IP Library Granted Patent US 8,427,400
Granted Patent B2
US 8,427,400 · App. 12/477,158 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Image display device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,427,400
App. No.
12/477,158
Granted
Apr 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an image display device in which deterioration of a self-light-emitting element within a pixel is corrected accurately. A detection unit detects, within a detection period, a difference in characteristics between self-light-emitting elements of adjacent pixels. A first subtraction circuit outputs a differential voltage between a reference voltage and an image voltage to a self-light-emitting element that is determined by the detection unit as a deteriorated element. An amplifier amplifies an output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1-(α/100)}] 1/2 when a driver transistor is driven in a saturation region. The amplifier amplifies the output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1-(α/100)}] when the driver transistor is driven in a linear region. A differential between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier obtained by a second subtraction circuit is used as a corrected image voltage.

Claims (68)

1. An image display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels each including a self-light-emitting element and a driver transistor for driving the self-light-emitting element, the driver transistor being driven in a saturation region;

a plurality of signal lines through which an image voltage is input to the plurality of pixels;

detection means for detecting a difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels;

a first calculation means for calculating a differential voltage between a reference voltage and the image voltage for the self-light-emitting element of the pixel that has been determined as a deteriorated self-light-emitting element by the detection means;

a second calculation means for multiplying a result of calculation made by the first calculation means by a non-linear light emission correction amount; and

a third calculation means for subtracting a result of calculation made by the second calculation means from the reference voltage to obtain a corrected image voltage.

2. An image display device according to claim 1 , wherein the detection means includes:

a constant current supplying circuit;

a voltage detection circuit for detecting, within a detection period, a voltage across the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels, which is observed when a constant current is supplied from the constant current supplying circuit to the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels;

an A/D converter for converting the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit into a digital value;

a memory for storing the digital value output from the A/D converter; and

a determination circuit for detecting, based on the digital value stored in the memory, the difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of the two adjacent pixels, and determining the deteriorated self-light-emitting element.

3. An image display device according to claim 2 , wherein the non-linear light emission correction amount is one of increased and decreased to suit an emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element.

4. An image display device according to claim 3 , wherein, when the determination circuit determines that the emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element is α%, the non-linear light emission correction amount is [1/{1−(α/100)}] 1/2 .

5. An image display device according to claim 4 ,

wherein the first calculation means is a first subtraction circuit which outputs the differential voltage between the reference voltage and the image voltage;

the second calculation means is an amplifier for amplifying, based on a determination of the determination circuit, an output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1−(α/100)}] 1/2 ; and

the third calculation means is a second subtraction circuit which outputs a differential voltage between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier.

6. An image display device according to claim 1 , wherein the self-light-emitting element comprises an organic light emitting diode element.

7. An image display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels each including a self-light-emitting element and a driver transistor for driving the self-light-emitting element, the driver transistor being driven in a linear region;

a plurality of signal lines through which an image voltage is input to the plurality of pixels;

detection means for detecting a difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels;

a first calculation means for calculating a differential voltage between a reference voltage and the image voltage for the self-light-emitting element of the pixel that has been determined as a deteriorated self-light-emitting element by the detection means;

a second calculation means for multiplying a result of calculation made by the first calculation means by a linear light emission correction amount; and

a third calculation means for subtracting a result of calculation made by the second calculation means from the reference voltage to obtain a corrected image voltage.

8. An image display device according to claim 7 , wherein the detection means includes:

a constant current supplying circuit;

a voltage detection circuit for detecting, within a detection period, a voltage across the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels, which is observed when a constant current is supplied from the constant current supplying circuit to the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels;

an A/D converter for converting the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit into a digital value;

a memory for storing the digital value output from the A/D converter; and

a determination circuit for detecting, based on the digital value stored in the memory, the difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of the two adjacent pixels, and determining the deteriorated self-light-emitting element.

9. An image display device according to claim 8 , wherein the linear light emission correction amount is one of increased and decreased to suit an emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element.

10. An image display device according to claim 9 , wherein, when the determination circuit determines that the emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element is α%, the linear light emission correction amount is [1/{1−(α/100)}].

11. An image display device according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first calculation means is a first subtraction circuit which outputs the differential voltage between the reference voltage and the image voltage;

the second calculation means is an amplifier for amplifying, based on a determination of the determination circuit, an output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1−(α/100)}]; and

the third calculation means is a second subtraction circuit which outputs a differential voltage between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier.

12. An image display device according to claim 7 , wherein the self-light-emitting element comprises an organic light emitting diode element.

13. An image display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixels each including a self-light-emitting element and a driver transistor for driving the self-light-emitting element;

a plurality of signal lines through which an image voltage is input to the plurality of pixels;

first driving means for driving the driver transistor in a saturation region;

second driving means for driving the driver transistor in a linear region;

detection means for detecting a difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of two adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels;

a first calculation means for calculating a differential voltage between a reference voltage and the image voltage for the self-light-emitting element of the pixel that has been determined as a deteriorated self-light-emitting element by the detection means;

a second calculation means for multiplying a result of calculation made by the first calculation means by a non-linear light emission correction amount when the first driving means drives the driver transistor in the saturation region;

a third calculation means for subtracting a result of calculation made by the second calculation means from the reference voltage to obtain a corrected image voltage;

a fourth calculation means for multiplying the result of the calculation made by the first calculation means by a linear light emission correction amount when the second driving means drives the driver transistor in the linear region; and

a fifth calculation means for subtracting a result of calculation made by the fourth calculation means from the reference voltage to obtain the corrected image voltage.

14. An image display device according to claim 13 , wherein the detection means includes:

a constant current supplying circuit;

a voltage detection circuit for detecting, within a detection period, a voltage across the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels, which is observed when a constant current is supplied from the constant current supplying circuit to the self-light-emitting element of each of the plurality of pixels;

an A/D converter for converting the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit into a digital value;

a memory for storing the digital value output from the A/D converter; and

a determination circuit for detecting, based on the digital value stored in the memory, the difference in characteristics between the self-light-emitting elements of the two adjacent pixels, and determining the deteriorated self-light-emitting element.

15. An image display device according to claim 14 , wherein one of the non-linear light emission correction amount and the linear light emission correction amount is one of increased and decreased to suit an emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element.

16. An image display device according to claim 15 ,

wherein, when the first driving means drives the driver transistor in the saturation region, and when the determination circuit determines that the emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element is α%, the non-linear light emission correction amount is [1/{1(α/100)}] 1/2 ; and

when the second driving means drives the driver transistor in the linear region, and when the determination circuit determines that the emission brightness deterioration amount of the self-light-emitting element is α%, the linear light emission correction amount is [1/{1−(α/100)}].

17. An image display device according to claim 16 ,

wherein the first calculation means is a first subtraction circuit which outputs the differential voltage between the reference voltage and the image voltage;

the second calculation means is an amplifier for amplifying, based on a determination of the determination circuit, an output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1−(α/100)}] 1/2 ;

the third calculation means is a second subtraction circuit which outputs a differential voltage between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier;

the fourth calculation means is an amplifier for amplifying, based on the determination of the determination circuit, the output of the first subtraction circuit with a gain [1/{1−(α/100)}]; and

the fifth calculation means is a third subtraction circuit which outputs a differential voltage between the reference voltage and an output of the amplifier.

18. An image display device according to claim 13 , wherein the self-light-emitting element comprises an organic light emitting diode element.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2018
From: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.; JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046988/0801 →
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE IN PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Oct 20, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027092/0684 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 20, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027093/0937 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2009
From: KOHNO, TOHRU; AKIMOTO, HAJIME; KASAI, NARUHIKO; ISHII, MASATO
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 023014/0694 →