Patent Publication Number: US-9412312-B2

Title: Display device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to display devices such as a liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal display panel, and more particularly, to the brightness adjustment technology in image display. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     Nowadays, an auto-stereoscopic image display device capable of stereoscopic viewing without special glasses is proposed. For example, Japanese Patent No. 2857429 discloses a 3-dimensional image display device including a barrier generating unit and an image display unit. The barrier generating unit generates parallax barrier stripes through electronic control by a transmissive display element. The image display unit includes a display screen disposed behind a position at which parallax barrier stripes are generated with a predetermined distance therefrom and, in display of a 3-dimensional image, is capable of outputting and displaying on the display screen a multidirectional image containing stripes for the left image and right image alternately arranged correspondingly to the parallax barrier stripes. 
     In the 3-dimensional image display device as described above, parallax barrier stripes are generated electronically, and the shape (the number, width, and interval of stripes), position (phase), concentration, and the like of the parallax barrier stripes generated can be variably controlled at will. This enables the above-mentioned 3-dimensional image display device to be used as a 2-dimensional image display device, a 3-dimensional image display device, and display methods using them, realizing a compatible image display device and an image display method using the device. 
     In the two-image display device (3-dimensional image display device) including a parallax barrier, the lateral (horizontal) pixel aperture width is made smaller with a black matrix (light shielding film) compared with an image display device that displays only a single image. This prevents both lights of two images reaching the left and right eyes from existing, allowing an observer to recognize stereoscopic vision with little crosstalk. 
     Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-145416 (1992) discloses a liquid crystal display device including multiple pixels segmented for RGB basic colors, in which the area ratio or distribution ratio of the pixels to be respectively distributed for the basic colors is changed. The liquid crystal display device described above is configured to easily correct the imbalance in display colors. 
     In the display device that employs the configuration in which the lateral pixel aperture width is narrowed with a black matrix (light shielding film) and that includes a display panel capable of switching between single image display and two-image display for three dimensions, unfortunately, the pixel aperture width is kept narrow also in a case of normal single image display. This results in a lower transmittance of the display panel than that of an image display device that displays only a single image, which decreases brightness. 
     In the liquid crystal display device as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 04-145416 (1992), the imbalance in display colors can be corrected by changing the area ratio or distribution ratio of the pixels in the initial design stage of a panel. However, the imbalance in display colors cannot be corrected after manufacturing of the panel and, for example, color adjustment of correcting the imbalance in display colors due to variations in a manufacturing process cannot be performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has an object to obtain a display device capable of variable control of brightness or color adjustment of display colors after a device is completed. 
     A display device according to the present invention includes a display panel and a pixel-peripheral-region brightness control unit. The display panel performs image display with multiple pixels arranged in matrix, and the pixel-peripheral-region brightness control unit controls the brightness of pixel peripheral regions being peripheral portions of each of the multiple pixels, independently of a pixel main region other than the pixel peripheral regions. 
     According to the display device of the present invention, the brightness of the pixel peripheral regions of multiple pixels can be variably controlled in accordance with a display mode by the pixel-peripheral-region brightness control unit after the device is completed. 
     These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an auto-stereoscopic image display device according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are explanatory views schematically showing a one-pixel structure of a display panel displaying a 3-dimensional image in the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are explanatory views schematically showing a one-pixel structure of the display panel displaying a 2-dimensional image in the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory view schematically showing the contents of voltage control for multiple transparent counter electrodes by a pixel peripheral region controller in the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views showing a configuration of a display panel of a display device according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view schematically showing the contents of voltage control for multiple transparent counter electrodes by a pixel peripheral region controller in the second preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Preferred Embodiment 
     Principles of Invention: Outline of Structure of Liquid Crystal Parallax Barrier System Auto-Stereoscopic Display 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a display device (auto-stereoscopic display device of the liquid crystal parallax barrier system) according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. An auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  is capable of simultaneously displaying two images (3-dimensional image) composed of a right image (parallax image for right eye (image for first observation direction; type 1 image)) and a left image (parallax image for left eye that slightly differs from the parallax image for right eye (image for second observation direction; type 2 image)). 
     The auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  allows visual recognition of a stereoscopic image with naked eyes without the use of special glasses or allows display of images different from one observation direction to another. A case in which the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  displays parallax images for the right eye and left eye is mainly described below. For the sake of description, the up-down direction, left-right direction, and depth direction in  FIG. 1  are hereinbelow referred to as a front-back direction, lateral direction (horizontal direction), and longitudinal direction (vertical direction), respectively. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional structure of the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  (auto-stereoscopic display). As shown in  FIG. 1 , the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  includes a (liquid crystal) display panel  20  and a parallax barrier panel  30  arranged behind the display panel  20  (in a lower side of  FIG. 1 ). 
     The display panel  20  is a matrix type display panel that displays images with multiple pixels arranged in matrix, and  FIG. 1  shows the display panel  20  (liquid crystal display panel) to which a liquid crystal display is applied. The display panel  20  mainly includes a liquid crystal layer  23  in which liquid crystals are formed, transparent substrates  22  and  25  opposed to each other with the liquid crystal layer  23  sandwiched therebetween, and an upper polarizing plate  21  and an intermediate polarizing plate  26  respectively provided to the transparent substrates  22  and  25  on the sides opposite to the liquid crystal layer  23 . An electrode for driving liquid crystals of the display panel  20  is not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In the liquid crystal layer  23  of the display panel  20 , sub-pixel regions for right eye  23 R (regions for type 1 image) in which an image for a right eye  2 R of an observer  1  is displayed and sub-pixel regions for left eye  23 L (regions for type 2 image) in which an image for a left eye  2 L of the observer  1  is displayed are alternately arranged in the lateral direction (horizontal direction), each of which being sandwiched between light shielding portions  24 . 
     The sub-pixel region for right eye  23 R and sub-pixel region for left eye  23 L are set to have the same or approximately the same horizontal width. The sub-pixel regions for right eye  23 R and sub-pixel regions for left eye  23 L configured as described above are laterally arranged at predetermined regular pitches in the display panel  20 . In the first preferred embodiment, the sub-pixel regions for right eye  23 R and sub-pixel regions for left eye  23 L are arranged not only laterally but also longitudinally. 
     The parallax barrier panel  30  includes two transparent substrates  32  and  35 , a liquid crystal layer  33  sandwiched and held between the transparent substrates  32  and  35 , and a lower polarizing plate  36  provided to the transparent substrate  35  on the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer  33 . The intermediate polarizing plate  26  of the display panel  20  also functions as the polarizing plate between the parallax barrier panel  30  and the display panel  20 . An electrode for driving liquid crystals of the parallax barrier panel  30  and the like are not shown in  FIG. 1  for the sake of description. 
     Multiple stripe transparent electrodes extending in the longitudinal direction (depth direction in  FIG. 1 ) are formed on the surface on the liquid crystal layer  33  side of one of the transparent substrates  32  and  35  of the parallax barrier panel  30 , and a (solid) transparent counter electrode is formed entirely on the surface on the liquid crystal layer  33  side of the other transparent substrate. The transparent electrodes and the like formed on the transparent substrates  32  and  35  apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer  33 , so that the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer  33  are driven. 
     The twisted nematic (TN) mode is employed as a liquid crystal mode of the parallax barrier panel  30  in the first preferred embodiment. Upon selective application of voltage between the stripe transparent electrodes and the transparent counter electrode, only a voltage applied region is shielded from the light, where parallax barrier stripes (partially light shielded state where shielded regions  33 S and transmission regions  33 T both exist) required for two-image display (display of 3-dimensional image (second format image)) can be formed. No voltage is applied to all the stripe transparent electrodes and the transparent counter electrode, which enables the entire parallax barrier panel  30  to enter a transmission state (complete light transmitting state) to display a single image (2-dimensional image; first format image). 
     (Reason for Reducing Lateral Pixel Aperture Ratio of Display Panel  20 ) 
     In the display panel  20  of  FIG. 1 , in display of two images (3-dimensional image), a lateral pixel aperture width is made smaller than that of the display panel displaying only a single image (2-dimensional image). The lateral pixel aperture width is about 70 to 90% of the pixel pitch (distance between the center position of the sub-pixel region for right eye  23 R and the center position of the sub-pixel region for left eye  23 L) in the display panel displaying only a single image. On the other hand, the lateral pixel aperture width is about 50% of the pixel pitch in the display panel  20  displaying two images, such as the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10 . 
     For example, in a case where the lateral aperture ratio of the parallax barrier panel  30  is 50% in the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10 , the lateral pixel aperture width of the display panel  20  that exceeds 50% of the pixel pitch causes a region in which the lights of two images reaching the left and right eyes both exist, which degrades the display characteristics of a 3-dimensional image. In order to avoid both the lights of two images reaching the left and right eyes from existing in such a case, the aperture width of the parallax barrier needs to be set below 50%. Meanwhile, the light transmittance decreases as the aperture width of the parallax barrier becomes smaller, whereby a dark image with low brightness is displayed. This degrades a display image. 
     From the reason above, the lateral pixel aperture width of the display panel  20  needs to be set small around 50% of the pixel pitch. In a case where the pixel aperture width is reduced with a black matrix (light shielding film), however, the light is shielded unnecessarily when a 2-dimensional image is displayed with the entire parallax barrier panel  30  being transmissive, which lowers brightness, degrading the display characteristics. In this case, the brightness of the backlight needs to be increased because the light use efficiency is poor, resulting in an increase in power consumption. 
     Structure and Effects of this Preferred Embodiment 
     Next, the pixel of the display panel  20  having the structure characteristic of the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  according to the first preferred embodiment is described. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are explanatory views schematically showing a structure of one pixel of the display panel  20  showing a 3-dimensional image (two images; second format image) in the first preferred embodiment.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  are explanatory views schematically showing the structure of one pixel of the display panel  20  displaying a 2-dimensional image (single image; first format image) in the first preferred embodiment.  FIG. 2A  is a plan view and  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along A-A of  FIG. 2A .  FIG. 3A  is a plan view, and  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure taken along B-B of  FIG. 3A . 
     Here, an in-plane switching mode is used as a liquid crystal display mode. In the in-plane switching mode, a lateral electric field is generated between a pixel electrode being a first electrode and a common electrode being a second electrode among multiple comb-shaped electrodes  5  formed on one substrate (transparent substrate  25  on the lower side of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ), and liquid crystal molecules  23   e  are rotated in a plane, to thereby control light transmittance. 
     As a structure characteristic of this preferred embodiment, transparent counter electrodes  4  that are not provided in a liquid crystal panel of a normal in-plane switching mode are formed correspondingly to pixel peripheral regions being both-end regions in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) on the upper transparent substrate  22  side. In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the transparent counter electrodes  4  are formed below the transparent substrate  22  via a color filter layer  27  (a light-shielding film  27 S and a color material film  27 C) and an overcoat film  28 . 
       FIG. 4  is an explanatory view schematically showing the contents of voltage control for multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  when a pixel peripheral region controller  61  performs a brightness setting process. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the pixel peripheral region controller  61  sets the voltage state of a transparent counter electrode group  104  by supplying a control voltage V 61  set as a black display voltage VA in common to multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  forming the transparent counter electrode group  104  or by causing the multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  to be floating without supplying the control voltage V 61 , to thereby perform the brightness setting process. The multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  correspond to multiple pixels and are provided independently of each other so as to control the liquid crystal molecules  23   e  in the pixel peripheral regions of the corresponding pixels. 
     The pixel peripheral region controller  61  supplies the transparent counter electrode group  104  with the control voltage V 61  set as the black display voltage VA during the display of a 3-dimensional image (second format image), that is, while the parallax barrier panel  30  is partially shielded from the light. In consideration of a voltage setting state (positive polarity or negative polarity) of the comb-shaped electrode  5  during white display (in a case where a drive potential difference is maximized and black display is least likely to appear), the black display voltage VA is set to a voltage value at which an electric field, which is capable of setting the light shielded state in which the liquid crystal molecules  23   e  located below the transparent counter electrodes  4  rise, is generated. The timing at which the positive polarity or negative polarity is achieved may be controlled such that the control voltage V 61 , which is a drive signal for supplying the black display voltage VA to the transparent counter electrode group  104 , is switched and varied in synchronization with the polarity switching of a drive signal having a voltage to be applied to the comb-shaped electrodes  5  for display. 
     As an example, the black display voltage VA is set as follows. In a case where the pixel voltage of the pixel electrode and the common electrode voltage of the common electrode among the comb-shaped electrodes  5  formed on the transparent substrate  25  are represented by VB and VC (VC is fixed at 5 V), respectively, the black display voltage VA is variably set as follows, so that black display constantly (generally) appears in the pixel peripheral regions. 
     In white display, the pixel electrode voltage VB of the comb-shaped electrode  5  (pixel electrode) is set to 10 V during positive polarity (a potential difference between VB and VC is +5 V). In this case, the black display voltage VA is set to 0 V, and a potential difference of 10 V is provided between the transparent counter electrode  4  and the comb-shaped electrode  5  (pixel electrode). 
     In white display, the pixel electrode voltage VB is set to 0 V during negative polarity (a potential difference between VB and VC is −5 V). In this case, the black display voltage VA is set to 10 V and, similarly to the positive polarity, a potential difference of 10 V is provided between the transparent counter electrode  4  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  (pixel electrode). 
     As described above, the black display voltage VA is varied above or below the common electrode voltage VC being a reference value in accordance with the polarity (10 V (positive polarity) to 0 V (negative polarity)) of the pixel electrode voltage VB in white display, whereby the pixel peripheral regions can be always set to black display. 
     As a result, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in 3-dimensional image display, a vertical electric field is forced to occur between the transparent counter electrode  4  of the upper transparent substrate  22  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  of the lower transparent substrate  25 , so that the liquid crystal molecules  23   e  are caused to respond for rising. This allows black display to appear in the pixel peripheral regions. As shown in  FIG. 2A , therefore, a relatively large black display region  13 A is formed around an image display region  12 A in a display pixel screen  11 , resulting in a decrease in brightness on a pixel basis. 
     On this occasion, the black display voltage VA, with which a sufficiently high vertical electric field can be generated between the transparent counter electrode  4  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5 , is set in consideration of the polarity in white display of the lateral electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode among the comb-shaped electrodes  5 , as described above. Accordingly, black display can be always shown in the pixel peripheral regions corresponding to the transparent counter electrodes  4  provided to the transparent substrate  22 , without depending on the display state of the pixel main region other than the pixel peripheral regions. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , accordingly, a black display region  23   b  in which black display is shown by the transparent counter electrode  4  as well as the light-shielding film  27 S is set as the light shielding portion  24  in 3-dimensional display. This substantially reduces the lateral (horizontal) pixel aperture width in the lateral direction, whereby excellent display characteristics with small crosstalk can be achieved in 3-dimensional image display. 
     Meanwhile, the pixel peripheral region controller  61  does not perform voltage setting with the control voltage V 61  in display of a single image (first format image), that is, while the parallax barrier panel  30  is entirely shielded from the light but sets a voltage such that multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  of the transparent counter electrode group  104  are all floating. Accordingly, the display panel  20  has a substantially equivalent structure to the structure in which the transparent counter electrodes  4  are not provided. 
     As a result, as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a vertical electric field is not generated by the transparent counter electrode  4  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5 , whereby the display (brightness) in the pixel peripheral region corresponding to the transparent counter electrode  4  is identical to the display (brightness) in the pixel main region. In other words, as well as the pixel main region, the contents of the display in the pixel peripheral region can be determined by the lateral electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. As shown in  FIG. 3A , accordingly, in the display pixel screen  11 , an image display region  12 B obtained by widening the image display region  12 A toward the left and right by an amount of extended image display regions  12   x  in the pixel peripheral region is formed, and a black display region  13 B that is narrowed in the left and right by the amount of the extended image display regions  12   x  is formed. 
     As described above, the pixel peripheral regions (extended image display regions  12   x ) contribute to the aperture together with the pixel main region (image display region  12 A), improving the transmittance of each pixel, so that excellent display characteristics without a decrease in brightness can be achieved. 
     The black display region  13 B in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is a region that needs to be shielded from the light also in 2-dimensional display, where, specifically, a light leak near interconnections is prevented and a thin film transistor is shielded from the light. In this preferred embodiment, the light-shielding film  27 S such as a low-reflection metal film or a carbon dispersed resin is formed on the transparent substrate  22  in a region corresponding to the black display region  13 B. The color material film  27 C is formed in the color filter layer  27  in which the light-shielding film  27 S is not formed. 
     As described above, in the display panel  20  of the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  according to the first preferred embodiment, the brightness setting process is performed by a pixel-peripheral-region brightness control unit composed of the multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  and the pixel peripheral region controller  61 . This unit enables to variably control the brightness (presence or absence of black display) of the pixel peripheral regions of multiple pixels in accordance with the display mode (two-image display or single image display) after the completion of the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10 . 
     In other words, image display with light shielding property enhanced in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) by forcibly setting the respective pixel peripheral regions of multiple pixels to the black display state can be performed in two-image display of the display panel  20 . Meanwhile, image display with enhanced brightness by setting the brightness in the respective pixel peripheral regions of multiple pixels to the same brightness as that of the pixel main region can be performed in single image display of the display panel  20 . 
     In this case, image display can be performed on the display panel  20  being a liquid crystal display panel such that in two-image display, image display with enhanced light shielding property in the horizontal direction is performed by generating an electric field in the liquid crystal layer  33  between the multiple transparent counter electrodes  4  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  to forcibly set the pixel peripheral regions to the black display state and such that in single image display, image display with enhanced brightness is performed by causing the pixel peripheral region to contain the same contents of the display as those in the pixel main region. 
     As described above, the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  according to the first preferred embodiment is characterized in that the transparent counter electrodes  4  and the pixel peripheral region controller  61  are provided in the display panel  20 , and thus, the other configuration and operation thereof are similar to those of an auto-stereoscopic image display device of a typical visual field barrier type. For example, the display panel  20  and the parallax barrier panel  30  are driven similarly to the auto-stereoscopic image display device disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2857429. 
     (Extension to Other Configuration) 
     The parallax barrier panel  30  is provided behind the display panel  20  in the first preferred embodiment, which may be provided in front of the display panel  20 . The provision of the parallax barrier panel  30  in front of the display panel  20  allows the use of self-luminous display panels, such as an organic EL panel and plasma display as the display panel  20 . In a case where a self-luminous display panel is used as the display panel  20 , light-emitting in only the pixel peripheral region is controlled independently, whereby similar effects to those described in the first preferred embodiment can be achieved. 
     The case in which not stripes but a staggered pattern (staggered shape) is applied as the pattern shape of the parallax barrier is considered here. In this case, the pixels adjacent to the top and bottom and left and right of the sub-pixel region for right eye  23 R (for left eye  23 L) are the sub-pixel regions for left eye  23 L (for right eye  23 R), and thus, in display of a 3-dimensional image, the existence of the both lights of two images need to be removed in the up-down and left-right directions. For this reason, the pixel aperture width needs to be reduced in the longitudinal direction as well as the lateral direction. 
     In the case where not stripes but a staggered pattern is applied as the pattern shape of the parallax barrier, therefore, the transparent counter electrodes  4  are arranged such that the pixel aperture width in the up-down direction in the plan views of  FIGS. 2A and 3A  (depth direction in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS. 2B and 3B ), to thereby reduce crosstalk. 
     In other words, the structure as shown in  FIG. 2B  is also provided in the cross-section taken along C-C of  FIG. 2A  such that the transparent counter electrodes  4  which are not provided in a liquid crystal panel of a normal in-plane switching mode are formed correspondingly to the pixel peripheral regions being both end regions in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) on the upper transparent substrate  22  side. This results in a further reduction in crosstalk. 
     While the transparent counter electrodes  4  are arranged on the liquid crystal layer  23  side with respect to the overcoat film  28  in the upper transparent substrate  22  of the display panel  20  of an in-plane switching mode in the first preferred embodiment, the transparent counter electrodes  4  may be arranged on the side opposite to the liquid crystal layer  23  with respect to the overcoat film  28 . Although an electric field between the transparent counter electrodes  4  and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  required for liquid crystals to respond in the longitudinal direction needs to be increased in this arrangement, a 2-dimensional image is unlikely to be affected by the transparent counter electrodes  4  in display. This prevents a decrease in transmittance due to a slight amount of rising of the liquid crystal molecules  23   e.    
     In this preferred embodiment, the in-plane switching mode is applied as the liquid crystal mode of the display panel  20 . Alternatively, also in a case where the fringe field switching (FFS) mode is applied, through the formation of the electrodes equivalent to the transparent counter electrodes  4  on the transparent substrate  22  side, the lateral aperture width can be controlled by the pixel peripheral region controller  61  as in the in-plane switching mode. 
     When a liquid crystal mode is applied in which a vertical electric field between the pixel electrode (first electrode) and the counter electrode (second electrode) is used as in the TN mode and vertical alignment (VA) mode, the counter electrodes are divided such that the counter electrodes (equivalent to the transparent counter electrodes  4 ) for pixel peripheral regions and the counter electrodes for a pixel main region are driven independently. Then, as in the in-plane switching mode, with the pixel peripheral region controller  61  controlling the voltage state (including a floating state) with the control voltage V 61 , the pixel aperture width can be reduced such that black display appears in the pixel peripheral regions in 3-dimensional display. 
     Specifically, in the VA mode, black display appears (so-called normally black) in a case where no voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes (one is a pixel electrode and the other is a counter electrode for pixel peripheral region) that sandwich the liquid crystal layer  23  therebetween. Accordingly, in 3-dimensional display, control is made such that no voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes in the pixel peripheral region in order that black display may appear in the pixel peripheral region. In the TN mode, black display appears through application of a predetermined voltage (black display voltage) between the upper and lower electrodes (one is a pixel electrode and the other is a counter electrode for pixel peripheral region). Accordingly, in 3-dimensional display, control is made such that a black display voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes in the pixel peripheral region. 
     In 2-dimensional image display, meanwhile, control is made such that the voltage to be supplied to the counter electrode for the pixel peripheral region and the voltage to be supplied to the counter electrode for the pixel main region have the same voltage value. 
     The present invention is also applicable to the liquid crystal display panel adopting a liquid crystal mode in which a vertical electric field between a pixel electrode and a counter electrode is used as in the TN mode and VA mode, similarly to the in-plane switching mode. 
     As described above, the description has been given of the method in which in the TN mode and VA mode, the counter electrodes are divided and the counter electrodes (equivalent to the transparent counter electrodes  4 ) for pixel peripheral regions and the counter electrodes for a pixel main region are driven independently, so that black display appears in the pixel peripheral regions. Also in the in-plane switching mode, a drive system for the comb-shaped electrodes  5  may be divided and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  for pixel peripheral regions and the comb-shaped electrodes  5  for a pixel main region may be driven independently, so that a voltage between the pixel electrode and the common electrode in the comb-shaped electrodes  5  for pixel peripheral regions is set to almost zero in black display in the pixel peripheral region. This allows the application of an electric field in only the approximately vertical direction between the comb-shaped electrodes  5  and the transparent counter electrode group  104  in the pixel peripheral regions, whereby black display can be achieved ideally in the pixel peripheral regions irrespective of the state of the display potential in the pixel main region. 
     Second Preferred Embodiment 
     Liquid Crystal Display Device Capable of Adjusting Coloration of Color Display Even after Manufacturing of Panel 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views showing a configuration of a display panel  50  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Similarly to the display panel  20  according to the first preferred embodiment, the display panel  50  according to the second preferred embodiment is a display panel that performs image display with multiple pixels arranged in matrix, where an in-plane switching mode is adopted as a liquid crystal mode. 
     As the structure characteristic of this preferred embodiment, transparent counter electrodes  44  are arranged in regions corresponding to pixel peripheral regions of a liquid crystal layer  53 , on a transparent substrate  52  side of the respective pixels of a liquid crystal panel that performs color display with a color material film  57 C of a color filter layer  57  for red, green, and blue (R, G, and B) being color components. In other words, the transparent counter electrodes  44  that are not provided in a liquid crystal panel of a normal in-plane switching mode are provided as in the first preferred embodiment. In the configuration shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the transparent counter electrodes  44  are formed below the transparent substrate  52  via the color filter layer  57  (light-shielding film  57 S and color material film  57 C (for RGB)) and an overcoat  58 . Besides, comb-shaped electrodes  45  are provided on the lower transparent substrate  55  that is opposed to the transparent substrate  52  as in the first preferred embodiment, and a liquid crystal layer  53  is provided on the transparent substrate  55  including the comb-shaped electrodes  45 . 
       FIG. 6  is an explanatory view schematically showing the contents of voltage control for multiple transparent counter electrodes  44  when a pixel peripheral region controller  62  performs the brightness setting process per color component. For the sake of description, a transparent counter electrode  44  for R (the color material film  57 C is red), a transparent counter electrode  44  for G (the color material film  57 C is green), and a transparent counter electrode  44  for B (the color material film  57 C is blue) are represented as a transparent counter electrode  44 R, transparent counter electrode  44 G, and transparent counter electrode  44 B, respectively. As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the transparent counter electrode  44 R, transparent counter electrode  44 G, and transparent counter electrode  44 B for R, G, and B are provided to each of multiple pixels arranged in matrix. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pixel peripheral region controller  62  supplies a control voltage V 62 R in common to the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 R forming a transparent counter electrode group  144 R. Likewise, the pixel peripheral region controller  62  supplies a control voltage V 62 G in common to the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 G forming a transparent counter electrode group  144 G, and supplies a control voltage V 62 B in common to the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 B forming a transparent counter electrode group  144 B. It should be noted that the control voltages V 62 R, V 62 G, and V 62 B are supplied to the transparent counter electrode groups  144 R,  144 G, and  144 B independently of one another. 
     The multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 R are independently provided so as to control the liquid crystal molecules  53   e  in the corresponding pixel peripheral regions of pixels for R, the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 G are independently provided so as to control the liquid crystal molecules  53   e  in the corresponding pixel peripheral regions of pixels for G, and the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 B are independently provided so as to control the liquid crystal molecules  53   e  in the respectively corresponding pixel peripheral regions for pixels for B. 
     In a case where color adjustment is not required as to color display in RGB, namely in a case where color display is appropriately performed after manufacturing of the display device, the pixel peripheral region controller  62  causes the transparent counter electrodes  44  (all of  44 R,  44 G, and  44 B) to be floating without supplying the control voltage V 62 . In other words, the pixel peripheral region controller  62  sets a state equivalent to that of the structure in which the display panel  50  does not include the transparent counter electrodes  44 . 
     As a result, as shown in  FIG. 5A , no vertical electric field is generated by the transparent counter electrodes  44  (all of  44 R,  44 G, and  44 B), which enables the contents of the display (brightness) in the pixel peripheral regions corresponding to the transparent counter electrodes  44  to be identical to the contents of the display (brightness) in the pixel main region. In other words, the contents of the display in the pixel peripheral regions can be determined by the lateral electric field between a pixel electrode and a common electrode among the comb-shaped electrodes  45 . 
     As described above, the pixel peripheral regions contribute to the aperture together with the pixel main region in all the RGB pixels, so that the color display characteristics in manufacturing can be kept as such. 
     Meanwhile, in a case where the color display needs to be adjusted by decreasing the brightness of any of R, G, and B from the brightness in manufacturing, the pixel peripheral region controller  62  supplies the control voltage V 62  (at least one of V 62 R, V 62 G, and V 62 B) of the black display voltage VA to multiple transparent counter electrodes  44  (at least one of  44 R,  44 G, and  44 B) of the transparent counter electrode group  144 , which are targets to be decreased in brightness among the transparent counter electrode groups  144 R,  144 G, and  144 B. The case in which the brightness for B is decreased is considered here. 
     In a case where B among R, G, and B requires color adjustment, the pixel peripheral region controller  62  supplies the control voltage V 62 B of the black display voltage VA that has been set in common to the transparent counter electrodes  44 B of the transparent counter electrode group  144 B. In consideration of the voltage setting state (voltage setting state of positive polarity or negative polarity) in white display of the comb-shaped electrodes  45  as in the first preferred embodiment, the black display voltage VA is variably set such that an electric field, which is capable of setting the light shielded state in which the liquid crystal molecules  53   e  located below the transparent counter electrodes  44  rise, is generated between the transparent counter electrode  44 B and the comb-shaped electrodes  45 . The timing at which the positive polarity or negative polarity is achieved may be controlled such that the control voltage V 62 B, which is a drive signal for supplying the black display voltage VA to the transparent counter electrode group  144 B, is switched and varied in synchronization with the polarity switching of a drive signal having a voltage to be applied to the comb-shaped electrodes  45  for display. 
     Meanwhile, other color components R and G do not require color adjustment, and thus are not supplied with the control voltages V 62 R and V 62 G, so that the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44 R and  44 G are set to be floating. 
     As a result, as shown in  FIG. 5B , in only B among R, G, and B, a vertical electric field is forced to occur between the transparent counter electrode  44 B of the upper transparent substrate  52  and the comb-shaped electrodes  45  of the lower transparent substrate  55 , so that the liquid crystal molecules  53   e  located below the transparent counter electrode  44 B are caused to respond to rise. Accordingly, the brightness setting process per color component to selectively cause black display to appear in the pixel peripheral regions of the pixels for B can be performed. 
     On this occasion, the black display voltage VA, with which a high vertical electric field can be always generated between the transparent counter electrode  44 B and the comb-shaped electrodes  45 , is set in consideration of the polarity of the lateral electric field in white display between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, as described above. Accordingly, black display is always shown in the pixel peripheral regions corresponding to the transparent counter electrodes  44 B provided to the transparent substrate  52 , without depending on the display state of the pixel main region other than the pixel peripheral regions. Accordingly, the aperture ratio of the pixels for B is substantially reduced, and the brightness of the pixel for B is set lower than that in the completion of a device, which enables color adjustment regarding RGB color display. 
     As described above, in the display panel  50  of the display device according to the second preferred embodiment, the brightness setting process per color component is performed by the pixel-peripheral-region brightness control unit composed of the multiple transparent counter electrodes  44  ( 44 R,  44 G, and  44 B) and the pixel peripheral region controller  62 , whereby after the completion of the display device according to the second preferred embodiment, the brightness (presence or absence of black display) of the pixel peripheral regions of multiple pixels can be variably controlled for each of RGB color components, depending on the presence or absence of the need of color adjustment of RGB color display. 
     In other words, by performing the brightness setting process per color component described above, the display panel  50  of the display device according to the second preferred embodiment can perform color adjustment regarding the color display determined by RGB pixels through individual control of the brightness of each of the RGB color component pixels even after the completion of the device. 
     In this case, an electric field is generated in the liquid crystal layer  53  between the transparent counter electrode  44  and the comb-shaped electrodes  45  for a color component that requires color adjustment, to thereby force black display to appear in the pixel peripheral regions on a color component basis. This enables color adjustment after the completion of the device for the display panel  50  being a liquid crystal display panel. 
     The display device according to the second preferred embodiment is characterized in that the display panel  50  is capable of performing the brightness setting process per color component described above, which may be used in place of the display panel  20  of the auto-stereoscopic image display device  10  as in the first preferred embodiment or may be used as a display panel of a typical display device that displays only a single image. 
     (Extension to Other Configuration) 
     The transparent counter electrodes  44 R,  44 G, and  44 B are each divided into more pieces so as to adjust an area (area of the pixel peripheral region) to which a voltage is applied. This enables to control the aperture ratio of each pixel for each of RGB color components at multiple stages and to set multiple types of contents of brightness decrease, so that the coloration of RGB color display can be adjusted finely. 
     &lt;Others&gt; 
     The parts to be processed through control by the pixel peripheral region controllers  61  and  62  shown in  FIG. 4  can be executed by programming with, for example, a software-based CPU. 
     While the invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications and variations can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.