Light emitting device and electronic equipment using the same

• US 7,960,917 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu; Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US10/787,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20040263444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,664 Days
• Field of Search: 315/169.3, 315/169.1, 315/169.2, 345/82, 345/83, 345211-212, 345 76- 78
• US Class Current: 315/169.3
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0866 by means of changes in the pixel supply voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0223 Compensation for problems related to R-C delay and attenuation in electrodes of matrix panels, e.g. in gate electrodes or on-substrate video signal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0242 Compensation of deficiencies in the appearance of colours
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0285 using tables for spatial correction of display data
• 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 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2022 using sub-frames
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3266 Details of drivers for scan electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3275 Details of drivers for data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/12 Active-matrix OLED [AMOLED] displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/122 Pixel-defining structures or layers, e.g. banks

Abstract

A light emitting device is provided which is capable of displaying in desired colors stably by controlling a change in luminance of OLED when an organic light emitting layer is degraded or there is a change in temperature of the surroundings. A reference value for the amount of current flowing into a pixel portion is calculated from data of a video signal. Then, the pixel portion displays an image in accordance with the data of the video signal and the drive current at the time is measured for all of OLEDs in the pixel portion. The two voltage values supplied from a variable power supply to the pixel portion are corrected such that the measured drive current approaches the reference value. With the above structure, lowering of luminance which accompanies degradation of an organic light emitting layer is prevented and a clear image can be displayed as a result.

Claims

1. A method of driving a light emitting device with an OLED, comprising:

measuring a current flowing between a first electrode and a second electrode of the OLED to obtain a measured current value;

calculating a reference value for the current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode to obtain a reference current value using a video signal; and

correcting a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode such that the measured current value approaches the reference current value.

2. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein each time a deviation of the measured current value from the reference current value changes to a certain extent, the measured current value is changed to a certain extent.

3. A method of driving a light emitting device with an OLED, comprising:

measuring a current flowing between a first electrode and a second electrode of the OLED to obtain a current flowing value;

calculating a reference value for the current flowing using a video signal;

calculating a deviation of the current flowing value from the reference value;

calculating a voltage value between the first electrode and the second electrode of the OLED that makes the current flowing value approach the reference value from the deviation; and

correcting a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode of the OLED so that the voltage approaches the calculated voltage value.

4. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 3, wherein each time the deviation changes to a certain extent, the calculated voltage value is changed to a certain extent.

5. A method of driving a light emitting device comprising a first OLED, and a second OLED comprising:

detecting a current to the first OLED to obtain a first detected data;

detecting a current to the second OLED to obtain a second detected data;

comparing the first detected data with a first reference value;

comparing the second detected data with a second reference value;

controlling a first voltage of a first power supply in accordance with a level of the first detected data; and

controlling a second voltage of a second power supply in accordance with a level of the second detected data.

6. A method of driving a light emitting device comprising a first light emitting element and a second light emitting element, comprising:

detecting a current to the first light emitting element to obtain a first detected data;

detecting a current to the second light emitting element to obtain a second detected data;

comparing the first detected data with a first reference value;

comparing the second detected data with a second reference value;

controlling a first voltage of a first power supply in accordance with a level of the first detected data; and

controlling a second voltage of a second power supply in accordance with a level of the second detected data.

7. A method of driving a light emitting device comprising a red light emitting element, a green light emitting element and a blue light emitting element, comprising:

detecting a first current to the red light emitting element to obtain a first detected data;

detecting a second current to the green light emitting element to obtain a second detected data;

detecting a third current to the blue light emitting element to obtain a third detected data;

comparing the first detected data with a first reference value;

comparing the second detected data with a second reference value;

comparing the third detected data with a third reference value;

controlling a first voltage of a first power supply in accordance with a level of the first detected data;

controlling a second voltage of a second power supply in accordance with a level of the second detected data; and

controlling a third voltage of a third power supply in accordance with a level of the third detected data,

wherein an electric potential of a power supply line is controlled for each color.

8. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 7, wherein the first power supply, the second power supply and the third power supply are electrically connected to a correction circuit.

9. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 8, wherein the correction circuit comprises a current value calculating circuit.

10. A method of driving a light emitting device comprising a red OLED, a green OLED and a blue OLED, comprising:

detecting a current to the red OLED to obtain a first detected data;

detecting a current to the green OLED to obtain a second detected data;

detecting a current to the blue OLED to obtain a third detected data;

comparing the first detected data with a first reference value;

comparing the second detected data with a second reference value;

comparing the third detected data with a third reference value;

controlling a first voltage of a first power supply in accordance with a level of the first detected data;

controlling a second voltage of a second power supply in accordance with a level of the second detected data; and

controlling a third voltage of a third power supply in accordance with a level of the third detected data,

wherein an electric potential of a power supply line is controlled for each color.

11. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 10, wherein the first power supply, the second power supply and the third power supply are electrically connected to a correction circuit.

12. A method of driving a light emitting device according to claim 11, wherein the correction circuit comprises a current value calculating circuit.