An effective method for evaluating the image-sticking effect of TFT-LCDs by interpretative modelling of optical measurements

Abstract

The conventional method of evaluating the image-sticking effect of a LCD module is inspection by sight, because the residual optical difference between two stressing areas is small and viewing angle-dependent, so that it is difficult to obtain a significant optical difference value by instrumental measurement. We propose an effective method for evaluating the image-sticking effect of a TFT-LCD module by directly measuring its time evolution of transmission with the TFT glass turned off after a period of pattern stress. In this way, the liquid crystal system under charge equilibrium in constant-charge mode shows a dramatically amplified optical difference. Further, we interpret the measured results by a modelling that combines the calculation of liquid crystal director orientation and ionic charge distribution. It is supposed that there are four time constants that dominate the overall sticking phenomenon and belong to four transient processes: adsorption of ions, desorption of free ions, desorption of stuck ions, and TFT leakage. The modelling shows good accordance between measured and simulated results when fitting parameters are properly chosen.