Apparatus and method for providing a gray scale capability in a liquid crystal display unit
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorsAnthony J. Bernot, Michael J. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid crystal display is described that includes gray scale capability. Each pixel of the display is subdivided into a plurality of subpixels. Each subpixel includes an effective capacitor, with the liquid crystal material contained between the effective capacitor plates, and includes a control capacitor coupled in series with the effective capacitor. By controlling the capacitance of the control capacitors of the subpixels, selected subpixels can be activated as a function of the voltage applied across the series capacitors. By controlling the number of subpixels that are activated by the applied voltage, a gray scale capability can be provided for a liquid crystal display.
Claims20
A flat panel liquid crystal display having a pluarlity of pixel element, each pixel element comprising:
- a first surface having a conducting material applied thereto;
- a second surface having a conducting material applied thereto, said first and said second surface enclosing said pixel element;
- a plurality of subpixel elements, each subpixel element including;
- a first volume proximate said first surface having said liquid crystal contained therein, and
- a second volume between said first volume and said second surface contained therein, said second volume having therein a dielectric material, wherein said second volume determines an electric field applied to said first volume liquid crystal when a voltage is applied to said first surface conducting material and said second surface conducting material, said second volume adapted to provide saturation of optical activity of said first volume liquid crystal for a preselected voltage
The method of implementing a gray scale for a pixel in a liquid crystal display, said method comprising the steps of:
- dividing said pixel into an plurality of subpixels;
- enclosing each subpixel between a first and a second conducting surface;
- dividing each subpixel into a first and a second volume, said first volume proximate said first conducting surface, said second volume proximate said second conducting surface, said first and said second volume sharing a common boundary;
- placing a liquid crystal material in said first volume;
- fabricating said second volume with a dielectric material;
- and
- applying a voltage to between said first and said second conducting surface, said voltage causing an electric field to be applied to said liquid crystal material, said electric field being determined by subpixel parameters, said subpixel parameters adjusted to provide optical activity saturation of each subpixel for a preselected voltage.
A liquid crystal display comprising:
- a multiplicity of liquid crystal pixels, each of said pixels including;
- a plurality of subpixels each of said subpixels having;
- a first transparent conductor proximate a first surface of said subpixels,
- a second transparent conductor proximate a second surface of said subpixel,
- a first volume in contact with said first subpixel surface, said first volume having a liquid crystal material therein,
- a second volume in contact with said second subpixel surface said first volume, said second volume having a dielectric material therein, and
- voltage mean for applying a voltage to a preselected pixel, said voltage being applied to said first and said second conductors, wherein each subpixel is adapted to apply and electric field resulting optical activity saturation of said subpixel liquid crystal material for a selected voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.