Display apparatus and method of driving the same

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2007-140488, filed on Dec. 28, 2007, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a method of driving and repairing the display apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a display apparatus having an improved display characteristic and an increased efficiency of a repair process, and a method of driving and repairing the display apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) displays an image by controlling a light transmittance of a liquid crystal using an electric field to. The LCD includes a liquid crystal display panel in which liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix configuration, and a driving circuit which drives the liquid crystal display panel.

The driving circuit includes a gate driver which drives gate lines arranged in the liquid crystal display panel and a data driver which drives data lines arranged in the liquid crystal display. The gate driver and the data driver are integrated into a plurality of gate driver integrated circuits (“ICs”) and a plurality of data driver ICs, respectively. The plurality of gate driver ICs and the plurality of data driver ICs are mounted on a tape carrier package (“TCP”) and are attached to the liquid crystal display panel by a tape automated bonding (“TAB”) method, or the plurality of gate driver ICs and the plurality of data driver ICs are mounted on the liquid crystal display panel by a chip on glass (“COG”) method.

The LCD to which the chip on glass method is applied further includes a flexible printed circuit board (“FPCB”) to electrically connect the liquid crystal display panel and the printed circuit board. As a number and a size of flexible printed circuit boards increase, a productivity of the LCD decreases. However, when the number and/or the size of the flexible printed circuit boards decreases, signals applied to the plurality of gate driver ICs and/or the plurality of data driver ICs are delayed, thereby deteriorating an image display quality.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a display apparatus having an improved image display quality, productivity and efficiency of a repair process thereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of driving the display apparatus, and a method of repairing the same.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus includes a display panel, a plurality of driver integrated circuits (“ICs”), a printed circuit board, and a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards. The display panel includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines, data lines of the plurality of data lines being insulated from and intersecting gate lines of the plurality of gate lines. The gate lines are configured to receive a gate signal and the data lines are configured to receive a data signal to display an image. The driver ICs are disposed on the display panel and are electrically connected to the data lines to convert an image signal to the data signal based on a control signal.

The printed circuit board outputs the control signal that controls drive operations of the driver ICs and the image signal. Flexible printed circuit boards of the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards are attached to the display panel and the printed circuit board to apply the control signal and the image signal from the printed circuit board to the driver ICs. A total number of the flexible printed circuit boards is less than a number of the driver ICs.

The driver ICs are divided into a first driver group and a second driver group, and the data lines are divided into a first group of data lines and a second group of data lines. The driver ICs of the first driver group are directly connected to corresponding flexible printed circuit boards, and the driver ICs of the second driver group are connected to adjacent driver ICs.

A driver IC of the first driver group outputs a first repair signal to repair at least one data line of the first group of data lines corresponding to the first driver group of driver ICs, and a driver IC of the second driver group outputs outputs a second repair signal to repair at least one data line of the second group of data lines corresponding to the second driver group.

The display apparatus further includes a repair part disposed on the display panel and including a first repair line part which at least partially overlaps first ends of the data lines, and a second repair line part which at least partially overlaps opposite second ends of the data.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the driver ICs of the first driving group includes a first repair input terminal, a second repair input terminal, a first repair output terminal and a second repair output terminal.

The first repair line part includes a plurality of first repair lines and a plurality of second repair lines.

Each of the first repair lines is electrically connected to the first repair input terminal of each of the driver ICs of the first driver group and at least partially overlaps the first ends of the data lines of the first group of data lines. Each of the second repair lines is electrically connected to a second repair input terminal of each of the driver ICs of the first driver group and at least partially overlaps the first ends of the data lines of the second group of data lines.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of driving a display apparatus includes receiving a control signal and an image signal with a plurality of driver ICs. The image signal is converted to a data signal by the plurality of driver ICs based on the control signal. The data signal is outputted to a plurality of data lines, and an image is displayed on the display device based on the data signal.

The method further includes dividing the plurality of driver integrated circuits into a first group of driver integrated circuits and a second group of driver integrated circuits.

When a first data line of the plurality of data lines which corresponds to a driver IC of the first driver group is disconnected, opposite ends of the first data line are connected to a first repair line branching from the driver IC of the first group which corresponds to the first data line. Thus, a first repair signal is provided to the driver IC of the first driver group connected to the first data line.

When a second data line of the plurality of data lines corresponding to a driver IC of the second driver group is disconnected, opposite ends of the second data line are connected to a second repair line branching from the driver IC of the first driver group. Thus, a second repair signal is output to the driver IC of the first group connected to the second data line.

In yet another alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus includes display panel including a plurality of gate lines, a first group of data lines and a second group of data lines disposed thereon, a first group of driver integrated circuits and a second group of driver integrated circuits mounted on the display panel and electrically connected to the first group of data lines and the second group of data lines, respectively, and a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards arranged in the display panel.

A total number of flexible printed circuit boards of the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards is less than a total number of driver integrated circuits. The first group of driver integrated circuits is directly connected to a corresponding flexible printed circuit board to output a first repair signal to a data line of the first group of data lines. The second group of driver integrated circuits outputs a second repair signal from an adjacent driver integrated circuit of the second group of driver integrated circuits to a data line of the second group of data lines.

Accordingly, a number of flexible printed circuit boards decreases in a display device according to an exemplary embodiment, thereby improving a productivity, e.g., a production efficiency, of the display apparatus. Also, a signal provided to the driver ICs is effectively prevented from being delayed, thereby improving an image display quality of the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent by describing in further detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an operational amplifier of a first driver integrated circuit (“IC”) of the liquid crystal display according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a repair process of the liquid crystal display according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a repair process of the liquid crystal display according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 .

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” “third” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to other elements as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on the “upper” side of the other elements. The exemplary term “lower” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of “lower” and “upper”, depending upon the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures were turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning which is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to cross section illustrations which are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes which result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles which are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic circuit diagram of an operational amplifier of a first driver integrated circuit (“IC”) of the liquid crystal display according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 1 , a liquid crystal display 500 includes a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel 100 which displays an image thereon, a printed circuit board (“PCB”) 300 disposed adjacent to the liquid crystal display panel 100 , as well as a first flexible printed circuit board (“FPCB”) 410 and a second flexible printed circuit board 420 which electrically connect the liquid crystal display panel 100 to the printed circuit board 300 .

The liquid crystal display panel 100 includes an array substrate 110 , an opposite substrate 120 substantially facing the array substrate 110 and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposed between the array substrate 110 and the opposite substrate 120 . A plurality of pixels, each including a pixel area, is disposed in a display area DA of the array substrate 110 in a substantially matrix configuration, while a plurality of gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn and a plurality of data lines DL 1 ˜DLm are disposed in the display area DA of the array substrate 110 , as shown in FIG. 1 . The plurality of gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn are insulated from and substantially intersect the plurality of data lines DL 1 ˜DLm. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, intersections of the plurality of gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn and the plurality of data lines DL 1 ˜DL define the pixel areas, and the pixels are arranged in respective corresponding pixel areas.

Each pixel includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode (neither shown), and the pixel electrode is disposed to substantially face a common electrode (not shown) disposed on the opposite substrate 120 . The liquid crystal layer is interposed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Thus, an electric field generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode controls a light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer, and as a result, the liquid crystal display panel 100 displays an image corresponding to a desired gray-scale.

A driving circuit is disposed on the liquid crystal display panel 100 . In an exemplary embodiment, the driving circuit includes a first gate driving circuit 210 , a second gate driving circuit 220 , and first through eighth driver integrated circuits (“ICs”) 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively. However, a number of driver ICs disposed on the liquid crystal display panel 100 is not limited to the above-described number; rather alternative exemplary embodiments may have more than or, alternatively, less than, eight driver ICs.

In an exemplary embodiment, for example, the total number of driver ICs may be equal to 2n (where n is a natural number), and the total number of flexible printed circuit board may be equal to n/2. In yet another exemplary embodiment, n is an even number greater than or equal to 4.

The first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 are directly formed in a peripheral area PA of the array substrate 110 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 are formed through a thin film process is applied to form the pixels on the array substrate 110 . The first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 are disposed on the array substrate 110 to substantially face opposite ends of the opposite substrate 120 , as shown in FIG. 1 .

The first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 each include a shift register (not shown) to sequentially output a gate signal. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first gate driving circuit 210 is electrically connected to first ends of the gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn, and the second gate driving circuit 220 is electrically connected to second ends of the gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn, as shown in FIG. 1 . In operation of the LCD 500 , the first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 are substantially simultaneously turned on to sequentially apply the gate signal to the first end and the second end of the gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn, respectively.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first gate driving circuit 210 may be electrically connected to first ends of odd-numbered gate lines of the plurality of gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn, and the second gate driving circuit 220 may be electrically connected to second ends of even-numbered gate lines of the plurality of gate lines GL 1 ˜GLn.

The first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, are disposed in the peripheral area PA of the array substrate 110 and are electrically connected to first ends of the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm, as shown in FIG. 1 , to provide a data signal to the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm.

The printed circuit board 300 includes a control circuit which controls a drive operation of the first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 and the first though eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively. Therefore, the printed circuit board 300 outputs a gate control signal which controls the drive of the first gate driving circuit 210 and the second gate driving circuit 220 , a data control signal which controls the drive of the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, and an image signal.

First ends of the first flexible printed circuit board 410 and the second flexible printed circuit board 420 are attached to the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and second ends of the first flexible printed circuit board 410 and the second flexible printed circuit board 420 are attached to the printed circuit board 300 , as shown in FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the gate control signal, the data control signal and the image signal outputted from the printed circuit board 300 are transmitted to the liquid crystal display panel 100 via the first flexible printed circuit board 410 and the second flexible printed circuit board 420 . Specifically, the first flexible printed circuit board 410 transmits the data control signal which controls the drive of the first through fourth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 and 234 of the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, and the image signal, while the second flexible printed circuit board 420 transmits the data control signal which controls the drive of the fifth through eighth driver ICs 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 of the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, and the image signal.

The first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, convert the image signal to the data signal in response to the data control signal and provide the data signal to corresponding data lines DL which are connected to the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are fewer flexible printed circuit boards than driver ICs, e.g., a number of the flexible printed circuit boards is less than a number of the driver ICs. Therefore, each flexible printed circuit board transmits a signal to only two adjacent driver ICs of corresponding driver ICs, and the remaining two driver ICs receive the signal from respective adjacent driver ICs. Since there are fewer flexible printed circuit boards than driver ICs, the number of the flexible printed circuit boards in the LCD 500 according to an exemplary embodiment is reduced relative to an LCD of the prior art. Therefore, a manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display 500 is substantially reduced and a productivity, e.g., a production efficiency, of the liquid crystal display 500 is thereby improved.

In an exemplary embodiment, a number of the driver ICs which correspond to each flexible printed circuit board may be limited to approximately 4 or approximately 6, in order to prevent a delay of signal transmissions which may degrade a display quality of the liquid crystal display 500 .

The liquid crystal display 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention further includes a repair part which repairs the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm disposed on the liquid crystal display panel 100 .

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the repair part includes a plurality of first repair line parts RP 1 and a plurality of second repair line parts RP 2 . Each of the first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, of the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, includes a first repair line part RP 1 ( FIG. 1 ) of the plurality of first repair line parts RP 1 , as well as a first repair input terminal IT 1 ( FIG. 2 ), a second repair input terminal IT 2 ( FIG. 2 ), a first repair output terminal OT 1 ( FIG. 2 ) and a second repair output terminal OT 2 ( FIG. 2 ).

Each first repair line part RP 1 includes a plurality of first repair lines RL 1 and a plurality of second repair lines RL 2 . Each first repair line RL 1 of the plurality of first repair lines RL 1 is electrically connected to the first repair input terminal IT 1 of a corresponding driver IC of the first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, and crosses the first ends of the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm connected to the corresponding driver IC, as shown in FIG. 1 . Each second repair line RL 2 of the plurality of second repair lines RL 2 is electrically connected to the second repair input terminal IT 2 of the corresponding driver IC and crosses the first ends of the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm which are connected to a closest driver IC from the corresponding driver IC of the third, fourth, seventh and eighth driver ICs 233 , 234 , 237 and 238 , respectively.

In a repair process according to an exemplary embodiment, when a data line, of the plurality of data lines DL 1 ˜DLm, which crosses the first repair line RL 1 and the second repair line RL 2 is disconnected, the first repair line RL 1 and the second repair line RL 2 are electrically connected to the first end of the disconnected data line.

The second repair line part RP 2 includes a third repair line RL 3 and a fourth repair line RL 4 . The third repair line RL 3 and the fourth repair line RL 4 are disposed substantially around an outer periphery of the display area DA of the liquid crystal display panel 100 in the peripheral area PA in which the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, are disposed, and cross second ends of the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm, as shown in FIG. 1 .

The third repair line RL 3 and the fourth repair line RL 4 are electrically connected to a second end of a data line which is electrically connected to one of the first repair line RL 1 and the second repair line RL 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the repair part includes a plurality of amplifiers 240 included in each of the first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively. The plurality of amplifiers 240 included in the first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, each have substantially the same circuit configuration. Accordingly, only the amplifier 240 which is included in the first driver IC 231 , shown in FIG. 1 , will be described with reference to FIG. 2 , and any repetitive detailed description of the amplifiers 240 included in the second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the amplifier 240 included in the first driver IC 231 includes a first operational amplifier (“op-amp”) 241 and a second op-amp 242 .

The first op-amp 241 includes an input terminal connected to the first repair input terminal IT 1 of the first driver IC 231 , an output terminal connected to the first repair output terminal OT 1 of the first driver IC 231 , and an enable terminal connected to a first repair enable terminal RE 1 of the first driver IC 231 . The first repair enable terminal RE 1 is electrically connected to a driving voltage terminal VCC of the first driver IC 231 through a first connection line CL 1 . The first op-amp 241 further includes a feedback terminal connected to the output terminal thereof

When the first repair line RL 1 connected to the first repair input terminal IT 1 is electrically connected to the first end of the disconnected data line, the first op-amp 241 receives a data signal applied to the first end of the disconnected data line.

Conversely, when the first repair line RL 1 connected to the first repair input terminal IT 1 is not electrically connected to the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm, the first connection line CL 1 electrically connects the driving voltage terminal VCC to the first repair enable terminal RE 1 . Thus, a driving voltage is applied to the enable terminal of the first op-amp 241 to disable the first op-amp 241 . However, when the first repair line RL 1 connected to the first repair input terminal IT 1 is electrically connected to the disconnected data line in the repair process, the first connection CL 1 which electrically connects the driving voltage terminal VCC and the first repair enable terminal RE 1 is cut using, e.g., a laser cutting process.

Accordingly, the first op-amp 241 becomes enabled, and as a result, the first op-amp 241 amplifies the data signal received through the first repair input terminal IT 1 and outputs the amplified data signal through the output terminal. Since the output terminal of the first op-amp 241 is electrically connected to the first repair output terminal OT 1 of the first driver IC 231 , the amplified data signal (e.g., a repair signal) is applied to the third repair line RL 3 through the first repair output terminal OT 1 .

Still referring to FIG. 2 , the second op-amp 242 includes an input terminal connected to the second repair input terminal IT 2 of the first driver IC 231 , an output terminal connected to the second repair output terminal OT 2 of the first driver IC 231 , and an enable terminal connected to a second repair enable terminal RE 2 of the first driver IC 231 . The second repair enable terminal RE 2 is electrically connected to the driving voltage terminal VCC of the first driver IC 231 through a second connection line CL 2 . The second op-amp 242 further includes a feedback terminal connected to the output terminal thereof.

When the second repair line RL 2 connected to the second repair input terminal IT 2 is electrically connected to the first end of the disconnected data line, the second op-amp 242 receives the data signal applied to the first end of the disconnected data line.

However, when the second repair line RL 2 connected to the second repair input terminal IT 2 is not electrically connected to the data lines DL 1 ˜DLm, the second connection line CL 2 electrically connects the driving voltage terminal VCC and the second repair enable terminal RE 2 . Thus, the driving voltage is applied to the enable terminal of the second op-amp 242 to disable the second op-amp 242 . Further, when the second repair line RL 2 connected to the second repair input terminal IT 2 is electrically connected to the disconnected data line through the repair process, the second connection CL 2 which electrically connects the driving voltage terminal VCC and the second repair enable terminal RE 2 is cut, e.g., through the laser cutting process.

Accordingly, the second op-amp 242 becomes enabled, and the second op-amp 242 amplifies the data signal received through the second repair input terminal IT 2 and outputs the amplified data signal through the output terminal. Since the output terminal of the second op-amp 242 is electrically connected to the second repair output terminal OT 2 of the first driver IC 231 , the amplified data signal (e.g., the repair signal) is applied to the fourth repair line RL 4 through the second repair output terminal OT 2 .

Referring again to FIG. 1 , the repair part further includes a first via line TL 1 which electrically connects the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the first and second driver ICs 231 and 232 , respectively, and a second via line TL 2 which electrically connects the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the first and second driver ICs 231 and 232 , respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the first via line TL 1 extends from the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the first and second driver ICs 231 and 232 , respectively, to the printed circuit board 300 via the first flexible printed circuit board 410 , and the first via line TL 1 thereby electrically connects the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the first and second driver ICs 231 and 232 , respectively, on the printed circuit board 300 .

Likewise, since the second via line TL 2 extends from the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the first and second driver ICs 232 and 232 , respectively, to the printed circuit board 300 via the first flexible printed circuit board 410 , the second via line TL 2 electrically connects the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the first and second driver ICs 231 and 232 , respectively, on the printed circuit board 300 .

The repair part further includes a third via line TL 3 which electrically connects the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 and a fourth via line TL 4 which electrically connects the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 .

Since the third via line TL 3 extends from the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 , respectively, to the printed circuit board 300 via the second flexible printed circuit board 420 , the third via line TL 3 electrically connects the third repair line RL 3 and the first repair output terminals OT 1 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 , respectively, on the printed circuit board 300 .

Similarly, the fourth via line TL 4 extends from the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 , respectively, to the printed circuit board 300 via the second flexible printed circuit board 420 , and the fourth via line TL 4 therefore electrically connects the fourth repair line RL 4 and the second repair output terminals OT 2 of the fifth and sixth driver ICs 235 and 236 , respectively, on the printed circuit board 300 .

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a repair process of the liquid crystal display according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 .

In FIG. 3 , an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which a repair process repairs one disconnected data line (e.g., i-th data line DLi) of the plurality of data lines DL 1 ˜DLm connected to the first driver IC 231 , but alternative exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. Thus, repair of the i-th data line DLi will be now be described for purposes of illustration only. In FIG. 3 ., arrows indicate directions of signal paths therein.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a first end of the disconnected i-th data line DLi is electrically connected to the first repair line RL 1 that crosses the i-th data line DLi at a first point P 1 . More specifically, a laser beam, for example, is irradiated onto the first point P 1 at which the i-th data line DLi crosses the first repair line RL 1 , and the i-th data line DLi is thereby electrically connected to the first repair line RL 1 . Also, a second end of the i-th data line DLi is electrically connected to the third repair line RL 3 which crosses the i-th data line DLi at a second point P 2 . Specifically, when the laser beam is irradiated onto the second point P 2 at which the i-th data line DLi crosses the third repair line RL 3 , the i-th data line DLi is electrically connected to the third repair line RL 3 .

After the repair process described above, the first driver IC 231 connected to the i-th data line DLi outputs a corresponding data signal to the i-th data line DLi to display an image. The data signal applied to the i-th data line DLi is provided to the first repair line RL 1 through the first point P 1 . Thus, the data signal is inputted to the first repair input terminal IT 1 (see FIG. 2 ) of the first driver IC 231 via the first repair line RL 1 . The first driver IC 231 amplifies the data signal input through the first op-amp 241 and outputs a first repair signal through the first repair output terminal OT 1 ( FIG. 2 ). The first repair signal output from the first repair output terminal OT 1 is provided to the third repair line RL 3 via the first via line TL 1 and applied to the second end of the i-th data line DLi through the second point P 2 .

Accordingly, even though the i-th data line DLi is separated into two parts due to the line disconnection, the separated two parts of the i-th data line DLi are electrically connected to each other through the first repair line RL 1 and the third repair line RL 3 , as shown in FIG. 3 . As a result, the data signal applied to pixels connected to i-th data line DLi, despite the line disconnection of the i-th data line DLi, thereby effectively preventing an occurrence of a line-shaped defect, for example, in the liquid crystal display panel 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 3 , a k-th data line DLk, associated with the seventh driver IC 237 is also disconnected, e.g., after the i-th data line DLi is repaired as described above.

In a repair process of the LCD 500 according to an exemplary embodiment, a first end of the disconnected k-th data line DLk is electrically connected to the second repair line RL 2 which crosses the k-th data line DLk at a third point P 3 , while a second end of the k-th data line DLk is electrically connected to the fourth repair line RL 4 which crosses the k-th data line DLk at a fourth point P 4 , in a similar manner as discusses above with respect to the i-th data line DLi.

After the repair process for the k-th data line DLk is completed, the seventh driver IC 237 connected to the k-th data line DLk outputs a corresponding data signal to the k-th data line DLk in order to display an image. The data signal applied to the k-th data line DLk is provided to the second repair line RL 2 through the third point P 3 . Accordingly, the data signal is input to the second repair input terminal IT 2 ( FIG. 2 ) of the fifth driver IC 235 via the second repair line RL 2 . The fifth driver IC 235 amplifies the data signal and outputs a second repair signal through the second repair output terminal OT 2 . The second repair signal output from the second repair output terminal OT 2 is then provided to the fourth repair line RL 4 via the second via line TL 2 and is thereafter applied to a second end of the k-th data line DLk through the fourth point P 4 .

Thus, even when the k-th data line DLk is separated into two parts, the separated two parts of the k-th data line DLk are electrically connected to each other through the second repair line RL 2 and the fourth repair line RL 4 . As a result, the data signal is applied to pixels connected to the k-th data line DLk, thereby effectively preventing an occurrence of a line-shaped defect, for example in the liquid crystal display panel 100 of the LCD 500 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Thus, the liquid crystal display panel 100 designed to have the repair structure according to an exemplary embodiment as described in FIG. 3 may repair defects in up to two data lines DL.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4 , the same reference numerals denote the same or like elements as in FIG. 1 , and thus any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a liquid crystal display 520 includes a repair part which repairs data lines DL 1 ˜DLm disposed in a liquid crystal display panel 100 .

The repair part includes a first repair line part RP 1 and a second repair line part RP 2 . Each of first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, of first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, includes a first repair input terminal, a second repair input terminal, a first repair output terminal and a second repair output terminal, as described in greater detail above with reference to FIG. 2 .

The first repair line part RP 1 includes a plurality of first repair lines RL 1 and a plurality of second repair lines RL 2 . Each first repair line RL 1 of the plurality of first repair lines RL 1 is electrically connected to a first repair input terminal of a corresponding driver IC among the first, second, fifth and sixth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 235 and 236 , respectively, and crosses first ends of the data lines DL connected to the corresponding driver IC. Each second repair line RL 2 of the plurality of second repair lines RL 2 is electrically connected to a second repair input terminal of the corresponding driver IC and crosses first ends of the data lines DL connected to a driver IC which is immediately adjacent to the corresponding driver IC among third, fourth, seventh and eighth driver ICs 233 , 234 , 237 and 238 , respectively.

The second repair line part RP 2 includes a left-side repair line part LRP 1 disposed on a left side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 with respect to a center line CT which defines a plane positioned in the middle of the display panel 100 , e.g., a plane which is perpendicular to the display panel 100 as arranged in FIG. 4 and which approximately bisects a cross-section of the display panel 100 , as shown in FIG. 4 , and a right-side repair line part RRP 2 disposed on a right side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 with respect to the center line CT. The left-side repair line part LRP 2 and the right-side repair line part RRP 2 are electrically insulated from each other. Also, the left-side repair line part LRP 2 repairs a first data line group DLP 1 including data lines disposed on the left side of the center line CT of the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and the right-side repair line part RRP 2 repairs a second data line group DLP 2 including data lines disposed on the right side of the center line CT of the liquid crystal display panel 100 .

The left-side repair line part LRP 2 includes a third repair line LRL 3 and a fourth repair line LRL 4 . The third repair line LRL 3 and the fourth repair line LRL 4 are disposed substantially around an outer periphery of a display area DA of the liquid crystal display panel 100 in a peripheral area PA in which the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, are disposed to cross the second ends of the data lines DL of the first data line group DLP 1 .

The right-side repair line part RRP 2 includes a fifth repair line RRL 3 and a sixth repair line RRL 4 . The fifth repair line RRL 3 and the sixth repair line RRL 4 are disposed substantially around an outer periphery of the display area DA of the liquid crystal display panel 100 in the peripheral area PA in which the first through eighth driver ICs 231 , 232 , 233 , 234 , 235 , 236 , 237 and 238 , respectively, are disposed to cross the second ends of the data lines DL included in the second data line group DLP 2 .

The repair part further includes a first op-amp 251 , a second op-amp 252 , a third op-amp 253 and a fourth op-amp 254 disposed on the printed circuit board 300 .

The first op-amp 251 and the second op-amp 252 are electrically connected to both the first driver IC 231 and the second driver IC 232 through a first flexible printed circuit board 410 . More specifically, an input terminal of the first op-amp 251 is electrically connected to a first via line TL 1 electrically connected to first repair output terminals of each of the first driver IC 231 and the second driver IC 232 , and an output terminal of the first op-amp 251 is electrically connected to the fourth repair line LRL 4 through a second via line TL 2 . An input terminal of the second op-amp 252 is electrically connected to a third via line TL 3 electrically connected to the second repair output terminals of the first driver IC 231 and the second driver IC 232 , and an output terminal of the second op-amp 252 is electrically connected to the third repair line LRL 3 through a fourth via line TL 4 .

Thus, the first via line TL 1 and the third via line TL 3 extend from the liquid crystal display panel 100 to the printed circuit board 300 via the first flexible printed circuit board 410 , to electrically connect the first op-amp 251 and the second op-amp 252 disposed on the printed circuit board 300 with the first driver IC 231 and the second driver IC 232 disposed on the liquid crystal display panel 100 , as shown in FIG. 4 .

The second via line TL 2 and the fourth via line TL 4 extend from the liquid crystal display panel 100 to the printed circuit board 300 via the first flexible printed circuit board 410 to electrically connect the first op-amp 251 and the second op-amp 252 to the fourth repair line LRL 4 and the third repair line LRL 3 , respectively.

The third op-amps 253 and the fourth op-amp 254 are electrically connected to both the fifth driver IC 235 and the sixth driver IC 236 through a second flexible printed circuit board 420 . Specifically, an input terminal of the third op-amp 253 is electrically connected to a fifth via line TL 5 electrically connected to first repair output terminals of the fifth driver IC 235 and the sixth driver IC 236 , and an output terminal of the third op-amp 253 is electrically connected to the sixth repair line RRL 4 through a sixth via line TL 6 . An input terminal of the fourth op-amp 254 is electrically connected to a seventh via line TL 7 electrically connected to the second repair output terminals of the fifth driver IC 235 and the sixth driver IC 236 , and an output terminal of the fourth op-amp 254 is electrically connected to the fifth repair line RRL 3 through an eighth via line TL 8 .

Thus, the fifth via line TL 5 and the seventh via line TL 7 extend from the liquid crystal display panel 100 to the printed circuit board 300 via the second flexible printed circuit board 420 to electrically connect the third op-amp 253 and the fourth op-amp 254 , disposed on the printed circuit board 300 , with the fifth driver IC 235 and the sixth driver IC 236 disposed on the liquid crystal display panel 100 . Also, the sixth via line TL 6 and the eighth via line TL 8 extend from the liquid crystal display panel 100 to the printed circuit board 300 via the second flexible printed circuit board 420 to electrically connect the third op-amp 253 and the fourth op-amp 254 with the sixth repair line RRL 4 and the fifth repair line RRL 3 , respectively, as shown in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a repair process of the liquid crystal display according to the alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4 . In FIG. 5 , a repair process will be described assuming that an i-th data line DLi, a j-th data line DLj, a k-th data line DLk, and an l-th data line DL 1 are disconnected, e.g., are separated. Further, arrows in FIG. 5 indicate directions of signal paths therein.

Referring to FIG. 5 , in a repair process of the i-th data line DLi, a first end of the i-th data line DLi is electrically connected to the first repair line RL 1 which crosses the i-th data line DLi at a first point P 1 . More specifically, a laser beam, for example, is irradiated onto the first point P 1 at which the i-th data line DLi crosses the first repair line RL 1 , and the i-th data line DLi is thereby electrically connected to the first repair line RL 1 . As shown in FIG. 5 , the i-th data line DLi is arranged in the left side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and a second end of the i-th data line DLi is electrically connected to the fourth repair line LRL 4 of the left-side repair line part LRP 2 at a second point P 2 .

After the repair process for the i-th data line DLi is performed, as described above, the first driver IC 231 to which the i-th data line DLi is connected outputs a corresponding data signal to the i-th data line DLi to display an image. The data signal applied to the i-th data line DLi is applied to the first repair line RL 1 through the first point P 1 . Thus, the data signal is inputted to the first repair input terminal of the first driver IC 231 via the first repair line RL 1 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first repair input terminal and the first repair output terminal of the first driver IC 231 are electrically connected to each other, e.g., within the first driver IC 231 , and the first repair output terminal therefore outputs the data signal. The data signal outputted from the first repair output terminal is provided to the first op-amp 251 via the first via line TL 1 (see FIG. 4 ), and the first op-amp 251 amplifies the data signal and outputs the amplified data signal to the second via line TL 2 as a first repair signal. Therefore, the first repair signal is applied to the second end of the i-th data line DLi through the second point P 2 via the fourth repair line LRL 4 .

Thus, even when the i-th data line DLi is separated into two parts due to the line disconnection, the separated two parts of the i-th data line DLi are electrically connected to each other through the first repair line LRL 1 and the fourth repair line LRL 4 . As a result, the data signal may be applied to the pixels connected to i-th data line DLi, thereby preventing occurrence of a line-shaped defect, for example, in the liquid crystal display panel 100 .

Still referring to FIG. 5 , a first end of the disconnected j-th data line DLj is electrically connected to the second repair line RL 2 which crosses the j-th data line DLj at a third point P 3 . The j-th data line DLj is disposed on the left side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and a second end of the j-th data line DLj is electrically connected to the third repair line LRL 3 of the left-side repair line part LRP 2 at a fourth point P 4 .

When the fourth driver IC 234 connected to the j-th data line DLj outputs a corresponding data signal to the j-th data line DLj in order to display the image, the data signal applied to the j-th data line DLj is input to the first repair input terminal of the second driver IC 232 through the second repair line RL 2 at the third point P 3 . Then, the data signal is outputted from the first repair output terminal and provided to the second op-amp 252 through the third via line TL 3 . The second op-amp 252 amplifies the data signal and outputs the amplified data signal to the fourth via line TL 4 as a second repair signal. Thus, the second repair signal is applied to the second end of the j-th data line at the fourth point P 4 via the third repair line LRL 3 .

Accordingly, even when the j-th data line DLj is separated into two parts due to the line disconnection, the separated two parts of the j-th data line DLj are electrically connected to each other through the second repair lines RL 2 and the third repair line LRL 3 . As a result, the data signal is applied to pixels connected to the j-th data line DLj, to thereby prevent an occurrence of the line-shaped defect, for example, in the liquid crystal display panel 100 .

Still referring to FIG. 5 , a first end of the disconnected k-th data line DLk is electrically connected to the first repair line RL 1 which crosses the k-th data line DLk at a fifth point P 5 . The k-th data line DLk is disposed on the right side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and a second end of the k-th data line DLk is electrically connected to the sixth repair line RRL 4 of the right-side repair line part RRP 2 at a sixth point P 6 .

When the sixth driver IC 236 connected to the k-th data line DLk outputs a corresponding data signal to the k-th data line DLk to display the image, the data signal applied to the k-th data line DLk is provided to the first repair input terminal of the sixth driver IC 236 through the first repair line RL 1 at the fifth point P 5 . Then, the data signal is outputted from the first repair output terminal and provided to the third op-amp 253 through the fifth via line TL 5 . The third op-amp 253 amplifies the data signal and outputs the amplified data signal to the sixth via line TL 6 as a third repair signal. Thus, the third repair signal is applied to the second end of the k-th data line DLk at the sixth point P 6 via the sixth repair line RRL 4 .

Accordingly, the data signal is applied to pixels connected to the k-th data line DLk, and a line-shaped defect, for example, in the liquid crystal display panel 100 is effectively prevented.

A first end of the disconnected l-th data line DL 1 is electrically connected to the second repair line RL 2 which crosses the l-th data line DL 1 at a seventh point P 7 . The l-th data line DL 1 is disposed on the right side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 , and a second end of the l-th data line DL 1 is electrically connected to the fifth repair line RRL 3 of the right-side repair line part RRP 2 at an eighth point P 8 .

When the seventh driver IC 237 connected to the l-th data line DL 1 outputs a corresponding data signal to the l-th data line DL 1 in order to display the image, the data signal applied to the l-th data line DL 1 is input to the first repair input terminal of the fifth driver IC 235 at the seventh point P 7 through the second repair line RL 2 . Then, the data signal is output from the first repair output terminal and provided to the fourth op-amp 254 through the seventh via line TL 7 . The fourth op-amp 254 amplifies the data signal and outputs the amplified data signal to the eighth via line TL 8 as a fourth repair signal. Thus, the fourth repair signal is applied to the second end of the l-th data line DL 1 at the eighth point P 8 via the fifth repair line RRL 3 .

Accordingly, the data signal is applied to pixels connected to the l-th data line DL 1 thereby preventing an occurrence of a line-shaped defect, for example, in the liquid crystal display panel 100 .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the left-side repair line part LRP 2 and the right-side repair line part RRP 2 are disposed on the left side and the right side of the liquid crystal display panel 100 with reference to the center line CT, respectively, and defects in up to four data lines of the liquid crystal display panel 100 can be repaired in the LCD 520 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Thus, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention as described herein, driver ICs arranged on a display panel are grouped according to a number of flexible printed circuit boards. Therefore, some driver ICs included in each group receive an image signal from a corresponding flexible printed circuit board, and remaining driver ICs receive portions of the image signal provided to adjacent driver ICs.

Thus, a number of the flexible printed circuit boards in the display apparatus is substantially decreased and/or effectively reduced, thereby substantially increasing a productivity, e.g., a production efficiency, of the display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. In addition, since the number of the flexible printed circuit boards is based on the number of the driver ICs, delay of the image signal provided to the driver ICs is effectively reduced, thereby improving an image display quality.

Further, a first repair line part and a second repair line part which cross first ends and second ends, respectively, of the data lines are electrically connected to each other through driver ICs which directly receive the image signal from the corresponding flexible printed circuit board. Thus, a repair process which repairs separated data lines, thereby preventing a line-shaped defect, for example, is effectively and easily performed.

The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and/or scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.