Touch Panel Driver Pin Reconfiguration for More Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch panel drivers often have insufficient pins to accommodate the number of touch electrodes, leading to the need for larger drivers and potential underutilization of pins due to the absence of synchronization signals.
Innovation Solution
The display device utilizes a touch panel driver with pins configured for multiple functions, including receiving touch signals, synchronization signals, and driving voltages, through the use of analog-digital converters and signal receivers, allowing pins to be repurposed as GPIO pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a touch panel driver with more pins is used to accommodate more touch electrodes, then the number of touch electrodes that can be connected increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling pins to serve multiple purposes: receiving touch signals from touch electrodes, receiving synchronization signals, and being converted to GPIO pins through analog-digital conversion. This allows a smaller number of pins to accommodate a larger number of touch electrodes by dynamically assigning pin functions based on operational mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic pin configuration where pins can switch between different functional modes (touch signal reception, synchronization signal reception, GPIO functionality) through analog-digital converters. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical pin to serve different logical purposes, reducing the total pin count required.
2Quantity of substance
If a touch panel driver with more pins is used to accommodate more touch electrodes, then the number of touch electrodes that can be connected increases, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing cost by making pins universal - each pin can function as a touch electrode input, synchronization signal input, or GPIO pin through analog-digital conversion. This eliminates the need to manufacture drivers with excessive pins, thereby reducing component cost and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of pins through analog-digital converters, allowing the same physical pin to operate in different modes (analog touch signal mode, digital synchronization mode, or digital GPIO mode). This parameter flexibility reduces the number of physical pins needed, lowering manufacturing costs.
3Device complexity
If synchronization signals are not included in a specific touch panel driver, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability of the driver decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves adaptability without increasing complexity by making pins universal through analog-digital converters. The same pin infrastructure can handle touch signals, synchronization signals, or GPIO functions depending on configuration, providing versatility while maintaining a streamlined driver design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent provides dynamic adaptability where the driver can reconfigure pin functions on-the-fly through analog-digital conversion. This allows the driver to adapt to different operational requirements (touch mode, synchronization mode, or GPIO mode) without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes: a touch panel to sense a touch; and a touch panel driver to drive the touch panel, the touch panel driver including: pins including a first pin and a second pin to receive a signal corresponding to the touch from the touch panel; signal receivers connected to the pins, respectively; and a first analog-digital converter connected to a signal receiver connected to the first pin from among the signal receivers, the first analog-digital converter being configured to output a first signal or a second signal according to a magnitude of an input signal of the first analog-digital converter.