Shift register and display device

A display device is provided with a shift register having a plurality of bistable circuits, each of the bistable circuits being connected to a corresponding scanning line. An RS flip-flop circuit provided in each of the bistable circuits functions as a memory portion for discriminating a start position of a display region for partial display. When partial display is carried out, first, only the RS flip-flop circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region is put into the set state, that is, only the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region is put into the set state. Moreover, the scanning lines that are connected to the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position are driven sequentially. During this, only the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position is kept in the set state, and the other bistable circuits are kept in the reset state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shift registers capable of partial driving in which a pulse is generated from several of an entirety of bistable circuits, as well as to display devices using such a shift register.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, matrix display devices are known in which a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of signal lines intersect with one another. Known as such matrix display devices are FPDs (flat panel displays) such as LCDs (liquid crystal displays), PDPs (plasma display panels), EL (electronic luminescence) displays, and FEDs (field emission displays). FPDs can be more easily made thinner and lighter than conventional CRTs (cathode ray tubes), so that they are also used in mobile phones. On the other hand, there is a need for lower power consumption in mobile phones. Therefore, there are also display devices provided with a partial display function with which an image is displayed only on a portion of the display screen.

According to the display device disclosed in JP H11-184434A, a partial display can be realized by providing a scan permission signal and masking such that a selection signal is not outputted to the scanning lines corresponding to a non-displayed portion. However, in this case it is necessary to generate a shift clock corresponding to all scanning lines, regardless of the size of the non-displayed portions, and the clock number of the shift clock is the same for full screen display as for partial display. Therefore, the power consumption is not reduced.

To address this problem, a display device provided with storage circuits corresponding to the scanning lines has been proposed, wherein signals for discriminating whether regions are displayed regions or non-displayed regions are held in the storage circuits, and partial display is performed by driving only the scanning lines corresponding to the displayed regions. According to JP 2001-249636A, the plurality of scanning lines provided in this display device are connected to a scanning line driving circuit. Moreover, for partial display, only a portion of the scanning lines are driven by the scanning line driving circuit. In this case, the clock number of the shift clock that is necessary is equivalent to the number of scanning lines corresponding to the display region.

FIGS. 23A,23B,24A and24B are circuit diagrams showing the configuration of a scanning line driving circuit of a conventional display device. The right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 23Ais connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 23B. Similarly, the right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 23Bis connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 24A, and the right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 24Ais connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 24B. This scanning line driving circuit comprises an m-stage shift register consisting of m bistable circuits101, as well as in D flip-flop circuits102. The D flip-flop circuits102function as storage circuits for discriminating displayed regions and non-displayed regions.

FIG. 25is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the bistable circuits of this scanning line driving circuit. This bistable circuit comprises a D flip-flop circuit201, an OR circuit202, a combination circuit203, and an AND circuit204. The combination circuit203is consist of two AND circuits and one OR circuit.

FIGS. 26 and 27are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit in the conventional display device during full screen display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 26, and then from left to right inFIG. 27. Referring toFIGS. 23 to 27, the following is a description of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit during full screen display.

As shown inFIGS. 26 and 27, during the period of full screen display, the logic level of a partial display selection signal PB is kept High. Therefore, the output signal outputted from the OR circuit202inFIG. 25is High, so that the input signal CLRB of the D flip-flop circuit201is Low. As a result, the D flip-flop circuit201is not reset.

Let us now consider the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage. After the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP becomes High, when the pulse of the shift clock GCK is inputted, the D flip-flop circuit201is set and the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1becomes High. Moreover, by setting the input signal OE at High in synchronization with the shift clock GCK, so that the output signal GL that is outputted from the AND circuit204becomes High. That is to say, the scanning line of the first stage is driven (i.e. a selection signal whose logic level is High is outputted to the first scanning line).

Let us now consider the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage. The input signal QI of the bistable circuit SR2is the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 26, after the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage has become High, when the pulse of the shift clock GCK is inputted, the D flip-flop circuit201of the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage is set. That is to say, due to the same operation as in the above-described bistable circuit SR1of the first stage, the output signal QO (SR2QO) and the output signal GL of the bistable circuit of the second stage become High. Thus, the second scanning line is driven.

The bistable circuits SR3to SRm of the third and following stages are operated in a similar manner as the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage, and all scanning lines are driven sequentially. Thus, full screen display is realized.

The following is a description of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit during partial display. In the conventional display device, first, the settings in the storage circuits for discriminating displayed regions and non-displayed regions are performed. Then, partial display is carried out by sequentially driving the scanning lines with the bistable circuits corresponding to the storage circuits that have been set to indicate the displayed region. The following is a description for the case that the i-th to j-th scanning lines correspond to the displayed region. It should be noted that, as mentioned before, the D flip-flop circuits102function as the storage circuits.

FIGS. 28 and 29are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit while setting the storage circuits for partial display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 28, and then from left to right inFIG. 29. Referring toFIGS. 23A,23B,24A,24B,25,28and29, the following is a description of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit while setting the storage circuits for partial display.

During the period of setting the storage circuits, the partial display selection signal PB is held a High level, and the storage circuit setting clock MCK and MDI are set to High, as shown inFIG. 28. Here, every time a pulse of the storage circuit setting clock MCK is inputted, the output signals Q of the D flip-flop circuits102are inputted as the input signal D into the D flip-flop circuit of the next stage. For this reason, by setting MDI to High as shown inFIG. 28, the D flip-flop circuits DFFi to DFFj of the i-th to the j-th stage are set.

FIGS. 30 and 31are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit during partial display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 30, and then from left to right inFIG. 31. Referring toFIGS. 23A,23B,24A,24B,25,30and31, the following is a description of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit during partial display.

When the setting of the storage circuits for partial display as described above has finished, the logic level of the partial display selection signal PB is held at Low, as shown inFIGS. 30 and 31. Here, when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP is set to High, the output signal QO (SR1QO to SRi-1QO) of the bistable circuits SRQ to SRi−1 of the first to (i−1)-th stage become High. After this, the partial display begins when a pulse of the shift clock GCK is inputted.

In the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage, the output signal GL (GLi) that is outputted from the AND circuit204and the output signal QO (SRiQO) that is outputted from the combination circuit203become High.

In the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage, the input signal QI is the output signal QO of the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage, so that when the pulse of the shift clock GCK that is marked “i+1” inFIG. 30is inputted, the output signal GL (GLi+1) of the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage becomes High. Also for the bistable circuits SRi+2 to SRj of the (i+2)-th to the j-th stage, the same operation as for the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage is performed. As noted above, the output signals GL (GLi to GLj) of the bistable circuits SRi to SRj of the i-th to j-th stage sequentially become High. That is to say, the scanning lines of the i-th to the j-th stage are driven sequentially, and partial display is performed.

With the conventional art as described above, in order to distinguish between bistable circuits driving a signal line and bistable circuits not driving a signal line, a corresponding storage circuit is necessary for each of the bistable circuits within the shift register, so that there is the problem that the circuitry increases in scale. Moreover, when the circuitry increases in scale, the power consumption increases, posing the problem of how to decrease the power consumption.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shift register with which a partial shift operation can be realized without providing any special storage circuits, as well as a display device comprising such a shift register, with which the power consumption can be decreased below that of the conventional art.

A shift register according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:

a plurality of bistable circuits connected in series, each of the bistable circuits having a first state and a second state and outputting a stage output signal of a logic level in accordance with the state of that bistable circuit, and all or some of the plurality of bistable circuits sequentially taking on the first state for a predetermined time each in accordance with a clock signal that is inputted from outside;

a start position setting circuit for keeping the bistable circuit at a start position, which is the bistable circuit specified by a start position instruction signal that is inputted from outside, in the first state; and

a reset circuit for setting the bistable circuits other than the bistable circuit at the start position to the second state, after the bistable circuit at an end position, which is the bistable circuit specified by an end position instruction signal that is inputted from outside, has been set to the first state;

wherein, when the bistable circuit at the start position is kept at the first state, the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position are sequentially set to the first state for the predetermined time each in accordance with the clock signal.

With this configuration, the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position is set to the first state, based on the start position instruction signal. Then, in accordance with the clock signal inputted from outside, each of the plurality of bistable circuits is sequentially set to the first state for the predetermined time each. Moreover, after the bistable circuit corresponding to the end position based on the end position instruction signal is set to the first state, all bistable circuits except for the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position are set to the second state. Furthermore, there are no storage circuits provided other than the bistable circuits. Thus, with the configuration that is simpler than in the conventional art, the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position are sequentially set to the first state, and also after the bistable circuit corresponding to the end position is set to the first state, the bistable circuits are again sequentially set to the first state starting with the one corresponding to the start position.

In this shift register, it is preferable that a start signal that is set at a first logic level at a process start at every frame period, which is a cycle of partial driving in which the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position sequentially take on the first state for a predetermined time each in accordance with the clock signal, a start position setting signal for specifying the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position based on the start position instruction signal, and a final-stage reset signal for setting all bistable circuits except for the bistable circuit at the start position to the second state, are inputted from outside;

the start position setting circuit comprises a first logic gate that is provided in each bistable circuit, the first logic gate outputting a signal of the first logic level when both the start position setting signal and a second-subsequent output signal that is outputted by the bistable circuit two stages after that bistable circuit are at the first logic level, and outputting a signal of a second logic level when at least one of the second-subsequent output signal and the start position setting signal is at the second logic level;

the reset circuit comprises a second logic gate that is provided in each bistable circuit, the second logic gate outputting a signal of the first logic level when the final-stage reset signal and a prior-stage state signal that is set at the first or the second logic level depending on whether or not any of the bistable circuits arranged at the stages prior to that bistable circuit is in the first state are both at the first logic level, and outputting a signal of the second logic level when at least one of the prior-stage state signal and the final-stage reset signal is at the second logic level; and

each of the bistable circuits:is set to the first state when the stage output signal that is outputted from the bistable circuit one stage prior to that bistable circuit is at the first logic level;outputs a signal of the first logic level as the stage output signal of that bistable circuit when the start signal is at the first logic level or the bistable circuit one stage prior to that bistable circuit is in the first state, and that bistable circuit is in the first state, and the clock signal is at the first logic level;outputs a signal of the first logic level as the prior-stage state signal to be received by the bistable circuit of the stage subsequent to that bistable circuit when the prior-stage state signal that is outputted from the bistable circuit one stage prior to that bistable circuit is at the first logic level, or that bistable circuit is in the first state; andis set to the second state when the first logic gate or the second logic gate within that bistable circuit outputs a signal of the first logic level.

With this configuration, in an ordinary operation state in which the bistable circuits in the shift register are sequentially set to the first state, when the start position setting signal is kept at the first logic level, the bistable circuits are set to the second state by the second-subsequent output signal of the first logic level. Here, in the case where the start position setting signal is set to the second logic level only when the second-subsequent output signal that is inputted into the bistable circuit at the start position is at the first logic level, only the bistable circuit at the start position is kept in the first state. Thus, the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position for partial driving can be discriminated.

Furthermore, each of the bistable circuits outputs the stage output signal of the first logic level when the clock signal of the first logic level is inputted while the start signal is at the first logic level or the bistable circuit one stage prior to that bistable circuit is in the first state, and that bistable circuit is in the first state. With this stage output signal, the bistable circuit of the next stage is set to the first state. Thus, when the start signal is set to the first logic level, the bistable circuits starting with the one at the start position sequentially output the stage output signal of the first logic level, in accordance with the clock signal, and partial driving is started.

Moreover, when the start position setting signal is held at the first logic level during the partial driving, the bistable circuits are set to the second state by the second-subsequent output signal of the first logic level. Here, when the start position setting signal is set to the second logic level only while the second-subsequent output signal inputted into the bistable circuit at the start position is at the first logic level, then only the bistable circuit at the start position is kept in the first state.

And furthermore, the second-subsequent output signal of the first logic level is not inputted into the bistable circuit at the end position and into the bistable circuit one stage prior to the bistable circuit at the end position, and the bistable circuits are set to the second state when the prior-stage state signal and the final-stage reset signal are at the first logic level. Accordingly, when the final-stage reset signal is set to the first logic level after the stage output signal of the first logic level has been outputted from the bistable circuit at the end position, then the bistable circuit at the end position and the bistable circuit one stage prior to the end position are set to the second state. On the other hand, since the prior-stage state signal inputted into the bistable circuit at the start position is at the second logic level, the bistable circuit at the start position is kept in the first state.

Thus, the stage output signal of the first logic level is sequentially outputted by the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position. Moreover, after the stage output signal of the first logic level is outputted by the bistable circuit at the end position, only the bistable circuit at the start position is kept in the first state. For this reason, the stage output signal of the first logic level is repeatedly outputted by the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position, and partial driving is performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a display device comprises a scanning line driving circuit for driving a plurality of scanning lines and a signal line driving circuit for driving a plurality of signal lines, the display device having a partial display function in which a portion of a display screen serves as a display region;

at least one of the scanning line driving circuit and the signal line driving circuit comprising a shift register; and

the shift register comprising:a plurality of bistable circuits connected in series, each of the bistable circuits having a first state and a second state and outputting a stage output signal of a logic level in accordance with the state of that bistable circuit, and all or some of the plurality of bistable circuits sequentially taking on the first state for a predetermined time each in accordance with a clock signal that is inputted into the shift register from outside the shift register;a start position setting circuit for keeping the bistable circuit at a start position, which is the bistable circuit specified by a start position instruction signal that is inputted from outside, in the first state; anda reset circuit for setting the bistable circuits other than the bistable circuit at the start position to the second state, after the bistable circuit at an end position, which is the bistable circuit specified by an end position instruction signal that is inputted into the shift register from outside the shift register, has been set to the first state;

wherein, when the bistable circuit at the start position is kept at the first state, the bistable circuits from the start position to the end position are sequentially set to the first state for the predetermined time each in accordance with the clock signal.

With this configuration, the scanning lines from the start position to the end position in the scanning line driving circuit provided in the display device are driven sequentially, or the signal lines from the start position to the end position in the signal line driving circuit provided in the display device are driven sequentially. In the shift register with which this display device is provided, no storage circuits other than the bistable circuits are provided. Thus, a display device is provided with which partial display is possible with a configuration that is simpler than in the conventional art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1 Overall Configuration

FIG. 1is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a display device300according to an embodiment of the present invention. This display device300includes a display control circuit36, a scanning line driving circuit32, a signal line driving circuit31, and a display panel37. Within the display panel37, a plurality of scanning lines GL1to GLm and a plurality of signal lines SL1to SLn are disposed in a lattice arrangement, and display elements33are provided at positions enclosed by the scanning lines and the signal lines. The scanning lines GL1to GLm are connected to the scanning line driving circuit32, whereas the signal lines SL1to SLn are connected to the signal line driving circuit31. Moreover, the display control circuit36is provided with a start position setting signal generating circuit3, a final-stage reset signal generating circuit4, and a shift clock generating circuit5. It should be noted that the display device300that is described here is provided with m scanning lines and n signal lines.

The display control circuit36receives image signals or the like from a CPU400of an information appliance or the like arranged outside of the display device300, and outputs image signals and timing signals for displaying an image with the display panel37. The image signals received by the display control circuit36include a display instruction signal, a start position instruction signal and an end position instruction signal. The display instruction signal indicates whether full screen display or partial screen display is performed. The start position instruction signal indicates the start position of the display region when performing partial display. The end position instruction signal indicates the end position of the display region when performing partial display. The scanning line driving circuit32receives, for example, timing signals outputted by the display control circuit36, and outputs selection signals (scanning signals) to the scanning lines GL1to GLm. The signal line driving circuit31receives, for example, image signals DAT and timing signals outputted by the display control circuit36, and outputs image signals for driving the display panel37. Thus, by outputting image signals and selection signals from the scanning line driving circuit32and the signal line driving circuit31, a voltage is applied to the electrodes of the display elements33, and the desired image is displayed on the display panel37.

The start position setting signal generating circuit3and the final-stage reset signal generating circuit4generate such signals that the scanning lines from the start position to the end position of the display region are driven. The shift clock generating circuit5generates shift clocks GCK1to GCK4serving as input signals for the scanning line driving circuit32. Moreover, the scanning line driving circuit32includes a shift register40consisting of a plurality of bistable circuits. The plurality of bistable circuits generates signals that are outputted to the scanning lines GL1to GLm, in accordance with the display instruction signal and the like. The bistable circuits are either in a set state (first state) in which they output a High signal or in a reset state (second state) in which they output a Low signal. Also the signal line driving circuit31includes a shift register40consisting of a plurality of bistable circuits, just like the scanning line driving circuit32. The signal line driving circuit31is further provided with a sampling circuit38for sampling the image signals DAT based on the signals outputted from the shift register40. It should be noted that the start position setting signal generating circuit3, the final-stage reset signal generating circuit4, the shift clock generating circuit5and the bistable circuits are discussed in more detail further below.

2. Shift Clock Generating Circuit

FIG. 2is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the shift clock generating circuit5. This shift clock generating circuit5comprises two D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2, and four AND gates11to14, and generates shift clocks GCK1to GCK4, which serve as input signals for the scanning line driving circuit32according to the present embodiment, based on the input signals GCK and OE of the conventional scanning line driving circuit32.

The D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2each receive the two input signals D and CK, and output the two output signals Q and QB. The AND gate11outputs a signal (shift clock1) GCK1that is the logical product of the input signal OE, the output signal QB of the D flip-flop circuit DFF1, and the output signal QB of the D flip-flop circuit DFF2. The AND gate12outputs a signal (shift clock2) GCK2that is the logical product of the input signal OE, the output signal Q of the D flip-flop circuit DFF1, and the output signal Q of the D flip-flop circuit DFF2. The AND gate13outputs a signal (shift clock3) GCK3that is the logical product of the input signal OE, the output signal QB of the D flip-flop circuit DFF1, and the output signal Q of the D flip-flop circuit DFF2. The AND gate14outputs a signal (shift clock4) GCK4that is the logical product of the input signal OE, the output signal Q of the D flip-flop circuit DFF1, and the output signal QB of the D flip-flop circuit DFF2.

The D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2both divide the frequency of their respective input signal CK in half. Moreover, the output signal Q of the D flip-flop circuit DFF1serves as the input signal CK of the D flip-flop circuit DFF2, so that the D flip-flop circuit DFF1and the D flip-flop circuit DFF2function as a 4-ary counter.

FIG. 3is a timing chart showing the generation of the shift clocks GCK1to GCK4with the shift clock generating circuit5shown inFIG. 2. This shift clock generating circuit5receives the two input signals GCK (shift clock) and OE as shown inFIG. 3. As mentioned before, the D flip-flop circuit DFF1and the D flip-flop circuit DFF2of the shift clock generating circuit5function as a4-ary counter, so that every time a pulse of the input signal GCK (shift clock) and the OE shown inFIG. 3is inputted the signals GCK4, GCK1, GCK2and GCK3become sequentially High.

Thus, in the shift clock generating circuit5, shift clocks GCK1to GCK4whose logic level sequentially becomes High are generated based on the input signals GCK and OE of the conventional scanning line driving circuit32. Therefore, shift clocks GCK1to GCK4that sequentially become High are inputted into the scanning line driving circuit32.

3. Scanning Line Driving Circuit

FIGS. 4A,4B,5A and5B are circuit diagrams showing the configuration of the scanning line driving circuit32according to the present embodiment. The right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 4Ais connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 4B. Similarly, the right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 4Bis connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 5A, and the right end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 5Ais connected to the left end of the signal lines shown inFIG. 5B. This scanning line driving circuit32comprises an AND gate702and m+1 bistable circuits SR1to SRm+1.

The AND gate702outputs a signal that is the logical product of the scanning line driving circuit start signal (start signal) GSP and the partial display selection signal PB. The scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP is outputted from the display control circuit36, and indicates the timing for starting the process at every frame period, which is the cycle with which the scanning lines are driven. The partial display selection signal PB is also outputted from the display control circuit36. The partial display selection signal PB is held a High level while full screen display is performed, and is held at Low level while partial display is performed.

The bistable circuits701receive the eight input signals CK, GSP, QI, GLI1, SIGQI, CLR, STMRKB and GLI2, and output the three output signals QO, GLO, and SIGQO.

The shift clock GCK1outputted from the display control circuit36is inputted as the input signal CK into the bistable circuits SR1, SR5, SR9, SR13. . . (SR4k−3). The shift clock GCK2outputted from the display control circuit36is inputted as the input signal CK into the bistable circuits SR2, SR6, SRIO, SR14. . . (SR4k−2). The shift clock GCK3outputted from the display control circuit36is inputted as the input signal CK into the bistable circuits SR3, SR7, SR11, SR15. . . (SR4k−1). And the shift clock GCK4outputted from the display control circuit36is inputted as the input signal CK into the bistable circuits SR4, SR8, SR12, SR16. . . (SR4k).

The input signal GSP of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm+1 is the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP outputted from the display control circuit36, which indicates the timing for starting the process at every frame period (vertical scanning period), which is the cycle with which the scanning lines are driven. The input signal QI of the bistable circuit SR1is the output signal of the AND gate702. The input signal QI of each of the bistable circuits SR2to SRm+1 is the output signal QO of the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively preceding stage. The input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SR1is the output signal of the AND gate702. The input signal GLI1of each of the bistable circuits SR2to SRm+1 is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively preceding stage.

The input signal SIGQI of the bistable circuit SR1is the initialization signal ALLCLR outputted from the display control circuit36. The initialization signal ALLCLR is a signal for resetting all bistable circuits. The input signal (the prior-stage state signal) SIGQ1of each of the bistable circuits SR2to SRm+1 is the output signal SIGQO of the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively preceding stage.

The input signal (the second-subsequent output signal) GLI2of each of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm−1 is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit arranged in the second subsequent stage of (i.e. the second stage after) that bistable circuit. The input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SRm is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SRm+1 . And also the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SRm+1 is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SRm+1.

The input signal CLR of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm+1 is the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR that is outputted from the display control circuit36. The final-stage reset signal ENDCLR is a signal for resetting all bistable circuits other than the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region. The input signal STMRKB of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm+1 is a start mark signal (start position setting signal) STMRKB that is outputted from the display control circuit36. The start mark signal STMRKB is a signal for setting the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region.

The output signal QO of each of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm serves as the input signal QI for the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively following stage. The output signal SIGQO of each of the bistable circuit SR1to SRm serves as the input signal SIGQI of the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively following stage.

The output signal GLO of each of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm serves as the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit arranged in the respectively following stage, as the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit arranged respectively two stages back, and as the selection signal of the respective scanning lines GL1to GLm. The output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SRm+1 serves as the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SRm−1 and the selection signal of the scanning line GLm+1.

4. Shift Register

FIG. 6is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the bistable circuit701according to the present embodiment. This bistable circuit comprises an RS flip-flop circuit801, three AND gates802,803and805, and two OR gates804and806.

The RS flip-flop circuit801receives the three input signals S (GL1), R (output signal from the AND gate802) and CLR (output signal from the AND gate805), and outputs an output signal Q. The output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801serves as the output signal QO of the bistable circuit701including this RS flip-flop circuit801, and is also given as an input signal into the AND gate803and as an input signal into the OR gate806.

The AND gate (first logic gate)802outputs a signal given by the logical product of the input signal GLI2and the input signal STMRKB. The start position setting circuit is realized by the AND gate802provided in each bistable circuit. The signal outputted by the AND gate802serves as the input signal R given into the RS flip-flop circuit801. The OR gate804outputs a signal given by the logical sum of the input signal GSP and the input signal QI. The signal outputted from the OR gate804serves as the input signal given into the AND gate803.

The AND gate803outputs a signal (stage output signal) GLO given by the logical product of the input signal CK, the output signal of the OR gate804, and the output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801. The OR gate806outputs a signal SIGQO given by the logical sum of the input signal SIGQI and the output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801. The AND gate (second logic gate)805outputs a signal given by the logical product of the input signal ENDCLR and the input signal SIGQI. The reset circuit is realized by the AND gate805provided in each bistable circuit. The signal outputted from the AND gate805serves as the input signal CLR of the RS flip-flop circuit801.

The RS flip-flop circuit801functions as a storage portion for discriminating the start position of the display region for partial display. In the RS flip-flop circuit801, when the input signal S becomes High, the output signal Q becomes High. Once the output signal Q becomes High, the output signal Q is kept at High level until the input signal R or the input signal CLR become High.

The input signal S of the RS flip-flop circuit801is the input signal GLI1into the bistable circuit701including this RS flip-flop circuit801. The output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801serves as the output signal QO from the bistable circuit701including this RS flip-flop circuit801. Therefore, during the period in which the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit701is held a High level, the output signal QO of this bistable circuit701is held at High level.

5. Full Screen Display

The following is a description of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit32during full screen display.FIGS. 7 and 8are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit32during full screen display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 7, and then from left to right inFIG. 8. The following description refers toFIGS. 4 to 8.

During a period of full screen display, the partial display selection signal PB that is outputted by the display control circuit36is held at High level. Here, when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP becomes High, the output signal of the AND gate702becomes High, so that also the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage becomes High. Therefore, the RS flip-flop circuit801of the first stage is set, and the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage is put into the set state. That is to say, as shown inFIG. 7, when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP becomes High, also the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage becomes High. Then, when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP and the output signal QO of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage (the output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801of the first stage) are High, the AND gate803outputs a signal GLO whose logic level is given by the input signal CK (shift clock GCK1). Thus, as shown inFIG. 7, when the shift clock GCK1becomes High, the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SR1, that is, GL1becomes High.

Let us next consider the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage. The input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SR2is the output signal GLO (GL1) of the bistable circuit SR1. When this input signal GLI1becomes High, the output signal QO (SR2QO) of the bistable circuit SR2becomes High. For this reason, when the output signal GL1of the bistable circuit SR1becomes High, the output signal QO (SR2QO) of the bistable circuit SR2becomes High, as shown inFIG. 7. Moreover, when the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1and the output signal QO of the bistable circuit SR2(the output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801of the second stage) are High, the AND gate803of the bistable circuit SR2outputs a signal GLO whose logic level is given by the input signal CK (shift clock GCK2). Thus, as shown inFIG. 7, when the shift clock GCK2becomes High, the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SR2, that is, GL2becomes High.

An operation similar to that of the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage is also performed by each of the bistable circuits SR3to SRm of the third to m-th stage. Therefore, the signals GL3to GLm are sequentially set to High, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. By setting GL1to GLm sequentially to High, as described above, full screen display is performed. It should be noted that the bistable circuit SRm+1 of the (m+1)-th stage is for resetting the bistable circuit of the m-th stage, and is not provided in order to obtain GLm+1.

Next, let us consider the bistable circuit SR3of the third stage. The output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SR3serves as the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SR1. When the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SR1and the input signal STMRKB of the bistable circuit SR1are both High, the RS flip-flop circuit801of the first stage is reset, which means that the bistable circuit SR1is reset. During the period of full screen display, the start mark signal STMRKB is kept High, so that as shown inFIG. 7, when the output signal GLO (GL3) of the bistable circuit SR3becomes High, the output signal QO (SR1QO) of the bistable circuit SR1becomes Low (the bistable circuit SR1is reset).

As mentioned above, the input signal GLI2of each of the bistable circuits SR1to SRm−1 is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit that is arranged respectively two stages after those bistable circuits, and the input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit SRm is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit SRm+1. For this reason, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, also the bistable circuits SR2to SRm of the second to m-th stage are sequentially reset. Thus, at the time when all scanning lines have been driven, all bistable circuits SR1to SRm+1 are in a reset state.

6. Partial Display

The following is an explanation of the operation of the scanning line driving circuit32during partial driving. In this embodiment, first, only the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region is put into the set state. Then, partial display is carried out by driving the scanning lines sequentially with the bistable circuits from that set bistable circuit to the bistable circuit corresponding to the end position of the display region. The display device300comprises m scanning lines, and in the following description, the scanning lines connected to the bistable circuits SRi to SRj from the i-th to the j-th stage (with 1≦i<j≦m) are taken to be the scanning lines corresponding to the display portion.

6.1 Setting of Bistable Circuits for Partial Display

FIGS. 9 and 10are timing charts while setting the bistable circuits for partial display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 9, and then from left to right inFIG. 10. Referring toFIGS. 4A,4B,5A,5B,6,9and10, the following is an explanation of the settings of the bistable circuits for partial display.

As mentioned before, when the input signal GLI2and the input signal STMRKB of the bistable circuit701become High, then the bistable circuit701is reset. The input signal GLI2of the bistable circuit701is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit701that is arranged two stages after that bistable circuit701. Here, in order not to reset only the bistable circuit SR1of the i-th stage corresponding to the start position of the display region, the start mark signal STMRKB is kept Low during the period in which GLi+2 is High. That is to say, the start mark signal STMRKB is kept Low during the period in which the pulse marked “i+2” of the shift clock GCK3inFIG. 9is kept High. Thus, at the time when all scanning lines have been driven, only the RS flip-flop circuit801of the i-th stage is in the set state, which means that only the bistable circuit SR1of the i-th stage is in the set state.

Moreover, when the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage is set, the output signal SIGQO (SRiSIGQO) of the bistable circuit SR1becomes High. The output signal SIGQO of the bistable circuit serves as the input signal SIGQI of the bistable circuit arranged in the next stage. When the input signal SIGQI is High, the output signal SIGQO that is outputted by the OR gate806is High. Therefore, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, at the time when all scanning lines have been driven, the output signal SIGQO of the bistable circuits from the i-th stage onward becomes High.

It should be noted that the above-noted start mark signal STMRKB is generated by the start position setting signal generating circuit3included in the display control circuit36, based on the display instruction signal and the start position instruction signal that are sent from the CPU400of an information appliance or the like arranged outside the display device300. The display instruction signal indicates whether full screen display or partial display is to be performed. The start position instruction signal indicates the start position of the display region for partial display.

6.2 Execution of Partial Display

When the bistable circuit701corresponding to the start position of the display region has been set as described above, the partial display selection signal PB is set to Low. Then, partial display is started by setting the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP to High.FIGS. 11 and 12are timing charts for the scanning line driving circuit during partial display. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 11, and then from left to right inFIG. 12. The following description refers toFIGS. 4A,4B,5A,5B,6,11and12. It should be noted that the partial display selection signal PB is kept Low until the switch is made from partial display to full screen display.

Since the partial display selection signal PB is Low, the output signal that is outputted from the AND gate702is Low. Therefore, the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage is Low, and the bistable circuit SR1is not set. Thus, the output signal GLO (GL1) that is outputted from the AND gate803of the bistable circuit SR1is Low. The output signal GLO that is outputted from the bistable circuit SR1of the first stage serves as the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage, so that also the bistable circuit SR2of the second stage is not set. Thus, also the output signal GLO (GL2) that is outputted from the AND gate803of the bistable circuit SR2is Low. Similarly, also the bistable circuits SR3to SRi−1 of the third to (i−1)-th stage are not reset, so that GL3to GLi−1 are kept Low.

Next, let us consider the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage. As mentioned before, the RS flip-flop circuit801of the i-th stage is set in order to perform partial display. That is to say, the output signal Q of the RS flip-flop circuit801of the i-th stage is High. For this reason, when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP and the input signal CK (shift clock GCK1) become High, the output signal GLO that is outputted from the AND gate803becomes High. This means that GLi becomes High, and the scanning line of the i-th stage is driven.

Furthermore, GLi serves as the input signal GLI1of the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage, so that when GLi becomes High, the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage is set. Moreover, the output signal QO of the bistable circuit SRi serves as the input signal QI of the (i+1)-th bistable circuit SRi+1, and the output signal QO (SQiQO) of the bistable circuit SRi is High, so that the input signal QI of the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage is High. Therefore, an output signal GLO (GLi+1) that is High is outputted from the AND gate803of the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage, in synchronization with the input signal CK (shift clock GCK2). Also for the bistable circuits SRi+2 to SRj of the (i+2)-th to j-th stage, an operation that is similar to that of the bistable circuit of the (i+1)-th stage is carried out. Therefore, GLi+2 to GLj are sequentially set to High.

Here, it has been explained that the shift clock that is inputted into the bistable circuit SR1of the i-th stage is GCK1, but the shift clock that is inputted into the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage may be any of the shift clocks GCK1to GCK4. For example, in the case where the shift clock that is inputted into the bistable circuit SR1of the i-th stage is GCK2, the scanning line driving circuit GSP is set to High while the shift clock GCK2is High. Thus, GLi to GLj sequentially become High, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12.

The following is a description of the resetting of the bistable circuits. As pointed out above, the input signal GLI2of each of the bistable circuits is the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit that is arranged respectively two stages after that bistable circuit, and when the input signal GLI2and the start mark signal STMRKB become High, the RS flip-flop circuit801within that bistable circuit is reset, namely that bistable circuit is reset. In this embodiment, in order not to reset the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage, the start mark signal STMRKB is kept Low during the period in which GLi+2 is High. On the other hand, during the period in which GLi+2 is Low, the start mark signal STMRKB is kept High, so that the bistable circuits SRi+1 to SRj−2 of the (i+1)-th to (j−2)-th stage are reset when the output signal GLO of the bistable circuit arranged respectively two stages after those bistable circuits become High.

Here, during the partial display from the i-th stage to the j-th stage, GLj+1, GLj+2 and GLj+3 are kept Low. Therefore, the input signals GLI2of the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are kept Low. In this case, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are not reset by the output signal from the AND gate802. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, when GLj is turned from High to Low, the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR is set to High. The output signal SIGQO of the i-th and following stages has been High, and this output signal SIGQO serves as the input signal SIGQI of the bistable circuit arranged at the respectively following stage, so that the output signal that is outputted from the AND gate805in each of the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage is High. Thus, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are reset.

It should be noted that the previously mentioned final-stage reset signal ENDCLR is generated by the final-stage reset signal generating circuit4included in the display control circuit36, based on the display instruction signal and the end position instruction signal that are sent from the CPU400of an information appliance or the like arranged outside the display device300. The display instruction signal indicates whether full screen display or partial display is to be performed. The end position instruction signal indicates the end position of the display region for partial display.

Partial display of the i-th stage to j-th stage is performed by setting GLi to GLj sequentially to High as described above. Moreover, at the time when the scanning lines connected to the bistable circuits from the i-th stage to the j-th stage are driven, only the RS flip-flop circuit801of the i-th stage is in the set state, that is, only the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage is in the set state. Therefore, after making a switch from one frame to another frame, partial display from the i-th stage to the j-th stage is performed.

7. The Phase Number of Shift Clock

In the display device300according to the present embodiment, partial display is realized with a four-phase shift clock GCK1to GCK4. The number of phases of the shift clock GCK is not limited to four, but it is preferable that it is three or greater.FIGS. 13 and 14are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit32for the case that the display device according to the present embodiment is realized with a two-phase shift clock. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 13, and then from left to right inFIG. 14.FIGS. 15 and 16are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit32for the case that the display device300according to the present embodiment is realized with a three-phase shift clock. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 15, and then from left to right inFIG. 16. Referring toFIGS. 13 to 16, the following is an explanation of why it is desirable that the phase number of the shift clock is three or greater.

The AND gate803in the bistable circuits outputs an output signal GLO that is High when a shift clock that is High is inputted while that bistable circuit and the bistable circuit arranged in the previous stage are in the set state. Here, in the case where the phase number of the shift clock is two, when the shift clock GCK2marked “i+3” inFIG. 13becomes High in order to turn GLi+3 to High, the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage is put from the set state to the reset state. On the other hand, the bistable circuit SR1of the i-th stage is not reset, as noted above. Therefore, when the shift clock GCK2is set to High in order to set GLi+3 to High, a hazard occurs as shown by the dotted circuit inFIG. 13. Thus, a hazard occurs for the case that the number of phases of the shift clock is two.

On the other hand, in the case where the number of phases of the shift clock is three, after a High output signal GLO (GLi+1) is outputted from the bistable circuit SRi+1 of the (i+1)-th stage, the bistable circuit SRi+1 is reset by the time when a shift clock that is High (inFIG. 15, this is the shift clock GCK1marked “i+4) is inputted into that bistable circuit SRi+1 subsequently. Therefore, no hazard occurs as in the case when the number of phases of the shift clock is two. Thus, it is preferable that the number of phases of the shift clock is three or greater.

8. Modification Examples

In the above embodiment, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th to (j+1)-th stage are reset by the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to reset the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th to (j+1)-th stage with the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP instead of with the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR.FIGS. 17 to 20are timing charts of the scanning line driving circuit32of the display device in which partial driving is carried out by resetting the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th to (j+1)-th stage with the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP instead of with the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR. The direction of the passage of time is from left to right inFIG. 17, then from left to right inFIG. 18, then from left to right inFIG. 19, and then from left to right inFIG. 20. Referring toFIGS. 6 and 17to20, the following is a description of this scanning line driving circuit32.

As shown inFIG. 18, after the output signal GLj outputted from the bistable circuit SRj of the j-th stage has been set from High to Low, the shift clocks GCK1to GCK4are held at Low level. Thus, the output signals GLO (GLj+1 to GLm) outputted from the bistable circuits of the (j+1)-th stage onward do not become High. Therefore, at the time when the scanning lines connected to the bistable circuits from the i-th stage to the j-th stage have been driven, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 from the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are in the set state.

After the scanning lines connected to the bistable circuits from the i-th stage to the j-th stage have been driven, in the next frame period, the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP is set to High, as shown inFIG. 19. Here, this scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP replaces the input signal ENDCLR inFIG. 6. That is to say, the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP is inputted at the position of the input signal ENDCLR inFIG. 6. Moreover, the input signal SIGQI of the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage is the output signal SIGQO of the bistable circuit arranged respectively in the stage prior to that bistable circuit. Here, the output signals SIGQO (SRiSIGQO to SRm-1SIGQO) of the bistable circuits of the i-th stage onward are at High level, so that the output signal of the AND gate805in the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage is High. Thus, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are reset. On the other hand, the output signal SRi-1SIGQO of the bistable circuit SRi−1 of the (i−1)-th stage is Low, so that the bistable circuit SRi of the i-th stage is not reset.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, the bistable circuits SRj−1 to SRj+1 of the (j−1)-th stage to the (j+1)-th stage are reset by the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP instead of the final-stage reset signal ENDCLR. Thus, in each frame period in which the scanning lines are sequentially driven, only the bistable circuit corresponding to the start position of the display region is put into the set state at the time when the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP has become High. Moreover, after the scanning line of the j-th stage has been driven, the shift clocks GCK1to GCK4are kept Low. Thus, the scanning lines connected to the bistable circuits of the i-th to the j-th stage are sequentially driven, and partial display is carried out.

In this modification example, the scanning line driving circuit start signal GSP is inputted into the shift clock generating circuit5generating the shift clocks.FIG. 21is a circuit diagram of this shift clock generating circuit5of the display device300according to this modification example. The input signal (scanning line driving circuit start signal) GSP of this shift clock generating circuit5serves as the input signal CLR inputted into the D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DDF2comprised by this shift clock generating circuit5. For this reason, when the input signal GSP becomes High, the D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2are reset. At this time, the output signal QB of the D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2becomes High. Then, while the output signals QB of the D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2are High and also the input signal OE is High, the output signal GCK1of the AND gate11is High.

FIG. 22is a timing chart of the scanning line driving circuit32according to this modification example. As shown inFIG. 22, when the input signal GSP is turned from Low to High, the D flip-flop circuits DFF1and DFF2are reset (DFF1Q and DFF2Q become Low). After this, when the input signal OE becomes High, the shift clock GCK1becomes High. After this, also the shift clocks GCK2to GCK4sequentially become High.

With this modification example, after the input signal GSP has become High the shift clock which becomes High first is GCK1. Therefore, in the case where the start position of the display region is the 1st, 5th, 9th, 13th, 17th . . . (4k−3)-th stage, partial display can be realized also with the shift clock generating circuits with the configuration shown inFIG. 21.

9 Further Considerations

In the foregoing embodiments, the shift register40of the present invention is applied to the scanning line driving circuit32of a display device, but the present invention is not limited to this. The shift register40of the present invention can also be applied to the signal line driving circuit31of a display device. In the signal line driving circuit31, signals are generated by the shift register40such that the signal lines from the start position to the end position of the display region are driven, and the image signals DAT are sampled by the sampling circuit38based on these signals. In the foregoing embodiments, the scanning lines corresponding to the display region for partial display are sequentially driven at each vertical scanning period, but instead, the signal lines corresponding to the display region for partial display are sequentially driven in correspondence at each horizontal scanning period. Thus, the image datas obtained by sampling are outputted into the signal lines corresponding to the display region, and partial display is performed. Moreover, the shift register40of the present invention is suitably used for a display device, as described above, but it may also be applied to devices other than display devices.

Moreover, in the foregoing embodiment, an RS flip-flop circuit (set/reset flip-flop circuit) is provided in the bistable circuits, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is possible that a circuit is provided that has a set state and a reset state, that can be put into the set state or the reset state by applying a signal from outside, and that can hold that state.

This application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application 2003-200564 titled “SHIFT REGISTER AND DISPLAY DEVICE,” filed on Jul. 23, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.