Circuit for driving an electronic component and method of operating an electronic device having the circuit

• US 20060012310A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Zhining, Yu, Gang, Stevenson, Matthew, Zhang, Weixiao
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/169.300
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0254 Control of polarity reversal in general, other than for liquid crystal displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0256 with the purpose of reversing the voltage across a light emitting or modulating element within a pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49105 Switch making

Abstract

In one embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic component includes a first signal line and a first switch. The first switch is connected to the first signal line and is coupled to a first terminal of the electronic component. The first switch is configured to allow a state where the first signal line electrically floats. In another embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic component includes a first switch and a second switch. In yet another embodiment, a method for using any or all of the circuits includes electrically floating a second terminal of the electronic component, a source/drain region of a field-effect transistor, or both. In yet a further embodiment, during a first time period having a first switch at a first setting and a second switch at a second setting. During a second time period, changing the first switch, the second switch, or both to different setting(s).

Claims

1. A circuit for driving an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component or a radiation-responsive electronic component, and wherein the circuit comprises:

a first signal line; and

a first switch, wherein;

the first switch is connected to the first signal line and is coupled to a first terminal of the electronic component; and

the first switch is configured to allow a state where the first signal line electrically floats.

2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising a field-effect transistor comprising a gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer, a first source/drain region, and a second source/drain region, wherein:

the gate electrode is coupled to a data line; and

the first source/drain region is connected to a first terminal of the electronic component.

3. The circuit of claim 2, further comprising a data holder unit having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein:

the first terminal of the data holder unit is connected to the gate electrode; and

the second terminal of the data holder unit is coupled to the first source/drain region or the second source/drain region.

4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein:

the first terminal of the first switch is connected to the second source/drain region and the second terminal of the data holder unit; and

a second terminal of the electronic component is connected to a second signal line.

5. The circuit of claim 3, wherein:

the first terminal of the first switch is connected to a second terminal of the electronic component; and

the second source/drain region is connected to a second signal line.

6. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a second signal line; and

a second switch comprising a first terminal and second terminals, wherein;

the first terminal of the second switch is connected to the second signal line and coupled to a second terminal of the electronic component; and

the second switch is configured to allow connection of the first terminal of the second switch to at least one of the second terminals of the second switch.

7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the electronic component is an organic electronic component.

8. A circuit for driving an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component or a radiation-responsive electronic component, wherein the circuit comprises:

a first signal line;

a first switch comprising a first terminal and second terminals, wherein;

the first terminal of the first switch is connected to the first signal line and coupled to a first terminal of the electronic component; and

the first switch is configured to allow connection of the first terminal of the first switch to at least one of the second terminals of the first switch;

a second signal line; and

a second switch comprising a third terminal and fourth terminals, wherein;

the third terminal of the second switch is connected to the second signal line and coupled to a second terminal of the electronic component; and

the second switch is configured to allow connection of the third terminal of the second switch to at least one of the fourth terminals of the second switch.

9. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the first switch, the second switch, or a combination thereof is configured to allow a state where the first signal line, the second signal line, or a combination thereof electrically floats.

10. The circuit of claim 8, further comprising a field-effect transistor comprising a gate electrode, a gate dielectric layer, a first source/drain region, and a second source/drain region, wherein:

the gate electrode is coupled to a data line;

the first source/drain region is connected to a first terminal of the electronic component;

the second source/drain region is connected to the second signal line; and

the second terminal of the electronic component is connected to the first signal line.

11. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising a data holder unit having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein:

the first terminal of the data holder unit is connected to the gate electrode; and

the second terminal of the data holder unit is coupled to the first source/drain region or the second source/drain region.

12. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the electronic component is an organic electronic component.

13. A method of operating an electronic device comprising a field-effect transistor comprising a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region, wherein the first source/drain region is connected to a first terminal of an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component or a radiation-responsive electronic component, and wherein the method comprises:

during a first time period, sending a first signal to one of a second terminal of the electronic component or the second source/drain region; and

during a second time period, electrically floating the second terminal of the electronic component, the second source/drain region, or both.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

during the first time period;

if the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component, the electronic component is emitting radiation; and

if the electronic component is a radiation-responsive electronic component, the electronic component is responding to radiation; and

during the second time period, the electronic component is not emitting or responding to radiation.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the field-effect transistor further comprises a gate electrode and a gate dielectric layer; and

during the first and second time periods, the voltage on the gate electrode is substantially constant.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

during the first time period, charge carriers are trapped within the gate dielectric layer; and

during the second time period, a substantial fraction of the charge carriers trapped within the gate dielectric layer during the first time period are de-trapped from the gate dielectric layer.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

a first voltage-time product is a first voltage difference between the gate electrode and the first/source drain region during the first time period times a length of the first time period;

a second voltage-time product is a second voltage difference between the gate electrode and the first/source drain region during the second time period times a length of the first time period; and

the first voltage-time product and the second voltage time product are substantially equal.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the second source/drain region or the second terminal of the electronic component is connected to a first terminal of a switch;

the switch has second terminals;

one of the second terminals of the switch provides the first signal to the second source/drain region; and

another of the second terminals of the switch electrically floats.

19. A method of operating an electronic device comprising a field-effect transistor comprising a gate dielectric layer, a first source/drain region, and a second source/drain region, wherein the first source/drain region is connected to a first terminal of an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component or a radiation-responsive electronic component, and wherein the method comprises:

during a first time period;

sending a first signal to one of a second terminal of the electronic component or a second source/drain region;

sending a second signal to a gate electrode; and

during a second time period;

sending a third signal to the second terminal of the electronic component or the second source/drain region, or both, wherein the third signal is different from the first signal; and

keeping the second signal on the gate electrode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

during the first time period;

if the electronic component is a radiation-emitting electronic component, the electronic component is emitting radiation; and

if the electronic component is a radiation-responsive electronic component, the electronic component is responding to radiation; and

during the second time period, the electronic component is not emitting or responding to radiation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein:

the second source/drain region or the second terminal of the electronic component is connected to a first terminal of a switch;

the switch has second terminals;

one of the second terminals of the switch provides the first signal to the second source/drain region; and

another of the second terminals of the switch provides the third signal to the second source/drain region.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein:

during the first time period, charge carriers are trapped within the gate dielectric layer; and

during the second time period, a substantial fraction of the charge carriers trapped within the gate dielectric layer during the first time period are de-trapped from the gate dielectric layer.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein:

a first voltage-time product is a first voltage difference between the gate electrode and the first/source drain region during the first time period times a length of the first time period;

a second voltage-time product is a second voltage difference between the gate electrode and the first/source drain region during the second time period times a length of the first time period; and

the first voltage-time product and the second voltage time product are substantially equal.