IP Library Granted Patent US 12663893
Granted Patent B2
US 12663893 · App. 19/017,359 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Electronic device including sensor driver configured to operate in multiple modes

Inventors: Hyungbae Kim (Yongin-si, KR); Sanghyun Lim (Yongin-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
G06F3/04162G06F3/0442G06F3/0443G06F2203/04106G06F2203/04111G06F2203/04112
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663893
App. No.
19/017,359
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device includes: a display layer; a sensor layer; and a sensor driver to drive the sensor layer. The sensor layer includes: first electrodes, each extending in a first direction; second electrodes, each extending in a second direction; and auxiliary electrodes, each extending in the first direction, and insulated from the second electrodes. The sensor driver is to operate in a first mode for sensing a touch or in a second mode for sensing an external input device, and the second mode includes a charging mode and a sensing mode. In the first mode, the sensor driver is to electrically connect a first end and a second end to each other of each of the second electrodes, and transmit a driving signal to each of the second electrodes. In the sensing mode, the sensor driver is to receive a first sensing signal through the second end.

Claims (73)

1 . An electronic device comprising:

a display layer;

a sensor layer on the display layer; and

a sensor driver configured to drive the sensor layer,

wherein the sensor layer comprises:

a plurality of first electrodes, each extending in a first direction; and

a plurality of second electrodes, each extending in a second direction crossing the first direction,

wherein the sensor driver is configured to selectively operate in a first mode for sensing a touch and in a second mode for sensing an external input device,

wherein the second mode comprises a charging mode and a sensing mode,

wherein, in the first mode, the sensor driver is configured to electrically connect a first end and a second end at opposite sides of the sensor layer to each other of each of the plurality of second electrodes, and transmit a driving signal to each of the first and second ends of the plurality of second electrodes, and

wherein, in the sensing mode, the sensor driver is configured to receive a first sensing signal through the second end.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, each extending in the first direction, and insulated from the plurality of second electrodes,

wherein each of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes comprises at least one pattern electrode, and

wherein, in a plan view, each of the plurality of first electrodes surrounds the pattern electrode of a corresponding one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein an area of each of the plurality of first electrodes is smaller than an area of each of the plurality of second electrodes.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein, in a plan view, a length of each of the plurality of first electrodes in the first direction is smaller than a length of each of the plurality of second electrodes in the second direction.

5 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

6 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the sensor driver is configured to directly receive a current of the first sensing signal in the sensing mode, and

wherein the sensor driver is configured to receive a second sensing signal transferred by a capacitive coupling between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of auxiliary electrodes in the sensing mode.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein an intensity of the first sensing signal is greater than an intensity of the second sensing signal.

8 . An electronic device comprising:

a display layer;

a sensor layer on the display layer; and

a sensor driver configured to drive the sensor layer,

wherein the sensor layer comprises:

a plurality of first electrodes, each extending in a first direction; and

a plurality of second electrodes, each extending in a second direction crossing the first direction,

wherein the sensor driver is configured to selectively operate in a first mode for sensing a touch and in a second mode for sensing an external input device,

wherein the second mode comprises a charging mode and a sensing mode,

wherein, in the first mode, the sensor driver is configured to electrically connect a first end and a second end to each other of each of the plurality of second electrodes, and transmit a driving signal to each of the plurality of second electrodes,

wherein, in the sensing mode, the sensor driver is configured to receive a first sensing signal through the second end, and

wherein the sensor driver comprises:

a driver configured to generate the driving signal and a charging signal;

a sensing circuit comprising an analog front-end;

a voltage providing circuit configured to provide a voltage with a voltage level;

a first pad part electrically connected to the first end;

a second pad part electrically connected to the second end;

a first switch connected to the first pad part, and configured to switch between the voltage providing circuit and the second pad part; and

a second switch connected to the second pad part, and configured to switch between the driver and the sensing circuit.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a single-ended mode.

10 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the sensing circuit is configured to operate in a differential mode.

11 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein, in the first mode, the first switch is configured to be connected to the first pad part and the second pad part, and the second switch is configured to be connected to the second pad part and the driver.

12 . The electronic device of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, each extending in the first direction, and insulated from the plurality of second electrodes,

wherein, in the charging mode, the sensor driver is configured to transmit a first charging signal to one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes, and transmit a second charging signal to another of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein a phase of the first charging signal is opposite to a phase of the second charging signal.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein, during the charging mode, the plurality of second electrodes are configured to be floated.

15 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes and the another of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes are spaced from each other with at least one of others of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes located therebetween.

16 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein, in the charging mode, the first switch is configured to be connected to the first pad part and the voltage providing circuit, the second switch is configured to be connected to the second pad part and the driver, a first charging signal is configured to be transmitted to one of the plurality of second electrodes, and a second charging signal is configured to be transmitted to another of the plurality of second electrodes.

17 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein a phase of the first charging signal is opposite to a phase of the second charging signal.

18 . The electronic device of claim 16 , wherein the one of the plurality of second electrodes and the another of the plurality of second electrodes are spaced from each other with at least one of others of the plurality of second electrodes located therebetween.

19 . The electronic device of claim 18 , wherein the sensor layer comprises an active area, and a peripheral area adjacent to the active area,

wherein the plurality of first electrodes, the plurality of second electrodes, and the plurality of auxiliary electrodes are located in the active area, and

wherein the sensor layer further comprises a plurality of sensing lines located in the peripheral area, and connected to the plurality of second electrodes, respectively.

20 . The electronic device of claim 19 , wherein, in the charging mode, a first distance between the one of the plurality of second electrodes and the another of the plurality of second electrodes in a first direction is greater than a second distance between one of the plurality of sensing lines connected to the one of the plurality of second electrodes and another of the plurality of sensing lines connected to the another of the plurality of second electrodes, in a second direction crossing the first direction.

21 . An electronic device comprising:

a display layer;

a sensor layer on the display layer; and

a sensor driver configured to drive the sensor layer,

wherein the sensor layer comprises:

a plurality of first electrodes, each extending in a first direction;

a plurality of second electrodes, each extending in a second direction crossing the first direction; and

a plurality of auxiliary electrodes, each extending in the first direction, and insulated from the plurality of second electrodes,

wherein the sensor driver is configured to operate in a charging mode or a sensing mode

wherein, in the charging mode, the sensor driver is configured to transmit a first charging signal to one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes, and transmit a second charging signal to another of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes,

wherein, in the sensing mode, the sensor driver is configured to directly receive a current of a first sensing signal from the plurality of second electrodes, and the sensor driver is configured to receive a second sensing signal transferred by a capacitive coupling between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of auxiliary electrodes.

22 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein each of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes comprises at least one pattern electrode, and

wherein, in a plan view, each of the plurality of first electrodes surrounds the pattern electrode of a corresponding one of the plurality of auxiliary electrodes.

23 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein an area of each of the plurality of first electrodes is smaller than an area of each of the plurality of second electrodes.

24 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein, in a plan view, a length of each of the plurality of first electrodes in the first direction is smaller than a length of each of the plurality of second electrodes in the second direction.

25 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of auxiliary electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

26 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein an intensity of the first sensing signal is greater than an intensity of the second sensing signal.

27 . The electronic device of claim 21 , wherein a phase of the first charging signal is opposite to a phase of the second charging signal.

28 . The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein, during the charging mode, the plurality of second electrodes are configured to be floated.