Transparent display device with touch sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12229362-B2
Application number	US-202318533648-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2023
Priority date	Dec 27, 2022
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A transparent display device may include a substrate, a transmissive area, a non-transmissive area, and a plurality of subpixels provided in the non-transmissive area, having a light emitting element, which may include an anode electrode, a light emitting layer and a cathode electrode. The transparent display device may further include a touch sensor disposed in the transmissive area, including a touch sensor electrode, and a sensing transistor for sensing a voltage of the touch sensor. The cathode electrode of the light emitting element and the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor may be provided on a same layer and may be separated by a first undercut structure. The cathode electrode may extend to the transmissive area such that the cathode electrode is located in the transmissive area and in the non-transmissive area. The sensing transistor may be disposed to overlap the cathode electrode located in the transmissive area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transparent display device with a touch sensor, the transparent display device comprising:
a substrate;
a transmissive area;
a non-transmissive area;
a plurality of subpixels provided in the non-transmissive area, the plurality of subpixels including a light emitting element, the light emitting element including an anode electrode, a light emitting layer and a cathode electrode;
the touch sensor disposed in the transmissive area, the touch sensor including a touch sensor electrode; and
a sensing transistor for sensing a voltage of the touch sensor,
wherein:
the cathode electrode and the touch sensor electrode are provided on a same layer and are separated by a first undercut structure;
the cathode electrode extends to the transmissive area such that the cathode electrode is located in the transmissive area and in the non-transmissive area; and
the sensing transistor is disposed to overlap the cathode electrode located in the transmissive area.

2. The transparent display device of claim 1 , wherein the first undercut structure has a closed shape on a plane in the transmissive area.

3. The transparent display device of claim 1 , wherein the first undercut structure is provided between the touch sensor and the non-transmissive area.

4. The transparent display device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing transistor is disposed to be spaced apart from the first undercut structure.

5. The transparent display device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a touch line provided in the non-transmissive area; and
a touch connection portion connecting the touch line to the touch sensor,
wherein the sensing transistor is electrically connected to the touch sensor through the touch connection portion.

6. The transparent display device of claim 5 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a touch bridge line, wherein the touch bridge line is electrically connected to the sensing transistor, wherein the touch bridge line extends to the touch sensor, and wherein the touch bridge line overlaps the first undercut structure.

7. The transparent display device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a driving transistor provided in each of the plurality of subpixels; and
a light-shielding layer provided between the substrate and the driving transistor,
wherein the touch bridge line is provided on a same layer as the light-shielding layer.

8. The transparent display device of claim 6 , further comprising a buffer layer provided on the touch bridge line, wherein the buffer layer has an upper surface exposed below the first undercut structure.

9. The transparent display device of claim 6 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a high resistance area, and wherein a resistance value of the high resistance area is higher than a resistance value of the touch bridge line.

10. The transparent display device of claim 9 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a high resistance line made of a silicon-based semiconductor material or an oxide-based semiconductor material in the high resistance area.

11. The transparent display device of claim 5 , wherein the touch connection portion includes a touch contact electrode electrically connected to the touch sensor electrode in the transmissive area.

12. The transparent display device of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of an upper surface of the touch contact electrode is exposed by a second undercut structure, and the touch sensor electrode is in contact with the exposed upper surface.

13. The transparent display device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensing line provided in the non-transmissive area and electrically connected to the sensing transistor; and
a scan line provided in the non-transmissive area, the scan line for supplying a scan signal to the sensing transistor,
wherein the sensing transistor is configured to be turned on in response to the scan signal to transfer the voltage of the touch sensor to the sensing line, and
wherein the touch sensor is connected to the sensing transistor.

14. The transparent display device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first undercut structure includes a plurality of inorganic insulating patterns and an organic insulating pattern;
the plurality of inorganic insulating patterns have a first width;
the organic insulating pattern is provided on the plurality of inorganic insulating patterns; and
the organic insulating pattern has a second width greater than the first width.

15. A transparent display device with a touch sensor, the transparent display device comprising:
a substrate;
a transmissive area;
a non-transmissive area;
a plurality of subpixels provided in the non-transmissive area;
a first signal line extending in a first direction in the non-transmissive area;
a second signal line extending in a second direction in the non-transmissive area;
the touch sensor disposed in the transmissive area; and
a sensing transistor provided between the touch sensor and the second signal line, the sensing transistor electrically connected to the touch sensor to sense a voltage of the touch sensor,
wherein:
the sensing transistor includes an active layer, a gate electrode, a first electrode connected to one end of the active layer, and a second electrode connected to the other end of the active layer;
the first signal line includes a sensing line electrically connected to the first electrode of the sensing transistor; and
the second signal line includes a scan line for supplying a scan signal to the gate electrode of the sensing transistor.

16. The transparent display device of claim 15 , wherein:
the first signal line further includes a touch line;
the second signal line further includes a touch bridge line connecting the touch line to the touch sensor; and
the second electrode of the sensing transistor is electrically connected to the touch bridge line.

17. The transparent display device of claim 15 , wherein:
each of the plurality of subpixels includes a light emitting element;
the light emitting element includes an anode electrode, a light emitting layer and a cathode electrode;
the touch sensor includes a touch sensor electrode;
the cathode electrode of the light emitting element and the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor are provided on a same layer;
the cathode electrode extends to the transmissive area such that the cathode electrode is located in the transmissive area and in the non-transmissive area; and
the sensing transistor overlaps the cathode electrode located in the transmissive area.

18. The transparent display device of claim 17 , wherein:
the cathode electrode of the light emitting element and the touch sensor electrode of the touch sensor are separated by an undercut structure; and
the sensing transistor is provided between the undercut structure and the second signal line on a horizontal plane.

Assignees

• Lg Display Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Mireum
• Park Jaehee
• Kim Dojin

Classifications

• G06F3/044

  by capacitive means · CPC title

• G02F1/13439

  characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making · CPC title

• G06F3/046

  by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G06F3/04164

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

• G06F2203/04112

  Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material · CPC title