This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-346502, filed Dec. 22, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output circuit and liquid crystal display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a liquid crystal driving device, it is necessary to ensure the convergence of a constant-voltage output with respect to a voltage fluctuation caused by an external factor acting on a liquid crystal panel. Conventionally, therefore, the voltage is rapidly converged to a constant voltage by decreasing the resistance by increasing the size of a switch of a binary output circuit for outputting the constant voltage. In this case, however, the size of the liquid crystal driving device increases because the switch size of the binary output circuit increases.
Note that a flat panel display device in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix and a method of driving the display device are disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3677100.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an output circuit comprising: a first output unit supplying a first voltage; a second output unit supplying a second voltage; a switching unit selectively outputting, to an output end, the first voltage from the first output unit and the second voltage from the second output unit; a detection unit detecting a voltage of the output end; and a control unit controlling one of the first voltage and the second voltage on the basis of the voltage detected by the detection unit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal panel having a display element to form a pixel at each of intersections of a plurality of scanning lines running along a horizontal scanning direction, and a plurality of signal lines running along a vertical scanning direction; a gate driver driving each of said plurality of scanning lines; and a source driver driving each of said plurality of signal lines by an image signal voltage, the source driver comprising a common voltage generator applying a common voltage to a common electrode of the display element, and the common voltage generator comprising a first output unit supplying a first voltage to the common electrode of the display element; a second output unit supplying a second voltage to the common electrode of the display element, a switching unit selectively outputting, to the common electrode of the display element, the first voltage from the first output unit and the second voltage from the second output unit; a detection unit detecting the common voltage of the display element; and a control unit controlling one of the first voltage and the second voltage on the basis of the common voltage detected by the detection unit.
Embodiments will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Voltage source circuits (not shown) supply V1 and V2 representing binary values to the output circuits 11 and 12, respectively. When outputting V1 from the output terminal P, the control circuit 100 closes switch SW1 and opens switch S2, thereby enabling the detection circuit 21. When outputting V2 from the output terminal P, the control circuit 100 opens switch SW1 and closes switch SW2, thereby enabling the detection circuit 22 and disabling the detection circuit 21.
The detection circuits 21 and 22 detect the voltage of the output terminal P. If an external factor changes the voltage of the output terminal P to, e.g., (V1+ΔV) while V1 is output from the output terminal P, the detection circuit 21 detects this voltage (V1+ΔV), and drives the output circuit 11 on the basis of a difference ΔV from V1 so that the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V1. That is, the output circuit 11 is driven to output {V1−G(ΔV)} so that the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V1. Here, G(ΔV) is a function which has an inherent value for each output circuit. More specifically, for example, in a case where G(ΔV) is a linear function, when a voltage higher than V1 (ΔV>0) is detected at the output terminal P, the output circuit outputs a voltage lower than V1. Thereby, the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V1. Conversely, for example, when a voltage lower than V1 (ΔV<0) is detected at the output terminal P, the output circuit outputs a voltage higher than V1. Thereby, the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V1.
Similarly, if the voltage of the output terminal P changes from V2 while V2 is output to the output terminal P, the detection circuit 22 detects a voltage (V2+ΔV), and drives the output circuit 12 on the basis of a difference ΔV from V2 so that the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V2.
The above control can also be performed to switch, e.g., the state in which the V1 is output from the output terminal P to the state in which V2 is output. In this case, the voltage of the output terminal P is kept at V1 when the output from the output terminal P is switched from V1 to V2. Therefore, the detection circuit 22 detects voltage V1, and drives the output circuit 12 on the basis of a difference V1−V2 from V2 so that the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V2. That is, the output circuit 12 is driven to output {V1−G(V1−V2)} so that the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V2. Here, G(V1−V2) is a function which has an inherent value for each output circuit. More specifically, for example, in a case where G(V1−N2) is a linear function, when a voltage higher than V2 (V1−V2>0) is detected at the output terminal P, the output circuit outputs a voltage lower than V2. Thereby, the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V2. Conversely, for example, when a voltage lower than V2 (V1−V2<0) is detected at the output terminal P, the output circuit outputs a voltage higher than V2. Thereby, the voltage of the output terminal P rapidly converges to V1. Note that analog switches or inverters may also be used as switches SW1 and SW2. It is also possible to use a combination of analog switches, a combination of resistors, or a combination of analog switches and resistors as the detection circuits 22 and 21.
By contrast, the conventional binary output circuits outputs V1 (or V2) even if the voltage of the output terminal P changes from V1 (or V2) while V1 (or V2) is output to the output terminal P, unlike the case shown in
Referring to
In the liquid crystal panel 2, scanning lines G1 to Gm run along the horizontal scanning direction, and signal lines S1 to Sn run along the vertical scanning direction. Thin-film transistors 201 are formed at the intersections of the signal lines S1 to Sn and scanning lines G1 to Gm. The transistors 201 have sources (S) connected to the signal lines S1 to Sn, and gates (G) connected to the scanning lines G1 to Gm. Capacitors 202 are connected to the drains (D) of the transistors 201 connected to the scanning lines G1 to Gm. The capacitors 202 are connected together for each of the signal lines S1 to Sn. Each capacitor 202 functions as a display element capacitance. A common electrode of the capacitor 202 is connected to the common voltage generator 1.
The control circuit 100 controls the common voltage generator 1, display RAM 3, latch circuit 4, Glay Scale generator 5, and gate driver 203.
The display RAM 3 has a memory area capable of storing image data corresponding to the display screen. The latch circuit 4 latches the image data read from the display RAM 3. The latch circuit 4 outputs the latched image data to the decoder circuit 6. The decoder circuit 6 selects a gradation voltage corresponding to the image data, and outputs the gradation voltage to the signal lines S1 to Sn via the gradation output circuit 7. The gate driver 203 switches the scanning lines G1 to Gm under the control of the control circuit 100.
Referring to
Switches ASW1 and ASW2 are connected to each other. A series circuit of analog switches ASW3 and ASW4 is connected in parallel with switch ASW1. Switches ASW3 and ASW4 respectively have resistors Ron3 and Ron4. A series circuit of analog switches ASW5 and ASW6 is connected in parallel with switch ASW2. Switches ASW5 and ASW6 respectively have resistors Ron5 and Ron6.
The detection circuit 111 is connected to the connection node of switches ASW3 and ASW4, and the detection circuit 121 is connected to the connection node of switches ASW5 and ASW6. The control circuit 100 is connected to switches ASW1 to ASW6 and detection circuits 111 and 121. The common voltage generator 1 is connected to voltage holding capacitors 112 and 122 and the liquid crystal panel 2 as a voltage supply object shown in
The operation of the common voltage generator 1 according to the second embodiment will be explained below with reference to
VN1′=VN3′=VN4′=Va.
If an external factor applies ΔV to a voltage Vp applied to the capacitor 202, the potential of node N4′ rises to (Va+ΔV). By contrast, the potential of node N3′ is maintained at Va. That is,
VN3′=Va,VN4′=Va+ΔV.
In this state, the ratio of resistor Ron3 of switch ASW3 to resistor Ron4 of switch ASW4 determines the potential of a node N6′ positioned in the detection circuit 111. That is,
VN6′=VN1′+ΔV×{Ron3/(Ron3+Ron4)}.
Accordingly, a voltage Vd to be supplied to the detection circuit 111 can be varied by changing the ratio of Ron3 to Ron4. The voltage source circuit 110 is operated on the basis of a difference voltage Vd−Va between the detected voltages Vd and Va so that VN4′ rapidly converges to Va. That is, the voltage source circuit 110 is operated to output {Va−G(Va−Vd)} so that the voltage of the VN4′ rapidly converges to Va. Here, G(Va−Vd) is a function which has an inherent value for each voltage source circuit. More specifically, for example, in a case where G(Va−Vd) is a linear function, when a voltage higher than Va (Va−Vd>0) is detected at the node VN4′, the voltage source circuit outputs a voltage lower than Va. Thereby, the voltage of the node VN4′ rapidly converges to Va. Conversely, for example, when a voltage lower than Va (Va−Vd<0) is detected at the node VN4′, the voltage source circuit outputs a voltage higher than V1. Thereby, the voltage of the node VN4′ rapidly converges to Va. As described above, it is possible by actively operating the voltage source circuit 110 to converge the voltage of the capacitor 202 to constant voltage Va faster than a time constant obtained with resistor Ron1 of switch ASW1 and capacitance C2 of the capacitor 202.
The above control can also be performed to switch, e.g., the state in which Va is supplied to the capacitor 202 to the state in which Vb is supplied. In this case, voltage Va is initially applied to the capacitor 202 because switches ASW1, ASW3, ASW4, and ASW5 are ON and switches ASW2 and ASW6 are OFF. Then, switches ASW2, ASW5, ASW6, and ASW3 are ON and switches ASW1 and ASW4 are OFF in order to switch the voltage from Va to Vb.
Assume that when the above operation is performed an external factor applies ΔV to voltage Va applied to the capacitor 202 and the potential of node N4′ changes to (Va+ΔV). The ratio of resistor Ron5 of switch ASW5 to resistor Ron6 of switch ASW6 determines the potential of a node N7′ positioned in the detection circuit 121, and voltage Vd to be supplied to the detection circuit 121 is variable. The voltage source circuit 120 is operated on the basis of a difference voltage Vd−Vb between detected voltages Vd and Vb such that VN4′ rapidly converges to Vb. That is, the voltage source circuit 120 is operated to output {Vb−G(Vd−Vb)} so that the voltage of the VN4′ rapidly converges to Vb. Here, G(Vd−Vb) is a function which has an inherent value for each voltage source circuit. More specifically, for example, in a case where G(Vd−Vb) is a linear function, when a voltage higher than Vb (Vd−Vb>0) is detected at the node VN4′, the voltage source circuit outputs a voltage lower than Vb. Thereby, the voltage of the node VN4′ rapidly converges to Vb. Conversely, for example, when a voltage lower than Vb (Vd−Vb<0) is detected at the node VN4′, the voltage source circuit outputs a voltage higher than Vb. Thereby, the voltage of the node VN4′ rapidly converges to Vb. As described above, it is possible by actively operating the voltage source circuit 120 to converge the voltage on the common electrode side of the capacitor 202 to constant voltage Vb faster than a time constant obtained with resistor Ron2 of switch ASW2 and capacitance C2 of the capacitor 202.
The same reference numbers as in
A control circuit 100 is connected to switches ASW1 and ASW2 and detection circuits 111 and 121. This common voltage generator is connected to voltage holding capacitors 112 and 122 and a liquid crystal panel 2 as a voltage supply object.
The operation of the common voltage generator according to the conventional example will be explained below with reference to
VN1=VN3=VN4=Va.
If an external factor applies ΔV to a voltage Vp applied to the capacitor 202, the potential of node N4 rises to Va+ΔV. On the other hand, the potential of node N3 is maintained at Va. That is,
VN3=Va,VN4=Va+ΔV.
In this state, a time constant obtained by on-resistance component Ron1 and capacitance C2 of switch ASW1 determines a period required for the potential of node N4 to converge to original voltage Va. To ensure sufficient convergence, therefore, the on-resistance must be suppressed by increasing the switch size.
By contrast, in the common voltage generator according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, switches ASW3 to ASW6 are added to the circuit that generates the binary output voltage by switching the two voltage source circuits 110 and 120. If a voltage fluctuation caused by an external factor changes the potential of the liquid crystal panel, therefore, the voltage source circuits are positively operated by actively varying the voltage amplitude input to the detection system. These makes it possible to downsize the common voltage generator without increasing the size of switches ASW1 and ASW2, and increase the convergence of the constant-voltage output with respect to the fluctuation in binary output voltage caused by an external factor.
Referring to
In
In
Note that the convergence property of the constant voltage output can be improved by changing not only the resistance ratio in the configuration shown in
As described above, the embodiment can provide an output circuit and liquid crystal display device capable of increasing the operating speed.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
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