Patent Grant
8446354
The present invention relates to liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and more particularly to an LCD capable of compensating a common voltage signal thereof.
LCDs are widely used in various electronic information products, such as notebooks, personal digital assistants, video cameras, and the like.
Each pixel unit 140 includes a thin film transistor (TFT) 141, a pixel electrode 142, and a common electrode 143. A gate electrode of the TFT 141 is connected to a corresponding one of the scanning lines 110, and a source electrode of the TFT 141 is connected to a corresponding one of the data lines 120. Further, a drain electrode of the TFT 141 is connected to the pixel electrode 142. The common electrodes 143 of all the pixel units 140 are connected together and further connected to a common voltage generating circuit (not shown). In each pixel unit 140, liquid crystal molecules (not shown) are disposed between the pixel electrode 142 and the common electrode 143, so as to cooperatively form a liquid crystal capacitor 147.
In operation, the common electrodes 143 receive a common voltage signal from the common voltage generating circuit. The scanning circuit 102 provides a plurality of scanning signals to the scanning lines 110 sequentially, so as to activate the pixel units 140 row by row. The data circuit 103 provides a plurality of data voltage signals to the pixel electrodes 142 of the activated pixel units 140. Thereby, the liquid crystal capacitors 147 of the activated pixel units 140 are charged. After the charging process, an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 142 and the common electrode 143 in each pixel unit 140. The electric field drives the liquid crystal molecules to control light transmission of the pixel unit 140, such that the pixel unit 140 displays a particular color (red, green, or blue) having a corresponding gray level. The electric field is maintained by the liquid crystal capacitor 147 during a so-called current frame period, and accordingly the gray level of the color is maintained during the current frame period.
In the LCD 100, each pixel unit 140 employs a capacitor structure (i.e. the liquid crystal capacitor 147) to maintain the gray level of the color. In addition, a plurality of parasitic capacitors usually exist in the pixel unit 140. Due to a so-called capacitor coupling effect, when the data voltage signal received by the pixel electrode 142 changes, an electrical potential of the common electrode 143 may be coupled and shift from the common voltage signal.
The shift of the electrical potential of the common electrode 143 may further bring on a change of the electric field between the pixel electrode 142 and the common electrode 143. Thereby, the gray level of the color displayed by the pixel unit 140 is apt to change, and accordingly a so-called color shift phenomenon may be generated. Thus the display quality of the LCD 100 may be somewhat unsatisfactory.
What is needed is to provide an LCD that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.
In a first aspect, a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of pixel units, a scanning circuit configured to activate the pixel units, a data circuit configured to provide data voltage signals the pixel unit via a plurality of data lines, and a common voltage circuit configured to generate a common voltage signal. Each pixel unit includes a pixel electrode, a common electrode, and a coupling member. The coupling member is connected between the pixel electrode and a corresponding one of the data lines, and is configured to transfer an electrical potential shift of the corresponding common electrode to the corresponding data line when one of the data voltage signals is applied to the pixel electrode. The common voltage circuit is configured to compensate the common voltage signal according to a feedback signal obtained from the data lines.
In a second aspect, a liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixel units, a scanning circuit configured to activate the pixel units, a data circuit configured to provide data voltage signal to the activated pixel units, and a common voltage circuit configured to generate a common voltage signal. Each pixel unit includes a coupling member. The coupling member is configured to generated a respective coupling signal according to one of the data voltage signals that is applied to the corresponding activated pixel unit, and superpose the coupling signal to the data voltage signal to form a superposing signal. All the superposing signals cooperatively form a feedback signal. The common voltage circuit is configured to adjust a reference voltage signal according to the feedback signal, and provide the adjusted reference voltage signal as the common voltage signal to the pixel units.
Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail.
The liquid crystal panel 201 includes n rows of parallel scanning lines 210 (where n is a natural number), n rows of parallel common lines 230 alternately arranged with the scanning lines 210, m columns of parallel data lines 220 perpendicular to the scanning lines 210 and the common lines 230 (where m is also a natural number), and a plurality of pixel units 240 cooperatively defined by the crossing scanning lines 210 and data lines 220. Thus, the pixel units 240 are arranged in a matrix having n rows and m columns. The scanning lines 210 are connected to the scanning circuit 202 to receive scanning signals. The data lines 220 are connected to the data circuit 203 to receive data voltage signals. The liquid crystal panel 201 further includes a liquid crystal layer having a plurality of the liquid crystal molecules.
Each pixel unit 240 includes a TFT 241, a pixel electrode 242, a common electrode 243, a storage capacitor 248, and a coupling capacitor 245. A gate electrode of the TFT 241 is connected to a corresponding one of the scanning lines 210, and a source electrode of the TFT 241 is connected to a corresponding one of the data lines 220. Further, a drain electrode of the TFT 241 is connected to the pixel electrode 242. The common electrode 243 is generally opposite to the pixel electrode 242, with a plurality of the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) sandwiched therebetween, so as to cooperatively form a liquid crystal capacitor 247. The coupling capacitor 245 is connected between the pixel electrode 242 and the corresponding one of the data lines 220. The storage capacitor 248 is connected between the pixel electrode 242 and the corresponding one of the common lines 230. In particular, a capacitance of the coupling capacitor 245 is the same as a sum of capacitances of the corresponding storage capacitor 248 and liquid crystal capacitor 247.
The liquid crystal panel 201 further includes a ground line 260, a feedback line 270, and a plurality of signal process units 250. The ground lines 260 and the feedback line 270 are both perpendicular to the data lines 220, and are disposed at an edge of the liquid crystal panel 201 adjacent to the data circuit 203. A row of rectangular dummy regions are cooperatively defined by the crossing data lines 220, ground line 260, and feedback line 270. Each of the dummy regions includes a respective signal process unit 250.
Each of the signal process units 250 can for example be a differentiator capable of carrying out a differential calculation and converting a square wave to a corresponding cusp wave. In particular, the signal process unit 250 includes a differential capacitor 251 and a differential resistor 252. The differential capacitor 251 is connected between the feedback line 270 and the corresponding one of the data lines 220. The differential resistor 252 is connected between the feedback line 270 and the ground line 260.
Referring also to
The common voltage circuit 205 is configured for providing a common voltage signal to the pixel units 240. The common voltage circuit 205 includes a filter circuit 206, a compensating circuit 207, and a reference voltage generator 208. The filter circuit 206 can for example be a synchronous filter, which is configured for filtering a feedback signal transmitted by the feedback line 270 and thereby generating a control signal. The reference voltage generator 208 is configured to provide a reference voltage signal to the compensating circuit 207. The compensating circuit 207 is configured to adjust the reference voltage signal according to the control signal outputted by the filter circuit 206, and thereby generate a corresponding common voltage signal.
Referring also to
The filter capacitor 274 is connected between the input terminal 271 and the voltage adjusting circuit 279, and is configured for filtering direct current (DC) components of the control signal. The voltage adjusting circuit 279 includes an integrated operational amplifier (IOA) 277 connected in a negative feedback arrangement. In detail, a non-inverting terminal of the IOA 277 is connected to the second input terminal 272. An inverting terminal of the IOA 277 is connected to the filter member 274 via a first resistor 275, and is connected to an output terminal of the IOA 277 via a second resistor 276. The output terminal of the IOA 277 is further connected to the output terminal 273 via the output circuit 278. The output circuit 278 employs a so-called complementary circuit, so as to reduce an output resistance of the compensating circuit 207.
Typical operation of the LCD 200 is as follows. First of all, the reference voltage generator 257 generates and outputs a reference voltage signal to the compensating circuit 207 via the second input terminal 272 thereof. In the compensating circuit 207, the IOA 277 treats the reference voltage signal as a predetermined common voltage signal, and outputs the predetermined common voltage signal to the common lines 230 and the common electrodes 243 of the pixel unit 240 via the output circuit 278.
The scanning circuit 202 provides a plurality of scanning signals, and outputs the scanning signals to the scanning lines 210 sequentially. The scanning signals activate the pixel units 240 row by row via switching the corresponding TFTs 241 on.
The data circuit 203 provides a plurality of data voltage signals, and outputs the data voltage signals to the pixel electrodes 242 of the corresponding activated pixel units 240 via the data lines 220 and the corresponding TFTs 241. Once a given data voltage signal is received by the pixel electrode 242 of a corresponding pixel unit 240, due to a capacitor coupling effect, a first interference voltage signal VIF1 is cooperatively generated in the common electrode 243 by the liquid crystal capacitor 247 and the storage capacitor 248. Thereby, an electrical potential of the common electrode 243 is coupled and shifts.
The first interference voltage signal VIF1 is an alternating current (AC) cusp wave signal. In detail, assuming that the given data voltage signal applied to the pixel electrode 242 of the pixel unit 240 in the current frame period is VN, and a data voltage signal applied to the pixel electrode 242 of the pixel unit 240 in the previous frame period is VN-1, a primary value of the first interference voltage signal VIF1 can be calculated by the equation ΔV=VN−VN-1 (i.e. a change of the data voltage signals applied thereto), and an absolute value of the first interference voltage signal VIF1 drops gradually in an exponential manner. In summary, the first interference voltage signal VIF1 can be expressed by the following equation VIF1=ΔV*(1−e−t/τ), where the symbol τ represents a time constant, and the symbol t represents a time period.
Because the pixel units 240 are activated and receive the data voltage signals row by row, electrical potentials of the common electrodes 243 in the activated row of pixel units 240 shift simultaneously. That is, each common electrode 243 of the activated row of pixel units 240 has a respective first interference voltage signal VIF1 generated therein. In addition, the common electrodes 243 in the activated row of pixel units 240 are connected together. Thereby, all the first interference voltage signals VIF1 are averaged, so as to cooperatively form a first coupling signal VCP1. The first coupling signal VCP1 further superposes the predetermined common voltage signal, such that a first superposing signal is formed in the common electrodes 243.
Similarly, due to a capacitor coupling effect of the coupling capacitor 245, an electrical potential of the source electrode of the TFT 241 of each activated pixel unit 240 is also coupled and shifts, and accordingly a second interference voltage signal VIF2 is generated in the source electrode of the TFT 241. Because the second interference voltage signal VIF2 also results from the changing of the data voltage signal applied to the pixel electrode 242, it is substantially equal to the first interference voltage signal VIF1.
Because the pixel units 240 are activated row by row via the corresponding scanning lines 210, electrical potentials of the source electrodes of the TFTs 241 in each activated row of pixel units 240 shift simultaneously. That is, each of the source electrodes in the activated row has a respective second interference voltage signal VIF2 generated therein. Each second interference voltage signal VIF2 superposes the corresponding data voltage signal, thereby forming a respective second superposing signal in the source electrode of the corresponding TFT 241. In particular, such second superposing signal includes a first cusp wave part formed by the second interference voltage signal VIF2 and a square wave part formed by the corresponding data voltage signal. The second superposing signal is then transmitted to the corresponding signal process units 250 via the corresponding data line 220.
Each signal process unit 250 carries out a differential calculation for the corresponding second superposing signal via cooperation of the differential capacitor 251 and the differential resistor 252. The differential calculation has little influence on the first cusp wave part. However, the square wave part of the second superposing signal is converted to a second cusp wave part that is independent from the first cusp wave part. Thereby, each of the second superposing signals is converted to a third superposing signal having two independent cusp wave parts. The feedback line 270 receives and averages all the third superposing signals therein, such that a feedback signal VFB having an averaged first cusp wave part and an averaged second cusp wave part is cooperatively formed in the feedback line 270, and further transmitted to the common voltage circuit 205.
In the common voltage circuit 205, the feedback signal VFB is synchronously filtered by the filter circuit 206, such that the averaged second cusp wave part is eliminated, and the averaged first cusp wave part of the feedback signal VFB is extracted. The averaged first cusp wave part serves as a control signal, and is outputted to the compensating circuit 207.
In the compensating circuit 207, the control signal is further filtered by the filter member 274, such that DC components thereof that might be induced during the synchronous filtering process are eliminated. The IOA 277 compares the reference voltage signal with the filtered control signal, and further adjusts the reference voltage signal according to a result of the comparison, so as to generate an adjusted common voltage signal. The adjusted common voltage signal replaces the predetermined common voltage signal, and is outputted to the common lines 230 and the common electrodes 243 of the pixel units 240 via the output circuit 278.
The data voltage signals, together with the adjusted common voltage signal, charge the storage capacitors 248 of the activated row of pixel units 240. In addition, the data voltage signals, together with the adjusted common voltage signal, charge the corresponding liquid crystal capacitors 247. Thereby, an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 242 and the common electrode 243 in each pixel unit 240 after the charging process. The electric field drives the liquid crystal molecules of the pixel unit 240 to control the light transmission of the pixel unit 240, such that the pixel unit 240 displays a particular color (e.g., red, green, or blue) having a corresponding gray level; and such gray level is maintained by cooperation of the storage capacitor 248 and liquid crystal capacitor 247. The aggregation of colors displayed by all the pixel units 240 simultaneously constitutes an image viewed by a user of the LCD 200.
In the LCD 200, a plurality of coupling capacitors 245 are provided in the pixel units 240 of the liquid crystal panel 201. Due to the coupling capacitors 245, an electrical potential coupling in the common electrode 243 of each pixel unit 240 is transferred to the corresponding data line 220, and the shift of the common voltage signal is transferred to a shift of the data voltage signal. The feedback line 270 feeds back the shift of the data voltage signal to the common voltage circuit 205, and the common voltage circuit 205 further adjusts the reference voltage signal according to the feedback signal VFB, such that the shift of the common voltage signal is compensated. Thereby, the electric field between the pixel electrode 242 and the common electrode 243 of each pixel unit 240 is stable during the current frame period.
In addition, because the feedback signal VFB is obtained from the data lines 220, the feedback signal VFB is independent from the adjusted common voltage signal. By employing such feedback signal VFB, the compensation of the common voltage signal is more reliable. Therefore, the gray level of the color displayed by the pixel unit 240 is more stable. Accordingly, any color shift phenomenon that might be otherwise induced because of the capacitor coupling effect is diminished or even eliminated, and the display quality of the LCD 200 is improved.
Furthermore, all the primary data voltage signals are respectively converted to cusp waves by the corresponding signal process units 250 before being outputted to the feedback line 270, in order that such primary data voltage signals can be eliminated via a synchronous filtering process later on. Because each signal process unit 250 employs a parasitic capacitor and a parasitic resistor in the liquid crystal panel 201, the manufacturing of the signal process units 250 is relatively simple and inexpensive.
In alternative embodiments, the coupling capacitor 245 in each pixel unit 240 can be in the form of a parasitic capacitor between the source electrode and drain electrode of the corresponding TFT 241. Each signal process unit 250 can also employ a discrete capacitor and a discrete resistor, instead of the parasitic capacitor and the parasitic resistor respectively. The compensating circuit 207 can employ a plurality of compensating branches. In such case, the compensating branches respectively output adjusted common voltage signals generated therein to a predetermined region of the pixel units 240 in the liquid crystal panel 201.
It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions associated with the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail (including in matters of arrangement of parts) within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
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