Liquid crystal display device and method of driving the same

• US 5,867,139 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 02/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unified Innovative Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimada, Takayuki, Ochi, Takashi, Tanaka, Shinya, Katayama, Mikio, Kanemori, Yuzuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/835,207
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/93, 345/92
• US Class Current: 345/92
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13606 having means for reducing parasitic capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/043 Compensation electrodes or other additional electrodes in matrix displays related to distortions or compensation signals, e.g. for modifying TFT threshold voltage in column driver
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device is formed by arranging a plurality of scanning lines 3₁, 3₂, . . . to which scanning signals are successively applied and a plurality of signal lines 4₁, 4₂, . . . to which data signals are successively applied to intersect at right angles. Mounted in the vicinity of each of the intersections of the scanning lines 3₁, 3₂, . . . and signal lines 4₁, 4₂, . . . are a TFT 5 electrically connected to both of the lines, and a pixel electrode 6 connected to the TFT 5. A common electrode is placed to face the pixel electrode 6 with liquid crystals 2 therebetween. One of electrodes of a pixel capacitance formed by the pixel electrode 6 is connected to a common line 9 for supplying a common signal to the common electrode 7. A dummy scanning line 3₀ for forming a capacitance is arranged outside of the scanning line 3₁ located at the outermost position on a scanning start side of scanning signal. In this structure, since an equal parasitic capacitance is generated in the pixels irrespectively of their positions, it is possible to eliminate defects, such as deterioration of display quality due to an appearance of a bright line in particular pixels.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a pair of substrates sandwiching liquid crystals therebetween;

a plurality of scanning lines to which scanning signals are successively applied;

a plurality of signal lines to which data signals are successively applied, said signal lines intersecting said scanning lines at right angles;

a switching element which is arranged in a vicinity of each of intersections of said scanning lines and said signal lines, and electrically connected to both of said scanning and signal lines;

a pixel electrode connected to each of said switching elements;

said scanning lines, signal lines, switching elements and pixel electrodes being formed on one of said substrates,

a common electrode formed on the other of said substrates so that said common electrode faces said pixel electrode with said liquid crystals therebetween;

a common line for supplying a common signal to said common electrode;

a pixel capacitance, one of electrodes of said pixel capacitance formed by said pixel electrode being connected to said common line; and

a dummy scanning line formed outside of one of said scanning lines located at an outermost position on either a scanning start side or a scanning end side of scanning signal, for producing a parasitic capacitance between said dummy scanning line and the pixel electrode connected to the scanning line located at the outermost position.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,

wherein said dummy scanning line is arranged at a pitch equal to a pitch of other adjacent scanning lines so that said pixel electrode is located between said dummy scanning line and the scanning line located at the outermost position.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1,

wherein an inter-layer insulating film is formed over said switching elements, scanning lines and signal lines, and

each of said pixel electrodes overlaps said dummy scanning line and adjacent scanning line corresponding to said pixel electrode with said inter-layer insulating film therebetween.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising signal input means for inputting a signal to said dummy scanning line.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs a signal to said dummy scanning line before an output of a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on the scanning start side of scanning signal.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs a signal to said dummy scanning line after an output of a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on the scanning end side of scanning signal.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs a scanning signal generated exclusively for said dummy scanning line to said dummy scanning line.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs to said dummy scanning line a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on either the scanning start side or the scanning end side of scanning signal.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs to said dummy scanning line the common signal to be input to said common electrode.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4,

wherein said signal input means inputs to said dummy scanning line a scanning signal of a level which does not turn on said switching elements formed on said substrate.

11. A method of driving a liquid crystal display device including a plurality of scanning line to which scanning signals are successively applied, a plurality of signal lines to which data signals are successively applied, a switching element which is arranged in a vicinity of each of intersections of the scanning lines and the signal lines and connected to both of the scanning and signal lines, a pixel electrode connected to each of the switching element, a pixel capacitance formed by the pixel electrode, a common electrode which is arranged to face the pixel electrode, liquid crystals placed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and a dummy scanning line formed outside of one of the scanning lines located at an outermost position on either a scanning start side or a scanning end side of scanning signal to produce a parasitic capacitance between the dummy scanning line and the pixel electrode connected to the scanning line located at the outermost position, said method comprising the steps of:

supplying the scanning signal and the data signal to the switching element and supplying a common signal to one of electrodes of the pixel capacitance so as to change an electric potential between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and vary a transmittance of the liquid crystals; and

inputting a signal to the dummy scanning line.

12. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is output before an output of a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on the scanning start side of scanning signal.

13. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is output after an output of a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on the scanning end side of scanning signal.

14. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is a scanning signal generated exclusively for the dummy scanning line.

15. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is a scanning signal to be input to the scanning line located at the outermost position on either the scanning start side or the scanning end side of scanning signal.

16. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is the common signal to be applied to the common electrode.

17. The method of driving the liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the signal to be input to the dummy scanning line is a scanning signal of a level which does not turn on the switching elements.