KR20080048324A - Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An LCD device and a driving method thereof are provided to prevent the deterioration of a driving IC(Integrated Circuit) by implementing 120Hz operation through 60Hz operation. An LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) device includes a liquid crystal panel(50), first and second source drivers(60,65), first and second gate drivers(70,75), and a timing controller(80). The liquid crystal panel includes first and second data lines(L-DL,R-DL) at first and second display areas(52,54), first gate and second gate lines(L-GL,R-GL) across the first and second data line at the first and second display areas, respectively, and display pixels at cross sections that the first and second data lines and the first and second gate lines cross each other. The first and second source drivers apply data signals to the first and second data lines. The first and second gate drivers apply gate drive signals to the first and second gate lines. The timing controller controls the first and second source drivers and the first and second gate drivers so as to display images in the first and second display areas at different timing.

Description

Liquid crystal display device and driving method

1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of a general liquid crystal display device

FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal panel among the components of FIG. 1.

3 is a view illustrating a gate driving signal applied to drive the liquid crystal panel according to FIG. 2.

4 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of a portion A of FIG. 4.

6 to 9 are flowcharts for explaining a method of driving a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, respectively.

10 is a gate driving signal timing diagram for displaying an arbitrary S-th frame according to the driving method of a liquid crystal display according to the present invention.

<Brief description of the main parts of the drawing>

50: liquid crystal panel 52, 54: first and second display areas

60,65: first and second source drivers 70,75: first and second gate drivers

80: Timing controller L-GL, R-GL: First and second gate lines

L-DL, R-DL: First Second Data Line

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device and a method of driving the same. Particularly, a liquid crystal display device and a method of driving the same, which are capable of deriving a 120 Hz driving effect by dividing the display panel at 60 Hz and improving heat generation problems and reducing power consumption of the driving IC. It is about.

Among the display devices, in particular, liquid crystal displays have advantages of small size, thinness, and low power consumption, and are used as notebook computers, office automation devices, and audio / video devices. In particular, an active matrix liquid crystal display device using a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as "TFT") as a switch element is suitable for displaying a dynamic image.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a general liquid crystal display device, and is largely divided into a liquid crystal panel 2 and an LCM driving circuit unit 26.

In each configuration, the interface 10 includes data (RGB Data) and control signals (input clock, horizontal synchronizing signal, vertical synchronizing signal, data enable) input to the LCM driving circuit unit 26 from a driving system such as a personal computer. Signals) and the like are supplied to the timing controller 12. Low voltage differential signal (LVDS) interface and TTL interface are mainly used for data and control signal transmission from the drive system. In addition, the interface function may be collected and used together with the timing controller 12 in a single chip.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid crystal panel 2 forms a plurality of pixel regions by crossing a plurality of data lines DL1 to DLm and a plurality of gate lines GL1 to GLn on a glass substrate. In the region, a thin film transistor TFT and a liquid crystal LC are configured to display a screen.

The timing controller 12 drives a source driver 18 composed of a plurality of drive integrated circuits and a gate driver 20 composed of a plurality of gate driver integrated circuits using a control signal input through the interface 10. Generate a control signal for In addition, the data input through the interface 10 is transmitted to the source driver 18.

The reference voltage generator 16 generates reference voltages of a digital to analog converter (DAC) used in the source driver 18. Reference voltages are set by the producer based on the transmittance-voltage characteristics of the panel.

The source driver 18 includes a shift register and a latch, selects reference voltages of input data in response to a control signal input from the timing controller 12, and selects reference voltages (that is, data signals) selected for each line. Supply to the panel 2 to control the rotation angle of the liquid crystal molecules.

The gate driver 20 performs on / off control of thin film transistors (TFTs) arranged on the liquid crystal panel 2 in response to control signals input from the timing controller 12. Source driver 18 by sequentially driving thin film transistors TFT on the liquid crystal panel 2 by one line by sequentially enabling the gate lines GL1 to GLn by one horizontal synchronizing time. The analog image signals supplied from the plurality of pixels are applied to the pixels connected to the respective TFTs.

The source driver 18 and the gate driver 20 are each composed of one or more integrated circuits (ICs).

The power supply voltage generator 14 supplies operating power of each component and generates and supplies a common electrode voltage of the liquid crystal panel 2.

Although not shown, the apparatus further includes a backlight unit having one or more lamps to supply light to the liquid crystal panel 2.

In this case, the operation of the gate driver 20 will be described in detail. The gate driver 20 configures a plurality of stages including a shift register to drive each gate line GL1 to GLn, and starts the gate. The gate driving signal is sequentially applied to the gate lines in response to the pulse GSP.

That is, when the gate start pulse GSC is supplied to the gate driver 20, the gate driver 20 sequentially gates the gate driving signals to the n gate lines GL1 to GLn on the liquid crystal panel 2 as shown in FIG. 3. N gate lines are sequentially driven. Then, the TFTs on the liquid crystal panel 2 are sequentially driven by one gate line, and the data signals output from the source driver 18 are sequentially supplied to the liquid crystal cells by one gate line.

However, in recent years, the liquid crystal display device has gradually increased in size, and thus, in a liquid crystal panel driven at 60 Hz, image data charged in a liquid crystal pixel is maintained every frame for the next frame, and new image data is applied in the next frame. A phenomenon in which the screen is dragged, that is, a motion blur phenomenon occurs due to the afterimage left on the human eye.

In order to solve this problem, a method of driving one frame display of the liquid crystal panel at a display frequency of 120 Hz has been proposed. However, a problem occurs in that the source driver 18 is deteriorated due to a very fast display frequency. The larger it is, the more pronounced it is.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the display device and the drive that can prevent the natural screen display and deterioration of the drive drive IC in the large display panel by realizing the 120Hz drive effect through 60Hz drive The purpose is to provide a method.

The present invention to achieve the above object,

A first data line extending in the first direction in the first display area, a second data line extending in the first direction in the second display area, and a second crossing the first direction in the first display area First gate line extending in the second direction, a second gate line extending in the second direction in the second display area, and an area where the first and second data lines intersect the first and second gate lines. A liquid crystal panel having a display pixel configured to; First and second source drivers for applying data signals to the first and second data lines, respectively; First and second gate drivers configured to apply gate driving signals to the first and second gate lines, respectively; Provided is a liquid crystal display including a timing controller controlling the first and second source drivers and the first and second gate drivers so that the screen display starts at different timings between the first display area and the second display area. .

The first gate line and the second gate line may be disconnected lines.

The first display area is a left portion of the liquid crystal panel and the second display area is a right portion of the liquid crystal panel, or the first display area is a right portion of the liquid crystal panel and the second display area is a portion of the liquid crystal panel. It is characterized by the left side.

The timing controller may be configured to control the display of the screen by delaying the second display area by 1/2 horizontal period from the first display area.

The first and second source drivers are both configured at the same side end of the liquid crystal panel.

The first and second gate drivers may be configured at both side ends of the liquid crystal panel facing each other.

The timing controller controls the screen to be displayed at a frequency of 60 Hz in both the first display area and the first display area.

In addition, the present invention,

Dividing the display area of the liquid crystal panel into a left display area and a right display area; Starting a display of a first image in the left display area at a first timing; A method of driving a liquid crystal display device comprising a third step of starting display of a second image in the right display area at a second timing.

The first step may include forming data lines and gate lines electrically connected to each other in the left display area and the right display area of the liquid crystal panel; The method may further include configuring a source driver and a gate driver for applying signals to data lines and gate lines respectively configured in the left display area and the right display area.

The first timing may be faster than the second timing.

The first timing and the second timing are characterized by having a horizontal interval of 1/2 horizontal period.

The second step may include sequentially applying a gate driving signal to a gate line formed in the left display area; And applying a data signal for displaying the first image to a data line formed in the left display area in synchronization with the application of the gate driving signal.

The third step may include sequentially applying a gate driving signal to a gate line formed in the right display area; And applying a data signal for displaying the second image to a data line formed in the right display area in synchronization with the application of the gate driving signal.

The first image and the second image may be combined to each other to display an image.

The left display area and the right display area are respectively driven to display a screen at a frequency of 60 Hz.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. The liquid crystal panel 50, the first and second source drivers 60 and 65, and the first and second gate drivers 70 and 75 are shown in FIG. ) And a timing controller 80.

The liquid crystal panel 50 is composed of a first display area 52 and a second display area 54, each of which is divided into a left part and a right part of a display area to independently display a screen. 54 is an independent display area.

A plurality of first data lines L-DL extending from the first source driver 60 are formed in the first display area 52, and a plurality of first gate lines extending from the first gate driver 70. (L-GL) is formed. In addition, a plurality of second data lines R-DL extending from the second source driver 65 are formed in the second display region 54, and a plurality of second extending from the second gate driver 75. The gate line R-GL is formed.

At this time, the first gate line L-GL and the second gate line R-GL are disconnected from each other in an electric circuit disconnected state, that is, not connected to each other as shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. 5. Is formed in the station.

Also, a liquid crystal pixel including a thin film transistor TFT, a liquid crystal capacitor Clc, and a storage capacitor Cst is disposed at the intersection of the gate line and the data line of each of the first and second display regions 52 and 54. Is formed.

The first and second source drivers 60 and 65 output data signals to the first and second display regions 52 and 54, respectively, and the data signals are output by the control signals input from the timing controller 80. The output is controlled.

In this case, the first source driver 60 may display the first display area 52 according to the gate driving signal of the first gate driver 70 and the first source output enable signal SOE_1 of the timing controller 80. The data signal is applied to the second source driver 65, and the second source driver 65 generates the data according to the gate driving signal of the second gate driver 75 and the second source output enable signal SOE_2 of the timing controller 80. The data signal is applied to the two display areas 54.

In addition, the first and second source drivers 60 and 65 may be configured at both ends of the liquid crystal panel 50 as shown in FIG. 4, or two facing each other of the liquid crystal panel 50. It may be configured divided into each side.

The first and second gate drivers 70 and 75 sequentially transmit gate driving signals to respective gate lines of the first and second display regions 52 and 54 according to control signals of the timing controller 80, respectively. The timing of the output of the gate driving signal of the first gate driver 70 and the second gate driver 75 for displaying a new frame is determined by the timing controller 80, but the first gate driver ( The start point of the gate drive signal output at 70 is ahead of the second gate driver 75 by a half horizontal period.

In other words, if the first gate line L-GL and the second gate line R-GL formed in the first display area 52 and the second display area 54 are 100 lines, respectively. First, when the gate driving signal is sequentially applied to the first gate line L-GL and the gate driving signal is applied to the 51st gate line, the gate starts from the first gate line of the second gate line R-GL. It means that the driving signal starts to be applied.

The first and second gate drivers 70 and 75 are respectively divided at opposite side ends of the liquid crystal panel 50 for independent driving of the first display area 52 and the second display area 54, respectively. It is constructed.

The timing controller 80 outputs a control signal for driving control of the first and second source drivers 60 and 65 and the first and second gate drivers 70 and 75, and also outputs the first and second sources. The image data is provided to each of the two source drivers 60 and 65. In this case, the timing controller 80 receives image data from an external system and provides the image data signal to each of the first and second source drivers 60 and 65, and then stores them separately. The timing controller 80 stores the stored image data. The first and second source drivers 60 and 65 are respectively output.

In this case, the timing controller 80 further configures a time delay circuit and the like in the control signal output circuit and the data output circuit formed therein, and applies the same to the second source driver 65 and the second gate driver 75. The second source driver 65 is delayed by 1/2 horizontal period (1 / 2H) time compared to the first source driver 65 to output a data signal to the liquid crystal panel 50. The two-gate driver 75 controls the sequential output of the gate driving signal after being delayed by 1/2 horizontal period (1 / 2H) time compared with the first gate driver 70.

In this case, the timing controller 80 drives the screen display speeds of the first display area 52 and the second display area 54 at a frequency of 60 Hz, respectively, so that the liquid crystal panel 50 displays the first display area. The 52 and second display regions 54 are each driven at 60 Hz through a phase shift of 1/2 horizontal period and independent gate drive signal control, thereby providing a screen display effect similar to that of 120 Hz driving. In addition, since the drivers 60, 65, 70, and 75 are driven at a frequency of 60 Hz, the driver ICs generate less heat, and power consumption is also reduced.

Hereinafter, a driving method of the liquid crystal display according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 9.

The driving method of the liquid crystal display according to the present invention is composed of three steps, as shown in FIG. 6. First, the first step (st1) of dividing the display area of the liquid crystal panel 50 into left / right display areas is performed. ), A second step (st2) of starting the display of the first image in the left display area at the first timing, and a third step (st3) of starting the display of the second image in the right display area at the second timing. It is composed of

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the first step will be described. First, the display area of the liquid crystal panel 50 is divided into two sides, and the display area is divided into a left display area and a right display area. A data line and a gate line are formed in each display area, and the gate line is formed to be electrically / circuitly disconnected from the gate lines of the other display areas as described above with reference to FIG. 5. Liquid crystal pixels including a thin film transistor TFT, a liquid crystal capacitor Clc, and a storage capacitor Cst are formed in each of the intersection regions of the data line and the gate line.

Next, a gate driver and a source driver capable of performing screen display on the left display area and the right display area are respectively formed. (St12) Referring to FIG. 4, in the case of the left display area, a first gate driver 70 is formed. ) And the first source driver 60, and the second gate driver 75 and the second source driver 65 in the right display area.

When the first step is prepared as described above, the second step is performed as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8.

The second step relates to the display of the first image in the left display area, and sequentially starts to apply the gate drive signal to the plurality of gate lines formed in the left display area from the first timing (st21), and the gate drive In synchronization with the sequential application of the signal, a data signal of one horizontal pixel line is applied to the data lines formed in the left display area to display the first image. (St22) At this time, the gate driving signal is applied to the left display area and the first image is displayed. Application of the data signal of one image proceeds at a frequency of 60 Hz.

When the first image display driving in the left display area is started, the second image display driving to the right display area is started at a second timing which is a time subsequent to the first timing. For example, the second timing is a time delayed by 1/2 horizontal period (1 / 2H) than the first timing.

Referring to the third step with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, the third step relates to the display of the second image in the right display area, and the plurality of gate lines formed in the right display area from the second timing. The application of the gate driving signal is sequentially started (st31), and the second image is displayed by applying a data signal of one horizontal pixel line to the data line formed in the right display area in synchronization with the sequentially applying the gate driving signal. (st32) At this time, the gate driving signal and the data signal of the second image are applied to the right display area at 60 Hz.

The first image and the second image are partial images in which one image screen is divided into two, and separation and individual transmission of image data for displaying the divided image are performed by the timing controller 80.

When the first image is displayed in the left display area by 1/2, the display of the second image is started in the right display area, and the right when the first image is displayed in the left display area. In the display area, only the second image is displayed by 1/2.

That is, referring to the gate driving signal timing diagram for displaying the arbitrary S-th frame of FIG. 10, the application of the gate driving signal from the left display region is started to display the arbitrary S-th frame. After the gate driving signal is applied to the 1/2 gate line, application of the gate driving signal to the gate line of the right display area is started. That is, (S th_frame_Left 1st) to (S th_frame_Left Half) indicates that the first image is displayed by 1/2 of the left display area, and then starts from (S th_frame_Right 1st) to (S th_frame_Right Half) to the right. It indicates that the display of the second image is performed by 1/2 of the display area. Of course, during the time applied from (S th_frame_Right 1st) to (S th_frame_Right Half), the left display area can be seen from the (S th_frame_Left End) signal that the display of the first image for the remaining 1/2 area is completed. have.

In summary, the driving method of the liquid crystal display according to the present invention comprises: dividing the screen display area of the liquid crystal panel into two left and right display areas, and starting to display the first image in the left display area. As a method of starting the display of the second image on the right display area by delaying the horizontal period by 2 horizontal periods, even when the left display area and the right display area are driven at a frequency of 60 Hz, the drive is started alternately in 1/2 horizontal period. The entire liquid crystal panel exhibits the same operating characteristics as those driven at a 120 Hz frequency.

The liquid crystal display and the driving method thereof according to the present invention as described above provide the effect of driving the divided display area at a low frequency while driving at a high frequency, and improving the driving IC heating problem and power consumption through the low driving frequency. Provide the benefits of abatement.

Claims (15)

A first data line extending in the first direction in the first display area, a second data line extending in the first direction in the second display area, and a second crossing the first direction in the first display area First gate line extending in the second direction, a second gate line extending in the second direction in the second display area, and an area where the first and second data lines intersect the first and second gate lines. A liquid crystal panel having a display pixel configured to; First and second source drivers for applying data signals to the first and second data lines, respectively; First and second gate drivers configured to apply gate driving signals to the first and second gate lines, respectively; A timing controller controlling the first and second source drivers and the first and second gate drivers so that the screen display starts at different timings between the first display area and the second display area; Liquid crystal display comprising a The method according to claim 1, And the first gate line and the second gate line are lines disconnected from each other. The method according to claim 1, The first display area is a left portion of the liquid crystal panel and the second display area is a right portion of the liquid crystal panel, or the first display area is a right portion of the liquid crystal panel and the second display area is a portion of the liquid crystal panel. Liquid crystal display device characterized in that the left side The method according to claim 1, The timing controller controls the second display area to display a screen with a delay of 1/2 horizontal period from the first display area. The method according to claim 1, The first and second source drivers are all configured on the same side end of the liquid crystal panel. The method according to claim 1, The first and second gate drivers may be configured at both side ends of the liquid crystal panel facing each other. The method of claim 1, wherein: The timing controller controls the display to display the screen at a frequency of 60 Hz in both the first display area and the first display area. Dividing the display area of the liquid crystal panel into a left display area and a right display area; Starting a display of a first image in the left display area at a first timing; A third step of starting to display a second image in the right display area at a second timing; Liquid crystal display driving method comprising The method of claim 8, The first step, Forming data lines and gate lines electrically connected to each other in the left display area and the right display area of the liquid crystal panel; Configuring a source driver and a gate driver for applying signals to data lines and gate lines respectively configured in the left display area and the right display area Liquid crystal display device driving method further comprising The method of claim 8, Wherein the first timing is a faster timing than the second timing. The method of claim 8, Wherein the first timing and the second timing have a 1/2 horizontal period interval. The method of claim 8, The second step, Sequentially applying a gate driving signal to the gate line formed in the left display area; Applying a data signal for displaying the first image to a data line formed in the left display area in synchronization with the application of the gate driving signal; Liquid crystal display device driving method further comprising The method of claim 8, The third step, Sequentially applying a gate driving signal to a gate line formed in the right display area; Applying a data signal for displaying the second image to a data line formed in the right display area in synchronization with the application of the gate driving signal; Liquid crystal display device driving method further comprising The method of claim 8, The first image and the second image is a liquid crystal display device driving method characterized in that the combined image to display one image The method of claim 8, The left display area and the right display area are driven to display a screen at a frequency of 60 Hz, respectively.

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