This disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and particularly to a display panel and an image data compensation method thereof.
Display panel is more and more widely used in various electronic products. With the growing user demands for characteristics of the electronic product such as light, thin, high screen-to-body ratio, low power consumption, and high contrast, the display panel has evolved from the liquid crystal display (LCD) panel to the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel. OLED is a current-type light-emitting device, however, for the OLED panel, OLED display may experience uneven brightness and image retention which are main problems to be solved. Generally, De-Mura compensation is adopted to compensate a current frame of image data (i.e., a current picture) to be displayed on the OLED panel. The De-Mura compensation includes the following. According to overall brightness information of the display panel obtained by shooting with an optical element, brightness information of each pixel unit or each pixel block of the display panel is obtained. A compensation coefficient of each gray level for each pixel unit is calculated according to the obtained brightness information. Image data to-be-displayed is compensated with the compensation coefficient.
Since a large-size display panel is equipped with multiple data integrated circuits (data IC) for De-Mura compensation, black lines may appear in images displayed by the display panel after De-Mura compensation, which seriously affects quality of image display.
In view of the above deficiencies, implementations of the disclosure provide a display panel, which can improve display quality of the display panel by compensating image data of the display panel.
Implementations of the disclosure further provide an image data compensation method of the display panel.
According to implementations of the disclosure, a display panel is provided. The display panel has a first display area and a second display area adjacent to each other along a first direction. The first display area includes a plurality of pixel columns P1-Pn sequentially arranged along the first direction. The second display area includes a plurality of pixel columns Pn+1-Pm sequentially arranged along the first direction. The first display area includes a first compensation area. The first compensation area at least includes the pixel column Pn. The second display area includes a second compensation area. The second compensation area is adjacent to the first display area and at least includes the pixel column Pn+1, where m is a positive integer greater than n. The display panel includes a first data driving module and a second data driving module, where the first data driving module is configured to provide an image data signal for the pixel columns P1-Pn, and the second data driving module is configured to provide an image data signal for the pixel columns Pn+1-Pm. The first data driving module is configured to perform De-Mura compensation on the first display area, obtain image data of the second display area after De-Mura compensation, and adjust image data of the first compensation area according to the obtained image data of the second display area. The second data driving module is configured to perform De-Mura compensation on the second display area, obtain image data of the first display area after De-Mura compensation, and adjust image data of the second compensation area according to the obtained image data of the first display area, where the adjusted image data of the first compensation area and the adjusted image data of the second compensation area are in a continuous distribution.
According to implementations of the disclosure, an image data compensation method of a display panel is provided. The display panel has a first display area and a second display area adjacent to each other along a first direction. The first display area includes a plurality of pixel columns P1-Pn sequentially arranged along the first direction. The second display area includes a plurality of pixel columns Pn+1-Pm sequentially arranged along the first direction. The first display area includes a first compensation area which at least includes the pixel column Pn. The second display area includes a second compensation area which is adjacent to the first display area and at least includes the pixel column Pn+1. The image data compensation method includes the following. Image data to-be-displayed is obtained. De-Mura compensation is performed on image data of the first display area and image data of the second display area. Image data of the second display area after De-Mura compensation is obtained, and image data of the first compensation area is compensated according to the obtained image data of the second display area. Image data of the first display area after De-Mura compensation is obtained, and image data of the second compensation area is compensated according to the obtained image data of the first display area, where the compensated image data of the first compensation area and the compensated image data of the second compensation area are in a continuous distribution.
Compared with the related art, in the disclosure, the compensation for the first compensation area and the second compensation area is performed, so that image data of pixel columns at positions adjacent to the first display area and the second display area (hereinafter, a boundary area for short) has same change trend and is in a continuous distribution. As such, the image data of the pixel columns in the boundary area can be in a continuous distribution visually without perceiving a black line.
In order to describe technical solutions of implementations of the disclosure more clearly, the following will give a brief description of accompanying drawings used for describing the implementations. Apparently, accompanying drawings described below are merely some implementations. Those of ordinary skill in the art can also obtain other accompanying drawings based on the accompanying drawings described below without creative efforts.
Technical solutions of implementations of the disclosure will be described clearly and completely with reference to accompanying drawings in the implementations. Apparently, implementations described hereinafter are merely some implementations, rather than all implementations of the disclosure. All other implementations obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the implementations without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the disclosure.
Hereinafter, function modules of a display panel and a compensation method of the display panel will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Each of the pixel columns P1-Pm includes pixel units Px sequentially arranged along a second direction Y. The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X. Pixel units Px are configured for image display. In the implementation, the first direction X is the horizontal direction, and the second direction Y is the vertical direction.
A first data driving module DD1 and a second data driving module DD2 are disposed in the non-display area NA of the display panel 10. The first data driving module DD1 and the second data driving module DD2 are configured to provide the pixel units Px of the pixel columns P1-Pm with image data for image display.
The first compensation area DC1 is a display area at least including the pixel column Pn, which is nearest to the second display area A2. Pixel columns in the first compensation area DC1 can include: pixel column Pn−k to pixel column Pn, where k is a positive integer greater than or equal to 0.
In some implementations, the first compensation reference area DR1 overlaps with the first compensation area DC1. In some implementations, the first compensation reference area DR1 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the first compensation area DC1.
The second display area A2 includes a second compensation reference area DR2 and a second compensation area DC2 which are arranged in parallel with each other and adjacent to the first display area A1. The second compensation area DC2 is closer to the first display area A1 than the second compensation reference area DR2. The second compensation reference area DR2 is a display area which is adjacent to the first display area A1 and at least includes two pixel columns, that is, a display area which is adjacent to pixel column Pn+1 and at least includes two pixel columns. The second compensation reference area DR2 may include the pixel column Pn+1. Pixel columns in the second compensation reference area DR2 can include: pixel column Pn+1+i to pixel column Pn+1+i+j.
The second compensation area DC2 is a display area adjacent to the first display area A1 and at least including the pixel column Pn+1, which is nearest to the first display area A1. Pixel columns in the second compensation area DC2 can include: pixel column Pn+1 to pixel column Pn+1+k.
In some implementations, the second compensation reference area DR2 overlaps with the second compensation area DC2. In some implementations, the second compensation reference area DR2 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the second compensation area DC2.
In some implementations, the first compensation reference area DR1 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the first compensation area DC1. Similarly, the second compensation reference area DR2 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the second compensation area DC2. As an example, the pixel columns in the first compensation reference area DR1 are pixel column Pn−3 and pixel column Pn−2, and the pixel columns in the first compensation area DC1 are pixel column Pn−1 and pixel column Pn. The pixel columns in the second compensation reference area DR2 are pixel column Pn+3 and pixel column Pn+4, and the pixel columns in the second compensation area DC2 are pixel column Pn+1 and pixel column Pn+2. That is, the first compensation reference area DR1 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the first compensation area DC1, and the first compensation reference area DR1 and the first compensation area DC1 each include two pixel columns. Similarly, the second compensation reference area DR2 is adjacent to but does not overlap with the second compensation area DC2, and the second compensation reference area DR2 and the second compensation area DC2 each include two pixel columns.
In other implementations of the disclosure, the number of the pixel columns included in each of the first compensation reference area DR1, the first compensation area DC1, the second compensation reference area DR2, and the second compensation area DC2 can be set according to actual demands, such as, three, four, or five, which is not limited in the disclosure.
The first data receiving unit 15 is configured to receive a current frame of image data to-be-displayed (i.e., a current picture) from outside. In the implementation, the first data receiving unit 15 may be a data connection interface, such as a mobile industry processor interface (MIPI).
The first data adjustment unit 13 is configured to compensate the image data to-be-displayed. The compensation herein mainly includes De-Mura compensation. The first data adjustment unit 13 is further configured to perform data processing on the image data by executing a CE algorithm or a DBC algorithm.
In some implementations, the first data adjustment unit 13 includes a first De-Mura compensation unit 131. The first De-Mura compensation unit 131 is configured to obtain, with a display-panel brightness obtaining unit, overall brightness information of the display area AA of the display panel 10. The overall brightness information includes brightness information for each of pixel units Px of the first display area A1 and the second display area A2. The display-panel brightness obtaining unit may be a charge coupled device (CCD) camera.
The first De-Mura compensation unit 131 is configured to calculate, based on the obtained overall brightness information, compensation coefficients of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit of the first display area A1 and the second display area A2. The compensation coefficient corresponds to the whole display area AA, that is, the first display area A1 and the second display area A2 are treated as a whole.
The first De-Mura compensation unit 131 is further configured to separate brightness information and compensation coefficients corresponding to the first display area A1 from the overall brightness information, that is, to segment the overall brightness information into first brightness (information) corresponding to the first display area A1 and second brightness (information) corresponding to the second display area A2.
As an example, in order to obtain brightness (information) of each pixel unit Px with a relatively small amount of data, the display-panel brightness obtaining unit is configured to obtain brightness information of each R, G, B pixel unit Px of one gray level, for other gray levels, the display area is divided into multiple blocks such as areas of 8*8 or areas of 16*16, then brightness information of each block can be obtained with respect to R, G and B pixels.
The first De-Mura compensation unit 131 is configured to fit, according to the separated brightness information corresponding to the first display area A1, the compensation coefficient of each of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit Px through calculations in horizontal and vertical directions. The first De-Mura compensation unit 131 is further configured to compensate image data of the first display area A1 according to the compensation coefficient of each gray level, to complete De-Mura compensation on the image data of the first display area A1.
The first data compensation unit 11 is configured to obtain image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 in the second display area A2, and obtain a first difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in the second compensation reference area DR2 along the first direction X, that is, to obtain a first difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the second compensation reference area DR2 along the first direction X. As illustrated in
The first difference represents change trend of image data of the second compensation reference area DR2. The first data compensation unit 11 is further configured to perform compensation according to the first difference, to adjust image data of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1. It can be understood that, the image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 obtain by the first data compensation unit 11 is image data after De-Mura compensation.
The first data driving unit 17 is configured to perform shift operation, caching operation, and digital to analog (D/A) conversion on the image data after De-Mura compensation and compensation for adjustment, and transfer the converted image data to the pixel columns P1-Pn of the first display area A1 for image display.
The second data driving module DD2 includes a second data compensation unit 12, a second data adjustment unit 14, a second data receiving unit 16, and a second data driving unit 18.
The second data receiving unit 16 is configured to receive a current frame of image data to-be-displayed from outside. In the implementation, the second data receiving unit 16 may be a data connection interface, such as an MIPI.
The second data adjustment unit 14 is configured to adjust (i.e., compensate) the image data to-be-displayed. The adjustment herein mainly includes De-Mura compensation. The second data adjustment unit 14 is further configured to perform data processing on the image data by executing a CE algorithm or a DBC algorithm.
In some implementations, the second data adjustment unit 14 includes a second De-Mura compensation unit 141. The second De-Mura compensation unit 141 is the same as the first De-Mura compensation unit 131 in terms of working principle and working mode. That is, overall brightness information of the display area AA of the display panel 10 is obtained by the display-panel brightness obtaining unit.
The second De-Mura compensation unit 141 is configured to calculate, based on the obtained overall brightness information, compensation coefficients of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit.
The second De-Mura compensation unit 141 is further configured to separate brightness information corresponding to the second display area A2 from the overall brightness information, that is, to segment the overall brightness information into first brightness (information) corresponding to the first display area A1 and second brightness (information) corresponding to the second display area A2.
The second De-Mura compensation unit 141 is configured to fit, according to the separated brightness information corresponding to the second display area A2, the compensation coefficient of each of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit Px through calculations in horizontal and vertical directions. The second De-Mura compensation unit 141 is further configured to compensate image data of the second display area A2 according to the compensation coefficient of each gray level, to complete De-Mura compensation on the image data of the second display area A2.
The second data compensation unit 12 is configured to obtain image data of the first compensation reference area DR1, and obtain a second difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in the first compensation reference area DR1 along the first direction X, that is, to obtain a second difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the first compensation reference area DR1 along the first direction X. As illustrated in
The second difference represents change trend of image data of the first compensation reference area DR1. The second data compensation unit 12 is further configured to perform, according to the second difference, compensation on image data of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2. It can be understood that, the image data of the first compensation reference area DR1 obtain by the second data compensation unit 12 is image data after De-Mura compensation.
The second data driving unit 18 is configured to perform shift operation, caching operation, and D/A conversion on the image data after De-Mura compensation and compensation for adjustment, and transfer the converted image data to the pixel column Pn+1-Pm of the second display area A2 for image display.
In some implementations, during compensation of the second compensation area DC2, in addition to the change trend of image data of the first compensation reference area DR1, the change trend of image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 adjacent to the second compensation area DC2 is also taken into consideration. That is, the change trend of the image data of the first compensation reference area DR1 and the change trend of the image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 are taken into account, to optimize compensation effect. Similarly, during compensation of the first compensation area DC1, the change trend of the image data of the first compensation reference area DR1 and the change trend of the image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 are taken into account.
For the first data driving module DD1 configured to provide image data for the first display area A1 and the second data driving module DD2 configured to provide image data for the second display area A2, since both brightness information obtained by the (first) De-Mura compensation unit of the first data driving module DD1 and brightness information obtained by the (second) De-Mura compensation unit of the second data driving module DD2 are overall brightness information of the display area AA, the obtained overall brightness information of the display area AA needs to be further segmented according to pixel columns of the first display area A1 and the second display area A2. For a block acrossing the first display area A1 and the second display area A2, brightness data corresponding to brightness information of the block needs to be segmented, so that segmented brightness information of the first display area A1 is obtained, the segmentation, however, will directly result in loss of brightness information of the second display area A2. Similarly, segmented brightness information of the second display area A2 is obtained, the segmentation, however, will directly result in loss of brightness information of the first display area A1. That is, for pixel units Px at positions adjacent to the first display area A1 and the second display area A2, the obtained brightness information will lose reference brightness information indicating change trend.
In the subsequent horizontal expansion fitting calculation, since left or right reference data is missing in compensation data of each pixel column P in a boundary area A of the first display area A1 and the second display area A2, and also due to accuracy error of an operation system and linear fitting calculation error, gray-level discontinuity of image data of pixel columns in the boundary area (e.g., the first compensation area DC1 and the second compensation area DC2) occurs, resulting in a black line on the screen. Through the research, we found the reason for appearance of a black line when the display panel displays an image.
In the disclosure, compensation for the first compensation area DC1 is performed by the first data compensation unit 11 and compensation for the second compensation area DC2 is performed by the second data compensation unit 12, so that change trend of image data of pixel columns Pn−1 and Pn as well as pixel columns Pn+1 and Pn+2 in the boundary area is smooth, and a difference between image data of the pixel column Pn and image data of the pixel column Pn+1 is less than a first threshold. As such, image data in the boundary area are in a continuous distribution visually without perceiving a black line. The first threshold may be set according to the actual situation, as long as a black line is not perceived by a user visually. In some implementations, in order to ensure better visual effect, both the number of pixel columns of the first compensation area DC1 and the number of pixel columns of the second compensation area DC2 may be expanded to three from two (i.e., two pixel columns of the first display area A1 and two pixel columns of the second display area A2 in the boundary area).
As illustrated in
The first gray-level synchronization extraction unit 111 is configured to obtain reference image data in the second compensation reference area DR2 of the second display area A2.
The first gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 112 is configured to store the obtained reference image data.
The first gray-level continuity correction unit 113 is configured to compensate, according to the reference image data in the second compensation reference area DR2, image data of the first compensation area DC1.
In some implementations, the first gray-level continuity correction unit 113 is configured to obtain the first difference by comparing image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the second compensation reference area DR2 along the first direction X, and adjust, according to the first difference, image data of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1.
The first counting unit 114 is configured to identify a predetermined position of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1, and count image data of each pixel unit Px in the pixel column P of the first compensation area DC1.
The second data compensation unit 12 includes a second gray-level synchronization extraction unit 121, a second gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 122, a second gray-level continuity correction unit 123, and a second counting unit 124.
The second gray-level synchronization extraction unit 121 is configured to obtain reference image data in the first compensation reference area DR1 of the first display area A1.
The second gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 122 is configured to store the obtained reference image data.
The second gray-level continuity correction unit 123 is configured to compensate, according to the reference image data in the first compensation reference area DR1, image data of the second compensation area DC2.
In some implementations, the second gray-level continuity correction unit 123 is configured to obtain the second difference by comparing image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the first compensation reference area DR1 along the first direction X, and adjust, according to the second difference, image data of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2.
The second counting unit 124 is configured to identify a predetermined position of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2, and count image data of each pixel unit Px in the pixel column of the second compensation area DC2.
The first gray-level synchronization extraction unit 111, the first gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 112, the first gray-level continuity correction unit 113, and the first counting unit 114 of the first data compensation unit 11 as well as the second gray-level synchronization extraction unit 121, the second gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 122, the second gray-level continuity correction unit 123, and the second counting unit 124 of the second data compensation unit 12 may be circuit hardwares or software programs.
At block 101, image data to-be-displayed is obtained. That is, the image data to-be-displayed is received by the first data receiving unit 15 from outside. In this case, as illustrated in
At block 102, De-Mura compensation is performed on image data of a first display area A1 and image data of a second display area A2.
As an example, for the first display area A1, overall brightness information of the display area AA in the display panel 10 is obtained by the display-panel brightness obtaining unit. According to the obtained brightness information, compensation coefficient of each of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit Px is fitted through calculations in horizontal and vertical directions. The image data of the first display area A1 is compensated by the first De-Mura compensation unit 131 with the compensation coefficient of each gray level, to perform De-Mura compensation on the image data.
Similarly, for the second display area A2, overall brightness information of the display area AA in the display panel 10 is obtained by the second De-Mura compensation unit 141 by means of the display-panel brightness obtaining unit. According to the obtained brightness information, compensation coefficient of each of 0-255 gray levels for each pixel unit Px is fitted through calculations in horizontal and vertical directions. With the compensation coefficient, De-Mura compensation is performed on the image data of each pixel unit Px of the second display area A2.
As illustrated in
At block 103, image data of the second display area A2 after De-Mura compensation is obtained, and image data of the first compensation area DC1 is compensated according to the obtained image data of the second display area A2.
In some implementations, image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 of the second display area A2 is obtained. A first difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the second compensation reference area DR2 along the first direction X is calculated, where the first difference represents change trend of the image data of the second compensation reference area DR2. Image data of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1 is compensated according to the first difference.
As an example, a predetermined position of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1 is identified by the counting unit 114, and image data of each pixel unit Px in the pixel column(s) of the first compensation area DC1 is counted.
Reference image data in the second compensation reference area DR2 of the second display area A2 is obtained by the first gray-level synchronization extraction unit 111, and the reference image data is stored by the first gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 112.
The first difference is obtained by the first gray-level continuity correction unit 113 by comparing image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the second compensation reference area DR2 along the first direction X. Image data of each pixel column in the first compensation area DC1 is adjusted according to the first difference.
At block 104, image data of the first display area A1 after De-Mura compensation is obtained, and image data of the second compensation area DC2 is compensated according to the obtained image data of the first display area A1.
In some implementations, image data of the first compensation reference area DR1 of the first display area A1 is obtained. A second difference of image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the first compensation reference area DR1 along the first direction X is obtained, where the second difference represents change trend of the image data of the first compensation reference area DR1. Image data of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2 is compensated according to the second difference.
It can be understood that, the image data of the second compensation reference area DR2 obtained by the first data compensation unit 11 is image data after De-Mura compensation. Based on the above, change trend of the image data of the first compensation area DC1 and the image data of the second compensation area DC2 is smooth and continuous.
As an example, a predetermined position of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2 is identified by the counting unit 124, and image data of each pixel unit Px in the pixel column(s) of the second compensation area DC2 is counted.
Reference image data in the first compensation reference area DR1 of the first display area A1 is obtained by the second gray-level synchronization extraction unit 121, and the reference image data is stored by the second gray-level temporary storage buffer unit 122.
According to the reference image data in the first compensation reference area DR1, image data of the second compensation area DC2 is compensated by the second gray-level continuity correction unit 123. Specifically, the second difference is obtained by the second gray-level continuity correction unit 123 by comparing image data of two adjacent pixel columns in a same row of the first compensation reference area DR1 along the first direction X. Image data of each pixel column in the second compensation area DC2 is adjusted according to the second difference.
As illustrated in
It should be noted that, the execution order of the operations at block 103 and the operations at block 104 is not limited in the disclosure. The operations at block 103 and the operations at block 104 may be executed synchronously or in sequence.
While the principles and implementations of the disclosure have been described in connection with illustrative implementations, it is to be understood that foregoing implementations are merely used to help understand the core idea of the disclosure. As will occur to those skilled in the art, the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and principle of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed implementations.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2018/097639, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20110050674 | Kim | Mar 2011 | A1 |
20180039107 | Sasaki | Feb 2018 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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105632443 | Jun 2016 | CN |
107180616 | Sep 2017 | CN |
108053793 | May 2018 | CN |
Entry |
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International Search Report issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/CN2018/097639, dated May 6, 2019. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20210150983 A1 | May 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2018/097639 | Jul 2018 | US |
Child | 17159630 | US |