In-Cell Touch Screen Time-Division Driving IC Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-Cell touch screen technology requires time-division driving of common electrodes, leading to reduced compatibility between display IC and touch IC chips, necessitating customization and increasing integration costs.
Innovation Solution
A touch screen design that includes a first and second switching unit, integrated with a display driving unit and a touch driving unit, respectively, to time-division output common and touch electrode driving signals to the common electrode layer, using thin film transistors and a timing control unit for synchronization, thereby maintaining compatibility with various IC manufacturers and simplifying the control circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If time-division driving of common electrodes is implemented in In-Cell touch screen technology, then both display IC chip and touch IC chip need to be customized, but compatibility between ICs of respective manufacturers is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the switching function from the IC chips and implements it through dedicated switching units (first switching unit 120 and second switching unit 160) on the array substrate. This separation allows the IC chips to maintain their original functions while the switching units handle the time-division multiplexing, thereby preserving compatibility with existing IC manufacturers' products.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching units act as intermediary components between the display driving unit and the common electrode layer, and between the touch driving unit and the common electrode layer. These intermediaries enable time-division driving without requiring customization of the IC chips themselves, thus maintaining compatibility while achieving the desired functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If switching units are integrated on the array substrate, then compatibility and cost are improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the switching units with the array substrate structure, integrating them into the existing manufacturing process. The first switching unit 120 and second switching unit 160 are formed using the same thin film transistor fabrication processes as the display pixels, which simplifies manufacturing despite the increased circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching units are designed to serve multiple functions: the first switching unit 120 switches the common electrode driving signal during display periods, while the second switching unit 160 switches the touch electrode driving signal during touch scan periods. This multi-functionality is achieved through time-division multiplexing controlled by the timing control unit 140, reducing the need for separate dedicated circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a touch screen, a display device, and a method of driving a touch screen. The touch screen comprises: an array substrate having a common electrode layer; a display driving unit configured to provide a common electrode driving signal to the common electrode layer; a touch driving unit configured to provide a touch electrode driving signal to the common electrode layer, wherein the array substrate further comprises a first switching unit configured to switch so as to output the common electrode driving signal to the common electrode layer. The touch screen further comprises a second switching unit configured to output the touch electrode driving signal generated by the touch driving unit to the common electrode layer. The common electrode driving signal and the touch electrode driving signal are time-division output to the common electrode layer.