Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof, and drive control method of lighting unit

• US 7,248,245 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Display Central Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co Ltd (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adachi, Katsumi, Handa, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESPERANCE, JEAN E
• Application Number:
  US11/483,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 345 83-102, 345/204, 345/690
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336

Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, plural pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on a second substrate, a counter electrode provided on one of first substrate and the second substrate and plural switching elements connected to the respective plural pixel electrodes, a display drive control unit for driving the liquid crystal disposed between each of the pixel electrodes and the counter electrode, a lighting unit having LEDs emitting light of respective red, green and blue colors, and a lighting device control unit for making each LED of color perform time-division light emission in synchronization with the switching of each of the switching elements.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal sandwiched between said first substrate and said second substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on said second substrate, a counter electrode provided on one of said first substrate and said second substrate and a plurality of switching elements connected to said respective plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display drive control unit for driving said liquid crystal sandwiched between each of said pixel electrodes and said counter electrode by switching each of said switching elements to apply a voltage to each of said pixel electrodes;

a lighting unit having LEDs emitting light of respective red, green and blue colors, and applying said light of each color toward said liquid crystal display panel; and

a lighting drive control unit for making said LED of each color perform time-division light emission in synchronization with the switching of each of said switching elements,

wherein said lighting drive control unit comprises a switching transformer which generates a drive voltage for said LED of each color at its secondary side based on a light emission control signal input to its primary side, and said switching transformer comprises a primary winding and a secondary winding at the primary side and the secondary side, respectively, said secondary winding comprising an output tap at some midpoint of the winding, and wherein at least one of said LEDs of respective colors is connected to an end portion of said secondary winding and one of remaining LEDs is connected to said output tap.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said LED connected to said output tap is the LED of red color.

3. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal display panel having a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal sandwiched between said first substrate and said second substrate, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on said second substrate, a counter electrode provided on one of said first substrate and said second substrate and a plurality of switching elements connected to said respective plurality of pixel electrodes;

a display drive control unit for driving said liquid crystal sandwiched between each of said pixel electrodes and said counter electrode by switching each of said switching elements to apply a voltage to each of said pixel electrodes;

a lighting unit having LEDs emitting light of respective red, green and blue colors, and applying said light of each color toward said liquid crystal display panel; and

a lighting drive control unit for making said LED of each color perform time-division light emission in synchronization with the switching of each of said switching elements,

wherein said lighting drive control unit comprises a pulse generator which generates a pulse signal having a desired pulse width and a switching transformer which generates a drive voltage for said LED of each color at its secondary side based on said pulse signal input to its primary side, and modulates the pulse width of said pulse signal for each of said LEDs of respective colors.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein said pulse width is modulated so that the drive voltage applied to said LED of red color becomes the lowest.