Touch display device, touch drive circuit, and touch controller

Abstract

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

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

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

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

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

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

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

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

[0007] Embodiments of this disclosure can provide a touch display device, a touch drive circuit, and a touch controller having a control signal system capable of efficiently supporting a display mode, a contact touch sensing mode, and a hover touch sensing mode. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The touch display device according to the embodiments of this disclosure may include a touch sensor having a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes, and a touch drive circuit for driving the touch sensor.

[0009] The operating modes of a touch display device may include a display mode and a touch sensing mode. The display mode and the touch sensing mode may be switched between each other or may be performed simultaneously.

[0010] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may proceed in time-separated time periods. That is, the first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode do not have to overlap in time.

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

[0012] During the first touch sensing mode period, a first touch drive signal may be applied sequentially or simultaneously to multiple first touch electrodes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0031] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit may sequentially connect two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers so as to correspond to each other. The second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in association with each other.

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

[0033] During the first subsensing period, the first control switch circuit may connect two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among two or more charge amplifiers, and the second control switch circuit may isolate two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0046] According to embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can support various touch sensing modes.

[0047] According to embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can efficiently sense contact touches and hover touches.

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

[0049] According to embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch drive circuit, and a touch controller having a control signal system capable of efficiently supporting a display mode, a contact touch sensing mode, and a hover touch sensing mode.

[0050] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, display driving, contact touch sensing, and hover touch sensing can be performed efficiently in terms of operating time, potentially enabling low-power operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0051] [Figure 1] This is a system configuration diagram of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This shows a touch sensor for a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] This invention illustrates a touch sensing system for a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the drive timing of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] The operating mode definition table for a touch display device according to an embodiment of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 6] A touch drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 7] This invention illustrates a charge amplifier in a touch drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8]This is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9a] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first touch sensing mode period. [Figure 9b] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first touch sensing mode period. [Figure 10a] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first sub-sensing period within the second touch sensing mode period. [Figure 10b] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first sub-sensing period within the second touch sensing mode period. [Figure 11a] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the second sub-sensing period within the second touch sensing mode period. [Figure 11b] This diagram shows the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the second sub-sensing period within the second touch sensing mode period. [Figure 12] This diagram briefly illustrates the operation of the touch drive circuit during the touch sensing mode period according to the embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 13] This diagram briefly illustrates the operation of the touch drive circuit during the touch sensing mode period according to the embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 14] This diagram briefly illustrates the operation of the touch drive circuit during the touch sensing mode period according to the embodiments of this disclosure. [Figure 15] This shows multiple channel binding group regions included in a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] A touch drive circuit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 17] The touch drive circuit during the first touch sensing mode period according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. [Figure 18] The touch drive circuit during the first sub-sensing period within the second touch sensing mode period according to the embodiment of this disclosure is shown. [Figure 19] The touch drive circuit during the second sub-sensing period of the second touch sensing mode period according to the embodiment of this disclosure is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0052] Some embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to illustrative drawings. In assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, the same reference numerals may be used for the same component, even if they appear in different drawings, whenever possible. In describing this disclosure, if a specific description of a relevant known configuration or function is deemed to obscure the gist of this disclosure, such detailed description may be omitted. Where "includes," "has," "performs," ​​etc., as used herein, other parts may be added unless "only" is used. Where a component is expressed singularly, it may include multiple components unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0053] Furthermore, terms such as 1, 2, A, B, (a), and B may be used to describe the components of this disclosure. These terms are used to distinguish a component from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order, procedure, or number of the components.

[0054] In descriptions of the positional relationships of components, when it is stated that two or more components are "linked," "joined," or "connected," it should be understood that while two or more components can directly "link," "join," or "connect," they can also be "linked," "joined," or "connected" through the "intermediation" of another component. Here, the other component may be included in one or more of the two or more components that are "linked," "joined," or "connected" to each other.

[0055] In descriptions of temporal relationships concerning constituent elements, operating methods, or manufacturing methods, if a temporal sequence or flow of events is described using phrases such as "after," "following," "after," or "before," it may include non-continuous events unless "immediately" or "directly" is used.

[0056] On the other hand, when referring to numerical values ​​or corresponding information (e.g., levels) for components, it can be interpreted that these numerical values ​​or corresponding information include a range of errors that may arise due to various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external shocks, noise, etc.), even without further explicit mention.

[0057] Various embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

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

[0059] Referring to Figure 1, the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure may include a display panel 110 and a display driving circuit as components for displaying images.

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

[0061] The display panel 110 may include a display area DA on which images are displayed and a non-display area NDA on which images are not displayed. The non-display area NDA may be the outer area of ​​the display area DA and can also be called the bezel area. All or part of the non-display area NDA may be an area visible from the front of the touch display device 100, or it may be an area that is bent and not visible from the front of the touch display device 100.

[0062] The display panel 110 may include a plurality of subpixels SP and various types of signal wiring for driving the plurality of subpixels SP.

[0063] Various types of signal wiring may include multiple data lines DL that transmit data signals (also known as data voltages or video signals) and multiple gate lines GL that transmit gate signals (also known as scan signals).

[0064] Multiple data lines DL and multiple gate lines GL may intersect each other. Each of the multiple gate lines GL may be arranged extending in a first direction. Each of the multiple data lines DL may be arranged extending in a second direction, where the first direction is the row direction and the second direction is the column direction, or the first direction is the column direction and the second direction is the row direction.

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

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

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

[0068] The data drive circuit 120 can supply data signals to multiple data lines DL according to the drive timing control of the display controller 140. The data drive circuit 120 can receive digital video data DATA from the display controller 140, convert the received video data DATA into analog data signals, and output them to multiple data lines DL.

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

[0070] For example, the data drive circuit 120 may be connected to the display panel 110 by tape automated bonding (TAB), to the bonding pad of the display panel 110 by chip-on-glass (COG) or chip-on-panel (COP) methods, or to the display panel 110 by being implemented in chip-on-film (COF) methods.

[0071] For example, the gate drive circuit 130 may be connected to the display panel 110 by tape automated bonding (TAB), to the bonding pad of the display panel 110 by chip-on-glass (COG) or chip-on-panel (COP) method, or to the display panel 110 according to the chip-on-film (COF) method. Alternatively, the gate drive circuit 130 may be of the gate-in-panel (GIP) type and formed in the non-display area (NDA) of the display panel 110. The gate drive circuit 130 may be placed on the substrate or connected to the substrate. That is, if the gate drive circuit 130 is of the GIP type, it may be placed in the non-display area (NDA) of the substrate. If the gate drive circuit 130 is of the chip-on-glass (COG) type, chip-on-film (COF) type, etc., it may be connected to the substrate.

[0072] On the other hand, at least one of the data drive circuit 120 and the gate drive circuit 130 may be located in the display area DA of the display panel 110. For example, the gate drive circuit 130 may be located in the display area DA. In this case, the gate drive circuit 130 may be located so as not to overlap with the subpixel SP, or it may be located so as to partially or completely overlap with the subpixel SP.

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

[0074] Depending on the drive method, panel design method, panel shape, etc., the gate drive circuit 130 may be connected to one side of the display panel 110, to one side and the other side of the display panel 110, or along the side of the display panel 110.

[0075] The display controller 140 can be implemented as a separate component from the data drive circuit 120, or it can be integrated with the data drive circuit 120 to form an integrated circuit.

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

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

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

[0079] The touch display device 100 may be a liquid crystal display device or the like, and the display panel 110 may be a self-emissive display device that emits light on its own. In other words, the display panel 110 may be a liquid crystal display panel or a self-emissive display panel.

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

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

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

[0083] A touch sensor may include multiple touch electrodes. These multiple touch electrodes may be electrically connected to the touch drive circuit 160 via multiple touch lines. The touch sensor will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2.

[0084] The touch drive circuit 160 and touch controller 170 included in the touch sensing circuit 150 may be implemented in separate devices or may be composed of a single device. Furthermore, the touch drive circuit 160 and data drive circuit 120 may be composed of separate devices or may be composed of a single device.

[0085] For example, the touch drive circuit 160 may be composed of a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). Alternatively, the touch drive circuit 160 and the data drive circuit 120 may be integrated into a source and readout integrated circuit (SRIC). The touch controller 170 may be composed of a microcontroller unit (MCU).

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

[0087] The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet, or it may be a monitor or television (TV) of various sizes, and is not limited to these, but may be any type or size of display capable of displaying information or images.

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

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

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

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

[0092] Referring to Figure 2, the multiple touch electrodes TE may include multiple first touch electrodes TE1 and multiple second touch electrodes TE2. For example, the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 and the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may intersect with each other. Each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may extend in a first direction, and each of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may extend in a second direction. Accordingly, each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may overlap with the multiple second touch electrodes TE2.

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

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

[0095] The external touch sensor TS, located outside the display panel 110, may be manufactured separately from the display panel 110 and then combined with the display panel 110 during the assembly process. The external touch sensor may consist of a touch panel including a substrate and multiple touch electrodes on the substrate.

[0096] The built-in touch sensor TS located inside the display panel 110 may be formed during the manufacturing process of the display panel 110, at the same time as electrodes and wiring related to display driving are formed. For the sake of explanation, in the following, we will assume that the touch sensor TS is a built-in touch sensor located inside the display panel 110.

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

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

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

[0100] In the mutual capacitance sensing method, multiple touch electrodes TE are divided into driving touch electrodes (also called transmitting touch electrodes) and sensing touch electrodes (also called receiving touch electrodes). The touch driving circuit 160 can drive the driving touch electrodes and sense the sensing touch electrodes. Hereafter, mutual capacitance sensing may also be referred to as "mutual sensing".

[0101] For example, in mutual sensing, multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes), and multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may be sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes). Another example is that in mutual sensing, multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes), and multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may be driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes). In the following explanation, for convenience, we will use the case where multiple first touch electrodes TE1 are driving touch electrodes (transmitting touch electrodes) and multiple second touch electrodes TE2 are sensing touch electrodes (receiving touch electrodes) as an example.

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

[0103] In the self-capacitive sensing method, each of the multiple touch electrodes TE can serve as both a driving touch electrode and a sensing touch electrode. The touch driving circuit 160 can drive all or some of the multiple touch electrodes TE and sense all or some of the multiple touch electrodes TE. Hereafter, self-capacitive sensing may also be referred to as "self-sensing".

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

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

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

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

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

[0109] As yet another example, each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be a single unit, and each of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may consist of multiple sub-electrodes electrically connected to each other by a bridge electrode.

[0110] As yet another example, each of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may be a single unit, and each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may consist of multiple sub-electrodes electrically connected to each other by a bridge electrode.

[0111] As an example, multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be arranged within a first sensor metal layer, and multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may be arranged within a second sensor metal layer. Here, an intersensor insulating film may be placed between the first sensor metal layer and the second sensor metal layer.

[0112] As another example, if each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 is a single unit, and each of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 is composed of multiple sub-electrodes electrically connected to each other by a bridge electrode, then the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 and the multiple sub-electrodes may be placed within a sensor metal layer, and the bridge electrode electrically connecting the multiple sub-electrodes may be placed within a bridge metal layer. Here, an interlayer insulating film may be placed between the sensor metal layer and the bridge metal layer.

[0113] As yet another example, if each of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 is a single unit, and each of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 is composed of multiple sub-electrodes electrically connected to each other by a bridge electrode, then the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 and the multiple sub-electrodes may be placed within the sensor metal layer, and the bridge electrode electrically connecting the multiple sub-electrodes may be placed within the bridge metal layer. Here, an interlayer insulating film may be placed between the sensor metal layer and the bridge metal layer.

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

[0115] The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure may include a touch sensor TS, a touch drive circuit 160, a touch controller 170, and a display controller 140.

[0116] The touch drive circuit 160 can drive the touch sensor TS by supplying a touch drive signal TDS to the touch sensor TS, thereby enabling sensing of the touch sensor TS. When the touch drive circuit 160 senses the touch sensor TS, it can mean sensing the capacitance between the touch electrodes TE, or sensing the capacitance of the touch electrodes TE. For example, when the touch drive circuit 160 senses the touch sensor TS, it can mean sensing the mutual capacitance between the touch electrodes TE, or it can mean sensing the self-capacitance of the touch electrodes TE.

[0117] The touch controller 170 may supply a reference touch drive signal TDS_REF to the touch drive circuit 160. The reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a signal with a fluctuating voltage level. The reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a signal with a reference amplitude ΔV0. For example, the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a square wave, a sine wave, or a triangular wave. For example, the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF may be a pulse width modulation signal.

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

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

[0120] The first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be signals with fluctuating voltage levels. The first touch drive signal TDS1 may be a signal with a first amplitude ΔV1, and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be a signal with a second amplitude ΔV2. For example, the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be square waves, sine waves, or triangular waves. For example, the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be pulse width modulated signals. The frequencies of the first touch drive signal TDS1 and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be the same as the frequency of the reference touch drive signal TDS_REF.

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

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

[0123] The touch drive circuit 160 and touch controller 170 according to the embodiments of this disclosure described above will be explained again.

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

[0125] The first signal output unit 320 can output a first touch drive signal TDS1 to N touch electrodes TE when the second mode control signal MCS2 has a first level voltage. N is a natural number greater than or equal to 1.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0135] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure may have various operating modes. These various operating modes may include a display mode for displaying images and a touch sensing mode for sensing touches.

[0136] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode may be a contact touch sensing mode for sensing a contact touch, which is a touch that is in contact with the screen, and the second touch sensing mode may be a hover touch sensing mode for sensing a hover touch, which is a touch that is in close proximity to the screen within a predetermined distance without making contact with the screen.

[0137] In the embodiments of this disclosure, hover touch can also be called non-contact touch. In the embodiments of this disclosure, hover touch may mean an action in which the user's body or pen points to a point on the screen while the user is not touching the screen, or it may mean a gesture such as a hand movement or motion of the user's body or pen on the screen.

[0138] In embodiments of this disclosure, sensing a hover touch may mean detecting the position of a body or pen that is not in contact with the screen (non-contact state), or detecting the movement of a body or pen that is not in contact with the screen (non-contact state). For example, a hover touch may mean a gesture such as a hand movement or motion in which the user's body or pen moves on or above the screen without the user touching the screen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0145] The operating period of the touch display device 100 can also be considered the operating period of the display panel 110.

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

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

[0148] Referring to Figure 4, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, two or more of the multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be electrically connected and function as one large first touch electrode TE1. Also, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, two or more of the multiple second touch electrodes TE2 may be electrically connected and function as one large second touch electrode TE2.

[0149] Referring to Figure 4, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more electrically connected first touch electrodes TE1, and the second touch drive signal TDS2 may be simultaneously applied to two or more electrically connected second touch electrodes TE2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0164] Figure 6 shows a touch drive circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 shows a charge amplifier CAMP within the touch drive circuit 160 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0171] The charge amplifier CAMP can receive touch sensing signals from one or more touch electrodes TE selected as the sensing target from among multiple connectable touch electrodes TE.

[0172] Referring to Figure 6, the first switch circuit SWC1 connects the touch electrode TE to be sensed from among the multiple connectable touch electrodes TE to the charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU, among the multiple sensing units SU.

[0173] As a result, the charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU can receive a touch sensing signal from the touch electrode TE, which is the object to be sensed. In other words, the charge amplifier CAMP within the sensing unit SU can sense a touch sensing signal from the touch electrode TE, which is the object to be sensed. Here, the touch sensing signal sensed from the touch electrode TE may correspond to the capacitance (mutual capacitance or self-capacitance) related to the touch electrode TE.

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

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

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

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

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

[0179] Referring to Figure 6, the integrator INTG can output the integral value obtained by integrating the output signal VOUT of the charge amplifier CAMP. Here, the charge amplifier CAMP and the integrator INTG may be configured as an integrated unit.

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

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

[0182] The analog-to-digital converter (ADC) can generate touch sensing data by converting the integral value stored in the sample-and-hold circuit SHA within the sensing unit SU, selected by the second switch circuit SWC2, into a digital value.

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

[0184] On the other hand, referring to Figure 7, the input signal VIN input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP may be a signal with a constant voltage level or a signal with a fluctuating (swinging) voltage level.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0191] Referring to Figure 8, the operation method of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include the steps of: during the display mode period Td, the display drive circuit performs display driving to display an image via the display panel 110 (S100); and during the touch sensing mode period Tt, the touch sensing circuit 150 performs touch sensing (S200).

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

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

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

[0195] The second touch sensing mode period Tt2 may include a first sub-sensing period Tt21 and a second sub-sensing period Tt22 that do not overlap. The first sub-sensing period Tt21 may be a period during which multiple first touch electrodes TE1 are sensed using a self-sensing method, and the second sub-sensing period Tt22 may be a period during which multiple second touch electrodes TE2 are sensed using a self-sensing method.

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

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

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

[0199] Figures 9a and 9b are diagrams showing the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first touch sensing mode period Tt1.

[0200] Referring to Figures 9a and 9b, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, operations for sensing contact touch using a mutual sensing method may be carried out.

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

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

[0203] As another example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, multiple first touch electrodes TE1 may be grouped into multiple first touch electrode groups. Each of the multiple first touch electrode groups may contain two or more first touch electrodes TE1. During the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be applied sequentially to the multiple first touch electrode groups. That is, at some point in the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 may be applied simultaneously to two or more first touch electrodes TE1 included in one first touch electrode group. In this way, when the first touch drive signal TDS1 is applied simultaneously to two or more first touch electrodes TE1 included in one first touch electrode group during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, there may be a phase difference between the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to at least one of the two or more first touch electrodes TE1 and the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to the remaining first touch electrodes TE1. For example, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to at least one of two or more first touch electrodes TE1 and the first touch drive signal TDS1 applied to the remaining first touch electrodes TE1 may be in opposite phase relationships (a phase difference of 180 degrees).

[0204] Referring to Figures 9a and 9b, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, a reference voltage VREF in the form of a constant direct current voltage (DC voltage) may be input to the first input node IN1 of the charge amplifier CAMP in the touch drive circuit 160.

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

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

[0207] Figures 10a and 10b are diagrams showing the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0208] Figures 11a and 11b are diagrams showing the operating status when the operating period of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiment of this disclosure is the second sub-sensing period Tt22 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2.

[0209] Referring to Figures 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b, during the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, operations for sensing the hover touch using a self-sensing method may be carried out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0221] Figures 12, 13, and 14 are simplified diagrams showing the operation of the touch drive circuit 160 during the touch sensing mode period Tt according to the embodiment of this disclosure.

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

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

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

[0225] The first control switch circuit CSC1 can control the first touch electrode TE1 to connect to the amplifier AMP, to connect to the charge amplifier CAMP, or to not connect to (i.e., isolate from) the amplifier AMP and the charge amplifier CAMP.

[0226] The second control switch circuit CSC2 can control the second touch electrode TE2 to connect to the charge amplifier CAMP, or to not connect to (i.e., isolate) the second touch electrode TE2 from the charge amplifier CAMP.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0238] In the embodiments of this disclosure, when hover-touch sensing is performed using a self-sensing method, the act of driving two or more touch electrodes TEs together as a single group and sensing them simultaneously is called "channel binding driving."

[0239] The channel binding drive of the touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 15 to 19.

[0240] Figure 15 shows multiple channel binding group regions (CHBGs) included in a touch sensor TS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0247] In the following section, the touch sensing method (touch driving method) and channel binding driving method for the two types of touch (contact touch and hover touch) according to the embodiments of this disclosure described above will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 16 to 19.

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

[0249] Referring to Figure 16, m first touch electrodes TE1_1, TE1_2, ..., TE1_m can be arranged passing through a channel binding group region CHBG in a first direction. m first touch lines TL1_1, TL1_2, ..., TL1_m can be connected to m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m, where m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

[0250] Referring to Figure 16, n second touch electrodes TE2_1, TE2_2, ..., TE2_n can be arranged passing through a channel binding group region CHBG in a second direction. N second touch lines TL2_1, TL2_2, ..., TL2_n can be connected to the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n, where n is a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

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

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

[0253] Referring to Figure 16, n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn can correspond to n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n.

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

[0255] Referring to Figure 16, the first input nodes IN1_1 to IN1_n of each of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, which are operational amplifiers OAMPs, may be input to a reference voltage VREF whose voltage level does not change or a second touch drive signal TDS2 having a second amplitude ΔV2.

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

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

[0258] The first control switch circuit CSC1 can control all or some of the m first touch electrodes TE1_1~TE1_m to be connected to all or some of the m amplifiers AMP1~AMPm, or control all or some of the m first touch electrodes TE1_1~TE1_m to be connected to all or some of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1~CAMPn, or control the m first touch electrodes TE1_1~TE1_m to be isolated from the m amplifiers AMP1~AMPm and the n charge amplifiers CAMP1~CAMPn.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0266] The second control switch circuit CSC2 can control all or some of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to be connected to all or some of the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, or it can control all or some of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to be isolated from the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn.

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

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

[0269] Referring to Figure 16, a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may drive and sense one channel binding group region CHBG. In this case, the charge amplifiers other than the specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn do not need to operate. For example, a specific charge amplifier (e.g., CAMPn) among the N charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn may operate to drive and sense one channel binding group region CHBG. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0278] When the shared control switch SRSH is turned on, the capacitive control switch SCFB may also be turned on.

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

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

[0281] FIG. 17 shows the touch driving circuit 160 during the first touch sensing mode period Tt *1* according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

[0283] Referring to FIG. 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the touch driving circuit 160 may sequentially supply the first touch driving signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m by sequentially using two or more amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm. For this purpose, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the first control switch circuit CSC *1* may sequentially connect the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m and the m amplifiers AMP1 to AMPm so as to correspond to each other.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0292] Referring to Figure 17, during the first touch sensing mode period Tt1, the capacitance control switch SCFB included in a particular charge amplifier CAMPn may be in the turned-off state. This prevents an increase in feedback capacitance by not connecting the additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the particular charge amplifier CAMPn in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb.

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

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

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

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

[0297] To this end, as shown in Figure 18, the touch drive circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch drive signal TDS1 to two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected to each other, via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn from among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, thereby enabling sensing of the two or more first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2, and n may also be a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

[0298] Next, as shown in Figure 19, the touch drive circuit 160 simultaneously supplies a first touch drive signal TDS1 to two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n that are electrically connected to each other, via a specific charge amplifier CAMPn from among two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn, thereby enabling sensing of the two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n that are electrically connected to each other. Here, m is a natural number greater than or equal to 2, and n may also be a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0306] Referring to Figure 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, hover touch sensing may be performed using a self-sensing method.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0314] During the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the n second control switches SRX1, SRX2, ..., SRXn included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may be in a turned-off state. This allows two or more second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n to be electrically isolated from two or more charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn. At this time, the shared control switch SRSH included in the second control switch circuit CSC2 may also be in a turned-off state.

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

[0316] Referring to Figure 18, during the first sub-sensing period Tt21 within the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn simultaneously supplies the second touch drive signal TDS2 input via the first input node IN1_n to m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected together by passing through a channel binding group region CHBG in the first direction, thereby enabling simultaneous sensing of the m first touch electrodes TE1_1 to TE1_m that are electrically connected together.

[0317] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a particular charge amplifier CAMPn may be turned on. This allows an additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the particular charge amplifier CAMPn to be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb. Therefore, the feedback capacitance may be increased.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0332] Referring to Figure 19, during the second sub-sensing period Tt22 of the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, a specific charge amplifier CAMPn among the n charge amplifiers CAMP1 to CAMPn simultaneously supplies the second touch drive signal TDS2 input via the first input node IN1_n to n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n passing through a channel binding group region CHBG in the second direction, thereby enabling simultaneous sensing of the n second touch electrodes TE2_1 to TE2_n.

[0333] During the second touch sensing mode period Tt2, the capacitance control switch SCFB of a particular charge amplifier CAMPn may be turned on. This allows an additional feedback capacitor LAR_Cfb included in the particular charge amplifier CAMPn to be connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor Cfb. Therefore, the feedback capacitance may increase.

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

[0335] The touch display device 100 according to the embodiments of this disclosure may be configured as a wearable device that is attached to the body (e.g., wrist, head, waist, etc.) or to textiles or clothing. For example, wearable displays may include smartwatches, helmets, gloves, smart clothing, smart glasses, etc.

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

[0337] A brief description of the embodiments of this disclosure described above is as follows.

[0338] The touch display device according to the embodiments of this disclosure may include a touch sensor having a plurality of first touch electrodes and a plurality of second touch electrodes, and a touch drive circuit for driving the touch sensor.

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

[0340] The touch sensing mode may include a first touch sensing mode and a second touch sensing mode. The first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode may proceed in time-separated time periods. That is, the first touch sensing mode and the second touch sensing mode do not have to overlap in time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0352] The operation of the first control switch circuit and the second control switch circuit is as follows:

[0353] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit may sequentially connect two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers in correspondence with each other, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in correspondence with each other.

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

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

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

[0357] Of the two or more charge amplifiers, the remaining charge amplifiers, excluding a specific charge amplifier, may only operate during the first touch sensing mode period.

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

[0359] However, during the second touch sensing mode period, the operation of a particular charge amplifier may differ from the operation of a particular charge amplifier during the first touch sensing mode period.

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

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

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

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

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

[0365] During the second touch sensing mode, the capacitance control switch is turned on, and a second touch drive signal having a voltage level that varies over time and a second amplitude may be applied to the first input node of a particular charge amplifier.

[0366] A touch display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a display panel including a plurality of subpixels and touch sensors, a display driving circuit for driving the plurality of subpixels, a display controller for controlling the display driving circuit and supplying a first mode control signal to a touch controller, and a touch controller for supplying a second mode control signal to the touch driving circuit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0384] The touch driving circuit according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include two or more amplifiers corresponding to a plurality of first touch electrodes, two or more charge amplifiers each corresponding to a plurality of second touch electrodes and each including a feedback capacitor, a first control switch circuit that controls all or some of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more amplifiers, or all or some of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more charge amplifiers, or that the plurality of first touch electrodes to be isolated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers, and a second control switch circuit that controls all or some of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more charge amplifiers, or that all or some of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be isolated from the two or more charge amplifiers.

[0385] The operating period of the touch drive circuit includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period that do not overlap with each other, and the second touch sensing mode period may include a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other.

[0386] During the first subsensing period, two or more of the multiple first touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other, and during the second subsensing period, two or more of the multiple second touch electrodes may be electrically connected to each other.

[0387] During the first touch sensing mode period, the first control switch circuit may sequentially connect two or more first touch electrodes and two or more amplifiers in correspondence with each other, and the second control switch circuit may connect two or more second touch electrodes and two or more charge amplifiers in correspondence with each other.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0409] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller capable of supporting various touch sensing modes can be provided.

[0410] According to embodiments of this disclosure, it is possible to provide a touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch controller that can efficiently sense contact touches and hover touches.

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

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

[0413] According to the embodiments of this disclosure, display driving, contact touch sensing, and hover touch sensing can be performed efficiently in terms of operating time, and low power operation may be possible.

[0414] The above description is merely illustrative of the technical concept of this disclosure, and any person with ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs can make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of this disclosure. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and not to limit the technical concept of this disclosure, and the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure is not limited by such embodiments.

Claims

1. A touch sensor including multiple first touch electrodes and multiple second touch electrodes, A touch drive circuit for driving the touch sensor and In a touch display device including, The operating period of the touch display device includes a first touch sensing mode period in which a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor, and a second touch sensing mode period in which a second touch drive signal having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude is applied to the touch sensor. During the first touch sensing mode period, the first touch drive signals are applied sequentially or simultaneously to the plurality of first touch electrodes. A touch display device in which, during the second touch sensing mode period, the second touch drive signal is simultaneously applied to two or more first touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of first touch electrodes, or the second touch drive signal is simultaneously applied to two or more second touch electrodes that are electrically connected to each other among the plurality of second touch electrodes.

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

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

4. The aforementioned touch drive circuit is Two or more amplifiers, Two or more charge amplifiers, A first control switch circuit that controls all or part of the two or more first touch electrodes to be connected to all or part of the two or more amplifiers, or controls all or part of the two or more first touch electrodes to be connected to all or part of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls the two or more first touch electrodes to be separated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers, The touch display device according to claim 1, further comprising a second control switch circuit that controls all or some of the two or more second touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls all or some of the two or more second touch electrodes to be disconnected from the two or more charge amplifiers.

5. During the first touch sensing mode period, The first control switch circuit sequentially connects the two or more first touch electrodes and the two or more amplifiers to each other, The second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes and the two or more charge amplifiers in correspondence with each other. The second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other. During the aforementioned first subsensing period, The first control switch circuit connects the two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers, The second control switch circuit separates the two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers. During the second subsensing period, The first control switch circuit separates the two or more first touch electrodes from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers. The touch display device according to claim 4, wherein the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes to the specific charge amplifier.

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

7. During the first touch sensing mode period, The aforementioned capacity control switch is in the turned-off state. Each of the two or more charge amplifiers has a first input node that, depending on the time, A reference voltage is applied that does not fluctuate in voltage level. During the second touch sensing mode period, The aforementioned capacity control switch is in the turned-on state. The touch display device according to claim 6, wherein the first input node of the specific charge amplifier is to be supplied with the second touch drive signal having a voltage level that varies over time and the second amplitude.

8. A display panel including multiple subpixels and the touch sensor, A display driving circuit that drives the plurality of subpixels, A touch controller that supplies a second mode control signal to the touch drive circuit, A display controller that controls the display driving circuit and supplies a first mode control signal to the touch controller. It further includes, The operating period of the touch display device includes a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period. The touch sensing mode period includes the first touch sensing mode period and the second touch sensing mode period. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein the display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period are separated by the first mode control signal and the second mode control signal.

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

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

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

12. The first touch sensing mode period is a period for sensing touches that come into contact with the screen. The touch display device according to claim 1, wherein the second touch sensing mode period is a period for sensing a hover touch that does not touch the screen.

13. A display panel including multiple subpixels and multiple touch electrodes, A display driving circuit that drives the plurality of subpixels, A touch drive circuit that supplies a touch drive signal to at least one of the plurality of touch electrodes, A touch controller that supplies a second mode control signal to the touch drive circuit, A display controller that controls the display driving circuit and supplies a first mode control signal to the touch controller. In a touch display device including, The operating period of the touch display device includes a display mode period and a touch sensing mode period. The touch sensing mode period includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period. The display mode period, the first touch sensing mode period, and the second touch sensing mode period are separated by the first mode control signal and the second mode control signal. The first mode control signal includes a first signal section having a first level voltage and a second signal section having a second level voltage different from the first level voltage. The second mode control signal includes a third signal section having a third level voltage and a fourth signal section having a fourth level voltage different from the third level voltage. During the aforementioned display mode period, The first mode control signal has the second level voltage, The second mode control signal has the third level voltage, During the first touch sensing mode period, The first mode control signal has the first level voltage, The second mode control signal has the third level voltage, During the second touch sensing mode period, The first mode control signal has the first level voltage, The second mode control signal has the fourth level voltage, Touch display device.

14. The first mode control signal is a control signal for dividing the operating period into the display mode period and the touch sensing mode period. The touch display device according to claim 13, wherein the second mode control signal is a control signal for dividing the touch sensing mode period into a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period.

15. Two or more amplifiers corresponding to multiple first touch electrodes, Multiple second touch electrodes, each corresponding to two or more charge amplifiers, each containing a feedback capacitor, A first control switch circuit that controls all or some of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more amplifiers, or controls all or some of the plurality of first touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls the plurality of first touch electrodes to be isolated from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers, A touch drive circuit including a second control switch circuit that controls all or some of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be connected to all or some of the two or more charge amplifiers, or controls all or some of the plurality of second touch electrodes to be isolated from the two or more charge amplifiers, The operating period of the touch drive circuit includes a first touch sensing mode period and a second touch sensing mode period that do not overlap with each other, and the second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other. During the first sub-sensing period, two or more of the plurality of first touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other. A touch drive circuit in which two or more of the plurality of second touch electrodes are electrically connected to each other during the second sub-sensing period.

16. The touch drive circuit according to claim 15, wherein during the first touch sensing mode period, the two or more amplifiers are configured to output a first touch drive signal having a first amplitude to the first touch electrode.

17. The touch driving circuit according to claim 16, wherein during the second touch sensing mode period, a second touch driving signal having a voltage level that changes over time and a second amplitude is applied to one of the two or more charge amplifiers.

18. During the first touch sensing mode period, The first control switch circuit sequentially connects the two or more first touch electrodes and the two or more amplifiers to each other, The second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes and the two or more charge amplifiers in correspondence with each other. The second touch sensing mode period includes a first sub-sensing period and a second sub-sensing period that do not overlap with each other. During the aforementioned first subsensing period, The first control switch circuit connects the two or more first touch electrodes to a specific charge amplifier among the two or more charge amplifiers, The second control switch circuit separates the two or more second touch electrodes from the two or more charge amplifiers. During the second subsensing period, The first control switch circuit separates the two or more first touch electrodes from the two or more amplifiers and the two or more charge amplifiers. The touch drive circuit according to claim 15, wherein the second control switch circuit connects the two or more second touch electrodes to the specific charge amplifier.

19. Each of the two or more charge amplifiers further includes an operational amplifier having a first input node, a second input node, and an output node. The feedback capacitor is connected between the second input node and the output node. The particular charge amplifier further includes an additional feedback capacitor and a capacitance control switch connected between the second input node and the output node, When the capacitance control switch is turned on, the additional feedback capacitor is connected in parallel with the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node. The touch drive circuit according to claim 18, wherein when the capacitance control switch is turned off, the additional feedback capacitor is disconnected from the feedback capacitor between the second input node and the output node.

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