Display, and display panel and driving method thereof

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0037288, filed on May 25, 2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting diode display and driving method thereof.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Conventionally, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is a device in which lights are emitted by exciting phosphorus organic compounds, and represents images by voltage-programming or current-programming n×m number of organic emission pixels. The organic emission pixels include an anode, an organic thin film layer, and a cathode. The organic thin film layer has a multi-layer formation that includes an emitting layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and a hole transport layer (HTL) for the purpose of balancing electrons and holes, and increasing the emission factor. In addition, the organic thin film layer includes an electron injecting layer (EIL) and a hole injecting layer (HIL).

The organic emission pixels can be driven by a passive matrix method or an active matrix method. The active matrix method uses thin film transistors (TFTs) to drive the organic emission pixels. In the passive matrix method, an anode and a cathode are formed to cross (or to cross over) each other, and a line is selected in order to drive an organic emission pixel. By contrast, in the active matrix method, a TFT is coupled to an indium tin oxide (ITO) pixel electrode (or an anode), and an organic emission pixel operates according to a voltage maintained by the capacitance of a capacitor coupled to a gate of the TFT. The active matrix method can be further divided into a voltage programming method and a current programming method according to a signal which is applied in order to program a voltage to the capacitor.

The organic EL display requires a scan driver for driving a scan line and a data driver for driving a data line. Output terminals corresponding to the number of data lines are required because the data driver converts digital signals to analog signals and applies them to the data lines. However, the data driver conventionally includes a plurality of integrated circuits, the number of output terminals of the integrated circuits is limited, and therefore many integrated circuits have to be problematically used for the purpose of driving the data lines.

Also, it has been problematic that aperture efficiency of pixels is reduced because the conventional organic EL display must include driving circuits for driving the pixels and the data lines for respective red, green, and blue pixels in a limited display area.

An aspect of the present invention provides a display that reduces the number of integrated circuits for driving data lines.

More specifically, an aspect of the present invention provides a display that increases an aperture efficiency by reducing the number of driving circuits for driving data lines and pixels.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device having: a display area including a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals for displaying an image, a plurality of first scan lines for transmitting selection signals, a plurality of second and third scan lines for respectively transmitting first and second emission signals, and a plurality of pixel areas respectively defined by the data lines and the first scan lines; a first driver for sequentially transmitting the respective selection signals to the first scan lines in a plurality of fields forming a frame; a second driver for sequentially transmitting the first emission signals to the second scan lines in a first field of the plurality of fields; and a third driver for sequentially transmitting the second emission signals to the third scan lines in a second field of the plurality of fields. At least two pixels sharing one of the data lines and one of the first scan lines are formed in at least one of the pixel areas. At least one of the pixels formed in the at least one pixel area is emitted by at least one of the first emission signals in the first field, and at least another one of the pixels formed in the at least one pixel area is emitted by at least one of the second emission signals in the second field.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device having: a display area including a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals for displaying an image, a plurality of first scan lines for transmitting selection signals, a plurality of second scan lines for transmitting emission signals having first and second level voltages, and a plurality of pixel areas respectively defined by the data lines and the first scan lines; a first driver for sequentially transmitting the respective selection signals to the plurality of first scan lines in a plurality of fields forming a frame; and a second driver for sequentially transmitting the emission signals having the first level voltage to the plurality of second scan lines in a first field of the plurality of fields and transmitting the emission signals having the second level voltage to the plurality of second scan lines in a second field of the plurality of fields. At least two pixels sharing one of the data lines and one of the first scan lines are formed in at least one of the pixel areas. At least one of the pixels formed in the at least one pixel area belongs to a first group and is emitted by the emission signals having the first level voltage in the first field. At least another one of the pixels formed in the at least one pixel area belongs to a second group and is emitted by the signals having the second level voltage in the second field.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device having: a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals displaying an image; a plurality of first scan lines for transmitting respective selection signals in a first field and a second field; a plurality of second scan lines for transmitting first emission signals in the first field; a plurality of third scan lines for transmitting second emission signals in the second field; and at least one of a plurality of pixel areas defined by one of the data lines and one of the first scan lines. A first pixel and a second pixel sharing the one data line and the one first scan line are formed in the at least one pixel area. The first pixel in the at least one pixel area defined by the one first scan line belongs to a first group of the plurality of first scan lines and is emitted by at least one of the first emission signals, and the second pixel in the at least one pixel area is emitted by at least one of the second emission signals. A first pixel of at least another one of the pixel areas defined by another one of the first scan lines belongs to a second group of the plurality of first scan lines and is emitted by the at least one of the second emission signals, and a second pixel in the at least another one of the pixel area is emitted by at least one of the first emission signals.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device having: a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals for displaying an image; a plurality of first scan lines for transmitting respective selection signals in a first field and a second field; a plurality of second scan lines for transmitting a first level emission signal in the first field and a second level emission signal in the second field; and a plurality of pixel areas defined by one of the data lines and one of the first scan lines. A first pixel and a second pixel sharing the one data line and the one first scan line are formed in each of the pixel area. The first pixel is emitted by the first level emission signal and the second pixel is emitted by the second level emission signal, and the first pixel and the second pixel are differently placed a first group and a second group of the plurality of pixel areas.

One exemplary of the present invention provides a method for driving a display device having a plurality of data lines for transmitting data signals for displaying an image, a plurality of first scan lines for transmitting selection signals, and a plurality of pixel areas defined by the data line and the first scan line. At least two pixels sharing one of the data lines and one of the scan lines are respectively formed in each of a subset of the plurality of pixel areas and belong to a first group or a second group. In the method, 1) selection signals are sequentially applied to the plurality of first scan lines in a first field; 2) at least one of the data signals corresponding to the first group is programmed onto the plurality of data lines; 3) emission signals are applied to each pixel of the first group to emit each pixel of the first group; 4) the selection signals are sequentially applied to the plurality of first scan lines in a second field; 5) at least another one of the data signals corresponding the second group is programmed onto the plurality of data lines; and 6) the emission signals are applied to each pixel of the second group to emit each pixel of the second group. The pixels of the first and the second group are established to have at least one non-emitting pixel between neighboring emitting pixels in the first and the second field.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram for representing an organic EL display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of pixels (or pixel circuits) according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a driving timing chart for the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively show diagrams for representing pixel lighting in a first field and a second field of the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram for representing a display according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively show diagrams for representing pixel lightings in a first and a second field of the display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a diagram for representing six pixels in a pixel area of an odd row according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7B shows a diagram for representing six pixels in the pixel area of an even row according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A shows a diagram for representing pixels in an odd rows according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B shows a diagram for representing pixels in an even row according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the following detailed description, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, rather than restrictive.

There may be parts shown in the drawings, or parts not shown in the drawings, that are not discussed in the specification as they are not essential to a complete understanding of the invention. Like reference numerals designate like elements.

An organic light emitting diode (hereinafter, also referred to as “OLED”) display using light emitting materials and according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described below with reference to FIG. 1 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate 1 for forming a display panel. The substrate 1 includes a display area 100 for substantially displaying images and a neighboring area which displays no image. A scan driver 200 , emission control drivers 300 and 400 , and a data driver 500 are provided in the neighboring area around the display area 100 .

A plurality of data lines D 1 to D n , a plurality of selection scan lines S 1 to S m , a plurality of emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m and EC 21 to EC 2m , and a plurality of pixels (e.g., pixels 111 and 112 ) are provided in the display area 100 . The data lines D 1 to D n extend in a column direction and transmit data signals for displaying an image to the pixels. The selection scan lines S 1 to S m and the emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m and EC 21 to EC 2m extend in a row direction, and respectively transmit selection signals and emission signals to the pixels. A pixel area 110 is formed by a data line (e.g., D 1 ) and a selection scan line (e.g., S 1 ), and two pixels (or two pixel circuits) 111 and 112 are formed in the pixel area 110 .

The scan driver 200 applies the selection signals to the selection scan lines S 1 to S m in sequence, and the emission control drivers 300 and 400 respectively apply the emission signals to the emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m and EC 21 to EC 2m in sequence. Also, the data driver 500 applies the data signals to the data lines D 1 to D n .

According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the drivers 200 to 400 divide a frame into two fields to thus drive the respective scan lines S 1 to S m , EC 11 to EC 1m , and EC 21 to EC 2m . That is, the scan driver 200 sequentially applies the selection signals to the selection scan lines S 1 to S m in the respective fields, the emission control driver 300 sequentially applies the emission signals to the emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m in one of the fields, and the emission control driver 400 sequentially applies the emission signals to the emission scan lines EC 21 to EC 2m in another one of the fields.

The respective drivers 200 to 400 and/or the data driver 500 may be directly provided on the substrate 1 as an integrated circuit type. Alternatively, the drivers 200 to 400 and/or 500 may be formed corresponding to layers which form transistors of the scan lines S 1 to S m , EC 11 to EC 1m , and EC 21 to EC 2m , the data lines D 1 to D n , and the pixel circuits (e.g., the pixel circuits 111 and 112 ). Alternatively, the drivers 200 to 400 and/or 500 may be formed on an additional substrate and that substrate may be coupled to the substrate 1 , or they may be provided as a chip-type to a tape carrier package (TCP), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), or a tape automatic bonding (TAB) which are coupled to the substrate 1 .

Pixels according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the pixels according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2 , for convenience of description, six pixels 111 ij , 112 ij , 111 i(j+1) , 112 i(j+1) , 111 i(j+2) , and 112 i(j+2) are represented, which are formed in three pixel areas 110 ij , 110 i(j+1) , and 110 i(j+2) respectively formed on a scan line S i of the i th row and data lines D i , D j+1 , and D j+2 of the columns from j th to (j+2) th (herein, i denotes an integer from 1 to m, and j denotes an integer from 1 to (n−2)). Also, it is assumed that the pixels are arranged in an order of red, green, and blue in a row direction in FIG. 2 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the pixel area 110 ij is formed by the selection scan line S i and the data line D j , and includes the two pixels 111 ij and 112 ij . The pixels 111 ij and 112 ij share a driving circuit and the data line D j , and respectively include switching transistors M 31 and M 32 and organic light-emitting (LE) diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 . The organic LE diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 emit lights of red and green.

The pixel area 110 i(j+1) is formed by the selection scan line S i and the data line D j+1 , and includes the two pixels 111 i(j+1) and 112 i(j+1) . The pixels 111 i(j+1) and 112 i(j+1) of the pixel area 110 i(j+1) have a configuration substantially corresponding to the pixels 111 ij and 112 ij , with the exception that the organic LE diodes OLED 1 ′ and OLED 2 ′ of the pixels 111 i(j+1) and 112 i(j+1) emit lights of blue and red.

The pixel area 110 i(j+2) is formed by the selection scan line S i and the data line D j+2 , and includes the two pixels 111 i(j+2) and 112 i(j+2) . The pixels 111 i(j+2) and 112 i(j+2) of the pixel area 110 i(j+2) have a configuration corresponding to the pixels 111 ij and 112 ij , with the exception that the organic LE diodes OLED 1 ″ and OLED 2 ″ of the pixels 111 i(j+2) and 112 i(j+2) emit lights of green and blue.

In more detail and according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pixel areas 110 ij , 110 i(j+1) , and 110 i(j+2) are substantially the same. As such, only the driving circuit of the pixel area 110 ij will be described below by way of an example. The driving circuit of the pixel area 110 ij includes a driving transistor M 1 , a switching transistor M 2 , and a capacitor Cst. The capacitor Cst stores a voltage corresponding to a data signal programmed through the switching transistor M 2 , and the driving transistor M 1 conducts currents from a power voltage VDD by the voltage stored in the capacitor Cst.

A source of the transistor M 1 is coupled to the power voltage VDD, and the capacitor Cst is coupled between the source and a gate of the transistor M 1 . Also, the transistor M 2 is coupled between the gate of the transistor M 1 and the data lines D j , D j+1 , and D j+2 , and transmits the data signal to the gate of the transistor M 1 by responding to the selection signal applied to the gate of transistor M 2 .

The transistors M 31 and M 32 are respectively coupled to a drain of the transistor M 1 and the organic LE diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 , and transmit output currents of the transistor M 1 to the organic LE diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 by responding to the emission signals from the emission scan lines EC 1i and EC 2i . A cathode of the organic LE diode OLED 1 and/or OLED 2 is coupled to a power voltage VSS, the power voltage VSS is less than the power voltage VDD. A negative voltage or a ground voltage can be used for the power voltage VSS.

In operation, a low-level selection signal is applied to the selection scan line S i , a data voltage is transmitted to the gate of the transistor M 1 through the transistor M 2 , and a voltage V SG corresponding to a difference between the power voltage VDD and the data voltage is applied between the gate and the source of the transistor M 1 . Also, the voltage of V SG is charged to the capacitor C st .

A low-level emission signal is then applied to the emission scan line EC 1i , the transistor M 31 is turned on, and a current I OLED , as will be shown in Equation 1, is supplied to the organic LE diode OLED 1 from the transistor M 1 . Therefore, the organic LE diode OLED 1 emits light corresponding to the intensity of the current I OLED . In a like manner, a low-level emission signal is applied to the emission scan line EC 2i , the transistor M 32 is turned on, and the organic LE diode OLED 2 emits light. That is, the organic LE diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 are emitted respectively at once in two fields of a frame, and a color is displayed.

I OLED =β/2(| V SG |−|V TH |) 2   [Equation 1]

where β denotes a constant, V SG denotes a source-gate voltage at the transistor M 1 , and V TH denotes a threshold voltage at the transistor M 1 .

A method for driving the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 4B .

FIG. 3 shows a driving timing chart for the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively show diagrams for representing pixel lightings in a first field and a second field.

A selection signal applied to the selection scan line S i is represented as select[i], and emission signals applied to the emission scan lines EC 1i and EC 2i are respectively represented as emit 1 [i] and emit 2 [i] (herein, i denotes an integer from 1 to m). Only a data voltage applied to the j th data line D j is represented as data[j] in FIG. 3 because data voltages are applied to the data lines D 1 to D n at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 3 , a frame is divided into two fields 1 F and 2 F in order to drive the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and low-level selection signals select[ 1 ] to select[m] are sequentially applied to the selection scan lines S 1 to S m in the fields 1 F and 2 F. The organic LE diodes OLED 1 and OLED 2 (or OLED 1 ′ and OLED 2 ′ or OLED 1 ″ and OLED 2 ″) of two pixels (e.g. pixels 111 ij and 112 ij ) sharing the driving circuit are respectively emitted for a period corresponding to a field. The fields 1 F and 2 F are separately defined for each row, and are illustrated based on a first row selection scan line S 1 in FIG. 3 .

In the first field 1 F, the selection signal applied to the selection scan line S 1 becomes a low-level pulse, and the data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ which is included in each pixel area of a first row is transmitted to the data line D j . The emission signal emit 1 [ 1 ] of the emission scan line EC 11 becomes the low-level pulse, and the transistor M 31 is turned on. A current corresponding to the data voltage data[j] in the pixel area of the first row is output to the drain of the transistor M 1 , and the transistor M 31 transmits the output current of the transistor M 1 to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″. Therefore, the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ is emitted corresponding to the current applied to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″, and the emission of the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ is maintained while the emission signal emit 1 [ 1 ] is maintained at the low level. According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a width of the low-level pulse of the emission signal emit 1 [ 1 ] substantially corresponds to a period of the first field 1 F.

The selection signal select[ 2 ] of the selection scan line S 2 becomes the low-level pulse, and the data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ in each pixel area of a second row is applied to the data line D j . The emission signal emit 1 [ 2 ] of the emission scan line EC 12 becomes the low-level pulse, and the transistor M 31 is turned on. As such, the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ in the pixel area of the second row is emitted while the emission signal emit 1 [ 2 ] is maintained at the low level.

In a like manner, the selection signals select[ 1 ] to select[m] which have the low-level pulses are sequentially applied to the selection scan lines S 1 to S m from the first row and the m th row. The data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ of each pixel area is applied to the data line D j while the selection signal select[i] of selection scan line S i in the i th row is maintained at the low-level pulse. The emission signal emit 1 [i] of the emission scan line EC 1i among the two emission scan lines EC 1i and EC 2i of the i th row becomes the low level pulse when the selection signal select[i] of the selection scan line S i becomes the low level pulse, and the width of the low level pulse of the emission signal emit 1 [i] corresponds to the period of the first field 1 F. In each row, the selection signal select[i] of the selection scan line S i becomes the low level pulse, and the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ is emitted for a period corresponding to the first field 1 F.

That is, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the organic LE diodes OLED 1 s , OLED 1 ′ s , or OLED 1 ″ s of the respective rows are emitted in the first field, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A , the pixel (e.g., the pixel 111 ) formed in the left side of the data line (e.g., the data line D 1 ) among the two pixels (e.g., the pixels 111 and 112 ) sharing the data line and neighboring in the row direction are emitted.

In the second field 2 F, the selection signal select[ 1 ] of the selection scan line S 1 becomes the low level pulse, and the data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in each pixel area of the first row is applied to the data line D j . The emission signal emit 2 [ 1 ] of the emission scan line EC 21 becomes the low level pulse, and the transistor M 32 is turned on. The organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ is emitted, and the emission of the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ is maintained while the emission signal emit 2 [ 1 ] is maintained at the low level pulse. According to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the width of the low level pulse of the emission signal emit 2 [ 1 ] substantially corresponds to a period of the second field.

When the selection signal select[ 2 ] of the selection scan line S 2 becomes the low level pulse, the data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in each pixel area of the second row is applied to the data line D j , the emission signal emit 2 [ 2 ] of the emission scan line EC 22 in the second row becomes the low level pulse, and the transistor M 32 is turned on. The organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in the pixel area of the second row is emitted while the emission signal emit 2 [ 2 ] is maintained at the low level pulse.

In a like manner, the selection signals select[ 1 ] to select[m] of the selection scan lines S 1 to S m from the first row and the m th row sequentially become the low level pulses in the second field 2 F. The data voltage data[j] corresponding to the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in each pixel area is applied to the data line D j while the selection signal select[i] of the selection scan line S i of the i th row is the low level pulse. The emission signal emit 2 [i] of the emission scan line EC 2i among the two emission scan lines EC 1i and EC 2i of the i th row becomes the low level pulse when the selection signal select[i] of the selection scan line S i becomes the low level pulse, and the width of the low level pulse of the emission signal emit 2 [i] corresponds to the period of the second field 2 F. In each row, the selection signal select[i] of the selection scan line S i becomes the low level pulse, and the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ is emitted for a period corresponding to the second field 2 F.

That is, according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the organic LE diodes OLED 2 s , OLED 2 ′ s , or OLED 2 ″ s of the respective rows are emitted in the second field, and the pixel (e.g., the pixel 112 ) formed in the right side of the data line (e.g., the data line D 1 ) among the two pixels (e.g., the pixels 111 and 112 ) sharing the data line and neighboring in the row direction are emitted.

As such, a frame is divided into two fields in order to drive the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the organic LE diode of a pixel among two pixels in each pixel area is emitted in a field. The organic LE diode of the other pixel among two pixels in each pixel area is emitted in the other field, and therefore the organic LE diodes of pixels are emitted in a frame and every color is represented.

Also, in the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the number of the driving circuits and the data lines is reduced to half of the prior art because two pixels share a driving circuit and a data line. Therefore, the number of the integrated circuits for driving a data line (e.g., the data line D j ) is reduced, and the arrangement of elements in a pixel area is also simplified.

However, when pixels of the same row in respective fields are emitted in the like manner of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, patterns of pixels which emit no light in the respective fields are displayed for a short time on the display panel. That is, each pixel (e.g., the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″) which is formed in a left side among two pixels of a pixel area sharing a data line and neighboring in a row direction is emitted in the first field of a frame, each pixel (e.g., the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″) which is formed in a right side of the data line is emitted in the second field of the frame, and therefore, a vertical stripe is displayed on the panel because the pixels in a row are emitted on or off at the same time when the emission is processed from the first field to the second field.

Therefore, a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention establishes at least one non-emitting pixel to be provided between the emitting pixels neighboring each other in up and down directions, and right and left directions, and eliminates the vertical stripe on the panel.

A display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 6B . FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram for representing the display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6A and 6B respectively shows diagrams for representing pixel lightings in a first and a second field.

The display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention differs from the display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention because a connection of the odd row emission scan lines EC 1(2i-1) and EC 2(2i-1) and a connection of the even row emission scan lines EC 1(2i) and EC 2(2i) are changed.

That is, in a first row, the emission scan line EC 11 is coupled to a left pixel 111 and the emission scan line EC 21 is coupled to a right pixel 112 in the pixel area 110 . In a second row, the emission scan line EC 12 is coupled to a right pixel 112 ′ and the emission scan line EC 22 is coupled to a left pixel 111 ′ in a pixel area 110 ′.

According to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the emission scan line EC 1(2i-1) is coupled to the left pixels 111 and the emission scan line EC 2(2i-1) is coupled to the right pixels 112 in the odd rows, and the emission scan line EC 1(2i) is coupled to the right pixels 112 ′ and the emission scan line EC 2(2i) is coupled to the left pixels 111 ′ in the even rows.

As such, as shown in FIG. 6A , the left pixel 111 in the pixel area 110 of the odd row and the right pixel 112 ′ in the pixel area 110 ′ of the even row are emitted in the first field 1 F. As shown in FIG. 6B , the right pixel 112 in the pixel area 110 of the odd row and the left pixel 111 ′ in the pixel area 110 ′ of the even row are emitted in the second field 2 F.

Therefore, at least one non-emitting pixel is provided between two emitting pixels neighboring each other in an up and down direction, or in a right and left direction, and therefore pixels in the same row and column are not lighted on/off at the same time. The vertical stripe generated on the display panel is eliminated and a definition of a display is improved.

Pixels according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B . FIG. 7A shows a diagram for representing six pixels in the pixel area of the odd row, and FIG. 7B shows a diagram for representing six pixels in the pixel area of the even row.

As shown in FIG. 7A , gates of the transistors M 31 of the left pixels 111 ij , 111 i(j+1) , 111 i(j+2) among the pixels in the pixel area 110 ij , 110 i(j+1) , 110 i(j+2) of the odd row are coupled to the emission scan line EC 1(2i-1) , and gates of the transistors M 32 of the right pixels 112 ij , 112 i(j+1) , 112 i(j+2) are coupled to the emission scan line EC 2(2i-1) .

Accordingly, the left pixels in the pixel areas 110 of the odd rows are emitted when the emission signals are sequentially applied to the emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m in the first field, and the right pixels in the pixel areas 110 of the odd rows are emitted when the emission signals are sequentially applied to the emission scan lines EC 21 to EC 2m in the second field.

As shown in FIG. 7B , gates of the transistors M 32 ′ of the right pixels 112 ij ′, 112 i(j+1) ′, 112 i(j+2) ′ among the pixels in the pixel area 110 ij ′, 110 i(j+1) ′, 110 i(j+2) ′ of the even row are coupled to the emission scan line EC 1(2i) , and gates of the transistors M 31 ′ of the left pixels 111 ij , 111 i(j+1) , 111 i(j+2) are coupled to the emission scan line EC 2(2i) .

Accordingly, the right pixels in the pixel areas 110 ′ of the even rows are emitted when the emission signals are sequentially applied to the emission scan lines EC 11 to EC 1m in the first field, and the left pixels in the pixel areas 110 ′ of the even rows are emitted when the emission signals are sequentially applied to the emission scan lines EC 21 to EC 2m in the second field.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show circuit diagrams of pixels according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows a diagram for representing a pixel in the odd rows, and FIG. 8B shows a diagram for representing a pixel in the even rows.

The pixels according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention differ from those according to the first and the second exemplary embodiments of the present invention because the pixels according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention establishes the transistors M 311 and M 321 (or M 311 ′ and M 321 ′) included in the pixels to have different channel types from each other, and the gates of the transistors M 311 and M 321 (or M 311 ′ and M 321 ′) are coupled to the same (or one) emission line EC i .

As shown in FIG. 8A , P-channel transistors form the transistors M 311 of the left pixels 211 ij , 211 i(j+1) , 211 i(j+2) in the pixel areas 210 ij , 210 i(j+1) , 210 i(j+2) of the odd rows, N-channel transistors form the transistors M 321 of the right pixels 212 ij , 212 i(j+1) , 212 i(j+2) in the pixel areas 210 ij , 210 i(j+1) , 210 i(j+2) of the odd rows, and the emission signals emit 1 [ 1 ] to emit 1 [m] shown in FIG. 3 are applied to the emission scan line EC i . The transistor M 311 is turned on and the current of the transistor M 1 is transmitted to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ in the first field, and the transistor M 321 is turned on and the current of the transistor M 1 is transmitted to the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in the second field.

As shown in FIG. 8B , P-channel transistors form the transistors M 311 ′ of the right pixels 212 ij ′, 212 i(j+1) ′, 212 i(j+2) ′ in the pixel areas 210 ij ′, 210 i(j+1) ′, 210 i(j+2) ′ of the even rows, N-channel transistors form the transistors M 321 ′ of the left pixels 211 ij ′, 211 i(j+1) ′, 211 i(j+2) ′ in the pixel areas 210 ij ′, 210 i(j+1) ′, 210 i(j+2) ′ of the even rows, and the emission signals emit 1 [ 1 ] to emit 1 [m] shown in FIG. 3 are applied to the emission scan line EC i . The transistor M 321 ′ is turned on and the current of the transistor M 1 is transmitted to the organic LE diode OLED 2 , OLED 2 ′, or OLED 2 ″ in the first field, and the transistor M 311 ′ is turned on and the current of the transistor M 1 is transmitted to the organic LE diode OLED 1 , OLED 1 ′, or OLED 1 ″ in the second field.

Accordingly, the left pixels 211 ij , 211 i(j+1) , 211 i(j+2) in the pixel areas 210 ij , 210 i(j+1) , 210 i(j+2) of the odd rows and the right pixels 212 ij ′, 212 i(j+1) ′, 212 i(j+2) ′ in the pixel areas 210 ij ′, 210 i(+1) ′, 210 i(j+2) ′ of the even rows are emitted in the first field, and the right pixels 212 ij , 212 i(j+1) , 212 i(j+2) in the pixel areas 210 ij , 210 i(j+1) , 210 (j+2) of the odd rows and the left pixels 211 ij ′, 211 i(j+1) ′, 211 i(j+2) ′ in the pixel areas 210 ij ′, 210 i(j+1) ′, 210 i(j+2) ′ of the even rows are emitted in the second field.

In general, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention establishes pixels of a first group formed in pixel areas to be emitted by emission signals in a first field, and pixels of a second group to be emitted in a second field. In an enhancement of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the enhanced exemplary embodiment establishes the first group and the second group to have at least one non-emitting pixel between emitting pixels in the respective fields, and therefore the vertical stripe on the display panel is eliminated.

While it has been shown that the odd row pixels and the even row pixels are alternately coupled to the emission scan line in the first field and the second field in the above shown exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the shown exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications in which connections of the pixels may be varied for the purpose of providing at least one non-emitting pixel between the emitting pixels in the respective fields.

While two pixels are provided in a pixel area and a frame is divided into two fields in the above exemplary embodiments, three pixels may be provided in a pixel area and a frame may be divided into three fields in another exemplary embodiment.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.