DESCRIPTION LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY UNIT
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a light source device having a plurality of partial lighting sections controllable independently of each other, and a liquid crystal display unit using such a light source device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Currently, as typified by a liquid crystal TV and a Plasma Display Panel (PDP),
there is a trend toward a thin display. Specially, many mobile-use displays are liquid
crystal system displays, being desired to realize accurate color reproducibility. Further,
as a backlight of a liquid crystal panel, a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) type
using a fluorescence tube is the main stream. However, less mercury is demanded
environmentally, and thus as a light source alternative to the CCFL, a Light Emitting
Diode (LED) and the like are prospective.
[0003] As a backlight device using such an LED, for example, the backlight devices
described in, for example, Patent documents 1 and 2 have been proposed.
[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 2006-145886
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2006-243283
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0005] In Patent document 1, a backlight device in which the luminance level of the
entire backlight device is changed according to lightness of surrounding environment by
detecting outside light is proposed.
[0006] However, in the case where the luminance level of the entire backlight device
is changed without variation, in some cases, appropriate processing is not always
performed depending on luminance distribution of a display picture. In the case where
appropriate processing is not performed,' an appearance of the display picture differs
according to environment light, and the image quality is deteriorated in some cases.
[0007] As described above, in the conventional technology, it has been difficult to
inhibit image quality deterioration caused by environment light not depending on a
content of the display picture, and there is a room for improvement.
[0008] As a related technology, Patent document 2 discloses a technology in which to
improve video response of a liquid crystal panel, a light source section is divided into a
plurality of partial lighting sections, lighting operation is sequentially performed by the
plurality of partial lighting sections not depending on luminance distribution of a
display picture and environment light, and thereby so-called black insertion processing
is performed.
[0009] In view of the foregoing disadvantages, it is a first object of the present
invention to provide a light source device capable of adjusting luminance distribution of
a display picture in consideration of environment light not depending on a content of the
display picture.
[0010] It is a second object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display
unit capable of inhibiting image quality deterioration caused by environment light not
depending on a content of a display picture.
[0011] A light source device of the present invention is applied to a liquid crystal
display unit including a liquid crystal panel modulating incident light based on a picture
signal, and includes a light source section, a drive means, a light receiving device
receiving environment light around the device, and a drive means. The foregoing light
source section has a plurality of partial lighting sections, each of the partial lighting
sections being controlled separately, and emits light which is to be an incident light to
the liquid crystal panel. Further, the drive means drives the light source section so that
each of the partial lighting sections lights separately. In addition, the foregoing control
means controls the drive means according to a light quantity of the environment light
received by the light receiving device and to luminance distribution of a display picture
contained in the picture signal, and controls a light emission quantity of each of the
partial lighting sections.
[0012] A liquid crystal display unit of the present invention includes an illuminating
means for emitting light and a liquid crystal panel modulating the light emitted from the
illuminating means based on a picture signal. The foregoing illuminating means has
the foregoing light source section, the foregoing drive means, the foregoing light
receiving device, and the foregoing control means.
[0013] In the light source device and the liquid crystal display unit of the present
invention, the light receiving device receives the environment light around the device.
Then, the light emission quantity of each partial lighting section is respectively
controlled according to the light quantity of the received environment light and the
luminance distribution of the display picture.
[0014] In the light source device of the present invention, the foregoing control means
is able to exercise control so that a light emission quantity of a partial lighting section
which emits light at given luminance or more is decreased in the case where the light
quantity of the environment light is smaller than a given threshold value. In this case,
in the case where the light quantity of the environment light is smaller than the
threshold value, that is, the surroundings of the device are comparatively dark, the light
emission luminance of the partial lighting section which emits light at given luminance
or more is lowered. Thus, the border between the partial lighting section which emits
light at given luminance or more and the partial lighting section on the periphery thereof
is hardly viewed.
[0015] Further, in the case where the light quantity of the environment light is larger
than the threshold value, the foregoing control means may exercise control so that the
light emission quantity of the partial lighting section which emits light at given
luminance or more is increased. In this case, in the case where the light quantity of the
environment light is larger than the threshold value, that is, the surroundings of the
device are comparatively light, the light emission luminance of the partial lighting
section which emits light at given luminance or more is increased. Thus, lowering of
contrast under such an environment is more inhibited than in the conventional art.
[0016] In the light source device of the present invention, it is possible that the control
means exercises control, based on the luminance distribution of the display picture, so
that light emission quantity of a partial lighting section in a region corresponding to a
higher luminance region in a picture display region is larger than light emission
quantities of other partial lighting sections, while the control means controls the light
emission quantity of each partial lighting section according to the light quantity of
environment light. In this case, while the light emission quantity of each partial
lighting section is controlled so that the display luminance of the high luminance region
is more increased, the light emission quantity of each partial lighting section is
controlled according to the light quantity of the environment light. That is, it is
possible that while so-called contrast enhancement processing is performed, the light
emission quantity control of the partial lighting section according to lightness of the
surrounding environment is enabled.
[0017] According to the light source device of the present invention, the light
receiving device receives the environment light around the device, and the light
emission quantity of each partial lighting section is respectively controlled according to
the light quantity of the received environment light and the luminance distribution of the
display picture. Thus, the luminance distribution of the display picture is able to be
adjusted in consideration of lightness (environment light) of the surrounding
environment not depending on a content of the display picture.
[0018] Further, according to the liquid crystal display unit of the present invention, the
light receiving device receives the environment light around the device, and the light
emission quantity of each partial lighting section is respectively controlled according to
the light quantity of the received environment light and the luminance distribution of the
display picture. Thus, in the illuminating means, the luminance distribution of the
display picture is able to be adjusted in consideration of lightness (environment light) of
the surrounding environment not depending on a content of the display picture. Thus,
image quality deterioration caused by lightness (environment light) of the surrounding
environment is able to be inhibited not depending on a content of the display picture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall structure of a liquid
crystal display unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a plan schematic view illustrating a structural example of a unit (partial lighting section) of a light source section in the backlight device illustrated in Fig. 1;
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a plan schematic view illustrating an arrangement structural
example of the partial lighting section in the light source section;
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an overall structure of the liquid crystal display unit illustrated in Fig. 1;
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating in detail structures of drive and control sections of the light source section illustrated in Fig. 4;
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a timing waveform chart for explaining a drive pulse signal of the light source section;
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a timing waveform chart for explaining an example of drive methods of the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight device illustrated in Fig. 1;
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a perspective view for explaining an example of arrangement relations between a picture display region and a partial lighting region;
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a perspective view for explaining another example of arrangement relations between the picture display region and the partial lighting region;
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a plan schematic view for explaining a relation between a light quantity of outside light (environment light) and a display image quality in a comparative example;
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control operation by using outside light according to the first embodiment;
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an example of the control operation by using outside light in the case where light emission luminance is decreased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a timing waveform chart illustrating another example of the control operation by using outside light in the case where light emission luminance is decreased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a plan schematic view for explaining change of a display
image quality in the case where light emission luminance is decreased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 15] Fig. 15 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an example of the control operation by using outside light in the case where light emission luminance is increased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a timing waveform chart illustrating another example of the control operation by using outside light in the case where light emission luminance is increased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 17] Fig. 17 is a plan schematic view for explaining change of a display image quality in the case where light emission luminance is increased in Fig. 11;
[Fig. 18] Fig. 18 is a perspective view for explaining luminance enhancement operation of a display picture according to a second embodiment;
[Fig. 19] Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an example of control operation by using outside light according to the second embodiment;
[Fig. 20] Fig. 20 is a timing waveform chart illustrating an example of the control operation by using outside light illustrated in Fig. 19; and
[Fig. 21] Fig. 21 is a timing waveform chart illustrating another example of the control operation by using outside light illustrated in Fig. 19.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0020] Embodiments of the present invention will be hereinafter described in detail
with reference to the drawings.
[0021 ] [First embodiment]
Fig. 1 illustrates an overall structure of a liquid crystal display unit (liquid crystal display unit 3) according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display unit 3 is a so-called transmissive liquid crystal display unit that
emits transmitted light as display light Dout. The liquid crystal display unit 3 includes
a backlight device 1 as a light source device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention and a transmissive liquid crystal display panel 2.
[0022] The liquid crystal display panel 2 is configured of a transmissive liquid crystal
layer 20, a pair of substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 20, that is, a TFT (Thin
Film Transistor) substrate 211 as a substrate on the backlight device 1 side and an
opposed electrode substrate 221 as a substrate that is opposed to the TFT substrate 211,
and polarization plates 210 and 220 respectively layered on the side opposite to the
liquid crystal layer 20 with respect to the TFT substrate 211 and the opposed electrode
substrate 221.
[0023] Further, matrix-like pixels are structured in the TFT substrate 211, and a pixel
electrode 212 including a drive element such as a TFT is formed in each pixel.
[0024] The backlight device 1 is an additive color mixture type device in which a
plurality of color light (in this case, red light, green light, and blue light) are mixed to
obtain illuminated light Lout as specific color light (in this'case, white light). The
backlight device 1 has a light source section (light source section 10 described later)
including a plurality of red LEDs 1R, green LEDs 1G, and blue LEDs 1B.
[0025] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate an example of an arrangement structure of each
color LED in the backlight device 1.
[0026] As illustrated in Fig. 2(A), unit cells 41 and 42 of a light emitting section are
respectively formed from two sets of the red LEDs 1R, two sets of the green LEDs 1G,
and two sets of the blue LEDs 1B. A partial lighting section 4 as a unit of the light
emitting section is formed from the two unit cells 41 and 42. Further, in each unit cell
and between the unit cell 41 and the unit cell 42, each color LED is respectively
connected in series. Specifically, as illustrated in Fig. 2(B), an anode and a cathode of
teach LED are connected.
[0027] Further, the respective partial lighting sections 4 structured as above are
arranged in a state of matrix in the light source section 10, for example, aslllustrated in
Fig. 3. As described later, the partial lighting sections 4 are able to be controlled
independently of each other.
[0028] Next, a description will be given in detail of structures of a drive section and a
control section of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the light source section 10
described above with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 illustrates a block configuration of the
liquid crystal display unit 3.
[0029] As illustrated in Fig. 4, a drive circuit for driving the liquid crystal display
panel 2 to display a picture is configured of an X driver (data driver) 51 that supplies a
drive voltage based on a picture signal to the respective pixel electrodes 212 in the
liquid crystal display panel 2, a Y driver (gate driver) 52 that line-sequentially drives the
respective pixel electrodes 212 in the liquid crystal display panel 2 along a scanning line
not illustrated, a timing controlling section (timing generator) 61 that controls the X
driver 51 and the Y driver 52, an RGB processing section 60 (signal generator) that
processes an external picture signal and generates an RGB signal, and a picture memory
62 as a frame memory that stores the RGB signal from the RGB processing section 60.
[0030] Meanwhile, a section that drives and controls lighting operation of the light
source section 10 of the backlight device 1 is configured of a backlight drive section 11,
a backlight control section 12, an illuminated light sensor 13, an outside light sensor 16,
I/V conversion sections 14 and 17, and an AID conversion sections 15 and 18.
[0031] The illuminated light sensor 13 receives the illuminated light Lout from the
light source section 10 to obtain a light receiving signal. The illuminated light sensor
13 is configured of a red light sensor 13R that extracts and selectively receives red light
out of mixed light (in this case, white light) composed of a mixture of a plurality of
color light (in this case, red light, green light, and blue light), a green light sensor 13G
that extracts and selectively receives green light out of the mixed light, and a blue light
sensor 13B that extracts and selectively receives blue light out of the mixed light. The
illuminated light sensor 13 is arranged, for example, in the vicinity of the light source
section 10 (under or rear of the light source section 10).
[0032] The outside light sensor 16 receives outside light (environment light Ls) around
the backlight device 1 to obtain a light receiving signal. The outside light sensor 16 is
arranged in a location where the outside light sensor 16 is not affected by the
illuminated light Lout from the light source section 10, for example, on a housing (not
illustrated) of the liquid crystal display unit 3 or a side face thereof.
[0033] The I/V conversion section 14 performs I/V (current/voltage) conversion for
the light receiving signal for each color obtained by the illuminated light sensor 13, and
outputs light receiving data as an analog voltage signal for each color. Further, the I/V
conversion section 17 performs I/V conversion for the light receiving signal obtained by
the outside light sensor 16, and outputs light receiving data as an analog voltage signal.
[0034] The A/D conversion section 15 respectively performs A/D (analogue/digital)
conversion for the light receiving data for each color outputted from the I/V conversion
section 14, and outputs light receiving data Dl as a digital voltage signal for each color
to the backlight control section 12. Further, the A/D conversion section 18 performs
A/D conversion for the light receiving data outputted from the I/V conversion section
17, and outputs light receiving data D2 as a digital voltage signal to the backlight
control section 12.
[0035] The backlight control section 12 generates and outputs after-mentioned control
signals D3 and-D4 based on the light receiving data Dl for each color supplied from the
A/D conversion section 15, the light receiving data D2 supplied from the A/D conversion section 18, and the RGB signal supplied from the RGB processing section 60, and controls drive operation of the backlight drive section 11. For-the detailed structure of the backlight control section 12, a description will be given later (Fig. 5). [0036] The backlight drive section 11 drives the light source section 10 to perform lighting operation in units of the partial lighting section 4 based on the control signals D3 and D4 supplied from the backlight control section 12 and a control signal DO supplied from the timing control section 61. In addition, for the detailed structure of the backlight drive section 11, a description will be given later (Fig. 5) as well. [0037] Next, a description will be given of detailed structures of the foregoing backlight drive section 11 and the backlight control section 12 with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the detailed structures of the backlight drive section 11 and the backlight control section 12 and structures of the light source section 10, the illuminated light sensor 13, the outside light sensor 16, the I/V conversion sections 14 and 17, and the A/D conversion sections 15 and 18. Further, the light receiving data Dl is configured of red light receiving data D1R, green light receiving data D1G, and blue light receiving data D1B. The control signal D3 is configured of a red-use control signal D3R, a green-use control signal D3G, and a blue-use control signal D3B. In addition, as a matter of convenience, in the figure, the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and the blue LED 1B are all connected in series in the light source section 10.
[0038] The backlight drive section 11 has an electric source section 110; constant current drivers 111R, 111G, and 111B that respectively supply currents IR, IG, and IB to the anode side of the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and the blue LED 1B in the light source section 10 by electric source supply from the electric source section 110
according to the control signal D3 (the red-use control signal D3R, the green-use
control signal D3G, and the blue-use control signal D3B) supplied from the backlight
control section 12; switching devices 112R, 112G, and 112B that are respectively
connected between each cathode of the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and the blue
LED 1B and earth ground; and a PWM driver 113 that PWM (Pulse Width
Modulation)-controls the switching devices 112R, 112G, and 112B respectively
according to the control signal D4 supplied from the backlight control section 12 and
the control signal DO supplied from the timing control section 61.
[0039] The backlight control section 12 has a light quantity balance control section
121 and a light quantity control section 122. The light quantity balance control section
121 respectively generates and outputs the control signal D3 (the red-use control signal
D3R, the green-use control signal D3G, and the blue-use control signal D3B) to the
constant current drivers 111R, 111G, and 111B based on the light receiving data Dl (the
red light receiving data D1R, the green light receiving data D1G, and the blue light
receiving data D1B) supplied from the A/D conversion section 15 and the light
receiving data D2 supplied from the A/D conversion section 18, and thereby the light
quantity balance control section 121 exercises control so that the light emission quantity
of the illuminated light Lout is changed while color balance (white balance of white
light) of the illuminated light Lout from the light source section 10 is maintained. The
light quantity control section 122 generates and outputs the control signal D4 to the
PWM driver 113 based on the green light receiving data D1G out of the light receiving
data Dl supplied from the A/D conversion section 15 and the light receiving data D2
supplied from the A/D conversion section 18, and thereby the light quantity control
section 122 exercises control so that the light emission quantity of the illuminated light
Lout from the light source section 10 is changed. Further, the light quantity balance
control section 121 and the light quantity control section 122 respectively input the
RGB signal. The light quantity balance control section 121 and the light quantity
control section 122 generate the control signals D3 and D4 by usiifg luminance
distribution of a display picture contained in the RGB signal in addition to the light
receiving data Dl based on the light quantity of the illuminated light Lout and the light
receiving data D2 based on the light quantity of the environment light Ls.
[0040] The backlight drive section 11 corresponds to a specific example of "drive
means" in the present invention, the backlight control section 12 corresponds to a
specific example of "control means" in the present invention, and the outside light
sensor 16 corresponds to a specific example of "light receiving device" in the present
invention.
[0041] Next, a description will be given in detail of operations of the backlight device
1 and the liquid crystal display unit 3 of this embodiment having the foregoing
structures.
[0042] First, a description will be given of basic operations "of the backlight device 1
and the liquid crystal display unit 3 of this embodiment with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8.
Fig. 6 is a timing waveform chart illustrating lighting operation in the light source
section 10 of the backlight device 1. Fig. 6(A) illustrates the current IR flowing
through the red LED 1R, Fig. 6(B) illustrates the current IG flowing through the green
LED 1G, and Fig. 6(C) illustrates the current IB flowing through the blue LED 1B.
Fig. 7 illustrates a timing waveform chart schematically illustrating operation of the
entire liquid crystal display unit 3. Fig. 7(A) illustrates a voltage (pixel applied
voltage and drive voltage) that is applied from an X driver 51 to one pixel electrode 212
in the liquid crystal display panel 2. Fig. 7(B) illustrates response of liquid crystal
molecules (actual potential state in the pixel electrode 212). Fig. 7(C) illustrates a
voltage (pixel gate pulse) that is applied from a Y driver 52 to a gate of the TFT device
in the liquid crystal display panel 2. -
[0043] In the backlight device 1, in the case where the switching devices112R, 112G,
and 112B respectively become on-state in the backlight drive section 11, the currents IR,
IG, and IB are respectively flown from the constant current drivers 111R, 111G, and
111B into the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and the blue LED 1B in the light source
section 10. Thereby, red light emission, green light emission, and blue light emission
are respectively initiated, and the illuminated light Lout as mixed light is emitted.
[0044] At this time, the control signal DO is supplied from the timing control section
61 to the backlight drive section 11. A control signal D5 based on the control signal
DO is respectively supplied from the PWM driver 113 in the backlight drive section 11
to the switching devices 112R, 112G, and 112B. Thereby, the switching devices 112R,
112G, and 112B become on-state at the time according to the control signal DO.
Lighting time periods of the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and the blue LED 1B are
synchronized with the above. In other words, the red LED 1R, the green LED 1G, and
the blue LED 1B are PWM-driven by the control signal D5.
[0045] At this time, the illuminated light sensor 13 receives the illuminated light Lout
from the light source section 10. Specifically, in the red light sensor 13R, the green
light sensor 13G, and the blue light sensor 13B in the illuminated light sensor 13, each
color light out of the illuminated light Lout from the light source section 10 is
respectively extracted by a photodiode for each color, and a current according to the
light quantity of each color light is generated. Thereby, light receiving data of a
current value is supplied to the I/V conversion section 14. The light receiving data of
the current value for each color is respectively converted to light receiving data of an
analog voltage value by the I/V conversion section 14. Further, the light receiving data
of the analog voltage value for each color is converted to the light receiving data D1R,
D1G, and D1B of the digital voltage value by the A/D conversion section 15.
[0046] In the backlight control section 12, the control signals D3R, D3G, Bnd D3B are
respectively supplied from the light quantity balance control section 121 to the constant
current drivers 111R, 111G, and 111B based on the light receiving data D1R, D1G, and
D1B for each color supplied from the A/D conversion section 15, and thereby sizes AIR,
IG, and IB of the currents IR, IG, and IB, that is, light emission luminance of the
LEDs 1R, 1G, and 1B is adjusted so that luminance and chromaticity (color balance) of
the illuminated light Lout are maintained (refer to Fig. 6(A) to Fig. 6(C)). Further, in
the light quantity control section 122, the control signal D4 is generated based on the
light receiving data D1G out of the light receiving data D1R, D1G, and D1B for each
color supplied from the A/D conversion section 15, and the control signal D4 is supplied
to the PWM driver 113, and thereby on-time period of the switching devices 112R,
112G, and 112B, that is, lighting time period T of the LEDs 1R, 1G, and 1B for each
color is adjusted (refer to Figs. 6(A) to' 6(C)). Accordingly, based on the illuminated
light Lout from the light source section 10, the sizes AIR, AIG, and AIB of the currents
IR, IG, and IB (light emission luminance of the LEDs 1R, 1G, and 1B) and the lighting
time period are controlled, and thereby the light emission quantity of the illuminated
light Lout is controlled in units of 4 partial lighting sections. In addition, the light
quantity control section 122 herein inputs only D1G out of the control signals D1R,
D1G, and D1B, since human visibility of green light is highest. However, other
control signals D1R and D1B may be inputted.
[0047] Meanwhile, in the entire liquid crystal display unit 3 of this embodiment, the
illuminated light Lout from the light source section 10 of the backlight device 1 is
modulated in the liquid crystal layer 20 by a drive voltage (pixel applied voltage) to the
pixel electrode 212 that is outputted from the X driver 51 and the Y driver 52 based on
the image signal, and the modulated light is outputted from the liquid crystal display
panel 2 as display light Dout. As described above, the backlight device 1functions as
a backlight (illuminating device for liquid crystal) of the liquid crystal display unit 3,
and thereby picture display by the display light Dout is performed.
[0048] Specifically, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 7(C), a pixel gate pulse is
applied from the Y driver 52 to a gate of the TFT devices of one horizontal line in the
liquid crystal display panel 2. In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 7(A), the pixel applied
voltage based on the picture signal is applied from the X driver 51 to the pixel
electrodes 212 of the horizontal line. Here, as illustrated in Fig. 7(B), actual potential
response (liquid crystal response) of the pixel electrode 212 to the pixel applied voltage
is delayed (while the pixel applied voltage is started up in timing t11, the actual
potential is started up in timing tl2). The backlight device 1 becomes lighting state in
the time period from the timing tl2 to timing t13 in which the actual potential is equal
to the pixel applied voltage, and thereby picture display based on the picture signal is
performed in the liquid crystal display unit 3. Further, in Fig. 7, the time period from
the timing t11 to the timing t13 corresponds to one horizontal time period (1 frame time
period). In subsequent one horizontal time period from the timing t13 to timing t15,
operation similar to that of one horizontal time period from the timing t11 to the timing
t13 is performed, except that the pixel applied voltage is inverted with respect to a
common potential Vcom to prevent a liquid crystal ghost image or the like.
[0049] Further, in this liquid crystal display unit 3, the control signal DO is supplied
from the timing control section 61 to the PWM driver 113 in the backlight drive section
11 by using the signal supplied from the RGB processing section 60 (signal based on the
picture signal). Thus, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 8, in the light source section
10, operation (partial lighting operation) in which only the partial lighting sections 4 of
a region corresponding to a picture display region (region in which a display picture Pa
is displayed) in the liquid crystal display panel 2 are lighted to form a partial lighting
region Pb is enabled.
[0050] Next, a description will be given in detail of a control operation (control
operation by using outside Iight).in consideration of outside light (environment light) as
one of characteristics of the present invention in comparison to a comparative example
with reference to Fig. 9 to Fig. 17 in addition to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8. Here, Fig. 10
illustrates an example of partial lighting operation in a conventional backlight device
according to the comparative example. Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the partial
lighting operation (partial lighting operation by control operation by using outside light)
in the backlight device 1 of this embodiment. Further, a description will be hereinafter
given of a case that a size of a picture display region (region in which a display picture
Pc is displayed) in the liquid crystal display panel 2 is smaller than a size of the partial
lighting section 4, that is, a case that a corresponding partial lighting region Pd is larger
than the picture display region as illustrated in Fig. 9, for example.
[0051] In this case, in the conventional backlight device according to the comparative
example, appearance of the display picture Pc differs according to lightness around the
device, and an image quality is deteriorated in some cases. Specifically, in the case
where the surrounding environment is comparatively dark, for example, as illustrated in
Fig. 10(A), there is an advantage that since a non lighting region having given
luminance or less appears dark, the display contrast is improved more than that of an
inherent display image. However, since the partial lighting region in which light is
emitted at given luminance or more appears to come up, the border between the lighting
region in the partial lighting section 4 and the non-lighting region around the lighting
region is viewed, resulting in an unnatural picture in some cases. Further, on the
contrary, in the case where the surrounding environment is comparatively light, for
example, as illustrated in Fig. 10(B), there is an advantage that the border between the
lighting region in the partial lighting section 4 and the non-lighting region around the
lighting region is hardly viewed. However, since the non-lighting region appears
light, the display contrast is decreased more than that of the inherent display picture,
resulting in a deteriorated display image quality in some cases.
[0052] In the backlight device 1 of this embodiment, control operation by using
outside light is performed, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 11. First, the outside light
sensor 16 receives outside light (environment light Ls) around the device (step S101 of
Fig. 11). Specifically, in the photodiode (not illustrated) in the outside light sensor 16,
a current corresponding to a light quantity of the environment light Ls is generated, and
thereby light receiving data of the current value is supplied to the I/V conversion section
17. Then, the light receiving data of the current value is converted to light receiving
data of an analog voltage value by the I/V conversion section 17. Further, the light
receiving data of the analog voltage value is converted to the light receiving data D2 of
a digital voltage value by the AID conversion section 18, and the converted data is
supplied to the light quantity balance control section 121 and the light quantity control
section 122 in the backlight control section 12.
[0053] Next, the light quantity balance control section 121 and the light quantity
control section 122 calculate change magnifying factor a of light emission luminance of
the light source section 10 according to the light receiving data D2 based on the light
quantity of the environment light Ls (step S102). Specifically, the change magnifying
factor a to the light emission luminance L (light emission light quantity) of the light
source section 10 set according to the light receiving data Dl based on the light quantity
of the illuminated light Lout is calculated. The light quantity balance control section
121 and the light quantity control section 122 set the control signals D3 and D4 so that
the light emission luminance of the light source section 10 becomes (L*a) (step S103).
Based on the set control signals D3 and D4, the constant current drivers 111R, 111G,
and 111B and the PWM driver 113 in the backlight drive section 11 drive the light
source section 10 (step S104).
[0054] Specifically, in the case where the surrounding environment is comparatively
dark (in the case where the light quantity of the environment light Ls is smaller than a
given threshold value), the change magnifying factor a is set (0