JP2008151824A - Electro-optical device, its drive method, and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optical device that does not require bidirectional driving on a shift register of a data line driver even when a displayed image is vertically and/or horizontally reversed. <P>SOLUTION: In a first screen 24, a plurality of first data lines 32A is driven by a first data line driver 60 based on an output from a first shift register 100 transmitting a first start pulse XSP1; and in a second screen 24, a plurality of second data lines is driven by a second data line driver 60 based on an output from a second shift register 110 transmitting a second start pulse XSP2. When the first shift register 60 transmits the first start pulse XSP1 along the first transmission direction X1 (or a second transmission direction X2), the second shift register 62 transmits the second start pulse XSP2 along a third transmission direction X3 (or a fourth transmission direction X4), so that the first and second start pulses are transmitted and driven by the first and second shift registers 60, 62 in the symmetric transmission directions over the border line 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device that drives by dividing a screen across a boundary line, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus.

  A conventional electro-optical device, for example, an active matrix liquid crystal display device mainly includes an element substrate in which switching elements are provided on each of the pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix, and a counter substrate on which a color filter or the like is formed. And a liquid crystal filled between these two substrates. In such a configuration, when a scanning signal is applied to the switching element via the scanning line, the switching element becomes conductive. In this conductive state, when an image signal is applied to the pixel electrode via the data line, a predetermined charge is accumulated in the liquid crystal layer between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode (common electrode). Even if the switching element is turned off after the charge accumulation, if the resistance of the liquid crystal layer is sufficiently high, the charge accumulation in the liquid crystal layer is maintained. In this way, by controlling the amount of charge accumulated by driving each switching element, the alignment state of the liquid crystal changes for each pixel, and it becomes possible to display predetermined information.

  At this time, the charge can be accumulated in the liquid crystal layer of each pixel for a certain period. First, each scanning line is sequentially selected by the scanning line driving circuit, and second, the scanning line is selected. In the period, one or more data lines are sequentially selected by the data line driving circuit, and third, a plurality of scanning lines and data lines are provided by sampling and supplying the image signal to the selected data lines. This makes it possible to perform time-division multiplex driving common to all the pixels.

  Here, the scanning line driving circuit and the data line driving circuit are generally each composed of a shift register circuit, and the scanning line driving circuit performs vertical scanning based on a signal transferred by each of these shift register circuits. On the other hand, the data line driving circuit is configured to perform horizontal scanning.

  By the way, in recent years, an electro-optical device may have a mode in which a display image is inverted vertically and / or horizontally as necessary in order to be applied to a projector or a portable video monitor. In such a case, as a scanning line driving circuit and a data line driving circuit, it is common to use a shift register circuit that can transfer data in both directions and to define the transfer direction according to the mode (Patent Document). 1).

In addition, a liquid crystal display device in which one screen is divided and driven is also proposed (Patent Documents 2-5).
JP 2000-235372 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-011912 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 03-217959 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-138839 JP 2003-131634 A

  A shift register circuit that can transfer bidirectionally as in Patent Document 1 has a larger number of gates than a shift register circuit that can transfer only in one direction, so that the circuit area increases. In addition, the gate capacity for inputting the transfer signal increases. For this reason, there is a problem that extra power is consumed by the increase in gate capacity.

  In addition, when driving one screen divided into a plurality of parts, for example, when scanning lines are divided on the upper side and the lower side (referred to as vertical division) as in Patent Document 2, a luminance difference occurs at the boundary between the upper and lower screens. There is a problem that.

  The present invention has a problem when one screen is divided into, for example, left and right data line areas (called horizontal division), and in this case, there is a problem in that a luminance difference occurs at the boundary between the left and right screens. .

  In particular, in the case of horizontal division, this type of luminance difference has little adverse effect in line sequential driving in which data is simultaneously supplied to all pixels on one scanning line on the left and right screens.

  However, in the case of horizontal division, the above-described luminance difference is remarkable in the case of dot-sequential driving in which all pixels on one scanning line are sequentially supplied from the end portion on each screen. Similarly, in the case of block sequential driving in which a plurality of pixels having the same number as the number of phase expansions (details will be described later) are made into one block and data is sequentially supplied from the end for each block on each screen, the above luminance difference is also Become prominent.

  As another problem, there is a strong demand for reducing the frame area other than the screen on the substrate.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical device, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus that do not need to bi-directionally drive a shift resist of a data line driver even when the display image is inverted vertically and / or horizontally. It is in.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an electro-optical device, a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus that can reduce a luminance difference generated on a boundary line of a divided screen even if the data line in one screen is divided and driven. There is.

  It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus that can reduce a frame area other than a screen on a substrate.

The driving method of the electro-optical device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of parallel parallel to the boundary line in the first screen divided into the first screen and the second screen with the boundary line as a boundary. The first data line is driven by the first data line driver based on the output from the first shift register for transferring the first start pulse,
In the second screen, a plurality of second data lines parallel to the boundary line are driven by a second data line driver based on an output from a second shift register that transfers a second start pulse,
The first and second shift registers are driven to transfer with the transfer direction of the first and second start pulses symmetrical with respect to the boundary line.

An electro-optical device according to another aspect of the invention includes:
A screen having an electro-optic element in each pixel and divided into a first screen and a second screen with a boundary line as a boundary;
A first data line driver for driving a plurality of first data lines parallel to the boundary line in the first screen;
A second data line driver for driving a plurality of second data lines parallel to the boundary line in the second screen;
Have
The first data line driver includes a first shift register for transferring a first start pulse,
The second data line driver has a second shift register for transferring a second start pulse,
The first and second shift registers are configured to transfer and drive the first and second start pulses symmetrically with respect to the boundary line.

  According to one aspect and another aspect of the present invention, the transfer directions of the first and second start pulses are axisymmetric with respect to the boundary lines of the first and second screens in the first and second shift registers. Therefore, even if the screen is rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the line symmetric drive with respect to the boundary line of the screen remains unchanged. Therefore, even if the screen is rotated, there is no need to change the start pulse transfer direction in the first and second data line drivers.

More specifically, the direction from the first side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the first screen is the first transfer direction, and the direction from the boundary line to the first side is the first direction. A second transfer direction, a direction from the second side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the second screen is a third transfer direction, and a direction from the boundary line to the second side is a fourth direction. When the transfer direction is
When the first shift register transfers the first start pulse along the first transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the three transfer directions, or When one shift register transfers the first start pulse along the second transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the four scanning directions.

  In one aspect and another aspect of the present invention, the first data line driver sequentially shifts the first screen on a pixel-by-pixel basis or on a plurality of pixels along a first scanning direction that is the same direction as the first transfer direction. When driving, the second screen is sequentially driven for each pixel or every plurality of pixels along a third scanning direction that is the same direction as the third transfer direction, or the first screen is driven in the second transfer direction. When driving sequentially for each pixel or every plurality of pixels along the second scanning direction in the same direction as the second screen, the second screen is moved pixel by pixel along the fourth scanning direction in the same direction as the fourth transfer direction. Alternatively, it is possible to sequentially drive for each of a plurality of pixels and perform scanning driving with the scanning direction of the first and second screens being line-symmetrical with respect to the boundary line.

  In this way, the writing timings of the pixels near the boundary line are substantially equal on the first and second screens, and the occurrence of a luminance difference near the boundary line is reduced.

  In one aspect and another aspect of the present invention, the first shift register is fixed in one of the first and second transfer directions, and the second shift register is fixed in one of the third and fourth transfer directions. be able to. This eliminates the need for a bidirectional shift register or switching signal for switching the transfer direction of the start pulse. Therefore, the number of gates can be reduced to reduce power consumption, and the substrate area can be reduced by downsizing the shift register.

  In one aspect and another aspect of the invention, the first shift register may be fixed in the second transfer direction, and the second shift register may be fixed in the fourth transfer direction. In this way, wiring such as a start pulse can be concentrated at the center of the substrate, and the substrate size can be further reduced by using the control pulse on the first and second screens. For example, an in-phase pulse can be used as the first and second start pulses.

In another aspect of the present invention, the device includes a substrate on which the screen and the first and second data line drivers are mounted.
The substrate is
A plurality of first sampling switches for sampling data based on the output of the first shift register;
A plurality of second sampling switches for sampling data based on the output of the second shift register;
A first data terminal group to which data supplied to the first sampling switch is input;
A second data terminal group to which data supplied to the second sampling switch is input;
A first data wiring pattern routed to the first sampling switch bypassing the first shift register from the first data terminal group;
A second data wiring pattern routed to the second sampling switch by bypassing the second shift register from the second data terminal group;
Can have.

  When the data lines are driven by the outputs of the first and second sampling switches, all the pixels on one scanning line are sequentially driven with a plurality of pixels as one block. Even in this case, since the data line scanning direction is axisymmetric on the first and second screens, there is no luminance difference at the boundary line.

  In addition, the first and second data wiring patterns can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the substrate, so that the wiring routing becomes the shortest and the signal delay can be reduced.

In another aspect of the invention, the first data wiring pattern includes:
A first orthogonal transformation region for orthogonally transforming a first data wiring group connected to the first data terminal group;
A first vertical array region connected to the first orthogonal transformation region and extending the first data wiring group in parallel with the boundary line between one side of the substrate and the first shift register;
A first horizontal array region connected to the first vertical array region and extending the data wiring group along the plurality of first sampling switches;
Have
The second data wiring pattern is:
A second orthogonal transformation region for orthogonal transformation of the second data wiring group connected to the second data terminal group;
A second data line connected to the second orthogonal transformation region and extending in parallel with the boundary line between the second shift register and another side parallel to the one side of the substrate; A vertical array area;
A second horizontal array region connected to the second vertical array region and extending the data wiring group along the plurality of second sampling switches;
Can have.

  Compared with the case where the screen is not divided, the number of lines and spaces of the data wiring located in the first and second orthogonal transformation areas and the first and second horizontal arrangement areas is halved, so that the substrate size can be greatly reduced. realizable.

  In another aspect of the present invention, the data respectively supplied to the first and second data terminal groups is N (N is an integer of 2 or more) parallel data after the data is serial-parallel converted. be able to.

  The number of parallel data increases as the high-definition drive increases. However, the larger the number of parallel data, the more remarkable the substrate reduction effect when compared with the non-screen division type.

In another aspect of the present invention, each field of the first and second screens is divided into a plurality of subfields on the time axis,
The data supplied to the first and second data terminal groups may be digital data for gradation driving by controlling the application time of the voltage pulse applied to the electro-optic element during the one field. it can.

  In this way, the pixels can be driven in gradation in one field while binary driving is performed in each subfield.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first data line driver includes a first latch including the first sampling switch and a latch element that latches the output thereof.
The second data line driver has a second latch including the second sampling switch and a latch element for latching the output thereof.
Each of the first and second latches can latch the N pieces of parallel data sequentially input in M (M is an integer of 2 or more) times every M times.

  When the data lines are driven by the outputs of the first and second latches, all the pixels on one scanning line are sequentially driven with a plurality of pixels as one block. Even in this case, since the data line scanning direction is axisymmetric on the first and second screens, there is no luminance difference at the boundary line.

In another aspect of the present invention, a first (N × M) number of data connected to the first latch and latched by the first latch in a number of N times is latched at the same time. 3 latches,
A fourth latch that is connected to the second latch and latches a total of (N × M) pieces of data latched in the second latch in M times N times at a time;
Can further be included.

  In this case, the first and second screens are line-sequentially driven, and there is no difference in luminance at the boundary line. However, even if the screen is rotated, there is no need to switch the transfer direction of the start pulse. .

  In another aspect of the present invention, the N pieces of parallel data are not limited to digital data but can be analog data.

  Yet another aspect of the present invention defines an electronic apparatus having an electro-optical device having the above-described features.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The present embodiment described below does not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims, and all the configurations described in the present embodiment are indispensable as means for solving the present invention. Not necessarily.

1. FIG. 1 shows an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device. The liquid crystal device shown in FIG. 1 has a first screen 24 and a second screen 26 on a substrate 10, for example, a screen 20 divided into two on the left and right with a boundary line 22 as a boundary. Each of the first screen 24 and the second screen 26 has a pixel 34 near the intersection of the scanning line 30 and the data line 32. Each pixel 34 includes a pixel switch such as an N-type transistor 36 connected to the scanning line 30 and the data line, a storage capacitor 38 and a liquid crystal 40 connected to the N-type transistor 36. The liquid crystal 40 is sealed between the substrate 10 and the counter substrate.

  In the present embodiment, the screen 20 has 880 pixels 34 along the X direction (first direction) in FIG. Each of the first and second screens 24 and 26 divided into two by the boundary line 22 has 440 pixels 34 in the X direction.

  The first scanning line driver 50 drives the plurality of scanning lines 30 on the first screen 24, and the second scanning line driver 52 drives the scanning lines 30 on the second screen 26. The first data line driver 60 drives the first data line 32A on the first screen 24, and the second data line driver 62 drives the second data line 32B on the second screen 26.

  In the liquid crystal device, a peripheral drive circuit can be connected to the outside of the substrate 10. In the present embodiment, the data processing circuit 70, the first field buffer 80 and the second field buffer 82, and the timing controller 90 are connected. As will be described later, the data processing circuit 70 performs serial-parallel conversion on the data, and each of the first and second screens 24 and 26 has N (N is an integer of 2 or more, for example, N = 40) parallels. A serial-parallel (S / P) conversion circuit 72 that develops data into phases is provided. In the data processing circuit 70, as will be described later, each field of the first and second screens 24 and 26 is divided into a plurality of subfields on the time axis, and an electro-optic element (liquid crystal 40) is included in each field. And a data coding circuit 74 for generating digital data for controlling the application time of the voltage pulse applied to. Since the S / P conversion circuit 72 and the data coding circuit 74 are known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The first field memory 80 stores data supplied to the first data line driver 60, and the second field memory 82 stores data supplied to the second data line driver 62.

  The timing controller 90 generates and outputs various timing signals. As the timing signals, there are a Y-direction start pulse YSP and a Y-direction clock signal CLY supplied to the shift registers in the first and second scanning line drivers 50 and 52. Thereby, the first and second scanning line drivers 50 and 52 select the scanning lines 30 one by one from the upper side, for example. Thereby, in the first and second screens 24 and 26, the pixel switches 36 of 440 pixels 34 on one line along the X direction are simultaneously turned on, and the data voltage of the data line 32 is changed to the storage capacitor 38 and Applied to the liquid crystal 40.

  The timing controller 90 controls the write / read timing in the first and second field buffers 80 and 82. In addition, the timing controller 90 also supplies the X-direction start pulse XSP and the X-direction clock signal CLX to the shift registers in the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62, which will be described in detail later.

2. Horizontal Scanning Direction and Clock Transfer Direction on Each Screen As shown in FIG. 1, from the first side 28 parallel to the boundary line 22 on the first screen 24 along the horizontal scanning direction X orthogonal to the boundary line 22. A direction toward the boundary line 22 is defined as a first scanning direction X1, and a direction from the boundary line 22 toward the first side 28 is defined as a second scanning direction X2. Similarly, along the horizontal scanning direction X, the direction from the second side 29 parallel to the boundary line 22 to the boundary line 22 on the second screen 26 is the third scanning direction X3, and the second side 29 from the boundary line 22 is the second scanning direction X3. The direction toward is the fourth scanning direction X4.

  In the present embodiment, when the first screen 24 is driven along the first scanning direction X1, the second screen 26 is driven along the third scanning direction X3. That is, in the first and second screens 24 and 26, the order in which data is written to the pixels 34 on one scanning line in time division (dot sequential or block sequential) within one horizontal scanning period (1H) is the boundary line. Axisymmetric driving is performed in the order toward 22. As a result, on both the first and second screens 24 and 26, data is written to the pixels 34 near the boundary line 22 at the end of one horizontal scanning period (1H). Therefore, a luminance difference due to the writing time difference does not occur near the boundary line 22.

  Instead, in the present embodiment, when the first screen 24 is driven along the second scanning direction X2, the second screen 26 is driven along the fourth scanning direction X4. That is, in the first and second screens 24 and 26, the order in which data is written to the pixels 34 on one scanning line in time division (dot sequential or block sequential) within one horizontal scanning period (1H) is the boundary line. Axisymmetric driving is performed in the order of moving away from 22. In this way, on both the first and second screens 24 and 26, data is written to the pixels 34 near the boundary line 22 at the beginning of one horizontal scanning period (1H). Therefore, a luminance difference due to the writing time difference does not occur near the boundary line 22.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, even when the screen 20 is rotated by 90 degrees, it is not necessary to convert the horizontal scanning direction (X direction). That is, as indicated by solid lines in FIGS. 2A and 2B, for example, the first data line driver 60 is in the first scanning direction X1, and the second data line driver is in the third scanning direction X3. In this case, this relationship does not change even if the screen is rotated 90 degrees. Therefore, even if the screen 20 is rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees, there is no need to change the scanning direction in the horizontal scanning direction (X direction). This action is effective not only in the dot sequential driving and the block sequential driving in which the luminance difference near the boundary line 22 occurs but also in the case of the line sequential driving. In this sense, this embodiment is also effective for line sequential driving.

  On the other hand, the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 are arranged in the same direction (first and fourth scanning directions X1) as in the comparative example indicated by the broken lines in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B). , X4), the scanning direction is completely reversed in the vertical direction of FIGS. 2A and 2B before and after the screen 20 is rotated by 90 degrees. For this reason, in FIG. 2B, the scanning directions of the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 are switched in the reverse direction, and both are scanned from top to bottom (that is, the second and third scanning directions X2 and X3). ) Needs to be switched. For this reason, a bidirectional shift register as shown in Patent Document 1 is required for the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62.

  In the present embodiment, the first and second scanning line drivers 50 and 52 may be bidirectional drivers. In this way, vertical scanning can be performed from top to bottom even if the screen of FIG. Further, even when the screen 20 shown in FIG. 2B is arranged upside down, scanning can be performed from left to right in the Y direction (vertical scanning direction).

3. Data Line Driver Details of the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 3, the first data line driver 60 includes a first shift register 100 that transfers the first start pulse XSP1 with the X-direction clock CLX1 along the second scanning direction (second transfer direction) X2, for example. The second data line driver 62 includes, for example, a second shift register 110 that transfers the second start pulse XSP2 with the X-direction clock CLX2 along the fourth scanning direction (fourth transfer direction) X4. Each of the first and second shift registers 100 and 110 includes M = 11 stages of flip-flops 101 along the X direction. Note that the first and second start pulses XSP1 and XSP2 may be shared by in-phase signals. Further, the X-direction clocks CLX1 and CLX2 may be shared by in-phase signals. The clock CLXB1 is an inverted clock of the clock CLX1, and the clock CLXB2 is an inverted clock of the clock CLX2.

  Based on the output of the first shift register 100, the first data line driver 60 is divided into M pieces (for example, M is an integer equal to or larger than 2 and M = 11 in the present embodiment) and is sequentially input N (for example, N = 40), the first latch 120 that latches the parallel data M times. Similarly, the second data line driver 62 latches the N parallel data sequentially input in M times based on the output of the second shift register 110, and latches the N parallel data in each M times. Have

  In addition, at the end of the substrate 10, a first data terminal group 160 to which data supplied to the first latch 100 is input and a second data terminal group 170 to which data supplied to the second latch 130 is input. And are provided. A first data wiring group 180 routed from the first data terminal group 160 to the first latch 120, and a second data wiring group 190 routed from the second data terminal group 170 to the second latch 130. Is provided. Each of the first and second data wiring groups 180 and 190 includes N = 40 data wirings.

  Further, the first data line driver 60 is connected to the first latch 100, and is divided into M times N times and latched by the first latch 100 (N × M) = 40 × 11 = 440. A third latch 140 is provided that latches data simultaneously at the same time. The second data line driver 62 is connected to the second latch 130 and latches a total of (N × M) pieces of data latched by the second latch 130 in a number of M times N at a time. A fourth latch 150 is provided.

  FIG. 4 shows the first and third latches 120 and 140 of the first data line driver 60. The second and fourth latches 130 and 150 of the second data line driver 62 also have the same configuration that is symmetrical to that of FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the first latch 120 includes N = 40 flip-flops 121 to which the latch output S1 from the first-stage flip-flop 101 of the first shift register 100 is commonly input. Similarly, the latch outputs S2-SM from the flip-flops 101 of the second to M-th stages of the first shift register 100 are also commonly input to N = 40 flip-flops 121, respectively. Each flip-flop 121 includes a sampling switch 122 composed of, for example, a transfer gate connected to one of the first data wiring groups 180, and a latch element 123 that holds the sampling output.

  The third latch 140 includes a flip-flop 141 having the same configuration as that of the flip-flop 121 in each of the first to M-th stages. The third latch 140 includes N = 40 flip-flops 141 in each of the first to Mth stages. The third latch 140 is different from the first latch 120 in that the sampling switches 132 in all the flip-flops 131 are simultaneously turned on by the X direction latch pulse XLP. Note that the X-direction latch pulses XLP1 and XLP2 shown in FIG. 3 may also be used as in-phase latch pulses. The latch pulse XLP1B is an inverted latch pulse of the latch pulse XLP1, and the latch pulse XLP2B is an inverted latch pulse of the latch pulse XLP2.

  In this embodiment, since the third and fourth latches 140 and 150 are provided, the first and second screens 24 and 26 can be driven in sequence, and the luminance at the boundary 22 as described above. There is no difference. However, if the third and fourth latches 140 and 150 are eliminated, the output from the first and second latches 120 and 130 repeats the operation of simultaneously outputting 40 pixels of data as one block, so that the block sequential Driven. In this case, the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 perform the above-described line-symmetric drive, so that no luminance difference occurs at the boundary line 22.

4). Data Arrangement According to Data Phase Expansion (Serial-Parallel Conversion) and Horizontal Scanning Direction The operation of the S / P conversion circuit 72 in the data processing circuit 70 shown in FIG. 1 is conceptually shown in FIG. The S / P conversion circuit 72 converts the serial data for each of the first and second screens 24 and 26 shown in FIG. 1 into N = 40 parallel data as shown in FIG. It is. Note that N = 40 parallel data does not necessarily have to be in phase, and it is sufficient if the first and second latches 100 and 110 have a data section that can be sampled simultaneously. In this embodiment, since the data supplied to the first and second screens 24 and 26 are expanded into 40 phases, the number of terminals in each of the first and second data terminal groups 160 and 170 shown in FIG. N = 40.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the first and second field memories 80 and 82 and the first and second data terminal groups 160 and 170 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, N = 40 data D1-D40 are simultaneously read from the first field memory 80, and N = 40 data D41-D80 are simultaneously read from the second field memory 82. Two data terminal groups 160 and 170 are supplied simultaneously. When this operation is repeated M = 11 times while sequentially incrementing the Y-direction addresses of the first and second field memories 80 and 82, all the pixels in the X direction of the screen 20 (N × M × 2 = 40 × 11 × 2). = 880 pixels) can be supplied. Furthermore, if this operation is repeated for the number of scanning lines (m) on one screen 20, data for one subfield can be supplied.

  FIG. 7 conceptually shows the operation of the first and second field memories 80 and 82 in the case of block sequential driving such as when the third and fourth latches 140 and 150 are deleted. In FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, the number of layer expansions N = 40 for the first and second screens 24 and 26 and the number of block sequential driving times M = 4 for the first and second screens 24 and 26 are set. The number of pixels in the X direction of the first and second screens 24 and 26 is N × M = 160, and the total number of pixels in the X direction of one screen 20 = N × M × 2 = 320. As shown in FIG. 7, by setting the order of reading from the first and second field memories 80 and 82, in FIG. 7, line-symmetric driving by a combination of the first and third scanning directions X1 and X3 is realized. In this way, the pixels of the first and second screens 24 and 26 near the boundary line 22 are simultaneously driven in blocks sequentially at the M = 4th time, so that the luminance difference near the boundary line 22 can be eliminated.

5. Subfield Drive The subfield drive employed in this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. As described above, each field of the first and second screens 24 and 26 shown in FIG. 1 includes n (n is an integer of 2 or more) subfields Sf1-Sfn on the time axis as shown in FIG. It is divided into The data coding circuit 74 controls the application time of the voltage pulse applied to the electro-optic element (liquid crystal 40) during each field to generate digital data for driving the liquid crystal 40 in gradation.

  The polarity inversion signal FR is a signal whose polarity is inverted every field. The Y-direction scanning start pulse SPY is a pulse signal output at the beginning of each subfield, and is input to the first and second scanning line drivers 50 and 52, whereby the first and second scanning line drivers 50 are output. , 52 output scanning signals (G1 to Gm). The transfer clock CLY in the Y direction is a signal that defines the scanning speed on the vertical scanning side (Y side), and the scanning signals (G1 to Gm) are supplied to the scanning line 30 in synchronization with the transfer clock CLY.

  The X-direction latch pulse XLP determines the timing for simultaneously outputting data of 440 pixels stored in the third and fourth latches 140 and 150 in the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62. is there. The data transfer clock CLX is a clock signal for transferring data to the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62.

  In FIG. 8, the X-direction start pulse XSP and the latch pulse XLP are shown as in-phase signals, but the present invention is not limited to this. When the X direction start pulse XSP is input to the first and second shift registers 100 and 110, the latch signals (sampling signals) S1, S2,. 1H) are sequentially output. Accordingly, the operation of sequentially latching N = 40 data in the first and second latches 120 and 130 is repeated M = 11 times. As a result, a total of 880 pieces of data are latched in the first and second latches 120 and 130, each of 440 pieces. Thereafter, when the X-direction latch pulse XLP is input to the third and fourth latches 140 and 150, a total of 880 pieces of data are simultaneously latched in the third and fourth latches 140 and 150, respectively. The 880 pieces of data are simultaneously supplied to the first and second data lines 32A and 32B, and the first and second screens 24 and 26 are line-sequentially driven.

  By repeating this operation every time the scanning signals G1-Gm become active, the driving in the first subfield Sf1 is completed. Thereafter, by repeating until the nth subfield Sfm, one-field driving is completed.

  The data coding circuit 74 needs to recognize which subfield of one field when the display data is binarized. In this embodiment, the timing controller 90 counts the Y-direction start pulse YSP and outputs the result as a subfield identification signal toward the data coding circuit 74.

6). As shown in FIG. 3, the first data wiring group 180 routed from the first data terminal group 160 to the first latch 120 and the second data terminal group 170 to the second latch 130 are routed. The second data wiring group 190 has a special wiring pattern.

  The first data wiring pattern includes a first orthogonal transformation region 180A that orthogonally transforms the first data wiring group 190 connected to the first data terminal group 160 from the Y direction (second direction) to the X direction (first direction). Have. The first wiring pattern is connected to the first orthogonal transformation region 180A, and the first data wiring group 190 is arranged in the Y direction (second direction) between the one side 12 of the substrate 10 and the first shift register 100. The first vertical array region 180B extends along the first vertical array region 180B. Further, the first data line wiring pattern has a first horizontal array region 180C connected to the first vertical array region 180B and extending the data wiring group 180 toward the first latch 120 (first sampling switch 121).

  Similarly, in the second data wiring pattern, the second data wiring group 190 is arranged in the Y direction (first direction) between the second orthogonal transformation region 190A, the other side 14 parallel to one side 12 of the substrate 10, and the second shift register 110. A second vertical array region 190B that extends along two directions) and a second horizontal array region 190C.

  Here, FIG. 9 shows a non-split type as a comparative example. One data line driver 200 provided for the screen 20 includes a shift register 210 and two latches 220 and 230. The number of phase expansions is 2N = 80, M = 11, and the total number of pixels 880 on one scanning line is the same as in this embodiment. In this case, the data terminal group 240 is provided with 80 terminals, to which 80 data wiring groups 250 are connected. Also in this case, in order to bypass the shift register 210 and route the data line wiring 250 to the latch 220, it is necessary to provide the orthogonal transformation area 250A, the vertical arrangement area 250B, and the horizontal arrangement area 250C.

  3 is compared with FIG. 9, the height in the Y direction of the first and second orthogonal transformation regions 180A and 190A in FIG. 3 is 40 lines and spaces of the first and second data wiring groups 180 and 190, respectively. In contrast, the height in the Y direction in the orthogonal transformation region 250A of FIG. 9 requires 80 lines and spaces of the data wiring group 250. In addition, the heights in the Y direction of the first and second horizontal array regions 180C and 190C in FIG. 3 are 40 lines and spaces in the first and second data wiring groups 180 and 190, respectively. On the other hand, the height in the Y direction in the horizontal array region 250C in FIG. 9 requires 80 lines and spaces of the data wiring group 250. 3 and 9, the height in the Y direction occupied by the shift register and the two latches is the same. Therefore, in FIG. 3, compared with FIG. 9, the height in the Y direction of the frame area occupied by the area other than the screen 20 on the substrate 10 can be reduced by 80 lines / spaces of the data wiring group. .

  3 and 9 are compared from another viewpoint, the first and second data wiring groups 180 and 190 in FIG. 3 are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the screen 20, whereas in FIG. Therefore, it cannot be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center line of the screen 20. In FIG. 9, since the height in the Y direction of the substrate 10 is also increased, the number of liquid crystal matrix substrates that can be manufactured on a large glass substrate is reduced and throughput is lowered.

  In addition, since the data wiring group 250 cannot be arranged in line symmetry in FIG. 9, the problem of wiring delay cannot be ignored.

  Further, since the divided driving is not performed in FIG. 9, the shift register 210 of the data line driver 200 requires bidirectional driving as in Patent Document 1. In this case, at least two control signal lines for switching the scanning direction described in Patent Document 1 are necessary, but such a control signal line is not necessary in FIG.

  3 shows the combination of the second transfer direction X2 and the fourth transfer direction X4 shown in FIG. 1, but the size of the substrate 10 in the X direction is different from the combination of the first transfer direction X1 and the third transfer direction X3. Can be shortened. This is because the X direction start pulses XSP1 and XSP2 in FIG. 3 can be shared, the X direction latch pulses XLP1 and XLP2 can be shared, and the X direction inversion latch pulses XLP1B and XLP2B can be shared. The reason why the pulse can be shared for the two left and right regions is that these pulse supply lines can be concentrated in the center of the substrate 10.

7). Example of Analog Drive In the above-described embodiment, the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 are digitally driven, but may be replaced with analog drive. FIG. 10 is obtained by changing the first data line driver 60 shown in FIG. 3 to analog driving. In this case, a sampling switch 125 as shown in FIG. 10 may be provided in place of the first and third latches 120 and 130 shown in FIG. The number of sampling switches 125 is the same as that of the sampling switches 122 in the first latch 120 shown in FIG. The sampling switch 125 is the same in operation except that it is different from the sampling switch 122 of FIG. 3 only in that it is an analog switch.

  The operation in the case of analog driving shown in FIG. This is the same as the block sequential drive when the third latch 140 is deleted from FIG. Therefore, the luminance difference on the boundary line 22 can be reduced by driving the first and second data line drivers 60 and 62 of analog driving in line symmetry.

8). Electronic Device In this embodiment, an example of an electronic device equipped with the electro-optical device of the invention will be described.

(projector)
First, a projector using the electro-optical device of the present invention as a light valve will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a projector equipped with the electro-optical device (reflection type liquid crystal device) of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a polarization illumination device 1110 is disposed inside the projector 1100 along the system optical axis PL. In this polarization illumination device 1110, the light emitted from the lamp 1112 becomes a substantially parallel light beam as reflected by the reflector 1114, and enters the first integrator lens 1120. Thereby, the emitted light from the lamp 1112 is divided into a plurality of intermediate light beams. The divided intermediate light beam is converted into a single type of polarized light beam (s-polarized light beam) whose polarization directions are substantially uniform by a polarization conversion element 1130 having a second integrator lens on the light incident side, and the polarization illumination device It is emitted from 1110.

  The s-polarized light beam emitted from the polarization illumination device 1110 is reflected by the s-polarized light beam reflection surface 1141 of the polarization beam splitter 1140. Of this reflected light beam, the blue light (B) light beam is reflected by the blue light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1151 and modulated by the reflective electro-optical device 10B. Of the light beams transmitted through the blue light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1151, the red light (R) light beam is reflected by the red light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 1152, and is modulated by the reflective liquid electro-optical device 1000R. The

  On the other hand, among the light beams transmitted through the blue light reflection layer of the dichroic mirror 1151, the green light (G) light beam transmits through the red light reflection layer of the dichroic mirror 1152 and is modulated by the reflective electro-optical device 100G. .

  In this way, red, green, and blue lights that have been color-light modulated by the electro-optical devices 1000R, 1000G, and 1000B are sequentially synthesized by the dichroic mirrors 1152 and 1151, and the polarization beam splitter 1140, and then are projected by the projection optical system 1160. Is projected on the screen 1170. In addition, since the dichroic mirrors 1151 and 1152 enter the light beams corresponding to the R, G, and B primary colors into the electro-optical devices 1000R, 1000B, and 1000G, a color filter is not necessary.

  As described above, the electro-optical devices (1000R, 1000G, and 1000B) of the present invention can express more detailed gradation without increasing the number of subfields. Therefore, the projector of FIG. 11 can display a higher definition image while maintaining low power consumption, and is useful as a projector for home theaters, for example.

  In the above-described example, a reflective electro-optical device is used. However, a projector using a transmissive display electro-optical device may be used.

(Mobile computer)
Next, an example in which the electro-optical device of the present invention is applied to a mobile personal computer will be described. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a personal computer equipped with the electro-optical device of the present invention.

  In FIG. 12, a computer 1200 includes a main body 1204 provided with a keyboard 1202 and a display unit 1206. The display unit 1206 is configured by adding a front light to the front surface of the electro-optical device 1000 to which the above-described embodiment is applied. In this configuration, since the electro-optical device 1000 is used as a reflection direct-view type, it is desirable that the pixel electrode 118 has irregularities so that the reflected light is scattered in various directions.

(Mobile phone terminal)
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an overview of a mobile phone terminal equipped with the electro-optical device 1000 of the present invention. The mobile phone terminal 1300 includes a plurality of operation keys 1302, a speaker 1304, a microphone 1306, and the electro-optical device 1000 of the present invention.

  Although the present embodiment has been described in detail as described above, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made without departing from the novel matters and effects of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included in the scope of the present invention. For example, a term described at least once together with a different term having a broader meaning or the same meaning in the specification or the drawings can be replaced with the different term in any part of the specification or the drawings.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an electro-optical device according to an embodiment of the invention. 2A is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which the screen of the electro-optical device is horizontally placed, and FIG. 2B is a vertically placed state. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows arrangement | positioning on the board | substrate shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of first and third latches shown in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the serial-parallel conversion of data notionally. It is a figure which shows an example of the data storage state to the 1st, 2nd field memory shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining a reading order from the first and second field memories at the time of line-symmetric block sequential driving by the first and second data line drivers. 6 is an operation timing chart of the electro-optical device according to the embodiment. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the comparative example which does not implement screen division drive. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a modification in which the first data line driver shown in FIG. 3 is analog driven. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of the projector which is an example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention It is the schematic of the personal computer which is another example of the electronic device which concerns on this invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a mobile phone that is still another example of the electronic apparatus according to the invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 substrates, 12 one side of the substrate, 14 other sides of the base, 20 screens, 22 borders,
24 first screen, 26 second screen, 28 one side of screen, 29 other side of screen,
30 scan lines, 32, 32A, 32B data lines, 34 pixels, 36 pixel switches,
38 holding capacitor, 40 liquid crystal electro-optic element, 50 first scanning line driver,
52 second scanning line driver, 60 first data line driver,
62 second data line driver, 70 data processing circuit,
72 serial-parallel (S / P) conversion circuit, 74 data coding circuit,
80 first field memory, 82 second field memory,
90 timing controller, 100 first shift register,
110 second shift register, 120 first latch, 121 flip-flop,
122, 125 sampling switches, 123 latch elements, 130 second latch,
131 flip-flop, 140 third latch, 150 fourth latch,
160 first data terminal group, 170 second data terminal group, 180 first data wiring group,
180A first orthogonal conversion area, 180B first vertical arrangement area, 180C first horizontal arrangement area,
190 second data wiring group, 190A second orthogonal transformation region, 190B second vertical arrangement region,
190C second horizontal array region,
1000, 1000R, 1000G, 1000B electro-optical device,
X1 first scanning direction (first transfer direction), X2 second scanning direction (second transfer direction),
X3 third scanning direction (third transfer direction), X4 fourth scanning direction (fourth transfer direction),
XSP1 first start pulse, XSP2 second start pulse

Claims (17)

A first start pulse is transferred to a plurality of first data lines parallel to the boundary line in the first screen divided into a first screen and a second screen with the boundary line as a boundary. 1 driven by the first data line driver based on the output from the shift register,
In the second screen, a plurality of second data lines parallel to the boundary line are driven by a second data line driver based on an output from a second shift register that transfers a second start pulse,
The method of driving an electro-optical device, wherein the first and second shift registers are driven to transfer with the transfer direction of the first and second start pulses symmetrical with respect to the boundary line. In claim 1,
A direction from the first side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the first screen is a first transfer direction, a direction from the boundary line to the first side is a second transfer direction, When the direction from the second side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the second screen is the third transfer direction, and the direction from the boundary line to the second side is the fourth transfer direction,
When the first shift register transfers the first start pulse along the first transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the three transfer directions, or The electro-optic is characterized in that when the first shift register transfers the first start pulse along the second transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the four scanning directions. Device driving method. In claim 2,
When the first data line driver sequentially drives the first screen for each pixel or a plurality of pixels along the first scanning direction that is the same direction as the first transfer direction, the first screen displays the second screen. Drive sequentially for each pixel or every plurality of pixels along the third scanning direction, which is the same direction as the three transfer directions, or the first screen along the second scanning direction, which is the same direction as the second transfer direction. When sequentially driving every pixel or every plurality of pixels, the second screen is sequentially driven every pixel or every plurality of pixels along the fourth scanning direction which is the same direction as the fourth transfer direction, A driving method of an electro-optical device, wherein scanning driving is performed with the scanning direction of the first and second screens being symmetrical with respect to a boundary line. In claim 2 or 3,
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first shift register is fixed in one of the first and second transfer directions, and the second shift register is fixed in one of the third and fourth transfer directions. Driving method. A screen having an electro-optic element in each pixel and divided into a first screen and a second screen with a boundary line as a boundary;
A first data line driver for driving a plurality of first data lines parallel to the boundary line in the first screen;
A second data line driver for driving a plurality of second data lines parallel to the boundary line in the second screen;
Have
The first data line driver includes a first shift register for transferring a first start pulse,
The second data line driver has a second shift register for transferring a second start pulse,
The electro-optical device, wherein the first and second shift registers are driven to transfer with the transfer direction of the first and second start pulses symmetrical with respect to the boundary line. In claim 5,
A direction from the first side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the first screen is a first transfer direction, a direction from the boundary line to the first side is a second transfer direction, When the direction from the second side parallel to the boundary line to the boundary line on the second screen is the third transfer direction, and the direction from the boundary line to the second side is the fourth transfer direction,
When the first shift register transfers the first start pulse along the first transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the three transfer directions, or When the first shift register transfers the first start pulse along the second transfer direction, the second shift register transfers the second start pulse along the four scanning directions to delimit the boundary line. The electro-optical device is characterized in that the first and second shift registers are driven to transfer with the transfer directions of the first and second start pulses symmetrical. In claim 6,
A board on which the screen and the first and second data line drivers are mounted;
The substrate is
A plurality of first sampling switches for sampling data based on the output of the first shift register;
A plurality of second sampling switches for sampling data based on the output of the second shift register;
A first data terminal group to which data supplied to the first sampling switch is input;
A second data terminal group to which data supplied to the second sampling switch is input;
A first data wiring pattern routed to the first sampling switch bypassing the first shift register from the first data terminal group;
A second data wiring pattern routed to the second sampling switch by bypassing the second shift register from the second data terminal group;
An electro-optical device comprising: In claim 7,
The first data wiring pattern is:
A first orthogonal transformation region for orthogonally transforming a first data wiring group connected to the first data terminal group;
A first vertical array region connected to the first orthogonal transformation region and extending the first data wiring group in parallel with the boundary line between one side of the substrate and the first shift register;
A first horizontal array region connected to the first vertical array region and extending the data wiring group along the plurality of first sampling switches;
Have
The second data wiring pattern is:
A second orthogonal transformation region for orthogonal transformation of the second data wiring group connected to the second data terminal group;
A second data line connected to the second orthogonal transformation region and extending in parallel with the boundary line between the second shift register and another side parallel to the one side of the substrate; A vertical array area;
A second horizontal array region connected to the second vertical array region and extending the data wiring group along the plurality of second sampling switches;
An electro-optical device comprising: In claim 8,
The first shift register has a transfer direction of the first start pulse fixed to one of the first and second transfer directions, and the second shift register has a transfer direction of the second start pulse of the third and third transfer directions. An electro-optical device fixed to one side in a fourth transfer direction. In claim 9,
In the first shift register, the transfer direction of the first start pulse is fixed in the second transfer direction, and in the second shift register, the transfer direction of the second start pulse is fixed in the fourth transfer direction. An electro-optical device. In claim 10,
An electro-optical device characterized in that an in-phase pulse is also used as the first and second start pulses. In any of claims 7 to 11,
The data supplied to each of the first and second data terminal groups is N (N is an integer of 2 or more) parallel data after the data is serial-parallel converted. . In claim 12,
Each field of the first and second screens is divided into a plurality of subfields on the time axis,
The data supplied to the first and second data terminal groups is digital data for controlling the application time of the voltage pulse applied to the electro-optic element during the one field to perform gradation driving. Electro-optical device characterized. In claim 13,
The first data line driver includes a first latch that includes the first sampling switch and a latch element that latches an output thereof.
The second data line driver has a second latch including the second sampling switch and a latch element for latching the output thereof.
Each of the first and second latches latches each of the N pieces of parallel data sequentially input in M (M is an integer of 2 or more) times every M times. Electro-optic device. In claim 14,
A third latch that is connected to the first latch and latches a total of (N × M) pieces of data latched by the first latch in M times N times at a time;
A fourth latch that is connected to the second latch and latches a total of (N × M) pieces of data latched in the second latch in M times N times at a time;
The electro-optical device further comprising: In claim 12,
The electro-optical device, wherein the N pieces of parallel data are analog data.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 5.

Images