Display panel and driving method thereof

The present invention relates to a display panel, and in particular, to a display panel and a driving method thereof.

Liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus has features such as thin shape, low power consumption, and no radiation pollution, and therefore is widely applied to electronic products such as computer screen, mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), and flat screen television.

In pixel array structures of current LCD panels, there is one type of pixel array structures that is called half source driving (HSD) architecture. The HSD architecture can reduce the number of source lines by a half, so as to achieve an objective of reducing the number of source drivers by a half. Therefore, costs of panel modules can be substantially reduced. Besides, there is a pixel array structure called one third source driving (OTSD) architecture, which reduces the number of source lines to one third of source lines of original architecture, so as to save more production costs.

Different from architecture of a conventional display panel, an objective of the present invention is to provide a display panel, comprising: a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of conductive lines, a plurality of data lines, a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel. The plurality of scanning lines is located along a first direction. The plurality of conductive lines is located along a second direction. The data lines and the conductive lines are parallel. Each of the conductive lines is configured to electrically couple to one of the scanning lines, so as to transmit at least one gate pulse. The first pixel is located between a first data line in the data lines and a first conductive line in the conductive lines, and is configured to electrically couple to the first data line and a first scanning line in the scanning lines. The second pixel is located between the first data line and the first conductive line, is configured to electrically couple to the first pixel, and electrically couple to a second scanning line in the scanning lines. The third pixel is located between the first data line and a second conductive line, and is configured to electrically couple to the first data line and a third scanning line in the scanning lines, wherein the first conductive line W 1 and the second conductive line W 2 are two adjacent conductive lines and are located on different sides of the first data line respectively. The fourth pixel is located between the first data line and the second conductive line, is configured to electrically couple to the third pixel, and electrically couple to a fourth scanning line in the scanning lines. An objective of the present invention is to provide a driving method of a display panel. The driving method of a display panel is provided, the display panel comprises a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of conductive lines, a plurality of data lines, a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel, wherein the scanning lines are located along a first direction, the conductive lines are located along a second direction, the data lines are substantially parallel to the conductive lines, each of the conductive lines is configured to electrically couple to one of the scanning lines, so as to transmit at least one gate pulse, the first pixel is configured to electrically couple to a first scanning line, the second pixel is configured to electrically couple to a second scanning line, the third pixel is configured to electrically couple to a third scanning line, and the fourth pixel is configured to electrically couple to a fourth scanning line, and the driving method comprises: transmitting data to the first pixel through a first data line in the data lines, and transmitting the data to the second pixel through the first pixel, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are arranged between the first data line and a first conductive line in the conductive lines; and transmitting data to the third pixel through the first data line, and transmitting the data to the fourth pixel through the third pixel, wherein the third pixel and the fourth pixel are arranged between the first data line and a second conductive line, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are two adjacent conductive lines, the first conductive line and the second conductive line are located on different sides of the first data line respectively, and each of the first scanning line, the second scanning line, the third scanning line, and the fourth scanning line receives a first gate pulse and a second gate pulse through a corresponding conductive line.

The display panel in the present invention uses a pixel array structure with quarter source driving (QSD) architecture, so as to charge four pixels by means of one data line. With this architecture, the number of source lines is reduced to a quarter of the number of source lines of original architecture, thereby saving production costs. In addition, a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on a same side, or a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on opposite sides of a pixel array, which facilitates application of a narrow bezel technology to a display panel. Further, the display panel in the present invention uses a pixel array structure with QSD architecture, four pixels are located between every two conductive lines, and only one data line is located between two adjacent conductive lines. In this way, wiring of conductive lines and data lines causes no overlapping and interleaving, that is, there is no need to wire the conductive lines and the data lines in different circuit layers, which saves more production costs. Besides, a decrease in wires also achieves a superior aperture ratio.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a display panel according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a display panel according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel according to FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a display panel according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel according to FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a display panel according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel according to FIG. 7 .

FIG. 1 shows a display panel 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, including: a plurality of scanning lines, a plurality of conductive lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels. The plurality of scanning lines is located along a first direction, the plurality of conductive lines is located along a second direction, and the data lines are substantially parallel to the conductive lines. In the embodiments of the present invention, a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on a same side, or a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on two opposite sides of a pixel array, so that each conductive line is electrically coupled to one of the scanning lines, so as to transmit a gate pulse to the scanning line.

In the embodiments of the present invention, description is made by using a first conductive line W 1 , a second conductive line W 2 , a first data line D 1 , a first scanning line 21 , a second scanning line 22 , a third scanning line 23 , a fourth scanning line 24 , a first pixel 11 , a second pixel 12 , a third pixel 13 , and a fourth pixel 14 as examples, so that arrangements of the plurality of scanning lines, the plurality of conductive lines, the plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel array structures of the display panel in the present invention can be known. The first pixel 11 is located between the first data line D 1 in the data lines and the first conductive line W 1 in the conductive lines, and is configured to electrically couple to the first data line D 1 and the first scanning line 21 in the scanning lines. A control terminal of the first pixel 11 is coupled to the first scanning line 21 , a first terminal is coupled to the first data line D 1 , and a second terminal is coupled to a pixel capacitor. The second pixel 12 is located between the first data line D 1 and the first conductive line W 1 . The second pixel 12 is electrically coupled to the first pixel 11 and is electrically coupled to the second scanning line 22 in the scanning lines. A control terminal of the second pixel 12 is coupled to the second scanning line 22 , a first terminal is coupled to a second terminal of the first pixel 11 , and a second terminal is coupled to a pixel capacitor. The third pixel 13 is located between the first data line D 1 and the second conductive line W 2 in the conductive lines. The third pixel 13 is electrically coupled to the first data line D 1 and the third scanning line 23 in the scanning lines. A control terminal of the third pixel 13 is coupled to the third scanning line 23 , a first terminal is coupled to the first data line D 1 , and a second terminal is coupled to a pixel capacitor. The fourth pixel 14 is located between the first data line D 1 and the second conductive line W 2 . The fourth pixel 14 is electrically coupled to the third pixel 13 and is electrically coupled to the fourth scanning line 24 in the scanning lines. Besides, the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 are located at different pixel rows, the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are located at different pixel rows, the first conductive line W 1 and the second conductive line W 2 are two adjacent conductive lines in the conductive lines, and the first conductive line W 1 and the second conductive line W 2 are located on different sides of the first data line D 1 respectively.

FIG. 2 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel according to FIG. 1 . Refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, in the display panel 100 according to the first embodiment, the driving method of the display panel is described by using scanning lines G 3 -G 6 as examples, wherein the scanning line G 5 is used as the first scanning line 21 , the scanning line G 3 is used as the second scanning line 22 , the scanning line G 6 is used as the third scanning line 23 , and the scanning line G 4 is used as the fourth scanning line 24 . Each of the scanning lines G 3 -G 6 receives a first gate pulse P 1 and a second gate pulse P 2 through a corresponding conductive line. In the first embodiment, when one of the first gate pulses P 1 and the second gate pulses P 2 of the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 is at an enable level, the first gate pulses P 1 and the second gate pulses P 2 of the third scanning line 23 and the fourth scanning line 24 are disabled, and when one of the first gate pulses P 1 and the second gate pulses P 2 of the third scanning line 23 and the fourth scanning line 24 is at an enable level, the first gate pulses P 1 and the second gate pulses P 2 of the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 are disabled. Enable periods of the first gate pulses P 1 are less than enable periods of the second gate pulses P 2 , each of the first gate pulses P 1 is earlier than the corresponding second gate pulse P 2 , the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 are synchronously switched to enable levels, and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 are synchronously switched to enable levels.

In a period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 are synchronously switched to enable levels, the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the first pixel 11 , and transmits the data to the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , so as to charge the second pixel 12 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , and therefore, a voltage of the second pixel 12 is fixed. At this time, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is still enabled, so as to keep charging the pixel 31 until the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled. The second pixel 12 and the third pixel 31 are turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the second pixel 12 and the pixel 31 do not change.

After the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 are synchronously enabled, in a period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 are switched to enable levels, the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the third pixel 13 , and transmits data to the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , so as to charge the fourth pixel 14 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , and therefore, a voltage of the fourth pixel 14 is fixed. At this time, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is still enabled, so as to keep charging the pixel 32 until the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled. The fourth pixel 14 and the pixel 32 that are turned on through the scanning line G 4 are turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the fourth pixel 14 and the pixel 32 do not change.

By means of the foregoing description of the driving method of the display panel 100 according to the first embodiment, it can be known that the first data line D 1 charges the second pixel 12 , the fourth pixel 14 , the pixel 31 , and the pixel 32 . Besides, after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, the first gate pulse P 1 (not shown in the figures) of the scanning line G 7 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously enabled, and the first data line D 1 charges the first pixel 11 , the third pixel 13 , the pixel 33 , and the pixel 34 through four scanning lines G 5 -G 8 .

FIG. 3 shows a display panel 300 according to a second embodiment, the display panel 300 differs from the display panel 100 in that, the scanning line G 5 is used as the first scanning line 21 , the scanning line G 3 is used as the second scanning line 22 , the scanning line G 4 is used as the third scanning line 23 , and the scanning line G 6 is used as the fourth scanning line 24 . FIG. 4 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel 300 according to FIG. 3 . In the second embodiment, enable periods of first gate pulses P 1 are less than enable periods of second gate pulses P 2 , each of the first gate pulses P 1 of the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 is earlier than the corresponding second gate pulse P 2 , each of the second gate pulses P 2 of the third scanning line 23 and the fourth scanning line 24 is earlier than the corresponding first gate pulse P 1 , the first gate pulse P 1 of the first scanning line 21 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the second scanning line 22 are synchronously switched to enable levels, and the first gate pulse P 1 of the third scanning line 23 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the fourth scanning line 24 are synchronously switched to enable levels.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 together, in a period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 2 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 are synchronously switched to the enable levels, the pixel 35 and the pixel 36 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the pixel 35 , and transmits the data to the pixel 36 through the pixel 35 , so as to charge the pixel 36 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 2 is disabled, and the first data line D 1 cannot charge the pixel 36 through the pixel 35 . The pixel 35 that is turned on through the scanning line G 2 is turned off after the first gate pulse P 1 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the pixel 35 and the pixel 36 that is charged through the pixel 35 do not change. After the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, in the period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 are synchronously switched to the enable levels, the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the first pixel 11 , and transmits the data to the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , so as to charge the second pixel 12 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , and therefore, a voltage of the second pixel 12 is fixed. At this time, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is still enabled, so as to keep charging the pixel 37 until the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled. The second pixel 12 and the pixel 37 that are turned on through the scanning line G 3 are turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the second pixel 12 and the pixel 37 are fixed.

After the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 4 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 6 are synchronously enabled, in a period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 4 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 6 are switched to the enable levels, the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the third pixel 13 , and transmits data to the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , so as to charge the fourth pixel 14 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, and the first data line D 1 cannot charge the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 . The third pixel 13 that is turned on through the scanning line G 4 is turned off after the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are fixed.

By means of the foregoing description of the driving method of the display panel 300 according to the second embodiment, it can be known how to use the first data line D 1 to charge the second pixel 12 , the third pixel 13 , the pixel 36 , and the pixel 37 , and it can be known that after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 6 is disabled, the first gate pulse P 1 (not shown in the figures) of the scanning line G 7 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously enabled. Therefore, the first data line D 1 further charges four pixels of the next row by means of the foregoing manner.

FIG. 5 shows a display panel 500 according to a third embodiment, the display panel 500 differs from the display panel 100 and the display panel 300 in that, the scanning line G 3 is used as the first scanning line 21 , the scanning line G 5 is used as the second scanning line 22 , the scanning line G 4 is used as the third scanning line 23 , and the scanning line G 6 is used as the fourth scanning line 24 . FIG. 6 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel 500 according to FIG. 5 . In the third embodiment, enable periods of first gate pulses P 1 are greater than enable periods of second gate pulses P 2 , each of the first gate pulses P 1 is earlier than the corresponding second gate pulse P 2 , the second gate pulse P 2 of the first scanning line 21 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the second scanning line 22 are synchronously switched to enable levels, and the second gate pulse P 2 of the third scanning line 23 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the fourth scanning line 24 are synchronously switched to enable levels.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 together, in a period that the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously switched to enable levels, the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the first pixel 11 , and transmits the data to the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , so as to charge the second pixel 12 . Subsequently, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 . In addition, the first pixel 11 is turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 do not change.

After the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 is disabled, in a period that the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 are synchronously switched to the enable levels, the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the third pixel 13 , and transmits the data to the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , so as to charge the fourth pixel 14 . Subsequently, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 . In addition, the third pixel 13 is turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 do not change.

By means of the description of the driving method of the display panel 500 according to the third embodiment that is made by using the scanning lines G 3 -G 6 , it can be known how to use the first data line D 1 to charge the first pixel 11 , the second pixel 12 , the third pixel 13 , and the fourth pixel 14 . Therefore, it can be known that after the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 is disabled, the first gate pulse P 1 (not shown in the figures) of the scanning line G 7 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously enabled, and the first data line D 1 can charge another four pixels through four scanning lines by means of the foregoing manner.

FIG. 7 shows a display panel 700 according to a fourth embodiment, the display panel 700 differs from the display panel 100 , the display panel 300 , and the display panel 500 in that, the scanning line G 3 is used as the first scanning line 21 , the scanning line G 5 is used as the second scanning line 22 , the scanning line G 6 is used as the third scanning line 23 , and the scanning line G 4 is used as the fourth scanning line 24 . FIG. 8 shows a signal timing diagram of the display panel 700 according to FIG. 7 . In the fourth embodiment, enable periods of first gate pulses P 1 are less than enable periods of second gate pulses P 2 , each of the second gate pulses P 2 of the first scanning line 21 and the second scanning line 22 is earlier than the corresponding first gate pulse P 1 , each of the first gate pulses P 1 of the third scanning line 23 and the fourth scanning line 24 is earlier than the corresponding second gate pulse P 2 , the first gate pulse P 1 of the first scanning line 21 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the second scanning line 22 are synchronously switched to enable levels, and the first gate pulse P 1 of the third scanning line 23 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the fourth scanning line 24 are synchronously switched to enable levels.

In a period that the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 3 and the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously switched to enable levels, the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the first pixel 11 , and transmits the data to the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 , so as to charge the second pixel 12 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the second pixel 12 through the first pixel 11 . In addition, the first pixel 11 is turned off after the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 3 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the first pixel 11 and the second pixel 12 do not change.

After the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 5 is disabled, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 are synchronously enabled, in a period that the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 are of the enable voltages, the third pixel 13 and the fourth pixel 14 are turned on, the first data line D 1 transmits data to the third pixel 13 , and transmits the data to the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , so as to charge the fourth pixel 14 . Subsequently, the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 6 is disabled, the first data line D 1 cannot charge the fourth pixel 14 through the third pixel 13 , and therefore, a voltage of the fourth pixel 14 is fixed. At this time, the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is still enabled, so as to keep charging the pixel 38 until the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled. The fourth pixel 14 and the pixel 38 that are turned on through the scanning line G 4 are turned off after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, and therefore, the voltages of the fourth pixel 14 and the pixel 38 do not change.

By means of the description of the driving method of the display panel 700 according to the fourth embodiment that is made by using the scanning lines G 3 -G 6 , it can be known how to use the first data line D 1 to charge the first pixel 11 , the second pixel 12 , the fourth pixel 14 , and the pixel 38 . Therefore, it can be known that after the second gate pulse P 2 of the scanning line G 4 is disabled, the second gate pulse P 2 (not shown in the figures) of the scanning line G 7 and the first gate pulse P 1 of the scanning line G 5 are synchronously enabled, and the first data line D 1 can charge another four pixels through four scanning lines by means of the foregoing manner.

The display panel in the present invention uses a pixel array structure with QSD architecture, so as to charge four pixels by means of one data line. With this architecture, the number of source lines is reduced to a quarter of the number of source lines of original architecture, thereby saving production costs. In addition, a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on a same side, or a gate driving circuit and a source driving circuit are located on opposite sides of a pixel array, which facilitates application of a narrow bezel technology to a display panel. Further, the display panel in the present invention uses a pixel array structure with QSD architecture, four pixels are located between every two conductive lines, and only one data line is located between two adjacent conductive lines. In this way, wiring of conductive lines and data lines causes no overlapping and interleaving, that is, there is no need to wire the conductive lines and the data lines in different circuit layers, which saves more production costs. Besides, a decrease in wires also achieves a superior aperture ratio.

Although the present invention is described above by means of the preferred embodiments, the above description is not intended to limit the present invention. A person skilled in the art can make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is as defined in the appended claims.