Touch input device

Abstract

To provide prevent display panel flicker caused by driving of a touch sensor.SOLUTION: A touch input device includes a touch sensor and a control unit for controlling the touch sensor. The touch sensor includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. The first electrode is disposed along a first direction, and the second electrode is disposed along a second direction different from the first direction. The second electrode includes a second a electrode pattern disposed immediately adjacent to the first electrode, and a second b electrode pattern disposed at a prescribed distance apart from the first electrode and not immediately adjacent to the first electrode. The control unit controls different driving signals to be applied simultaneously to at least two or more second electrodes among the plurality of second electrodes. The driving signal applied to the second b electrode pattern is equivalent to the driving signal applied to the second a electrode pattern whose phase is reversed by 180 degrees. Furthermore, the control unit detects a touch position of an object located on the touch sensor based on signals received from the plurality of first electrodes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a touch input device, and more particularly, to preventing the occurrence of flicker of a display panel due to driving of a touch sensor, reducing the driving time of the touch sensor, reducing the power consumption of the touch input device, and driving an external stylus pen or sensing a pen signal from the stylus pen.

Background Art

[0002] Various types of input devices are used for operating a computing system. For example, input devices such as buttons, keys, joysticks, and touch screens are used. Due to the easy and convenient operation of the touch screen, the use of the touch screen during the operation of the computing system is increasing. A touch sensor can be provided in a display device and used as a type of information input device. As an example, the touch sensor can be attached to one surface of the display panel or manufactured integrally with the display panel for use. A user can input information by touching the touch sensor while viewing an image displayed on the screen of the display device.

[0003] FIG. 1 is a drawing schematically showing a conventional octa-type laminated structure.

[0004] Octa (OCTA), which is a type of touch screen panel technology, is an abbreviation for On Cell Touch AMOLED. As shown in FIG. 1, it is a type of TSP (Touch Screen Panel) in which a touch sensor is directly vapor-deposited on the cell of an AMOLED display. That is, it is a technology that internalizes the touch screen function of a smartphone / tablet in an OLED panel. Since there is no reinforced glass between the cell and the touch sensor, there is an effect of higher clarity than existing general TSPs.

[0005] Y-OCTA is a touchscreen panel in which touch sensors are directly deposited onto the cell. The name Y-OCTA is derived from "OCTA" with the "Y" from "YOUM," the brand name for Samsung Display's flexible OLEDs. Y-OCTA technology is applied to the thin-film encapsulation (TFE) process in OLED manufacturing. It realizes a touchscreen by patterning an aluminum metal mesh sensor, used as a touch sensor, between the organic material for thin-film encapsulation and the polarizer. Y-OCTA can solve the visibility problem that occurs at curved edges by attaching the polarizer close to the cover window. In addition, by removing the support film, the panel thickness can be reduced, and the lamination process can be omitted, thus lowering the price.

[0006] Conventional touch input devices equipped with octa touchscreen panels have problems in LGM (Low Ground Mass) conditions. The problem is that when the touch sensor is implemented in a single or double layer with drive electrodes and receiving electrodes, and a predetermined touch occurs while the touch input device on which the touch sensor is mounted is not being held by the user (floating state), the signal that should be properly detected by the touch input device disappears, or the signal that should be detected is split, resulting in the signal being detected as if touched at two or more points.

[0007] Furthermore, conventional touch input devices equipped with octagonal touchscreen panels suffer from a flicker problem in the display panel caused by the drive of the touch sensor. In the past, attempts have been made to solve this flicker problem by using frame-by-frame dithering, lowering the drive voltage of the touch sensor, or receiving frame rate information from the display driver chip (DDI) during VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) operation and changing the frequency of the touch sensor drive signal to match it, but these attempts have not been able to completely solve the flicker problem.

[0008] Ultimately, conventional touch input devices equipped with Wyocta touchscreen panels have failed to resolve the issues of malfunction in LGM conditions and flicker. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a touch input device that can prevent the occurrence of flicker in a display panel caused by the operation of a touch sensor.

[0010] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a touch input device that can shorten the touch operation time and reduce power consumption.

[0011] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a touch input device that can remove noise signals caused by LGM when the touch input device is in an LGM state.

[0012] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a touch input device that can prevent flicker on the display screen caused by the multi-drive operation of touch sensors.

[0013] Furthermore, the invention provides a touch input device that can drive an external stylus pen or sense pen signals from a stylus pen.

[0014] Furthermore, the objective is to provide a touch input device that can prevent accidental touches when the touch input device is in the LGM state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] A touch input device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor and a control unit that controls the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first electrodes arranged along a first direction, the second electrodes arranged along a second direction different from the first direction, and includes a seconda electrode pattern arranged immediately adjacent to the first electrodes and a secondb electrode pattern arranged at a predetermined distance away from the first electrodes, the control unit controls the application of different drive signals simultaneously to at least two of the plurality of second electrodes, the drive signal applied to the secondb electrode pattern is obtained by inverting the phase of the drive signal applied to the seconda electrode pattern by 180 degrees, and the control unit detects the touch position of an object located on the touch sensor based on signals received from the plurality of first electrodes.

[0016] A touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor and a control unit that controls the touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes, the first electrodes arranged along a first direction and the second electrodes arranged along a second direction different from the first direction, and includes a seconda electrode pattern that forms mutual capacitance with the first electrodes and a secondb electrode pattern that does not form mutual capacitance with the first electrodes, the control unit controls the application of different drive signals simultaneously to at least two of the plurality of second electrodes, wherein the drive signal applied to the secondb electrode pattern is obtained by inverting the phase of the drive signal applied to the seconda electrode pattern by 180 degrees, and the control unit detects the touch position of an object located on the touch sensor based on signals received from the plurality of first electrodes.

[0017] Here, the control unit outputs a differential signal obtained by subtracting two of the received signals from each other, and can detect the touch position of the object based on the differential signal.

[0018] Here, the control unit may include an integrator that integrates the differential signal to restore the received signal, and a sign processing unit that converts the sign of the capacitance change value with a negative sign (-) in the restored received signal to a positive sign (+).

[0019] Here, the control unit may include a baseline adjustment unit for reducing the baseline of the differential signal by half.

[0020] Here, the control unit can control the application of different drive signals to all of the plurality of second electrodes simultaneously.

[0021] Here, at least a portion of another first electrode, which is positioned adjacent to the first electrode, may be positioned between the secondb electrode pattern and the first electrode.

[0022] Here, each of the plurality of first electrodes has a shape extending in a first direction and has a number of openings arranged along the first direction, the seconda electrode pattern of the plurality of second electrodes is arranged in a number of openings of the first electrodes located in odd-numbered positions along the second direction, and the secondb electrode pattern of the plurality of second electrodes is arranged in a number of openings of the first electrodes located in even-numbered positions along the second direction, and may include a first connecting pattern that electrically connects the seconda electrode patterns arranged along the second direction and a second connecting pattern that electrically connects the secondb electrode patterns arranged along the second direction.

[0023] Here, the touch sensor may further include dummy patterns disposed within the openings of each of the second a and second b electrode patterns, each having an opening formed inside.

[0024] Here, the first connecting pattern may be positioned so as not to overlap with the second b electrode pattern positioned between the two second a electrode patterns connected by the first connecting pattern.

[0025] Here, each of the plurality of first electrodes has a shape extending in a first direction and has a number of openings arranged along the first direction, the seconda electrode pattern of the plurality of second electrodes is arranged in the number of openings of the first electrodes located in odd-numbered positions along the second direction, the secondb electrode pattern of the plurality of second electrodes is arranged in the number of openings of the first electrodes located in even-numbered positions along the second direction, part of the seconda electrode pattern is arranged in one of two adjacent openings of the odd-numbered first electrodes and the remainder in the other, part of the secondb electrode pattern is arranged in one of two adjacent openings of the even-numbered first electrodes and the remainder in the other, and may include a first connecting pattern that electrically connects the seconda receiving electrode patterns arranged along the second direction and a second connecting pattern that electrically connects the secondb electrode patterns arranged along the second direction.

[0026] According to still another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device includes a plurality of first touch electrodes, a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged to intersect the plurality of first touch electrodes, a plurality of first pen electrodes arranged adjacent to each of the first touch electrodes, and a plurality of second pen electrodes arranged adjacent to each of the second touch electrodes; a touch sensor; and a control unit electrically connected to the plurality of first to second touch electrodes and electrically connected to the plurality of first pen electrodes or the second pen electrodes to control the touch sensor. Each of the first touch electrodes includes a pair of electrode portions. Among the pair of electrode portions, a first electrode portion is arranged adjacent to at least a partial touch electrode of at least one of the plurality of second touch electrodes, and a second electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions is arranged adjacent to at least one remaining touch electrode of the plurality of second touch electrodes. One ends of the plurality of first pen electrodes are electrically connected to each other, and one ends of the plurality of second pen electrodes are electrically connected to each other. The control unit controls to simultaneously apply a first driving signal to the first electrode portion of the first touch electrode and a second driving signal to the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode, and the second driving signal is the same as the first driving signal with a phase shift of 180 degrees.

[0027] Here, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are alternately arranged along one direction, the plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the one direction are electrically connected to each other and connected to the control unit, and the plurality of second electrode portions arranged along the one direction may be electrically connected to each other and connected to the control unit.

[0028] Here, the first electrode portion of the first touch electrode is arranged to surround at least a part or all of one of the first pen electrodes, the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode is arranged to surround at least a part or all of another one of the first pen electrodes, and the second touch electrode may be arranged to surround at least a part or all of one of the second pen electrodes.

[0029] Here, the plurality of first touch electrodes may be arranged in different layers from the plurality of second touch electrodes.

[0030] Here, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion include a first pattern portion, a second pattern portion, and a connecting pattern portion disposed between the first and second pattern portions, wherein the first pattern portion has an inverted triangular shape, the second pattern portion has a triangular shape, and the connecting pattern portion has a square shape.

[0031] Here, the second touch electrode includes a plurality of patterns arranged in one direction, and the first touch electrode may be positioned between the plurality of patterns.

[0032] Here, the plurality of first touch electrodes may be arranged on the same layer as the plurality of second touch electrodes.

[0033] Here, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are arranged alternately along one direction, and include a connecting pattern portion that electrically connects a plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the one direction to each other, and the connecting pattern portion may be arranged so as not to overlap with the second touch electrode.

[0034] Here, the second touch electrode may be positioned to surround at least part or all of the first pen electrode.

[0035] Here, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are arranged alternately along one direction, and the second touch electrode may be arranged to surround the first or second electrode portions of the plurality of first touch electrodes arranged along another direction perpendicular to the one direction.

[0036] Here, the connection pattern portion includes a plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the one direction that are electrically connected to one another, and the connection pattern portion may be arranged so as not to overlap with the plurality of second electrode portions arranged along the one direction.

[0037] This may further include a display panel in which the touch sensor is located.

[0038] This may further include a display panel positioned above or below the touch sensor.

[0039] Here, the control unit is configured to operate the touch sensor in one of the following modes: a touch drive / sensing mode for sensing the presence or absence of touch on an object and / or the touch position; a pen drive mode for driving a stylus pen; and a stylus sensing mode for sensing the touch position of the stylus pen. In the touch drive / sensing mode, the control unit is configured to apply the first and second drive signals to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and to receive sensing signals from the plurality of second touch electrodes. In pen driving mode, the control unit is configured to apply a pen driving signal to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, the plurality of first pen electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes, and the plurality of second pen electrodes to drive the stylus pen, and in stylus sensing mode, the control unit may be configured to receive a pen sensing signal emitted from the stylus pen via a combination of one of the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of first pen electrodes and one of the plurality of second touch electrodes and the plurality of second pen electrodes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0040] Using the touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention has the advantage of preventing flicker on the display panel caused by the operation of the touch sensor.

[0041] Furthermore, it has the advantage of being able to drive all drive electrodes simultaneously, thereby shortening the drive time and reducing power consumption by reducing the turn-on time of the AFE (Analog Front End).

[0042] Furthermore, when the touch input device is in LGM mode, it has the advantage of being able to remove noise signals caused by LGM.

[0043] Furthermore, the multi-drive function of the touch sensor has the advantage of preventing flicker on the display panel.

[0044] Furthermore, it has the advantage of being able to drive an external stylus pen or to sense pen signals from a stylus pen.

[0045] Furthermore, it has the advantage of preventing accidental touch inputs in LGM mode. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0046] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a conventional octa-type laminated structure. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a partial plan view of one embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a plan view showing the touch sensor separated into layers. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connection of multiple receiving electrodes. [Figure 6] Figure 2 is a plan view of some of other embodiments of the touch sensor 10 shown. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a plan view showing the touch sensor separated into layers. [Figure 8] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connection of multiple receiving electrodes shown. [Figure 9] Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a plan view showing the touch sensor separated into layers. [Figure 11]Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown. [Figure 12] Figure 11 is a plan view showing the touch sensor separated into layers. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] (a) is a graph showing that multi-driving is performed separately for each of the four drive electrodes in the touch input device shown in Figure 2, and Figure 14(b) is an example of the drive signals (or drive codes) applied to the four drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3 that are driven simultaneously during multi-driving in Figure 14(a). [Figure 15] (a) is a graph showing that the entire drive electrode is multi-driven in the touch input device shown in Figure 13, and Figure 15(b) is an example of the drive signals (or drive codes) applied to all drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3,... that are driven simultaneously during the multi-driven operation in Figure 15(a). [Figure 16] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined process by which the control unit 13 of the touch input device shown in Figure 13 processes the received signal from the touch sensor 10'. [Figure 17] Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the baseline setting in the control unit 13 of the touch input device shown. [Figure 18] Figure 13 is a plan view of a part of one embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown. [Figure 19] Figure 13 is a plan view of some of the other embodiments of the touch sensor 10' shown. [Figure 20] Figure 13 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown. [Figure 21] Figure 13 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown. [Figure 22] This is a schematic block diagram of a touch input device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] This is an enlarged view of section A shown in Figure 22. [Figure 24] This is a schematic block diagram of a touch input device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] Figure 24 shows a first embodiment of the touch input device. [Figure 26] This diagram illustrates the use of the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25 in No. 1 of Table 1. [Figure 27] This diagram illustrates the use of the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25 in No. 1 of Table 1. [Figure 28] This diagram illustrates the use of the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25 in No. 1 of Table 1. [Figure 29] This is a second embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24. [Figure 30] This is a third embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24. [Figure 31] This is a fourth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24. [Figure 32] This is a fifth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24. [Figure 33] This is a sixth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0047] The detailed description of the present invention described herein refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating specific embodiments in which the present invention may be carried out. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to be sufficient for those skilled in the art to carry out the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are distinct from one another but do not necessarily have to be mutually exclusive. For example, certain shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be embodied in other embodiments in relation to one embodiment, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that the position or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be modified, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the detailed description described herein is not intended to be taken as restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims, along with all equivalent claims, if appropriately described. Similar reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same or similar functions in various aspects. The touch input devices according to the various embodiments of this document may include, as electronic devices, at least one of the following: smartphone, tablet PC (tablet personal computer), vehicle display device, mobile phone, video phone, e-book reader, laptop PC (laptop personal computer), netbook computer, mobile medical device, camera, or wearable device. Here, the wearable device may include at least one of the following: accessory type (e.g., watch, ring, bracelet, anklet, necklace, glasses, contact lens, or head-mounted device (HMD)), textile or clothing-integrated type (e.g., electronic clothing), body-attached type (e.g., skin pad or tattoo), or bio-implantable type (e.g., implantable circuit).

[0048] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to Figure 2, a touch input device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a touch sensor 10, a sensing unit 11, a drive unit 12, and a control unit 13.

[0050] The drive unit 12 applies a drive signal (or TX signal) to the touch sensor 10 under the control of the control unit 13, and the sensing unit 11 receives the sensing signal (or RX signal) received from the touch sensor 10.

[0051] The drive unit 12 can sequentially supply drive signals to multiple drive electrodes of the touch sensor 10.

[0052] The sensing unit 11 receives signals output from multiple receiving electrodes of the touch sensor 10. These signals may include information on the change in capacitance between adjacent driving electrodes and receiving electrodes, an LGM noise signal, and a display noise signal.

[0053] The sensing unit 11 can subtract two signals from the signals output from multiple receiving electrodes and output a subtracted signal, and can output the outputted subtracted signal after analog-to-digital conversion. For this reason, the sensing unit 11 may include a comparator and an ADC.

[0054] The control unit 13 can detect the presence or absence of a touch and / or the touch location based on the digital signal output from the sensing unit 11.

[0055] In Figure 2, the sensing unit 11, the drive unit 12, and the control unit 13 are shown separately for the sake of explanation, but this is not limiting. For example, at least one or more of the sensing unit 11, the drive unit 12, and the control unit 13 may be implemented in a single module, unit, or chip, or the sensing unit 11, the drive unit 12, and the control unit 13 may all be implemented in a single module, unit, or chip.

[0056] The touch input device 1 shown in Figure 2 may include a display panel. In this case, the touch sensor 10 may be placed on the display panel, as in the octa (OCTA) method, or it may be placed inside the display panel, as in the in-cell method. In some cases, the touch sensor 10 may also be placed below the display panel.

[0057] As an example, the touch sensor 10 may be formed directly on the outer surface (e.g., the upper surface of the upper substrate or the lower surface of the lower substrate) or inner surface (e.g., the lower surface of the upper substrate or the upper surface of the lower substrate) of the upper substrate and / or lower substrate of the display panel. The touch sensor 10 can be coupled to the display panel to constitute a touchscreen.

[0058] The touch sensor 10 includes a plurality of electrodes of a predetermined shape, and each predetermined electrode includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. Here, if a drive signal is applied to the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes can become a plurality of drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and the plurality of second electrodes can become a plurality of receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ...

[0059] Multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ... may be arranged so as to intersect each other. A predetermined mutual capacitance cm may be formed between the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ..., particularly at their intersections.

[0060] Each driving electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... extends in the first axis direction, and each receiving electrode Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ... may extend in a second axis direction different from the first axis direction. Here, the second axis direction may be perpendicular to the first axis direction.

[0061] Some of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ... may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with some of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, ... and the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with the remaining driving electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, ...

[0062] Some of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ... may be positioned immediately adjacent to some of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ..., such as Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, ..., and may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the remaining driving electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, .... Here, at least one other electrode may be positioned between some of the receiving electrodes Rx0a, Rx1a, Rx2a, Rx3a, ... and the remaining driving electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, .... These other electrodes may be some of the driving electrodes Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, ....

[0063] Of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... may be arranged so as to be immediately adjacent to the remaining driving electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, ... of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and may be arranged so as to be at a predetermined distance apart from some of the driving electrodes Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, ... without being immediately adjacent. Here, at least one other electrode may be placed between the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... and some of the driving electrodes Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, .... The other electrode may be the remaining driving electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, ...

[0064] When a drive signal is applied to some of the drive electrodes Tx0, Tx2, Tx4, Tx6, ... a first signal is output from some of the receiving electrodes Rx0a, Rx1a, Rx2a, Rx3a, ... which form a mutual capacitance cm with these first signals, and a second signal is output from the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... which do not substantially form a mutual capacitance cm with these first signals. The sensing unit 11 can subtract the second signal from the output first signal and output the result to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 can detect the touch position of an object based on the signals from the sensing unit 11. Here, the first signal includes information on the change in mutual capacitance due to the object, display noise (e.g., zebra noise), change due to image change, LGM noise in the floating state, and noise due to the cathode re-transmission phenomenon (a phenomenon in which the higher the resistance of the ELVSS layer (RELVSS) (i.e., the weaker the GND), the more high-frequency components of the signal are transmitted to the RX sensor and added to the main signal). On the other hand, the second signal contains almost no information on the change in mutual capacitance due to the object, but includes the remaining noise information (display noise (e.g., zebra noise), change due to image change, LGM noise in the floating state, noise due to the cathode re-transmission phenomenon, etc.). Therefore, since the sensing unit 11 subtracts the second signal from the first signal, the signal input to the control unit 13 does not contain noise information and may only contain information on the change in mutual capacitance due to the object.

[0065] Conversely, when a drive signal is applied to the remaining drive electrodes Tx1, Tx3, Tx5, Tx7, ... a second signal is output from the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... which form a mutual capacitance cm with the drive electrodes, and a first signal is output from some of the receiving electrodes Rx0a, Rx1a, Rx2a, Rx3a, ... which do not substantially form a mutual capacitance cm with the drive electrodes. The sensing unit 11 can subtract the first signal from the output second signal and output it to the control unit 13. The control unit 13 can detect the touch position of the object based on the signal from the sensing unit 11. Here, since the second signal contains information on the amount of change in mutual capacitance due to the object, the signal input to the control unit 13 after subtracting the first signal from the second signal does not contain noise information and only contains information on the amount of change in mutual capacitance due to the object.

[0066] Multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... may be arranged together in the same layer (1 layer), or they may be arranged in separate double layers (2 layers). Furthermore, some of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... may be arranged in layers different from the rest, and some of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... may also be arranged in layers different from the rest. Multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... may have a diamond pattern, circular, elliptical, or polygonal shape.

[0067] Multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and multiple receiver electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... may be composed of a metal mesh and patterned on the thin film encapsulation (TFE) layer of the display panel.

[0068] With reference to the following drawings, various embodiments of the touch sensor 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 2 will be described in detail.

[0069] Figure 3 is a partial plan view of one embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a plan view of the touch sensor shown in Figure 3 separated into layers, and Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connection of the multiple receiving electrodes shown in Figure 4.

[0070] Referring to Figures 3 to 5, the touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention may be placed on or inside the display panel.

[0071] A touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. Of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, the electrodes to which a drive signal is applied become the drive electrodes, and the remaining electrodes become the receiving electrodes. In the following description, the plurality of first electrodes will be described as a plurality of drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... and the plurality of second electrodes will be described as a plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ...

[0072] The multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... may include the 0th drive electrode TX0, the 1st drive electrode TX1, the 2nd drive electrode TX2, and the 3rd drive electrode TX3. Here, the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... correspond to the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... shown in Figure 2.

[0073] The multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... may include the 0th receiving electrode RX0, the 1st receiving electrode RX1, the 2nd receiving electrode RX2, the 3rd receiving electrode RX3, and the 4th receiving electrode RX4. Here, the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... correspond to the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... shown in Figure 2.

[0074] Multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... are arranged along a second direction (or longitudinal direction), and each extends along a first direction (or transverse direction) perpendicular to the second direction. Multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... may be arranged along the second direction. Conversely, multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... may be arranged along the first direction (or transverse direction), and multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... may be arranged along the second direction (or longitudinal direction).

[0075] A predetermined capacitance may be formed between multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... and multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, .... This capacitance changes when a touch input occurs at or near the point in question. Therefore, by detecting the change in capacitance from the signals output from the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ..., the presence or absence of a touch and the presence of a touch input can be detected.

[0076] Each of the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... may have a rectangular pattern or bar pattern extending in a first direction and may have multiple openings O arranged along the first direction inside.

[0077] A single receiving electrode may be placed inside each opening O. The shape of each opening O corresponds to the shape of the single receiving electrode placed inside. For example, as shown in Figure 3, among the multiple openings O, the remaining openings, excluding those located on the left and right edges, may have a rhombus shape, and the openings located on the left and right edges may have a triangular shape. Although not shown in the drawings, all openings O may have a rhombus shape. Alternatively, the multiple openings O may have a variety of shapes, such as polygons, rectangles, circles, or ellipses.

[0078] Each receiving electrode RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, ... includes multiple receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b, RX1a, RX1b, RX2a, RX2b, RX3a, RX3b, RX4a, RX4b and connecting patterns P0, P1, P2, P3, P4. Here, some of the multiple receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b, RX1a, RX1b, RX2a, RX2b, RX3a, RX3b, RX4a correspond to some receiving electrodes Rx0a, Rx1a, Rx2a, Rx3a, ... shown in Figure 2, while the remaining receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b can correspond to the remaining receiving electrodes Rx0b, Rx1b, Rx2b, Rx3b, ... shown in Figure 2.

[0079] As shown in Figure 4(a), multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... and multiple receiver electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b, RX1a, RX1b, RX2a, RX2b, RX3a, RX3b, RX4a, RX4b may be arranged together in the first layer. Here, the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... and the multiple receiver electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b, RX1a, RX1b, RX2a, RX2b, RX3a, RX3b, RX4a, RX4b arranged in the first layer can be realized as a metal mesh. As shown in Figure 4(b), multiple connecting patterns P0a, P0b, P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, P3a, P3b, P4a, P4b may be arranged in the second layer. The second layer is a different layer from the first layer in Figure 4(a) and is electrically insulated from the first layer. Here, the multiple linked patterns P0a, P0b, P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, P3a, P3b, P4a, P4b can be realized with a metal mesh. The first layer in Figure 4(a) may be placed on the second layer in Figure 4(b), and vice versa.

[0080] The multiple receiving electrode patterns contained within each receiving electrode can be divided into at least two groups. Receiving electrode patterns from one group are alternately placed between the receiving electrode patterns of another group. Each group of receiving electrode patterns is electrically isolated from the receiving electrode patterns of the other group. Here, the receiving electrode patterns within one group can be named the first receiving electrode pattern, and the receiving electrode patterns within the other group can be named the second receiving electrode pattern.

[0081] Each receiving electrode contains multiple coupling patterns, including a first coupling pattern that electrically connects a first receiving electrode pattern within one group and a second coupling pattern that electrically connects a second receiving electrode within another group.

[0082] For example, the first receiving electrode RX0 may include a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b and a plurality of connecting patterns P0. The plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b may include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX0b arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a and the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX0b can be electrically separated from each other. The first connecting pattern P0 may include a first connecting pattern P0a that electrically connects the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a and a second connecting pattern P0b that electrically connects the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX0b.

[0083] The first receiving electrode RX1 may include a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX1a, RX1b and a plurality of connecting patterns P1. The plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX1a, RX1b may include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX1a and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX1b arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The first group of receiving electrode patterns RX1a and the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX1b can be electrically isolated from each other. The first connecting pattern P1 may include a first connecting pattern P1a that electrically connects the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX1a and a second connecting pattern P1b that electrically connects the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX1b.

[0084] The second receiving electrode RX2 may include a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX2a, RX2b and a plurality of connecting patterns P2. The plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX2a, RX2b may include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX2a and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX2b arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The first group of receiving electrode patterns RX2a and the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX2b can be electrically separated from each other. The second connecting pattern P2 may include a first connecting pattern P2a that electrically connects the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX2a and a second connecting pattern P2b that electrically connects the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX2b.

[0085] The third receiving electrode RX3 may include a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX3a, RX3b and a plurality of connecting patterns P3. The plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX3a, RX3b may include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX3a and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX3b arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The first group of receiving electrode patterns RX3a and the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX3b can be electrically isolated from each other. The third connecting pattern P3 may include a first connecting pattern P3a that electrically connects the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX3a and a second connecting pattern P3b that electrically connects the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX3b.

[0086] The fourth receiving electrode RX4 may include a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX4a, RX4b and a plurality of connecting patterns P4. The plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX4a, RX4b may include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX4a and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX4b arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The first group of receiving electrode patterns RX4a and the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX4b can be electrically isolated from each other. The fourth connecting pattern P4 may include a first connecting pattern P4a that electrically connects the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX4a and a second connecting pattern P4b that electrically connects the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX4b.

[0087] Multiple receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX0b, RX1a, RX1b, RX2a, RX2b, RX3a, RX3b, RX4a, RX4b are arranged inside multiple openings O of multiple driving electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... Each receiving electrode pattern is arranged inside one opening O. The shape of each receiving electrode pattern corresponds to the shape of its corresponding opening.

[0088] In any receiving electrode RX1, between the receiving electrode pattern RX1a in the first group and the receiving electrode pattern RX1b in the second group, which are arranged adjacent to each other, a portion of the driving electrode TX0 immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode pattern RX1a in the first group and a portion of the driving electrode TX1 immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode pattern RX1b in the second group are both arranged.

[0089] Any drive electrode TX0 is positioned immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of one group, while other drive electrodes TX1 positioned immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of another group are positioned so as to be separated from the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of one group by the aforementioned drive electrode TX0.

[0090] Each of the connecting patterns P0a, P0b, P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, P3a, P3b, P4a, and P4b may have the shape of a bar pattern extending along a second direction and include at least one conductive via v. The conductive via v may be located at both ends of each connecting pattern.

[0091] In the 0th receiving electrode RX0, each of the first connecting patterns P0a electrically connects two adjacent receiving electrode patterns RX0a from the first group via conductive via v, and is positioned to overlap below the second group receiving electrode pattern RX0b located between the two adjacent receiving electrode patterns RX0a. Each of the second connecting patterns P0b electrically connects two adjacent receiving electrode patterns RX0b from the second group via conductive via v, and is positioned to overlap below the first group receiving electrode pattern RX0a located between the two adjacent receiving electrode patterns RX0b. The first connecting patterns P1a, P2a, P3a, P4a and the second connecting patterns P1b, P2b, P3b, P4b of the remaining receiving electrodes RX1, RX2, RX3, and RX4 are also arranged in the same manner as described above.

[0092] The following section will describe in detail the operation when a drive signal is applied to at least one of the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3. For the sake of clarity, the operation of the first receiving electrode RX1 and the operation of the sensing unit 11 in Figure 2 will be described in detail.

[0093] When drive signals are applied sequentially or simultaneously to multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3, two sensing signals are output via the first coupling pattern P1. The first signal is the signal output via the first coupling pattern P1a, and the second signal is the signal output via the second coupling pattern P1b. Therefore, two channels of the first and second signals are output for each receiving electrode RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, and RX4. The first and second signals are output simultaneously, and the output first and second signals can be output to the sensing unit 11 in Figure 2.

[0094] Depending on the drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, ... to which the drive signal is applied, either the first signal or the second signal may be an active channel signal (or active receive signal ARX), and the other one may be a dummy channel signal (or dummy receive signal DRX). Specifically, if a drive signal is applied to a drive electrode (TX0 or / and TX2) on which the first group of receive electrode pattern RX1a is located, the first signal output via the first linkage pattern P1a becomes the active channel signal, and the second signal output via the second linkage pattern P1b becomes the dummy channel signal. Conversely, if a drive signal is applied to a drive electrode (TX1 or / and TX3) on which the second group of receive electrode pattern RX1b is located, the second signal output via the second linkage pattern P1b becomes the active channel signal, and the first signal output via the first linkage pattern P1a becomes the dummy channel signal.

[0095] For example, as shown in Figure 3, if a drive signal is applied to the first drive electrode TX1 while assuming that an object (dotted line) is close to or in contact with the intersection point of the first drive electrode TX1 and the first receive electrode RX1, the capacitance (or mutual active capacitance) formed between the first drive electrode TX1 and the receive electrode pattern RX1b belonging to the second group of the first receive electrode RX1 will change. A second signal containing information on the amount of change in capacitance is output as an active channel signal via the second connected pattern P1b.

[0096] Meanwhile, the capacitance (or dummy capacitance) formed between the receiving electrode patterns RX1a belonging to the first group of the first receiving electrode RX1 also changes. The first signal, which contains information about the capacitance change, is output as a dummy channel signal via the first connected pattern P1a.

[0097] The sensing unit 11 shown in Figure 2 can cancel out all or most of the cathode retransmission noise signal, LGM noise signal, and display noise signal input to the receiving electrode pattern RX1b belonging to the second group and the receiving electrode pattern RX1a belonging to the first group by subtracting the first signal output via the first connecting pattern P1a from the second signal output via the second connecting pattern P1b.

[0098] Figure 6 is a plan view of a part of another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2, Figure 7 is a plan view of the touch sensor shown in Figure 6 separated into layers, and Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the electrical connection of the multiple receiving electrodes shown in Figure 6.

[0099] The touch sensors according to other embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 differ from the touch sensors according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5 in terms of the multiple receiving electrodes RX0', RX1', RX2', RX3', and RX4'. In particular, the structure of the multiple receiving electrode patterns RX1a' included in each receiving electrode RX0', RX1', RX2', RX3', and RX4' is different. The structure of the multiple receiving electrode patterns RX1a' will be described in detail below, and the remaining configuration will be replaced by the content described above.

[0100] Each receiving electrode RX0', RX1', RX2', RX3', RX4' contains a plurality of receiving electrode patterns RX1a' which have an opening O' inside and include a dummy pattern DX1a positioned inside the opening O'. Here, the dummy pattern DX1a may have a shape corresponding to the opening O'.

[0101] Dummy pattern DX1a is not electrically connected to connected patterns P0a, P0b, P1a, P1b, P2a, P2b, P3a, P3b, P4a, P4b. Dummy pattern DX1a remains electrically floating.

[0102] The operation of the touch sensor according to other embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 is identical to the operation of the touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5. Therefore, a touch input device including the touch sensor according to other embodiments of the present invention shown in Figures 6 to 8 also has the advantage of being able to eliminate various noises that may occur during touch sensing, such as cathode retransmission noise signals, display noise, and LGM noise.

[0103] Figure 9 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2, and Figure 10 is a plan view of the touch sensor shown in Figure 9 separated into layers.

[0104] The touch sensor according to yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 9 to 10 differs from the touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5 in the multiple receiving electrodes RX0'', RX1'', RX2'', RX3'', RX4'', in particular in the arrangement structure and form of the multiple linking patterns P0', P1', P2', P3', P4' included in each receiving electrode RX0'', RX1'', RX2'', RX3'', RX4'',. The arrangement structure and form of each linking pattern P0', P1', P2', P3', P4' will be described in detail below, and the remaining configuration will be replaced by the content described above.

[0105] Each linked pattern P0', P1', P2', P3', P4' includes the first linked pattern P0a', P1a', P2a', P3a', P4a' and the second linked pattern P0b', P1b', P2b', P3b', P4b'.

[0106] Each first connecting pattern P0a', P1a', P2a', P3a', P4a' electrically connects two receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of the first group, but is positioned so as not to overlap with the receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of the second group, which are positioned between the two receiving electrode patterns. For example, at least a portion of each first connecting pattern P0a', P1a', P2a', P3a', P4a' may be positioned between the receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of the second group and the driving electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3 which are positioned immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of the second group, so as not to overlap with the receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of the second group. On the other hand, the remaining portion may be arranged so as to overlap with the drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3.

[0107] Each second linking pattern P0b', P1b', P2b', P3b', P4b' electrically connects two receiving electrode patterns RX0b, RX1b, RX2b, RX3b, RX4b of the second group, but is positioned so as not to overlap with the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of the first group, which are positioned between the two receiving electrode patterns. For example, at least a portion of each second linking pattern P0b', P1b', P2b', P3b', P4b' may be positioned between the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of the first group and the driving electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3 which are positioned immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of the first group, so as not to overlap with the receiving electrode patterns RX0a, RX1a, RX2a, RX3a, RX4a of the first group. On the other hand, the remaining portion may be arranged so as to overlap with the drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3.

[0108] Compared to the touch sensor according to yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5, the touch sensor has the advantage of being able to reduce the capacitance value between the first linking pattern and the second group of receiving electrode patterns, or between the second linking pattern and the first group of receiving electrode patterns.

[0109] On the other hand, although not shown in separate drawings, the dummy pattern DX1a shown in Figures 7 to 8 may also be applied to touch sensors according to yet other embodiments of the present invention.

[0110] Figure 11 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2, and Figure 12 is a plan view of the touch sensor shown in Figure 11 separated into layers.

[0111] The touch sensor according to yet another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 11 to 12 differs from the touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5 in the multiple receiving electrodes RX0''',RX1''',RX2''',RX3'''. In particular, the structure and arrangement of the multiple receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1, RX0a-2, RX0b-1, RX0b-2, RX1a-1, RX1a-2, RX1b-1, RX1b-2, RX2a-1, RX2a-2, RX2b-1, RX2b-2, RX3a-1, RX3a-2, RX3b-1, RX3b-2 and the multiple connecting patterns P0'',P1'',P2'',P3'' differ in each receiving electrode RX0''',RX1''',RX2''',RX3''''. The structure and arrangement of the receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1, RX0a-2, RX0b-1, RX0b-2, RX1a-1, RX1a-2, RX1b-1, RX1b-2, RX2a-1, RX2a-2, RX2b-1, RX2b-2, RX3a-1, RX3a-2, RX3b-1, RX3b-2 and the connecting patterns P0'', P1'', P2'', P3'' will be described in detail below, and the remaining configurations will be replaced by the content described above.

[0112] Each receiving electrode RX0''',RX1''',RX2''',RX3''' has multiple receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1,RX0a-2,RX0b-1,RX0b-2,RX1a-1,RX1a-2,RX1b-1,RX1b-2,RX2a-1,RX2a-2,RX2b-1,RX2b-2,RX3a-1,RX3a-2,RX3b-1,RX3b-2, which include a first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1,RX0a-2,RX1a-1,RX1a-2,RX2a-1,RX2a-2,RX3a-1,RX3a-2 and a second group of receiving electrode patterns RX0b-1,RX0b-2,RX1b-1,RX1b-2,RX2b-1,RX2b-2,RX3b-1,RX3b-2, arranged alternately one by one along a second direction. The receiving electrode patterns of the first group, RX0a-1, RX0a-2, RX1a-1, RX1a-2, RX2a-1, RX2a-2, RX3a-1, RX3a-2 and the receiving electrode patterns of the second group, RX0b-1, RX0b-2, RX1b-1, RX1b-2, RX2b-1, RX2b-2, RX3b-1, RX3b-2, can be electrically isolated from each other.

[0113] Each of the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1, RX0a-2, RX1a-1, RX1a-2, RX2a-1, RX2a-2, RX3a-1, and RX3a-2 includes a first receiving electrode pattern RX0a-1, RX1a-1, RX2a-1, and RX3a-1, and a second receiving electrode pattern RX0a-2, RX1a-2, RX2a-2, and RX3a-2. The first receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1, RX1a-1, RX2a-1, and RX3a-1, and the second receiving electrode patterns RX0a-2, RX1a-2, RX2a-2, and RX3a-2 are respectively arranged in two openings O that are adjacent to each other in a first direction from the driving electrodes TX0 and TX2. In each of the multiple openings O of the drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3, one first or second receiving electrode pattern is placed in the openings located at both ends, and in the remaining openings, the second receiving electrode pattern of the first group of receiving electrode patterns of one of the multiple receiving electrodes RX0''',RX1''',RX2''',RX3''' and the first receiving electrode pattern of the first group of receiving electrode patterns of another receiving electrode are placed together, but are spaced apart from each other.

[0114] Each connection pattern P0'',P1'',P2'',P3'', includes first connection patterns P0a'',P1a'',P2a'',P3a'', which electrically connect the first group of receiving electrode patterns RX0a-1,RX0a-2,RX1a-1,RX1a-2,RX2a-1,RX2a-2,RX3a-1,RX3a-2, and second connection patterns P0b'',P1b'',P2b'',P3b'', which electrically connect the second group of receiving electrode patterns RX0b-1,RX0b-2,RX1b-1,RX1b-2,RX2b-1,RX2b-2,RX3b-1,RX3b-2.

[0115] Each first connecting pattern P0a'',P1a'',P2a'',P3a'' and each second connecting pattern P0b'',P1b'',P2b'',P3b'' are configured and arranged to connect two adjacent receiving electrode patterns in each group at the shortest possible distance. For example, each first connecting pattern P0a'',P1a'',P2a'',P3a'' and each second connecting pattern P0b'',P1b'',P2b'',P3b'' may have one end connected to one side of the lower end of one of two adjacent receiving electrode patterns in any one group, and the other end connected to one side of the upper end of the remaining receiving electrode pattern. The remaining portion, excluding the one and the other end, has a shape that extends along the second direction and is arranged so that as wide a cross-sectional area as possible overlaps with the opening O of the driving electrode, without overlapping with the receiving electrode patterns of other groups that are positioned between the one receiving electrode pattern and the remaining receiving electrode pattern.

[0116] Furthermore, each first connection pattern P0a'', P1a'', P2a'', P3a'' further includes a receiving connection pattern that electrically connects the first receiving electrode pattern and the second receiving electrode pattern of the first group of receiving electrode patterns, and each second connection pattern P0b'', P1b'', P2b'', P3b'' further includes a receiving connection pattern that electrically connects the first receiving electrode pattern and the second receiving electrode pattern of the second group of receiving electrode patterns.

[0117] Compared to the touch sensor according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 3 to 5, the touch sensor according to this further embodiment of the present invention has the advantage of being able to reduce the capacitance value between the first linking pattern and the second group of receiving electrode patterns, or between the second linking pattern and the first group of receiving electrode patterns, and also being able to reduce the resistance value of each linking pattern.

[0118] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0119] The touch input device shown in Figure 13 differs from the touch input device shown in Figure 2 in the following ways. Specifically, the touch sensor 10' of the touch input device shown in Figure 13 includes an electrode of a predetermined shape, and the predetermined electrode includes a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. In the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2, the plurality of first electrodes become a plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,... and the plurality of second electrodes become a plurality of receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,... However, in the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13, the plurality of first electrodes become a plurality of receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,... and the plurality of second electrodes become a plurality of driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,...

[0120] In other words, the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13 is similar to the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 2 in that the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,... are replaced with multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,... and the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,... are replaced with multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2,...

[0121] Whether multiple first electrodes become multiple drive electrodes, as shown in Figure 2, or multiple receiving electrodes, as shown in Figure 13, can be determined according to the control of the control unit 13. If the control unit 13 applies a drive signal to multiple first electrodes, the multiple first electrodes can become multiple drive electrodes, and if the control unit 13 applies a drive signal to multiple second electrodes, the multiple second electrodes can become multiple drive electrodes.

[0122] Multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... and multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... can be arranged so as to intersect each other. Each driving electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... can extend in the direction of the second axis, and each receiving electrode Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... can extend in a first axis direction different from the first axis direction. Here, the first axis direction may be perpendicular to the second axis direction.

[0123] Some of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with some of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... Rx0, Rx2, Rx4, Rx6, ... and the remaining driving electrodes Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b, Tx3b, ... may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3, Rx5, Rx7, ...

[0124] Some of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... may be positioned immediately adjacent to some of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ..., such as Rx0, Rx2, Rx4, Rx6, ..., and may be positioned at a predetermined distance from the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3, Rx5, Rx7, .... Here, at least one other electrode may be positioned between some of the driving electrodes Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a, Tx3a, ... and the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3, Rx5, Rx7, .... These other electrodes may be some of the receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx2, Rx4, Rx6, ....

[0125] Of the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... the remaining driving electrodes Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b, Tx3b, ... may be arranged so as to be immediately adjacent to the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3, Rx5, Rx7, ... of the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, ... and may be arranged so as to be a predetermined distance away from some of the receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx2, Rx4, Rx6, ... rather than being immediately adjacent. Here, at least one other electrode may be placed between the remaining driving electrodes Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b, Tx3b, ... and some of the receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx2, Rx4, Rx6, ... The other electrode may be the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3, Rx5, Rx7, ...

[0126] The drive signals applied to the remaining drive electrodes Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b, Tx3b, ... may be inverted drive signals obtained by inverting only the phase of the drive signals applied to some of the drive electrodes Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a, Tx3a, ... by 180 degrees. For example, in the case of the two drive electrodes Tx0a and Tx0b of the 0th drive electrode TX0, the drive signal applied to Tx0b is an inverted drive signal obtained by inverting the drive signal applied to Tx0a.

[0127] The touch input device shown in Figure 13 is capable of multi-drive operation, where drive signals are applied simultaneously to all drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3,… of the touch sensor 10'. This multi-drive operation has the advantage of preventing flicker issues in the display panel. Furthermore, because multi-drive operation of all drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3,… is possible, the drive time required for mutual sensing can be reduced. Additionally, the turn-on time of the analog front-end (AFE) can also be reduced, further decreasing power consumption.

[0128] Before explaining how the effects of the touch input device shown in Figure 13 occur, we will first describe the problems that can occur when multi-drive is performed with the touch input device shown in Figure 2, referring to Figure 14.

[0129] Figure 14(a) is a graph showing that multi-driving is performed separately for each of the four drive electrodes in the touch input device shown in Figure 2, and Figure 14(b) is an example of the drive signals (or drive codes) applied to the four drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, and TX3 that are driven simultaneously during multi-driving in Figure 14(a).

[0130] As shown in Figure 14(a), when the drive signals shown in Figure 14(b) are simultaneously applied to four of the 20 drive electrodes Tx0 to Tx19 (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3) during an arbitrary time interval (0 to T1), the total drive sum becomes "2". In this case, if the drive voltage applied to each drive electrode is, for example, 10[V], then the total drive voltage of 20[V] (2 * 10[V]) will affect the display panel, potentially causing flicker on the display screen. Furthermore, as the number of simultaneously driven drive electrodes increases beyond four, the total drive sum becomes even larger, resulting in an even larger total drive voltage, which can worsen the flicker on the display screen.

[0131] On the other hand, the touch input device shown in Figure 13 has the advantage that even if the control unit 13 controls the application of a drive signal to four or more of the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... or to all drive electrodes simultaneously, the flicker problem in the display panel described above does not occur. This will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 15.

[0132] Figure 15(a) is a graph showing that the entire drive electrode is multi-driven in the touch input device shown in Figure 13, and Figure 15(b) is an example of the drive signals (or drive codes) applied to all drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, ... that are driven simultaneously during the multi-driven operation in Figure 15(a).

[0133] As shown in Figure 15(a), when the drive signals shown in Figure 15(b) are simultaneously applied to all the drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ... of the touch sensor 10' for a predetermined time interval (0 to T1), the total drive sum is always "0". This is because the drive signals applied simultaneously to some of the drive electrodes Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a, Tx3a, ... and the drive signals applied simultaneously to the remaining drive electrodes Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b, Tx3b, ... have the same magnitude, but their phases are inverted by 180 degrees. As a result, the total drive sum is 0, and therefore has no effect on the display panel. Consequently, there is an advantage in that no flicker occurs on the display screen when the display panel is driven.

[0134] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 15(a), the touch input device shown in Figure 13 can reduce the mutual driving time to 1 / 5 compared to the graph in Figure 14(a) because the control unit 13 can simultaneously drive all or four or more of the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, ...

[0135] Furthermore, in the touch input device shown in Figure 13, the control unit 13 can detect the position of an object using the received signals output from multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,..., but it can also detect the position of an object using differential signals obtained by differential sensing of the received signals. Here, the control unit 13 can integrate and sign the differential signals to reconstruct the received signals output from the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2,.... This will be described in detail later with reference to Figure 16.

[0136] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating a predetermined process by which the control unit 13 of the touch input device shown in Figure 13 processes the received signal from the touch sensor 10'.

[0137] In Figure 16, the change in mutual capacitance (Delta cm / diff) between the 0th drive electrode TX0 and the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 is assumed to be a "Delta cm example," and it is assumed that predetermined changes in mutual capacitance corresponding to d1, d2, d3, and d4 occur for the 2nd to 5th receiving electrodes Rx2, Rx3, Rx4, and Rx5, respectively.

[0138] The control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 controls the application of a predetermined drive signal to the 0th drive electrode TX0. Here, the drive signal applied to the 0a drive electrode Tx0a and the drive signal applied to the 0b drive electrode Tx0b are inverted drive signals that differ from each other by only 180 degrees in phase.

[0139] As a result, the control unit 13 receives signals from multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 (diff example during single-ended reception). Specifically, the control unit 13 can receive a signal from the second receiving electrode RX2 with a change in mutual capacitance value of "d1", and a signal from the fourth receiving electrode RX4 with a change in mutual capacitance value of "d3". On the other hand, the control unit 13 can receive a signal from the third receiving electrode RX3 with a change in mutual capacitance value of "-d2", and a signal from the fifth receiving electrode Rx5 with a change in mutual capacitance value of "-d4".

[0140] Next, the control unit 13 outputs differential signals from the received signals from multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 (diff example during differential reception). Specifically, the control unit 13 can output a differential signal having a change in mutual capacitance value of "d1" obtained by subtracting the received signal from the first receiving electrode RX1 from the received signal from the second receiving electrode RX2, a differential signal having a change in mutual capacitance value of "-(d2+d1)" obtained by subtracting the received signal from the second receiving electrode RX2 from the received signal from the third receiving electrode RX3, a signal having a change in mutual capacitance value of "(d3+d2)" obtained by subtracting the received signal from the third receiving electrode RX3 from the received signal from the fourth receiving electrode RX4, and a differential signal having a change in mutual capacitance value of "-(d4+d3)" obtained by subtracting the received signal from the fourth receiving electrode RX4 from the received signal from the fifth receiving electrode Rx5.

[0141] Next, the control unit 13 can integrate and encode the differential signal to reconstruct the received signals from the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7. Specifically, the control unit 13 can integrate the differential signal to obtain the same value of change in mutual capacitance as in the "diff example during single-ended reception". Then, the control unit 13 can perform encoding to change the negative (-) sign of some of the reconstructed received signals to a positive (+) sign, thereby obtaining the same value of change in mutual capacitance as in the "Delta cm example". Here, the control unit 13 may further include an integrator for integrating the received differential signal and an encoding processor for encoding.

[0142] In the signal processing of the control unit 13 described above, during the process in which the differential signal described above is output, display noise (e.g., zebra noise), change due to image changes, LGM noise in the floating state, and noise due to cathode retransmission can be canceled out.

[0143] Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the baseline setting in the control unit 13 of the touch input device shown in Figure 13.

[0144] In Figure 17, the value of the mutual capacitance between the 0th drive electrode TX0 and the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7 is defined as "cm".

[0145] The control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 controls the application of a predetermined drive signal to the 0th drive electrode TX0. Here, the drive signal applied to the 0a drive electrode Tx0a and the drive signal applied to the 0b drive electrode Tx0b are inverted drive signals that differ from each other by only 180 degrees in phase.

[0146] When the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 receives signals from multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7, the baseline (baseline during single-ended reception) is constant in cm for all of them, but the sign of the baseline of the received signals from the first receiving electrode RX1, the third receiving electrode RX3, the fifth receiving electrode Rx5, and the seventh receiving electrode Rx7, which form mutual capacitance with the 0b driving electrode Tx0b, is negative (-).

[0147] On the other hand, when the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 outputs a differential signal from the received signals from multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, Rx5, Rx6, and Rx7, the baseline (baseline during differential reception) increases by twice as much as the "baseline during single-ended reception". Therefore, the control unit 13 may further include a baseline adjustment unit to lower the baseline to half the baseline of the "baseline during single-ended reception".

[0148] Figure 18 is a plan view of a part of one embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13.

[0149] One embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 18 has the same structure of multiple electrodes as one embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 3, but differs in that the drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4 to which the drive signal is applied and the receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3 to which the received signal is output are configured in reverse.

[0150] Referring to Figure 18, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can control the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, ... so that a predetermined drive signal is applied simultaneously to the linked patterns P0, P1, P2, P3, P4, ... of the multiple drive electrodes TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, ... Here, the drive signal applied to the second linked pattern P0b of each linked pattern P0 is an inverted drive signal with a phase inverted by 180 degrees compared to the drive signal applied to the first linked pattern P0a.

[0151] As explained with reference to Figure 16, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can receive a received signal containing information on the change in mutual capacitance from a plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and can output a differential signal from the received received signal. The control unit can then integrate the differential signal to reconstruct the received signal from the plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and determine the touch position of an object based on the information on the change in mutual capacitance obtained by processing the codes of the reconstructed received signal.

[0152] Figure 19 is a plan view of some of the other embodiments of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13.

[0153] Another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 19 has the same structure of multiple electrodes as one embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 6, but differs in that the drive electrode to which the drive signal is applied and the receive electrode to which the received signal is output are configured in reverse.

[0154] Referring to Figure 19, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can control the multiple drive electrodes TX0', TX1', TX2', TX3', TX4', ... so that a predetermined drive signal is applied simultaneously to the linked patterns P0, P1, P2, P3, P4, ... of the linked electrodes TX0', TX1', TX2', TX3', TX4', ... Here, the drive signal applied to the second linked pattern P0b of each linked pattern P0 is an inverted drive signal with a phase inverted by 180 degrees compared to the drive signal applied to the first linked pattern P0a.

[0155] As explained with reference to Figure 16, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can receive a received signal containing information on the change in mutual capacitance from a plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and can output a differential signal from the received received signal. The control unit can then integrate the differential signal to reconstruct the received signal from the plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and determine the touch position of an object based on the information on the change in mutual capacitance obtained by processing the codes of the reconstructed received signal.

[0156] Figure 20 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13.

[0157] Another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 20 has the same structure of multiple electrodes as another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 9, but differs in that the drive electrode to which the drive signal is applied and the receive electrode to which the received signal is output are configured in reverse.

[0158] Referring to Figure 20, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can control the connection patterns P0', P1', P2', P3', P4', ... of multiple drive electrodes TX0'', TX1'', TX2'', TX3'', TX4'', ... so that a predetermined drive signal is applied simultaneously. Here, the drive signal applied to the second connection pattern P0b of each connection pattern P0' is an inverted drive signal with a phase inverted by 180 degrees compared to the drive signal applied to the first connection pattern P0a.

[0159] As explained through Figure 16, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can receive a received signal containing information on the change in mutual capacitance from a plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and can output a differential signal from the received received signal. The control unit can then integrate the differential signal to reconstruct the received signal from the plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and determine the touch position of an object based on the information on the change in mutual capacitance obtained by processing the codes of the reconstructed received signal.

[0160] Figure 21 is a plan view of a part of yet another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 13.

[0161] Another embodiment of the touch sensor 10' shown in Figure 21 has the same structure of multiple electrodes as another embodiment of the touch sensor 10 shown in Figure 11, but differs in that the drive electrode to which the drive signal is applied and the receive electrode to which the received signal is output are configured in reverse.

[0162] Referring to Figure 21, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can control the multiple drive electrodes TX0''',TX1''',TX2''',TX3''',... so that a predetermined drive signal is applied simultaneously to the linked patterns P0'',P1'',P2'',P3'',.... Here, the drive signal applied to the second linked pattern P0b of each linked pattern P0'' is an inverted drive signal with a phase inverted by 180 degrees compared to the drive signal applied to the first linked pattern P0a.

[0163] As explained through Figure 16, the control unit 13 shown in Figure 13 can receive a received signal containing information on the change in mutual capacitance from a plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and can output a differential signal from the received received signal. The control unit can then integrate the differential signal to reconstruct the received signal from the plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, ... and determine the touch position of an object based on the information on the change in mutual capacitance obtained by processing the codes of the reconstructed received signal.

[0164] Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram of a touch input device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0165] A touch input device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor 100 and a control unit 300.

[0166] The control unit 300 controls the touch sensor 100.

[0167] The control unit 300 applies a drive signal (or Tx signal) to the drive electrode (or Tx electrode) of the touch sensor 100 and receives a sensing signal (or Rx signal) from the receiving electrode (or Rx electrode) of the touch sensor 100.

[0168] The control unit 300 can sequentially supply drive signals to multiple drive electrodes of the touch sensor 100, or simultaneously supply predetermined drive signals to at least two or more of the multiple drive electrodes. The former is called the sequential drive method, and the latter is called the multi-drive method.

[0169] The control unit 300 receives sensing signals output from multiple receiving electrodes of the touch sensor 100. Here, the sensing signals may include information on the change in capacitance between each receiving electrode and the adjacent driving electrode, an LGM noise signal, and a display noise signal.

[0170] The control unit 300 can convert the sensing signals output from multiple receiving electrodes from analog to digital and output a digital sensing signal.

[0171] The control unit 300 can output a differential signal obtained by differentiating two of the sensing signals output from multiple receiving electrodes, and can output the output signal after analog-to-digital conversion. For this reason, the control unit 300 may include a comparator and an ADC. Such a control unit 300 can detect the presence or absence of a touch and / or the touch position based on the output digital signal.

[0172] In Figure 22, the control unit 300 can be implemented as a single module, unit, or chip. However, it is not limited to this; the control unit 300 may be divided into a sensing unit that receives a sensing signal from the receiving electrode of the touch sensor 100, a driving unit that applies a driving signal to the driving electrode of the touch sensor 100, and a control unit that controls the sensing unit and the driving unit. Alternatively, at least two of the sensing unit, the driving unit, and the control unit may be implemented as a single module, unit, or chip.

[0173] The touch input device shown in Figure 22 may include a display panel (not shown), although not shown separately. The touch sensor 100 may be arranged on a cell of the display panel, as in the octa (OCTA) configuration shown in Figure 1, or it may be arranged within a cell of the display panel, as in the in-cell configuration. Depending on the case, the touch sensor 100 may be located below the display panel. For example, the touch sensor 100 may be formed directly on the outer surface (e.g., the upper surface of the upper substrate or the lower surface of the lower substrate) or the inner surface (e.g., the lower surface of the upper substrate or the upper surface of the lower substrate) of the upper and / or lower substrate of the display panel. The touch sensor 100 can be coupled to the display panel to constitute a touchscreen panel (TSP).

[0174] The display panel may have a large number of scan lines (or gate lines) and a large number of data lines. Subpixels can be located in the region where the scan lines and data lines intersect.

[0175] The display panel may include an active region in which a large number of subpixels are arranged, and an inactive region located outside the active region. The active region can constitute the display screen of a touch input device. The display screen may have a rectangular shape in which the vertical length is longer than the horizontal length.

[0176] The touch input device shown in Figure 22 may include a gate drive circuit, a data drive circuit, and a display control unit for driving various signal lines arranged on the display panel in order to drive the display panel.

[0177] The gate drive circuit is controlled by the display control unit and sequentially outputs display scan signals through a large number of scan lines arranged on the display panel, allowing for control of the driving timing of numerous subpixels.

[0178] The data driving circuit receives video data from the display control unit and can convert the video data into an analog data voltage. The data driving circuit outputs a data voltage (Vdata) to each data line in time with the timing of the scan signal applied via the scan line, thereby controlling each subpixel to express brightness based on the video data.

[0179] The display control unit supplies various control signals to the gate drive circuit and the data drive circuit, and can control the operation of the gate drive circuit and the data drive circuit. The display control unit may be configured separately from the control unit 300 shown in Figure 22, or it may be configured as an integral part of the display control unit.

[0180] The touch sensor 100 includes a plurality of electrodes (or a plurality of sensors) of a predetermined shape, and the predetermined electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. Here, if a drive signal is applied to the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes can become a plurality of drive electrodes, and the plurality of second electrodes can become a plurality of receiving electrodes.

[0181] Multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, ..., Tx16, Tx17, Tx18, Tx19 and multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ..., Rx35, Rx36, Rx37 can be arranged so as to intersect each other. A predetermined mutual capacitance cm may be formed between the multiple driving electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, ..., Tx16, Tx17, Tx18, Tx19 and the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ..., Rx35, Rx36, Rx37, especially at their intersections.

[0182] Each driving electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, ..., Tx16, Tx17, Tx18, Tx19 is positioned in the first axis direction, and each receiving electrode Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ..., Rx35, Rx36, Rx37 can be positioned in a second axis direction different from the first axis direction. Here, the second axis direction may be perpendicular to the first axis direction.

[0183] Each driving electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, Tx3, ..., Tx16, Tx17, Tx18, Tx19 includes a pair of electrode sections. This will be explained in detail with reference to Figure 23.

[0184] Figure 23 is an enlarged view of section A shown in Figure 22.

[0185] Referring to Figure 23, each of the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, and Tx2 includes a first drive electrode section Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a and a second drive electrode section Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b.

[0186] The first drive electrode sections Tx0a, Tx1a, and Tx2a may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 among the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and RX3, and such that a mutual capacitance cm is not formed, or not formed at all, with the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3. Here, "a mutual capacitance cm is not formed" means that the mutual capacitance value is relatively small compared to the mutual capacitance cm with some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2.

[0187] The second drive electrode sections Tx0b, Tx1b, and Tx2b may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is formed with the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3 from among the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and RX3, and may be arranged such that a mutual capacitance cm is not formed, or not formed at all, with some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2. Here, "a mutual capacitance cm is not formed" means a relatively small mutual capacitance value compared to the mutual capacitance cm with the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3.

[0188] The first drive electrode sections Tx0a, Tx1a, and Tx2a may be arranged so as to be immediately adjacent to some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2 among the multiple receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and RX3, but not immediately adjacent to the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3, and may be arranged at a predetermined distance apart.

[0189] Here, at least one additional electrode may be placed between the first drive electrode sections Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a and the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1, Rx3. This additional electrode can be at least one part of the receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx2.

[0190] The second drive electrode sections Tx0b, Tx1b, and Tx2b may be arranged so as to be immediately adjacent to the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3 among the plurality of receiving electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, and RX3, but may be arranged so as to be a predetermined distance away from some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2. Here, at least one other electrode may be arranged between the second drive electrode sections Tx0b, Tx1b, and Tx2b and some of the receiving electrodes Rx0 and Rx2. This other electrode can be at least one of the remaining receiving electrodes Rx1 and Rx3.

[0191] In each drive electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, the second drive signal applied to the second drive electrode section Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b may be a first drive signal applied to the first drive electrode section Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a with only the phase shifted by 180 degrees. Therefore, when a predetermined drive signal is applied to each drive electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, the predetermined drive signal is applied to the first drive electrode section Tx0a, Tx1a, Tx2a of each drive electrode Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, and an inverted drive signal is applied to the second drive electrode section Tx0b, Tx1b, Tx2b with only the phase inverted by 180 degrees compared to the predetermined drive signal.

[0192] When the control unit 300 applies a multi-drive signal to at least two of the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2, a signal (or sensing signal) is output from each receiving electrode RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3. The output signal may include the difference between the capacitance change amount (first capacitance information) between the first drive electrode unit and any one of the second drive electrode units that is immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode, and the capacitance change amount (second capacitance information) between the receiving electrode and another electrode that is not immediately adjacent to the receiving electrode.

[0193] The control unit 300 can detect whether or not an object is touching and / or the touch location based on the output signal. Here, the output signal cancels out information about the change in mutual capacitance due to the object, display noise (e.g., zebra noise), change due to image change, LGM noise in the floating state, and noise due to the cathode re-transmission phenomenon (a phenomenon in which the higher the magnitude of the resistance of the ELVSS layer (RELVSS) (i.e., the weaker the GND), the more high-frequency components of the signal are transmitted to the receiving electrode of the touch sensor and added to the main signal). Therefore, the output signal may contain almost only information about the change in mutual capacitance due to the object.

[0194] Multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2 and multiple receiver electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3 may be arranged together in the same layer (1 layer) or in separate double layers (2 layers). Furthermore, some of the multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2 may be arranged in layers different from the rest, and some of the multiple receiver electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3 may also be arranged in layers different from the rest. Multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2 and multiple receiver electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3 may have a diamond pattern, circular, elliptical, or polygonal shape.

[0195] Multiple drive electrodes Tx0, Tx1, Tx2 and multiple receiver electrodes RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3 are composed of a metal mesh and may be patterned on the thin film encapsulation (TFE) layer of the display panel.

[0196] The touch sensor 100 shown in Figures 22 and 23 can prevent flicker from occurring when the display panel is driven. The flicker can become more pronounced as the magnitude of the voltage of the drive signal applied simultaneously to the drive electrodes of the touch sensor 100 increases. In particular, with a multi-drive system in which drive signals are applied simultaneously to various drive electrodes, the flicker becomes more noticeable as the total sum of the drive signals applied simultaneously over a certain period of time increases.

[0197] However, the touch sensor 100 shown in Figures 22 and 23 has a pair of first and second drive electrode sections for each drive electrode, and the first drive signal applied to the first drive electrode section and the second drive signal applied to the second drive electrode section are inverted 180 degrees in phase with respect to each other. Therefore, the sum of the drive signals applied simultaneously over a certain period of time is always zero, which has the advantage of reducing or virtually eliminating the occurrence of flicker.

[0198] Figure 24 is a schematic block diagram of a touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0199] The touch input device according to another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 24 differs from the touch input device shown in Figure 22 in its touch sensor 100'. The touch input device, which includes the touch sensor 100' and the control unit 300, can not only detect the position of a finger or the same object as it is positioned on the screen, but can also output a drive signal to drive a stylus pen and detect the position of the stylus pen on the screen by sensing the signal emitted from the stylus pen.

[0200] The touch sensor 100' includes multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5. Here, the multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 correspond to the multiple driving electrodes Tx1, Tx2, ..., Tx38, Tx39 in Figure 22, and the multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 correspond to the multiple receiving electrodes Rx0, Rx1, Rx2, Rx3, ..., Rx35, Rx36, Rx37.

[0201] Each touch drive electrode FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 is an electrode to which a touch drive signal is applied for sensing objects such as fingers or conductive materials.

[0202] Each pen drive electrode STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9 is positioned adjacent to the touch drive electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, and at a predetermined distance from the touch drive electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9. Each pen drive electrode STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9 may be positioned in the same direction as the scan lines of the display panel (not shown). Each pen drive electrode STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9 can receive or sense a pen drive signal to drive a stylus pen, or a pen signal from a stylus pen. The pen drive electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9 may also be named the first pen drive / receive electrode.

[0203] Each end of the multiple pen-driven electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9 is electrically connected via a conductive pattern. Here, the conductive pattern may be a metal mesh or a silver trace.

[0204] Each touch receiving electrode FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 is positioned in a direction different from that of each touch driving electrode FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9. Each touch receiving electrode FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 is an electrode that outputs a touch sensing signal for sensing objects such as fingers or conductive materials.

[0205] Each pen receiving electrode SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 is positioned adjacent to the touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and at a predetermined distance from the touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5. Each pen receiving electrode SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 may be positioned in a different direction from the pen driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9. Each pen receiving electrode SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 can receive a pen driving signal to drive the stylus pen or sense a pen signal from the stylus pen. The pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 can also be named the second pen driving / receiving electrodes.

[0206] Each end of the multiple pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 is electrically connected via a conductive pattern. Here, the conductive pattern may be a metal mesh or a silver trace.

[0207] Multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 and multiple pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 may be arranged on multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and multiple pen driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, and may be arranged at a predetermined distance from the multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and multiple pen driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9.

[0208] The number of touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and the number of touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 can be increased or decreased depending on the size of the touch input device screen and the relative lengths of the long and short axes.

[0209] Multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 essentially sense touch from fingers and objects such as conductive materials. For this purpose, the multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 can operate as touch driving electrodes to which a touch driving signal is applied, and the multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 can operate as touch sensing electrodes (or touch receiving electrodes) to which a touch sensing signal is received. Of course, they can also operate in the reverse order.

[0210] Each of the multiple touch drive electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 includes a pair of first drive electrode sections FTx0a, FTx1a, ..., FTx9a and a second drive electrode section FTx0b, FTx1b, ..., FTx9b.

[0211] The first drive electrode sections FTx0a, FTx1a, ..., FTx9a and the second drive electrode sections FTx0b, FTx1b, ..., FTx9b may be arranged alternately, one at a time, in one direction.

[0212] The first drive electrode sections FTx0a, FTx1a, ..., FTx9a may be arranged to form mutual capacitance with some of the receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx2, FRx4 among the multiple receiving drive electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, or to be positioned right next to them, while forming almost no mutual capacitance with the remaining receiving electrodes FRx1, FRx3, FRx5, or not to be positioned right next to them.

[0213] The second drive electrode sections FTx0b, FTx1b, ..., FTx9b may be arranged to form mutual capacitance with the remaining receiving electrodes FRx1, FRx3, FRx5 among the multiple receiving drive electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, or to be positioned right next to them, while they may be arranged so that they do not form much mutual capacitance with some of the receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx2, FRx4, or are not positioned right next to them.

[0214] A first drive signal and a second drive signal may be applied simultaneously or sequentially to a pair of first and second drive electrode portions of each touch drive electrode. Here, the first drive signal and the second drive signal may be pulse signals or sine signals with a phase shift of 180 degrees relative to each other.

[0215] The touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24 has the advantage of significantly reducing or preventing flicker on the display panel, as described above in Figures 22 and 23. Each of the multiple touch drive electrodes includes a pair of first and second drive electrode sections, and the control unit 300 controls the application of first and second drive signals that are 180 degrees out of phase to each other to the first and second drive electrode sections simultaneously.

[0216] On the other hand, in order for the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24 to drive and sense the stylus pen, multiple touch drive electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen drive electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 can be used in various combinations.

[0217] The various combinations are shown in [Table 1] below.

[0218] In Table 1 below, "1" refers to multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, "2" refers to multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, "3" refers to multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and "4" refers to multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5.

[0219] [Table 1]

[0220] Referring to [Table 1] above, in various combinations (No. 1 to No. 32), multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 sense the touch of an object such as a finger.

[0221] One or two of the multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 can operate as stylus-driving electrodes for driving a stylus pen. A current loop for driving a stylus pen can be formed using one or two patterns of the multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5. X-axis drive may consist of one of several touch drive electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and several pen drive electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9. Y-axis drive may consist of one of several touch receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 and several pen receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5. Stylus pen can be driven by either X-axis drive or Y-axis drive, or by both.

[0222] Two of the multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 can function as sensing electrodes that sense the stylus pen signal emitted from the stylus pen. Since both X-axis sensing and Y-axis sensing are required to sense the stylus pen signal, two patterns of the multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9, multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9, multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5, and multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5 are used. X-axis sensing may consist of one of several types of electrodes, including multiple touch-driving electrodes FTx0, FTx1, ..., FTx8, FTx9 and multiple pen-driving electrodes STx0, STx1, ..., STx8, STx9. Y-axis sensing may consist of one of several types of electrodes, including multiple touch-receiving electrodes FRx0, FRx1, ..., FRx4, FRx5 and multiple pen-receiving electrodes SRx0, SRx1, ..., SRx4, SRx5.

[0223] In Table 1 above, "uplink signal magnitude" refers to the magnitude of the drive signal used to power the stylus pen. "downlink signal magnitude" refers to the magnitude of the stylus pen signal received from the stylus pen. "Stylus additional channel" refers to whether an additional channel must be configured for the stylus pen in addition to touch sensing.

[0224] Figure 25 shows a first embodiment of the touch input device shown in Figure 24.

[0225] Referring to Figure 25, the touch input device according to the first embodiment includes a touch sensor 100a and a control unit 300. The touch sensor 100a includes a number of first to fourth patterns 101a, 102a, 103a, 104a.

[0226] The first pattern 101a is arranged in multiples along a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other. Here, the first direction may be the long axis of the screen of the touch input device, and the second direction may be the short axis of the screen of the touch input device.

[0227] A plurality of first patterns 101a include a plurality of first pattern sections 101o and a plurality of second pattern sections 101e.

[0228] One first pattern section 101o and one second pattern section 101e are arranged alternately along the first direction.

[0229] A number of first pattern portions 101o arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a number of conductive patterns, and a number of second pattern portions 101e arranged along a first direction are also electrically connected by a number of conductive patterns.

[0230] On the other hand, the numerous first pattern portions 101o arranged along the second direction are not electrically connected to each other. Similarly, the numerous second pattern portions 101e arranged along the second direction are not electrically connected to each other.

[0231] Each of the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e includes an upper pattern section, a lower pattern section, and a connecting pattern section that connects the upper pattern section and the lower pattern section. Here, the upper pattern section may have an inverted triangular shape with an empty interior, the lower pattern section may have a triangular shape with an empty interior, and the connecting pattern section may have a square shape with an empty interior. The upper pattern section, the lower pattern section, and the connecting pattern section may be formed as a single unit.

[0232] Each of the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e may have an opening in which at least one second pattern 102a is placed. The shape of the opening may correspond to the shape of the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e, respectively.

[0233] One first pattern portion 101o has a structure that surrounds at least part or all of one second pattern 102a and is electrically insulated from each other, and one second pattern portion 101e also has a structure that surrounds at least part or all of one second pattern 102a and is electrically insulated from each other.

[0234] A plurality of first patterns 101a arranged along a first direction form an electrical path in that first direction. The plurality of first patterns 101a arranged along a first direction have two channels (or terminals). One channel is a channel in which a plurality of first pattern portions 101o arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a conductive pattern, and the other channel is a channel in which a plurality of second pattern portions 101e arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a conductive pattern. The two channels may each be electrically connected to the control unit 300.

[0235] The second pattern 102a is arranged in at least one place inside each of the numerous first pattern sections 101o and the numerous second pattern sections 101e.

[0236] A number of second patterns 102a arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a number of conductive patterns. Two second patterns 102a adjacent to each other along the first direction may be electrically connected by a single conductive pattern.

[0237] Of the numerous second patterns 102a arranged along the first direction, the second pattern located at one end may be electrically connected to the control unit 300, and the second pattern 102a located at the other end is electrically connected to the second patterns arranged along the second direction via a conductive pattern 102m.

[0238] The first pattern 101a and the second pattern 102a may be placed in the same layer. The first pattern 101a and the second pattern 102a can be formed in the same layer using a metal mesh.

[0239] The third pattern 103a has a shape that extends along the second direction (or the minor axis).

[0240] The third pattern 103a may include a number of diamond pattern sections and connecting pattern sections that connect two adjacent diamond pattern sections among the number of diamond pattern sections.

[0241] The third pattern 103a may have an opening in which the fourth pattern 104a is placed.

[0242] The third pattern 103a may have a structure that surrounds at least part or all of the fourth pattern 104a. The third pattern 103a is positioned at a predetermined distance from the fourth pattern 104a, and is electrically isolated through this distance.

[0243] The fourth pattern 104a is positioned adjacent to the third pattern 103a, has a shape that extends along the second direction, and is positioned inside the third pattern 103a.

[0244] The fourth pattern 104a may include a number of diamond pattern sections and connecting pattern sections that connect two adjacent diamond pattern sections among the number of diamond pattern sections.

[0245] Many such third patterns 103a and fourth patterns 104a are arranged along the first direction.

[0246] One end of each of the numerous third patterns 103a may be electrically connected to the control unit 300, while the other end may be electrically open.

[0247] One end of each of the numerous fourth patterns 104a may be electrically open, as shown in Figure 25, and may be connected to the control unit 300 in a different manner than shown in Figure 25. The other ends of the numerous fourth patterns 104a are electrically connected via a conductive pattern 104m. Here, the other ends that are electrically connected to each other may be grounded. If the other ends of the numerous fourth patterns 104a are electrically connected to each other, a capacitance is added to each fourth pattern 104a, so the overall impedance is reduced, which may have an effect similar to that of grounding the other ends of the numerous fourth patterns 104a.

[0248] The third pattern 103a and the fourth pattern 104a may be placed on the same layer. The third pattern 103a and the fourth pattern 104a can be formed on the same layer using a metal mesh. Here, the first pattern 101a and the second pattern 102a may be placed on the first layer, while the third pattern 103a and the fourth pattern 104a may be placed on a second layer different from the first layer.

[0249] The control unit 300 is electrically connected to the touch sensor 100a and controls the touch sensor 100a. The control unit 300 and the touch sensor 100a may be electrically connected via a conductive pattern.

[0250] The control unit 300 may configure multiple first patterns 101a to become multiple touch driving electrodes FTx0~FTx0 shown in Figure 24, multiple third patterns 103a to become multiple touch receiving electrodes FRx0~FRx5 shown in Figure 24, multiple second patterns 102a to become multiple pen driving electrodes STx0~STx9 shown in Figure 24, and multiple fourth patterns 104a to become multiple pen receiving electrodes SRx0~SRx5 shown in Figure 24.

[0251] The control unit 300 may include a large number of drive circuits and sensing circuits.

[0252] Multiple drive circuits may include drive circuits for touch operation and drive circuits for stylus operation.

[0253] The numerous sensing circuits may include sensing circuits for touch sensing and sensing circuits for stylus sensing. Here, some of the sensing circuits among the numerous sensing circuits can perform both touch sensing and stylus sensing.

[0254] The control unit 300 can control the touch sensor 100a to operate in one of the following modes: touch-driven / sensing mode, pen-driven mode, and stylus-sensing mode.

[0255] The control unit 300 can electrically connect a number of drive / sensing circuit units to the touch sensor 100a according to each mode. For this purpose, the control unit 300 may include a number of switches for electrically connecting the number of drive / sensing circuit units to the touch sensor 100a.

[0256] Figures 26 to 28 are diagrams illustrating the use of the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25 in No. 1 of [Table 1] above.

[0257] Figure 26 is a diagram showing the touch input device shown in Figure 25 operating in touch-driven / sensing mode (or 2D sensing mode), Figure 27 is a diagram showing the touch input device shown in Figure 25 operating in pen-driven mode (or stylus-driven mode, or stylus uplink mode), and Figure 28 is a diagram showing the touch input device shown in Figure 25 operating in stylus sensing mode (or stylus downlink mode).

[0258] Referring to Figure 26, in touch drive / sensing mode, the control unit 300 can electrically connect drive circuit units 310, 31' for touch drive to a number of first patterns 101a of the touch sensor 100a. The first patterns 101a arranged along a first direction have a first pattern section 101o and a second pattern section 101e. The control unit 300 can electrically connect the first drive circuit unit 310 with the first pattern section 101o arranged along the first direction, and electrically connect the second drive circuit unit 310' with the second pattern section 101e arranged along the first direction. Here, the second drive circuit unit 310' can output only the drive signal output from the first drive circuit unit 310 with its phase inverted by 180 degrees.

[0259] The control unit 300 can electrically connect the sensing circuit unit 330 for touch sensing to a number of third patterns 103a of the touch sensor 100a.

[0260] The control unit 300 can receive sensing signals from a number of third patterns 103a by applying a first drive signal to the first pattern section 101o arranged along the first direction and a second drive signal (an inverted signal of the first drive signal) to the second pattern section 101e. The sensing circuit section 330 of the control unit 300 can output information on the capacitance change amount included in the input sensing signal as a predetermined voltage value. The control unit 300 can process the output voltage value to detect the presence or absence of touch and / or the touch position.

[0261] The sensing signal output from each third pattern 103a includes the difference between the change in the first capacitance between the third pattern 103a and the first pattern section 101o, and the change in the second capacitance between the third pattern 103a and the second pattern section 101e. Therefore, the output sensing signal cancels out display noise and LGM noise, and as described above in Figures 22 and 23, it is possible to significantly reduce or prevent the occurrence of flicker in the display panel.

[0262] On the other hand, the control unit 300 can also control the application of a reference potential to a number of second patterns 102 so that capacitive coupling does not occur between the first pattern 101a and the second pattern 102a.

[0263] Referring to Figure 27, in pen drive mode, the control unit 300 can electrically connect the drive circuit section 340 for driving the stylus pen to the second pattern 102a arranged along the first direction.

[0264] The control unit 300 can control the pen drive signals output from each drive circuit unit 340, 340' connected to the second pattern 102a arranged along the first direction. For example, the control unit 300 can control the first drive circuit unit 340 so that a pulse signal of a predetermined frequency is output, the second drive circuit unit 340' so that no pulse signal is output, and the third drive circuit unit 340'' so that a pulse signal opposite to the pulse signal output from the first drive circuit unit 340 is output. In this case, a current loop is formed by at least one second pattern 102a electrically connected to the first drive circuit unit 340 and at least one second pattern electrically connected to the third drive circuit unit 340''. A magnetic field is generated by the formed current loop, and a nearby stylus pen can be driven by resonance caused by the magnetic field.

[0265] The control unit 300 can control the numerous drive circuit units 340, 340', 340'' electrically connected to the numerous second patterns 102a so that mutually opposing pulse signals are output to any two or more drive circuit units. Therefore, the control unit 300 can change and set the size and position of the current loop in various ways. For example, if the control unit 300 detects the position of a nearby stylus pen, it can control the system so that mutually opposing pulse signals are output from two drive circuit units electrically connected to the second pattern around the position of the stylus pen. If the position of the stylus pen cannot be detected, the control unit can also control the system so that mutually opposing pulse signals are output from two drive circuit units electrically connected to the second patterns located around the outermost edges on both sides of the numerous second patterns 102a.

[0266] Referring to Figure 28, in stylus sensing mode, the control unit 300 can electrically connect the sensing circuit units 350 and 350' for stylus sensing to the numerous first patterns 101a and numerous third patterns 103a of the touch sensor 100a, respectively. Here, since the first patterns 101a arranged along the first direction consist of two channels, the first sensing circuit unit 350 can be electrically connected in parallel to the two channels. The second sensing circuit unit 350' may be electrically connected to each of the third patterns 103a.

[0267] In stylus sensing mode, when a stylus pen approaches any position on the touch sensor 100a, the pen signal output from the stylus pen induces currents in some of the numerous second patterns 102a and fourth patterns 104a located around the stylus pen. This is due to the formation of a current loop between the numerous second patterns 102a and fourth patterns 104a.

[0268] A part of the induced current generated in the majority of the second patterns 102a flows to the first pattern 101a through capacitive coupling between the second pattern 102a and the first pattern 101a, and an induced voltage is generated. Also, a part of the induced current generated in the majority of the fourth patterns 104a flows to the third pattern 103a through capacitive coupling between the fourth pattern 104a and the third pattern 103a, and an induced voltage is generated.

[0269] The control unit 300 can sense the induced voltages generated in the first pattern 101a and the third pattern 103a via the first and second sensing units 350, 350' and detect the position of the stylus pen.

[0270] In FIGS. 26 to 28, the touch position of an object is sensed using the touch sensor 100a of FIG. 25 by the method of No. 1 in [Table 1] above, and the stylus pen is driven and sensed. However, the touch sensor 100a of FIG. 25 can also be used by any one of the methods of No. 2 to No. 32 in [Table 1] above.

[0271] FIG. 29 is a second embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in FIG. 24.

[0272] Referring to FIG. 29, the touch sensor 100b includes a number of first to fourth patterns 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b. The number of first to fourth patterns 101b, 102b, 103b, 104b are arranged together in the same layer, different from the touch sensor 100a shown in FIG. 25. For reference, in the touch sensor 100a shown in FIG. 25, the first and second patterns 101a, 102a are arranged together in the first layer, and the third and fourth patterns 103a, 104a are arranged together in a second layer different from the first layer.

[0273] Since the majority of the first and second patterns 101b and 102b have the same structure and arrangement as the majority of the first and second patterns 101a and 102a of the touch sensor 100a shown in FIG. 25, instead of a specific description of the above-mentioned content, the following will describe in detail the majority of the third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b.

[0274] The third pattern 103b is arranged in a large number along the first direction and the second direction. One first pattern 101b is arranged between the large number of third patterns 103b arranged along the second direction. The third pattern 103b may be arranged one by one on both sides around the connection pattern part of the first pattern 101b.

[0275] The third pattern 103b has a rectangular, polygonal, circular or elliptical shape. The third pattern 103b has an opening in which one fourth pattern 104b is arranged. The third pattern 103b may be in a closed curve shape with the opening formed therein. The third pattern 103b may be arranged so as to surround at least a part or all of one fourth pattern 104b.

[0276] The large number of third patterns 103b arranged along the second direction are electrically connected via a conductive pattern. Two third patterns adjacent to each other along the second direction may be electrically connected by one conductive pattern. On the other hand, the large number of third patterns 103b arranged along the first direction are not electrically connected to each other. The large number of third patterns arranged along different second directions adjacent to each other on the first direction side are also electrically connected via a conductive pattern.

[0277] Each of the large number of fourth patterns 104b is arranged inside one third pattern 103b. One fourth pattern 104b is surrounded by one third pattern 103b. The shape of the fourth pattern 104b may correspond to the shape of the opening of the third pattern part 103b. The fourth pattern 104b may have a rectangular, polygonal, circular or elliptical shape. The fourth pattern 104b may be a plate shape without an opening inside.

[0278] A number of fourth patterns 104b arranged along the second direction are electrically connected via conductive patterns. Two adjacent fourth patterns along the second direction may be electrically connected by a single conductive pattern. A fourth pattern located at one end of the number of fourth patterns 104b arranged along the second direction may be electrically connected to the control unit 300 shown in Figure 25, while a fourth pattern 104b located at the other end is electrically connected to a number of fourth patterns arranged along the first direction via conductive patterns 104m. Through this, the electrical connection path can be configured in the same way as that of the fourth pattern 104a shown in Figure 25.

[0279] The touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25. Therefore, the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29 can also sense the touch position of an object and drive and sense a stylus pen in the various ways described in Table 1 above. Specifically, the touch sensors 100a shown in Figures 26 to 28 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29. A touch input device having the touch sensor 100b and the control unit 300 can perform the touch drive / sensing mode of Figure 26, the pen drive mode of Figure 27, and the stylus sensing mode of Figure 28 identically. Furthermore, the touch sensor 100b of Figure 29 can also be used in any one of the methods No. 2 to No. 32 of Table 1 above.

[0280] Figure 30 is a modified example of the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29, as a third embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24.

[0281] The structure and shape of the first to fourth patterns 101b, 102b, 103b, and 104b of the touch sensor 100b' shown in Figure 30 are identical to those of the first to fourth patterns 101b, 102b, 103b, and 104b of the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29. Therefore, the explanation of the structure and shape of the first to fourth patterns 101b, 102b, 103b, and 104b will be replaced by the explanation given above.

[0282] The difference between the touch sensor 100b' shown in Figure 30 and the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29 is the conductive pattern 101om that electrically connects two adjacent first pattern portions 101o and two adjacent second pattern portions 101e in the first direction of the first pattern 101b.

[0283] The conductive pattern 101om is positioned to bypass the third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b without intersecting them. Alternatively, the conductive pattern 101om may be positioned to intersect with a conductive pattern that electrically connects two adjacent third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b along the second direction.

[0284] The conductive pattern that electrically connects two adjacent first pattern portions 101o and two adjacent second pattern portions 101e in the first direction from the touch sensor 100b in Figure 29 has a shape in which the remaining portion, excluding both ends, extends in a straight line in the first direction, and thus has a portion that overlaps with the third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b. In the overlapping portion, a predetermined capacitance may be formed between the conductive pattern and the third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b. This predetermined capacitance may affect the touch sensing or stylus sensing sensitivity and may also affect the operating frequency bandwidth.

[0285] On the other hand, the conductive pattern 101om in Figure 30 does not overlap with the third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b, and is positioned to bypass the third pattern 103b. Therefore, the capacitance mentioned above is not formed, which has the advantage of reducing the impact on the sensitivity of touch sensing or stylus sensing, and also reducing the impact on the operating frequency bandwidth.

[0286] On the other hand, the conductive pattern in Figure 29 has the advantage of having an even lower resistance than the conductive pattern 101om in Figure 30, because it is shorter in length.

[0287] Figure 31 shows a fourth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24.

[0288] Referring to Figure 31, the touch sensor 100c includes numerous first to fourth patterns 101c, 102c, 103c, and 104c. These numerous first to fourth patterns 101c, 102c, 103c, and 104c are arranged together on the same layer as the touch sensors 100b and 100b' shown in Figures 29 and 30.

[0289] Since the numerous third and fourth patterns 103c and 104c are identical in structure and arrangement to the numerous third and fourth patterns 103b and 104b of the touch sensor 100b shown in Figure 29, a detailed explanation will be provided below for the numerous first and second patterns 101c and 102c, instead of the above explanation.

[0290] Each of the numerous second patterns 102c is positioned to enclose at least part or all of one third pattern 103c. One second pattern 102b has an opening in which one third pattern 103c is positioned.

[0291] Each of the majority of first patterns 101c is arranged to surround at least a part or all of one second pattern 102c. One first pattern 101c has an opening in which one second pattern 102c is arranged.

[0292] One second pattern 102c is arranged inside one first pattern 101c, one third pattern 103c is arranged inside one second pattern 102c, and one fourth pattern 104c is arranged inside one third pattern 103c.

[0293] The first pattern 101c may have a shape corresponding to that of the second pattern 102c, and the third pattern 103c may have a shape corresponding to that of the fourth pattern 104c. Or, the first to fourth patterns 101c, 102c, 103c, 104c may have corresponding shapes to each other.

[0294] The first and second patterns 101c, 102c may be rectangular in shape, but are not limited thereto, and may have a polygonal, circular or elliptical shape.

[0295] The first pattern 101c includes a first pattern portion 101o arranged in odd numbers along the first direction and a second pattern portion 101e arranged in even numbers along the first direction.

[0296] The first pattern portions 101o arranged along the first direction are electrically connected via a conductive pattern 101om, and the second pattern portions 101e arranged along the first direction are electrically connected via a conductive pattern.

[0297] The conductive pattern 101om that electrically connects two first pattern portions 101o arranged along the first direction to each other is arranged adjacent to one side of the second pattern portion 101e arranged between the two first pattern portions 101o.

[0298] Furthermore, a conductive pattern that electrically connects the two second pattern portions 101e, which are arranged along the first direction, is also arranged adjacent to the other side of the first pattern portion located between the two second pattern portions 101e.

[0299] This arrangement of conductive patterns 101om allows the touch sensor 100c shown in Figure 31 to minimize the length of conductive patterns 101om and thus minimize resistance, and also minimize capacitance because the conductive patterns 101om do not overlap with other patterns. In other words, the touch sensor 100c shown in Figure 31 has all the advantages of the touch sensor 100b in Figure 29, which has the advantage of minimizing resistance, and the touch sensor 100b' in Figure 30, which has the advantage of minimizing capacitance.

[0300] A number of second patterns 102c arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a number of conductive patterns. Two adjacent second patterns along the first direction may be electrically connected by a single conductive pattern. A second pattern located at one end of the number of second patterns 102c arranged along the first direction may be electrically connected to the control unit 300 shown in Figure 25, while a second pattern 102c located at the other end is electrically connected to the number of second patterns arranged along the second direction via a conductive pattern 102m. Through this, the electrical connection path may be configured similarly to that of the second pattern 102a shown in Figure 25.

[0301] The touch sensor 100c shown in Figure 31 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25. Therefore, the touch sensor 100c shown in Figure 31 can also sense the touch position of an object and drive and sense a stylus pen in the various ways described in Table 1 above. Specifically, the touch sensors 100a shown in Figures 26 to 28 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100c shown in Figure 31. A touch input device having such a touch sensor 100c and control unit 300 can similarly perform the touch drive / sensing mode of Figure 26, the pen drive mode of Figure 27, and the stylus sensing mode of Figure 28 described above. Furthermore, the touch sensor 100c of Figure 31 can also be used in any one of the methods No. 2 to No. 32 of Table 1 above.

[0302] Figure 32 shows a fifth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24.

[0303] Referring to Figure 32, the touch sensor 100d includes a number of first to fourth patterns 101d, 102d, 103d, and 104d. The number of first to fourth patterns 101d, 102d, 103d, and 104d are arranged together on the same layer.

[0304] The first pattern 101d is arranged in multiples along a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to each other. Here, the first direction may be the long axis of the screen of the touch input device, and the second direction may be the short axis of the screen of the touch input device.

[0305] A first pattern 101d includes a first pattern section 101o and a second pattern section 101e. A plurality of first patterns 101d include a plurality of first pattern sections 101o and a plurality of second pattern sections 101e, where one first pattern section 101o and one second pattern section 101e are arranged alternately along a first direction.

[0306] A number of first pattern portions 101o arranged along the first direction are electrically connected by conductive patterns, and a number of second pattern portions 101e arranged along the first direction are also electrically connected by conductive patterns. However, a number of first pattern portions 101o arranged along the second direction are not electrically connected to each other. Similarly, a number of second pattern portions 101e arranged along the second direction are not electrically connected to each other.

[0307] The first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e may each have a rectangular shape. If they are rectangular, they may be polygons with at least four sides. Although not shown in the drawings, the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e may each have an elliptical or circular shape.

[0308] Each of the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e may have an opening in which at least one second pattern 102d is placed. The shape of the opening may correspond to the shape of the first pattern section 101o and the second pattern section 101e, respectively.

[0309] One first pattern portion 101o has a structure that surrounds at least part or all of one second pattern 102d and is electrically insulated from each other, and one second pattern portion 101e also has a structure that surrounds at least part or all of one second pattern 102b and is electrically insulated from each other.

[0310] A plurality of first patterns 101d arranged along a first direction form the same electrical path as the first pattern 101 shown in Figure 24. The plurality of first patterns 101d arranged along a first direction have two input / output channels (or terminals). One channel is a channel in which a plurality of first pattern sections 101o arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a conductive pattern, and the other channel is a channel in which a plurality of second pattern sections 101e arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a conductive pattern. The two channels may be electrically connected to the control unit 300 shown in Figure 25.

[0311] The second pattern 102d is arranged in at least one place inside each of the numerous first pattern sections 101o and the numerous second pattern sections 101e.

[0312] A number of second patterns 102d arranged along a first direction are electrically connected by a number of conductive patterns. Two second patterns adjacent to each other along the first direction may be electrically connected by a single conductive pattern. A second pattern located at one end of the number of second patterns 102d arranged along the first direction may be electrically connected to the control unit shown in Figure 25, while a second pattern 102d located at the other end is electrically connected to the number of second patterns arranged along the second direction via a conductive pattern 102m. Through this, the electrical connection path may be the same as that of the second pattern 102a shown in Figure 25.

[0313] Each of the numerous third patterns 103d has a shape that extends along the second direction (or minor axis). One third pattern 103d surrounds a number of first patterns arranged along the second direction.

[0314] Each of the numerous third patterns 103d located in an odd-numbered position in the first direction has a number of openings into which a number of first pattern sections 101o arranged along the second direction are positioned. One first pattern section 101o is positioned in each opening.

[0315] Each of the numerous third patterns 103d that are positioned in an even number of positions in the first direction has a number of openings into which a number of second pattern sections 101e arranged along the second direction are positioned. One second pattern section 101e is positioned in each opening.

[0316] Each third pattern 103d may include a third external pattern 103o, a number of third internal patterns 103i, and a number of third linked patterns 103c.

[0317] The third external pattern 103o has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the third pattern 103d, and may be a closed curve shape extending along the second direction. A number of third internal patterns 103i and a number of third connecting patterns 103c are arranged inside one third external pattern 103o.

[0318] Multiple third internal patterns 103i are arranged along a second direction within a single third external pattern 103o. Each third internal pattern 103i has a rectangular or elliptical shape and an opening in which a first pattern section 101o or a second pattern section 101e is placed. The shape of the opening may correspond to the external shape of the third internal pattern 103i.

[0319] The numerous third connecting patterns 103c electrically connect the numerous third internal patterns 103i arranged along the second direction, and electrically connect the third internal patterns located at both ends of the numerous third internal patterns 103i arranged along the second direction to the first external pattern 103o.

[0320] Each of the numerous fourth patterns 104d has a shape that extends along the second direction and is positioned adjacent to the third pattern 103d.

[0321] The other ends of the numerous fourth patterns 104d are electrically connected to one another by conductive patterns 104m.

[0322] Each fourth pattern 104d is placed within a single third pattern 103d. More specifically, the fourth pattern 104d may be placed in an opening (or inner opening) defined by the third external pattern 103o, a number of third internal patterns 103i, and a number of third connecting patterns 103c of the third pattern 103d.

[0323] The fourth pattern 104d may include a fourth upper pattern 104u and a fourth lower pattern 104l. A predetermined space is formed between the third outer pattern 103o and a number of third inner patterns 103i, and the predetermined space is divided into two openings by a number of third connecting patterns 103c, the fourth upper pattern 104u may be placed in the upper opening of the two openings, and the fourth lower pattern 104l may be placed in the lower opening of the two openings. The shapes of the fourth upper pattern 104u and the fourth lower pattern 104l may correspond to the shapes of the upper opening and the lower opening, respectively.

[0324] The fourth upper pattern 104u and the fourth lower pattern 104l may be electrically connected by a conductive pattern that extends along the first direction and intersects with the third connecting pattern 103c.

[0325] The touch sensor 100d shown in Figure 32 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100a shown in Figure 25. Therefore, the touch sensor 100d shown in Figure 32 can also sense the touch position of an object and drive and sense a stylus pen in the various ways described in Table 1 above. Specifically, the touch sensors 100a shown in Figures 26 to 29 can be replaced with the touch sensor 100d shown in Figure 32. A touch input device having such a touch sensor 100d and control unit 300 can similarly perform the touch drive / sensing mode of Figure 26, the pen drive mode of Figure 27, and the stylus sensing mode of Figure 28 described above. Furthermore, the touch sensor 100d of Figure 32 can also be used in any one of the methods No. 2 to No. 32 of Table 1 above.

[0326] Figure 33 shows a sixth embodiment of the touch sensor 100' of the touch input device shown in Figure 24.

[0327] The structure and shape of the first to fourth patterns 101d, 102d, 103d, and 104d of the touch sensor 100d' shown in Figure 33 are identical to those of the first to fourth patterns 101d, 102d, 103d, and 104d of the touch sensor 100d shown in Figure 32. Therefore, the explanation of the structure and shape of the first to fourth patterns 101d, 102d, 103d, and 104d will be replaced by the explanation given above.

[0328] The difference between the touch sensor 100d' shown in Figure 33 and the touch sensor 100d shown in Figure 32 is that the first pattern 101d has a conductive pattern 101om that electrically connects two adjacent first pattern portions 101o in the first direction, and a conductive pattern that electrically connects two adjacent second pattern portions 101e.

[0329] The conductive pattern 101om is positioned to bypass the second pattern 102d without intersecting it.

[0330] In the touch sensor 100d of Figure 32, the conductive pattern 101om that electrically connects two adjacent first pattern portions 101o in the first direction of the first pattern 101d, and the conductive pattern that electrically connects two adjacent second pattern portions 101e, have a shape that extends in a straight line in the first direction, and thus have a portion that overlaps with the second pattern 102d. A predetermined capacitance may be formed between the conductive pattern and the second pattern 102d in the overlapping portion. This predetermined capacitance may affect the touch sensing or stylus sensing sensitivity and may also affect the operating frequency bandwidth.

[0331] On the other hand, the conductive pattern 101om in Figure 33 is arranged to bypass the second pattern 102d without overlapping it, so the capacitance described above is not formed, which has the advantage of reducing the impact on touch sensing or stylus sensing sensitivity and also reducing the impact on the operating frequency bandwidth.

[0332] On the other hand, the conductive pattern in Figure 32 has the advantage of having a lower resistance than the conductive pattern 101om in Figure 33, because it is shorter in length.

[0333] In the foregoing, the features, structures, and effects described in the embodiments are included in one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to just one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, and effects exemplified in each embodiment can be combined or modified and implemented in other embodiments by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment belongs. Therefore, the content related to such combinations and modifications should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention.

[0334] Furthermore, although the above description has focused on embodiments, these are merely illustrative examples and do not limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs will understand that various modifications and applications not exemplified above are possible, as long as they do not deviate from the essential characteristics of these embodiments. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. Such differences in modifications and applications should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0335] 1: Touch input device 10, 10', 100, 100', 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d: Touch sensor 13, 300: Control Unit

Claims

1. A touch sensor including a plurality of first touch electrodes, a plurality of second touch electrodes arranged to intersect the plurality of first touch electrodes, a plurality of first pen electrodes arranged adjacent to each of the first touch electrodes, and a plurality of second pen electrodes arranged adjacent to each of the second touch electrodes, The system includes a control unit that is electrically connected to the plurality of first or second touch electrodes and electrically connected to the plurality of first pen electrodes or the second pen electrode to control the touch sensor, Each of the first touch electrodes includes a pair of electrode portions, the first electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions is arranged adjacent to at least one portion of the plurality of second touch electrodes and not adjacent to at least one remaining touch electrode, and the second electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions is arranged adjacent to at least one remaining touch electrode of the plurality of second touch electrodes and not adjacent to at least one portion of the touch electrode, One end of each of the plurality of first pen electrodes is electrically connected to each other, and one end of each of the plurality of second pen electrodes is electrically connected to each other. The control unit controls the application of a first drive signal to the first electrode portion of the first touch electrode and a second drive signal to the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode simultaneously. The second drive signal is the same as the first drive signal with the phase shifted by 180 degrees, and is a touch input device.

2. The first electrode portion of the first touch electrode and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are arranged alternately along one direction. The plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the aforementioned one direction are electrically connected to each other and connected to the control unit. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second electrode portions arranged along the aforementioned one direction are electrically connected to each other and connected to the control unit.

3. The first electrode portion of the first touch electrode is arranged to surround at least part or all of one of the first pen electrodes. The second electrode portion of the first touch electrode is arranged to surround at least part or all of the other first pen electrode. The touch input device according to claim 1, wherein the second touch electrode is arranged to surround at least part or all of one of the second pen electrodes.

4. The touch input device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of first touch electrodes are arranged in different layers from the plurality of second touch electrodes.

5. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion include a first pattern portion, a second pattern portion, and a connecting pattern portion disposed between the first and second pattern portions. The touch input device according to claim 3, wherein the first pattern portion has an inverted triangular shape, the second pattern portion has a triangular shape, and the connecting pattern portion has a square shape.

6. The aforementioned second touch electrode includes multiple patterns arranged in one direction, The touch input device according to claim 2, wherein the first touch electrode is arranged between the plurality of patterns.

7. The touch input device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of first touch electrodes are arranged on the same layer as the plurality of second touch electrodes.

8. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are arranged alternately along one direction. It includes a connecting pattern portion that electrically connects a plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the aforementioned one direction, The touch input device according to claim 6, wherein the connecting pattern portion is arranged so as not to overlap with the second touch electrode.

9. The touch input device according to claim 3, wherein the second touch electrode is arranged to surround at least part or all of the first pen electrode.

10. The first electrode portion of the first touch electrode and the second electrode portion of the first touch electrode are arranged alternately along one direction. The touch input device according to claim 3, wherein the second touch electrode is arranged to surround the first or second electrode portion of the plurality of first touch electrodes arranged along another direction perpendicular to the one direction.

11. It includes a connecting pattern portion that electrically connects a plurality of first electrode portions arranged along the aforementioned one direction, The touch input device according to claim 8, wherein the connecting pattern portion is arranged so as not to overlap with the plurality of second electrode portions arranged along the one direction.

12. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising a display panel in which the touch sensor is disposed internally.

13. The touch input device according to claim 1, further comprising a display panel disposed above or below the touch sensor.

14. The control unit is configured to operate the touch sensor in one of the following modes: a touch drive / sensing mode for sensing the presence or absence of touch on an object and / or the touch position; a pen drive mode for driving a stylus pen; and a stylus sensing mode for sensing the touch position of the stylus pen. In the touch drive / sensing mode, the control unit is configured to apply the first and second drive signals to at least one of the plurality of first touch electrodes, and to receive sensing signals from the plurality of second touch electrodes. In the pen driving mode, the control unit is configured to apply a pen driving signal to at least one of the electrodes among the plurality of first touch electrodes, the plurality of first pen electrodes, the plurality of second touch electrodes, and the plurality of second pen electrodes for driving the stylus pen. In the stylus sensing mode, the control unit is configured to receive a pen sensing signal emitted from the stylus pen through a combination of one type of electrode from the plurality of first touch electrodes and the plurality of first pen electrodes, and one type of electrode from the plurality of second touch electrodes and the plurality of second pen electrodes. A touch input device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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