Liquid crystal input/output matrix panel

• US 4,679,909 A
• Filed: 06/17/1985
• Issued: 07/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hamada, Hiroshi, Matsuura, Masataka, Funada, Fumiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US06/744,961
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/707, 340/784, 340/765, 350/333, 350/332, 350/331 T, 350/342
• US Class Current: 349/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals

Abstract

Numerous photoelectric translation cells are arranged to correspond to associated picture elements in an active type matrix LCD display system. When a light pen is used as an input means, the system allows detection of light beam positions, enabling it to function as an input means.

The liquid crystal input/output system constructed in this manner has advantages of low power consumption and thin and lightweight construction as compared with conventional input/output systems using a combination of CRT and light pen. It is best suited for applications in portable electronic appliances and offers great technical benefit by arranging the photoelectric translation cells in a manner so as to increase the aperture ratio of the matrix display.

Claims

1. An information input/output system comprising:

an information matrix display panel including,

a plurality of common gate lines arranged in parallel with each other;

a plurality of common data write lines arranged in parallel with each other and perpendicular to said common gate lines;

a plurality of common data read-out lines in parallel with said data write lines and dispersed therebetween;

a plurality of picture display elements each disposed between a common data write line and a common date read out line and between successive common gate lines, a gate portion of each common gate line extending along an edge of said picture display element perpendicular to said common gate line, said gate portion extending across substantially the entire length of said picture display element;

a semiconductor region forming a channel between said gate portion and a common data write line;

a drain electrode formed over a part of said semiconductor region and an edge of said picture display element;

a light detection layer formed over a region of each said common gate line adjacent to said picture display element and perpendicular to said data read out line;

a transparent conductive film formed over said light detection layer and connected to said data read out line,

said gate portion, semiconducor region, common data write line and drain electrode forming switching means of each said picture display element for applying an output voltage thereto for the display of information on said element,

said light detection layer, transparent conductive film and data readout line forming a photoelectric translation cell of each said picture display element for detecting light patterns inputted to said display panel.

2. An information input/output system in accordance with claim 1, in which said information matrix display panel is an LCD panel.

3. An information input/output system in accordance with claim 1, in which said photoelectric translation cell is a of photo diode.

4. An information input/output system in accordance with claim 1, in which said switching means is composed of thin film transistors.

5. An information input/output system in accordance with claim 1, in which said photoelectric translation cells are connected with a voltage supply line which controls said switching means.

6. An inforamtion input/output system in accordance with claim 1, in which said light patterns are inputted from a light pen which has an emission spectrum of narrow band width.

7. An information input/output system in accordance with claim 6, in which each of said photoelectric translation cells is equipped with a filter allowing transmission of only selected components of the light beam emission spectrum from said light pen.

8. An information input/output system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of common gate lines are composed of a metal, each of said common gate lines preventing light incident on a rear surface of said panel from impinging on the photoelectric translation cell formed thereon.