Input device and I/O-integrated display

1. An input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode; and

input sensing means for comparing the input sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison, wherein:

the input sensing signal represents an input-sensing digital code; and

the input sensing means includes:

code detecting means for detecting a digital code from the signal detected by the signal detecting means; and

determining means for determining that an input has been made if the input-sensing digital code matches with the digital code detected by the code detecting means.

2. The input device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

second signal supply means for supplying a coordinate recognizing signal to the first electrode; and

coordinate recognizing means for recognizing coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel based on the signal detected by the signal detecting means if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

3. The input device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

4. The input device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

5. An input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode;

input sensing means for comparing the input sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison;

second signal supply means for supplying a coordinate recognizing signal to the first electrode; and

coordinate recognizing means for recognizing coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel based on the signal detected by the signal detecting means if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

6. The input device as set forth in claim 5 , wherein:

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

7. An I/O-integrated display, comprising an input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode; and

input sensing means for comparing the input sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison, wherein:

the I/O-integrated display produces a display on the input receiving panel;

the input sensing signal represents an input-sensing digital code; and

the input sensing means includes:

code detecting means for detecting a digital code from the signal detected by the signal detecting means; and

determining means for determining that an input has been made if the input-sensing digital code matches with the digital code detected by the code detecting means.

8. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 7 , further comprising:

second signal supply means for supplying a coordinate recognizing signal to the first electrode; and

coordinate recognizing means for recognizing coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel based on the signal detected by the signal detecting means if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

9. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 7 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

10. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 8 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

11. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 7 , wherein

the input receiving panel constitutes a part of a display panel on which a display is produced.

12. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 11 , wherein

the first signal supply means supplies the input sensing signal to the first electrode during a non-display period of the display panel.

13. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 11 , wherein:

the display panel comprises:

a first substrate including: pixel electrodes arranged in rows and columns to form a matrix; switching elements each provided to a different one of the pixel electrodes; scan lines each provided in a different one of the rows and connected to all control leads of those switching elements which sit in that row; and reference lines each provided in a different one of the rows and connected to all those pixel electrodes which sit in that row through respective ones of the switching elements which sit in that row;

a second substrate including signal electrodes each provided in a different one of the columns opposite to all those pixel electrodes which sit in that column; and

an electro-optical layer, interposed between the first and second substrates, controlled through a potential difference between the pixel electrodes and the signal electrodes opposite to each other,

wherein the signal electrodes act as either the first electrode or the second electrode.

14. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 13 , wherein:

the first signal supply means supplies the input sensing signal to the first electrode during a non-display period of the display panel; and

the reference lines are held at a constant potential during a period when the first signal supply means supplies the input sensing signal to the first electrode.

15. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 11 , wherein:

the display panel comprises:

a first substrate including: pixel electrodes arranged in rows and columns to form a matrix; switching elements each provided to a different one of the pixel electrodes; scan lines each provided in a different one of the rows and connected to all control leads of those switching elements which sit in that row; and signal lines each provided in a different one of the columns and connected to all those pixel electrodes which sit in that column through respective ones of those switching elements which sit in that column;

a second substrate including a common opposite electrode provided opposite to the pixel electrodes; and

an electro-optical layer, interposed between the first and second substrates, controlled through a potential difference between the pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode opposite to each other,

wherein the opposite electrode acts as either the first electrode or the second electrode.

16. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 15 , wherein:

the first signal supply means supplies the input sensing signal to the first electrode during a non-display period of the display panel; and

the signal lines are held at a constant potential during a period when the first signal supply means supplies the input sensing signal to the first electrode.

17. An I/O-integrated display, comprising an input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode; and

input sensing means for comparing the input sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison, wherein:

the I/O-integrated display produces a display on the input receiving panel,

the I/O-integrated display further comprising:

second signal supply means for supplying a coordinate recognizing signal to the first electrode; and

coordinate recognizing means for recognizing coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel based on the signal detected by the signal detecting means if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

18. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 17 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

19. An input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode;

signal generator means for generating another sensing signal which is an equivalent to the input sensing signal; and

input sensing means for comparing the other sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison.

20. The input device as set forth in claim 19 , wherein

the input sensing signal and the other sensing signal represent an input-sensing digital code; and

the input sensing means includes: code detecting means for detecting a digital code from the signal detected by the signal detecting means; and determining means for determining that an input has been made if the input-sensing digital code matches with the digital code detected by the code detecting means.

21. The input device as set forth in claim 20 , further comprising coordinate detecting means for detecting coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

22. The input device as set forth in claim 21 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

23. The input device as set forth in claim 19 , further comprising coordinate detecting means for detecting coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

24. The input device as set forth in claim 23 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

25. The input device as set forth in claim 19 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

26. The input device as set forth in claim 20 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

27. The input device as set forth in claim 19 , wherein: the input sensing means senses the input based on whether or not the input sensing signal and the signal being detected are identical.

28. An I/O-integrated display, comprising an input device including an input receiving panel for receiving an external input and input means for enabling an input on the input receiving panel, the input device sensing an input by means of capacitive coupling between an electrode on the input receiving panel and an electrode on the input means,

the input device comprising:

first signal supply means for supplying an input sensing signal to a first one of the electrodes;

signal detecting means for detecting a signal generated in the other, second electrode;

signal generator means for generating another sensing signal which is an equivalent to the input sensing signal; and

input sensing means for comparing the other sensing signal with the signal detected by the signal detecting means and sensing an input based on a result of the comparison,

wherein the I/O-integrated display produces a display on the input receiving panel.

29. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 28 , wherein

the input sensing signal and the other sensing signal represent an input-sensing digital code; and

the input sensing means includes: code detecting means for detecting a digital code from the signal detected by the signal detecting means; and determining means for determining that an input has been made if the input-sensing digital code matches with the digital code detected by the code detecting means.

30. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 28 , further comprising coordinate detecting means for detecting coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

31. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 28 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

32. An I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 28 , wherein

the input receiving panel constitutes a part of a display panel on which a display is produced.

33. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 28 , wherein: the input sensing means senses the input based on whether or not the input sensing signal and the signal being detected are identical.

34. An I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 29 , wherein

the input receiving panel constitutes a part of a display panel on which a display is produced.

35. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 29 , further comprising coordinate detecting means for detecting coordinates of the input means on the input receiving panel if the input sensing means has sensed an input.

36. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 35 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

37. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 29 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.

38. The I/O-integrated display as set forth in claim 30 , wherein

the input means includes: an input tip which comes into contact with the input receiving panel to enable an input; and contact sensing means for sensing a contact of the input tip with an object; and

the input sensing means senses an input based on said result if the contact sensing means has sensed a contact of the input tip with an object.