Abstract:
A liquid crystal display ( 100 ) includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines (GL 1 ˜GLn) that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a first direction, and a plurality of data lines (DL 1 ˜DLm+1) that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a plurality of pixel regions ( 130 ) defined by points of intersection of the gate lines and the data lines, and a gate driver ( 140 ) for driving the gate lines, and a data driver ( 160 ) for driving the data lines. Each of the data lines includes curving portions, such that each of the pixel regions defined by two corresponding data lines has two curved side boundaries.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is related to the application entitled LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY WITH CURVING DATA LINES filed before the present application, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and more particularly to an active matrix type liquid crystal display.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Because LCD devices have the advantages of portability, low power consumption, and low radiation, they have been widely used in various portable information products such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras, and the like. Furthermore, LCD devices are considered by some to have the potential to completely replace CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors and televisions.  
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is an abbreviated diagram of certain parts of a conventional active matrix LCD, including circuitry thereof. The active matrix LCD  10  provides a display driven by a dot inversion method, with data lines  16  of the active matrix LCD  10  being driven by a column inversion method. Therefore the active matrix LCD  10  is capable of consuming a relatively small amount of power during its operation.  
         [0005]     The data lines  16  and gate lines  14  in the active matrix LCD  10  are straight lines that cross each other and accordingly define pixel regions of the active matrix LCD  10  that are rectangular in shape. The pixel regions are thus arranged in a regular matrix of rows and columns. Accordingly, the boundary between each two adjacent rows of pixel regions and each two adjacent columns of pixel regions is relatively sharp and clear. Therefore the active matrix LCD  10  is liable to exhibit an undesired visual boundary effect when the display screen is viewed while displaying images.  
         [0006]     Accordingly, what is needed is an active matrix LCD that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a first direction, and a plurality of data lines that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a plurality of pixel regions defined by points of intersection of the gate lines and the data lines, and a gate driver for driving the gate lines, and a data driver for driving the data lines. Each of the data lines includes curving portions, such that each of the pixel regions defined by two corresponding data lines has two corresponding curved side boundaries.  
         [0008]     With this configuration, each two adjacent pixel regions in a row are partially staggered, which may weak the impact of the boundary effect therebetween and enable the active matrix LCD obtain better display quality.  
         [0009]     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an abbreviated diagram of certain parts of an active matrix LCD including circuitry thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the LCD including a multiplicity of pixel regions.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the LCD with filter elements applied to the pixel regions.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an abbreviated diagram of certain parts of a conventional active matrix LCD, including circuitry thereof. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an abbreviated diagram of certain parts of an active matrix LCD including circuitry thereof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The active matrix LCD  100  includes a liquid crystal panel (not shown). The liquid crystal panel includes a gate driver  140  for driving gate lines GL 1  to GLn arranged in a first glass substrate (not shown) of the liquid crystal panel, a data driver  160  for driving data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 also arranged in the first glass substrate, and a timing controller  180  for controlling the gate and data drivers  140  and  160  respectively.  
         [0015]     The gate lines GL 1  to GLn and the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 cross each other but are insulated from each other. Pixel regions  130  of the active matrix LCD  100  are arranged in a matrix pattern, the matrix pattern being defined by points of intersection of the gate lines GL 1  to GLn and the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1. Each pixel region  130  may include a thin film transistor (TFT)  110  connected to a corresponding one of the gate lines GL 1  to GLn and to a corresponding one of the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1.  
         [0016]     In each column of TFTs  110 , successive TFTs  110  are alternately connected left and right to two corresponding consecutive data lines DL. Thus each row of TFTs  110  connected to an odd-numbered gate line GL has a same pattern of connections, and each row of TFTs  110  connected to an even-numbered gate line GL has a same pattern of connections. For example, each row of TFTs  110  connected to a respective one of the odd-numbered gate lines GL 1 , GL 3 , GL 5 , etc. has a total of m TFTs  110 . The m TFTs  110  are connected to the first through m th  data lines DL 1  to DLm. The gate line connection of each TFT  110  is from a terminal of the TFT  110  to the corresponding gate line GL. Each row of TFTs  110  connected to a respective one of the even-numbered gate lines GL 2 , GL 4 , GL 6 , etc. has a total of m TFTs  110 . The m TFTs  110  are connected to the second through (m+1) th  data lines DL 2  to DLm+1. The gate line connection of each TFT  110  is from a terminal of the TFT  110  to the corresponding gate line GL.  
         [0017]     In operation, the gate driver  140  scans and sequentially applies gate signals to the gate lines GL 1  to GLn to drive the TFTs  110 . At the same time, the data driver  160  supplies video signals to corresponding driven TFTs  110  in order to modulate the orientation of liquid crystal molecules (not shown) included within the respective pixel regions  130 . Accordingly, because the respective light transmittances of the individual pixel regions  130  in the active matrix LCD  100  are individually controlled, the active matrix LCD  100  may display images.  
         [0018]     The data driver  160  may supply video signals to the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 using a column inversion driving method. In the following exemplary description of this method, the first, third, etc. pixel regions  130  in each row of pixel regions  130  are defined as odd-numbered pixel regions  130 ; and the second, fourth, etc. pixel regions  130  in each row of pixel regions  130  are defined as even-numbered pixel regions  130 . Thus for example, in a first horizontal period when the first gate line GL 1  is driven, video signals having a positive polarity applied from the data driver  160  may be supplied to the odd-numbered pixel regions  130  connected to the odd numbered data lines DL 1 , DL 3 , etc., while video signals having a negative polarity applied from the data driver  160  may be supplied to the even-numbered pixel regions  130  connected to the even-numbered data lines DL 2 , DL 4 , etc. Subsequently, in a second horizontal period, the second gate line GL 2  is driven, and the data driver  160  shifts the video signals applied in the first horizontal period to the right by one channel. Accordingly, video signals having a negative polarity may be supplied to the odd numbered pixel regions  130  connected to the even numbered data lines DL 2 , DL 4 , etc., and video signals having a positive polarity may be supplied to the even numbered pixel regions  130  connected to the odd numbered data lines DL 3 , DL 5 , etc. (with the exception of the first data line DL 1 ). In this way, the data driver  160  drives the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 by the column inversion method, with the pixel regions  130  of the active matrix LCD  100  being driven by a dot inversion method.  
         [0019]     Advantageously, each of the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 includes curving portions, whereby the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1 are wavy. Therefore each column of pixel regions  130  defined by two corresponding data lines DL 1  has two curving side boundaries, and each of the pixel regions  130  in each row of pixel regions  130  has a curved configuration according to two corresponding of the data lines DL 1  to DLm+1. That is, each two adjacent pixel regions  130  in a row are partially staggered, which may weak the impact of the boundary effect therebetween and enable the active matrix LCD obtain better display quality  
         [0020]     Also referring to  FIG. 2 , filter elements can be deposited on a horizontal electrode of each pixel region  130  so that a rectangular matrix of filter elements  120  is formed. In each row of the matrix, the colors of the filter elements  120  repeat in the sequence R (red), G (green), and B (blue) from left to right. In each column of the matrix, only two of the three colors R, G, and B alternately repeat in sequence. For example, in a first (leftmost) column, the colors of the filter elements  120  alternately repeat in the sequence R, G; in a second column, the colors of the filter elements  120  alternately repeat in the sequence G, B; and in a third column, the colors of the filter elements  120  alternately repeat in the sequence B, R. Thus, any two adjacent filter elements  120  of any two adjacent columns of filter elements  120  are different from each other. In each row of filter elements  120 , the boundary between any two adjacent filter elements  120  (which necessarily have different colors) is wavy, corresponding to the wavy boundary between the corresponding pixel regions  130 . This means that for any two adjacent filter elements  120  in each row of filter elements  120 , a protruding side portion of a first one of the filter elements  120  protrudes toward a concavity of a second one of the filter elements  120 , and vice versa.  
         [0021]     With this kind of complementary arrangement, the filter elements  120  of each two adjacent pixel regions  130  in any row of pixel regions  130  are separated by a curved space having a generally uniform width. This can help mitigate the impact of any visual boundary effect that may exist between any two adjacent filter elements  120 . Accordingly, the active matrix LCD  100  can provide a better quality display.  
         [0022]     In alternative embodiments, each of the data lines DL may have a generally elongated “S” shape, or a series of “S” shapes, or a like configuration. Accordingly, the boundary between any two adjacent filter elements  120  in any row of pixel regions  130  may have a shape corresponding to that of the data lines DL.  
         [0023]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.