the boundary touch area in the second region based on the continuously stored boundary touch information.

[0155] When determining whether the boundary touch area in the first region is separable, the MCU acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire touch area of ​​the first region based on the touch sensing signal, acquires the touch sensitivity for the boundary touch area in the second region from the boundary touch information, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to determine whether the boundary touch area in the first region is separable.

[0156] For example, if the touch sensitivity of a touch sensor located between touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is above a reference value gradually decreases and then increases, the MCU may determine that separation is possible centering on the touch sensor with the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0157] As another example, the MCU may input the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model to predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0158] As yet another example, if the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the MCU can select a touch sensor that will serve as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible based on the selected touch sensor.

[0159] The MCU can generate big touch information based on the first touch data of the first area, the second touch data of the second area, and the third touch data of the boundary touch area within the second area, and transmit the generated big touch information to the host.

[0160] Here, when generating the big touch information, the MCU may generate the big touch information including big touch coordinate information, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors.

[0161] In some cases, when generating big touch information, the MCU may generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region, the second touch data of the second region, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region, and transmit the touch tracking information to the host together with the big touch information.

[0162] In addition, if the MCU determines that the touch in the second region is not a big touch of a size greater than a predetermined size or that the big touch can be separated, it can extract boundary touch information including touch sensing data from the pre-stored boundary touch information.

[0163] In addition, if the MCU determines that the touch in the second region is a big touch of a size greater than a predetermined size and that separation of the big touch is impossible, it can extract boundary touch information that does not include touch sensing data from the pre-stored boundary touch information.

[0164] Next, when the MCU checks whether there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region, if a touch sensing signal is input from at least one of the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region on the boundary surface, the MCU can recognize that there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region.

[0165] Also, if no touch sensing signal is input from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region on the boundary surface, the MCU may recognize that there is no touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region.

[0166] Here, when there is no touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region, the MCU checks whether a touch sensing signal is input from the touch sensors arranged in other columns except the first column of the second region, and when a touch sensing signal is input from the touch sensors arranged in other columns, the MCU can process second touch data of the second region based on the touch sensing signal.

[0167] In addition, when determining whether a touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, the MCU determines whether the touch is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region to the touch sensor arranged in the Nth reference column on the boundary surface, and if the touch is continuous, the MCU can recognize the touch as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

[0168] In addition, if the touch is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region to the touch sensor arranged in the (N-1)th column on the boundary surface, the MCU can recognize the touch as a normal touch, which is smaller in magnitude than a big touch.

[0169] Next, when separating the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface, the MCU checks whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire area of ​​the big touch can be separated, and if the boundary touch area can be separated, it can separate the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch and store boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area in a memory.

[0170] In this way, when an interface touch between different areas of a touch panel is a big touch, the present disclosure transmits only the necessary information of the interface touch area out of the entire area of ​​the big touch to an adjacent touch IC, thereby accurately recognizing the big touch on the touch panel and efficiently and quickly processing the big touch.

[0171] That is, when the boundary touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, only touch information of a separable portion of the boundary surface of the entire area of ​​the big touch is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, or if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, only part of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information transmission and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch.

[0172] 3 to 8 are diagrams illustrating operations corresponding to touch positions of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0173] 3 to 7 are diagrams illustrating the processing operation of touch signals corresponding to each divided area using two touch ICs when the touch panel is divided into two areas, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the processing operation of touch signals corresponding to each divided area using three touch ICs when the touch panel is divided into three areas.

[0174] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the present disclosure may include a first touch IC 210 that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and a second touch IC 220 that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on a boundary line BL of the touch panel 100.

[0175] Here, the second region R2 may include a boundary touch region between a boundary line BL between the first region R1 and the second region R2 and a preset criterion column (CC).

[0176] First, as shown in FIG. 3, when a touch 110 occurs only in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, the first touch IC 210 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100 and can process the first touch data 112 of the first region based on the touch sensing signal.

[0177] Here, the first touch IC 210 can determine whether the touch 110 in the first region R1 is a continuous touch that continues up to the boundary line BL based on the touch sensing signal.

[0178] If the first touch IC 210 determines that the touch 110 in the first region R1 is not a continuous touch that continues to the boundary line BL, it may process first touch data 112 corresponding to the touch 110 in the first region R1.

[0179] In addition, when the first touch IC 210 determines that the touch 110 in the first region R1 is a continuous touch that continues up to the boundary line BL, it checks whether a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary line BL within the entire area of ​​the touch 110 is separable. If the boundary touch area is separable, it can process first touch data 112 corresponding to the touch 110 in the first region R1 excluding only the boundary touch area.

[0180] Here, the first touch IC 210 may receive touch information corresponding to the boundary touch area from the second touch IC 220 and then process the touch data for the boundary touch area.

[0181] When processing the first touch data 112 corresponding to the touch 110 in the first region R1, the first touch IC 210 checks whether the touch 110 in the first region R1 is separable. If the touch 110 in the first region R1 is separable, the first touch IC 210 can separate the touch 110 in the first region R1 and process the first touch data 112 corresponding to the touch 110 in the first region R1.

[0182] For example, if the touch 110 in the first region R1 is separable, the first touch IC 210 may recognize the touch means as a finger and determine that finger separation is possible.

[0183] When determining whether the touch 110 in the first region R1 is separable, the first touch IC 210 acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire area of ​​the touch 110 in the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to determine whether the touch 110 in the first region R1 is separable.

[0184] In one embodiment, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the first touch IC 210 can be confirmed to be separable centering on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0185] Here, it can be confirmed that the first touch IC 210 can be separated based on the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or higher than the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases.

[0186] In some cases, it may be confirmed that the first touch IC 210 can be separated based on the touch sensor with the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases.

[0187] In another case, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate and the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or higher than the reference value are gradually decreased and then increased, the first touch IC 210 may be determined to be capable of separating the touch sensor having the lowest touch sensitivity.

[0188] As another example, the first touch IC 210 may input the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model to predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0189] In yet another embodiment, when the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the first touch IC 210 can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible based on the selected touch sensor.

[0190] Here, the first touch IC 210 can input the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model, and predict a separation reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0191] Next, as shown in FIG. 4, when a touch 110 occurs in a boundary touch area between the first region R1 and the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the first touch IC 210 processes first touch data 112 of the first region R1 based on a touch sensing signal when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and when it receives boundary touch information BRI of the boundary touch area from the second touch IC 220, it processes third touch data 114 of the boundary touch area in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information BRI.

[0192] Here, the boundary touch area may include the area between the boundary line BL between the first area R1 and the second area R2 and a preset criterion column (CC), and may include the area around the boundary line within the second area.

[0193] The first touch IC 210 may process the first touch data of the first region R1 and simultaneously receive boundary touch information BRI of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 from the second touch IC 220.

[0194] Then, when the first touch IC 210 receives the boundary touch information BRI from the second touch IC 220, it processes the first touch data 112 of the first region R1, and then can continuously process the third touch data 114 of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information BRI.

[0195] In addition, after receiving the boundary touch information BRI from the second touch IC 220, the first touch IC 210 can check whether there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface of the first region R1 adjacent to the second region R2, and can check whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface of the first region R1 within the entire area of ​​the touch 110 is separable.

[0196] For example, the first touch IC 210 waits until it has completely received all of the boundary touch information BRI from the second touch IC 220. When it has completely received all of the boundary touch information BRI from the second touch IC 220, it checks whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable. If the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable, it processes the first touch data 112 of the boundary touch area in the first region R1, and processes the third touch data 114 of the boundary touch area in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information BRI that has been continuously received.

[0197] Here, when the first touch IC 210 checks whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable, it acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire touch area of ​​the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, acquires the touch sensitivity for the boundary touch area in the second region R2 from the boundary touch information received from the second touch IC 220, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to check whether the boundary touch area in the first region R1 is separable.

[0198] Meanwhile, when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 checks, based on the touch sensing signal, whether there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1, and if there is a touch 110 at the boundary surface, it can check whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a size greater than a predetermined size.

[0199] Here, when determining whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, the second touch IC 220 determines whether the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region R2 to the touch sensors arranged in the Nth reference column CC based on the boundary line BL, and if the touch 110 is continuous, the second touch IC 220 can recognize the touch 110 as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

[0200] However, as shown in FIG. 4, if the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region R2 to the touch sensor arranged in the (N-1)th column based on the boundary line BL, the second touch IC 220 can recognize the touch 110 as a normal touch, which is smaller in magnitude than a big touch.

[0201] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the second touch IC 220 recognizes the touch 110 as a general touch, it can transmit boundary touch information BRI of the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface to the first touch IC 210.

[0202] Here, when transmitting the boundary touch information BRI, the second touch IC 220 may transmit the boundary touch information BRI to the first touch IC 210, the boundary touch information BRI including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0203] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0204] Next, as shown in FIG. 5, when a touch 110 occurs in the first region R1, the second region R2, and the boundary touch region of the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the first touch IC 210 processes first touch data 112 of the first region R1 based on a touch sensing signal when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and when it receives boundary touch information BRI of the boundary touch region from the second touch IC 220, it processes third touch data 114 of the boundary touch region in the second region R2 based on the boundary touch information BRI.

[0205] When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or more. If it is a big touch, the second touch IC 220 separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area and transmits boundary touch information BRI of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210.

[0206] Then, the second touch IC 220 processes the second touch data 116 corresponding to the other area of ​​the second region R2 other than the separated boundary touch area.

[0207] Here, when determining whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, the second touch IC 220 determines whether the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region R2 to the touch sensors arranged in the Nth reference column CC based on the boundary line BL, and if the touch 110 is continuous, the second touch IC 220 can recognize the touch 110 as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

[0208] When separating the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface, the second touch IC 220 checks whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary line BL among the entire area of ​​the big touch can be separated. If the boundary touch area can be separated, the second touch IC 220 separates the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210.

[0209] Here, when checking whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable, the second touch IC 220 acquires the touch sensitivity for the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to check whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable.

[0210] When transmitting the boundary touch information BRI, the second touch IC 220 may transmit to the first touch IC 210 boundary touch information including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0211] In this way, when the interface touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, the present disclosure transmits only touch information of a separable portion of the interface of the entire big touch area to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 6, when a touch 110 occurs in the first region R1, the second region R2, and the boundary touch region of the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data 112 of the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and processes the big touch data 118 in the second region R2 based on the big touch information when big touch information is received from the second touch IC 220.

[0213] When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger, and if it is a big touch, determines whether the big touch is separable, and if it is not separable, transmits big touch information corresponding to the big touch to the first touch IC 210.

[0214] That is, if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is not separable, the second touch IC 220 can transmit big touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2, to the first touch IC 210.

[0215] Here, the second touch IC 220 may transmit big touch information, including big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors, to the first touch IC 210.

[0216] For example, the big touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the big touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of big touch sensors may include the total number of touch sensors within the entire touch area covered by the big touch.

[0217] In this way, when the interface touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, the present disclosure transmits only a portion of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch.

[0218] Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when a touch 110 occurs continuously across a portion of the first region R1 of the touch panel 100 and both side boundary lines in the row direction of the second region R2, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data 112 of the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and processes the big touch data 118 in the second region R2 based on the big touch information when big touch information is received from the second touch IC 220.

[0219] When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger, and if it is a big touch, determines whether the big touch is separable, and if it is not separable, transmits big touch information corresponding to the big touch to the first touch IC 210.

[0220] That is, if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is not separable, the second touch IC 220 can transmit big touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2, to the first touch IC 210.

[0221] Here, the second touch IC 220 may transmit big touch information, including big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors, to the first touch IC 210.

[0222] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the present disclosure may include a first touch IC 210 that generates first touch data 112 corresponding to a first region R1 of the touch panel 100, a second touch IC 220 that generates big touch data 118 corresponding to a second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on a first boundary line BL1 of the touch panel 100, and a third touch IC 230 that generates fourth touch data 119 corresponding to a third region R3 adjacent to the second region R2 based on a second boundary line BL2 of the touch panel 100.

[0223] When a touch 110 occurs in the first region R1, the second region R2, and the third region R3 of the touch panel 100, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data 112 in the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and when big touch information is received from the second touch IC 220, it can process the big touch data 118 in the second region R2 based on the big touch information.

[0224] When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100, the second touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the second region R2 adjacent to the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger, and if it is a big touch, determines whether the big touch is separable, and if it is not separable, transmits big touch information corresponding to the big touch to the first touch IC 210.

[0225] That is, if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is not separable, the second touch IC 220 can transmit big touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second region R2, to the first touch IC 210.

[0226] Subsequently, when the second touch IC 220 receives the boundary touch information BRI of the boundary touch area from the third touch IC 230, it can process the fourth touch data 119 of the boundary touch area in the third region R3 based on the boundary touch information BRI.

[0227] When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the third region R2 of the touch panel 100, the third touch IC 220 determines whether there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface of the third region R3 adjacent to the second region R2 based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch 110 on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger. If it is a big touch, it separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area and transmits boundary touch information BRI of the separated boundary touch area to the second touch IC 220.

[0228] Then, the third touch IC 230 may process touch data corresponding to the other areas of the third region R3 other than the separated boundary touch area.

[0229] Here, when determining whether the touch 110 is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, the third touch IC 230 determines whether the touch 110 is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the third region R3 to the touch sensors arranged in the Nth reference column based on the second boundary line BL2, and if the touch 110 is continuous, the third touch IC 230 can recognize the touch 110 as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

[0230] When separating the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface, the third touch IC 230 checks whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the second boundary line BL2 from the entire area of ​​the big touch can be separated. If the boundary touch area can be separated, the third touch IC 230 separates the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the second touch IC 220.

[0231] In another embodiment, the third touch IC 220 may transmit the boundary touch information BRI of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210 .

[0232] Here, when the first touch IC 210 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, it processes the first touch data 112 in the first region R1 based on the touch sensing signal; when it receives big touch information from the second touch IC 220, it processes the big touch data 118 in the second region R2 based on the big touch information; and when it receives boundary touch information from the third touch IC 230, it processes the boundary touch data 119 in the third region R3 based on the boundary touch information.

[0233] In this way, when the boundary touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, the present disclosure transmits only touch information of a separable portion of the boundary surface of the entire area of ​​the big touch to an adjacent touch IC, or if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, transmits only part of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information transmission and enabling efficient and fast processing of the big touch.

[0234] 9 to 11 are diagrams for explaining touch information transmitted between touch ICs.

[0235] FIG. 9 shows touch information generated based on touch sensing signals in a region other than the boundary surface between the first and second regions of the touch panel when the region is touched.

[0236] As shown in FIG. 9, the touch IC can generate touch information including touch sensing data, touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors based on the touch sensing signal of the touch area.

[0237] Additionally, the touch IC may further generate touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors, as well as information on the overall size of the touch and the number of touch sensors on the boundary surface around the boundary line.

[0238] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0239] FIG. 10 illustrates touch information generated based on the touch sensing signal of the boundary area when there is a touch on the boundary surface between the first area and the second area of ​​the touch panel.

[0240] As shown in FIG. 10, the touch IC may generate touch information including touch sensing data, touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors based on the touch sensing signal of the boundary area.

[0241] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0242] FIG. 11 illustrates touch information generated based on the touch sensing signal of the big touch area when there is a big touch including the boundary surface between the first area and the second area of ​​the touch panel.

[0243] As shown in FIG. 11, the touch IC may generate touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors, excluding touch sensing data, based on the touch sensing signal of the big touch area.

[0244] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a touch area covered by the touch.

[0245] In this way, when the touch IC of the present disclosure determines based on the touch sensing signal that the touch has occurred excluding the boundary surface between the first and second areas of the touch panel, it can generate touch information including touch sensing data as shown in FIG. 9.

[0246] Furthermore, if the touch IC of the present disclosure determines based on the touch sensing signal that the touch includes the boundary surface between the first and second regions of the touch panel and is not a big touch, it can generate touch information including touch sensing data as shown in FIG. 10 and transmit it to an adjacent touch IC.

[0247] Next, when the touch IC of the present disclosure determines based on the touch sensing signal that the touch is a big touch that includes the boundary surface between the first and second regions of the touch panel, it can generate touch information excluding the touch sensing data as shown in FIG. 11 and transmit it to an adjacent touch IC.

[0248] Furthermore, when the touch IC of the present disclosure determines based on the touch sensing signal that the touch includes the boundary surface between the first and second regions of the touch panel, that is, that the touch is a big touch, and that the boundary surface area of ​​the big touch can be separated, the touch IC can separate the boundary surface area of ​​the big touch, generate touch information including touch sensing data corresponding to the separated boundary surface area as shown in FIG. 10, and transmit the generated touch information to an adjacent touch IC.

[0249] 12 to 14 are diagrams illustrating the operation of a touch area separation method of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0250] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the touch IC of the present disclosure can determine whether a big touch is separable, and generate touch information including touch sensing data or touch information not including touch sensing data according to whether the big touch is separable.

[0251] Here, if the touch IC of the present disclosure is capable of separating a big touch, it can recognize that the touching means is a finger and determine that finger separation is possible.

[0252] In some cases, if the touch IC of the present disclosure is capable of separating a big touch, it may recognize the touching means as an object other than a finger and determine that object separation is possible.

[0253] The touch IC of the present disclosure can also determine whether the big touch includes the boundary surface between the first and second regions of the touch panel, and determine whether the boundary surface region can be separated from the entire area of ​​the big touch.

[0254] As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, when determining whether a touch area is separable, the touch IC of the present disclosure acquires touch sensitivity for the entire touch area based on a touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to determine whether the touch 110 is separable.

[0255] As an example, as shown in FIG. 12, the touch IC of the present disclosure can be confirmed to be separable around the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located between touch sensors having touch sensitivity above a reference value gradually decreases and then increases.

[0256] Here, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value is increased while gradually decreasing, it can be confirmed that the touch IC can be separated from the touch sensor having the lowest touch sensitivity.

[0257] In some cases, it may be confirmed that the touch IC can be separated based on the touch sensor with the lowest level of touch sensitivity if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors located between the touch sensors with touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases.

[0258] In another case, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the X coordinate and the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the Y coordinate among the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or higher than the reference value are gradually decreased and then increased, it can be confirmed that the touch IC can be separated based on the touch sensor with the lowest touch sensitivity.

[0259] As another example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the touch IC of the present disclosure can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution, and confirm that separation is possible around the selected touch sensor.

[0260] Here, the touch IC can input the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model, and predict a reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0261] As yet another example, as shown in FIG. 14, the touch IC of the present disclosure can input the touch sensitivity of a touch sensor located between touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value into a pre-trained neural network model 800, and predict a separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0262] Here, the neural network model 800 may be a deep neural network including a convolutional neural network (CNN), a recurrent neural network (RNN), a restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM), a deep belief network (DBN), a Q network, a U network, a Siamese network, etc.

[0263] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a touch IC of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0264] As shown in FIG. 15 , the touch IC 250 of the present disclosure may include a communication unit 252 , a touch data processing unit 254 , a memory 256 , a signal processing unit 258 , and a touch signal detection unit 259 .

[0265] Here, the touch signal detection unit 259 can detect a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor of the touch panel.

[0266] Here, the touch signal detection unit 259 may include a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) generation circuit that generates a driving pulse, a driving circuit that can supply a driving signal to the driving electrode of the touch panel, a sensing circuit that can process a sensing signal received from the receiving electrode, etc.

[0267] At this time, the PWM generating circuit generates a driving pulse for periodic sensing, and the driving circuit can supply a driving signal synchronized with the driving pulse to the touch panel.

[0268] The sensing circuit can also sense the voltage or voltage change formed in each sensor by the drive signal.

[0269] For example, in the case of a capacitive touch panel, a capacitance is formed in the touch sensor, and when the capacitance changes due to a touch, the touch sensor can generate a voltage corresponding to the change in capacitance.

[0270] Thus, the sensing circuit can sense the voltage or change in voltage of the touch sensor.

[0271] In some cases, the sensing circuit may differentially sense a sensing signal corresponding to a periodically applied driving signal.

[0272] The sensing circuit may further include a differential amplifier circuit to sense the sensing signal in a differential manner, and the sensing circuit may differentially amplify the sensing signals of two adjacent receiving electrodes using the differential amplifier circuit.

[0273] In this way, when the sensing circuit performs sensing in a differential manner, there is an effect of reducing common mode noise.

[0274] The signal processor 258 can then process the detected touch-sensing signals to generate touch-sensing data.

[0275] Here, the signal processor 258 may convert the analog sensing signal processed by the sensing circuit into touch sensing data and store the data in the memory 256 .

[0276] The memory 256 can store the touch sensing data.

[0277] Then, the touch data processor 254 can generate touch data for a region of the touch panel using the touch sensing data stored in the memory 256 .

[0278] Here, when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in one area of ​​the touch panel, the touch data processing unit 254 checks whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of one area adjacent to another area based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch on the boundary surface, checks whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or larger. If it is a big touch, it separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to another touch IC.

[0279] Next, the communication unit 252 is communicatively connected to other touch ICs or other devices connected to touch sensors corresponding to other regions of the touch panel.

[0280] Here, the communication unit 252 can generate touch information corresponding to the boundary surface between the first and second regions or touch information related to a big touch and transmit it to another touch IC.

[0281] In some cases, the communication unit 252 may receive touch information corresponding to the boundary surface between the first region and the second region or touch information related to a big touch from another touch IC.

[0282] The communication unit 252 can also transmit touch information generated while the touch signal detection unit 259 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor of the touch panel to the host.

[0283] In addition, the communication unit 252 can transmit touch information generated while the touch signal detection unit 259 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor of the touch panel to another touch IC or receive touch information from another touch IC.

[0284] In addition, the communication unit 252 can receive touch information from another touch IC while the signal processing unit 258 stores the touch sensing data in the memory 256 .

[0285] In addition, the communication unit 252 can receive touch information from another touch IC while the touch data processing unit 254 is generating touch data for a touch area of ​​the touch panel.

[0286] In this way, the touch IC of the present disclosure is capable of parallel processing, which allows processing operations to be performed simultaneously among internal components, thereby improving the overall signal processing speed.

[0287] 16 to 18 are diagrams illustrating a connection relationship between a touch panel and a touch IC according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0288] FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a touch sensor of a touch panel.

[0289] As shown in FIG. 16, the touch panel 100 includes a plurality of driving electrodes TX arranged in the Y direction and a plurality of receiving electrodes RX arranged in the X direction, and a touch sensor is formed at the position where the driving electrodes TX and the receiving electrodes RX intersect.

[0290] The touch sensor can sense a touch using electrostatic capacitance generated between opposing electrodes.

[0291] That is, the capacitance of a touch sensor changes when a specific object, such as a finger or pen, approaches or touches it, and the touch IC can recognize the touch by measuring this change in capacitance of the touch sensor.

[0292] The touch panel 100 of the present disclosure may be driven in a mutual mode or a self mode.

[0293] FIG. 17 shows a first embodiment of a connection structure between the electrodes of the touch panel and the touch IC.

[0294] As shown in FIG. 17, the first touch IC 210 is connected to the receiving electrodes X1 to X8 located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and the second touch IC 220 is connected to the receiving electrodes X9 to X16 located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100.

[0295] Here, when the touch sensing device is driven as a single-ended type, a plurality of touch ICs are sequentially connected to the receiving electrodes as shown in FIG.

[0296] A touch sensing device having a single-ended driving method can input a driving signal to a driving electrode and sense a change in capacitance of the touch sensor through each receiving electrode.

[0297] As a result, the first touch IC 210 is connected to the receiving electrodes X1 to X8 located in the first region R1 and can sense the capacitance change of the touch sensor located in the first region R1, and the second touch IC 220 is connected to the receiving electrodes X9 to X16 located in the second region R2 and can sense the capacitance change of the touch sensor located in the second region R2.

[0298] The first touch IC 210 and the second touch IC 220 can generate touch data using the capacitance change value of the touch sensor.

[0299] For example, the first touch IC 210 processes touch sensing signals received from the first to eighth receiving electrodes X1 to X8 to generate touch sensing data, and may generate big touch information based on the touch sensing data.

[0300] In addition, the second touch IC 220 processes the touch sensing signals received from the 9th to 16th receiving electrodes X9 to X16 to generate touch sensing data, and can generate touch information or boundary surface touch information of the second area based on the touch sensing data.

[0301] Here, the touch IC selected as the master touch IC among the first touch IC 210 and the second touch IC 220 can receive interface touch information from the slave touch IC and transmit big touch information that integrates the touch information of the first and second areas to the host.

[0302] The driving electrodes are arranged in the Y direction and driven sequentially, and the first touch IC 210 and the second touch IC 220 can generate touch sensing data of the touch area based on the touch sensing signal received in line units of the driving electrodes.

[0303] At this time, the second touch IC 220 may transmit the touch sensing data to the first touch IC 210 in units of lines of the driving electrodes, or may transmit the touch sensing data to the first touch IC 210 in units of frames.

[0304] FIG. 18 shows a second embodiment of the connection structure between the electrodes of the touch panel and the touch IC.

[0305] As shown in FIG. 18, the first touch IC 210 is connected to the receiving electrodes X1 to X8 located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100, and the second touch IC 220 is connected to the receiving electrodes X9 to X16 located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100 and the receiving electrode X8 located in the first region R1.

[0306] Here, when the touch sensing device is driven in a differential type, a plurality of touch ICs are sequentially connected to the receiving electrodes as shown in FIG.

[0307] A touch sensing device having a differential driving method can input a driving signal to a driving electrode and sense a differential signal from two adjacent receiving electrodes.

[0308] In some cases, the first touch IC 210 may be connected to the receiving electrodes X1 to X8 located in the first region R1 of the touch panel 100 and the receiving electrode X9 located in the second region R2, and the second touch IC 220 may be connected to the receiving electrodes X9 to X16 located in the second region R2 of the touch panel 100.

[0309] The differential type driving method senses differential signals between touch sensors, so the touch IC can calculate the capacitance change value of the touch sensor by unidirectionally accumulating differential sensing data based on such differential signals.

[0310] For example, the first touch IC 210 and the second touch IC 220 may accumulate differential sensing data in a direction from X16 to X1.

[0311] The second touch IC 220 may generate touch data for the second region R2 by sequentially accumulating the differential sensing data of the 16th and 15th receiving electrodes to the differential sensing data of the 9th and 8th receiving electrodes.

[0312] Next, when the first touch IC 210 accumulates the differential sensing data in the direction from X16 to X1, it can receive the boundary surface touch data of the second region from the second touch IC 220 and calculate an accumulation value.

[0313] That is, the first touch IC 210 can generate touch information of the touch area using differential sensing data generated by processing differential signals received from the receiving electrodes X1 to X8 located in the first area R1 and boundary surface touch data of the second area received from the second touch IC 220.

[0314] Here, the second touch IC 220 can transmit the interface touch data to the first touch IC 210 in units of driving electrodes.

[0315] 19 to 21 are diagrams illustrating a touch sensing method of a touch sensing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0316] FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a touch sensing method of a touch sensing device including a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region of a touch panel and a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel.

[0317] In some cases, the present disclosure may further include a plurality of touch ICs in addition to the first and second touch ICs when the touch panel is separated into a plurality of additional regions in addition to the first and second regions.

[0318] For example, in the present disclosure, the number of separation areas of the touch panel and the number of touch ICs corresponding to each separation area may be the same.

[0319] As shown in FIG. 19, a second touch IC of the present disclosure may receive a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in a second region of the touch panel (S10).

[0320] Then, the second touch IC of the present disclosure can determine whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal (S20).

[0321] Here, before checking whether there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first area, the second touch IC checks whether there is a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to the first area of ​​the touch panel when a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in the second area of ​​the touch panel, and if there is a first touch IC, it can check whether there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first area.

[0322] In some cases, if the first touch IC is not present, the second touch IC checks whether there is a touch in the second region based on the touch sensing signal, checks whether a partial touch region of the entire touch region is separable, and if a partial touch region in the second region is separable, it can first process the touch data of the separated partial touch region and then sequentially process the touch data of the remaining touch regions.

[0323] In addition, when a touch sensing signal is input from at least one of the touch sensors arranged in the first row of the second region on the boundary surface, the second touch IC can recognize that there is a touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region.

[0324] In some cases, the second touch IC may recognize that there is no touch on the interface adjacent to the first region if no touch sensing signal is input from the touch sensors arranged in the first row of the second region on the interface.

[0325] At this time, if there is no touch on the boundary surface adjacent to the first region, the second touch IC checks whether touch sensing signals are input from touch sensors arranged in other columns except the first column of the second region, and if touch sensing signals are input from touch sensors arranged in other columns, it can process second touch data of the second region based on the touch sensing signals.

[0326] When the second touch IC processes the second touch data of the second region, it stores the processed second touch data in a memory, and when it receives a request to transmit the second touch data from the first touch IC pre-selected as the master IC, it can transmit the stored second touch data to the first touch IC.

[0327] Next, if there is a touch on the boundary surface, the second touch IC of the present disclosure can check whether the touch is a big touch of a size equal to or larger than a preset size (S30).

[0328] Here, the second touch IC checks whether the touch is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region to the touch sensor arranged in the Nth reference column on the boundary surface, and if the touch is continuous, it can recognize the touch as a big touch of a predetermined size or larger.

[0329] In some cases, if the touch is continuous from the touch sensor arranged in the first column of the second region to the touch sensor arranged in the (N-1)th column on the boundary surface, the second touch IC may recognize the touch as a normal touch, which is smaller in magnitude than a big touch.

[0330] At this time, if the second touch IC recognizes the touch as a normal touch, it can transmit boundary touch information of the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface to the first touch IC (S70).

[0331] For example, when transmitting boundary touch information, the second touch IC may transmit boundary touch information to the first touch IC, the boundary touch information including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0332] Next, if the touch is a big touch, the second touch IC of the present disclosure can check whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface among the entire area of ​​the big touch is separable (S40).

[0333] Here, the second touch IC acquires touch sensitivity for the entire big touch area of ​​the second region based on the touch sensing signal, searches for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyzes the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to confirm whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch can be separated.

[0334] For example, if the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors having touch sensitivity above the reference value is a type in which the touch sensitivity gradually decreases and then increases, the second touch IC can be determined to be separable around the touch sensor having the lowest level of touch sensitivity.

[0335] As another example, the second touch IC may input the touch sensitivity of the touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value into a pre-trained neural network model to predict the separated reference touch sensor based on the touch sensitivity level distribution.

[0336] As yet another example, when the touch sensitivities of touch sensors located within a certain distance from a touch sensor whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value have a predetermined sensitivity level distribution, the second touch IC can select a touch sensor that serves as a separation standard based on the predetermined sensitivity level distribution and confirm that separation is possible around the selected touch sensor.

[0337] If the boundary touch area can be separated, the second touch IC of the present disclosure can separate the boundary touch area from the entire area of ​​the big touch and transmit boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC (S50).

[0338] Here, when the second touch IC separates the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch, it can transmit boundary touch information to the first touch IC, including touch coordinate information of the separated boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area.

[0339] As an example, the touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within a boundary touch area covered by the touch.

[0340] Next, if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is not separable, the second touch IC can transmit big touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second area, to the first touch IC (S60).

[0341] Here, the second touch IC can transmit big touch information including big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors to the first touch IC.

[0342] For example, the big touch coordinate information may include an X end touch sensor coordinate, a Y start touch sensor coordinate, and a Y end touch sensor coordinate; the big touch sensitivity information may include a maximum sensitivity value of the touch sensor, an X coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity, and a Y coordinate touch sensor position having the maximum sensitivity; and the number of big touch sensors may include a total number of touch sensors within the entire touch area covered by the big touch.

[0343] Then, when the second touch IC transmits the boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC, the second touch IC can process big touch data for the remaining big touch area excluding the boundary touch area based on the touch sensing signal.

[0344] Here, when the second touch IC processes the big touch data for the remaining big touch area excluding the boundary touch area, it stores the processed big touch data in a memory, and when it receives a big touch data transmission request from the first touch IC pre-selected as a master IC, it can transmit the stored big touch data to the first touch IC.

[0345] FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a touch sensing method of a touch sensing device including a plurality of touch ICs respectively corresponding to separate regions of a touch panel.

[0346] As shown in FIG. 20, the touch IC of the present disclosure can receive a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor of a touch panel (S110).

[0347] The touch IC of the present disclosure may then process the received touch sensing signal to generate and label touch sensing data (S120).

[0348] Next, the touch IC of the present disclosure can check whether there is another touch IC on one side (S130).

[0349] Next, the touch IC of the present disclosure can check whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of one side when another touch IC exists on the one side (S140).

[0350] If there is a touch on one boundary surface, the touch IC of the present disclosure can check whether the touch is a big touch of a size equal to or larger than a preset size (S150).

[0351] Here, if the touch IC of the present disclosure is not a big touch, it can transmit touch information including touch coordinate information of the touch area, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the touch area to another touch IC on one side (S160).

[0352] Next, if the touch IC of the present disclosure is a big touch, it stores the boundary touch on one side of the entire area of ​​the big touch (S170) and can separate the big touch (S180).

[0353] Here, the big touch separation may be finger separation when the touching means is a finger.

[0354] As an example, the touch IC of the present disclosure may acquire touch sensitivity for the entire big touch area based on a touch sensing signal, search for touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and analyze the touch sensitivity of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value to perform finger separation for the big touch.

[0355] Next, the touch IC of the present disclosure determines whether the touch area is a one-sided boundary touch (S190), and if it is a one-sided boundary touch, determines whether the boundary touch area is separated (S200).

[0356] When the boundary touch area is separated, the touch IC of the present disclosure can transmit boundary touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area of ​​the separated boundary touch area to another touch IC on one side (S220).

[0357] In addition, if the boundary touch area is not separated, the touch IC of the present disclosure can transmit only the big touch information of the big touch, excluding the touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area including the boundary touch area, to another touch IC on one side (S210).

[0358] Here, the touch IC of the present disclosure can transmit big touch information, including big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors, excluding touch sensing data, to another touch IC on one side.

[0359] That is, when the boundary touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, only touch information of a separable portion of the boundary surface of the entire area of ​​the big touch is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, or if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, only part of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information transmission and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch.

[0360] FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a process of transmitting touch information between a touch sensing device including a first touch IC and a second touch IC and a host.

[0361] As shown in FIG. 21, the first touch IC 210 and the second touch IC 220 of the present disclosure can receive a touch sensing signal from the touch sensor when a big touch occurs on the touch panel.

[0362] The first touch IC 210 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in a first region of the touch panel (S310) and processes the touch sensing signal (S320).

[0363] The second touch IC 220 receives a touch sensing signal from a touch sensor located in the first region of the touch panel (S330) and processes the touch sensing signal (S340).

[0364] Next, the second touch IC 220 may determine whether there is a touch on the boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal (S350).

[0365] Next, if there is a touch on the boundary surface, the second touch IC 220 can check whether the touch is a big touch of a size greater than a preset size (S360).

[0366] If the touch is a big touch, the second touch IC 220 can check whether finger separation in the big touch area is possible (S370).

[0367] Then, the second touch IC 220 may determine boundary touch information to be transmitted depending on whether the finger in the big touch area has been separated (S380).

[0368] Here, if finger separation of the big touch area is possible, the second touch IC 220 can separate the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire area of ​​the big touch, and transmit boundary touch information including touch sensing data of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC 210 (S390).

[0369] That is, the second touch IC 220 may transmit boundary touch information, including touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area, to the first touch IC 210.

[0370] Here, the boundary touch information may include touch coordinate information of the boundary touch, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors, and touch sensing data of each touch sensor.

[0371] Furthermore, if finger separation in the big touch area is not possible, the second touch IC 220 can transmit only big touch information, which does not include touch sensing data, to the first touch IC 210.

[0372] That is, the second touch IC 220 may transmit only the big touch information to the first touch IC 210, excluding the touch sensing data corresponding to all the touch sensors located within the entire big touch area.

[0373] Here, the big touch information may include big touch coordinate information of the big touch, big touch sensitivity information, and the number of big touch sensors.

[0374] Next, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data of the first region based on the touch sensing signal, and when it receives boundary touch information of the boundary touch region from the second touch IC 220, it can process the third touch data of the boundary touch region in the second region based on the boundary touch information (S400).

[0375] Here, the first touch IC 210 may process the first touch data of the first region and simultaneously receive boundary touch information of the boundary touch region in the second region from the second touch IC 220.

[0376] In addition, when the first touch IC 210 receives boundary touch information from the second touch IC 220, it can process the first touch data of the first region and then continuously process the third touch data of the boundary touch region in the second region based on the boundary touch information.

[0377] The second touch IC 220 processes second touch data of the second region other than the boundary touch region (S410) and transmits the processed second touch data to the first touch IC 210 (S420).

[0378] Next, when the first touch IC 210 is selected as the master IC, it receives the second touch data of the second region from the second touch IC 220 and can generate big touch information based on the first touch data of the first region, the second touch data of the second region, and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region (S430).

[0379] Here, the first touch IC 210 processes the first touch data of the first region and the third touch data of the boundary touch region within the second region, and then checks whether it has been pre-selected as a master IC. If pre-selected as a master IC, it can request the second touch IC 220 to transmit the second touch data of the second region.

[0380] Then, the first touch IC 210 can transmit the generated big touch information to the host.

[0381] In some cases, the first touch IC 210 may generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region and the second touch data of the second region (S440) and transmit the touch tracking information together with the touch information to the host 300 (S450).

[0382] In another embodiment, the second touch IC 220 processes the second touch data of the second region, and then checks whether it has been pre-selected as the master IC, and if pre-selected as the master IC, it can request the first touch IC 210 to transmit the first touch data of the first region.

[0383] Next, when the second touch IC 220 is pre-selected as a master IC, it receives the first touch data of the first region and the fourth touch data of the boundary touch region within the first region from the first touch IC 210, and can generate big touch information based on the second touch data of the second region, the first touch data of the first region, and the fourth touch data of the boundary touch region within the first region.

[0384] In addition, when generating the big touch information, the second touch IC 220 can generate touch tracking information based on the first touch data of the first region and the second touch data of the second region and transmit the touch tracking information together with the big touch information to the host 300.

[0385] In this way, when an interface touch between different areas of a touch panel is a big touch, the present disclosure transmits only the necessary information of the interface touch area out of the entire area of ​​the big touch to an adjacent touch IC, thereby accurately recognizing the big touch on the touch panel and efficiently and quickly processing the big touch.

[0386] That is, when the boundary touch is a big touch, if finger separation of the big touch is possible, only touch information of a separable portion of the boundary surface of the entire area of ​​the big touch is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, or if finger separation of the big touch is not possible, only part of the entire touch information of the big touch, excluding touch sensing data, is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, thereby minimizing the amount and transmission time of touch information transmission and enabling efficient and rapid processing of the big touch.

[0387] The present disclosure described above can be embodied as computer-readable code on a medium having a program recorded thereon. Computer-readable media include all types of storage devices that store data readable by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state disks (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), ROMs, RAMs, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer may also include a processor 180 of an artificial intelligence device. [Industrial Applicability]

[0388] According to the touch sensing device of the present disclosure, when a boundary touch between different areas of a touch panel is a big touch, only the necessary information of the boundary touch area out of the entire big touch area is transmitted to an adjacent touch IC, thereby accurately recognizing the big touch on the touch panel and efficiently and quickly processing the big touch, which has significant industrial applicability.

Claims

1. In a touch sensing device for processing touches on a touch panel, a first touch IC for generating first touch data corresponding to a first region of the touch panel; a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel; The second touch IC is When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in a second region of the touch panel, the touch sensing device determines whether there is a touch on a boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, and if it is the big touch, separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area, and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC.

2. The first touch IC is When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in a first region of the touch panel, first touch data of the first region is processed based on the touch sensing signal; 2. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein when boundary touch information of the boundary touch area is received from the second touch IC, third touch data of the boundary touch area within the second area is processed based on the boundary touch information.

3. The first touch IC is The touch sensing device of claim 2 , further comprising: a first touch IC for receiving boundary touch information of a boundary touch area within the second area from the second touch IC while processing the first touch data of the first area.

4. The first touch IC is When selected as a master IC, the master IC receives second touch data of the second area from the second touch IC; generating big touch information based on first touch data of the first region, second touch data of the second region, and third touch data of a boundary touch region within the second region; The touch sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising: a touch sensor configured to transmit the generated big touch information to a host.

5. The first touch IC is 5. The touch sensing device of claim 4, wherein when generating the big touch information, touch tracking information is generated based on the first touch data of the first region, the second touch data of the second region, and the third touch data of a boundary touch region within the second region, and the touch tracking information is transmitted to the host together with the big touch information.

6. The first touch IC is The touch sensing device of claim 2 , further comprising: receiving boundary touch information from the second touch IC, the boundary touch information including touch coordinate information of the boundary touch area, touch sensitivity information, and the number of touch sensors.

7. The second touch IC is 2. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein when determining whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, it is determined whether the touch is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in a first column of the second region to the touch sensors arranged in an Nth reference column on the boundary surface, and if the touch is continuous, the touch is recognized as a big touch of a predetermined size or more.

8. The second touch IC is 10. The touch sensing device of claim 7, wherein if the touch is continuous from the touch sensors arranged in the first column of the second region to the touch sensors arranged in the (N-1)th column of the second region on the boundary surface, the touch is recognized as a normal touch having a magnitude smaller than the big touch.

9. The second touch IC is The touch sensing device of claim 8 , wherein when the touch is recognized as a general touch, boundary touch information of a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface is transmitted to the first touch IC.

10. The second touch IC is 10. The touch sensing device of claim 9, wherein when transmitting the boundary touch information, the boundary touch information includes touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors in the boundary touch area, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area, and is transmitted to the first touch IC.

11. The second touch IC is 2. The touch sensing device of claim 1, wherein when separating the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface, it is determined whether the boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire area of ​​the big touch can be separated, and if the boundary touch area is separable, the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separated, and boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area is transmitted to the first touch IC.

12. The second touch IC is 12. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein when determining whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable, the touch sensitivity for the entire big touch area of ​​the second region is acquired based on the touch sensing signal, touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than a reference value are searched for based on the acquired touch sensitivity, and touch sensitivities of touch sensors located between the touch sensors whose touch sensitivity is equal to or greater than the reference value are analyzed to determine whether the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separable.

13. The second touch IC is 12. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein when the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is separated, boundary touch information including touch coordinate information, touch sensitivity information, the number of touch sensors of the separated boundary touch area, and touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the boundary touch area is transmitted to the first touch IC.

14. The second touch IC is 12. The touch sensing device of claim 11, wherein if the boundary touch area of ​​the big touch is inseparable, big touch information of the big touch excluding touch sensing data corresponding to all touch sensors located within the entire big touch area of ​​the second area is transmitted to the first touch IC.

15. In a touch sensing device for processing touches on a touch panel, one or more ROICs (Read-out Integrated Circuits) that receive touch sensing signals from a first region of the touch panel and a second region adjacent to the first region; an MCU (Micro Controller Unit) that determines whether or not a touch is a big touch based on the touch sensing signal; The MCU When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in a second region of the touch panel, it is determined whether a touch is made on a boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal, and if a touch is made on the boundary surface, it is determined whether the touch is a big touch of a size equal to or larger than a predetermined size; If the big touch is detected, a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface is separated from the entire area of ​​the big touch, and boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area is stored.

16. The MCU 16. The touch sensing device of claim 15, further comprising: processing first touch data of a first region of the touch panel, second touch data of the second region, and third touch data of a boundary touch region within the second region based on the touch sensing signal; generating big touch information based on the first, second, and third touch data; and transmitting the generated big touch information to a host.

17. The MCU 17. The touch sensing device of claim 16, wherein when generating the big touch information, touch tracking information is generated based on first touch data of the first region, second touch data of the second region, and third touch data of a boundary touch region within the second region, and the touch tracking information is transmitted to the host together with the big touch information.

18. A touch IC connected to a touch sensor corresponding to one region of a touch panel, a communication unit communicatively connected to another touch IC connected to a touch sensor corresponding to another region of the touch panel; a touch data processing unit that generates touch data for a region of the touch panel; The touch data processing unit When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in one area of ​​the touch panel, the touch IC determines whether there is a touch on a boundary surface of the one area adjacent to the other area based on the touch sensing signal, and if there is a touch on the boundary surface, determines whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more, and if it is the big touch, separates a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire big touch area, and transmits boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the other touch IC.

19. a touch signal detection unit that detects a touch sensing signal from the touch sensor; a signal processing unit that processes the detected touch sensing signal to generate touch sensing data; The touch IC of claim 18 , further comprising: a memory that stores the touch sensing data.

20. A touch sensing method for a touch sensing device including a first touch IC that generates first touch data corresponding to a first region of a touch panel and a second touch IC that generates second touch data corresponding to a second region adjacent to the first region of the touch panel, When a touch sensing signal is input from a touch sensor located in a second region of the touch panel, the second touch IC determines whether a touch is detected on a boundary surface of the second region adjacent to the first region based on the touch sensing signal; If there is a touch on the boundary surface, the second touch IC checks whether the touch is a big touch of a predetermined size or more; If the second touch IC is the big touch, separating a boundary touch area adjacent to the boundary surface from the entire area of ​​the big touch; and transmitting boundary touch information of the separated boundary touch area to the first touch IC by the second touch IC.

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