IP Library Granted Patent US 10,896,638
Granted Patent B2
US 10,896,638 · App. 16/049,010 · Granted Jan 19, 2021

Luminance controlling unit, light-emitting unit, and method of controlling luminance

Inventors: Hiroaki Ishii (Tokyo, JP); Teppei Isobe (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: JOLED INC.
G09G3/3208G09G2320/0646G09G2320/0653G09G2330/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,896,638
App. No.
16/049,010
Granted
Jan 19, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A luminance controlling unit includes a luminance controller that controls luminance of a pixel array. The pixel array includes pixels each including a current-driven self-luminescent element. The luminescent controller sets, on the basis of an image signal corresponding to a frame image, a threshold that is directed to detection of a maximum signal level of the image signal, and performs dynamic control of a potential difference between a first voltage and a second voltage on the basis of the maximum signal level detected with reference to the set threshold. The first voltage is outputted from a first voltage source adjacent to an anode of the self-luminescent element, and the second voltage is outputted from a second voltage source adjacent to a cathode of the self-luminescent element.

Claims (26)

1. A luminance controlling unit comprising:

a luminance controller that controls luminance of a pixel array, the pixel array including pixels each including a current-driven self-luminescent element;

the luminance controller setting, on a basis of an image signal corresponding to a frame image, a threshold that is directed to detection of a maximum signal level of the image signal, and performing dynamic control of a potential difference between a first voltage and a second voltage on a basis of the maximum signal level detected with reference to the set threshold, the first voltage being outputted from a first voltage source adjacent to an anode of the self-luminescent element, the second voltage being outputted from a second voltage source adjacent to a cathode of the self-luminescent element.

2. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the luminance controller sets the threshold on a basis of a luminance level of the image signal, a current level of the image signal, or a motion amount in the frame image.

3. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the luminance controller detects the maximum signal level on a basis of a signal obtained through a down conversion process performed on the image signal.

4. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the luminance controller detects the maximum signal level through calculation of a signal level of the image signal for each of the pixels, generation of histograms of the calculated signal levels of the respective pixels, and a comparison between the generated histograms and the threshold.

5. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 1 , wherein the luminance controller performs the dynamic control of the potential difference after performing, on the detected maximum signal level, a process of suppressing sharp temporal fluctuations.

6. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 5 , wherein, when a histogram is around the threshold in a gradation range higher than a gradation range of the detected maximum signal level, the luminance controller corrects the detected maximum signal level to a larger value within a range not exceeding the higher gradation range.

7. The luminance controlling unit according to claim 5 , wherein the luminance controller performs, on the detected maximum signal, a filtering process of suppressing the sharp temporal fluctuations.

8. A light-emitting unit comprising:

a pixel array that includes pixels each including a current-driven self-luminescent element; and

a luminance controller that controls luminance of the pixel array,

the luminance controller setting, on a basis of an image signal corresponding to a frame image, a threshold that is directed to detection of a maximum signal level of the image signal, and performing dynamic control of a potential difference between a first voltage and a second voltage on a basis of the maximum signal level detected with reference to the set threshold, the first voltage being outputted from a first voltage source adjacent to an anode of the self-luminescent element, the second voltage being outputted from a second voltage source adjacent to a cathode of the self-luminescent element.

9. The light-emitting unit according to claim 8 , wherein the luminance controller sets the threshold on a basis of a luminance level of the image signal, a current level of the image signal, or a motion amount in the frame image.

10. The light-emitting unit according to claim 8 , wherein the luminance controller detects the maximum signal level on a basis of a signal obtained through a down conversion process performed on the image signal.

11. The light-emitting unit according to claim 8 , wherein the luminance controller detects the maximum signal level through calculation of a signal level of the image signal for each of the pixels, generation of histograms of the calculated signal levels of the respective pixels, and a comparison between the generated histograms and the threshold.

12. The light-emitting unit according to claim 8 , wherein the luminance controller performs the dynamic control of the potential difference after performing, on the detected maximum signal level, a process of suppressing sharp temporal fluctuations.

13. The light-emitting unit according to claim 12 , wherein, when a histogram is around the threshold in a gradation range higher than a gradation range of the detected maximum signal level, the luminance controller corrects the detected maximum signal level to a larger value within a range not exceeding the higher gradation range.

14. The light-emitting unit according to claim 12 , wherein the luminance controller performs, on the detected maximum signal, a filtering process of suppressing the sharp temporal fluctuations.

15. A method of controlling luminance of a pixel array that includes pixels each including a current-driven self-luminescent element, the method comprising:

setting, on a basis of an image signal corresponding to a frame image, a threshold that is directed to detection of a maximum signal level of the image signal; and

dynamically controlling a potential difference between a first voltage and a second voltage on a basis of the maximum signal level detected with reference to the set threshold, the first voltage being outputted from a first voltage source adjacent to an anode of the self-luminescent element, the second voltage being outputted from a second voltage source adjacent to a cathode of the self-luminescent element.

16. The method of controlling luminance according to claim 15 , wherein the threshold is set on a basis of a luminance level of the image signal, a current level of the image signal, or a motion amount in the frame image.

17. The method of controlling luminance according to claim 15 , wherein the maximum signal level is detected on a basis of a signal obtained through a down conversion process performed on the image signal.

18. The method of controlling luminance according to claim 15 , wherein the maximum signal level is detected through calculation of a signal level of the image signal for each of the pixels, generation of histograms of the calculated signal levels of the respective pixels, and a comparison between the generated histograms and the threshold.

19. The method of controlling luminance according to claim 15 , wherein the dynamic control of the potential difference is performed after performing, on the detected maximum signal level, a process of suppressing sharp temporal fluctuations.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2025
From: JDI DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT G.K.
To: MAGNOLIA BLUE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072039/0656 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2024
From: JOLED, INC.
To: JDI DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT G.K.
Reel/Frame 066382/0619 →
CORRECTION BY AFFIDAVIT FILED AGAINST REEL/FRAME 063396/0671 Recorded Jun 12, 2023
From: JOLED, INC.
To: JOLED, INC.
Reel/Frame 064067/0723 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2023
From: JOLED, INC.
To: INCJ, LTD.
Reel/Frame 063396/0671 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2018
From: ISHII, HIROAKI; ISOBE, TEPPEI
To: JOLED INC.
Reel/Frame 046502/0394 →