Active matrix display device with electrode between adjacent pixels

• US 6,999,149 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyajima, Yasushi, Hirosawa, Koji, Yokoyama, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHECHTER, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US10/339,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 349/54, 349/55, 349/138, 349/139, 349/38
• US Class Current: 349/138
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136213 Storage capacitors associated with the pixel electrode
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/123 pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/40 Arrangements for improving the aperture ratio

Abstract

The active matrix display device has a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, which is provided with a pixel voltage through the thin film transistor, for each of pixels. A supplemental pixel electrode, which is connected to the pixel electrode of one of the pixels adjacent to each other, and which extends to the region between the two pixels adjacent to each other, is also disposed. The supplemental pixel electrode enables the region between the pixels to be used as a part of the display region. The liquid crystal of this region is also driven by the voltage same as the pixel electrode. The configuration of the peripheral circuit of the pixel portion is simplified, reducing the framing area of the panel.

Claims

1. An active matrix display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels;

a thin film transistor provided for each of the pixels;

a pixel electrode provided for each of the pixels; and

a supplemental pixel electrode provided for each of the pixels and connected to a corresponding pixel electrode,

wherein the supplemental pixel electrode extends to and covers a region between the corresponding pixel and a pixel that is next to said corresponding pixel, a part of the supplemental pixel electrode is disposed under the corresponding pixel electrode with an insulating layer disposed between the supplemental pixel electrode and the corresponding pixel electrode, and a portion of the insulating layer disposed on the supplemental pixel electrode is removed to create an opening that is disposed between the corresponding pixel and the pixel that is next to the corresponding pixel.

2. An active matrix display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels;

a thin film transistor provided for each of the pixels;

a pixel electrode provided for each of the pixels;

a floating electrode disposed to cover a region between two adjacent pixels and forming a capacitive coupling with each of the pixel electrodes of the two adjacent pixels; and

an insulating layer disposed between the floating electrode and the two corresponding pixel electrodes,

wherein the floating electrode is disposed partially under the corresponding pixel electrodes and a portion of the insulating layer disposed on the floating electrode is removed.