LCD Panel Sub-Pixel Capacitor Configuration for Viewing Angle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) suffer from limited viewing angles due to the orientational alignment of liquid crystal molecules, which restricts their applications and introduces issues like image sticking and high voltage requirements in existing wide-viewing angle solutions.
Innovation Solution
An LCD panel configuration with a common electrode, scanning lines, data lines, and pixels arranged in a matrix, where each pixel comprises two sub-pixels with liquid crystal and storage capacitors connected in parallel, and transistors with specific electrical connections, allowing for varying potential differences in sub-pixel electrodes based on gray level voltages to control liquid crystal alignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If IPS mode is used to increase viewing angles, then viewing angle is improved, but voltage requirement increases and aperture ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is divided into multiple sub-pixels (first sub-pixel, second sub-pixel, etc.) with different liquid crystal capacitor configurations. Each sub-pixel has its own liquid crystal capacitor with different capacitance values, allowing differential voltage control that achieves wide viewing angles without requiring high voltages across the entire pixel
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pixel (sub-pixels) are given different electrical characteristics through varying liquid crystal capacitor configurations. The first sub-pixel has different capacitor characteristics than the second sub-pixel, creating local quality differences that enable precise control of liquid crystal orientation for wide viewing angles at lower voltages
2Duration of action of moving object
If multi-domain vertical alignment is used to increase viewing angles, then viewing angle is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to extra photolithography step
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the viewing angle control function from the structural domain (protruding structures requiring photolithography) and moves it to the electrical domain (capacitor-based voltage control). By removing the need for complex physical structures and using purely electrical means through differential capacitor configurations, the manufacturing process is simplified while maintaining wide viewing angles
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional LCD structure is used, then manufacturing is simple, but color washout occurs and viewing angle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is segmented into multiple sub-pixels with different liquid crystal capacitor configurations. This segmentation allows differential voltage control that prevents color washout by maintaining proper voltage levels across different liquid crystal regions, improving color saturation and viewing angle without complicating the overall manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters (capacitance values) of the liquid crystal capacitors in different sub-pixels. By adjusting these electrical parameters rather than physical structures, the patent achieves improved color performance and viewing angles while keeping the manufacturing process simple and compatible with existing fabrication techniques
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration improves color washout and viewing angles by dynamically adjusting liquid crystal orientations with gray level voltages, reducing image sticking and voltage requirements while maintaining image quality.
Implementation Method 1
Since the functionality of LCDs is based on the birefringence effect, the transmittance of light will vary with different viewing angles
Implementation Method 2
Liquid crystal molecules have a definite orientational alignment as a result of their long, thin shapes. The orientations of liquid crystal molecules in liquid crystal cells of an LCD panel play a crucial role in the transmittance of light therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel with color washout improvement. In one embodiment, the LCD panel a plurality of pixels, {Pn,m}, spatially arranged in the form of a matrix, n=1, 2, . . . , N, and m=1, 2, . . . , M, and N, M being an integer greater than zero, each pixel Pn,m comprising at least a first sub-pixel, Pn,m(1), having a sub-pixel electrode and a second sub-pixel, Pn,m(2), having a sub-pixel electrode. The plurality of pixels, {Pn,m}, is configured such that when a gray level voltage associated with a gray level, g, of an image to be displayed on a pixel is applied to the pixel Pn,m, a potential difference, ΔV12(g), is generated in the sub-pixel electrodes of the first and second sub-pixels of the pixel Pn,m. The potential difference, ΔV12(g) varies with the gray level g of the image to be displayed on the pixel, where g=0, 1, 2, . . . , R corresponding to one of the shades of grey of the image expressed in h bits, h being an integer greater than zero and R=(2h−1).