JP2013092785A - Liquid crystal display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress heating of a driver circuit in a liquid crystal display apparatus whose display area is divided into two subareas to display images and pictures in parallel in the subareas, and to prevent picture quality from deterioration.SOLUTION: In a liquid crystal display apparatus, the single display area of a liquid crystal display panel is divided by a boundary line coinciding with the extending direction of scan signal lines into a first display subarea and a second display subarea; an image signal line to which TFT elements of pixels of the first display subarea are connected and another image signal line to which TFT elements of pixels of the second display subarea are connected are electrically insulated from each other; in each of the first display subarea and the second display subarea, pixels whose TFT elements are connected to one of two adjoining image signal lines and pixels whose TFT elements are connected to the other image signal line alternate each other on a plurality of pixel columns along the extending direction of the image signal line.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a technique effective when applied to a liquid crystal display device in which one display region is divided into two vertically.

  Conventionally, liquid crystal display devices include a liquid crystal television and a liquid crystal display connected to a personal computer (PC). A liquid crystal display device such as the liquid crystal television usually displays images and images (that is, moving images and still images) by a driving method called an active matrix type.

  In the liquid crystal display panel used in the active matrix liquid crystal display device, one display area is set by a set of pixels having, for example, TFT elements and pixel electrodes. The liquid crystal display panel is a display panel in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between a pair of substrates, and one of the pair of substrates (hereinafter referred to as a TFT substrate) is, for example, a plurality of scans. A signal line, a plurality of video signal lines, a plurality of TFT elements, a plurality of pixel electrodes, and the like are arranged. The other of the pair of substrates (hereinafter referred to as a counter substrate) is, for example, opposed to the plurality of scanning signal lines and the plurality of video signal lines on the TFT substrate. A mesh-like light shielding film, a color filter, and the like extending to the position are arranged.

  A counter electrode (sometimes referred to as a common electrode) that is paired with the pixel electrode when driving the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal material is disposed on the TFT substrate side by the driving method of the liquid crystal molecules. Or may be disposed on the counter substrate side.

  In the active matrix liquid crystal display panel, generally, the gates of TFT elements of a plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the scanning signal line in one display region are connected to a common scanning signal line. doing. In the active matrix type liquid crystal display panel, generally, the drains of the TFT elements of a plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the video signal line in one display area are connected to a common video signal line. doing.

  In recent years, the liquid crystal display device such as the liquid crystal television has been increased in screen size, that is, one display area in a liquid crystal display panel to be used has been increased. In recent years, liquid crystal display devices such as the liquid crystal television have been increased in definition, that is, the number of pixels constituting one display area in a liquid crystal display panel to be used has been increasing. Therefore, in a conventional general liquid crystal display device, for example, a liquid crystal display device having a signal input end of a scanning signal line only on the left end side of one display region and a signal input end of a video signal line only on the upper end side, The difference in the delay amount of the signal applied to each signal line becomes large between the pixels having a short distance from the signal input end of the scanning signal line or the video signal line and the pixels having a long distance, and the image quality is likely to deteriorate.

  In order to prevent the deterioration of the image quality as described above, in recent liquid crystal display devices, for example, signal input ends of scanning signal lines are provided on the left end side and the right end side of one display region, or video signals are provided on the upper end side and the lower end side. A signal input end of a line may be provided.

  In addition, when the signal input ends of the video signal lines are provided on the upper end side and the lower end side of the one display area, for example, the one display area is vertically divided by a boundary line along the extending direction of the scanning signal lines. The video signal line connected to the drain of the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the first display area above the boundary line and the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the second display area below the boundary line The video signal line connected to the drain is electrically insulated. In this way, for example, videos and images can be displayed in parallel in each of the first display area and the second display area. For this reason, the time taken to display one frame of a video or an image is halved compared with the conventional case, and it is easy to cope with the display speedup.

However, when the one display area is divided into two vertically, for example, the image quality may greatly change at the boundary portion, and the image quality may deteriorate. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device that displays the video or image in parallel in the first display area and the second display area by dividing the one display area into two vertically, the image quality generated at the boundary line portion. Various methods have been proposed to prevent the deterioration of the image (for example, see Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-268261 JP-A-8-22028

  However, the conventional active matrix type liquid crystal display panel generally has a single video signal line in which the drains of the TFT elements of a plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the video signal line in one display region are common. Connected to. In the case of a liquid crystal display panel in which the one display area is divided into two vertically, generally, the drains of the TFT elements of a plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the video signal line in the first display area are The drains of the TFT elements of the plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the video signal line in the second display area are connected to a common video signal line. Connected to the video signal line.

  Therefore, for example, the liquid crystal display device is inversion method called dot inversion, that is, the polarities of two adjacent pixels in the extending direction of the scanning signal line are opposite to each other and the video signal line extends. When driving by an inversion method in which the polarities of two adjacent pixels in the direction are opposite to each other, the load on the driver circuit that generates a signal to be applied to each video signal line increases, and the amount of heat generated by the driver circuit increases. Increase. For this reason, the conventional liquid crystal display device driven by dot inversion has a problem that, for example, the driver circuit is likely to break down and malfunction is likely to occur.

  The polarity indicates the relationship between the potential of the signal (gradation voltage) written from the video signal line to the pixel electrode and the potential of the counter electrode. Generally, the potential of the pixel electrode is the potential of the counter electrode. The higher case is called positive polarity, and the case where the potential of the pixel electrode is lower than the potential of the counter electrode is called negative polarity.

  In addition, the liquid crystal display device is inverted, for example, called column inversion. That is, the polarities of two pixels adjacent in the extending direction of the scanning signal line are opposite to each other, and the polarities of two pixels adjacent in the extending direction of the video signal line are the same polarity. When driven by the inversion method, the load on the driver circuit that generates a signal to be applied to each video signal line is smaller than that in the case of dot inversion. However, since the polarities of the plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction of the video signal line are all the same, for example, a phenomenon called vertical smear or flicker (vertical flow) occurs, and the image quality deteriorates. There was a problem to do.

  An object of the present invention is to, for example, divide one display area into two areas, suppress heat generation of a driver circuit in a liquid crystal display device that displays video and images in parallel with the two areas, and reduce image quality. It is to provide a technology capable of preventing the problem.

  The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  The outline of typical inventions among the inventions disclosed in the present application will be described as follows.

  (1) A liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate is included. The first substrate includes a plurality of scanning signal lines, a plurality of video signal lines, and a plurality of video signal lines. Each of the TFT elements and a plurality of pixel electrodes, the liquid crystal display panel having a display area set by a set of pixels having the TFT elements and the pixel electrodes, The one display area is divided into a first display area and a second display area by a boundary line coinciding with the extending direction of the scanning signal line, and the TFTs of the pixels belonging to the first display area The video signal line connected to the source or drain of the element is electrically insulated from the video signal line connected to the source or drain of the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the second display region. , In the first display area A plurality of pixels arranged along the extending direction of the video signal line, and a plurality of pixels arranged along the extending direction of the video signal line in the second display area. , Respectively, a pixel in which the source or drain of the TFT element is connected to one of the two adjacent video signal lines, and the other video of the two adjacent video signal lines A liquid crystal display device in which pixels having sources or drains of the TFT elements connected to signal lines are alternately arranged.

  (2) In the liquid crystal display device of (1), the pixels belonging to the first display area and the pixels belonging to the second display area that are adjacent to each other with the boundary line interposed therebetween are on the first substrate. A liquid crystal display device in which the relationship between the arrangement positions of the TFT elements and the pixel electrodes of the pixels is axisymmetric with respect to the boundary line.

  (3) In the liquid crystal display device of (2), each of the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area has one frame. A signal having the same polarity is always applied during the period, and a signal applied to the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period is The polarities of the signals applied to the two adjacent video signal lines in the same display area are opposite to each other, and the polarities of the signals applied to the two video signal lines facing each other across the boundary line are Liquid crystal display devices having opposite polarities.

  (4) In the liquid crystal display device according to (1), the pixels belonging to the first display area and the pixels belonging to the second display area that are adjacent to each other across the boundary line are arranged on the first substrate. The relationship between the arrangement positions of the TFT elements and the pixel electrodes of the respective pixels is a liquid crystal having a point-symmetrical relationship with the center of a line segment dividing the two pixels of the boundary line being a symmetric center. Display device.

  (5) In the liquid crystal display device of (4), each of the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area has one frame. A signal having the same polarity is always applied during the period, and a signal applied to the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period is The polarities of the signals applied to the two adjacent video signal lines in the same display area are opposite to each other, and the polarities of the signals applied to the two video signal lines facing each other across the boundary line are A liquid crystal display device having the same polarity.

  (6) In the liquid crystal display device according to any one of (1) to (5), the gate of the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the first display area and the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the second display area The liquid crystal display device in which each gate is connected to the scanning signal line located on the signal input end side of the video signal line to which the source or drain of the TFT element is connected than the pixel electrode of the pixel.

  (7) In the liquid crystal display device according to (6), the second substrate has a position facing the plurality of scanning signal lines and the plurality of video signal lines on the first substrate, and the boundary line Having a mesh-like light shielding film extending to a position through which the video signal line extends in a direction extending through the boundary line of the light shielding film. A liquid crystal display device, which is substantially equal to a dimension along the extending direction of the video signal line at a portion extending to a position facing the scanning signal line.

  According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, even if a single display area is divided into two areas and a video or an image is displayed in parallel with the two areas, a signal applied to the plurality of video signal lines can be obtained. Heat generation of the generated driver circuit can be suppressed. In addition, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a phenomenon called vertical smear, and it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality due to the vertical smear.

  Furthermore, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the boundary line portion can be made inconspicuous.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail together with embodiments (examples) with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, parts having the same function are given the same reference numerals and their repeated explanation is omitted.

  FIG. 1A to FIG. 1E are schematic views showing a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a schematic plan view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a liquid crystal display panel and a driver circuit in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a schematic circuit diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of one pixel in the display area of the liquid crystal display panel. FIG. 1C is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating an example of a pixel arrangement method in the vicinity of the center of one of the display areas divided into two. FIG. 1D is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating an example of a method of arranging two adjacent pixels across a boundary line that divides one display region into two. FIG. 1E is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating another example of a method of arranging two adjacent pixels across a boundary line that divides one display region into two. In addition, the x direction and the y direction shown in FIGS. 1B to 1E are directions that coincide with the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG. 1A, respectively. Further, in FIGS. 1B to 1E, triangles at one end of the scanning signal line and one end of the video signal line represent directions in which the signal input ends are respectively present.

  In this embodiment, as an example of a liquid crystal display device to which the application of the present invention is desired, a large-screen high-definition liquid crystal display device such as a liquid crystal television is given. In a large-screen high-definition liquid crystal display device, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A, a first driver circuit 2a and a second driver are provided on four sides 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d of the liquid crystal display panel 1. A circuit 2b, a third driver circuit 2c, and a fourth driver circuit 2d are attached. In addition, one display region 3 of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is set by a set of pixels having TFT elements and pixel electrodes, and is divided into two vertically by a boundary line BL extending in the x direction. In the following description, an area above the boundary line BL in one display area 3 is referred to as a first display area 3a, and an area below the boundary line BL is referred to as a second display area 3b.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment is of an active matrix type and is not shown in FIG. 1A, but includes a plurality of scanning signal lines, a plurality of video signal lines, a plurality of TFT elements, and a plurality of TFT elements. The pixel electrode, the counter electrode, and the like are arranged. At this time, each of the plurality of scanning signal lines extends in the x direction and is arranged in the y direction. The plurality of video signal lines extend in the y direction and are arranged in the x direction. At this time, the video signal line passing through the first display area 3a and the video signal line passing through the second display area 3b are electrically insulated at the boundary line BL.

  The first driver circuit 2a attached to the first side 1a of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is a circuit that generates a signal to be applied to a plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area 3a. The second driver circuit 2b attached to the second side 1b of the liquid crystal display panel 1 is a circuit that generates a signal to be applied to a plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area 3b.

  The third driver circuit 2c attached to the third side 1c and the fourth side 1d of the liquid crystal display panel 1 generates signals to be applied to a plurality of scanning signal lines passing through the first display region 3a. It is a circuit which performs. The fourth driver circuit 2d attached to the third side 1c and the fourth side 1d of the liquid crystal display panel 1 generates signals to be applied to a plurality of scanning signal lines passing through the second display region 3b. It is a circuit which performs.

  That is, the liquid crystal display panel 1 of this embodiment controls the display of the first display area 3a by the signal applied to the video signal line from the first driver circuit 2a and the signal applied to the scanning signal line from the third driver circuit 2c. The display of the second display area 3b is controlled by a signal applied to the video signal line from the second driver circuit 2b and a signal applied to the scanning signal line from the fourth driver circuit 2d.

  The first driver circuit 2a, the second driver circuit 2b, the third driver circuit 2c, and the fourth driver circuit 2d are each formed in a chip-like form on, for example, a flexible printed wiring board (sometimes called an interposer). A semiconductor package such as COF or TAB on which a driver IC is mounted. Note that the first driver circuit 2a, the second driver circuit 2b, the third driver circuit 2c, and the fourth driver circuit 2d are not limited to the semiconductor package described above, and may be, for example, the chip-like driver IC itself. It may be a circuit formed with a scanning signal line or the like on a TFT substrate used for the liquid crystal display panel 1.

  An area occupied by one pixel in one display area 3 corresponds to an area surrounded by two adjacent scanning signal lines and two adjacent video signal lines. At this time, the circuit configuration of one pixel is, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, one pixel has a TFT element 4, a pixel capacitor 5 (sometimes called a liquid crystal capacitor), and a storage capacitor 6 (sometimes called an auxiliary capacitor). The pixel capacitor 5 is a capacitor formed of a pixel electrode, a counter electrode, and a liquid crystal material included in the one pixel, and the storage capacitor 6 includes the pixel electrode, a storage capacitor line CL having the same potential as the counter electrode, and The capacitor is formed of an insulating layer different from the liquid crystal material. The TFT element 4 has a gate connected to one scanning signal line of two adjacent scanning signal lines GL and a drain connected to one video signal of two adjacent video signal lines DL. The source is connected to the pixel electrode.

  In the liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment, the arrangement of the pixels in the first display area 3a is, for example, an arrangement as shown in FIG. FIG. 1C shows an example of an arrangement of a total of 12 pixels of 2 horizontal pixels × 6 vertical pixels in the vicinity of the center of the first display area 3a.

  That is, in the first display area 3a, a plurality of pixels arranged in the extending direction (y direction) of the video signal line DL is one video signal line DL of two adjacent video signal lines DL. The pixels to which the source of the TFT element 4 is connected and the pixels to which the source of the TFT element 4 is connected to the other video signal line DL of the two adjacent video signal lines DL are alternately arranged. It is out. At this time, the gate of the TFT element 4 of each pixel has a video signal line DL connected to the drain of the TFT element 4 rather than the pixel electrode (pixel capacitance 5) connected to the source of the TFT element 4. Are connected to the scanning signal line GL on the signal input end side.

  Further, the storage capacitor lines CL adjacent to each other with one scanning signal line GL interposed therebetween are electrically connected by, for example, a bridge wiring BR. At this time, the bridge wiring BR may be provided for each pixel as shown in FIG. 1C, or may be provided every several pixels.

  Although illustration is omitted, the arrangement of the pixels in the second display region 3b is, for example, an arrangement in which the arrangement shown in FIG.

  At this time, the arrangement of the pixels in the first display area 3a and the arrangement of the pixels in the second display area 3b are such that the pixels in the first display area 3a and the second display area adjacent to each other with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween. For example, the arrangement is such that the pixel 3b has a relationship as shown in FIG. That is, the positional relationship between the TFT element 4 and the pixel electrode (pixel capacitance 5) in the pixel in the first display region 3a, and the positional relationship between the TFT element 4 and the pixel electrode (pixel capacitance 5) in the pixel in the second display region 3b. Are arranged in a line-symmetric relationship with the boundary line BL as the axis of symmetry.

  The arrangement of the pixels in the first display area 3a and the arrangement of the pixels in the second display area 3b are such that the pixels in the first display area 3a and the second display area 3b adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL. These pixels may be arranged in such a relationship as shown in FIG. 1 (e), for example. That is, the positional relationship between the TFT element 4 and the pixel electrode (pixel capacitance 5) in the pixel in the first display region 3a, and the positional relationship between the TFT element 4 and the pixel electrode (pixel capacitance 5) in the pixel in the second display region 3b. May be arranged in a point-symmetric relationship with the center P of the line segment dividing the two pixels of the boundary line BL as the center of symmetry.

  FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are schematic views for explaining a driving method of the liquid crystal display panel of the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an example of a driving method in the case where the arrangement of each pixel is the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an example of a driving method when the arrangement of each pixel is the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1C and 1E. 2A and 2B show an arrangement of a total of 24 pixels of 4 horizontal pixels × 6 vertical pixels in the boundary line portion. Each pixel shows only the TFT element and the pixel electrode. Further, the x direction and the y direction shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B are directions that coincide with the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG. 1A, respectively. In FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, triangles at one end of the scanning signal line and one end of the video signal line represent directions in which the signal input ends are respectively present.

  When an image or an image is displayed on an active matrix type liquid crystal display panel such as the liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment, gradation display in each pixel includes a positive display and a negative display in advance. This is performed by switching every predetermined frame (for example, every frame). The display with the positive polarity is a display in a state where the potential of the signal (gradation voltage) written from the video signal line DL to the pixel electrode is higher than the potential of the counter electrode. This display is a display in a state where the potential of the signal (gradation voltage) written from the video signal line to the pixel electrode is lower than the potential of the counter electrode.

  Further, when displaying an image or an image on the active matrix liquid crystal display panel 1, the polarity of each pixel during one frame period is, for example, the extending direction of the scanning signal line GL as shown in FIG. The polarities of two pixels adjacent in the (x direction) are opposite to each other, and the polarities of two pixels adjacent in the extending direction of the video signal line DL (y direction) are also opposite to each other. It is desirable to make it. Such a display method is generally called a dot inversion method.

  2A shows a case where the pixels of the first display area 3a and the pixels of the second display area 3b adjacent to each other with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween are line-symmetric as shown in FIG. 1D. As an example. In FIG. 2A, + (plus) and-(minus) shown in the pixel electrode PX of each pixel represents that + is positive, and-(minus) is negative. Represents that.

  As described above, in the liquid crystal display panel 1 in which the arrangement of each pixel is as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1D, when displaying an image or an image by the dot inversion method, the first display area is displayed. The polarity of the signals applied to the plurality of video signal lines DL passing through 3a may be such that the polarities of the two adjacent video signal lines DL are opposite to each other. At this time, the polarity of the signal applied to one video signal line DL may always be the same polarity during one frame period.

  Similarly, the polarities of the signals applied to the plurality of video signal lines DL passing through the second display area 3b may be such that the polarities of the two adjacent video signal lines DL are opposite to each other. Also at this time, the polarity of the signal applied to one video signal line DL may always be the same during one frame period.

  In the case of the arrangement as shown in FIG. 2A, the video signal line DL to which the drain of the TFT element 4 of the pixel in the first display region 3a adjacent to the boundary line BL is connected, The video signal line DL to which the drain of the TFT element 4 of the pixel in the second display region 3b is connected is opposed to the boundary line BL. Therefore, in order to make the polarities of the two pixels adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL opposite to each other, as shown in FIG. The polarity of the signal applied to the video signal line DL in the display area 3a may be opposite to the polarity of the signal applied to the video signal line DL in the second display area 3b.

  Further, the polarity of each pixel shown in FIG. 2A is an example of the polarity when displaying a certain frame. Therefore, for example, when displaying the next frame, the polarity of each pixel is opposite, that is, a positive pixel has a negative polarity, and a negative pixel has a positive polarity.

  Further, even in the liquid crystal display panel 1 having the arrangement of each pixel as shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 1E, it is possible to display images and images by the dot inversion method. The polarity of each pixel and the polarity of a signal applied to each video signal line DL are as shown in FIG. 2B, for example. That is, in order to make the polarities of the pixels of the first display region 3a and the pixels of the second display region 3b adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL have opposite polarities, FIG. ), The polarity of the signal applied to the video signal line DL in the first display area 3a and the polarity applied to the video signal line in the second display area 3b facing each other across the boundary line BL are the same polarity. What should I do.

  At this time, the polarity of the signal applied to the plurality of video signal lines DL passing through the first display region 3a is always the same polarity during one frame period. The polarities of two adjacent video signal lines DL are opposite to each other. Similarly, the polarity of the signal applied to the plurality of video signal lines DL passing through the second display region 3b is always the same polarity during one frame period, and the polarity of the signal applied to the single video signal line DL is The polarities of two adjacent video signal lines DL are opposite to each other.

  As described above, the liquid crystal display panel 1 according to the present embodiment generates signals to be applied to the video signal lines DL in the first driver circuit 2a and the second driver circuit 2b in the same manner as the column inversion method. Images and images displayed in the display area are displayed by the dot inversion method. Therefore, the load on the first driver circuit 2a and the second driver circuit 2b when displaying an image or an image by the dot inversion method is reduced, and a failure or malfunction due to heat generation can be reduced. Further, even if a signal generated by the same method as the column inversion method in the first driver circuit 2a and the second driver circuit 2b is added to each video signal line DL, an image or an image can be displayed by the dot inversion method. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of vertical smear, which is a problem in the display by the column inversion method, and to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated by the vertical smear.

  Further, when one display area 3 is divided into two vertically as in the liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment, for example, when one frame of video or image is displayed in one display area 3, The display area 3a and the second display area 3b can be displayed in parallel. Therefore, the time required for displaying one frame of video or image can be shortened, and it is easy to cope with high speed (for example, 240 Hz driving).

  FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E are schematic views showing an example of a schematic configuration of a pixel in the TFT substrate of the liquid crystal display panel of this example. FIG. 3A is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a planar configuration of a pixel in the vicinity of the center of the first display region 3a on the TFT substrate. FIG. 3B is a schematic plan view showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the TFT substrate taken along line A-A ′ shown in FIG. FIG. 3C is a schematic plan view showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the TFT substrate taken along line B-B ′ shown in FIG. FIG. 3D is a schematic plan view showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the TFT substrate taken along line C-C ′ shown in FIG. FIG. 3E is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a planar configuration of two pixels adjacent to each other with a boundary line on the TFT substrate interposed therebetween. Note that the x direction and the y direction shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E are respectively the same as the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG.

  As described above, the liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment has a circuit configuration as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, or as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1E. Circuit structure. Therefore, the configuration of the liquid crystal display panel 1 having the circuit configuration as described above will be briefly described below. In the following description, as the liquid crystal display panel 1, a horizontal electric field driving method in which a pixel electrode and a counter electrode are disposed on a TFT substrate, and the pixel electrode and the counter electrode are stacked via an insulating layer The liquid crystal display panel is taken as an example.

  When the present invention is applied to the horizontal electric field drive type liquid crystal display panel 1, the pixels in the vicinity of the center of the first display region 3a of the TFT substrate are, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). The configuration is as shown. First, the counter electrode CT, the scanning signal line GL, and the storage capacitor line CL are arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate SUB such as a glass substrate. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, after the counter electrode CT is formed on the surface of the insulating substrate SUB by forming and etching a transparent conductive film such as ITO, for example, For example, the scanning signal line GL and the storage capacitor line CL are formed by forming and etching a conductive film such as aluminum. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, after an ITO film and an aluminum film are continuously formed, the aluminum film is etched to form the scanning signal lines GL and the storage capacitor lines CL, and then the ITO film is etched to face each other. The electrode CT may be formed. Still further, for example, after forming and etching the aluminum film on the surface of the insulating substrate SUB to form the scanning signal line GL and the storage capacitor line CL, the ITO film is subsequently formed and etched to form the counter electrode CT. May be formed.

  On the counter electrode CT, the scanning signal line GL, and the storage capacitor line CL, the semiconductor layer SC of the TFT element 4 and the video signal line DL (the drain electrode SD1 of the TFT element 4 are disposed via the first insulating layer PAS1. And the source electrode SD2 of the TFT element 4 is disposed. The first insulating layer PAS1 is an insulating layer having a function as a gate insulating film of the TFT element 4, and is formed by forming a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film, for example. In the example shown in FIGS. 3B to 3D, the first insulating layer PAS1 is formed so that the surface on which the semiconductor layer SC and the video signal line DL are formed is flat. For example, the first insulating layer PAS1 may be formed so that the film thickness at each position of the insulating substrate SUB is substantially uniform. That is, the first insulating layer PAS1 may have a step on the surface on which the semiconductor layer SC and the video signal line DL are formed.

  The semiconductor layer SC is composed of an active layer in which a channel is formed, a drain diffusion layer interposed between the active layer and the drain electrode SD1, and a source diffusion layer interposed between the active layer and the source electrode SD2. ing. The drain electrode SD1 is formed integrally with the video signal line DL. A part of the drain electrode SD1 and the source electrode SD2 runs over the semiconductor layer SC.

  When forming the semiconductor layer SC, the video signal line DL (including the drain electrode SD1), and the source electrode SD2, for example, first, the first semiconductor film used for the active layer is formed on the entire surface of the first insulating layer PAS1. Then, a second semiconductor film used for the drain diffusion layer and the source diffusion layer is formed and etched to form an island-shaped active layer. At this time, the second semiconductor film on the active layer is not yet separated into the drain diffusion layer and the source diffusion layer. Next, for example, a conductive film such as aluminum is formed and etched to form the video signal line DL (including the drain electrode SD1) and the source electrode SD2. Thereafter, the second semiconductor layer is etched using the drain electrode SD1 and the source electrode SD2 as a mask to separate the drain diffusion layer and the source diffusion layer.

  On the semiconductor layer SC, the video signal line DL (including the drain electrode SD1), and the source electrode SD2, the pixel electrode PX and the bridge wiring BR are arranged via the second insulating layer PAS2. The second insulating layer PAS2 is formed, for example, by forming a silicon nitride film or other inorganic insulating film or organic insulating film. At this time, the second insulating layer PAS2 may be one type of insulating film, or two or more types of insulating films may be stacked. In the example shown in FIGS. 3B to 3D, the second insulating layer PAS2 is formed so that the surface on which the pixel electrode PX and the bridge wiring BR are formed is flat. However, the second insulating layer PAS2 may be formed so that the film thickness at each position of the insulating substrate SUB is substantially uniform, for example. That is, the second insulating layer PAS2 may have a step on the surface on which the pixel electrode PX and the bridge wiring BR are formed.

  When forming the second insulating layer PAS, for example, through holes TH1, TH2, TH3 are formed on the source electrode SD2, on the corners of the counter electrode CT, on the storage capacitor line CL, and the like.

  Further, the pixel electrode PX and the bridge wiring BR are formed by forming and etching a transparent conductive film such as ITO, for example. At this time, the pixel electrode PX is connected to the source electrode SD2 of the TFT element 4 through the through hole TH1. Further, at this time, the pixel electrode PX has a planar shape generally called a comb-like shape, and a plurality of slits are formed in a portion overlapping the counter electrode CT when seen in a plan view.

  Further, the bridge wiring BR is disposed so as to intersect with the scanning signal line GL, and is connected to one counter electrode CT of two adjacent counter electrodes CT across the scanning signal line GL by the through hole TH2. The other counter electrode CT (holding capacitor line CL) is electrically connected through the through hole TH3.

  An alignment film ORI is disposed on the pixel electrode PX and the bridge wiring BR.

  At this time, the planar layout of two pixels adjacent in the extending direction (y direction) of the video signal line DL in the first display region 3a is, for example, a relationship in which left and right are reversed. In the example shown in FIG. 3A, the direction of the slit of the pixel electrode PX is also reversed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the direction of the slit may be the same. .

  As a matter of course, the intervals GLs between the scanning signal lines GL are all equal.

  Although not shown, the planar layout of the pixels in the vicinity of the center of the second display region 3b is, for example, a layout in which the planar layout shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the planar layout of the pixels in the first display region 3a and the pixels in the second display region 3b adjacent to each other with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween is, for example, as shown in FIG. FIG. 3E shows a planar layout in the case where the arrangement of the two pixels has a line-symmetric relationship as shown in FIG.

  At this time, as a matter of course, the distance (distance) between the scanning signal line GL and the boundary line BL closest to the boundary line BL in the first display region 3a and the boundary line BL in the second display region 3b. The interval (distance) between the nearest scanning signal line GL and the boundary line BL is equal to the interval GLs between two adjacent scanning signal lines GL in the first display region 3a.

  In addition, since the scanning signal line GL and the storage capacitor line CL are not arranged in the portion where the boundary line BL passes, the counter electrode CT of the pixel in the first display area 3a and the pixel of the second display area 3b are opposed to each other. The electrode CT can be directly connected, that is, formed integrally, and connection by the bridge wiring BR is unnecessary. At this time, the portion connecting the counter electrode CT of the pixel in the first display area 3a and the counter electrode CT of the pixel in the second display area 3b is, for example, as shown in FIG. It is desirable to make it thinner than the portion that functions as CT. By doing so, the wiring resistance at the connection portion between the counter electrode CT of the pixel in the first display region 3a and the counter electrode CT of the pixel in the second display region 3b, and the counter electrode CT via the bridge wiring BR It is possible to make the wiring resistance at the connection portion between the two substantially equal, and the potential of the counter electrode CT of each pixel can be stabilized.

  In this embodiment, as an example of the configuration of the TFT substrate of the liquid crystal display panel to which the present invention is applied, the configuration shown in FIGS. 3A to 3E is given, but the configuration is not limited thereto. The present invention can be applied to TFT substrates having various configurations.

  FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B are schematic diagrams for explaining an example of another operational effect in the liquid crystal display panel of the present embodiment. FIG. 4A is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a planar configuration of pixels in the vicinity of the center of the first display region 3a when the liquid crystal display panel is viewed from the counter substrate side. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display panel taken along line D-D ′ illustrated in FIG. FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a planar configuration of two adjacent pixels across a boundary line when the liquid crystal display panel is viewed from the counter substrate side. FIG. 5B is a schematic plan view showing an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display panel taken along line E-E ′ shown in FIG. 4 (a), 4 (b), 5 (a) and 5 (b), a liquid crystal using a TFT substrate having the structure shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (e). 2 illustrates an example of a planar configuration and a cross-sectional configuration of a display panel. FIG. 4A shows a plan view of the same region as that shown in FIG. 3A as viewed from the counter substrate side, and FIG. 5A shows the region shown in FIG. Is a plan view of the same region as seen from the counter substrate side. In FIG. 4B and FIG. 5B, a polarizing plate, a retardation plate, and the like are omitted. Further, the x direction and the y direction shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A are directions that coincide with the x direction and the y direction shown in FIG. 1A, respectively.

  The liquid crystal display panel 1 is a display panel in which a liquid crystal material 9 is sealed between a TFT substrate 7 and a counter substrate 8. The TFT substrate 7 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (e). It is configured. At this time, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the counter substrate 8 has a light shielding film (black) on the surface of the insulating substrate SUB such as a glass substrate (a surface facing the TFT substrate 7). Matrix) BM, color filter CF, overcoat layer OC, alignment film ORI, and the like are arranged.

  The light shielding film BM is formed of a conductive film or insulating film with high light shielding properties, and the planar shape in the display region 3 generally extends to a position facing the scanning signal line GL and a position facing the video signal line DL. It has a mesh shape. At this time, each portion of the light shielding film BM that extends to the position facing the scanning signal line GL is arranged at the same interval GLs as the scanning signal line GL, and the video signal line DL extends. The dimension (width) BMw in the direction (y direction) is substantially equal. That is, the dimension OAy in the y direction of the opening area (light transmitting area) of each pixel is substantially equal.

  However, in the case of the liquid crystal display panel 1 of the present embodiment, between the pixels of the first display region 3a and the pixels of the second display region 3b adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL (that is, on the boundary line BL), For example, as shown in FIG. 3E, the scanning signal line GL and the TFT element 4 are not arranged. In the case of such a liquid crystal display panel 1, in general, it is not necessary to extend the light shielding film BM on the boundary line BL.

  However, if there is no light shielding film BM on the boundary line BL, the opening area of the pixels in the first display area 3a and the opening area of the pixels in the second display area 3b adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL are one continuous. The aperture ratio of the two pixels becomes larger than the aperture ratio of the other pixels. Therefore, at the boundary portion, for example, the joint between the first display area 3a and the second display area 3b is conspicuous due to a difference in luminance, and the image quality may be deteriorated.

  Therefore, in the liquid crystal display panel of this embodiment, when the light shielding film BM is formed, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, it is formed so as to extend also on the boundary line BL. To do. At this time, a portion of the light shielding film BM that overlaps the boundary line BL is a portion in which the dimension (width) in the extending direction (y direction) of the video signal line DL extends to a position facing the scanning signal line GL. The dimension BMw in the y direction should be approximately equal. At this time, the portion overlapping the boundary line BL of the light shielding film BM is the y direction of the opening area of the pixel of the first display area 3a and the opening area of the pixel of the second display area 3b that are adjacent to each other across the boundary line BL. Is made equal to the dimension OAy in the y direction of the opening area of another pixel.

  In this way, the aperture ratio of two pixels adjacent to each other with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween is substantially equal to the aperture ratio of the other pixels, and deterioration in image quality due to a difference in luminance can be prevented.

  Further, in the liquid crystal display panel 1 of this embodiment, the configuration of the boundary portion between the first display region 3a and the second display region 3b in the TFT substrate 7 is, for example, a configuration as shown in FIG. The scanning signal line GL, the storage capacitor line CL, the TFT element 4 and the like are not arranged around the boundary line BL. Therefore, it is easy to match the dimension in the y direction of the part of the light shielding film BM that overlaps the boundary line BL with the dimension BMw of the part that faces the scanning signal line GL.

  As described above, according to the liquid crystal display panel of this embodiment, for example, when displaying an image or an image by the dot inversion method, the load on the driver circuit that generates a signal applied to the video signal line is reduced, and heat is generated. Failure and malfunction due to In addition, by displaying video and images using the dot inversion method, occurrence of vertical smear, flicker, and the like can be suppressed, and deterioration in image quality due to the vertical smear can be prevented.

  Further, according to the liquid crystal display panel of the present embodiment, one display area is divided into two vertically, and when a video or an image is displayed in parallel with each display area, the first display area and the second display area are displayed. A boundary portion (seam) with the display area can be made inconspicuous.

  The present invention has been specifically described above based on the above-described embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. is there.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, as an example of the liquid crystal display panel to which the present invention is applied, for example, a liquid crystal display panel having a TFT substrate configured as shown in FIGS. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to liquid crystal display panels having other configurations. That is, the present invention can be applied to, for example, a liquid crystal display panel in which the pixel electrode and the counter electrode are arranged on the TFT substrate side and arranged side by side on the same surface of the insulating layer. The present invention can also be applied to a liquid crystal display panel in which the pixel electrode is disposed on the TFT substrate side and the counter electrode is disposed on the counter substrate side.

  Moreover, in the said Example, the liquid crystal display panel is mentioned as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a liquid crystal display panel, and can be applied to other display panels that display images and images with the same configuration and principle as the liquid crystal display panel.

It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of schematic structure of the liquid crystal display panel and driver circuit in the liquid crystal display device of a present Example. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows an example of the circuit structure of one pixel in the display area of a liquid crystal display panel. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows an example of the arrangement method of the pixel in the center vicinity of one display area among the display areas divided into two. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows an example of the arrangement | sequence method of two adjacent pixels on both sides of the boundary line which divides one display area into two. It is a schematic circuit diagram which shows another example of the arrangement | sequence method of two adjacent pixels on both sides of the boundary line which divides one display area into two. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the drive method in case the arrangement | sequence of each pixel is an arrangement | sequence as shown to FIG. 1C and FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the drive method in case the arrangement | sequence of each pixel is an arrangement | sequence as shown in FIG.1 (c) and FIG.1 (e). It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the plane structure of the pixel near the center of the 1st display area 3a in a TFT substrate. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of a TFT substrate taken along line A-A ′ illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of a TFT substrate taken along line B-B ′ illustrated in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of a TFT substrate taken along line C-C ′ illustrated in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the planar structure of two pixels which adjoin on both sides of the boundary line in a TFT substrate. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of the plane structure of the pixel in the center vicinity of the 1st display area 3a when a liquid crystal display panel is seen from the counter substrate side. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display panel taken along line D-D ′ illustrated in FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows an example of a plane structure of two adjacent pixels across the boundary line when the liquid crystal display panel is viewed from the counter substrate side. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of a cross-sectional configuration of the liquid crystal display panel taken along line E-E ′ illustrated in FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid crystal display panel 2a ... 1st driver circuit 2b ... 2nd driver circuit 2c ... 3rd driver circuit 2d ... 4th driver circuit 3 ... 1 display area 3a ... 1st display area 3b ... 2nd 4 ... TFT element 5 ... Pixel capacitance 6 ... Retention capacitor 7 ... TFT substrate 8 ... Counter substrate 9 ... Liquid crystal material GL ... Scanning signal line DL ... Video signal line CL ... Retention capacitance line BR ... Bridge wiring SUB ... Insulating substrate CT ... Counter electrode PAS1 ... first insulating layer SC ... semiconductor layer SD1 ... drain electrode SD2 ... source electrode PAS2 ... second insulating layer PX ... pixel electrode OR ... alignment film BM ... light shielding film CF ... color filter OC ... overcoat layer

Claims (8)

A liquid crystal display panel in which a liquid crystal material is sealed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
The first substrate includes a plurality of scanning signal lines, a plurality of video signal lines, a plurality of TFT elements, a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of common electrodes, and a driver.
The liquid crystal display panel is a liquid crystal display device having one display region set by a set of pixels each having the TFT element and the pixel electrode,
The one display area is divided into a first display area and a second display area by a boundary line coinciding with the extending direction of the scanning signal line,
A video signal line connected to a source or drain of the TFT element of a pixel belonging to the first display area and a video connected to a source or drain of the TFT element of a pixel belonging to the second display area It is electrically insulated from the signal line,
A plurality of columns of pixels arranged along the extending direction of the video signal lines in the first display region, and a plurality of columns arranged along the extending direction of the video signal lines in the second display region. The pixel column includes a pixel in which the source or drain of the TFT element is connected to one of the two adjacent video signal lines, and the two adjacent video signal lines. Pixels of which the source or drain of the TFT element is connected to the other video signal line are alternately arranged,
Connecting the two counter electrodes facing each other across the boundary line, including a connection portion formed integrally with the counter electrode;
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a bridge wiring that connects two counter electrodes included in either the first display region or the second display region through a through hole.   The pixels belonging to the first display area and the pixels belonging to the second display area that are adjacent to each other across the boundary line are the arrangement of the TFT elements and the pixel electrodes of the pixels on the first substrate. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship is a line-symmetrical relationship with the boundary line as a symmetry axis. The driver always applies a signal having the same polarity to a plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and a plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period. ,
The signals applied to the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period are adjacent to each other in the same display area. The polarities of the signals applied to the video signal lines are opposite to each other, and
3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein polarities of signals applied to the two video signal lines facing each other across the boundary line are opposite to each other.   The pixels belonging to the first display area and the pixels belonging to the second display area that are adjacent to each other across the boundary line are the arrangement of the TFT elements and the pixel electrodes of the pixels on the first substrate. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the positional relationship is a point-symmetrical relationship with the center of a line segment dividing the two pixels of the boundary line as the center of symmetry. . The driver always applies a signal having the same polarity to a plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and a plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period. ,
The signals applied to the plurality of video signal lines passing through the first display area and the plurality of video signal lines passing through the second display area during one frame period are adjacent to each other in the same display area. The polarities of the signals applied to the video signal lines are opposite to each other, and
5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the polarities of the signals applied to the two video signal lines facing each other across the boundary line are the same.   The gate of the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the first display area and the gate of the TFT element of the pixel belonging to the second display area are respectively the source of the TFT element or the pixel electrode of the pixel. 6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is connected to a scanning signal line located on a signal input end side of a video signal line to which a drain is connected. The second substrate includes a mesh-shaped light-shielding film extending to a position facing the plurality of scanning signal lines and the plurality of video signal lines of the first substrate and a position through which the boundary line passes. Have
Of the light shielding film, the video signal of a portion where the dimension along the extending direction of the video signal line of the portion extending to the position where the boundary line passes extends to the position facing the scanning signal line The liquid crystal display device according to claim 6, wherein the liquid crystal display device is substantially equal to a dimension along a line extending direction.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the connection portion is narrower than a width of the counter electrode.

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