IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,636,078
Granted Patent B2
US 7,636,078 · App. 11/383,674 · Granted Dec 22, 2009

Display device and electronic device

Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,636,078
App. No.
11/383,674
Granted
Dec 22, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which images can be seen under a dark place to intense external light. In the display device, display is performed by changing the gray scale number depending on external light intensity, and display modes can be switched depending on contents displayed on the screen. An analog mode and a digital mode are switched depending on external light intensity. In an analog digital switching circuit, when a video signal is an analog value, a signal is outputted to a pixel array without any change and, when the video signal is a digital value, the signal is outputted to a circuit that performs a digital operation such as a latch circuit. Consequently, display gray scales of a pixel are changed appropriately. Accordingly, a clear image can be displayed. For example, it is possible to ensure visibility in a wide range of a dark place or under indoor florescent light to outdoor sun light.

Claims (58)

1. A display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate; and

a source driver comprising a shift register, a digital data processing circuit, and an analog digital switching circuit interposed between the shift register and the digital data processing circuit,

wherein the display device includes at least a first display mode and a second display mode,

wherein an analog signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the first display mode,

wherein a digital signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the second display mode, and

wherein the first and the second display modes are switched depending on an external light intensity.

2. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the external light is detected by a photosensor.

3. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix.

4. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.

5. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a computer, an image reproducing device, a goggle type display, and a cellular phone.

6. A display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels including a light-emitting element; and

a source driver comprising a shift register, a digital data processing circuit, and an analog digital switching circuit interposed between the shift register and the digital data processing circuit,

wherein the display device includes at least a first display mode and a second display mode,

wherein an analog signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the first display mode,

wherein a digital signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the second display mode,

wherein the display modes are switched depending on an external light intensity, and

wherein a voltage supplied to the light-emitting element is different in the first and the second display modes.

7. A display device according to claim 6 , wherein the external light is detected by a photosensor.

8. A display device according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pixels are ranged in matrix.

9. A display device according to claim 6 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.

10. A display device according to claim 6 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a computer, an image reproducing device, a goggle type display, and a cellular phone.

11. A display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels formed over a substrate, each of the plurality of pixels including a light-emitting element and a transistor; and

a source driver comprising a shift register, a digital data processing circuit, and an analog digital switching circuit interposed between the shift register and the digital data processing circuit,

wherein the display device includes at least a first display mode and a second display mode,

wherein a first electrode of the light-emitting element and one of source and drain electrodes of the transistor are electrically connected with each other,

wherein an analog signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the first display mode,

wherein a digital signal is supplied to the plurality of pixels in the second display mode,

wherein the first and the second display modes are switched depending on an external light intensity, and

wherein a voltage between a second electrode of the light-emitting element and the other of the source and drain electrodes of the transistor is different in the first and the second display modes.

12. A display device according to claim 11 , wherein the external light is detected by a photosensor.

13. A display device according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix.

14. A display device according to claim 11 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.

15. A display device according to claim 11 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a computer, an image reproducing device, a goggle type display, and a cellular phone.

16. A display device comprising:

a photosensor;

a display mode switching control circuit electrically connected to the photosensor;

a plurality of pixels; and

a source driver comprising a shift register, a digital data processing circuit, and an analog digital switching circuit interposed between the shift register and the digital data Processing circuit, wherein a video signal is input to the analog digital switching circuit.

17. A display device according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix.

18. A display device according to claim 16 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.

19. A display device according to claim 16 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a computer, an image reproducing device, a goggle type display, and a cellular phone.

20. A display device comprising:

a photosensor;

a display mode switching control circuit electrically connected to the photosensor;

a plurality of pixels; and

a source driver comprising a shift register, a digital data processing circuit, and an analog digital switching circuit interposed between the shift register and the digital data processing circuit, wherein a video signal is input to the analog digital switching circuit, and

wherein the display mode switching control circuit supplies a display mode control signal to the analog digital switching circuit.

21. A display device according to claim 20 , wherein the plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix.

22. A display device according to claim 20 , wherein the display device is an EL display device.

23. A display device according to claim 20 , wherein the display device is incorporated in at least one selected from the group consisting of a video camera, a digital camera, a computer, an image reproducing device, a goggle type display, and a cellular phone.

24. A display device according to claim 1 , wherein the digital data processing circuit includes a latch circuit.

25. A display device according to claim 6 , wherein the digital data processing circuit includes a latch circuit.

26. A display device according to claim 11 , wherein the digital data processing circuit includes a latch circuit.

27. A display device according to claim 16 , wherein the digital data processing circuit includes a latch circuit.

28. A display device according to claim 20 , wherein the digital data processing circuit includes a latch circuit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2006
From: YAMAZAKI, SHUNPEI; KOYAMA, JUN; TANADA, YOSHIFUMI; OSAME, MITSUAKI; KIMURA, HAJIME; FUKUMOTO, RYOTA; YANAI, HIROMI
To: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 018111/0368 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2005-148837 · May 20, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060273999A1 · Dec 7, 2006