IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,640,088
Granted Patent B2
US 12,640,088 · App. 18/908,907 · Granted May 26, 2026

Pixel circuit

Inventors: Nien-Chen Li (Hsinchu City, TW); Shu-Hao Huang (Hsinchu City, TW); Sung-Yu Su (Hsinchu City, TW)
Assignee: AUO Corporation
G09G3/32G09G2310/08G09G2330/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,640,088
App. No.
18/908,907
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pixel circuit includes a driving transistor, a capacitor, a reset transistor and a writing transistor. One end of the capacitor receives an emission control signal, and the other end of the capacitor is coupled to a gate terminal of the driving transistor. The reset transistor is coupled between an initial voltage terminal and the gate terminal of the driving transistor. The writing transistor is coupled between a data line and the gate terminal of the driving transistor. When the driving transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, the driving transistor generates a driving current to drive a light emitting element, and at the same time, both the reset transistor and the writing transistor are turned off. There are only the driving transistor and the light emitting element disposed in a current path that provides the driving current.

Claims (41)

1 . A pixel circuit, comprising:

a driving transistor;

a capacitor, wherein one end of the capacitor receives an emission control signal, and the other end of the capacitor is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a reset transistor electrically coupled between an initial voltage terminal and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a writing transistor electrically coupled between a data line and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a first transistor, wherein a first terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the driving transistor or a second terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor receives the emission control signal; and

a second transistor electrically coupled between the data line and a second terminal of the first transistor;

wherein when the driving transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, the driving transistor generates a driving current to drive a light emitting element, and at the same time, both the reset transistor and the writing transistor are turned off; and

wherein there are only the driving transistor and the light emitting element disposed in a current path that provides the driving current.

2 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein an anode of the light emitting element is electrically coupled to a system high voltage terminal, wherein a cathode of the light emitting element is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a second terminal of the driving transistor is electrically coupled to a system low voltage terminal, wherein the driving current flows from the system high voltage terminal to the system low voltage terminal through the light emitting element and the driving transistor in sequence.

3 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein an anode of the light emitting element is electrically coupled to a second terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a cathode of the light emitting element is electrically coupled to a system low voltage terminal, wherein a first terminal of the driving transistor is electrically coupled to a system high voltage terminal, wherein the driving current flows from the system high voltage terminal to the system low voltage terminal through the driving transistor and the light emitting element in sequence.

4 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein a gate terminal of the reset transistor receives a reset control signal and a gate terminal of the writing transistor receives a writing control signal;

wherein during a reset period of the pixel circuit, the reset transistor is turned on according to the reset control signal, thereby transmitting voltage of the initial voltage terminal to the gate terminal of the driving transistor; and

wherein during a writing period of the pixel circuit, the writing transistor is turned on according to the writing control signal, thereby transmitting voltage of the data line to the gate terminal of the driving transistor.

5 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein during an emission period of the pixel circuit, the emission control signal switches between a low logic level and a high logic level according to a duty cycle, so that the driving transistor switches between an on-state and an off-state according to the emission control signal, thereby switching the light emitting element between the on-state and the off-state accordingly.

6 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein during a driving transistor detection period of the pixel circuit, the light emitting element is not electrically coupled to the driving transistor, and a test control signal is applied to a gate terminal of the second transistor and the first transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, causing a detection current to flow from a system low voltage terminal or a system high voltage terminal to the data line through the driving transistor, the first transistor, and the second transistor.

7 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , wherein during a light emitting element detection period of the pixel circuit, the driving transistor is turned off, and a test control signal is applied to a gate terminal of the second transistor and the first transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, causing a detection current to flow from a system low voltage terminal or a system high voltage terminal to the data line through the light emitting element, the first transistor, and the second transistor.

8 . The pixel circuit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a third transistor, wherein a first terminal of the third transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the driving transistor or a second terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a second terminal of the third transistor is electrically coupled to the gate terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the writing transistor receives a writing control signal.

9 . The pixel circuit of claim 8 , wherein during a driving transistor detection period of the pixel circuit, the light emitting element is not electrically coupled to the driving transistor, and a test control signal is applied to a gate terminal of the third transistor and the writing transistor is turned on according to the writing control signal, causing a detection current to flow from a system low voltage terminal or a system high voltage terminal to the data line through the driving transistor, the third transistor, and the writing transistor.

10 . The pixel circuit of claim 8 , wherein during a light emitting element detection period of the pixel circuit, the driving transistor is turned off, and a test control signal is applied to a gate terminal of the third transistor and the writing transistor is turned on according to the writing control signal, causing a detection current to flow from a system low voltage terminal or a system high voltage terminal to the data line through the light emitting element, the third transistor, and the writing transistor.

11 . A pixel circuit, comprising:

a light emitting element electrically coupled to a system high voltage terminal;

a driving transistor electrically coupled between the light emitting element and a system low voltage terminal;

a capacitor, wherein one end of the capacitor receives an emission control signal, and the other end of the capacitor is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a reset transistor electrically coupled between an initial voltage terminal and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a writing transistor electrically coupled between a data line and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a first transistor, wherein a first terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the driving transistor or a second terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor receives the emission control signal; and

a second transistor electrically coupled between the data line and a second terminal of the first transistor;

wherein during an emission period of the pixel circuit, the driving transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, thereby generating a driving current flowed from the system high voltage terminal to the system low voltage terminal only through the light emitting element and the driving transistor in sequence.

12 . The pixel circuit of claim 11 , wherein during the emission period of the pixel circuit, the emission control signal switches between a low logic level and a high logic level according to a duty cycle, so that the driving transistor switches between an on-state and an off-state according to the emission control signal, thereby switching the light emitting element between the on-state and the off-state accordingly.

13 . A pixel circuit, comprising:

a light emitting element electrically coupled to a system low voltage terminal;

a driving transistor electrically coupled between the light emitting element and a system high voltage terminal;

a capacitor, wherein one end of the capacitor receives an emission control signal, and the other end of the capacitor is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a reset transistor electrically coupled between an initial voltage terminal and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a writing transistor electrically coupled between a data line and the gate terminal of the driving transistor;

a first transistor, wherein a first terminal of the first transistor is electrically coupled to a first terminal of the driving transistor or a second terminal of the driving transistor, wherein a gate terminal of the first transistor receives the emission control signal; and

a second transistor electrically coupled between the data line and a second terminal of the first transistor;

wherein during an emission period of the pixel circuit, the driving transistor is turned on according to the emission control signal, thereby generating a driving current flowed from the system high voltage terminal to the system low voltage terminal only through the driving transistor and the light emitting element in sequence.

14 . The pixel circuit of claim 13 , wherein during the emission period of the pixel circuit, the emission control signal switches between a low logic level and a high logic level according to a duty cycle, so that the driving transistor switches between an on-state and an off-state according to the emission control signal, thereby switching the light emitting element between the on-state and the off-state accordingly.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2024
From: LI, NIEN-CHEN; HUANG, SHU-HAO; SU, SUNG-YU
To: AUO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069121/0232 →
Priority Claims (2)
TW 112147543 · Dec 6, 2023 · national
TW 113107087 · Feb 27, 2024 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250191525A1 · Jun 12, 2025
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