Abstract:
A field sequential driving method for driving a liquid crystal display, wherein said liquid crystal includes a plurality of gate lines, comprising the steps of: grouping said gate lines into a plurality of zone, including a first zone to an Nth zone; sequentially addressing the first zone to the N th  zone, wherein addresses each zone comprising: writing black signals into pixels in the zone; writing white signals into pixels in the zone after the black signals are written into pixels in the zone; sequentially writing color signals to corresponding pixel in the zone; and sequentially flashing light source from the first zone to the N th  zone.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) driving method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a field sequential LCD driving method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, methods for driving an LCD can be classified into two methods, the color filter method and the field sequential driving method, based on methods of displaying color images. 
         [0005]    The field sequential liquid crystal display (FS-LCD) driving method has been developed where three color signals, i.e., a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal are time-divisionally displayed. The FS-LCD allows red (R), green (G), and blue (B) backlights to be arranged in one pixel that is not divided into R, G, and B subpixels, wherein light of the three primary colors is provided from the R, G, and B backlights to one pixel through the liquid crystal (LC) so that they are sequentially displayed in a time division manner. 
         [0006]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the conventional FS-LCD, the driving scheme of each subframe has three intervals: first, the addressing interval  101  for data being written into the subframe, second, the waiting interval  102  for the response time of the liquid crystal, and the last, the flashing interval  103  for turning on the backlight. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the backlight emits a flashing interval  103  in the last short period of the subframe after the addressing interval  101  and the waiting interval  102 , so it is difficult to achieve high luminance if the flashing interval is too short, i.e. the addressing interval  101  and the waiting interval  102  are too long. Furthermore, since the conventional FS-LCD needs sufficient scanning speeds due to the heavy load of the electrode and low mobility of the TFT in a panel, FS driving can hardly be applied to large area, high density displays. Thus, the conventional driving scheme has a limited resolution, so it isn&#39;t appropriate for the implementation of large size FS-LCD. 
         [0007]    For the forgoing reasons, there is a need to extend the flashing interval, i.e., decrease the data writing time and the LC response time, and increase the time the backlight is turned on. Furthermore, there is another need for higher and uniform luminance no matter how large the LCD is. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present invention is directed to a field sequential driving method for driving a liquid crystal display that satisfies the need for gaining a longer flashing interval to increase the time the backlight is turned on. 
         [0009]    The field sequential driving method for driving a liquid crystal display comprises the steps of: dividing a plurality of gate lines and driving a plurality of pixels into a first pixel zone and a second pixel zone□writing first black signals into the first pixel zone; writing first white signals into the first pixel zone after the black signals into the first pixel zone; sequentially writing color signals corresponding to each pixel only in the first pixel zone, driven by each gate line respectively; writing second black signals into in the second pixel zone after color signals are written; writing second white signals into the second pixel zone after second black signals are written; sequentially writing color signals corresponding to each pixel only in the second pixel zone, driven by each gate line respectively; sequentially and periodically turning on a plurality of independent first light sources in the first pixel zone; and sequentially and periodically turning on a plurality of independent second light sources in the second pixel zone. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, first white signals and second white signals respectively decrease the voltages of the liquid crystal cells from a splay into a bend state. And each one of the pixels has a liquid crystal cell and a switching element, and the switching element turns each individual pixel on or off hence controlling the response time of the liquid crystal cell. The switching element can be a thin-film transistor and the liquid crystal cell can be in an optical compensated bend mode. 
         [0011]    Because signals are written into pixels from one zone to another zone successively, the method needn&#39;t scan all gates lines completely and then process the next step of waiting for the liquid crystal response time. Thus, the method can write signals in the next pixel zone immediately after the signals of one zone are written completely, so the method can reduce the addressing time, and then prolong the waiting interval or flashing interval in the subframe. 
         [0012]    Moreover, writing first black signals and second black signals into the respective pixels in the period of the subframe, they are taken as reset signals to compensate luminance of the liquid crystal display. Otherwise, writing first black signals and second black signals can decrease the respective voltages of the liquid crystal cells from a splay into a bend state, thus the operating voltage can decrease. 
         [0013]    In conclusion, the method can have a longer flashing interval, and thus achieve higher and more uniform luminance. Otherwise, because the voltages of the liquid crystal cells from a splay state into a bend state are reduced, the method can lessen the operating voltage, and the load of the electrode and low mobility of the TFT in a panel can be improved. 
         [0014]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are by examples, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    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. In the drawings, 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a driving scheme of conventional FS-LCD. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a conventional driving scheme. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a driving scheme according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the flow chart according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows the driving scheme of one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows that the changes of luminance after writing black signals. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows that the changes of luminance after writing white signals. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    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. 
         [0024]    A driving scheme of a liquid crystal display is divided into several subframes. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the subframe  300  is a period including five intervals: writing black signals  301 , writing white signals  302 , writing color signals  303 , waiting for the LC response time  304 , and turning on light source  305 . If writing black signals  301  is about 0.4 ms, writing white signals  302  is about 0.2 ms, writing color signals  303  is about 0.6 ms, waiting for the LC response time  304  is about 3.5 ms, and turning on light source  305  is about 1 ms, the whole subframe is almost about 5.7 ms, i.e. the frame frequency is 60 Hz. 
         [0025]    In the  FIG. 4 , the flow chart of the embodiment is shown. Refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows the driving scheme of one embodiment of the invention to explain the flow chart in  FIG. 4 . Although the following description takes two zones for example, it isn&#39;t limited to two zones and can be more than two zones. The steps of the method are as follows: 
         [0026]    In  FIG. 5 , the subframe  514  is a period including five intervals: first black signals  511  are written, next white signals  512  are written, then color signals  513  are written, waiting for LC response time  516 , and finally the first light source  515  is turned. 
         [0027]    Step  401 : dividing a plurality of gate lines, driving a plurality of pixels, into a first pixel zone and a second pixel zone. There are 240 gate lines, respectively labeled as G 1  to G 240 , in the liquid crystal, and they are divided into two zones, a first pixel zone  510  (from G 1  to G 120 ) and a second pixel zone  520  (from G 121  to G 240 ). There are several subframes respectively displayed in the first pixel zone  510  (from G 1  to G 120 ) and a second pixel zone  520 . 
         [0028]    Step  403 : writing first black signals into a part of the pixels in the first pixel zone. First black signals  511  are written into pixels in G 1 -G 120  in the first pixel zone  510  at the same time the subframe period  514  begins. 
         [0029]    Step  405 : writing first white signals into the first pixel zone after the black signals are written into the first pixel zone. After first black signals  511  are written into pixels on G 1 -G 120  in the first pixel zone  510  completely, first white signals  512  are written into pixels on G 1 -G 120  in the first pixel zone  510  at the same time. 
         [0030]    Step  407 : sequentially writing color signals corresponding to each pixel, only in first pixel zone, driven by each gate line respectively. Each one of the color signals  513  includes a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal is respectively written from G 1  to G 120  in the first pixel zone  510 . 
         [0031]    Step  409 : writing second black signals into the second pixel zone after color signals are written. Second black signals  521  are written into G 121 -G 240  in the second pixel zone  520  at the same time after color signals  513  are respectively written into pixels on G 1 -G 120  in the first pixel zone  510  completely. 
         [0032]    Step  411 : writing second white signals into the second pixel zone after second black signals are written. After the second black signals  521  are written into pixels on G 121 -G 240  in the second pixel zone  520  completely, second white signals  521  are written into G 121 -G 240  in the second pixel zone  520  at the same time. 
         [0033]    Step  413 : sequentially writing another color signal corresponding to each pixel, only in another zone, driven by each gate line respectively. Each one of the other color signals  523  includes red signals, green signals and blue signals are respectively written from G 121  to G 240  in the second pixel zone  520 . 
         [0034]    Step  415 : sequentially and periodically turning on a plurality of independent first light sources in the first pixel zone. First light sources turn on during the interval  515  at the end of the subframe  514 . 
         [0035]    Step  417 : sequentially and periodically turning on a plurality of independent second light sources in the second pixel zone. Second light turns on at the end of the subframe. Second light sources turn on during the interval  525  at the end of the subframe  524 . 
         [0036]    The method can apply to all kinds of field sequential driving in the liquid crystal display such as an optical compensated bend mode liquid crystal display. However, in the first pixel zone  510 , after the subframe  514  is completed, the next subframe  534  is immediately displayed. Similarly, in the second pixel zone  520 , after the subframe  524  is completed, the next subframe  544  is immediately displayed. In conclusion, when one subframe is finished, the next subframe will be displayed. Thus, the lights of three primary colors outputted from R, G, and B light sources are sequentially displayed in a time-divisional manner so that the color images are displayed using an after image effect of the eyes. 
         [0037]    As described above, black signals are written in the beginning of the subframe period, they are used as reset signals to compensate for the luminance of the liquid crystal display. The evidence is proved in the  FIG. 6 , after black signals are respectively inserted in to different gray levels of the color signals (as shown in  601 ), although the luminance of the color signals still have minor differences in the dark state, the luminance of the color signals achieves almost the same in the bright state (as shown in  602 ). So inserting black signals improves the uniform luminance of the color signals. 
         [0038]    However, the reset time, the interval between inserting the black signals and the luminance reset of the color signals can be zero, increases the period of the subframe. To prevent this, the method needs a shorter response time to compensate the extension. As proved in the  FIG. 7 , a response time that includes a raising time Tr and a falling time Tf, and Tr+Tf=2.8+0.6=3.4 ms. While after inserting white signals, the response time reduces to Tr′+Tf′=2.5+0.5=3.0 ms. So the process of inserting a signal can reduce the response time. 
         [0039]    In conclusion, because scanning from one zone to another zone, the scanning speed can be higher, and thus the method can be applied to a large display. Otherwise, inserting white signals, the method can reduce the response time and gains a longer flashing interval, and thus achieves higher and more uniform luminance. Besides, in an optical compensated bend mode liquid crystal display, because there is a voltage reduction of the liquid crystal cells from a splay state into a bend state, the method can decrease the operating voltage, and then the electrode load and low mobility of the TFT in a panel can be improved. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, their spirit and scope of the appended claims should no be limited to the description of the preferred embodiments container herein. 
         [0041]    It will be apparent to those skilled 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.