# US 10,372,272 B2 · Sensor, input device, and input/output device

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- Number: US 10,372,272 B2
- Document ID: US10372272B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/725,457
- Filed: 2015-05-29
- Published: 2015-12-03
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-05-30
- Assignees: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyake
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372272B2

## CPC

- G09G 3/20: for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix {no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters}
- G06F 1/163: {Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt}
- G06F 1/1652: {the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable}
- G06F 3/0445: {using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer}
- G06F 3/0446: {using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes}
- G06F 3/047: using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires
- G09G 5/003: {Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto (specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092)}
- G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
- G06F 2203/04102: Flexible digitiser, i.e. constructional details for allowing the whole digitising part of a device to be flexed or rolled like a sheet of paper
- G06F 2203/04104: Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
- G09G 2300/023: Display panel composed of stacked panels
- G09G 2300/0426: Layout of electrodes and connections
- G09G 2354/00: Aspects of interface with display user
- G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

A novel input sensor that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. A novel input device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. A novel input/output device that is highly convenient or reliable is provided. The sensor, the input device, and the input/output device include a sensor element and a sensor circuit which includes first to third transistors. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor and to a first electrode of the sensor element. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a second electrode of the sensor element and to a first wiring through which a control signal capable of controlling a potential of the second electrode of the sensor element is configured to be supplied.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sensor comprising:
a sensor element;
a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element; and
a flexible base layer supporting the sensor element and the sensor circuit,
wherein the sensor circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor,
wherein a gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor and to a first electrode of the sensor element,
wherein one of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically and directly connected to a second electrode of the sensor element and to a first wiring through which a control signal capable of controlling a potential of the second electrode of the sensor element is configured to be supplied,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor,
wherein a gate of the second transistor is electrically connected to a second wiring,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to a third wiring,
wherein a gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fourth wiring,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fifth wiring, and
wherein a capacitance of the sensor element is configured to be changed when an object is proximate to the first electrode of the sensor element or the second electrode of the sensor element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply a sensor signal based on a change in the capacitance of the sensor element.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor element is a capacitor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the third wiring is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor included in a converter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A data processing device comprising the sensor according to claim 1.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the flexible base layer comprises an organic resin film or a plastic film.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the object is a finger of a user.

### Claim 8

A sensor comprising:
a sensor element;
a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element; and
a flexible base layer supporting the sensor element and the sensor circuit,
wherein the sensor circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor,
wherein a gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor and to a first electrode of the sensor element,
wherein one of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically and directly connected to a second electrode of the sensor element and to a first wiring through which a control signal capable of controlling a potential of the second electrode of the sensor element is configured to be supplied,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor,
wherein a gate of the second transistor is electrically connected to a second wiring through which a selection signal is configured to be supplied,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to a third wiring through which a sensor signal is configured to be supplied,
wherein a gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fourth wiring through which a reset signal is configured to be supplied,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fifth wiring through which a ground potential is configured to be supplied, and
wherein a capacitance of the sensor element is configured to be changed when an object is proximate to the first electrode of the sensor element or the second electrode of the sensor element.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The sensor according to claim 8, wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply the sensor signal based on a change in the capacitance of the sensor element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The sensor according to claim 8, wherein the sensor element is a capacitor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The sensor according to claim 8, wherein the third wiring is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor included in a converter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A data processing device comprising the sensor according to claim 8.

### Claim 13

An input/output device comprising:
a flexible input device comprising:
a plurality of sensor units that comprise window portions transmitting visible light and are arranged in a matrix; and
a first flexible base layer supporting the plurality of sensor units; and
a display portion comprising a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and overlap with the window portions and a second flexible base layer supporting the plurality of pixels,
wherein each of the plurality of sensor units comprises a sensor element and a sensor circuit electrically connected to the sensor element,
wherein the sensor circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor,
wherein a gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the third transistor and to a first electrode of the sensor element,
wherein one of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically and directly connected to a second electrode of the sensor element and to a first wiring through which a control signal capable of controlling a potential of the second electrode of the sensor element is configured to be supplied,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor,
wherein a gate of the second transistor is electrically connected to a second wiring,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor is electrically connected to a third wiring,
wherein a gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fourth wiring,
wherein the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor is electrically connected to a fifth wiring, and
wherein a capacitance of the sensor element is configured to be changed when an object is proximate to the first electrode of the sensor element or the second electrode of the sensor element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13,
wherein the plurality of sensor units along a row direction is electrically connected to the second wiring, and
wherein the plurality of sensor units along a column direction is electrically connected to the third wiring.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13,
wherein a selection signal is configured to be supplied through the second wiring, and
wherein a sensor signal is configured to be supplied through the third wiring.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The input/output device according to claim 15, wherein the sensor circuit is configured to supply the sensor signal based on a change in the capacitance of the sensor element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13, wherein the sensor circuit is placed so as to overlap with gaps between the window portions.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13,
wherein a reset signal is configured to be supplied through the fourth wiring, and
wherein a ground potential is configured to be supplied through the fifth wiring.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13, wherein the sensor element is a capacitor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The input/output device according to claim 13, wherein the third wiring is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of a fourth transistor included in a converter.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

A data processing device comprising the input/output device according to claim 13.