IP Library Granted Patent US 7,864,156
Granted Patent B2
US 7,864,156 · App. 11/754,734 · Granted Jan 4, 2011

Liquid crystal display device, light source device, and light source control method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,864,156
App. No.
11/754,734
Granted
Jan 4, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel which periodically performs graduation display and non-graduation display, a backlight which illuminates the liquid crystal display panel, and a light source control circuit which sets an illumination period that allows illumination of the backlight for the gradation display and drives the backlight unit during the illumination period. The light source control circuit is configured to drive the backlight intermittently during the illumination period in limiting the luminance of the backlight.

Claims (21)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising;

a display panel which periodically performs graduation display and non-graduation display;

a light source unit which illuminates the display panel; and

a light source control circuit which controls the light source unit, the light source control circuit including a pulse width modulation controller which generates a pulse width modulation signal having a duty ratio set as the ratio of the illumination period to the period of the gradation display and the non-gradation display, and

a drive unit which drives the light source unit during the pulse duration of the pulse width modulation signal supplied from the pulse width modulation controller,

wherein the pulse width modulation controller is configured to interrupt the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the pulse width modulation controller is configured to insert a group of pulses that periodically interrupt the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2 , wherein the pulse width of the group of pulses is determined in accordance with an externally applied dimmer signal.

4. A light source device comprising;

a light source unit which illuminates a display panel adapted to periodically perform gradation display and non-gradation display; and

a light source control circuit which controls the light source unit, the light source control circuit including a pulse width modulation controller which generates a pulse width modulation signal having a duty ratio set as the ratio of the illumination period to the period of the gradation display and the non-gradation display, and a drive unit which drives the light source unit during the pulse duration of the pulse width modulation signal supplied from the pulse width modulation controller,

wherein the pulse width modulation controller is configured to interrupt the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

5. The light source device according to claim 4 , wherein

the pulse width modulation controller is configured to insert a group of pulses that periodically interrupt the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

6. The light source control device according to claim 5 , wherein the pulse width of the group of pulses is determined in accordance with an externally applied dimmer signal.

7. A light source control method for a light source which illuminates a display panel that periodically perform gradation display and non-gradation display, comprising the steps of:

setting an illumination period that allows illumination of the light source unit for the gradation display;

driving the light source unit during the illumination period; generating a pulse width modulation signal having a duty ratio set as the ratio of the illumination period to the period of the gradation display and the non-gradation display, and driving the light source unit during the pulse duration of the pulse width modulation signal; and

interrupting the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

8. The light source control method according to claim 7 , further comprising the steps of inserting a group of pulses that periodically interrupt the pulse duration in the pulse width modulation signal in order to limit the luminance of the light source unit.

9. The light source control method according to claim 8 , wherein the pulse width of the group of pulses is determined in accordance with an externally applied dimmer signal.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 028339/0273 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2012
From: TOSHIBA MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY CENTRAL INC.
Reel/Frame 028339/0316 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2007
From: OKITA, MITSUTAKA; NISHIYAMA, KAZUHIRO; ARAKI, SHIGESUMI
To: TOSHIBA MATSUSHITA DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019655/0399 →