Stage circuit and scan driver including the same

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0006108, filed on Jan. 16, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure relate to a stage circuit and a scan driver including the same.

As information technology advances, the importance of a display device increases. Accordingly, the use of a display device such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device has been increasing.

Pixels included in the OLED display device may be implemented using NMOS and PMOS transistors to minimize a leakage current. Each of the NMOS and PMOS transistors included in such pixels may be driven by a scan signal. In this case, the scan driver may include a stage circuit that supplies a scan signal of a high level in correspondence with the NMOS transistor and that supplies a scan signal of a low level in correspondence with the PMOS transistor.

When generating a scan signal of a high level, power consumption may increase due to continuous charging and discharging of some capacitors included in a stage circuit.

An object of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is to provide a stage circuit for reducing power consumption that may occur due to a capacitor included in a stage circuit, and a scan driver including the same.

Another object of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is to provide a stage circuit for simultaneously supplying a scan signal including a pulse of a low level and a scan signal including a pulse of a high level, and a scan driver including the same.

Objects of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects, and other technical objects that are not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A stage circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure for resolving the above-described object includes a first substage circuit unit connected to a first input terminal receiving a start signal, a second input terminal receiving a first clock signal, and a third input terminal receiving a second clock signal. The first substage circuit unit generates a first operation signal and a second operation signal in correspondence with the start signal, the first clock signal, and the second clock signal, and supplies a first scan signal to a first output terminal in correspondence with the first operation signal and the second operation signal. The stage circuit further includes a second substage circuit unit connected to the third input terminal and a fourth input terminal receiving a third clock signal. The second substage circuit unit supplies a second scan signal to a second output terminal in correspondence with the first operation signal, the second operation signal, the second clock signal, and the third clock signal. The first scan signal includes a pulse of a low voltage level, and the second scan signal includes a pulse of a high voltage level.

Each of the first substage circuit unit and the second substage circuit unit may be connected to a first power input terminal and a second power input terminal. The first power input terminal may receive first power set to a gate-off voltage, and the second power input terminal may receive second power set to a gate-on voltage.

The first substage circuit unit may include a first output unit connected to the third input terminal and the first power input terminal, and may supply the first scan signal to the first output terminal in response to a voltage of a first node and a voltage of a second node. The first substage circuit unit may further include a first driver connected to the first input terminal and the first power input terminal, and may control a voltage of a third node in response to the first clock signal and the second clock signal. The first substage circuit unit may further include a second driver connected to the second input terminal, the first power input terminal, the second power input terminal, and the third node, and may control the voltage of the first node and the voltage of the second node.

The first driver may include a first transistor connected between the first input terminal and the third node and having a gate electrode connected to the second input terminal, and a second transistor and a third transistor connected in series between the first power input terminal and the third node. A gate electrode of the second transistor may be connected to the third input terminal, and a gate electrode of the third transistor may be connected to the first node.

The first output unit may include a fourth transistor connected between the first power input terminal and the first output terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the first node, and a fifth transistor connected between the third input terminal and the first output terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the second node.

The second driver may include a sixth transistor connected between the second node and the third node and having a gate electrode connected to the second power input terminal, a seventh transistor connected between the first node and the second input terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the third node, an eighth transistor connected between the first node and the second power input terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the second input terminal, a first capacitor connected between the second node and the first output terminal, and a second capacitor connected between the first node and the first power input terminal.

The first operation signal may be the voltage of the first node, and the second operation signal may be the voltage of the third node.

The first operation signal may be the voltage of the first node, and the second operation signal may be the voltage of the second node.

The second substage circuit unit may include a second output unit connected to the fourth input terminal and the second power input terminal, and may supply the second scan signal to the second output terminal in response to a voltage of a fourth node and a voltage of a fifth node. The second substage circuit unit may further include a third driver connected to the third input terminal, the first power input terminal, the second power input terminal, a sixth node, and a seventh node, and may control the voltage of the fifth node in response to the second operation signal supplied to the sixth node and the first operation signal supplied to the seventh node. The second substage circuit may further include a fourth driver connected to the third input terminal, the second power input terminal, and the sixth node, and may control the voltage of the fourth node. The sixth node may be the same node as the third node, and the seventh node may be the same node as the first node.

The third driver may include a ninth transistor connected between the fifth node and the seventh node and having a gate electrode connected to the second power input terminal, a tenth transistor connected between the third input terminal and an eighth node and having a gate electrode connected to the fifth node, an eleventh transistor connected between the first power input terminal and the eighth node and having a gate electrode connected to the sixth node, and a third capacitor connected between the fifth node and the eighth node.

The fourth driver may include a twelfth transistor connected between the fifth node and a ninth node and having a gate electrode connected to the second power input terminal, a thirteenth transistor connected between the third input terminal and a tenth node and having a gate electrode connected to the ninth node, a fourteenth transistor connected between the fourth node and the tenth node and having a gate electrode connected to the third input terminal, and a fourth capacitor connected between the ninth node and the tenth node.

The second output unit may include a fifteenth transistor connected between the fourth node and the fourth input terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the fifth node, a sixteenth transistor connected between the fourth input terminal and the second output terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the fourth node, a seventeenth transistor connected between the second power input terminal and the second output terminal and having a gate electrode connected to the fifth node, and a fifth capacitor connected between the fourth input terminal and the fourth node.

The first clock signal and the second clock signal may have the same period, and a high voltage supply period may be set to be longer than a low voltage supply period in one period. The second clock signal may be set to a signal shifted by half a period from the first clock signal, and the third clock signal may be a signal having a phase inverted from a phase of the second clock signal.

The start signal may be a first scan signal of a previous first substage circuit unit, or a scan start signal.

A scan driver according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure for resolving the above-described object includes a plurality of stage circuits configured to supply a first scan signal including a pulse of a low voltage level to first scan lines and a second scan signal including a pulse of a high voltage level to second scan lines. Each of the plurality of stage circuits includes a first substage circuit unit connected to a first input terminal, and a second input terminal and a third input terminal receiving different clock signals, generates a first operation signal and a second operation signal in correspondence with voltages of the first input terminal, the second input terminal, and the third input terminal, and supplies the first scan signal to a first output terminal in correspondence with the first operation signal and the second operation signal. Each of the plurality of stage circuits further includes a second substage circuit unit connected to the third input terminal and a fourth input terminal receiving a clock signal, and supplies the second scan signal to a second output terminal in correspondence with the first operation signal, the second operation signal, a voltage of the third input terminal, and a voltage of the fourth input terminal.

The first substage circuit unit may include a first output unit connected to the third input terminal and a first power input terminal and supplying the first scan signal to the first output terminal in response to a voltage of a first node and a voltage of a second node, a first driver connected to the first input terminal, the second input terminal, a third input terminal, the first power input terminal, and controlling a voltage of a third node, and a second driver connected to the second input terminal, the first power input terminal, the second power input terminal, and the third node, and controlling the voltage of the first node and the voltage of the second node. The first power input terminal may supply a gate-off voltage and the second power input terminal may supply a gate-on voltage.

The second substage circuit unit may include a second output unit connected to the fourth input terminal and the second power input terminal, and supplying the second scan signal to the second output terminal in response to a voltage of a fourth node and a voltage of a fifth node, a third driver connected to the third input terminal, the first power input terminal, the second power input terminal, a sixth node, and a seventh node, and controlling the voltage of the fifth node in response to the second operation signal supplied to the sixth node and the first operation signal supplied to the seventh node, and a fourth driver connected to the third input terminal, the second power input terminal, and the sixth node, and controlling the voltage of the fourth node.

The second input terminal may receive a first clock signal, the third input terminal may receive a second clock signal, and the fourth input terminal may receive a third clock signal in an odd-numbered stage. The second input terminal may receive the second clock signal, the third input terminal may receive the first clock signal, and the fourth input terminal may receive the fourth clock signal in an even-numbered stage.

The first clock signal and the second clock signal may have the same period, and a high voltage supply period may be set to be longer than a low voltage supply period in one period. The second clock signal may be set to a signal shifted by half a period from the first clock signal, the third clock signal and the fourth clock signal may have the same period, a high voltage supply period may be set to be shorter than a low voltage supply period in one period, and the fourth clock signal may be set to a signal shifted by half a period from the third clock signal.

The third clock signal may be a signal having a phase inverted from a phase of the second clock signal, and the fourth clock signal may be a signal having a phase inverted from a phase of the first clock signal.

The stage circuit and the scan driver including the same according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may maintain a voltage of both ends of a capacitor included in the stage circuit as a high level to prevent continuous charging and discharging and to improve a power consumption characteristic.

In addition, the stage circuit and the scan driver including the same according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may simultaneously supply a scan signal of a high level and a scan signal of a low level using one stage. Therefore, a mount area of the stage circuit may be minimized or reduced, and manufacturing cost may be reduced.

The effect according to the exemplary embodiments is not limited by the details illustrated above, and various additional effects are included in the present disclosure.

The above and other features of the disclosure will become more apparent by describing in further detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a pixel included in the display device of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a method of driving the pixel illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a scan driver according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram schematically illustrating a scan signal of the scan driver of FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of stage circuits shown in FIG. 4 and connection stages of the stage circuits.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating one of the stage circuits shown in FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram for describing a method of driving the stage circuit shown in FIG. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a stage circuit according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a stage circuit according to an exemplary embodiment.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the accompanying drawings

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”, “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “adjacent to” another element, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “between” two elements, it can be the only element between the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion.

It will be further understood that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. are used herein to distinguish one element from another, and the elements are not limited by these terms. Thus, a “first” element in an exemplary embodiment may be described as a “second” element in another exemplary embodiment.

It will be further understood that descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a display device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the display device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a display unit 100 , a scan driver 200 , a data driver 300 , an emission driver 400 , and a timing controller 500 .

The display unit 100 may display an image. The display unit 100 may be implemented as a display panel. The display unit 100 may include various display elements such as, for example, an organic light emitting element (for example, an organic light emitting diode (OLED)). Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the display device 10 will be described as being an OLED display device including the organic light emitting element as the display element. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the display device 10 may be various types of display devices such as, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an electrophoretic display (EPD) device, and an inorganic light emitting display device.

The display unit 100 includes data lines DL 1 to DLm (where m is a positive integer), first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn (where n is a positive integer), second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn, emission control lines EL 1 to ELn, and pixels PX.

The pixels PX may be connected to the data lines DL 1 to DLm, the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn, the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn, and the emission control lines EL 1 to ELn, respectively. The pixels PX may emit or supply light of a predetermined luminance to the outside in correspondence with a data signal transferred through the data lines DL 1 to DLm.

However, the pixels PX are not limited thereto. For example, the pixels PX may be electrically connected to first and second scan lines corresponding to adjacent rows (for example, first and second scan lines corresponding to a previous row of a row including a pixel PX and first and second scan lines corresponding to a subsequent row of the row including the pixel PX).

In addition, the pixels PX may be electrically connected to a first power line and a second power line to receive voltages of first power VDD and second power VSS. The first power VDD and the second power VSS may be power utilized to drive the pixels PX and drivers 200 , 300 , and 400 . The first power VDD may supply a voltage of a high level, and the second power VSS may supply a voltage of a low level. In addition, the pixels PX may be electrically connected to an initialization power line to further receive initialization power VINT.

A detailed configuration and operation of the pixels PX will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 .

The scan driver 200 may generate a first scan signal and a second scan signal based on a gate control signal GCS, and provide the first and second scan signals to the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn and the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn.

The scan driver 200 may include a plurality of stage circuits, and each of the stage circuits may provide the first scan signals for the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn and the second scan signals for the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn.

The first scan signals provided to the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn may be scan signals including a pulse of a low level, and the second scan signals provided to the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn may be scan signals including a pulse of a high level.

For example, when the first scan signal is supplied to a gate electrode of an N-type transistor, the N-type transistor may be turned on. It may be assumed that a voltage of a sufficiently low level is applied to a source electrode of the N-type transistor compared to the gate electrode. The above-described N-type transistor may be an N-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) transistor. In addition, when the second scan signal is supplied to a gate electrode of a P-type transistor, the P-type transistor may be turned on. It may be assumed that a voltage of a sufficiently high level is applied to a source electrode of the P-type transistor compared to the gate electrode. The P-type transistor may be a P-type metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor.

The gate control signal GCS is a signal for controlling an operation of the scan driver 200 , and may include a gate start pulse (or a scan start signal) and one or more gate shift clocks. The gate start pulse may control a start timing of the first scan signals and the second scan signals, and the gate shift clock may refer to one or more clock signals for shifting the gate start pulse.

The scan driver 200 may be implemented as a shift register, but is not limited thereto. The scan driver 200 may be directly formed on one region of the display unit 100 (or one region of the display panel), or may be implemented as an integrated circuit and mounted on a flexible circuit board that is connected to the display unit 100 .

The data driver 300 may generate a data signal based on image data DATA 2 and a data control signal DCS, and provide the data signal to the data lines DL 1 to DLm in a pixel row unit. The data control signal DCS may be a signal for controlling an operation of the data driver 300 , and may include, for example, a load signal, a data start signal, a data clock signal, etc.

The emission driver 400 may generate an emission signal based on an emission control signal ECS and provide the emission signal to the emission control lines EL 1 to ELn. For example, the emission driver 400 may sequentially provide the emission signals having a pulse of a turn-off level to the emission control lines EL 1 to ELn. The emission driver 400 may be implemented as a shift register, but is not limited thereto.

The timing controller 500 may receive input image data DATA 1 (for example, RGB data) and input control signals from the outside (for example, a graphic processor). The input image data DATA 1 may include grayscale values corresponding to each pixel PX. The input control signals may include, for example, a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, a main clock signal MCLK, a data enable signal DE, etc.

The vertical synchronization signal Vsync may include a plurality of pulses, and may indicate that a previous frame period is ended and a current frame period is started based on a time point at which each of pulses is generated. An interval between adjacent pulses of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync may correspond to one frame period 1 FP (refer to FIG. 3 ).

The horizontal synchronization signal Hsync may include a plurality of pulses, and may indicate that a previous horizontal period is ended and a new horizontal period is started based on a time point at which each of pulses is generated. An interval between adjacent pulses of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync may correspond to one horizontal period 1 H (refer to FIG. 5 ).

The timing controller 500 may generate the image data DATA 2 based on the input image data DATA 1 , and generate the gate control signal GCS, the data control signal DCS, and the emission control signal ECS based on the input control signals. The timing controller 500 may provide the gate control signal GCS to the scan driver 200 , provide the data control signal DCS and image data DATA 2 to the data driver 300 , and provide the emission control signal ECS to the emission driver 400 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of one of the pixels PX included in the display device of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , a pixel PXij according to an exemplary embodiment may include first to seventh transistors M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 , M 5 , M 6 , and M 7 , a storage capacitor Cst, and a light emitting element LD.

According to exemplary embodiments, each of the pixels PX illustrated in FIG. 1 may be configured in the same manner as the pixel PXij illustrated in FIG. 2 .

Referring to the first transistor M 1 , a first electrode may be connected to a first electrode of the second transistor M 2 , a second electrode may be connected to a first electrode of the third transistor M 3 , and a gate electrode may be connected to a second electrode of the third transistor M 3 . The first transistor M 1 may also be referred to as a driving transistor.

Referring to the second transistor M 2 , the first electrode may be connected to the first electrode of the first transistor M 1 , a second electrode may be connected to a data line DLj, and a gate electrode may be connected to a first scan line SPLi. The second transistor M 2 may also be referred to as a scan transistor.

Referring to the third transistor M 3 , the first electrode may be connected to the second electrode of the first transistor M 1 , the second electrode may be connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 , and a gate electrode may be connected to a second scan line SNLi. The third transistor M 3 may also be referred to as a diode connection transistor.

Referring to the fourth transistor M 4 , a first electrode may be connected to a second electrode of the storage capacitor Cst, a second electrode may be connected to an initialization power line VINTL, and a gate electrode may be connected to a previous second scan line SNLi−1. The previous second scan line SNLi−1 may be a line providing a second scan signal to a previous pixel row. The fourth transistor M 4 may also be referred to as a gate initialization transistor.

Referring to the fifth transistor M 5 , a first electrode may be connected to a first power line VDDL, a second electrode may be connected to the first electrode of the first transistor M 1 , and a gate electrode may be connected to an emission control line Eli. The fifth transistor M 5 may also be referred to as a first emission control transistor.

Referring to the sixth transistor M 6 , a first electrode may be connected to the second electrode of the first transistor M 1 , a second electrode may be connected to an anode electrode of the light emitting element LD, and a gate electrode may be connected to the emission control line ELi. The sixth transistor M 6 may also be referred to as a second emission control transistor.

Referring to the seventh transistor M 7 , a first electrode may be connected to the anode electrode of the light emitting element LD, a second electrode may be connected to the initialization power line VINTL, and a gate electrode may be connected to a next first scan line SPLi+1. The next first scan line SPLi+1 may be a line providing the first scan signal to a next pixel row. The seventh transistor M 7 may also be referred to as an anode initialization transistor.

Referring to the storage capacitor Cst, a first electrode may be connected to the first power line VDDL and the second electrode may be connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 .

Referring to the light emitting element LD, the anode electrode may be connected to the second electrode of the sixth transistor M 6 , and a cathode electrode may be connected to a second power line VSSL. A voltage applied to the second power line VSSL may be set to be lower than a voltage applied to the first power line VDDL.

The light emitting element LD may be, for example, an organic light emitting diode, an inorganic light emitting diode, a quantum-dot light emitting diode, etc.

The first, second, fifth, sixth, and seventh transistors M 1 , M 2 , M 5 , M 6 , and M 7 may be P-type transistors. Channels of the first, second, fifth, sixth, and seventh transistors M 1 , M 2 , M 5 , M 6 , and M 7 may be configured of poly silicon. For example, a poly silicon transistor may be a low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) transistor. The poly silicon transistor may have high electron mobility, and thus, may have a fast driving characteristic.

The third and fourth transistors M 3 and M 4 may be N-type transistors. Channels of the third and fourth transistors M 3 and M 4 may be configured of an oxide semiconductor. An oxide semiconductor transistor is capable of a low temperature process and may have low charge mobility in comparison with the poly silicon. Therefore, a leakage current amount generated in a turn-off state of the oxide semiconductor transistor may be less than that of the poly silicon transistors.

In exemplary embodiments, the first scan line SPLi may be connected to the gate electrode of the seventh transistor M 7 , rather than the next first scan line SPLi+1.

In addition, in exemplary embodiments, the seventh transistor M 7 may be configured of an oxide semiconductor transistor rather than the poly silicon. That is, the seventh transistor M 7 may be an N-type transistor. One of the second scan line SNLi and a previous second scan line SNLi−1 may be connected to the gate electrode of the seventh transistor M 7 by replacing the next first scan line SPLi+1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a method of driving the pixel PXij illustrated in FIG. 2 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , a frame period 1 FP may include a data write period WP and an emission period EP.

First, an emission signal EM of a turn-off level (for example, a high level) may be supplied to the emission control line ELi during the data write period WP. Therefore, the fifth and sixth transistors M 5 and M 6 may be turned off during the data write period WP.

Next, a previous second scan signal SN−1 of a turn-on level (for example, a high level) may be supplied to the previous second scan line SNLi−1. Therefore, the fourth transistor M 4 may be turned on and the gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 and the initialization power line VINTL may be connected to each other. A voltage of the gate electrode of the first transistor M 1 may be initialized to an initialization voltage of the initialization power line VINTL and maintained by the storage capacitor Cst. The initialization voltage of the initialization power line VINTL may be a voltage sufficiently lower than the voltage of the first power line VDDL. For example, the initialization voltage may be a voltage equal to the voltage of the second power line VSSL or lower than the voltage of the second power line VSSL. Therefore, the first transistor M 1 may be turned on.

Next, a first scan signal SP of a turn-on level (for example, a low level) may be supplied to the first scan line SPLi, and a second scan signal SN of a turn-on level (for example, a high level) may be supplied to the second scan line SNLi. Therefore, the second and third transistors M 2 and M 3 corresponding to the first scan line SPLi and the second scan line SNLi may be turned on. A data voltage applied to the data line DLj may be written to the storage capacitor Cst through the second, first, and third transistors M 2 , M 1 , and M 3 . That is, a data voltage corresponding to a grayscale value of the pixel PXij may be written to the storage capacitor Cst. At this time, the data voltage written to the storage capacitor Cst may be a voltage in which a decrease of a threshold voltage of the first transistor M 1 is reflected.

Finally, a next first scan signal SP+1 of a turn-on level (for example, a low level) may be supplied to the next first scan line SPLi+1 and the seventh transistor M 7 may be turned on. Therefore, a voltage of the anode electrode of the light emitting element LD may be initialized.

Thereafter, when the data write period WP is ended, the emission signal EM may be a turn-on level (for example, a low level), and the emission period EP may be started. The fifth and sixth transistors M 5 and M 6 may be turned on according to the emission signal EM of the turn-on level. Therefore, a driving current path connected to the first power line VDDL, the fifth, first, and sixth transistors M 5 , M 1 , and M 6 , the light emitting element LD, and the second power line VSSL may be formed, and a driving current may flow. A driving current amount may correspond to a data voltage stored in the storage capacitor Cst. At this time, since a driving current flows through the first transistor M 1 , the decrease of the threshold voltage of the first transistor M 1 may be reflected. Therefore, since the decrease of the threshold voltage reflected in the data voltage stored in the storage capacitor Cst and the decrease of the threshold voltage reflected in the driving current offset each other, the driving current corresponding to the data voltage supplied through the data line DLj may flow regardless of the threshold voltage value of the first transistor M 1 . That is, the light emitting element LD may emit light at a desired luminance according to the above-described driving current amount in the emission period EP.

In an exemplary embodiment, for convenience of description, each of scan signals includes one pulse. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, each of scan signals may include a plurality of pulses. In this case, a process of applying an on-bias voltage before the desired data voltage is written to the first transistor M 1 may be included, and a hysteresis phenomenon of the pixel PXij may be improved.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating the scan driver 200 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram schematically illustrating the scan signal of the scan driver 200 of FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 , the scan driver 200 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a plurality of stage circuits ST 1 to STn. Each of the stage circuits ST 1 to STn may be connected to corresponding clock lines CLK 1 to CLK 4 and a previous end scan line (or a carry line). However, since a previous scan line of the first stage circuit ST 1 is not present, the first stage circuit ST 1 may be connected to a scan start line.

In addition, the stage circuits ST 1 to STn may be connected to each other in a form of a shift register. Each of the stage circuits ST 1 to STn may be connected to the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn and the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn, and may supply the first scan signals SP 1 to SPn and the second scan signals SN 1 to SNn to the first scan lines SPL 1 to SPLn and the second scan lines SNL 1 to SNLn in correspondence with a start signal. The start signal may be a scan start signal FLM or a first scan signal of a previous stage circuit.

For example, the first stage circuit ST 1 may respectively supply the first scan signal SP 1 (which may include a pulse of a low voltage level) and the second scan signal SN 1 (which may include a pulse of a high voltage level) to first scan line SPL 1 and the second scan line SNL 1 connected to the first stage circuit ST 1 in correspondence with the scan start signal FLM. The remaining stage circuits ST 2 to STn may sequentially and respectively supply the first scan signals SP 2 to SPn and the second scan signals SN 2 to SNn to the first scan lines SPL 2 to SPLn and the second scan lines SNL 2 to SNLn connected thereto in correspondence with carry signals CR 1 to CRn−1 supplied from a previous stage circuit. The carry signals CR 1 to CRn−1 may correspond to the first scan signals SP 1 to SPn−1 output from the previous stage circuits, respectively.

Each of the stage circuits ST 1 to STn may receive three clock signals among the four clock signals CLK 1 to CLK 4 supplied to the scan driver 200 .

For example, odd-numbered stage circuits ST 1 , . . . may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 , the second clock signal CLK 2 , and the third clock signal CLK 3 , and even-numbered stage circuit ST 2 , . . . may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 , the second clock signal CLK 2 , and the fourth clock signal CLK 4 . That is, while both the odd-numbered stage circuits ST 1 , . . . and the even-numbered stage circuit ST 2 , . . . may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 , the third clock signal CLK 3 may be supplied to the odd-numbered stage circuits ST 1 , . . . , and the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be supplied to the even-numbered stage circuits ST 2 , . . . .

As shown in FIG. 5 , the first clock signal CLK 1 to the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be square wave signals that repeat a high level and a low level, and may be set to the same period.

The first clock signal CLK 1 to the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be set to a period of two horizontal periods 2 H. The first clock signal CLK 1 to the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be set such that the high level and the low level have different widths during one period. For example, the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 may be set such that the low level has a narrower width than the high level. That is, the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 may include a pulse of a low level. In addition, the third clock signal CLK 3 and the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be set such that the high level has a narrower width than the low level. That is, the third clock signal CLK 3 and the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may include a pulse of a high level.

The third clock signal CLK 3 may be set to a signal inverting the second clock signal CLK 2 . For example, when the second clock signal CLK 2 has a low level, the third clock signal CLK 3 may have a high level, and when the second clock signal CLK 2 has a high level, the third clock signal CLK 3 may have a low level. In addition, the fourth clock signal CLK 4 may be set to a signal inverting the first clock signal CLK 1 . In this case, the low level of the first clock signal CLK 1 may overlap at least some of the low level of the third clock signal CLK 3 , and the low level of the second clock signal CLK 2 may overlap at least some of the low level of the fourth clock signal CLK 4 .

However, the first to fourth clock signals CLK 1 to CLK 4 are not limited to the above description, and may be set to have various periods and duty ratios according to exemplary embodiments.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first stage circuit ST 1 may output the second clock signal CLK 2 as the first scan signal SP 1 and output the third clock signal CLK 3 as the second scan signal SN 1 after one horizontal period 1 H in correspondence with the scan start signal FLM. In addition, the first stage circuit ST 1 may supply the first scan signal SP 1 , which is the carry signal CR 1 , to the next stage circuit ST 2 .

The second stage circuit ST 2 may output the first clock signal CLK 1 as the first scan signal SP 2 and output the fourth clock signal CLK 4 as the second scan signal SN 2 after one horizontal period 1 H in correspondence with the carry signal CR 1 . In addition, the second stage circuit ST 2 may supply the first scan signal SP 2 , which is the carry signal CR 2 , to the next stage circuit. The subsequent stage circuits also may output the first scan signals and the second scan signals by repeating the above-described process. That is, the first scan signals SP 1 to SPn and the second scan signals SN 1 to SNn output from the stage circuits ST 1 to STn may be output in a period of one horizontal period 1 H, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of stage circuits shown in FIG. 4 and connection stages of the stage circuits.

In FIG. 6 , for convenience of description, a k-th stage circuit STk and a (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 are shown. The k-th stage circuit STk may be an odd-numbered stage circuit, and the (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 may be an even-numbered stage circuit. Hereinafter, a description will be given based on the k-th stage circuit STk. Since the (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 may be substantially the same as or similar to the k-th stage circuit STk, only differences thereof may be described for convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the stage circuits STk and STk+1 according to an exemplary embodiment may include first substage circuit units STPk and STPk+1 (where k is a positive integer) and second substage circuit units STNk and STNk+1. In addition, the stage circuits STk and STk+1 may include a first input terminal 201 , a second input terminal 202 , a third input terminal 203 , a fourth input terminal 204 , a first output terminal 205 , a second output terminal 206 , a first power input terminal 207 , and a second power input terminal 208 .

For example, the first substage circuit units STPk and STPk+1 may include the first input terminal 201 , the second input terminal 202 , the third input terminal 203 , the first output terminal 205 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power input terminal 208 , and the second substage circuit unit STNk and STNk+1 may include the third input terminal 203 , the fourth input terminal 204 , the second output terminal 206 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power input terminal 208 .

The first input terminal 201 of the first substage circuit unit STPk may receive a first scan signal SPk−1 from a previous stage circuit. At this time, when the k-th stage circuit STk is set to the first stage circuit ST 1 of FIG. 4 , the scan start signal FLM may be supplied to the first input terminal 201 .

The first input terminal 201 of the first substage circuit unit STPk+1 positioned in the next row may receive a carry signal CRk. The carry signal CRk may be a first scan signal SPk output from the first substage circuit unit STPk positioned in a previous row.

The second input terminal 202 may receive one of the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 . For example, the second input terminal 202 of the k-th stage circuit STk may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 . In this case, the second input terminal 202 of the (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 may receive the second clock signal CLK 2 .

The third input terminal 203 may receive another of the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 supplied to the second input terminal 202 . For example, when the first clock signal CLK 1 is supplied to the second input terminal 202 of the k-th stage circuit STk, the third input terminal 203 may receive the second clock signal CLK 2 . In this case, the third input terminal 203 of the (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 may receive the first clock signal CLK 1 .

The fourth input terminal 204 of the second substage circuit unit STNk may receive one of the third clock signal CLK 3 and the fourth clock signal CLK 4 . For example, the fourth input terminal 204 of the k-th stage circuit STk may receive the third clock signal CLK 3 . In this case, the fourth input terminal 204 of the (k+1)-th stage circuit STk+1 may receive the fourth clock signal CLK 4 .

The first output terminal 205 of the first substage circuit unit STPk may output the first scan signal SPk. The first scan signal SPk output through the first output terminal 205 may be supplied to the k-th first scan line. The first scan signal SPk output from the first output terminal 205 may be a signal having a pulse of a low level.

The first substage circuit unit STPk may output the first scan signal SPk through the first output terminal 205 and provide the first scan signal SPk as the carry signal CRk to the first substage circuit unit STPk+1 of a next row.

The second output terminal 206 of the second substage circuit unit STNk may output a second scan signal SNk. The second scan signal SNk output through the second output terminal 206 may be supplied to a k-th second scan line. The second scan signal SNk output from the second output terminal 206 may be a signal having a pulse of a high level.

The first power VDD may be applied to the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power VSS may be applied to the second power input terminal 208 . As described above, the first power VDD may supply a voltage of a high level, and the second power VSS may supply a voltage of a low level.

For example, when the stages STk and STk+1 of the scan driver 200 include a P-type transistor, a voltage of the first power VDD may be set to a gate-off voltage and a voltage of the second power VSS may be set to a gate-on voltage.

In addition, in exemplary embodiments, a high level of the clock signals CLK 1 to CLK 4 may be set to a gate-off voltage (for example, the voltage of the first power VDD), and a low level may be set to a gate-on voltage (for example, the voltage of the second power VSS).

A first operation signal OS 1 and a second operation signal OS 2 may be generated based on the signals supplied through the input terminals 201 , 202 , and 203 of the first substage circuit unit STPk and the power supplied through the power input terminals 207 and 208 . For example, the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 may be generated based on the scan start signal FLM received through the first input terminal 201 of the first substrate circuit unit STPk, the first clock signal CLK 1 received through the second input terminal 202 of the first substrate circuit unit STPk, and the second clock signal CLK 2 received through the third input terminal 202 of the first substrate circuit unit STPk. The first scan signal SPk described above may be output based on the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 .

The first substage circuit unit STPk may output the first scan signal SPk through the first output terminal 205 in correspondence with the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 . In addition, the second substage circuit unit STNk may receive the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 from the first substage circuit unit STPk, and may output the second scan signal SNk through the second output terminal 206 based on the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 . The first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 will be described in further detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 .

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram illustrating one of the stage circuits shown in FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a description that the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 are supplied may mean that a gate-on voltage (for example, a low level voltage) is supplied, and a description that the first clock signal CLK 1 and the second clock signal CLK 2 are not supplied may mean that a gate-off voltage (for example, a high level voltage) is supplied. In addition, a description that the third clock signal CLK 3 is supplied may mean that a gate-off voltage (for example, a high level voltage) is supplied, and a description that the third clock signal CLK 3 is not supplied may mean that a gate-on voltage (for example, a low level voltage) is supplied.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the first stage circuit ST 1 of the scan driver 200 of FIG. 4 is exemplarily illustrated. Since the other stage circuits ST 2 to STn of FIG. 4 may have a configuration substantially the same as that of the first stage circuit ST 1 , a repetitive description of such other stage circuits may be omitted for convenience of description.

The stage circuit ST 1 may include a first substage circuit unit STP 1 and a second substage circuit unit STN 1 .

The first substage circuit unit STP 1 may include a first driver 210 , a second driver 220 , ad a first output unit 230 .

The first substage circuit unit STP 1 may include first to eighth transistors TP 1 to TP 8 , and may include first and second capacitors CP 1 and CP 2 .

The first substage circuit unit STP 1 may be connected to the first input terminal 201 , the second input terminal 202 , the third input terminal 203 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power input terminal 208 , and may output the first scan signal SP 1 through the first output terminal 205 .

The first output unit 230 may be connected to the third input terminal 203 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the first output terminal 205 . The first output unit 230 may control a voltage supplied to the first output terminal 205 in correspondence with voltages of a first node NP 1 and a second node NP 2 . For example, the first output unit 230 may electrically connect the second input terminal 202 or the first power input terminal 207 to the first output terminal 205 in correspondence with the voltages of the first node NP 1 and the second node NP 2 . To this end, the first output unit 230 may include the fourth transistor TP 4 and the fifth transistor TP 5 . Thus, the first output unit 230 may supply the first scan signal SP 1 to the first output terminal 205 in response to a voltage of the first node NP 1 and a voltage of the second node NP 2 .

The fourth transistor TP 4 may be connected between the first power input terminal 207 and the first output terminal 205 , and a gate electrode of the fourth transistor TP 4 may be connected to the first node NP 1 . The fourth transistor TP 4 may control a connection between the first power input terminal 207 and the first output terminal 205 in correspondence with a voltage applied to the first node NP 1 .

The fifth transistor TP 5 may be connected between the first output terminal 205 and the third input terminal 203 , and a gate electrode of the fifth transistor TP 5 may be connected to the second node NP 2 . The fifth transistor TP 5 may control a connection between the first output terminal 205 and the third input terminal 203 in correspondence with a voltage applied to the second node NP 2 . The first output unit 230 may be driven as a buffer. In addition, the fourth transistor TP 4 and the fifth transistor TP 5 may be configured as a plurality of transistors connected in parallel.

The first driver 210 may be connected to the first input terminal 201 , the second input terminal 202 , the third input terminal 203 , and the first power input terminal 207 . The first driver 210 may control a voltage of a third node NP 3 in correspondence with signals supplied to the first to third input terminals 201 , 202 , and 203 . For example, the first driver 210 may control the voltage of the third node NP 3 in response to the scan start signal FLM supplied to the first input terminal 201 , the first clock signal CLK 1 supplied to the second input terminal 202 , and the second clock signal CLK 2 supplied to the third input terminal 203 . To this end, the first driver 210 may include the first to third transistors TP 1 , TP 2 , and TP 3 .

The first transistor TP 1 may be connected between the first input terminal 201 and the third node NP 3 , and a gate electrode of the first transistor TP 1 may be connected to the second input terminal 202 . The first transistor TP 1 may control a connection between the first input terminal 201 and the third node NP 3 in correspondence with a signal supplied to the second input terminal 202 .

The second transistor TP 2 and the third transistor TP 3 may be connected in series between the third node NP 3 and the first power input terminal 207 . The second transistor TP 2 may be positioned between the third transistor TP 3 and the third node NP 3 , and a gate electrode of the second transistor TP 2 may be connected to the third input terminal 203 . The third transistor TP 3 may control a connection between the third transistor TP 3 and the third node NP 3 in correspondence with a signal supplied to the third input terminal 203 .

The third transistor TP 3 may be positioned between the second transistor TP 2 and the first power input terminal 207 , and a gate electrode of the third transistor TP 3 may be connected to the first node NP 1 . The third transistor TP 3 may control a connection between the second transistor TP 2 and the first power input terminal 207 in correspondence with the voltage of the first node NP 1 .

The second driver 220 may be connected to the second input terminal 202 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power input terminal 208 . The second driver 220 may control the voltages of the first node NP 1 and the second node NP 2 in correspondence with voltages of the second input terminal 202 and the third node NP 3 . To this end, the second driver 220 may include the sixth transistor TP 6 , the seventh transistor TP 7 , the eighth transistor TP 8 , the first capacitor CP 1 , and the second capacitor CP 2 .

The first capacitor CP 1 may be connected between the second node NP 2 and the first output terminal 205 . The first capacitor CP 1 may store a voltage corresponding to a turn-on voltage and a turn-off voltage of the fifth transistor TP 5 .

The second capacitor CP 2 may be connected between the first node NP 1 and the first power input terminal 207 . The second capacitor CP 2 may store the voltage applied to the first node NP 1 .

The seventh transistor TP 7 may be connected between the first node NP 1 and the second input terminal 202 , and a gate electrode of the seventh transistor TP 7 may be connected to the third node NP 3 . The seventh transistor TP 7 may control a connection between the first node NP 1 and the second input terminal 202 in correspondence with the voltage of the third node NP 3 .

The eighth transistor TP 8 may be connected between the first node NP 1 and the second power input terminal 208 , and a gate electrode of the eighth transistor TP 8 may be connected to the second input terminal 202 . The eighth transistor TP 8 may control a connection between the first node NP 1 and the second power input terminal 208 in correspondence with a signal of the second input terminal 202 .

The sixth transistor TP 6 may be connected between the third node NP 3 and the second node NP 2 , and a gate electrode of the sixth transistor TP 6 may be connected to the second power input terminal 208 . The second power VSS may be applied to the gate electrode of the sixth transistor TP 6 through the second power input terminal 208 , and an electrical connection may be maintained between the third node NP 3 and the second node NP 2 while maintaining a turn-on state.

The sixth transistor TP 6 may limit a voltage drop width of the third node NP 3 in correspondence with the voltage of the second node NP 2 . That is, even though the voltage of the second node NP 2 drops to a voltage lower than the second power VSS by coupling of the first capacitor CP 1 , the voltage of the third node NP 3 is not lowered more than a voltage obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the sixth transistor TP 6 from the second power VSS. Therefore, since the voltage of the third node NP 3 is maintained, an excessive bias voltage is prevented from being applied to the transistors connected to the third node NP 3 , and thus, reliability of the stage circuit ST 1 may be improved.

The second substage circuit unit STN 1 may include a third driver 240 , a fourth driver 250 , and a second output unit 260 . The second substage circuit unit STN 1 may include ninth to seventeenth transistors TN 1 to TN 9 and may include third to fifth capacitors CN 1 to CN 3 .

The second substage circuit unit STN 1 may be connected to the third input terminal 203 , the fourth input terminal 204 , the first power input terminal 207 , and the second power input terminal 208 , and may output the second scan signal SN 1 through the second output terminal 206 . The second substage circuit unit STN 1 may receive the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 from the first substage circuit unit STP 1 . The second scan signal SN 1 supplied to the second output terminal 206 by the second substage circuit unit STN 1 may be based on the first operation signal OS 1 , the second operation signal OS 2 , the second clock signal CLK 2 , and the third clock signal CLK 3 . The second scan signal SN 1 may include a pulse of a high voltage level.

The second output unit 260 may be connected to the fourth input terminal 204 , the second power input terminal 208 , and the second output terminal 206 . The second output unit 260 may control a voltage supplied to the second output terminal 206 in correspondence with voltages of a fourth node NN 1 and a fifth node NN 2 . For example, the second output unit 260 may electrically connect the fourth input terminal 204 or the second power input terminal 208 to the second output terminal 206 in correspondence with the voltages of the fourth node NN 1 and the fifth node NN 2 . Thus, the second output unit 260 may supply the second scan signal SN 1 to the second output terminal 206 in response to a voltage of the fourth node NN 1 and a voltage of the fifth node NN 2 . To this end, the second output unit 260 may include the fifteenth transistor TN 7 , the sixteenth transistor TN 8 , the seventeenth transistor TN 9 , and the fifth capacitor CN 3 .

The fifteenth transistor TN 7 may be connected between the fourth input terminal 204 and the fourth node NN 1 . In addition, a gate electrode of the fifteenth transistor TN 7 may be connected to the fifth node NN 2 . The fifteenth transistor TN 7 may be turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 .

The sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be connected between the fourth input terminal 204 and the second output terminal 206 , and a gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be connected to the fourth node NN 1 . The sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the fourth node NN 1 . When the sixteenth transistor TN 8 is turned on, a voltage (that is, a high level voltage) of the third clock signal CLK 3 supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 may be output as the second scan signal SN 1 .

The seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be connected between the second output terminal 206 and the second power input terminal 208 . In addition, a gate electrode of the seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be connected to the fifth node NN 2 . The seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 .

The fifth capacitor CN 3 may be connected between the fourth input terminal 204 and the fourth node NN 1 . The fifth capacitor CN 3 may store the voltage of the fourth node NN 1 .

When the fifth node NN 2 is set to a low level voltage, the fifteenth transistor TN 7 may be set to a turn-on state. When the fifteenth transistor TN 7 is set to the turn-on state, the fourth input terminal 204 and the fourth node NN 1 are electrically connected to each other, and thus, the voltage of the fourth node NN 1 may be set to a voltage of the fourth input terminal 204 . Therefore, when the fifteenth transistor TN 7 is set to the turn-on state, voltages of the gate electrode of the sixteenth transistor TN 8 and a first electrode connected to the fourth input terminal 204 may be set to be the same, and thus, the sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be set to a turn-off state.

The third driver 240 may receive the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 from the first substage circuit unit STP 1 . For example, a seventh node NN 4 of the third driver 240 may be electrically connected to the first node NP 1 of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 , and may receive the voltage of the first node NP 1 as the first operation signal OS 1 . For example, the first node NP 1 and the seventh node NN 4 may electrically be the same node (e.g., may be a common node), and thus, a voltage value may be the same. However, a connection structure of the first node NP 1 and the seventh node NN 4 is not limited thereto, and other circuit elements such as, for example, a transistor or a capacitor may be further included between the first node NP 1 and the seventh node NN 4 .

In addition, a sixth node NN 3 of the third driver 240 may be electrically connected to the third node NP 3 of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 , and thus, in an exemplary embodiment, may receive the voltage of the third node NP 3 as the second operation signal OS 2 . For example, the third node NP 3 and the sixth node NN 3 may electrically be the same node (e.g., may be a common node), and thus, a voltage value may be the same. However, a connection structure of the third node NP 3 and the sixth node NN 3 is not limited thereto, and other circuit elements such as, for example, a transistor or a capacitor may be further included between the third node NP 3 and the sixth node NN 3 .

The third driver 240 may be connected to the first power input terminal 207 , the second power input terminal 208 , and the third input terminal 203 , and may control a voltage of an eighth node NN 5 in correspondence with voltages of the first operating signal OS 1 and the second operating signal OS 2 provided to the sixth node NN 3 and the seventh node NN 4 . Further, the third driver 240 may control the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 in response to the second operation signal OS 2 supplied to the sixth node NN 3 and the first operation signal OS 1 supplied to the seventh node NN 4 . To this end, the third driver 240 may include the ninth transistor TN 1 , the tenth transistor TN 2 , the eleventh transistor TN 3 , and the third capacitor CN 1 .

The ninth transistor TN 1 may be connected between the seventh node NN 4 and the fifth node NN 2 , and a gate electrode of the ninth transistor TN 1 may be connected to the second power input terminal 208 . The second power VSS may be applied to the gate electrode of the ninth transistor TN 1 through the second power input terminal 208 , and an electrical connection may be maintained between the seventh node NN 4 and the fifth node NN 2 while maintaining a turn-on state.

The ninth transistor TN 1 may limit a voltage drop width of the seventh node NN 4 in correspondence with the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 . That is, even though the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 drops to a voltage lower than the second power VSS by coupling of the third capacitor CN 1 , the voltage of the seventh node NN 4 is not lowered more than a voltage obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the ninth transistor TN 1 from the second power VSS. Therefore, since the voltage of the seventh node NN 4 is maintained, an excessive bias voltage is prevented from being applied to the transistors connected to the seventh node NN 4 , and thus, the reliability of the stage circuit ST 1 may be improved.

The tenth transistor TN 2 may be connected between the eighth node NN 5 and the third input terminal 203 . The tenth transistor TN 2 may control an electrical connection between the eighth node NN 5 and the third input terminal 203 while being turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 .

The eleventh transistor TN 3 may be connected between the first power input terminal 207 and the eighth node NN 5 . The eleventh transistor TN 3 may control an electrical connection between the first power input terminal 207 and the eighth node NN 5 while being turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the sixth node NN 3 .

The third capacitor CN 1 may be connected between the eighth node NN 5 and the fifth node NN 2 . The third capacitor CN 1 may store a voltage corresponding to the fifth node NN 2 .

The eighth node NN 5 included in the third driver 240 periodically receives the second clock signal CLK 2 from the third input terminal 203 when the fifth node NN 2 is set to the low level voltage. When the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the eighth node NN 5 , the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 may periodically drop to a voltage lower than a voltage (for example, the voltage of the second power VSS) by the coupling of the third capacitor CN 1 . As described above, when the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 periodically drops, a driving characteristic of the transistors TN 2 , TN 7 , and TN 9 connected to the fifth node NN 2 may be improved.

In addition, when the sixth node NN 3 is set to the low level voltage, the third driver 240 may supply the voltage of the first power VDD to the eighth node NN 5 . When the voltage of the first power VDD is supplied to the eighth node NN 5 , the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 may be stably maintained by the coupling of the third capacitor CN 1 .

The fourth driver 250 may be connected to the sixth node NN 3 , and may control a voltage of the fourth node NN 1 in correspondence with the second clock signal CLK 2 supplied to the third input terminal 203 and the voltage of the second power VSS supplied to the second power input terminal 208 . To this end, the fourth driver 250 may include the twelfth transistor TN 4 , the thirteenth transistor TN 5 , the fourteenth transistor TN 6 , and the fourth capacitor CN 2 .

The twelfth transistor TN 4 may be connected between the sixth node NN 3 and a ninth node NN 6 , and a gate electrode of the twelfth transistor TN 4 may be connected to the second power input terminal 208 . The second power VSS may be applied to the gate electrode of the twelfth transistor TN 4 through the second power input terminal 208 , and an electrical connection may be maintained between the sixth node NN 3 and the ninth node NN 6 while maintaining a turn-on state.

The twelfth transistor TN 4 may limit a voltage drop width of the sixth node NN 3 in correspondence with a voltage of the ninth node NN 6 . That is, even though the voltage of the ninth node NN 6 drops to a voltage lower than the second power VSS by coupling of the fourth capacitor CN 2 , the voltage of the sixth node NN 3 is not lowered more than a voltage obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the twelfth transistor TN 4 from the second power VSS. Therefore, since the voltage of the sixth node NN 3 is maintained, an excessive bias voltage is prevented from being applied to the transistors connected to the sixth node NN 3 , and thus, the reliability of the stage circuit ST 1 may be improved.

The fourth capacitor CN 2 may be connected between the ninth node NN 6 and a tenth node NN 7 . That is, a first terminal of the fourth capacitor CN 2 may be connected to the ninth node NN 6 , and a second terminal may be connected to the tenth node NN 7 .

The thirteenth transistor TN 5 may be connected between the tenth node NN 7 and the third input terminal 203 , and a gate electrode of the thirteenth transistor TN 5 may be connected to the ninth node NN 6 . The thirteenth transistor TN 5 may be turned on or turned off in correspondence with the voltage of the ninth node NN 6 .

The fourteenth transistor TN 6 may be connected between the tenth node NN 7 and the fourth node NN 1 , and a gate electrode of the fourteenth transistor TN 6 may be connected to the third input terminal 203 . The fourteenth transistor TN 6 may be turned on when the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the third input terminal 203 to electrically connect the tenth node NN 7 and the fourth node NN 1 to each other.

The first to eighth transistors TP 1 to TP 8 and the ninth to seventeenth transistors TN 1 to TN 9 may be, for example, P-type transistors.

FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram for describing a method of driving the stage circuit shown in FIG. 7 according to an exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 8 , for convenience of description, an operation process may be described using the first stage circuit ST 1 .

In FIG. 8 , VNP 1 , VNP 2 , and VNP 3 indicate a voltage of the first node NP 1 , a voltage of the second node NP 2 , and a voltage of the third node, respectively. Similarly, VNN 1 , VNN 2 , VNN 3 , VNN 4 , VNN 6 , and VNN 7 indicate a voltage of the fourth node NN 1 , a voltage of the fifth node NN 2 , a voltage of the sixth node NN 3 , a voltage of the seventh node NN 4 , a voltage of the ninth node NN 6 , and a voltage of the tenth node NN 7 , respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 7 and 8 , the scan start signal FLM supplied to the first input terminal 201 may be supplied to be synchronized with the first clock signal CLK 1 supplied to the second input terminal 202 . In addition, when the scan start signal FLM is supplied, the first input terminal 201 may be set to a voltage of a low level (for example, the voltage of the second power VSS), and when the scan start signal FLM is not supplied, the first input terminal 201 may be set to a voltage of a high level (for example, the voltage of the first power VDD).

As described above, the first substage circuit unit STP 1 and the second substage circuit unit STN 1 of the stage circuit ST 1 may output the first scan signal SP 1 and the second scan signal SN 1 , respectively. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, operations of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 and the second substage circuit unit STN 1 may be separately described. First to sixth time points t 1 to t 6 , which will be described later, may be time points common to the operation process of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 and the second substage circuit unit STN 1 .

First, the operation process of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 is described in detail. At the first time point t 1 , the scan start signal FLM may be supplied to the first input terminal 201 .

When the first clock signal CLK 1 is supplied, the first transistor TP 1 and the eighth transistor TP 8 may be turned on. When the first transistor TP 1 is turned on, the first input terminal 201 and the third node NP 3 may be electrically connected to each other. Since the sixth transistor TP 6 is set to the turn-on state in most periods, the second node NP 2 may maintain an electrical connection with the third node NP 3 .

When the first input terminal 201 and the third node NP 3 are electrically connected to each other, the voltage VNP 3 of the third node NP 3 and the voltage VNP 2 of the second node NP 2 may be set to a low level by the scan start signal FLM supplied to the first input terminal 201 . When the voltages VNP 2 and VNP 3 of the second node NP 2 and the third node NP 3 are set to the low level, the fifth transistor TP 5 and the seventh transistor TP 7 may be turned on.

When the fifth transistor TP 5 is turned on, the third input terminal 203 and the first output terminal 205 may be electrically connected to each other. The third input terminal 203 may be set to a voltage of a high level (that is, the second clock signal CLK 2 is not supplied), and thus, a voltage of a high level is also output to the first output terminal 205 . When the seventh transistor TP 7 is turned on, the second input terminal 202 and the first node NP 1 may be electrically connected to each other. According to the first clock signal CLK 1 supplied to the second input terminal 202 , the voltage VNP 1 of the first node NP 1 may be set to a low level.

In addition, when the first clock signal CLK 1 is supplied, the eighth transistor TP 8 may be turned on. When the eighth transistor TP 8 is turned on, a voltage of the second power input terminal 208 may be supplied to the first node NP 1 . The voltage of the second power input terminal 208 may be the voltage of the second power VSS, and may be set to a voltage the same as or similar to a low level voltage of the first clock signal CLK 1 . Therefore, the first node NP 1 may stably maintain a low level voltage.

When the first node NP 1 is set to a voltage of a low level, the third transistor TP 3 and the fourth transistor TP 4 may be turned on. When the third transistor TP 3 is turned on, the first power input terminal 207 and the second transistor TP 2 may be electrically connected to each other. Since the second transistor TP 2 is set to a turn-off state, the third node NP 3 may stably maintain a voltage of a low level even though the third transistor TP 3 is turned on. When the fourth transistor TP 4 is turned on, a voltage of the first power input terminal 207 may be supplied to the first output terminal 205 . The voltage of the first power input terminal 207 may be the voltage of the first power VDD and may be set to a voltage the same as or similar to that of a voltage of a high level supplied to the third input terminal 203 . Therefore, the first output terminal 205 may stably maintain a voltage of a high level.

Thereafter, at the second time point t 2 , supply of the scan start signal FLM and the first clock signal CLK 1 may be stopped. When the supply of the first clock signal CLK 1 is stopped, the first transistor TP 1 and the eighth transistor TP 8 may be turned off. At this time, the fifth transistor TP 5 and the seventh transistor TP 7 may maintain a turn-on state in correspondence with the voltage stored in the first capacitor CP 1 . That is, the second node NP 2 and the third node NP 3 may maintain a voltage of a low level by the voltage stored in the first capacitor CP 1 .

When the fifth transistor TP 5 maintains a turn-on state, the first output terminal 205 and the third input terminal 203 may maintain an electrical connection. When the seventh transistor TP 7 maintains a turn-on state, the first node NP 1 may maintain an electrical connection with the second input terminal 202 . A voltage of the second input terminal 202 may be set to a voltage of a high level in correspondence with the stopping of the supply of the first clock signal CLK 1 , and thus, the first node NP 1 may also be set to a voltage of a high level. When a voltage of a high level is supplied to the first node NP 1 , the third transistor TP 3 and the fourth transistor TP 4 may be turned off.

Thereafter, at the third time point t 3 , the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the third input terminal 203 . At this time, since the fifth transistor TP 5 is set to a turn-on state, the second clock signal CLK 2 supplied to the third input terminal 203 may be supplied to the first output terminal 205 . In this case, the first output terminal 205 may output the second clock signal CLK 2 to the first scan line SPL 1 as the first scan signal SP 1 of a turn-on level (for example, a low level).

When the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the first output terminal 205 , the voltage of the second node NP 2 drops to a voltage lower than a voltage of the second power input terminal 208 by the coupling of the first capacitor CP 1 , and thus, the fifth transistor TP 5 may stably maintain a turn-on state.

As described above, even though the voltage VNP 2 of the second node NP 2 drops, the voltage VNP 3 of the third node NP 3 is not lowered more than a voltage obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage of the sixth transistor TP 6 from the second power VSS by the sixth transistor TP 6 .

Thereafter, at the fourth time point t 4 , supply of the second clock signal CLK 2 may be stopped after the first scan signal SP 1 of a turn-on level is output. When the supply of the second clock signal CLK 2 is stopped, the first output terminal 205 may output a voltage of a high level. In addition, the voltage VNP 2 of the second node NP 2 may rise to the voltage of the second power input terminal 208 approximately in correspondence with the voltage of the high level of the first output terminal 205 .

Thereafter, at the fifth time point t 5 , the first clock signal CLK 1 may be supplied. When the first clock signal CLK 1 is supplied, the first transistor TP 1 and the eighth transistor TP 8 may be turned on. When the first transistor TP 1 is turned on, the first input terminal 201 and the third node NP 3 may be electrically connected to each other. At this time, the scan start signal FLM may not be supplied to the first input terminal 201 , and thus, may be set to a voltage of a high level. Therefore, when the sixth transistor TP 6 is turned on, a voltage of a high level may be supplied to the third node NP 3 and the second node NP 2 , and thus, the fifth transistor TP 5 and the seventh transistor TP 7 may be turned off.

When the eighth transistor TP 8 is turned on, the voltage of the second power input terminal 208 may be supplied to the first node NP 1 , and thus, the third transistor TP 3 and the fourth transistor TP 4 may be turned on. When the fourth transistor TP 4 is turned on, the voltage of the first power input terminal 207 may be supplied to the first output terminal 205 . Thereafter, the third transistor TP 3 and the fourth transistor TP 4 may maintain a turn-on state in correspondence with the voltage charged in the second capacitor CP 2 , and thus, the first output terminal 205 stably receives the voltage of the first power input terminal 207 .

In addition, at the sixth time point t 6 , the second transistor TP 2 may be turned on when the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied. At this time, since the third transistor TP 3 is set to a turn-on state, the voltage of the first power input terminal 207 may be supplied to the third node NP 3 and the second node NP 2 . In this case, the fifth transistor TP 5 and the seventh transistor TP 7 may stably maintain a turn-off state.

Next, the operation process of the second substage circuit unit STN 1 is described in detail. Since the gate electrodes of the ninth transistor TN 1 and the twelfth transistor TN 4 may be connected to the second power input terminal 208 , and the ninth transistor TN 1 and the twelfth transistor TN 4 are turned on during most of periods, a specific description of the ninth and twelfth transistors TN 1 and TN 4 will be omitted except for a special case.

As described above, the second substage circuit unit STN 1 may receive the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 from the first substage circuit unit STP 1 . The first operation signal OS 1 may be the voltage VNP 1 of the first node NP 1 of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 , and the second operation signal OS 2 may be the voltage VNP 3 of the third node NP 3 of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 .

The first operation signal OS 1 may be provided to the seventh node NN 4 of the second substage circuit unit STN 1 , and the second operation signal OS 2 may be provided to the sixth node NN 3 of the second substage circuit unit STN 1 . For example, the voltage VNP 1 of the first node NP 1 may be the same as a voltage VNN 4 of the seventh node NN 4 , and the voltage VNP 2 of the second node NP 2 may be the same as a voltage VNN 3 of the sixth node NN 3 .

First, at the first time point t 1 , the voltage VNP 3 of the third node NP 3 may be set to a low level by the scan start signal FLM supplied to the first substage circuit unit STP 1 , and thus, the second operation signal OS 2 transferred to the sixth node NN 3 may be a voltage of a low level. The voltage VNP 1 of the first node NP 1 may also be set to a low level, and the first operation signal OS 1 transferred to the seventh node NN 4 may be a voltage of a low level.

When the second operation signal OS 2 is supplied to the sixth node NN 3 and the sixth node NN 3 is set to a low voltage level, the eleventh transistor TN 3 and the thirteenth transistor TN 5 may be turned on.

When the eleventh transistor TN 3 is turned on, the voltage of the first power VDD may be supplied to the eighth node NN 5 . When the voltage of the first power VDD is supplied to the eighth node NN 5 , the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 may be stably maintained by the coupling of the third capacitor CN 1 .

When the thirteenth transistor TN 5 is turned on, a second terminal (for example, the tenth node NN 7 ) of the fourth capacitor CN 2 and the third input terminal 203 may be electrically connected to each other. At this time, since the second clock signal CLK 2 of a high level is applied to the gate electrode of the fourteenth transistor TN 6 , the fourteenth transistor TN 6 may be turned off. Therefore, the fourth node NN 1 may maintain a voltage of a previous period.

When the first operation signal OS 1 is supplied to the seventh node NN 4 and the seventh node NN 4 is set to a low voltage level, the tenth transistor TN 2 , the fifteenth transistor TN 7 , and the seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be turned on.

When the tenth transistor TN 2 is turned on, the third input terminal 203 and the eighth node NN 5 may be electrically connected to each other.

When the fifteenth transistor TN 7 is turned on, the fourth node NN 1 and the fourth input terminal 204 may be electrically connected to each other. At this time, the fourth input terminal 204 may be set to a low voltage level, and thus, the fourth node NN 1 may be set to a low voltage level.

When the seventeenth transistor TN 9 is turned on, the voltage of the second power VSS may be supplied to the second output terminal 206 .

Thereafter, at the second time point t 2 , the first operation signal OS 1 of a high level voltage may be supplied. That is, the seventh node NN 4 may be set to a high level voltage. When the seventh node NN 4 is set to the high voltage level, the fifth node NN 2 may be set to a high voltage level. When the fifth node NN 2 is set to the high voltage level, the tenth transistor TN 2 , the fifteenth transistor TN 7 , and the seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be turned off.

Thereafter, at the third time point t 3 , the third clock signal CLK 3 may be supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 , and the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the third input terminal 203 . As described above, the third clock signal CLK 3 may include a pulse of a high level voltage, and may be a signal inverted from the second clock signal CLK 2 .

When the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the third input terminal 203 , the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the second terminal (for example, the tenth node NN 7 ) of the fourth capacitor CN 2 via the thirteenth transistor TN 5 . Then, the voltage of the sixth node NN 3 may drop to a voltage lower than that of the second power VSS by coupling of the fourth capacitor CN 2 . When the voltage of the sixth node NN 3 drops, the thirteenth transistor TN 5 may stably maintain a turn-on state and a driving characteristic thereof may be improved.

In addition, when the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the third input terminal 203 , the fourteenth transistor TN 6 may be turned on. When the fourteenth transistor TN 6 is turned on, the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the fourth node NN 1 . In this case, the fourth node NN 1 may be set to a low voltage level, and thus, the sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be turned on. At this time, the fifteenth transistor TN 7 may maintain a turn-off state by the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 .

When the sixteenth transistor TN 8 is turned on, the third clock signal CLK 3 supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 may be supplied to the second output terminal 206 . The third clock signal CLK 3 supplied to the second output terminal 206 may be supplied to the first second scan line SNL 1 as the second scan signal SN 1 .

Thereafter, at the fourth time point t 4 , supply of the third clock signal CLK 3 to the fourth input terminal 204 may be stopped, and supply of the second clock signal CLK 2 to the third input terminal 203 may be stopped. When the supply of the third clock signal CLK 3 is stopped, the voltage of the fourth input terminal 204 may drop from a high voltage level to a low voltage level. Then, the voltage of the fourth node NN 1 may drop to a voltage lower than a low level voltage by coupling of the fifth capacitor CN 3 , and thus, the sixteenth transistor TN 8 may maintain a turn-on state. When the sixteenth transistor TN 8 maintains the turn-on state, a low voltage level supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 may be supplied to the second output terminal 206 . That is, at the fourth time point t 4 , supply of the second scan signal SN 1 may be stopped.

Thereafter, at the fifth time point t 5 , the first operation signal OS 1 of a voltage of a low level may be supplied and the second operation signal OS 2 of a voltage of a high level may be supplied. That is, the seventh node NN 4 may be set to a low voltage level, and the sixth node NN 3 may be set to a high voltage level.

When the sixth node NN 3 is set to the high voltage level, the eleventh transistor TN 3 and the thirteenth transistor TN 5 may be turned off. In addition, when the seventh node NN 4 is set to the low voltage level, the tenth transistor TN 2 , the fifteenth transistor TN 7 , and the seventeenth transistor TN 9 may be turned on.

Thereafter, at the sixth time point t 6 , the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the third input terminal 203 , and the third clock signal CLK 3 may be supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 .

At this time, since the tenth transistor TN 2 is turned on, when the second clock signal CLK 2 is supplied to the third input terminal 203 , the second clock signal CLK 2 may be supplied to the eighth node NN 5 . Then, the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 may drop by the coupling of the third capacitor CN 1 . That is, the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 may drop to a voltage lower than the voltage of the second power VSS. Therefore, the seventeenth transistor TN 9 may stably maintain a turn-on state and a driving characteristic thereof may be improved.

Since the fifteenth transistor TN 7 maintains a turn-on state at the sixth time point t 6 , the third clock signal CLK 3 supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 may be supplied to the fourth node NN 1 , and thus, the fourth node NN 1 may rise to a high voltage level. When the fourth node NN 1 is set to the high voltage level, the sixteenth transistor TN 8 may be turned off. Therefore, the second output terminal 206 may maintain the voltage of the second power VSS regardless of the third clock signal CLK 3 supplied to the fourth input terminal 204 .

As a result, the stage circuit ST 1 may output the first scan signal SP 1 and the second scan signal SN 1 in correspondence with the scan start signal FLM supplied in synchronization with the first clock signal CLK 1 . For example, the first substage circuit unit STP 1 of the stage circuit ST 1 may output the second clock signal CLK 2 as the first scan signal SP 1 in correspondence with the voltage of the first node NP 1 (or the first operation signal OS 1 ) and the voltage of the second node NP 2 (or the second operation signal OS 2 ). In addition, the second substage circuit unit STN 1 of the stage circuit ST 1 may receive the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 from the first substage circuit unit STP 1 , control the voltages of the fourth node NN 1 and the fifth node NN 2 based on the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 , and output the third clock signal CLK 3 as the second scan signal SN 1 in correspondence with the voltage of the fourth node NN 1 and the voltage of the fifth node NN 2 .

The first scan signal SP 1 output at the third time point t 3 may be transferred to the next stage circuit ST 2 as the carry signal CR 1 . That is, the next stage circuit ST 2 may receive the first scan signal SP 1 to be synchronized with the second clock signal CLK 2 . The next stage circuit ST 2 may output the first scan signal SP 2 of a turn-on level (for example, a low level) to the second first scan line SPL 2 to be synchronized with the first clock signal CLK 1 , and output the second scan signal SN 2 of a turn-on level (for example, a high level) to the second second scan line SNL 2 . The other stage circuits ST 3 to STn may also sequentially output the first scan signals SP 3 to SPn of a turn-on level to the first scan lines SPL 3 to SPLn and sequentially output the second scan signals SN 3 to SNn of a turn-on level to the second scan lines SNL 3 to SNLn while repeating the above-described process.

Since the stage circuit ST 1 according to exemplary embodiments may simultaneously supply the first scan signal SP 1 of a low level and the second scan signal SN 1 of a high level using one stage, a mount area of the stage circuit may be minimized or reduced, and manufacturing cost may be reduced in the display device.

In addition, the stage circuit ST 1 according to exemplary embodiments may prevent the fourth capacitor CN 2 from being unnecessarily charged and discharged, thereby improving power consumption of the stage circuit ST 1 and the scan driver 200 including the same.

For example, in a first period HT after the fifth time point t 5 , voltages of both terminals of the fourth capacitor CN 2 may maintain a high voltage level. That is, both of the voltage of the ninth node NN 6 , which is a first terminal of the fourth capacitor CN 2 , and the voltage of the tenth node NN 7 , which is a second terminal of the fourth capacitor CN 2 , may be set to the high voltage level.

As described above, at the fifth time point t 5 , the second operation signal OS 2 of a high voltage level may be supplied, and thus, the sixth node NN 3 may be set to a high voltage level. Since the twelfth transistor TN 4 maintains a turn-on state, the ninth node NN 6 may also be set to a high voltage level. Meanwhile, since the tenth node NN 7 maintains a high voltage level after the fourth time point t 4 , both ends of the fourth capacitor CN 2 may maintain a high voltage level in the first period HT after the fifth time point t 5 . For example, the first period HT may be a period from the fifth time point t 5 to a time point when an output of the last scan signals SPn and SNn of a corresponding frame is ended (for example, the seventh time point t 7 ), but is not limited thereto. For example, the first period HT may be a period until the corresponding frame is ended, and both of the voltage of the ninth node NN 6 and the voltage of the tenth node NN 7 of the stage circuit ST 1 may be set to a high voltage level during a corresponding period. In addition, the first period HT may be a period before the scan start signal FLM is supplied to the stage circuit ST 1 in a next frame.

When voltage levels of both ends of the fourth capacitor CN 2 are different, a voltage corresponding to the difference may be charged in the fourth capacitor CN 2 . Thereafter, when the difference of the voltage levels changes, the voltage charged in the fourth capacitor CN 2 may be discharged. When such charging and discharging continues in an unnecessary period, power consumption of the scan driver 200 may increase. However, according to exemplary embodiments, since the voltages of both ends of the fourth capacitor CN 2 are maintained as the high voltage level after the fifth time point t 5 (or the first period HT), unnecessary charging and discharging of the fourth capacitor CN 2 does not occur, and power consumption of the stage circuit ST 1 and the scan driver 200 including the same may be improved.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a stage circuit according to an exemplary embodiment. For convenience of explanation, a further description of elements and technical aspects previously described will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9 , a stage circuit ST 1 ′ may include a first substage circuit unit STP 1 ′ and a second substage circuit unit STN 1 ′. The first substage circuit unit STP 1 ′ may generate the first operation signal OS 1 and a second operation signal OS 2 ′ and provide the first operation signal OS 1 and the second operation signal OS 2 ′ to the second substage circuit unit STN 1 ′. The second operation signal OS 2 ′ may be a voltage of a second node NP 2 ′ of the first substage circuit unit STP 1 ′, and may be transferred to an eleventh transistor TN 3 ′ of a third driver 240 ′ through a sixth node NN 3 ′.

As described above, the gate electrode of the sixth transistor TP 6 may be connected to the second power input terminal 208 to receive the voltage of the second power VSS, thereby maintaining a turn-on state. That is, a voltage level of a third node NP 3 ′ and a voltage level of the second node NP 2 ′ may be substantially the same or similar.

Since a voltage of the second node NP 2 ′ may drop to a voltage lower than that of the second power VSS by the coupling of the first capacitor CP 1 , a driving characteristic of transistors connected to the second node NP 2 ′ may be improved.

That is, the stage circuit ST 1 ′ shown in FIG. 9 may operate identically or similarly to the stage circuit ST 1 shown in FIG. 7 , and thus, a further detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram illustrating a stage circuit according to an exemplary embodiment. For convenience of explanation, a further description of elements and technical aspects previously described will be omitted

Referring to FIG. 10 , a first substage circuit unit STP 1 ″ of the stage circuit ST 1 ″ may include a first driver 210 ″, the second driver 220 , and the first output unit 230 .

The first driver 210 ″ may include first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b , the second transistor TP 2 , and the third transistor TP 3 .

The first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b may be configured as a plurality of sub-transistors. For example, the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b may be configured as a first sub-transistor TP 1 a and a second sub-transistor TP 1 b . When the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b are configured as the plurality of sub-transistors, occurrence of a leakage current of the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b may be prevented or reduced. In addition, the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b may be robust to the first clock signal CLK 1 of a strong bias, thereby preventing deterioration. Thus, reliability of the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b may be improved.

In exemplary embodiments, a structure of the plurality of sub-transistors may be applied to the other transistors TP 2 to TN 9 in addition to the first transistors TP 1 a and TP 1 b.

Since a structure and an operation method of the stage circuit ST 1 ″ are the same as or similar to those of the stage circuit ST 1 described above, a further detailed description thereof is omitted.

While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims.