Active matrix display devices having bidirectional non-linear devices connected between adjacent pixels and respective address conductor

Abstract

An active matrix display device comprises an array of display elements (12), e.g. liquid crystal display elements, connected between sets of row and column address conductors (22,24). A display element electrode (20) is connected to an associated address conductor (22) of one set via two, parallel, switch means each of which comprises at least two, two-terminal, bi-directional, non-linear devices (30), for example, MIM type thin film diode devices, connected in series. A bidirectional, non-linear device (e.g. 30b) of each switch means (e.g. 30a, 30b) is shared by, and comprises a part of, a switch means (e.g. 30b, 30e) associated with a respective adjacent display element, there being in each switch means at least one non-linear device (e.g. 30a) between the shared device (30b) and the display element electrode (20). In addition to providing fault tolerance in the event of a defective, open-circuit, device (30), the arrangement also allows any defective, short-circuit, device to be easily identified and removed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.