This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0041586, filed on May 2, 2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
An aspect of the present invention relates to a pixel, and more particularly, to a pixel capable of finely controlling the amount of current and increasing the voltage range of a data signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, there have been developed various types of flat panel display devices capable of reducing the weight and volume of cathode ray tubes, which are disadvantages. The flat panel display devices include a liquid crystal display, a field emission display, a plasma display panel, an organic light emitting display, and the like.
Among these flat panel display devices, the organic light emitting display displays images using organic light emitting diodes that emit light through recombination of electrons and holes. The organic light emitting display has a fast response speed and is driven with low power consumption. A conventional organic light emitting display supplies current corresponding to a data signal to an organic light emitting diode using a transistor formed in each pixel, so that light is emitted from the organic light emitting diode.
The conventional organic light emitting display includes a data driver for supplying a data signal to data lines, a scan driver for sequentially supplying a scan signal to scan lines, and a pixel unit having a plurality of pixels coupled to the scan and data lines.
When the scan signal is supplied to a scan line, pixels included in the pixel unit are selected to receive the data signal from a data line. The pixels that receive the data signal display an image while emitting light with predetermined luminance corresponding to the data signal.
Meanwhile, the data signal is supplied to have a predetermined voltage range corresponding to desired luminance. In the organic light emitting display in which the pixel controls micro-current, the data signal is necessarily set to a narrow voltage range corresponding to the micro-current. However, there is a limitation in lowering the voltage range of the data signal due to an error of a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) included in the data driver, or the like.
The conventional pixel controls the amount of current using a voltage between gate and source electrodes of the driving transistor. However, in a case where the voltage between the gate and source electrodes of the driving transistor in the conventional pixel, it is difficult to finely control the amount of current.
Embodiments provide a pixel capable of finely controlling the amount of current and increasing the voltage range of a data signal.
According to the present invention, a pixel can finely control the amount of current. The pixel of the present invention can constantly supply desired current regardless of a change in voltage applied to an anode electrode of an organic light emitting diode, thereby improving the reliability of the pixel.
The pixel of the present invention can supply an output voltage having a voltage range narrower than that of a data signal to a gate electrode of a driving transistor using a bias circuit. In this case, the data signal can be set to a relatively wide voltage range, although the pixel controls micro-current.
The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, when a first element is described as being coupled to a second element, the first element may be not only directly coupled to the second element but may also be indirectly coupled to the second element via a third element. Further, some of the elements that are not essential to the complete understanding of the invention are omitted for clarity. Also, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
The scan driver 110 generates a scan signal under a control of the timing controller 150 and sequentially supplies the generated scan signal to the scan lines S1 to Sn. Here, the scan signal is set to a voltage (e.g., a low polarity) at which a transistor included in the pixel 140 can be turned on.
The data driver 120 generates a data signal under a control of the timing controller 150 and supplies the generated data signal to the data lines D1 to Dm in synchronization with the scan signal.
The timing controller 150 controls the scan driver 110 and the data driver 120. The timing controller 150 realigns data supplied from the outside thereof and transfers the realigned data to the data driver 120.
The pixel unit 130 has pixels 140 positioned at intersection portions of the scan lines S1 to Sn and the data lines D1 to Dm. The pixels 140 receive a first power source ELVDD and a second power source ELVSS, supplied from the outside thereof. When a scan signal is supplied to pixels 140, the pixels 140 are selected to receive a data signal supplied from the data driver 120. Then, the pixels 140 supplies current corresponding to the received data signal from the first power source ELVDD to the second power source ELVSS via organic light emitting diodes, thereby emitting predetermined light.
Referring to
An anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED is coupled to the pixel circuit 142, and a cathode electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED is coupled to the second power source ELVSS. The organic light emitting diode OLED emits light with predetermined luminance corresponding to the current supplied from the pixel circuit 142.
When a scan signal is supplied to a scan line Sn, the pixel circuit 142 receives a data signal supplied from a data line Dm. The pixel circuit 142 controls the amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED corresponding to the data signal. To this end, the pixel circuit 142 includes a first transistor M1, an amplifier 144, a load 146 and a storage capacitor Cst.
A gate electrode of the first transistor M1 is coupled to the scan line Sn, and a first electrode of the first transistor M1 is coupled to the data line Dm. A second electrode of the first transistor M1 is coupled to a first node N1. When a scan signal is supplied to the scan line Sn, the first transistor M1 is turned on to supply a data signal to the first node N1.
The storage capacitor Cst is coupled between the first node N1 and the first power source ELVDD. The storage capacitor Cst charges a voltage corresponding to the data signal.
The load 46 is coupled between the first power source ELVDD and the organic light emitting diode OLED. The load 146 controls the amount of current flowing in the organic light emitting diode OLED corresponding to a voltage supplied from the amplifier 144. The load 146 may be implemented in various shapes so as to have a predetermined resistance.
For example, the load 146 may be implemented as a third transistor M3, as shown in
One end of the amplifier 144 is coupled to the first node N1, and the other end of the amplifier 144 is coupled to the load 146 and the organic light emitting diode OLED. The amplifier 144 controls the voltage supplied to the load corresponding to a voltage stored in the storage capacitor Cst.
The amplifier 144 is implemented as a second transistor M2, as shown in
The operating process of the pixel will be described in detail in conjunction with
If the data signal DS is supplied to the first node N1, the storage capacitor Cst charges a voltage corresponding to the data signal DS supplied to the first node N1. Subsequently, the scan signal is supplied to the scan line Sn, so that the first transistor M1 is turned on. In this instance, the storage capacitor Cst supplies the voltage of the data signal DS charged when the scan signal is supplied while maintaining the voltage of data signal DS during one frame period.
The second transistor M2 controls the voltage at the second node N2 corresponding to the voltage applied to the first node N1. In this instance, the amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED corresponding to a voltage applied to the second node N2.
Referring to
Practically, when a data signal having a first voltage V1 is supplied, the voltage at the second node N2 is ideally set to a voltage (V1-Vth) obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage Vth of the second transistor M2 from the first voltage V1. Similarly, when the voltage of the data signal is converted into a second voltage V2, a third voltage V3 and a fourth voltage V4, the voltage at the second node N2 is set to voltages of V2-Vth, V3-Vth and V4-Vth.
In this case, the amount of current I1, I2, I3 or I4 supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED is controlled by the characteristic curve of the diode-coupled third transistor M3 and the voltage applied to the second node N2.
That is, in this embodiment, the voltage at second node N2 is changed corresponding to the voltage of the data signal applied to the first node N1, and accordingly, the amount of current flowing in the organic light emitting diode OLED can be controlled. Practically, as shown in
Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the amount of current I1, I2, I3 or I4 is determined regardless of the voltage applied to the anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED. In this case, the current source can be more stably implemented in the pixel 140, thereby improving the reliability of the pixel 140.
Referring to
However, in the conventional pixel, a voltage of 177 mA is changed so that a current of 3 nA is changed when the channel length is set to 5 μm as shown in
That is, in the conventional pixel, a voltage of approximately 200 mV is changed corresponding to a change in voltage of 3 nA in the conventional pixel, and hence it is difficult to finely control the amount of current. However, in the present invention, a voltage of approximately 600 mV is changed corresponding to a change in current of 3.5 nA, and hence the amount of current can be finely controlled while changing voltage.
Referring to
The scan driver 110′ sequentially supplies a first scan signal to the first scan lines S11 to S1n and sequentially supplies a second scan signal to the second scan lines S21 to S2n under a control of the timing controller 150. The first scan signal is set to have a width narrower than that of the second scan signal. The first scan signal supplied to an i-th (‘i’ is a natural number) first scan line S1i is supplied to overlap with the second scan signal supplied to an i-th second scan line S2i. Meanwhile, the first and second scan signals are set to a voltage (e.g., a low voltage) at which the transistor included in the pixel can be turned on.
The data driver 120′ generates a data signal under a control of the timing controller 150, and supplies the generated data signal to the data lines D1 to Dm in synchronization with the second scan signal.
The pixel unit 130 has pixels 140′ positioned at intersection portions of the first scan lines S11 to S1n and the data lines D1 to Dm. The pixels 140′ receives a first power source ELVDD and a second power source ELVSS set to a voltage lower than that of the first power source ELVDD from the outside of the pixel unit 130.
When the first and second scan signals are supplied to pixels 140′, the pixels 140′ are selected to receive a data signal supplied from the data driver 120′. Here, a voltage having a voltage range lower than that of the data signal is applied to a gate electrode of a driving transistor included in each of the pixels 140′. Accordingly, the voltage range of the data signal can be widely set even when micro-current is controlled in the pixels 140′.
More specifically, in a case where a data signal is directly supplied to the gate electrode of the driving transistor, the data signal is necessarily controlled to have a low voltage range so as to control the micro-current. However, if a voltage having a voltage range lower than that of the data signal is applied to the gate electrode of the driving transistor in this embodiment, micro-current can be controlled, although the voltage range of the data signal is widely set.
Referring to
An anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED is coupled to the pixel circuit 142′, and a cathode electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED is coupled to a second power source ELVSS. The organic light emitting diode OLED emits light with predetermined luminance corresponding to the amount of current supplied from the pixel circuit 142′.
The pixel circuit 142′ receives a data signal from the data line Dm and supplies a voltage lower than that of the data signal to a first node N1. Then, an amplifier 144 controls a voltage applied to a first load 146 corresponding to the voltage at the first node N1, and accordingly, the amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED is controlled. To this end, the pixel circuit 142′ includes a first transistor M1′, the amplifier 144, the first load 146 and a bias circuit 148.
The bias circuit 148 receives a data signal from the data line Dm. The bias circuit 148 that receives the data signal from the data line Dm supplies a voltage lower than that of the data signal to the first node N1.
A gate electrode of the first transistor M1′ is coupled to the first scan line S1n, and a first electrode of the first transistor M1′ is coupled to the bias circuit 148. A second electrode of the first transistor M1′ is coupled to the first node N1. When a first scan signal is supplied to the first scan line S1n, the first transistor M1′ is turned on to supply the voltage from the bias circuit 148 to the first node N1.
Referring to
The second load 147 is coupled between a first power source ELVDD and a third node N3. The second load 147 is formed to have a predetermined resistance.
The variable load 149 is coupled between the third node N3 and a third power source VSS. The resistance of the variable load 149 is varied corresponding to the data signal supplied from the data line Dm. Here, the second load 147 is set to a fixed resistance, and hence the voltage applied to the third node N3 is determined by the resistance of the variable load 149.
Practically, the variable load 149 is formed using a transistor or the like, and controls the voltage lower than that of the data signal to be applied to the third node N3. In this case, as shown in
In
Referring to
The first transistor M1′ is coupled between the third node N3 and the first node N1. When a first scan signal is supplied to the first scan line S1n, the first transistor M1′ is turned on to supply the voltage at the third node N3 to the first node N1.
The second load 147 is implemented as a fourth transistor M4. Here, a first electrode of the fourth transistor M4 is coupled to the first power source ELVDD, and a gate electrode of the fourth transistor M4 is coupled to a first electrode of a sixth transistor M6. A second electrode of the fourth transistor M4 is coupled to the third node N3. The fourth transistor M4 is diode-coupled, and is formed to have a predetermined resistance.
The variable load 149 is implemented as a fifth transistor M5. Here, a first electrode of the fifth transistor M5 is coupled to the third node N3, and a gate electrode of the fifth transistor M5 is coupled to the data line Dm. A second electrode of the fifth transistor M5 is coupled to the first electrode of the sixth transistor M6. The fifth transistor M5 controls the voltage at the third node while changing resistance corresponding to the data signal supplied to the data line. Practically, the voltage at the third node N3 is determined corresponding to a resistance ratio of the fourth and fifth transistors M4 and M5. Here, the fourth transistor M4 is formed to have a resistance lower than that of the fifth transistor M5 so that a voltage as high as possible can be applied to the third node N3.
The first electrode of the sixth transistor M6 is coupled to the second electrode of the fifth transistor M5, and a gate electrode of the sixth transistor M6 is coupled to a second scan line S2n. A second electrode of the sixth transistor M6 is coupled to the third power source VSS. When a second scan signal is supplied to the second scan line S2n, the sixth transistor M6 is turned on to allow the fifth transistor M5 and the third power source VSS to be electrically coupled to each other.
Practically, the sixth transistor M6 is set to a turned-off state during a period except the period in which the second scan signal is supplied to the second scan line S2n, and accordingly, it is possible to prevent unnecessary current from being flown from the third node N3 to the third power source VSS. The sixth transistor M6 may be modified according to a designer's requirement.
Meanwhile, the third power source VSS is set to a voltage lower than that of the first power source ELVDD. For example, the third power source VSS may be a ground potential.
Referring to
If the second scan signal is supplied to the second scan line S2n, the sixth transistor M6 is turned on. If the sixth transistor M6 is turned on, the second electrode of the sixth transistor M6 is electrically coupled to the third power source VSS.
If the data signal is supplied to the data line Dm, the fifth transistor M5 is turned on. In this instance, the voltage at the third node N3 is determined corresponding to the resistance of the fifth transistor M5 determined by the voltage of the data signal.
Subsequently, the first scan signal is supplied to the first scan line S1n so that the first transistor M1′ is turned on. If the first transistor M1′ is turned on, the voltage at the third node N3 is supplied to the first node N1. In this instance, a storage capacitor Cst charges the voltage applied to the first node N1.
After a predetermined voltage is charged in the storage capacitor Cst, the supply of the first scan signal to the first scan line S1n is stopped so that the first transistor M1 is turned on. After the first transistor M1 is turned off, the supply of the second scan signal to the second scan line S2n is stopped so that the sixth transistor M6 is turned off.
Meanwhile, the voltage at the second node N2 is approximately increased to the voltage at the first node N1 under the operation of a source follower of the second transistor M2. In this case, a predetermined current is supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED corresponding to the characteristic curve of the diode-coupled third transistor M3 and the voltage applied to the second node N2.
That is, in this embodiment, the bias circuit 148 outputs the voltage at the third node N3 and controls the voltage at the third node N3 corresponding to the voltage of the data signal using the variable load 149. The amplifier 144 and the first load 146 control the amount of current supplied to the organic light emitting diode OLED corresponding to the difference in voltage between the first power source ELVDD fixed as a current source and the variable third node N3 (or first node N1).
While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2011-0041586 | May 2011 | KR | national |