Device for and method of driving an electro-optical device

• US 7,223,958 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Element Capital Commercial Company Pte. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Katsunori, Nakajima, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI PHO, PASCAL M
• Application Number:
  US10/992,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/208.1, 250/221, 250/226, 250/216, 250/227.11, 345/76, 345/77, 345/81, 345/84, 345/82, 345/63, 345/32, 345/207, 345/690, 345/697, 345/211, 345/212, 345/204, 315/10, 362/551, 362/552, 362/555, 362/561, 362/330, 362/800
• US Class Current: 250/216
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1214 by feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/1247 using an array of light sources, e.g. a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0242 Compensation of deficiencies in the appearance of colours
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/145 the light originating from the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3225 using an active matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/13 comprising photosensors that control luminance
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/871 Self-supporting sealing arrangements

Abstract

To provide an electro-optical device, such as a display or a printer head having a self-luminous element, in which a light-emitting state of a light-emitting element is detected. The electro-optical device comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in a display region on a substrate in a predetermined pattern, each including a light-emitting element; a plate-like member disposed to overlap the display region and formed of a transparent medium for transmitting light emitted from the plurality of pixel units and internally reflecting a portion of the transmitted light; and light detection means for detecting light that is internally reflected and reaches at least one side of the display region through the inside of the plate-like member.

Claims

1. An electro-optical device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel units arranged in a display region being part of a substrate in a predetermined pattern, each including a light-emitting element;

a plate-like member disposed to overlap the display region and formed of a transparent medium for transmitting light emitted from the plurality of pixel units and internally reflecting a portion of the transmitted light;

light guide means for guiding light that is internally reflected and emitted from the plate-like member along at least one side; and

light detection means disposed on a surface of the subtrate and disposed at one end of the at least one side and detects light guided by the light means along the at least one side.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixel units are arranged in a plane as the predetermined pattern.

3. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixel units are arranged in a line as the predetermined pattern.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member is comprised of a sealing substrate for sealing the light-emitting element, and the transparent medium is formed of a transparent material having a smaller refractive index than that of the light guide means.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving unit for generating a driving signal and for supplying the driving signal to each of the plurality of pixel units to allow each of the plurality of pixel units to emit light when turned on.

6. The electro-optical device according to claim 5, further comprising:

a control unit for generating a correction signal for correcting light emitting of the pixel units based on a detected signal output by the light detection means, and for supplying the correction signal to the driving unit,

wherein the driving unit corrects the driving signal based on the correction signal.

7. The electro-optical device according to claim 6, wherein, of external light incident on the plate-like member when the plurality of pixel units are turned off, the light detection means detects light that is internally reflected in the plate-like member and reaches at least one side of the display region through the inside of the plate-like member.

8. The electro-optical device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit calculates a light intensity detected by the light detection means when the pixel units are turned off and a light intensity detected by the light detection means when the pixel units are turned on, based on the detected signal, and generates the correction signal based on a value obtained by subtracting the light intensity calculated when the pixel units are turned off from the light intensity calculated when the pixel units are turned on.

9. The electro-optical device according to claim 8, wherein the light detection means is disposed at each of two sides of the display region, and the control unit obtains first and second values as values based on each of the detected signals output from the two light detection means, determines whether or not the sum of the first and second values is constant, and generates the correction signal when it is determined that the sum is not constant.

10. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

11. A method for driving an electro-optical device including a plurality of pixel units arranged in a display region being part of a substrate in a predetermined pattern, each including a light-emitting element, and a plate-like member disposed to overlap the display region and formed of a transparent medium for transmitting light emitted from each of the pixel units and reflecting a portion of the transmitted light, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, via a light detection mean, light that is internally reflected and reaches at least one side of the display region through the inside of the plate-like member, the light guided by a light guide means and emitted from the plate-like member along the at least one side, the light detection means disposed on a surface of the substrate and disposed at one end of the at least one side and detecting the light guided by the light guide means along the at least one side;

generating a correction signal for correcting light emitting of each of the pixel units based on the amount of detected light; and

generating a driving signal for allowing each of the pixel units to be turned on to emit light based on the correction signal.