HEATER SYSTEM FOR A FLAT PANEL SUCH AS A LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

摘要

A flat panel such as a liquid crystal display (20) includes an array of pixels (24) arranged in rows and columns. A gate line (26) interconnects each row of the array while a source line (28) interconnects each column of the array. Redundant gate drives (30) are connected to opposed ends of the gate lines and are controlled to select the pixels in one of the rows by driving the gate line of that selected row to a logic high condition. Data can be written to one or more pixels in the selected row by supplying data to the source lines connected to those pixels. In order to heat the LCD panel or maintain its temperature during operation, the gate drives can also be controlled to create a potential voltage difference across some or all of the gate lines. When the potential voltage difference exists, current flows in the gate lines. Electrical resistive losses result in the dissipation of heat within the liquid crystal display.