The present invention relates to a driver circuit. One particular application of such a driver circuit is for driving an organic electroluminescent element.
An organic electroluminescent (OEL) element OEL elementcomprises a light emitting material layer sandwiched between an anode layer and a cathode layer. Electrically, this element operates like a diode. Optically, it emits light when forward biased and the intensity of the emission increases with the forward bias current. It is possible to construct a display panel with a matrix of OEL elements fabricated on a transparent substrate and with at least one of the electrode layers being transparent. It is also possible to integrate the driving circuit on the same panel by using low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor (TFT) technology.
In a basic analog driving scheme for an active matrix OEL display, a minimum of two transistors are required per pixel. Such a driving scheme is illustrated in FIG. 1. Transistor T1 is provided to address the pixel and transistor T2 is provided to convert a data voltage signal VData into current which drives the OEL element at a designated brightness. The data signal is stored by a storage capacitor Cstorage when the pixel is not addressed. Although p-channel TFTs are shown in the figure, the same principle can also be applied for a circuit utilising n-channel TFTs.
There are problems associated with TFT analog circuit and OEL elements do not act like perfect diodes. The light emitting material does, however, have relatively uniform characteristics. Due to the nature of the TFT fabrication technique, spatial variation of the TFT characteristics exists over the extent of the display panel. One of the most important considerations in a TFT analog circuit is the variation of threshold voltage, ΔVT, from device to device. The effect of such variation in an OEL display, exacerbated by the non perfect diode behaviour, is the non-uniform pixel brightness over the display area of the panel, which seriously affects the image quality. Therefore, a built-in circuit for compensating a dispersion of transistor characteristics is required.
A circuit shown in
A constant current is provided, in theory, during a subsequent active programming stage, which is signified by the time interval t2 to t5 in the timing diagram shown in FIG. 2. The reproduction stage starts at time t6.
The circuit of
The present invention seeks to provide an improved driver circuit. In its application to OEL elements the present invention seeks to provide an improved pixel driver circuit in which variations in the threshold voltages of the pixel driver transistor can be further compensated, thereby providing a more uniform pixel brightness over the display area of the panel and, therefore, improved image quality.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a driver circuit for a current driven element, the circuit comprising an n-channel transistor and a complementary p-channel transistor connected so as to operatively control, in combination, the current supplied to the current driven element.
Beneficially, the current driven element is an electroluminescent element.
Preferably, the driver circuit also comprises respective storage capacitors for the n-channel and p-channel transistors and respective switching means connected so as to establish when operative respective paths to the n-channel and p-channel transistors for respective data voltage pulses.
Advantageously, the driver circuit may also comprise respective storage capacitors for storing a respective operating voltage of the n-channel and the p-channel transistors during a programming stage, a first switching means connected so as to establish when operative a first current path from a source of current data signals through the n-channel and p-channel transistors and the current driven element during the programming stage, and a second switching means connected to establish when operative a second current path through the n-channel and p-channel transistors and the current driven element during a reproduction stage.
In a further embodiment, the first switching means and the source of current data signals are connected so as to provide when operative a current source for the current driven element.
In an alternative embodiment, the first switching means the source of current data signals are connected so as to provide when operative a current sink for the current driven element.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is also provided a method of controlling the supply current to a current driven element comprising providing an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor connected so as to operatively control, in combination, the supply current to the current driven element.
Preferably, the method further comprises providing respective storage capacitors for the n-channel and p-channel transistors and respective switching means connected so as to establish when operative respective paths to the n-channel and p-channel transistors for respective data voltage pulses thereby to establish, when operative, a voltage driver circuit for the current driven element.
Advantageously, the method may comprise providing a programing stage during which the n-channel and p-channel transistors are operated in a first mode and wherein a current path from a source of current data signals is established through the n-channel and the p-channel transistors and the current driven element and wherein a respective operating voltage of the n-channel transistor and the p-channel transistor is stored in respective storage capacitors, and a reproduction stage wherein a second mode and a second current path is established though the n-channel transistor and the p-channel transistor and the current driven element.
Beneficially, the present invention provides a method of controlling the supply current to an electroluminescent display comprising the method of the invention as described above wherein the current driven element is an electroluminescent element.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is also provided an organic electroluminescent display device comprising a driver circuit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.
The present invention will now be described by way of further example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The concept of a driver circuit according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. An OEL element is coupled between two transistors T12 and T15 which operate, in combination, as an analog current control for the current flowing through the OEL element. Transistor T12 is a p-channel transistor and transistor T15 is an n-channel transistor which act therefore, in combination, as a complementary pair for analog control of the current through the OEL element.
As mentioned previously, one of the most important parameters in a TFT analog circuit design is the threshold voltage VT. Any variation, ΔVT within a circuit has a significant effect on the overall circuit performance. Variations in the threshold voltage can be viewed as a rigid horizontal shift of the source to drain current versus the gate to source voltage characteristic for the transistor concerned and are caused by the interface charge at the gate of the transistor.
It has been realised with the present invention that in an array of TFT devices, in view of the fabrication techniques employed, neighbouring or relatively close TFT's have a high probability of exhibiting the same or an almost similar value of threshold voltage ΔVT. Furthermore, it has been realised that as the effects of the same ΔVT on p-channel and n-channel TFT's are complementary, compensation for variations in threshold voltage ΔVT can be achieved by employing a pair of TFT's, one p-channel TFT and one n-channel TFT, to provide analog control of the driving current flowing to the OEL element. The driving current can, therefore, be provided independently of any variation of the threshold voltage. Such a concept is illustrated in FIG. 3.
Assuming now that the threshold voltage of the p-channel and n-channel transistors changes to ΔVT1, the OEL element current I1 is then determined by crossover point B. Likewise, for a variation in threshold voltage to ΔV2, the OEL element current I2 is given by crossover point C. It can be seen from
The circuit shown in
Transistors T1, T3 and T6 are then switched OFF at time t4 and transistor T4 is switched ON at time t5 and the current through the OEL element is then provided from the source VDD under the control of the p-channel and n-channel transistors T12 and T15 operating in a second mode, i.e. as transistors in saturation mode. It will be appreciated that as the current through the OEL element is controlled by the complementary p-channel and n-channel transistors T12 and T15 any variation in threshold voltage in one of the transistors will be compensated by the other opposite channel transistor, as described previously with respect to FIG. 4.
In the current programmed driver circuit shown m
Referring to
The relative stability in the driving current through the OEL element can be more clearly seen in
It can be seen from
It will be appreciated from the above description that the use of a p-channel transistor and an opposite n-channel transistor to provide, in combination, analog control of the drive current through an electroluminescent device provides improved compensation for the effects which would otherwise occur with variations in the threshold voltage of a single p-channel or n-channel transistor.
Preferably, the TFT n-channel and p-channel transistors are fabricated as neighbouring or adjacent transistors during the fabrication of an OEL element OEL display so as to maximise the probability of the complementary p-channel and n-channel transistors having the same value of threshold voltage ΔVT. The p-channel and n-channel transistors may be further matched by comparison of their output characteristics.
The forward oriented organic EL display element 131 is formed by: the pixel electrode 115 formed of A1, the opposite electrode 116 formed of ITO, the hole injection layer 132, and the organic EL layer 133. In the forward oriented organic EL display element 131, the direction of current of the organic EL display device can be set from the opposite electrode 116 formed of ITO to the pixel electrode 115 formed of A1.
The hole injection layer 132 and the organic EL layer 133 maybe formed using an ink-jet printing method, employing the resist 151 as a separating structure between the pixels. The opposite electrode 116 formed of ITO may be formed using a sputtering method. However, other methods may also be used for forming all of these components.
The typical layout of a full display panel employing the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 13. The panel comprises an active matrix OEL element 200 with analogue current program pixels, an integrated TFT scanning driver 210 with level shifter, a flexible TAB tape 220, and an external analogue driver LSI 230 with an integrated RAM/controller. Of course, this is only one example of the possible panel arrangements in which the present invention can be used.
The structure of the organic EL display device is not limited to the one described here. Other structures are also applicable.
The improved pixel driver circuit of the present invention may be used in display devices incorporated in many types of equipment such as mobile displays e.g. mobile phones, laptop personal computers, DVD players, cameras, field equipment; portable displays such as desktop computers, CCTV or photo albums; or industrial displays such as control room equipment displays.
Several electric apparatuses using the above organic electroluminescent display device will now be described.
<1: Mobile Computer>
An example in which the display device according to one of the above embodiments is applied to a mobile personal computer will now be described.
<2: Portable Phone>
Next, an example in which the display device is applied to a display section of a portable phone will be described.
<3: Digital Still Camera>
Next, a digital still camera using an OEL display device as a finder will be described.
Typical cameras sensitize films based on optical images from objects, whereas the digital still camera 1300 generates imaging signals from the optical image of an object by photoelectric conversion using, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD). The digital still camera 1300 is provided with an OEL element 100 at the back face of a case 1302 to perform display based on the imaging signals from the CCD. Thus, the display panel 100 functions as a finder for displaying the object A photo acceptance unit 1304 including optical lenses and the CCD is provided at the front side (behind in the drawing) of the case 1302.
When a cameraman determines the object image displayed in the OEL element panel 100 and releases the shutter, the image signals from the CCD are transmitted and stored to memories in a circuit board 1308. In the digital still camera 1300, video signal output terminals 1312 and input/output terminals 1314 for data communication are provided on a side of the case 1302. As shown in the drawing a television monitor 1430 and a personal computer 1440 are connected to the video signal terminals 1312 and the input/output terminals 1314, respectively, if necessary. The imaging signals stored in the memories of the circuit board 1308 are output to the television monitor 1430 and the personal computer 1440, by a given operation.
Examples of electronic apparatuses, other than the personal computer shown in
The driver circuit of the present invention can be disposed not only in a pixel of a display unit but also in a driver disposed outside a display unit.
In the above, the driver circuit of the present invention has been described with reference to various display devices. The applications of the driver circuit of the present invention are much broader than just display devices and include, for example, its use with a magnetoresistive RAM, a capacitance sensor, a charge sensor, a DNA sensor, a night vision camera and many other devices.
The aforegoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20020021293 A1 | Feb 2002 | US |