Patent ID: 7109965

Claim:
A residual image eliminating apparatus for a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged in the liquid crystal display and crossing with respect to each other, wherein thin film transistors defining liquid crystal cells are connected to the plurality of gate lines and the data lines to switch image signals applied to the liquid crystal cells; and level shifting means for receiving a power supply voltage and a ground voltage to apply a gate-off voltage for turning off the thin film transistors to the gate lines upon power-on and to apply a higher voltage level than the ground voltage to the gate lines upon power-off, wherein the level shifting means includes: a zener diode for applying a negative input voltage lowered by its breakdown voltage to each one of the gate lines; a transistor connected between the each one of the gate lines and the ground voltage to switch a current path to bypass a voltage at the sate line to the ground voltage during power-off; and a capacitor connected between the ground voltage and a gate-on voltage for charging electric charge with the gate-on voltage until a time of power-off and for applying a voltage higher than the ground voltage to the each one of the gate lines upon power-off; wherein said gate-on voltage enables said thin film transistors.