NON-RECTANGULAR PIXEL ARRAY AND DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING SAME

• US 20100013853A1
• Filed: 05/11/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: NEC LCD Technologies Limited (NEC Corporation)
• Inventors: TAKATORI, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/611
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/56 Substrates having a particular shape, e.g. non-rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0439 Pixel structures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/02 Improving the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0457 Improvement of perceived resolution by subpixel rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

There is provided a display area made up of a pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference and the pixel array is made up of a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein a first conductor line group including a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group including a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third conductor line group including a plurality of third conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with one another. Thus, without sacrificing brightness, viewability, and fidelity of an image, pixel array (display device) with the non-rectangular outer circumferential shape being excellent in design characteristics is realized.

Claims

1. A non-rectangular pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference comprising:

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein at least a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with each other and each of said non-rectangular pixels is arranged so as to be entirely or partially surrounded by each of said first conductor lines and said second conductor lines.

2. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 1, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to each of said first conductor lines or said second conductor lines and has independent translation relative to at least two different axes.

3. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of the color pixels emitting the plurality of colors.

4. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 3, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

5. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 1, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for non-rectangular pixel display or rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

40. A display device comprising a non-rectangular pixel array as set forth in claim 1.

41. The display device according to claim 40, further comprising a non-rectangular outer shape.

42. The display device according to claim 40, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

43. The display device according to claim 40, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.

6. A non-rectangular pixel array comprising:

a non-display portion with no pixels and with a non-rectangular contour shape formed inside of said non-rectangular pixel array; and

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels so arranged that at least a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines and a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines intersect with each other and so arranged as to be entirely or partially surrounded by said first and second conductor lines.

7. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 6, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to each of said first conductor lines or said second conductor lines and has independent translation relative to at least two different axes.

8. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 6, wherein said non-display portion with no pixels comprises a through hole portion.

9. The pixel non-rectangular array according to claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of the color pixels emitting the plurality of colors.

10. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 9, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

11. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 6, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for non-rectangular pixel display or rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

44. A display device comprising a non-rectangular pixel array as set forth in claim 6.

45. The display device according claim 44, wherein an outer shape of said display device is non-rectangular.

46. The display device according to claim 44, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

47. The display device according to claim 44, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of said conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.

12. A non-rectangular pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference comprising:

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein at least a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines, a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third virtual line group comprising a plurality of third virtual lines arranged so as to intersect with one another and each of said non-rectangular pixels is arranged so as to be entirely or partially surrounded by each of said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said virtual lines.

13. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 12, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to any one of said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said virtual lines, and has independent translation relative to at least three different axes.

14. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of the color pixels emitting the plurality of colors.

15. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 14, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

16. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 12, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for any one non-rectangular pixel display and rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

48. A display device comprising the non-rectangular pixel array as set forth in claim 12.

49. The display device according to claim 48, wherein an outer shape of said display device is non-rectangular.

50. The display device according to claim 48, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

51. The display device according to claim 48, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of said conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.

17. A non-rectangular pixel array comprising:

a non-display portion with no pixels and with a non-rectangular contour shape formed inside of said non-rectangular pixel array; and

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels so arranged that a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines, a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third virtual line group comprising a plurality of third virtual lines intersect with one another and so arranged as to be surrounded by said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said third virtual lines.

18. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 17, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to any one of said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said virtual lines, and has independent translation relative to at least three different axes.

19. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 17, wherein said non-display portion with no pixels comprises a through hole portion.

20. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of the color pixels emitting the plurality of colors.

21. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 20, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

22. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 17, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for any one of non-rectangular pixel display and rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

52. A display device comprising the non-rectangular pixel array as set forth in claim 17.

53. The display device according to claim 52, wherein an outer shape of said display device is non-rectangular.

54. The display device according to claim 52, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

55. The display device according to claim 52, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of said conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.

23. A non-rectangular pixel array with a non-rectangular shaped outer circumference comprising:

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels wherein a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines, a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines, and a third conductor line group comprising a plurality of third conductor lines are arranged so as to intersect with one another.

24. The non-rectangular array according to claim 23, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to any one of said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said third conductor lines, and has independent translation relative to two or three different axes.

25. The non-rectangular array according to claim 23, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels comprises an approximately triangular pixel and is surrounded by said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said third conductor lines.

26. The non-rectangular array according to claim 23, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels comprises an approximately parallelogrammic pixel and is surrounded by said first conductor lines and said second conductor lines.

27. The non-rectangular array according to claim 23, wherein a first wiring layer comprises an approximately entire portion of said first conductor line group and a main portion of said second conductor line group and a second wiring layer comprises an intersection region of said second conductor line group intersecting said first conductor line group and an approximately entire portion of said third conductor line group and wherein said main portion of said second conductor line group is connected to said intersection region using contacts.

28. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of said color pixel emitting the plurality of colors.

29. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 28, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

30. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 23, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for any one of non-rectangular pixel display and rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

56. A display device comprising the non-rectangular pixel array as set forth in claim 23.

57. The display device according to claim 56, wherein an outer shape of said display device is non-rectangular.

58. The display device according to claim 56, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

59. The display device according to claim 56, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of said conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.

31. A non-rectangular pixel array comprising:

a non-display portion with no pixels and with a non-rectangular contour shape formed inside of said non-rectangular pixel array; and

a plurality of non-rectangular pixels so arranged that a first conductor line group comprising a plurality of first conductor lines, a second conductor line group comprising a plurality of second conductor lines, a third conductor line group comprising a plurality of third conductor lines intersect with one another.

32. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels is parallel to any one of said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said third conductor lines, and has independent translation relative to two or three different axes.

33. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels comprises an approximately triangular pixel and is surrounded by said first conductor lines, said second conductor lines, and said third conductor lines.

34. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein each of said non-rectangular pixels comprises an approximately parallelogrammic pixel and is surrounded by said first conductor lines and said second conductor lines.

35. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein a first wiring layer comprises an approximately entire portion of said first conductor line group and a main portion of said second conductor line group and a second wiring layer comprises an intersection region of said second conductor line group intersecting said first conductor line group and an approximately entire portion of said third conductor line group and wherein said main portion of said second conductor line group is connected to said intersection region using contacts.

36. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein said non-display portion with no pixels comprises a through hole portion.

37. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein each of said plurality of non-rectangular pixels forms a color pixel with any one of colors out of a plurality of specified colors for color display and a unit pixel for said color display is constructed by a combination of said color pixel emitting the plurality of colors.

38. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 37, wherein said color pixels emitting said plurality of colors are arranged in a state in which a number of color pixels emitting same color being adjacent, in a line-like manner, to each of said color pixels is set to be either one or zero.

39. The non-rectangular pixel array according to claim 31, wherein said non-rectangular pixels function as a plurality of kinds of sub-pixels having non-rectangular shapes different from one another and, by electrically changing a combined pattern of said plurality of kinds of sub-pixels, setting for any one of non-rectangular pixel display and rectangular pixel display is allowed to be done or change in the setting is allowed to be made.

60. A display device comprising the non-rectangular pixel array as set in claim 31.

61. The display device according to claim 60, wherein an outer shape of said display device is non-rectangular.

62. The display device according to claim 60, wherein an outer shape of said display device is approximately similar to an outer circumferential shape of said pixel array.

63. The display device according to claim 60, wherein a peripheral circuit to drive each of said conductor lines is mounted along the outer circumference of said pixel array outside said pixel array.