Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Having significant detail of cell structure only
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-14
2004-05-18
Prasad, Chandrika (Department: 2839)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Having significant detail of cell structure only
C439S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06738122
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. P2001-28521, filed on May 23, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable information terminal having a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a portable information terminal having a liquid crystal display fabricated according to a simplified module process and that is adaptive to small information devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
The mobile communications industry has witnessed a rapid expansion in the use of mobile communication terminals such as mobile phones, personal communication systems (PCS), etc. The study of hand-handled personal computer (HPC) or portable digital apparatus (PDA) with increased functionality compared to previous mobile communication terminals is also being actively pursued. Due to the development of information transmission techniques, motion picture information (e.g., IMT-2000) may be used to view moving images in real time.
A small portable information terminal uses a liquid crystal display LCD module as means of displaying a picture.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, conventional LCD modules include a liquid crystal panel
11
, a gate driving printed circuit board (PCB)
26
, a data driving PCB
28
, a gate tape carrier package (TCP)
18
and a data TCP
20
installed between the liquid crystal panel
11
and the gate and data driving PCBs
26
and
28
, respectively, a gate pad
14
connecting the gate TCP
18
to gate lines GL, a data pad
16
connecting the data TCP
20
to data lines DL, gate driving integrated circuit ICs
22
and data driving IC's
24
mounted on the TCP's, and a connector
32
and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) film
30
for input/output wiring that connect a main board
34
to the gate and data driving PCB
26
and
28
.
In the liquid crystal panel
11
, liquid crystal cells are arranged in a matrix pattern at a pixel area between the crossing of the gate lines GL and the data lines DL (FIG.
2
). A lower substrate
12
and an upper substrate
10
are joined together, and then liquid crystal is injected between the upper and lower substrates
10
and
12
, respectively, to complete the liquid crystal panel
11
. A plurality of gate pads
14
are formed at the edge of one side of the lower substrate
12
of the liquid crystal panel
11
, and a plurality of data pads
16
are formed at the edge of a lower end of the lower substrate
12
of the liquid crystal panel
11
. The gate pad
14
supplies gate signals from the gate driving ICs
22
to the gate lines GL. The data pad
16
supplies data signals from the data driving ICs
24
to the data lines DL. The gate pad
14
and the data pad
16
are bonded to the gate and data TCPs
18
and
20
by an anisotropic conductive film (ACF).
Input/output pads of the gate and data TCPs
18
and
20
are formed in input/output portions of the polyimide base film such that the gate and data driving ICs
22
and
24
may be mounted on the polyimide base film. Accordingly, the output portions of the gate and data TCPs
18
and
20
are joined to the gate and the data pads
14
and
16
and the input portions of the gate and data TCP's
18
and
20
are joined to gate and a data driving PCBs
26
and
28
.
The gate driving ICs
22
respond to control signals from a timing controller (not shown) mounted on the gate driving PCB
26
and sequentially supply scanning signals (i.e., gate pulses) to the gate lines GL. The data driving ICs
24
supply red, green, and blue (RGB) data received from the data driving PCB
28
to the data lines DL.
The main board
34
includes a microprocessor, a graphic processing circuit, etc., and supplies video signals and control signals to the data driving PCB
28
. The data driving PCB
28
is connected to the gate driving PCB
26
via the FPC film
29
.
The FPC film
30
accommodates input/output wiring and includes signal wires to provide a signal transmission path between the LCD module and the main board
34
. The connector
32
is installed at the end of the FPC film
30
and connects the FPC film
30
to a jack of the main board
34
.
In accordance with the tendency of the miniaturization of the above described portable information terminal, LCD size continues to decrease. However, because gate and data driving ICs of the LCDs are located at the left and at the bottom end, respectively, of the liquid crystal panel, the relative size of the driving ICs and their corresponding structures (e.g., PCB, TCP, etc.) increases. Also, due to the installation of each PCB and TCP at the side and the bottom of the liquid crystal panel, the process of bonding each gate and data TCP becomes more difficult and the number of LCD fabricating processes as well as the number of parts increase. Accordingly, it becomes difficult to make a portable information terminal small in size, light in weight, and thin in thickness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides a portable information terminal having a liquid crystal display fabricated according to a simplified module process and that is adaptive to a small information devices that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. These and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
In order to achieve these and other advantages of the invention, a portable information terminal using an LCD according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a gate pad connected to a plurality of gate lines in a liquid crystal panel and formed at the edge of the liquid crystal panel; and a data pad connected to a plurality of data lines of the liquid crystal panel and formed in the liquid crystal panel parallel to the gate pad.
The portable information terminal further includes a gate driving circuit for supplying scanning signals to the gate lines to drive the gate lines; a data driving circuit for supplying video data to the data lines to drive the data lines; and a flexible printed circuit film on which the gate driving circuit and the data driving circuit are both mounted and to which the gate pad and the data pad are connected.
In the portable information terminal of the present invention, a timing controller is mounted on the flexible printed circuit film supplies data and timing control signals required at the gate driving circuit and the data driving circuit.
The portable information terminal further includes a main board where circuits are mounted for supplying control signals and data to the flexible printed circuit film; and a connector installed at the end of the flexible printed circuit film and connected to a jack of the main board.
In the portable information, the gate pad and the data pad have substantially the same pitch and may be formed at either the bottom or side end of the liquid crystal panel.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5748267 (1998-05-01), Natori et al.
patent: 6100949 (2000-08-01), Kim
patent: 6151091 (2000-11-01), Muramatsu
patent: 6319019 (2001-11-01), Kwon et al.
patent: 2001/0022639 (2001-09-01), Kwak et al.
patent: 2003/0117563 (2003-06-01), Lim
LG. Philips LCD Co. Ltd.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Prasad Chandrika
LandOfFree
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