Circuit and method for driving an array of light emitting pixels

• US 7,978,187 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2004
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGNIS Innovation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IGNIS Innovation Incorporated
• Inventors: Vygranenko, Yuriy, Servati, Peyman, Nathan, Arokia, Jafarabadiashtiani, Shahin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US10/554,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20070080908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,545 Days
• Field of Search: 345 76- 78, 345 81- 84, 345/204, 345/205, 345/207, 345/211, 370/354, 347/236, 732/90
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0417 Special arrangements specific to the use of low carrier mobility technology
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0819 used for counteracting undesired variations, e.g. feedback or autozeroing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0646 Modulation of illumination source brightness and image signal correlated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3241 the current through the light-emitting element being set using a data current provided by the data driver, e.g. by using a two-transistor current mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/325 the data current flowing through the driving transistor during a setting phase, e.g. by using a switch for connecting the driving transistor to the data driver
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3266 Details of drivers for scan electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3283 in which the data driver supplies a variable data current for setting the current through, or the voltage across, the light-emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/60 Circuit arrangements for operating LEDs comprising organic material, e.g. for operating organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] or polymer light-emitting diodes [PLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A technique for driving a column of pixels that include light emitting elements. The technique incorporates feedback data provided from feedback data sources connected to the data line and to feedback line of the array, pixel driving circuit with feedback path. The technique can also include block of the reference elements for input signal corrections.

Claims

1. A pixel circuit for use in a display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels with each pixel having a select line, a signal line, a feedback line, each of the pixels comprising:

a light emitting element;

a drive part for providing a drive current to the light emitting element, the drive part having

a storage capacitor,

a switch use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the select line, and a first terminal connected to the signal line, and a second terminal connected to the storage capacitor,

a drive use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the second terminal of the switch use transistor, a first terminal connected to the light emitting element, and a second terminal, and

a feedback switch having a first terminal connected to the drive use transistor, and a second terminal connected to the feedback line; and

an on-pixel feedback conductive path between the second terminal of the drive use transistor and a reference potential for generating a feedback voltage representing a drive current provided to the light emitting element, the feedback voltage being provided to the feedback line via the feedback switch.

2. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein each pixel further includes a feedback circuit that provides the on-pixel feedback conductive path, the feedback circuit including a resistor, a diode, or the light emitting element connected between the drive use transistor and the reference potential, the reference potential being ground.

3. The pixel circuit according to claim 2, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a resistor connected between the second terminal of said drive use transistor and a potential providing the feedback voltage at a level proportional to the drive current.

4. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein the storage capacitor is connected to ground or to the first terminal of the feedback switch.

5. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein the drive part further comprises:

a second drive use transistor having a gate terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal,

the feedback switch and the drive use transistor arranged to form a current mirror structure,

the gate terminals of the drive use transistor and the second drive use transistor connected to the second terminal of the switch use transistor,

the first terminal of the feedback switch and the first terminal of the second drive use transistor connected to a power supply node.

6. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of the pixels further comprises

a resistor connected to the second terminal of the drive use transistor, wherein the reference potential is ground.

7. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein the drive part further comprises

second drive use transistor having a gate terminal, a first terminal and a second terminal,

the drive use transistor and the second drive use transistor being arranged to form a current mirror structure,

the gate terminals of the drive use transistor and the second drive use transistor being connected to the second terminal of the switch use transistor,

the second terminal of the drive use transistor is connected to ground.

8. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein the on-pixel feedback conductive path includes the light emitting element connected between the second terminal of the drive use transistor and the reference potential.

9. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of the pixels further comprise a diode connected between the second terminal of said drive use transistor and a predetermined potential to provide the feedback voltage and said feedback switch is an insulating gate type field effect transistor having a gate connected to said select line.

10. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein each pixel further includes a second select line, and wherein the feedback switch has a gate terminal connected to the second select line.

11. The pixel circuit according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting element is an organic light emitting diode.

12. The pixel circuits according to claim 1, wherein the feedback switch is a transistor, and wherein the transistors are insulating gate type field effect transistors that comprise n-channel and p-channel type transistors.

13. A pixel circuit for use in a display having a plurality of pixels connected to a first select line, a second select line, a signal line, and a feedback line, each of the pixel circuit comprising:

a light emitting element;

a drive part for providing a drive current to the light emitting element, the drive part comprising;

a storage capacitor;

a switch use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the first select line, a first terminal connected to the signal line and a second terminal;

a drive use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the second terminal of the switch use transistor, a first terminal and a second terminal connected to the light emitting element;

an on-pixel feedback circuit for generating a feedback voltage representing a drive current provided to the light emitting element, the feedback circuit comprising a resistor connected between the second terminal of said drive use transistor and a potential; and

a feedback transistor having a gate connected to the second select line, a first terminal connected to the drive use transistor, and a second terminal connected to the feedback line.

14. The pixel circuit according to claim 13 wherein the switch use and drive use transistors are n-type, and the feedback transistor is p-type.

15. The pixel circuit according to claim 13 wherein the switch use and drive use transistors are p-type, and the feedback transistor is n-type.

16. A pixel circuit for use in a display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels each pixel connected to a select line, a signal line, and a feedback line, each of the pixels comprising:

a light emitting element;

a drive part for providing a drive current to the light emitting element, the drive part including;

a storage capacitor;

a switch use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the select line, a first terminal connected to the signal line and a second terminal;

a drive use transistor having a gate terminal connected to the second terminal of the switch use transistor, a first terminal and a second terminal connected to the light emitting element;

an on-pixel feedback circuit for generating a feedback voltage representing a drive current provided to the light emitting element, the feedback circuit comprising a resistor connected between the first terminal of said drive use transistor and a potential; and

a feedback transistor having a gate connected to the select line, a first terminal connected to the first terminal of the drive use transistor and a second terminal connected to the feedback line.

17. The pixel circuit according to claim 16, wherein the switch use transistor, drive use transistor, and the feedback transistor are p-type, and wherein the storage capacitor is connected between the gate of the drive use transistor and the potential.

18. A display device, comprising:

a select line;

a signal line to which a voltage signal in accordance with both brightness and feedback information is supplied;

a feedback line to which a feedback voltage signal in accordance with a current level of drive current is supplied;

a plurality of pixels forming an array of pixels, each of the pixels formed on a substrate at an intersecting portion of said select line and said signal and feedback lines,

each of the pixels comprising;

a light emitting element;

a current driving circuit having a storage capacitor and a switch use transistor; and

a feedback circuit to provide feedback signals representing a current output of said current driving circuit;

a display column control circuit for receiving input signals, adjusting the input signals using a reference circuit formed on the substrate at each column, and modifying the input signals in response to the feedback signals from pixels in the column to produce a desired brightness level of said light emitting element in a selected pixel; and

a selecting line drive circuit for successively activating selecting lines.

19. The display device claimed in claim 18, wherein said feedback circuit includes a resistor to provide the feedback signal in form of a voltage level proportional to the drive current, and said reference circuit includes a reference resistor made from the same material as said resistor.

20. The display device claimed in claim 18,

wherein said reference circuit includes a photo-sensor optically coupled to a reference light emitting element for brightness control, and

said display column control circuit includes a compensating part to compare a generated photocurrent level with an input current level and to adjust a current through said reference light emitting element to achieve a desired brightness level.

21. A method of driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a column at a desired brightness, comprising:

selecting one pixel of a plurality of pixels in the column via a select line, each of the pixels including a light emitting element and a current driving circuit having a storage capacitor and a switch use transistor;

establishing the desired brightness of a reference light emitting element by comparing a generated photocurrent level from a photo-sensor that is optically coupled with the reference light emitting element with an input current level and adjusting a reference current flowing through the reference light emitting element;

converting the reference current into a corresponding voltage level;

transmitting the voltage level to the selected pixel;

converting the voltage level into a drive current and generating a feedback voltage signal representing a drive current level via a feedback circuit of the selected pixel;

adjusting the voltage level in response to the feedback voltage signal from the selected pixel to establish a drive current substantially equal to the reference current;

storing the adjusted voltage level; and

driving the light emitting element of the selected pixel with the drive current in accordance with the adjusted voltage level to produce the desired brightness level in the selected pixel.