KR102305463B1 - Display device including touch sensor and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a curved display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof. A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors, and at least one touch surface concavely curved in a first direction, wherein the touch surface includes a central portion and the first direction. and edge portions positioned on both sides of the central portion along the , and the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the central portion is higher than the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the edge portion.

Description

Display device including touch sensor and driving method thereof

The present invention relates to a display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof, and more particularly, to a curved display device including a touch sensor and a driving method thereof.

A display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emitting diode display (OLED display), and an electrophoretic display device includes an electric field generating electrode and an electro-optical active layer (electro-optical active layer). active layer). For example, an organic light emitting display device includes an organic light emitting layer as an electro-optical active layer. The electric field generating electrode may be connected to a switching device such as a thin film transistor to receive a data signal, and the electro-optical active layer converts the data signal into an optical signal to display an image.

Recently, such a display device may include a touch sensing function capable of interacting with a user in addition to a function of displaying an image. When the user approaches or touches a finger or a touch pen on the screen to write a character or draw a picture, the touch sensing function detects changes in pressure, electric charge, light, etc. applied to the screen by the display device. It is to find out contact information such as approaching or contacting, and the location of the contact. The display device may receive an image signal based on such contact information and display an image.

Such a touch sensing function may be implemented through a touch sensor. The touch sensor may be classified according to various methods, such as a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electro-magnetic type (EM), and an optical type.

The double capacitive touch sensor includes a plurality of touch electrodes capable of transmitting a sensing signal. The touch electrode may form a sensing capacitor with another touch electrode (mutual-capacitor type), or may form a sensing capacitor together with an external object (self-capacitor type). When a conductor such as a finger approaches or touches the touch sensor, a change in capacitance or charge amount of the sensing capacitor occurs, so that the contact and the contact position can be determined.

The plurality of touch electrodes may be disposed in a touch sensing area in which a touch may be sensed and may be connected to a plurality of touch wires that transmit a sensing signal. The touch wiring may be located in the touch sensing area or may be disposed in a non-sensing area around the touch sensing area. The touch wiring may transmit a sensing input signal to the touch electrode or transmit a sensing output signal of the touch electrode generated according to the touch to the touch driver.

The touch sensor may be embedded in the display device (in-cell type), directly formed on an outer surface of the display device (on-cell type), or a separate touch sensor unit may be attached to the display device (add-on cell type) to be used. . A display device including a touch sensor may determine whether a user's finger or a touch pen touches the screen and contact location information, and display an image accordingly.

In general, when an observer observes the flat display device, the viewing distance from the viewer to the center of the display device and the viewing distance from the viewer to the edge of the display device are different, so that an image may appear distorted. In order to reduce such image distortion and increase image immersion, recently, display panels of display devices are curved into concave or convex shapes to make them curved. The display panel of the curved display device may be curved along at least one direction. Also, the radius of curvature indicating the degree of curvature may vary according to the display device and according to the position of the display panel in one display device.

When the curved display device includes a touch sensor, although the surface of the display panel is curved, the user may perform a touch as if touching a general flat panel display panel without being aware of the curved surface of the display panel. In this case, the user may receive a touch along the virtual surface. Then, the distance between the contacting object and the touch surface of the display device varies according to the location. In the patented curved display panel, a touch may be performed with the longest distance between the contact object and the touch surface in the central portion, and in this case, touch sensing may not be performed well. In other words, since the sensitivity of the touch sensor generally depends on the distance between the contacting object and the touch surface, the touch sensitivity may decrease in the hovering touch mode in the center of the curved touch panel where the distance between the contacting object and the touch surface is farthest. have.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the above problems, and even in a hovering touch mode, a display in which a user can sense a touch with a constant touch sensitivity along a bending direction of a display panel of a curved display device including a touch sensor An apparatus and a driving method thereof are provided.

A display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors, and at least one touch surface concavely curved in a first direction, wherein the touch surface includes a central portion and the first direction. and edge portions positioned on both sides of the central portion along the , and the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the central portion is higher than the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the edge portion.

Further comprising a touch driving unit for driving the plurality of touch sensors, wherein the sensing input signal input to the touch sensor corresponding to the central portion by the touch driving unit is higher than the sensing input signal input to the touch sensor corresponding to the edge portion It can have a large voltage.

The touch sensor may include a first touch electrode, and an area of the first touch electrode corresponding to the central portion may be different from an area of the first touch electrode corresponding to the edge portion.

The touch sensor may further include a second touch electrode forming a sensing capacitor together with the first touch electrode, and an area of the second touch electrode corresponding to the central portion is that of the second touch electrode corresponding to the edge portion. area may be different.

The first touch electrode may extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the touch sensor may further include a second touch electrode intersecting the first touch electrode.

The ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the central portion per unit area to the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the edge portion It may be different from the area ratio occupied per unit area.

The ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the central portion per unit area to the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the edge portion It may be different from the area ratio occupied per unit area.

The plurality of touch sensors may include a plurality of first touch electrodes, and a distance between adjacent first touch electrodes positioned to correspond to the central portion is equal to a distance between adjacent first touch electrodes positioned to correspond to the edge portion and can be different.

The first touch electrode may extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the touch sensor may further include a second touch electrode intersecting the first touch electrode.

The ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the central portion per unit area to the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the edge portion It may be different from the area ratio occupied per unit area.

Each of the plurality of touch sensors includes a first touch electrode and a second touch electrode forming a sensing capacitor together with the first touch electrode, and adjacent the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode positioned corresponding to the central portion A distance between the electrodes may be different from a distance between the adjacent first touch electrode and the second touch electrode positioned corresponding to the edge portion.

The touch sensor further includes an insulating film positioned between the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode, and the thickness of the insulating film included in the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the central portion is positioned to correspond to the edge portion. may be different from the thickness of the insulating film included in the touch sensor.

A planar distance between the adjacent first touch electrode and the second touch electrode positioned corresponding to the central portion is equal to a planar distance between the adjacent first touch electrode and the second touch electrode positioned corresponding to the edge portion, and may be substantially the same.

The ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the central portion per unit area to the plurality of first touch electrodes included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the edge portion It may be different from the area ratio occupied per unit area.

A touch driver for driving the plurality of touch sensors, and a plurality of touch wires connecting the touch driver and the plurality of touch sensors, wherein in a direct touch mode, the touch driver is positioned to correspond to the central portion At least two of the plurality of touch sensors connected to the plurality of touch sensors may be bundled to simultaneously apply a sensing input signal.

The display device may further include a display panel displaying an image, and the touch sensor unit may be included in the display panel or located on an upper surface of the display panel.

The display panel may be concavely curved in the first direction along the touch surface.

The display device may include a plurality of touch surfaces, and the plurality of touch surfaces may include a first touch surface and a second touch surface.

A third touch surface may be further included between the first touch surface and the second touch surface, and the third touch surface may be flat.

A direction that the first touch surface faces and a direction that the second touch surface faces may be opposite to each other.

Further comprising: a first touch driver for driving the touch sensor corresponding to the central portion; and a second touch driver for driving the touch sensor corresponding to the edge portion, wherein the first touch driver and the second touch driver They may be contained on different chips.

A method of driving a display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors, at least one touch surface concavely curved in a first direction, and a touch driver driving the plurality of touch sensors. In a display device comprising: inputting, by the touch driver, a first sensing input signal to the touch sensor corresponding to a central portion of the touch surface, and by the touch driver, the central portion of the touch surface in the first direction and inputting a second sensing input signal to the touch sensor corresponding to edge portions positioned on both sides of the , wherein a voltage of the first sensing input signal is greater than a voltage of the second sensing input signal.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, even in the hovering touch mode, a touch may be sensed with a constant touch sensitivity along a bending direction of the display panel of the curved display device including the touch sensor.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch surface and a virtual touch surface of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a plan view of a touch sensor unit of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 to 20 are plan views of a touch sensor unit of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively;
21 is a cross-sectional view of a touch sensor unit of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a curved shape of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a curved shape of a curved display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Then, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those of ordinary skill in the art can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

In order to clearly express various layers and regions in the drawings, the thicknesses are enlarged. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals are assigned to similar parts. When a part, such as a layer, film, region, plate, etc., is "on" another part, it includes not only the case where it is "directly on" another part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when we say that a part is "just above" another part, we mean that there is no other part in the middle.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" with another part, this includes not only the case of being "directly connected" but also the case of being "electrically connected" with another element interposed therebetween. . In addition, when a part "includes" a certain component, this means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a cross-sectional view illustrating a touch surface and a virtual touch surface of a curved display device according to an example.

1 and 2 , a display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a touch sensor unit 400 and at least one touch surface 1A curved along the first direction, the x-axis direction. includes

The touch surface 1A may have a concave shape that is concavely curved with respect to the observer. The concave touch surface 1A has a central portion with respect to the observer and is retreated from both edges. The touch surface 1A may be formed with a constant normal curvature, or may be formed with multiple curvatures having different curvatures of, for example, the central portion and both side edge portions of the touch surface 1A depending on the location.

The touch surface 1A means a surface that can be touched by an external object such as a user's finger. The contact includes not only a case in which an external object such as a user's hand directly touches the touch surface 1A, but also a case in which the external object approaches or hovers while approaching the touch surface 1A. When an external object directly contacts the touch surface 1A, the touch driving mode that detects contact information such as whether there is a contact, a contact position, and a contact strength is called a direct contact mode, and the external object does not directly contact the touch surface 1A. A touch driving mode in which touch information is sensed when approaching without or moving in an approached state is referred to as a hovering touch mode.

The touch sensor unit 400 is located under the touch surface 1A and may sense a contact by an external object. The touch sensor unit 400 may include a touch sensing area, which is an area in which a plurality of touch sensors are located to sense a touch, and a non-sensing area outside the touch sensing area.

A touch sensor may sense a touch in a variety of ways. For example, the touch sensor may be classified into various types, such as a resistive type, a capacitive type, an electro-magnetic type (EM), and an optical type. . In this embodiment, a capacitive touch sensor will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The touch sensor unit 400 includes a plurality of touch electrodes constituting the touch sensor and a plurality of touch wires connected thereto to transmit a detection input signal or a detection output signal. The touch sensor unit 400 includes at least one insulating film or a substrate, and the touch electrode and the touch wiring may be formed on at least one surface of the insulating film or the substrate.

The touch sensor unit 400 may also be concavely curved along the touch surface 1A.

In the case of the capacitive touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, each touch electrode may form a self sensing capacitance as the touch sensor. The self-sensing capacitor receives a sensing input signal through a touch wire and is charged with a predetermined amount of charge. When an external object such as a finger is touched, the charge amount changes and the input sensing input signal and a different sensing output signal are transmitted through the touch wiring. can be printed out.

In the case of the capacitive touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of touch electrodes may include a first touch electrode receiving a sensing input signal and a second touch electrode outputting a sensing output signal. The first and second touch electrodes adjacent to each other form a mutual sensing capacitor as a touch sensor. The mutual sensing capacitor receives a sensing input signal and outputs a change in the amount of charge due to the contact of an external object as a sensing output signal to sense the touch.

The display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a display panel 300 for displaying an image. In the display area of the display panel 300 , a plurality of pixels and a plurality of display signal lines such as gate lines and data lines connected to the pixels to transmit driving signals may be positioned.

The plurality of pixels may be approximately arranged in a matrix form, but is not limited thereto. Each pixel may include at least one switching element connected to a gate line and a data line, and at least one pixel electrode connected thereto. The switching device may be a three-terminal device such as a thin film transistor integrated in the display panel 300 . The switching element may be turned on or turned off according to a gate signal transmitted from the gate line to transmit the data signal transmitted from the data line to the pixel electrode. The pixel may further include a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode. The opposite electrode may transmit a common voltage. The pixel may display an image having a desired luminance according to the data voltage applied to the pixel electrode.

In the case of an organic light emitting display panel, a light emitting layer may be disposed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode to form a light emitting device.

In order to implement color display, each pixel may display one of primary colors, and a desired color is recognized by the sum of these primary colors. Examples of the primary colors include three primary colors or quaternary colors such as red, green, and blue. Each pixel may further include a color filter positioned at a position corresponding to each pixel electrode and representing one of the primary colors, and a light emitting layer included in the light emitting device may emit colored light.

1 or 2 , the display panel 300 includes a display element layer 310 in which a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and several insulating layers are positioned, and an encapsulation layer ( 320) may be included. The encapsulation layer 320 may include at least one of glass, plastic, a retention layer, and an inorganic layer. The encapsulation layer 320 may be in the form of a substrate or a film, and may include at least one inorganic insulating layer and/or an organic insulating layer.

The touch sensor unit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be included in the display panel 300 or located on the upper surface of the display panel 300 . Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the touch sensor unit 400 may be positioned between the display element layer 310 and the encapsulation layer 320 (in-cell type), as shown in FIG. 2 . It may also be positioned on the encapsulation layer 320 . When the touch sensor unit 400 is positioned on the encapsulation layer 320 , the touch electrode and/or touch wiring of the touch sensor unit 400 may be directly formed on the upper surface of the encapsulation layer 320 (on-cell type). , after manufacturing a touch panel by forming a touch electrode and/or a touch wire on a separate substrate, the touch panel may be attached to the upper surface of the display panel 300 (add-on type).

The display panel 300 may also be concavely curved along the touch surface 1A.

The touch electrode of the touch sensor unit 400 may have a predetermined transmittance or higher so that light from the display panel 300 may be transmitted. For example, the touch electrode may include a conductive polymer such as indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), metal nanowire, or PEDOT, or a metal such as copper (Cu) or silver (Ag). At least one transparent conductive material such as a metal mesh, carbon nanotubes (CNT), or a thin metal layer may be included.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch surface 1A may be concavely curved not only in the x-axis direction but also in a direction different from the x-axis direction, for example, in the y-axis direction or the z-axis direction. In this embodiment, an example in which the touch surface 1A is curved only along a single direction in the x-axis direction will be mainly described, but the same may be applied to a case in which the touch surface 1A is curved in another direction.

The touch surface 1A includes a central portion CT and a first edge portion EG1 and a second edge portion EG2 positioned at both sides thereof.

The central portion CT is positioned between the first boundary BD1 and the second boundary BD2 that are boundary lines that are spaced apart along the x-axis direction. The first boundary BD1 and the second boundary BD2 may extend approximately in the y-axis direction in the drawing illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 . The first boundary BD1 is located between the center of the touch surface 1A and one edge, and the second boundary BD2 is located between the center and the opposite edge of the touch surface 1A. The positions of the first boundary BD1 and the second boundary BD2 may be adjusted according to design conditions. For example, the first boundary BD1 may be located in the center of one area with respect to the center of the touch surface 1A, and the second boundary BD2 may be located in the opposite area with respect to the center of the touch surface 1A. It can be located in the middle.

Areas of the first edge part EG1 and the second edge part EG2 may be the same as or different from each other.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the distance between the virtual touch surface 1B, which is a plane connecting both ends of the display device 1 including the touch surface 1A, and the touch surface 1A varies according to the x-axis direction. Since the touch surface 1A included in the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is concavely curved with respect to the observer, it is located between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A in the central portion CT. The distance H1 may be greater than the distance H2 between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned corresponding to the central portion CT of the touch surface 1A among the plurality of touch sensors included in the touch sensor unit 400 under the same touch condition is the first The sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 is higher than that of the touch sensor. Here, the same touch condition may mean a case in which the distance between the contacting external object and the touch surface 1A is constant.

When a user performs a touch, a contact object such as a finger may directly touch the touch surface 1A, but for a user familiar with a flat display device with a touch sensing function or a user performing a quick touch, the contact object may touch the touch surface 1A. A hovering touch may be performed by moving along the vicinity of the virtual touch surface 1B without direct contact with 1A. In the case of a capacitive touch sensor, the greater the distance from the touch surface 1A of the contact object, the smaller the size of the detection output signal. The touch at (CT) may not be detected or an error may occur in the touch detection.

However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the central portion CT of the touch surface 1A corresponds to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. Since it is higher than the sensitivity of the located touch sensor, when the contact object performs a touch along the virtual touch surface 1B, even if the distance between the contact object and the touch surface 1A in the central portion CT is relatively long, the first A touch output signal equivalent to that of the edge part EG1 or the second edge part EG2 may be output. Accordingly, even in the central part CT, a touch can be normally detected in the hovering touch mode, and the contact information processed and generated by the touch driver is substantially independent of the distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A. It is possible to prevent an error in contact information according to the location.

Next, a detailed structure of a display device and a driving method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 together with the previously described drawings, respectively.

4 is a plan view of a touch sensor unit of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 5 to 8 are plan views of the touch sensor unit of the curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. am.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the touch sensor unit 400 of the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of first touch electrodes 410 and a plurality of second touch electrodes 420 . The plurality of first touch electrodes 410 are arranged in the y-axis direction, and each of the first touch electrodes 410 may generally extend in the x-axis direction. The plurality of second touch electrodes 420 are arranged in the x-axis direction, and each second touch electrode 420 may generally extend in the y-axis direction. An insulating layer (not shown) may be positioned between the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 .

The first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 that are adjacent to each other on a plane or overlap each other with an insulating layer therebetween may form a mutual sensing capacitor as a touch sensor.

The first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 are connected to the touch driver 450 . The touch driving unit 450 may be located on one side of the touch sensor unit 400 , but is not limited thereto. Although not shown, the first touch electrode 410 may be connected to the touch driver 450 through a plurality of touch wires connected thereto.

The touch driver 450 may input a sensing input signal to one of the first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 and receive a sensing output signal from the other. The touch driver 450 may process the detection output signal to generate contact information such as whether a touch is made and a touch location.

The touch driving unit 450 is mounted directly on the touch sensor unit 400 in the form of at least one integrated circuit chip, or is mounted on a flexible printed circuit film to make a touch in the form of a tape carrier package (TCP). It may be attached to the sensor unit 400 or mounted on a separate printed circuit board to be connected to the touch sensor unit 400 . The touch driving unit 450 may be integrated in the touch sensor unit 400 together with the touch electrode and the touch wiring.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the touch driving unit 450 includes a first touch driving unit 450b connected to the touch sensor of the first edge part EG1 and a second touch driving unit connected to the touch sensor of the central part CT ( 450b), and a third touch driver 450c connected to the touch sensor of the second edge portion EG2. Each of the touch drivers 450a, 450b, and 450c may be included in one chip. Alternatively, the touch driver 450 made of a single chip may be connected to the entire touch sensor to drive the touch sensor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the center part CT is applied to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. It may have a voltage greater than a sensing input signal input to a correspondingly located touch sensor. Accordingly, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned in the central portion CT having a relatively long distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A is relatively high. Accordingly, the hovering touch in the central part CT may also be sensed with a touch sensitivity equivalent to the touch in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2, and the hovering touch in the central part CT. In mode, a touch may be normally detected. In addition, the contact information processed and generated by the touch driver 450 can be generated substantially independently of the distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A, so that an error of the contact information according to the location can be prevented. have. In this case, the density of the second touch electrode 420 positioned to correspond to the central part CT and the density of the second touch electrode 420 positioned to correspond to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. The density may be substantially the same.

However, in the direct touch mode in which the contact object is very close to the touch surface 1A or directly touches the touch surface 1A, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor of the central portion CT and the first edge portion EG1 and/or the Voltage levels of sensing input signals input to the touch sensor of the second edge part EG2 may be equal to each other.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 described above, but the second touch corresponding to the central part CT. The width or area of the electrode 420 may be different from the width or area of the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the width or area of the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to the central portion CT is the second touch corresponding to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. It may be larger than the width or area of the electrode 420 . Accordingly, the overlapping area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 overlapping or adjacent to each other in the central portion CT or the length of the facing portion is determined by the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion. Since it is larger than that of the portion EG2 , the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased.

The pitch of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 in the central portion CT is substantially the same as the pitch of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. can do. Accordingly, the area ratio occupied by the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned corresponding to the central portion CT per unit area is at the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . The ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 included in the plurality of correspondingly positioned touch sensors per unit area may be different. More specifically, the ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 in the central portion CT per unit area to the plurality of second touch electrodes positioned at the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 ( 420) may be greater than an area ratio per unit area.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the width or area of the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to the central portion CT is the second touch corresponding to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. It may be smaller than the width or area of the electrode 420 . Also, the pitch of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 in the central portion CT may be smaller than the pitch of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. have. Accordingly, the ratio of the area occupied by the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned in the central portion CT per unit area to the plurality of second touch electrodes positioned in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 (420) may be greater than the area ratio occupied per unit area. Accordingly, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, one first touch electrode 410 may have a different width or area according to a location. That is, the width or area of the central portion CT of the first touch electrode 410 may be greater than the width or area of the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . Accordingly, the overlapping area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 overlapping or adjacent to each other in the central portion CT or the length of the facing portion is determined by the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion. Since it may be larger than that of the portion EG2 , the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased.

The widths or areas of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned in the central portion CT may be constant. On the other hand, the widths or areas of the second touch electrodes 420 are the largest at the center of the central portion CT and the outside It may gradually decrease as you go further. Similarly, in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 , the widths or areas of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 may be constant. The width or area of the touch electrode 420 may be the largest and gradually decrease toward the outside.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the display device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 described above, but is located in the center CT and adjacent to each other. The distance d1 between the two touch electrodes 420 is different from the distance d2 between the second touch electrodes 420 positioned at the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 and adjacent to each other. can

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance d1 between the adjacent second touch electrodes 420 in the central portion CT is the second adjacent second touch electrode in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. It may be smaller than the distance d2 between the two touch electrodes 420 . Accordingly, the overlapping area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 overlapping or adjacent to each other in the central portion CT or the length of the facing portion is determined by the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion. Since it is larger than that of the portion EG2 , the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased. In addition, the area ratio per unit area of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned at the central part CT is the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned at the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. ), the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively higher than the area ratio per unit area.

The distance d1 between the adjacent second touch electrodes 420 positioned in the central portion CT may be constant, or the distance d1 from the center of the central portion CT may be the smallest and gradually increase toward the outside. . Similarly, the distance d2 between the second touch electrodes 420 adjacent to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 may be constant. The distance d2 between the second touch electrodes 420 may be the smallest and may gradually increase toward the outside.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 described above, but in the direct touch mode, the touch driver 450 ) may bind touch wires connected to at least two of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned in the central portion CT to simultaneously apply a touch input signal.

As described above, when a user directly touches a display device including a structure for uniform touch sensitivity in the hovering touch mode in the touch mode, the touch sensitivity is reduced in the central part (CT), where the sensitivity of the touch sensor is more sensitive. Since it is higher than the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 , the touch sensitivity as a whole may not be uniform on the touch surface 1A. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the integrated touch mode, since at least two touch sensors are bundled and driven by simultaneously applying a touch input signal for the touch sensor located in the central portion CT, the touch sensitivity is uniformly applied to the entire touch surface 1A. can be readjusted.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 described above, but the contact object is on the touch surface 1A. In a very close or direct touch mode, the touch driver 450 binds touch wires connected to at least two of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned at the center CT to simultaneously apply a touch input signal. have. The effect according to this is the same as in the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 .

A detailed structure of a display device and a driving method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 along with FIGS. 1 to 3 described above.

9 to 13 are plan views of a touch sensor unit of a curved display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is mostly the same as the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, but the structure of the touch electrode may be different. Differences from the previous embodiment will be mainly described.

The touch sensor unit 400 includes a plurality of first touch electrodes 410 and a plurality of second touch electrodes 420 . The plurality of first touch electrodes 410 and the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 may be alternately distributed and disposed. A plurality of first touch electrodes 410 may be respectively disposed in a column direction and a row direction, and a plurality of second touch electrodes 420 may also be disposed in plurality in a column direction and a row direction.

The first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 may be positioned on the same layer or on different layers with an insulating layer interposed therebetween.

Each of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 may have a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have various shapes, such as having a protrusion to improve the sensitivity of the touch sensor.

A plurality of first touch electrodes 410 positioned in each row are connected to each other through a first connection part 412 , and a plurality of second touch electrodes 420 positioned in each column are connected to each other via a second connection part 422 . may be interconnected. An insulating layer (not shown) may be disposed between the first connection part 412 and the second connection part 422 to insulate the first connection part 412 and the second connection part 422 from each other.

Although not shown in FIG. 9 , the first touch electrodes 410 of each row are connected to the touch driver 450 through a first touch wire, and the second touch electrodes 420 of each column are touched through the second touch wires. It may be connected to the driving unit 450 . The first touch wiring and the second touch wiring may be located in the non-sensing area or in the touch sensing area.

The first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 adjacent to each other may form a mutual sensing capacitor functioning as a touch sensor. The mutual sensing capacitor receives a sensing input signal through one of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 and detects a change in the amount of charge due to the contact of an external object as a sensing output signal to the remaining touch electrodes 410 and 420 can be output through

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the center part CT is applied to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. It may have a voltage greater than a sensing input signal input to a correspondingly located touch sensor. Accordingly, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned in the central portion CT having a relatively long distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A is relatively high. Accordingly, the hovering touch in the central part CT may also be sensed with a touch sensitivity equivalent to the touch in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2, and the hovering touch in the central part CT. In mode, a touch may be normally detected. In addition, the contact information processed and generated by the touch driver 450 can be generated substantially independently of the distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A, so that an error of the contact information according to the location can be prevented. have. In this case, the density of the first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 positioned to correspond to the central portion CT and the first and second touch electrodes positioned to correspond to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. The density of the second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may be substantially the same.

However, in the direct touch mode, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor of the central part CT and the sensing input inputted to the touch sensor of the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 are detected. The voltage magnitudes of the signals may be equal to each other.

In addition, since the description of the touch driver 450 is the same as that of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 described above, but a second touch corresponding to the central portion CT. An area of the electrode 420 may be different from an area of the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the areas of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to the central portion CT are the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . may be smaller than an area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 corresponding to . In addition, the ratio of the area occupied by the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 included in the plurality of touch sensors corresponding to the central portion CT to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second touch electrode 420 per unit area. An area ratio of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 included in the plurality of touch sensors positioned to correspond to the edge portion EG2 may be greater than an area ratio per unit area. Accordingly, a length per unit area of a portion facing each other of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 adjacent to each other in the central portion CT is the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . Since it is larger than , the capacitance of the mutual sensing capacitor may be relatively large, and thus the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central part CT may be relatively high.

According to the present embodiment, the touch driver 450 includes a first touch driver 450b connected to the touch sensor of the first edge part EG1 and a second touch driver 450b connected to the touch sensor of the center part CT. ), and a third touch driver 450c connected to the touch sensor of the second edge portion EG2 , and each touch driver 450a , 450b , and 450c may be included in one chip. Alternatively, the touch driver 450 made of a single chip may be connected to the entire touch sensor to drive the touch sensor.

The areas of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 positioned in the central portion CT may be constant. Alternatively, the first and second touch electrodes 410 and the second touch electrode 410 in the center of the central portion CT may have a constant area. The electrode 420 may have the largest area and may gradually decrease toward the outside. Similarly, in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 , the areas of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 may be constant, and in contrast to the area adjacent to the central portion CT. The area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 may be the largest in the portion and gradually decrease toward the outside.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 described above, but is located in the central portion CT and adjacent to each other. The distance d3 between the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 is located at the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 and the first touch electrodes 410 are adjacent to each other. It may be different from the distance d4 between the second touch electrode 420 and the second touch electrode 420 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance d3 between the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 adjacent to the central portion CT is the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion. The distance d4 between the first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 adjacent to each other in the portion EG2 may be smaller than the distance d4 . Accordingly, the capacitance of the mutual sensing capacitors formed by the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 adjacent to each other in the central portion CT decreases with the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . ), the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased. In addition, the area ratio per unit area of the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 positioned at the center part CT is the first edge part EG1 and/or the first edge part EG2 positioned at the second edge part EG2 . Since the area ratio per unit area of the touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 is greater than that of the touch electrode 410 , the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased.

The distance d3 between the adjacent first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 positioned in the central portion CT may be constant, whereas the distance d3 from the center of the central portion CT is the greatest. It is small and may gradually increase as you go outward. Similarly, in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 , the distance d4 between the adjacent first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 may be constant. The distance d4 between the adjacent first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 in the portion adjacent to CT is smallest and may gradually increase toward the outside.

Referring to FIG. 12 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 described above, but in the direct touch mode, the touch driver 450 ) may bind touch wires connected to at least two of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 or at least two of the first touch electrodes 410 positioned in the central portion CT to simultaneously apply a touch input signal. Since other effects are the same as those of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 described above, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 13 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 described above, but in the direct touch mode, the touch driver 450 ) binds the touch wires 411 connected to at least two of the plurality of second touch electrodes 420 or at least two of the first touch electrodes 410 positioned in the central portion CT to apply a touch input signal at the same time. can The effect according to this is the same as in the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 .

A detailed structure of a display device and a driving method thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 21 together with FIGS. 1 to 3 described above.

14 to 21 are plan views of the touch sensor unit of the curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively, and FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the touch sensor part of the curved display device according to the embodiment of the present invention. am.

14 and 15 , the touch sensor included in the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of touch electrodes 430 and a plurality of touch wires 431 connected thereto.

The plurality of touch electrodes 430 may be arranged in a matrix form, and may be formed on the same layer in view of a cross-sectional structure. The shape of the touch electrode 430 may be a quadrangle as shown or may have a different shape.

The touch electrode 430 may be connected to the touch driver 450 through the touch wire 431 to receive a sensing input signal, generate a sensing output signal according to the touch, and send it to the touch driver 450 . Each touch electrode 430 forms a self sensing capacitor as a touch sensor and may be charged with a predetermined amount of charge after receiving a sensing input signal. Thereafter, when an external object such as a finger is touched, the charge amount of the self-sensing capacitor is changed, and a sensing output signal different from the input sensing input signal is output to detect the touch.

Referring to FIG. 14 , the touch driver 450 includes a first touch driver 450b connected to the touch sensor of the first edge part EG1 and a second touch driver connected to the touch sensor of the center part CT ( 450b), and a third touch driver 450c connected to the touch sensor of the second edge portion EG2. Each of the touch drivers 450a, 450b, and 450c may be included in one chip. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15 , the touch driving unit 450 made of a single chip may be connected to the entire touch sensor to drive the touch sensor.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the center part CT is applied to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. It may have a voltage greater than a sensing input signal input to a correspondingly located touch sensor. Accordingly, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor located in the central portion CT having a relatively long distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A is relatively high. Accordingly, the hovering touch in the central part CT may also be sensed with a touch sensitivity equivalent to the touch in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2, and the hovering touch in the central part CT. In mode, a touch may be normally detected. In addition, the contact information processed and generated by the touch driver 450 can be generated substantially independently of the distance between the virtual touch surface 1B and the touch surface 1A, so that an error of the contact information according to the location can be prevented. have. In this case, the density of the touch electrode 430 positioned to correspond to the center part CT and the density of the touch electrode 430 positioned to correspond to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 are substantially the same. can do.

However, in the direct touch mode, the sensing input signal input by the touch driver 450 to the touch sensor of the central part CT and the sensing input inputted to the touch sensor of the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 are detected. The voltage magnitudes of the signals may be equal to each other.

In addition, the features and effects of the various embodiments described above may be equally applied to the present embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15 described above, but corresponds to the central portion CT. The area A1 of the touch electrode 430 may be different from the area A2 of the touch electrode 430 corresponding to the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 .

More specifically, the area A1 of the touch electrode 430 corresponding to the central portion CT corresponds to the area (A1) of the touch electrode 430 corresponding to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. It can be larger than A2). Accordingly, since the capacity of the self-sensing capacitor formed by the touch electrode 430 in the central portion CT is greater than that in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2, the self-sensing capacitor in the central portion CT. The amount of change in capacitance due to contact with an external object is also greater than that of the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . Accordingly, in the case of the display device 1 that processes the change in capacitance of the self-sensing capacitor as a sensing output signal, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central part CT may be relatively high.

The area A1 of the touch electrode 430 positioned in the central portion CT may be constant. On the other hand, the area A1 of the touch electrode 430 is the largest at the center of the central portion CT and gradually becomes smaller toward the outside. may be lost Similarly, the area A2 of the touch electrode 430 may be constant even at the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 , otherwise, in the portion adjacent to the center part CT, the touch electrode 430 . The area A2 of is the largest and may gradually decrease toward the outside.

Referring to FIG. 17 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 or 15 described above, but corresponds to the central portion CT. The area A1 of the touch electrode 430 may be smaller than the area A2 of the touch electrode 430 corresponding to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . Accordingly, the capacitance of the self-sensing capacitor formed by the touch electrode 430 in the central portion CT is smaller than that of the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2, but the capacitance of the self-sensing capacitor according to the touch A ratio of the change amount to the total capacity may be greater than in the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 . Accordingly, in the case of the display device 1 that processes the ratio of the capacitance change amount of the self-sensing capacitor to the total capacitance as a detection output signal, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively high.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pitch of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 in the central portion CT is the pitch of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. may be smaller than Accordingly, the area ratio occupied by the plurality of touch electrodes 430 positioned at the central portion CT per unit area includes the plurality of touch electrodes 430 positioned at the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. It may be greater than an area ratio occupied per unit area. Accordingly, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased.

Referring to FIG. 18 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 or FIG. 15 described above, but is located in the central portion CT. and the distance d5 between the touch electrodes 430 adjacent to each other is between the touch electrode 430 positioned on the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2 and the touch electrode 430 adjacent thereto. It may be smaller than the distance d6. Accordingly, the area ratio per unit area of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 in the central part CT is the area ratio per unit area of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 positioned at the first edge part EG1 and/or the second edge part EG2. larger than that, the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor of the central portion CT may be relatively increased. In this case, the area of the touch electrode 430 in the central portion CT may be equal to or larger than the area of the touch electrode 430 positioned in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 .

The distances d5 and d6 between the adjacent touch electrodes 430 may be within about 30 μm so that the space between the touch electrodes 430 is not recognized by the user.

Referring to FIG. 19 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17 described above, but the contact object is on the touch surface 1A. In a direct touch mode in which a person is very close or directly touched, the touch driver 450 may apply a touch input signal at the same time by binding touch wires connected to at least two of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 positioned at the center CT. Then, as described above, when the user directly touches the display device including a structure for uniform touch sensitivity in the hovering touch mode in the touch mode, the touch sensitivity is increased in the central part (CT), where the sensitivity of the touch sensor is more sensitive. Since it is higher than the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 , the touch sensitivity as a whole may not be uniform on the touch surface 1A. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in the integrated touch mode, since at least two touch sensors are bundled and driven by simultaneously applying a touch input signal for the touch sensor located in the central portion CT, the touch sensitivity is uniformly applied to the entire touch surface 1A. can be readjusted.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mostly the same as the display device 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 18 described above, but the contact object is on the touch surface 1A. In a direct touch mode in which a person is very close or directly touched, the touch driver 450 may apply a touch input signal at the same time by binding touch wires connected to at least two of the plurality of touch electrodes 430 positioned at the center CT. The effect according to this is the same as in the description of the embodiment shown in FIG. 19 .

Referring to FIG. 21 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment is substantially the same as the display device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 13 described above, but the first touch electrode 410 . ) and the insulating layer 440 is positioned between the second touch electrode 420 .

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness T1 of the insulating layer 440 included in the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the central portion CT is the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2 . It may be different from the thickness T2 of the insulating layer 440 included in the touch sensor located at . More specifically, the thickness T1 of the insulating layer 440 included in the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the central portion CT is determined by the touch sensor positioned at the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. The thickness T2 of the insulating layer 440 may be smaller than the thickness T2 of the included insulating layer 440 . Accordingly, the capacitance of the mutual sensing capacitor formed by the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 in the central portion CT is decreased in the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. The capacitance of the mutual sensing capacitor formed by the first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 is greater than the touch sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the central portion CT of the touch surface 1A at the first edge portion The sensitivity of the touch sensor positioned to correspond to the EG1 and/or the second edge EG2 may be higher than that of the touch sensor.

A distance in a plane between the adjacent first touch electrode 410 and the second touch electrode 420 positioned to correspond to the central portion CT corresponds to the first edge portion EG1 and/or the second edge portion EG2. The distance between the adjacent first and second touch electrodes 410 and 420 may be substantially equal to each other.

A curved structure of the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23 , respectively.

22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a curved shape of a curved display device according to an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a curved shape of the curved display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 22 , the display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is the same as the display device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, but has a curved first touch surface 11A and a second touch surface, respectively. (12A) may be included. Each of the first touch surface 11A and the second touch surface 12A may be the same as the touch surface 1A according to various embodiments described above.

A third touch surface 13C may be positioned between the first touch surface 11A and the second touch surface 12A. The first touch surface 1A and the second touch surface 12A may be connected to both sides of the third touch surface 13C, respectively. The third touch surface 13C may have a flat surface unlike the touch surface 1A according to the above-described embodiment.

The touch sensor unit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first portion 400cr1 corresponding to the first touch surface 1A, a second portion 400cr2 corresponding to the second touch surface 12A, and A third portion 400pt corresponding to the third touch surface 13C may be included. As described above, the touch sensor unit 400 may be located on the upper surface of the display panel 300 or may be included in the display panel 300 . 22 illustrates an example in which the touch sensor unit 400 is positioned on the upper surface of the display panel 300 .

The display panel 300 and the touch sensor unit 400 may include a curved portion along the first touch surface 11A and the second touch surface 12A and a flat portion along the third touch surface 13C. .

Referring to FIG. 23 , the display device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a curved first touch surface 11A and a second touch surface 12A, respectively. Each of the first touch surface 11A and the second touch surface 12A may be the same as the touch surface 1A according to various embodiments described above.

A direction that the first touch surface 11A faces and a direction that the second touch surface 12A faces may be opposite to each other. In this case, the surface on which the first touch surface 11A is formed and the surface on which the second touch surface 12A is formed among the two surfaces of the display device 1 facing each other may be opposite to each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the display panel 300 overlapping the first touch surface 11A displays an image, and the display panel 300 overlapping the second touch surface 12A displays an image. directions may be opposite to each other.

The touch sensor unit 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first portion 400cr1 corresponding to the first touch surface 1A and a second portion 400cr2 corresponding to the second touch surface 12A. can do. The first portion 400cr1 and the second portion 400cr2 may be located on the same layer or on different layers in the display device 1 .

As shown in FIG. 23 , when the touch sensor unit 400 is positioned on the surface of the display panel 300 on which the image is displayed, the surface and the second part of the display panel 300 on which the first part 400cr1 is positioned. The surface of the display panel 300 on which 400cr2 is positioned may be different from each other.

The display panel 300 and the touch sensor unit 400 may include curved portions along the first touch surface 11A and the second touch surface 12A.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention as defined in the following claims are also provided. is within the scope of the

1: display device
300: display panel
400: touch sensor unit
410, 420, 430: touch electrode
450: touch driving unit

Claims (20)

a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors;
an encapsulation layer positioned on the display panel;
an insulating layer positioned on the encapsulation layer, and
A touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires positioned on the insulating layer
including,
The plurality of pixels includes a plurality of light emitting layers positioned between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode,
the display panel is concavely curved in a first direction;
The insulating layer is curved concavely in the first direction,
The encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer,
The touch sensor unit includes a central part, and edge parts located on both sides of the central part along the first direction,
the display panel entirely overlaps the touch sensor unit;
In the hovering touch mode, the sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the central portion is higher than the sensitivity of the touch sensor located at the edge portion
organic light emitting display device. In claim 1,
Further comprising a touch driving unit for driving the plurality of touch sensors,
The sensing input signal input by the touch driver to the touch sensor located in the central portion has a voltage greater than that of the sensing input signal input to the touch sensor located in the edge portion.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 1,
The plurality of touch sensors includes a plurality of first touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a second direction, and a plurality of second touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a third direction,
The first touch electrode and the second touch electrode are located on the same layer,
the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so as not to overlap the first touch electrodes in a plan view;
Each of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode has a polygonal shape.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 1,
The touch sensor located in the central portion is not connected to the touch sensor located in the edge portion. In claim 1,
The plurality of touch sensors includes a plurality of first touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a second direction, and a plurality of second touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a third direction,
An area of the first touch electrode positioned in the central portion is different from an area of the first touch electrode positioned in the edge portion.
organic light emitting display device. a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors;
an encapsulation layer positioned on the display panel;
an insulating layer positioned on the encapsulation layer, and
A touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires positioned on the insulating layer
including,
The plurality of pixels includes a plurality of light emitting layers positioned between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode,
The plurality of touch sensors includes a plurality of first touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a first direction, and a plurality of second touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a second direction,
The display panel includes a curved first portion and a curved second portion, and a flat third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion;
The insulating layer includes a fourth curved portion and a curved fifth portion, and a flat sixth portion positioned between the fourth portion and the fifth portion,
In a plan view, the first part entirely overlaps the fourth part,
In a plan view, the second part entirely overlaps the fifth part,
In a plan view, the third part entirely overlaps the sixth part,
The encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer,
The first touch electrode and the second touch electrode are located on the same layer,
the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so as not to overlap the first touch electrodes in a plan view;
each of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode is a polygon;
The touch sensor is made of a metal mesh,
The sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the fourth part or the fifth part is different from the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the sixth part.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 6,
An area of the first touch electrode positioned in the sixth part is different from an area of the first touch electrode positioned in the fourth part or the fifth part. In claim 6,
The sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the fourth part or the fifth part is lower than the sensitivity of the touch sensor corresponding to the sixth part. a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors;
an encapsulation layer positioned on the display panel;
an insulating layer positioned on the encapsulation layer, and
A touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires positioned on the insulating layer
including,
The plurality of pixels includes a plurality of light emitting layers positioned between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode,
The display panel includes a first central portion and first edge portions positioned on both sides of the first central portion;
The touch sensor unit includes a second central portion, and second edge portions located on both sides of the second central portion,
The encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer,
the display panel entirely overlaps the touch sensor unit;
The sensitivity of the second central part of the touch sensor part is different from the sensitivity of the second edge part of the touch sensor part.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 9,
The plurality of touch sensors includes a plurality of first touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a first direction, and a plurality of second touch electrodes positioned on the insulating layer and arranged in a second direction,
The first touch electrode and the second touch electrode are located on the same layer,
the second touch electrodes are alternately arranged with the first touch electrodes so as not to overlap the first touch electrodes in a plan view;
Each of the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode has a polygonal shape.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 10,
An area of the first touch electrode positioned at the second central portion of the touch sensor unit is different from an area of the first touch electrode located at the second edge portion of the touch sensor unit. In claim 10,
The sensitivity of the second edge portion of the touch sensor portion is lower than the sensitivity of the second center portion of the touch sensor portion. In claim 9,
The plurality of touch sensors include a plurality of touch electrodes,
Each of the plurality of touch electrodes is located at different places on the plane of the touch sensor unit,
Each of the touch electrodes is connected to each of the plurality of touch wires.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 13,
An area of the touch electrode positioned at the second central part of the touch sensor part is different from an area of the touch electrode positioned on the second edge part of the touch sensor part. In claim 13,
The sensitivity of the second edge portion of the touch sensor portion is lower than the sensitivity of the second center portion of the touch sensor portion. In claim 9,
The sensitivity of the second edge portion of the touch sensor portion is lower than the sensitivity of the second center portion of the touch sensor portion. a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of signal lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors;
an encapsulation layer positioned on the display panel;
an insulating layer positioned on the encapsulation layer, and
A touch sensor unit including a plurality of touch sensors and a plurality of touch wires positioned on the insulating layer
including,
The plurality of pixels includes a plurality of light emitting layers positioned between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the opposite electrode,
the display panel includes a first central portion, and first and second edge portions positioned on both sides of the first central portion;
the display panel includes a first boundary between the first edge portion and the first central portion and a second boundary between the second edge portion and the first central portion;
The touch sensor unit includes a second central portion, and third edge portions located on both sides of the second central portion,
The encapsulation layer includes at least one inorganic insulating layer and an organic insulating layer,
the display panel entirely overlaps the touch sensor unit;
The sensitivity of the second central portion of the touch sensor unit is different from the sensitivity of the third edge portion of the touch sensor unit.
organic light emitting display device. In claim 17,
The plurality of touch sensors includes a plurality of first touch electrodes on the first edge, a plurality of second touch electrodes on the first central portion, and a plurality of third touch electrodes on the second edge,
The first touch electrode is not connected to the second touch electrode,
The second touch electrode is not connected to the third touch electrode
organic light emitting display device. In claim 18,
An area of the first touch electrode is different from an area of the second touch electrode. In claim 17,
The sensitivity of the third edge portion of the touch sensor portion is lower than the sensitivity of the second center portion of the touch sensor portion.

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