Display apparatus and method of operating display apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed are a display apparatus and a method of operating the same, the display apparatus including a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a gate driver configured to provide a gate signal to the plurality of pixels, a data driver configured to provide a data signal to the plurality of pixels, a correction data storage configured to store mura correction data, and a controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver. The controller includes a pattern detection block configured to detect a set pattern in input image data, and a mura correction block configured to perform a mura correction operation of correcting the input image data based on the mura correction data in response to the set pattern not being detected, and not to perform the mura correction operation according to the set pattern being detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device that selectively performs a mura correction operation and a method of operating the display device. Background Art

[0002] Even if a plurality of pixels included in a display device are manufactured by the same process, due to process variations, etc., the plurality of pixels may have different brightness and different color coordinates from each other. Therefore, brightness mura defects and / or color mura defects may occur in the display device. In order to reduce or eliminate brightness and / or color mura defects, and to improve the brightness and / or color coordinate uniformity of the display device, an image displayed by the display device in a module state can be captured, mura correction data can be generated based on the captured image, and the mura correction data can be stored in the display device. The display device can correct the image data based on the stored mura correction data, and can display the image based on the corrected image data, thereby displaying the image with uniform brightness and / or uniform color coordinates (e.g., without brightness defects and / or color mura defects).

[0003] However, such mura correction operation may increase the temperature of components of the display device (e.g., a controller and / or power management circuit), and such temperature increase may damage the display device or cause it to fail to operate properly (e.g., fail to operate as intended). Summary of the Invention

[0004] Aspects of one or more exemplary (ie, example) embodiments are directed to a display device capable of preventing or substantially preventing an excessive temperature increase.

[0005] Aspects of one or more exemplary embodiments are directed to a method of operating a display device capable of preventing or substantially preventing an excessive temperature increase.

[0006] According to an exemplary embodiment, a display device is provided, the display device including: a display panel including a plurality of pixels; a gate driver configured to provide gate signals to the plurality of pixels; a data driver configured to provide data signals to the plurality of pixels; a correction data memory configured to store mura correction data; and a controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver. The controller includes: a pattern detection block configured to detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in input image data; and a mura correction block configured to, in response to not detecting the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, perform a mura correction operation to correct the input image data based on the mura correction data, and in response to detecting the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, not perform the mura correction operation.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the set (eg, predetermined) pattern may be a double-horizontal dot pattern.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of pixels may include a first subpixel, a second subpixel, a third subpixel, a fourth subpixel, a fifth subpixel, a sixth subpixel, a seventh subpixel, an eighth subpixel, a ninth subpixel, a tenth subpixel, an eleventh subpixel, and a twelfth subpixel arranged in sequence in a horizontal direction, and a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern may include high grayscale data for the first subpixel, the second subpixel, the third subpixel, the fourth subpixel, the fifth subpixel, and the sixth subpixel and low grayscale data for the seventh subpixel, the eighth subpixel, the ninth subpixel, the tenth subpixel, the eleventh subpixel, and the twelfth subpixel. For example, the plurality of pixels may include a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel, the first pixel may include a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, the second pixel may include a fourth subpixel, a fifth subpixel, and a sixth subpixel, and the like.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the high grayscale data may be image data representing a grayscale level higher than or equal to a reference grayscale level, and the low grayscale data may be image data representing a grayscale level lower than the reference grayscale level.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the pattern detection block may generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to input image data corresponding to a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern with respect to a number of pixels less than a reference number of pixels among the plurality of pixels, and may generate a mura correction control signal having a second level in response to input image data corresponding to a number of pixels greater than or equal to the reference number of pixels among the plurality of pixels. The mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and may not perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the pattern detection block may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns, including a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, in input image data for one frame, and may generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than a reference pattern number, and may generate a mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number. The mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and may not perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the mura correction data may represent a plurality of correction values ​​at a plurality of sampled gray levels. For each pixel, the mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation on each pixel by linearly interpolating correction values ​​at two of the plurality of sampled gray levels. The two sampled gray levels may be adjacent to the gray levels of the input image data for each pixel.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the mura correction data may represent a plurality of correction values ​​at a plurality of sampling positions. For each pixel, the mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation on each pixel by performing bilinear interpolation on correction values ​​at four adjacent sampling positions from among the plurality of correction values.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature of the controller may decrease according to the fact that the mura correction operation is not performed.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the display device may further include a power management circuit configured to provide a power supply voltage to the controller. The temperature of the power management circuit may decrease according to the mura correction operation not being performed.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the display device may further include a frame memory configured to store input image data for one frame and a pattern memory configured to store pattern data having a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern. The pattern detection block may detect the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data by comparing the input image data stored in the frame memory with the pattern data stored in the pattern memory.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may further include a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the controller.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the pattern detection block may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in input image data for one frame, may compare the temperature of the controller sensed by the temperature sensor with a reference temperature, may generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than the reference number of patterns or in response to the temperature of the controller being less than the reference temperature, and may generate a mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference number of patterns and the temperature of the controller being greater than or equal to the reference temperature. The mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and may not perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the controller may further include a driving frequency detector configured to detect a frame frequency of the input image data.

[0020] In an exemplary embodiment, the pattern detection block may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in input image data for one frame, may compare the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector with a reference frequency, may generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than the reference number of patterns or in response to the frame frequency being less than the reference frequency, and may generate a mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference number of patterns and the frame frequency being greater than or equal to the reference frequency. The mura correction block may perform a mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and may not perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a display device is provided. The method includes storing mura correction data, receiving input image data, detecting a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data, driving a display panel based on the corrected image data by performing a mura correction operation based on the mura correction data in response to not detecting the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, and driving the display panel based on the input image data if the mura correction operation is not performed based on the detection of the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern.

[0022] In an exemplary embodiment, the number of set (e.g., predetermined) patterns in input image data for one frame may be counted, a mura correction control signal having a first level may be generated in response to the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than a reference pattern number, and a mura correction control signal having a second level may be generated in response to the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number. A mura correction operation may be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and may not be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, input image data for one frame may be stored in a frame memory, and pattern data having a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern may be stored in a pattern memory. The set (e.g., predetermined) pattern may be detected in the input image data by comparing the input image data stored in the frame memory with the pattern data stored in the pattern memory.

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment, the temperature of the controller may be sensed using a temperature sensor, the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern may be counted in input image data for one frame, the temperature of the controller sensed by the temperature sensor may be compared with a reference temperature, a mura correction control signal having a first level may be generated in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than the reference number of patterns or in response to the temperature of the controller being less than the reference temperature, and a mura correction control signal having a second level may be generated in response to the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference number of patterns and the temperature of the controller being greater than or equal to the reference temperature. A mura correction operation may be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and the mura correction operation may not be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, a driving frequency detector may be used to detect a frame frequency of input image data, the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data for one frame may be counted, the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector may be compared with a reference frequency, a mura correction control signal having a first level may be generated in response to the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being less than the reference pattern number or in response to the frame frequency being less than the reference frequency, and a mura correction control signal having a second level may be generated in response to the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number and the frame frequency being greater than or equal to the reference frequency. A mura correction operation may be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and the mura correction operation may not be performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

[0026] As described above, in a display device and method of operating a display device according to exemplary embodiments, a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern can be detected in input image data; when the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is not detected, a mura correction operation can be performed to correct the input image data based on mura correction data; and when the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected, the mura correction operation can be not performed. Consequently, excessive temperature increases of components of the display device (e.g., a controller and / or power management circuit) caused by the mura correction operation can be prevented or substantially prevented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Illustrative, non-limiting exemplary embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0029] Figure 2 is a diagram for describing an example of a plurality of sampling grayscales at which a plurality of correction values ​​of mura correction data are acquired.

[0030] Figure 3 is a diagram for describing an example of a plurality of sampling positions at which a plurality of correction values ​​of mura correction data are acquired.

[0031] Figure 4 is a diagram for describing an example of bilinear interpolation performed by the mura correction block.

[0032] Figure 5 is a diagram for describing an example of a set pattern detected by a pattern detection block.

[0033] Figure 6 is a diagram for describing an example of the temperature of the controller according to the size of a set pattern.

[0034] Figure 7 is a diagram for describing an example of the temperature of a controller and the temperature of a power management circuit according to a plurality of patterns.

[0035] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0036] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0037] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0038] Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0039] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0040] Figure 13 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0041] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0042] Figure 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device including a display device according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present inventive concept will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same elements throughout, and repeated descriptions thereof may not be provided.

[0044] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the example embodiments described herein.

[0045] 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.

[0046] It should also be understood that when used in this specification, the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and / or “comprising” specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0047] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0048] Additionally, when describing embodiments of the present disclosure, the use of "may" refers to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure."

[0049] It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, it can be directly on, directly connected to, or directly coupled to the other element, or one or more intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0050] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation rather than terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent variations in measurements or calculations that those skilled in the art would recognize.

[0051] As used herein, the terms "use," "using," and "used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "utilize," "utilizing," and "utilized," respectively.

[0052] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined as such herein.

[0053] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a display device according to an exemplary embodiment, Figure 2 is a diagram for describing an example of a plurality of sampling gray levels at which a plurality of correction values ​​of mura correction data are acquired, Figure 3 is a diagram for describing an example of a plurality of sampling positions at which a plurality of correction values ​​of mura correction data are acquired, Figure 4 is a diagram for describing an example of bilinear interpolation performed by the mura correction block, Figure 5 is a diagram for describing an example of a set (eg, predetermined) pattern detected by a pattern detection block, Figure 6 is a diagram for describing an example of the temperature of the controller according to the size of a set (eg, predetermined) pattern, and Figure 7 is a diagram for describing an example of the temperature of a controller and the temperature of a power management circuit according to a plurality of patterns.

[0054] refer to Figure 1 According to an exemplary embodiment, a display device 100 may include: a display panel 110 including a plurality of pixels PX; a gate driver 120 providing a gate signal GS to the plurality of pixels PX; a data driver 130 providing a data signal DS to the plurality of pixels PX; a power management circuit 140 providing power to the display device 100; a correction data memory 150 storing mura correction data MCD; and a controller 160 controlling an operation of the display device 100.

[0055] The display panel 110 may include a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, and a plurality of pixels PX coupled to the plurality of data lines and the plurality of gate lines. In some exemplary embodiments, each pixel PX may include a switching transistor and a liquid crystal capacitor coupled to the switching transistor, and the display panel 110 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. In other exemplary embodiments, each pixel PX may include at least two transistors, at least one capacitor, and an organic light emitting diode (OLED), and the display panel 110 may be an OLED display panel. However, the display panel 110 is not limited to LCD panels and OLED display panels. In other words, the display panel 110 may be any suitable display panel.

[0056] The gate driver 120 may generate a gate signal GS based on a gate control signal GCTRL received from the controller 160, and may provide the gate signal GS to a plurality of pixels PX via a plurality of gate lines. In some exemplary embodiments, the gate control signal GCTRL may include, but is not limited to, a gate start signal and a gate clock signal. In some exemplary embodiments, the gate driver 120 may be implemented as an amorphous silicon gate (ASG) driver integrated into the peripheral portion of the display panel 110. In other exemplary embodiments, the gate driver 120 may be implemented using one or more gate integrated circuits. In addition, according to some exemplary embodiments, the gate driver 120 may be mounted on the display panel 110 in a chip-on-glass (COG) manner or a chip-on-plastic (COP) manner (e.g., directly mounted on the display panel 110), or may be coupled to the display panel 110 in a chip-on-film (COF) manner.

[0057] The data driver 130 may generate a data signal DS based on the corrected image data CDAT or input image data IDAT and the data control signal DCTRL received from the controller 160, and may provide the data signal DS to the plurality of pixels PX via a plurality of data lines. For example, the data control signal DCTRL may include, but is not limited to, an output data enable signal, a data clock signal, and a load signal. In some exemplary embodiments, the data driver 130 may be implemented using one or more data integrated circuits. In addition, according to some exemplary embodiments, the data driver 130 may be mounted on the display panel 110 in a COG or COP manner (e.g., directly mounted on the display panel 110), or may be coupled to the display panel 110 in a COF manner. In other exemplary embodiments, the data driver 130 may be integrated into a peripheral portion of the display panel 110. For example, the data driver 130 may be integrated into a non-display area (portion) of the display panel 110 that surrounds the display area (portion) of the display panel 110.

[0058] The power management circuit 140 may receive an input voltage (eg, a battery voltage or a system voltage) from an external power source and may convert the input voltage into a voltage required for the operation of the display device 100. In some exemplary embodiments, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in FIG, the power management circuit 140 may generate a high gate voltage VGH and a low gate voltage VGL for the gate driver 120, a power supply voltage (e.g., an analog power supply voltage AVDD) for the data driver 130, and a power supply voltage (e.g., a digital power supply voltage DVDD) for the controller 160. In some exemplary embodiments, the power management circuit 140 may be implemented using an integrated circuit, and the integrated circuit may be referred to as a power management integrated circuit (PMIC). In other exemplary embodiments, the power management circuit 140 may be included in the controller 160, but the location of the power management circuit 140 is not limited thereto.

[0059] The correction data memory 150 may store mura correction data MCD used for mura correction of the display panel 110. For example, when manufacturing the display device 100, three-color stimulus data may be acquired by photographing an image displayed on the display panel 110, and the mura correction data MCD may be generated based on the three-color stimulus data and stored in the correction data memory 150.

[0060] In some exemplary embodiments, the mura correction data MCD may include a plurality of correction values ​​at all gray levels (e.g., 256 gray levels from 0-gray level to 255-gray level). In other exemplary embodiments, in order to reduce the size of the mura correction data MCD, the mura correction data MCD may include a plurality of correction values ​​at one or more sampled gray levels that are part of the full gray level. For example, Figure 2 As shown in FIG, the mura correction data MCD may include a plurality of correction values ​​at ten sampling gray levels (e.g., 0-gray level 0G, 16-gray level 16G, 24-gray level 24G, 32-gray level 32G, 64-gray level 64G, 128-gray level 128G, 160-gray level 160G, 192-gray level 192G, 224-gray level 224G, and 255-gray level 255G). However, the sampling gray levels according to the exemplary embodiment are not limited to Figure 2 The ten sampled gray levels shown in .

[0061] Furthermore, in some exemplary embodiments, the mura correction data MCD may include multiple correction values ​​for all pixels PX. In other words, the mura correction data MCD may include multiple correction values ​​corresponding to each of the multiple pixels PX. In other exemplary embodiments, in order to reduce the size of the mura correction data MCD, the mura correction data MCD may include multiple correction values ​​for a portion of the multiple pixels PX. For example, Figure 3 As shown in , the display panel 110 may be divided into a plurality of sampling windows SW, each sampling window SW including two or more pixels PX, and the mura correction data MCD may include a correction value at a sampling position SP in each sampling window SW. In other words, the mura correction data MCD may include a plurality of correction values ​​corresponding to each of the plurality of sampling windows SW. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown in , each sampling position SP may correspond to, but is not limited to, a center point of a corresponding sampling window SW.

[0062] The controller 160 (e.g., a timing controller (TCON)) can receive input image data IDAT and a control signal CTRL from an external host processor (e.g., a graphics processing unit (GPU) or a graphics card). In some exemplary embodiments, the control signal CTRL may include, but is not limited to, a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, an input data enable signal, a master clock signal, and the like. The controller 160 according to exemplary embodiments can selectively perform mura correction (or a mura correction operation) using mura correction data MCD to selectively generate corrected image data CDAT. Furthermore, the controller 160 can generate a gate control signal GCTRL and a data control signal DCTRL based on the control signal CTRL. Furthermore, the controller 160 can control the operation of the gate driver 120 by providing the gate control signal GCTRL to the gate driver 120, and can control the operation of the data driver 130 by providing the corrected image data CDAT or input image data IDAT and the data control signal DCTRL to the data driver 130.

[0063] In the display apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 160 may include a mura correction block 180 that performs a mura correction operation that generates corrected image data CDAT by correcting input image data IDAT based on mura correction data MCD stored in the correction data memory 150 .

[0064] In some exemplary embodiments, the mura correction data MCD may include Figure 2 , and for each pixel PX, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation on the pixel PX by linearly interpolating the correction values ​​at two sampled gray levels adjacent to the gray level of the input image data IDAT for the pixel PX among the plurality of sampled gray levels 0G, 16G, 24G, 32G, 64G, 128G, 160G, 192G, 224G, and 255G.

[0065] Furthermore, in some exemplary embodiments, the mura correction data MCD may include Figure 3, and for each pixel PX, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation on the pixel PX by performing bilinear interpolation on the correction values ​​at four sampling positions (e.g., the first sampling position SP1, the second sampling position SP2, the third sampling position SP3, and the fourth sampling position SP4) adjacent to (e.g., directly adjacent to) the pixel PX among the plurality of sampling positions SP. In some exemplary embodiments, the plurality of sampling positions may be as follows: Figure 3 and Figure 4 The sampling points are shown in . Figure 4 As shown in , to perform a mura correction operation for the pixel PX, the mura correction block 180 may perform bilinear interpolation on the correction values ​​at the first sampling position SP1, the second sampling position SP2, the third sampling position SP3, and the fourth sampling position SP4 adjacent to (e.g., directly adjacent to) the pixel PX. That is, the mura correction block 180 may calculate the correction value at the first intermediate position PA by performing linear interpolation on the correction values ​​at the first sampling position SP1 and the second sampling position SP2, calculate the correction value at the second intermediate position PB by performing linear interpolation on the correction values ​​at the third sampling position SP3 and the fourth sampling position SP4, and calculate the correction value for the pixel PX by performing linear interpolation on the correction values ​​at the first intermediate position PA and the second intermediate position PB. In some exemplary embodiments, both bilinear interpolation and linear interpolation between grayscale levels may be performed. Depending on the exemplary embodiment, linear interpolation between grayscale levels may be performed after bilinear interpolation is performed, or linear interpolation between grayscale levels may be performed before bilinear interpolation is performed.

[0066] However, due to the mura correction operation, the temperature of components of the display device 100 (e.g., the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140) may increase. Furthermore, due to the temperature increase, the display device 100 may be damaged or fail to operate normally (e.g., fail to operate as intended). To prevent or substantially prevent excessive temperature increases caused by the mura correction operation, in the display device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, the controller 160 may further include a pattern detection block 170 that detects a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT, and the mura correction block 180 may selectively perform a mura correction operation based on whether the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected. Therefore, when the pattern detection block 170 does not detect the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation to correct the input image data IDAT based on the mura correction data MCD, and when the pattern detection block 170 detects the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, the mura correction block 180 may not perform the mura correction operation. When the mura correction operation is not performed, the temperature of the controller 160 may decrease or may not increase excessively (for example, may not increase above the temperature standard for the controller 160). In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, when the mura correction operation is not performed, the temperature of the power management circuit 140 for providing the digital power supply voltage DVDD to the controller 160 may also decrease or may not increase excessively (for example, may not increase above the temperature standard for the power management circuit 140).

[0067] In some exemplary embodiments, the set (eg, predetermined) pattern may be a double horizontal dot (2H DOT) pattern. Figure 5As shown in FIG, for the first pixel PX1 to the fourth pixel PX4 (first pixel PX1, second pixel PX2, third pixel PX3, and fourth pixel PX4) sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction (e.g., the direction of the gate line) or the first subpixel to the twelfth subpixel (e.g., the red subpixel, the green subpixel, and the blue subpixel included in each of the first pixel PX1 to the fourth pixel PX4) sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction, a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern or a double horizontal dot pattern 200 may include high grayscale data HGD for the first subpixel to the sixth subpixel and low grayscale data LGD for the seventh subpixel to the twelfth subpixel. In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, the high grayscale data HGD may be image data representing a grayscale level higher than or equal to a reference grayscale level, and the low grayscale data LGD may be image data representing a grayscale level lower than the reference grayscale level. For example, when the reference grayscale is 20-grayscale, the input image data IDAT for the first to sixth subpixels represent grayscales higher than or equal to 20-grayscale, and the input image data IDAT for the seventh to twelfth subpixels represent grayscales lower than 20-grayscale. In some exemplary embodiments, the pattern detection block 170 may determine the input image data IDAT for the first to twelfth subpixels as a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern or a double horizontal dot pattern 200.

[0068] In some exemplary embodiments, when the size or number of a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern detected in the input image data IDAT for one frame is greater than or equal to a reference size or number, the pattern detection block 170 may control the mura correction block 180 to not perform a mura correction operation. For example, when the input image data IDAT corresponds to the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern for a number of pixels PX less than the reference number of pixels, the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level, and when the input image data IDAT corresponds to the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern for a number of pixels PX greater than or equal to the reference number of pixels, the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level. When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation, and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation.

[0069] Figure 6An example is shown in which the display panel 110 may include 2560*1080 pixels PX, and the mura correction operation is not performed when the size of a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern (e.g., 2H DOT pattern size) is greater than or equal to a size corresponding to 2160 (e.g., horizontal)*840 (e.g., vertical)*pixels PX. Figure 6 In an exemplary embodiment, when a double horizontal dot pattern 200 including high grayscale data HGD for the first pixel PX1 and the second pixel PX2 and low grayscale data LGD for the third pixel PX3 and the fourth pixel PX4 is detected in the current frame relative to the first pixel PX1, the second pixel PX2, the third pixel PX3 and the fourth pixel PX4 arranged in sequence in the horizontal direction is greater than or equal to (2160*840) / 4 times, the mura correction operation may not be performed in the next frame. In addition, when a double horizontal dot pattern 200 is detected in the current frame that is less than (2160*840) / 4 times, the mura correction operation may be performed in the next frame. For example, when a double horizontal dot pattern 200 is detected in the first frame that is greater than or equal to (2160*840) / 4 times and when a double horizontal dot pattern 200 is detected in the second frame after the first frame that is less than (2160*840) / 4 times, the mura correction operation may not be performed in the second frame, and the mura correction operation may be performed in the third frame after the second frame. As Figure 6 As shown in FIG, , when a mura correction operation is performed unconditionally or at all times, the temperature of the controller 160 (Temperature (Mura Correction)) may increase as the size or number of the double horizontal dot pattern 200 detected in the input image data IDAT for a frame increases. The double horizontal dot pattern 200 may require the controller 160 to perform relatively large calculations or processing (for example, compared to a white pattern or a black pattern when the input image data IDAT represents a constant grayscale for a plurality of pixels PX). Therefore, as the size or number of the double horizontal dot pattern 200 increases, the amount of calculation or processing required by the controller 160 may increase, and thus the temperature of the controller 160 may increase. For example, when the input image data IDAT has a double horizontal dot pattern 200 for 1660*540 pixels PX and has any pattern other than the double horizontal dot pattern 200 (for example, a white pattern or a black pattern) for the remaining pixels PX (i.e., pixels PX excluding the 1660*540 pixels PX having the double horizontal dot pattern 200), the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 96.2 degrees. However, in the case where the input image data IDAT has the double horizontal dot pattern 200 with respect to all pixels PX, or in the case where the input image data IDAT has the double horizontal dot pattern 200 with respect to Figure 6In the case where the 2560*1080 pixels PX shown in the figure have a double horizontal dot pattern 200, the temperature of the controller 160 may be about 109.5 degrees. In addition, in a case where the temperature of the controller 160 is higher than or equal to a set (e.g., predetermined) temperature standard (e.g., a heating temperature standard or specification of about 103.5 degrees), the display device 100 may be damaged or fail to operate normally (e.g., fail to operate as needed). However, in the display device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, in a case where the input image data IDAT has a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern relative to a reference pixel number of pixels PX or a greater number of pixels PX (e.g., relative to about 2160*840 pixels PX), the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level, and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Therefore, as Figure 6 As shown in FIG, if the input image data IDAT corresponds to a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern with respect to the number of pixels PX or more of the reference pixels, the mura correction operation may not be performed, and therefore, the temperature of the controller 160 (Temperature (Selective Mura Correction)) may be lowered compared to the case where the mura correction operation is performed (e.g., if the temperature of the controller 160 is higher than about 96.6 degrees, the temperature of the controller 160 may be lowered as shown in FIG. Figure 6 ). Thus, abnormal operation and damage to the display device 100 can be prevented or substantially prevented (e.g., by not exceeding temperature heating standards or specifications). Figure 6 An example is shown in which the mura correction operation is not performed when the input image data IDAT represents a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern having a size corresponding to 2160*840 pixels PX or represents (2160*840) / 4 double horizontal dot patterns 200, but the size or number of the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern for not performing the mura correction operation or the number of the double horizontal dot patterns 200 is not limited to Figure 6 , and can be appropriately changed according to various driving environments / conditions (such as, for example, the size or resolution of the display panel 110, the specifications of the driving device (e.g., the controller 160, the power management circuit 140, the data driver 130, and / or the gate driver 120), and the specifications of the display panel 110). For example, as the size of the display panel 110 increases, the size or number of the set (e.g., predetermined) patterns for not performing the mura correction operation or the number of the double horizontal dot patterns 200 can increase.

[0070] In some exemplary embodiments, the mura correction block 180 is configured to correct the mura when the size or number of a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is greater than or equal to a reference size or number or when the input image data IDAT is larger than or equal to a reference pixel number (e.g., Figure 6 In the example of 2160*840, the mura correction operation is not performed when the number of pixels PX (e.g., 2160*840) or more of the pixels PX corresponds to the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern. The pattern detection block 170 may count the number of the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT for one frame. In addition, when the counted number of the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is less than the reference pattern number (e.g., Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the example of (2160*840) / 4), the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level, and when the count number of a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number, the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level. When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation, and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation.

[0071] although Figure 5 and Figure 6 An example in which the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is a double-horizontal dot pattern is shown, but the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern according to the exemplary embodiment is not limited to the double-horizontal dot pattern. In some exemplary embodiments, when the display device 100 is manufactured, a plurality of input image data IDAT respectively for a plurality of patterns may be provided to the display device 100, and at least one pattern among the plurality of patterns that causes the temperature of a component of the display device 100 (e.g., the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140) to become greater than or equal to the set (e.g., predetermined) temperature standard may be determined as the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern detected by the pattern detection block 170. For example, as Figure 7As shown in , when input image data IDAT having a white pattern (which corresponds to a white image) is provided to the display device 100, the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 87.2 degrees, and the temperature of the power management circuit 140 may be approximately 81.8 degrees. When input image data IDAT having a color bar pattern (which corresponds to an image including bars of different colors (e.g., red, green, and blue) extending in the vertical direction) is provided to the display device 100, the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 89.4 degrees, and the temperature of the power management circuit 140 may be approximately 85.7 degrees. When input image data IDAT having a double horizontal dot pattern (which corresponds to an image in which high grayscale dots and low grayscale dots alternate every two pixels PX along the horizontal direction) is provided to the display device 100, the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 109.5 degrees, and the temperature of the power management circuit 140 may be approximately 91.1 degrees. When the display device 100 is provided with input image data IDAT having a horizontal stripe pattern (corresponding to an image in which high-grayscale stripes extending horizontally and low-grayscale stripes extending horizontally alternate along the vertical direction), the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 90.4 degrees Celsius, and the temperature of the power management circuit 140 may be approximately 88.2 degrees Celsius. When the display device 100 is provided with input image data IDAT having a checkerboard pattern (corresponding to an image in which high-grayscale dots and low-grayscale dots alternate along the horizontal direction and along the vertical direction for each pixel PX), the temperature of the controller 160 may be approximately 96.2 degrees Celsius, and the temperature of the power management circuit 140 may be approximately 91.9 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, when the temperature standard for the controller 160 is approximately 103.5 degrees Celsius and the temperature standard for the power management circuit 140 is approximately 106.7 degrees Celsius, the dual horizontal dot pattern may cause the temperature of the controller 160 to reach approximately 109.5 degrees Celsius, which is greater than the temperature standard of approximately 103.5 degrees Celsius. Therefore, because the double horizontal dot pattern may cause the temperature of the controller 160 to exceed the temperature standard of the controller 160, the double horizontal dot pattern may be determined as a set (eg, predetermined) pattern detected by the pattern detection block 170. Figure 7 An example is shown in which a double horizontal dot pattern is determined as a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern detected by the pattern detection block 170, but the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern detected by the pattern detection block 170 is not limited to the double horizontal dot pattern. For example, the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern detected by the pattern detection block 170 may be changed or varied depending on the model, size, etc. of the display device 100. In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, the pattern detection block 170 may detect two or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns.

[0072] As described above, in the display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment, the pattern detection block 170 can detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT, and when the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected, the mura correction block 180 may not perform the mura correction operation. Therefore, the temperature of the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140 of the display device 100 can be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., increasing to a temperature level above the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140) due to the mura correction operation, and thus, abnormal operation and damage of the display device 100 can be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0073] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0074] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 8 In a method of operating the display device 100, mura correction data MCD may be stored in the correction data memory 150 (e.g., when manufacturing the display device 100) (S300). The controller 160 may receive the input image data IDAT (S310), and the pattern detection block 170 may detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT (S320). Furthermore, the pattern detection block 170 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns, including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, in the input image data IDAT for one frame (S330).

[0075] If the count number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference pattern number (S340: No), the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level (S350), and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation by correcting the input image data IDAT based on the mura correction data MCD to generate corrected image data CDAT (S360). The data driver 130 may receive the corrected image data CDAT from the controller 160 and may drive the display panel 110 based on the corrected image data CDAT (S370).

[0076] If the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number (S340: Yes), the pattern detection block 170 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level (S380). When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Because the mura correction operation is not performed, the temperature of the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be reduced (compared to a case where a mura correction operation is performed). Furthermore, the data driver 130 may receive the input image data IDAT from the controller 160 without receiving the corrected image data CDAT, and may drive the display panel 110 based on the input image data IDAT (S390).

[0077] As described above, in the display device 100 according to the exemplary embodiment, a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern can be detected in the input image data IDAT, and when the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected (e.g., the count number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number), the mura correction operation may not be performed. Therefore, the temperature of the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., increasing to a temperature level above the controller 160 and / or the power management circuit 140) due to the mura correction operation, and thus, abnormal operation and damage of the display device 100 can be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0078] Figure 9 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0079] refer to Figure 9 , the display device 400 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a display panel 110, a gate driver 120, a data driver 130, a power management circuit 140, a correction data memory 150, a controller 460, a frame memory 490, and a pattern memory 495. In some exemplary embodiments, the controller 460 may include a pattern detection block 470 and a mura correction block 180. In addition to the pattern detection block 470 being able to detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern by using the frame memory 490 and the pattern memory 495, Figure 9 The display device 400 may have Figure 1 The display device 100 has substantially the same configuration and operates substantially the same.

[0080] The pattern memory 495 may store pattern data PDAT having a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern (e.g., a double horizontal dot pattern). For example, when manufacturing the display device 400, the pattern data PDAT may be written to the pattern memory 495. In addition, the pattern memory 495 may store pattern data PDAT for one frame.

[0081] The controller 460 may store the input image data IDAT for one frame in the frame memory 490. If the input image data IDAT for one frame is stored in the frame memory 490, the pattern detection block 470 may detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT by comparing the input image data IDAT stored in the frame memory 490 with the pattern data PDAT stored in the pattern memory 495. In some exemplary embodiments, when the size of the detected set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is greater than or equal to a reference size, the pattern detection block 470 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level. When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Thus, the temperature of the controller 460 and / or the power management circuit 140 may be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., increasing above a temperature standard for the controller 460 and / or the power management circuit 140) due to the mura correction operation, and thus, abnormal operation and damage to the display device 400 may be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0082] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0083] refer to Figure 9 and Figure 10In a method of operating the display device 400 (e.g., when manufacturing the display device 400), mura correction data MCD may be stored in the correction data memory 150 (S500), and pattern data PDAT having a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern (e.g., a double horizontal dot pattern) may be stored in the pattern memory 495 (S505). The controller 460 may receive input image data IDAT (S510) and may store the input image data IDAT for one frame in the frame memory 490 (S515). The pattern detection block 470 may detect the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT by comparing the input image data IDAT stored in the frame memory 490 with the pattern data PDAT stored in the pattern memory 495 (S520). Furthermore, the pattern detection block 470 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns, including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, in the input image data IDAT for one frame (S530).

[0084] If the count number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference pattern number (S540: No), the pattern detection block 470 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level (S550). When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation by correcting the input image data IDAT based on the mura correction data MCD to generate corrected image data CDAT (S560). The data driver 130 may receive the corrected image data CDAT from the controller 460 and may drive the display panel 110 based on the corrected image data CDAT (S570).

[0085] If the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number (S540: Yes), the pattern detection block 470 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level (S580). When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Because the mura correction operation is not performed, the temperature of the controller 460 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be reduced (compared to a case where a mura correction operation is performed), and abnormal operation and damage to the display device 400 can be prevented or substantially prevented. Furthermore, the data driver 130 may receive input image data IDAT from the controller 460 instead of the corrected image data CDAT and may drive the display panel 110 based on the input image data IDAT (S590).

[0086] Figure 11is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0087] refer to Figure 11 , the display device 600 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a display panel 110, a gate driver 120, a data driver 130, a power management circuit 140, a correction data memory 150, and a controller 660. In some exemplary embodiments, the controller 660 may include a pattern detection block 670, a mura correction block 180, and a temperature sensor 690. In addition to the fact that the controller 660 may further include the temperature sensor 690 and the mura correction operation may be selectively performed not only according to whether a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected but also according to whether the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 690 is greater than or equal to a reference temperature, Figure 11 The display device 600 may have Figure 1 The display device 100 has substantially the same configuration and substantially the same operation.

[0088] The temperature sensor 690 may sense the temperature of the controller 660 and may provide a temperature signal STEMP indicating the sensed temperature to the pattern detection block 670. Figure 11 An example is shown in which the temperature sensor 690 is included in the controller 660, but in other exemplary embodiments, the temperature sensor 690 may be included in the power management circuit 140 and may sense the temperature of the power management circuit 140. In still other exemplary embodiments, the temperature sensor 690 may be included in each of the controller 660 and the power management circuit 140. In still other exemplary embodiments, the temperature sensor 690 may be positioned outside the controller 660 and the power management circuit 140.

[0089] In the case where the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 690 is greater than or equal to the reference temperature and a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern (e.g., having a size greater than or equal to the reference size, or having a number greater than or equal to the reference pattern number) is detected in the input image data IDAT, the pattern detection block 670 may control the mura correction block 180 not to perform the mura correction operation. For example, the reference temperature may be lower than the reference temperature used to determine the mura correction operation. Figure 7In some exemplary embodiments, the pattern detection block 670 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT for one frame, compare the temperature of the controller 660 sensed by the temperature sensor 690 with a reference temperature, and generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level when the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference number of patterns or when the temperature of the controller 660 is less than the reference temperature. Furthermore, the mura correction control signal MCCS may be generated having a second level when the counted number of the one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference number of patterns and when the temperature of the controller 660 is greater than or equal to the reference temperature. When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation, and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Thus, the temperature of the controller 660 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., increasing above the temperature standard for the controller 660 and / or the power management circuit 140) due to the mura correction operation, and thus abnormal operation and damage to the display device 600 can be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0090] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0091] refer to Figure 11 and Figure 12 In a method of operating the display device 600, mura correction data MCD may be stored in the correction data memory 150 (e.g., when manufacturing the display device 600) (S700). The controller 660 may receive input image data IDAT (S710), and the pattern detection block 670 may detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT (S720). The temperature sensor 690 may sense the temperature of the controller 660 and / or the power management circuit 140 (S725). Furthermore, the pattern detection block 670 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns, including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, in the input image data IDAT for one frame (S730).

[0092] When the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 690 is less than the reference temperature (S735: No) or the count number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference pattern number (S740: No), the pattern detection block 670 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level (S750), and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation by correcting the input image data IDAT based on the mura correction data MCD to generate corrected image data CDAT (S760). The data driver 130 may receive the corrected image data CDAT from the controller 660 and may drive the display panel 110 based on the corrected image data CDAT (S770).

[0093] If the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 690 is greater than or equal to the reference temperature (S735: Yes) and the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number (S740: Yes), the pattern detection block 670 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level (S780). When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. By not performing a mura correction operation, the temperature of the controller 660 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be reduced (compared to a case where a mura correction operation is performed), and abnormal operation and damage to the display device 600 can be prevented or substantially prevented. Furthermore, the data driver 130 may receive the input image data IDAT from the controller 660 without receiving the corrected image data CDAT, and may drive the display panel 110 based on the input image data IDAT (S790).

[0094] Figure 13 is a block diagram illustrating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0095] refer to Figure 13 , the display device 800 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a display panel 110, a gate driver 120, a data driver 130, a power management circuit 140, a correction data memory 150, and a controller 860. In some exemplary embodiments, the controller 860 may include a pattern detection block 870, a mura correction block 180, and a driving frequency detector 890. In addition to the fact that the controller 860 may further include the driving frequency detector 890 and the mura correction operation may be selectively performed not only according to whether a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected but also according to whether the frame frequency of the input image data IDAT is greater than or equal to a reference frequency, Figure 13The display device 800 may have Figure 1 The display device 100 has substantially the same configuration and operates substantially the same.

[0096] The driving frequency detector 890 may detect the frame frequency of the input image data IDAT and may provide a frame frequency signal SFF indicating the frame frequency of the input image data IDAT to the pattern detection block 870. In some exemplary embodiments, the driving frequency detector 890 may detect the frame frequency of the input image data IDAT by measuring a time interval between adjacent vertical synchronization signals, but is not limited thereto.

[0097] When the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector 890 is greater than or equal to the reference frequency and a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern (e.g., having a size greater than or equal to the reference size, or having a number greater than or equal to the reference pattern number) is detected in the input image data IDAT, the pattern detection block 870 may control the mura correction block 180 not to perform a mura correction operation. In some exemplary embodiments, the pattern detection block 870 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT for one frame, compare the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector 890 with the reference frequency, generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level when the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference pattern number or when the frame frequency is less than the reference frequency, and generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level when the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number and when the frame frequency is greater than or equal to the reference frequency. When the mura correction control signal MCCS has a first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation, and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has a second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. Thus, the temperature of the controller 860 and / or the power management circuit 140 may be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., exceeding a temperature standard for the controller 860 and / or the power management circuit 140) due to the mura correction operation, and thus, abnormal operation and damage to the display device 800 may be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0098] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0099] refer to Figure 13 and Figure 14In a method of operating the display device 800, mura correction data MCD may be stored in the correction data memory 150 (e.g., when manufacturing the display device 800) (S900). The controller 860 may receive input image data IDAT (S910), and the pattern detection block 870 may detect a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern in the input image data IDAT (S920). The driving frequency detector 890 may detect the frame frequency of the input image data IDAT (S925). Furthermore, the pattern detection block 870 may count the number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns, including the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern, in the input image data IDAT for one frame (S930).

[0100] When the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector 890 is less than the reference frequency (S935: No) or the count number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is less than the reference pattern number (S940: No), the pattern detection block 870 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a first level (S950), and when the mura correction control signal MCCS has the first level, the mura correction block 180 may perform a mura correction operation by correcting the input image data IDAT based on the mura correction data MCD to generate corrected image data CDAT (S960). The data driver 130 may receive the corrected image data CDAT from the controller 860 and may drive the display panel 110 based on the corrected image data CDAT (S970).

[0101] If the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector 890 is greater than or equal to the reference frequency (S935: Yes) and the counted number of one or more set (e.g., predetermined) patterns is greater than or equal to the reference pattern number (S940: Yes), the pattern detection block 870 may generate a mura correction control signal MCCS having a second level (S980). When the mura correction control signal MCCS has the second level, the mura correction block 180 may not perform a mura correction operation. By not performing a mura correction operation, the temperature of the controller 860 and / or the power management circuit 140 can be reduced (compared to a case where a mura correction operation is performed), and abnormal operation and damage to the display device 800 can be prevented or substantially prevented. Furthermore, the data driver 130 may receive input image data IDAT from the controller 860 instead of the corrected image data CDAT and may drive the display panel 110 based on the input image data IDAT (S990).

[0102] Figure 15 is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device including a display device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0103] refer to Figure 15 The electronic device 1100 may include a processor 1110, a memory device 1120, a storage device 1130, an input / output (I / O) device 1140, a power supply 1150, and a display device 1160. The electronic device 1100 may also include a plurality of ports for communicating with a video card, a sound card, a memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) device, other electronic devices, and the like.

[0104] The processor 1110 may perform various computing functions or tasks. The processor 1110 may be an application processor (AP), a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), or the like. The processor 1110 may be coupled to other components via an address bus, a control bus, a data bus, or the like. In addition, in some exemplary embodiments, the processor 1110 may also be coupled to an expansion bus, such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.

[0105] The memory device 1120 may store data used for the operation of the electronic device 1100. For example, the memory device 1120 may include at least one non-volatile memory device, such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) device, an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) device, a flash memory device, a phase-change random access memory (PRAM) device, a resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, a nano-floating gate memory (NFGM) device, a polymer random access memory (PoRAM) device, a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device, a ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) device, etc., and / or at least one volatile memory device, such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device, a static random access memory (SRAM) device, a mobile dynamic random access memory (mobile DRAM) device, etc.

[0106] The storage device 1130 may be a solid-state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), a CD-ROM, or the like. The I / O device 1140 may be an input device such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch screen, or the like, and an output device such as a printer, a speaker, or the like. The power supply 1150 may supply power for the operation of the electronic device 1100. The display device 1160 may be coupled to other components via a bus or other communication link.

[0107] In the display device 1160, a set (e.g., predetermined) pattern can be detected in the input image data, and when the set (e.g., predetermined) pattern is detected, the mura correction operation may not be performed. Thus, the temperature of the controller and / or power management circuit of the display device 1160 can be prevented or substantially prevented from excessively increasing (e.g., exceeding a temperature level of the controller and / or power management circuit) due to the mura correction operation, and thus, abnormal operation and damage of the display device 1160 can be prevented or substantially prevented.

[0108] The present inventive concept can be applied to any display device 1160 that performs mura correction and any electronic device 1100 including the display device 1160. For example, the present inventive concept can be applied to televisions (TVs), digital TVs, 3D TVs, smart phones, wearable electronic devices, tablet computers, mobile phones, personal computers (PCs), home appliances, laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable multimedia players (PMPs), digital cameras, music players, portable game consoles, navigation devices, and the like.

[0109] The above is a description of exemplary embodiments and should not be construed as limiting thereof. Although several exemplary embodiments have been described, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing substantially from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Therefore, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it should be understood that the above is a description of various exemplary embodiments and should not be construed as being limited to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed, and modifications to the disclosed exemplary embodiments and other exemplary embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Display devices, including: a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels; a gate driver configured to provide gate signals to the plurality of pixels; a data driver configured to provide data signals to the plurality of pixels; a correction data memory configured to store mura correction data; as well as a controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver, the controller comprising: a pattern detection block configured to detect a set pattern in the input image data; and a mura correction block configured to perform a mura correction operation of correcting the input image data based on the mura correction data in response to not detecting the set pattern, and not perform the mura correction operation in response to detecting the set pattern; The plurality of pixels include a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel and a fourth pixel arranged in sequence in a horizontal direction, and the set pattern includes high grayscale data for the first pixel and the second pixel and low grayscale data for the third pixel and the fourth pixel.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The set pattern is a double horizontal dot pattern.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The first pixel, the second pixel, the third pixel, and the fourth pixel include a first subpixel, a second subpixel, a third subpixel, a fourth subpixel, a fifth subpixel, a sixth subpixel, a seventh subpixel, an eighth subpixel, a ninth subpixel, a tenth subpixel, an eleventh subpixel, and a twelfth subpixel arranged sequentially in the horizontal direction, and In which, the set pattern includes high grayscale data for the first sub-pixel, the second sub-pixel, the third sub-pixel, the fourth sub-pixel, the fifth sub-pixel and the sixth sub-pixel, and low grayscale data for the seventh sub-pixel, the eighth sub-pixel, the ninth sub-pixel, the tenth sub-pixel, the eleventh sub-pixel and the twelfth sub-pixel.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein The high grayscale data is image data representing a grayscale level higher than or equal to a reference grayscale level, and The low grayscale data is image data representing a grayscale lower than the reference grayscale.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The pattern detection block is further configured to generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to the input image data corresponding to the set pattern with respect to pixels of the plurality of pixels whose number is less than a reference number of pixels, and to generate the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the input image data corresponding to the set pattern with respect to pixels of the plurality of pixels whose number is greater than or equal to the reference number of pixels, and The mura correction block is further configured to perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and not perform the mura correction operation according to the mura correction control signal having the second level. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein: The pattern detection block is further configured to count the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame, generate a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to the counted number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number, and generate the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the counted number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number, and The mura correction block is further configured to perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and not perform the mura correction operation according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The mura correction data represents a plurality of correction values ​​at a plurality of sampled gray levels, and Wherein, for each pixel, the mura correction block is further configured to perform the mura correction operation for each pixel by linearly interpolating correction values ​​at two sampling gray levels among the multiple correction values, the two sampling gray levels being adjacent to the gray level of the input image data for each pixel.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The mura correction data represents a plurality of correction values ​​at a plurality of sampling positions, and For each pixel, the mura correction block is further configured to perform the mura correction operation on each pixel by performing bilinear interpolation on correction values ​​at four sampling positions adjacent to each pixel among the plurality of sampling positions, among the plurality of correction values.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The temperature of the controller decreases according to the mura correction operation not being performed.

10. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a power management circuit configured to provide a supply voltage to the controller, The temperature of the power management circuit decreases according to the mura correction operation not being performed.

11. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a frame memory configured to store the input image data for one frame; as well as a pattern memory configured to store pattern data having the set pattern, Herein, the pattern detection block is further configured to detect the set pattern in the input image data by comparing the input image data stored in the frame memory with the pattern data stored in the pattern memory.

12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The controller further includes: A temperature sensor is configured to sense a temperature of the controller.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein The pattern detection block is further configured to: counting the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame; comparing the temperature of the controller sensed by the temperature sensor with a reference temperature; generating a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number or in response to the temperature of the controller being less than the reference temperature; as well as generating the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the count number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number and the temperature of the controller being greater than or equal to the reference temperature, and The mura correction block is configured to perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and not perform the mura correction operation according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The controller further includes: A driving frequency detector is configured to detect a frame frequency of the input image data.

15. The display device according to claim 14, wherein The pattern detection block is further configured to: counting the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame; comparing the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector with a reference frequency; generating a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number or in response to the frame frequency being less than the reference frequency; as well as generating the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to the count number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number and the frame frequency being greater than or equal to the reference frequency, and The mura correction block is configured to perform the mura correction operation in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and not perform the mura correction operation according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

16. A method of operating a display device, the method comprising: Store mura correction data; receiving input image data; detecting a predetermined pattern in the input image data; driving a display panel based on corrected image data by performing a mura correction operation to correct the input image data based on the mura correction data in response to not detecting the set pattern; as well as driving the display panel based on the input image data without performing the mura correction operation according to the detection of the set pattern; In which, the display panel includes a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel and a fourth pixel arranged in sequence in a horizontal direction, and the set pattern includes high grayscale data for the first pixel and the second pixel and low grayscale data for the third pixel and the fourth pixel.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: counting the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame; generating a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number; as well as generating the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number; The mura correction operation is performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and the mura correction operation is not performed according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: storing the input image data for one frame in a frame memory; as well as storing pattern data having the set pattern in a pattern memory, The detecting the set pattern in the input image data includes detecting the set pattern in the input image data by comparing the input image data stored in the frame memory with the pattern data stored in the pattern memory.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: By using a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the controller; counting the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame; comparing the temperature of the controller sensed by the temperature sensor with a reference temperature; generating a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number or in response to the temperature of the controller being less than the reference temperature; as well as generating the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to a reference pattern number and the temperature of the controller being greater than or equal to the reference temperature; The mura correction operation is performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and the mura correction operation is not performed according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising: detecting a frame frequency of the input image data by using a driving frequency detector; counting the number of one or more set patterns including the set pattern in the input image data for one frame; comparing the frame frequency detected by the driving frequency detector with a reference frequency; generating a mura correction control signal having a first level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being less than a reference pattern number or in response to the frame frequency being less than the reference frequency; as well as generating the mura correction control signal having a second level in response to a count number of the one or more set patterns being greater than or equal to the reference pattern number and the frame frequency being greater than or equal to the reference frequency; The mura correction operation is performed in response to the mura correction control signal having the first level, and the mura correction operation is not performed according to the mura correction control signal having the second level.

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