IP Library Granted Patent US 8,188,943
Granted Patent B2
US 8,188,943 · App. 12/219,511 · Granted May 29, 2012

Electro-optical apparatus and method of driving the electro-optical apparatus

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,188,943
App. No.
12/219,511
Granted
May 29, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides an electro-optical apparatus that can prevent a shift in a threshold voltage of an amorphous silicon transistor while driving an organic EL device in a pixel circuit including the amorphous silicon transistor. A characteristic-adjustment circuit can be provided, which has a function of returning a shift in the threshold voltage of the amorphous silicon transistor included in the pixel circuit to the original state.

Claims (46)

1. An electro-optical apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of gate lines;

a plurality of data lines; and

a plurality of pixel circuits corresponding to intersections of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines,

one pixel circuit of the plurality of pixel circuits including a first transistor and a light-emitting element that is coupled to the first transistor through a first node, and

the first transistor being configured such that a first voltage lower than a second voltage of the first node is applied to a gate of the first transistor in an off-state.

2. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the first transistor being an N-type transistor.

3. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the first transistor being an amorphous silicon transistor.

4. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the light-emitting element emitting a light in a gray scale according to a data signal during a first period, and

the first transistor being in the off-state during a second period.

5. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the light-emitting element emitting a light during a first period in a gray scale according to a conduction state of the first transistor set by a data signal supplied to the one pixel circuit, and

the first transistor being in the off-state during a second period.

6. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 5 ,

the data signal being supplied to the one pixel circuit during a third period prior to the first period.

7. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the one pixel circuit further including a second transistor, and

the first voltage being supplied to the gate of the first transistor in the off-state through the second transistor.

8. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 ,

the one pixel circuit further including a capacitive element that is coupled between the first node and the gate of the first transistor.

9. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of power source lines,

one power source line of the plurality of power source lines being coupled to the first transistor through a second node, and

the one pixel circuit further including a capacitive element that is coupled between the first node and the gate of the first transistor.

10. An electro-optical apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of gate lines;

a plurality of data lines; and

a plurality of pixel circuits corresponding to intersections of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines, each of the plurality of pixel circuits including a first transistor,

the first transistor being configured such that a gate voltage lower than a source voltage of a source of the first transistor is applied to a gate of the first transistor in an off-state.

11. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 10 ,

the first transistor being an N-type transistor.

12. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 10 ,

each of the plurality of pixel circuits further including a light-emitting element, and

the source of the first transistor being positioned between a drain of the first transistor and the light emitting element.

13. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 10 ,

the first transistor being an amorphous silicon transistor.

14. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 11 ,

the N-type transistor being an amorphous silicon transistor.

15. A method for driving an electro-optical apparatus which has a pixel circuit including a driving transistor and a light-emitting element coupled to the driving transistor through a node, the method comprising:

making the light-emitting element emit a light in a gray scale according to a data signal during a first period;

applying a voltage lower than a voltage of the node to a gate of the driving transistor during a second period, the applying of the voltage being carried out for the driving transistor in an off-state.

16. The method according to claim 15 ,

the driving transistor being an N-type transistor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: LUMITEK DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 065221/0372 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2003-140973 · May 19, 2003 · national
JP 2004-084651 · Mar 23, 2004 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 10843377 · May 12, 2004
Related Publication 20090184986A1 · Jul 23, 2009