Integrated Display Gate Driver Layout for In-Frame Capacitive Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing input devices with integrated display and sensing capabilities face challenges in performing capacitive sensing without interrupting display update cycles, leading to display artifacts and performance issues due to the need for pausing or interrupting display updates during sensing operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a processing system with multiple independent gate driver circuits that allow for simultaneous display updates across different regions of the display frame without interruption, enabling capacitive sensing to be performed during non-display update periods between these updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If capacitive sensing is performed during display update cycles, then sensing operations can be executed, but display artifacts and performance issues occur due to interruption of display updates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay performanceVSAvoidsensing operation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gate driver circuits are divided into multiple independent segments, each responsible for updating specific display regions. This segmentation allows different gate driver circuits to operate at different times, creating non-display update periods during which capacitive sensing can be performed without interrupting the overall display update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Display updates for certain regions are completed in advance before capacitive sensing operations are initiated. The processing system schedules display updates and sensing operations such that sensing occurs during pre-planned non-display update periods, ensuring display integrity is maintained while enabling sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If display updates are interrupted for capacitive sensing, then sensing operations can be performed, but display artifacts are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapacitive sensing capabilityVSAvoiddisplay artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The display is divided into multiple regions managed by separate gate driver circuits. By segmenting the display update process, the system can complete updates for some regions while performing capacitive sensing on others, avoiding the generation of display artifacts that would result from interrupting a single unified update cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display update process continues uninterrupted through the use of multiple gate driver circuits operating in parallel or sequence. While one gate driver circuit completes its update cycle, another can perform capacitive sensing, ensuring that the overall display update action remains continuous and artifact-free.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If multiple gate driver circuits are used for simultaneous display updates, then uninterrupted display updates and improved sensing performance are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay update efficiencyVSAvoidgate driver circuit configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple gate driver circuits are designed with identical or similar functional capabilities, each capable of driving gate electrodes for display updates and allowing capacitive sensing operations. This universality means that while the number of circuits increases, the complexity of each individual circuit remains manageable and standardized, easing design and fabrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach ensures uninterrupted display updates and improved capacitive sensing performance by allowing multiple sensing periods within a display frame without affecting the charge state of pixel gate lines, thereby reducing display artifacts and enhancing overall performance.

Implementation Method 1

operate, during a third period between the first and second periods, at least a first sensor electrode of the plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS10592022B2Display device with an integrated sensing device having multiple gate driver circuits

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 SYNAPTICS INC

AI summary

Embodiments described herein include a method, processing system, and input device having a display device with an integrated sensing device. The method comprises selecting, using first gate driver circuitry, a first subset of a first plurality of gate electrodes of the display device for performing display updating during a first period. The method further comprises selecting, using second gate driver circuitry, a first subset of a second plurality of gate electrodes of the display device for display updating during a second period. The method further comprises operating, during a third period between the first and second periods, at least a first sensor electrode of a plurality of sensor electrodes for capacitive sensing.