PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8531408-B2
Application Number: US-37140909-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Pseudo multi-domain design for improved viewing angle and color shift

Abstract:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to single-domain electrode configurations that may be implemented in the unit pixels of a LCD device, such as a fringe field switching (FFS) LCD, to provide a “pseudo-multi-domain” effect, wherein the benefits of both conventional single-domain and multi-domain pixel configuration devices are retained. In accordance with aspects of the present technique, single-domain unit pixels are angled or tilted in differing directions with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel (e.g., y-axis) to provide an alternating and/or periodic arrangement of different-angled pixel electrodes along each scanning line, data line, or a combination of both scanning and data lines. In this manner, the transmittance rates of conventional single-domain LCD panels may be retained while providing for improved viewing angle and color shift properties typical of conventional multi-domain LCD panels.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising:
 a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels, each being in a single-domain configuration, comprising:
 a first set of unit pixels, wherein each of the first set of unit pixels comprises electrodes generally parallel to one another; and 
 a second set of unit pixels, wherein each of the second set of unit pixels comprises electrodes generally parallel to one another, but not generally parallel to the electrodes of the first set of unit pixels, wherein the electrodes of the first set of unit pixels are tilted by a first angle in a first angular direction with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel, and wherein the electrodes of the second set of unit pixels are tilted by a second angle in a second angular direction with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the first and second angular directions are opposite from each other, wherein the magnitudes of the first and second angles are not substantially equal; 
 
 wherein the plurality of unit pixels are arranged in a plurality of groups, wherein each group comprises three directly adjacent unit pixels coupled to a common scanning line, wherein the three unit pixels comprise a red unit pixel, a blue unit pixel, and a green unit pixel, and wherein the three unit pixels within each group comprise either two unit pixels from the first set and one unit pixel from the second set, or one unit pixel from the first set and two unit pixels from the second set. 
 
     
     
       2. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the two unit pixels from the first set or the two unit pixels from the second set are directly adjacent along the common scanning line. 
     
     
       3. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitudes of the first and second angles are substantially equal. 
     
     
       4. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the first angle is greater than 0° with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the magnitude of the second angle is less than 90° with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
       5. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the first angle is greater than 0° with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the magnitude of the second angle is less than or equal to 15° with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
       6. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the first angle is greater than or equal to 75° with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the magnitude of the second angle is less than 90° with respect to the vertical axis. 
     
     
       7. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the magnitude of the first and second angles have a range from 15° to 75°. 
     
     
       8. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of unit pixels in the pixel array are arranged in rows and columns, and wherein the first and second set of unit pixels are arranged such that the unit pixels from the first and second sets alternate along a row, alternate along a column, or alternate along rows and columns of the pixel array. 
     
     
       9. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of the first and second set of unit pixels comprise one or more of indium tin oxide or indium zinc oxide. 
     
     
       10. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the LCD panel comprises a fringe field switching (FFS) LCD panel. 
     
     
       11. The LCD panel of  claim 1 , wherein the LCD panel comprises a light-opaque matrix defining a light-transmissive aperture over each of the plurality of unit pixels, and wherein each of the apertures includes a color filter, and wherein the red, blue, and green unit pixels of each group of unit pixels are determined by a corresponding color filter associated with a respective aperture. 
     
     
       12. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising:
 a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a rows and columns defined by scanning lines and data lines, respectively, the pixel array comprising:
 a first set of unit pixels, wherein each of the first set of unit pixels comprises electrodes generally parallel to one another but not generally parallel to a vertical axis of the LCD panel; and 
 a second set of unit pixels, wherein each of the second set of unit pixels comprises electrodes generally parallel to one another, but not generally parallel to the electrodes of the first set of unit pixels or the vertical axis, wherein the electrodes of the first set of unit pixels are tilted by a first angle in a first angular direction with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the electrodes of the second set of unit pixels are tilted by a second angle in a second angular direction with respect to the vertical axis, and wherein the first and second angular directions are opposite from each other, wherein the magnitudes of the first and second angles are not substantially equal; 
 
 wherein the scanning lines comprise a first set of scanning lines and a second set of scanning lines, and wherein each of the first set of unit pixels is coupled to one of the first set of scanning lines and respective data lines, and wherein each of the unit pixels from the second set of unit pixels is coupled to one of a second set of scanning lines and respective data lines, wherein the first and second sets of scanning lines are arranged in an alternating manner along the vertical axis of the LCD panel, and wherein each of the data lines are oriented such that the portions of each data line disposed between adjacent scanning lines are generally parallel to the electrodes of directly adjacent unit pixels. 
 
     
     
       13. The LCD panel of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of unit pixels are arranged in groups of three directly adjacent unit pixels coupled to a common one of the scanning lines, wherein the three unit pixels comprise a red unit pixel, a blue unit pixel, and a green unit pixel. 
     
     
       14. The LCD panel of  claim 12 , wherein each of the data lines forms a generally zigzag shape generally along the vertical axis of the LCD panel. 
     
     
       15. The LCD panel of  claim 12 , comprising driving circuitry configured to transmit image data to the scanning lines and to the data lines. 
     
     
       16. The LCD panel of  claim 12 , comprising a light-opaque matrix defining a light-transmissive aperture over each of the first and second sets of unit pixels, wherein edges of each aperture in the direction of the vertical axis are generally parallel to the electrodes of its respective unit pixel. 
     
     
       17. The LCD panel of  claim 16 , wherein the light-opaque matrix masks disclinations between directly adjacent unit pixels coupled to either directly adjacent scanning lines or to directly adjacent data lines. 
     
     
       18. The LCD panel of  claim 12 , wherein the electrodes of each of the plurality of unit pixels have a single-domain configuration. 
     
     
       19. A method for displaying image data in a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel having an array of unit pixels arranged in rows and columns defined by scanning lines and data lines, respectively, the method comprising:
 supplying a data signal representative of at least a portion of the image data to each of the data lines; and 
 supplying a scanning signal to each of the scanning lines, wherein the scanning lines comprises a first set of scanning lines and a second set of scanning lines, wherein the first set of scanning lines is coupled to a first set of unit pixels having pixel electrodes oriented at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel in a first angular direction, wherein the second set of scanning lines is coupled to a second set of unit pixels having pixel electrodes oriented at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis in a second angular direction, wherein the magnitudes of the first and second angles are not substantially equal, and wherein the first and second sets of scanning lines are arranged in an alternating manner along the vertical axis; 
 wherein the first and second angular directions are opposite from each other, and wherein each data line has a generally zigzag generally shape along the vertical axis and is oriented such that the portions of each data line between adjacent scanning lines are generally parallel to the electrodes of directly adjacent unit pixels. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the data signals are supplied to the data lines in a sequential manner. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein, when activated, each of the unit pixels from the first set generates an electrical field in a first direction and each of the unit pixels from the second set generates an electrical field in a second direction. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , comprising masking disclinations resulting from interference between the first and second electric fields using a light-opaque matrix defining a light-transmissive aperture over each of the unit pixels of within the LCD panel. 
     
     
       23. A method for masking disclinations in a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising:
 providing a light-opaque material disposed over a pixel array comprising a plurality of unit pixels arranged in rows and columns defined by scanning lines and data lines, respectively, the plurality of unit pixels comprising:
 a first set of unit pixels having pixel electrodes oriented in a first angular direction at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel and configured to generate an electrical field in a first direction; and 
 a second set of unit pixels having pixel electrodes oriented in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction and at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis and configured to generate an electrical field in a second direction; 
 
 wherein an electrical field in the first direction and an electrical field in the second direction respectively generated by two directly adjacent unit pixels, including one unit pixel from the first set and one unit pixel from the second set, interfere with each other and cause one or more disclinations to form between the directly adjacent unit pixels, the one or more disclinations at least partially preventing light provided from a light source from being transmitted through the first unit pixel or the second unit pixel; 
 wherein the light-opaque material forms a matrix defining a light-transmissive aperture bordered by the light-opaque material over each of the plurality of unit pixels, wherein the light-opaque borders corresponding to the directly adjacent unit pixels mask the one or more disclinations. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the light source comprises one of a backlight assembly or a light-reflective surface. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein unit pixels coupled to a common one of the scanning lines within the pixel array are arranged in groups of three unit pixels, each group comprising a red unit pixel, a blue unit pixel, and a green unit pixel. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , wherein each group of unit pixels comprises either two unit pixels from the first set and one unit pixel from the second set, or one unit pixel from the first set and two unit pixels from the second set. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the unit pixels coupled to a respective data line are all from the first set of unit pixels or all from the second set of unit pixels. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the unit pixels coupled to a respective data line alternate between a unit pixel from the first set and a unit pixel from the second set. 
     
     
       29. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, comprising:
 a pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels comprising:
 a first set of unit pixels having substantially straight pixel electrodes oriented in a first angular direction at a first angle that is less than 90 degrees with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel; and 
 a second set of unit pixels having substantially straight pixel electrodes oriented in a second angular direction opposite the first angular direction and at a second angle that is less than 90 degrees with respect to the vertical axis; 
 wherein the magnitudes of the first and second angles are not equal; and 
 
 a liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules disposed between a lower alignment layer and an upper alignment layer, wherein the lower and upper alignment layers are configured to align the liquid crystal layer in a direction that is offset from the vertical axis of the LCD panel by a third angle having a magnitude that is between the magnitudes of the first and the second angles. 
 
     
     
       30. The LCD panel of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of unit pixels in the pixel array are arranged in rows and columns, and wherein the first and second set of unit pixels are arranged such that the unit pixels from the first and second sets alternate along a row, alternate along a column, or alternate along rows and columns of the pixel array. 
     
     
       31. The LCD panel of  claim 29 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are disposed in one of a fluid material or a polymer network. 
     
     
       32. The LCD panel of  claim 29 , wherein the upper and lower alignment layers and the liquid crystal layer are disposed over the pixel electrodes, and wherein the LCD panel comprises a light source disposed under the pixel array and configured to transmit light through liquid crystal layer. 
     
     
       33. The LCD panel of  claim 32 , wherein, when oriented in a vertical or horizontal position and viewed through a polarized medium, the LCD panel having the liquid crystal layer aligned at the third angle is perceived as having a higher transmittance rate relative to an LCD panel having a liquid crystal layer aligned in a direction parallel to either the horizontal or vertical axis of the LCD panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to display devices and, more particularly, to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are commonly used as screens or displays for a wide variety of electronic devices, including such consumer electronics as televisions, computers, and handheld devices (e.g., cellular telephones, audio and video players, gaming systems, and so forth). Such LCD devices typically provide a flat display in a relatively thin package that is suitable for use in a variety of electronic goods. In addition, such LCD devices typically use less power than comparable display technologies, making them suitable for use in battery powered devices or in other contexts were it is desirable to minimize power usage. LCD devices typically include a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix. The unit pixels may be driven by scanning line and data line circuitry to display an image that may be perceived by a user. 
     Conventional unit pixels of fringe-field switching (FFS) LCD display panels may utilize multi-domain or single-domain configurations and may typically include strip-shaped or finger-shaped pixel electrodes. The pixel electrodes are generally controlled by transistors to create electrical fields that allow at least a portion of a light source to pass through a liquid crystal material within the pixels. In conventional single-domain pixel configurations, pixel electrodes are generally arranged parallel to one another such that all the pixel electrodes within the LCD panel are oriented in the same direction. Generally, this results in the electrical fields generated within a single-domain unit pixel being in the same direction throughout the unit pixel, thereby providing a higher light transmittance rate compared to that of multi-domain pixel configurations. However, conventional single-domain pixel configurations generally offer poorer viewing angles and color shift properties compared to multi-domain configurations. 
     In conventional multi-domain pixel configurations, pixel electrodes within each unit pixel may be oriented in more than one direction. In this manner, the overall viewing angle and color shift properties of the LCD panel may be improved. However, disclinations may result in light-transmissive portions of multi-domain unit pixels due to the differing directions of electrical fields. Such disinclinations are particularly problematic in that they may block a portion of the light transmitted through the pixels, thus reducing the overall transmittance rate of the LCD panel. 
     SUMMARY 
     Certain aspects of embodiments disclosed herein by way of example are summarized below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms that the various techniques disclosed and/or claimed herein might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of any technique disclosed and/or claimed herein. Indeed, any technique disclosed and/or claimed herein may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     The present disclosure generally relates to single-domain electrode configurations that may be implemented in the unit pixels of a LCD device, such as a fringe field switching (FFS) LCD, to provide a “pseudo-multi-domain” effect, wherein the benefits of both conventional single-domain and multi-domain pixel configuration devices are retained. In accordance with aspects of the present technique, single-domain unit pixels are provided in order to maintain the relatively higher transmittance rates (as opposed to multi-domain transmittance rates) typical of conventional single-domain LCD panels (as opposed to multi-domain panel transmittance rates). In one embodiment, the single-domain unit pixels may be angled or tilted in differing directions with respect to a vertical axis of the LCD panel (e.g., y-axis) to provide an alternating and/or periodic arrangement of different-angled pixel electrodes along each scanning line, data line, or a combination of both scanning and data lines. In this manner, the transmittance rates of conventional single-domain LCD panels may be retained while providing for improved viewing angle and color shift properties typical of conventional multi-domain LCD panels. 
     Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. Again, the brief summary presented above is intended only to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting exemplary components of an electronic device, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a handheld electronic device, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of a computer, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of exemplary layers of a unit pixel of an LCD display panel, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a circuit diagram showing switching and display circuitry that may be used in conjunction with an LCD display panel, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway cross-sectional side view of a unit pixel of an LCD display panel, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a simplified plan view of an electrode arrangement corresponding to two adjacent unit pixels, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a detailed plan view of a portion of an LCD display panel, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a detailed plan view of a portion of an LCD display panel, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 10 and 10B  are simplified plan views of a portion of an LCD display panel, in accordance with further embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  is a detailed plan view of a portion of an LCD display panel, in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only exemplary of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present invention, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     With these foregoing features in mind, a general description of suitable electronic devices using LCD displays that may implement pseudo multi-domain properties in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is provided below. In FIG.  1 , a block diagram depicting various components that may be present in electronic devices suitable for use with the present techniques is provided. In  FIG. 2 , one example of a suitable electronic device, provided here as a handheld electronic device, is depicted. In  FIG. 3 , another example of a suitable electronic device, provided here as a computer system, is depicted. These types of electronic devices, and other electronic devices providing comparable display capabilities, may be used in conjunction with the present techniques. 
     An example of a suitable electronic device may include various internal and/or external components which contribute to the function of the device.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the components that may be present in such an electronic device  10  and which may allow the device  10  to function in accordance with the techniques discussed herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various functional blocks shown in  FIG. 1  may comprise hardware elements (including circuitry), software elements (including computer code stored on a computer-readable medium) or a combination of both hardware and software elements. It should further be noted that  FIG. 1  is merely one example of a particular implementation and is merely intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in a device  10 . For example, in the presently illustrated embodiment, these components may include a display  12 , I/O ports  14 , input structures  16 , one or more processors  18 , a memory device  20 , a non-volatile storage  22 , expansion card(s)  24 , a networking device  26 , and a power source  28 . 
     With regard to each of these components, the display  12  may be used to display various images generated by the device  10 . In one embodiment, the display  12  may be a liquid crystal displays (LCD). For example, the display  12  may be an LCD employing fringe field switching (FFS), in-plane switching (IPS), or other techniques useful in operating such LCD devices. Additionally, in certain embodiments of the electronic device  10 , the display  12  may be provided in conjunction with a touch-sensitive element, such as a touchscreen, that may be used as part of the control interface for the device  10 . 
     The I/O ports  14  may include ports configured to connect to a variety of external devices, such as a power source, headset or headphones, or other electronic devices (such as handheld devices and/or computers, printers, projectors, external displays, modems, docking stations, and so forth). The I/O ports  14  may support any interface type, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port, a video port, a serial connection port, an IEEE-1394 port, an Ethernet or modem port, and/or an AC/DC power connection port. 
     The input structures  16  may include the various devices, circuitry, and pathways by which user input or feedback is provided to the processor  18 . Such input structures  16  may be configured to control a function of the device  10 , applications running on the device  10 , and/or any interfaces or devices connected to or used by the electronic device  10 . For example, the input structures  16  may allow a user to navigate a displayed user interface or application interface. Examples of the input structures  16  may include buttons, sliders, switches, control pads, keys, knobs, scroll wheels, keyboards, mice, touchpads, and so forth. 
     In certain embodiments, an input structure  16  and display  12  may be provided together, such an in the case of a touchscreen where a touch-sensitive mechanism is provided in conjunction with the display  12 . In such embodiments, the user may select or interact with displayed interface elements via the touch-sensitive mechanism. In this way, the displayed interface may provide interactive functionality, allowing a user to navigate the displayed interface by touching the display  12 . For example, user interaction with the input structures  16 , such as to interact with a user or application interface displayed on the display  12 , may generate electrical signals indicative of the user input. These input signals may be routed via suitable pathways, such as an input hub or data bus, to the one or more processor  18  for further processing. 
     In addition to processing various input signals received via the input structure(s)  16 , the processor(s)  18  may control the general operation of the device  10 . For instance, the processor(s)  18  may provide the processing capability to execute an operating system, programs, user and application interfaces, and any other functions of the electronic device  10 . The processor(s)  18  may include one or more microprocessors, such as one or more “general-purpose” microprocessors, one or more special-purpose microprocessors and/or application-specific microprocessors (ASICs), or some combination of such processing components. For example, the processor  18  may include one or more instruction set (RISC) processors, as well as graphics processors, video processors, audio processors and/or related chip sets. As will be appreciated, the processor(s)  18  may be coupled to one or more data buses for transferring data and instructions between various components of the device  10 . 
     The instructions or data to be processed by the processor(s)  18  may be stored in a computer-readable medium, such as a memory  20 . Such a memory  20  may be provided as a volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) or as a non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), or as a combination of one or more RAM and ROM devices. The memory  20  may store a variety of information and may be used for various purposes. For example, the memory  20  may store firmware for the electronic device  10 , such as a basic input/output system (BIOS), an operating system, various programs, applications, or any other routines that may be executed on the electronic device  10 , including user interface functions, processor functions, and so forth. In addition, the memory  20  may be used for buffering or caching during operation of the electronic device  10 . 
     In addition to the memory  20 , the device  10  may further include a non-volatile storage  22  for persistent storage of data and/or instructions. The non-volatile storage  22  may include flash memory, a hard drive, or any other optical, magnetic, and/or solid-state storage media, or some combination thereof. The non-volatile storage  22  may be used to store data files such as firmware, data files, software programs and applications, wireless connection information, personal information, user preferences, and any other suitable data. 
     The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  may also include one or more card or expansion slots. The card slots may be configured to receive an expansion card  24  that may be used to add functionality, such as additional memory, I/O functionality, or networking capability, to the electronic device  10 . Such an expansion card  24  may connect to the device through any type of suitable connector, and may be accessed internally or external with respect to a housing of the electronic device  10 . For example, in one embodiment, the expansion card  24  may be flash memory card, such as a SecureDigital (SD) card, mini- or microSD, CompactFlash card, Multimedia card (MMC), or the like. Additionally, the expansion card  24  may be a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card, for use with an embodiment of the electronic device  10  that provides mobile phone capability. 
     The components depicted in  FIG. 1  also include a network device  26 , such as a network controller or a network interface card (NIC). In one embodiment, the network device  26  may be a wireless NIC providing wireless connectivity over any 802.11 standard or any other suitable wireless networking standard. The network device  26  may allow the electronic device  10  to communicate over a network, such as a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), such as an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network for a 3G data network (e.g., based on the IMT-2000 standard), or the Internet. Additionally, the network device  26  may provide for connectivity to a personal area network, such as a Bluetooth® network, an IEEE 802.15.4 (e.g., ZigBee) network, or an ultra wideband network (UWB). In some embodiments, the network device  26  may further provide for close-range communications using a near-field communication (NFC) interface operating in accordance with one or more standards, such as ISO 18092, ISO 21481, or the TransferJet® protocol. 
     As will be understood, the device  10  may use the network device  26  to connect to and send or receive data with any device on a common network, such as portable electronic devices, personal computers, printers, and so forth. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the electronic device  10  may not include a network device  26 . In such an embodiment, a NIC may be added as an expansion card  24  to provide similar networking capability as described above. 
     Further, the components may also include a power source  28 . In one embodiment, the power source  28  may be provided as one or more batteries, such as a lithium-ion polymer battery. The battery may be user-removable or may be secured within the housing of the electronic device  10 , and may be rechargeable. Additionally, the power source  28  may include AC power, such as provided by an electrical outlet, and the electronic device  10  may be connected to the power source  28  via a power adapter, which may also be used to recharge one or more batteries if present. 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG. 2  illustrates an electronic device  10  in the form of a portable handheld device  30 , provided here as a cellular telephone. It should be understood that while the illustrated device  30  is generally described in the context of a cellular phone, other types of handheld devices may be provided as the handheld device  30 , such as a digital media player for playing music and/or video, a personal data organizer, a gaming platform, to name just a few. Further, various embodiments of the handheld device  30  may incorporate the functionalities of one or more types of devices, such as a cellular phone function, a digital media player, a camera, a portable gaming platform, a personal data organizer, or some combination thereof. Thus, depending on the functionalities provided by the handheld electronic device  30 , a user may listen to music, play video games, take pictures, and place telephone calls, while moving freely with the device  30 . 
     As discussed above with respect to the electronic device  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the handheld device  30  may allow a user to connect to and communicate (e.g., using the network device  26 ) through the Internet or through other networks, such as local or wide area networks. For example, the handheld device  30  may allow a user to communicate using e-mail, text messaging, instant messaging, or other forms of electronic communication. In certain embodiments, the handheld device  30  also may communicate with other devices using short-range connection protocols, such as Bluetooth and near field communication (NFC). By way of example only, the handheld device  30  may be a model of an iPod® or an iPhone®, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the handheld device  30  includes an enclosure  32 , which may function to protect the interior components from physical damage and shield them from electromagnetic interference. The enclosure  32  may be formed from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, metal, or a composite material, and may allow certain frequencies of electromagnetic radiation to pass through to wireless communication circuitry within the handheld device  30  to facilitate wireless communication. 
     As shown in the present embodiment, the enclosure  32  includes the user input structures  16  through which a user may interface with the device  30 . For instance, each input structure  16  may be configured to control one or more respective device functions when pressed or actuated. By way of example, in a cellular phone implementation, one or more of the input structures  16  may be configured to invoke a “home” screen or menu to be displayed, to toggle between a sleep, wake, or powered on/off mode, to silence a ringer for a cellular phone application, to increase or decrease a volume output, and so forth. It should be understood that the illustrated input structures  16  are merely exemplary, and that the handheld electronic device  30  may include any number of suitable user input structures existing in various forms including buttons, switches, control pads, keys, knobs, scroll wheels, and so forth, depending on specific implementation goals and/or requirements. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the handheld device  30  includes the above-discussed display  12  in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD)  34 . The LCD  34  may display various images generated by the handheld device  30 . For example, the LCD  34  may display various system indicators  36  that provide feedback to a user with regard to one or more states of the handheld device  30 , such as power status, signal strength, call status, external device connections, and so forth. 
     The LCD  34  may also be configured to display a graphical user interface (“GUI”)  38  that allows a user to interact with the handheld device  30 . The GUI  38  may include various layers, windows, screens, templates, or other graphical elements that may be displayed in all, or a portion, of the LCD  34 . Generally, the GUI  38  may include graphical elements that represent applications and functions of the electronic device. The graphical elements may include icons  40  and other images representing buttons, sliders, menu bars, and the like. The icons  40  may correspond to various applications of the electronic device that may open or execute upon detecting a user selection of a respective icon  40 . In some embodiments, the selection of an icon  40  may lead to a hierarchical navigation process, such that selection of an icon  40  leads to a screen that includes one or more additional icons or other GUI elements. As will be appreciated, the icons  40  may be selected via a touchscreen included in the display  12 , or may be selected by a user input structure  16 , such as a wheel or button. 
     The handheld electronic device  30  additionally includes various input and output (I/O) ports  14  that allow connection of the handheld device  30  to one or more external devices. For example, one I/O port  14  may be a port that allows the transmission and reception of data or commands between the handheld electronic device  30  and another electronic device, such as a computer system. In some embodiments, certain I/O ports  14  may be have dual functions depending, for example, on the external component being coupled to the handheld device  30  via the I/O port  14 . For instance, in addition to providing for the transmission of reception of data when connected to another electronic device, certain I/O ports  14  may also charge a battery (power source  28 ) of the handheld device  30  when coupled to a power adaptor configured to draw/provide power from an external power source, such as an electrical wall outlet. Such an I/O port  14  may be a proprietary port from Apple Inc. or may be an open standard I/O port, such as a universal serial bus (USB) port. 
     In addition to handheld devices  30 , such as the depicted cellular telephone of  FIG. 2 , an electronic device  10 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may also take the form of a computer or other type of electronic device. For instance, such computers may include computers that are generally portable (such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers) as well as computers that are generally non-portable (such as conventional desktop computers, workstations and/or servers). In certain embodiments, the electronic device  10  in the form of a computer may be a model of a MacBook®, MacBook® Pro, MacBook Air®, iMac®, Mac® mini, or PowerBook® available from Apple Inc. By way of example, an electronic device  10  in the form of a laptop computer  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The depicted computer  50  includes a housing  52 , the display  12  (such as the depicted LCD  34  of  FIG. 2 ), the input structures  16 , and the I/O ports  14 . 
     In one embodiment, the input structures  16  may include a keyboard, a touchpad, as well as various other buttons and/or switches which may be used to interact with the computer  50 , such as to power on or start the computer, to operate a GUI or an application running on the computer  50 , as well as adjust various other aspects relating to operation of the computer  50  (e.g., sound volume, display brightness, etc.). For example, a keyboard and/or a touchpad may allow a user to navigate a user interface (e.g., GUI) or an application interface displayed on the LCD  34 . 
     As shown in the present figure, the electronic device  10  in the form of the computer  50  may also include various I/O ports  14  that provide for connectivity to additional devices. For instance, the computer  50  may include an I/O port  14 , such as a USB port, a FireWire® (IEEE 1394) port, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, or any other type of port that is suitable for connecting to an external device, such as another computer or handheld device, a projector, a supplemental display, an external storage device, or so forth. Additionally, the computer  50  may include network connectivity (e.g., network device  26 ), memory (e.g., memory  20 ), and storage capabilities (e.g., storage device  22 ), as described above with respect to  FIG. 1 . Thus, the computer  50  may store and execute a GUI and various other applications. 
     With the foregoing discussion in mind, it may be appreciated that an electronic device  10  in either the form of a handheld device  30  ( FIG. 2 ) or a computer  50  ( FIG. 3 ) may be provided with a display device  10  in the form of an LCD  34 . As discussed above, an LCD  34  may be utilized for displayed respective operating system and/or application graphical user interfaces running on the electronic device  10  and/or for displaying various data files, including textual, image, video data, or any other type of visual output data that may be associated with the operation of the electronic device  10 . 
     In embodiments in which the electronic device  10  includes an LCD  34 , the LCD  34  may typically include an array or matrix of picture elements (i.e., pixels). In operation, the LCD  34  generally operates to modulate the transmittance of light through each pixel by controlling the orientation of liquid crystal disposed at each pixel such that the amount of emitted or reflected light emitted by each pixel is controlled. In general, the orientation of the liquid crystals is controlled by a varying electric field associated with each respective pixel, with the liquid crystals being oriented at any given instant by the properties (e.g., strength, shape, and so forth) of the applied electric field. 
     As can be appreciated, different types of LCDs may employ different techniques for manipulating these electrical fields and/or the liquid crystals. For example, certain LCDs may employ transverse electric field modes in which the liquid crystals are oriented by applying an in-plane electrical field to a layer of the liquid crystals. Example of such techniques include in-plane switching (IPS) and fringe field switching (FFS) techniques, which differ in the type of electrode arrangement employed to generate the respective electrical fields. 
     While control of the orientation of the liquid crystals in such displays may be sufficient to modulate the amount of light emitted by a pixel, color filters may also be associated with each pixel within the LCD  34  to allow specific colors of light to be emitted by each pixel. For example, in embodiments where the LCD  34  is a color display, each pixel of a group of pixels may correspond to a different primary color. For example, in one embodiment, a group of pixels may include a red pixel, a green pixel, and a blue pixel, each associated with an appropriately colored filter element. The intensity of light allowed to pass through each pixel (e.g., by modulation of the corresponding liquid crystals), and its combination with the light emitted from other adjacent pixels, determines what color or colors are perceived by a user viewing the display. As the viewable colors are formed from individual color components (e.g., red, green, and blue) provided by the one or a combination of colored pixels, each of the colored pixels themselves may also be referred to herein as “pixels” or “unit pixels” or the like. 
     With the foregoing in mind, and referring once again to the figures,  FIG. 4  depicts an exploded view showing different layers that may be implemented in a unit pixel of an LCD  34 . The pixel, referred to herein by the reference number  60 , includes an upper polarizing layer  62  and a lower polarizing layer  64  that polarize light emitted by a light source  66 , which may be provided as a backlight assembly unit or a light-reflective surface. In embodiments where the light source  66  is a backlight assembly unit, any type of suitable lighting device, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFLs), and/or light emitting diodes (LEDs), may be utilize to provide lighting. 
     As shown in the present embodiment, a lower substrate  68  is disposed above the lower polarizing layer  64 . The lower substrate  68  is generally formed from a light-transparent material, such as glass, quartz, and/or plastic. A thin film transistor (TFT) layer  70  is depicted as being disposed above the lower substrate  68 . For simplicity of illustration, the TFT layer  70  is depicted as a generalized structure in  FIG. 4 . In practice, the TFT layer  70  may itself include various conductive, non-conductive, and semiconductive layers and structures which generally form the electrical devices and pathways which drive operation of the unit pixel  60 . For example, in an embodiment in which the pixel  60  is part of an FFS LCD panel, the TFT layer  70  may include the respective data lines (also referred to as “source lines”), scanning lines (also referred to as “gate lines”), pixel electrodes, and common electrodes (as well as other conductive traces and structures) of the pixel  60 . Such conductive structures may, in light-transmissive portions of the pixel  60 , be formed using transparent conductive materials, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO), for example. The TFT layer  70  may further include insulating layers (such as a gate insulating film) formed from suitable transparent materials (such as silicon oxide) and semiconductive layers formed from suitable semiconductor materials (such as amorphous silicon). In general, the respective conductive structures and traces, insulating structures, and semiconductor structures may be suitably disposed to form the respective pixel electrodes and common electrodes, a TFT, and the respective data and scanning lines used to operate the unit pixel  60 , as described in further detail below with regard to  FIG. 5 . In the depicted embodiment, a lower alignment layer  71 , which may be formed from polyimide or other suitable materials, may be disposed between the TFT layer  70  and a liquid crystal layer  72 . 
     The liquid crystal layer  72  may include liquid crystal molecules suspended in a fluid or embedded in polymer networks. The liquid crystal molecules may be oriented or aligned with respect to an electrical field generated by the TFT layer  70 . In practice, the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer  72  determines the amount of light (e.g., provided by the light source  66 ) that is transmitted through the pixel  60 . Thus, by modulation of the electrical field applied to the liquid crystal layer  72 , the amount of light transmitted though the pixel  60  may be correspondingly modulated. 
     Disposed on the side of the liquid crystal layer  72  opposite from the TFT layer  70  may be one or more alignment and/or overcoating layers  74  interfacing between the liquid crystal layer  72  and an overlying color filter  76 . The color filter  76 , in certain embodiments, may be a red, green, or blue filter, such that each unit pixel  60  of the LCD  34  corresponds to a primary color when light is transmitted from the light source  66  through the liquid crystal layer  72  and the color filter  76 . 
     The color filter  76  may be surrounded by a light-opaque mask or matrix  78 , commonly referred to as a “black mask,” which circumscribes the light-transmissive portion of the unit pixel  60 . For example, in certain embodiments, the black mask  78  may be sized and shaped to define a light-transmissive aperture over the liquid crystal layer  72  and around the color filter  76  and to cover or mask portions of the unit pixel  60  that do not transmit light, such as the scanning line and data line driving circuitry, the TFT, and the periphery of the pixel  60 . Further, in addition to defining the light-transmissive aperture, the black mask  78  may serve to prevent light transmitted through the aperture and color filter  76  from diffusing or “bleeding” into adjacent unit pixels. 
     In the depicted embodiment, an upper substrate  80  may be further disposed between the color filter  76  (including the black mask  78 ) and the upper polarizing layer  64 . In such an embodiment, the upper substrate may be formed from light-transmissive glass, quartz, and/or plastic. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 5 , a schematic circuit representation of pixel driving circuitry found in an LCD  34  is shown. For example, such circuitry as depicted in  FIG. 5  may be embodied in the TFT layer  70  described above with respect to  FIG. 4 . As depicted, a plurality of unit pixels  60 , each of which may be formed in accordance with the unit pixel  60  shown in  FIG. 4 , may be disposed in a pixel array or matrix defining a plurality of rows and columns of unit pixels that collectively form an image display region of an LCD  34 . In such an array, each unit pixel  60  may be defined by the intersection of rows and columns, which may be defined by the illustrated data (or “source”) lines  100  and scanning (or “gate”) lines  102 , respectively. 
     Although only six unit pixels, referred to individually by the reference numbers  60   a - 60   f , respectively, are shown in the present example for purposes of simplicity, it should be understood that in an actual LCD implementation, each data line  100  and scanning line  102  may include hundreds or even thousands of unit pixels. By way of example, in a color LCD panel  34  having a display resolution of 1024×768, each data line  100 , which may define a column of the pixel array, may include 768 unit pixels, while each scanning line  102 , which may define a row of the pixel array, may include 1024 groups of pixels, wherein each group has a red, blue, and green pixel, thus totaling 3072 unit pixels per scanning line  102 . In the present illustration, the group of unit pixels  60   a - 60   c  may represent a group of pixels having a red pixel ( 60   a ), a blue pixel ( 60   b ), and a green pixel ( 60   c ). The group of unit pixels  60   d - 60   f  may be arranged in a similar manner. 
     As shown in the present figure, each unit pixel  60  includes a pixel electrode  110  and thin film transistor (TFT)  112  for switching the pixel electrode  110 . In the depicted embodiment, the source  114  of each TFT  112  is electrically connected to a data line  100 , extending from respective data line driving circuitry  120 . Similarly, in the depicted embodiment, the gate  122  of each TFT  112  is electrically connected to a scanning or gate line  102 , extending from respective scanning line driving circuitry  124 . In the depicted embodiment, the pixel electrode  110  is electrically connected to a drain  128  of the respective TFT  112 . 
     In one embodiment, the data line driving circuitry  120  may send image signals to the pixels  60  by way of the respective data lines  100 . Such image signals may be applied by line-sequence. That is, the data lines  100  (defining columns) may be sequentially activated during operation of the LCD  34 . The scanning lines  102  (defining rows) may apply scanning signals from the scanning line driving circuitry  124  to the respective gates  122  of each TFT  112  to which the respective scanning lines  102  are connected. Such scanning signals may be applied by line-sequence with a predetermined timing and/or in a pulsed manner. 
     Each TFT  112  serves as a switching element which may be activated and deactivated (e.g., turned on and off) for a predetermined period based upon the respective presence or absence of a scanning signal at the gate  122  of the TFT  112 . When activated, a TFT  112  may store the image signals received via a respective data line  100  as a charge in the pixel electrode  110  with a predetermined timing. The image signals stored by the pixel electrode  110  may be used to generate an electrical field between the respective pixel electrode  110  and a common electrode (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). Such an electrical field may align liquid crystals molecules within the liquid crystal layer  72  ( FIG. 4 ) to modulate light transmission through the liquid crystal layer  72 . In some embodiments, a storage capacitor (not shown) may also be provided in parallel to the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode  110  and the common electrode to prevent leakage of the stored image signal by the pixel electrode  110 . For example, such a storage capacitor may be provided between the drain  128  of the respective TFT  112  and a separate capacitor line. 
     The operation of the unit pixel  60  and, particularly, the arrangement of the pixel electrodes  110  and the common electrodes discussed in  FIG. 5  may be better understood with respect to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates the operation of the unit pixel  60  via a cutaway cross-sectional side view. As shown, the view of the unit pixel  60  in  FIG. 6  includes the layers generally described above with reference to  FIG. 4 , including the upper polarizing layer  62 , lower polarizing layer  64 , lower substrate  68 , TFT layer  70 , liquid crystal layer  72 , alignment layers  71  and  74 , color filter  76 , and upper substrate  80 . 
     As mentioned above, the TFT layer  70 , which was depicted as a generalized structure in  FIG. 4 , may include various conductive, non-conductive, and/or semiconductive layers and structures defining electrical devices and pathways for driving the operation of the pixel  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, the TFT layer  70  is shown in the context of a fringe field switching (FFS) LCD display device and includes the pixel electrode  110 , an insulating layer  132 , and a common electrode layer  134 . The common electrode layer  134  is disposed above the lower substrate  68 , and the insulation layer  132  is disposed between the pixel electrode  110  and the common electrode  134 . 
     The pixel electrodes  110  and the common electrode layer  134  may be made of a transparent conductive material, such as ITO or IZO, as mentioned above. The common electrode layer  134  generally covers the surface of each unit pixel  60 , and may be connected to a common line (not shown), which may be parallel to a scanning line  102  to which the illustrated unit pixel  60  is connected. The pixel electrodes  110  may be formed in a single-domain configuration as having a plurality of slit-like voids  138 , such that the portions of the pixel electrode  110  between each of the slits  138  define substantially straight (single-domain) “strip-like” or “finger-like” electrode shapes that generally lie within a plane of the unit pixel  60  defined by the x-axis and y-axis (x-y plane), as depicted by the reference axes shown in  FIG. 6 . As shown in the present figure, portions of the lower alignment layer  71  may at least partially protrude into the region defined by the slits  138 . In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, which will be discussed in further detail below with regard to  FIGS. 7-11 , the pixel electrode  110  may be arranged such that its electrode “strips” are tilted at an angle (with respect to the y-axis) within the x-y plane. 
     In accordance with FFS LCD operating principles, the liquid crystal molecules  136  within the liquid crystal layer  72  may have a “default” orientation in a first direction based upon the configuration of the lower  71  and upper alignment layers  74 . When a voltage is applied to the unit pixel  60 , an electrical field is formed between the pixel electrodes  110  and common electrode layer  134 . As discussed above, the electrical field (referred to herein by the reference label E) controls the orientation of liquid crystal molecules  136  within the liquid crystal layer  72 , such that the orientation changes with respect to the default orientation, thereby allowing at least a portion of the light transmitted from the light source  66  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) to be transmitted through the pixel  60 . Thus, by modulating the electrical field E, the light provided by the light source  66  and transmitted through the unit pixel  60 , as indicated by the reference label T, may be controlled. In this manner, image data sent along the data lines  100  and scanning lines  102  may be perceived by a user viewing the LCD  34  as an image. 
     Before continuing, it should be understood that the electrodes  110  and electrode layer  134  of the depicted FFS LCD panel may also be implemented in an opposite manner depending on how the FFS LCD panel  34  is constructed. That is, in certain embodiments, electrodes  110  may function as common electrodes and the electrode layer  134  may function as a pixel electrode. Thus, while the following discussion with respect to  FIGS. 7-11  will describe various aspects of the present technique as being implemented with respect to the pixel electrodes of unit pixels, it should be appreciated that the presently described techniques may also be applied where the electrodes  110  function as common electrodes. 
     As discussed above, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide for unit pixels  60  having pixel electrodes  110  that are angled with respect to a y-axis of the LCD  34 . For instance, referring to  FIG. 7 , a simplified plan view of pixel electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  corresponding to two adjacent pixels  60   a  and  60   b  (as shown above in  FIG. 5 ) is illustrated. As shown, each of the pixel electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  have a single-domain design and are tilted in opposite directions via the angles α and β, respectively, with respect to the y-axis of the LCD  34 . That is, each of the electrode strips (between the slits  138 ) of the pixel electrode  110   a  are tilted by the angle α with respect to the y-axis, and each of the electrode strips of the pixel electrode  110   b  are titled by the angle β with respect to the y-axis. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the magnitude of the angles α and β are shown as being equal with respect to the y-axis. However, in other embodiments, the angles α and β may have different magnitudes. Further, in one embodiment, the values for the angles α and β with respect to the y-axis may be selected such that 0°≦|α| and |β|≦90°. In another embodiment, the angles α and β may be selected such that 0°≦|α| and |β|≦15°. In yet a further embodiment, the angles α and β may be selected such that 75°≦|α| and |β|≦90°. Preferably, the angles α and β may each have magnitudes selected from a range of at least 15° to 75°. As will be discussed below, an LCD  34  implementing aspects of the present technique may provide for various configurations in which a first set of unit pixels  60  having pixel electrodes  110   a  (tilted at the angle α) and a second set of unit pixels  60  having pixel electrodes  110   b  (tilted at the angle β) are arranged in an alternating manner either along a scanning line  102 , along a data line  100 , or a combination thereof. 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG. 8  depicts a more detailed plan view of a portion of an LCD  34  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Particularly, the portion of the LCD  34  illustrated in  FIG. 8  includes the unit pixels  60   a - 60   f  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5 , as well as the unit pixels  60   g - 60   k . In the depicted embodiment, three scanning lines  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c , and three data lines  100   a ,  100   b , and  100   c  are shown. The unit pixels  60   a - 60   c  are each coupled to the scanning line  102   a  and respective data lines  100   a - 100   c . Similarly, the unit pixels  60   d - 60   f  are each coupled to the scanning line  102   b  and respective data lines  100   a - 100   c , and the unit pixels  60   g - 60   i  are each coupled to the scanning line  102   c  and respective data lines  100   a - 100   c . As discussed above, where the LCD  34  is a color display, each group of unit pixels  60   a - 60   c ,  60   d - 60   f , and  60   g - 60   i , may represent a group of unit pixels having a red, blue, and green unit pixel. 
     As mentioned above, each unit pixel  60  is generally defined by the intersection of a data line  100  and a scanning line  102 . Particularly, the intersection of a data line  100  and a scanning line  102  defines a TFT  112  which serves to apply a voltage (switching on) from the data line  100  to liquid crystal molecules  136  within a corresponding unit pixel  60  or to remove the applied voltage (switching off). 
     As shown in the depicted embodiment, the illustrated pixels  60   a - 60   i  may be arranged such that their respective pixel electrodes are tilted with respect to the y-axis in an alternating manner along each scanning line ( 102   a - 102   c ) and each data line ( 100   a - 100   c ). For instance, along the scanning line  102   a , the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   c  may have α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a , and the unit pixel  60   b  may have a β-angled pixel electrode  110   b . Thus, for each group of red, blue, green unit pixels coupled to a common scanning line (e.g.,  102   a ), two of the unit pixels within the group may be angled in a first direction with respect to the y-axis (e.g., either α or β), and the remaining unit pixel may be angled in the second direction. Similarly, along the data line  100   a , the unit pixels  60   a ,  60   d , and  60   g  may also be arranged in an alternating manner, wherein the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   g  have α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a , and the unit pixel  60   d  has a β-angled pixel electrode  110   b.    
     Additionally, referring to the unit pixels  60   j  and  60   k , a black mask  78  element is illustrated. As discussed above, the black mask  78 , which may be light-opaque, may define a light-transmissive aperture over the liquid crystal layer  72  for each of the unit pixels, and may cover or mask portions of the unit pixel  60  that do not transmit light, such as the TFT  112  and the scanning/data line circuitry. Also, in accordance with aspects of the presently described techniques, the black mask  78  may serve to mask disclinations within the liquid crystal layers  72  of adjacent unit pixels  60  that may occur due to interference between electrical fields (E) generated by pixel electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  positioned in different-angled (α or β) directions. 
     As shown in the present embodiment, the edges  140  of the black mask  78  are substantially parallel with both the y-axis and the data lines  100   a - 100   c . Also as discussed above, a color filter  76 , which may be a red, green, or blue filter, may be provided within the defined aperture such that each unit pixel  60  corresponds to a particular primary color when light is transmitted therethrough. For illustrative purposes, the black mask  78  is only shown as covering the unit pixels  60   j  and  60   k . In practice, it should be appreciated that the black mask  78  may form a matrix over all the unit pixels within an LCD  34 . 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 9 , a further embodiment of a portion of an LCD panel  34  implementing aspects of the presently disclosed techniques is illustrated. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , except that the pixel electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  are arranged in an alternating manner along the scanning lines  102   a - 102   c , but are arranged in parallel along each data line  100   a - 100   c . For instance, the pixel group  60   a - 60   c , which may include each of a red, green, and blue unit pixel, are arranged in a manner similar to that of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , whereby the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   c  have α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a , and the unit pixel  60   b  has a β-angled pixel electrode  110   b . In the depicted embodiment, the pixel groups  60   d - 60   f  and  60   g - 60   i  are arranged in a similar manner. 
     Along each data line  100   a - 100   c , the unit pixels may be arranged in parallel, such that the pixel electrodes  110  of each unit pixel along a particular data line are angled in the same direction. For instance, as shown in the present figure, each of the unit pixels  60   a ,  60   d , and  60   g  coupled to the data line  100   a  and each of the unit pixels  60   c ,  60   f , and  60   i  coupled to the data line  100   c  have β-angled pixel electrodes  110   b . Similarly, each of the unit pixels  60   b ,  60   e , and  60   h  coupled to the data line  100   b  are shown as having α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a . Further, though not shown in the present figure, it should be appreciated that the black mask  78  shown in  FIG. 8  may also be applied and disposed over the liquid crystal layer  72  of the LCD  34  embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     Continuing now to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , additional embodiments of the LCD panel  34  in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example using simplified plan views. Referring first to  FIG. 10A , the pixel electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  are arranged in a periodic manner, but not necessarily alternating with respect to every other pixel within a scanning line ( 102   a - 102   c ). In the depicted embodiment, the unit pixels  60  may be arranged along a scanning line  102   a  such that within a group of three pixels  60   a - 60   c , which may represent a red, a blue, and a green pixel, two adjacent unit pixels utilize pixel electrodes angled in the same direction, and the remaining unit pixel utilizes a pixel electrode angled in the direction opposite the other two pixels. By way of example, the adjacent unit pixels  60   a  and  60   b  are shown in the present figure as having α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a , while the remaining unit pixel  60   c  within the pixel group  60   a - 60   c  has a β-angled pixel electrode  110   b . The unit pixels  60   d - 60   f  in the scanning line  102   b  directly below the scanning  102   a  (with respect to the y-axis) may be arranged in an opposite manner. For example, within the pixel group  60   d - 60   f , the adjacent unit pixels  60   d  and  60   e  may have β-angled pixel electrodes  110   b , while the remaining unit pixel  60   f  has an α-angled pixel electrode  110   a.    
     As discussed above, in certain embodiments, the magnitude of the angles α and β by which the unit pixels  60  within the LCD panel  34  are tilted with respect to the y-axis may differ in magnitude. For instance, referring to  FIG. 10B , a pixel configuration that alternates along the scanning lines  102   a - 102   c  and data lines  100   a - 100   c  in a manner similar to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 8  is illustrated, but with the angle β being greater in magnitude than the angle α. Thus, referring to the pixel group  60   a - 60   c , the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   c  may be tilted to a lesser degree with respect to that y-axis when compared to the unit pixel  60   b , which may be tilted by a greater degree with respect to the y-axis, but in the direction opposite the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   c . When a voltage is applied to the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   b , the respective electrical fields E a  and E b  may be generated for manipulating liquid crystal molecules to allow for light from the light source  66  (not shown) to at least partially transmit through each respective unit pixel  60   a  and  60   b.    
     Further, in contrast to conventional LCD panel designs, in which the liquid crystal alignment direction (also commonly referred to as the liquid crystal “rubbing angle”) is typically the direction of the vertical or horizontal axis of the panel, the present embodiment shows the liquid crystal layer  72  having an alignment direction LC that is offset at an angle with respect to the y-axis of the illustrated LCD panel  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, the magnitude of the angle at which the alignment direction LC is offset from the y-axis may be between the magnitudes of the angles α and β to provide for increased transmittance. By way of example only, the angle α (unit pixel  60   a ) may have a magnitude of approximately 15°, and the angle β (unit pixel  60   b ) may have a magnitude of approximately 83°, while the angle at which the alignment direction LC is offset from the y-axis may have a magnitude of approximately 30°. 
     The presently illustrated configuration having the offset liquid crystal alignment direction LC may provide for certain additional viewing benefits, particularly when the LCD panel  34  is viewed from behind a polarizing medium, such as by a user wearing polarized sunglasses, for instance. In conventional LCD panels, where the liquid crystal alignment direction is in the direction of either the horizontal or vertical axis, a user holding a device (e.g., 30 or 50) in a manner such that an LCD display on the device is oriented vertically or horizontally and simultaneously viewing LCD display from behind the polarized medium (e.g., sunglasses) may perceive the amount of light transmitted through the LCD display (from the light source  66 ) as being reduced or partially obstructed. Thus, by providing an liquid crystal layer having an alignment direction LC that is offset from the vertical or horizontal axis of the LCD panel  34 , the transmittance perceived by a user under such circumstances may be improved. 
     Before continuing, it should be understood that the present embodiment is provided herein merely by way of example, and that in alternate embodiments, the magnitude of the angle β could be less than the angle α. Further, as shown in  FIG. 10B , the electrodes  110   a  and  110   b  may include different numbers of electrode strips within a corresponding unit pixel. In the present example, the electrode  110   a  includes three strips, while the electrode  110   b  includes four strips. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the black mask  78  shown in  FIG. 8  may similarly be applied to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . In yet further embodiments, multiple angular magnitudes in both the α-direction and the β-direction could be utilized. For instance, in such an embodiment, the unit pixels  60   a  and  60   c  may both be angled in the same direction with respect to the y-axis, but by different magnitudes. 
     Continuing now to  FIG. 11 , a plan view showing a further embodiment of an LCD panel  34  is illustrated. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the unit pixels  60  coupled to each of the respective scanning lines  102   a - 102   c  are angled in the same manner (e.g., α or β), but alternate between every other scanning line (e.g., every other row of the pixel array). For instance, the unit pixels  60   a - 60   c  (which may include a red, green, and a blue pixel) coupled to the scanning line  102   a  and the unit pixels  60   g - 60   i  coupled to the scanning line  102   c  each include β-angled pixel electrodes  110   b , while the unit pixels  60   d - 60   f  coupled to the scanning line  102   b  each include α-angled pixel electrodes  110   a.    
     The present embodiment also differs from the above-discussed embodiments in that the data lines  100   a - 100   c  are parallel to each other, but not parallel with respect to the y-axis, as shown by the reference axes in  FIG. 11 . Instead, the data lines  100   a - 100   c  are parallel with respect to the pixel electrodes ( 110   a  or  110   b ) coupled to each scanning line  102   a - 102   c , such that the data lines  100   a - 100   c  generally form a zigzag structure along the direction of the y-axis. Referring to the data line  110   a  by way of example, the portion of the data line  100   a  bordering the unit pixel  60   a  above the scanning line  102   a  is parallel to the angle of the pixel electrode  110   b . That is, the portion of the data line bordering the unit pixel  60   a  is also tilted by the angle β with respect to the y-axis. Similarly, the portion of the data line  100   a  bordering the unit pixel  60   d  is angled in the opposite direction by the angle α, and is thus parallel to the pixel electrode  110   a  of the unit pixel  60   d . The portion of the data line  100   a  bordering the unit pixel  60   g  may be angled in the same manner (by the angle β) as the portion of the data line  110   a  bordering the unit pixel  60   a , as discussed above. Thus, in accordance with the present embodiment, the data lines  100   a - 100   c  may be angled or tilted with respect to the y-axis in an alternating manner (e.g., between every other scanning line), such that the data lines  100   a - 100   c  are parallel to the pixel electrodes ( 110   a  or  110   b ) of bordering unit pixels between each scanning line  102   a - 102   c.    
     Additionally, a modified black mask structure  78  may be utilized with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 . By way of example, referring to the unit pixel  60   k , the edges  140   k  (with respect to the y-axis) of the aperture defined by the black mask  78  are not parallel to the y-axis. Rather, the edges  140   k  are angled via α such that the edges  140   k  are parallel with the pixel electrode  110   a  within the unit pixel  60   k , as well as the angled portions of the data lines  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  between the scanning lines  102   a  and  102   b . Similarly, the portion of the black mask structure  78  over the liquid crystal layer  72  of the unit pixel  60   l  is shown as having an aperture with edges  140   l  angled via β, such that the edges  140   l  are parallel with the pixel electrode  110   b  within the unit pixel  60   l , as well as the angled portions of the data lines  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  between the scanning lines  102   b  and  102   c . Additionally, as explained above, where the LCD panel  34  is a colored display, respective color filters  76  (e.g., red, blue, or green) may be disposed within each of the apertures defined by the black mask  78 . 
     The presently disclosed techniques, which have been explained by way of the various exemplary embodiments described above, may be utilized in a variety of LCD devices, particularly fringe field switching (FFS) LCD devices. As will be appreciated, an LCD device utilizing the “pseudo-multi-domain” configurations described herein may retain the benefits of both single-domain and multi-domain pixel configuration devices. For instance, a result of using the single-domain pixel configuration of the unit pixels in accordance with the present technique may be the maintenance of the relatively higher transmittance rates typical of conventional single-domain LCD panels (as opposed to multi-domain panel transmittance rates). Particularly, the use of single-domain pixel configurations throughout the LCD panel may prevent unwanted disclinations, which typically are present in multi-domain pixel designs (due, for example, to interference between electrical fields in differing directions), from occurring within the areas of transmittance of each unit pixel. As mentioned above, such disinclinations may reduce the amount of light that is transmitted through each unit pixel, and thus reduce the overall transmittance of the LCD. Additionally, the alternating and/or periodic arrangement of different-angled pixel electrodes (e.g., by the angles α or β) within each of the single-domain unit pixels may generally provide for improved viewing angle and color shift properties typical of conventional multi-domain LCD panels. Additionally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the LCD panels incorporating one or more of the foregoing techniques may be manufactured using any type of suitable layer deposition process, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD or PECVD). 
     While the present invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the techniques set forth in the present disclosure are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following appended claims.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20090213
Publication Date: 20130910
Grant Date: 20130910
Priority Date: 20090213
Inventors: XU MING
CHEN CHENG
GU MINGXIA
ZHONG JOHN Z.
GETTEMY SHAWN ROBERT
CHANG SHIH CHANG
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02F1/1343", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133707", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134372", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134363", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134336", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134363", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133707", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13373", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134336", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133512", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/134372", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/13373", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02F1/133512", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 42040456