PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-8988334-B2
Application Number: US-94175110-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Column inversion techniques for improved transmittance

Abstract:
Present techniques involve methods and systems of inversion patterns for pixels in a display. Inversion techniques involve driving image signals having a first polarity to data lines of a pixel matrix during a first time period and driving image signals having an opposite polarity to the data lines during a second time period. In some embodiments, the pixels may be configured to have electrodes having only two finger electrodes, thus widening the distance between electrodes and decreasing the susceptibility for crosstalk between pixels. In some embodiments, horizontal cross-talk of electromagnetic fields between pixels may be further reduced by configuring the data line driving scheme such that voltage polarity is flipped for the pixels along every two, three, or more data line columns. Furthermore, a Z inversion pattern may be employed to reduce the occurrence of undesirable display artifacts.

Claims:
What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:
 a plurality of data line groups, each data line group comprising three or more directly adjacent data lines, wherein each data line is connected to a plurality of pixels of a same color and configured to transmit a voltage signal to the connected plurality of pixels, and wherein the connected plurality of pixels are connected to a left side and a fight side of the data line in an alternating manner; and 
 one or more data line drivers configured to drive voltage signals to each data line group, wherein the voltage signal transmitted to each data line group comprises a polarity that is opposite from a polarity of a voltage signal transmitted to any adjacent group of data lines during one time period, wherein the polarity of the voltage signal transmitted to each data line group alternates between opposite polarities throughout an operation of the LCD, and wherein the one or more data line drivers is configured to modify the voltage signal driven to an inner data line of the three or more adjacent data lines without modifying the voltage signal driven to outer data lines of the three or more adjacent data lines based on reduced crosstalk effects on the plurality of pixels connected to the inner data line compared to the plurality of pixels connected to the outer data lines of the three or more adjacent data lines. 
 
     
     
       2. The LCD of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of pixel rows overlapping and intersecting with a plurality of pixel columns, wherein each of the plurality of pixel rows comprises a color pixel pattern comprising alternating color pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixel rows has a color pixel pattern which is shifted by one color pixel with respect to an adjacent pixel row. 
     
     
       3. The LCD of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel electrode comprising three or more finger electrodes. 
     
     
       4. The LCD of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel electrode comprising only two finger electrodes. 
     
     
       5. The LCD of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more data line drivers is configured to modify the voltage signal driven to an inner data line of the three or more adjacent data lines to:
 separately control gamma signals provided to the plurality of pixels connected to the inner data line; or 
 reduce light transmittance of the plurality of pixels connected to the inner data line of the three or more adjacent data lines. 
 
     
     
       6. The LCD of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of pixels are driven by a voltage signal having an opposite polarity to a voltage signal driving an adjacent pixel on only one side along a pixel row direction, and others of the plurality of pixels are driven by a voltage signal having a common polarity with the adjacent pixels on both sides along the pixel row direction. 
     
     
       7. A liquid crystal display (LCD) layer, comprising:
 a plurality of pixel columns each comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein the plurality of pixel columns comprises a first column, a second column, a third column, and a fourth column, wherein the second column is adjacent to and between the first column and the third column and the third column is adjacent to and between the second column and the fourth column; 
 a first data line connected to the first column and the second column in an alternating pattern between the first column and the second column, wherein the first data line is only connected to pixels of a first color; 
 a second data line connected to the second column and the third column in an alternating pattern between the second column and the third column, wherein the second data line is only connected to pixels of a second color; 
 a third data line connected to the third column and the fourth column in an alternating pattern between the third column and the fourth column, wherein the third data line is only connected to pixels of a third color; 
 wherein the second data line is directly adjacent to both the first data line and the third data line; and 
 a data line driver configured to:
 drive a signal having a first polarity through each of the first, the second, and the third data lines, wherein only the signal driven to the second data line is modified to compensate for reduced crosstalk effect on the plurality of pixels connected to the second data line; and 
 drive the signal having a second polarity through each of the first, the second, and the third data lines, wherein the first polarity is opposite from the second polarity and only the signal driven to the second data line is modified to compensate for reduced crosstalk effect on the plurality of pixels connected to the second data line. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The LCD layer of  claim 7 , wherein the first column comprises green pixels and blue pixels, the second column comprises blue pixels and red pixels, the third column comprises red pixels and green pixels, and the fourth column comprises green pixels and blue pixels. 
     
     
       9. The LCD layer of  claim 8 , wherein the first data line is connected to each of the blue pixels in the first column and each of the blue pixels in the second column, the second data line is connected to each of the red pixels in the second column and each of the red pixels in the third column, and the third data line is connected to each of the green pixels in the third column and each of the green pixels in the fourth column. 
     
     
       10. The LCD layer of  claim 8 , wherein the data line driver is configured to drive the first data line, the third data line, and the second data line with a signal alternating between the first polarity and the second polarity throughout an operation of the LCD layer. 
     
     
       11. A method of minimizing crosstalk while employing column inversion in a liquid crystal display (LCD), the method comprising:
 configuring a pixel matrix into a plurality of groups of data lines, wherein each group of data lines comprises three or more adjacent data lines, and wherein each data line is connected to a plurality of pixels; 
 transmitting an image signal driven to each group of data lines, wherein the image signal transmitted to each group of data lines comprises an inverse polarity to the image signal transmitted to any adjacent groups of data lines; and 
 modifying only image signals driven to outer data lines of the three or more adjacent data lines to compensate for increased crosstalk effects on the plurality of pixels connected to the outer data lines as compared to the plurality of pixels connected to an inner data line of the three or more adjacent data lines. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein each data line is configured to connect in an alternating pattern between pixels of two adjacent pixel columns of the LCD. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , comprising configuring each of the plurality of pixels to have a pixel electrode comprising only two finger electrodes. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein modifying only image signals driven to the outer data lines comprises increasing light transmittance of the plurality of pixels connected to the outer data lines. 
     
     
       15. A liquid crystal display (LCD) comprising:
 a plurality of data line groups, each data line group comprising three or more adjacent data lines, wherein each data line is connected to a plurality of pixels and configured to transmit a voltage signal to the connected plurality of pixels; and 
 one or more data line drivers configured to drive voltage signals to each data line group, wherein the voltage signal transmitted to each data line group comprises a polarity that is opposite from a polarity of a voltage signal transmitted to any adjacent group of data lines, wherein the one or more data line drivers is configured to:
 drive a compensated voltage signal to an inner data line of the three or more adjacent data lines; and 
 drive uncompensated voltage signals to outer data lines of the three or more adjacent data lines such that reduced crosstalk effects on the plurality of pixels connected to the inner data line compared to the plurality of pixels connected to outer data lines of the three or more adjacent data lines are compensated. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The LCD of  claim 15 , wherein each data line is configured to connect in an alternative pattern between pixels of two adjacent pixel columns of the LCD. 
     
     
       17. The LCD of  claim 15 , wherein each data line is connected to a plurality of pixels of a same color. 
     
     
       18. The LCD of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel electrode comprising only two finger electrodes. 
     
     
       19. The LCD of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel electrode comprising three or more finger electrodes. 
     
     
       20. The LCD of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises a pixel electrode configured to have a distance from a pixel electrode of an adjacent pixel in a pixel row direction, wherein the distance is larger than a liquid crystal cell gap.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to control of a display device. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, 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 where it is desirable to minimize power usage. 
     LCDs typically include an LCD panel having, among other things, a liquid crystal layer and various circuitry for controlling orientation of liquid crystals within the layer to modulate an amount of light passing through the LCD panel and thereby render images on the panel. If a voltage of a single polarity is consistently applied to the liquid crystal layer, a biasing (polarization) of the liquid crystal layer may occur such that the light transmission characteristics of the liquid crystal layer may be disadvantageously altered. 
     To aid in preventing this biasing of the liquid crystal layer, periodic inversion of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer may be utilized. Furthermore, various inversion techniques may be utilized to reduce visual artifacts caused by slight differences in the value of applied positive and negative voltages during the periodic inversion of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer. For example, certain inversion techniques involve driving each adjacent pixel location in the liquid crystal layer to a voltage opposite of its neighboring pixels over a given time frame. While such techniques may generally reduce the appearance of visual artifacts on the LCD, a substantial amount of power may be used to perform such techniques. Furthermore, the driving voltages of opposite polarities between neighboring pixels may result in crosstalk between the neighboring pixels, which may reduce light transmittance through the LCD panel. Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which consume lower power, minimize undesirable visual artifacts, and control and/or limit the reduction of light transmittance through the LCD. 
     SUMMARY 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     Techniques are provided for driving a matrix of pixels in a display with positive and negative voltages. Data line drivers of a display may drive a first voltage, (e.g., a positive voltage) to a first set of data lines of a pixel array (matrix) in a display during a first period of time in a frame (i.e., the time required to update data for the entire matrix of pixels) and drive a second voltage (e.g., a negative voltage) which is an inverse of the first voltage to the remaining second set of data lines of the pixel array during the first period of time. Data line drivers may subsequently drive the second voltage to the first set of data lines and the first voltage to the second set of data lines during a second period of time in the frame. Therefore, each scanning line row of the pixel array include pixels (or sub-pixels) driven to the first voltage, as well as pixels driven to the second voltage. Some embodiments involve configuring the data line driving scheme such that voltage polarity is inverted for the pixels along every two, three, or more data lines. Furthermore, a Z inversion pattern may be employed such that pixels in the same scanning line rows have a flipped polarity every two pixels while pixels in the same data line columns have a flipped polarity at every pixel. Embodiments include various configurations and combinations of techniques, depending on system requirements and/or the desirability of minimizing power consumption, minimizing undesirable visual artifacts, and maximizing light transmittance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a computer in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a handheld electronic device in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a liquid crystal display (LCD) in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  graphically depicts circuitry that may be found in the LCD of  FIG. 4  in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of a column inversion scheme in a LCD; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram representing an affect of crosstalk on the liquid crystals of adjacent pixel electrodes; 
         FIG. 8  is a graph representing a reduction in transmittance due to crosstalk between adjacent pixels; 
         FIG. 9  is a graph representing transmittance with no substantial crosstalk; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram representing improved transmittance in a two-finger electrode pixel configuration, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram of a 2-column inversion scheme in the LCD of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram of a multi-column inversion scheme in the LCD of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram of a 2-column Z inversion scheme in the LCD of  FIG. 4 , in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are 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. 
     Certain embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to reducing power consumption, improving light transmission, and reducing visual artifacts in an electronic display, such as an LCD, by driving a matrix of pixels in a display with alternating positive and negative voltages to aid in prevent biasing of the pixels in the display. For example, data line drivers of a display may drive a first voltage, (e.g., a positive voltage) to a first set of data lines of a pixel array (matrix) in a display during a first period of time in a frame (i.e., the time required to update data for the entire matrix of pixels) and drive a second voltage (e.g., a negative voltage) which is an inverse of the first voltage to the remaining second set of data lines of the pixel array during the first period of time. During a second period of time in the frame, data line drivers may drive the second voltage to the first set of data lines and the first voltage to the second set of data lines. Therefore, at any time during the operation of the display, each scanning line row of the pixel array includes pixels (or sub-pixels) driven to the first voltage, as well as pixels driven to the (inverse) second voltage. 
     One or more embodiments involve configuring the data line driving scheme such that voltage polarity is inverted for the pixels along every two, three, or more data line columns. By inverting the polarity of the driven voltage every two or more data line columns, as opposed to inverting the polarity at every adjacent column, crosstalk between the electrodes of adjacent pixels may be reduced. Furthermore, the pixel matrix and data line connections may be configured to employ a “Z-inversion” technique, such that pixels in the same scanning line rows have a flipped polarity every two pixels while pixels in the same data line columns have a flipped polarity at every pixel. Embodiments include various configurations and combinations of column inversion techniques, depending on system requirements of the LCD, desired system characteristics, and/or an optimization of minimizing power consumption, minimizing undesirable visual artifacts, and maximizing light transmittance through the display area. With these foregoing features in mind, a general description of electronic devices including a display that may use the presently disclosed technique is provided below. 
     As may be appreciated, electronic devices may include various internal and/or external components which contribute to the function of the device. For instance,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating components that may be present in one such electronic device  10 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various functional blocks shown in  FIG. 1  may include hardware elements (including circuitry), software elements (including computer code stored on a computer-readable medium, such as a hard drive or system memory), or a combination of both hardware and software elements.  FIG. 1  is only one example of a particular implementation and is merely intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in the electronic device  10 . For example, in the presently illustrated embodiment, these components may include a display  12 , input/output (I/O) ports  14 , input structures  16 , one or more processors  18 , one or more memory devices  20 , non-volatile storage  22 , expansion card(s)  24 , networking device  26 , and power source  28 . 
     The display  12  may be used to display various images generated by the electronic device  10 . The display  12  may be any suitable display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. 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 display  12  may include a matrix of pixels and circuitry for modulating the transmittance of light through each pixel to display an image. In some embodiments, the matrix of pixels may be configured such that column inversion driving schemes may be employed to reduce crosstalk between horizontally adjacent pixels, thereby reducing light transmittance loss. 
     The electronic device  10  may take the form of a computer system or some other type of electronic device. Such computers may include computers that are generally portable (such as laptop, notebook, tablet, and handheld computers), as well as computers that are generally used in one place (such as conventional desktop computers, workstations and/or servers). In certain embodiments, electronic device  10  in the form of a computer may include a model of a MacBook®, MacBook® Pro, MacBook Air®, iMac®, Mac® mini, or Mac Pro® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. By way of example, an electronic device  10  in the form of a laptop computer  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  in accordance with one embodiment. The depicted computer  30  includes a housing  32 , a display  12  (e.g., in the form of an LCD  34  or some other suitable display), I/O ports  14 , and input structures  16 . 
     The display  12  may be integrated with the computer  30  (e.g., such as the display of the depicted laptop computer) or may be a standalone display that interfaces with the computer  30  using one of the I/O ports  14 , such as via a DisplayPort, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), or analog (D-sub) interface. For instance, in certain embodiments, such a standalone display  12  may be a model of an Apple Cinema Display®, available from Apple Inc. 
     Although an electronic device  10  is generally depicted in the context of a computer in  FIG. 2 , an electronic device  10  may also take the form of other types of electronic devices. In some embodiments, various electronic devices  10  may include mobile telephones, media players, personal data organizers, handheld game platforms, cameras, and combinations of such devices. For instance, as generally depicted in  FIG. 3 , the device  10  may be provided in the form of handheld electronic device  36  that includes various functionalities (such as the ability to take pictures, make telephone calls, access the Internet, communicate via email, record audio and video, listen to music, play games, and connect to wireless networks). By way of further example, handheld device  36  may be a model of an iPod®, iPod® Touch, or iPhone® available from Apple Inc. In the depicted embodiment, the handheld device  32  includes the display  12 , which may be in the form of an LCD  34 . The LCD  34  may display various images generated by the handheld device  32 , such as a graphical user interface (GUI)  38  having one or more icons  40 . 
     In another embodiment, the electronic device  10  may also be provided in the form of a portable multi-function tablet computing device (not illustrated). In certain embodiments, the tablet computing device may provide the functionality of two or more of a media player, a web browser, a cellular phone, a gaming platform, a personal data organizer, and so forth. By way of example only, the tablet computing device may be a model of an iPad® tablet computer, available from Apple Inc. 
     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 . 
     One example of an LCD display  34  is depicted in  FIG. 4  in accordance with one embodiment. The depicted LCD display  34  includes an LCD panel  42  and a backlight unit  44 , which may be assembled within a frame  46 . As may be appreciated, the LCD panel  42  may include an array of pixels configured to selectively modulate the amount and color of light passing from the backlight unit  44  through the LCD panel  42 . For example, the LCD panel  42  may include a liquid crystal layer, one or more thin film transistor (TFT) layers configured to control orientation of liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer via an electric field, and polarizing films, which cooperate to enable the LCD panel  42  to control the amount of light emitted by each pixel. Additionally, the LCD panel  42  may include color filters that allow specific colors of light to be emitted from the pixels (e.g., red, green, and blue). 
     The backlight unit  44  includes one or more light sources  48 . Light from the light source  48  is routed through portions of the backlight unit  44  (e.g., a light guide and optical films) and generally emitted toward the LCD panel  42 . In various embodiments, light source  48  may include a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), or any other suitable source(s) of light. Further, although the LCD  34  is generally depicted as having an edge-lit backlight unit  44 , it is noted that other arrangements may be used (e.g., direct backlighting) in full accordance with the present technique. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an example of a circuit view of pixel-driving circuitry found in an LCD  34  is provided. For example, the circuitry depicted in  FIG. 5  may be embodied on the LCD panel  42  described above with respect to  FIG. 4 . The pixel-driving circuitry includes an array or matrix  70  of unit pixels  60  that are driven by data (or source) line driving circuitry  66  and scanning (or gate) line driving circuitry  68 . Data and clock signals may be transmitted to the data line driving circuitry  66  and the scanning line driving circuitry  68  by a display controller  72 . As depicted, the matrix  70  of unit pixels  60  (represented by pixels  60   a - 60   f  in this illustration) forms an image display region of the LCD  34 . In such a matrix, each unit pixel  60  may be defined by the intersection of data lines  50  and scanning lines  52 , which may also be referred to as source lines  50  and gate lines  52 . The data line driving circuitry  66  may include one or more driver integrated circuits (also referred to as column drivers) for driving the data lines  50 . The scanning line driving circuitry  68  may also include one or more driver integrated circuits (also referred to as row drivers). By way of example, in a color LCD panel  34  having a display resolution of 960×640, each of the 960 data lines  50  (defining a column of the pixel array in some embodiments) may include 640 unit pixels, while each of the 640 scanning lines  52 , (defining a row in some embodiments) may include 960 groups of pixels. For example, some embodiments of the LCD panel  34  may be a model of the Retina™ display, available from Apple Inc. 
     Each unit pixel  60  includes a pixel electrode  54  and thin film transistor (TFT)  56  for switching the pixel electrode  54 . In the depicted embodiment, the source  58  of each TFT  56  is electrically connected to a data line  50 , extending from respective data line driving circuitry  66 . Similarly, in the depicted embodiment, the gate  62  of each TFT  56  is electrically connected to a scanning or gate line  52 , extending from respective scanning line driving circuitry  68 . In one embodiment, column drivers of the data line driving circuitry  66  may send image signals to the pixels  60  by way of the respective data lines  50 , and the scanning lines  52  may apply scanning signals from the scanning line driving circuitry  68  to the respective gates  62  of each TFT  56  to which the respective scanning lines  52  are connected. Such scanning signals may be applied by line-sequence with a predetermined timing or in a pulsed manner. 
     Each TFT  56  serves as a switching element which may be activated and deactivated (i.e., turned on and off) for a predetermined period based on the respective presence or absence of a scanning signal at its gate  62 . When activated, a TFT  56  may store the image signals received via a respective data line  50  as a charge in the pixel electrode  54  with a predetermined timing. 
     The image signals, also referred to as data signals or voltage signals, may be stored at the pixel electrode  54  and used to generate an electrical field between the respective pixel electrode  54  and a common electrode. Such an electrical field may align liquid crystals within a liquid crystal layer to modulate light transmission through the LCD panel  42 . In some embodiments, each unit pixel electrode  54  may include a number of “finger” electrodes, i.e. strips of electrode plates which are electrically connected as a unit pixel  60 . For example, a unit pixel  60  may have one or multiple parallel finger electrodes, and in other embodiments, other configurations may be possible. 
     Unit pixels  60  may operate in conjunction with various color filters, such as red, green, and blue filters. In such embodiments, a “pixel” of the display may actually include multiple unit pixels, such as a red unit pixel (e.g.,  60   a ), a green unit pixel (e.g.,  60   b ), and a blue unit pixel (e.g.,  60   c ), each of which may be modulated to increase or decrease the amount of light emitted to enable the display to render numerous colors via additive mixing of the colors. In some embodiments, a storage capacitor may also be provided in parallel to the liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode  54  and the common electrode to prevent leakage of the stored image signal at the pixel electrode  54 . For example, such a storage capacitor may be provided between the drain  64  of the respective TFT  56  and a separate capacitor line. 
     In some embodiments, the transmission of image data may be controlled by the display controller  72 . Data signals and clock signals may be generated by the display controller  72  and transmitted to the data line driving circuitry  66  and the scanning line driving circuitry  68  via a data line  74  and clock lines  76  and  78 . Specifically, the data signals may be transmitted by a data transmitter  80  in the display controller  72  and may generally includes image data to be processed by data line driving circuitry  66  of the LCD  34  to drive the pixels  60  and render an image on the LCD  34 . A timing controller  82  in the display controller  72  may send signals to clock one or more data line drivers in the data line driving circuitry  66  and one or more scanning line drivers in the scanning line driving circuitry  68 . Thus, the data line driving circuitry  66  may sequentially drive voltage signals to each data line  50  of the pixel array  70  to render an image on the LCD  34 . 
     Consistently driving voltage signals of a single polarity to the pixels  60  may result in a biasing (polarization) of the liquid crystal layer in the pixels  60 , such that the light transmission characteristics of the liquid crystal layer may be disadvantageously altered. For example, biasing the liquid crystal layer of the pixels  30  may result in a reduced light transmission through the LCD panel  42 , thus disadvantageously altering the image produced on the LCD  34 . To aid in preventing biasing of the liquid crystal layer of the LCD panel  42 , periodic inversion of the electric field applied to the liquid crystal layer may be utilized. However, inverting the polarity of an entire pixel matrix  70  (or inverting the polarity of a perceptible portion of the pixel matrix  70 ) from one polarity to the inverse polarity may result in undesirable visual effects such as flickering. As such, column inversion techniques may be employed, such that the polarities of adjacent pixel columns may be inverse, thus canceling out and/or reducing possible undesirable visual effects resulting from polarity inversion of a large pixel matrix  70  area. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates one example of a typical column inversion scheme, where the voltage signal driven to the pixels  60  of one data line  50   a  has an inverse polarity from the voltage signal driven to the pixels  60  of its adjacent data line  50   b . Each pixel column in the pixel matrix may be an opposite polarity from its adjacent pixel column, as indicated by the alternating positive and negative signs marked in the pixel electrodes  54  connected along each data line  50 . Thus, while the pixels  60  along one data line  50  may be driven with a voltage signal of the same polarity, the pixels  60  along one gate line  52  may have pixels driven with voltages of alternating polarities. However, due to the close proximity of pixels  60  along the gate line  52  direction, the pixel electrodes  54  may be affected by horizontal field crosstalk. Horizontal field crosstalk may refer to coupling, interference, or other undesirable effects resulting from the proximity of pixels  60  along the direction of the gate lines  52 , and may simply be referred to as crosstalk. 
     A diagram representing the effects of horizontal field crosstalk is provided in  FIG. 7 . The diagram of  FIG. 7  represents axial cross sections of three adjacent pixel electrodes  54 , each with three finger electrodes  84 . A typical column inversion scheme may be applied, as indicated by the −3.9V signal driven to pixel electrode  54   a , the +3.9V signal driven to pixel electrode  54   b , and the −3.9V signal driven to pixel electrode  54   c . As discussed, image signals may be driven to pixels  60  via data lines  50 , and the TFT  56  in each pixel  60  may store a charge in the pixel electrode  54 , which generates an electrical field. The electrical field may align liquid crystals within a liquid crystal layer of the pixel  60  to modulate light transmission through the LCD panel  42 . In  FIG. 7 , the rods illustrated over each pixel electrode  54  represent the alignment and/or orientation of liquid crystals based on the electrical fields generated by pixel electrodes  54   a ,  54   b , and  54   c.    
     The close proximity of pixels  60  within the LCD panel  42  may cause the liquid crystal orientations of one pixel electrode  54   b  to be affected by the inversely driven adjacent pixel electrode  54   a . For instance, while a positive voltage signal may be driven to pixel electrode  54   b  to align the liquid crystals in a particular orientation, a negative voltage signal may align the liquid crystals of the pixel electrode  54   a  in an inverse orientation, which may result in a coupling effect between the liquid crystals in the two pixel electrodes  54   a  and  54   b . This coupling effect may cause the liquid crystals to be misaligned, or not oriented according to the voltage signal transmitted from the data line  50 . 
     In finger electrode pixel configurations, the crosstalk effect may be greater in the outermost finger electrodes  84  having closer proximity to adjacent pixels  60  and data lines  50 , and thus outermost finger electrodes  84  of a pixel  60  may exhibit greater susceptibility to crosstalk due to inversely driven adjacent pixels  60 . For example, the orientation of liquid crystals aligned by the finger electrode  84   d  (driven with a positive voltage signal) may be affected by the negative voltage signal driving the finger electrode  84   c . The liquid crystals of the finger electrode  84   d  may be oriented with a higher tilt than what was intended by the voltage signal applied to the pixel electrode  54   b , as represented by the tilted rods in the dotted circle  86   a . Similarly, the liquid crystals aligned by the finger electrode  84   f  may be affected by the inverse polarity of the voltage signal driven to the finger electrode  84   g , as represented by the tilted rods in the dotted circle  86   b.    
     Such misalignments of the liquid crystals in the outer finger electrodes  84  and/or in the outer portions of pixel electrodes  54  may result in a loss of light transmittance through the liquid crystal layer and through the LCD panel  42 , as represented in the graph of  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  provides a graph  92  estimating the light transmittance  90  over a position  88  of a pixel electrode  54  affected by crosstalk. The two dotted circles  86   a  and  86   b  may correspond to the positions of the misaligned liquid crystals of the affected finger electrodes  84   d  and  84   f , respectively ( FIG. 7 ). Due to the effects of crosstalk in the outer electrodes  84   d  and  84   f , light transmittance  90  through the LCD panel  42  may be lower at the dotted circles  86   a  and  86   b  than compared to positions over the pixel electrode  54  not affected by crosstalk (e.g., a position corresponding to a middle finger electrode  84   e ). 
     Furthermore, the reduction of light transmittance  90  on pixels  60  driven using typical column inversion techniques may also be greater than when typical column inversion techniques are not used, and pixels  60  are driven with voltage signals of the same polarity in the direction of the gate lines  52 . For example,  FIG. 9  provides a graph  94  estimating light transmittance  90  over a position  88  of a pixel electrode  54  that is not substantially affected by crosstalk. A comparison of the graph  92  of  FIG. 8  and the graph  94  of  FIG. 9  may indicate that pixels  60  affected by the close proximity of adjacent pixels  60  driven with inverse voltage signals may have reduced light transmittance than pixels  60  having adjacent pixels  60  driven with the same polarity of voltage signals. In some LCD  34  configurations, such a reduction in light transmittance may be approximately 11% or may otherwise be visually perceivable. 
     In various embodiments, as provided in  FIGS. 10-13 , techniques are provided for employing column inversion while reducing and/or limiting crosstalk. Certain embodiments provided in  FIGS. 10-13  may be implemented by additional and/or modified hardware of LCD  34 . Further, some embodiments may be implemented by reprogramming instructions in the display controller  72  ( FIG. 5 ) and/or by reconfiguring circuitry in the data line driving circuitry  66 , such that redesigning or addition of hardware components may be unnecessary. Moreover, while the diagrams in  FIGS. 10-13  include positive (+) and negative (−) polarity markings in the pixel electrodes  54  of the pixels  60 , it should be noted that the polarity markings represent the polarity of an image signal (also referred to as a voltage signal) driven to the pixels  60  during one period of time (e.g., one or more frames or one fraction of a frame). In accordance with one or more embodiments of column inversion techniques, the polarity of image signals driven to each of the pixels  60  may switch in an immediately subsequent period of time. 
       FIG. 10  provides one embodiment of a column inversion technique which involves using pixels  60  having a two finger electrode configuration to reduce crosstalk in an LCD panel  42 . As discussed, inversely driven adjacent pixel electrodes  54  may be susceptible to crosstalk due to the proximity of inversely driven adjacent pixels  60 . Pixel electrodes  54  storing a first charge which are proximally closer to pixel electrodes  54  storing an opposite second charge may be more susceptible to such crosstalk. In some embodiments, the pixel matrix  70  and/or the pixels  60  of an LCD  34  may be configured such that adjacent pixel electrodes  54  are proximally farther apart. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , each pixel  60  may have pixel electrodes  54  with only two finger electrodes  84 . In some embodiments, each of the two finger electrodes  84  may have a certain width to achieve a desired amount of light transmission within an operating range of the pixel  60 . For example, each of the two finger electrodes  84  may be wider than the finger electrodes in typical three-finger electrode configurations, to compensate for having only two (as compared to three) electrode areas through which light is transmitted. Furthermore, each pixel electrode  54  may be spaced farther apart in a horizontal direction (e.g., along the pixel rows) than in typical pixel matrices  70  having three-finger electrode configurations. For example, while pixel matrices  70  having three-finger electrodes may have finger electrodes  84  spaced approximately 4.3 μm apart, pixel matrices  70  having a two-finger electrode configuration may have finger electrodes (e.g.,  84   j  and  84   k ) spaced approximately 5 μm apart, as indicated by the separation  96 . In some embodiments, the separation  96  may be greater than the liquid crystal cell gap of each pixel electrode  54 , thus substantially reducing electrical coupling between two adjacent pixel electrodes  54 . Typical reduction in transmittance may be decreased by about 3% with respect to using typical column inversion techniques in three finger electrode configurations. In some embodiments, the total reduction in light transmittance when employing column inversion techniques using the two finger electrode configuration, compared to a typical line inversion technique (without column inversion), may be about 7-9%. 
       FIG. 11  provides one embodiment of a column inversion technique which reduces crosstalk in a pixel matrix  70 , referred to as the 2-column inversion scheme. The 2-column inversion scheme involves switching the polarity of voltage signals driven through data lines  50  for every two pixel columns (i.e., every two data lines  50 ), instead of switching the voltage signal polarity at every pixel column (i.e., every data line  50 , as described in  FIG. 6 ). For example, the 2-column inversion scheme illustrated in  FIG. 11  involves driving a first (e.g., positive) voltage signal to two adjacent data lines  50   d  and  50   e  and driving a second voltage signal having an inverse (e.g., negative) polarity to the next two adjacent data lines  50   f  and  50   g . The pattern of switching the polarity every two columns may continue, and data lines  50   h  and  50   i  may be driven with a voltage signal having a positive polarity. 
     The 2-column inversion technique decreases the amount of crosstalk in a pixel array  70  between inversely driven pixels  60 . Instead of having an inversely driven pixel  60  on each side of a pixel  60  as in typical column inversion techniques, the 2-column inversion technique has an inversely driven pixel  60  only on one side. For example, the right side of the pixels  60  connected to the data line  50   e  may be susceptible to crosstalk from the inversely driven pixels  60  connected to the data line  50   f . However, the left side of the pixels  60  on the data line  50   e  may not be substantially affected by crosstalk, since the pixels  60  on the data line  50   d  are also driven with a voltage signal having a positive polarity. Therefore, crosstalk effects may be significantly reduced in the 2-column inversion techniques in comparison to column inversion techniques involving switching polarity at every column (data line) of pixels. For example, since crosstalk effects are limited to one side of each pixel  60  instead of two sides of each pixel  60 , the typical reduction in transmittance may be decreased by about 50% of light transmission reduction in typical column inversion techniques where polarity is switched at each column of pixels  60 . In some embodiments, the total reduction in light transmittance using the 2-column inversion techniques, compared to a typical line inversion technique (without column inversion), may be about 5-10%. 
     Furthermore, in typical pixel matrix  70  configurations where red, blue, and green pixels (also referred to as sub-pixels) are driven in columns by data lines (e.g., data lines  50   f ,  50   g , and  50   h , respectively), the 2-column inversion technique may be employed such that each data line  50  of red, blue, or green pixels  60  are affected substantially uniformly. For example, in the portion of the pixel matrix  70  illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the column of red pixels on data line  50   d  may be driven with a voltage signal having a positive polarity, the red pixels on data lines  50   g  and  50   j  may be driven with a voltage signal having a negative polarity, and the red pixels on data line  50   m  may be driven with a voltage signal having a positive polarity. Thus, employing the 2-column inversion technique may also result in driving two adjacent columns of one color at one polarity and the next two adjacent columns of that color at an inverse polarity. As such, crosstalk effects may be reduced similarly for each color, and impact to the image quality may be minimized. 
     Another embodiment of a column inversion technique which reduces crosstalk, referred to as a multi-column inversion technique, is provided in  FIG. 12 . The multi-column inversion scheme involves switching the polarity of voltage signals driven through data lines  50  for every three or more pixel columns (i.e., every three or more data lines  50 ), instead of switching the voltage signal polarity at every pixel column. For example, the multi-column inversion scheme illustrated in  FIG. 12  involves driving a first (e.g., positive) voltage signal to three adjacent data lines  50   e ,  50   f , and  50   g , and driving a second voltage signal having an inverse (e.g., negative) polarity to the next three adjacent data lines  50   h ,  50   i , and  50   j . The pattern of switching the polarity every three columns may continue through the gate line  52  direction of the pixel matrix  70 . 
     The multi-column inversion technique decreases the amount of crosstalk in a pixel array  70  between inversely driven pixels  60 . Instead of having an inversely driven pixel  60  on each side of a pixel  60  as in typical column inversion techniques, the multi-column inversion technique has an inversely driven pixel  60  either on only one side, or on no sides, of the pixel  60 . For example, in the 3-column inversion technique illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the left side of the pixels  60  connected to the data line  50   e  may be susceptible to crosstalk from the inversely driven pixels  60  connected to the data line  50   d . However, the right side of the pixels  60  on the data line  50   e  may not be substantially affected by crosstalk, since the pixels  60  on the data line  50   f  are also driven with a voltage signal having a positive polarity. Similarly, the left side of the pixels  60  on the data line  50   g  may not be affected by crosstalk since the data line  50   f  transmits a voltage signal having a positive polarity, but the right side of the pixels  60  on the data line  50   g  may be susceptible to crosstalk from the inversely driven pixels  60  connected to the data line  50   h . Moreover, pixels  60  driven by data lines  50  having adjacent pixels  60  driven by voltage signals of the same polarity, such as the pixels  60  on data line  50   f , may not be substantially affected by crosstalk on any side. 
     Some embodiments may involve separately controlling and/or adjusting the voltage signals sent to the red, green, and blue pixels  60  for each unit RGB pixel, such that the crosstalk effects are evenly distributed for each color. In the example provided in  FIG. 12 , the blue pixels  60  on data lines  50   f ,  50   i , and  50   l  are each adjacent on both sides to pixels  60  driven by voltage signals having the same polarity. As the red and green pixels in this illustration are affected by crosstalk on one side, the blue pixels may have a higher transmittance throughout the LCD panel  42 . This may affect the quality of the image displayed from the LCD  34 . To compensate for reduced crosstalk effects on certain pixel colors, some embodiments may involve separately controlling the gamma signals and/or reducing or increasing the transmittance of light through data lines  50  connecting certain colored pixels  60 . 
     Crosstalk effects may be significantly reduced in the multi-column inversion techniques in comparison to column inversion techniques involving switching polarity at every column (data line) of pixels. In some embodiments, multi-column inversion techniques may switch polarities at every 4, 5, or more columns, such that for every 2 pixel columns affected by crosstalk on one side, 2, 3, or more pixel columns may not be substantially affected by crosstalk. However, as more data lines  50  are grouped to be switched at common polarities, the perceptibility of the switching may increase, as the common polarity switch occurs over a larger area of the LCD panel  42 . Perceptible switching at common polarities may manifest as undesirable display artifacts, such as flickering. Thus, one or more embodiments may involve column inversion techniques which optimize various advantageous display characteristics. For example, a certain technique and/or number of columns in multi-column inversion may be selected to achieve certain thresholds of reduced power, increased transmittance, and reduced display artifacts. 
     Another embodiment of a column inversion technique which reduces crosstalk, referred to as a 2-column Z inversion technique, is provided in  FIG. 13 . The 2-column Z inversion technique involves a pixel matrix  70  configuration where one data line  50  connects to pixels  60  of the same color. Similar to the 2-column inversion technique discussed with respect to  FIG. 11 , the 2-column Z inversion technique also involves switching the polarity of voltage signals driven through data lines  50  for every two data lines  50 , instead of switching the voltage signal polarity at every data line  50 . Furthermore, a polarity switch may occur every two pixels  60  on a gate line  52 , thus limiting crosstalk to one side of each pixel  60 . However, in the 2-column Z inversion technique, the positions of the pixels  60  in one data line  50  may follow a “Z” pattern in the pixel matrix  70 . As indicated by the dotted lines in  FIG. 13 , the electrode  54  of a green pixel  60   g  on gate line  52   d  may be connected to the right side of a data line  50   e  at the source  58  of the TFT  56  and a green pixel  60   g  on gate line  52   e  may be connected to the left side of the data line  50   e  at the source  58  of the TFT  56 . The Z pattern may continue through the data line  50   e , as the green pixels  60   g  are alternatingly connected on either side of the data line  50   e , which results in the data line  50   e  connecting in an alternating pattern (i.e., the Z pattern) between two adjacent pixel columns  98  and  100 . This Z pattern may also be consistent for other colors, as indicated by the second dotted line on the blue pixels  60  connected to data line  50   i . By employing 2-column inversion on a pixel matrix  70  configured in a Z pattern, the pixel columns may have alternating columns of pixels  60  driven with one common polarity (e.g., pixel column  98 ) and columns of pixels  60  driven with alternating inverse polarities (e.g., pixel column  100 ). 
     Employing 2-column inversion techniques in a pixel matrix  70  having a Z pattern configuration may reduce crosstalk to a similar extent as the 2-column inversion techniques discussed in  FIG. 11 , and may also reduce display artifacts such as flickering in comparison to the 2-column inversion techniques. As discussed, polarity switching may be increasingly perceptible as more data lines  50  are grouped for switching at common polarities. Thus, 2-column inversion techniques may result in more flickering (though less crosstalk) than single column inversion techniques. However, using a Z pattern in the pixel matrix  70  may decrease the perceptibility of polarity switching compared to the 2-column inversion techniques described in  FIG. 11 , as the pixel matrix  70  includes pixel columns  98  of pixels  60  driven with a uniform polarity which alternate with pixel columns  100  of pixels  60  driven with alternating inverse polarities. 
     In various embodiments, the multi-column inversion techniques described with respect to  FIG. 12  may also be combined with the Z-pattern concept of  FIG. 13 . For example, three or more adjacent data lines  50  may be driven with voltage signals having a common polarity, and the polarity may be switched every three data lines  50 . Moreover, in some embodiments, any of the different data line  50  driving techniques may be combined with the two finger electrode configuration discussed with respect to  FIG. 10 . In different embodiments, any the column inversion techniques discussed with respect to  FIGS. 10-13  may be combined. As discussed, different techniques or combinations may be employed based on the configuration of the LCD  34  and/or to optimize various desired characteristics (e.g., low operating power, high light transmission, low perceptibility of visual artifacts, etc.). 
     The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20101108
Publication Date: 20150324
Grant Date: 20150324
Priority Date: 20101108
Inventors: GE ZHIBING
LEE YONGMAN
CHANG SHIH CHANG
CHEN CHENG
BAE HOPIL
XU MING
GETTEMY SHAWN ROBERT
YAO WEI H.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G09G3/3614", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2330/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0209", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3648", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3648", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2330/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2320/0209", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3614", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 46019221