TWI390282B - Touch panel - Google Patents

觸控面板Touch panel

本發明係關於一種觸控顯示裝置，特別係關於一種能適應性調整背光之低耗能觸控面板。The present invention relates to a touch display device, and more particularly to a low-energy touch panel capable of adaptively adjusting a backlight.

液晶顯示器為目前廣泛使用的顯示裝置，隨著觸控螢幕技術的成熟，使得各種行動電子裝置，例如多媒體播放器、行動電話及個人數位助理(PDA)，幾乎均搭載有觸控式液晶螢幕以增加使用便利性。Liquid crystal displays are currently widely used display devices. With the maturity of touch screen technology, various mobile electronic devices, such as multimedia players, mobile phones, and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are equipped with touch-screen LCD screens. Increase ease of use.

液晶顯示器包含一背光模組以提供顯示影像時所需之光源，而背光模組消耗之功率佔了液晶顯示器整體消耗功率相當高之比例。因此，大部分液晶顯示器之節能方式在於如何降低背光模組之耗能。The liquid crystal display includes a backlight module to provide a light source required for displaying an image, and the power consumed by the backlight module accounts for a relatively high proportion of the overall power consumption of the liquid crystal display. Therefore, the energy saving method of most liquid crystal displays is how to reduce the energy consumption of the backlight module.

傳統之節能方式例如有提供控制背光模組亮度之一亮度調整旋鈕，藉此一使用者可根據使用狀況自行調整所需之亮度；然而，若液晶顯示器係搭載於一可攜式電子裝置中，則使用者可能需要根據操作環境時常調整背光模組之亮度因而導致使用上之不便，故亮度調整旋鈕較不適用於可攜式電子裝置。The conventional energy-saving method includes, for example, a brightness adjustment knob for controlling the brightness of the backlight module, so that a user can adjust the required brightness according to the use condition; however, if the liquid crystal display is mounted on a portable electronic device, The user may need to adjust the brightness of the backlight module according to the operating environment, which may cause inconvenience in use, so the brightness adjustment knob is not suitable for the portable electronic device.

另一種習知節能方式係於液晶顯示器所包含之一像素陣列外側額外製作至少一光感測器(photo sensor)以感測環境光源之光強度變化，並根據環境光之光強度變化調整背光模組之亮度。例如第1圖顯示一種習知液晶顯示器9之一下基板的上視圖，該液晶顯示器9除了包含一源極驅動器91、一閘極驅動器92及一像素陣列93外，另包含至少一光感測器94額外地形成於該像素陣列93外側，用以感測環境光之光強度變化並據以輸出一光電流；一控制單元(未繪示)則可根據該光電流之變化調整背光模組之亮度。然而，額外製作該光感測器94會提高製作成本並增加液晶顯示器之體積。Another conventional energy-saving method is to additionally fabricate at least one photo sensor on the outside of one of the pixel arrays included in the liquid crystal display to sense the light intensity change of the ambient light source, and adjust the backlight mode according to the change of the light intensity of the ambient light. The brightness of the group. For example, FIG. 1 shows a top view of a lower substrate of a conventional liquid crystal display 9. The liquid crystal display 9 includes at least one photo sensor in addition to a source driver 91, a gate driver 92 and a pixel array 93. 94 is additionally formed on the outside of the pixel array 93 for sensing the change of the light intensity of the ambient light and outputting a photocurrent according to the same; a control unit (not shown) can adjust the backlight module according to the change of the photocurrent brightness. However, the additional fabrication of the photo sensor 94 increases the cost of fabrication and increases the size of the liquid crystal display.

有鑑於此，有必要提出一種觸控顯示裝置，其可根據環境光之變化自動調整背光模組的發光亮度，不需增加裝置體積及可增加使用便利性並降低整體耗能。In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a touch display device that can automatically adjust the brightness of the backlight module according to changes in ambient light without increasing the size of the device and increasing the convenience of use and reducing the overall energy consumption.

本發明之一目的係提出一種觸控顯示器包含一觸控面板，其利用耦接於一虛擬閘極線之複數感光單元所輸出之光電流作為調整背光源亮度之依據，可有效減少觸控面板之整體耗能。An object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel including a touch panel that utilizes photocurrent output from a plurality of photosensitive cells coupled to a virtual gate line as a basis for adjusting brightness of the backlight, thereby effectively reducing the touch panel. The overall energy consumption.

本發明另一目的係提出一種觸控顯示器包含一觸控面板，其利用觸控面板中原本即已製作但未使用之一虛擬閘極線來耦接複數感光單元，以感測環境光之變化並據以調整背光源亮度，故不需占用額外的空間及使用額外的製程程序，可藉以降低觸控面板之製作成本且不需增加觸控面板之體積。Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch panel including a touch panel that is coupled to a plurality of photosensitive cells by using a virtual gate line that is originally fabricated but not used to sense changes in ambient light. According to the brightness of the backlight, no additional space is required and an additional process program is used, so that the manufacturing cost of the touch panel can be reduced without increasing the volume of the touch panel.

本發明提出一種觸控面板，包含一閘極驅動器、一陣列基板及一感測單元。該陣列基板另包含複數閘極線、複數資料線、複數第一讀取線、複數第二讀取線、複數第一感光單元及複數偵測單元。該等閘極線和資料線用以界定一像素陣列，其中一虛擬閘極線不耦接該閘極驅動器而其他閘極線則耦接該閘極驅動器。該等第一感光單元耦接該虛擬閘極線，每一第一感光單元透過一第一讀取線輸出一第一偵測訊號。每一偵測單元耦接一第二讀取線，並透過相對應之第二讀取線以輸出一第二偵測訊號。該感測單元該第一讀取線、第二讀取線及一背光模組，並根據該第一偵測訊號調整該背光模組之亮度以及根據該第二偵測訊號判斷一碰觸事件。The invention provides a touch panel comprising a gate driver, an array substrate and a sensing unit. The array substrate further includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of first read lines, a plurality of second read lines, a plurality of first light sensing units, and a plurality of detecting units. The gate lines and the data lines are used to define an array of pixels. One of the dummy gate lines is not coupled to the gate driver and the other gate lines are coupled to the gate driver. The first photosensitive unit is coupled to the virtual gate line, and each of the first photosensitive units outputs a first detection signal through a first read line. Each detection unit is coupled to a second read line and outputs a second detection signal through the corresponding second read line. The sensing unit is configured to adjust a brightness of the backlight module according to the first detection signal, and determine a touch event according to the second detection signal. .

本發明另提出一種光學式觸控面板，包含一閘極驅動器、一陣列基板及一感測單元。該陣列基板另包含複數像素及複數閘極線。該等像素以陣列配置，至少一部份像素另包含一像素電極及一感光單元。該等閘極線平行地排列以界定每列像素，其中包含該感光單元之每一像素之像素電極及感光單元耦接不同閘極線，該等閘極線中第一條或最後一條閘極線僅耦接一列像素之感光單元而不耦接像素電極，與該第一條或最後一條閘極線耦接之一列像素之感光單元用以偵測環境光以輸出一第一光電流。該控制單元，耦接一背光模組及該陣列基板，根據該第一光電流之變化相對調整該背光模組之亮度。The invention further provides an optical touch panel comprising a gate driver, an array substrate and a sensing unit. The array substrate further includes a plurality of pixels and a plurality of gate lines. The pixels are arranged in an array, and at least a portion of the pixels further comprise a pixel electrode and a photosensitive unit. The gate lines are arranged in parallel to define each column of pixels, wherein the pixel electrode and the photosensitive unit of each pixel of the photosensitive unit are coupled to different gate lines, and the first or last gate of the gate lines The line is coupled to only one column of the photosensitive cells of the pixels and is not coupled to the pixel electrodes. The photosensitive cells coupled to the first or last gate lines of the pixels are used to detect ambient light to output a first photocurrent. The control unit is coupled to a backlight module and the array substrate, and relatively adjusts the brightness of the backlight module according to the change of the first photocurrent.

本發明之光學式觸控面板中，為保持線路對稱性及負載匹配等特性，耦接於虛擬閘極線(dummy gate line)之複數第一感光單元(photo sensor)為製作像素陣列的同時所形成，因此不須利用額外製程及空間製作。此外，為使感測單元能接收較明顯的第一光電流變化，該等第一讀取線較佳先並聯後再經由至少一條信號讀取線耦接至感測單元；信號讀取線之數目可根據背光模組中可獨立控制之光源區域的數目決定之。In the optical touch panel of the present invention, in order to maintain line symmetry and load matching characteristics, a plurality of first photo sensors coupled to a dummy gate line are used to form a pixel array. Formed, so no additional process and space is required. In addition, in order to enable the sensing unit to receive a relatively obvious first photocurrent change, the first read lines are preferably connected in parallel and then coupled to the sensing unit via at least one signal read line; the signal read line The number can be determined according to the number of independently controllable light source regions in the backlight module.

為了讓本發明之上述和其他目的、特徵、和優點能更明顯，下文將配合所附圖示，作詳細說明如下。於本發明之說明中，相同之構件係以相同之符號表示，於此合先敘明。The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the accompanying drawings. In the description of the present invention, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and will be described in the foregoing.

此外，於本發明各圖示中僅顯示了部份構件並省略了與本發明說明不直接相關之構件。Moreover, only some of the components are shown in the various figures of the invention and components that are not directly related to the description of the invention are omitted.

必須強調的是，本發明雖以背光源為實施例來說明，但其並非用以限定本發明，說明書中背光源一詞並非意指光源模組一定位於像素陣列之背面，例如本發明亦適用於前光源之其他實施例。It should be emphasized that the present invention is described by using a backlight as an embodiment, but it is not intended to limit the present invention. The term backlight in the specification does not mean that the light source module must be located on the back side of the pixel array, for example, the present invention is also applicable. Other embodiments of the front light source.

請參照第2圖所示，其顯示本發明一實施例之觸控顯示器內之一觸控面板1之方塊圖。該觸控面板1為一光學內嵌式觸控面板(photosensitive in-cell touch panel or photo-type in-cell touch device)，其包含至少一陣列基板110、一感測單元111、一光源驅動單元12、一閘極驅動器1121、一源極驅動器(為求簡潔圖未示)及一背光模組13，其繪示於該陣列基板110之下方；其中該光源驅動單元12根據該感測單元111之控制訊號驅動該背光模組13以提供該觸控面板1於顯示時所需之光源；另外，該閘極驅動器1121提供掃描信號予複數閘極線1122' ，而源極驅動器則提供圖框資料予複數資料線1125，然此已為習知技術故於此不在贅述。Referring to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a touch panel 1 in a touch display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The touch panel 1 is a photosensitive in-cell touch panel or a photo-type in-cell touch device, and includes at least one array substrate 110, a sensing unit 111, and a light source driving unit. A gate driver 1121, a source driver (not shown for simplicity), and a backlight module 13 are shown below the array substrate 110. The light source driving unit 12 is configured according to the sensing unit 111. The control signal drives the backlight module 13 to provide a light source required for the display of the touch panel 1; in addition, the gate driver 1121 provides a scan signal to the plurality of gate lines 1122 ' , and the source driver provides a frame. The information is referred to the plural data line 1125, which is hereby known as a prior art.

另外要特別一提的是，本發明實施例雖以光學內嵌式觸控面板(如第2圖所示其具有光學元件－第二感光單元1123' )為說明，然而熟知技術人士當可理解，本發明之主要發明特徵，亦可適用於其他形式之觸控面板，例如接觸內嵌式觸控面板(即第二感光單元1122' 可為一非光學式元件，例如一傳統接觸式觸控結構/元件)，再者本發明亦非以應用於內嵌式觸控面板為限，其亦可適用於外掛式觸控面板等。此外，該閘極驅動器1121和/或源極驅動器(圖未示)可以整合製作於該陣列基板110上或獨立於該陣列基板110外並與其電性連接。於本發明中，該背光模組13可包含任何適當光源，例如複數發光二極體或至少一冷陰極管等，但不限於此。In addition, the embodiment of the present invention is described by an optical in-cell touch panel (having an optical element-second photosensitive unit 1123 ' as shown in FIG. 2), but it is understandable to those skilled in the art. The main inventive features of the present invention are also applicable to other types of touch panels, such as contact with an in-cell touch panel (ie, the second photosensitive unit 1122 ' can be a non-optical component, such as a conventional contact touch. The structure/component) is not limited to the application of the in-cell touch panel, and may be applied to an external touch panel or the like. In addition, the gate driver 1121 and/or the source driver (not shown) may be integrally formed on the array substrate 110 or independently of and electrically connected to the array substrate 110. In the present invention, the backlight module 13 may include any suitable light source, such as a plurality of light emitting diodes or at least one cold cathode tube, etc., but is not limited thereto.

該陣列基板110包含一像素陣列112，該像素陣列112包含複數閘極線(包含一虛擬閘極線(dummy gate line)1122及複數閘極線1122' )、複數資料線1125、複數第一讀取線R' 、複數第二讀取線R、複數第一感光單元1123及複數第二感光單元1123' ；其中該第一感光單元1123及第二感光單元1123' 例如包含一薄膜電晶體(TFT)、一光二極體(photo diode)或一光敏電阻(light sensitive resistor)等光感測器(photo sensor)用以感測光強度並產生一光電流(偵測訊號)。該等閘極線與該等資料線1125彼此交錯(intersection)排列用以界定該像素陣列112之複數像素。第2圖中，該虛擬閘極線1122位於該像素陣列112內，且不耦接該閘極驅動器1121，而其他閘極線1122' 則耦接該閘極驅動器1121。另外，在此實施例中，複數第一感光單元1123、複數第二感光單元1123' 及虛擬閘極線1122皆位於觸控面板1之畫面顯示區(display area)內；但在另一實施例中，虛擬閘極線1122則可設計於觸控面板1的非顯示區(non-display area)內。再者，於此實施例中，虛擬閘極線1122係相鄰且平行於該等閘極線1122' 之第一條閘極線，並位於該第一條閘極線之上方，亦即如第2圖所示位於像素陣列112之上方處；另一實施例中，虛擬閘極線1122係可設計為相鄰且平行於該等閘極1122' 之最後一條閘極線，並位於該最後一條閘極線之下方，即位於如第2圖像素陣列112之下方處(圖未示)。The array substrate 110 includes a pixel array 112 including a plurality of gate lines (including a dummy gate line 1122 and a plurality of gate lines 1122 ' ), a plurality of data lines 1125, and a plurality of first readings. Taking a line R ' , a plurality of second reading lines R, a plurality of first photosensitive units 1123, and a plurality of second photosensitive units 1123 ' ; wherein the first photosensitive unit 1123 and the second photosensitive unit 1123 ' comprise, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT) A photo sensor such as a photo diode or a light sensitive resistor is used to sense the light intensity and generate a photocurrent (detection signal). The gate lines and the data lines 1125 are inter-arranged to define a plurality of pixels of the pixel array 112. In FIG. 2 , the dummy gate line 1122 is located in the pixel array 112 and is not coupled to the gate driver 1121 , and the other gate lines 1122 ′ are coupled to the gate driver 1121 . In addition, in this embodiment, the plurality of first photosensitive cells 1123, the plurality of second photosensitive cells 1123 ′ and the virtual gate lines 1122 are all located in the display area of the touch panel 1; however, in another embodiment The dummy gate line 1122 can be designed in the non-display area of the touch panel 1 . Moreover, in this embodiment, the dummy gate line 1122 is adjacent to and parallel to the first gate line of the gate lines 1122 ' , and is located above the first gate line, that is, 2 is located above the pixel array 112; in another embodiment, the dummy gate line 1122 can be designed to be adjacent and parallel to the last gate line of the gates 1122 ' , and at the end Below one of the gate lines, it is located below the pixel array 112 of FIG. 2 (not shown).

該等第一感光單元1123排列成一列狀並耦接該虛擬閘極線1122，且每一第一感光單元1123係透過一條第一讀取線R' 輸出一第一光電流I_P1 ，該等第一光電流I_P1 匯流至一信號讀取線1124以輸出一第一光電流之和；必須說明的是，本發明說明之第一光電流I_P1 係指該等第一感光單元1123感測環境光時所產生之光電流或偵測訊號，該等第一光電流(偵測訊號)並透過第一讀取線R' 匯流至一信號讀取線1124並傳輸至感測單元111進行環境光強弱判讀。每一第二感光單元1123' 耦接一閘極線1122' 與一第二讀取線R，其受所耦接之閘極線1122' 之控制並透過相對應第二讀取線R以輸出一第二光電流I_P2 ；其中該第一光電流I_P1 係相應於外界環境光之強度變化，該第二光電流I_P2 則用以辨識一指示物(如一手指或光筆等，未繪示)相對於該觸控面板1之位置座標。該等第一讀取線R' 與第二讀取線R可於形成該像素陣列112時同時形成，因而不需透過額外製程製作；同時，該等複數第一感光單元1123、複數第二感光單元1123' 及虛擬閘極線1122皆係設置於原本的像素陣列112內，故亦不需佔用額外的空間。The first photosensitive cells 1123 are arranged in a line and coupled to the virtual gate line 1122, and each of the first photosensitive cells 1123 outputs a first photocurrent I _P1 through a first read line R ′ . The first photocurrent I _{P1 is} converged to a signal reading line 1124 to output a sum of the first photocurrents. It should be noted that the first photocurrent I _P1 described in the present invention refers to the sensing of the first photosensitive cells 1123. The photocurrent or the detection signal generated by the ambient light, the first photocurrent (detection signal) is converged to the signal reading line 1124 through the first reading line R ' and transmitted to the sensing unit 111 for environment Light intensity is interpreted. Each of the second photosensitive cells 1123 ′ is coupled to a gate line 1122 ′ and a second read line R, which is controlled by the coupled gate line 1122 ′ and is output through the corresponding second read line R. a second photocurrent I _P2 ; wherein the first photo current I _P1 is corresponding to an intensity change of ambient light, and the second photo current I _P2 is used to identify an indicator (such as a finger or a light pen, etc., not shown Relative to the position coordinates of the touch panel 1. The first read line R ′ and the second read line R can be formed at the same time when the pixel array 112 is formed, and thus need not be processed by an additional process; at the same time, the plurality of first photosensitive units 1123 and the plurality of second photosensitive elements Both the cell 1123 ' and the virtual gate line 1122 are disposed in the original pixel array 112, so that no additional space is required.

感測單元111則至少包含有一類比數位轉換單元(ADC)20和一控制單元30。類比數位轉換單元20係將該來自於複數第一讀取線R' 的第一光電流I_P1 和複數第二讀取線R的第二光電流I_P2 轉換為數位信號以提供至該控制單元30進行運算處理。接著，該感測單元111產生一控制訊號並將其傳送至光源驅動單元12以進一步控制背光模組13之亮度。在此特別一提的是，感測單元111中的類比數位轉換單元20和控制單元30可整合為一感測晶片(IC)或分別為以兩個獨立晶片或電路之方式呈現，但不限於此。在另一實施例中，類比數位轉換單元20、控制單元30和光源驅動單元12亦可整合為一控制晶片。The sensing unit 111 then includes at least one analog-to-digital conversion unit (ADC) 20 and a control unit 30. The analog digital conversion unit 20 converts the first photocurrent I _P1 from the plurality of first read lines R ′ and the second photo current I _{P2 of the} plurality of second read lines R into digital signals for providing to the control unit 30 performs arithmetic processing. Then, the sensing unit 111 generates a control signal and transmits it to the light source driving unit 12 to further control the brightness of the backlight module 13. In particular, the analog digital conversion unit 20 and the control unit 30 in the sensing unit 111 can be integrated into one sensing chip (IC) or presented in two independent wafers or circuits, but are not limited thereto. this. In another embodiment, the analog digital conversion unit 20, the control unit 30, and the light source driving unit 12 can also be integrated into a control wafer.

一實施例態樣中，該虛擬閘極線1122係連接至一固定電壓源V，其電壓值係設定為保持該等第一感光單元1123之開啟狀態，藉此該等第一感光單元1123可連續不斷地輸出該第一光電流I_P1 ，但本發明中，虛擬閘極線1122所耦接之電壓並不限於此。相對於第一感光單元1123，第二感光單元1123' 之開啟狀態則受控於閘極驅動器1121，且因閘極驅動器1121係依序地輸出掃描信號(scan signal)以驅動(致能)每一條閘極線1122' ，因此第二感光單元1123' 並不會如第一感光單元1123連續不斷地開啟。In an embodiment, the virtual gate line 1122 is connected to a fixed voltage source V, and the voltage value thereof is set to maintain the on state of the first photosensitive unit 1123, whereby the first photosensitive unit 1123 can The first photocurrent I _{P1 is} continuously outputted, but in the present invention, the voltage to which the dummy gate line 1122 is coupled is not limited thereto. With respect to the first photosensitive unit 1123, the open state of the second photosensitive unit 1123 ' is controlled by the gate driver 1121, and the gate driver 1121 sequentially outputs a scan signal to drive (enable) each. A gate line 1122 ' , so the second photosensitive unit 1123 ' does not continuously open as the first photosensitive unit 1123.

其他實施態樣中，該等第一感光單元1123也可以與其它閘極線1122' 共同受到該閘極驅動器1121所輸出之掃描信號控制，以使該掃描信號致能該虛擬閘極線1122時，該感測單元111方接收到觸控面板之環境光變化訊息；例如，該虛擬閘極線1122可與該第一條閘極線電性耦接，因而該閘極驅動器1121可同時致能虛擬閘極線1122及第一條閘極線(此時該虛擬閘極線係設計為相鄰於該等閘極線1122' 之第一條閘極線且位於該第一條閘極線之上方)或該虛擬閘極線1122可與最後一條閘極線電性耦接，因而該閘極驅動器1121可同時致能虛擬閘極線1122及該最後一條閘極線(此時該虛擬閘極線1122係設計為相鄰於該等閘極線1122' 之最後一條閘極線且位於該最後一條閘極線之下方)。In other implementations, the first photosensitive unit 1123 can also be controlled by the scan signal outputted by the gate driver 1121 together with the other gate lines 1122 ′ so that the scan signal enables the virtual gate line 1122. The sensing unit 111 receives the ambient light change message of the touch panel; for example, the virtual gate line 1122 can be electrically coupled to the first gate line, so that the gate driver 1121 can simultaneously enable a virtual gate line 1122 and a first gate line (the dummy gate line is designed to be adjacent to the first gate line of the gate line 1122 ' and located at the first gate line The upper gate or the virtual gate line 1122 can be electrically coupled to the last gate line, so that the gate driver 1121 can simultaneously enable the virtual gate line 1122 and the last gate line (the virtual gate at this time) Line 1122 is designed to be adjacent to the last gate line of the gate line 1122 ' and below the last gate line).

由於習知光學式觸控面板中，為使得像素陣列之結構對稱並使負載得以匹配，會將閘極線之第一條或最後一條製作為一虛擬閘極線，習知結構中該虛擬閘極線於觸控面板操作時並不被使用，亦即其將不具有任何驅動功能或其它進一步的實質功能。本發明即是利用此一虛擬閘極線之架構，進一步控制一感光單元以偵測觸控面板之環境光，進而據此動態地調整背光源亮度，例如，當環境光變強時將背光源亮度調降或當環境光轉弱時將背光亮度調升，以達到節能目的。相較於習知技術，本發明係再增加一組與第二讀取線R平行之第一讀取線R' ，並將該虛擬閘極線1122耦接至一固定電壓源V以保持連接至該虛擬閘極線1122之複數第一感光單元1123的開啟狀態(偵測狀態)，或者將該虛擬閘極線1122耦接至閘極驅動器1121，藉由閘極驅動器1121所輸出之掃描信號對第一感光單元1123進行控制。In the conventional optical touch panel, in order to make the structure of the pixel array symmetrical and match the load, the first or last line of the gate line is made into a virtual gate line, which is in the conventional structure. The polar line is not used when the touch panel is operated, that is, it will not have any driving function or other further substantial functions. The invention utilizes the structure of the virtual gate line to further control a photosensitive unit to detect ambient light of the touch panel, thereby dynamically adjusting the brightness of the backlight according to the backlight, for example, when the ambient light becomes strong, the backlight is used. The brightness is lowered or the backlight brightness is raised when the ambient light is weakened to achieve energy saving. Compared with the prior art, the present invention further adds a set of first read lines R ' parallel to the second read line R, and couples the virtual gate lines 1122 to a fixed voltage source V to maintain the connection. The open state (detected state) of the plurality of first photosensitive cells 1123 to the virtual gate line 1122, or the virtual gate line 1122 is coupled to the gate driver 1121, and the scan signal output by the gate driver 1121 The first photosensitive unit 1123 is controlled.

透過類比數位轉換單元(ADC)20，該分別來自於第一讀取線R' 之第一光電流I_P1 及第二讀取線R之第二光電流I_P2 被轉換為數位信號以提供至控制單元30。該控制單元30則根據該第一光電流I_P1 判斷環境光源之變化並據以控制該背光模組13之亮度。例如一種實施態樣中，該控制單元30輸出，但不限於，一脈衝寬度調變(PWM)之控制信號至該光源驅動單元12以控制背光模組13之亮度，例如，透過改變輸入至背光模組13之電流值或電壓值以控制其光源之發光亮度。控制單元30亦可根據該第二光電流I_P2 判斷一指示物(未繪示，如一手指或光筆)之碰觸事件或座標位置以控制該觸控面板1執行相對應之動作。此外，該第一光電流I_P1 及第二光電流I_P2 亦可由不同控制單元或處理單元分別處理。The first photocurrent I _P1 from the first read line R ′ and the second photo current I _{P2 from the} second read line R are respectively converted into digital signals by an analog digital conversion unit (ADC) 20 to be provided to Control unit 30. The control unit 30 determines the change of the ambient light source according to the first photocurrent I _P1 and controls the brightness of the backlight module 13 accordingly. For example, in an implementation manner, the control unit 30 outputs, but is not limited to, a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal to the light source driving unit 12 to control the brightness of the backlight module 13, for example, by changing the input to the backlight. The current value or voltage value of the module 13 controls the brightness of the light source of the light source. The control unit 30 can also determine a touch event or a coordinate position of an indicator (not shown, such as a finger or a light pen) according to the second photocurrent I _P2 to control the touch panel 1 to perform a corresponding action. In addition, the first photocurrent I _P1 and the second photo current I _P2 may also be processed by different control units or processing units, respectively.

請參照第3a圖所示，其顯示本發明一實施例之觸控面板之部份示意圖，其為該觸控面板1之一陣列基板110。該陣列基板110上形成有複數閘極線(包含一虛擬閘極線1122及其他閘極線G₁ ~G_n )、複數第一讀取線R' 、複數第一感光單元1123、複數資料線D₁ ~D_m 、複數第二讀取線R₁ ~R₆ 、複數第二感光單元1123' 及一閘極驅動器1121；其中該等線路及元件之數目僅為例示性，並非用以限定本發明。Referring to FIG. 3A, a partial schematic view of a touch panel according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is an array substrate 110 of the touch panel 1. The array substrate 110 is formed with a plurality of gate lines (including a dummy gate line 1122 and other gate lines G ₁ -G _n ), a plurality of first read lines R ' , a plurality of first photosensitive units 1123, and a plurality of data lines. D ₁ ~ D _m , a plurality of second read lines R ₁ R R ₆ , a plurality of second photosensitive cells 1123 ′ and a gate driver 1121; wherein the number of the lines and components is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the present invention.

該等閘極線(包含虛擬閘極線1122及其他閘極線G₁ ~G_n )及該等資料線D₁ ~D_m 彼此交錯排列定義一像素陣列112。該像素陣列112之每一像素另包含一像素電極1127及與該像素電極相電性連接之一像素開關元件1126(例如一薄膜電晶體)，另外至少一部分像素耦接有一第一感光單元1123或第二感光單元1123' ，其中包含感光單元之每一像素之像素電極及感光單元分別耦接不同閘極線，如此該等閘極線中第一條或最後一條閘極線會形成僅耦接一列像素之感光單元而不耦接任何像素開關元件或像素電極的情形，而該第一條或最後一條閘極線即為本發明所定義之虛擬閘極線1122。該等第一感光單元1123耦接該虛擬閘極線1122且每一第一感光單元1123透過一條第一讀取線R' 耦接至該感測單元111，並進行類比/數位轉換處理；該等第一讀取線R' 較佳係先並聯後再透過一信號讀取線1124耦接至該感測單元111，以使每一第一讀取線R' 所輸出之第一光電流I_P1 相加後再傳至該感測單元111藉以得到較大之光電流，以利判讀。在此實施例中，第一讀取線R' 之數量等於第二讀取線R之數量，但不限於此，基本上第一讀取線R' 之數量將取決於第一感測單元1123設置之數量。於本實施例，所有讀取線之總數將大致為傳統觸控面板之兩倍。The gate lines (including the dummy gate lines 1122 and other gate lines G ₁ -G _n ) and the data lines D ₁ -D _m are alternately arranged to define a pixel array 112. Each pixel of the pixel array 112 further includes a pixel electrode 1127 and a pixel switching element 1126 (eg, a thin film transistor) electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and at least a part of the pixel is coupled to the first photosensitive unit 1123 or a second photosensitive unit 1123 ′ , wherein the pixel electrode and the photosensitive unit of each pixel of the photosensitive unit are respectively coupled to different gate lines, such that the first or last gate lines of the gate lines are formed only coupled The photosensitive cells of a column of pixels are not coupled to any of the pixel switching elements or pixel electrodes, and the first or last gate line is the virtual gate line 1122 defined by the present invention. The first photosensitive unit 1123 is coupled to the virtual gate line 1122 and each of the first photosensitive units 1123 is coupled to the sensing unit 111 via a first read line R ′ , and performs analog/digital conversion processing; The first read line R ' is preferably connected in parallel and then coupled to the sensing unit 111 through a signal read line 1124, so that the first photocurrent I output by each first read line R ' _{P1 is} added and then transmitted to the sensing unit 111 to obtain a larger photocurrent for the interpretation. In this embodiment, the number of the first read lines R ′ is equal to the number of the second read lines R, but is not limited thereto, and the number of the first read lines R ′ will depend on the first sensing unit 1123. The number of settings. In this embodiment, the total number of all read lines will be approximately twice that of a conventional touch panel.

該閘極驅動器1121耦接該等閘極線G₁ ~G_n ，其中G₁ 例如作為第一條掃描線而G_n 為最後一條掃描線，亦即當該閘極驅動器1121依序輸出一掃描信號至該等閘極線G₁ ~G_n 時，係從閘極線G₁ 開始而至閘極線G_n 以完成一次掃描程序。該等第二讀取線R₁ ~R₆ 最後係耦接至該感測單元111。每一第二感光單元1123' 耦接於一閘極線G與一第二讀取線R；當該閘極驅動器1121致能(enable)一列閘極線G時，耦接於相對應閘極線之第二感光單元1123' 則透過相對應之第二讀取線R輸出該第二光電流I_P2 。可以了解的是，該等第一讀取線R' 較佳與該等第二讀取線R₁ ~R₆ 或資料現D₁ ~D_m 彼此平行，該信號讀取線1124較佳與該等閘極線平行，以避免因跨線所造成之靜電放電(ESD)及雜散電容等問題。The gate driver 1121 is coupled to the gate lines G ₁ -G _n , wherein G _{1 is,} for example, the first scan line and G _n is the last scan line, that is, when the gate driver 1121 sequentially outputs a scan. when these signals to the gate lines G ₁ ~ G _n, based gate lines G ₁ from the start to the gate line G _n to complete the scan process. The second read lines R ₁ -R _{6 are} finally coupled to the sensing unit 111. Each of the second photosensitive cells 1123 ′ is coupled to a gate line G and a second read line R; when the gate driver 1121 enables a column of gate lines G, is coupled to the corresponding gate The second photosensitive unit 1123 ' of the line outputs the second photocurrent I _P2 through the corresponding second read line R. Can be appreciated, the plurality of first read line R 'and preferred such second read line R ₁ ~ R ₆ or data D ₁ ~ D _m is now parallel to each other, the signal read line 1124 and the preferred Wait for the gate lines to be parallel to avoid problems such as electrostatic discharge (ESD) and stray capacitance caused by the jumper.

請參照第4a至4b圖所示，一種實施態樣中，該第一感光單元1123係為一光感測器PS，例如一薄膜電晶體、一光二極體或一光敏電阻。例如當該第一感光單元1123為一薄膜電晶體時(如第4a圖所示)，該虛擬閘極線1122耦接一電壓源V，其具有一連續固定電壓，以保持該光感測器PS之開啟狀態，如此該第一感光單元1123則可透過相對應之第一讀取線R' 持續輸出第一光電流I_P1 。此外，該第一感光單元1123亦可包含一光感測器PS及一讀取電晶體RS(如第4b圖所示)，該虛擬閘極線1122耦接一電壓源V，其具有一連續固定電壓，以保持該讀取電晶體RS之開啟狀態，如此該第一感光單元1123可透過相對應之第一讀取線R' 輸出第一光電流I_P1 。Referring to Figures 4a to 4b, in an embodiment, the first photosensitive unit 1123 is a photo sensor PS, such as a thin film transistor, a photodiode or a photoresistor. For example, when the first photosensitive unit 1123 is a thin film transistor (as shown in FIG. 4a), the virtual gate line 1122 is coupled to a voltage source V having a continuous fixed voltage to hold the photo sensor. The open state of the PS, such that the first photosensitive unit 1123 can continuously output the first photocurrent I _P1 through the corresponding first read line R ′ . In addition, the first photosensitive unit 1123 can also include a photo sensor PS and a read transistor RS (as shown in FIG. 4b). The virtual gate line 1122 is coupled to a voltage source V, which has a continuous The voltage is fixed to maintain the open state of the read transistor RS, so that the first photosensitive unit 1123 can output the first photo current I _P1 through the corresponding first read line R ′ .

請參照第4c圖所示，另一實施態樣中，該虛擬閘極線1122與該等閘極線G₁ ~G_n 一同耦接至該閘極驅動器1121。該閘極驅動器1121可設定為同時致能該虛擬閘極線1122和閘極線G₁ 或同時致能該虛擬閘極線1122和閘極線G_n (當該虛擬閘極線1122相鄰於該等閘極線之最後一條G_n 並位於其下方時)或依序分別致能虛擬閘極線1122和閘極線G₁ ~G_n 。因此，當該閘極驅動器1121致能該虛擬閘極線1122時，該第一感光單元1123透過相對應之第一讀取線R' 輸出第一光電流I_P1 。可以了解的是，本發明之第一感光單元1123並不限於第4a至4c圖所揭示者，其僅為例示性而非用以限定本發明。Referring first to FIG 4c, a further aspect of the embodiment, the dummy gate line 1122 is coupled with such gate line ₁ ~ G _n G with the gate connected to the driver 1121. The gate driver 1121 can be configured to simultaneously enable the dummy gate line 1122 and the gate line G ₁ or simultaneously enable the dummy gate line 1122 and the gate line G _n (when the virtual gate line 1122 is adjacent to the gate line 1122) The virtual gate line 1122 and the gate lines G ₁ ~G _n are respectively enabled when the last G _{n of the} gate lines is located below it. Therefore, when the gate driver 1121 enables the dummy gate line 1122, the first photosensitive unit 1123 outputs the first photocurrent I _P1 through the corresponding first read line R ′ . It is to be understood that the first photosensitive unit 1123 of the present invention is not limited to the ones shown in Figures 4a to 4c, which are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

另外需特別一提的是，雖然本發明實施例中，皆以光學式觸控面板來做說明，例如觸控面板中之第二感光單元1123' 係由一薄膜電晶體、一光二極體或一光敏電阻等光學感測元件所構成，但在其他實施例中第二感光單元1123' 亦可以是任何具有偵測觸控效果之偵測單元所組成，也就是說，第二感光單元1123' 可由一偵測單元所取代，其中，該偵測單元可為光學式感測元件(例如薄膜電晶體、一光二極體或一光敏電阻等)或非光學式感測元件(例如傳統接觸式觸控結構、壓電元件等)。當第二感光單元1123' 以一偵測單元取代時，觸控面板其它設計架構則仍然維持不變，例如，此時觸控面板同樣會包含有該複數第一感光單元1123耦接該虛擬閘極線以及分別耦接該複數條第一讀取線R' ，用以傳輸第一偵測訊號至該感測單元，以調整背光；而該些偵測單元則分別耦接複數條第二讀取線R，用以傳輸第二偵測訊號至該感測單元，用以判斷使用者之一觸控事件，至於其它細節，請參酌其它實施描述，於此不在贅述。In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the optical touch panel is used for description. For example, the second photosensitive unit 1123 ′ in the touch panel is composed of a thin film transistor, a photodiode or An optical sensing component such as a photoresistor is formed, but in other embodiments, the second photosensitive unit 1123 ′ can also be composed of any detecting unit having a detecting touch effect, that is, the second photosensitive unit 1123 ′′ It can be replaced by a detecting unit, which can be an optical sensing component (such as a thin film transistor, a photodiode or a photoresistor) or a non-optical sensing component (such as a traditional contact touch). Control structure, piezoelectric components, etc.). When the second photosensitive unit 1123 ' is replaced by a detecting unit, the other design of the touch panel remains unchanged. For example, the touch panel also includes the plurality of first photosensitive units 1123 coupled to the virtual gate. The plurality of first read lines R ' are coupled to the plurality of first read lines R ' for transmitting the first detection signal to the sensing unit to adjust the backlight; and the detecting units are coupled to the plurality of second readings respectively The line R is used to transmit the second detection signal to the sensing unit for determining one of the user's touch events. For other details, please refer to other implementation descriptions, and details are not described herein.

請參照第3b圖所示，其顯示本發明另一實施例之觸控面板之示意圖，其與第3a圖之差異在於，該陣列基板110' 係於第3b圖之水平方向被區分為至少兩個區域，例如第3b圖所示之A區和B區。本實施例適用於當該背光模組13之光源可區分為至少兩個獨立控制的區域時，而連接至該虛擬閘極線1122之第一感光單元1123亦被區分為相同數目之區域；例如第3b圖所示，當觸控面板1之背光源14可區分成兩個獨立控制的背光模組區域131和132時，像素陣列112的左邊三條第一讀取線R' (例如位於A區內之三條第一讀取線R' )係連接至信號讀取線1124而右邊三條第一讀取線R' (例如位於A區內之三條第一讀取線R' )係連接至信號讀取線1124' ；其中，要說明的是在一實施例中，A區和B區的面積大致分別等於背光摸組區域131和132之面積，但不以此為限。藉此，當該觸控面板1操作於環境光不均勻的環境時，尤其該觸控面板1為一大尺寸面板時，照射至像素陣列112各區域(例如A區和B區)之光強度亦不同，該控制單元30可根據不同區域感測到之第一光電流I_P1 變化以分別控制不同區域之背光源亮度，以增加顯示畫面均勻度。同理，可以了解的是，該等第一感光單元1123亦可被區分為兩個以上的區域，例如N個區域(N大於2)。此時，不同區域所輸出之第一光電流I_P1 係由N條或少於N條但大於兩條之不同信號讀取線傳送至該類比數位轉換單元20。一般而言，較佳者，信號讀取線之數量可以設計為等於背光源可以獨立控制區域之數量，但不限於此。亦即此發明特徵，可推廣為背光模組可包含有N個可獨立控制之區域，且該陣列基板可對應區分為N個區域，而不同區域內之第一感光單元分別耦接不同之訊號讀取線，同樣地，各區域之第一讀取線R' 亦係先並聯後再由一訊號讀取線耦接至感測單元111。Referring to FIG. 3b, a schematic diagram of a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown, which differs from FIG. 3a in that the array substrate 110 ' is divided into at least two in the horizontal direction of FIG. 3b. Areas, such as Areas A and B shown in Figure 3b. The embodiment is applicable to when the light source of the backlight module 13 can be divided into at least two independently controlled regions, and the first photosensitive unit 1123 connected to the virtual gate line 1122 is also divided into the same number of regions; for example As shown in FIG. 3b, when the backlight 14 of the touch panel 1 can be divided into two independently controlled backlight module regions 131 and 132, the left three first read lines R ' of the pixel array 112 (for example, located in the A area) The three first read lines R ' ) are connected to the signal read line 1124 and the three first read lines R ' on the right (for example, the three first read lines R ' located in the A area) are connected to the signal read The line 1124 ' is taken; wherein, in an embodiment, the areas of the A area and the B area are substantially equal to the areas of the backlight sensing areas 131 and 132, respectively, but are not limited thereto. Therefore, when the touch panel 1 is operated in an environment with uneven ambient light, especially when the touch panel 1 is a large-sized panel, the light intensity is irradiated to each region of the pixel array 112 (for example, the A region and the B region). Differently, the control unit 30 can change the brightness of the first photo current I _P1 sensed by different regions to respectively control the brightness of the backlight in different regions to increase the uniformity of the display screen. Similarly, it can be understood that the first photosensitive cells 1123 can also be divided into two or more regions, for example, N regions (N is greater than 2). At this time, the first photocurrent I _P1 outputted by the different regions is transmitted to the analog digital conversion unit 20 by N or less than N but more than two different signal read lines. In general, preferably, the number of signal read lines can be designed to be equal to the number of independently controllable areas of the backlight, but is not limited thereto. The feature of the invention is that the backlight module can include N independently controllable regions, and the array substrate can be correspondingly divided into N regions, and the first photosensitive cells in different regions are respectively coupled with different signals. Similarly, the first read line R ′ of each area is first connected in parallel and then coupled to the sensing unit 111 by a signal read line.

如前所述，習知節省液晶顯示器之背光模組整體耗能之方式具有操作不便以及製作成本較高之問題。本發明另提出一種觸控面板(如第2至3b圖)，其可使用光學式或接觸式觸控面板中原本不使用之虛擬閘極線來進一步控制一列額外增設的感光單元以感測環境光之變化進而自動調整背光源之光強度，故不需利用額外空間及製程製作額外的感光單元，具有較低之製作成本及較佳之操作便利性。As described above, the conventional method of saving the overall energy consumption of the backlight module of the liquid crystal display has the problems of inconvenience in operation and high production cost. The present invention further provides a touch panel (such as Figures 2 to 3b), which can further control a column of additional photosensitive units to sense the environment by using a virtual gate line that is not used in an optical or touch type touch panel. The change of light automatically adjusts the light intensity of the backlight, so that no additional space and process are needed to make an additional photosensitive unit, which has lower manufacturing cost and better operation convenience.

雖然本發明已以前述實施例揭示，然其並非用以限定本發明，任何本發明所屬技術領域中具有通常知識者，在不脫離本發明之精神和範圍內，當可作各種之更動與修改。因此本發明之保護範圍當視後附之申請專利範圍所界定者為準。The present invention has been disclosed in the foregoing embodiments, and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any of the ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

1．．．觸控面板1. . . Touch panel

110、110' ．．．陣列基板110,110 ' . . . Array substrate

111．．．感測單元111. . . Sensing unit

112．．．像素陣列112. . . Pixel array

1121．．．閘極驅動器1121. . . Gate driver

1122．．．虛擬閘極線1122. . . Virtual gate line

1122' ．．．閘極線1122 ' . . . Gate line

1123．．．第一感光單元1123. . . First photosensitive unit

1123' ．．．第二感光單元1123 ' . . . Second photosensitive unit

1124．．．信號讀取線1124. . . Signal reading line

1124' ．．．信號讀取線1124 ' . . . Signal reading line

1125．．．資料線1125. . . Data line

1126．．．像素開關元件1126. . . Pixel switching element

1127．．．像素電極1127. . . Pixel electrode

12．．．光源驅動單元12. . . Light source drive unit

13．．．背光模組13. . . Backlight module

20．．．類比數位轉換單元20. . . Analog digital conversion unit

30．．．控制單元30. . . control unit

I_P1 ．．．第一光電流I _P1 . . . First photocurrent

I_P2 ．．．第二光電流I _P2 . . . Second photocurrent

G₁ ~G_n ．．．閘極線G ₁ ~G _n . . . Gate line

D₁ ~D_m ．．．資料線D ₁ ~D _m . . . Data line

R' ．．．第一讀取線R ' . . . First read line

R、R₁ ~R₆ ．．．第二讀取線R, R ₁ ~ R ₆ . . . Second read line

PS．．．光感測器PS. . . Light sensor

RS．．．讀取電晶體RS. . . Reading transistor

V．．．電壓源V. . . power source

9．．．液晶顯示器9. . . LCD Monitor

91．．．源極驅動器91. . . Source driver

92．．．閘極驅動器92. . . Gate driver

93．．．像素陣列93. . . Pixel array

94．．．光感測器94. . . Light sensor

第1圖顯示習知液晶顯示器之下基板的上視圖。Figure 1 shows a top view of the substrate under the conventional liquid crystal display.

第2圖顯示本發明實施例之觸控面板之方塊圖。FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a touch panel of an embodiment of the present invention.

第3a圖顯示本發明一實施例之觸控面板之部份示意圖。FIG. 3a is a partial schematic view showing a touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

第3b圖顯示本發明另一實施例之觸控面板之部份示意圖。FIG. 3b is a partial schematic view showing a touch panel according to another embodiment of the present invention.

第4a~4c圖顯示本發明實施例之觸控面板中第一感光單元之部份電路圖。4a-4c are partial circuit diagrams showing a first photosensitive unit in the touch panel of the embodiment of the present invention.

1．．．觸控面板1. . . Touch panel

110．．．陣列基板110. . . Array substrate

111．．．感測單元111. . . Sensing unit

112．．．像素陣列112. . . Pixel array

1121．．．閘極驅動器1121. . . Gate driver

1122．．．虛擬閘極線1122. . . Virtual gate line

1122' ．．．閘極線1122 ' . . . Gate line

1123．．．第一感光單元1123. . . First photosensitive unit

1123' ．．．第二感光單元1123 ' . . . Second photosensitive unit

1124．．．信號讀取線1124. . . Signal reading line

1125．．．資料線1125. . . Data line

12．．．光源驅動單元12. . . Light source drive unit

13．．．背光模組13. . . Backlight module

20．．．類比數位轉換單元20. . . Analog digital conversion unit

30．．．控制單元30. . . control unit

V．．．電壓源V. . . power source

R' ．．．第一讀取線R ' . . . First read line

R．．．第二讀取線R. . . Second read line

I_P1 ．．．第一光電流I _P1 . . . First photocurrent

I_P2 ．．．第二光電流I _P2 . . . Second photocurrent