Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
  • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
  • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
  • G09G3/36—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using liquid crystals
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
  • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
  • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
  • G09G3/36—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using liquid crystals
  • G09G3/3611—Control of matrices with row and column drivers
  • G09G3/3696—Generation of voltages supplied to electrode drivers
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
  • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
  • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
  • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
  • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
  • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2310/00—Command of the display device
  • G09G2310/02—Addressing, scanning or driving the display screen or processing steps related thereto
  • G09G2310/0264—Details of driving circuits
  • G09G2310/027—Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers handling digital grey scale data, e.g. use of D/A converters
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
  • G09G2320/02—Improving the quality of display appearance
  • G09G2320/0233—Improving the luminance or brightness uniformity across the screen
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
  • G09G2320/06—Adjustment of display parameters
  • G09G2320/0606—Manual adjustment
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2320/00—Control of display operating conditions
  • G09G2320/06—Adjustment of display parameters
  • G09G2320/0673—Adjustment of display parameters for control of gamma adjustment, e.g. selecting another gamma curve
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G2330/00—Aspects of power supply; Aspects of display protection and defect management
  • G09G2330/04—Display protection
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
  • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
  • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
  • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source
  • G09G3/36—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source using liquid crystals
  • G09G3/3611—Control of matrices with row and column drivers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a display signal processing device and a display device that convert a display signal into a pixel voltage, and particularly to a display signal processing device and a display device that convert a display signal into a pixel voltage while also performing gamma correction.
• a flat display device represented by a liquid crystal display device is widely used as a display device for a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a television, a car navigation system, or the like.
• a liquid crystal display device generally includes a display panel including a matrix array of a plurality of liquid crystal pixels, and a drive circuit for driving the display panel.
• a typical display panel has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between an array substrate and a counter substrate.
• the array substrate has a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix
• the counter substrate has a common electrode facing these pixel electrodes.
• the pixel electrode and the common electrode form a liquid crystal pixel together with a pixel region of a liquid crystal layer disposed between the electrodes, and the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules in the pixel region is controlled by an electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.
• a digital display signal for each pixel is converted into a pixel voltage by selectively using a predetermined number of gradation reference voltages, and is output to a display panel.
• the pixel voltage is a voltage applied to the pixel electrode with reference to the potential of the common electrode.
• a conventional gradation reference voltage generating circuit is, for example, a ladder resistor having a plurality of resistors connected in series between a pair of power supply terminals, and divides the voltage between the power supply terminals to generate a predetermined number of gradation reference voltages. (See, for example, JP-A-2003-228332).
• the slope of the curve is ⁇
• tan ⁇ is called gamma.
• the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its object to provide a display signal processing apparatus capable of converting a display signal into a pixel voltage while also performing gamma correction without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost. Is to provide.
• a gradation reference voltage generation circuit for generating a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages, and a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages obtained from the gradation reference voltage generation circuit are selectively provided.
• a signal conversion circuit for converting a display signal into a pixel voltage by using a second reference number, which is smaller than a first predetermined number that generates an output voltage that is varied for gamma correction.
• a variable voltage generator and a plurality of resistors connected so as to obtain a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages by dividing a difference voltage obtained between the output terminals of the second predetermined number of variable voltage generators.
• a display signal processing device having the same is provided.
• a plurality of pixels arranged in a substantially matrix and each holding a liquid crystal material between the first and second electrodes, and a gradation reference for generating a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages A voltage generation circuit, and a signal conversion circuit for selectively using a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages obtained from the gradation reference voltage generation circuit to convert a display signal into a pixel voltage applied to the first electrode.
• a common voltage generation circuit that generates a common voltage applied to the second electrode, and a control unit that controls the signal conversion circuit and the common voltage generation circuit to periodically invert the levels of the pixel voltage and the common voltage.
• Gamma correction for each tone reference voltage generation circuit Dividing a difference voltage obtained between a second predetermined number of variable voltage generators smaller than the first predetermined number and an output terminal of the second predetermined number of variable voltage generators that generates an output voltage that is varied for use.
• a display device having a plurality of resistors connected so as to obtain a first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages.
• the plurality of resistors divide the difference voltage obtained between the output terminals of the second predetermined number of variable voltage generation units to generate the first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages. Connected to get. That is, since the first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages is obtained using the second predetermined number of variable voltage generators smaller than the first predetermined number, the display signal can be used for gamma correction without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost. Can be converted to a pixel voltage.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a circuit configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a source driver shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a gray scale reference voltage generating circuit shown in FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is a graph showing transmittance characteristics of pixels with respect to a liquid crystal applied voltage in the display panel shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 5 is a graph showing a transmittance characteristic of a pixel with respect to a gradation value of a display signal in the display panel shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a first modification of the gray scale reference voltage generation circuit shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second modification of the gray scale reference voltage generation circuit shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of a first modification of the controller shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the operation of the first modified example shown in FIG.
• FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second modification of the controller shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation of the second modification shown in FIG.
• FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a modification of the D / A conversion circuit shown in FIG. 3.
• FIG. 13 is a graph showing a first comparative example for explaining the modification shown in FIG. 12.
• FIG. 14 is a graph showing a second comparative example for explaining the modification shown in FIG. 12.
• FIG. 15 is a graph showing characteristics of the modification shown in FIG.
• FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a first modification of the control unit shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a gradation table held in the EPROM shown in FIG.
• FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an operation of a second modification of the control unit shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an operation of a third modification of the control unit shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 20 is a graph showing variations in transmittance characteristics occurring in the display panel shown in FIG.
• FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a fourth modification of the control unit shown in FIG. 1.
• FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 23 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a gamma correction circuit shown in FIG. 22.
• FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a list of signal names and setting contents for each register shown in FIG. 23.
• FIG. 25 is a graph showing a gradation value-gradation voltage characteristic obtained by the inclination adjustment performed in the gamma correction circuit shown in FIG. 23.
• FIG. 26 is a graph showing a gradation value-gradation voltage characteristic obtained by adjusting a gradation voltage amplitude performed in the gamma correction circuit shown in FIG. 23.
• FIG. 27 is a graph showing a gradation value-gradation voltage characteristic obtained by fine adjustment of the gradation voltage performed in the gamma correction circuit shown in FIG. 23.
• FIG. 28 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a gamma correction circuit of a comparative example.
• FIG. 29 is a graph showing a relationship between a gradation value and luminance before gamma correction.
• FIG. 30 is a graph showing a relationship between a gradation value and brightness after gamma correction by the gamma correction circuit shown in FIG. 23.
• FIG. 31 is a graph showing a relationship between a gradation value and luminance after gamma correction by the gamma correction circuit of the comparative example shown in FIG. 28.
• Fig. 1 schematically shows the circuit configuration of this liquid crystal display 1.
• the liquid crystal display device 1 includes a display panel DP having a plurality of liquid crystal pixels PX, and a control unit CNT for controlling the display panel DP.
• the display panel DP has a structure in which a liquid crystal layer 4 is sandwiched between an array substrate 2 and a counter substrate 3.
• the array substrate 2 includes, for example, a plurality of pixel electrodes PE arranged in a matrix on a transparent insulating substrate such as glass, and a plurality of gate lines Y (Y1 Ym), a plurality of pixel electrodes PE (XI—Xn) arranged along a column of PEs, a pixel switching element arranged near the intersection of these gate lines Y and source lines X, and And a source driver 20 for driving a plurality of source lines X while each gate line Y is driven.
• Each pixel switching element W is composed of, for example, a polysilicon thin film transistor.
• the gate of the thin film transistor is connected to one gate line Y, the source and the drain are connected between one source line X and one pixel electrode PE, respectively, and the source-drain path is connected between the source line X and the pixel electrode PE.
• the gate driver 10 is configured using a polysilicon thin film transistor formed simultaneously with the pixel switching element W in the same process.
• the source driver 20 is an integrated circuit (IC) chip mounted on the array substrate 2 by COG (Chip On Glass) technology.
• the opposing substrate 3 includes a color filter (not shown) disposed on a transparent insulating substrate such as glass, and a common electrode CE disposed on the color filter facing a plurality of pixel electrodes PE.
• a color filter (not shown) disposed on a transparent insulating substrate such as glass, and a common electrode CE disposed on the color filter facing a plurality of pixel electrodes PE.
• Each pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE are made of a transparent electrode material such as ITO, and are arranged between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE and controlled to a liquid crystal molecule alignment state corresponding to the electric field of the electrodes PE and CE.
• a liquid crystal pixel PX is formed together with the pixel area of the liquid crystal layer 4.
• all the pixels PX have an auxiliary capacitance Cs. These auxiliary capacitances Cs are obtained by electrically connecting a plurality of auxiliary capacitance lines, each of which is capacitively coupled to a plurality of rows of pixel electrodes PE on
• the control unit CNT includes a controller 5, a common voltage generation circuit 6, and a gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7.
• the controller 5 controls the common voltage generation circuit 6, the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7, the gate driver 10, and the source driver 20 to display the digital video signal VIDEO supplied from the outside as an image on the display panel DP.
• Common voltage generator 6 is opposed
• a common voltage Vcom is generated for the common electrode CE on the substrate 3.
• the gray-scale reference voltage generation circuit 7 generates a first predetermined number of gray-scale reference voltages VREF used for converting, for example, a 6-bit display signal obtained for each pixel PX from a video signal into a pixel voltage.
• the pixel voltage is a voltage applied to the pixel electrode PE with reference to the potential of the common electrode CE.
• the first predetermined number of gradation reference voltages VREF are ten gradation reference voltages V 0 -V 9.
• These gray scale reference voltages V0 to V9 are set so as to have a relatively high level toward the gray scale reference voltage V0 and a relatively low level toward the gray scale reference voltage V9.
• the controller 5 includes a control signal CTY for sequentially selecting a plurality of gate lines Y every one vertical scanning period, and one row of pixels included in the video signal every one horizontal scanning period (1H).
• a control signal CTX for assigning a display signal to PX to each of the plurality of source lines X is generated.
• the control signal CTX includes a horizontal start signal STH which is a pulse generated every one horizontal scanning period (1H), and a horizontal clock signal CKH which is a pulse generated by the number of source lines in each horizontal scanning period.
• the control signal CTY is supplied from the controller 5 to the gate driver 10, and the control signal CTX is supplied from the controller 5 to the source driver 20 together with the digital video signal VIDEO.
• the gate driver 10 sequentially selects a plurality of gate lines Y under the control of the control signal CTY, and supplies a scanning signal for turning on the pixel switching element W to the selected gate line Y.
• a plurality of pixels PX are sequentially selected one row at a time during a horizontal scanning period.
• FIG. 2 schematically shows a configuration of source driver 20 shown in FIG.
• the source driver 20 shifts the horizontal start signal STH in synchronization with the horizontal clock signal CKH and controls the timing of serial-to-parallel conversion of the digital video signal VIDEO, and the digital video signal VIDEO under the control of the shift register 21.
• An output buffer circuit 24 for amplifying the analog pixel voltage obtained from the DZA conversion circuit 23 is included.
• the DZA conversion circuit 23 includes a first predetermined number of It is configured to refer to the gradation reference voltage VREF (specifically, the gradation reference voltage VO-V9).
• the D / A conversion circuit 23 includes, for example, a plurality of D / A conversion units 23 ′ each known as a resistance DAC and a plurality of input resistors that output a predetermined number of gradation voltages based on the gradation reference voltage. Composed of anti-group.
• Each of the D / A converters 23 ′ converts an analog pixel voltage by selecting one of a predetermined number of gradation voltages based on the digital display signal output from the sampling and load latch 22.
• the output buffer circuit 24 includes a plurality of buffer amplifiers 24 'that amplify analog pixel voltages from the plurality of D / A converters 23' and output the pixel voltages to the source lines XI, X2, X3,. Is done.
• the source driver 20 includes one row of pixels included in the digital video signal.
• the display signal for PX is converted into a pixel voltage and output to the source line XI Xn.
• the pixel voltages on these source lines XI-Xn are supplied to the corresponding pixel electrodes PE via the pixel switching elements W for one row driven by the scanning signals.
• the common voltage V com is output from the common voltage generation circuit 6 to the common electrode CE in synchronization with the output timing of the pixel voltage.
• the common voltage generating circuit 6 is configured using a D / A converter or the like that generates an output voltage corresponding to numerical data of, for example, about 8 to 10 bits set by the controller 5, and has a voltage of 0 V and 5.8 V, for example. Are alternately output one horizontal scanning period at a time. Therefore, on the source driver 20 side, each D / A conversion unit 23 'inverts the pixel voltage with respect to the center level of the common voltage Vcom. When the liquid crystal applied voltage is maximized, the pixel voltage is set to 5.8V for the common voltage Vcom of 0V, and set to 0V for the common voltage Vcom of 5.8V.
• the pixel voltage drops to, for example, about 4.8 V due to the field through voltage caused by the parasitic capacitance of the pixel switching element W and is held at the pixel electrode PE. Will be.
• the amplitude and center level of the common voltage Vcom output from the common voltage generation circuit 6 are adjusted in advance in accordance with the pixel voltage actually held on the pixel electrode PE.
• FIG. 3 shows a configuration of the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 shown in FIG.
• the gradation reference voltage generating circuit 7 has a second predetermined number of variable voltages, for example four, which is smaller than the number of gradation reference voltages V0-V9.
• a plurality of resistors R0-R8 divide the difference voltage obtained between the output terminals CH4-CH1 of the variable voltage generator VG1-VG4 to obtain the gradation reference voltages V0-V9.
• Each of the variable voltage generators VG1 and VG4 includes a D / A converter 30 and an output buffer 31.
• the D / A converter 30 generates an output voltage corresponding to the numerical data RD1 set together with the gamma correction, and the output buffer 31 outputs this output voltage from the output terminal CH4.
• the DZA converter 30 generates an output voltage corresponding to the numerical data RD2 set also as a gamma correction, and the output buffer 31 outputs this output voltage from the output terminal CH3.
• the DZA converter 30 generates an output voltage corresponding to the numerical data RD3 set also as a gamma correction, and the output buffer 31 outputs this output voltage from the output terminal CH2.
• the DZA converter 30 In the variable voltage generator VG4, the DZA converter 30 generates an output voltage corresponding to the numerical data RD4 set together with the gamma correction, and the output buffer 31 outputs this output voltage from the output terminal CH1.
• the numerical data RD1 to RD4 are serially output from the controller 5, for example, to the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7. This configuration is intended to reduce the number of wiring connections between the controller 5 and the gradation reference voltage generating circuit 7 and to allow the numerical data RD1 to RD4 to be changed at any time after manufacturing. If the numerical data RD1 to RD4 are set at the manufacturing stage and are not changed thereafter, jumper pins for setting the numerical data RD1 to RD4 may be provided in the variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4. .
• Variable voltage generator VG1—VG4 D / A converter 30 has a structure that converts numerical data RD1 and RD4 of about 8 to 10 bits into output voltage, and has a sufficiently high resolution and resolution for 6-bit display signals. Have.
• the D / A conversion circuit 23 is connected between the output terminals of the gradation reference voltages V0 and VI, between the output terminals of the gradation reference voltages VI and V2, between the output terminals of the gradation reference voltages V2 and V3, Between the output terminals of V3 and V4, between the output terminals of the grayscale reference voltages V4 and V5, between the output terminals of the grayscale reference voltages V5 and V6, between the output terminals of the grayscale reference voltages V6 and V7, and between the grayscale reference voltages V7 and V7.
• Input resistance groups r0, rl, r2, r3, r4, r5, connected between the output terminals of V8 and between the output terminals of gradation reference voltages V8 and V9, respectively. It has r6, r7, r8.
• Each of the input resistance groups rO-r8 is composed of a plurality of resistors, divides a corresponding gradation reference voltage, and outputs the divided voltage to the D / A converter 23 'as a gradation voltage.
• FIG. 4 shows the transmittance characteristics of the pixel PX with respect to the liquid crystal applied voltage
• FIG. 5 shows the transmittance characteristics of the pixel PX with respect to the gradation value of the display signal.
• the transmittance characteristic of the pixel PX is a curve shown by a broken line in FIG. Therefore, the output voltage of the variable voltage generators VG1 and VG4 and the resistance ratio of the resistors R0 and R8 are set in consideration of the inflection point of the characteristic curve shown in FIG. 4, whereby the gamma correction of the curve shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 5 is performed.
• the DZA conversion of the display signal In the DZA conversion of the display signal.
• the transmittance characteristic of the pixel PX becomes a straight line proportional to the gradation value of the display signal.
• the output voltages of the variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4 can be arbitrarily changed by the numerical data RD1 and RD4, the transmittance characteristic of the pixel PX can be set to a desired curve.
• the variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4 are connected to the center level of the pixel voltage. It is important to be symmetric with respect to the resistive voltage dividing point corresponding to
• the plurality of resistors R0 to R8 divide a difference voltage obtained between the output terminals of the four variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4 to divide the difference voltage into 10 gradation reference voltages. Connected to obtain voltage V0—V9. That is, the number of variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4 that require high resolution for gamma correction can be reduced with respect to the number of gradation reference voltages V0 to V9. Therefore, the display signal can be converted into the pixel voltage while also performing the gamma correction without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost.
• FIG. 6 shows a first modification of the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 shown in FIG.
• the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 has two switching switches as variable voltage generation units VG1 and VG4 arranged at the outermost side of the series resistors R0 to R8. That is, variable voltage generator VG1 is a switching switch that outputs one of power supply voltages VAH and VBL, and variable voltage generator VG4 is a switch that outputs one of power supply voltages VAL and VBH.
• variable voltage generators VG1 and VG4 are controlled by numerical data RD4 and RD1 from the controller 5, respectively, and a set of the voltages VAH and VAL and a set of the voltages VBH and VBL are provided every horizontal scanning period (1H). Select alternately To do. Numerical data RD4 and RD1 result in simple D / A conversion with these switching switches.
• the voltages VAH and VAL are the maximum gradation reference voltage and the minimum gradation reference voltage when the liquid crystal application voltage is positive, respectively, and the voltages VBH and VBL are the maximum gradation reference voltage and the minimum gradation voltage when the liquid crystal application voltage is negative, respectively. This is the tuning reference voltage.
• the variable voltage generators VG2 and VG3 are arranged on the inner side of the variable voltage generators VG1 and VG4 while maintaining symmetry with respect to the resistance voltage dividing position corresponding to the center level of the pixel voltage.
• the switching switches are used as the variable voltage generators VG1 and VG4, the production cost is significantly increased while the number of output terminals (channels) of the variable output voltage is maintained at four.
• the total number of certain DZA converters 30 can be reduced to two. That is, fine gamma correction can be performed while keeping the manufacturing cost low.
• FIG. 7 shows a second modification of the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 shown in FIG.
• the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 is connected to the four abnormal voltage detectors 32 connected to the output buffers 31 of the variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4, and from any one of these abnormal voltage detectors 32
• Output terminals in response to the generated detection signal CH1— CH4 are connected to the power supply terminals that supply the specified voltage VX by disconnecting the output buffers CH1 and CH4. Protection for the source driver 20 consisting of four switching switches 33
• the circuit further has a circuit.
• FIG. 8 shows an operation of the first modification of the controller 5 shown in FIG.
• the controller 5 is configured to output the numerical data RD1 to RD4 to the gradation reference voltage generating circuit 7 in a specific order.
• the D / A conversion time of the numerical data RD1-RD4 is different from each other as shown in Fig.8.
• the potential of the output terminal CH4 of the variable voltage generator VG1 makes the largest transition due to the DZA conversion of the numerical data RD1
• the potential of the output terminal CH1 of the variable voltage generator VG4 changes to the D of the numerical data RD4. Smallest transition due to / A conversion Will be transferred.
• the controller 5 outputs the numerical data RD1, RD2, RD3, and RD4 to the grayscale reference voltage generating circuit 7 in order of decreasing D / A conversion time, that is, in descending order of output potential change.
• the grayscale reference voltage generator 7 shown in FIG. 3 outputs numerical data RD1 to RD4 in the order of RD1 ⁇ RD2 ⁇ RD3 ⁇ RD4 in one frame, and RD4 ⁇ RD3 ⁇ RD2 ⁇ RD1 in the next frame. They are output in the reverse order. (On the other hand, in the case of the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 shown in FIG.
• RD1 ⁇ RD2, RD4 ⁇ RD3 are output in a certain frame and output in the same order in the next frame, If the controller 5 generates numerical data RD4, RD3, RD2, and RD1 as shown in Fig. 9 in the above-mentioned frame, the reference voltage is generated first, starting with the one with the shortest D / A conversion time. When output to the circuit 7, the total DZA conversion time becomes longer than when the order shown in FIG. 8 is adopted.
• the first modification of the controller 5 can reduce the time loss caused by the D / A conversion performed on the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 for the above-described reason.
• FIG. 10 shows a second modification of the controller 5 shown in FIG.
• the controller 5 has an output section 51 for outputting numerical data RD1 to RD4 in parallel and simultaneously to the gradation reference voltage generating circuit 7 in response to a simultaneously output signal generated internally.
• the total D / A conversion time can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where serial numerical data RD1 and RD4 are output as shown in FIG.
• the power consumed during the D / A conversion of the numerical data RD1 to RD4 is also reduced accordingly.
• it is easy to set the timing for generating the simultaneous output signal and it is possible to set the numerical data RD1 to RD4 in the variable voltage generators VG1 to VG4 with sufficient time margin.
• FIG. 12 shows a modification of the DZA conversion circuit 23 shown in FIG.
• a plurality of resistors RA1, RA2, RA3, RBI, RB2, RB3 are provided outside the source driver 20.
• the resistors RA1, RA2, and RA3 are respectively connected in parallel with the input resistance groups rO, rl, and r2 in the DZA conversion circuit 23, and the resistors RBI, RB2, and RB3 are connected to the input resistance groups r6, r7, and r8 in the DZA conversion circuit 23. And are respectively connected in parallel.
• the voltage V0—VI, V8—V9 is calculated by the combined resistance ratio of the resistors RA1—RA3, resistors RB1—RB3, and the input resistor group rO—r8.
• the voltage ratio can be reduced from the overall voltage.
• This modified example eliminates the difference in brightness with respect to a change in tone value near the maximum luminance (white display) and near the minimum luminance (black display) where a tone error is likely to occur, and sets the tone value
• the display of the intermediate gradation can be further improved.
• the voltages V0 and V9 are applied only from the output terminals CH4 and CH1
• the transmittance characteristics of the pixel PX with respect to the gradation value of the display signal are as shown in FIG. In this case, gamma correction is difficult.
• the transmittance characteristics of the pixel PX with respect to the gradation value of the display signal are as shown in FIG. become. In this case, gamma correction can be performed.
• the output terminals CH4, CH3, CH2, and CHI apply the voltages V0, V3, V6, and V9.
• the resistors RA1—RA3 and the resistors RB1 and RB3 have the maximum brightness (white).
• FIG. 15 shows the transmittance characteristics of the pixel PX with respect to the gradation value of the display signal.
• FIG. 16 shows a first modification of the control unit CNT shown in FIG.
• the control unit CNT further has an EPROM8.
• the EPROM 8 holds a gradation table for eliminating a luminance difference with respect to a change in gradation value near the maximum luminance (white display) and near the minimum luminance (black display).
• This gradation table is written in advance in the EPROM 8 using the external ROM writer 9.
• the controller 5 converts the gradation value of the display signal for each pixel PX in a digital form by referring to the gradation table.
• the EPROM 8 and the controller 5 constitute a correction circuit that corrects a display signal so as to eliminate a luminance difference with respect to a change in gradation value at least in the vicinity of the maximum luminance and in the vicinity of the minimum luminance. Therefore, the transmittance characteristic of the pixel PX with respect to the gradation value of the display signal is as shown in FIG. That is, the same effect as the modification shown in FIG. 12 can be obtained.
• FIG. 18 shows the operation of the second modification of the control unit CNT shown in FIG.
• This modification is equivalent to the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 16.
• the control information for changing the amplitude of the common voltage Vcom for each line that is, the pixel PX of a specific row
• This specific line is, for example, a portion corresponding to luminance unevenness occurring on the display panel DP.
• this control information may be stored in the EPROM 8 for the purpose of arbitrarily varying the luminance regardless of the luminance unevenness.
• the controller 5 sets the numerical data in the common voltage generation circuit 6 at an appropriate timing based on the control information stored in the EPROM 8, and temporarily changes the amplitude of the common voltage Vcom, for example, as shown in FIG.
• the control timing of the common voltage generation circuit 6 is determined based on the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC and the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC supplied from the outside together with the video signal.
• FIG. 19 shows an operation of the third modification of the control unit CNT shown in FIG.
• the power S which is equivalent to the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 16, and the control information for causing the EPROM 8 to change the center level of the common voltage Vcom for the specific line in the display panel DP, that is, the pixel PX of the specific row, are Different in holding.
• This specific line is, for example, a portion corresponding to a frit force generated on the display panel DP.
• the controller 5 sets numerical data in the common voltage generating circuit 6 at an appropriate timing based on the control information stored in the EPROM 8, and temporarily changes the center level of the common voltage Vcom as shown in FIG. 19, for example. Let it.
• the control timing of the common voltage generation circuit 6 is determined based on a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC and a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC supplied from outside together with the video signal.
• the transmittance characteristic of the pixel PX with respect to the liquid crystal applied voltage is affected by, for example, a backlight or the like.
• FIG. 21 shows a fourth modification of the control unit CNT shown in FIG. This variant is shown in Figure 16.
• a camera 50 for photographing the display panel DP and a force S equivalent to the hardware configuration, and a computer 51 for analyzing image information obtained from the camera 50 are further provided. These are used to control the ROM writer 9 in the manufacturing stage, and the EPROM 8 holds control information written by the ROM writer 9 for compensating for transmittance characteristics that vary for each pixel PX as shown in FIG.
• the controller 5 controls the pixel voltage and the amplitude of the common voltage Vcom for a specific position in the display panel DP, that is, a specific pixel PX based on the control information.
• a gradation table for gradually changing the liquid crystal applied voltage for each row of the pixels PX is set in the EPROM 8, and the controller 5 refers to this gradation table to perform gradation conversion of the display signal. You may.
• the controller 5 uses the switching switch 33 shown in FIG. 6 or the like in advance to control the gray scale reference voltage V 0 output from the gray scale reference voltage generation circuit 7.
• V9 may be configured to set V9 to any voltage that is the same. In this case, it is preferable to set the common voltage Vcom to this arbitrary voltage.
• liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
• This liquid crystal display device is the same as that of the first embodiment except for a portion corresponding to the D / A conversion circuit 23 and the gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 shown in FIG. For this reason, similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
• FIG. 22 shows a circuit configuration of the liquid crystal display device
• FIG. 23 shows a configuration of the gamma correction circuit shown in FIG.
• 6-bit data R0 R5 represents a red gradation value
• 6-bit data GO G5 represents a green gradation value
• 6-bit data B0-B5 represents a blue gradation value. Indicates a gradation value.
• the decoding circuit 25 makes a one-to-one correspondence between the 64-level gradation values represented by the 6-bit data read from the corresponding memory 22A and the 64-level voltages output from the gamma correction circuit 70. It consists of a plurality of DZA converters 23 '. The D / A converter 23 'converts each gradation value into a gradation voltage and outputs it as a pixel voltage to the source line X on the liquid crystal display circuit side.
• a gradation amplifier 70 A and a gradation adjustment register 70 B are provided as a gamma correction circuit 70.
• the gradation amplifier 70A includes a gradation reference voltage generation circuit 7 and a gradation voltage generation circuit 8, and the gradation adjustment register 70B includes a slope adjustment register 72, a fine adjustment register 73, and an amplitude adjustment register 74.
• the gradation amplifier 70A has a configuration including a ladder resistance section 71 and selectors 75A-75F, and the gradation voltage generation circuit 8 includes an amplifier section 76 and a ladder resistance section 77.
• the gradation adjustment register 70B includes a gradient adjustment register 72, a fine adjustment register 73, and an amplitude adjustment register 74.
• a reference voltage is supplied to the ladder resistance section 71 by an upper limit voltage VDH and a lower limit voltage VGS.
• the ladder resistance section 71 includes a plurality of resistors for dividing the reference voltage into a plurality of voltages and performing gamma correction. Specifically, variable resistor VR0, resistor PKH, variable resistor VRH, resistor PKM, variable resistor VRL, resistor PKL, resistor Rl, and variable resistor VR1 are connected in series in this order, and between variable resistor VR0 and resistor PKH.
• the resistors RR, RG, and RB are connected in parallel so that they can be switched by switch SW1.
• variable resistors VR0 and VR1 are for adjusting the amplitude of the gradation voltage. Switching control of the resistors RR, RG, RB is performed by the control circuit 5. Resistor RR is used for red gamma correction, resistor RG is used for green gamma correction, and RB is used for blue gamma correction. The resistance values of the resistors RR, RG, and RB are set in advance to values suitable for gamma correction of each color.
• the resistors PKH, PKM, and PKL are for finely adjusting the magnitude of the gradation voltage with respect to the gradation value.
• the variable resistors VRH and VRL are used to adjust the slope of a characteristic curve showing the characteristics of the gradation voltage with respect to the gradation value.
• the slope adjustment register 72 stores values for determining the resistance values of the variable resistors VRH and VRL. 3 bits are stored. In addition, registers are provided for grayscale values for positive polarity and negative polarity, respectively, and independent setting according to polarity is possible. As shown in the table of Fig. 24, the signal name that determines the resistance value of the variable resistor VRH is SPRP0 for positive polarity, and PRNO is for negative polarity, and the signal name that determines the resistance value of the variable resistor VRL is SPRP1 for positive polarity. PRN1 is for negative polarity.
• PRN1 is for negative polarity.
• the amplitude adjustment register 74 stores the values for determining the resistance values of the variable resistors VR0 and VR1 for 3 bits each. As shown in the table in Fig. 24, the signal name that determines the resistance value of the variable resistor VR0 is VRP0 for the positive polarity and VRN0 for the negative polarity, and the signal name that determines the resistance value of the variable resistor VR1 is the one for the positive polarity. VRP1 and VRN1 for negative polarity. By setting the value of the amplitude adjustment register 74, the amplitude of the gradation voltage can be adjusted as shown in FIG.
• the fine adjustment register 73 stores a value for controlling the selector 75A-75F of 8 inputs and 1 output for 3 bits.
• the selector 75A has eight input terminals connected to the resistor PKH, and selects one of the eight divided voltages of the resistor PKH based on the setting value of the fine adjustment register 73.
• Each input terminal of the selector 75B-75E is sequentially connected to the resistor PKM, and each selects one of the eight divided voltages of the resistor PKM based on the setting value of the fine adjustment register 73. I do.
• the selector 75F has eight input terminals connected to the resistor PKL, and selects one of the eight divided voltages of the resistor PKL based on the setting value of the fine adjustment register 73.
• the signal names for setting the selection by the selector 75A are the positive polarity power SPKP0 and the negative polarity power PK NO.
• the signal names for selection by the selector 75B are SPKP1 for positive polarity and PKN1 for negative polarity
• the signal names for selection by the selector 75C are SPKP2 for positive polarity and PKN2 for negative polarity.
• the signal names for selection by the selector 75D are PKP3 for positive polarity and PKN3 for negative polarity
• the signal names for selection by the selector 75 ⁇ are PKP4 for positive polarity and SPKN4 for negative polarity.
• the signal names to be set are SPKP5 for positive polarity and PKN5 for negative polarity. Set the value of this fine adjustment register 73 Thereby, as shown in FIG. 27, it is possible to finely adjust the magnitude of the gradation voltage with respect to the gradation value.
• the output stage voltage of the variable resistor VRO is VINO
• the output voltage of the selector 75A is VINl
• the output voltage of the selector 75B is VIN2
• the output voltage of the selector 75C is VIN3
• the output voltage of the selector 75D is Is VIN4
• the output voltage of the selector 75E is VIN5
• the output voltage of the selector 75F is VIN6,
• the voltage of the input stage of the variable resistor VR1 is VIN7. That is, the selectors 75A and 75F select the voltages at VIN1 and VIN6.
• the amplifier 76 amplifies and outputs each voltage of VINO ⁇ VIN7.
• VINO corresponds to the output voltage VO of 64 steps of the gamma correction circuit 70
• VO of V63 corresponds to VI
• VIN2 corresponds to V8.
• the resistance of the ladder resistance section 78 is connected between the VI line and the V8 line, and the voltage divided into six steps by this resistance is output as the output voltage V2 V7 of the gamma correction circuit 70.
• VIN3 corresponds to V20, and the voltage divided into 11 levels by the resistance of the ladder resistor section 78 connected between the V8 and V20 lines is output as the output voltage V9—V19 of the gamma correction circuit 70 Is done.
• VIN4 corresponds to V43
• VIN5 corresponds to V55
• V44—V54 of the gamma correction circuit 70
• VIN6 corresponds to V62
• VIN7 corresponds to V63.
• the gamma correction circuit 70 outputs the voltage of VO-V63.
• Voltage VO corresponds to the lowest luminance black level
• voltage V63 corresponds to the brightest white level.
• the resistors RR, RG, and RB that switch between red, green, and blue are black levels. It is configured to be connected between the VINO line and the VIN1 line in the portion corresponding to.
• the gamma correction circuit of the comparative example connects the resistor RO between the variable resistor VRO and the resistor PKH instead of the resistors RR, RG, and RB that can be switched by the switch SW1 shown in FIG. This is the configuration. That In addition, the same components as those in FIG. 23 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description is omitted here.
• the gamma correction circuit of the comparative example performs the same gamma correction for each color without switching the resistance R0 depending on the color of the gradation value.
• FIG. 29 is a graph showing a relationship between a gradation value and luminance before gamma correction.
• the luminance characteristics of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are significantly different from the luminance characteristics of white (W).
• the gamma correction circuit 70 sets the resistances RR, RG, and RB to appropriate resistance values in advance, and switches the resistances RR, RG, and RB according to each of red, green, and blue to perform gamma correction.
• a graph is obtained in which the luminance characteristics of each color of red, green, and blue match the luminance characteristics of white.
• the vertical axis of the graph in FIG. 30 is the normalized luminance normalized so that the luminance becomes 100 when the gradation value is 63.
• the tone value when the tone value is 0, the brightness is the lowest black level, and when the tone value is 63, the brightness is the highest white level.
• the gamma correction circuit 70 connects the resistors RR, RG, and RB in parallel to the portion corresponding to the black level, and switches these three resistors according to each of the red, green, and blue colors. Gamma correction is now performed properly.
• the gray scale voltage generation By changing the resistance value of the part corresponding to the black level in the ladder resistance section 71 that divides the reference voltage according to each color, gamma correction can be performed appropriately for each color, so that gradation It is possible to suppress the deviation of the luminance with respect to the value between red, green and blue.
• the resistance value corresponding to the black level is optimally set, the luminances of the red, green, and blue colors can be completely matched.
• three resistors RR, RG, and RB corresponding to each color of red, green, and blue are switchably connected in parallel to a portion corresponding to the black level of the ladder resistor portion 71 so as to be switchable.
• the resistance can be switched according to the color with a simple configuration.
• a variable resistor may be used so that the resistance value is switched according to the color.
• variable resistors VRH and VRL are provided at both ends of the central resistor PKM of the ladder resistor 71, and a slope adjustment register for setting the resistance values of these variable resistors VRH and VRL. 72 is provided, and the resistance of the variable resistors VRH and VRL is adjusted according to the value set in the slope adjustment register 72, thereby adjusting the slope of the characteristic curve showing the characteristics of the grayscale voltage with respect to the grayscale value. can do.
• variable resistances VRO and VR1 are provided at both ends of the ladder resistance section 71, and an amplitude adjustment register 74 for setting the resistance values of these variable resistances VRO and VR1. And the resistance values of the variable resistors VRO and VR1 are adjusted in accordance with the value set in the amplitude adjustment register 74, so that the amplitude of the gradation voltage can be adjusted.
• the selectors 75A to 75F are connected to the resistors PKH, PKM, and PKL at the center of the ladder resistance section 71, and the fine adjustment register 73 for setting the selection by the selectors 75A to 75F is provided.
• the selector 75A-75F selects the divided voltage output from the ladder resistor section 71 according to the value set in the fine adjustment register 73, so that the magnitude of the gradation voltage with respect to the gradation value Can be adjusted.
• the present invention can be applied to a display signal processing device and a display device that convert a display signal into a pixel voltage while also performing gamma correction.

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