Liquid Crystal Display Apparatus
A display apparatus and method having a pair of substrates, a display area which has a plurality of pixels, a lighting device which includes a plurality of light sources, a scanning driver which outputs scanning signals to the plurality of pixels, and an image driver which outputs image signals to the plurality of pixels. The lighting device illuminates the display area, the image signals are inputted to the plurality of pixels respectively, and each of the plurality of pixels controls a transmittance of an incident light from the lighting device after the image signals are inputted to the plurality of pixels respectively. The lighting device lights the plurality of light sources corresponding to the image signals inputted to the plurality of pixels after each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance.
This application is a division of U.S. Ser. No. 11/762,310, filed Jun. 13, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/532,740, filed Mar. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,223,304, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a liquid crystal display apparatus, and especially to an active matrix-type liquid crystal display apparatus.
In a conventional active matrix-type liquid crystal display apparatus, a twisted nematic mode, a lateral electric field mode, a MVA (Multidomain vertical Alignment) mode, and so on, which use nematic liquid crystal material, are used. Further, in those liquid crystal display apparatuses, there is a display method called a “hold type” display method, and in this display method, the same image is displayed during one display period of an image signal, that is, during one frame period.
When dynamic images are displayed on a “hold type” crystal display apparatus, one image of the dynamic images which actually change moment by moment, is held during one frame period. That is, although one point in the displayed image is displayed at the correct position at one moment, the point in the displayed image is different from the actual point at other moments. Thus, since a human perceives dynamic images by averaging the displayed images, the perceived images are not focused.
A paper entitled “Improving the Moving-Image Quality of TFT-LCDS” by K. Sueoka et al., IDRC 197, pp 203-206 (1998) discloses a technique in which, after the whole display panel has been scanned, a lighting device is turned on to eliminate the lack of focus due to the above averaging effect.
However, in the above technique, since the lighting device is turned on after the whole liquid crystal panel has been scanned, and the response of the whole liquid crystal has been completed, the scanning period and the response time must be significantly shortened. Also, since the lighting period of the lighting device is short, the light strength must be increased in order to achieve the same brightness as that obtained in a conventional liquid crystal display method. Thus, it is necessary to increase the light-tube current, which in turn decreases the lifetime of the lighting device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to provide an active matrix-type liquid crystal display apparatus which is capable of displaying dynamic images and of preventing the above problems.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an active matrix-type liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a liquid crystal display unit including a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the pair of substrates, a plurality of electrodes for applying an electric field to at least one of the pair of substrates, and a plurality of active elements connected to the plurality of electrodes; a lighting device including a plurality of light sources; and a control unit for controlling ON/OFF operation of at least one light source for each of plural regions into which the lighting device is divided, based on a display response of said liquid crystal display unit.
Hereafter, details of the embodiments will be explained with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1First, the liquid crystal display unit 2 will be explained below.
The other units shown in
The liquid crystal controller 1 receives signals from the external equipment, and outputs data groups (D0-D7), (D10-D17), and (D20-D27), which are data for R, G, and B, respectively, a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, and a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC.
The composition of the liquid crystal controller 1 is changed depending on the contents of the signals input to the controller 1. The case of an analog signal input to the liquid crystal controller 1 will be explained first. In the analog signal, image display-start signals are superimposed on image signals to display images on the liquid crystal display unit 2. The liquid crystal controller 1 includes an A/D converter. The controller 1 extracts the image signals, and the extracted image signals are converted into three particular digital signals (D0-D7), (D10-D17), and (D20-D27) with the A/D converter. Further, the image display-start signals in the analog signal are output as the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, and sampling clock signals in the A/D converter are output as the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC.
Next, in the case when digital signals are input to the liquid crystal controller 1, the above digital image signals and the synchronization signals are generated by an external processor and input to the controller 1. Since the external processor generates the image signal data (D0-D7), (D10-D17), and (D20-D27) based on the synchronization signals VSYNC and HSYNC, and inputs them to the controller 1, those signals input to the controller 1 are output without modification.
The synchronization signals VSYNC and HSYNC output from the controller 1 are input to the scanning driver 3. The scanning driver 3 uses a shift register 8 to generate a signal for each scanning electrode in the liquid crystal display unit 2 based on the input synchronization signals VSYNC and HSYNC. Next, the level of the signal for each scanning electrode is determined by a level-shifting circuit 9, and the signal for each scanning electrode is output.
The data (D0-D7), (D10-D17), and (D20-D27), and the synchronization signals VSYNC and HSYNC, which are output from the controller 1, are input to the image driver 4. First, the data (D0-D7), (D10-D17), and (D20-D27) are input to a shift register 10 and are further input to a line memory 11 as a single line of data. Next, the levels of the data are determined by a level-shifting circuit 12, and the data are converted to analog signals by an A/D converter 13. The converted analog signals are output to the respective pixel electrodes in the liquid crystal display unit 2.
The lighting driver 6 is connected to the power source circuit 5 and the lighting device 7, and it controls ON and OFF states of the lamps 51 in the lighting device 7 in order to prevent obscurity caused in the dynamic image display. In this embodiment, the lighting device 7 is divided into three region a, b, and c, and ON and OFF states of the lamps 51 in each region are controlled by the lighting driver 6.
To achieve the above operation, the counter 61 outputs a signal when 800 pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC have been counted. Also, the counter 62 outputs a signal when 200 pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC have been counted after the counter 61 has output its signal, and then the counter 63 outputs a signal when 200 pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC have been counted after the counter 62 has outputted its signal. Further, the respective pulse-generation circuits 64, 65, and-6.6 output Hi-level signals for 4.6 ms after they have received output signals from the counters 61, 62, and 63.
Under the above-mentioned conditions, even if dynamic images obtained by moving a static image at a visual-angle speed of 10 degrees/s are displayed, there is no perceptible obscurity in the dynamic images.
In this embodiment, although a back light method in which the lamps 51 are located directly under the liquid crystal display unit 2 is adopted in the lighting device, the lighting method is not restricted to the back light method, and a side-light method can also be used.
Embodiment 2In this embodiment, the device whose composition is shown in
In the liquid crystal display apparatus using this lighting device as well as that according to Embodiment 1, even if dynamic images obtained by moving a static image at a visual-angle speed of 10 degrees/s are displayed, there is no perceptible obscurity in the dynamic images. The degradation in the contrast at the boundary between the regions, which is somewhat perceptible in the apparatus according to Embodiment 1, does not occur.
Embodiment 3In this embodiment, respective shutters located above the lamps 51 are opened and closed, thereby eliminating the need to turn the lamps on and off. The output signals from the lighting driver 6 shown in
Moreover, when the liquid crystal panels remain in the white-display state when no voltage signal is applied, it is necessary to provide inverting circuits through which the output signals are sent from the lighting driver 6.
The results of the evaluation of the liquid crystal display apparatus carried out using dynamic images in the same manner as that done for Embodiment 1 shows no perceivable obscuring. Further, since the lamps 51 are not turned on and off, the lifetime of the lamps 51 can be extended. The lifetime of the lamps in Embodiment 1 is about 5000 h, and that of those in this embodiment is extended to about 8000 h. Although the ferroelectric liquid crystal material, which possesses a memorization function, is used for the shutters in this embodiment, any type of shutters with a high-speed response can attain the same effects. Furthermore if their apertures can be adjusted, and light sensors or variable resistors are provided in the liquid crystal display apparatus, the apertures can be adjusted corresponding to the amount of light in the environment by changing the voltage from the power source circuit 51 based on the output signals from the light sensors or using the variable resistors. In this composition, the shutters are devices to adjust the quantity of the transmitted light.
Embodiment 4In the following, the operational conditions for each circuit in the lighting driver 6 shown in
To achieve the above operation, the counter 110 outputs a signal when 585 pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC have been counted after the counter 110 has received the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC. Also, the counters 111-115 output their respective signals when 135 pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC have been counted after each counter has received the signal output from the counter for the previous stage. Further, the respective pulse-generation circuits 116-121 output Hi-level signals during 4.6 ms after they have received output signals from the counters 110-115.
When a static image which has been moved is displayed on the liquid crystal display apparatus according to this embodiment in the same manner as Embodiment 1, there is no perceptible obscurity in the simulated dynamic images. Although the number of region divisions is 6, this number is not restricted to 6. As described above, if the number of region divisions is increased, the scanning time for the whole display unit can be extended. Therefore, increasing the number of region divisions is effective in a case when the selection time for one scanning line necessarily becomes short, such as in the case of a large screen and high definition-type display. If the lighting device with surface emission-type elements in this embodiment or shutters in Embodiment 3 is used, the number of region divisions can be increased, which in turn can extend the selection time for one scanning line. Moreover, if surface emission-type elements are used as shown in this embodiment, the diffusion plate 50 and the lamps 51 used in Embodiments 1, 2, and 3 are not necessary, and this can make the lighting device 7 thinner. Here, EL elements, surface emission-type fluorescent tubes, and so on can be used for the surface emission-type element in this embodiment. Furthermore, lighting elements each having LEDs arranged in a plane can be used. However, in the above lighting element structure, a diffusion plate is necessary.
Although the lateral electric field mode is used for the liquid crystal display mode in the above-described embodiments, the liquid crystal display mode is not restricted to the lateral electric field mode. The above embodiments can be implemented with the twisted nematic mode, the MVA mode, the OCB (Optically Compensated Bent cell) mode, and so on.
Embodiment 5The liquid crystal display apparatus according to this embodiment is composed such that the display mode is switched between a dynamic image-display mode and a static image-display mode. The composition and operation of this liquid crystal display apparatus are explained below.
According to this embodiment, since the liquid crystal display apparatus dynamically responds only when dynamic images are input, the power consumption can be reduced. For example, the power consumption in displaying a static image is about one fourth of that in displaying dynamic images. Meanwhile, a detection circuit such as that described in this embodiment is not always used to switch the display mode between dynamic and static image-display mode, and a signal in a personal computer, which indicates that a TV tuner, a dynamic CDROM, or a dynamic image-reproducing program is operated in the personal computer, can be used to switch the display mode.
In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus which can smoothly display dynamic images without obscurity.
Claims
1. A display apparatus comprising:
- a pair of substrates, a display area which has a plurality of pixels, a lighting device which includes a plurality of light sources, a scanning driver which outputs scanning signals to the plurality of pixels, and an image driver which outputs image signals to the plurality of pixels, wherein
- the lighting device illuminates the display area,
- the image signals are inputted to the plurality of pixels respectively,
- each of the plurality of pixels controls a transmittance of an incident light from the lighting device after the image signals are inputted to the plurality of pixels respectively, and
- the lighting device lights the plurality of light sources corresponding to the image signals inputted to the plurality of pixels after each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance.
2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device lights the plurality of light sources immediately after each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance.
3. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes.
4. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has at least one active element, and
- the scanning signals are inputted to the active element.
5. A display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the active element is a thin film transistor,
- the scanning signals are inputted to a gate electrode of the thin film transistor, and
- the image signals are inputted to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the thin film transistor.
6. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device controls a lighting time of the plurality of light sources.
7. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image signals include first image signals and second image signals,
- each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance after the first image signals are inputted to the plurality of pixels respectively,
- the lighting device lights the plurality of light sources corresponding the first image signals inputted to the plurality of pixels after each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance, and
- the image driver starts to output the second image signals while each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance corresponding to the first image signals.
8. A display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lighting device lights the plurality of light sources corresponding to the first image signals immediately after each of the plurality of pixels controls the transmittance.
9. A display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lighting device controls a lighting time of the plurality of light sources.
10. A display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first image signals are a part of data which constitutes an image of one frame,
- the second image signals are another part of the data, the another part of the data being continuous with the part of data.
11. A driving method of a display apparatus including a pair of substrates, a display area which has a plurality of pixels, a lighting device which includes a plurality of light sources and illuminates the display area, a scanning driver which outputs scanning signals to the plurality of pixels, and an image driver which outputs image signals to the plurality of pixels, the method comprising:
- inputting the image signals to the plurality of pixels respectively,
- controlling a transmittance of an incident light from the lighting device with respect to each of the plurality of pixels after the inputting of the image signals, and
- lighting the plurality of light sources corresponding to the image signals inputted to the plurality of pixels after the controlling of the transmittance.
12. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lighting of the plurality of light sources is an immediate step after the controlling of the transmittance.
13. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of light sources are light emitting diodes.
14. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has at least one active element, and
- the scanning signals are inputted to the active element.
15. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the active element is a thin film transistor,
- the scanning signals are inputted to a gate electrode of the thin film transistor, and
- the image signals are inputted to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the thin film transistor.
16. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lighting device controls a lighting time of the plurality of light sources.
17. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image signals include first image signals and second image signals,
- the method comprises:
- inputting the first image signals to the plurality of pixels respectively,
- controlling the transmittance after the inputting of the first image signals,
- lighting the plurality of light sources corresponding to the first image signals inputted to the plurality of pixels after the controlling of the transmittance, and
- starting an outputting of the second image signals from the image driver during the controlling of the transmittance corresponding to the first image signals.
18. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the lighting of the plurality of light sources corresponding to the first image signals is an immediate step after the controlling of the transmittance.
19. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the lighting device controls a lighting time of the plurality of light sources.
20. A driving method of a display apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first image signals are a part of data which constitutes an image of one frame,
- the second image signals are another part of the data, the another part of the data being continuous with the part of data.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 19, 2012
Inventors: Sukekazu Aratani (Hitachiota-shi), Ikuo Hiyama (Hitachi-shi), Masaya Adachi (Hitachi-shi), Tsunenori Yamamoto (Hitachi-shi), Katsumi Kondo (Mito-shi)
Application Number: 13/334,454
International Classification: G09G 5/10 (20060101); G09G 3/36 (20060101);