Dot matrix liquid crystal display with low multiplex ratio with each column electrode connected to only one other

• US 5,585,948 A
• Filed: 02/22/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Three-Five Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Three-Five Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Petera, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Anita Pellman
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dudek, James A.
• Application Number:
  US08/394,658
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 359/54, 359/87, 359/88
• US Class Current: 349/143
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix

Abstract

A dot matrix liquid crystal display has a low multiplex ratio and utilizes electrode leads which extend between adjacent electrodes on a glass plate substrate in the liquid crystal display.

Claims

1. A dot matrix liquid crystal display assembly including:

(a) a first electrode plate having a face and a back;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a first column of electrodes, each of said electrodes being connected and bridged only to one other electrode, said one other electrode being in said first column;

(c) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a second column of electrodes, said second column being spaced apart from said first column, each of said electrodes in said second column being connected and bridged only to a single other electrode in said second column, said single other electrode being in said second column, said first and second columns each being comprised of interconnected electrode pairs,

(d) at least one bridge on the face of said plate and electrically interconnecting a pair of said electrodes in said first column, the number of said electrodes interconnected by said bridge being less than said selected number of said electrodes in said first column;

(e) a first electrically conductive column lead on the face of said plate and connected to one of said electrodes connected by said bridge;

(f) a second electrically conductive column lead on the face of said plate intermediate and spaced apart from said first and second columns and connected to an electrode in said first column other than said pair of electrodes interconnected by said bridge;

(g) a second electrode plate having a face and a back, said face of said second plate being spaced apart from and opposed to said face of said first plate;

(h) a layer of liquid crystal material intermediate said face of said first plate and said face of said second plate;

(i) a plurality of spaced apart rows of electrodes on the face of said second plate, each of said row electrodes being spaced apart from, opposed to, and aligned with one of said electrodes in said columns;

(j) a plurality of electrically conductive row leads on the face of said second plate and each connected to one of said rows of electrodes, a selected number of the row leads comprising a first group of row leads and a selected number of the row leads other than the row leads in said first group comprising a second group of row leads;

(k) means for alternately applying voltage to said first and second groups of said row leads; and

,

(l) means for applying voltage to any desired quantity of said column leads at the same time voltage is applied to one of said first and second groups of said row leads.

2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/2.

3. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/3.

4. The liquid crystal display of claim 1 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/4.

5. A dot matrix liquid crystal display assembly including:

(a) a first electrode plate having a face and a back;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a first column of electrodes, each of said electrodes being connected and bridged only to one other electrode, said one other electrode being in said first column;

(c) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a second column of electrodes, said second column being spaced apart from said first column, each of said electrodes in said second column being connected and bridged only to a single other electrode in said second column, said single other electrode being in said second column, said first and second columns each being comprised of interconnected electrode pairs,

(d) at least one bridge on the face of said plate and electrically interconnecting a pair of said electrodes in said first column, the number of said electrodes interconnected by said bridge being less than said selected number of said electrodes in said first column;

(e) a first electrically conductive column lead on the face of said plate and connected to one of said electrode pairs;

(f) a second electrically conductive column lead on the face of said plate intermediate and spaced apart from said first and second columns and connected to another of said electrode pairs;

(g) a second electrode plate having a face and a back, said face of said second plate being spaced apart from and opposed to said face of said first plate;

(h) a layer of liquid crystal material intermediate said face of said first plate and said face of said second plate;

(i) a plurality of spaced apart rows of electrodes on the face of said second plate, each of said row electrodes being spaced apart from, opposed to, and aligned with one of said electrodes in said columns, each of said electrodes in one of said rows being connected and bridged only to an adjacent electrode or electrodes in said one of said rows;

(j) a plurality of row bridges, said row bridges each interconnecting only a pair of adjacent electrodes in one of said rows;

(k) a plurality of electrically conductive row leads on the face of said second plate and each connected to one of said rows of electrodes, a selected number of said row leads comprising a first group of row leads and a selected number of said row leads other than said row leads in said first group comprising a second group of row leads;

(l) means for alternately applying voltage to said first and second groups of said row leads; and

,

(m) means for applying voltage to any desired quantity of said column leads at the same time voltage is applied to one of said first and second groups of said row leads.

6. The liquid crystal display of claim 5 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/2.

7. The liquid crystal display of claim 5 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/3.

8. The liquid crystal display of claim 5 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/4.

9. A dot matrix liquid crystal display assembly including:

(a) a first electrode plate having a face and a back;

(b) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a first column of electrodes, each of said electrodes being connected and bridged only to one other electrode, said one other electrode being in said first column;

(c) a plurality of spaced apart electrodes on the face of said plate defining a second column of electrodes, said second column being spaced apart from said first column, each of said electrodes in said second column being connected and bridged only to a single other electrode in said second column, said single other electrode being in said second column, said first and second columns each being comprised of interconnected electrode pairs,

(d) at least one bridge on the face of said plate and electrically interconnecting a pair of said electrodes in said first column, the number of said electrodes interconnected by said bridge being less than said selected number of said electrodes in said first column;

(e) a first electrically conductive column lead on the face of said plate and connected to one of said electrode pairs;

(f) a second electrically conductive column lead

(i) extending over a portion of the face of said plate intermediate said first and second columns,

(ii) spaced apart from said first and second columns, and

(iii) connected to another of said electrode pairs;

(g) a second electrode plate having a face and a back, said face of said second plate being spaced apart from and opposed to said face of said first plate;

(h) a layer of liquid crystal material intermediate said face of said first plate and said face of said second plate;

(i) a plurality of spaced apart rows of electrodes on the face of said second plate, each of said row electrodes being spaced apart from, opposed to, and aligned with one of said electrodes in said columns, each of said electrodes in one of said rows being connected and bridged only to an adjacent electrode or electrodes in said one of said rows;

(j) a plurality of row bridges, said row bridges each interconnecting only a pair of adjacent electrodes in one of said rows, one of said row bridges crossing over said second column lead, the portion of said row bridge crossing over said second column lead being one square mil or less to minimize cross over illumination;

(k) a plurality of electrically conductive row leads on the face of said second plate and each connected to one of said rows of electrodes, a selected number of said row leads comprising a first group of row leads and a selected number of said row leads other than said row leads in said first group comprising a second group of row leads;

(l) means for alternately applying voltage to said first and second groups of said row leads; and

,

(m) means for applying voltage to any desired quantity of said column leads at the same time voltage is applied to one of said first and second groups of said row leads.

10. The liquid crystal display of claim 9 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/2.

11. The liquid crystal display of claim 10 wherein said bridges interconnecting said electrodes in said columns each are

(a) spaced away from said portion of said first plate intermediate said first and second columns;

and,

(b) intermediate a pair of said electrodes on said first plate.

12. The liquid crystal display of claim 11 wherein said second column lead is the only one of said column leads which is between said electrodes in said first and second columns which are positioned laterally from and adjacent to said second column lead.

13. The liquid crystal display of claim 9 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/3.

14. The liquid crystal display of claim 13 wherein said bridges interconnecting said electrodes in said columns each are

(a) spaced away from said portion of said first plate intermediate said first and second columns;

and,

(b) intermediate a pair of said electrodes on said first plate.

15. The liquid crystal display of claim 14 wherein said second column lead is the only one of said column leads which is between said electrodes in said first and second columns which are positioned laterally from and adjacent to said second column lead.

16. The liquid crystal display of claim 9 wherein said display has a multiplex ratio of 1/4.

17. The liquid crystal display of claim 16 wherein said bridges interconnecting said electrodes in said columns each are

(a) spaced away from said portion of said first plate intermediate said first and second columns;

and,

(b) intermediate a pair of said electrodes on said first plate.

18. The liquid crystal display of claim 17 wherein said second column lead is the only one of said column leads which is between said electrodes in said first and second columns which are positioned laterally from and adjacent to said second column lead.