KR20110045484A - Display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A display panel is provided to improve a display quality by improving transmission rate and also driving dot inversion. CONSTITUTION: A display panel(500) includes a m number of signal wire(m is a natural number), a m+1 number of a signal wire, a first main pixel(Ps1), and a first sub pixel(W1). The m+1 number of a signal wire neighboring to the m number of signal wire. The first main pixel includes the first main pixel electrode which is connected to the m number of a signal wire and display a first color. The first sub pixel includes a first sub electrode which has a smaller surface of the first main pixel electrode.

Description

Display panel {DISPLAY PANEL}

The present invention relates to a display panel, and more particularly to a display panel for a liquid crystal display device.

In general, a liquid crystal display device includes a display panel for displaying an image by using light transmittance of liquid crystal, and a light assembly for providing light to the display panel. The display panel may include color pixels representing different colors, and the color may be represented by a combination of colors represented by the color pixels. In general, the color pixels include color pixels representing red, green, and blue (RGB), and a combination thereof may represent various colors.

Meanwhile, in order to improve transmittance and reduce power consumption, recently, an RGBW structure including pixels of red, green, blue, and white (RGBW) and a pentile display device using a subpixel rendering drive have been developed. . The pentile type device has an advantage of displaying natural brightness and color in comparison with a display device having a general RGB structure.

On the other hand, by adding the W pixel, a problem arises in that the resolution is substantially reduced by displaying an image by dividing the RGB three pixels into two pixels, RG pixels and BW pixels. In addition, when a display device having a pentile RGBW structure is driven inverting dots with different polarities for each pixel in a +,-, +,-manner, a total of four pixels are used to display a pixel having the same color. There is a problem in that flicker or vertical stripes are viewed because the polarity is the same or the polarity of the left and right data signals of one pixel is the same.

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention was conceived in this respect, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display panel capable of improving display quality by enabling dot inversion driving independently of a polarity problem imparted to pixels while improving transmittance. will be.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a display panel includes an m-th signal wire (m represents a natural number), an m + 1 signal wire parallel to the m-th signal wire, a first main pixel and a first signal; 1 sub pixel is included. The first main pixel displays a first color and includes a first main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line. The first sub pixel displays white color and includes a first sub pixel electrode electrically connected to the m + 1th signal wire and narrower than an area of the first main pixel electrode.

The display panel may further include second and third main pixels and second and third sub pixels. The second main pixel is adjacent to the first main pixel, displays a second color, and includes a second main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line. The third main pixel is adjacent to the second main pixel, displays a third color, and includes a third main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line. The second sub-pixel includes a second sub-pixel electrode adjacent to the first sub-pixel, displaying white, electrically connected to the m + 1th signal wire, and narrower than an area of the second main pixel electrode. . The third sub-pixel includes a third sub-pixel electrode adjacent to the second sub-pixel, displaying white, electrically connected to the m + 1th signal wire, and narrower than an area of the third main pixel electrode. .

The light transmission area of each of the first, second and third main pixels may be the same as the light transmission area of the entire first, second and third sub-pixels.

The m-th and m + 1th signal lines may be gate lines to which gate signals are applied.

Alternatively, the m-th and m-th signal lines may be data lines to which data signals are applied.

According to such a display panel, transmittance can be improved by using white pixels. In addition, by arranging the white pixels by connecting the gate lines connected to the color pixels, even when the color pixels are dot inverted, the polarities of the pixels having the same color are the same, or the polarity of the left and right data signals of one pixel is the same. The problem can be eliminated at the source. As a result, the display quality of the display panel can be improved.

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous modifications, the embodiments will be described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to a specific disclosed form, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. Like reference numerals are used for like elements in describing each drawing. The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "consist of" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described on the specification, but one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

In the accompanying drawings, the dimensions of the substrate, layer (film) or patterns are shown to be larger than actual for clarity of the invention. In the present invention, each layer (film), pattern or structure is referred to as being formed on the substrate, each layer (film) or patterns "on", "upper" or "lower". ), Meaning that the pattern or structures are formed directly above or below the substrate, each layer (film) or patterns, or another layer (film), another pattern or other structures may be further formed on the substrate.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a plan view of a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display panel 500 according to an exemplary embodiment includes a color pixel set CP representing a plurality of colors and a white pixel set WP representing white. The color pixel set CP is arranged along the first direction D1 of the display panel 500, and the white pixel set WP is adjacent to the second direction D2 of the color pixel set CP. And arranged along the first direction D1. The second direction D2 intersects the first direction D1. The color pixel set CP and the white pixel set WP are arranged in a matrix along the first direction D1 and the second direction D2.

The color pixel set CP includes a first main pixel Ps1, a second main pixel Ps2, and a third main pixel Ps3. The first main pixel Ps1 displays a first color, the second main pixel Ps2 displays a second color, and the third main pixel Ps3 displays a third color. For example, the first color may be red, the second color may be green, and the third color may be blue. The first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 are sequentially arranged in the first direction D1. The first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 are electrically connected to an m-th gate line GLm (m represents a natural number) extending in the first direction D1. The m-th gate line GLm may be dedicated to drive the color pixel set CP.

The first main pixel Ps1 is connected to an n-th data line DLn where n is a natural number intersecting the m-th gate line GLm and the m-th gate line GLm. ) And a first main pixel electrode PE1 electrically connected to the first switching element SW1. The second main pixel Ps2 is disposed in the first direction D1 of the first main pixel Ps1 and is adjacent to the m-th gate line GLm and the n-th data line DLn. A second switching element SW2 and a second main pixel electrode PE2 connected to the line DLn + 1 are included. The third main pixel Ps3 may include a third switching element connected to the n th +2 th data line DLn + 2 adjacent to the m th gate line GLm and the n th +1 th data line DLn + 1. SW3) and a third main pixel electrode PE3.

The white pixel set WP includes a first sub pixel W1, a second sub pixel W2, and a third sub pixel W3. The first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 all transmit white light passing through the display panel 500 as it is to display white color. The first, second and third sub pixels W1, W2, and W3 are sequentially arranged in the first direction D1. The first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 are electrically connected to an m + 1 th gate line GLm + 1 adjacent to the m th gate line GLm. The m + 1 th gate line GLm + 1 applies a gate signal different from the gate signal provided to the color pixel set CP, and is independent of the color pixel set CP, so that the white pixel set WP is applied. ) May be dedicated to driving.

The first sub pixel W1 includes a fourth switching element SW4 and a first sub pixel electrode PE4 connected to the m + 1 th gate line GLm + 1 and the n th data line DLn. do. The first sub-pixel W1 is disposed in the second direction D2 of the first main pixel Ps1 adjacent to the first main pixel Ps1. The second sub-pixel W2 includes a fifth switching element SW5 and a second sub-pixel electrode connected to the m + 1 th gate line GLm + 1 and the n + 1 th data line DLn + 1. PE5). The second sub pixel W2 is disposed in the second direction D2 of the second main pixel Ps2 adjacent to the second main pixel Ps2. The second sub pixel W2 is disposed in the first direction D1 of the first sub pixel W1. The third sub pixel W3 may include a sixth switching element SW6 and a third sub pixel electrode connected to the m + 1 th gate line GLm + 1 and the n + 2 th data line DLn + 2. PE6). The third sub pixel W3 is disposed in the second direction D2 of the third main pixel Ps3 adjacent to the third main pixel Ps3. The third subpixel W3 is disposed in the first direction D1 of the second subpixel W3. The first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 are commonly connected to the m + 1th gate line GLm + 1 to be individually turned on and off by respective switching elements. Can be.

The m + 2 th gate line GLm + 2 disposed adjacent to the other side of the m th gate line GLm is a signal line for driving another white pixel set WP. The mth gate line GLm is spaced apart from the m + 1th gate line GLm + 1, and the mth gate line GLm is spaced apart from the m + 2th gate line GLm + 2. It is relatively narrow compared to the distance. The nth, nth + 1, nth + 2 data lines DLn, DLn + 1, DLn + 2 may be arranged at equal intervals.

Each of the first, second, and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 has a first side formed by the mth gate line GLm and the n + 2th gate line GLn + 2 and the first side; And a second side formed by the nth, n + 1, n + 2, and n + 3th data lines DLn, DLn + 1, DLn + 2, and DLn + 3. The first side is relatively shorter than the second side.

An opening area of each of the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 is smaller than an opening area of each of the first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3. . The opening area refers to a light transmission area capable of displaying an image by transmitting light through each pixel. Specifically, the light transmissive area is the area of the effective display area excluding the area of the area where the switching element, the storage wiring, etc. is formed among the area where the pixel electrode is formed. For example, the light transmission area of the first main pixel Ps1 is such that the first main pixel electrode PE1 overlaps the first switching element SW1 in the area of the first main pixel electrode PE1. It can be defined as the area excluding the area of the area. In pixels having substantially the same design except for the area of the pixel electrode, the light transmission area of the pixel may be proportional to the area of the pixel electrode. An area of the first main pixel electrode PE1 is relatively wider than an area of the first sub pixel electrode PE4, and an optical transmission area of the first main pixel Ps1 is the first sub pixel W1. It is wider than the light transmission area of. For example, the light transmission area of the first sub pixel W1 may be 1/3 of the light transmission area of the first main pixel Ps1.

The opening area of the white pixel set WP may be substantially equal to the sum of the light transmitting areas of the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3. Each of the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 may have substantially the same light transmission area. Areas of the first, second and third sub pixel electrodes PE4, PE5, and PE6 may be substantially the same. An opening area of the white pixel set WP may be substantially the same as a light transmission area of each of the first, second, and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3. The light transmission area of each of the first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 is equal to the light transmission area of the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3. May be substantially equal to the sum.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 1.

2 and 3, the display panel 500 may include a first substrate 100, a second substrate 200, and a liquid crystal layer 300.

The mth and m + 1th gate lines GLm and GLm + 1 and the nth, nth + 1 and nth + 2 data lines DLn, DLn + 1, and DLn + 2 are the first It may be formed on the first base substrate 110 of the substrate 100. In addition, the first, second and third main pixel electrodes PE1, PE2, and PE3 and the first, second and third subpixel electrodes PE4, PE5, and PE6 may also be formed on the first base substrate. On 110). The first substrate 100 may further include a gate insulating layer 120, a passivation layer 140, and a planarization layer 150. The drain electrode 132 of the first switching element SW1 and the first main pixel electrode PE1 may overlap each other to become a storage capacitor of the first main pixel Ps1. In addition, the drain electrode 134 of the fourth switching element SW4 and the first sub pixel electrode PE4 may overlap each other to become a storage capacitor of the first sub pixel W1.

The second substrate 200 includes the light blocking pattern 220, the first, second and third color filters 232, 234, and 236, the overcoating layer 240, and the common layer formed on the second base substrate 210. The electrode layer 250 may be included. The first main pixel Ps1 may include the first color filter 232 and display the red color by the first color filter 232. The second main pixel Ps2 may include the second color filter 234, and the third main pixel Ps3 may include the third color filter 236.

Each of the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 may be formed in the overcoating layer 240 filled in the filter space SPA between the light blocking patterns 220 without a color filter indicating color. White can be displayed by The overcoat layer 240 is a transparent organic layer and transmits white light provided from the lower portion of the first substrate 100 so that the first, second, and third sub-pixels are disposed on the second substrate 200. Each of W1, W2, and W3) can be displayed white. In contrast, a transparent pattern (not shown) formed of a separate transparent material is formed in the filter space SPA, so that the first, second, and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 form the transparent pattern. It may also include.

Although not illustrated, the first, second and third color filters 232, 234, and 236 may be formed on the first base substrate 110.

In addition, the first, second and third main pixel electrodes PE1, PE2 and PE3, the first, second and third subpixel electrodes PE4, PE5 and PE6 and the common electrode layer 250. The liquid crystal layer 300 may include an opening pattern capable of changing the electric field direction.

Meanwhile, the color pixel set CP and the white pixel set WP are disposed in a display area displaying an image on the display panel 600. Although not shown in the drawings, a gate control circuit unit configured to transfer a gate signal to the color pixel set CP and the white pixel set WP is disposed in the peripheral area surrounding the display area. The gate control circuit part is formed to be integrated in the peripheral area in the process of forming the color pixel set CP and the white pixel set WP, and thus the white color is displayed on the display panel including only the existing color pixel set CP. It may be easy to add the pixel set WP.

According to the present invention, the white pixel set including the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 even when the display panel 500 is about 100 pixels per inch (ppi) or less. By adding (WP) it is possible to improve the transmittance without reducing the resolution that can be caused. In addition, since the m-th gate line GLm + 1 is used to independently drive the white pixel set WP, the m-th gate line GLm is used to drive the white pixel set WP. Compared to the case, the charging time may be shortened, but at a resolution of about 1280 × 768 or lower WXGA level, there is no significant effect on normal operation even by a relatively short charging time. As a result, the display quality can be improved by improving the transmittance and preventing the generation of flicker or vertical stripes due to dot inversion driving.

4 is a plan view of a display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the display panel 502 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a color pixel set CP and a white pixel set WP disposed in a first direction D1 of the color pixel set CP. It includes.

The color pixel set CP includes first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 arranged in a line in a second direction D2 different from the first direction D1. The first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 are electrically connected to an m-th data line DLm (m represents one natural number) extending in the second direction D2. The first main pixel Ps1 includes a seventh switching element SW7 and a fourth main pixel electrode PE7 connected to the mth data line DLm and the nth gate line GLn. In addition, the second main pixel Ps2 may include an eighth switching element SW8 and a fifth main pixel electrode PE8 connected to the mth data line DLm and the n + 1th gate line GLn + 1. The third main pixel Ps3 includes a ninth switching element SW9 and a sixth main pixel electrode PE9 connected to the m th data line DLm and the n + 2 th gate line GLn + 2. It includes.

First, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 of the white pixel set WP are also arranged in a line in the second direction D2. The first sub-pixel W1 is disposed adjacent to the first direction D1 of the first main pixel Ps1, and the second and third sub-pixels W2 and W3 are also the second. And adjacent to the first direction D1 of the third main pixels Ps2 and Ps3. The first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3 are electrically connected to the m + 1 th data line DLm + 1, respectively. The first sub pixel W1 includes a tenth switching element SW10 and a fourth sub pixel electrode PE10, and the second sub pixel W2 includes an eleventh switching element SW11 and a fifth sub pixel. An electrode PE11 is included, and the third sub-pixel W3 includes a twelfth switching element SW12 and a sixth sub-pixel electrode PE12. The first, second and third switching elements SW10, SW11 and SW12 are connected to the m + 1 data line DLm + 1 except that the first, second and third switching elements SW10, SW11 and SW12 are connected to the first, second and third switching elements. It is substantially the same as (SW1, SW2, SW3).

Each of the first, second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 has the nth, n + 1, n + 2, and n + 3 gate lines GLn, GLn + 1, GLn A first side formed by +2 and GLn + 3 and a second side formed by the m-th and m-th data lines DLm and DLm + 1. The first side is relatively longer than the second side.

The first, second, and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 are provided with respective data signals through the m-th data line GLm, and thus, the first, second, and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3 are provided as separate data lines. The number of data lines can be reduced to about 1/3 compared to the case of providing a data signal to the second and third main pixels Ps1, Ps2, and Ps3. However, in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to drive the first, second and third sub-pixels W1, W2, and W3, the m + 1 th data line DLm separate from the m th data line DLm. By using +1), the number of data lines can be reduced to 2/3 overall.

According to the present invention, the display quality can be improved by using a white pixel to improve transmittance and to prevent flicker or vertical stripes from occurring during the dot inversion driving.

Although described with reference to the embodiments above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

1 is a plan view of a display panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II ′ of FIG. 1.

4 is a plan view of a display panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

500, 502: display panel 100: first substrate

200: second substrate W1, W2, W3: first, second, third sub-pixel

Ps1, Ps2, Ps3: first, second and third main pixels

GL: gate line DL: data line

232, 234, and 236: first, second, and third color filters

SPA: Space Department

Claims (10)

Mth signal wiring (m represents a natural number); An mth + 1th signal line adjacent to the mth signal line; A first main pixel displaying a first color and including a first main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line; And And a first sub pixel that displays white color and is electrically connected to the m + 1 th signal wire and includes a first sub pixel electrode that is narrower than an area of the first main pixel electrode. The display device of claim 1, further comprising: a second main pixel adjacent to the first main pixel, displaying a second color, and including a second main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line; A third main pixel adjacent to the second main pixel and displaying a third color, the third main pixel including a third main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th signal line; A second sub pixel adjacent to the first sub pixel, displaying a white color, and electrically connected to the m + 1 th signal wire and including a second sub pixel electrode narrower than an area of the second main pixel electrode; And A third subpixel adjacent to the second subpixel, displaying white, electrically connected to the m + 1th signal wire, and including a third subpixel electrode narrower than an area of the third main pixel electrode; A display panel further comprising. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the light transmission area of each of the first, second, and third main pixels is the same as the light transmission area of the entire first, second, and third sub-pixels. . 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the first, second and third main pixels each include switching elements connected to the m-th signal line. And the first, second and third sub-pixels include switching elements connected to the m + 1th signal lines, respectively. A first main pixel displaying a first color and including a first main pixel electrode electrically connected to an m th gate line (m represents a natural number); A second main pixel displaying a second color and including a second main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th gate line; A third main pixel displaying a third color and including a third main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th gate line; A first sub pixel displaying white and including a first sub pixel electrode electrically connected to an m + 1 th gate line adjacent to the m th gate line; A second sub pixel displaying white and including a second sub pixel electrode electrically connected to the m + 1th gate line; And And a third subpixel that displays white color and includes a third subpixel electrode electrically connected to the m + 1th gate line. The display panel of claim 5, wherein the light transmission area of each of the first, second, and third main pixels is the same as the light transmission area of the entire first, second, and third sub-pixels. . 6. The display device of claim 5, wherein the first sub-pixel is connected to the m-th gate line and the n-th data line crossing the m-th gate line (n represents a natural number) and is electrically connected to the first sub-pixel electrode. A first switching element connected with The second sub pixel includes a second switching element connected to the m + 1 th gate line and an n + 1 th data line and electrically connected to the second sub pixel electrode; And a third switching element connected to the m + 1 th gate line and an n + 2 th data line and electrically connected to the third sub pixel electrode. A first main pixel displaying a first color and including a first main pixel electrode electrically connected to an m th data line (m represents a natural number); A second main pixel displaying a second color and including a second main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th data line; A third main pixel displaying a third color and including a third main pixel electrode electrically connected to the m-th data line; A first sub pixel displaying white and including a first sub pixel electrode electrically connected to an m + 1 th data line parallel to the m th data line; A second sub pixel displaying white and electrically connected to the m + 1th data line; And And a first subpixel including white and a third subpixel including a third subpixel electrode electrically connected to the m + 1th data line. The display panel of claim 8, wherein the light transmission area of each of the first, second, and third main pixels is the same as the light transmission area of the entire first, second, and third sub-pixels. . 9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the first sub-pixel is connected to an n-th gate line (n represents a natural number) that intersects the m + 1th data line and the mth-th data line. A fourth switching element electrically connected, The second sub pixel includes a fifth switching element connected to the m + 1 th data line and an n + 1 th gate line and electrically connected to the second sub pixel electrode; And a third switching element connected to the m + 1 th data line and an n + 2 th gate line and electrically connected to the third sub pixel electrode.

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