Abstract:
A driving method with reducing image sticking effect is disclosed. The driving method includes applying a voltage on the data lines for trapping impurities crossing the data lines and lowering the degree of the image sticking effect, and applying different asymmetric waveforms to different data lines for trapping impurities crossing the data lines and lowering the degree of the image sticking effect.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 11/747,920, filed May 14, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a driving method for reducing image sticking effect of display images, and more specifically, to a driving method for reducing image sticking effect of images on a liquid crystal display (LCD). 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD)  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the LCD  100  comprises two glass substrates, G 1  and G 2 , and a liquid crystal (LC) layer L 1  disposed between the glass substrates G 1  and G 2 . A plurality of data lines (not shown) and a plurality of scan lines (not shown) are laid on the glass substrate G 1  and are interwoven each other to form a plurality of the pixel areas. The liquid crystal layer L 1  comprises liquid crystal molecules X, of which the rotation can be controlled by applying voltage. In ideal condition, the LC layer L 1  only contains liquid crystal molecules X only. However, some other particles, namely impurities P, also exist in the liquid crystal layer L 1 . The impurities P, as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be ions with positive or negative charges, or neutral molecules with certain polarities. 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the general driving method of the conventional LCD  100  to display an image. As mentioned above, the pixel areas are formed by interweaving data lined and scan lines and therefore, the pixel areas are indexed as P mn  where m and n indicate the number of the data line and scan line which are responsible for driving the pixel P mn . The data voltages carried by the data lines correspond to the displayed image. However, only when the scan line S n  turns on, the data voltages on the data line D m  is input into the pixel area P mn . For example, the data voltage on the fourth data line D 4  will be input into pixel area P 43  when the third scan line S 3  turns on, and so forth. Therefore, the LC molecules in the pixel P 43  will rotate according to the data voltages on the fourth data line D 4  when the third scan line S 3  turns on. Furthermore, when the scan line turns off, the data voltages on the data lines are not input into the pixels, and the liquid crystal molecules X in this pixel remain the state caused by the previous data voltages on the data lines. There are always data voltages on the data lines but the scan lines will sequentially turn on from G 1  to G n . As a result, an image is fully displayed on the screen while all data voltages on data lines are input into the pixels. The duration which this sequential process takes to display an image is called a “frame time”. Subsequently, the next frame starts while turning on the first scan line S 1  to the last scan line S n  to show the next image, and so forth. In general, between two frames, there is a moment when all of the scan line turns off, which is so-called “blanking time”. 
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the relation between the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules X and the data voltages V d  on the data lines in more detail. In reality, one end of the pixel areas is connected to the data line where a data voltage V d  is applied, and the other end of the pixel is connected to the other glass substrate G 2  where a fixed common voltage V com  is applied. Therefore, the actual voltage sensed by the liquid crystal molecules X in the pixel is the relative voltage difference between the data voltage V d  and the common voltage V com . This relative voltage difference is the real factor that determines the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules X. 
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the distribution of the impurities P after the conventional LCD  100  displays an image for a period of time. If the data voltages V d  on the data lines were perfectly symmetric AC (alternative current) waveform relative to the common voltage V com , the net movement of the impurities P would be zero and their distribution would remain as the initial condition. Nevertheless, the data voltages are slightly asymmetric AC waveforms unavoidably so that a net DC voltage is formed after displaying an image for a period of time. This DC voltage induces the positive-polarized impurities P moving and gradually accumulating at one side of the LC layer L 1  while the negative-polarized impurities P accumulate at the other side of the LC layer L 1 . These accumulated impurities P generate an inner electric field E in the liquid crystal layer L 1 , which shields off the following data voltage to apply on the liquid crystal molecules X. Consequently, the liquid crystal molecules X cannot rotate to the correct direction and the image sticking problem occurs. 
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the distribution of impurities P after the conventional LCD  100  displays images for a period of time. Besides the net DC voltage, the movement of the impurities P are affected by the directions of the liquid crystal molecules X as well. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the liquid crystal molecules X points at a specific direction which is determined by the voltage difference V between data voltage V d  and common voltage V com . Such a direction causes the horizontal movements of the impurities P other than the vertical movements. The impurities P therefore accumulate to form a “boundary” in the LC layer L 1  if the movements described above remain for a period of time. The impurities-formed boundaries in the LC layer L 1  distort the input voltage so that an abnormal image appears near the boundary which is the so-called line-shape image sticking. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a driving method for reducing image sticking associated with images of a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of pixel areas. The driving method comprises turning on the plurality of data lines at a first period of time, sequentially turning on the plurality of the scan lines at the first period of time, inputting data of a first image to the plurality of the pixel areas to display at the first period of time, turning on the plurality of data lines at a second period of time, sequentially turning on the plurality of the scan lines at the second period of time, inputting data of a second image to the plurality of the pixel areas to display at the second period of time, turning off the plurality of scan lines between the first period of time and the second period of time, and applying a first voltage to a first set of the plurality of the data lines between the first period of time and the second period of time. 
         [0011]    The present invention further provides a driving method for reducing image sticking associated with images of a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of pixel areas. One end of each of the plurality of the pixel areas is connected to a common voltage. The driving method comprises converting a first data to a first voltage and a second voltage according to a first data-to-voltage relation, converting a second data to a third voltage and a fourth voltage according to a second data-to-voltage relation, turning on a first scan line of the plurality of scan lines in a first half of a period of time, applying the first voltage to a first corresponding pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas in a first half of a period of time, turning on the first scan line of the plurality of scan lines in a second half of the period of time, applying the second voltage to the first corresponding pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas in the second half of the period of time, turning on a second scan line of the plurality of scan lines in the first half of the period of time, applying the third voltage to a second corresponding pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas in the first half of the period of time, turning on a second scan line of the plurality of scan lines in the second half of the period of time, and applying the fourth voltage to the second corresponding pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas in the second half of the period of time. Wherein the sum of the difference between the first voltage and the common voltage and the difference between the second voltage and the common voltage is different from the sum of the difference between the third voltage and the common voltage and the difference between the fourth voltage and the common voltage. 
         [0012]    The present invention further provides a driving method for reducing image sticking associated with images of a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of pixel areas. The driving method comprises converting a first data to a first voltage and a second voltage according to a data-to-voltage relation, converting a second data to a third voltage and a fourth voltage according to the data-to-voltage relation, turning on a first scan line of the plurality of scan lines in a first half of a period of time, applying a first voltage to a first pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas through a first data line in the first half of the period of time, turning on the first scan line of the plurality of scan lines in a second half of a period of time, applying a second voltage to the first pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas through the first data line in the second half of the period of time, turning on a second scan line of the plurality of scan lines in the first half of the period of time, applying the third voltage to a second pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas through a second data line in the first half of the period of time, turning on a second scan line of the plurality of scan lines in the second half of the period of time, and applying the fourth voltage to the second pixel area of the plurality of pixel areas through the second data line in the second half of the period of time. Wherein the first pixel areas and the second pixel areas are respectively coupled to a first common voltage and a second common voltage, and the sum of the difference between the third voltage and the second common voltage and the difference between the fourth voltage and the second common voltage is different from the sum of the difference between the first voltage and the first common voltage and the difference between the second voltage and the first common voltage. 
         [0013]    These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of a conventional LCD. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the general driving method of the conventional LCD. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the data voltage is applied on a pixel. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating the distribution of the impurities P after the conventional LCD displays images for a period of time. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating the distribution of the impurities P affected by the directions of liquid crystal molecules X after the conventional LCD displays images for a period of time. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are diagrams illustrating the method for displaying images on a LCD with improved image sticking effect. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the LCD displaying images. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the method of the present invention applying voltages on the data lines during the blanking area B. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the voltages carried on the data lines D of the conventional LCD. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are diagrams illustrating the present invention utilizing different data-to-voltage relations. 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating the voltage difference between the data lines D trapping the impurity particles P. 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15  are diagrams illustrating the present invention utilizing different common voltages. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are diagrams illustrating the driving method to improve image sticking for a LCD to display images. As shown in  FIG. 6 , because a net DC electric field, which is induced by the imperfectly symmetric data voltages V d , and the specific direction of the liquid crystal molecules X, which is determined by the voltage difference between the data voltage V d  and the common voltage V com , the impurities P move three-dimensionally to cross several data lines D in the liquid crystal layer L 1 . Finally the positive-polarized impurities P accumulate in a local region in the LC layer L 1 , and the negative-polarized impurities P accumulate in another local region in the LC layer L 1 . Please refer to  FIG. 7 , the present invention applies high voltages on the data lines D to avoid the impurity particles P pass through the data lines D as shown in  FIG. 6 . The high voltages applied on the data lines D trap the impurities P to prevent the impurities P from crossing several data lines D. In this way, each data line D will trap some impurities P but the amount of impurities P is inadequate to induce visible image sticking effect. Consequently, the degree of the accumulated impurities P in a local area of the LCD is eased and the image sticking problem is resolved. 
         [0027]    According to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the method of the present invention of trapping the impurity particles P by the data lines is disclosed. In  FIG. 7 , positive voltages are applied on some of the data lines D in order to trap the negative-polarized impurities P, and negative voltages are applied on some of the data lines D in order to trap the positive-polarized impurities P. The values of the voltages applied on the data lines D shall be set to effectively trap the impurities P. 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the conventional driving method for a LCD to display images. And the voltage in  FIG. 8  represents the data voltage V d  on the data lines D. As mentioned before, as an image is displayed, namely a frame time is completed, there is a moment called “blanking time” before the LCD to display the next image, namely to start the next frame. And all of the plurality of the scan lines turns off during the “blanking time” B. During the frame time, the data lines carry different AC (alternative current) voltage signals that correspond to the data of the displayed images. During the blanking time, the data lines carry a DC (direct current) voltage identical to the common voltage V com  which is applied on the glass substrate G 2 . Therefore, the electrical potential in the liquid crystal layer L 1  is identical so that the impurities P are not trapped by the data lines under the conventional driving method for liquid crystal displays. 
         [0029]    Nevertheless, since all of the plurality of the scan lines do not transmit any scan signals during the blanking time, any voltage signals carried by the data lines do not input into the pixels and do not affect the rotation of the liquid crystal molecules X either. Utilizing this characteristic of the blanking time B, the present invention applies high voltages on the data lines during the blanking time B to trap the impurities P. 
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating the driving method to improve image sticking for a LCD, which applies high voltages on the data lines during the blanking time B. As shown in  FIG. 9 , voltages which are higher than the common voltage Vcom are applied on the data lines D in order to trap the impurities P. However, applying voltages lower than the common voltage Vcom on the data lines D is also feasible to trap the impurities P. 
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating the voltages carried on the data lines D of the conventional LCD. Generally, due to the characteristic of the liquid crystal molecules X, the data voltage signals on data lines D are AC (alternative current) signals, meaning the polarity of the data voltages are continuously alternated to prevent the liquid crystal molecules X from damage. It is assumed that a bit of data need a period T to transmit so that in the first half of the period T, the voltage on the data line D is positive with respect to the common voltage V com , and in the second half of the period T, the voltage on the data line D is negative with respect to the common voltage V com . The value of the voltages in the first half and the second half of the period T correspond to the content of the bit of the data. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the common voltage Vcom is assumed to be 0 volts, the content of the data F 0  is 0 and the corresponding voltages in the first half and second half of the period T respectively are 0 and 0 volts, the content of the data F 1  is 1 and the corresponding voltages in the first half and the second half of the period T respectively are +1 and −1 volts, the content of the data F 2  is 2 and the corresponding voltages in the first half and the second half of the period T respectively are +2 and −2 volts, and so on. The voltages corresponding to the data F 0 , F 1 , F 2  received by the liquid crystal layer L 1 , in fact, are 0 and 0 volts, +1 and −1 volts, and +2 and −2 volts, because the common voltage Vcom is 0 volts. 
         [0032]      FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  are diagrams illustrating the present invention utilizing different data-to-voltage relations to improve the image sticking. The data-to-voltage relation in  FIG. 11  shifts +1 volt compared to the data-to-voltage relation in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the content of the data F 0  is 0, and the corresponding voltages is 1 volt and 1 volt accordingly. The content of the data F 1  is 1, and the corresponding voltages are 2 volt and 0 volts. The content of the data F 2  is 2, and the corresponding voltages are 3 volt and −1 volt, and so on. The actual voltages received by the liquid crystal layer L 1 , since the common voltage V com  is 0 volts, are 1 volt and 1 volt (corresponding to the data F 0 ), 2 volt and 0 volts (corresponding to the data F 1 ), 3 volt and −1 volt (corresponding to the data F 2 ), and so on. The data-to-voltage relation in  FIG. 12  shifts −1 volt compared to the data-to-voltage relation in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the content of the data F 0  is 0, and the corresponding voltages is −1 volt and −1 volt. The content of the data F 1  is 1, and the corresponding voltages are 0 volts and −2 volt. The content of the data F 2  is 2, and the corresponding voltages are 1 volt and −3 volt, and so on. The actual voltages received by the liquid crystal layer L 1 , since the common voltage V com  is 0 volts, are −1 volt and −1 volt (corresponding to the data F 0 ), 0 volts and −2 volt (corresponding to the data F 1 ), 1 volt and −3 volt (corresponding to the data F 2 ), and so on. In the conventional LCD, all the data lines are applied with the same data-to-voltage relation for transmitting voltages to the liquid crystal layer so that on average, there is no voltage difference between data lines. In conventional driving method, therefore, it is easy for the impurities P to pass through the data lines in the liquid crystal layer L 1 . The present invention of driving method applies different data-to-voltage relations on the data lines as shown in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12  so that on average, there are voltage differences between data lines in the LCD of the present invention. For example, the first data-to-voltage relation is applied to the first data line D 1  and the second data-to-voltage relation is applied to the second data line D 2 . The first data-to-voltage relation is different from the second data-to-voltage relation and the first data line D 1  is adjacent to the second data line D 2 . As a result, on average, a voltage difference rises between the first data line D 1  and the second data line D 2 , and the voltage difference is set to be capable of trapping the impurities P. To, analogize, if there is always certain voltage difference between the data lines of the LCD, the movement of the impurities P is restricted, which lowers the degree of the accumulation of the impurities P in a local region of the LCD and reduces the image sticking accordingly. 
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating the voltage difference between the data lines D trapping the impurity particles P. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the voltage difference introduced by the different data-to-voltage relations applying on the adjacent data lines effectively traps the impurity particles P, restricts the movement of the impurities P and lowers the degree of the accumulation of the impurities P in a local region of the LCD. 
         [0034]      FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15  are diagrams illustrating the present invention utilizing different common voltages to improve the image sticking effect. The common voltage  Vcom1  in  FIG. 14  is shifted by +1 volt compared to the common voltage V com  in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the content of the data F 0  is 0, and the corresponding voltages is 0 volts and 0 volts. The content of the data F 1  is 1, and the corresponding voltages are +1 volt and −1 volt. The content of the data F 2  is 2, and the corresponding voltages are +2 volt and −2 volt, and so on. However, since the common voltage  Vcom1  is +1 volt, the actual voltages received by the liquid crystal layer L 1  are −1 volt and −1 volt (corresponding to the data F 0 ), 0 volts and −2 volt (corresponding to the data F 1 ), +1 volt and −3 volt (corresponding to the data F 2 ), and so on. The common voltage V com2  in  FIG. 15  is shifted by −1 volt compared to the common voltage in  FIG. 10 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the content of the data F 0  is 0 and the corresponding voltages is 0 volts and 0 volts. The content of the data F 1  is 1 and the corresponding voltages are +1 volt and −1 volt. The content of the data F 2  is 2 and the corresponding voltages are +2 volt and −2 volt, and so on. However, since the common voltage V com2  is −1 volt, the actual voltages received by the liquid crystal layer L 1  are +1 volt and +1 volt (corresponding to the data F 0 ), 2 volt and 0 volts (corresponding to the data F 1 ), +3 volt and −1 volt (corresponding to the data F 2 ), and so on. In the conventional driving method of a LCD, all the data is converted to the voltage on the data lines according to the same data-to-voltage relation, and one end of all the plurality of the pixels is connected to the same common voltage  Vcom ; therefore, on average, there is no voltage difference between data lines. In this conventional driving method, it is easy for the impurities P to pass through the data lines in a LCD. The present invention of driving method introduces different common voltages V com1  and V com2 , which means some of the pixels are connected to  Vcom1  while the others are connected to V com2  as shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 ; as a result, on average, there are voltage differences between pixel areas in the LCD of the present invention. For example, the first common voltage  Vcom1  is connected to one end of the pixel area P 11  and the second common voltage V com2  is connected to one end of another pixel area P 21 . The first common voltage  Vcom1  is different from the second common voltage V com2  and the pixel area P 11  is adjacent to the pixel area P 21 . In this driving method, on average, a voltage difference rises between the first pixel area and the second pixel area. And the voltage difference is capable of trapping the impurity particles P. To analogize, if there is always a certain voltage difference between pixel areas by connecting to different common voltages, the movement of the impurities P is restricted, which lowers the degree the accumulation of the impurities P in a local region of the LCD. 
         [0035]    To sum up, the present invention utilizes: (1) applying voltages which are different from the common voltage during the blanking time, (2) converting data to voltage signals according to different data-to-voltage relations, and (3) connecting one end of the pixel areas to different common voltages, to effectively trap the impurities, restrict the movement of the impurities and lower the degree the accumulation of impurities; consequently, the image sticking effect is reduced and the display quality is ameliorated. 
         [0036]    Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.