# US 5,706,021 A · Liquid crystal display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,021 A - Document ID: US5706021A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/387,629 - Filed: 1995-02-13 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1992-03-19 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Katsumi Kurematsu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706021A ## CPC - G09G 3/2011: {by amplitude modulation} - G09G 3/3637: {with intermediate tones displayed by domain size control (domain size control in flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays having memory effects G09G3/207)} - G09G 3/207: {by domain size control (G09G3/3637 takes precedence)} - G09G 2310/06: Details of flat display driving waveforms - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A liquid crystal display apparatus for a matrix display is constituted by a plurality of data electrodes, a plurality of scanning electrodes disposed opposite to and intersecting the data electrodes so as to form a pixel at each overlapping of the data electrodes and scanning electrodes, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the data electrodes and scanning electrodes, and plural gradation electrodes disposed at each pixel. The gradation electrodes are capacitively coupled to each other and capacitively or electrically coupled to an associated one of the scanning electrodes and data electrodes so as to apply stepwise different voltages across the liquid crystal layer between the gradation electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes and scanning electrodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A liquid crystal apparatus, comprising: a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes, wherein the data electrodes are spaced from and disposed opposite to and intersecting the scanning electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning and data electrodes, said scanning electrodes and said data electrodes respectively being in the form of stripes and extending perpendicular to each other; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes such that a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer at each pixel between a pair formed by one of the scanning electrodes and one of the data electrodes; a plurality of third electrodes disposed at each pixel, wherein the third electrodes are capacitively coupled in series to each other, and wherein one of the third electrodes is capacitively coupled or electrically directly coupled to the associated scanning electrode as to form a plurality of controlled capacitances connected in series, each capacitance being between an adjacent pair of the third electrodes, and so that stepwise different voltages are applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes; and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes each disposed between an adjacent pair of the scanning electrodes, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are disposed between an adjacent pair of a scanning electrode and an auxiliary electrode to receive stepwise different voltages formed by capacitively dividing a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the auxiliary electrode. ### Claim 2 A liquid crystal apparatus comprising: a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes, wherein the data electrodes are spaced from and disposed opposite to and intersecting the scanning electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning and data electrodes, said scanning electrodes and said data electrodes respectively being in the form of stripes and extending perpendicular to each other; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes such that a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer at each pixel between a pair formed by one of the scanning electrodes and one of the data electrodes; a plurality of third electrodes disposed at each pixel, wherein the third electrodes are capacitively coupled in series to each other, and wherein one of the third electrodes is capacitively coupled or electrically directly coupled to the associated scanning electrode as to form a plurality of controlled capacitances connected in series, each capacitance being between an adjacent pair of the third electrodes, and so that stepwise different voltages are applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes; and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes each disposed between an adjacent pair of the scanning electrodes, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are disposed between an adjacent pair of a scanning electrode and an auxiliary electrode to receive stepwise different voltages formed by capacitively dividing a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein each adjacent pair of the third electrodes is disposed at different spacings from the liquid crystal layer and the third electrodes constituting respective adjacent pairs partially overlap each other with an insulating film therebetween so as to provide one of the capacitances at an overlapping portion. ### Claim 3 A liquid crystal apparatus comprising: a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of data electrodes, wherein the data electrodes are spaced from and disposed opposite to and intersecting the scanning electrodes so as to form a pixel at each intersection of the scanning and data electrodes, said scanning electrodes and said data electrodes respectively being in the form of stripes and extending perpendicular to each other; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the scanning electrodes and the data electrodes such that a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer at each pixel between a pair formed by one of the scanning electrodes and one of the data electrodes; a plurality of third electrodes disposed at each pixel, wherein the third electrodes are capacitively coupled in series to each other, and wherein one of the third electrodes is capacitively coupled or electrically directly coupled to the associated scanning electrode as to form a plurality of controlled capacitances connected in series, each capacitance being between an adjacent pair of the third electrodes, and so that stepwise different voltages are applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and an opposite one of the data electrodes; and a plurality of auxiliary electrodes each disposed between an adjacent pair of the scanning electrodes, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are disposed between an adjacent pair of a scanning electrode and an auxiliary electrode to receive stepwise different voltages formed by capacitively dividing a potential difference between the scanning electrode and the auxiliary electrode, wherein said plurality of third electrodes are disposed in a same plane with a minute gap between each adjacent pair of the third electrodes, said minute gap determining one of the capacitances between the adjacent pair of third electrodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising means for applying a data signal to the scanning electrodes and a scanning signal to the data electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising means for applying a data signal to the data electrodes and a scanning signal to the scanning electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an adjacent pair of the third electrodes have a capacitance therebetween which is larger than that formed across the liquid crystal layer between one of the third electrodes and one of the data electrodes opposite thereto with respect to the third electrodes corresponding to one pixel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3) An apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein adjacent pairs of the third electrodes have mutually different capacitances with respect to the third electrodes corresponding to one pixel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the capacitances between the adjacent pairs of the third electrodes are adjusted so that the voltages applied across the liquid crystal layer between the third electrodes and the data electrode opposite thereto are linearly distributed at the time of writing one pixel.