Abstract:
A touch sensing system includes: a first touch sensor; a second touch sensor; and a control IC configured to control the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0114222, filed on Oct. 15, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to a touch sensing system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A touch sensor is a sensor (or a panel of sensors) which recognizes user&#39;s hand or contact of an object. Because such a sensor can be used as a substitute for input devices such as keyboards and mice, it has been widely used in various electronic devices. 
         [0006]    Also, in addition to methods using one touch sensor, methods using a plurality of touch sensors as shown in  FIG. 1  have been proposed. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a touch sensing system  10  according to the related art includes two touch sensors (or two touch sensor panels) and two control ICs  31  and  32  controlling the two touch sensors  21  and  22 . 
         [0008]    That is, a first touch sensor  21  may be individually controlled by a first control IC  31  and a second touch sensor  22  may be individually controlled by a second control IC  32 . 
         [0009]    However, when each of the control ICs is used to control a corresponding one of the plurality of touch sensors, as described above, resources such as a driving signal generator, a sensing circuit, processors or the like are duplicated in the control ICs. Therefore, there are disadvantages of increasing manufacturing cost and the number of pins connecting to the touch sensor. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    One aspect of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a touch sensing system having a reduced cost, a smaller circuit area, and a reduced number of pins by allowing a plurality of touch sensors to share one control IC with each other. 
         [0011]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the touch sensing system includes a first touch sensor; a second touch sensor; and a control integrated circuit (IC) configured to control the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor. 
         [0012]    The control IC may include a plurality of first pins coupled to both the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor, a plurality of second pins coupled to the first touch sensor, and a plurality of third pins coupled to the second touch sensor. 
         [0013]    The control IC may further include a driving signal generator configured to output a driving signal to the first pins. 
         [0014]    The control IC may further include a first sensing circuit configured to receive a first plurality of output signals of the first touch sensor through the second pins and a second sensing circuit configured to receive a second plurality of output signals of the second touch sensor through the third pins. 
         [0015]    The control IC may further include a processor configured to determine a first touch position of the first touch sensor using the first output signals received by the first sensing circuit and configured to determine a second touch position of the second touch sensor using the second output signals received by the second sensing circuit. 
         [0016]    The first touch sensor may be configured to receive the driving signals output from the first pins and may be configured to output the first output signals to the second pins, and the second touch sensor may be configured to receive the driving signals output from the first pins and may be configured to output the second output signals to the third pins. 
         [0017]    The control IC may further include a multiplexer (MUX) coupled to both the second pins and the third pins and a sensing circuit coupled to the MUX. 
         [0018]    The MUX may be configured to selectively transfer the first output signals of the first touch sensor received through the second pins and the second output signals of the second touch sensor received through the third pins to the sensing circuit. 
         [0019]    The MUX may be configured to transfer the first output signals of the first touch sensor received through the second pins to the sensing circuit during a first period and may be configured to transfer the second output signals of the second touch sensor received through the third pins to the sensing circuit during a second period. 
         [0020]    The control IC may further include a processor configured to determine a first touch position of the first touch sensor using the first output signals of the first touch sensor transferred to the sensing circuit during the first period and configured to determine a second touch position of the second touch sensor using the second output signals of the second touch sensor transferred to the sensing circuit during the second period. 
         [0021]    The first touch sensor may be configured to receive the driving signals output from the first pins and may be configured to output the first output signals to the second pins, and the second touch sensor may be configured to receive the driving signals output from the first pins and may be configured to output the second output signals to the third pins. 
         [0022]    The control IC may include a first driving signal generator configured to output a first plurality of driving signals to the second pins and a second driving signal generator configured to output a second plurality of driving signals to the third pins. 
         [0023]    The control IC may further include a sensing circuit configured to receive a first plurality of output signals of the first touch sensor and a second plurality of output signals of the second touch sensor received through the first pins. 
         [0024]    The control IC may further include a processor configured to determine a plurality of touch positions in the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor using the first output signals and the second output signals transferred to the sensing circuit. 
         [0025]    The first touch sensor may be configured to receive the first driving signals from the second pins and may be configured to output the first output signals to the first pins, and the second touch sensor may be configured to receive the second driving signals output from the third pins and may be configured to output the second output signals to the first pins. 
         [0026]    The first touch sensor and the second touch sensor may be disposed in a horizontal direction. The first touch sensor and the second touch sensor may be disposed in a vertical direction. 
         [0027]    The first touch sensor and the second touch sensor may be the same type of touch sensor or the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor may be different types of touch sensors. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]    The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to the related art. 
           [0030]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram of an operation of a driving signal generator according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  is a waveform diagram of an operation of a driving signal generator according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views showing arrangements of a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor according to embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, when a first element is described as being coupled to a second element, the first element may be not only directly coupled to the second element but may also be indirectly coupled to the second element via a third element. Further, some of the elements that are not essential to the complete understanding of the invention are omitted for clarity. Also, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0037]    Specific matters of other exemplary embodiments will be included herein and in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0038]    Aspects and features of embodiments of the present invention and methods to achieve them will be elucidated from exemplary embodiments described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to exemplary embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in various different forms. In addition, in the following description, a case in which any part is coupled to another part includes a case in which the parts are directly coupled with each other and a case in which the parts are coupled with each other, having another element interposed therebetween. In the accompanying drawings, portions unrelated to the description will be omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and similar reference numerals will be used to describe similar portions throughout the present specification. 
         [0039]    Hereinafter, a touch sensing system according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 3  is a waveform diagram of an operation of a driving signal generator, according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the touch sensing system  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first touch sensor  110  (e.g., a touch sensor panel or an array of touch sensitive elements arranged in a panel), a second touch sensor  120 , and a control IC  130 . 
         [0042]    The first touch sensor  110  may detect a contact or an approach state of an object to receive a command from the outside. 
         [0043]    Here, the first touch sensor  110  may be implemented as any of various suitable types of sensors. For example, the first touch sensor may be implemented as a capacitive type touch sensor, a resistive type touch sensor, an opto (or optical) touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like. 
         [0044]    Here, the first touch sensor  110  may be implemented as any of other various suitable types of sensors which are known in the art, in addition to the types of touch sensors described above. 
         [0045]    The first touch sensor  110  is driven corresponding to (e.g., in accordance with) driving signals T 1  to Tx supplied from a control IC  130 , and may output output signals R 1  to Rx detecting a contact position to the control IC  130 . 
         [0046]    Here, the second touch sensor  120  may be implemented as the same type of sensor as the first touch sensor  110 . 
         [0047]    For example, the first touch sensor  110  and the second touch sensor  120  may both be implemented by capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0048]    In other embodiments, the second touch sensor  120  may be implemented as a sensor of a different type from the first touch sensor  110 . 
         [0049]    For example, in the case in which the first touch sensor  110  is implemented by the capacitive type touch sensor, the second touch sensor  120  may be implemented as a resistive type touch sensor, which is different from the capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0050]    The second touch sensor  120  is driven corresponding to (or in accordance with) driving signals T 1  to Tx supplied from the control IC  130 , and may output to the control IC  130  output signals S 1  to Sx detecting a contact position. 
         [0051]    The control IC  130  controls the first touch sensor  110  and the second touch sensor  120 . 
         [0052]    In addition, the control IC  130  includes a plurality of first pins P 1 ′ coupled to both the first touch sensor  110  and the second touch sensor  120 , a plurality of second pins P 2  coupled to the first touch sensor  110 , and a plurality of third pins P 3 ′ coupled to the second touch sensor  120 . 
         [0053]    Unlike the related art, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is not an individual control IC controlling each of the touch sensors  110  and  120 , but a single control IC  130  collectively manages both of the first and second touch sensors  110  and  120 . 
         [0054]    To this end, the first and second touch sensors  110  and  120  are both coupled to the first pins P 1 ′ so as to share the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0055]    In addition, the first touch sensor  110  is also coupled to the second pins P 2  and the second touch sensor  120  is also coupled to the third pins P 3 ′. 
         [0056]    In the touch sensing system  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the control IC  130  includes a driving signal generator  150 , a first sensing circuit  160 , a second sensing circuit  170 , and a processor  180 . 
         [0057]    The driving signal generator  150  generates the driving signals T 1  to Tx driving both of the touch sensors  110  and  120  and outputs the generated driving signals T 1  to Tx to the first pins P 1 ′. To this end, the driving signal generator  150  is coupled to the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0058]    Therefore, the driving signals T 1  to Tx are concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) supplied to the first touch sensor  110  and the second touch sensor  120  through the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0059]    Therefore, the first and second touch sensors  110  and  120  may be driven at the same time. 
         [0060]    Also, the driving signal generator  150  as described above may sequentially supply the driving signals T 1  to Tx to the touch sensors  110  and  120  through the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0061]    The first sensing circuit  160  is coupled to the second pins P 2 , such that the output signals R 1  to Rx output from the first touch sensor  110  may be received through the second pins P 2 . 
         [0062]    The second sensing circuit  170  is coupled to the third pins P 3 ′, such that the output signals S 1  to Sx output from the second touch sensor  120  may be received through the third pins P 3 ′. 
         [0063]    The processor  180  may detect a contact position in each of the touch sensors  110  and  120  using the output signals R 1  to Rx received in the first sensing circuit  160  and the output signals S 1  to Sx received in the second sensing circuit  170 . 
         [0064]    As a result, the first touch sensor  110  and the second touch sensor  120  share the first pins P 1 ′ with each other, such that pins for transmitting a second set of driving signals (see, e.g., the third pins P 3  as shown in  FIG. 1  and present in the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art) do not need to be provided. Therefore, the entire number of pins of the control IC  130  may be decreased as compared with the related art. 
         [0065]    In addition, the number of driving signal generators and processors may be reduced as compared with the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art. 
         [0066]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 5  is a waveform diagram of an operation of a driving signal generator according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the touch sensing system  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a first touch sensor  210 , a second touch sensor  220 , and a control IC  230 . 
         [0068]    The first touch sensor  210  may detect a contact or an approach state of an object to receive a command from the outside. 
         [0069]    Here, the first touch sensor  210  may be implemented as any of various types of sensors. For example, the first touch sensor may be implemented as a capacitive type touch sensor, a resistive type touch sensor, an opto (or optical) touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like. 
         [0070]    Here, the first touch sensor  110  may be implemented as any of other various types of sensors which are known in the art, in addition to the types of touch sensors described above. 
         [0071]    The first touch sensor  210  is driven corresponding to (e.g., in accordance with) driving signals T 1  to Tx supplied from a control IC  230 , and may output output signals R 1  to Rx detecting a contact position to the control IC  230 . 
         [0072]    Here, the second touch sensor  220  may be implemented as the same type of sensor as the first touch sensor  210 . 
         [0073]    For example, the first touch sensor  210  and the second touch sensor  220  may both be implemented by capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0074]    In other embodiments, the second touch sensor  220  may be implemented as a sensor of a different type from the first touch sensor  210 . 
         [0075]    For example, in the case in which the first touch sensor  210  is implemented by the capacitive type touch sensor, the second touch sensor  220  may be implemented as a resistive type touch sensor, which is different from the capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0076]    The second touch sensor  220  is driven corresponding to (or in accordance with) driving signals T 1  to Tx supplied from the control IC  230 , and may output to the control IC  230  output signals S 1  to Sx detecting a contact position. 
         [0077]    The control IC  230  controls the first touch sensor  210  and the second touch sensor  220 . 
         [0078]    In addition, the control IC  230  includes a plurality of first pins P 1 ′ coupled to both the first touch sensor  210  and the second touch sensor  220 , a plurality of the second pins P 2  coupled to the first touch sensor  210 , and a plurality of the third pins P 3 ′ coupled to the second touch sensor  220 . 
         [0079]    Unlike the related art, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is not an individual control IC controlling each of the touch sensors  210  and  220 , but a single control IC  230  collectively manages each (or both) of the first and second touch sensors  210  and  220 . 
         [0080]    To this end, the first and second touch sensors  210  and  220  are coupled to the first pins P 1 ′ at the same time, so as to share the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0081]    In addition, the first touch sensor  210  is also coupled to the second pins P 2  and the second touch sensor  220  is also coupled to the third pins P 3 ′. 
         [0082]    In the touch sensing system  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the control IC  230  includes a driving signal generator  250 , a sensing circuit  260 , a multiplexer (MUX)  270 , and a processor  280 . 
         [0083]    The driving signal generator  250  generates the driving signals T 1  to Tx driving each (or both) of the touch sensors  210  and  220 , and outputs the generated driving signals T 1  to Tx to the first pins P 1 ′. To this end, the driving signal generator  250  is coupled to the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0084]    Therefore, the driving signals T 1  to Tx are concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) supplied to the first touch sensor  210  and the second touch sensor  220  through the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0085]    Therefore, the first and second touch sensors  210  and  220  may be driven at the same time. 
         [0086]    Also, the driving signal generator  250  as shown in  FIG. 5 , during each of periods Pe 1  and Pe 2 , may sequentially supply the driving signals T 1  to Tx to the touch sensors  210  and  220  through the first pins P 1 ′. 
         [0087]    The MUX  270  is coupled to the second and third pins P 2  and P 3 ′, thereby making possible to receive signals input through the second and third pins P 2  and P 3 ′. 
         [0088]    In addition, the MUX  270  may selectively transfer the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  210  input through the second pins P 2  and the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  220  input through the third pins P 3 ′ to the sensing circuit  260 . 
         [0089]    For example according to one embodiment of the present invention, during the first period Pe 1 , the sensing circuit  260  receives the output signals R 1  to Rx transferred through the second pins P 2  and during the second period Pe 2 , the sensing circuit  260  may receive the output signals S 1  to Sx transferred through the third pins P 3 ′. 
         [0090]    The sensing circuit  260  is coupled to the MUX  270 , thereby making it possible to receive signals output from the MUX  270 . 
         [0091]    The processor  280  may detect positions of each of the touch sensors  210  and  220  using the output signals R 1  to Rx and S 1  to Sx received in the sensing circuit  260 . For example, during the first period Pe 1 , because the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  210  are transferred to the sensing circuit  260 , the contact position of the first touch sensor  210  may be detected, and during the second period Pe 2 , because the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  220  are transferred to the sensing circuit  260 , the contact position of the second touch sensor  220  may be detected. 
         [0092]    As a result, the first touch sensor  210  and the second touch sensor  220  share the first pins P 1 ′ with each other, such that pins for transmitting a second set of driving signals (e.g., the third pins P 3  as shown in  FIG. 1  and present in the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art) do not need to be provided. Therefore, the entire number of pins of the control IC  230  may be decreased as compared with the related art. 
         [0093]    In addition, the number of driving signal generators, sensing circuits, and processors may be reduced as compared with the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art. 
         [0094]    Also, a number of processors may be reduced through a time division multiplexing scheme using the MUX  270 , as compared with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0095]      FIG. 6  is a schematic block diagram of a touch sensing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0096]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the touch sensing system  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a first touch sensor  310 , a second touch sensor  320 , and a control IC  330 . 
         [0097]    The first touch sensor  310  may detect a contact or an approach state of an object to receive a command from the outside. 
         [0098]    Here, the first touch sensor  310  may be implemented as any of various types of sensors. For example, the first touch sensor may be implemented as a capacitive type touch sensor, a resistive type touch sensor, an opto (or optical) touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like. 
         [0099]    Here, the first touch sensor  310  may be implemented as any of other various types of sensors which are known in the art, in addition to the types of touch sensors described above. 
         [0100]    The first touch sensor  310  is driven corresponding to (e.g., in accordance with) driving signals T 1  to Tx supplied from a control IC  330 , and may output output signals R 1  to Rx detecting a contact position to the control IC  330 . 
         [0101]    Here, the second touch sensor  320  may be implemented as the same type of sensor as the first touch sensor  310 . 
         [0102]    For example, the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320  may both be implemented by capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0103]    In other embodiments, the second touch sensor  320  may be implemented as a sensor of a different type from the first touch sensor  310 . 
         [0104]    For example, in the case in which the first touch sensor  310  is implemented by the capacitive type touch sensor, the second touch sensor  320  may be implemented as a resistive type touch sensor, which is different from the capacitive type touch sensor. 
         [0105]    The second touch sensor  320  is driven corresponding to (or in accordance with) driving signals U 1  to Ux supplied from a control IC  330 , and may output output signals S 1  to Sx detecting a contact position to the control IC  330 . 
         [0106]    The control IC  330  performs controlling of the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320 . 
         [0107]    In addition, the control IC  330  includes a plurality of the first pins P 1 ″ coupled to the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320 , a plurality of the second pins P 2 ″ coupled to the first touch sensor  310 , and a plurality of the third pins P 3  coupled to the second touch sensor  320 . 
         [0108]    Unlike the related art, the control IC  330  according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention there is not an individual control IC  330  controlling each of the touch sensors  310  and  320 , but a single control IC  330  collectively manages each (or both) of the first and second touch sensors  310  and  320 . 
         [0109]    To this end, the first and second touch sensors  310  and  320  are both coupled to the first pins P 1 ″, so as to share the first pins P 1 ″. 
         [0110]    In addition, the first touch sensor  310  is also coupled to the second pins P 2 ″ and the second touch sensor  320  is also coupled to the third pins P 3 . 
         [0111]    In the touch sensing system  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the control IC  330  includes a first driving signal generator  350 , a second driving signal generator  360 , a second sensing circuit  370 , and a processor  380 . 
         [0112]    The driving signal generator  350  generates the driving signals T 1  to Tx driving the first touch sensor  310  and outputs the generated driving signal T 1  to Tx to the second pins P 2 ″. To this end, the first driving signal generator  350  may be coupled to the second pins P 2 ″. 
         [0113]    To this end, the driving signals T 1  to Tx output from the first driving signal generator  350  may be supplied to the first touch sensor  310 . 
         [0114]    The second driving signal generator  360  generates the driving signals U 1  to Ux driving the second touch sensor  320  and outputs the generated driving signal U 1  to Ux to the third pins P 3 . To this end, the second driving signals generator  360  may be coupled to the third pins P 3 . 
         [0115]    To this end, the driving signals U 1  to Ux output from the second driving signal generator  360  may be supplied to the second touch sensor  320 . 
         [0116]    Here, the control IC  330  includes the first diving signal generator  350  and the second diving signal generator  360 , thereby making it possible to separately or concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) drive the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320 . 
         [0117]    The sensing circuit  370  is coupled to the first pins P 1 ″, thereby making it possible to receive the signal input to the first pins P 1 ″. 
         [0118]    That is, the sensing circuit  370  may receive the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  310  input through the first pins P 1 ″ and the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320  input through the first pins P 1 ″. 
         [0119]    The processor  380  may detect positions of each of the touch sensors  310  and  320  using the output signals R 1  to Rx and S 1  to Sx received in the sensing circuit  370 . 
         [0120]    For example, in the case in which operation of the second driving signal generator  360  is stopped and only the first driving signal generator  350  is driven, only the first touch sensor  310  is driven, such that only the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  310  are input to the sensing circuit  370  through the first pins P 1 ″. 
         [0121]    In this case, the processor  380  may detect the contact position of the first touch sensor  310  using the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  310  received in the sensing circuit  370 . 
         [0122]    For example, in the case in which operation of the first driving signal generator  350  is stopped and only the second driving signal generator  360  is driven, only the second touch sensor  320  is driven, such that only the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320  are input to the sensing circuit  370  through the first pins P 1 ″. 
         [0123]    In this case, the processor  380  may detect the contact position of the second touch sensor  320  using the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320  received in the sensing circuit  370 . 
         [0124]    In the case in which both the first driving signal generator  350  and the second driving signal generator  360  are driven together, both of the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320  may be driven 
         [0125]    Therefore, the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  310  and the output signal S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320  may be input to the sensing circuit  370  through the first pins P 1 ″ at the same time. 
         [0126]    In this case, in order to reduce interference between the output signals R 1  to Rx of first touch sensor  310  and the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320 , the driving signal T 1  to Tx of the first driving signal generator  350  and the driving signal U 1  to Ux of the second driving signal generator  360  may be orthogonal to one another. 
         [0127]    In order to secure the orthogonality, a Walsh code, frequency modulation, or the like, may be used. 
         [0128]    Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensing circuit  370  includes an analog filter or a digital filter, such that the output signals R 1  to Rx of the first touch sensor  310  and the output signals S 1  to Sx of the second touch sensor  320  may be easily separated. 
         [0129]    As a result, the first touch sensor  310  and the second touch sensor  320  share the first pins P 1 ″ with each other, such that additional pins for receiving output signals (e.g., the fourth pins P 4  as shown in  FIG. 1  and present in the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art) do not need to be provided. Therefore, the entire number of pins of the control IC  330  may be decreased as compared with the related art. 
         [0130]    In addition, the number of driving signal generators and processors may be reduced as compared with the touch sensing system  10  according to the related art. 
         [0131]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are views showing arrangements of the first touch sensor and the second touch sensor according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0132]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first touch sensors  110 ,  210 , and  310  and the second touch sensors  120 ,  220 , and  320  according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be disposed in a horizontal direction. 
         [0133]    In addition, the first touch sensors  110 ,  210 , and  310  and the second touch sensors  120 ,  220 , and  320  according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be disposed in a vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0134]    With the touch sensing system according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a touch sensing system having a reduced cost, a smaller circuit area, and a reduced number of pins by allowing a plurality of touch sensors to share one control IC with each other. 
         [0135]    While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.