Input sensing unit and electronic apparatus including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10732776-B2
Application number	US-201816006410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2018
Priority date	Oct 25, 2017
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

An electronic apparatus may include a plurality of first sensor patterns and a plurality of second sensor patterns, each of which includes an outer line and an inner line, a plurality of first connection patterns electrically connecting the plurality of first sensor patterns, a plurality of second connection patterns electrically connecting the plurality of second sensor patterns, the second connection patterns being provided at a level different from that of the plurality of first connection patterns, and a third sensor pattern provided in an internal region enclosed by the inner line in a plan view.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of first sensor patterns and a plurality of second sensor patterns, each of which includes an outer line and an inner line;
a plurality of first connection patterns electrically connecting the plurality of first sensor patterns;
a plurality of second connection patterns electrically connecting the plurality of second sensor patterns, the second connection patterns being provided at a level different from that of the plurality of first connection patterns;
a third sensor pattern; and
a wiring line connected to the third sensor pattern,
wherein the inner lines of the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns enclose internal regions, respectively, the third sensor pattern is electrically disconnected from the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns, and the third sensor pattern is provided in at least one of the internal regions, when viewed in a plan view.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns are provided to sense a touch event from an outside, using a variation in mutual-capacitance therebetween, and
the third sensor pattern is configured to sense a touch event from an outside, using a variation in self-capacitance thereof.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating layer provided between the plurality of first connection patterns and the plurality of second connection patterns,
wherein the plurality of first connection patterns and the wiring line are provided at a first level below the insulating layer,
the plurality of first sensor patterns, the plurality of second sensor patterns, and the plurality of second connection patterns are provided at a second level on the insulating layer, and
the plurality of first sensor patterns are electrically connected to the plurality of first connection patterns.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the third sensor pattern comprises:
a first sub-sensor pattern provided at the first level and connected to the wiring line; and
a second sub-sensor pattern provided at the second level,
wherein the second sub-sensor pattern is electrically connected to one another by the first sub-sensor pattern.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the third sensor pattern is located at the second level, and
the third sensor pattern is electrically connected to the wiring line.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the third sensor pattern is located at the first level, and
when viewed in a plan view, the third sensor pattern is not overlapped with the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a dummy pattern provided in at least one of the internal regions, when viewed in a plan view,
wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the third sensor pattern is not overlapped with the dummy pattern.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the dummy pattern is located at the second level.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the third sensor pattern is provided in a plurality, and each of the plurality of third sensor patterns is provided in each of at least two of the internal regions in a one-to-one corresponding manner.

10. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the third sensor pattern is provided in a plurality, and the plurality of third sensor patterns are provided in one of the internal regions.

11. The electronic apparatus of claim 3 , wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the third sensor pattern is provided in a plurality, each of the plurality of third sensor patterns is provided in each of at least two of internal regions in a one-to-one corresponding manner, and the plurality of third sensor patterns are electrically connected to each other, thereby constituting a single sensor electrode.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first sensing driver part electrically connected to the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns; and
a second sensing driver part electrically connected to the third sensor pattern,
wherein the first sensing driver part and the second sensing driver part are simultaneously driven to sense a touch event using the plurality of first sensor patterns, the plurality of second sensor patterns, and the third sensor pattern.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first sensing driver part electrically connected to the plurality of first sensor patterns and the plurality of second sensor patterns;
a second sensing driver part electrically connected to the third sensor pattern; and
a controller controlling the first sensing driver part and the second sensing driver part,
wherein the first sensing driver part and the second sensing driver part are driven in a first mode, in which the first sensing driver part and the second sensing driver part are simultaneously driven, a second mode, in which the first sensing driver part and the second sensing driver part are alternately driven, a third mode, in which only the first sensing driver part is driven, or a fourth mode, in which only the second sensing driver part is driven.

14. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
a display panel displaying an image;
self-capacitance sensor patterns provided on the display panel, each of the self-capacitance sensor patterns being used to sense an external touch event using a variation in self-capacitance thereof; and
first sensor patterns and second sensor patterns provided on the display panel, an opening overlapped with the self-capacitance sensor patterns being defined in each of the first and second sensor patterns, when viewed in a plan view,
wherein the first sensor patterns and the second sensor patterns are configured to sense an external touch event using a variation in mutual-capacitance therebetween, and
wherein each of the self-capacitance sensor patterns spaces apart from the first sensor patterns and the second sensor patterns.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the self-capacitance sensor patterns are overlapped with the openings of some patterns of the first sensor patterns and the second sensor patterns in a one-to-one corresponding manner.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein, when viewed in a plan view, the opening of one of the first sensor patterns or the second sensor patterns is overlapped with the self-capacitance sensor patterns.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein two or more adjacent self-capacitance sensor patterns are connected to each other, thereby constituting a single sensor electrode.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each of the self-capacitance sensor patterns comprises:
a first sub-sensor pattern provided on the display panel; and
a second sub-sensor pattern connected to the first sub-sensor pattern through a contact hole formed in an insulating layer which is provided to cover the first sub-sensor pattern,
wherein the second sub-sensor pattern is provided at the same level as the first sensor patterns and the second sensor patterns.

19. An input sensor, comprising:
a plurality of dummy patterns;
a plurality of sensor patterns electrically disconnected from the plurality of dummy patt

Assignees

• Samsung Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Sungkyun
• Han Sangyoun
• Kee Inseo

Classifications

• G06F3/041662

  using alternate mutual and self-capacitive scanning · CPC title

• G06F2203/04111

  Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate · CPC title

• G06F3/0445

  using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer · CPC title

• G06F3/04164 Primary

  Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads · CPC title

• G06F3/0446

  using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes · CPC title