USPatent applicationPatented

Driver and organic light emitting diode display using the same

Granted 16 Oct 2012 · no office action yet

Current assignee: Samsung Display · originally Samsung Electronics

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Inventors: Dong-Hwi Kim, Seon-I Jeong, Hwan-Soo Jang, Ki-Myeong Eom · Examiner: Alexander Eisen · AU 2629 · TC 2600

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Abstract

A driver comprises odd-numbered stages configured to be driven by first and second clock signals and even-numbered stages configured to be driven by the second and third clock signals. Each stage is coupled to a corresponding emission control line, and includes a first driver, a second driver, and a third driver. In a first stage, the first and second drivers receive first and second start pulses and output first and second output signals, respectively. In each stage except the first stage, the first and second driver receives first and second output signals of a previous stage and outputs first and second output signals of each stage, respectively. In each stage, a third driver receives the first and second output signals of each stage and outputs an emission control signal to be transmitted to an emission control line coupled to each stage.

Description

9 parts
›BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a driver and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display using the same, and more particularly, to a driver capable of freely controlling widths of signals and improving reliability and an OLED display using the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Weight and volume are disadvantages of cathode ray tubes (CRT). However, recently, various flat panel displays (FPD) capable of reducing their weight and volume have been developed. The FPDs include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), and an OLED display.

Among the FPDs, an OLED display displays images using OLEDs that generate light by re-combination of electrons and holes. An OLED display has a high response speed, and is driven with low power consumption. The conventional OLED displays supply currents corresponding to data signals to OLEDs using the transistors formed in pixels so that light is generated by the OLEDs.

The conventional OLED displays include a data driver configured to supply data signals to data lines, a scan driver configured to sequentially supply scan signals to scan lines, an emission control line driver configured to supply emission control signals to emission control lines, and a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels coupled to the data lines, the scan lines, and the emission control lines.

The pixels included in the pixel unit are selected when the scan signals are supplied to the scan lines to receive the data signals from the data lines. The pixels that received the data signals generate light having predetermined brightness corresponding to the data signals, and display a predetermined image. The emission time of pixels is controlled by the emission control signals supplied from the emission control lines. In general, the emission control signals are supplied so as to overlap the scan signals supplied to one scan line or two scan lines. Pixels to which the data signals are supplied are set in a non-emission state by the emission control signals.

Currently, optimal setting of brightness of a panel to correspond to an amount of external light is actively researched. Brightness of a panel may be controlled by various methods. For example, brightness of a panel may be controlled by controlling a bit of data to correspond to the amount of the external light. However, complicated processes have to be performed to control the bit of the data.

In order to solve such a problem, a method of controlling a width of the emission control signals is suggested to control the brightness of the panel. Timing of turning on a pixel is controlled to correspond to the width of the emission control signals to control the brightness of a panel. Therefore, an emission control line driver capable of freely controlling the width of the emission control signals is required.

›SUMMARY · 1 of 2

Embodiments are therefore directed to a driver capable of freely controlling widths of signals and improving reliability and an organic light emitting display using the same, which substantially overcome one or more of the problems due to the limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

It is therefore a feature of an embodiment to provide a driver comprising: odd-numbered stages configured to be driven by a first clock signal and a second clock signal; and even-numbered stages configured to be driven by the second clock signal and a third clock signal, wherein each of the odd-numbered and even-numbered stages includes a first driver, a second driver, and a third driver, and is coupled to a corresponding emission control line, wherein the first driver of a first stage is configured to receive a first start pulse and output a first output signal of the first stage, the second driver of the first stage is configured to receive a second start pulse and output a second output signal of the second stage, and the third driver of the first stage is configured to receive the first output signal of the first stage and the second output signal of the second stage, and output an emission control signal to be transmitted to an emission control line coupled to the first stage, and wherein the first driver of each stage except the first stage is configured to receive a first output signal of a previous stage and output a first output signal of each stage, the second driver of each stage except the first stage is configured to receive a second output signal of the previous stage and output a second output signal of each stage, and the third driver of each stage except the first stage is configured to receive the first output signal and the second output signal and output an emission control signal to be transmitted to a emission control line coupled to each stage.

The first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the third clock signal may be sequentially supplied in order thereof.

The first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the third clock signal may be supplied in the same period.

A width of the emission control signals may be determined by a period between the first start pulse and the second start pulse.

Each of the first output signals may be supplied at a point of time in synchronization with the first clock signal, and the second clock signal may be supplied after the point of time in synchronization with the first clock signal.

Each of the first driver and the second driver may comprise a twelfth transistor having a second gate electrode coupled to a first input terminal, a third electrode coupled to a first power source, and a fourth electrode coupled to an eleventh node, the twelfth transistor controlling a voltage of the eleventh node so as to correspond to a voltage applied to the first input terminal, an eleventh transistor having a first gate electrode coupled to the first input terminal, a first electrode coupled to a second power source, and a second electrode coupled to a twelfth node, the eleventh transistor controlling a voltage of the twelfth node so as to correspond to the voltage applied to the first input terminal, a thirteenth transistor coupled between the first power source and the twelfth node and controlled by the voltage of the eleventh node, a fourteenth transistor coupled between the eleventh node and the second power source and controlled by a voltage of a second input terminal, a fifteenth transistor coupled between the first power source and an output terminal and controlled by the voltage of the eleventh node, a sixteenth transistor coupled between the output terminal and a third input terminal and controlled by the voltage of the twelfth node, an eleventh capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the fifteenth transistor and the first power source, and a twelfth capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor and the output terminal.

The first power source may be set to have a higher voltage than the second power source.

The first start pulse may be supplied to the first input terminal of the first driver in the first stage, and the first output signal of the previous stage may be supplied to the first input terminal of the first driver in the each stage except the first stage. The second start pulse may be supplied to the first input terminal of the second driver in the first stage, and a second output signal of a previous stage may be supplied to the first input terminal of the second driver in each stage except the first stage.

The second clock signal may be supplied to the second input terminals of the first driver and the second driver included in each of the odd-numbered stages, and the first clock signal may be supplied to the third input terminals of the first driver and the second driver included in each of the odd-numbered stages.

The third clock signal may be supplied to the second input terminal of the first driver and the second driver included in each of the even-numbered stages, and the second clock signal may be supplied to the third input terminal of the first driver and the second driver included in each of the even-numbered stages.

The first driver may output the first output signal to the output terminal of the first driver, and the second driver may output the second output signal to the output terminal of the second driver.

The third driver may output the emission control signal from a first point of time when the first output signal has a low voltage to a second point of time when the second output signal has a low voltage.

The third driver may comprise a fifth transistor having a third gate electrode coupled to a fourth input terminal and a fifth electrode coupled to the first power source, the fifth transistor controlling a voltage of a second node so as to correspond to a voltage applied to the fourth input terminal, a fourth transistor having a fourth gate electrode coupled to the fourth input terminal and a sixth electrode coupled to the second power source, the fourth transistor controlling a voltage of a first node so as to correspond to the voltage applied to the fourth input terminal, a sixth transistor coupled between the second node and the second power source and controlled by a voltage of a fifth input terminal, a first transistor coupled between the first power source and an output terminal and controlled by the voltage of the first node, a second transistor coupled between the output terminal and the second power source and controlled by the voltage of the second node, a third transistor coupled between the first power source and the first node and controlled by the voltage of the second node, a first capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the second transistor and the output terminal, and a second capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the first transistor and the first power source.

›SUMMARY · 2 of 2

The fourth input terminal may receive the first output signal, and the fifth input terminal may receive the second output signal.

The output terminal may be coupled to a corresponding emission control line.

The fifth transistor may be substituted by two or more transistors coupled in series.

It is therefore another feature of an embodiment to provide an organic light emitting diode display, comprising: a scan driver configured to sequentially supply scan signals to scan lines; a data driver configured to supply data signals to data lines in synchronization with the scan signals; pixels positioned at intersections of the scan lines and the data lines; and the driver as described above, the driver configured to transmit the emission control signals to emission control lines running in parallel with the scan lines.

It is therefore another feature of an embodiment to provide a driver, comprising stages coupled to signal lines, wherein each of the stages comprises: a twelfth transistor having a second gate electrode coupled to a first input terminal, a third electrode coupled to a first power source, and a fourth electrode coupled to an eleventh node, the twelfth transistor controlling a voltage of the eleventh node so as to correspond to a voltage applied to the first input terminal; an eleventh transistor having a first gate electrode coupled to the first input terminal, a first electrode coupled to a second power source, and a second electrode coupled to a twelfth node, the eleventh transistor controlling a voltage of the twelfth node coupled to correspond to the voltage applied to the first input terminal; a thirteenth transistor coupled between the first power source and the twelfth node and controlled by a voltage of the eleventh node; a fourteenth transistor coupled between the eleventh node and the second power source and controlled by a voltage of a second input terminal; a fifteenth transistor coupled between the first power source and an output terminal and controlled by the voltage of the eleventh node; a sixteenth transistor coupled between the output terminal and a third input terminal and controlled by the voltage of the twelfth node; an eleventh capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the fifteenth transistor and the first power source; and a twelfth capacitor coupled between a gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor and the output terminal.

The first power source may be set to have a higher voltage than the second power source.

It is therefore another feature of an embodiment to provide an organic light emitting diode display, comprising: a scan driver configured to sequentially supply scan signals to scan lines; a data driver configured to supply data signals to data lines in synchronization with the scan signals; pixels positioned at intersections of the scan lines and the data lines; and the driver described above, the driver configured to transmit the emission control signals to emission control lines running in parallel with the scan lines.

It is therefore another feature of an embodiment to provide an organic light emitting display, comprising: the driver as described above, the driver sequentially supplying scan signals to scan lines; a data driver configured to supply data signals to data lines in synchronization with the scan signals; pixels positioned at intersections of the scan lines and the data lines; and an emission control line driver configured to supply emission control signals to emission control lines running in parallel with the scan lines.

In the driver according to the embodiments and the OLED display using the same, the supply points of time of the first start signal and the second start signals may be controlled so that the width of the emission control signals may be freely controlled. The stages included in the driver according to the embodiments may be driven by two pulses from the outside. Since the transistors included in the driver according to the embodiments has the same conduction type (for example, a PMOS type), the transistors may be mounted on the panel.

›BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an OLED display according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of stages of the emission control line driver illustrated in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of the first stage illustrated in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of the first driver illustrated in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 illustrates a waveform diagram of the operation processes of the first driver illustrated in FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of a first driver included in even stages;

FIG. 7 illustrates a waveform diagram of the operation processes of the first driver illustrated in FIG. 6 ;

FIG. 8A is a schematic circuit diagram of the third driver illustrated in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of another embodiment of the third driver illustrated in FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a waveform diagram of the operation processes of the third driver illustrated in FIG. 8B .

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 1 of 5

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0095024, filed on Oct. 7, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: “Driver and Organic Light Emitting Diode Display Device Using the same” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Also, when an element is referred to as being “coupled to” other element, it can be directly connected to the other element or be indirectly connected to or coupled to the other element with one or more intervening elements interposed therebetween. Hereinafter, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an OLED display according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1 , a scan driver 10 and an emission control line driver 30 are separated from each other. However, the emission control line driver 30 may be included in the scan driver 10 .

Referring to FIG. 1 , the OLED display may include a pixel unit 40 including a plurality of pixels 50 coupled to scan lines S 1 to Sn, data lines D 1 to Dm, and emission control lines E 1 to En, the scan driver 10 configured to drive the scan lines S 1 to Sn, a data driver 20 configured to drive data lines D 1 to Dm, the emission control line driver 30 configured to drive the emission control lines E 1 to En, and a timing controller 60 configured to control the scan driver 10 , the data driver 20 , and the emission control line driver 30 .

The scan driver 10 may be controlled by the timing controller 60 , and sequentially supply scan signals to the scan lines S 1 to Sn. Then, the pixels 50 coupled to the scan lines S 1 to Sn may be sequentially selected.

The data driver 20 may be controlled by the timing controller 60 , and supply data signals to the data lines D 1 to Dm. The data driver 20 may supply the data signals to the data lines D 1 to Dm whenever the scan signals are supplied. Then, the data signals may be supplied to pixels selected by the scan signals among the pixels 50 and the selected pixels may charge the voltages corresponding to the data signals supplied to the selected pixels.

The emission control line driver 30 may be controlled by the timing controller 60 and sequentially supply emission control signals to the emission control lines E 1 to En. The emission control line driver 30 may supply the emission control signals so that the pixels 50 do not emit light for a period of supplying the data signals to the pixels 50 .

Here, the width of the emission control signals may be controlled by the driving signals supplied from the timing controller 60 .

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of stages of the emission control line driver illustrated in FIG. 1 . The emission control line driver 30 may include n stages configured to supply the emission control signals to n emission control lines E 1 to En. However, in FIG. 2 , five stages 321 to 325 are illustrated for the convenience sake.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the emission control line driver 30 includes five stages 321 , 322 , 323 , 324 , and 325 configured to supply the emission control signals to the emission control lines E 1 to E 5 , respectively. The stages 321 to 325 may be coupled to the emission control lines E 1 to E 5 and driven by two clock signals.

In detail, the timing controller 60 may supply first, second, and third clock signals CLK 1 , CLK 2 , and CLK 3 , a first start signal SP 1 , and a second start signal SP 2 to the emission control line driver 30 . Here, the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the stages 321 to 325 . The first clock signal CLK 1 may be supplied to the odd stages 321 , 323 , and 325 . The third clock signal CLK 3 may be supplied to the even stages 322 and 324 . Here, the first to third clock signals CLK 1 to CLK 3 may be set in the same period. The first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 may be supplied no less than once in a frame period.

The first stage 321 may receive the first and second start signals SP 1 and SP 2 . The first stage 321 that received the first and second start signals SP 1 and SP 2 may output an emission control signal E 1 . Here, a width of the emission control signal E 1 may be determined so as to correspond to an interval between the first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 (that is, a period since the first start signal SP 1 is applied until the second start signal SP 2 is applied). For example, when the period between the first start signal SP 1 and the second star signal SP 2 is set to be large, the width of the emission control signal E 1 may be set to be large. When the period between the first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 is set to be small, the width of the emission control signal E 1 may be set to be small.

The first stage 321 may supply a first output signal OS 1 and a second output signal OS 2 to the second stage 322 . Here, an interval between the first output signal OS 1 and the second output signal OS 2 may be determined so as to correspond to the period between the first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 . For example, the period between the first output signal OS 1 and the second output signal 0 S 2 may be set to be equal to the period between the first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 . The first output signal OS 1 and the second output signal 0 S 2 may respectively perform the same functions as the first and second start signals SP 1 and SP 2 supplied to the first stage 321 . As such, an ith (i is a natural number) stage 32 i may supply the first output signal OS 1 and the second output signal 0 S 2 to (i+1)th stage 32 i +1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of a stage illustrated in FIG. 2 . In FIG. 3 , for convenience sake, the first stage 321 is illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the first stage 321 may include a first driver 3211 , a second driver 3212 , and a third driver 3213 .

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 2 of 5

The first driver 3211 may generate the first output signal 0 S 1 using the clock signals CLK 1 and CLK 2 and the first start signal SP 1 .

The second driver 3212 may generate the second output signal 0 S 2 using the clock signals CLK 1 and CLK 2 and the second start signal SP 2 . The second driver 3212 may have the same circuit as the first driver 3211 .

The third driver 3213 may generate the emission control signal E 1 using the first output signal OS 1 and the second output signal 0 S 2 . Transistors included in the first to third drivers 3211 to 3213 may be the same conduction type as transistors included in the pixel 50 , for example, a PMOS type. In this case, the first to third drivers 3211 to 3213 may be formed on the panel so that manufacturing cost may be saved.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of the first driver illustrated in FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the first driver 3211 may output a voltage (that is, the low voltage) of a first power source VDD or the first clock signal CLK 1 as the first output signal OS 1 . The first driver 3211 may include six transistors M 11 to M 16 and two capacitors C 11 and C 12 .

The first power source VDD may be set to have a higher voltage than a second power source VSS. For example, the first power source VDD may be set to have a voltage at which the transistors are turned off. Also, the second power source VSS may be set to have a voltage at which the transistors are turned on.

A first electrode of a fifteenth transistor M 15 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be coupled to a first output terminal out 1 . A gate electrode of the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be coupled to an eleventh node N 11 . The fifteenth transistor M 15 may be turned on or off by the voltage of the eleventh node N 11 .

A first electrode of a sixteenth transistor M 16 may be coupled to the first output terminal out 1 . A second electrode of the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be coupled to a third input terminal 36 . A gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be coupled to a twelfth node N 12 . The sixteenth transistor M 16 may be turned on or off by a voltage of the twelfth node N 12 . The third input terminal 36 may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 .

A first electrode of a fourteenth transistor M 14 may be coupled to the eleventh node N 11 . A second electrode of a fourteenth transistor M 14 may be coupled to a second power source VSS. A gate electrode of the fourteenth transistor M 14 may be coupled to a second input terminal 35 . The fourteenth transistor M 14 may be turned on or off according to a voltage supplied to the second input terminal 35 . The second input terminal 35 may receive the second clock signal CLK 2 .

A first electrode of a thirteenth transistor M 13 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the thirteenth transistor M 13 may be coupled to the twelfth node N 12 . A gate electrode of the thirteenth transistor M 13 may be coupled to the eleventh node N 11 . The thirteenth transistor M 13 may be turned on or off according to the voltage of the eleventh node N 11 .

A first electrode of a twelfth transistor M 12 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the twelfth transistor M 12 may be coupled to the eleventh node N 11 . A gate electrode of the twelfth transistor M 12 may be coupled to a first input terminal 33 . The twelfth transistor M 12 may be turned on or off according to the voltage supplied to the first input terminal 33 . The first input terminal 33 may receive the first start signal SP 1 .

A first electrode of an eleventh transistor M 11 may be coupled to the twelfth node N 12 . A second electrode of the eleventh transistor M 11 may be coupled to the second power source VSS. A gate electrode of the eleventh transistor M 11 may be coupled to the first input terminal 33 . The eleventh transistor M 11 may be turned on or off according to the voltage supplied to the first input terminal 33 .

An eleventh capacitor C 11 may be coupled between the gate electrode of the fifteenth transistor M 15 and the first power source VDD. The eleventh capacitor C 11 may charge a voltage corresponding to turning on or off of the fifteenth transistor M 15 . For example, when the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned on, the eleventh capacitor C 11 may charge a voltage at which the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be turned on. When the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned off, the eleventh capacitor C 11 may charge a voltage at which the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned off.

The twelfth capacitor C 12 may be coupled between the gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor M 16 and the first output terminal out 1 . The twelfth capacitor C 12 may charge a voltage corresponding to turning on or off of the sixteenth transistor M 16 .

The second driver 3212 may have the same circuit as the first driver 3211 except that the second driver 3212 receives the second start signal SP 2 from a first input terminal 33 ′ of the second driver 3212 . Therefore, detailed description of the circuit of the second driver 3212 is omitted here.

FIG. 5 illustrates a waveform diagram of the operation processes of the first driver illustrated in FIG. 4 .

The operation processes are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 . First, the first start signal SP 1 may be supplied to turn on the eleventh transistor M 11 and the twelfth transistor M 12 .

When the eleventh transistor M 11 is turned on, the second power source VSS may be supplied to the twelfth node N 12 . When the second power source VSS is supplied to the twelfth node N 12 , the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be turned on. When the sixteenth transistor M 16 is turned on, the third input terminal 36 may be coupled to the first output terminal out 1 . The voltage corresponding to turning on of the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be charged to the twelfth capacitor C 12 .

When the twelfth transistor M 12 is turned on, the first power source VDD may be supplied to the eleventh node N 11 . When the first power source VDD is supplied to the eleventh node N 11 , the thirteenth transistor M 13 and the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be turned off.

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 3 of 5

Then, supply of the first start signal SP 1 may be stopped. When supply of the first start signal SP 1 is stopped, the eleventh transistor M 11 and the twelfth transistor M 12 may be turned off. At this time, the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be continuously turned on by the voltage charged in the twelfth capacitor C 12 . While the sixteenth transistor M 16 is continuously turned on, the first clock signal CLK 1 , which is a low voltage, may be supplied to the first output terminal out 1 . Then, the low voltage may be output to the first output terminal out 1 .

After the first clock signal CLK 1 is supplied, the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied. When the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied, the fourteenth transistor M 14 may be turned on. When the fourteenth transistor M 14 is turned on, the second power source VSS may be supplied to the eleventh node N 11 . When the second power source VSS is supplied to the eleventh node N 11 , the thirteenth transistor M 13 and the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be turned on.

When the thirteenth transistor M 13 is turned on, the first power source VDD may be supplied to the twelfth node N 12 . When the first power source VDD is supplied to the twelfth node N 12 , the sixteenth transistor M 16 may be turned off. When the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned on, the first power source VDD may be supplied to the first output terminal out 1 . At this time, the eleventh capacitor C 11 may charge voltage corresponding to turning on of the fifteenth transistor M 15 . In this case, the fifteenth transistor M 15 may supply the voltage of the first power source VDD to the first output terminal out 1 before the twelfth transistor M 12 is turned on by the next first start signal SP 1 .

As described above, the first driver 3211 may supply the next first clock signal CLK 1 , which is the low voltage, to the first output terminal out 1 after the first start signal SP 1 is supplied. The second driver 3212 may supply the next first clock signal CLK 1 to a second output terminal out 2 when the second start signal SP 2 is supplied. Therefore, an interval between the first output signal OS 1 from the first driver 3211 and the second output signal 0 S 2 from the second driver 3212 may correspond to an interval between the first start signal SP 1 and the second start signal SP 2 .

When the first output signal 051 is output to the first output terminal out 1 , the voltage corresponding to the first clock signal CLK 1 may be applied to the first electrode of the eleventh transistor M 11 , and the voltage corresponding to the second power source VSS may be applied to the second electrode of the eleventh transistor M 11 . That is, since a negative polar voltage may be applied to the first electrode and the second electrode of the eleventh transistor M 11 , driving default caused by a leakage current may be prevented.

The first driver 3211 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be provided in the stage 321 of the emission control line driver 30 . However, embodiments are not limited to this embodiment. For example, the first driver 3211 may be provided to constitute stages of the scan driver 10 . In this case, the first output signal OS 1 output from the first driver 3211 may be used as a scan signal.

The clock signals CLK 1 and CLK 2 supplied to the input terminals 35 and 36 illustrated in FIG. 4 may be applied to the odd stages 321 , 323 , . . . . The clock signals CLK 1 and CLK 2 may be set to partially vary in the even stages 322 , 324 , . . . .

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of a first driver included in even stages. In FIG. 6 , a second stage 322 is illustrated for the convenience sake.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the first driver of the second stage 322 may include the same circuit structure as the first driver included in the odd stages 321 , 323 , . . . as illustrated in FIG. 4 .

The first input terminal 33 may receive the first output signal OS 1 output from the first driver of the first stage 321 . The second input terminal 35 may receive the third clock signal CLK 3 . The third input terminal 36 may receive the second clock signal CLK 2 .

Operation processes will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 7 . When the first output signal OS 1 is supplied, the eleventh transistor M 11 and the twelfth transistor M 12 may be turned on. The sixteenth transistor M 16 may be turned on by the second voltage VSS applied to the twelfth node N 12 . When the sixteenth transistor M 16 is turned on, the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the first output terminal out 1 . In this case, the first output terminal out 1 may output the low voltage when the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied.

Then, the third clock signal CLK 3 may be supplied so that the fourteenth transistor M 14 may be turned on. When the fourteenth transistor M 14 is turned on, the voltage of the second power source VSS may be supplied to the eleventh node N 11 so that the thirteenth transistor M 13 and the fifteenth transistor M 15 are turned on. When the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned on, the voltage of the first power source VDD may be supplied to the first output terminal out 1 . When the thirteenth transistor M 13 is turned on, the first power source VDD may be supplied to the second node N 12 so that the sixteenth transistor M 16 is turned off.

When the fifteenth transistor M 15 is turned on, a voltage corresponding to turning on of the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be charged in the eleventh capacitor C 11 . Therefore, the fifteenth transistor M 15 may be continuously turned on before the next first output signal OS 1 is supplied, and supply the voltage of the first power source VDD to the first output terminal out 1 .

The first driver of the second stage 322 as described above may supply the next second clock signal CLK 2 , which is the low voltage, to the first output terminal out 1 when the first output signal OS 1 is supplied. The second driver of the second stage 322 may supply the next second clock signal CLK 2 to the second output terminal out 2 of the second stage 322 when the second output signal OS 2 is supplied.

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 4 of 5

The first clock signal CLK 1 , the second clock signal CLK 2 , and the third clock signal CLK 3 may be sequentially supplied in this order so that the above-described driving processes may be stably performed.

FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic circuit diagram of the third driver illustrated in FIG. 3 .

Referring to FIG. 8A , the third driver 3213 may output the first power source VDD or the second power source VSS to a third output terminal out 3 to correspond to the first output signal 0 S 1 and the second output signal 0 S 2 . The third driver 3213 may include six transistors M 1 to M 6 and two capacitors C 1 and C 2 .

A first electrode of the first transistor M 1 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the first transistor M 1 may be coupled to the third output terminal out 3 . A gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 may be coupled to a first node N 1 . A first transistor M 1 may be turned on or off by the voltage of the first node N 1 .

A first electrode of the second transistor M 2 may be coupled to the third output terminal out 3 . A second electrode of the second transistor M 2 may be coupled to the second power source VSS. A gate electrode of the second transistor M 2 may be coupled to a second node N 2 . The second transistor M 2 may be turned on or off by a voltage of the second node N 2 .

A first electrode of the third transistor M 3 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the third transistor M 3 may be coupled to the first node N 1 . A gate electrode of the third transistor M 3 may be coupled to the second node N 2 . The third transistor M 3 may be turned on or off by the voltage of the second node N 2 .

The first capacitor C 1 may be coupled between the gate electrode of the second transistor M 2 and the third output terminal out 3 . The first capacitor C 1 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning on or off of the second transistor M 2 . For example, when the second transistor M 2 is turned on, the first capacitor C 1 may charge the voltage at which the second transistor M 2 may be turned on. When the second transistor M 2 is turned off, the first capacitor C 1 may charge the voltage at which the second transistor M 2 is turned off.

The second capacitor C 2 may be coupled between the gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 and the first power source VDD. The second capacitor C 2 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning on or off of the first transistor M 1 .

A first electrode of the fifth transistor M 5 may be coupled to the first power source VDD. A second electrode of the fifth transistor M 5 may be coupled to the second node N 2 . A gate electrode of the fifth transistor M 5 may be coupled to a fourth input terminal 37 . The fifth transistor M 5 may be turned on or off to correspond to the voltage supplied to the fourth input terminal 37 . The fourth input terminal 37 may receive the first output signal OS 1 .

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8B , the fifth transistor M 5 may be substituted by two transistors coupled in series. As a transistor for supplying the voltage of the first power source VDD to the second node N 2 , the fifth transistor M 5 may be replaced with two transistors coupled in series for obtaining driving stability.

A first electrode of the sixth transistor M 6 may be coupled to the second node N 2 . A second electrode of the sixth transistor M 6 may be coupled to the second power source VSS. A gate electrode of the sixth transistor M 6 may be coupled to a fifth input terminal 38 . The sixth transistor M 6 may be turned on or off to correspond to a voltage supplied to the fifth input terminal 38 . The fifth input terminal 38 may receive the second output signal 052 .

A first electrode of the fourth transistor M 4 may be coupled to the first node N 1 . A second electrode of the fourth transistor M 4 may be coupled to the second power source VSS. A gate electrode of the fourth transistor M 4 may be coupled to the fourth input terminal 37 . The fourth transistor M 4 may be turned on or off to correspond to a voltage of the fourth input terminal 37 .

FIG. 9 illustrates a waveform diagram of the operation processes of the third driver illustrated in FIG. 8 .

Referring to FIG. 9 , when the first output signal 0 S 1 , which is the low voltage is supplied to the fifth input terminal 37 , the fourth transistor M 4 and the fifth transistor M 5 may be turned on. At this time, since the fifth input terminal 38 may receive a high voltage, the sixth transistor M 6 may be turned off.

When the fifth transistor M 5 may be turned on, the voltage of the first power source VDD may be supplied to the second node N 2 . In this case, the second transistor M 2 and the third transistor M 3 coupled to the second node N 2 may be turned off.

When the fourth transistor M 4 is turned on, the voltage of the second power source VSS may be supplied to the first node N 1 . In this case, the first transistor M 1 coupled to the first node N 1 may be turned on. When the first transistor M 1 is turned on, the voltage of the first power source VDD may be supplied to the third output terminal out 3 . Therefore, the emission control signal may be supplied to the emission control line E 1 coupled to the third output terminal out 3 .

The second capacitor C 2 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning on of the first transistor M 1 . The first capacitor C 1 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning off of the second transistor M 2 . A high voltage may be supplied to the fourth input terminal 37 so that the fourth transistor M 4 and the fifth transistor M 5 may be turned off. However, while the first transistor M 1 may be continuously turned on, the second transistor M 2 may be continuously turned off to supply the voltage of the first power source VDD to the third output terminal out 3 .

Then, the second output signal 0 S 2 may be supplied to the fifth input terminal 38 so that the sixth transistor M 6 may be turned on. While the second output signal 0 S 2 is supplied, a high voltage may be supplied to the fourth input terminal 37 so that the fourth transistor M 4 and the fifth transistor M 5 may be turned off.

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 5 of 5

When the sixth transistor M 6 is turned on, the voltage of the second power source VSS may be supplied to the second node N 2 . In this case, the third transistor M 3 and the second transistor M 2 coupled to the second node N 2 may be turned on.

When the third transistor M 3 is turned on, the voltage of the first power source VDD may be supplied to the first node N 1 . In this case, the first transistor M 1 coupled to the first node N 1 may be turned off. When the second transistor M 2 is turned on, the voltage of the second power source VSS may be supplied to the third output terminal out 3 . Therefore, the supply of the emission control signal to the emission control line E 1 coupled to the third output terminal out 3 may be stopped.

The second capacitor C 2 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning off of the first transistor M 1 . The first capacitor C 1 may charge the voltage corresponding to turning on of the second transistor M 2 . Therefore, the voltage of the third output terminal out 3 may be stably maintained as the voltage of the second power source VSS before the first output signal OS 1 is supplied to the first input terminal 37 .

Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

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Classifications

4 codes
IPC · International Patent Classification
Section G — Physics
  • G11C19/00
USPC · US Patent Classification
377/68345/204377/64

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⤢ drag to zoomApr 2010Jul 2010Oct 2010Jan 2011Apr 2011Jul 2011Oct 2011Jan 2012Apr 2012Jul 2012Oct 2012USPTOApplicantNotice of allowance
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Pendency
2.4 y
865 days filing → grant
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0
none on record
Examiner
Alexander Eisen
art unit 2629 · TC 2600
Citations: 10 back · 11 forward

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