According to an aspect, a display device includes an image display panel, data lines, and scan lines. The image display panel includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels. The arrays of pixels include cyclically arranged columns of first columns each of which includes first sub-pixels, second columns that include second sub-pixels, and third columns. Third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns. Each of the scan lines is coupled to either of the third sub-pixels adjacent thereto or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent thereto, as sub-pixels to be selected thereby.
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1. A display device comprising:
an image display panel that includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels, the arrays of pixels including cyclically arranged columns of first columns that include first sub-pixels, second columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding first column and includes second sub-pixels, and third columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding second column;
a display function layer that has an image display function of displaying an image on the image display panel;
a plurality of data lines each coupled to one of the first columns, the second columns, and the third columns;
a control unit that drives the display function layer based on image signals by a column inversion driving method in which voltage applied to the data lines are different between the adjacent sub-pixels or between the adjacent pixels, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period; and
a plurality of scan lines with which the control unit sequentially selects each row of the sub-pixels, wherein
third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns,
each of the scan lines is coupled to the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels of the same row,
each of the scan lines is coupled to the third sub-pixels or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent to the each of the scan lines, and
the sub-pixels of the third columns in the same row are coupled to alternately different scan lines both of which are adjacent to the sub-pixels of the same row.
5. An electronic apparatus including a display device, the display device comprising:
an image display panel that includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels, the arrays of pixels including cyclically arranged columns of first columns each of which includes first sub-pixels, second columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding first column and includes second sub-pixels, and third columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding second column;
a display function layer that has an image display function of displaying an image on the image display panel;
a plurality of data lines each coupled to one of the first columns, the second columns, and the third columns;
a control unit that drives the display function layer based on image signals by a column inversion driving method in which voltage applied to the data lines are different between the adjacent sub-pixels or between the adjacent pixels, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period; and
a plurality of scan lines with which the control unit sequentially selects each row of the sub-pixels, wherein
third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns,
each of the scan lines is coupled to the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels of the same row,
each of the scan lines is coupled to the third sub-pixels or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent to the each of the scan lines, and
the sub-pixels of the third columns in the same row are coupled to alternately different scan lines both of which are adjacent to the sub-pixels of the same row.
2. The display device according to
the control unit transmits image signals to be transmitted to the sub-pixels of every other one of the third columns arranged in a direction along the row so as to shift the image signals from the other sub-pixels in the same row by one horizontal pixel.
3. The display device according to
the scan lines are coupled to the third sub-pixels of both adjacent rows, or the fourth sub-pixels of both adjacent rows.
4. The display device according to
a touch detection device attached or integrated on the image display panel, the touch detection device being capable of detecting an external approaching object that externally comes close.
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This application claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2013-010563, filed on Jan. 23, 2013, and Japanese Application No. 2013-251553, filed on Dec. 4, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a display device and to an electronic apparatus including the display device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen a growing demand for display devices for use in, for example, mobile devices such as a mobile phone and electronic paper. In a display device, one pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, each of which emits light of a different color. The single pixel displays various colors by switching on and off display of the sub-pixels. Such display devices have been improved year after year in display properties such as resolution and luminance. However, an increase in the resolution reduces an aperture ratio, and thus increases necessity for an increase in luminance of a backlight to achieve high luminance, which causes a problem of an increase in power consumption of the backlight. There is a technique (such as Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2010-33014) to improve this in which a white sub-pixel as a fourth sub-pixel is added to the conventional sub-pixels of red, green, and blue. This technique reduces the current value of the backlight because the luminance is increased by the white sub-pixel, and thereby reduces the power consumption.
There are known driving methods for an image display panel, such as a column inversion driving method, a line inversion driving method, a dot inversion driving method, and a frame inversion driving method. The column inversion driving method is a driving method in which voltages are applied so that adjacent single lines (columns) of sub-pixels or of pixels composed of combinations of sub-pixels have potentials different from each other with respect to a reference potential, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. It is known that this causes the column inversion driving method to have smaller amounts of charge and discharge in signal lines, and thus to have lower power consumption than the dot inversion driving method.
Adding fourth sub-pixels to the image display panel increases the area per pixel of the image display panel. This has led to a requirement for higher definition. Therefore, a liquid crystal display panel has an arrangement in which three columns of first sub-pixels, second sub-pixels, and third sub-pixels are juxtaposed in sequence, and in third columns, the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the row direction. As a result, an increase in the size of the pixel area can be suppressed even when the fourth sub-pixels are added, thereby achieving high definition. However, applying a technique of Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. H05-43118 to further suppress the power consumption can cause what is called crosstalk that reduces (deteriorates) display quality.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a display device and to an electronic apparatus that suppress the power consumption and reduce the display quality deterioration.
According to an aspect, a display device includes an image display panel, a display function layer, data lines, a control unit, and scan lines. The image display panel includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels. The arrays of pixels include cyclically arranged columns of first columns each of which includes first sub-pixels, second columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding first column, and third columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding second column. The display function layer has an image display function of displaying an image on the image display panel. Each of the data lines are coupled to one of the first columns, the second columns, and the third columns. The control unit drives the display function layer based on image signals by a column inversion driving method in which voltage applied to the data lines are different between the adjacent sub-pixels or between the adjacent pixels, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. The control unit sequentially selects each row of the sub-pixels with the scan lines. Third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns. Each of the scan lines is coupled to either of the third sub-pixels adjacent thereto or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent thereto, as sub-pixels to be selected thereby.
According to another aspect, an electronic apparatus includes the display device.
An embodiment for practicing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The description will be made in the following order.
1. Configuration of display device
2. Processing operation of display device
3. Modifications
4. Application examples (electronic apparatus)
5. Aspects of present disclosure
As illustrated in
The signal processing unit 20 is a processing unit that controls the operations of the image display panel 30 and the planar light source device 50. The signal processing unit 20 is coupled to the image display panel drive circuit 40 for driving the image display panel 30 and to the planar light source device control circuit 60 for driving the planar light source device 50. The signal processing unit 20 processes an externally supplied input signal, and generates output signals and a planar light source device control signal. In other words, the signal processing unit 20 generates the output signals by converting an input value (input signal) in an input HSV color space of the input signal into extended values (output signals) in an extended HSV color space extended in four colors of a first color, a second color, a third color, and a fourth color, and outputs the generated output signals to the image display panel 30. The signal processing unit 20 outputs the generated output signals to the image display panel drive circuit 40 and the generated planar light source device control signal to the planar light source device control circuit 60.
As illustrated in
The pixels 48 include first sub-pixels 49R, second sub-pixels 49G, and third sub-pixels 49B or fourth sub-pixels 49W, respectively. The first sub-pixels 49R display a first primary color (such as red). The second sub-pixels 49G display a second primary color (such as green). The third sub-pixels 49B display a third primary color (such as blue). The fourth sub-pixels 49W display a fourth color (specifically, white). Hereinafter, the sub-pixels will be collectively called sub-pixels 49 when the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G, the third sub-pixels 49B, and the fourth sub-pixels 49W need not be distinguished from each other.
The display device 10 is more specifically a transmissive color liquid crystal display device. The image display panel 30 is a color liquid crystal display panel in which a first color filter through which the first primary color passes is disposed between a first sub-pixel 49R and an image observer, and a second color filter through which the second primary color passes is disposed between a second sub-pixel 49G and the image observer, and a third color filter through which the third primary color passes is disposed between a third sub-pixel 49B and the image observer. The image display panel 30 has no color filter disposed between a fourth sub-pixel 49W and the image observer. The fourth sub-pixel 49W may be provided with a transparent resin layer instead of the color filter. Providing the fourth sub-pixel 49W with the transparent resin layer allows the image display panel 30 to keep a large step from occurring at the fourth sub-pixel 49W caused by not providing the fourth sub-pixel 49W with the color filter.
Pixels 48A and pixels 48B each obtained by combining the sub-pixels including the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B or the fourth sub-pixel 49W are arranged in a matrix-like manner on the image display panel 30. As illustrated in
In general, an arrangement similar to a stripe arrangement is preferable for displaying data and strings on a personal computer or the like. On the other hand, an arrangement similar to a mosaic arrangement is preferable for displaying natural images on a video camera recorder, a digital still camera, or the like.
The image display panel drive circuit 40 is a control device of the present embodiment, and includes a signal output circuit 41 and a scan circuit 42. The image display panel drive circuit 40 uses the signal output circuit 41 to hold and sequentially output video signals to the image display panel 30. The signal output circuit 41 is coupled to, electrically connected to, or directly connected to, the image display panel 30 via data lines (signal lines) DTL. The image display panel drive circuit 40 uses the scan circuit 42 to select the sub-pixels on the image display panel 30, and controls on and off of switching elements (such as thin film transistors [TFTs]) for controlling operations (optical transmittance) of the sub-pixels. The scan circuit 42 is electrically coupled to the image display panel 30 via scan lines SCL.
As illustrated in
The planar light source device 50 is disposed on the back side of the image display panel 30, and projects light toward the image display panel 30 to illuminate the image display panel 30. The planar light source device 50 projects the light onto the whole surface of the image display panel 30 to make the image display panel 30 bright. The planar light source device control circuit 60 controls, for example, light quantity of the light emitted from the planar light source device 50. Specifically, based on the planar light source device control signal output from the signal processing unit 20, the planar light source device control circuit 60 regulates the voltage or duty ratio of power supplied to the planar light source device 50 so as to control the light quantity of the light (intensity of the light) projected onto the image display panel 30. A description will next be made of a processing operation performed by the display device 10, more specifically, by the signal processing unit 20.
The signal processing unit 20 illustrated in
By including a fourth sub-pixel 49W that outputs the fourth color (white) to a pixel 48, the display device 10 can increase a dynamic range of brightness in the HSV color space (extended HSV color space) as illustrated in
The signal processing unit 20 stores maximum values Vmax(S) of brightness with the saturation value S serving as a variable in the HSV color space expanded by the addition of the fourth color (white). In other words, with respect to the solid shape of the HSV color space illustrated in
Next, based on at least the input signal (signal value x1-(p, q)) and an extension coefficient α for the first sub-pixel 49R, the signal processing unit 20 calculates an output signal (signal value X1-(p, q)) for the first sub-pixel 49R, and outputs the output signal to the first sub-pixel 49R. Based on at least the input signal (signal value x2-(p, q)) and the extension coefficient α for the second sub-pixel 49G, the signal processing unit 20 calculates an output signal (signal value X2-(p, q)) for the second sub-pixel 49G, and outputs the output signal to the second sub-pixel 49G. Based on at least the input signal (signal value x3-(p, q)) and the extension coefficient α for the third sub-pixel 49B, the signal processing unit 20 calculates an output signal (signal value X3-(p, q)) for the third sub-pixel 49B, and outputs the output signal to the third sub-pixel 49B. Based on the input signal (signal value x1-(p, q)) for the first sub-pixel 49R, the input signal (signal value x2-(p, q)) for the second sub-pixel 49G, and the input signal (signal value x3-(p, q)) for the third sub-pixel 49B, the signal processing unit 20 calculates an output signal (signal value X4-(p, q)) for the fourth sub-pixel 49W, and outputs the output signal to the fourth sub-pixel 49W.
Specifically, the signal processing unit 20 calculates the output signal for the first sub-pixel 49R based on the extension coefficient α for the first sub-pixel 49R and on the output signal for the fourth sub-pixel 49W, calculates the output signal for the second sub-pixel 49G based on the extension coefficient α for the second sub-pixel 49G and on the output signal for the fourth sub-pixel 49W, and calculates the output signal for the third sub-pixel 49B based on the extension coefficient α for the third sub-pixel 49B and on the output signal for the fourth sub-pixel 49W.
In other words, assuming χ as a constant depending on the display device, the signal processing unit 20 uses Equations (1) to (3) listed below to obtain the signal value X1-(p, q) serving as the output signal for the first sub-pixel 49R, the signal value X2-(p, q) serving as the output signal for the second sub-pixel 49G, and the signal value X3-(p, q) serving as the output signal for the third sub-pixel 49B. The output signals are to be output to the (p, q)th pixel (or, the (p, q)th set of the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B).
X1-(p,q)=α·x1-(p,q)−χ·X4-(p,q) (1)
X2-(p,q)=α·x2-(p,q)−χ·X4-(p,q) (2)
X3-(p,q)=α·x3-(p,q)−χ·X4-(p,q) (3)
The signal processing unit 20 obtains the maximum value Vmax(S) of brightness with the saturation value S serving as a variable in the HSV color space expanded by the addition of the fourth color, and based on the input signal values for the sub-pixels 49 in the pixels 48, obtains a saturation value S and a brightness value V(S) with respect to the pixels 48.
The saturation value S and the brightness value V(S) are expressed as S=(Max−Min)/Max and V(S)=Max, respectively. The saturation value S can have a value from 0 to 1, and the brightness value V(S) can have a value from 0 to (2n−1). The exponent n is the number of display gradation bits. Max is the maximum of the input signal values supplied to the pixels 48 for the first sub-pixel 49R, for the second sub-pixel 49G, and for the third sub-pixel 49B. Min is the minimum of the input signal values supplied to the pixels 48 for the first sub-pixel 49R, for the second sub-pixel 49G, and for the third sub-pixel 49B. A hue H is expressed by a value from 0 degrees to 360 degrees as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the signal value X4-(p, q) can be obtained based on the product of Min(p, q) and the extension coefficient α. Specifically, the signal value X4-(p, q) can be obtained based on Equation (4) given below. Although Equation (4) divides the product of Min(p, q) and the extension coefficient α by χ, the equation is not limited to this. The constant χ will be described later. The extension coefficient α is determined for each image display frame
X4-(p,q)=Min(p,q)·α/χ (4)
In general, in the (p, q)th pixel 48, Equations (5) and (6) below can be used to obtain the saturation value S(p, q) and the brightness value V(S)(p, q) in the cylindrical HSV color space based on the input signal (signal value x1-(p, q)) for the first sub-pixel 49R, the input signal (signal value x2-(p, q)) for the second sub-pixel 49G, and the input signal (signal value x3-(p, q)) for the third sub-pixel 49B.
S(p,q)=(Max(p,q)−Min(p,q))/Max(p,q) (5)
V(S)(p,q)=Max(p,q) (6)
Max(p, q) is the maximum value of the input signal values (x1-(p, q), x2-(p, q), and x3-(p, q)) for the three sub-pixels 49. Min(p, q) is the minimum value of the input signal values (x1-(p, q), x2-(p, q), and x3-(p, q)) for the three sub-pixels 49. The present embodiment assumes that n=8. In other words, the number of display gradation bits is assumed to be eight (the display gradation having a value in 256 levels of gradation from 0 to 255).
The fourth sub-pixel 49W displays white color, and thus is not provided with a color filter. Suppose that the first sub-pixel 49R is supplied with a signal having a value equivalent to the maximum signal value of the output signal for the first sub-pixel 49R, that the second sub-pixel 49G is supplied with a signal having a value equivalent to the maximum signal value of the output signal for the second sub-pixel 49G, and that the third sub-pixel 49B is supplied with a signal having a value equivalent to the maximum signal value of the output signal for the third sub-pixel 49B. In that case, a collective set of the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B included in the pixel 48 or a group of the pixels 48 is assumed to have a luminance value of BN1-3. Furthermore, suppose that the fourth sub-pixel 49W included in the pixel 48 or a group of the pixels 48 is supplied with a signal having a value equivalent to the maximum signal value of the output signal for the fourth sub-pixel 49W. In that case, the fourth sub-pixel 49W is assumed to have a luminance value of BN4. In other words, the collective set of the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B displays white color having a maximum luminance value, and the luminance of the white color is represented by BN1-3. Then, assuming χ as a constant depending on the display device, the constant χ is expressed as χ=BN4/BN1-3.
Specifically, suppose that the luminance BN1-3 of the white color is obtained when the collective set of the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B is supplied with the input signals having the following values of the display gradation, that is, the signal value x1-(p, q)=255, the signal value x2-(p, q)=255, and the signal value x3-(p, q)=255. Furthermore, suppose that the luminance BN4 is obtained when the fourth sub-pixel 49W is supplied with the input signal having a value of 255 as the display gradation. Then, the luminance BN4 has a value, for example, 1.5 times as large as the luminance BN1-3. In other words, χ=1.5 is satisfied in the present embodiment.
When the signal value X4-(p, q) is given by Equation (4) above, Vmax(S) can be expressed by Equations (7) and (8) given below.
When S≦S0,
Vmax(S)=(χ+1)·(2n−1) (7)
When S0<S≦1,
Vmax(S)=(2n−1)·(1/S) (8)
where S0=1/(χ+1).
The signal processing unit 20 stores, for example, as a kind of look-up table, the thus obtained maximum value Vmax(S) of brightness with the saturation value S serving as a variable in the HSV color space expanded by the addition of the fourth color. Otherwise, the signal processing unit 20 obtains the maximum value Vmax(S) of brightness with the saturation value S serving as a variable in the expanded HSV color space each time.
A description will next be made of a method (extension process) of obtaining the signal values X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), X3-(p, q), and X4-(p, q) serving as the output signals in the (p, q)th pixel 48. The following process is performed so as to keep a ratio among the luminance of the first primary color displayed by the (first sub-pixel 49R+fourth sub-pixel 49W), the luminance of the second primary color displayed by the (second sub-pixel 49G+fourth sub-pixel 49W), and the luminance of the third primary color displayed by the (third sub-pixel 49B+fourth sub-pixel 49W). The following process is performed so as to also keep (maintain) a color tone. Further, the following process is performed so as to also keep (maintain) gradation-luminance characteristics (gamma characteristics, or γ characteristics). When all of the input signal values are zero or small in any of the pixels 48 or any group of the pixels 48, the extension coefficient α may be obtained without including such a pixel 48 or such a group of the pixels 48.
First Step
First, based on the input signal values for the sub-pixels 49 in the pixels 48, the signal processing unit 20 obtains the saturation value S and the brightness value V(S) in the pixels 48. Specifically, based on the signal value x1-(p, q) serving as the input signal for the first sub-pixel 49R, the signal value x2-(p, q) serving as the input signal for the second sub-pixel 49G, and the signal value x3-(p, q) serving as the input signal for the third sub-pixel 49B in the (p, q)th pixel 48, the signal processing unit 20 obtains S(p, q) and V(S)(p, q) from Equations (7) and (8). The signal processing unit 20 applies this process to all of the pixels 48.
Second Step
The signal processing unit 20 subsequently obtains the extension coefficient α(S) based on Vmax(S)/V(S) obtained in the pixels 48.
α(S)=Vmax(S)/V(S) (9)
Third Step
Next, based on at least the signal values x1-(p, q), x2-(p, q), and X3-(p, q), the signal processing unit 20 obtains the signal value X4-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48. In the present embodiment, the signal processing unit 20 determines the signal value X4-(p, q) based on Min(p, q), the extension coefficient α, and the constant χ. More specifically, the signal processing unit 20 obtains the signal value X4-(p, q) based on Equation (4) given above as described above. The signal processing unit 20 obtains the signal values X4-(p, q) in all of the P0×Q0 pixels 48.
Fourth Step
Thereafter, the signal processing unit 20 obtains the signal value X1-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48 based on the signal value x1-(p, q), the extension coefficient α, and the signal value X4-(p, q), obtains the signal value X2-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48 based on the signal value X4-(p, q), the extension coefficient α, and the signal value X4-(p, q), and obtains the signal value X3-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48 based on the signal value x3-(p, q), the extension coefficient α, and the signal value X4-(p, q). Specifically, the signal processing unit 20 obtains the signal values X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), and X3-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48 based on Equations (1) to (3) given above.
As indicated by Equation (4), the signal processing unit 20 extends the value of Min(p, q) according to the extension coefficient α. In this manner, the extension of Min(p, q) according to the extension coefficient α increases the luminance of the white display sub-pixel (fourth sub-pixel 49W), and also increases the luminance of the red display sub-pixel, the green display sub-pixel, and the blue display sub-pixel (corresponding to the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixel 49B, respectively) as indicated by Equations given above. This can avoid problems such as occurrence of dulling of colors. Specifically, the extension of the value of Min(p, q) according to the extension coefficient α increases the luminance of an entire image by a factor of a compared with a case in which the value of Min(p, q) is not extended. This allows, for example, a still image to be displayed at high luminance, which is desirable.
The signal values X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), X3-(p, q), and X4-(p, q) in the (p, q)th pixel 48 are extended by a factor of a. This only requires the display device 10 to reduce the luminance of the planar light source device 50 based on the extension coefficient α in order to give the pixel 48 the same luminance as that of the pixel 48 with the signal values not extended. Specifically, the luminance of the planar light source device 50 only needs to be reduced by a factor of (1/α). The signal processing unit 20 calculates selector signals SELR, SELG, and SELB (SELW) to be described later so as to output the signal values X1-(p, q), X2-(p, q), X3-(p, q), and X4-(p, q) in the (p, q) th pixel 48.
2-1. Example of Horizontal Electric Field Mode Liquid Crystal Display Device
The liquid crystal layer 70C modulates light passing therethrough according to the states of electric fields thereof, and uses a liquid crystal display device using liquid crystals of a horizontal electric field mode such as a fringe field switching (FFS) mode or an in-plane switching (IPS) mode. The liquid crystal layer 70C may be formed of liquid crystals of any of various modes such as a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, and an electrically controlled birefringence (ECB) mode. An orientation film may be interposed between the liquid crystal layer 70C and the pixel substrate 70A, and between the liquid crystal layer 70C and the counter substrate 70B, which are illustrated in
The counter substrate 70B includes a translucent substrate 75 and a color filter 76 formed on one surface of the translucent substrate 75. The color filter 76 includes color regions colored in four colors of, for example, red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W). At openings (not illustrated) of the color filter 76, the color regions colored in the four colors of, for example, red (R), green (G), blue (B), and white (W) are cyclically arranged, and one set of the color regions of four colors of R, G, B, and W is associated, as a pixel, with each of the pixels. The color filter 76 is opposed to the liquid crystal layer 70C in the direction orthogonal to a TFT substrate 71. The color filter 76 may have a combination of other colors if colored in different colors. The color filter 76 generally gives a color region of green (G) higher luminance than that of color regions of red (R) and blue (B). A black matrix may be formed so as to cover the outer circumference of the pixel. The black matrix is disposed at boundaries between two-dimensionally arranged sub-pixels so as to have a lattice shape. The black matrix is formed of material having a high rate of absorption of light. The present embodiment uses a glass substrate as the translucent substrate 75, but the material is not limited to this. A plastic substrate, for example, may be used instead of the glass substrate as the translucent substrate 75.
The pixel substrate 70A includes the TFT substrate 71 as a circuit substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes 72 arranged in a matrix-like manner on the TFT substrate 71, a common electrode COML formed between the TFT substrate 71 and the pixel electrodes 72, and an insulation layer 74 insulating the pixel electrodes 72 from the common electrode COML. The common electrode COML is a translucent electrode formed of translucent conductive material (translucent conductive oxide) such as indium tin oxide (ITO). The present embodiment exemplifies ITO as a translucent conductive material, but the material is not limited to this. A conductive material, such as indium zinc oxide (IZO), having another composition may be used as the translucent conductive material.
Layered on the TFT substrate 71 are semiconductor layers 92 formed with thin-film transistors Tr of the above-described sub-pixels, and wires such as the data lines DTL supplying pixel signals to the pixel electrodes 72 and the scan lines SCL driving the thin-film transistors Tr with the insulation layer 74 interposed therebetween. This causes the common electrode COML to be affected by a coupling capacitance C by coupling with the data lines DTL. The present embodiment uses the TFT as a switching element of the pixel electrodes 72, but the switching element is not limited to this. Another element, such as a thin film diode, may be used instead of the TFT as the switching element of the pixel electrodes 72.
The data lines DTL extend in a plane parallel to a surface of the TFT substrate 71, and supply pixel signals for displaying an image to the pixels. One part of each of the semiconductor layers 92 contacts a data line DTL, and another part contacts a pedestal wire 90 formed in the same layer as that of the data line DTL. In the present disclosure, the scan lines SCL are first metal wires that are wires of metal such as aluminum; the data lines DTL are second metal wires that are wires of metal such as aluminum; and the pedestal wires 90 are third metal wires that are wires of metal such as aluminum. The insulation layer 74 provides insulation except at contact portions 25a where the scan lines SCL contact the semiconductor layers 92 or where the data lines DTL contact the semiconductor layers 92, and contact portions 90a (contact holes).
The semiconductor layers 92, the data lines DTL, and the scan lines SCL are formed in layers different from each other in the direction orthogonal to the surface of the TFT substrate 71 (in the Z-direction). The data lines DTL and the pedestal wires 90 are formed in the same layer in the direction orthogonal to the surface of the TFT substrate 71 (in the Z-direction).
Each of the contact portions 25a of a data line DTL is coupled to one of a source electrode and a drain electrode of a thin-film transistor Tr in a semiconductor layer 92. The semiconductor layer 92 is also coupled to a pixel electrode 72 via a pedestal wire 90. A contact portion 90a of the pedestal wire 90 is coupled to the other of the source electrode and the drain electrode of the thin-film transistor Tr in the semiconductor layer 92. As illustrated in
As described above, the scan lines SCL and the data lines DTL are line-like metal wires, and are arranged so as to three-dimensionally cross each other in directions substantially orthogonal to each other. As illustrated in
The image display panel 30 according to the present embodiment illustrated in
2-2. Column Inversion Driving Method
There are known driving methods for the liquid crystal display panel such as a column inversion driving method, a line inversion driving method, a dot inversion driving method, and a frame inversion driving method. The column inversion driving method is a driving method in which voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to adjacent single lines (columns) of sub-pixels or of pixels composed of combinations of sub-pixels, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. It is known that this causes the column inversion driving method to have smaller amounts of charge and discharge in the data lines, and thus to have lower power consumption than the dot inversion driving method. Various circuits described in Japanese Examined Patent Application Publication No. H05-43118 are applicable to the signal processing unit 20.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, the common electrode COML is affected by the coupling capacitance C by coupling with the data lines DTL. This causes, as illustrated in
Further, when voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to the data lines DTL adjacent to each other, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period, the common electrode COML has a potential changed in the increasing direction. Suppose a case in which, on the image display panel 30, the sub-pixels 49R and 49G are lit according to the selector signals SELR and SELG in conjunction with the sub-pixel 49B so that the window image 30W displays colors such as magenta and cyan. Also in that case, if the voltage VcomQ of the crosstalk component does not converge, the voltage gap GQ can increase the effective voltage of the fourth sub-pixel 49W, so that an image that does not normally appear may appear in the neutral color display portion 30C.
As illustrated in
For example, as illustrated in
As described above, the sub-pixels 49 in the third columns selectable by one scan line SCL are the third sub-pixels 49B and 49B′. The sub-pixels 49 in the third columns selectable by a single scan line SCL in the next row are the fourth sub-pixels 49W and 49W′. When the common electrode COML is affected by the coupling capacitance C by coupling with the data lines DTL, this structure causes the increase and decrease in the coupling capacitance to cancel each other. As a result, the display device 10 suppresses the change in the potential of the common electrode COML when the signal processing unit 20 drives the data lines DTL using the column inversion driving method.
The voltage VcomQ of the crosstalk component converges by the end time Toff of the period of the display selector SELB of the sub-pixel 49B as illustrated in
2-3. Advantageous Effects
As described above, the display device 10 can add the white sub-pixels that are the fourth sub-pixel 49W and the fourth sub-pixel 49W′ to the first sub-pixel 49R, the second sub-pixel 49G, and the third sub-pixels 49B and 49B′ of red, green, and blue. This reduces the current value of the backlight because the luminance is increased by the white sub-pixels, and thereby reduces the power consumption. Further, the display device 10 performs driving by the column inversion driving method. This suppresses charge and discharge in each of the data lines DTL, and thereby further reduces the power consumption.
The image display panel 30 has the arrangement in which the three columns of the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G, and the third sub-pixels 49B are juxtaposed in sequence, and in the third columns, the third sub-pixels 49B and the fourth sub-pixels 49W are alternately arranged in the row direction. As a result, an increase in the size of the pixel area can be suppressed even when the fourth sub-pixels 49W are added, thereby achieving high definition. The signal processing unit 20 performs driving by column inversion driving method so that voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to the data lines DTL adjacent to each other, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. This allows the display device 10 to suppress the power consumption. The display device 10 can also suppress what is called crosstalk that reduces (deteriorates) display quality.
3-1. First Modification
The image display panel 30 has an arrangement in which three columns of the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G, and the third sub-pixels 49B, and three columns of the first sub-pixels 49R′, the second sub-pixels 49G′, and the third sub-pixels 49B′ are juxtaposed in sequence. In the third columns, the third sub-pixels 49B and the fourth sub-pixels 49W′ are alternately arranged in the direction along the column direction, and the third sub-pixels 49B′ and the fourth sub-pixels 49W are alternately arranged in the direction along the column direction. As a result, an increase in the size of the pixel area can be suppressed even when the fourth sub-pixels 49W and 49W′ are added, thereby achieving high definition. The signal processing unit 20 performs driving by column inversion driving method so that voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to the data lines DTL adjacent to each other, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. This allows the display device 10 to suppression of the power consumption. The display device 10 can also suppress what is called crosstalk that reduces (deteriorates) display quality.
3-2. Second Modification
3-3. Third Modification
3-4. Fourth Modification
In the display device according to the fourth modification of the present embodiment, third sub-pixels 49B′ and the fourth sub-pixels 49W in the same row of the third columns are alternately coupled to different lines of the scan lines SCL. The third sub-pixels 49B and fourth sub-pixels 49W′ in the same row of the third columns are alternately coupled to different lines of the scan lines SCL. As a result, the sub-pixels 49 in the third columns selected by one of the scan lines SCL are the third sub-pixels 49B and the third sub-pixels 49B′. Otherwise, the sub-pixels 49 in the third columns selected by one of the scan lines SCL are the fourth sub-pixels 49W and the fourth sub-pixels 49W′. Second sub-pixels 49G′ and the fifth sub-pixels 49Y in the same row of the second columns are alternately coupled to different lines of the scan lines SCL. The second sub-pixels 49G and fifth sub-pixels 49Y′ in the same row of the second columns are alternately coupled to different lines of the scan lines SCL. As a result, the sub-pixels 49 in the second columns selected by one of the scan lines SCL are the second sub-pixels 49G and the second sub-pixels 49G′. Otherwise, the sub-pixels 49 in the second columns selected by one of the scan lines SCL are the fifth sub-pixels 49Y and the fifth sub-pixel 49Y′. The display device according to the fourth modification of the present embodiment can add the fourth sub-pixels 49W and 49W′ serving as white sub-pixels to the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G and 49G′, and the third sub-pixels 49B and 49B′ of red, green, and blue. This reduces the current value of the backlight because the luminance is increased by the white sub-pixels, and thereby reduces the power consumption. The display device according to the fourth modification of the present embodiment can also add the fifth sub-pixels 49Y and 49Y′ serving as yellow pixels to the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G and 49G′, and the third sub-pixels 49B and 49B′ of red, green, and blue. Such an arrangement allows the image display panel to have a wider color representation range. Further, the display device 10 performs the drive by the column inversion driving method. This suppresses charge and discharge in each of the data lines DTL, and thereby further reduces the power consumption.
The image display panel 30 has an arrangement in which three columns of the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G, and the third sub-pixels 49B, and three columns of the first sub-pixels 49R, the second sub-pixels 49G′, and the third sub-pixels 49B′ are cyclically juxtaposed in sequence. As a result, an increase in the size of the pixel area can be suppressed even when the fourth sub-pixels 49W and 49W′ and the fifth sub-pixels 49Y and 49Y′ are added, thereby allowing the display panel to be high definition and to have a wide color representation range. The signal processing unit 20 performs driving by the column inversion driving method so that voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to the data lines DTL adjacent to each other, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. This allows the display device 10 to suppress the power consumption. The display device 10 can also suppress what is called crosstalk that reduces (deteriorates) display quality.
3-5. Fifth Modification
The image display panel 30 has the arrangement in which the four columns of the fifth sub-pixels 49R, the first sub-pixels 49G, the second sub-pixels 49B, and the third sub-pixels 49Y are juxtaposed in sequence, and in the third columns, the third sub-pixels 49Y and the fourth sub-pixels 49W are alternately arranged in the row direction. As a result, an increase in the size of the pixel area can be suppressed even when the fourth sub-pixels 49W are added, thereby achieving high definition. The signal processing unit 20 performs driving by the column inversion driving method so that voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied to a pixel 48A and a pixel 48B adjacent to each other, and the polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period. This allows the display device 10 to suppress the power consumption. The display device 10 can also suppress what is called crosstalk that reduces (deteriorates) display quality.
3-6. Display Device Including Touch Detection Device
The liquid crystal layer 70C modulates light passing therethrough according to states of electric field thereof, and uses a liquid crystal display device using liquid crystals of the horizontal electric field mode such as the FFS mode or the IPS mode. An orientation film may be interposed between the liquid crystal layer 70C and the pixel substrate 2, and between the liquid crystal layer 70C and the counter substrate 3, which are illustrated in FIG. 26.
The counter substrate 3 includes the translucent substrate 75 and the color filter 76 formed on one surface of the translucent substrate 75. The other surface of the translucent substrate 75 is formed with touch detection electrodes TDL that are detection electrodes of this touch detection device 1, and a polarizing plate 78 is further provided on top of the touch detection electrodes TDL.
The pixel substrate 2 includes the TFT substrate 71 as a circuit substrate, the pixel electrodes 72 arranged in a matrix-like manner on the TFT substrate 71, a plurality of common electrodes COML formed between the TFT substrate 71 and the pixel electrodes 72, and the insulation layer 74 insulating the pixel electrodes 72 from the common electrodes COML. The common electrodes COML are opposed to the pixel electrodes 72 in the direction orthogonal to a surface of the TFT substrate 71. With this, the common electrodes COML and the touch detection electrodes TDL provided on the counter substrate 3 constitute the touch detection device. The touch detection electrodes TDL are composed of stripe-like electrode patterns that extend in the direction intersecting the extending direction of electrode patterns of the common electrodes COML. The touch detection electrodes TDL are opposed to the common electrodes COML in the direction orthogonal to the surface of the TFT substrate 71. Each of the electrode patterns of the touch detection electrodes TDL is coupled to an input of a touch detection unit (not illustrated). The electrode patterns intersecting each other provided by the common electrodes COML and the touch detection electrodes TDL generate electrostatic capacitance at intersecting portions therebetween.
With this configuration, when the touch detection device 1 performs a touch detection operation of detecting a nearby object, the image display panel drive circuit 40 performs driving, as a control device, so as to line-sequentially scan the common electrodes COML block by block in a time-divisional manner. This operation sequentially selects one detection block of the common electrodes COML in the scan direction. In a state (contact state) in which a finger contacts (or comes close) as the nearby object, an electrostatic capacitance C2 formed by the finger changes the electrostatic capacitance acting at the intersecting portions between the common electrodes COML and the touch detection electrodes TDL. The touch detection device 1 outputs the changed electrostatic capacitance as a touch detection signal from the touch detection electrodes TDL. In this manner, the touch detection device 1 performs the touch detection one detection block by one detection block.
The bars Blue and White illustrated in
A description will be made of application examples of the present disclosure in which the above-described display device 10 is applied to an electronic apparatus.
4-1. Application Example 1
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
4-2. Application Example 2
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
4-3. Application Example 3
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
4-4. Application Example 4
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
4-5. Application Example 5
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
4-6. Application Example 6
The electronic apparatus illustrated in
The present disclosure can include the following aspects.
(1) A display device comprising:
an image display panel that includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels, the arrays of pixels including cyclically arranged columns of first columns each of which includes first sub-pixels, second columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding first column and includes second sub-pixels, and third columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding second column;
a display function layer that has an image display function of displaying an image on the image display panel;
a plurality of data lines each coupled to one of the first columns, the second columns, and the third columns;
a control unit that drives the display function layer based on image signals by a column inversion driving method in which voltage applied to the data lines are different between the adjacent sub-pixels or between the adjacent pixels, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period; and
a plurality of scan lines with which the control unit sequentially selects each row of the sub-pixels, wherein
third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns, and
each of the scan lines is coupled to either of the third sub-pixels adjacent thereto or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent thereto, as sub-pixels to be selected thereby.
(2) The display device according to (1), wherein
the control unit transmits image signals to be transmitted to the sub-pixels of every other one of the third columns arranged in a direction along the row so as to shift the image signals from the other sub-pixels in the same row by one horizontal pixel.
(3) The display device according to (1), wherein
the scan lines are coupled to the third sub-pixels of both adjacent rows, or the fourth sub-pixels of both adjacent rows.
(4) The display device according to (1), wherein
the sub-pixels of the third columns in the same row are coupled to alternately different one of the scan lines.
(5) The display device according to (1), wherein
the sub-pixels in the same row are coupled to different one of the scan lines alternately for each pixel.
(6) The display device according to (1), further comprising
a touch detection device attached or integrated on the image display panel, the touch detection device being capable of detecting an external approaching object that externally comes close.
(7) An electronic apparatus including a display device, the display device comprising:
an image display panel that includes arrays of pixels including a plurality of sub-pixels, the arrays of pixels including cyclically arranged columns of first columns each of which includes first sub-pixels, second columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding first column and includes second sub-pixels, and third columns each of which is arranged next to the corresponding second column;
a display function layer that has an image display function of displaying an image on the image display panel;
a plurality of data lines each coupled to one of the first columns, the second columns, and the third columns;
a control unit that drives the display function layer based on image signals by a column inversion driving method in which voltage applied to the data lines are different between the adjacent sub-pixels or between the adjacent pixels, and polarities of the applied voltages are inverted at a predetermined period; and
a plurality of scan lines with which the control unit sequentially selects each row of the sub-pixels, wherein
third sub-pixels and fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in the third columns in the direction along the third columns, and the third sub-pixels and the fourth sub-pixels are alternately arranged in a direction along the row in the same row of the third columns, and
each of the scan lines is coupled to either of the third sub-pixels adjacent thereto or the fourth sub-pixels adjacent thereto, as sub-pixels to be selected thereby.
As described above, the display device of the present disclosure can be driven by the column inversion driving method, and therefore consumes low power. The display device of the present disclosure can also suppress signals of a common electrode that activates the crosstalk. These advantages allow the display device of the present disclosure to mitigate the display quality deterioration and to provide an image or a video having higher luminance. Inclusion of the display device of the present disclosure allows the electronic apparatus of the present disclosure to suppress the power consumption of the display device and to reduce the display quality deterioration of the display device.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a display device and an electronic apparatus that suppress power consumption and reduce display quality deterioration of the display device can be provided.
Although the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above description. The constituent elements of the present disclosure described above include elements easily conceived by those skilled in the art, substantially identical elements, and elements in the range of what are called equivalents. The above-described constituent elements can be combined as appropriate. The constituent elements can be omitted, replaced, and/or modified in various ways within the scope not deviating from the gist of the present disclosure.
Yamaguchi, Hidemasa, Kabe, Masaaki
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