Temperature sensor for display device, thin film transistor array panel including the temperature sensor, liquid crystal display, driving circuit for liquid crystal display and flicker controlling system for liquid crystal display

• US 20070012897A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Ki-Chan, Park, Yun
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/299.100
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133382 Heating or cooling of liquid crystal cells other than for activation, e.g. circuits or arrangements for temperature control, stabilisation or uniform distribution over the cell

Abstract

A temperature sensor for a display device is provided, which includes a substrate for the display devices, and a temperature sensing line formed on the substrate. The temperature sensing line is a conductor.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor for a display device that has a substrate, wherein the sensor comprising a temperature sensing line formed on the substrate, wherein the temperature sensing line is an electrical conductor.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing line is laid out in the form of square waves.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing line comprises a lower Al (alloy) film and an upper Mo (alloy) film.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing line is made of one of Al, Cu, Pt, Cr, and Mo.

5. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer formed on the temperature sensing line, wherein the insulating layer has first and second contact holes exposing both end portions of the temperature sensing line, respectively.

6. The sensor of claim 5 further comprising contact assistants connected to end portions of the temperature sensing lines through the first and second contact holes.

7. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the contact assistants are made of ITO or IZO.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing line has a resistivity that linearly varies with temperature.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises:

a gate line formed on the substrate;

a first insulating layer formed on the gate line;

a data line formed on the first insulating layer; and

a second insulating layer formed on the data line.

10. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensing line is formed on the same layer as the gate line.

11. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the temperature sensing line is formed on the same layer as the data line.

12. The sensor of claim 11, wherein the data line comprises a lower Mo (alloy) film, an intermediate Al (alloy) film, and an upper Mo (alloy) film.

13. The sensor of claim 9, wherein the first and second insulating layers comprise first and second contact holes exposing both end portions of the temperature sensing line, respectively.

14. The sensor of claim 13, wherein the display device further comprises contact assistants connected to both end portions of the temperature sensing line through the first and second contact holes.

15. The sensor of claim 14, wherein the contact assistants are made of ITO or IZO.

16. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.

17. A thin film transistor array panel comprising:

a substrate;

a thin film transistor formed on the substrate and having a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode; and

a temperature sensing line formed on the substrate,

wherein the temperature sensing line is formed on the same layer as either the gate electrode or the source and drain electrodes.

18. The panel of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensing line is laid out in the form of square waves.

19. The panel of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensing line comprises a lower Al (alloy) film and an upper Mo (alloy) film.

20. The panel of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensing line is made of one of Cu, Pt, Cr, and Mo.

21. The panel of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensing line comprises a lower Mo (alloy) film, an intermediate Al (alloy) film, and an upper Mo (alloy) film.

22. The panel of claim 17, wherein the temperature sensing line has a resistivity that linearly changes in accordance with temperature.

23. The panel of claim 17, further comprising a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor.

24. The panel of claim 23, wherein the pixel electrode is made of ITO or IZO.

25. The panel of claim 23, further comprising an insulating layer formed on the temperature sensing line.

26. The panel of claim 25, wherein the insulating layer comprises a first layer formed on the gate electrode and a second layer formed on the source and drain electrodes.

27. The panel of claim 26, wherein the second layer comprises a first contact hole exposing a portion of the drain electrode.

28. The panel of claim 27, wherein one of the first and second layers comprises second and third contact holes exposing both end portions of the temperature sensing line.

29. The panel of claim 28 further comprising contact assistants connected to both end portions of the temperature sensing line through the second and third contact holes.

30. The panel of claim 29, wherein the contact assistants are formed on the same layer as the pixel electrode.

31. A liquid crystal display comprising:

a pixel;

a first signal line connected to the pixel;

a second signal line connected to the pixel and intersecting the first signal line; and

a temperature sensing line separate from the first and second signal lines, wherein the temperature sensing line is formed on the same layer as the first or second signal line.

32. The liquid crystal display of claim 31, further comprising a signal controller for controlling the displaying of the pixel based on a signal from the temperature sensing line.

33. The liquid crystal display of claim 32, further comprising:

a data driver for converting an amended image signal from the signal controller into a data signal to apply the data signal to the first signal line, and

a gate driver for applying a gate signal for controlling the pixel to the second signal line.

34. The liquid crystal display of claim 33, wherein the signal controller receives an image signal from an external device and amends the image signal based on a previous image signal to output the amended image signal, and wherein the amendment of the image signal is varied in accordance with a signal from the temperature sensing line.

35. A driving circuit for a liquid crystal display having a liquid crystal panel assembly, the driving circuit comprising:

a digital variable resistor (DVR) generating a first voltage;

a temperature sensing unit connected to the DVR and generating a second voltage; and

a common voltage generator connected to the temperature sensing unit and generating a common voltage on the basis of the second voltage and a third voltage that is received from the liquid crystal panel assembly.

36. The driving circuit of claim 35, wherein the temperature sensing unit comprises:

a first resistor and a second resistor connected between a driving voltage and a ground voltage; and

a third resistor connected to a node between the first resistor and the second resistor,

wherein the first resistor is a temperature sensor having a resistance value that varies with temperature.

37. The driving circuit of claim 36, wherein the resistance value of the temperature sensor is proportional to a temperature of the liquid crystal display.

38. The driving circuit of claim 37, wherein the common voltage generator comprises an operational amplifier having an inverting terminal connected to a third voltage and an output terminal via a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor, respectively, and a noninverting terminal connected to the node between the first resistor and the second resistor.

39. A flicker controlling system comprising:

a liquid crystal display provided with a liquid crystal panel assembly, wherein the liquid crystal display comprises;

a DVR for generating a first voltage;

a temperature sensing unit connected to the DVR and generating a second voltage; and

a common voltage generator connected to the temperature sensing unit and generating a common voltage on the basis of the second voltage and a third voltage that is received from the liquid crystal panel assembly;

a photographing device for photographing the liquid crystal display; and

an electronic device coupled with the liquid crystal display and the photographing device.

40. The flicker adjusting system of claim 39, wherein the temperature sensing unit comprises:

a first resistor and a second resistor connected between a driving voltage and a ground voltage; and

a third resistor connected between the first voltage and a node between the first resistor and the second resistor,

wherein the first resistor is a temperature sensor wherein a resistance value thereof is varied depending on temperature.

41. The flicker controlling system of claim 40, wherein the resistance value of the temperature sensor is proportional to a temperature of the liquid crystal display.

42. The flicker controlling system of claim 41, wherein the common voltage generator comprises an operational amplifier having an inverting terminal connected to the third voltage and an output terminal via a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor, respectively, and a noninverting terminal connected to the node.

43. The flicker controlling system of claim 42, wherein the electronic device is coupled with the DVR by an I²C interface.