Light distribution controllable touch panel device and display device

A display device comprising:

• a display panel;
• and
• a light distribution controllable touch panel device disposed in front of the display panel,
• wherein the light distribution controllable touch panel device includes:
• an upper transparent substrate;
• a lower transparent substrate;
• one or more lower light distribution control electrodes on a top face of the lower transparent substrate;
• a plurality of touch panel electrodes on an underface of the upper transparent substrate;
• a plurality of electrophoretic elements sandwiched between the one or more lower light distribution control electrodes and the plurality of touch panel electrodes, each of the electrophoretic elements including colored electrophoretic particles and dispersion medium;
• and
• a controller, and
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• provide driving potentials to the plurality of touch panel electrodes in measuring capacitances for detecting a touch point;
• and
• provide driving potentials to the one or more lower light distribution control electrodes with reference to the driving potentials given to the plurality of touch panel electrodes to control a state of the colored electrophoretic particles in the plurality of electrophoretic elements.