Liquid crystal display

• US 5,058,996 A
• Filed: 11/30/1984
• Issued: 10/22/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1974
• 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: Washizuka, Isamu, Takeda, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lerner, Martin
• Application Number:
  US06/676,873
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 350/332, 350/336, 350/338, 340/765, 340/800, 340/802, 340/784
• US Class Current: 349/142
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134327 Segmented, e.g. alpha numeric display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/18 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 5/15093 using devices arranged in a shift register

Abstract

A liquid crystal display panel for displaying information of plural digits comprises transparent segment electrodes, reflection electrodes and a liquid crystal composition sandwiched therebetween. In a preferred form employing the typical seven-segment font, the transparent segment electrodes in the respective digit positions are divided into two groups. The reflection electrodes are continuously provided in common to the respective digit positions in such a manner that the reflection electrodes are provided even at the spaces positioned between adjacent digit positions and divided into four electrodes with the use of thin gaps provided longitudinally of the liquids crystal display panel. Both the respective two groups of the transparent electrodes and the respective four reflection electrodes are connected to receive selection signals for display.

Claims

1. A plural digit liquid crystal display device comprising:

a plural digit liquid crystal display panel inlcuding a liquid crystal;

a plurality of first electrode groups disposed on one side of said display panel, each of said first electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said first electrode groups including a plurality of segment electrodes;

a plurality of second electrode groups disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the side on which said first electrode group is disposed, each of said second electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said electrode groups including a plurality of segmental electrode portions;

said electrodes of said first electrodes groups being in exact correspondence with said electrode portions of said second electrode groups;

each of said first electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment electrodes of said first sub-group of segment electrodes being commonly connected together;

each of said second electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of second sub-groups of segmental electrode portions which are different in configuration from said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segmental electrode portions of each second sub-group of segmental electrode portions being commonly connected together and corresponding second sub-groups of electrode portions of each of said second electrode groups foe each digit being commonly connected together;

means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive signals of a predetermined cycle to the respective commonly connected segmental electrode portion sub-groups of said second electrode groups; and

means for applying segment drive signals, corresponding to data to be displayed, simultaneously to a selected segment electrpde sub-group of selected ones of said first electrode groups in synchronisim with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal to effect a data display.

2. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal display panel comprises first terminals respectively coupled to said plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes of said first electrode groups for connection thereto of said segment drives;

and a plurality of second terminals respectively coupled to said plurality of second sub-groups of segmental electrode portions of said second electrode groups for connection of said respective phase-shifted drive signals thereto.

3. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein said means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive applies said phase-shifted drive signals to respective commonly connected segmental electrode portion sub-groups of all of said second electrode groups at the same time.

4. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said means for applying segment drive signals applies said segment drive signals to a selected one of said segment electrode sub-groups of a plurality of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal.

5. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the connections of said first terminals to said plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes do not cross said connections between said second terminals and said respective second sub-groups of segmental electrode portions.

6. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said segments of said first electrode group are vertically divided into respective sub-groups, and said segmental electrode portions of said second electrode groups are horizontally divided into respective sub-groups.

7. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, in which said means for applying said segment drive signals to said segment electrode sub-groups of said first electrode groups comprises:

decoder means responsive to display data for forming a segment selecting signal;

a plurality of holding circuits to which the outputs of the decoder means are delivered; and

a plurality of drivers coupled to said holding circuits adapted to generate segment drive signals in accordance with the outputs of the holding circuits.

8. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, in which said means for applying said segment drive signals to said segment electrode sub-groups of said first electrode groups comprises:

signal means responsive to display data for forming a representative signal from the display data;

a segment selecting circuit coupled to said signal means for forming a segment selecting signal from the representative signal of the signal means;

a plurality of holding circuits to which the outputs of the segment selecting circuit are delivered; and

a plurality of drivers coupled to said holding circuits adapted to generate segment drive signals in accordance with the outputs of the holding circuits.

9. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said first electrode groups each comprise seven segment electrodes arranged in a figure 8 pattern.

10. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said digits comprises seven segment electrodes arranged in a figure 8 configuration, each of said first electrode groups comprising a plurality of sub-groups of segment electrodes, each of said sub-groups comprising a plurality of segment electrodes, and each of said second electrode groups comprising a plurality of sub-groups of electrode portions, a plurality of said sub-groups of said second electrode groups comprising a plurality of segmental electrode portions and one of said sub-groups comprising one segmental electrode portion, corresponding electrode sub-groups of each digit being commonly connected together for receiving respective phase-shifted drive signals.

11. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein said first and second electrode groups collectively define a further indicia interposed between said digits, said electrodes and electrode portions defining further indicia being connected to one of said sub-groups of said first and second electrode groups, respectively.

12. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said second electrode groups are divided into a plurality of sub-groups, the corresponding sub-groups of each of said second groups being commonly connected together.

13. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first electrode groups comprises a plurality of sub-groups of electrodes, the segment electrodes of said first electrode groups being arranged in a figure 8 configuration.

14. A plural digit liquid crystal display device comprising:

a plural digit liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal;

a plurality of first electrode groups disposed on one side of said display panel, each of said first electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said first electrode groups including a plurality of segment electrodes;

a plurality of second electrode groups disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the side on which said first electrode group is disposed, each of said second electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display and each of said electrode groups including a plurality of segmental electrode portions;

said electrodes of said first electrode groups being in correspondence with said electrode portions of said second electrode groups;

each of said first electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment electrodes of each first sub-group of segment electrodes being commonly connected together;

each of said second electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of second sub-groups of segmental electrode portions which are different in configuration from said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segmental electrode portions of each second sub-group of segmental electrode portions being commonly connected together and corresponding second sub-groups of electrode portions of each of said second electrode groups for each digit being commonly connected together;

means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive signals of a predetermined cycle to the respective commonly connected segmental electrode portion sub-groups of said second electrode groups; and

means for applying segment drive signals, corresponding to data to be displayed, simultaneously to a selected segment electrode sub-group of selected ones of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal to effect a data display.

15. A plural digit liquid crystal display device comprising:

a plural digit liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal;

a plurality of first electrode groups disposed on one side of said display panel, each of said first electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said first electrode groups including a plurality of segment electrodes;

a plurality of second electrode groups disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the side on which said first electrode group is disposed, each of said second electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said electrode groups including a plurality of electrode portion;

said electrodes of said first electrode groups being in correspondence with said electrode portion of said second electrode groups;

each of said first electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment electrodes of each first sub-group of segment electrodes being commonly connected together;

each of said second electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of second sub-groups of electrode portions which are different in configuration from said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said electrode portions of each second sub-groups of electrode portions being commonly connected together and corresponding second sub-groups of electrode portions of each of said second electrode groups for each digit being commonly connected together;

means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive signals of a predetermined cycle to the respective commonly connected electrode portion sub-groups of said second electrode groups; and

means for applying segment drive signals, corresponding to data to be displayed, simultaneously to a selected segment electrode sub-group of selected ones of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal to effect a data display.

16. A plural digit liquid crystal display device comprising:

a plural digit liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal;

a plurality of first electrode groups disposed on one side of said display panel, each of said first electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said first electrode groups including a plurality of segment electrodes;

a plurality of second electrode groups disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the side on which said first electrode group is disposed, each of said second electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said second electrode groups including a plurality of segment defining means each for at least partially defining at least one display segment;

said electrodes of said first electrode groups being in exact correspondence with said segment defining means of said second electrode groups;

each of said first electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment electrodes of each first sub-group of segment electrodes being commonly connected together;

each of said second electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of second sub-groups of segment defining means which are different in configuration from said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment defining means of each second sub-group of segment defining means being commonly connected together and corresponding second sub-groups of segment defining means of each of said second electrode groups for each digit being commonly connected together;

means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive signals of a predetermined cycle to the respective commonly connected segment defining means sub-groups of said second electrode groups; and

means for applying segment drive signals, corresponding to data to be displayed, simultaneously to a selected segment electrode sub-group of selected ones of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal to effect a data display.

17. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein said liquid crystal display panel comprises first terminals respectively coupled to said plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes of said first electrode groups for connection thereto of said segment drives;

and a plurality of second terminals respectively coupled to said plurality of second sub-groups of segment defining means of said second electrode groups for connection of said respective phase-shifted drive signals thereto.

18. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 17, wherein said means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive applies said phase-shifted drive signals to respective commonly connected segment defining means sub-groups of all of said second electrode groups at the same time.

19. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 18, wherein said means for applying segment drive signals applies said segment drive signals to a selected one of said segment electrode sub-groups of a plurality of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal.

20. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 17, wherein the connections of said first terminals to said plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes do not cross said connections between said second terminals and said respective second sub-groups of segment defining means.

21. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein said segments of said first electrode group are vertically divided into respective sub-groups, and said segment defining means of said second electrode groups are horizontally divided into respective sub-groups.

22. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, in which said means for applying said segment drive signals to said segment electrode sub-groups of said first electrode groups comprises:

decoder means responsive to display data for forming a segment selecting signal;

a plurality of holding circuits to which the outputs of the decoder means are delivered; and

a plurality of drivers coupled to said holding circuits adapted to generate segment drive signals in accordance with the outputs of the holding circuits.

23. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, in which said means for applying said segment drive signals to said segment electrode sub-groups of said first electrode groups comprises:

signal means responsive to display data for forming a representative signal from the display data;

a segment selecting circuit coupled to said signal means for forming a segment selecting signal from the representative signal of the signal means;

a plurality of holding circuits to which the outputs of the segment selecting circuit are delivered; and

a plurality of drivers coupled to said holding circuits adapted to generate segment drive signals in accordance with the outputs of the holding circuits.

24. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein said first electrode groups each comprise seven segment electrodes arranged in a figure 8 pattern.

25. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein each of said digits comprises seven segment electrodes arranged in a figure 8 configuration, each of said first electrode groups comprising a plurality of sub-groups of segment electrodes, each of said sub-groups comprising a plurality of segment electrodes, and each of said second electrode groups comprising a plurality of sub-groups of segment defining means, a plurality of said sub-groups of said second electrode groups comprising a plurality of segment defining means and one of said sub-groups comprising one segment defining means, corresponding electrode sub-groups of each digit being commonly connected together for receiving respective phase-shifted drive signals.

26. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 25, wherein said first and second electrode groups collectively define a further indicia interposed between said digits, said electrode defining means defining further indicia being connected to one of said sub-groups of said first and second electrode groups, respectively.

27. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein said second electrode groups are divided into a plurality of sub-groups, the corresponding sub-groups of each of said second groups being commonly connected together.

28. A plural digit liquid crystal display device according to claim 16, wherein each of said first electrode groups comprises a plurality of sub-groups of electrodes, the segment electrodes of said first electrode groups being arranged in a figure 8 configuration.

29. A plural digit liquid crystal display device comprising:

a plural digit liquid crystal display panel including a liquid crystal;

a plurality of first electrode groups disposed on one side of said display panel, each of said first electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display device and each of said first electrode groups including a plurality of segment electrodes;

a plurality of second electrode groups disposed on the side of the display panel opposite to the side on which said first electrode group is disposed, each of said second electrode groups corresponding to and at least partially defining a respective digit of said plural digit display and each of said second electrode groups including a plurality of segment defining means each for at least partially defining at least one display segment;

said electrodes of said first electrode groups being in correspondence with said segment defining means of said second electrode groups;

each of said first electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment electrodes of each first sub-group of segment electrodes being commonly connected together;

each of said second electrode groups being grouped into a plurality of second sub-groups of segment defining means which are different in configuration from said first sub-groups of segment electrodes, said segment defining means of each second sub-group of segment defining means being commonly connected together and corresponding second sub-groups of segment defining means of each of said second electrode groups for each digit being commonly connected together;

means for sequentially applying phase-shifted drive signals of a predetermined cycle to the respective commonly connected segment defining means sub-groups of said second electrode groups; and

means for applying segment drive signals, corresponding to data to be displayed, simultaneously to a selected segment electrode sub-group of selected ones of said first electrode groups in synchronism with and concurrently with said application of a respective phase-shifted drive signal to effect a data display.