Display device

• US 9,269,725 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei
• Primary Examiner(s): EURICE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US13/011,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 257/43, 257/57, 257/59, 257/66, 257/72, 257/79, 257/197, 257/347, 257/368, 257/410, 257/499, 257/646, 257/775, 257/E21.078, 257/E21.462, 257/E21.464, 257/E21.7, 257/E21.703, 257/E27.12, 257/E29.001, 257/E29.002, 257/E29.003, 257/E29.147, 257/E29.151, 257/E29.262, 257/E29.255, 257/E29.273, 257/E29.296, 257/E33.001, 313500-506, 315/169.2, 315/169.3, 345/76, 345/77, 345/81, 345/82, 345/87, 345/89, 345/102, 345/97, 345/107, 349/38, 349/39, 349/43, 349/48, 438/104, 438/149, 438/151, 438/158, 438/769, 445/24
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0252 Improving the response speed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/103 Detection of image changes, e.g. determination of an index representative of the image change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/16 Determination of a pixel data signal depending on the signal applied in the previous frame
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3629 using liquid crystals having memory effects, e.g. ferroelectric liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3651 using multistable liquid crystals, e.g. ferroelectric liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3655 Details of drivers for counter electrodes, e.g. common electrodes for pixel capacitors or supplementary storage capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1225 with semiconductor materials not belonging to the group IV of the periodic table, e.g. InGaZnO

Abstract

A driver circuit portion of a display device has a function in which image signals are written to a selected pixel successively so as to display an image on a screen and a function in which writing operation of an image signal is stopped and a transistor is turned off so as to maintain one image written to the screen when the one image is continuously displayed on the screen. Such functions are achieved by a transistor whose off current per micrometer in channel width is reduced to an extremely low value that is lower than 10 zA/μm at room temperature and lower than 100 zA/μm at 85° C.

Claims

1. A display device provided with a display panel comprising:

a pixel portion comprising a pixel, wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal display element and a first transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer;

a driver circuit portion configured to drive the pixel portion and display an image on a screen; and

a switching element comprising a second transistor including the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a crystal,

wherein a c-axis of the crystal is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to each other with the liquid crystal display element,

wherein the driver circuit portion has a function to write a first image signal and a second image signal to the pixel successively so as to display an image on the screen, and a function to stop a writing operation of the second image signal and turn the first transistor off so as to maintain one image written to the screen when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal, and

wherein an off current of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is lower than 10 zA/μ

m at room temperature and lower than 100 zA μ

m at 85 °

C.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an interval between the first image signal and the second image signal written to the pixel is longer than one second when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting unit, wherein a light source of the lighting unit is a light-emitting diode or an organic electroluminescence element.

4. The display device according to claim 1,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a gate line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the gate line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

5. The display device according to claim 1,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a signal line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the signal line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

6. The display device according to claim 1,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is an intrinsic semiconductor or a substantially intrinsic semiconductor, and

wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage capacitor connected to a pixel electrode, and

wherein the storage capacitor is provided in parallel to a liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display element.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein potentials of a pixel electrode and a common electrode are set in a floating state when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

9. The display device according to claim 1,

wherein a thin film represented by a chemical formula of InMO₃(ZnO)_m(m>

0, where m is not an integer) is used as the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein M represents one or more metal elements selected from Ga, Al, Mn, and Co.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

16. The display device according to claim 9,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is an intrinsic semiconductor or a substantially intrinsic semiconductor, and

wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

11. A display device provided with a display panel comprising:

a pixel portion comprising a pixel, wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal display element and a first transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer;

a driver circuit portion configured to drive the pixel portion and display an image on a screen; and

a switching element comprising a second transistor including the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a crystal,

wherein a c-axis of the crystal is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to each other with the liquid crystal display element,

wherein the driver circuit portion has a function to select a first operation mode and a second operation mode,

wherein the first operation mode is to perform a writing operation by writing a first image signal and a second image signal to the pixel successively so as to display an image on the screen, and

wherein the second operation mode is to stop a writing operation so as to maintain one image written to the screen when the a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal, and

wherein an off current of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is lower than 10 zA/ μ

m at room temperature and lower than 100 zA/ μ

m at 85 °

C.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein an interval between the first image signal and the second image signal written to the pixel is longer than one second when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

13. The display device according to claim 11, further comprising a lighting unit, wherein a light source of the lighting unit is a light-emitting diode or an organic electroluminescence element.

14. The display device according to claim 11,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a gate line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the gate line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

15. The display device according to claim 11,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a signal line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a source electrode or a drain electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the signal line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

17. The display device according to claim 11, further comprising a storage capacitor connected to a pixel electrode, and

wherein the storage capacitor is provided in parallel to a liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display element.

18. The display device according to claim 11, wherein potentials of a pixel electrode and a common electrode are set in a floating state when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

19. The display device according to claim 11,

wherein a thin film represented by a chemical formula of InMO₃(ZnO)_m(m>

0, where m is not an integer) is used as the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein M represents one or more metal elements selected from Ga, Al, Mn, and Co.

20. The display device according to claim 11, wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

21. A display device provided with a display panel comprising:

a pixel portion comprising a pixel, wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal display element and a first transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer;

a driver circuit portion configured to drive the pixel portion and display an image on a screen; and

a switching element comprising a second transistor including the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a crystal,

wherein a c-axis of the crystal is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to each other with the liquid crystal display element,

wherein the driver circuit portion has a function to write a first image signal and a second image signal to the pixel successively so as to display an image on the screen, and a function to stop a writing operation of the second image signal and turn the first transistor off so as to maintain one image written to the screen when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal,

wherein an off current of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is lower than 10 zA/ μ

m at room temperature and lower than 100 zA/ μ

m at 85 °

C., and

wherein a source electrode and a drain electrode of each of the first transistor and the second transistor comprise metal nitride.

22. The display device according to claim 21, wherein an interval between the first image signal and the second image signal written to the pixel is longer than one second when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

23. The display device according to claim 21, further comprising a lighting unit,

wherein a light source of the lighting unit is a light-emitting diode or an organic electroluminescence element.

24. The display device according to claim 21,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a gate line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the gate line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

25. The display device according to claim 21,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a signal line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to the source electrode or the drain electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the signal line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

26. The display device according to claim 21,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is an intrinsic semiconductor or a substantially intrinsic semiconductor, and

wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

27. The display device according to claim 21, further comprising a storage capacitor connected to a pixel electrode, and

wherein the storage capacitor is provided in parallel to a liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display element.

28. The display device according to claim 21, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode of each of the first transistor and the second transistor comprise tungsten nitride, titanium nitride, or molybdenum nitride.

29. The display device according to claim 21, wherein potentials of a pixel electrode and a common electrode are set in a floating state when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

30. The display device according to claim 21,

wherein a thin film represented by a chemical formula of InMO₃(ZnO)_m(m>

0, where m is not an integer) is used as the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein M represents one or more metal elements selected from Ga, Al, Mn, and Co.

31. The display device according to claim 21, wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

32. A display device provided with a display panel comprising:

a pixel portion comprising a pixel, wherein the pixel comprises a liquid crystal display element and a first transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer;

a driver circuit portion configured to drive the pixel portion and display an image on a screen; and

a switching element comprising a second transistor including the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer comprises a crystal,

wherein a c-axis of the crystal is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the oxide semiconductor layer,

wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to each other with the liquid crystal display element,

wherein the driver circuit portion has a function to select a first operation mode and a second operation mode,

wherein the first operation mode is to perform a writing operation by writing a first image signal and a second image signal to the pixel successively so as to display an image on the screen, and

wherein the second operation mode is to stop a writing operation so as to maintain one image written to the screen when the a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal,

wherein an off current of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is lower than 10 zA/ μ

m at room temperature and lower than 100 zA/μ

m at 85 °

C., and

wherein a source electrode and a drain electrode of each of the first transistor and the second transistor comprise metal nitride.

33. The display device according to claim 32, wherein an interval between the first image signal and the second image signal written to the pixel is longer than one second when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

34. The display device according to claim 32, further comprising a lighting unit,

wherein a light source of the lighting unit is a light-emitting diode or an organic electroluminescence element.

35. The display device according to claim 32,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a gate line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to a gate electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the gate line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

36. The display device according to claim 32,

wherein the driver circuit portion comprises a signal line driver circuit configured to transmit a signal to the source electrode or the drain electrode of the first transistor, and

wherein the signal line driver circuit is formed over a substrate over which the pixel portion is formed.

37. The display device according to claim 32,

wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is an intrinsic semiconductor or a substantially intrinsic semiconductor, and

wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.

38. The display device according to claim 32, further comprising a storage capacitor connected to a pixel electrode, and

wherein the storage capacitor is provided in parallel to a liquid crystal layer of the liquid crystal display element.

39. The display device according to claim 32, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode of each of the first transistor and the second transistor comprise tungsten nitride, titanium nitride, or molybdenum nitride.

40. The display device according to claim 32, wherein potentials of a pixel electrode and a common electrode are set in a floating state when a difference is not detected between the first image signal and the second image signal.

41. The display device according to claim 32,

wherein a thin film represented by a chemical formula of InMO₃(ZnO)m (m>

0, where m is not an integer) is used as the oxide semiconductor layer, and

wherein M represents one or more metal elements selected from Ga, Al, Mn, and Co.

42. The display device according to claim 32, wherein a channel formation region of each of the first transistor and the second transistor is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer.