JP2001075503A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption of a display device by displaying optimum pictures in each of plural screen regions while characteristics of an original picture are fully utilized. SOLUTION: The device is provided with plural pixel electrodes 11, which are arranged in an array manner or an insulated substrate 10, pixel switching elements 12, which select the electrodes 11, scanning signal lines 13-1 and data signal lines 13-2 which are arranged in a matrix manner and connected to the elements 12, and scanning driver circuits 14-1 and data driver circuits 14-2 which drive the electrodes 11 and the elements 12. The device is an active matrix display device and displays a picture by driving a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided on each of the plural electrodes. The device has plural screen regions 1a and 1b on the same plane and the pixel electrode array arrangement pitch of the region 1a, which is at least one of the plural screen regions, differs from the corresponding pitch of the other region 1b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device having a plurality of screen areas on the same substrate, and more particularly to a driver-integrated active matrix display device using polysilicon thin film transistors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, as a flat display device, a liquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display and the like have been known. These display devices have a single pixel pitch in one screen. For example, in a liquid crystal display,
VGA with a diagonal size of 8 inches (480 x 640 pixels)
According to the standard, the pixel pitch is 254 μm, which is 10 μm.
This corresponds to a resolution of 0 dpi (the number of pixels per inch). Further, the liquid crystal display device capable of color display realizes color display by dividing one pixel into three sub-pixels and associating them with three primary colors of colors, that is, R, G, B color filters. ing. In addition, the VGA,
The pixel array on the screen has a stripe shape.

[0003] In these displays, there is a problem that the specifications of the displays do not always match, especially when image data to be displayed is specified. For example, when two pieces of image data are reduced to one screen size and the other is reduced to 1/4 size of the screen, the number of pixels of the display allocated to the reduced display image is the entire screen. 1 / when displaying data
4 and the image becomes coarse. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a screen in which the original number of pixels is quadrupled and the resolution is doubled (in both the vertical and horizontal directions). However, increasing the resolution of the entire screen causes problems such as an increase in power consumption and an increase in cost due to an increase in the number of image signal processing circuits. Also, for example, when trying to display image data and arbitrary character data at the same time, the character data must be displayed overlapping the image data, and a part of the background image data is missing. Occurs.

[0004] As a countermeasure, when the screen is switched temporally and only monochrome character information is displayed, the association with image data is poor, and while monochrome character information is displayed, color information is not displayed. There is no need for a filter and the display specifications are in a mismatched state.

The above-mentioned screen in which the pixel array has a stripe shape is suitable for displaying characters and graphic data, but when displaying a moving image, the array of pixel electrodes is
It is known that the apparent resolution increases when one of the vertical and horizontal directions has a single pitch and the other has an arrangement shifted by half a pitch for each row. Therefore, it is desirable that the pixel arrangement be in accordance with the data to be displayed.

Regarding the problems exemplified above, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-83583 discloses a first display area having a predetermined pixel density and a second display area having a higher pixel density than the pixel density. A technique is disclosed in which the same image can be displayed at different resolutions by forming them on the same display surface and sharing the first and second main scanning line addresses. However, with this technique, it is possible to display the image with different apparent resolutions, but it is not possible to display the above-mentioned two different sizes of image data without image quality deterioration.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-134235 discloses a technique in which a fixed pattern display group and an arbitrary pattern display section including a large number of dots are provided on the same display surface. However, with this technique, any character data cannot be displayed on the fixed pattern display unit.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems, and to display a display utilizing the characteristics of an original image by displaying an optimum image in each of a plurality of screen areas. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device which can perform the operation and operate only a necessary minimum screen area, so that the power consumption of the display device can be reduced.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a plurality of pixel electrodes and pixel switching elements for selecting the pixel electrodes are arranged in an array on an insulating substrate, and the pixel switching elements are arranged in a matrix. An electro-optical device including a scanning signal line and a data signal line connected to the element, and a driver circuit for driving a pixel electrode and a pixel switching element via the scanning signal line and the data signal line; In an active matrix display device that operates and displays a display medium having a conversion function, a plurality of screen regions are provided on the same plane, and at least one of the plurality of screen regions is a pixel electrode array. This is a display device formed so that the arrangement pitch is different from the pitch of other pixel regions.

[0010] In addition, the present invention provides that at least one of the plurality of screen areas has a positional relationship at least partially overlapping another screen area;
This is a display device in which the ratio between the pixel electrode array arrangement pitch of one overlapping screen area and the pitch of the other screen area is a simple integer ratio.

The present invention is a display device in which the shape of the opening of each pixel other than the overlapping portion is the same as the shape of the screen area having the smaller pixel electrode array arrangement pitch.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of pixel electrodes and pixel switching elements for selecting the pixel electrodes, which are arranged in an array on an insulating substrate, are arranged in a matrix,
A scanning signal line and a data signal line connected to the pixel switching element, and a driver circuit for driving the pixel electrode and the pixel switching element via the scanning signal line and the data signal line; provided for each pixel electrode In the active, matrix display device that operates and displays a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function, a plurality of screen areas are provided on the same plane, and at least one of the plurality of screen areas is a screen area. , A monochrome or two-gradation display screen area, and at least one screen area is a color display screen area.

[0013] The present invention also relates to a pixel switching element for selecting a plurality of pixel electrodes and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in an array on an insulating substrate,
A scanning signal line and a data signal line connected to the pixel switching element, and a driver circuit for driving the pixel electrode and the pixel switching element via the scanning signal line and the data signal line; provided for each pixel electrode In an active matrix display device that operates and displays a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function, a plurality of screen areas are provided on the same plane, and at least one screen area of the plurality of screen areas is The arrangement of the pixel electrodes is vertically and horizontally at a single pitch, and at least one screen region has an arrangement of the pixel electrodes, one of the vertical or horizontal is a single pitch, and the other is The display device is shifted by a half pitch for each column.

According to the present invention, a plurality of pixel electrodes and a pixel switching element for selecting the pixel electrodes, which are arranged in an array on an insulating substrate, are arranged in a matrix.
A scanning signal line and a data signal line connected to the pixel switching element, and a driver circuit for driving the pixel electrode and the pixel switching element via the scanning signal line and the data signal line; provided for each pixel electrode In an active matrix display device that operates and displays a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function, a plurality of screen areas are provided on the same plane, and at least one screen area of the plurality of screen areas is The display device is a reflection type and at least one of the other screen regions is a transmission type or a transflective type.

The present invention is a display device having a common scanning power supply line and a common image data line connected to a plurality of driver circuits.

Further, the present invention provides a display device having a common driver selection terminal for supplying a signal for setting a driver circuit connected to the scanning signal lines and the data signal lines of the plurality of screen regions to an operation state or a non-operation state. It is.

Further, according to the present invention, the switching element and the driver circuit are constituted by thin film transistors TFT,
The active layer of the TFT is a display device made of polycrystalline silicon.

According to the present invention, there is provided a display device wherein the display medium having the electro-optical conversion function is a liquid crystal or an organic EL element.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the display device of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a display device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of an example of a thin film transistor used for the display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the display device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the display device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a modification of the display device of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a modification of the display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the display device according to the fifth embodiment.

First Embodiment A display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the display device according to the present embodiment includes, on an insulating substrate 10, pixel electrodes 11a and 11b, pixel switching elements 12a and 12b, and scanning signal lines 13-1a and 1-1.
3-1b and data signal lines 13-2a and 13-2b, scan driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1b, data driver circuits 14-2a and 14-2b, common connection terminals 15 with external circuits, and the like are formed. This is a driver-integrated active matrix display device that operates a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided in each pixel electrode. A plurality of pixel electrodes 11a, 11b and pixel switching elements 12a,
12b are respectively arranged in an array. Scan signal lines 13-1a and 13-1b and data signal line 13-2
a, 13-2b are arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching elements 12a, 12b. The scanning driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1b and the data driver circuits 14-2a and 14-2b are formed on the insulating substrate 10, and the scanning signal lines 13-1a and 13-1
b and the data signal lines 13-2a and 13-2b to drive the pixel switching elements 12a and 12b, and write image signals to the pixel electrodes 11a and 11b. Example 1
Display device has two screen areas 1a and 1b on the same plane.
And the screen area 1a and the screen area 1b have different pixel electrode array arrangement pitches. The common connection terminal 15 is connected to the scan driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1.
b and the data driver circuits 14-2a and 14-2b via a common power supply line and a common image data line.

A means for forming a plurality of screen areas 1a and 1b having different arrangement pitches of the pixel electrode array on the same plane will be described. On a first glass substrate 10, a thin film transistor using a polycrystalline silicon thin film as a semiconductor layer (hereinafter, referred to as a thin film transistor)
It is called "polysilicon TFT". ) 12 and pixel electrode 11
Are arranged vertically and horizontally to form a first screen area 1a and a second screen area 1b. As shown in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of one example of the polysilicon TFT is an insulating substrate 20, a source region 21 formed of a polysilicon thin film, a channel region 22 formed of a polysilicon thin film, and a drain formed of a polysilicon thin film. It has a region 23, a gate insulating film 24, a gate electrode 25, an interlayer insulating film 26, a metal wiring 27, and the like.

For each of the screen areas 1a and 1b,
There is a liquid crystal layer (not shown) between the pixel electrodes 11a and 11b and a counter electrode formed on the second glass substrate, and the scan driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1a are connected to the pixel electrodes 11a and 11b.
14-1b and data driver circuits 14-2a, 14-
By writing an image signal via 2b, the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is changed, and by controlling the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer, an image is displayed. The resolution of the first screen area 1a was set to 200 dpi, and the resolution of the second screen area 1b was set to 100 dpi. Scan driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1b and data driver circuits 14-2a and 14-2b for driving these screen areas 1a and 1b are formed of polysilicon TFTs, and are arranged around the screen areas 1a and 1b, respectively. ing.

The power supply line and the image data line supplied to the first data driver circuit 14-2a for driving the first screen area 1a are connected to the second data driver circuit 14- for driving the second screen area 1b. 2b and a common connection terminal 1 shared with the power supply line and the image data line
5, so that the number of common connection terminals 15 with external circuits can be reduced. The scanning driver circuits 14-1a and 14-1b and the data driver circuit 14-
A common driver selection terminal (not shown) for supplying a signal for setting the 2a and 14-2b to an operation state or a non-operation state is provided. When only one of the screen areas is operated, a signal for turning on one and turning off the other may be used as the driver selection signal.

FIG. 3 shows a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. Similar to the display device of the first embodiment, the display device of the present embodiment includes pixel switching elements 32a, 32b, which are arranged in an array on an insulating substrate and select a plurality of pixel electrodes 31a and 31b. , Scanning signal lines 33-1a and 33-1b and data signal lines 3 arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching elements.
3-2a, 32-2b, a scan driver circuit 34-1 and a data driver circuit 34 for driving pixel electrodes and pixel switching elements via scan signal lines and data signal lines
-2a, 34-2b, and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided for each pixel electrode, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Two screen areas 3 of the display device of the second embodiment
As shown in FIG. 3, a and 3b are arranged so that a part of the screen area overlaps. The screen area 3a is 100
dpi, while the screen area 3b is
It can be displayed at 200 dpi. At this time, regarding the shape of the opening, the 100 dpi screen areas 3a and 200d
The pi screen area 3b has the same shape as the screen area having the smaller pixel electrode array arrangement pitch. As described above, if the ratio between the pixel electrode array arrangement pitch of one overlapping screen area and the pitch of the other screen area is a simple integer ratio, for example, 2: 1, 3: 2, 4: 3, etc., the overlapping occurs. In the part, the image can be displayed without discomfort.

When the image is displayed in the screen area 3b in FIG. 3, the data driver 34-2b is operated and the scanning driver 34-2 is operated.
-1 is partially operated. When displaying the entire screen including the screen area 3a and the screen area 3b, the data driver 34-2a is operated.
2b is a state in which adjacent data lines are electrically connected two by two.
Drive by 4-2a. The scanning driver 34-1 drives the entire surface.

At least one of the plurality of screen areas 3a and 3b has a positional relationship at least partially overlapping another screen area 3b, and a pixel electrode array arrangement of one of the overlapping screen areas. The ratio between the pitch and the pitch of the other screen area is a simple integer ratio.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the second embodiment according to the display device of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the screen area 7a and the screen area 7
The data signal lines 73-2a and 73-2b are independent of the data signal lines b. When displaying on the screen area 7a, the data driver 74-2a and the scanning driver 74-1 are operated. When displaying on the screen area 7b, a part of the data driver 74-2b and the scanning driver 74-1 is operated. When displaying the entire screen including the screen area 7a and the screen area 7b, the data driver 74-2a, the data driver 74-2b, and the scanning driver 74-1 are operated.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment according to the display device of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the display device of the present embodiment, at least one of the plurality of screen areas 4a and 4b formed on the same plane is a monochrome display screen, and at least one screen area is a color display screen. Example 1
A plurality of pixel electrodes 41a and 41b and a pixel switching element (not shown) for selecting the pixel electrodes, which are arranged on the insulating substrate 10 in an array,
Scanning signal lines and data signal lines (not shown) arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching elements,
Scan driver circuit 44-1 for driving pixel electrodes and pixel switching elements via scanning signal lines and data signal lines
a, 44-1b and data driver circuits 44-2a, 4-2
4-2b, and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium provided with each pixel electrode and having an electro-optical conversion function. The operation can be understood according to the first embodiment and the like. Description is omitted. In the display device according to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the screen area 4a is a color display screen area in which a color image can be displayed by providing three primary color filters on the opposite substrate. On the other hand, the screen area 4b is a monochrome display screen area in which only the monochrome display can be performed without providing the color filters of the three primary colors on the opposing substrate. Since all the dots can be used as the display pixels, the resolution is high. Therefore,
By performing character display, it is possible to obtain an appearance closer to that of printed characters than before. Further, the data driver circuit 44-2b for driving the screen area 4b may be configured to handle data of two gradations.

When such a display form is applied to, for example, a display for a portable telephone, it is displayed on a monochrome screen in two gradations in a usual standby mode and is displayed on a color screen only when browsing large-capacity color information. Power consumption during standby can be suppressed.

Embodiment 4 according to the display device of the present invention is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the display device of the present embodiment, at least one screen of the plurality of screen regions 5a and 5b formed on the same plane has the pixel electrodes 51a arranged vertically and horizontally at a single pitch. The screen has a structure in which the pixel electrodes 51b are arranged vertically or horizontally at a single pitch and the other is shifted by a half pitch for each column. The display device according to the fourth embodiment also includes a plurality of pixel electrodes and pixel switching elements for selecting the pixel electrodes, which are arranged in an array on the insulating substrate 10, and a scan that is arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching elements. A scan driver circuit 54 that drives the pixel electrodes 51a and 51b and a pixel switching element (not shown) via the signal line and the data signal line, and the scan signal line and the data signal line.
-1a, 54-1b and data driver circuit 54-2
a, 54-2b, and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium provided with each pixel electrode and having an electro-optical conversion function, the operation of which is understood according to the first embodiment and the like. The explanation is omitted because it can be made. In the display device of the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The screen has a structure in which the arrangement of the pixels 51a is arranged in a stripe shape, and is suitable for displaying information such as figures and characters. On the other hand, in the screen area 5b, the arrangement of the pixels 51b is in a delta shape, and it is known that the effect of increasing the apparent resolution when displaying an image, particularly a moving image, is known. With such a screen configuration, character and graphic information can be displayed in the screen area 5a, and image information can be displayed in the screen area 5b.

FIG. 8 shows a display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described using FIG. In the display device of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
a is a transmissive or semi-transmissive screen, a normal display is displayed on a reflective screen 8b utilizing ambient light, and when clear image information is required, a transmissive or semi-transmissive screen is selectively provided. By performing the display while operating the illuminating means (not shown) in 8a, the total power consumption can be reduced. The screen areas 8a and 8b are respectively provided with the scanning driver 84-1a and the data driver 84-2a, or
Scan driver 84-1b and data driver 84-2b
Driven by

In each of the above embodiments, the driver circuit is formed integrally on the substrate. However, as shown in FIG. 6, the amorphous silicon thin film transistors 12a 'and 12a'
b ′ may be used as a pixel switching element, and LSI components of the scan driver circuits 14-1a ′ and 14-1b ′ and the data driver circuits 14-2a ′ and 14-2b ′ may be separately connected on a substrate. Other circuit configurations are almost the same as those of the first embodiment of FIG. 1, and the description is omitted.

As described above, in each of the embodiments, the liquid crystal is used as the display medium. However, it is possible to use an EL element such as an organic EL (electroluminescence) element, and the same effect can be obtained in this case. .

[0035]

According to the display device of the present invention, by displaying an optimum image on each of a plurality of screens, a display utilizing the characteristics of the original image can be performed. By operating only the display device, it is possible to obtain a display device capable of reducing power consumption of the display device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of an example of a thin film transistor used in the display device of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a modified example of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a display device according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 screen area 10 insulating substrate 11, 31, 41, 51, 71 pixel electrode 12, 32, 72 pixel switching element 13-1, 33-1, 73-1 scanning signal line 13-2, 33-2, 73-2 Data signal lines 14-1, 34-1, 44-1, 54-1, 74-1,
84-1 Scan Driver Circuit 14-2, 34-2, 44-2, 54-2, 74-2,
84-2 Data driver circuit 15 Common connection terminal 20 Insulating substrate 21 Source region 22 Channel region 23 Drain region 24 Gate insulating film 25 Gate electrode 26 Interlayer insulating film 27 Metal wiring

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An insulated substrate arranged in an array on an insulating substrate.
A plurality of pixel electrodes and a pixel switching element for selecting the pixel electrode, a scanning signal line and a data signal line which are arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching element, and via the scanning signal line and the data signal line. A driver circuit for driving a pixel electrode and a pixel switching element; and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided for each pixel electrode. A screen area, and at least one screen area of the plurality of screen areas has a pixel electrode array arrangement pitch different from a pitch of another pixel area, and at least one of the plurality of screen areas. The screen area is at least partially overlapped with another screen area in a positional relationship. The ratio between the pitch of the pixel electrode array arrangement pitch and the other screen area of the screen area is a simple integer ratio display. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening of each pixel other than the overlapping portion is the same as the shape of the screen area having the smaller pixel electrode array arrangement pitch. 3. The driver circuit according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is formed on the insulating substrate.
The display device according to claim 1. 4. An arrangement arranged in an array on an insulating substrate,
A plurality of pixel electrodes and a pixel switching element for selecting the pixel electrode, a scanning signal line and a data signal line which are arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching element, and via the scanning signal line and the data signal line. A driver circuit for driving a pixel electrode and a pixel switching element; and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided for each pixel electrode. A screen area, and at least one of the plurality of screen areas is a monochrome or two-gradation display screen area, and at least one screen area is a color display screen area. A display device characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. An array, comprising: an insulating substrate;
A plurality of pixel electrodes and a pixel switching element for selecting the pixel electrode, a scanning signal line and a data signal line which are arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching element, and via the scanning signal line and the data signal line. A driver circuit for driving a pixel electrode and a pixel switching element; and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided for each pixel electrode. A screen area, and at least one of the plurality of screen areas has a pixel electrode array having a single pitch in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and at least one screen area has an array of pixel electrodes. However, one of the vertical and horizontal directions is a single pitch, and the other is shifted by a half pitch for each row. Display device. 6. An array arranged on an insulating substrate,
A plurality of pixel electrodes and a pixel switching element for selecting the pixel electrode, a scanning signal line and a data signal line which are arranged in a matrix and connected to the pixel switching element, and via the scanning signal line and the data signal line. A driver circuit for driving a pixel electrode and a pixel switching element; and an active matrix display device for operating and displaying a display medium having an electro-optical conversion function provided for each pixel electrode. A screen area, and at least one of the plurality of screen areas is reflective, and at least one of the other screen areas is transmissive or transflective. Display device. 7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a common power supply line and a common image data line connected to the driver circuit. 8. A common driver selection terminal for supplying a signal for setting a driver circuit connected to the scanning signal lines and the data signal lines of the plurality of screen areas to an operation state or a non-operation state. 7. The display device according to any one of items 6. 9. The switching element and the driver circuit are constituted by thin film transistors TFT, and
7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the T active layer is formed of polycrystalline silicon. 10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display medium having the electro-optical conversion function is a liquid crystal or an organic EL device.