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Active Matrix Displays. Multiplexing is limited and not adequate for high resolutions (slow response, poor viewing angle, no gray scale). A non-linear element is build into the substate at each pixel, usually a thin-film-transistor.
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Active Matrix Displays • Multiplexing is limited and not adequate for high • resolutions (slow response, poor viewing angle, no • gray scale) • A non-linear element is build into the substate at each • pixel, usually a thin-film-transistor • Being isolated from other pixels by TFT’s, the voltage • remains constant while the other pixels are being • addressed • Not subject to Alt-Pleshko Formalism
Active Matrix Circuit Scan Line Drain Source Liquid Crystal
Principle of Operation-Active Matrix • One line at a time addressing • A positive voltage pulse (duration T/N, N # rows, T frame time) • is applied to the line turning on all TFT’s • The TFT’s act as switches allowing electrical changes to the • LC capacitors from the columns (data or source) • When addressing subsequent rows a negative voltage is • applied to the gate lines thereby turning off the transistors for • one frame time T, until ready to readdress it • For AC drives schemes (LCD’s) the polarity is alternated on the • data voltage
4 Basic Steps of TFT • At time 1, a positive voltage VG of duration T/N is applied to • gate to turn on TFT. The LC pixel (ITO) is changed to VON at • time 2 within T/N, due to the positive source voltage VSD=VON. • At time 2, the gate voltage VG becomes negative, turning off • the source voltage VSD from VON to –VON. During the time • period 2 and 3, of duration (N-1)/NT, the pixel voltage VP remains • about >0.9 VON as the LC capacitor is now isolated from data lines. • At time 3 (the next addressing time), the TFT is turned on again • by applying a positive gate voltage of duration T/N. The LC • capacitor now sees a negative source-to-drain voltage VSD=-VON. • The pixel electrode is discharged from VP=VON at time 3 to • VP=-VON within the time duration T/N. • At time 4, the TFT is turned off by the negative gate voltage, and • simultaneously the source voltage VSD changes from –VON to +VON.
TFT Addressing T/N T T VG Gate Voltage 0 time 4 3 1 2 VSD VON Source Drain Voltage time 0 VP Pixel Voltage time Notice that VP is not constant during the duration (n-1)T/N because of a slight leakage current of LC cell. LC materials must have a high voltage holding ratio (VHR) to minimize this.