What is claimed is:
1. An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device comprising:
first and second substrates;
a data bus line and a gate bus line arranged in a matrix on said first substrate and defining a unit pixel region;
a pair of electrodes applying a plane electric field in said liquid crystal, the electrodes being at an angle e with respect to said data bus line and substantially parallel to each other; and
a liquid crystal layer between said first and second substrates.
2. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a thin film transistor (TFT) adjacent a cross point of said gate and data bus lines;
a common line in said pixel region;
a passivation layer on said TFT; and
a first alignment layer on said passivation layer.
3. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, further comprising:
a black matrix for preventing light from leaking around said TFT, said gate bus line, and said data bus line;
a color filter layer on said second substrate; and
a second alignment layer on said color filter layer.
4. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
5. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of electrodes includes a data electrode and a common electrode.
6. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
7. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into a plurality of sub-pixel regions.
8. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 7, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into four sub-pixel regions.
9. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
10. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes being at said angle prevents color shift.
11. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the electrodes being at said angle prevents gray inversion.
12. A method of forming a liquid crystal display device comprising the steps of:
forming first and second substrates;
forming a data bus line and a gate bus line arranged in a matrix on said first substrate and defining a unit pixel region;
forming a pair of electrodes applying a plane electric field in said liquid crystal, the electrodes being at an angle with respect to said data bus line and substantially parallel to each other; and
forming a liquid crystal layer between said first and second substrates.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
forming a thin film transistor (TFT) adjacent a cross point of said gate and data bus lines;
forming a common line in said pixel region;
forming a passivation layer on said TFT; and
forming a first alignment layer on said passivation layer.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps of:
forming a black matrix for preventing light from leaking around said TFT, said gate bus line, and said data bus line;
forming a color filter layer on said second substrate; and
forming a second alignment layer on said color filter layer.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said pair of electrodes includes a data electrode and a common electrode.
17. The method according to claim 12, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
18. The method according to claim 12, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into a plurality of sub-pixel regions.
19. The-method according to claim 18, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into four sub-pixel regions.
20. The method according to claim 19; wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
21. An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device comprising:
first and second substrates;
a data bus line and a gate bus line arranged in a matrix on said first substrate and defining a unit pixel region;
a pair of electrodes including a data electrode and a common electrode, the pair of electrodes applying a plane electric field in said liquid crystal, the electrodes being at an angle with respect to said data bus line and substantially parallel to each other;
a liquid crystal layer between said first and second substrates.
a thin film transistor (TFT) adjacent a cross point of said gate and data bus lines;
a common line in said pixel region;
a passivation layer on said TFT; and
a first alignment layer on said passivation layer.
a black matrix for preventing light from leaking around said TFT, said gate bus line, and said data bus line;
a color filter layer on said second substrate; and
a second alignment layer on said color filter layer.
22. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 21, wherein said angle is about 20 degrees.
23. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 21, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into a plurality of sub-pixel regions.
24. The in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device according to claim 23, wherein said unit pixel region is divided into four sub-pixel regions.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system comprising:
a computer server,
at least one device, said device having a controller, wherein said controller is adapted to perform a function;
a computer network;
wherein said device further comprises a network interface for communicating information between said device and said computer server over said computer network,
said information conforming to a predefined communications protocol,
and wherein said predefined communications protocol is used for at least one of either remote configuration, control, or monitoring of said device,
and wherein said predefined communications protocol is adapted to recognize said device as a hierarchical tree of contexts,
and wherein each context of the said tree of contexts comprises a set of data elements and metadata describing each said data element,
and wherein said data elements of said devices can be accessed and manipulated from said computer server through said computer network using said communications protocol.
2. The system recited in claim 1 wherein each said data element conforms to a data element type selected from a set comprising:
a property type for accessing operational variables, mode, or the state of said device,
a method type for changing the operating state of said device or causing said device to execute a specified operation,
and an event type for providing information on a new state of said device and changes in external or internal operating conditions registered by said device in the form of event notifications.
3. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said computer server further comprises a logic circuit adapted to:
exchange digital information between said devices and a database of said computer server, wherein said digital information is exchanged in accordance with said predefined communications protocol,
store local copies of said metadata of each said context of each said device, and of values of each data element of the property type of each said device, wherein said local copies are stored on the computer server or on an external storage device with which said computer server is able to maintain a substantially uninterrupted communication over said computer network,
cause said devices to execute said operations, and
receive from said devices said event notifications and store said event notifications on said computer server or said external storage device.
4. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said system is adapted to synchronize the data between said local copies of the values of said data elements of property type and said device.
5. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said system is adapted to copy the data between said local copies of the values of said data elements of property type.
6. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said system is adapted to make said local copies of the values of said data elements of property type available to and accessible from other computer systems.
7. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said computer server exchanges data with said device and is adapted to perform at least one of the functions selected from a set comprising:
configuring said device by modifying said data elements of said property type,
controlling said device by accessing said data elements of said method type, and
monitoring said device by receiving from said device said event notifications and storing said event notifications on said computer server or on external storage device with which said computer server is able to maintain a substantially uninterrupted communication over said computer network.
8. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device comprises a sensor.
9. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device comprises a controller for a motor vehicle.
10. The system recited in claim 9 wherein data represented by said data elements includes the data reflecting the location of said motor vehicle.
11. The system recited in claim 9 wherein the data represented by said data elements includes the data reflecting the speed of said motor vehicle.
12. The system recited in claim 9 wherein the data represented by said data elements includes an authorization code to operate said motor vehicle.
13. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device comprises a device server connecting to said computer server a legacy device, said legacy device not having direct communications compatibility with said computer server, wherein said device server is externally connected to said legacy device and is configured to allow for the communications between said computer server and said legacy device.
14. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device comprises a communications module connecting to said computer server a legacy device, said legacy device not having direct communications compatibility with said computer server, wherein said communications module is built into said legacy device and is configured to allow for the communications between said computer server and said legacy device.
15. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said communications protocol further comprises at least one message transmitted from said computer server to said device, said message causing the alteration of the configuration of said device.
16. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said communications protocol further comprises at least one message transmitted from said computer server to said device, said message causing said device to execute one of said operations.
17. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said communications protocol further comprises at least one message transmitted from said device to said computer server, said message comprising one of said event notifications.
18. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said communications network comprises a TCPIP network.
19. The system recited in claim 18 wherein said TCPIP network comprises an Ethernet network.
20. The system recited in claim 18 wherein said TCPIP network comprises a wireless network.
21. The system recited in claim 20 wherein said wireless network comprises a Wi-Fi network.
22. The system recited in claim 20 wherein said wireless network comprises a WiMAX network.
23. The system recited in claim 20 wherein said wireless network comprises a cellular network.
24. The system recited in claim 23 wherein said cellular network comprises a GPRS network.
25. The system recited in claim 23 wherein said cellular network comprises an EDGE network.
26. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device is configured for continuous communication with said computer server.
27. The system recited in claim 3 wherein said device is configured for intermittent communications with said computer server.
28. The system recited in claim 27 wherein said logic circuit of said device is configured to initiate communications with said computer server at predetermined time intervals.
29. The system as recited in claim 27 wherein said logic circuit of said device is configured to initiate communications with said computer server upon detecting a change in said device state or change in external or internal operating conditions of said device.
30. The system recited in claim 2 wherein said computer server is connected to said computer network and is adapted to:
exchange digital information between said devices and a database of said computer server, wherein said digital information is exchanged in accordance with said predefined communications protocol,
store local copies of said metadata of each said context of each said device, and of the values of each data element of the property type of each said device, wherein said local copies are stored on said computer server or on external storage device with which said computer server is able to maintain a substantially uninterrupted communication over the computer network,
cause said devices to execute said operations, and
receive from said devices said event notifications and store said event notifications on said computer server or said second device.
31. The system recited in claim 30 wherein said adaption comprises software instructions written in JAVA programming language.
32. A method for monitoring a plurality of devices from a computer server via a computer network,
said devices having a controller adapted to perform a function,
and said computer server and said devices utilizing a predefined communications protocol adapted for at least one of either remote configuration, control, or monitoring of said devices from said computer server,
and wherein said predefined communications protocol represents each said device as a hierarchical tree of contexts, each said context comprising a set of data elements and metadata describing each said data element,
and wherein said data elements can be accessed and manipulated through said communications protocol,
and wherein said computer server is connected to said computer network and communicates with said devices using said predefined communications protocol,
said method comprising:
a step of storing a local copy of said metadata of each said context of each said device on said computer server or on a external storage device with which said computer server is able to maintain a substantially uninterrupted communication over said computer network,
a step of storing a local copy of values of said data elements of property type on said computer server or said external storage device,
a step of causing said devices to execute operations,
and a step of receiving from said devices event notifications and storing said event notifications on said computer server or on said second computer.
33. A computer-readable medium having recorded thereon a program for communicating with a plurality of devices over a computer network,
said devices having a controller adapted to perform a function, and supporting a predefined communications protocol adapted for at least one of either remote configuration, control, or monitoring of said devices, and wherein said communications protocol represents each said device as a hierarchical tree of contexts, each said context comprising a set of data elements and metadata describing each said data element, and wherein said data elements can be accessed and manipulated through said communications protocol,
wherein said program enables a computer server to execute:
a step of storing a local copy of said metadata of each said context of each said device on said computer server or on external storage device with which said computer server is able to maintain a substantially uninterrupted communication over said computer network,
a step of storing a local copy of values of said data elements of property type on said computer server or said external storage device,
a step of causing said devices to execute operations, and
a step of receiving from said devices event notifications and storing said event notifications on said computer server or said second computer.
34. A device having a controller, wherein said controller is adapted to perform a function, wherein said device further comprises a network interface for communicating information between said device and a computer server over a computer network,
said information conforming to a predefined communications protocol,
and wherein said predefined communications protocol is used for at least one of either remote configuration, control, or monitoring of said device,
and wherein said predefined communications protocol is adapted to characterize said device as a hierarchical tree of contexts that are recognized by said server,
and wherein each context of said tree of contexts comprises a set of data elements and metadata describing each said data element,
and wherein said data elements of said devices can be accessed and manipulated from said computer server through said computer network using said communications protocol.
35. The device recited in claim 34 wherein each said data element conforms to a data element type selected from a set comprising:
a property type for accessing operational variables, mode, or the state of said device,
a method type for changing the operating state of said device or causing said device to execute a specified operation,
and an event type for providing information on a new state of said device and changes in external or internal operating conditions registered by said device in the form of event notifications.
36. The device recited in claim 34 wherein said function comprises detecting conditions at the location of said device.
37. The device recited in claim 34 wherein said function comprises providing access to a secure area.
38. The device recited in claim 34 wherein said function comprises providing access to the operation of a machine.
39. The device recited in claim 34 wherein said device further comprises a sensor.
40. The device recited in claim 34 wherein said device further comprises a controller for a motor vehicle.
41. The device recited in claim 40 wherein data represented by said data elements includes the data reflecting the location of said motor vehicle.
42. The device recited in claim 40 wherein data represented by said data elements includes the data reflecting the speed of said motor vehicle.
43. The device recited in claim 40 wherein the data represented by said data elements includes an authorization code to operate said motor vehicle