Integrated In-Plane Switching Display Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for integrating multi-touch functionality with displays often require separate touch sensing circuitry, leading to increased costs and reduced display brightness due to non-transparent touch-related layers.
Innovation Solution
The integration of multi-touch functionality into existing display circuitry, allowing for shared circuitry and synchronized operation to minimize noise interference and reduce the need for additional layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate multi-touch panel layers are mounted on top of display, then multi-touch functionality is achieved, but display brightness decreases and system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the multi-touch sensing functionality with the display circuitry by utilizing the same pixel electrodes and scan/data lines for both display operation and touch sensing. This integration eliminates the need for separate multi-touch panel layers, thereby maintaining display brightness while enabling multi-touch capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display circuitry is designed to perform multiple functions: the pixel electrodes and scan/data lines serve dual purposes as both display driving elements and touch sensing electrodes. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve multi-touch functionality without adding separate dedicated layers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate multi-touch panel layers are mounted on top of display, then multi-touch functionality is achieved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the multi-touch sensing circuitry with the display circuitry, sharing the same pixel electrodes, scan lines, and data lines. This merging reduces the number of separate components and layers required, thereby lowering manufacturing complexity and system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuitry is designed to be universal, where the same elements drive both display functionality and touch sensing operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated multi-touch components, reducing overall system cost.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multi-touch related layers are added to display, then multi-touch functionality is achieved, but noise interference between display and touch sensing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic multiplexing where the display and touch sensing operations are performed in alternating time periods. The same circuitry is used for both functions, but at different times, which prevents simultaneous noise generation and allows for effective noise isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary discharge of the pixel electrodes before touch sensing operations. This preliminary action ensures that any residual charges from display operations are cleared before touch sensing begins, preventing noise interference from previous display cycles.
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 reduces costs and maintains display brightness by utilizing existing display circuitry for multi-touch functionality, ensuring effective and efficient multi-touch capabilities without detrimental effects on display performance.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid crystal layer (layer 101) can be placed above the TFT layer. The liquid crystal layer can include a plurality of liquid crystals, such as liquid crystals 102
Implementation Method 2
Electrode 206 can be excited, or driven by applying a voltage simultaneously through scan line 204 and data line 201. The voltage differential can create the lateral (i.e., substantially parallel to the screen surface) fields which are used to control the shape of the liquid crystals
Implementation Method 3
The voltage differential can create the lateral (i.e., substantially parallel to the screen surface) fields which are used to control the shape of the liquid crystals
Implementation Method 4
A capacitance 400 can exist between the two comb electrodes (206 and 207). Similarly, capacitors 401 and 402 can reflect capacitances formed in cells 212 and 213
Implementation Method 5
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/483,008 filed on Jul. 6, 2006 and entitled 'Capacitance Sensing Electrode with Integrated I/O Mechanism' (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) teaches capacitance based touch sensing
Data Source
AI summary
This relates to adding multi-touch functionality to a display without the need of a separate multi-touch panel or layer overlaying the display. Instead, embodiments of the invention can advantageously utilize existing display circuitry to provide multi-touch functionality while adding relatively little circuitry that is specific to the multi-touch functionality. Thus, by sharing circuitry for the display and the multi-touch functionalities, embodiments of the invention can be implemented at a lower cost than the alternative of superimposing additional multi-touch related layers onto an existing display panel. Furthermore, since the display and multi-touch functionality can be implemented on the same circuit, they can be synchronized so that noise resulting from the display functionality does not detrimentally affect the multi-touch functionality and vice versa.