Display device including light emitting elements connected in series-parallel connection
A display device may include a pixel. The pixel may include: a first electrode, a second electrode, and an intermediate electrode; light emitting elements, at least some of the light emitting elements being connected in series with each other through the intermediate electrode between the first electrode and the second electrode; a driving transistor configured to provide a driving current to the light emitting elements between a first power line and a second power line; and a first switching transistor connected in parallel with some of the light emitting elements and connected in series with remaining ones of the light emitting elements.
1 . A display device comprising a driver and a pixel, the pixel comprising:
a first electrode, a second electrode, and an intermediate electrode;
light emitting elements comprising a first plurality of light emitting elements connected to each other in parallel and a second plurality of light emitting elements connected to each other in parallel, the first plurality of light emitting elements and the second plurality of light emitting elements being connected in series with each other through the intermediate electrode between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a driving transistor configured to provide a driving current to the light emitting elements between a first power line and a second power line; and
a first switching transistor connected in parallel with some of the light emitting elements and connected in series with remaining ones of the light emitting elements,
wherein the driver is configured to control a switching operation of the first switching transistor based on a grayscale value of input image data.
2 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the first power line through the driving transistor, and
wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to the second power line.
3 . The display device according to claim 2 , wherein the pixel further comprises:
a hold capacitor between a second electrode of the first switching transistor and a gate electrode of the first switching transistor; and
a second switching transistor configured to transmit a mode signal to the gate electrode of the first switching transistor,
wherein a first electrode of the first switching transistor is electrically connected to the intermediate electrode.
4 . The display device according to claim 3 , wherein the second electrode of the first switching transistor is electrically connected to the second power line.
5 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate electrode comprises a first intermediate electrode, a second intermediate electrode, and a third intermediate electrode, and
wherein:
a first light emitting element of the first plurality of light emitting elements is electrically connected between the first electrode and the first intermediate electrode;
a second light emitting element of the second plurality of light emitting elements is electrically connected between the first intermediate electrode and the second intermediate electrode; and
the light emitting elements further comprise:
a third light emitting element electrically connected between the second intermediate electrode and the third intermediate electrode; and
a fourth light emitting element electrically connected between the third intermediate electrode and the second electrode.
6 . The display device according to claim 5 , wherein the first switching transistor is turned on to electrically connect the first intermediate electrode to the second power line.
7 . The display device according to claim 5 , wherein the first switching transistor is turned on to electrically connect the second intermediate electrode to the second power line.
8 . The display device according to claim 5 , wherein the first switching transistor is turned on to electrically connect the third intermediate electrode to the second power line.
9 . The display device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the light emitting elements comprises an inorganic light emitting diode.
10 . A display device comprising a data processor, a driver, and a pixel, the pixel comprising:
a first electrode, a second electrode, and an intermediate electrode;
light emitting elements, at least some of the light emitting elements being connected in series with each other through the intermediate electrode between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a driving transistor configured to provide a driving current to the light emitting elements between a first power line and a second power line; and
a first switching transistor connected in parallel with some of the light emitting elements and connected in series with remaining ones of the light emitting elements;
a hold capacitor between a second electrode of the first switching transistor and a gate electrode of the first switching transistor; and
a second switching transistor configured to transmit a mode signal to the gate electrode of the first switching transistor,
wherein the first electrode is electrically connected to the first power line through the driving transistor,
wherein the second electrode is electrically connected to the second power line,
wherein a first electrode of the first switching transistor is electrically connected to the intermediate electrode,
wherein the data processor is configured to output a determination result by determining whether a grayscale value included in image data is less than a reference grayscale value, and
wherein the driver is configured to generate the mode signal for turning on or turning off the first switching transistor based on the determination result of the data processor.
11 . The display device according to claim 10 , wherein, when the grayscale value is less than the reference grayscale value, the first switching transistor is turned on, the some of the light emitting elements do not emit light, and the remaining ones of the light emitting elements emit light.
12 . The display device according to claim 10 , wherein, when the grayscale value is greater than or equal to the reference grayscale value, the first switching transistor is turned off, and all of the light emitting elements emit light.
13 . A display device comprising a driver and a pixel, the pixel comprising:
a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode, and an intermediate electrode;
first light emitting elements electrically connected between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, the first light emitting elements being connected in parallel to each other;
second light emitting elements electrically connected between the intermediate electrode and the second pixel electrode, the second light emitting elements being connected in parallel to each other;
a driving transistor configured to transmit a driving current to the first pixel electrode or the second pixel electrode between a first power line and a second power line; and
a first switching transistor configured to electrically connect the first pixel electrode to the intermediate electrode or electrically separate the first pixel electrode from the intermediate electrode,
wherein the driver is configured to control a switching operation of the first switching transistor based on a grayscale value of input image data.
14 . The display device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first power line through the driving transistor, and
wherein the second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second power line.
15 . The display device according to claim 13 ,
wherein the second pixel electrode is electrically connected to the first power line through the driving transistor, and
wherein the first pixel electrode is electrically connected to the second power line.
16 . The display device according to claim 13 , wherein, when the first switching transistor is turned off, the first light emitting elements emit light, and the second light emitting elements do not emit light, and
wherein, when the first switching transistor is turned on, the first light emitting elements and the second light emitting elements emit light.
17 . The display device according to claim 13 , wherein the pixel further comprises:
a hold capacitor between a second electrode of the first switching transistor and a gate electrode of the first switching transistor; and
a second switching transistor configured to transmit a mode signal to the gate electrode of the first switching transistor.
18 . The display device according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a data processor configured to output a determination result by determining whether the grayscale value included in the input image data is less than a reference grayscale value,
wherein the driver is configured to generate the mode signal for turning on or turning off the first switching transistor based on the determination result of the data processor.
19 . The display device according to claim 18 , wherein, when the grayscale value is less than the reference grayscale value, the first switching transistor is turned on.
20 . The display device according to claim 18 , wherein, when the grayscale value is greater than or equal to the reference grayscale value, the first switching transistor is turned off.