# US 10,768,759 B2 · Display device and method for driving the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,759 B2 - Document ID: US10768759B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/186,412 - Filed: 2018-11-09 - Published: 2019-06-13 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-12 - Assignees: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Display Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jin Hwan Kim; Mi Ae Park; Byeong Jin Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768759B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/044: by capacitive means - G06F 3/0443: {using a single layer of sensing electrodes} - G06F 3/0416: {Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers} - G06F 3/04142: {the force sensing means being located peripherally, e.g. disposed at the corners or at the side of a touch sensing plate} - G06F 3/04164: {Connections between sensors and controllers, e.g. routing lines between electrodes and connection pads} - 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 2203/04103: Manufacturing, i.e. details related to manufacturing processes specially suited for touch sensitive devices - G06F 2203/04112: Electrode mesh in capacitive digitiser: electrode for touch sensing is formed of a mesh of very fine, normally metallic, interconnected lines that are almost invisible to see. This provides a quite large but transparent electrode surface, without need for ITO or similar transparent conductive material - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In a display device foldable along a folding axis, the display device includes: a display panel configured to display an image at a display region; and a touch unit configured to sense a touch input at the display region, and sense a folding state of the display device, wherein the touch unit includes: a plurality of first sensors arranged in a matrix on a same plane; and a second sensor overlapping the folding axis, the second sensor comprising a conductive line of which at least a portion is bent. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display device foldable along a folding axis, the display device comprising: a display panel configured to display an image at a display region; and a touch unit configured to sense a touch input at the display region, and sense a folding state of the display device, wherein the touch unit comprises: a plurality of first sensors arranged in a matrix on a same plane and overlapping the display region at a touch active region; and a second sensor overlapping the folding axis at a touch non-active region outside of the touch active region, the second sensor comprising a conductive line, wherein a first end of the conductive line is connected to a first pad at the touch non-active region and extends to the folding axis where at least a portion of the conductive line is bent and extends, from the at least the portion of the conductive line that is bent in the touch non-active region, to a second pad adjacent the first pad in the touch non-active region without passing through the touch active region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, wherein the display device is divided into the display region and a non-display region surrounding the display region, wherein the plurality of first sensors overlap the display region, and the second sensor overlaps the non-display region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The display device of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of first sensors comprises: a sensing electrode; and a signal line connected to the sensing electrode, wherein the sensing electrode and the signal line are on a same plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The display device of claim 3, wherein the touch unit further comprises a first pad connected to the signal line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The display device of claim 4, wherein the second sensor is on a same plane as the first pad. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The display device of claim 5, wherein the second sensor is on a plane different from the plane of the plurality of first sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The display device of claim 3, wherein a resistance of the second sensor is larger than a resistance of the plurality of first sensors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The display device of claim 3, wherein the touch unit further comprises a sensor controller configured to receive a touch input signal from the plurality of first sensors, and receive a folding sensing signal from the second sensor, wherein the touch input signal comprises a change in self-capacitance of the sensing electrode, and the folding sensing signal comprises a change in resistance of the second sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The display device of claim 3, wherein the sensing electrode has a mesh shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The display device of claim 2, wherein two second sensors are provided in the touch unit, wherein the display region is between the two second sensors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The display device of claim 1, further comprising a display driver configured to control display of an image on the display panel, corresponding to a signal output from the second sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The display device of claim 11, wherein the display region comprises a first display region divided from a second display region by the folding axis, wherein, when the display device is in an in-folding state, the display driver is configured to control the first display region and the second display region to be non-activated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The display device of claim 12, wherein, when the display device is in an out-folding state, the display driver is configured to control at least one of the first display region and the second display region to be non-activated. ### Claim 14 A method for driving a display device foldable along a folding axis, the method comprising: displaying an image on a display panel; acquiring a folding sensing signal from a second sensor in a touch unit; and controlling display of an image on the display panel with reference to the folding sensing signal, wherein the second sensor comprises a conductive line, wherein a first end of the conductive line is connected to a first pad at a touch non-active region and extends to the folding axis where at least a portion of the conductive line is bent and extends from the at least the portion of the conductive line that is bent in the touch non-active region to a second pad adjacent the first pad in the touch non-active region without passing through a touch active region, wherein the folding sensing signal comprises a change in resistance of the second sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the display panel is configured to display the image through a plurality of display regions divided by the folding axis, and the displaying of the image on the display panel is controlled such that the plurality of display regions are non-activated when the display device is in an in-folding state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the displaying of the image on the display panel is controlled such that at least one display region among the plurality of display regions are non-activated when the display device is in an out-folding state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the touch unit comprises: a plurality of sensing electrodes arranged in a matrix on a same plane; a plurality of signal lines respectively connected to the plurality of sensing electrodes; and a plurality of pads respectively connected to the plurality of signal lines, wherein the plurality of sensing electrodes output a touch input signal to which a change in self-capacitance is reflected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of sensing electrodes and the plurality of signal lines are formed on the same plane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of pads are formed in a plane different from that of the plurality of sensing electrode, and the second sensor and the plurality of pads are formed on a same plane.