Dimming device, display device, and method for driving dimming device

A display device comprising:

• a transparent display;
• and
• a dimming device that is arranged on a back surface side of the transparent display and is capable of controlling light transmittance,
• the dimming device comprising a dimming panel,
• the dimming panel comprising:
• a dimming layer that has a plurality of regions partitioned in a matrix;
• a plurality of column electrodes that is arranged in a row direction along a front surface of the dimming layer, each of the column electrodes extending in a column direction;
• and
• a plurality of row electrodes that faces the plurality of column electrodes with the plurality of regions interposed therebetween and is arranged in the column direction along a back surface of the dimming layer, each of the row electrodes extending in the row direction, wherein:
• the dimming panel is capable of controlling a light transmittance to a first transmittance or a second transmittance,
• during a frame period, each region interposed between the plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes are controlled to either the first transmittance or the second transmittance,
• a first group of regions comprises each region controlled to the first transmittance,
• a second group of regions comprises each region controlled to the second transmittance,
• voltages having substantially a same waveform during the frame period are input to a column electrode and a row electrode corresponding to each of one or more regions within the first group of regions, and voltages having waveforms different from each other during the frame period are supplied to a column electrode and a row electrode corresponding to each of one or more regions within the second group of regions, among the plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes,
• during the frame period, an effective voltage applied to the each of the one or more regions within the first group of regions is substantially zero, and an amplitude of an effective voltage applied to the each of the one or more regions within the second group of regions is a value larger than zero, and
• the value larger than zero is equal between all of the one or more regions within the second group of regions.

A method for driving a dimming device including a dimming panel, the dimming panel including:

• a dimming layer that has a plurality of regions partitioned in a matrix;
• a plurality of column electrodes that is arranged in a row direction along a front surface of the dimming layer, each of the column electrodes extending in a column direction;
• and a plurality of row electrodes that faces the plurality of column electrodes with the plurality of regions interposed therebetween and is arranged in the column direction along a back surface of the dimming layer, each of the row electrodes extending in the row direction, wherein the dimming panel is capable of controlling a light transmittance to a first transmittance or a second transmittance, the method comprising:
• supplying voltages to the plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes, wherein:
• during a frame period, each region interposed between the plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes are controlled to either the first transmittance or the second transmittance,
• a first group of regions comprises each region controlled to the first transmittance,
• a second group of regions comprises each region controlled to the second transmittance,
• voltages having substantially a same waveform during the frame period are input to a column electrode and a row electrode corresponding to each of one or more regions within the first group of regions, and voltages having waveforms different from each other during the frame period are supplied to a column electrode and a row electrode corresponding to each of one or more regions within the second group of regions, among the plurality of column electrodes and the plurality of row electrodes,
• during the frame period, an effective voltage applied to the each of the one or more regions within the first group of regions is substantially zero, and an amplitude of an effective voltage applied to the each of the one or more regions within the second group of regions is a value larger than zero, and
• the value larger than zero is equal between all of the one or more regions within the second group of regions.