JP6372710B2 - Non-rectangular pixel array and display device including the array - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a non-rectangular pixel array and a display device including the array, and in particular, includes a pixel array having a non-rectangular outer peripheral shape, and the array, and the outer peripheral shape of the pixel array also has a smooth curve. The present invention relates to a non-rectangular display device.

In recent years, with the expansion of applications accompanying the progress of downsizing, thinning, and weight reduction of display devices, the demand for commercialization of display devices in which the outer shape of the pixel array (hereinafter also referred to as display area) is non-rectangular has increased. ing. Conventionally, as this type of display device, for example, those described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.
FIG. 45 shows a configuration of a display device described in Patent Document 1. This display device includes a pixel array 40 having a non-rectangular outer shape and row driver circuit units 41, 41,... Divided into at least three. And column driver circuit sections 42, 42,... Divided into at least three. These row driver circuit portions 41, 41,... And column driver circuit portions 42, 42,... Are alternately arranged along the pixel array 40, and each pixel is connected to a corresponding row conductor and column conductor. The row driver circuit units 41, 41,... And the column driver circuit units 42, 42,. According to such a configuration, display / non-display can be controlled for each pixel of the pixel array 40 having a complicated outer shape.
Here, Patent Document 1 does not specify the shape of each pixel constituting the pixel array 40. However, in the display device described in Patent Document 1, since the row conductors and the column conductors are arranged orthogonally to each other as shown in FIG. 45, each pixel has a rectangular shape. It is natural to assume (the pixel electrode itself is not necessarily rectangular, but it is considered that the minimum pattern constituting at least one pixel unit has a rectangular shape).

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the position of the transition point between the adjacent row driver circuit unit 41 and the column driver circuit unit 42 set on the irregular outer periphery of the pixel array 40 is as follows. Identified.
First, contact positions (black circles in FIG. 45) 43, 43,... On the outer periphery such that the tangent to the outer periphery forming the irregular shape of the pixel array 40 is parallel to the row conductor or the column conductor are confirmed. The contact positions 43, 43,... Are specified as the transition point positions. These contact positions 43, 43,... Are located at the innermost part of the protrusions or recesses on the outer periphery. Next, along the row conductor or the column conductor, if the positions on the outer periphery facing these contact positions 43, 43,... Have not yet been specified as the transition point setting positions 43, 43,. These are also specified as the positions of transition points (white circles in the figure) 44 and 44. When the row driver circuit units 41, 41,... Divided into a plurality and the column driver circuit units 42, 42,. In an arbitrary pixel to be configured, one end of the row conducting wire is connected to the row driver circuit unit 41, and the other end of the row conducting wire faces the column driver circuit unit 42 to be opposed to each other. Similarly, in an arbitrary pixel, one end of the corresponding column conductor is connected to the column driver circuit unit 42, and the other end of the column conductor faces the row driver circuit unit 41 to be opposed to each other. Further, this display device is configured to send a carry signal to the next row driver circuit unit 41 at the end of the divided row driver circuit unit 41.

Next, FIG. 46 shows a display device described in Patent Document 2, which has a plurality of pixels arranged in the state of pixel rows 45, 45,... And pixel columns 46, 46,. An octagonal pixel array 48 made up of 47, 47,. As shown in the figure, the row driver circuit 52 and the column driver circuit 53 are arranged at the uppermost corner portion of the outer periphery of the octagonal pixel array 48.
As shown in the figure, the individual pixels 47, 47,... In the pixel array 48 have a rectangular shape, and the first addressing conductors 49, 49,. Are associated with the intersections 51, 51,... Of the designated conductors 50, 50,... In a one-to-one manner, thereby making the pair of the first addressing conductor 49 and the second addressing conductor 50 more unique. Can be addressed.

In this display device, as shown in the figure, the first addressing conductors 49, 49,... And the second addressing conductors 50, 50,. The rows are wired obliquely and are arranged obliquely to each other.
According to such a configuration, since the rows and columns of the rectangular pixels 47, 47,... Can be separated from the first and second addressing conductors 49, 50, the degree of freedom in setting the position of the driver circuit Can be obtained. This degree of freedom can save space to meet product design requirements. For example, as shown in FIG. 46, the display area occupying area can be sufficiently large because the side space required on each side of the display area (pixel array 48) is small, and the center alignment is performed. Will also be good.

Special table 2005-528644 JP 2005-529368 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-212498 JP 2004-212500 A JP 2006-276359 A

By the way, in a non-rectangular display device, it is desirable that the outer peripheral contour of the display area (pixel array) has a smooth and elegant shape (for example, a closed curve).
However, in the display devices described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, as described above, although the display area (pixel arrays 40 and 48) has a non-rectangular shape, each pixel 47 constituting the display area has a rectangular shape. Due to the shape, there is an inconvenience that a region in which the rectangular pixel 47 and the non-rectangular outer contour do not match is generated in the outer peripheral portion of the display device. That is, in these device configurations, as shown in FIGS. 47 and 48, in the curved region (or inclined region) 54 in the outer periphery of the non-rectangular display area, a plurality of pixels 47, 47,. The display area having a smooth and graceful contour shape cannot be obtained, and the viewer feels an unpleasant jagged feeling at the time of visual recognition, so the aesthetic appearance is impaired and the design is not preferred. There is.

  In addition, in the display devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when displaying an arbitrary inclined line or curved pattern including a certain shape of the outer periphery contour, specifically, a pattern similar to the outer periphery contour of the display area, When displaying an equidistant line pattern obtained by connecting positions separated by a predetermined equidistant distance from the outer contour (as if it is similar to a contour line on the map, it is also referred to as a contour line shape or figure). In the corresponding area, a plurality of rectangular pixels are selected and controlled in a staircase pattern. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 48, the displayed slanted figure or curved figure 55a is not good for viewers. Since it is visually recognized as a pattern having distortion, there is a problem that it is not preferable in terms of display quality.

  In addition, in a color display device having a non-rectangular display area (in this example, a display area having the same shape as that shown in FIG. 48) as shown in FIG. 49, the outer peripheral curve portion of the display area and the outline curve of the display pattern There is a problem that an area in which only a specific color is emphasized and recognized in a portion is generated and recognized as a color blur. In the color display device, as shown in FIG. 49, each pixel 57 includes a rectangular red pixel (red segment) 57r including a red color filter, and a rectangular green pixel (green segment) 57g including a green color filter. These are composed of three types of color pixels (color segments) including a rectangular blue pixel (blue segment) 57b having a blue color filter, and are also formed in a rectangular shape as a pixel unit. The three types of color pixels are formed as a whole on a stripe.

  With such a color display device, when the contour-like shape 55 similar to the outer peripheral contour of the display area is displayed in white as shown in FIG. 49, only the green pixel 57g and the blue pixel 57b are displayed. A pixel region where the red pixel 57r is not displayed appears (region marked with a circle in FIG. 49). In the pixel area of the outline curve portion of the display pattern, white is not observed in some places, and cyan (blue and green) that is a mixed color of blue and green is observed, which is not preferable in terms of display quality. In order to solve this, white display can be performed by using all of the red pixel 57r, the green pixel 57g, and the blue pixel 57b constituting the pixel 57 without fail (that is, priority is given to hue). However, if white display is performed with priority given to hue, there is no color blur, but on the other hand, corners are generated for each of the three color pixels, and there is a problem that the jagged feeling of the display area and display pattern increases. This is also unpleasant for the viewer.

  In addition, among non-rectangular display devices, for example, a very irregular display device having a hollow portion or a through-hole portion inside the display area is difficult to realize with the configurations described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. There is also a problem.

  In the display device described in Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 46, the first addressing conductors 49, 49,... And the second addressing conductors 50, 50,. There is a defect that the opening ratio is remarkably lowered because the structure passes through the opening obliquely and partially closes the opening. In addition, the positions at which the first addressing conductors 49, 49,... And the second addressing conductors 50, 50,... Intersect in the pixels 47, 47,. Therefore, since the arrangement of the switching elements provided in a one-to-one relationship at or near the intersection is different for each of the pixels 47, 47,. Furthermore, as described above, since the arrangement of the switching elements is not uniform, the locations where defects or the like are generated are different for each pixel 47, 47,..., So that the inspection becomes complicated, and thus a display device having a uniform quality is obtained. It is difficult to produce.

Further, in the display device described in Patent Document 2, the pixels 47, 47,..., The first addressing conductors 49, 49,... And the second addressing conductors 50, 50,. In addition, since they are arranged at different pitches, there is also an adverse effect that moire (coarse interference fringes) is generated by the overlapping of these regularly changing patterns.
This type of moiré that occurs in structure is fundamental and difficult because it cannot be erased with a simple technique. This kind of moire is reduced by adjusting the shape of the pixels 47, 47,... And the angle at which the first addressing conductors 49, 49,... Intersect the second addressing conductors 50, 50,. However, this angle adjustment causes a decrease in the aperture ratio at the same time as well as a large design constraint, for example, a design adverse effect such as interference between the position of the peripheral circuit and the shape of the display area. Since it accompanies, it is not preferable.

  By the way, as described in Patent Document 2, a non-rectangular pixel array in which the jagged feeling is alleviated can be obtained by applying an equiangular mapping method to a rectangular pixel array. However, the regularity of individual pixels is lowered, and the symmetry is also lowered, which is disadvantageous because it has a defect that the visibility of displayed patterns, particularly characters, is significantly lowered. In addition, the pixel array based on the conformal mapping method often does not repeat the minimum pattern, and it is necessary to manually design each pixel based on the calculated coordinates, which is extremely complicated. I'm forced to work. In addition, even after the design is completed, there are few simple repetitive patterns, so the amount of data becomes enormous, and there are inconveniences such as enormous work and man-hours in the subsequent mask fabrication, which is not practically preferable.

  In addition, in the non-rectangular display devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a third conductor group is provided for supplying a potential or a signal to the corresponding electrode of each pixel or changing the supplied potential or signal. Is not expected. If such a third conductor group is to be added to the configuration described in Patent Document 1, there is not enough free space in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the pixel array 40. In this way, the ratio of the peripheral circuit area to the pixel array 40 increases, so that a non-rectangular display that emphasizes the design effect is provided. The apparatus is not preferable. In addition, since there are a large number of intersecting regions between the conductors connected to the driver circuit units 41 and 42 and between the driver circuit units 41 and 42 and the third conductors, cross capacitance and conductors generated by the overlapping of the conductors Or the parasitic capacitance which arises when a driver circuit part and another conducting wire approach becomes extremely increased. In order to suppress the influence of the increased parasitic capacitance on driving, it is conceivable to increase the load capacitance assumed in the driver circuit section. However, this causes a disadvantage that the circuit area increases. In addition, since the driver circuit portion and the conductive wire are arranged in a complicated manner, there is a high possibility that a short circuit between the conductive wire and the circuit will occur, resulting in a decrease in yield and reliability.

  On the other hand, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, it is easy to provide the third peripheral circuit 6 in a place that does not overlap with the driver circuit portions 41 and 42. For example, the lower side of the display area 48 in FIG. Etc. can be provided. However, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, as described above, the position where the row conductor and the column conductor intersect in the pixel is different for each pixel, so that the design becomes more difficult, and the occurrence of moiré occurs. May increase.

  Patent Documents 3 to 5 describe technologies related to non-rectangular display devices. However, these documents describe the problems of the related art described above and solutions for solving these problems. There is no description of technical means.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an irregularly shaped (non-rectangular) pixel array having a smooth and elegant outer peripheral shape without impairing the brightness, visibility, fidelity, etc. of the image and the array. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the configuration of the present invention relates to a pixel array in which the outer peripheral shape forms a non-rectangular shape, with consists of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels, the first wire comprising a plurality of first wire A group, a second conductor group consisting of a plurality of second conductors, and a third conductor group consisting of a plurality of third conductors are arranged in a manner to intersect each other, and the non-rectangular pixels are surrounded by a part amount to the first conductor and the second conductor with are defined, the plurality of first conductor, respectively, at least the arranged parallel and close to each other 1 line and consists of a second line, and wherein the non-rectangular pixels of the first line side, part component, said first of said first line of wire the second together surrounded by the conductor are defined, wherein the non-rectangular pixels of the second line side, part batchwise, the first wire Chino is surrounded by said second line and said second wire is characterized by being defined.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to set or change the display to a non-rectangular pixel display or a rectangular pixel display by electrically changing a combination pattern of a plurality of types of sub-pixels having different non-rectangular shapes. If the rectangular pixel display is selected for the character display and the non-rectangular pixel display is selected for the graphic display, the visibility of the character display can be improved. Therefore, since the subpixel combination method can be changed without changing the pixel array, a suitable display according to the display content can be obtained.

In addition, an irregular (non-rectangular) pixel array having a smooth and elegant outer peripheral contour can be realized without impairing image brightness, visibility, fidelity, and the like. In particular, when color pixels are used, the number of adjacent color pixels of the same color is 1 or less, so that a smooth and elegant outer contour can be expressed while reducing color blur.
Specifically, when the non-rectangular pixel array of the present invention is used, a display device that is excellent not only in design but also in functionality can be implemented. For example, it is possible to easily embody a highly designable display device having an outer shape substantially similar to the outer peripheral shape of the pixel array. In particular, when color pixels are used, since the number of color pixels of the same color adjacent to each other is 1 or less, the outer shape of the pixel array is substantially similar to that of the outer periphery of the pixel array while reducing color bleeding. Display can be realized.

  In addition, since a non-rectangular non-display portion such as a hollow opening can be easily provided inside the pixel array, for example, a display device that is excellent not only in design but also in functionality can be easily realized.

  In addition, by configuring the pixel so that the lead does not cross the pixel, the aperture ratio of the pixel can be increased, so that the light utilization efficiency is improved, the image is bright, and the visibility is improved. Can be achieved. In addition, the wiring design in the pixel area is easy without increasing the parasitic capacitance. For this reason, it is possible to improve the yield and reliability of the pixel array and thus the display device including the pixel array. .

  In addition, since a non-rectangular pixel unit defined by three kinds of conducting wires intersecting each other becomes a single repeating unit, it is also effective in reducing moire.

It is a front view which shows roughly the structure of the non-rectangular display apparatus which is 1st Embodiment of reference invention. It is a front view which shows roughly the pixel in the display area which comprises the display apparatus of the embodiment, and various wiring patterns. It is the enlarged view which expands and shows a part of the display area typically. It is the enlarged view which expands and shows the outer peripheral part of the display area typically. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the display operation of the display apparatus of the embodiment. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the display operation of the display apparatus of the embodiment. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the display operation of the display apparatus of the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the electrical structure of the display area which is 1st Example of reference invention partially. It is a block diagram which shows typically the electrical structure of the display area which is 2nd Example of reference invention partially. It is a figure which shows schematically arrangement | positioning of the active element in the display area which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit block diagram which shows partially the circuit structure of the display area of the embodiment. 3 is a timing chart provided to explain a first driving method of the embodiment. 6 is a timing chart provided to explain a second driving method of the embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram which shows partially the circuit structure of the display area which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a timing chart used for explaining the driving method of the embodiment. 4 is a timing chart used for explaining the driving method of the embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram which shows partially the circuit structure of the display area which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. 4 is a timing chart used for explaining the driving method of the embodiment. It is a circuit block diagram which partially shows the circuit structure of the display area which is the 3rd Example of reference invention. 4 is a timing chart used for explaining the driving method of the embodiment. It is a front view which shows roughly the structure of the non-rectangular display apparatus which is the 4th Example of reference invention. It is the enlarged view which expands and shows typically a part of display area which is 2nd Embodiment of reference invention. It is an enlarged view schematically showing an enlarged part of various wiring patterns in a display area constituting a non-rectangular display device according to a third embodiment of the reference invention. 4 is an enlarged view schematically showing an enlarged part of various wiring patterns in a display area constituting the display device of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view schematically showing an enlarged part of various wiring patterns in a display area constituting the display device of the embodiment. FIG. It is an enlarged view schematically showing an enlarged part of various wiring patterns in a display area constituting a non-rectangular display device according to a fourth embodiment of the reference invention. It is a wiring diagram which shows the wiring around the pixel which comprises the display area of the IPS liquid crystal display device which is the 5th Embodiment of reference invention. It is a wiring diagram which shows the wiring around the pixel which comprises the display area of the IPS liquid crystal display device of the embodiment. It is a polarity distribution map of the active element in the display area which comprises the IPS liquid crystal display device of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device according to a sixth embodiment of the reference invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the usage condition of the non-rectangular display apparatus of the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device that is a seventh embodiment of the reference invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the decoration type apparatus incorporating the non-rectangular display apparatus which is 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the decoration-type apparatus incorporating the non-rectangular display apparatus which is 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is FIG. (The 1) provided in order to demonstrate the basic outline | summary of suitable embodiment of reference invention. It is FIG. (2) provided in order to demonstrate the basic | summary outline | summary of suitable embodiment of reference invention. It is an array figure which shows roughly the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the non-rectangular color display apparatus which is the 11th Embodiment of reference invention. It is the partial arrangement figure which simplifies and shows the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the same color display apparatus. It is the partial arrangement figure which simplifies and shows the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the same color display apparatus. It is the partial arrangement figure which simplifies and shows the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the same color display apparatus. It is the partial arrangement figure which simplifies and shows the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the same color display apparatus. It is the partial arrangement figure which simplifies and shows the arrangement structure of the color pixel in the display area which comprises the same color display apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows partially the arrangement configuration of the pixel array which is 12th Embodiment of reference invention. It is a block diagram which partially shows another arrangement configuration of the pixel array. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus relevant to this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of another display apparatus relevant to this invention. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the problem of the display apparatus relevant to this invention. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the problem of the display apparatus relevant to this invention. It is a figure provided in order to demonstrate the problem of the color display apparatus relevant to this invention.

First, a basic outline of an embodiment of the invention group including this invention and a reference invention related to the invention will be described.
In the best embodiment of the present invention group, it is composed of non-rectangular pixels, and at least three kinds of conductive wires (wirings) intersect each other at a portion surrounding each pixel.
In this way, in a non-rectangular display device using non-rectangular pixels, when at least three types of conductive wire groups corresponding to the pixels intersect with each other, any crossing within the pixel is possible as compared with a configuration in which they do not intersect with each other. The length of one conducting wire can be shortened, and the traversing length can be designed to the minimum as required (FIG. 35 (b)).

This point will be described with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36. FIG.
FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the third conductor 73a or 73b is wired in such a manner as to pass through the region of the non-rectangular pixel 70 surrounded by the first conductor 71 and the second conductor 72. FIG. 5A shows an example in which the third conductor 73a is wired in parallel to the first conductor 71, and FIG. 5B shows the third conductor 73b as the first and second conductors. The figure which shows the example wired in the aspect orthogonal to the 2nd conducting wire 82 while it was wired in parallel with 71 and 72 and the 3rd conducting wire 73b crossed both the 1st and 2nd conducting wires 71 and 72. It is.
FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the third conductor 83a or 83b is wired in such a manner as to pass through the area of the rectangular pixel 80 surrounded by the first conductor 81 and the second conductor 82. (A) shows the example which wired the 3rd conducting wire 83a in parallel with respect to the 1st conducting wire 81, and the figure (b) shows the 3rd conducting wire 83b in the 1st and 2nd conducting wire 81. , 82 and non-parallel wiring, and the third conductor 83b intersects both the first and second conductors 81 and 82 and is wired in a manner orthogonal to the second conductor 72. is there. The region of the non-rectangular pixel 70 shown in FIG. 35 and the region of the rectangular pixel 80 shown in FIG. 36 have the same base and height, and are therefore set to have the same area.

  Among the above arrangement examples, an arrangement example in which the distance at which the third conducting wire crosses the pixels 70 and 80 is the shortest is the arrangement example in FIG. Therefore, the configuration in which the first, second, and third conductor groups corresponding to the non-rectangular pixels intersect with each other (FIG. 35B) can shorten the length of the third conductor crossing the pixel 70, If necessary, the traversing length can be designed to a minimum, and therefore the aperture ratio of the pixels that affect the brightness of the image can be set high. Further, since the area of the intersecting portion can be reduced as it intersects at a right angle, the accompanying parasitic capacitance can be reduced, and the signal delay depending on the length of the conducting wire and the area of the intersecting portion can be reduced.

In the best embodiment of this invention group, since the pixels are non-rectangular, the pixels are not arranged in a staircase pattern at the outer periphery of the display area, but in a shape that matches the outer shape to be realized, compared to rectangular pixels. be able to.
This is because the pixel shape is not rectangular, and the pixel arrangement is not limited to two axes that intersect at right angles, and can be arranged along two axes that intersect at non-right angles (for example, parallel sides) This is because it can be arranged along three axes intersecting each other (for example, a triangular pixel). In other words, in the configuration arranged along two axes that intersect at a non-right angle or along three axes that intersect each other, the arrangement is arranged as compared with the configuration arranged along two axes that intersect at right angles (for example, rectangular pixels). This is because the degree of freedom of direction becomes high. The direction degree of freedom here refers to a direction in which translation is possible when all pixel arrangements are considered based only on translation.

In a biaxial configuration that intersects at right angles, translational properties in independent biaxial directions are limited to the right angle direction, but in a biaxial configuration that intersects at non-perpendicular angles (for example, parallelogram pixels), independent biaxials Translation in direction is not limited to right angles. Furthermore, in a triaxial configuration that intersects with each other (for example, a triangular pixel), translation in independent triaxial directions is possible. Using two types of sub-pixels that have three-axis translational properties and that are not rotationally symmetric (for example, triangle sub-pixels with upward vertices and sub-pixels with inverted triangles with downward vertices), more complex translational directions are determined. Therefore, a display area outer shape in a direction other than a right angle direction can be easily realized, and the outer shape to be displayed can be displayed without a jagged feeling.
In addition, as an embodiment of the present invention group, among the non-rectangular display devices, for example, a very irregular display device having a hollow portion or a through-hole portion inside the display area can be easily realized. It can contribute to the development of the effect.

Reference form 1

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention group including a reference invention related to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device according to a first embodiment of the reference invention, and FIG. 2 shows pixels and various wiring patterns in a display area constituting the display device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view schematically showing an enlarged part of the display area, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view schematically showing an outer peripheral portion of the display area. It is.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the display device 1 according to this embodiment relates to a non-rectangular display device whose outer shape is a deciduous shape. 2 is a display area (pixel array) 3 that is substantially the same shape (similar shape) as that of FIG. 2, and is formed in a distributed manner in a region between the outer periphery of display area 3 and the outer periphery of substrate 2. , Second peripheral circuits 5, 5,..., And a third peripheral circuit 6 on a long curve.

The display area (pixel array) 3 includes, for example, a plurality of non-rectangular pixels 7, 7,... Having a triangle with an apex upward, an inverted triangle with a apex downward, a parallelogram, and the like. The rectangular pixels 7, 7,... Are a first conductor group composed of a plurality of first conductors 8, 8,. Are defined by a second conductor group consisting of 9, 9,... And a third conductor group consisting of a plurality of third conductors 10, 10,.
The plurality of non-rectangular pixels 7, 7,... Are two-dimensionally arranged so as to expand the shape of a slanting ball, and an active element or pixel electrode provided for each pixel has a corresponding first conductor 8, 8, .., Second conductors 9, 9,..., Third conductors 10, 10,. In FIG. 2, for the sake of simplicity, the number of wires of the first, second, and third conductors 8, 9, 10,.

  The first peripheral circuit 4 drives the first conductors 8, 8,... Belonging to the first conductor group. In the display area configuration of the slanting ball shape of this embodiment, for example, all the first conductors wired to the display area 3 by the three first peripheral circuits 4, 4... Provided on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate 2. 8, 8, ... can be driven. The second peripheral circuit 5 drives the second conductors 9, 9,... Belonging to the second conductor group. In this embodiment, for example, all the second conductive wires 9, 9,... Wired in the display area 3 are driven by three second peripheral circuits 5, 5,. can do. The third peripheral circuit 6 drives the third conductors 10, 10,... Belonging to the third conductor group. In this embodiment, for example, one third peripheral circuit 6 provided on the outer peripheral portion of the substrate 2 can drive all the third conductive wires 10, 10,... Wired in the display area 3. .

  Here, among the first, second and third conductor groups, each conductor belonging to any one conductor group serves as a row conductor, and each conductor belonging to any other conductor group is a column conductor or first conductor Each conductor that plays the role of one column conductor and belongs to the remaining conductor group is a second column conductor, or a storage capacitor line, a conductor group that supplies a common electrode potential, or any fixed potential or period It can be configured to play the role of a power supply line, a signal line, or the like that supplies an arbitrary potential that changes with time (see each embodiment or example described later).

  In this embodiment, the arbitrary first, second and third conductors 8, 9, 10,... Are arranged in a manner intersecting each other at one point, as shown in FIGS. Three intersections adjacent to each other form vertices of a triangular region (pixel 7 or half of the pixel) defined by the first, second and third conductors 8, 9, 10,. A triangular region surrounded by these three kinds of conducting wires 8, 9, 10,... Corresponds to each non-rectangular pixel. Each non-rectangular pixel in FIG. Although it is drawn as a shape, it is not limited to this, and it may be formed in an equilateral triangle shape, may be formed in an isosceles triangle, or may be formed in a roughly triangular shape (an irregular triangle). May be. 3 shows the display area of FIG. 2 partially enlarged. In FIG. 3, each pixel is depicted as an isosceles triangle shape close to an equilateral triangle for convenience. Of the three conductors, the angle at which one conductor serving as a row conductor intersects with another conductor serving as a column conductor intersects at 65 degrees in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the crossing angle is arbitrary and is determined as necessary.

  According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first, second, and third peripheral circuits 4, 5, 6 can be easily arranged without interfering with each other. Further, in this embodiment, since a triangular repeating unit is used as a base, it can be designed very easily as compared with a conventional apparatus configuration.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged outer peripheral portion of the display area of this embodiment. In FIG. 4, for example, in order to make the outer periphery of the triangular pixel 7 and the display area 3 easy to understand, one pixel 7 is selected and shown, while the first, second and third conductors 8, 9, Various conductor groups consisting of 10,... Are not shown.
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer shape 11a of the display area 3 of this embodiment, which is composed of non-rectangular pixels 7, 7,... Although not completely reproduced, as apparent from the outline 11b (FIG. 47) of the conventional non-rectangular display area 3 using rectangular pixels 47, 47,... It can be seen that it is able to follow even better.
That is, in the display area using the conventional rectangular pixel 47 in FIG. 47, the followability to the outer shape to be realized is poor and the outer shape is greatly jagged.
As described above, in the non-rectangular display device using the conventional rectangular pixels 47, 47,..., The outer shape of the display area gives a sense of jaggedness, and the appearance beauty brought out from the non-rectangular shape is impaired. In the non-rectangular display area 7 according to the embodiment, the jaggedness of the outer shape is alleviated, so that it is possible to maintain the appearance beauty brought out from the non-rectangular shape.

  According to this embodiment, since non-rectangular pixels are used, the arrangement of the pixels is not limited to two axes that intersect at right angles, and can be arranged along, for example, two axes that intersect at non-right angles (for example, , A parallelogram pixel), and can be arranged along three intersecting axes (for example, a triangle pixel). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the first, second and third peripheral circuits 4, 5, 6 Can be easily arranged without interfering with each other. Further, in this embodiment, since a triangular repeating unit is used as a base, it can be designed very easily as compared with a conventional apparatus configuration.

  Next, the display operation of the display device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In order to display a figure having a correlation with the outer periphery shape of the display area to be realized, a line connecting each point on the outer periphery of the display area 3 and any point (s) in the display area 3 is determined according to a certain rule. A contour line figure 13 formed by lines connecting points equally divided into approximately equal distances is displayed. That is, first, two points P1 and P2 corresponding to the peak on the map are selected in the display area 3 (outlined points in FIG. 5). Next, a weight is given by assigning a numerical value corresponding to the altitude referred to on the map to the selected two points P1 and P2. Here, a point given a large numerical value has a higher weight. A line segment connecting these two points P1 and P2 corresponds to a ridge (ridgeline) on the map. For example, as a line segment L corresponding to the ridge, a part of a curve corresponding to the outer shape is selected as shown in FIG. The line segment L corresponding to the ridge is equally divided by the distance along the line segment between these two points P1 and P2, and at the same time, the difference in numerical values between the two points P1 and P2 is compared with equal parts. Assign a numerical value to each point on the ridge. Contrast with the line segment connecting each point on the ridge obtained in this way and each point on the outer periphery of the display area 3 by the distance along the line segment, and at the same time the numerical difference between the two points is equally divided. As a result, numerical values are assigned to the entire display area 3. Next, by creating isovalue lines based on the numerical values assigned to the display area 3, the figure 13 to be displayed in the display area 3 (the contour line shape correlated with the outer peripheral shape of the display area to be realized) ) Is obtained.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating contour figures actually displayed in the display area 3. As a comparative example, FIG. 48 shows an example in which a contour-line figure 55 correlated with the outer peripheral shape of a non-rectangular display area using conventional rectangular pixels 47, 47,.
In the comparative example of FIG. 48, it can be seen that the contour line figure 56 actually displayed is considerably different from the contour line figure 55 to be displayed. That is, it can be seen that the outer periphery of the displayed contour line figure 56 is greatly jagged. On the other hand, in the contour-line graphic display according to this embodiment shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the jagged feeling on the outer periphery of the contour-line graphic 14a actually displayed is much relaxed.

  In the graphic display example of FIG. 6, the pixels to be displayed and the pixels not to be displayed are determined according to the ratio of the area occupied by the region to be displayed to the area of the pixel 7. As a result, there are pixels that are opposite to the average gradient of the outer periphery, and a part of the jagged feeling remains. This jagged feeling can be alleviated by applying a soft process. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the jagged feeling can be further alleviated by applying a software process. The soft processing referred to here is processing that does not display a pixel when the gradient of an actually displayed pixel is opposite to the gradient of the outer periphery of the figure 13 to be displayed. According to such software processing, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to display a pseudo curve graphic 14b that is smoother than the processing of FIG. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 48, since the same software processing as described above cannot be performed, the display example shown in FIG. 7 is a good image with very little jaggedness compared to that of FIG. An indication can be obtained.

  As a modification, if the ridge line segment L is further complicated, a design effect corresponding to the line segment L can be realized. For example, the number of points to be assigned on the ridge line segment L is increased, and at this time, a point having a numerical value smaller than the point corresponding to the summit is assigned to the ridge line segment as necessary. For example, a point P3 (FIG. 5) having a numerical value smaller than the point corresponding to the two peaks is assigned between the two points P1 and P2. In addition, the values of the two peaks are also different. At this time, a numerical value corresponding to the ridge connecting the large mountain and the small mountain can be assigned on the ridge line segment. By adopting such a method, the contour line figure can be arbitrarily adjusted, so that a further design effect can be realized.

The display device of this embodiment can be used by being incorporated into various devices. Examples of suitable devices include mobile phones, game terminals, audio players and video players such as MP3 players (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3), devices that integrate these, devices that are built into pendants and accessories, etc. (It is the same in other embodiments described later).
If necessary, the peripheral circuit can be eliminated and the drive signal can be supplied from an external circuit. As described above, even in a wiring structure in which no peripheral circuit exists, according to this embodiment, the electrode terminals for external extraction can be arranged with good consistency on the outer peripheral part of the non-rectangular shape of the substrate. .

  Next, examples of display areas constituting the display device according to the first embodiment of the reference invention will be described in detail.

Reference example 1

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing a partial electrical configuration of the display area according to the first embodiment of the reference invention.
As shown in FIG. 8, the display area in this example includes a first line composed of a plurality of row conductors 8a, 8a,... That are spaced apart from each other and parallel to each other in the first direction. A second conductor group consisting of a plurality of first column conductors 9a, 9a,..., Which are wired at a predetermined interval and in parallel along the second direction. A plurality of second conductive lines 10a, 10a,... Arranged in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval and in a third direction are arranged in multiple layers on the substrate. The row conductor 8a and the first or second column conductor 9a, 10a are connected to active elements 15a, 15b such as TFTs (thin film transistors) disposed in the corresponding pixels 7a, 7b,. It has become.

  In this example, in each pixel in the same row, a pixel that forms a triangle upward in the figure (hereinafter also referred to as an upward triangle pixel) 7a in which the active element 15a is arranged, and a vertex in the figure in which the active element 15b is arranged downward. And the triangular pixels 7a in which the active elements 15a are arranged are accessed by the row conductors 8a and the first column conductors 9a. The inverted triangular pixel 7b in which the active element 15b is disposed is configured to be accessed by the row conductor 8a and the second column conductor 10a. Specifically, a scanning signal is input to the active elements 15a and 15b from the first peripheral circuit 4 through the row conductor 8a, and from the second or third peripheral circuit 5 or 6, the first or second Image data is input via the column conductors 9a and 10a.

According to the configuration of this example, the pixel arrangement based on the translational properties in three directions can be freely driven, so that the screen (display) can be displayed by inputting image data from the first or second column conductors 9a and 10a. (Area) The image can be displayed on the whole.
According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first, second and third peripheral circuits 4, 5, 6 can be easily arranged without interfering with each other. Further, in this embodiment, since it is based on a triangular repeating unit, it can be designed very easily as compared with the conventional apparatus configuration. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8, since the active elements 15a and 15b are regularly arranged with respect to a unit of two pixels, the minimum unit of repetition (in this example, a pair of triangles in the forward and reverse directions) Display areas of various shapes can be easily designed on the basis of (a parallelogram obtained by combining two pixels 7a and 7b). In addition, the arrangement composed of a single repeating unit is also effective in reducing moire.

  In this example, the first conductor group is a group of row conductors 8, 8,..., The second conductor group is a group of first column conductors 9, 9,. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The first conductor group is a group of the first column conductors or the second column conductors, and the second conductor group is the second conductor group. A group of two column conductors or row conductors may be used, and the third conductor group may be a group of row conductors or first column conductors.

Reference example 2

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing a partial electrical configuration of the display area according to the second embodiment of the reference invention.
As shown in FIG. 9, the display area of this example includes a plurality of gate lines (row conductors) 16, 16,... That are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and parallel to each other along the first direction. A first conductor group consisting of a plurality of data lines (column conductors) 17, 17,..., Which are also arranged at a predetermined interval and in parallel along the second direction. And a third conductor group consisting of a plurality of storage capacitor lines 18, 18,..., Which are also spaced apart from each other and arranged in parallel along the third direction, in multiple layers on the substrate. The gate line 16, the data line 17, and the storage capacitor line 18 are arranged so as to be connected to an active element 15c such as a TFT disposed in each corresponding pixel (parallel four-side deformation pixel) 7c. Yes. In this example, the pixel unit is a parallelogram, and the pixel area is about twice as large as that in the case where the pixel unit is a triangle (FIG. 8). Each pixel 7 c is divided by a corresponding storage capacitor line 18.

In this example, a scanning signal (address signal) is input from the first peripheral circuit 4 through the gate line to the gate electrode of the active element 15c provided for each parallelogram pixel 7c. An image data signal is input to the data electrode from the second peripheral circuit 5 through the data line. Further, one end of the storage capacitor lines 18, 18,... Is connected to the pixel electrode, and the other end is connected to the third peripheral circuit 6.
According to the configuration of this example, it is possible to freely drive a pixel array based on translation in two directions, so that an image can be displayed on the entire screen (display area) by inputting image data from a data line. Can do.

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the first, second and third peripheral circuits 4, 5, 6 can be easily arranged without interfering with each other. Further, in this embodiment, since the parallelogram repeating unit is basically used, it can be designed very easily as compared with the conventional apparatus configuration. In other words, the pixel in this example has only translation in two directions, but it has translation at a different angle from the conventional perpendicular direction, so that a pixel arrangement that follows the outer diameter to be realized becomes possible, and thus non-rectangular As a shape display device, a higher design effect can be obtained as compared with a conventional device.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, since the active elements 15c are regularly arranged with respect to the pixel unit, various shapes can be displayed based on the minimum repeating unit (in this example, a parallelogram). The area can be designed easily. In addition, the arrangement composed of a single repeating unit is also effective in reducing moire.

  In this example, the first conductor group is a group of gate lines (row conductors) 16, 16,..., The second conductor group is a group of data lines (column conductors) 17, 17,. Is a group of storage capacitor lines 18, 18,..., But is not limited to this. The first conductor group is a group of data lines (column conductors) or storage capacitor lines, and the second conductor group. May be a group of storage capacitor lines or gate lines (row conductors), and the third conductor group may be a group of gate lines (row conductors) or data lines (column conductors). In this example, the case where each pixel is divided by the corresponding storage capacitor line 18 is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the corresponding gate line (row conductor) 16 or data line (column conductor) 17 is used. It may be divided.

  Further, the third conductor group can be a group of conductors that supply a common electrode potential to each pixel, instead of the storage capacitor line. Further, the third conductor group may be a group of power supply lines, signal lines, and the like that supply any fixed potential or any periodically changing potential to each pixel, instead of the storage capacitor line.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement of active elements in the display area (pixel array) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a circuit configuration diagram partially showing the circuit configuration of the display area. FIG. 12 is a timing chart used for explaining the first driving method of the embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a timing chart used for explaining the second driving method of the embodiment.
In the display area of this example, in FIG. 10 (FIG. 3), the first conducting wire serves as a gate line, and the third conducting wire group serves as a data line. Specifically, in FIG. 10 (FIG. 3), two gate lines GA and GB are allocated and wired in parallel to the wiring portion of the first conductive wire, and the data line DL is connected to the wiring portion of the third conductive wire. The storage capacitor line SC is wired in the wiring portion of the second conductor. That is, the two gate lines GA and GB are shown as one first conducting wire for convenience in FIG. 10 (FIG. 3). In this example, n (n is a natural number of 2 or more) gate lines GA and GB are provided. Considering FIG. 3, the data line DL corresponds to the third conductor and the storage capacitor line SC corresponds to the second conductor, but the data line DL corresponds to the second conductor and the storage capacitor line SC. Of course, may correspond to the third conductor.

  Both the upward triangular pixel 7d and the downward triangular pixel 7e shown in FIG. 10 include an active element 15d such as a TFT, a storage capacitor 19, and an electro-optical material 20 that functions as a substantial pixel, as shown in FIG. It is roughly composed. The active element 15d has a gate electrode connected to the gate line GA (or GB), a source electrode (or drain electrode) connected to the data line DL, and a drain electrode (or source electrode) stored in the active element 15d. It is connected to one end of the capacitor 19 and one end of the electro-optic material 20. The other end of the storage capacitor 19 is connected to the storage capacitor line SC, and the other end of the electro-optic material 20 is connected to the common electrode line COM.

Examples of suitable electro-optical material 20 include, but are not limited to, liquid crystals and electrophoretic materials.
In this embodiment, an active element side substrate provided with an active element 15d such as a gate line GA, GB, a data line DL, a storage capacitor line SC, a TFT, a storage capacitor 19 and the like, and a counter substrate provided with a common electrode A method of operating an electro-optical material such as a liquid crystal or an electrophoretic material by generating an electric field therebetween is applicable. Suitable examples of this type include, for example, twisted nematic (TN) mode using liquid crystal, multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA) mode, and polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) mode. It can also be applied to electronic paper using electrophoresis or cholesteric liquid crystal.

  In the above configuration, the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel) 7d in FIG. 11 is controlled by a gate signal flowing through the gate line GA, and the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel) 7e in FIG. Controlled by a flowing gate signal. The upward triangular pixel 7d and the downward triangular pixel 7e are driven in a time-division manner for each field or for each row via two types of gate lines GA and GB provided in parallel.

Next, the operation of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, with reference to FIG. 12, the operation of the first driving method of this embodiment will be described. 12, A1 represents a gate signal applied to the first gate line GA, A2 represents a gate signal applied to the second gate line GA,..., An represents the nth gate line. The gate signal applied to GA is shown. Similarly, in FIG. 12, B1 represents a gate signal applied to the first gate line GB, B2 represents a gate signal applied to the second gate line GB,..., Bn represents the nth gate line GB. The gate signal applied to the gate line GB is shown. First, the data signal D corresponding to the gate line GA is applied to the data line DL (here, all data lines are generically shown for simplification), and the gate signals A1 and A2 are applied to the n gate lines GA. ,..., An are sequentially applied so that the upward triangular pixels 7d corresponding to the gate lines GA are sequentially scanned (in units of rows). Subsequently, the data signal D corresponding to the gate line GB is applied to the data line DL, and the gate signals B1, B2,..., Bn are applied to the n gate lines GB, thereby downwardly corresponding to the gate line GB. The triangular pixel 7e is sequentially scanned (in units of rows). By repeating such a procedure, it is possible to display a moving image by changing the entire screen every moment by sequential scanning. Of course, if the same data signal D is continuously written, the image display can be maintained and the still image can be displayed.

  Next, the operation by the second driving method of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second driving method, as shown in the figure, the gate signal A1 is applied to the first gate line GA, and then the gate signal B1 is applied to the first gate line GB. Next, the gate signal A2 is applied to the second gate line GA, then the gate signal B2 is applied to the second gate line GB,..., And then the gate signal An is applied to the nth gate line GA, and then , Applying the gate signal Bn to the nth gate line GB is repeated. At this time, the signal on the data line DL includes a data signal D corresponding to the gate signal A1, a data signal D corresponding to the gate signal B1, a data signal D corresponding to the gate signal A2, a data signal D corresponding to the gate signal B2, The data signal D corresponding to the gate signal An and the data signal D corresponding to the gate signal Bn are sequentially applied, and scanning is performed while switching the signal corresponding to the gate line GA and the signal corresponding to the gate line GB. By repeating such a procedure, a full screen is displayed.

  As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, the non-rectangular display area is configured in units of triangular pixels, so that it is possible to achieve translation in three directions. A non-rectangular display device with a higher design effect can be realized (compared to the second embodiment of the reference invention composed of parallelogram pixel units that can only be realized).

Embodiment 2

FIG. 14 is a circuit configuration diagram partially showing the circuit configuration of the display area (pixel array) according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is used for explaining the driving method of the same embodiment. It is a timing chart. Note that the arrangement configuration of the active elements in the display area (pixel array) in this example is substantially the same as the arrangement configuration (first embodiment) shown in FIG.
In the display area of this example, in FIG. 3, the first conducting wire serves as a gate line, and the third conducting wire group serves as a data line. Specifically, in FIG. 3, three gate lines GA, GG, GB are allocated and wired in parallel to the wiring portion of the first conductive wire, and the data line DL is wired to the wiring portion of the third conductive wire. In addition, the memory capacitor line MC is wired in the wiring portion of the second conductive wire. That is, the three gate lines GA, GG, GB are shown as one first conducting wire in FIG. In this example, n gate lines GA, GG, and GB (n is a natural number of 3 or more) are provided. Considering FIG. 3, the data line DL corresponds to the third conductor and the storage capacitor line SC corresponds to the second conductor, but the data line DL corresponds to the second conductor and the storage capacitor line SC. Of course, may correspond to the third conductor.

As shown in FIG. 14, each of the upward triangular pixel 7f and the downward triangular pixel 7g includes an active element 15e such as a TFT, a memory capacitor 21, an active element 15f such as a TFT, and an electric functioning as a substantial pixel. The optical material 20 is schematically configured. In this embodiment, the configuration is different from that of the first embodiment described above in that each pixel includes a memory element (such as a memory capacitor 21 and an active element 15f).
As shown in FIG. 14, the active element 15e has its gate electrode connected to the gate line GA (or GB), its source electrode (or drain electrode) connected to the data line DL, and further its drain electrode ( (Or source electrode) is connected to one end of the memory capacitor 21 and the source electrode (or drain electrode) of the active element 15f. The active element 15 f has its gate electrode connected to the gate line GG, its source electrode (or drain electrode) connected to the active element 15 e, and its drain electrode (or source electrode) connected to one end of the electro-optic material 20. Also connected to. The other end of the memory capacitor 21 is connected to the memory capacitor line MC, and the other end of the electro-optical material 20 is connected to the common electrode line COM (on the counter electrode side). In addition to the electro-optical material 20, a storage capacitor 19 (the other end connected to the storage capacitor line SC) may be connected to the electro-optical material 20 portion. In this case, a part or all of the memory capacitor line MC and the storage capacitor line SC may be a common line.

  In the above configuration, the memory capacity 21 of the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel) 7f in FIG. 14 is controlled by the gate signal flowing through the gate line GA, and the memory capacity 21 of the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel) 7g is the gate line GB. It is controlled by the gate signal flowing through. Further, the connection between each memory capacitor 21 and the electro-optical material 20 is controlled by a gate signal flowing through the gate line GG.

Next, the operation of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
15, A1 represents a gate signal applied to the first gate line GA, A2 represents a gate signal applied to the second gate line GA,..., An represents the nth gate line. The gate signal applied to GA is shown. Similarly, in FIG. 15, B1 represents a gate signal applied to the first gate line GB, B2 represents a gate signal applied to the second gate line GB,..., Bn represents the nth gate line GB. The gate signal applied to the gate line GB is shown.

  Regarding the gate line GG, all the gate lines GG are generically referred to for the sake of simplicity. First, the data signal D corresponding to the gate line GA is applied to the data line DL (here, all data lines are generically shown for simplification), and the gate signals A1 and A2 are applied to the n gate lines GA. ,..., An are sequentially applied to sequentially scan the pixels (upward triangular pixels) 7f corresponding to the gate lines GA (in units of rows). Subsequently, the data signal D corresponding to the gate line GB is applied to the data line DL, and the gate signals B1, B2,..., Bn are applied to the n gate lines GB, whereby the pixel corresponding to the gate line GB. 7 g (downward triangular pixels) are scanned sequentially (in rows). By such a procedure, a voltage corresponding to the data signal D is stored in each memory capacity 21. Next, when the signal G is applied to all the gate lines GG all at once, the active element 15 f is turned on, and the data signal D stored in each memory capacitor 21 is applied to the electro-optical material 20.

As described above, in this example, since the display of the entire screen is switched all at once, when the driving method of the first embodiment (FIGS. 12 and 13) is called line sequential scanning, the driving method of FIG. This can be called a frame sequential driving method. Note that the method of applying signals to the gate line GA, the gate line GB, and the data line DL employed in the driving method shown in FIG. 15 is the same as the first driving method (FIG. 12) in the first embodiment. However, instead of this, the second driving method (FIG. 13) in the first embodiment may be employed.
Further, as shown in FIG. 16, after writing the image data D corresponding to the gate line GA, the signal G is input to the gate line GG, and after writing the image data D corresponding to the gate line GB, the gate line GG. Alternatively, the signal G may be input. By driving in this way, the data stored in the memory capacity 21 is written twice in each pixel 7f, 7g, so that the operation of the electro-optical material 20 is further stabilized and the display frequency is doubled. The display becomes clearer.

  Thus, even with the configuration of this embodiment, the non-rectangular display area is configured in units of triangular pixels, so that translation in three directions can be realized, which is substantially the same as described in the first embodiment. The effect of can be obtained. In addition, according to the configuration of this example, a clear image display can be obtained. For example, the contrast is improved and the moving image display is further improved.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 17 is a circuit configuration diagram partially showing a circuit configuration of a display area (pixel array) according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is provided for explaining a driving method of the same embodiment. It is a timing chart.
In the display area of this example, in FIG. 3, two gate lines GA and GB are wired in parallel to the wiring portion of the first conductive wire, the data line DL is wired to the wiring portion of the third conductive wire, A memory capacity line MC is wired to the wiring portion of the second conductor. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the upward triangular pixel 7h and the downward triangular pixel 7i are each composed of an active element 15e such as a TFT, a memory capacitor 21, an active element 15f such as a TFT, and an electro-optical material 20. It is roughly composed of As described above, in this embodiment, the configuration is the same as that of the above-described second embodiment in that a memory element is provided for each pixel, but the gate of the three gate lines GA, GG, and GB is the same. The connection configuration is different from that of the second embodiment in that the line GG is eliminated.

  That is, in FIG. 17, in the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7h) in the figure, the gate electrode of the active element 15e is connected to the gate line GB, and the gate electrode of the active element 15f is connected to the gate line GA. On the other hand, in the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel 7i) in the figure, the gate electrode of the active element 15e is connected to the gate line GA, and the gate electrode of the active element 15f is connected to the gate line GB.

  In the above configuration, the memory capacity 21 of the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7h) in FIG. 17 is controlled by a gate signal flowing through the gate line GB, and the connection between the memory capacity 21 and the electro-optic material 20 is the gate line. Controlled by a gate signal flowing through the GA. Further, the memory capacitor 21 of the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel 7i) is controlled by a gate signal flowing through the gate line GA, and the connection between the memory capacitor 21 and the electro-optic material 20 is a gate signal flowing through the gate line GB. Be controlled.

Next, the operation of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
First, focusing on the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7h), as shown in FIG. 18, when the gate signals AG1, AG2,... AGn are sequentially applied to the gate line GA, the gate electrode of the active element 15f is turned on. The data signal D stored in the memory capacity 21 is applied to the electro-optical material 20. Next, when the gate signals BG1, BG2,... BGn are sequentially applied to the gate line GB, the active element 15e is turned on, and the data signal D is stored in the memory capacitor 21. Next, paying attention to the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel 7i), when gate signals AG1, AG2,... AGn are sequentially applied to the gate line GA, the gate electrode of the active element 15e is turned on, and data is stored in the memory capacitor 21. Signal D is stored. When the gate signals BG1, BG2,... BGn are sequentially applied to the gate line GB, the gate electrode of the active element 15f is turned on, and the data signal D stored in the memory capacitor 21 is applied to the electro-optical material 20. . That is, both pixels store the data signal D in the memory capacitor 21 with one gate signal D, and the data signal D is applied to the electro-optical material 20 with the other gate signal D.

  Thus, even with the configuration of this example, the non-rectangular display area is configured in units of triangular pixels, so that translation in three directions can be realized, which is substantially the same as described in the first embodiment. An effect can be obtained. In addition, according to the configuration of this example, the number of gate lines can be reduced as compared with the configuration of the second embodiment (FIG. 14).

Reference example 3

FIG. 19 is a circuit configuration diagram partially showing a circuit configuration of a display area (pixel array) according to a third embodiment of the reference invention, and FIG. 20 is provided for explaining a driving method of the embodiment. It is a timing chart.
In the display area of this example, in FIG. 3, the first conductor serves as the gate line G, the third conductor serves as the data line DL, and the second conductor serves as the storage capacitor line SC and the common electrode. It plays the role of line COM. The storage capacitor line SC and the common electrode line COM may be wired as two different lines, or may be wired as a single common line, as described in the above embodiments or examples. It is.

In this embodiment, the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7j) in FIG. 19 includes an active element 15g having a first polarity (P-channel type in this example), a storage capacitor 19, and an electro-optic material 20. It is roughly structured. In addition, the lower left pixel (downward facing triangular pixel 7k) in FIG. 19 is roughly configured by an active element 15h having a second polarity (N-channel type in this example), a storage capacitor 19, and an electro-optical material 20. ing. Instead of the above configuration, the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7j) is composed of an active element having a second polarity, and the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel 7k) is composed of an active element having a first polarity. Of course, it may be made to do.
In FIG. 19, in the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7j), the active element 15g having the first polarity is connected to the gate line G, the data line DL, the storage capacitor 19, and the electro-optical material 20. . In the lower left pixel (downward triangular pixel 7k), the active element 15h having the second polarity is connected to the gate line G, the data line DL, the storage capacitor 19, and the electro-optical material 20.

Next, the operation of this example will be described with reference to FIG.
20, G1 represents a gate signal applied to the first gate line G, G2 represents a gate signal applied to the second gate line G,..., Gn represents the nth gate line. A gate signal applied to G is shown.
In this example, a “positive” pulse signal (gate signal) higher than the reference potential of the gate line G and a “negative” pulse signal (gate) lower than the reference potential of the gate line G are provided on each gate line G. Signal) is applied alternately (with a field period) across the reference potential. The data signal D on the data line DL is also set so that the polarity of the signal changes according to the polarity of the pulse signal (gate signal).
In the above configuration, when a “positive” pulse signal is applied to the gate line G in a certain field period, the active element 15h having the second polarity is turned on, and the data signal D of the data line DL is shifted to the lower left pixel (downward Applied to the electro-optic material 20 of the triangular pixel 7k). When a “negative” pulse signal is applied to the gate line in the next field period, the active element 15g having the first polarity is turned on, and the data signal D of the data line DL is the upper right pixel (upward triangular pixel 7j). The electro-optic material 20 is applied.

  Thus, according to the configuration of this example, by applying gate signals having different polarities to one gate line G, the entire display area can be driven, and therefore the number of gate lines can be reduced.

Reference example 4

FIG. 21 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device according to the fourth embodiment of the reference invention.
The display device 1 of this example has the same configuration as the display device of FIG. 1, and a connection wiring 22 for connecting to an external device is provided at the lower right in FIG.
Here, the number of terminals required for the connection wiring 22 can be reduced by providing the peripheral circuit for driving various conductor groups with the necessary functions. If the number of terminals can be reduced, as shown in FIG. 21, since the similarity between the outer shape of the display device 1 and the contour of the display area 3 is not impaired, the aesthetics of the device can be maintained.

Reference form 2

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view schematically showing a part of the display area (pixel array) according to the second embodiment of the reference invention.
3 is different from the display area shown in FIG. 3 in the display area of FIG. 3 in that any first, second and third conductors 8, 9, 10,... Intersect at one point. In contrast, in this example, the points do not intersect at one point.
That is, in this example, as shown in FIG. 22, the intersection of the first conductor 8b and the second conductor 9b, the intersection of the second conductor 9b and the third conductor 10b, the third conductor 10b and the second conductor The intersection with the one conducting wire 8b is configured not to overlap each other.
According to the configuration in this example, although the opening area of each pixel is slightly reduced, the step of the multilayer wiring film in the intersection region can be reduced as compared with the configuration in which the three conducting wires intersect at one point. For this reason, it is possible to reduce wiring defects (disconnection or short circuit) that are likely to occur in the stepped portion.

Reference form 3

Next, a third embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
FIG. 23 is an enlarged view schematically showing a part of various wiring patterns in the display area constituting the non-rectangular display device according to the third embodiment of the reference invention.
The display area of this embodiment differs greatly from that of the first embodiment of the reference invention described above in that it is configured using hexagonal pixels instead of triangular pixels.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the display area (pixel array) of this example includes a first conductor group consisting of a plurality of zigzag-shaped first conductors 8c, 8c,. A plurality of zigzag second conductors 9c, 9c,... Wired in a plurality of directions, and a plurality of first conductors wired substantially linearly in an oblique direction (upper left to lower right) in the figure. Are arranged in multiple layers on the substrate, and each of the first, second and third conductors 8c, 9c, 10c,... Corresponds to the third conductor group consisting of the three conductors 10c, 10c,. Connected to each pixel (active element, pixel electrode, etc.).

  Here, the first conductors 8c, 8c,... Are wired in a zigzag manner in a manner corresponding to three of the six sides constituting the hexagon, and the second conductors 9c, 9c,. In a manner corresponding to two of the six sides constituting the hexagon, the wiring is formed in a bent zigzag shape. By wiring in this way, hexagonal pixels are defined by the two adjacent first conductive wires 8c and 8c and the two adjacent second conductive wires 9c and 9c. In this embodiment, the first conductor 8c, the second conductor 9c, and the third conductor 10c intersect for each pixel, in other words, at a portion corresponding to the outer periphery of the hexagon that defines the pixel. It is the composition to do.

  23 shows a wiring structure in which the third conductors 10c, 10c,... Extend in a substantially straight line in the upward direction in the figure, but instead, as shown in FIG. The third conductive wires 10d, 10d,... May have a wiring structure that extends substantially linearly in the upward direction in the drawing. Further, the inclination angle of the third conductors 10c (10d), 10c (10d),... Is arbitrary. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 25, a wiring structure extending in an oblique direction in a bent zigzag manner may be used in a manner of following the outer peripheral shape of the third conductive wires 10e, 10e,.

  In a hexagonal pixel composed of only two types of conducting wires (first and second conducting wires), the repeating unit can be designed to be stretchable and the free direction is 2 (in the vertical direction and the left-right direction as viewed globally). Since there is only a direction, there is a problem that the improvement of the aesthetic appearance of the non-rectangular display area is restricted and the peripheral circuits cannot be arranged well. However, according to this embodiment, in addition to the repetition in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the repetition in the oblique direction is added (since the free direction increases accordingly), the repetition unit and the non-rectangular display area The consistency with the outer shape can be improved. Therefore, even if the third wiring is provided, the peripheral circuit can be arranged well. As a result, it is possible to improve the appearance of the display area and the display device.

Reference form 4

Next, a fourth embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
FIG. 26 is an enlarged view schematically showing a part of various wiring patterns in the display area constituting the non-rectangular display device according to the fourth embodiment of the reference invention.
The display area of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment of the reference invention described above in that it is composed of triangular pixels, but a three-dimensional detour intersection structure that connects the wiring layers with contacts is adopted. This is different from the first embodiment of the reference invention.

  In this embodiment, the display area (pixel array) is a multilayer wiring structure including an intermediate insulating film (not shown) and first and second wiring layers (not shown) stacked via the intermediate insulating film. In the first wiring layer, the entire first conductor 8f and the main part (non-intersection region) of the second conductor 9f are formed, and the second wiring layer includes the first conductor 8f. All the three conducting wires 10f and the non-main part (intersection region T) of the second conducting wire 9f are formed. The interlayer insulating film includes a main part (non-intersection region) of the second conductor group formed in the first wiring layer and a non-main part of the second conductor group formed in the second wiring layer. Contacts H1 and H2 for connecting (intersection region T) are provided. It is sufficient that the contacts H1 and H2 are provided in the vicinity of the intersection of the first conductor 8f and the third conductor 10f. In this example, the second conductor 9f is detoured and crossed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the first or third conductors 8f and 10f may be detoured.

The first conducting wire 8f belonging to the first conducting wire group is wired along the left-right direction in the drawing, and the second conducting wire 9f belonging to the second conducting wire group has a main part (non-intersecting region), In the figure, the wiring is routed along the upward left direction. The third conducting wire 10f belonging to the third conducting wire group is wired along the upward direction in the drawing. The non-major part (intersection region T) of the second conductor 9f is a third conductor in the same layer by a short dimension sufficient to straddle the first conductor 8f in the second wiring layer. It is provided in a direction not in contact with 10f. The dimensions, shape, direction, and the like of the wiring of the non-major part (intersection region T) of the second conductor 9f are arbitrarily determined in view of the manufacturing process, design conditions, and the like.
Thus, in this embodiment, in the region where the first conductor 8f and the second conductor 9f intersect in the same wiring layer, the second conductor 9f connects the contact H1 in order to avoid collision. After being routed back to the second wiring layer and detouring through the crossing region, it is again returned to the original first wiring layer via the contact H2. .

  In the configuration of the first embodiment, at least a multilayer wiring film having a three-layer structure is required to wire various conductors crossing each other. However, according to the configuration of this embodiment, a two-layer structure is sufficient. Therefore, for example, the number of wiring layers and the number of wiring materials can be reduced.

Reference form 5

Next, a fifth embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
The display device of this embodiment is the same as that of each of the above embodiments in that non-rectangular pixels are used. However, the common electrode (and thus the common electrode line) is not formed on the counter substrate but on the active element side substrate. It differs from the above-described embodiments in that it is formed. Examples of this type of display device include an in-plane switching mode (horizontal electric field drive) liquid crystal display device (IPS liquid crystal display device) that operates with an electric field in a direction parallel to the substrate surface.

FIG. 27 is a wiring diagram showing wiring around the pixels constituting the display area of the IPS liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment of the reference invention. In the display area of this form, two types of pixels, an upward triangular pixel 7m and a downward triangular pixel 7n, are arranged, and as shown in the figure, the upward triangular pixel 7m and the downward triangular pixel 7n are mutually polar. It is configured to be driven by different active elements 15i and 15j. Here, the active elements 15i and 15j are arranged according to FIG.
That is, the upward triangular pixel 7m is driven by the active element 15i having the first polarity (P channel type in this embodiment), and the downward triangular pixel 7n is the second polarity (N channel type in this embodiment). The active element 15j is driven.

In the display area of this example, the upward triangular pixel 7m and the downward triangular pixel 7n are both a gate line GE (first conductive line), a common electrode line C (second conductive line), and a data line DL (third conductive line). And surrounded by a triangular shape. In the pixel, the common electrode line C is branched to form a comb-shaped common electrode CB, which is similarly meshed with the comb-shaped pixel electrode PB. In such a configuration, the data signal on the data line DL is applied to the pixel electrode in the pixel via the active elements 15i and 15j in accordance with the signal on the gate line GE (according to the time chart of FIG. 20). . The same potential is applied to each common electrode line C. An electric field is generated between the pixel electrode PB and the common electrode DB, and liquid crystal molecules (electro-optical material) are operated by a horizontal electric field, thereby realizing image display.
Thus, according to this embodiment, substantially the same effect as described above in the first embodiment of the reference invention can be obtained.

  FIG. 27 shows the case where the same potential is applied to each common electrode line C, but instead of this, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the first common electrode line C1 to which different potentials are applied. And the second common electrode line C2 can be alternately arranged. In such an arrangement configuration of the common electrode lines, for example, different common electrode potentials can be applied according to the polarities of the active elements 15k and 15m. That is, as shown in FIG. 29, the active element 15k of the pixel related to the common electrode line C1 has the first polarity P, and the active element 15m of the pixel related to the common electrode line C2 has the second polarity N. Therefore, the common electrode potential corresponding to the polarity of the active element can be supplied to each pixel 7p, 7q.

The display device of this embodiment can be applied to a display device that essentially does not require a counter substrate because all of the first, second, and third conductive wire groups are formed on the active element side substrate. It is suitable for application to non-rectangular organic EL display devices.
In the above description, the IPS liquid crystal display device is taken as an example. Similarly, all of the first, second, and third conductor groups are applied to other liquid crystal display devices formed on the active element side substrate. You can also For example, the present invention can be suitably applied to a liquid crystal display device using a fringe field switching (FFS) mode. In the IPS mode, the common electrode CB and the pixel electrode PB are usually formed in a layer having a cross-sectional structure that is substantially the same height. For example, the common electrode line C is provided with a contact between the common electrodes CB and the height is adjusted. It is necessary to do. In many cases, this contact structure is provided between the data line DL and the pixel electrode PB via an active element 15i or the like so as not to increase the contact structure. On the other hand, in the FFS mode, the common electrode CB and the pixel electrode PB are formed in different layers. For this reason, for example, the common electrode PB exists below in the cross-sectional direction, and the display device of the mode can be implemented without being aware of the contact structure.

Reference form 6

  FIG. 30 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device according to the sixth embodiment of the reference invention. The external shapes of the display device 1a and the display area 3a of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment (FIG. 2) of the reference invention described above in that they are formed in the shape of a ball. The structure is different from the first embodiment of the reference invention in that the hollow hole portion 23 is provided in the display area 3a.

  In this embodiment, there is a conducting wire that is interrupted by the presence of the hollow hole portion 23. Therefore, in order to complete the driving of the various conductive wire groups, in this embodiment, not only the outer peripheral region on the substrate 2a but also the inner peripheral region (the peripheral region of the hollow hole portion 23) is provided with a peripheral circuit. It has been. That is, the first peripheral circuit (first outer peripheral circuit 4a) in the outer peripheral region and the first peripheral circuit (first inner peripheral circuit 4b) in the inner peripheral region are all the first peripheral circuits in the display area 3a. Conductor wires are connected, and the second peripheral circuit in the outer peripheral region (second outer peripheral circuit 5a) and the second peripheral circuit in the inner peripheral region (second inner peripheral circuit 5b) are all in the display area 3a. The second conductive wire is connected, and further, a display area is formed by a third peripheral circuit (third outer peripheral circuit 6a) in the outer peripheral region and a third peripheral circuit (third inner peripheral circuit 6b) in the inner peripheral region. All the 3rd conducting wires in 3a are connected. The outer peripheral circuits 4a, 5a, 6a and the inner peripheral circuits 4b, 5b, 6b are designed to maintain continuity of signals through connection wiring (not shown) that connects them.

According to this embodiment, by providing the hollow hole portion 23 in the display area 3a, it is possible to obtain a design display device having unexpectedness, suddenness, and aesthetics. Also, it can be applied to various uses technically. In addition, as shown in FIG. 31, it can also be used through the string 24 in the hollow hole portion 23 of the slanted display device 1a.
The shape of the hollow hole portion 23 may be not only a perfect circle, an ellipse, a triangle, a rectangle, and a polygon, but also various other shapes (Jordan shape) such as a map pattern. The number of the hollow portions is not limited to one, and a plurality of hollow portions, that is, n-fold connected Jordan regions (n is a natural number) may be provided. The hollow hole portion is larger than the display area, and an annular display device can be obtained as a whole. Further, even if a non-display area is simply provided instead of the hollow hole portion, substantially the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  In this type of display device having a non-rectangular non-display area inside, the outer peripheral shape of the display area may be rectangular.

Reference form 7

FIG. 32 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of a non-rectangular display device according to the seventh embodiment of the reference invention. In the display device 1b of this embodiment, the connection portion 25 for connecting the external device and the wiring is provided in the vicinity (non-display area) of the hollow hole portion 23 of the display device of the sixth embodiment (FIG. 30) of the reference invention. It has been added.
Thus, according to this embodiment, the string 24 (FIG. 31) is passed through the hollow hole 23, the signal line is passed through the string 24, and the display device is connected to the connection part 25 provided in the vicinity of the hollow hole 23. In such a configuration, the connection portion 25 and the signal line are not conspicuous, or since the presence of the connection portion 25 cannot be recognized in appearance, the non-rectangular display device 1b having a high design effect is obtained. Can be realized.

Reference form 8

The display device (not shown) according to the eighth embodiment of the reference invention is replaced with a connection portion 25 (FIG. 32) for wired connection with an external device attached to the display device according to the seventh embodiment of the reference invention. Thus, the signal is transmitted wirelessly.
In this embodiment, for example, instead of the connection unit 25, a signal transmission unit that wirelessly transmits a signal to the external device or a power supply unit that wirelessly supplies power is provided at the site of the connection unit 25 illustrated in FIG. 32. be able to. In this way, it is not necessary to consider the connection wiring with the string 24 (FIG. 31), and the design flexibility is further improved, so that a display device having a much higher similarity between the device outer shape and the display area outer shape can be obtained. Can do. For example, a highly designable display device such as a pendant display device in which the pendant top is movable can be implemented.
In the display device of this embodiment, the antenna can be reduced in size by installing the antenna portion on the back surface of the display device as necessary.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a decorative type device incorporating a non-rectangular display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the lid portion of the device is opened and the internal display device The state where you can see is shown. As shown in FIG. 33, the container 26 has both a container body 27 and a lid portion 28 imitated in a heart shape, and a heart-shaped display device 29 is assembled on the bottom surface of the container body 27. When the unit 28 is opened, the display device 29 appears.
As described above, the display device 29 of the present invention can be used to decorate decoration ornaments, decorative containers for women (for example, cosmetic compacts and accessory boxes), and accessories (for example, a pendant top attached to the tip of a pendant). When applied to a type of device, the function and aesthetics of these devices can be improved.
In addition, instead of the device main body side, a heart-shaped display device may be provided on the lid portion side of the device, and a heart-shaped display device is provided on both the device main body side and the lid portion side, If a display device that functions as a makeup mirror is incorporated when an image is not displayed, for example, the function and aesthetics of the makeup compact can be improved. Furthermore, if this type of device is driven by wireless signal transmission and a wireless power feeding method (seventh embodiment of the reference invention), the degree of freedom in functional design and design can be further improved.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a decorative device incorporating a non-rectangular display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 34 (a) shows a state in which the device is expanded. Moreover, the figure (b) shows the state which bends an apparatus three-dimensionally.
For example, four heart-shaped display devices 31a, 31b, 31c, and 32d are incorporated in the device 30 as shown in FIG. When this decorative device is expanded, a “four-leaf clover” can be seen as shown in FIG. Each of the four heart-shaped display devices 31a, 31b, 31c, and 32d constitutes an individual leaf of a “four-leaf clover”. Separate images may be displayed on the four heart-shaped display devices 31a, 31b, 31c, and 32d, or one image may be divided into four and displayed on the display devices 31a, 31b, 31c, and 32d. Also good.
In this device, three locations indicated by dotted lines or broken lines from the center of FIG. 5A connect the heart-shaped display devices (31d and 31a, 31a and 31b, 31b and 31c) that are adjacent to the left or right or up and down. The connecting region is configured to be foldable using a flexible substrate or the like. In addition, the part shown with the continuous line of the lower part in a figure is a cut | interruption, and the left and right heart-shaped display devices (31c and 31d) are not connected to each other.

In the above configuration, the display device on the upper side in the figure can be folded back in a mountain fold shape with the dotted line portion in FIG. Moreover, it can fold in the valley fold shape in the direction which the surface of the display apparatus of the right and left in the figure overlaps centering on the broken-line part of the figure (a). When everything is folded, the device changes from a clover to a heart shape. In the heart shape, two display devices among the four display devices 31a, 31b, 31c, and 32d can be seen on the front and back surfaces. When a pendant top or the like is formed in this heart-shaped state, the display device can be changed to a clover shape or a three-dimensional intermediate state as necessary, so that an extremely high design effect can be achieved.
Furthermore, if this type of device is driven by wireless signal transmission and wireless power feeding method (seventh embodiment of the reference invention), there is no need to consider wired connection, so the degree of freedom in functional design and design. Can be further improved.

Reference form 11

Next, an eleventh embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
FIG. 37 is an array diagram schematically showing the array configuration of the color pixels in the display area constituting the non-rectangular color display device according to the eleventh embodiment of the reference invention, and FIGS. FIG. 6 is a partial arrangement diagram showing a simplified arrangement of several color pixels.
In the color pixel array of this embodiment, each of the plurality of non-rectangular pixels described in each of the above embodiments is any one of a plurality of predetermined colors (for example, red, green, and blue) constituting a color display. A color pixel and a non-rectangular unit pixel for color display are formed by a combination of a plurality of color pixels. In this embodiment, the color pixels can be arbitrarily arranged by replacing the non-rectangular pixels with the color pixels. However, if a higher display quality is desired, the color pixels of the same color adjacent to each color pixel in a linear form can be obtained. An arrangement in which the number is set to 1 or 0 is preferred. Hereinafter, a representative arrangement method will be described with reference to FIGS. Various wirings are substantially the same as those described in the above-described embodiments, and thus description thereof is omitted.
In FIG. 37, using the same pixel arrangement configuration as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 6) of the reference invention, triangular pixels (non-rectangular pixels) 7, 7,... Are represented as red pixels 58r, green pixels 58g, Alternatively, a blue pixel 58b,... Is shown, and a pixel array 3b is shown in which unit pixels (pixels) 58 and 59 for color display are formed from a set of these. In the arrangement configuration of the pixel array 3b, as shown in FIG. 37, the number of color pixels of the same color adjacent to each triangular color pixel in a line is set to 1, and each triangular color pixel 58r, 58g, 58b is The color pixels are arranged adjacent to each other in common with the same color pixel. That is, the same color pixels 58r and 58r, 58g and 58g, and 58b and 58b sharing one side constitute a set.
Here, the pixel array 3b is composed of two types of unit pixels (pixels) 58 and 59 that are not similar to each other even when color information is included, and the whole is filled up.
That is, in the unit pixels 58 and 59 having such a configuration, adjacent pixels of the same color do not overlap with each other in translational symmetry. For this reason, the same color does not continue even when the outer periphery of the display shape has an inclination in a specific direction. For example, when one of the three wiring directions in the figure is viewed, similar pixels of the same color always appear every three colors every two colors. For this reason, since the three colors assumed here are always mixed, a specific color does not stand out. That is, color bleeding can be reduced.

  Next, in FIG. 38, a color pixel arrangement corresponding to FIG. 37 is shown in a simplified manner as an example of a color pixel arrangement including three colors. In this arrangement configuration, the red pixel 60r, the green pixel 60g, and the blue pixel 60b constitute unit pixels 60 and 61 that are not similar to each other. Each color pixel has one adjacent pixel of the same color sharing one side. When attention is paid to the color pixel in contact with the upper side of the broken line (wiring) 74 in the figure, the blue pixel 60b similar to the blue pixel 60b described as a on the left side and in contact with the broken line (wiring) 74 appears for every three color pixels. . In this configuration, since the repetition pitch of pixels of the same color having similar shapes is large, a specific color is conspicuous even when some of the color pixels in the unit pixels 60 and 61 are not used along the display shape or outer peripheral shape. Will not be displayed.

  FIG. 39 shows another arrangement configuration example of the color pixels 62r, 62g, and 62b according to this embodiment. In this arrangement configuration, there are four types of unit pixel patterns. The unit pixel 62 and the unit pixel 64 are similar to each other including the color, and can be overlapped by rotating 180 degrees. Further, the unit pixel 65 and the unit pixel 63 are similar to each other including the color, and can be overlapped by rotating 180 degrees. On the other hand, the unit pixel 62 and the unit pixel 65 are not similar to each other when colors are included. In this arrangement, compared to the arrangement shown in FIG. 38, pixels of the same color sharing one side and adjacent to each other are only one specific color, that is, in this example, only the green pixels 62g and 62g. On the other hand, when attention is paid to the broken line (wiring) 75 in the figure, the color pixel that shares one side with the broken line (wiring) 75 and touches the lower side thereof is shifted by one pixel pitch from the blue pixel 62b indicated by b in the figure. The pixel is a blue pixel 62b having the same color as b. Next appears at a position shifted by 6 pixels from b in the figure. That is, as shown in FIG. 38, the repeat pitch has two pitches as well as one. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 39, pixels of the same color that share one side and are adjacent to each other are limited to one specific color (in this example, green pixels 62g and 62g), while pixels that are aligned in the translation direction without sharing a side. The shift pitch between them has various values. In this arrangement, color unevenness due to adjacent pixels of the same color sharing a non-similar side is reduced as compared to FIG. 38, while color unevenness due to pixels of the same color having a close shift pitch is increased. However, the display characteristics are remarkably improved as compared with the prior art.

  FIG. 40 shows still another arrangement configuration example of color pixels according to this embodiment. In this arrangement, as in FIG. 38, there are two types of unit pixels 66 and 67 having different shapes when colors are included. However, in the arrangement configuration of FIG. 38, the two types of unit pixels 61 and 62 are arranged so that the sides of the trapezoid are completely overlapped with each other, whereas in the arrangement configuration of FIG. The sides of the trapezoids 66 and 67 do not overlap and are shifted by one pixel pitch of the color pixels. As a result, the number of the same color pixels adjacent to each color pixel 66r, 66g, 66b linearly is set to 0, and the adjacent same color pixels do not share the side. On the other hand, when attention is paid to the broken line (wiring) 76, color pixels (for example, b and c) sharing the side with the broken line (wiring) 76 are repeatedly arranged for each pixel in the direction of the broken line (wiring) 76. Yes. For this reason, as compared with FIG. 38 and FIG. 39, color unevenness due to adjacent pixels of the same color sharing a non-similar side is eliminated, while color unevenness due to pixels of the same color having a close shift pitch increases. However, the display characteristics are remarkably improved as compared with the prior art.

  Next, FIG. 41 shows an example in which two or more adjacent pixels of the same color, 95r, 95g, and 95b, sharing a side exist. In this example, the color pixels are arranged in an oblique stripe shape. For this reason, color unevenness significantly occurs in a specific direction. However, compared to the prior art, the jagged feeling is reduced.

  Up to this point, the case where the number of colors of the color pixel is three has been mainly described. However, the number of colors is not limited to three, but may be any number. FIG. 42 shows an arrangement example using color pixels of four colors. In this example, a white pixel 68w is added to the red pixel 68r, the green pixel 68g, and the blue pixel 68b. Again, there are two patterns of unit pixels 68 and 69. In this example, the unit pixels 68 and 69 are similar to each other by being rotated. In this arrangement, color pixels of the same color share a side and are not adjacent. Furthermore, the color pixel which exists in contact with the side on one side of a certain wiring appears every two pixels of the same color. As a result, color unevenness due to a specific color is unlikely to occur. In this embodiment, the case where the non-rectangular pixel is a triangle has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the color pixel can be configured by another shape such as a hexagon or a parallelogram.

Reference form 12

Next, a twelfth embodiment of the reference invention will be described.
FIG. 43 is a block diagram partially showing the arrangement configuration of the pixel array according to the twelfth embodiment of the reference invention, and FIG. 44 is a block diagram partially showing another arrangement configuration of the pixel array. .
The pixel array of this embodiment has four types of non-rectangular sub-pixels 85a, 85b, 85c, and 85d as shown in FIG. The sub-pixels 85a and 85c and the sub-pixels 85b and 85d are similar because they overlap each other by rotation. For example, an active element 86 is provided in each of the sub-pixels 85a, 85b, 85c, and 85d. A desired pixel configuration, that is, a rectangular or non-rectangular pixel configuration can be alternatively selected by driving the active element 86 and changing the combination of sub-pixels according to the display contents. For example, a rectangular pixel configuration is selected for character display, while a non-rectangular pixel configuration is selected for non-rectangular graphic display.

  More specifically, referring to FIG. 43, a non-rectangular pixel 87 (in this example, parallelograms) is obtained from a combination of a trapezoidal subpixel 85a and a triangular subpixel 85b on the right side of the subpixel 85a. Shape pixel). Similarly, a combination of a trapezoidal subpixel 85c and a triangular subpixel 85d on the left side of the subpixel 85c in the drawing forms a non-rectangular pixel (in this example, a parallelogram pixel) 88. With these pixels 87 and 88, non-rectangular pixel display can be suitably realized. On the other hand, a rectangular pixel 89 is composed of a combination of a trapezoidal sub-pixel 85a and a triangular sub-pixel 85b on the left side of the sub-pixel 85a in the drawing. Similarly, the sub-pixels 85b and 85c can be combined to function as a rectangular pixel 85. A combination of the trapezoidal subpixel 85c and the triangular subpixel 85d on the right side of the subpixel 85c in the drawing forms a non-rectangular pixel (in this example, a parallelogram pixel) 90. By combining these pixels 89 and 90, a rectangular pixel display can be suitably realized when displaying characters. Such pixel rearrangement can be realized by electrically changing the signal applied to the active element 86 and the wiring, and there is no need to change the pixel arrangement itself. Therefore, a suitable display method can be selected according to the content.

  FIG. 44 shows another arrangement configuration of the pixel array. In the configuration of this figure, the pattern of pixel arrangement differs between quadrants around the center of the figure. Excluding the arrangement of the active element 86 and various wirings, the arrangement of the sub-pixels 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d, 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d, 93a, 93b, 93c, 93d, 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d is exactly The shape is folded vertically and horizontally around the center of the figure. With such a configuration, each non-rectangular display has a suitable inclination in each of the four quadrants, so that the display outline is not jagged when a relatively non-rectangular display such as a hexagon is displayed. be able to. Similarly to FIG. 43, rectangular pixels can be displayed when displaying characters.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.
For example, technical features that can be shared between the above-described reference invention and the present invention are mainly described as embodiments or examples of the reference invention, and are not explicitly described as embodiments or examples of the present invention. It is of course not intended to exclude such shareable technical features from the embodiments or examples of the present invention (see the dependent claims described in the claims).
The reason why the sharable technical feature is described as the embodiment or example of the reference invention as a representative without explicitly describing the sharable technical feature as the embodiment or example of the present invention is as follows. At this time, this is to avoid occurrence of redundant redundancy due to the fact that the invention according to another patent application is left in the specification as a reference invention. Therefore, technical features applicable to the configuration of the present invention among the above-described embodiments or examples of the reference invention are included in the embodiments or examples of the present invention.
In each of the above-described embodiments and examples, the first, second, and third conductors are provided on the same substrate. However, depending on the type of the display device, the first and second conductors may be provided. The conducting wire may be provided on the first substrate, while the third conducting wire may be provided on the second substrate (counter substrate). Further, in each of the above-described embodiments and examples, the case where the first, second, and third conductors are provided on the same substrate has been described. However, the third conductor can be abolished and used as a virtual line. Alternatively, the third conductor may be a spare conductor or a dormant conductor.

  Applicable to portable devices and decorative illumination devices.

1, 1a, 1b, 29, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d Display device 3, 3a, 3b Display area (non-rectangular pixel array)
4, 4a, 4b First peripheral circuit (peripheral circuit)
5, 5a, 5b Second peripheral circuit (peripheral circuit)
6, 6a, 6b Third peripheral circuit (peripheral circuit)
7, 7a, 7b, 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7i, 7j, 7k, 7m, 7n, 7p, 7q Triangular pixels (non-rectangular pixels)
7c Parallelogram shaped pixels (non-rectangular pixels)
8, 8b, 8c, 8f, 71 First conductor 9, 9b, 9c, 9f, 72 Second conductor 10, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 73b Third conductor 8a Row conductor (first conductor Conductor)
9a First row conductor (second conductor)
10a Second conductor (third conductor)
16, GA, GB, GG, G, GE Gate line (first conductor)
17 Data line (second conductor)
SC storage capacitor line (second conductor)
MC memory capacity line (second conductor)
C, C1, C2 Common electrode wire (second conductor)
18 Storage capacitor line (third conductor)
DL data line (third conductor)
11a Outline of display area (peripheral shape)
23 Hollow opening (non-display part)
H1, H2 contact 58r, 60r, 62r, 65r, 66r, 68r Red pixel (color pixel)
58g, 60g, 62g, 65g, 66g, 68g Green pixel (color pixel)
58b, 60b, 62b, 65b, 66b, 68b Blue pixel (color pixel)
68w white pixel (color pixel)
58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 Unit pixel 85a, 85b, 85c, 85d, 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d, 92a, 92b, 92c, 92d, 93a , 93b, 93c, 93d, 94a, 94b, 94c, 94d

Claims (12)

A pixel array having a non-rectangular outer shape,
A third conductor consisting of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels, a first conductor group consisting of a plurality of first conductors, a second conductor group consisting of a plurality of second conductors, and a plurality of third conductors. And the non-rectangular pixels are partially defined by being surrounded by the first conductor and the second conductor; and
Each of the plurality of first conductive wires includes at least a first line and a second line arranged in parallel and close to each other, and
The non-rectangular pixel on the first line side is partially defined by being surrounded by the first line and the second line among the first lines. The non-rectangular pixel on the second line side is partially defined by being surrounded by the second line and the second line among the first lines. A rectangular pixel array.   2. The non-rectangular pixel according to claim 1, wherein the non-rectangular pixel includes a substantially parallelogram-shaped pixel defined by being surrounded by the first conductive wire and the second conductive wire. 3. array. The non-rectangular pixels, according to claim 1, characterized in that from said first conductor and said second conductor and said third enclosed in the conducting wire by image made schematically triangular pixels comprising Non-rectangular pixel array. An overall region of the first conductor group and a main part of the second conductor group are formed in the first wiring layer, and an intersecting region intersecting the first conductor group in the second conductor group, and The substantially entire third conductor group is formed in a second wiring layer, and the main part of the second conductor group and the intersecting region are connected by a contact. non-rectangular pixel array according 3. Therein, has a non-display portion which pixels do not exist, non-rectangular pixel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the contour of the non-display section forms a non-rectangular shape array. 6. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 5 , wherein the non-display portion in which no pixel exists is a hollow opening. Each of the plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel of any one of a plurality of predetermined colors constituting a color display, and the unit pixel for color display by a combination of the color pixels of the plurality of colors pixel array according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that There are formed. 8. The pixel according to claim 7 , wherein the number of the color pixels of the same color that are linearly adjacent to each color pixel is set to 1 or 0, and the color pixels of the plurality of colors are arranged. array. Display apparatus characterized by including a pixel array according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The display device according to claim 9 , wherein the display device has a non-rectangular outer shape. The display device according to claim 9 , wherein the display device has an outer shape substantially similar to an outer peripheral shape of the pixel array. The display device according to claim 9 , wherein a peripheral circuit for driving each of the conductive wires is provided outside the pixel array along an outer peripheral shape of the pixel array.

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