Electroluminescent display devices

• US 7,554,512 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: TPO Displays Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Steer, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala; Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Afroza Y
• Application Number:
  US10/530,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 345/76
• US Class Current: 345/76
• 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 2320/0295 by monitoring each display 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

Abstract

An active matrix electroluminescent display device has a current sampling resistor within each pixel in series with the display element. A feedback signal represents the voltage drop across the current sampling resistor and the pixel drive signals are modified in dependence on the feedback signal to control the current driven through the display element. In this way, threshold compensation is provided, whilst enabling a single voltage-driven drive transistor to be employed.

Claims

1. An active matrix electroluminescent display device comprising an array of display pixels, each pixel comprising:

an electroluminescent (EL) display element;

a drive transistor for driving a current through the display element;

a current sampling resistor, wherein the EL display element, the drive transistor and the current sampling resistor are in series between first and second power lines;

circuitry comprising at least one sampling transistor for providing one or more feedback signals representing the voltage drop across the current sampling resistor to at least one feedback line, wherein the circuitry comprises a first sampling transistor connected between one terminal of the current sampling resistor and a first said feedback line; and

an address transistor, connected between a data input line and the gate of the drive transistor, the gates of the address transistor and the or each sampling transistor being controlled by a shared address line,

wherein the display device further comprises processing means for processing pixel drive signals in dependence on the feedback signal or signals.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuitry for providing a feedback signal or signals further comprises a second said sampling transistor connected between the other terminal of the current sampling resistor and a second feedback line.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pixel further comprises:

a second address transistor, wherein the second address transistor is connected between the one terminal of the current sampling resistor and a current drain line.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second address transistor is controlled by the shared address line.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means comprises:

a first amplifier which receives the feedback signal or signals and derives therefrom an output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor; and

a second amplifier which receives the output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor and the pixel drive signal and provides a modified pixel drive signal.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means comprises:

a first amplifier which receives the feedback signal or signals and derives therefrom an output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor;

a sample and hold circuit for holding the output value; and

a second amplifier for receiving the held output value and the output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each pixel further comprises:

an address transistor, connected between a data input line and the gate of the drive transistor, wherein the gates of the address transistor and the or each sampling transistor are controlled by a shared address line, and

wherein the processing means comprises;

a first amplifier which receives the feedback signal or signals and derives therefrom an output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor;

a sample and hold circuit for holding the output value; and

a second amplifier for receiving the held output value and the output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor, wherein the data input line is switchable between a power supply line voltage (V_SUPPLY) and the output of the second amplifier.

8. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the device is operable in two modes, the modes comprising:

a first mode in which a desired pixel drive current is driven through the current sampling resistor and the second address transistor to the current drain line, and the output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor is stored; and

a second mode in which a current is driven through the drive transistor and the EL display element and the output dependent on the current flowing through the current sampling resistor is provided to the second amplifier for comparison with the stored output value, the second amplifier providing the data input line voltage.

9. A method of addressing an active matrix electroluminescent display device comprising an array of display pixels, in which each pixel comprises an electroluminescent (EL) display element, a drive transistor for driving a current through the display element and a current sampling resistor in series with the EL display element and the drive transistor, the method comprising, for each pixel:

applying a drive signal to the pixel representing a desired current;

switching a shared data line to control sampling of a voltage on the terminals of the resistor in series with the EL display element to obtain a feedback signal representing the current flowing through the display element;

switching a feedback line to control the sampling of the voltage on the terminals of the resistor in series with the EL display element to obtain the feedback signal representing the current flowing through the display element; and

using the drive signal and the feedback signal to generate a modified pixel drive signal such that the current flowing is equal to the desired current.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein using the drive signal and the feedback signal comprises differentially amplifying the signals.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein sampling a voltage on the terminals of the resistor in series with the EL display element comprises tapping the voltage from each terminal to a differential amplifier.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein sampling a voltage on the terminals of a resistor in series with the EL display element comprises tapping the voltage from one terminal, and the voltage on the other terminal comprising a known supply voltage.

13. A method of addressing an active matrix electroluminescent display device comprising an array of display pixels, in which each pixel comprises an electroluminescent (EL) display element, a drive transistor for driving a current through the display element and a current sampling resistor in series with the EL display element and the drive transistor, the method comprising, for each pixel:

driving a desired current through the current sampling resistor and not through the display element;

switching a shared data line to control sampling of a voltage on one or more terminals of the current sampling resistor to obtain a feedback signal representing the voltage drop across the current sampling resistor;

switching a feedback line to control the sampling of the voltage on one or more terminals of the current sampling resistor to obtain the feedback signal representing the voltage drop across the current sampling resistor; and

storing the feedback signal; and

using the stored feedback signal as a feedback control signal for subsequently driving current through the display element by applying a voltage to the gate of the drive transistor, the feedback control signal being used to determine the gate voltage.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein using the stored feedback signal comprises applying the stored feedback signal and a second feedback signal during driving of the display element to a differential amplifier, and using the differential amplifier output to control the drive transistor.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second feedback signal is obtained by sampling a voltage on a said terminal of the current sampling resistor.