DE2163634A1 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

D'.p'i.-inq. Heinz Lesser, Pateritortwöll Ü-8 Munich 81, Cosimgitrcfee 81 ■ Telephone: (0311) 983320

Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha L 9578 / Fl / ho TOKYO (Japan)

Display device

The invention relates to a display device, in particular for an electronic watch, with an oharen and a lower electrode arrangement between which a its optical properties depend on an electrical voltage to be applied to the electrode arrangements changing medium, for example a liquid crystal, is located, one of which is electrically separated into several per display symbol controllable segments is divided.

In conventional display devices of this type, the other electrode arrangement consists of a continuous one Electrode, i.e. all subdivisions of the symbol display area that can be displayed within the display symbol Figures are required by subdividing into correspondingly large segments on the one electrode arrangement performed. For example, if you use a display symbol to represent the digits from 1 to 10, you have a Proven division into seven segments. If you now imagine, for example, the digital display of a clock with hours, Minutes and seconds before, you get six such display symbols, each with the one electrode arrangement has seven independent segments; 42 segments that can be controlled separately from one another thus result. Such in Display devices to be explained in more detail in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 are therefore difficult in practice to use handle and prepare, in particular as display devices for particularly small structures, such as wristwatches,

209829/0967

Dip! .-! Ng. Heinz Lesser, Potentanwolt D — 8 Mönchen 81, Ccsimastro & e 81 - Telephone: (0811) 983320

_ ο -

significant problems.

The present invention is intended to provide a display device of the type mentioned at the outset, which can be constructed in a simpler and more space-saving manner with the same display capacity and in particular the number of segments to be controlled are set off.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the other electrode arrangement per display symbol also has several electrically having separately controllable segments.

At first glance, this doctrine appears somewhat absurd; surprisingly, however, it has been found that this measure can reduce the total number of electrode connections. A particular simplification for practical use results in display devices with several display symbol areas in that the segments of one electrode arrangement of the various display symbol areas can be ^{combined 51 in parallel.}

Depending on the type of characters to be represented, it may be sufficient to that one only has the different, separately controllable Area units of the other electrode arrangements, which are also subdivided into segments according to the invention, either or combined controls. But if the figures are more complicated or space-saving, as is the case for example If digits are the case, the figure to be represented is composed of two or more consecutive figures Partial images together, with the lateral distance being kept so small that it is below the temporal resolution of the human eye.

This is referred to in connection with those shown in the drawing Examples are discussed in more detail, on the basis of which the invention is explained in more detail below. Show it:

1 shows a conventional electrode arrangement of a display device for digits;

20: 9g'29 / 0967

BATH ORIGINAL

Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Lesser, Patentor. Woll D — 8 Munich 81, Cosimastro?, E 81 · Telephone: (0811) 983320

2 shows a cross section through a display device which operates with a liquid crystal display element;

3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an electrode division a display device according to the invention;

4 shows an equivalent circuit diagram and timing diagrams of control pulses;

5 shows an embodiment of a six-digit display. device according to the invention;

6 is a block diagram for controlling the execution command according to FIG. 5;

7 shows further exemplary embodiments of electrode subdivisions for the display device according to the invention ..

FIG. 1 shows the old type of electrode arrangement provided for a numerical representation. As the cross section according to FIG The spacer and seal D is prevented from exiting from the side between the plates. If an electric field is established between the electrodes of plates A and B, at least one of which is transparent, this leads to a scattering of light rays incident on the liquid crystal. \ Depending on the design of the electrodes thus different optical apertures I can in areas of the liquid crystal layer, which are exposed to the electric field, and those acting on the no electric field, can be effected. In the case of the electrode design according to FIG. 1, one of the electrodes is! A divided into seven segments a _r b, c, d, e, f and g, while the other electrode B is designed as a continuous area P which extends below the area occupied by segments a to g of the electrode arrangement A. will.

2098 2 9/0967

Dipi.-lng. Heinz Lesser, attorney at law

D-8 Munich 81, Cosimostfafje 81 · Telephone-: (OSIT) 983320

-A-

How, on the basis of the design according to FIG. 1 easy to calculate, you get a time display in hours, minutes and seconds electrode arrangements for the then required six display symbol areas, which have a total of 42 electrode connections. It is easy it is conceivable that this large number of connections leads to a corresponding space requirement, which in particular in the case of particularly small display devices, such as those for example for electronic wristwatches use, makes very annoying.

In Figure 3, an embodiment of the inventive subdivision of the two electrode arrangements A and B is now shown, according to this particular embodiment, the electrode arrangement A has four segments oC _r ρ _r JT and ο, while the electrode arrangement B is divided into two segments ρ and q. A comparison with the embodiment of the conventional type according to FIG. 1 shows that segment ⁰ ^ corresponds to segments a and f, segment β corresponds to segments c and e, segment 0 corresponds to segments b and g and segment Q corresponds to segment d.

By dividing the electrode assembly B into two If only one of the electrodes ρ and q is activated, only one specific segment can be displayed per display Capture a fraction of segments of the electrode arrangement A, i.e. one could use the numbers shown here Figures only receive very limited advertisements, which would not meet the requirements of the task. One takes therefore, taking advantage of the frequency of resolution of the human One eye - in this case the equipment of the electrode arrangement B with two segments -. alternating modulation of the electrode segments, as shown in FIG. 4 b. FIG. 4 a shows, on the basis of an equivalent circuit diagram, how the arrangement works when you are between the electrodes-! Areas of a liquid crystal layer corresponding to segments stored thinks. The timing diagram for the segments <\ - to ο ■

2098 29/0 987

8Ä0

DipL-Ing. Heini Lesser, patent attorney D-8 Möndien 81, Cosimastra & e 81 Telephone: (0811) 983820

and ρ as well as q in FIG. 4b shows the association between the control of the upper and lower segments of the electrode arrangements, as it is required or licfi to represent the number "3". In the unit of time of the clock signal t, the liquid crystal layer covered by the segment areas a, c and b is excited because the electrode segment ρ located underneath is subjected to the opposite potential. In order to supply the areas a, c and b with potential, it is necessary to control the contact segments (£ ,, Q and fi accordingly. Because the electrode segment q is not exposed to potential at this point in time, the contact areas f, g remain and e ineffective, which per se are also detected by the associated areas Cw, 0 and ρ. In a subsequent pulse time of the clock signal t, the segment areas g and d to complete the "3" are effective for the excitation of the liquid crystal layer in that now instead of the electrode segment ρ of the electrode arrangement B, the electrode segment q receives the corresponding potential, while at the same time the electrode segments U and ο of the electrode arrangement a, which cover the areas d and g, are controlled Sluggishness of the eye shows the viewer the entire, from the consecutively controlled -Einzelsegmentber The composite number "3" appears.

In Figure 5 is an embodiment of one according to the invention Measures produced display device displayed with the help of a time display in hours, minutes and Seconds is possible. Like the cross section according to FIG. 5b shows, the display device operates with a liquid crystal layer D, as it has already been mentioned in connection with FIG. The electrode arrangement a is here as a parallel connection of the segments oC /, p ^ undö the in Figure 3 reproduced electrode segments constructed; only in the upper line is missing the upper vertical one on the outside left

20 9829/0967

Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Lesser, patent attorney Ο — 8 Munich 81, Cosimastrafce 81 · Telephone: (0811) 983820

Bar. This is due to the fact that the tens of hours does not go beyond 2. The parallel connection of the segments of the various display symbols means that the electrode arrangement a has only four electrode segment connections oh to ö for a six-digit display. In order to enable individual control of the display symbols, the two electrode segments of each display symbol of the electrode arrangement B are separately accessible; the electrode arrangement B accordingly has 12 connections p .., q. ; p ~, q; ... P ₆ , q ₆ on.

In Figure 6 is a circuit arrangement for the control of a display device according to Figure 5, which according to the im Works in connection with the principles mentioned in FIG. 4. The circuit 1 converts the clock signals i in digit signals. The signals X, Y and Z are used by the circuit 1 starting from the circuit 2, which decodes these signals into those that drive the electrodes cL / bisS serve. The sampling circuit 4 samples the signals X, Y, Z and a synchronization signal S, which is also supplied by the circuit 1. Every electrode segment of the display panel using liquid crystal is energized by the synchronizing pulse S. In this way the time is displayed.

Of course, other symbols, which are more suitable on a case-by-case basis, or also number divisions can also be used will. The idea according to the invention can easily be extend to display symbols that are not just seven Segments, but have eight or nine subdivisions.

Figure 7 shows two further embodiments of the invention Subdivision of the two electrode arrangements. Another possibility is shown in FIG. 7a, the electrode arrangement Divide A into four segments and the electrode assembly B into two segments. The control then takes place similar to the one previously described. In FIG. 7b, both the electrode arrangement A and the electrode arrangement B have

209829/0967

Dip! .-! Ng. Heinz. Lesser, patent attorney D-8 Möndien 81, Cosimastra & e 81 - Telephone: (0811) 933820

three subdivisions per display symbol. Also leave with it represent digits from seven segment tables. A visually uniform display can then be made up of three on top of one another the following control processes in the area of the resolution time of the eye.

209829/0967

Claims (4)

Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Lesser, patent attorney D — 8 Munich 81, Cosimostrafje 81 - Telephone: (08Π) 983820 - 8th - PATENT CLAIMS Display device, especially for ^ an electronic eye, with an upper and a lower electrode arrangement, between which a depending on one to the Electrode arrangements to be applied electrical voltage its optical properties changing medium, for example a liquid crystal, and · one of which per display symbol in several electrically separately controllable Segments is divided, characterized in that the other electrode arrangement (B) has several electrically separately controllable segments (p, q) per display symbol. 2. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that per display symbol, with a selectable number can be displayed, one of the electrode arrangements (A) in four segments (oC, ß, cwO) and the other electrode arrangement (B) is divided into two segments (p, q). 3. Display device according to claim 1, characterized in that per display symbol, with which a number can optionally be displayed, both electrode arrangements each divided into three segments are. 4. Display device with several display symbols according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (CL-, " ^J , ό , 0) · 'the same symbol sections of one of the two electrode arrangements (A), in particular those with the higher number of segments per display' symbol, are electrically connected in parallel. 209829/0967