Display driving circuits, electrooptic apparatuses, electronic apparatuses, and display driving methods

• US 20030112257A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tamura, Tsuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US10/302,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20030112257A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0208 using active addressing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0248 Precharge or discharge of column electrodes before or after applying exact column voltages
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/027 Details of drivers for data electrodes, the drivers handling digital grey scale data, e.g. use of D/A converters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0276 for the purpose of adaptation to the characteristics of a display device, i.e. gamma correction
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0285 using tables for spatial correction of display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/10 Special adaptations of display systems for operation with variable images
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0428 Gradation resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2014 by modulation of the duration of a single pulse during which the logic level remains constant
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2018 by time modulation using two or more time intervals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3625 using active addressing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3685 Details of drivers for data electrodes

Abstract

Display driving circuits that can achieve both a greater number of gradations and a lower power consumption are provided, as well as an electrooptic apparatus, an electronic apparatus, and a display driving method using the same.

Claims

1. A display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driving circuit comprising:

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches a frame frequency to a first or second frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that successively performs decoding for each frame and outputs a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data based on a frame frequency of the first or second frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns,

wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the frame frequency conversion circuit switches the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode.

2. A display driving circuit according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to the gradation data of the first number of colors in the first mode, and a second gradation pallet circuit that converts the given input gradation data to the gradation data of the second number of colors in the second mode, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern based on gradation data that is converted by the first or second gradation pallet circuit.

3. A display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving circuit comprising:

a gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors or gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors;

a clock pulse frequency conversion circuit that switches a frequency of a clock pulse signal for performing a pulse width modulation to a first or second clock pulse frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a pulse width modulation circuit that generates a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data output from the gradation pallet circuit, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal,

wherein the gradation pallet circuit converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the clock pulse frequency conversion circuit switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode.

4. An electrooptic apparatus, comprising:

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driving circuit comprising;

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches a frame frequency to;

a first or second frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that successively performs decoding for each frame and outputs a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data based on a frame frequency of the first or second frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns,

wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the frame frequency conversion circuit switches the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

5. An electrooptic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display driving circuit further comprises:

a first gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to the gradation data of the first number of colors in the first mode, and a second gradation pallet circuit that converts the given input gradation data to the gradation data of the second number of colors in the second mode, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern based on gradation data that is converted by the first or second gradation pallet circuit.

6. An electrooptic apparatus, comprising:

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving circuit comprising;

a gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors or gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors;

a clock pulse frequency conversion circuit that switches a frequency of a clock pulse signal for performing a pulse width modulation to a first or second clock pulse frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a pulse width modulation circuit that generates a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data output from the gradation pallet circuit, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal,

wherein the gradation pallet circuit converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

wherein the clock pulse frequency conversion circuit switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

7. An electrooptic apparatus, comprising:

a display panel including pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driving circuit comprising;

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches a frame frequency to a first or second frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that successively performs decoding for each frame and outputs a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data based on a frame frequency of the first or second frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns,

wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the frame frequency conversion circuit switches the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

8. An electrooptic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the display driving circuit further comprises:

a first gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to the gradation data of the first number of colors in the first mode, and a second gradation pallet circuit that converts the given input gradation data to the gradation data of the second number of colors in the second mode, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern based on gradation data that is converted by the first or second gradation pallet circuit.

9. An electrooptic apparatus comprising:

a display panel including pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving circuit comprising;

a gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors or gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors;

a clock pulse frequency conversion circuit that switches a frequency of a clock pulse signal for performing a pulse width modulation to a first or second clock pulse frequency based on a given switching control signal;

a pulse width modulation circuit that generates a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data output from the gradation pallet circuit, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal,

wherein the gradation pallet circuit converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the clock pulse frequency conversion circuit switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

an electrooptic apparatus comprising;

pixels that are specified by a-plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another,

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driving circuit comprising

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches a frame frequency to a first or second frequency based on a given switching control signal,

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that successively performs decoding for each frame and outputs a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data based on a frame frequency of the first or second frequency, and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns,

wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and

wherein the frame frequency conversion circuit switches the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode, and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

11. An electronic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the display driving circuit further comprises:

a first gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to the gradation data of the first number of colors in the first mode, and a second gradation pallet circuit that converts the given input gradation data to the gradation data of the second number of colors in the second mode, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern based on gradation data that is converted by the first or second gradation pallet circuit.

12. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

an electrooptic apparatus comprising

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another,

a display driving circuit display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving circuit comprising

a gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors or gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors,

a clock pulse frequency conversion circuit that switches a frequency of a clock pulse signal for performing a pulse width modulation to a first or second clock pulse frequency based on a given switching control signal,

a pulse width modulation circuit that generates a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data output from the gradation pallet circuit, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency, and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal,

wherein the gradation pallet circuit converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and

wherein the clock pulse frequency conversion circuit switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

13. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

electrooptic apparatus comprising

a display panel including pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another,

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driving circuit comprising

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches a frame frequency to a first or second frequency based on a given switching control signal,

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that successively performs decoding for each frame and outputs a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data based on a frame frequency of the first or second frequency, and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns,

wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and

the frame frequency conversion circuit switches the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

14. An electronic apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display driving circuit further comprises:

a first gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to the gradation data of the first number of colors in the first mode, and a second gradation pallet circuit that converts the given input gradation data to the gradation data of the second number of colors in the second mode, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit performs decoding and outputs a gradation pattern based on gradation data that is converted by the first or second gradation pallet circuit.

15. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

a display panel including pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving circuit comprising

a gradation pallet circuit that converts given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors or gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors,

a clock pulse frequency conversion circuit that switches a frequency of a clock pulse signal for performing a pulse width modulation to a first or second clock pulse frequency based on a given switching control signal,

a pulse width modulation circuit that generates a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data output from the gradation pallet circuit, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal,

wherein the gradation pallet circuit converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on the switching control signal, and converts the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal; and

the clock pulse frequency conversion circuit switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switches the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

16. A display driving method that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method , the display driving method comprising:

performing decoding and outputting a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on a given switching control signal, and performing decoding and outputting a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal;

switching the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switching the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

driving the signal electrodes at the first or second frequency, based on the gradation pattern decoded and output with the frame frequency having the first or second frequency.

17. A display driving method for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method for a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another, the display driving method comprising:

changing a frame frequency for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method according to a changeable number of colors of gradations; and

displaying gradations using the changed frame frequency.

18. A display driving method according to claim 17, wherein, when the number of colors is a first number of colors, the frame frequency is set to a first frequency, and when the number of colors is a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors, the frame frequency is set to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.

19. A display driving method that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driving method comprising:

converting given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on a given switching control signal, and converting the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal;

switching the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switching the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode;

generating a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data having the first or second number of colors, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

driving the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal.

20. A display driving method for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method for a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another, the display driving method comprising:

changing a frequency of a clock pulse signal for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to a changeable number of color for gradations; and

displaying gradations using the changed frequency of the clock pulse signal.

21. A display driving method according to claim 20, wherein, when the number of colors is a first number of colors, the clock pulse frequency of the clock pulse signal is set at a first clock pulse frequency, and when the number of colors is a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors, the clock pulse frequency of the clock pulse signal is set at a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency.

22. A display driver that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method, the display driver comprising:

means for decoding and outputting a gradation pattern for designating frames that are to be displayed on or displayed off by a frame rate control method according to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on a given switching control signal, and performing decoding and outputting a gradation pattern according to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal;

means for switching the frame frequency from a first frequency to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switching the frame frequency from the second frequency to the first frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode; and

means for driving the signal electrodes at the first or second frequency, based on the gradation pattern decoded and output with the frame frequency having the first or second frequency.

23. A display driver for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method for a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another, the display driver comprising:

means for changing a frame frequency for displaying gradations by a frame rate control method according to a changeable number of colors of gradations; and

means for displaying gradations using the changed frame frequency.

24. A display driver according to claim 23, wherein, when the number of colors is a first number of colors, the frame frequency is set to a first frequency, and when the number of colors is a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors, the frame frequency is set to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.

25. A display driver that drives signal electrodes of a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method, the display driver comprising:

means for converting given input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of colors in a first mode that is set based on a given switching control signal, and converting the input gradation data to gradation data having a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors in a second mode that is set based on the switching control signal;

means for switching the frequency of the clock pulse signal from a first clock pulse frequency to a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency when the first mode is switched to the second mode, and switching the frequency of the clock pulse signal from the second clock pulse frequency to the first clock pulse frequency when the second mode is switched to the first mode;

means for generating a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width corresponding to gradation data having the first or second number of colors, based on the clock pulse signal having a frequency that is converted to the first or second clock pulse frequency; and

means for driving the signal electrodes using the pulse width modulation signal.

26. A display driver for displaying gradations by a pulse width modulation method for a display panel having a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another, the display driver comprising:

means for changing a frequency of a clock pulse signal for generating a pulse width modulation signal according to a changeable number of color for gradations; and

means for displaying gradations using the changed frequency of the clock pulse signal.

27. A display driver according to claim 26, wherein, when the number of colors is a first number of colors, the clock pulse frequency of the clock pulse signal is set at a first clock pulse frequency, and when the number of colors is a second number of colors that is fewer than the first number of colors, the clock pulse frequency of the clock pulse signal is set at a second clock pulse frequency that is lower than the first clock pulse frequency.

28. A display driving circuit, comprising:

a signal driver comprising a gradation pallet circuit which, based on given switching control signals, converts input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations by a second gradation pallet circuit;

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches the frame frequency, based on given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that performs decoding, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit outputs gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output.

29. A display driving circuit, comprising:

means for converting, based on given switching control signals, input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations;

means for switching a frame frequency, based on the given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

means for generating gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

means for driving signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output.

30. An electrooptic apparatus, comprising:

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit, comprising;

a signal driver comprising a gradation pallet circuit which, based on given switching control signals, converts input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations by a second gradation pallet circuit;

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches the frame frequency, based on given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that performs decoding, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit outputs gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

31. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

an electrooptic apparatus comprising;

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another,

a display driving circuit, comprising;

a signal driver comprising a gradation pallet circuit which, based on given switching control signals, converts input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations by a second gradation pallet circuit;

a frame frequency conversion circuit that switches the frame frequency, based on given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

a gradation pattern decoding circuit that performs decoding, wherein the gradation pattern decoding circuit outputs gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

a signal electrode driving circuit that drives signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output, and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

32. An electrooptic apparatus, comprising:

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another;

a display driving circuit, comprising;

means for converting, based on given switching control signals, input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations;

means for switching a frame frequency, based on the given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

means for generating gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

means for driving signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output; and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes.

33. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

an operation input section for inputting operation information;

an input presence/absence detection section that detects whether operation information is input from the operation input section;

a gradation data generation section that generates input gradation data based on the operation information that is input from the operation input section;

an electrooptic apparatus comprising;

pixels that are specified by a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes mutually crisscrossing one another,

a display driving circuit, comprising;

means for converting, based on given switching control signals, input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations;

means for switching a frame frequency, based on the given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

means for generating gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

means for driving signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output, and

a scanning driver that drives the scanning electrodes; and

a mode setting section that sets a first mode or a second mode for the electrooptic apparatus based on a detection result of the input presence/absence detection section,

wherein the mode setting section sets the first mode when the input presence/absence detection section detects an input of the operation information, and switches from the first mode to the second mode when the input presence/absence detection section does not detect an input of the operation information for a predetermined period.

34. A display driving method, comprising:

converting, based on given switching control signals, input gradation data to gradation data having a first number of color gradations by a first gradation pallet circuit or a second number of color gradations;

switching a frame frequency, based on the given switching control signals, to a first frame frequency or to a second frame frequency;

generating gradation patterns based on gradations corresponding to the converted gradation data, wherein the gradation pattern is data for designating frames that are to be turned on or off in units of frames across a plurality of frames for performing gradation displays; and

driving signal electrodes based on the gradation patterns decoded and output.