Patent Abstract:
A liquid crystal display (LCD) and an LCD panel thereof are provided. The structure of the pixel array of the LCD panel is the structure of the one third source driving (OTSD), and by which skillfully layout the coupled relationship among each pixel, each signal line and each scan line, such that the LCD panel can be driven by a column inversion to achieve the purpose of single-dot inversion displaying, and thus not only reducing the power consumption of the whole LCD, but also promoting the display quality.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 99146918, filed on Dec. 30, 2010. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a flat panel display, more particularly, to a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an LCD panel thereof. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In the presence of all structures of the pixel array of the current LCD panel, one specie is so-called the half source driving (hereinafter “HSD”) structure. The HSD structure would reduce the quantity used of source drivers to half by reducing the number of the source lines to half, such that the fabricating cost of the display panel module can be substantially reduced. In order to further reduce the fabricating cost, one kind of pixel array is submitted and which is so-called the one third source driving (hereinafter “OTSD”) structure. The OTSD structure would reduce the number of the source lines to one third compared with the original/traditional pixel array structure, and thus the fabricating cost of the display panel module can be further reduced. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of the pixel array of the OTSD structure in the prior art, and  FIG. 2  is a driving diagram of the pixel array in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it can be seen that, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pixel array of the conventional OTSD structure would not change the number of the scan lines (Gn) in the display panel, but would reduce the number of the data lines (Sm) in the display panel to one third, such that the purpose of saving the fabricating cost can be achieved. However, since the images displayed by the LCD with the conventional OTSD structure is three-dot inversion, so the display quality is lower compared to the displayed images with single-dot inversion, and the pixel aperture ratio thereof is also lower, approximately 30%. 
     Accordingly, the conventional OTSD structure can be significantly improved. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an LCD and an LCD panel thereof, wherein the pixel array of the LCD panel is the OTSD structure and the LCD has better display quality and higher pixel aperture ratio compared to the LCD panel with the conventional OTSD structure as mentioned in the prior art. 
     The present invention provides an LCD including an LCD panel. The LCD panel includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and) a plurality of pixels arranged in an array. The i th  scan line is coupled to the (6j+1) th  pixel of the (i−2) th  pixel row, the (6j+2) th , the (6j+4) th , the (6j+5) th  and the (6j+6) th  pixels of the i th  pixel row, and the (6j+3) th  pixel of the (i+2) th  pixel row, where i is an odd positive integer greater than or equal to 3, and j is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0. The (i+1) th  scan line is coupled to the (6j+6) th  pixel of the (i−1) th  pixel row, the (6j+1) th , the (6j+2) th , the (6j+3) th  and the (6j+5) th  pixels of the (i+1) th  pixel row, and the (6j+4) th  pixel of the (i+3) th  pixel row. The r th  data line is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the (3k+1) th , the (3k+3) th  and the (3k+5) th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the (3k+2) th , the (3k+4) th  and the (3k+6) th  pixel columns, where r is an odd positive integer, and the k=(r−1). The (r+1) th  data line is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the (3k+4) th , the (3k+6) th  and the (3k+8) th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the (3k+5) th , the (3k+7) th  and the (3k+9) th  pixel columns. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the 1 st  scan line is coupled to the (6j+2) th , the (6j+4) th , the (6j+5) th  and the (6j+6) th  pixels of the 1 st  pixel row, and the (6j+3) th  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row; and the 2 nd  scan line is coupled to the (6j+1) th , the (6j+2) th , the (6j+3) th  and the (6j+5) th  pixels of the 2 nd  pixel row, and the (6j+4) th  pixel of the 4 th  pixel row. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the 1 st  to the 3 rd  pixel columns in the LCD panel is a dummy pixel column; and each of the 1 st  and the 2 nd  pixel rows in the LCD panel is a dummy pixel row. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the LCD further includes a gate driver. The gate driver is coupled to the LCD panel and has a plurality of gate lines, wherein the gate driver provides a plurality of scan signals to the scan lines through the gate lines. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a frame period of the LCD has a plurality of periods. The s th , the (s+1) th  and the (s+s 2) th  gate lines simultaneously output the enabled scan signals during the (3s+1) th  period, where s is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0. The s th  and the (s+1) th  gate lines simultaneously output the enabled scan signals during the (3s+2) th  period. The s th  gate line outputs the enabled scan signal during the (3s+3) th  period. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the LCD further includes a source driver. The source driver is coupled to the LCD panel and has a plurality of source lines, wherein the source driver provides a plurality of data signals to the data lines through the source lines. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a driving polarity corresponding to each of the data signals is converted once at a frame period of the LCD. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the LCD further includes a timing controller and a backlight module. The timing controller is coupled to the gate driver and the source driver, and used for controlling operations of the gate driver and the source driver. The backlight module is used for providing a backlight source required by the LCD panel. 
     The present invention would claim the whole structure of the above-mentioned LCD panel. 
     From the above, the structure of the pixel array of the LCD panel is the structure of the one third source driving (OTSD), namely, the number of the driving channels of the source driver can be reduced to two third. And, compared to the LCD with the conventional OTSD structure, the LCD panel of the present invention has higher pixel aperture ratio by skillfully layout the coupled relationship among each pixel, each signal line and each scan line. In addition, the source driver of the present invention can make the LCD panel to display images with single-dot inversion by adopting the column inversion driving manner, and thus promoting the display quality. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of the pixel array of the OTSD structure in the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is a driving diagram of the pixel array in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a system diagram of the LCD  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of the LCD panel  301  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a part of driving waveforms for the LCD panel  301  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a waveform diagram of the data signal according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 3  is a system diagram of the LCD  300  according to one embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a diagram of the LCD panel  301  in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the LCD  300  includes the LCD panel  301 , a source driver  303 , a gate driver  305 , a timing controller (T-con)  307  and a backlight module  309 . 
     In the present embodiment, the LCD panel  301  includes a plurality of data lines S 1  to Sm, a plurality of scan lines G 1  to Gn, and a plurality of pixels Pix arranged in an array. Each of the pixels Pix in the 1 st  and the 2 nd  pixel rows and the 1 st  to the 3 rd  pixel columns is a dummy pixel, and is not disposed within the display area AA of the LCD panel  301 . In other words, each of the 1 st  to the 3 rd  pixel columns in the LCD panel  301  is a dummy pixel column; and each of the 1 st  and the 2 nd  pixel rows in the LCD panel  301  is a dummy pixel row. 
     The source driver  303  is coupled to the LCD panel  301 , and has a plurality of source lines D 0  to Dm−1, wherein the source lines D 0  to Dm−1 can be understood as the driving channels of the source driver  301 . The source driver  303  provides a plurality of data signals to the data lines S 1  to Sm through the source lines D 0  to Dm−1, so as to perform the pixel writing to the corresponding pixels Pix in the LCD panel  301 . Herein, the source lines D 0  to Dm−1 are respectively corresponding to the data lines 51 to Sm. 
     The gate driver  305  is coupled to the LCD panel  301 , and has a plurality of gate lines P 0  to Pn−1. The gate driver  305  provides a plurality of scan signals to the scan lines G 1  to Gn through the gate lines P 0  to Pn−1, so as to perform the pixel on or off to the corresponding pixels Pix in the LCD panel  301 . The gate lines P 0  to Pn−1 are respectively corresponding to the scan lines G 1  to Gn. In addition, the T-con  307  is coupled to the source driver  303  and the gate driver  305 , and used for controlling the operations of the source driver  303  and the gate driver  305 . The backlight module  309  is used for providing the backlight source required by the LCD panel  301 . 
     In the present embodiment, relating to the scan lines G 1  to Gn of the LCD panel  301 , the 1 st  scan line G 1  is coupled to the (6j+2) th , the (6j+4) th , the (6j+5) th  and the (6j+6) th  pixels of the 1 st  pixel row, and the (6j+3) th  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row in the LCD panel  301 , where j is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0. For example, if j=0, the 1 st  scan line G 1  is coupled to the 2 nd , the 4 th , the 5 th  and the 6 th  to pixels of the 1 st  pixel row and the 3 rd  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row. Moreover, if j=1, the 1 st  scan line G 1  is coupled to the 8 th , the 10 th , the 11 th  and the 12 th  pixels of the 1 st  pixel row and the 9 th  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row, and so on. 
     In addition, the 2 nd  scan line G 2  is coupled to the (6j+1) th , the (6j+2) th , the (6j+3) th  and the (6j+5) th  pixels of the 2 nd  pixel row, and the (6j+4) th  pixel of the 4 th  pixel row in the LCD panel  301 . For example, if j=0, the 2 nd  scan line G 2  is coupled to the 1 st , the 2 nd , the 3 rd  and the 5 th  pixels of the 2 nd  pixel row, and the 4 th  pixel of the 4 th  pixel row. Moreover, if j=1, the 2 nd  scan line G 2  is coupled to the 7 th , the 8 th , the 9 th  and the 11 th  pixels of the 2 nd  pixel row, and the 10 th  pixel of the 4 th  pixel row, and so on. 
     Except the 1 st  and the 2 nd  scan lines G 1  and G 2 , the i th  scan line is coupled to the (6j+1) th  pixel of the (i−2) th  pixel row, the (6j+2) th , the (6j+4) th , the (6j+5) th  and the (6j+6) th  pixels of the i th  pixel row, and the (6j+3) th  pixel of the (i+2) th  pixel row, where i is an odd positive integer greater than or equal to 3. For example, if i=3 and j=0, the 3 rd  scan line G 3  is coupled to the 1 st  pixel of the 1 st  pixel row, the 2 nd , the 4 th , the 5 th  and the 6 th  pixels of the 3 rd  pixel row, and the 3 rd  pixel of the 5 th  pixel row. Moreover, if i=3 and j=1, the 3 rd  scan line G 3  is coupled to the 7 th  pixel of the 1 st  pixel row, the 8 th , the 10 th , the 11 th  and the 12 th  pixels of the 3 rd  pixel row, and the 9 th  pixel of the 5 th  pixel row, and so on. 
     Further for example, if i=5 and j=0, the 5 th  scan line G 5  is coupled to the 1 st  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row, the 2 nd , the 4 th , the 5 th  and the 6 th  pixels of the 5 th  pixel row, and the 3 rd  pixel of the 7 th  pixel row. Moreover, if i=5 and j=1, the 5 th  scan line G 5  is coupled to the 7 th  pixel of the 3 rd  pixel row, the 8 th , the 10 th , the 11 th  and the 12 th  pixels of the 5 th  pixel row, and the 9 th  pixel of the 7 th  pixel row, and so on. 
     And, the (i+1) th  scan line is coupled to the (6j+6) th  pixel of the (i−1) th  pixel row, the (6j+1) th , the (6j+2) th , the (6j+3) th  and the (6j+5) th  pixels of the (i+1) th  pixel row, and the (6j+4) th  pixel of the (i+3) th  pixel row. For example, if i=3 and j=0, the 4 th  scan line G 4  is coupled to the 6 th  pixel of the 2 nd  pixel row, the 1 st , the 2 nd , the 3 rd  and the 5 th  pixels of the 4 th  pixel row, and the 4 th  pixel of the 6 th  pixel row. Moreover, if i=3 and j=1, the 4 th  scan line G 4  is coupled to the 12 th  pixel of the 2 nd  pixel row, the 7 th , the 8 th , the 9 th  and the 11 th  pixels of the 4 th  pixel row, and the 10 th  pixel of the 6 th  pixel row, and so on. 
     Relating to the data lines S 1  to Sm in the LCD panel  301 , the r th  data line is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the (3k+1) th , the (3k+3) th  and the (3k+5) th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the (3k+2) th , the (3k+4) th  and the (3k+6) th  pixel columns, where r is an odd positive integer, and the k=(r−1). For example, if r=1, the 1 st  data line S 1  is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the 1 st , the 3 rd  and the 5 th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the 2 nd , the 4 th  and the 6 th  pixel columns. Moreover, r=3, the 3 rd  data line S 3  is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the 7 th , the 9 th  and the 11 th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the 8 th , the 10 th  and the 12 th  pixel columns, and so on. 
     In addition, the (r+1) th  data line is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the (3k+4) th , the (3k+6) th  and the (3k+8) th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the (3k+5) th , the (3k+7) th  and the (3k+9) th  pixel columns. For example, if r=1, the 2 nd  data line S 2  is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the 4 th , the 6 th  and the 8 th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the 5 th , the 7 th  and the 9 th  pixel columns. Moreover, if r=3, the 4 th  data line S 4  is coupled to even pixels in all pixels of the 10 th , the 12 th  and the 14 th  pixel columns, and odd pixels in all pixels of the 11 th , the 13 th  and the 15 th  pixel columns, and so on. 
     From the above,  FIG. 5  is a diagram of a part of driving waveforms for the LCD panel  301  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , it can be clearly seen that, in  FIG. 5 , one frame period of the LCD  300  has a plurality of periods, for example, T 1  to T 18 , but not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the s th , the (s+1) th  and the (s+2) th  gate lines simultaneously output the enabled scan signals during the (3s+1) th  period, where s is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0. In addition, The s th  and the (s+1) th  gate lines simultaneously output the enabled scan signals during the (3s+2) th  period. Furthermore, the s th  gate line outputs the enables scan signal during the (3s+3) th  period. 
     For example, if s=0, the 0 th  to the 2 nd  gate lines P 0  to P 2  of the gate driver  305  simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 1  to SG 3  to the scan lines G 1  to G 3  during the 1 st  period T 1 ; the 0 th  and the 1 st  gate lines P 0  and P 1  of the gate driver  305  simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 1  and SG 2  to the scan lines G 1  and G 2  during the 2 nd  period T 2 ; and the 0 th  gate line P 0  of the gate driver  305  outputs the enabled scan signal SG 1  to the scan line G 1  during the 3 rd  period T 3 . 
     Moreover, if s=1, the 1 st  to the 3 rd  gate lines P 1  to P 3  of the gate driver  305  simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 2  to SG 4  to the scan lines G 2  to G 4  during the 4 th  period T 4 ; the 1 st  and the 2 nd  gate lines P 1  and P 2  of the gate driver  305  simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 2  and SG 3  to the scan lines G 2  and G 3  during the 5 th  period T 5 ; and the 1 st  gate line P 1  of the gate driver  305  outputs the enabled scan signal SG 2  to the scan line G 2  during the 6 th  period T 6 , and so on. 
     Below, fifty-four serial numbers of pixels Pix in  FIG. 4 , and both the source driver  303  and the gate driver  305  in  FIG. 5  would be taken as an example for explaining how does the source driver  303  and the gate driver  305  to drive each of the pixels Pix in the LCD panel  301 . 
     Firstly, during the 1 st  period T 1 , the 0 th  to the 2 nd  gate lines P 0  to P 2  of the gate driver  305  would simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 1  to SG 3  to the scan lines G 1  to G 3 , so as to turn on the pixels with marked number of 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 27, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 31, 1, 7, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 39 and 45. Meanwhile, the source driver  303  would write the corresponding data signals into the Pixels Pix connected to the data lines S 1  to Sm and turned on during the period T 1  through the source lines D 0  to Dm−1. 
     Next, during the 2 nd  period T 2 , the 0 th  and the 1 st  gate lines P 0  ad P 1  of the gate driver  305  would simultaneously output the enabled scan signals SG 1  and SG 2  to the scan lines G 1  and G 2 , so as to turn on the pixels with marked number of 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21, 27, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 31. Meanwhile, the source driver  303  would write the corresponding data signals into the Pixels Pix connected to the data lines S 1  to Sm and turned on during the period T 2  through the source lines D 0  to Dm−1. 
     Next, during the 3 rd  period T 3 , the 0 th  gate line P 0  of the gate driver  305  would output the enabled scan signals SG 1  to the scan line G 1 , so as to turn on the pixels with marked number of 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 21 and 27. Meanwhile, the source driver  303  would write the corresponding data signals into the Pixels Pix connected to the data lines S 1  to Sm and turned on during the period T 3  through the source lines D 0  to Dm−1. 
     Moreover, the source driver  303  would provide the corresponding data signals through the source lines D 0  to Dm−1 during the following periods T 4  to T 18  until all of the pixels Pix in the LCD panel  301  are written completely, and thus making the LCD  300  display the images to user. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the driving polarity corresponding to each of the data signals provided by the source driver  303  is converted once at one frame period of the LCD  300 . For example, the data signals SD 1  and SD 2  respectively provided to the source lines D 0  and D 1  by the source driver  303  can be shown as  FIG. 6 . During the previous frame period, the driving polarities of the data signals SD 1  and SD 2  are respectively positive (+) and negative (−); and during the next frame period, the driving polarities of the data signals SD 1  and SD 2  are respectively converted to negative (−) and positive (+). In other words, the source driver  303  would drive the LCD panel  301  by using the column inversion driving manner so as to achieve the purpose of displaying effect with single-dot inversion. 
     In summary, in the present invention, the specific coupled relationship among each pixel, each signal line and each scan line, and the corresponding driving waveforms for the gate driver are used to achieve the structure of OTSD. Accordingly, not only the fabricating cost can be reduced, but also the LCD panel of the present invention can have higher pixel aperture ratio, approximately 50% compared to the LCD panel with the conventional OTSD structure as mentioned in the prior art. In addition, the source driver of the present invention can make the LCD panel to display images with single-dot inversion by adopting the column inversion driving manner, and thus promoting the display quality. 
     It will be apparent to those skills in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6