IP Library Granted Patent US 12669886
Granted Patent B2
US 12669886 · App. 19/230,177 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Input/output panel, input/output device, and semiconductor device

Inventors: Hajime Kimura (Atsugi, JP); Shunpei Yamazaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
G06F3/0412G02F1/13338G02F1/134363G02F1/1368G06F3/0445G06F3/0446G02F1/133553G02F2201/44G06F2203/04108
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669886
App. No.
19/230,177
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An input/output device includes a first sensor electrode and a second sensor electrode. In addition, the input/output device includes a first electrode and a second electrode which are electrodes for a display element, and a substrate sandwiched between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. The second sensor electrode is formed concurrently with the first electrode using the same material. The input/output device sensors a change in capacitance of a capacitor formed between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode. Furthermore, a third sensor electrode to which a floating potential is applied may be provided to overlap with the first electrode. In the input/output device, either a liquid crystal element or a light-emitting element may be used, or both the liquid crystal element and the light-emitting element may be used.

Claims (64)

1 . An input/output device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising:

a first electrode over a substrate; and

a second electrode under the substrate;

a liquid crystal element under the substrate, the liquid crystal element comprising:

a third electrode;

a fourth electrode; and

a liquid crystal material;

a fifth electrode; and

an insulating layer under the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein a capacitor is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the substrate and the liquid crystal material are located between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the third electrode is formed on a same layer and using a same material as the fourth electrode,

wherein the second electrode is formed on a same layer and using a same material as the fifth electrode,

wherein the second electrode is spaced apart from the fifth electrode, and

wherein the fifth electrode overlaps with the third electrode and the fourth electrode with the insulating layer sandwiched therebetween.

2 . The input/output device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fourth electrode is a pixel electrode, and

wherein the fifth electrode is configured to be supplied with a common potential.

3 . The input/output device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the fifth electrode is a pixel electrode, and

wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to be supplied with a common potential.

4 . The input/output device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface of the insulating layer comprises a region in contact with the third electrode and a region in contact with the fourth electrode.

5 . The input/output device according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises the touch sensor and the liquid crystal element.

6 . An input/output device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising:

a first electrode over a substrate; and

a second electrode under the substrate;

a liquid crystal element under the substrate, the liquid crystal element comprising:

a third electrode;

a fourth electrode; and

a liquid crystal material;

a fifth electrode; and

an insulating layer under the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein a capacitor is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the substrate and the liquid crystal material are located between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the second electrode is formed on a same layer and using a same material as the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode are spaced apart from each other,

wherein the fifth electrode is a pixel electrode, and

wherein the fifth electrode overlaps with the third electrode and the fourth electrode with the insulating layer sandwiched therebetween.

7 . The input/output device according to claim 6 , wherein the third electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to be supplied with a common potential.

8 . The input/output device according to claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises the touch sensor and the liquid crystal element.

9 . An input/output device comprising:

a touch sensor comprising:

a first electrode over a substrate; and

a second electrode under the substrate;

a liquid crystal element under the substrate, the liquid crystal element comprising:

a third electrode;

a fourth electrode; and

a liquid crystal material;

a fifth electrode; and

an insulating film under the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode,

wherein a capacitor is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the substrate and the liquid crystal element are located between the first electrode and the fifth electrode,

wherein the second electrode is formed on a same layer and using a same material as the third electrode and the fourth electrode,

wherein the third electrode is a pixel electrode electrically connected to one of a source electrode or a drain electrode of a transistor,

wherein the fifth electrode is formed using a same material as a semiconductor layer of the transistor, and

wherein the insulating film is over and in contact with the transistor and the fifth electrode.

10 . The input/output device according to claim 9 , wherein each of the third electrode, the fourth electrode, and the fifth electrode comprises a conductor transmitting visible light.

11 . The input/output device according to claim 9 , wherein the insulating film is an nitride insulating film.

12 . The input/output device according to claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises the touch sensor and the liquid crystal element.