KR102846193B1 - Touch input device and method for touch driving thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof, and more specifically, to a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof capable of determining a floating ground state of a touch input device and the intensity (severity) of the floating ground state, and restoring a touch signal detected in the floating ground state to a touch signal in a normal ground state.

Description

Touch input device and touch driving method thereof {TOUCH INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TOUCH DRIVING THEREOF}

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof, and more specifically, to a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof capable of determining a floating ground state of a touch input device and the intensity (severity) of the floating ground state, and restoring a touch signal detected in the floating ground state to a touch signal in a normal ground state.

A variety of input devices are used to operate computing systems. Examples include buttons, keys, joysticks, and touchscreens. The ease and convenience of using touchscreens has led to an increase in their use in computing systems.

A touch sensor is a type of information input device that can be installed and used on a display panel. For example, the touch sensor can be attached to one side of the display panel or manufactured as an integral part of the display panel. A user can input information by touching the touch sensor while viewing an image displayed on the display panel.

A conventional touch input device equipped with a touch screen panel has a problem in a LGM (Low Ground Mass) situation. The problem is that when a touch input device equipped with a touch sensor is not held by a user's hand (in a floating GND state or LGM state) and a predetermined touch occurs, a signal that should be normally detected from the standpoint of the touch input device disappears or the signal that should be detected is split, resulting in a phenomenon in which a signal is detected as having been touched at two or more points when the touch sensor is implemented with a single layer or dual layer of driving and receiving electrodes.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof that can distinguish whether the touch input device is in a normal ground (good ground) state or a floating ground (floating GND) state.

In addition, a touch input device capable of determining the degree of floating ground (GND) status and a touch driving method thereof are provided.

In addition, a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof capable of restoring a reception signal in a floating ground state (floating GND) to a reception signal in a normal ground state (good ground) are provided.

In addition, a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof are provided that can restore a reception signal in a floating ground state to a reception signal in a normal ground state (good ground) with minimal additional driving time and power consumption.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device comprises: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes; and a control unit that controls the touch sensor; wherein the plurality of first electrodes are arranged along a first direction, and each of the first electrodes has a predetermined shape along a second direction different from the first direction; the plurality of second electrodes are arranged along the second direction, and each of the second electrodes has a predetermined shape along the first direction; and the control unit controls the touch sensor to be driven in a predetermined driving mode at an arbitrary time interval, and the driving mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a driving signal to be applied to at least one first electrode among the plurality of first electrodes and receives a reception signal from at least one other first electrode to which the driving signal is not applied, or controls the driving signal to be applied to at least one second electrode among the plurality of second electrodes and receives a reception signal from at least one other second electrode to which the driving signal is not applied.

Here, the driving mode is a mode in which the control unit controls the driving signal to be applied to the at least one first electrode, receives a first reception signal from the at least another first electrode, controls the driving signal to be applied to the at least another first electrode, and receives a second reception signal from the at least one first electrode, and the control unit can determine whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state based on the first and second reception signals.

Here, depending on the signs of the first and second reception signals, the control unit can determine whether the touch input device is in the floating ground state or the normal ground state.

Here, the control unit can determine the strength of the floating ground state based on the magnitude of the first and second reception signals.

Here, the driving mode includes a mutual mode and a self mode, and the mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a mutual driving signal to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives a mutual reception signal from the plurality of second electrodes, and the self mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a self-driving signal to be applied to each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes and receives a self-reception signal from each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, and the control unit can restore the mutual reception signal to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state based on the first and second reception signals and the self-reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes.

Here, the driving mode includes a mutual mode, and the mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls mutual driving signals to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives mutual reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes, and the driving mode further includes controlling the driving signal to be applied to the at least one second electrode, receiving a third reception signal from the at least another second electrode, and controlling the driving signal to be applied to the at least another second electrode and receiving a fourth reception signal from the at least one second electrode, and the control unit can restore the mutual reception signal to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state based on the first to fourth reception signals.

Here, the at least one first electrode and the at least one other first electrode may be arranged alternately along the first direction, and the at least one second electrode and the at least one other second electrode may be arranged alternately along the second direction.

Here, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes can be arranged together on the same layer.

Here, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes can be arranged in different layers.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for driving a touch input device, comprising: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes; and a control unit for controlling the touch sensor; the method comprising: a step of the control unit driving the touch sensor in a predetermined driving mode; and a step of determining whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state based on a reception signal output in the driving mode; wherein the driving mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a driving signal to be applied to at least one first electrode among the plurality of first electrodes and receives a reception signal from at least one other first electrode to which the driving signal is not applied, or controls the driving signal to be applied to at least one second electrode among the plurality of second electrodes and receives a reception signal from at least one other second electrode to which the driving signal is not applied.

Here, the driving mode may be a mode in which the driving signal is controlled to be applied to at least one first electrode, a first reception signal is received from at least another first electrode, the driving signal is controlled to be applied to at least another first electrode, and a second reception signal is received from at least one first electrode.

Here, the driving mode includes a mutual mode and a self mode, and the mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a mutual driving signal to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives a mutual reception signal from the plurality of second electrodes, and the self mode is a mode in which the control unit controls a self-driving signal to be applied to each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes and receives a self-reception signal from each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, and may further include a step of restoring the mutual reception signal to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state based on the first and second reception signals and the self-reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes.

Here, the driving mode includes a mutual mode, and the mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls mutual driving signals to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives mutual reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes, and the driving mode further includes controlling the driving signal to be applied to at least one second electrode, receiving a third reception signal from at least another second electrode, and controlling the driving signal to be applied to at least another second electrode and receiving a fourth reception signal from the at least one second electrode, and may further include a step of restoring the mutual reception signal to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state based on the first to fourth reception signals.

By using a touch input device and a touch driving method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage in that it is possible to distinguish whether the touch input device is in a good ground state or a floating ground state.

Additionally, there is the advantage of being able to determine the extent of the floating GND status.

Additionally, there is an advantage in that a reception signal in a floating ground state can be restored to a reception signal in a good ground state.

Additionally, it has the advantage of being able to restore a received signal in a floating GND state to a received signal in a normal ground state (good ground) with minimal additional operating time and power consumption.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining an example of the touch input device (1) illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the touch input device (1') is placed in a floating ground state (or LGM state).
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change in electrostatic capacity detected by the control unit of the touch input device (1') shown in FIG. 2 when the touch input device (1') is in a normal ground state (Good GND) and a floating ground state (Floating GND) for each touch action (Thumb, 2Fingers).
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing one pattern structure of a touch sensor (150) included in the touch input device (1') illustrated in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a touch driving method of the touch input device (1') illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining received signals obtained by the control unit operating the touch sensor (150) illustrated in FIG. 4 in various driving modes when a thumb touch (Thumb) of FIG. 3 is applied to the touch surface of the touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention when the touch input device is in a floating ground state.
Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the result of restoring a mutual reception signal using combination 1 of Table 1 above.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one method for restoring a mutual reception signal in a floating ground state to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state.
FIG. 9 is a graph for explaining a first driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 is a graph for explaining a second driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.
FIG. 11 is a graph for explaining a third driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.

The following detailed description of the present invention refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention, while different from each other, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures, and characteristics described herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that the positions or arrangements of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the following detailed description is not intended to be limiting, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled, if properly described. Like reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar functions throughout the several aspects.

A touch input device according to various embodiments of the present document may include at least one of an electronic device, for example, a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a vehicle display device, a mobile phone, a video phone, an e-book reader, a laptop personal computer, a netbook computer, a mobile medical device, a camera, or a wearable device. Here, the wearable device may include at least one of an accessory type (e.g., a watch, a ring, a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, glasses, a contact lens, or a head-mounted device (HMD)), a fabric or clothing-integrated type (e.g., an electronic garment), a body-attached type (e.g., a skin pad or a tattoo), or a bio-implantable type (e.g., an implantable circuit).

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a touch input device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch input device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a touch sensor (10), a detection unit (11), a driving unit (12), and a control unit (13).

The driving unit (12) applies a driving signal (or TX signal) to the touch sensor (10) under the control of the control unit (13), and the detection unit (11) receives a detection signal (or RX signal) received from the touch sensor (10).

The driving unit (12) can sequentially supply a driving signal to a plurality of driving electrodes of the touch sensor (10). Alternatively, the driving unit (12) can simultaneously supply a driving signal to at least two of the plurality of driving electrodes of the touch sensor (10).

The detection unit (11) receives signals output from multiple receiving electrodes of the touch sensor (10). Here, the signals may include information on the amount of capacitance change between adjacent driving electrodes and receiving electrodes, LGM noise signals, and display noise signals.

The detection unit (11) can convert analog to digital signals output from multiple receiving electrodes and output them. For this purpose, the detection unit (11) can include a comparator and an ADC.

The control unit (13) can detect whether there is a touch and/or a touch location, whether there is a floating ground state, the shape of the touch object, etc. based on the digital signal output from the detection unit (11).

In Fig. 1, the detection unit (11), the driving unit (12), and the control unit (13) are illustrated separately for convenience of explanation, but this is not limited thereto. For example, at least one or two or more of the detection unit (11), the driving unit (12), and the control unit (13) may be implemented as one module, unit, or chip, and the detection unit (11), the driving unit (12), and the control unit (13) may also be implemented as one module, unit, or chip.

The touch input device (1) illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a display panel. In this case, the touch sensor (10) may be positioned on the display panel or within the display panel. In some cases, the touch sensor (10) may also be positioned beneath the display panel.

For 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 the 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 the lower substrate of the display panel. The touch sensor (10) may be combined with the display panel to form a touch screen.

The touch sensor (10) includes a plurality of electrodes of a predetermined shape, and the predetermined electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes. Here, when a driving signal is applied to the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of first electrodes may become a plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm), and the plurality of second electrodes may become a plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn).

A plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and a plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may be arranged to intersect each other. A predetermined mutual capacitance (14, C00, C10, ..., Cnm) may be formed between the plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and the plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn), particularly at their intersections.

Each of the driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) may extend in a first-axis direction, and each of the receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may extend in a second-axis direction different from the first-axis direction. Here, the second-axis direction may be a direction perpendicular to the first-axis direction.

A plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and a plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may be arranged together in the same layer (1 layer) or may be arranged in different double layers (2 layers). In addition, some of the plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) may be arranged in a different layer from the rest, and some of the plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may also be arranged in a different layer from the rest. The plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and the plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may have a shape of a diamond pattern, a circle, an oval, or a polygon.

A plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and a plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may be formed of a metal mesh. These plurality of driving electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, ..., TXm) and a plurality of receiving electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, ..., RXn) may be patterned on a thin film encapsulation (TFE) layer of a display panel.

FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining an example of the touch input device (1) illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the touch input device (1') is placed in a floating ground state (or LGM state).

Referring to FIG. 2, the floating ground state of the touch input device (1') may be a case where the user touches the screen without holding the body of the touch input device (1') with the hand (H) while the touch input device (1') is not connected to a power cable and is placed on a desk or a wireless charger. In this floating ground state, a phenomenon occurs in which the detected touch signal is split or disappears differently from a normal ground state, and this causes a touch malfunction different from the user's intention to occur in the touch input device (1'). Specifically, this will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change in electrostatic capacity detected by the control unit of the touch input device (1') shown in FIG. 2 when the touch input device (1') is in a normal ground state (Good GND) and a floating ground state (Floating GND) for each touch action (Thumb, 2Fingers).

Referring to FIG. 3, the touch action on the touch surface of the touch input device (1') may be a thumb touch, two multi-touches in the vertical direction (2 Fingers), or two multi-touches in the horizontal direction (2 Fingers).

For each touch operation, in the floating ground (Floating GND) state, the received signal detected by the control unit by the thumb touch (Thumb) or multi-touch (2 Fingers) can be confirmed to be relatively attenuated and split in size compared to the normal ground (Good GND) state. This attenuation and splitting of the received signal size causes the touch input device (1') to malfunction.

A touch input device capable of resolving a malfunction problem of a touch input device in such a floating ground state and a structure of a touch sensor that can be used in the touch input device are described below.

FIG. 4 is a drawing showing one pattern structure of a touch sensor (150) included in the touch input device (1') illustrated in FIG. 2.

The pattern structure of the touch sensor (150) illustrated in FIG. 4 is such that a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) are arranged in different layers.

Each of the first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) has a predetermined shape along the row direction (or the first direction), and a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) are arranged in a row along the column direction. Here, the predetermined shape may be a shape elongated along the row direction as illustrated in FIG. 4, or, although not illustrated in the drawing, may be a shape in which a plurality of diamond patterns are electrically connected by a bridge or a connection pattern.

Each of the second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) has a predetermined shape along the column direction (or the second direction), and a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) are arranged in a row along the row "? direction?*. Here, the predetermined shape may be a shape elongated along the column direction as illustrated in FIG. 4, or, although not illustrated in the drawing, may be a shape in which a plurality of diamond patterns are electrically connected by a bridge or a connection pattern.

A plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) may be arranged orthogonally to each other (hereinafter, “orthogonal pattern”). Here, the first electrodes are illustrated as driving electrodes to which a driving signal is applied, and the second electrodes are illustrated as sensing electrodes (or receiving electrodes) to which a sensing signal (or receiving signal) is output, but they may be configured in the opposite manner.

Meanwhile, although not illustrated in a separate drawing, at least a portion of the plurality of first electrodes and at least a portion of the plurality of second electrodes may be arranged together on the same layer. For example, the first electrodes and the second electrodes may include a rhombus (or diamond)-shaped pattern, and the rhombus-shaped pattern of the plurality of first electrodes and the rhombus-shaped pattern of the plurality of second electrodes may be arranged together on the same layer.

FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining a touch driving method of the touch input device (1') illustrated in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, for convenience of explanation, the driving method is explained using the touch sensor (150) of the touch input device (1') illustrated in FIG. 4, but this driving method can be applied as is to the touch sensor (150) illustrated in FIG. 4. In addition, it can be applied as is to touch sensors for smartphones, touch sensors for tablet PCs, and touch sensors for TVs other than those illustrated in (a) and (b) of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, a touch driving method of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a driving mode in which a control unit of the touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention controls to apply a predetermined driving signal (TX) to at least one first electrode among a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and receives a reception signal (RX) from at least one other first electrode to which the driving signal (TX) is not applied. In the past, a mutual mode was generally used in which a driving signal was applied to a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and a reception signal was obtained from a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7). However, in a touch driving method of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a driving signal is applied to at least one first electrode among a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) to which a driving signal is applied in a mutual mode, and a reception signal is received from at least one other first electrode to which a driving signal is not applied.

Meanwhile, optionally, the driving mode of the touch driving method of the touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention may be such that the control unit controls to apply a predetermined driving signal (TX) to at least one second electrode among a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7), and receives a reception signal (RX) from at least one other second electrode to which the driving signal (TX) is not applied.

In the above driving mode, in order for the control unit to obtain each reception signal (RX) from all of the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7), the control unit can perform Scan A and Scan B, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5.

For example, first, referring to scan A, the control unit can apply a driving signal (TX) to the first electrodes of the first group located in odd numbers along the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7), and receive a receiving signal (RX) from the first electrodes of the second group located in even numbers.

Next, referring to scan B, the control unit can apply a driving signal (TX) to the first electrodes of the second group located in even numbers along the column direction among the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7), and receive a receiving signal (RX) from the first electrodes of the first group located in odd numbers.

In this way, when scan A and scan B are performed, the control unit can receive a predetermined reception signal (RX) from all of the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7).

Here, as illustrated in FIG. 5, among the plurality of first electrodes, some (of the first group) of the first electrodes and the remaining (of the second group) of the first electrodes may be arranged alternately one by one, or two or more may be arranged alternately. Similarly, among the plurality of second electrodes, some (of the first group) of the second electrodes and the remaining (of the second group) of the second electrodes may be arranged alternately one by one, or two or more may be arranged alternately.

The above control unit can determine whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state based on the received signals (RX) obtained through the above driving mode, and can determine how severe the floating ground state is.

In addition, the control unit can restore the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state to a mutual reception signal corresponding to the normal ground state based on the reception signals (RX) obtained through the driving mode and the self-reception signals obtained through the self-driving mode. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.

Meanwhile, although not illustrated in a separate drawing, the control unit may use a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) instead of a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) for the driving mode. For example, first, as scan A, the control unit may apply a driving signal (TX) to second electrodes of a first group located in odd rows among the plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7), and receive a receiving signal (RX) from second electrodes of a second group located in even rows. Next, as scan B, the control unit can apply a driving signal (TX) to second electrodes of a second group located at even positions along the row direction among a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7), and receive a receiving signal (RX) from second electrodes of a first group located at odd positions. In this way, the control unit can perform the driving mode at a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) or a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7).

FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining received signals obtained by the control unit operating the touch sensor (150) illustrated in FIG. 4 in various driving modes when a thumb touch (Thumb) of FIG. 3 is applied to the touch surface of the touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention when the touch input device is in a floating ground state.

The first reception signal (a) of FIG. 6 is a reception signal obtained from a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) when the control unit simultaneously or sequentially applies driving signals to a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) of the touch sensor (150). This first reception signal (a) is a mutual reception signal, which is a reception signal obtained when the control unit operates the touch sensor (150) in a mutual driving mode. Here, the various digital values of the first reception signal (a) may be obtained by the control unit performing analog-to-digital conversion on signals received from a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7). The above multiple digital values correspond to the change in capacitance at the intersection of a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7).

The second reception signal (b) of FIG. 6 is a reception signal obtained from the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and the plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) when the control unit applies a driving signal to each of the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) and the plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7) of the touch sensor (150). This second reception signal (b) is a self-reception signal, and is a reception signal obtained when the control unit operates the touch sensor (150) in a self-driving mode. Here, among the digital values of the second reception signal (b), the digital values (-14, 51, 94, 102, 78, 9, -15, -17) listed in the vertical direction may be obtained by the control unit performing analog-to-digital conversion on self-reception signals received from a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7), and the digital values (-8, -1, 100, 147, 114, -16, -4, -7) listed in the horizontal direction may be obtained by analog-to-digital converting on self-reception signals received from a plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, RX2, RX3, RX4, RX5, RX6, RX7).

The third reception signal (c) of FIG. 6 is a reception signal obtained through the driving mode described above with reference to FIG. 5, and may be obtained by the control unit driving the touch sensor (150) in the driving mode and converting the reception signals received from a plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, TX2, TX3, TX4, TX5, TX6, TX7) into analog and digital.

The control unit can determine whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state or a normal ground state from the sign of the third reception signal (c). For example, when the sign of the third reception signal (c) is negative (-), the control unit can determine that the touch input device is in a floating ground state, and when the sign is positive (+), the control unit can determine that the touch input device is in a normal ground state. In the case of Fig. 6, since the signs of the digital values of the third reception signal (c) are all negative (-), the control unit can determine that the touch input device is currently in a floating ground state.

The control unit can determine how severe the floating ground state of the touch input device is from the magnitude of the third reception signal (c). For example, the greater the magnitude of the digital value (e.g., 440) with the largest absolute value among several digital values of the third reception signal (c), the more severe the floating ground state can be determined. The intensity (severity) of the floating ground state can be determined based on one or more preset threshold values. The threshold values can be boundaries that distinguish the stages of the intensity (severity).

The above control unit can determine the number of touch objects from the second reception signal (b). For example, it can determine whether there is one touch object or two or more touch objects from the second reception signal (b). In the case of Fig. 6, since the digital values of the second reception signal (b) on each of the horizontal and vertical axes generally form a parabola with an upward convex trend, the control unit can determine that there is one touch object.

The control unit can determine the shape of the touch object projected onto the plurality of first electrodes, which are horizontal axis electrodes, and the plurality of second electrodes, which are vertical axis electrodes, from the second reception signal (b). In the case of Fig. 6, according to the digital values of the second reception signal (b), the control unit can determine the shape of the touch object between the 1-1 electrode (TX1) to the 1-5 electrode (TX5) in the vertical axis and between the 2-2 electrode (RX2) to the 2-4 electrode (RX4) in the horizontal axis.

The above control unit can also determine the shape of the touch object projected onto the horizontal axis electrodes from the third reception signal (c). Here, since the third reception signal (c) is received from a plurality of first electrodes, which are horizontal axis electrodes, only the shape of the touch object projected onto the horizontal axis electrodes can be identified.

The above control unit can restore the shape of the touch object in the floating ground state and the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state to the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state based on the second reception signal (b) and the third reception signal (c). The control unit can determine the size of a compensation signal to be compensated for the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state during restoration. Here, the control unit can use any one of several combinations as shown in <Table 1> below to restore the reception signal in the floating ground state to the reception signal in the normal ground state.

Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the result of restoring a mutual reception signal using combination 1 of Table 1 above.

Referring to FIG. 7, as a result of the control unit restoring the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state to the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state, it was confirmed that the digital values of the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state after correction have a very similar tendency, although not identical, to the digital values of the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state.

When the control unit receives the first to third reception signals (a, b, c) shown in FIG. 6, one method for the control unit to restore the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state to the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state is described below with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating one method for restoring a mutual reception signal in a floating ground state to a mutual reception signal in a normal ground state.

The above control unit calculates the ratio of digital values greater than or equal to a preset threshold value among the digital values of the second reception signal (b) received from the plurality of second electrodes, which are vertical axis electrodes. For example, if the threshold value is 50, the ratio (1:1.47:1.16) of the digital values (100, 147, 116) of columns A2, A3, and A4, which are greater than the threshold value of 50, among the digital values of the second reception signal (b) in FIG. 8, is calculated.

The above control unit changes the signs of the digital values of the third reception signal (c) to positive (+) and selects digital values greater than a preset threshold value from among the changed digital values. For example, if the threshold value is 50, in FIG. 8, the digital values (343, 379, 440, 298) of rows B1, B2, B3, and B4, which are greater than the threshold value of 50, are selected from among the digital values of the third reception signal (c) whose signs have been changed.

The control unit restores, among the digital values of the first reception signal (a), the digital values (AB) that commonly belong to the columns (A2, A3, A4) in which the ratio (1: 1.47: 1.16) is set and the rows (B1, B2, B3, B4) corresponding to the selected digital values (343, 379, 440, 298) to the digital values of the first reception signal in a normal ground state. Here, as an example of the restoration method, the corresponding digital value (e.g., -73) in the digital values (AB) is replaced by a value obtained by multiplying the positive digital value (343) of the third reception signal (c) of the row (B1) to which the corresponding digital value belongs by the ratio (1) of the second reception signal (b) of the column (A2) to which the corresponding digital value belongs. By changing all of the digital values (AB) in this way, the changed digital signal values (AB') can be obtained. In this way, when the digital values (AB) among the mutual reception signals in the floating ground state are changed to the changed digital values (AB'), a graph similar to the floating ground state after correction (Flating GND (after correction)) of Fig. 7 can be obtained. Although this graph is not completely identical to the normal ground state (Good GND), it has a similar tendency, so that the control unit, through the above-described restoration process, enables the touch input device to accurately recognize the user's touch even in the floating ground state.

FIG. 9 is a graph for explaining a first driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 9, the control unit can drive the touch sensor (150) in various modes. First, the control unit can operate the touch sensor (150) in a mutual mode in a first time period (t0 to t1), operate the touch sensor (150) in a self mode in a second time period (t2 to t3), and operate the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, ... TX7) of the touch sensor (150) in the driving mode described above in FIG. 5 in a third time period (t4 to t5). This driving method can correspond to combination 1 of the above <Table 1>.

FIG. 10 is a graph for explaining a second driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 10, the control unit can drive the touch sensor (150) in various modes. First, the control unit can operate the touch sensor (150) in a mutual mode in a first time period (t0 to t1), operate the touch sensor (150) in a self mode in a second time period (t2 to t3), and operate the plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, ..., RX7) of the touch sensor (150) in the driving mode described above in FIG. 5 in a third time period (t4 to t5). This driving method can correspond to combination 2 of the above <Table 1>.

FIG. 11 is a graph for explaining a third driving method in which a control unit of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention drives a touch sensor (150) of FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 11, the control unit can drive the touch sensor (150) in various modes. First, the control unit can operate the touch sensor (150) in a mutual mode in a first time section (t0 to t1), operate the touch sensor (150) in a self mode in a second time section (t2 to t3), operate the plurality of first electrodes (TX0, TX1, ... TX7) of the touch sensor (150) in the driving mode described above in FIG. 5 in a third time section (t4 to t5), and operate the plurality of second electrodes (RX0, RX1, ..., RX7) of the touch sensor (150) in the driving mode described above in FIG. 5 in a fourth time section (t6 to t7). This driving method can correspond to combination 3 of the above <Table 1>.

The first to third driving methods of the touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11 perform an additional driving mode in addition to the mutual mode and the self mode, and can determine whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state by using the reception signal obtained from the driving mode, and if so, how strong (severe) it is, and can also determine the shape of the touch object. Furthermore, the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state can be restored to the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state. In addition, the shape of the touch object can be determined through a combination with the reception signal obtained through the self mode, and the mutual reception signal in the floating ground state can be restored to the mutual reception signal in the normal ground state.

The features, structures, effects, etc. described in the embodiments above are included in one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to just one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, etc. exemplified in each embodiment can be combined or modified in other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain. Therefore, the contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the above description focuses on embodiments, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various modifications and applications not exemplified above are possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments can be modified and implemented. In addition, differences related to such modifications and applications should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

A touch input device comprising: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes; and a control unit for controlling the touch sensor;
The plurality of first electrodes are arranged along a first direction, and each of the first electrodes has a predetermined shape along a second direction different from the first direction,
The plurality of second electrodes are arranged along the second direction, and each of the second electrodes has a predetermined shape along the first direction,
The above control unit controls the touch sensor to be driven in mutual mode, self mode, and predetermined driving mode in different time intervals, respectively.
The above mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls mutual driving signals to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives mutual receiving signals from the plurality of second electrodes.
The above self mode is a mode in which the control unit controls self-driving signals to be applied to each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, and receives self-reception signals from each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes.
The above-described predetermined driving mode is a mode in which the control unit controls to simultaneously apply a driving signal to at least some of the first electrodes among the plurality of first electrodes in a first time period and receives first reception signals from the remaining first electrodes to which the driving signal is not applied, and controls to simultaneously apply the driving signal to the remaining first electrodes in a second time period different from the first time period and receives second reception signals from at least some of the first electrodes.
The control unit is configured to correct at least some of the mutual reception signals based on the first and second reception signals from the plurality of first electrodes and the self-reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes.
Touch input device. In the first paragraph,
The control unit is configured to determine whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state based on the first and second reception signals.
Touch input device. In the second paragraph,
A touch input device, wherein the control unit is configured to determine whether the touch input device is in the floating ground state or the normal ground state, depending on the signs of the first and second reception signals. In the second paragraph,
A touch input device, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the intensity of the floating ground state based on the magnitude of the first and second reception signals. In the first paragraph,
The above control unit,
Calculate the ratio of digital values greater than a first threshold among the self-received signals from the plurality of second electrodes,
After changing the signs of the digital values of the first and second reception signals from the plurality of first electrodes to positive values, digital values greater than a second threshold value are selected,
configured to change the digital values of at least some of the mutual reception signals by multiplying each of the digital values greater than the selected second threshold by a ratio of the values greater than the first threshold.
Touch input device. delete In any one of claims 1 to 5,
At least some of the first electrodes and the remaining first electrodes are arranged alternately along the first direction.
Touch input device. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A touch input device wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged together on the same layer. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A touch input device, wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are arranged in different layers. A touch driving method in a touch input device, comprising: a touch sensor including a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes; and a control unit for controlling the touch sensor;
A driving step in which the control unit drives the touch sensor in mutual mode, self mode, and predetermined driving mode in different time intervals; and
The control unit includes a correction step for correcting at least some of the mutual reception signals;
The above mutual mode is a mode in which the control unit controls mutual driving signals to be applied to the plurality of first electrodes and receives mutual receiving signals from the plurality of second electrodes.
The above self mode is a mode in which the control unit controls self-driving signals to be applied to each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes, and receives self-reception signals from each of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes.
The above-described predetermined driving mode is a mode in which the control unit controls to simultaneously apply a driving signal to at least some of the first electrodes among the plurality of first electrodes in a first time period and receives first reception signals from the remaining first electrodes to which the driving signal is not applied, and controls to simultaneously apply the driving signal to the remaining first electrodes in a second time period different from the first time period and receives second reception signals from at least some of the first electrodes.
The above correction step is such that the control unit corrects at least some of the mutual reception signals based on the first and second reception signals from the plurality of first electrodes and the self-reception signals from the plurality of second electrodes.
A method for operating a touch input device. In paragraph 10,
A touch driving method of a touch input device, comprising: a step of determining whether the touch input device is in a floating ground state based on first and second reception signals output by the control unit in the predetermined driving mode. In paragraph 11,
A touch driving method of a touch input device, comprising: a step of determining the intensity of the floating ground state according to the magnitude of the first and second reception signals by the control unit; In paragraph 10,
The above correction step is,
A step of calculating a ratio of digital values greater than a first threshold value among self-received signals from the plurality of second electrodes;
A step of changing the signs of the digital values of the first and second reception signals from the plurality of first electrodes to positive values, and then selecting digital values greater than a second threshold value; and
A step of changing the digital values of at least some of the mutual reception signals by multiplying each of the digital values greater than the selected second threshold by a ratio of the values greater than the first threshold;
A touch driving method of a touch input device, comprising: