Display device and control method thereof with refresh rate optimization

1 . A display device, comprising:

a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of gate lines;

a main controller configured to process a source signal and output an image signal; and

a timing controller configured to output a driving signal to drive the display panel based on the image signal,

wherein the main controller is further configured to:

detect an amount of data change in the source signal between a plurality of frames based on variations in RGB color values, saturation values, and brightness values,

divide a screen of the display panel into a first region, in which amounts of variation in the RGB color values, the saturation values, and the brightness values are less than a preset reference, and a second region, in which the amounts of variation in the RGB color values, the saturation values, and the brightness values are equal to or greater than the preset reference, and

output the image signal to display a first image at a first refresh rate in the first region, and to display a second image at a second refresh rate higher than the first refresh rate in the second region.

2 . The display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a scan driver comprising a plurality of switches at a plurality of output terminals and configured to sequentially output gate signals to the plurality of gate lines via the plurality of switches,

wherein the timing controller is further configured to output the driving signal to control the plurality of switches to display the images at different refresh rates in each of the first region and the second region.

3 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the timing controller is further configured to, in a first frame:

control the plurality of switches to turn off based on a gate signal input to a first gate line corresponding to the first region, and

control the plurality of switches to turn on based on a gate signal input to a second gate line corresponding to the second region.

4 . The display device of claim 3 , wherein the timing controller is further configured to, in a second frame in sequence to the first frame:

control the plurality of switches to turn on based on a gate signal input to the plurality of gate lines corresponding to the first region and the second region.

5 . The display device of claim 2 , wherein the timing controller is further configured to control a switch connected to the first region to periodically turn on and turn off according to the image signal, and control a switch connected to the second region to maintain an on state, among the plurality of switches.

6 . A method for controlling a display device comprising a display panel including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of gate lines, a main controller configured to process a source signal and output an image signal, and a timing controller configured to output a driving signal to drive the display panel based on the image signal, the method comprising:

detecting an amount of data change in the source signal between a plurality of frames based on variations in RGB color values, saturation values, and brightness values;

dividing, by the main controller, a screen of the display panel into a first region, in which amounts of variation in the RGB color values, the saturation values, and the brightness values are less than a preset reference, and a second region, in which the amounts of variation in the RGB color values, the saturation values, and the brightness values are equal to or greater than the preset reference; and

outputting the image signal to display a first image at a first refresh rate in the first region, and to display a second image at a second refresh rate higher than the first refresh rate in the second region.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the display device further comprises a scan driver including a plurality of switches at a plurality of output terminals, and

wherein the method further comprises:

sequentially outputting, by the scan driver, gate signals to the plurality of gate lines via the plurality of switches; and

outputting the driving signal to control the plurality of switches to display the images at different refresh rates in each of the first region and the second region.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the outputting of the driving signal further comprises, in a first frame, controlling the plurality of switches to turn off based on a gate signal input to a first gate line corresponding to the first region, and controlling the plurality of switches to turn on based on a gate signal input to a second gate line corresponding to the second region.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the outputting the driving signal further comprises, in a second frame in sequence to the first frame, controlling the plurality of switches to turn on based on a gate signal input to the plurality of gate lines corresponding to the first region and the second region.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the outputting the driving signal further comprises controlling a switch connected to the first region according to the image signal to periodically turn on and turn off, and controlling a switch connected to the second region to maintain an on state, among the plurality of switches.