Image display device and method of driving image display device

• US 20050219229A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kazunori
• Application Number:
  US11/092,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/148 the light being detected by light detection means within each pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3258 with pixel circuitry controlling the voltage across the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3291 in which the data driver supplies a variable data voltage for setting the current through, or the voltage across, the light-emitting elements

Abstract

There is provided an image display device and a method of driving an image display device, which enable detecting an object position and the like without image degradation using a simple structure while ensuring convenience. The image display device includes: a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices each having both light-emitting and photo-detection functions; light-emission driving section driving the light-emitting/photo-detection devices for light emission in accordance with image data; photo-detection driving section driving one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices for photo-detection, other than a light-emitting/photo-detection device which is emitting light in accordance with the image data, so that the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices detect light emitted from the light-emitting/photo-detection device and reflected from a target object; and detecting section detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices.

Claims

1. An image display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices each having both light-emitting and photo-detection functions;

light-emission driving means for driving the light-emitting/photo-detection devices for light emission in accordance with image data;

photo-detection driving means for driving one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices for photo-detection, other than a light-emitting/photo-detection device which is emitting light in accordance with the image data, so that the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices detect light emitted from the light-emitting/photo-detection device and reflected from a target object; and

detecting means for detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices.

2. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means detects at least either the position or size of the target object in accordance with the photo-detection signal.

3. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means detects a plurality of target objects, which are placed simultaneously, in accordance with the photo-detection signal.

4. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means sets a threshold according to the contents of a displayed image, and detects the target object by comparing the photo-detection signal to the threshold.

5. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means sets a threshold according to the properties of the target object or the purpose of detection or accuracy of detection, and detects the target object by comparing the photo-detection signal to the threshold.

6. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means determines the intensity of ambient light in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals, which are obtained from one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices, other than one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices which are emitting light, when black display occurs in the absence of the target object near the light-emitting/photo-detection devices, and the detecting means performs detection of the target object, allowing for the effect of the ambient light.

7. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices are arranged to form a matrix,

the light-emission driving means drives the plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices in a line-sequential fashion, and

the photo-detection driving means drives light-emitting/photo-detection devices, other than the light-emitting/photo-detection devices which are emitting light, in a line-sequential fashion in synchronization with line-sequential light-emitting operation of the light-emitting/photo-detection devices.

8. An image display device according to claim 7, wherein the photo-detection driving means drives the light-emitting/photo-detection device located at the corresponding position belonging to a line next to a line including the light-emitting/photo-detection device under light-emitting operation.

9. An image display device according to claim 7, wherein the light-emission driving means drives the light-emitting/photo-detection devices belonging to two lines adjacent to both sides of a line including the light-emitting/photo-detection devices driven by the photo-detection driving means.

10. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting/photo-detection device is an organic EL device.

11. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting/photo-detection device so that light-emitting operation of one light-emitting/photo-detection device corresponds to photo-detection operation of another light-emitting/photo-detection device.

12. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting/photo-detection device so that light-emitting operation of a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices corresponds to photo-detection operation of another light-emitting/photo-detection device.

13. An image display device according to claim 1, wherein each light-emitting/photo-detection device has connections to:

a light-emitting gate line for selecting the light-emitting/photo-detection device to be driven;

a data feed line for feeding the image data to the light-emitting/photo-detection device;

a data read line for reading out the photo-detection signal from the light-emitting/photo-detection device; and

a switch line for switching the driving mode of the light-emitting/photo-detection device between light emission mode and photo-detection mode.

14. An image display device according to claim 13, further comprising, for each of the light-emitting/photo-detection devices:

a capacitor;

a first switch which provides selective conduction between the data feed line and one end of the capacitor in accordance with a select signal fed via the light-emitting gate line;

a second switch which provides selective conduction between the other end of the capacitor and the light-emitting/photo-detection device in accordance with a switch signal fed via the switch line; and

a third switch which provides selective conduction between the light-emitting/photo-detection device and the data read line in accordance with the switch signal.

15. An image display device according to claim 14, wherein the capacitor keeps each light-emitting/photo-detection device driven for light emission until immediately before the start of driving for photo-detection.

16. An image display device according to claim 1, further comprising image superimposing means for replacing part of input image data with mark data for displaying a predetermined mark, thereby superimposing the image data,

wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each of the light-emitting/photo-detection devices so that one or more light beams emitted from one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices driven according to the mark data of the image data are detected by one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices located corresponding to the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices driven according to the mark data, and

the detecting means detects whether or not the target object is close to the displayed mark in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices which detect the one or more light beams emitted from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices driven according to the mark data.

17. An image display device according to claim 16, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with mark data for displaying the marks at a plurality of positions, and

the detecting means detects which mark of the marks displayed at the plurality of positions is close to the target object, in accordance with the one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices which detect the one or more light beams emitted from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices driven according to the mark data.

18. An image display device according to claim 16, wherein the input image data is moving image data composed of a plurality of frames, and the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data for each frame.

19. An image display device according to claim 18, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data at positions varying among frames.

20. An image display device according to claim 19, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data at positions varying among frames according to the contents of the input image data.

21. A method of driving an image display device, including:

arranging a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices each having both light-emitting and photo-detection functions;

driving the light-emitting/photo-detection devices for light emission in accordance with image data;

driving one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices for photo-detection, other than a light-emitting/photo-detection device which is emitting light in accordance with the image data, so that the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices detect light emitted from the light-emitting/photo-detection device and reflected from a target object; and

detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices.

22. An image display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting devices;

a plurality of photo-detection devices;

light-emission driving means for driving the light-emitting devices in accordance with image data;

photo-detection driving means for driving the photo-detection devices so as to detect light emitted from one or more light-emitting devices and reflected from a target object; and

detecting means for detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from one or more photo-detection devices.

23. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the detecting means detects at least either the position or size of the target object in accordance with the photo-detection signal.

24. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the detecting means detects a plurality of target objects, which are placed simultaneously, in accordance with the photo-detection signal.

25. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the detecting means sets a threshold according to the contents of a displayed image, and detects the target object by comparing the photo-detection signal to the threshold.

26. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the detecting means sets a threshold according to the properties of the target object or the purpose of detection or accuracy of detection, and detects the target object by comparing the photo-detection signal to the threshold.

27. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the detecting means determines the intensity of ambient light in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals which are obtained from one or more photo-detection devices when black display occurs in the absence of the target object near the photo-detection devices, and the detecting means performs detection of the target object, allowing for the effect of the ambient light.

28. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the plurality of light-emitting devices are arranged to form a matrix,

the plurality of photo-detection devices are arranged to form a matrix,

the light-emission driving means drives the plurality of light-emitting devices in a line-sequential fashion, and

the photo-detection driving means drives the plurality of photo-detection devices in a line-sequential fashion in synchronization with the line-sequential light-emitting operation of the plurality of light-emitting devices.

29. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein the light-emitting device is a liquid crystal device.

30. An image display device according to claim 29, wherein the photo-detection device is separated by a partition from the liquid crystal device.

31. An image display device according to claim 29, wherein the liquid crystal device includes a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched in between the transparent substrates, and

the photo-detection device is disposed within the liquid crystal layer.

32. An image display device according to claim 31, wherein the photo-detection device is disposed on the transparent substrate through which display light exits.

33. An image display device according to claim 29, further comprising a backlighting light source which is used to emit backlight, which passes through the liquid crystal device and is outputted as display light,

the liquid crystal device includes a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched in between the transparent substrates, and

a shield is disposed between the photo-detection device and the transparent substrate facing the backlighting light source.

34. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with each other, and a pair of the light-emitting device and the photo-detection device configures one light-emitting/photo-detection cell.

35. An image display device according to claim 34, wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device so that the light-emitting device and the photo-detection device of each light-emitting/photo-detection cell operate in a one-to-one correspondence with each other.

36. An image display device according to claim 34, wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device so that the photo-detection device of one light-emitting/photo-detection cell performs photo-detection driving in accordance with the driving of the light-emitting devices of a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection cells.

37. An image display device according to claim 34, wherein each light-emitting/photo-detection cell has connections to:

a light-emitting gate line for selecting the light-emitting device to be driven;

a photo-detection gate line for selecting the photo-detection device to be driven;

a data feed line for feeding the image data to the light-emitting device; and

a data read line for reading out the photo-detection signal from the photo-detection device.

38. An image display device according to claim 37, further comprising, for each of the light-emitting/photo-detection cells:

a light-emitting device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the data feed line and the light-emitting device in accordance with a light-emission select signal fed via the light-emitting gate line; and

a photo-detection device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the photo-detection device and the data read line in accordance with a photo-detection select signal fed via the photo-detection gate line,

wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means actuate the light-emitting device selector switch and the photo-detection device selector switch in different timings.

39. An image display device according to claim 34, wherein each light-emitting/photo-detection cell has connections to:

a common gate line for selecting the light-emitting device to be driven and the photo-detection device to be driven;

a data feed line for feeding the image data to the light-emitting device; and

a data read line for reading out the photo-detection signal from the photo-detection device.

40. An image display device according to claim 39, further comprising, for each of the light-emitting/photo-detection cells:

a light-emitting device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the data feed line and the light-emitting device in accordance with a select signal fed via the common gate line; and

a photo-detection device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the photo-detection device and the data read line in accordance with a select signal fed via the common gate line,

wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means actuate the light-emitting device selector switch and the photo-detection device selector switch in the same timing.

41. An image display device according to claim 34, wherein each light-emitting/photo-detection cell has connections to:

a common gate line for selecting the light-emitting device to be driven and the photo-detection device to be driven; and

a common data line for feeding the image data to the light-emitting device and reading out the photo-detection signal from the photo-detection device.

42. An image display device according to claim 41, further comprising, for each of the light-emitting/photo-detection cells:

a selector switch which switches the common data line between data feed mode and data read mode in accordance with a select signal fed via the common gate line;

a light-emitting device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the common data line and the light-emitting device in accordance with a select signal fed via the common gate line; and

a photo-detection device selector switch which provides selective conduction between the photo-detection device and the common data line in accordance with a select signal fed via the common gate line,

wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means actuate the selector switch, the light-emitting device selector switch, and the photo-detection device selector switch in the same timing.

43. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein one or more photo-detection devices are provided for a plurality of light-emitting devices,

the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device so that the one or more photo-detection devices detect display light obtained by driving the light-emitting devices and reflected from the target object and generate one photo-detection signal.

44. An image display device according to claim 22, wherein a plurality of photo-detection devices are provided for one light-emitting device,

the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device so that the plurality of photo-detection devices detect display light obtained by driving the one light-emitting device and reflected from the target object and generate a plurality of photo-detection signals.

45. An image display device according to claim 22, further comprising image superimposing means for replacing part of input image data with mark data for displaying a predetermined mark, thereby superimposing the image data,

wherein the light-emission driving means and the photo-detection driving means drive each light-emitting device and each photo-detection device so that one or more light beams emitted from one or more light-emitting devices driven according to the mark data of the image data are detected by one or more photo-detection devices located corresponding to the one or more light-emitting devices, and

the detecting means detects whether or not the target object is close to the displayed mark in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more photo-detection devices which detect the one or more light beams emitted from the one or more light-emitting devices driven according to the mark data.

46. An image display device according to claim 45, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with mark data for displaying the marks at a plurality of positions, and

the detecting means detects which mark of the marks displayed at the plurality of positions is close to the target object, in accordance with the one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more photo-detection devices which detect the one or more light beams emitted from the one or more light-emitting devices driven according to the mark data.

47. An image display device according to claim 45, wherein the input image data is moving image data composed of a plurality of frames, and the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data for each frame.

48. An image display device according to claim 47, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data at positions varying among frames.

49. An image display device according to claim 48, wherein the image superimposing means replaces part of the input image data with the mark data at positions varying among frames according to the contents of the input image data.

50. A method of driving an image display device, comprising:

arranging a plurality of light-emitting devices and a plurality of photo-detection devices;

driving the light-emitting devices in accordance with image data;

driving the photo-detection devices so as to detect light emitted from one or more light-emitting devices and reflected from a target object; and

detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from one or more photo-detection devices.

51. An image display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting/photo-detection devices each having both light-emitting and photo-detection functions;

light-emission driving section driving the light-emitting/photo-detection devices for light emission in accordance with image data;

photo-detection driving section driving one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices for photo-detection, other than a light-emitting/photo-detection device which is emitting light in accordance with the image data, so that the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices detect light emitted from the light-emitting/photo-detection device and reflected from a target object; and

detecting section detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from the one or more light-emitting/photo-detection devices.

52. An image display device comprising:

a plurality of light-emitting devices;

a plurality of photo-detection devices;

light-emission driving section driving the light-emitting devices in accordance with image data;

photo-detection driving section driving the photo-detection devices so as to detect light emitted from one or more light-emitting devices and reflected from a target object; and

detecting section detecting the target object in accordance with one or more photo-detection signals obtained from one or more photo-detection devices.