Test device, display device, and method for generating compensation data for display device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a test device, a display device, and a method for generating compensation data for a display device. The method includes providing alignment pattern data supplemented with frame data having a maximum reference grayscale level to the display device, acquiring a first captured image generated based on the alignment pattern data supplemented with the frame data, providing one or more complete pattern data, each having one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level, to the display device, and acquiring one or more second captured images generated based on the one or more complete pattern data. The method also includes generating compensation data including compensation values ​​at the one or more reference grayscale levels and the maximum reference grayscale level. The compensation data may be generated based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] One or more embodiments described herein relate to a test device, a display device, and a method of generating compensation data for a display device. Background Art

[0002] The processes used to manufacture display devices can cause individual pixels in the display device to differ in performance. For example, even when using the same manufacturing process, pixels may exhibit uneven brightness or mura defects due to process variations. Attempts have been made to compensate for these defects and non-uniformities using imprecise methods. Summary of the Invention

[0003] One or more embodiments described herein provide a method of generating accurate compensation data to correct defects and / or non-uniformities in a display device.

[0004] One or more other embodiments may provide a testing apparatus that generates accurate compensation data to correct defects and / or non-uniformities in a display device.

[0005] One or more other embodiments may provide a display device that stores accurate compensation data to correct defects and / or non-uniformities in the display device.

[0006] According to one or more embodiments, a method for generating compensation data for a display device includes providing alignment pattern data to the display device, to which frame data having a maximum reference grayscale level is added, acquiring a first captured image of the display device generated based on the alignment pattern data to which the frame data is added, providing one or more complete pattern data, each having one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level, to the display device, and acquiring one or more second captured images of the display device generated based on the one or more complete pattern data. The method also includes generating compensation data including a plurality of compensation values ​​at the one or more reference grayscale levels and the maximum reference grayscale level, the compensation data being generated based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data. The display device is a self-luminous display device.

[0007] According to one or more embodiments, a test device includes first logic, a camera, and second logic. The first logic is configured to provide test data to a display device, the test data including alignment pattern data and one or more complete pattern data, the alignment pattern data including added frame data having a maximum reference grayscale level, and the one or more complete pattern data each having one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level.

[0008] The camera is configured to acquire a first captured image of the display device and one or more second captured images, the first captured image being generated based on the alignment pattern data including the added frame data, and the one or more second captured images being generated based on the one or more complete pattern data.

[0009] The second logic is configured to generate compensation data including a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level, the plurality of compensation values ​​being generated based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data. The display device is a self-luminous display device.

[0010] According to one or more embodiments, a display device includes a display panel, a scan driver, a memory, a controller, and a data driver. The display panel includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a self-luminous element. The scan driver is configured to provide a scan signal to the plurality of pixels. The memory is configured to store compensation data. The controller is configured to generate corrected image data by correcting input image data based on the compensation data. The data driver is configured to provide a data signal to the plurality of pixels based on the corrected image data.

[0011] The compensation data includes: a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference gray level determined based on a first captured image corresponding to alignment pattern data to which frame data having a maximum reference gray level is added, and a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels determined based on one or more second captured images corresponding to one or more complete pattern data respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 An embodiment of a test apparatus for generating compensation data for a display device is illustrated.

[0014] Figure 2 An embodiment of a method of generating compensation data for a display device is illustrated.

[0015] Figure 3A An example of alignment pattern data is illustrated, and Figure 3B An example of alignment pattern data to which frame data is added is illustrated.

[0016] Figure 4 An example of complete pattern data is shown.

[0017] Figure 5An example of aligning the position of the display panel with the position of the second captured image using the first captured image is illustrated.

[0018] Figure 6 An example of a measured luminance curve of a display device is illustrated.

[0019] Figure 7 An embodiment of determining a plurality of compensation values ​​for each pixel of a display device is illustrated.

[0020] Figure 8 An embodiment of a method of generating compensation data for a display device is illustrated.

[0021] Figure 9 An example of alignment pattern data to which frame data is added is illustrated.

[0022] Figure 10 An example of determining a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference gray level for one or more pixels is illustrated.

[0023] Figure 11 An embodiment of a display device is illustrated.

[0024] Figure 12 An embodiment of an electronic device including a display device is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the inventive concept will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a test apparatus 100 that generates compensation data for a display apparatus 200. The display apparatus 200 may be a self-luminous display apparatus or another type of display apparatus. Hereinafter, for purposes of illustration, the display apparatus 200 will be discussed as a self-luminous display apparatus.

[0027] refer to Figure 1 The test apparatus 100 (or test equipment) according to the embodiment can generate compensation data for the self-luminous display device 200. In some embodiments, the test apparatus 100 can perform a test process including, for example, speckle correction (or speckle correction operation) for the self-luminous display device 200.

[0028] The test device 100 may include a test data providing block 110, a camera 130, and a compensation data generating block 150. The test data providing block (e.g., a first logic) 110 may provide test data to the self-luminous display device 200 so that the self-luminous display device 200 may display an image corresponding to the test data. In the test device 100 according to an embodiment, the test data providing block 110 may provide alignment pattern data APD to which frame data BD (box data) is added, and one or more complete pattern data FPD to the self-luminous display device 200.

[0029] The alignment pattern data APD may be data used to align the position of the display panel 250 of the self-luminous display device 200 with the position of the captured image acquired by the camera 130. In some embodiments, the alignment pattern data APD may be dot pattern data representing an image including a black background and one white dot per M*M pixels in the black background, where M is an integer greater than 1. For example, the alignment pattern data APD or dot pattern data may represent one white dot corresponding to one pixel per 40*40 pixels. In other embodiments, the alignment pattern data APD (or dot pattern data) may be configured differently.

[0030] The frame data BD may have a predetermined (e.g., maximum) reference grayscale level. In some embodiments, the compensation data may include multiple compensation values ​​at multiple reference grayscale levels, and the frame data BD may represent a white frame image having the maximum reference grayscale level among the multiple reference grayscale levels. For example, the grayscale level of the self-luminous display device 200 may range from 0 grayscale to 255 grayscale, with 256 grayscale levels. In this case, the multiple reference grayscale levels may be, for example, 31 grayscale, 63 grayscale, 95 grayscale, 127 grayscale, 160 grayscale, and 255 grayscale, and the maximum reference grayscale level of the frame data BD may be 255 grayscale. In another embodiment, the number and levels of the reference grayscale levels and / or the maximum reference grayscale level may be different.

[0031] In some embodiments, the frame data BD may represent a white frame image at a predetermined (e.g., substantially central) position on the display panel 250. In some embodiments, the size of the white frame image may correspond to a size of N*N pixels, where N is an integer greater than 1. For example, the size of the white frame image may correspond to, but is not limited to, a size of 40*40 pixels, a size of 80*80 pixels, or other sizes. In other embodiments, the frame data BD may represent a plurality of white frame images located at a plurality of positions on the display panel 250. For example, the plurality of white frame images may be, but are not limited to, a 3*3 white frame image, a 5*5 white frame image, a 7*7 white frame image, a 9*9 white frame image, or other sizes of white frame images.

[0032] The one or more complete pattern data FPDs may each have one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level. For example, the grayscale range of the self-luminous display device 200 may be 256 grayscale levels, ranging from grayscale 0 to grayscale 255. In this case, the multiple reference grayscale levels may be, for example, grayscale 31, grayscale 63, grayscale 95, grayscale 127, grayscale 160, and grayscale 255. In this case, the test data providing block 110 may sequentially provide the self-luminous display device 200 with first complete pattern data FPD having a first reference grayscale level of 31, second complete pattern data FPD having a second reference grayscale level of 63, third complete pattern data FPD having a third reference grayscale level of 95, fourth complete pattern data FPD having a fourth reference grayscale level of 127, and fifth complete pattern data FPD having a fifth reference grayscale level of 160.

[0033] The camera 130 can capture an image displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on the test data. In some embodiments, the camera 130 can be, but is not limited to, a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. In different embodiments, the camera 130 can be another type of device. In the test device 100 according to the embodiment, the camera 130 can obtain a first captured image displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD is added, and can obtain one or more second captured images displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on one or more complete pattern data FPD. For example, the camera 130 can obtain a first captured image corresponding to the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD having a grayscale of 255 is added, and can obtain five second captured images corresponding to five more complete pattern data FPD having grayscales of 31, 63, 95, 127, and 160, respectively.

[0034] The compensation data generation block (e.g., second logic) 150 can use the first captured image to align the position of the display panel 250 of the self-luminous display device 200 with the position of one or more second captured images. For example, the size of the image captured by the camera 130 may be larger than the size of the display panel 250. The compensation data generation block 150 can determine the position of the portion of the first captured image corresponding to the display panel 250 by detecting an image corresponding to the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD is added in the first captured image. In addition, the compensation data generation block 150 can extract the portion of the second captured image corresponding to the display panel 250 based on the determined position and generate compensation data based on the extracted portion. In some embodiments, the compensation data generation block 150 can use the first captured image to determine the position of each pixel of the display panel 250 in the second captured image.

[0035] The compensation data generation block 150 may generate compensation data including a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data BD. In some embodiments, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine the plurality of compensation values ​​(for a plurality of pixels of the display panel 250) at one or more reference gray levels based on the luminance of the one or more second captured images. For example, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine a compensation value for each pixel at each reference gray level based on the difference between the luminance of the second captured image at the reference gray level and the luminance of the target gamma curve at the reference gray level.

[0036] In some embodiments, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine a plurality of compensation values ​​for a plurality of pixels at a maximum reference grayscale level based on the luminance of a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data BD. For example, for each pixel within the white frame image represented by the frame data BD, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine a compensation value for the pixel at the maximum reference grayscale level based on a difference between the luminance of the pixel in the first captured image and the luminance of the target gamma curve at the maximum reference grayscale level.

[0037] Furthermore, in the case where the frame data BD represents a white frame image at the center position, for each pixel outside the white frame image, the compensation data generation block 150 may calculate an average compensation value of a plurality of compensation values ​​for a plurality of pixels within the white frame image. Furthermore, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine the compensation value at the maximum reference grayscale level for the pixels outside the white frame image as the average compensation value.

[0038] In some embodiments, when the frame data BD represents a plurality of white frame images at a plurality of locations, for each pixel outside the plurality of white frame images, the compensation data generation block 150 may calculate a predetermined number (e.g., four) of average compensation values ​​corresponding to a predetermined number (e.g., four) of white frame images adjacent to the pixel among the plurality of white frame images. Furthermore, the compensation data generation block 150 may determine a compensation value for the pixel at the maximum reference grayscale by interpolating the four average compensation values.

[0039] The test device 100 can write compensation data (including multiple compensation values ​​at one or more reference grayscales and a maximum reference grayscale) to the self-luminous display device 200. For example, the test device 100 can store the compensation data in a compensation data memory of the self-luminous display device 200. When the self-luminous display device 200 operates, the self-luminous display device 200 can generate corrected image data by correcting input image data based on the compensation data stored in the compensation data memory, and can drive the display panel 250 based on the corrected image data. As a result, the display panel 250 can display an image in which the streak defect is eliminated or reduced.

[0040] The self-luminous display device 200 may limit the panel current of the display panel 250 to be lower than or equal to a reference current to reduce power consumption or prevent a burn-in effect from occurring in the self-luminous display device 200. Therefore, due to the current limitation, a complete pattern image having a high gray level higher than a specific gray level (e.g., gray level 160) may not be displayed.

[0041] In view of the foregoing, if a different type of test device that has been proposed provides a complete pattern data FPD having a high grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 255) higher than a specific grayscale level to the self-luminous display device 200, the self-luminous display device 200 may not display a complete pattern image corresponding to the high grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 255). Instead, the self-luminous display device 200 may display a complete pattern image corresponding to a specific grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 160).

[0042] Therefore, different types of test devices that have been proposed may not be able to measure or obtain the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at high gray levels higher than a specific gray level, and may predict the luminance at high gray levels by interpolating the luminance at gray levels lower than or equal to the specific gray level. Therefore, the test device may generate compensation data based on the predicted luminance at high gray levels. In this case, if the self-luminous display device 200 corrects the input image data representing high gray levels in a partial area of ​​the display panel 250 based on the compensation data generated based on the predicted luminance, the image displayed by the display panel 250 may include a streak defect in the partial area corresponding to the high gray level. Therefore, different types of test devices that have been proposed may not be able to perform streak correction based on the actually measured luminance at high gray levels.

[0043] However, according to one or more embodiments, the test device 100 can use one or more complete pattern data FPD, each having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level, to determine multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels. The test device 100 can use the alignment pattern data APD supplemented with frame data BD having the maximum reference gray level to determine multiple compensation values ​​at the maximum reference gray level, and can generate compensation data including multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels and the maximum reference gray level. Therefore, not only can the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the one or more reference gray levels be measured or acquired, but also the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the maximum reference gray level be measured or acquired. Therefore, streak correction can be performed based not only on the measured actual luminance at the one or more reference gray levels, but also on the measured actual luminance at the maximum reference gray level.

[0044] Figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of generating compensation data for the self-luminous display device 200 . Figure 3A is a diagram for describing an example of alignment pattern data APD, and Figure 3B : is a diagram for describing an example of alignment pattern data APD to which frame data BD is added. Figure 4 is a diagram for describing an example of complete pattern data FPD. Figure 5 is a diagram for describing an example of aligning the position of the display panel 250 with the position of the second captured image by using the first captured image. Figure 6 is a diagram for describing an example of a measured luminance curve of the self-luminous display device 200 . Figure 7 is a diagram for describing an example of determining a plurality of compensation values ​​for each pixel of the self-luminous display device 200.

[0045] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to an embodiment, a method of generating compensation data for the self-luminous display device 200 may perform speckle correction for the self-luminous display device 200 .

[0046] At S310 , the testing apparatus 100 may provide the self-luminous display apparatus 200 with the alignment pattern data APD added with the frame data BD having the maximum reference grayscale.

[0047] At S320, the test device 100 may use the camera 130 to acquire a first captured image displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD is added. The alignment pattern data APD may be data for aligning the position of the display panel 250 of the self-luminous display device 200 with the position of the captured image acquired by the camera 130.

[0048] In some embodiments, as Figure 3A As shown in FIG, the alignment pattern data APD may be dot pattern data representing an image 400 including a black background 410 and a white dot 420 for every M*M pixels in the black background 410, where M is an integer greater than 1. The dot pattern data may, for example, represent a white dot corresponding to one pixel for every 40*40 pixels. In another embodiment, the dot pattern data may represent a white dot corresponding to one pixel for every another number of pixels (e.g., where M is different from 40).

[0049] In some embodiments, as Figure 3B As shown in FIG, the frame data BD may represent a white frame image 460 having a brightness corresponding to a maximum reference grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 255) at a predetermined (e.g., center) position of the display panel 250. In addition, in some embodiments, the size of the white frame image 460 may correspond to a size of N*N pixels, where N is an integer greater than 1. For example, the size of the white frame image 460 may correspond to, but is not limited to, a size of 40*40 pixels, a size of 80*80 pixels, or other sizes. Therefore, as Figure 3B As illustrated in , the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD is added may represent an image 450 having one white dot 420 per M*M pixels and having a white frame image 460 at the center position.

[0050] At S330 , the testing apparatus 100 may provide the self-luminous display apparatus 200 with one or more complete pattern data FPD respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level.

[0051] At S340, the testing device 100 may use the camera 130 to acquire one or more second captured images displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on one or more complete pattern data FPD. In some embodiments, for example, Figure 4 As illustrated in FIG, each complete pattern data FPD may represent a complete pattern image 500 each having a reference gray level lower than a maximum reference gray level. Therefore, each complete pattern data FPD may have the same reference gray level for all or a predetermined number of pixels of the display panel 250.

[0052] For example, Figure 4 As illustrated in the figure, the one or more complete pattern data FPD may include a first complete pattern data FPD having a first reference gray level of 31 gray level 31G, a second complete pattern data FPD having a second reference gray level of 63 gray level 63G, a third complete pattern data FPD having a third reference gray level of 95 gray level 95G, a fourth complete pattern data FPD having a fourth reference gray level of 127 gray level 127G, and a fifth complete pattern data FPD having a fifth reference gray level of 160 gray level 160G.

[0053] At S350, the testing device 100 may use the first captured image to align the position of the display panel 250 of the self-luminous display device 200 with the position of one or more second captured images. Figure 5 As illustrated in FIG, the size of image 610 captured by camera 130 may be larger than the size of display panel 250. The test device 100 can determine the position of a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the display panel 250 by detecting image 650 corresponding to alignment pattern data APD to which frame data BD is added in the first captured image. Furthermore, the test device 100 can extract portions of one or more second captured images corresponding to the display panel 250 based on the determined positions of image 650, and can generate compensation data based on the extracted portions. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the test device 100 can use the first captured image to determine the position of each pixel of the display panel 250 in the one or more second captured images.

[0054] In the method of generating compensation data according to an embodiment, the test device 100 can measure or obtain not only the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at one or more reference grayscales, but also the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the maximum reference grayscale. This can be achieved using not only the one or more second captured images, but also the portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data BD.

[0055] For example, Figure 6As shown in the figure, the test device 100 can obtain the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the first reference gray level RG1 of 31 gray level 31G, the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the second reference gray level RG2 of 63 gray level 63G, the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the third reference gray level RG3 of 95 gray level 95G, the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the fourth reference gray level RG4 of 127 gray level 127G, the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the fifth reference gray level RG5 of 160 gray level 160G, and the actual brightness of the display panel 250 at the maximum reference gray level MRG of 255 gray level 255G.

[0056] Other proposed test apparatuses may not be able to measure or obtain the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at gray levels higher than a specific gray level (e.g., gray level 160G). Therefore, these other proposed test apparatuses may obtain a luminance curve 710 having constant luminance at gray levels higher than the specific gray level. However, according to one or more embodiments, the test apparatus 100 can obtain the actual luminance curve 730 of the display panel 250 at one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5, as well as the maximum reference gray level MRG.

[0057] At S360, according to one or more embodiments, the method may perform speckle correction to generate compensation data based on the actual luminance curve 730. For example, the testing apparatus 100 may determine a plurality of compensation values ​​for a plurality of pixels of the display panel 250 at one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5 based on the luminance of the one or more second captured images.

[0058] At S370 , the testing apparatus 100 may determine a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference gray level MRG for a plurality of pixels based on the brightness of a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data BD.

[0059] At S380 , the test apparatus 100 may generate compensation data at one or more reference gray levels RG1 , RG2 , RG3 , RG4 , and RG5 and a maximum reference gray level MRG.

[0060] For example, Figure 7As shown in FIG, with respect to each pixel of the display panel 250, the test apparatus 100 may determine the following compensation values: a compensation value CV1 at the first reference gray level RG1 based on the difference between the luminance of the actual luminance curve 730 at the first reference gray level RG1 and the luminance of the target gamma curve 750 at the first reference gray level RG1, a compensation value CV2 at the second reference gray level RG2 based on the difference between the luminance of the actual luminance curve 730 at the second reference gray level RG2 and the luminance of the target gamma curve 750 at the second reference gray level RG2, a compensation value CV3 at the third reference gray level RG4 based on the difference between the luminance of the actual luminance curve 730 at the second reference gray level RG5 and the luminance of the target gamma curve 750 at the second reference gray level RG6, and a compensation value CV4 at the third reference gray level RG5 based on the difference between the luminance of the actual luminance curve 730 at the second reference gray level RG6. The compensation value CV3 at the third reference gray level RG3 is based on the difference between the brightness at G3 and the brightness of the target gamma curve 750 at the third reference gray level RG3, the compensation value CV4 at the fourth reference gray level RG4 is based on the difference between the brightness at the fourth reference gray level RG4 of the actual brightness curve 730 and the brightness at the fourth reference gray level RG4 of the target gamma curve 750, and the compensation value CV5 at the fifth reference gray level RG5 is based on the difference between the brightness at the fifth reference gray level RG5 of the actual brightness curve 730 and the brightness at the fifth reference gray level RG5 of the target gamma curve 750.

[0061] For each pixel within the white frame image represented by the frame data BD, the test device 100 may determine a compensation value CV6 at the maximum reference gray level MRG based on the difference between the luminance of the actual luminance curve 730 at the maximum reference gray level MRG and the luminance of the target gamma curve 750 at the maximum reference gray level MRG. In addition, in some embodiments, for each pixel outside the white frame image, the test device 100 may calculate an average compensation value of multiple compensation values ​​for multiple pixels within the white frame image, and may determine the compensation value at the maximum reference gray level MRG for the pixel outside the white frame image as the average compensation value.

[0062] At S390, the test device 100 may write compensation data (including a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5 and a maximum reference gray level MRG) to the self-luminous display device 200. When the self-luminous display device 200 operates, the self-luminous display device 200 may generate corrected image data by correcting input image data based on the compensation data stored in the compensation data memory, and may drive the display panel 250 based on the corrected image data. As a result, the display panel 250 may display an image in which the streak defect is eliminated or reduced.

[0063] As described above, in one or more embodiments of the method for generating compensation data, the test device 100 can use one or more complete pattern data FPD having one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5, respectively, lower than the maximum reference gray level MRG, to determine multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5. The test device 100 can use alignment pattern data APD supplemented with frame data BD having the maximum reference gray level MRG to determine multiple compensation values ​​at the maximum reference gray level MRG. In addition, the test device 100 can generate compensation data including multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5 and the maximum reference gray level MRG. Therefore, not only can the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the one or more reference gray levels RG1, RG2, RG3, RG4, and RG5 be measured or acquired, but the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the maximum reference gray level MRG can also be measured or acquired. Therefore, speckle correction may be performed based on the measured actual luminance at one or more reference gray levels RG1 , RG2 , RG3 , RG4 , and RG5 and the measured actual luminance at the maximum reference gray level MRG.

[0064] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method of generating compensation data for the self-luminous display device 200 . Figure 9 is a diagram describing an example of alignment pattern data APD to which frame data BD may be added. Figure 10 is a diagram describing an example of determining a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference gray level for each pixel PX. Figure 8 The method can be used with Figure 2 The method is basically the same except that frame data BD representing a plurality of white frame images is used at a plurality of positions of the display panel 250 instead of using frame data representing a plurality of white frame images. Figure 3B Except for the frame data BD of a white frame image 460 shown in FIG.

[0065] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 8 At S810 , the testing apparatus 100 may provide the self-luminous display apparatus 200 with the alignment pattern data APD added with the frame data BD having the maximum reference grayscale.

[0066] At S820, the testing apparatus 100 may acquire a first captured image displayed by the self-luminous display apparatus 200. The first captured image may be acquired using the camera 130 based on the alignment pattern data APD to which the frame data BD is added.

[0067] In some embodiments, the frame data BD may represent a plurality of white frame images at a plurality of locations of the display panel 250. In some embodiments, the size of each white frame image may correspond to a size of N*N pixels, where N is an integer greater than 1. For example, the size of each white frame image may correspond to a size of 40*40 pixels, a size of 80*80 pixels, or another size.

[0068] like Figure 9 As shown in FIG, an example of the frame data BD represents a plurality of 5*5 white frame images 950. Therefore, as Figure 9 As illustrated in FIG, the alignment pattern data APD added with the frame data BD may represent an image 900 having one white dot 920 per M*M pixels in a black background 910 and having a 5*5 white frame image 950 at a corresponding 5*5 position. Figure 9 An example is illustrated in which the frame data BD can represent 5*5 white frame images 950, but the number of white frame images 950 represented by the frame data BD is not limited to Figure 9 For example, the frame data BD may represent a 3*3 white frame image, a 7*7 white frame image, a 9*9 white frame image, or any other number of white frame images.

[0069] At S830 , the testing apparatus 100 may provide the self-luminous display apparatus 200 with one or more complete pattern data FPD respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level.

[0070] At S840, the testing device 100 may acquire one or more second captured images using the camera 130. The one or more second captured images may be displayed by the self-luminous display device 200 based on the one or more complete pattern data FPD.

[0071] At S850 , the testing apparatus 100 may align the position of the display panel 250 of the self-luminous display apparatus 200 with the positions of the one or more second captured images using the first captured image.

[0072] At S860, the testing apparatus 100 may determine a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels for a plurality of pixels of the display panel 250. The compensation values ​​may be determined based on the brightness of the one or more second captured images.

[0073] At S870, the testing apparatus 100 may determine a plurality of compensation values ​​for the plurality of pixels at the maximum reference grayscale level. These compensation values ​​may be determined based on the brightness of the portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data BD.

[0074] In some embodiments, for each pixel within each white frame image in the white frame image represented by the frame data BD, the testing device 100 can determine the compensation value at the maximum reference gray level based on the difference between the brightness of the first captured image of the pixel and the brightness of the target gamma curve at the maximum reference gray level.

[0075] In addition, if Figure 10 As illustrated in , for each pixel PX outside the multiple white frame images, the test device 100 can calculate a predetermined number (e.g., four) average compensation values ​​corresponding to a predetermined number (e.g., four) white frame images WBI1, WBI2, WBI3, and WBI4 adjacent to the pixel PX among the multiple white frame images.

[0076] Additionally, the test apparatus 100 can determine the compensation value for pixel PX at the maximum reference grayscale by, for example, interpolating four average compensation values. For example, the test apparatus 100 can calculate first to fourth average compensation values ​​corresponding to the first to fourth white frame images WBI1, WBI2, WBI3, and WBI4 adjacent to pixel PX. Furthermore, the test apparatus 100 can calculate the compensation value at the first intermediate position PA by linearly interpolating the first average compensation value of the first white frame image WBI1 and the second average compensation value of the second white frame image WBI2. Furthermore, the test apparatus 100 can calculate the compensation value at the second intermediate position PB by linearly interpolating the third average compensation value of the third white frame image WBI3 and the fourth average compensation value of the fourth white frame image WBI4. Furthermore, the test apparatus 100 can calculate the compensation value for pixel PX by linearly interpolating the compensation values ​​at the first intermediate position PA and the second intermediate position PB.

[0077] At S880 , the testing apparatus 100 may generate compensation data at one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level.

[0078] At S890, the test device 100 may write compensation data (including a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level) to the self-luminous display device 200. When the self-luminous display device 200 operates, the self-luminous display device 200 may generate corrected image data by correcting input image data based on the compensation data stored in the compensation data memory, and may drive the display panel 250 based on the corrected image data. As a result, the display panel 250 may display an image in which the streak defect is eliminated or reduced.

[0079] As described above, according to one or more embodiments, a method for generating compensation data can be implemented in whole or in part using the test apparatus 100. The method may include determining multiple compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels using one or more full pattern data FPD, each having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level. The method may also include determining multiple compensation values ​​at the maximum reference gray level using alignment pattern data APD supplemented with frame data BD having the maximum reference gray level. The method may also include generating compensation data including multiple compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels and the maximum reference gray level. Thus, not only the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at one or more reference gray levels can be measured or acquired, but also the actual luminance of the display panel 250 at the maximum reference gray level can be measured or acquired. Therefore, speckle correction can be performed based not only on the measured actual luminance at one or more reference gray levels, but also on the measured actual luminance at the maximum reference gray level.

[0080] Figure 11 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a self-luminous display device 1000, which may include a display panel 1010 including a plurality of pixels PX, a scan driver 1020 that provides a scan signal SS to the plurality of pixels PX, a compensation data memory 1030 that stores compensation data CMPD, a data driver 1040 that provides a data signal DS to the plurality of pixels PX, and a controller 1050 that controls the operation of the self-luminous display device 1000. In some embodiments, the self-luminous display device 1000 may include a current control device 1060 for controlling a panel current IPANEL of the display panel 1010.

[0081] The display panel 1010 may include a plurality of pixels PX, and each pixel PX may include a self-luminous element. In some embodiments, the self-luminous element may include an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). For example, the display panel 1010 may be an OLED display panel. In other embodiments, the self-luminous element may include a quantum dot light-emitting diode or another type of self-luminous element.

[0082] The scan driver 1020 may generate a scan signal SS based on a scan control signal SCTRL from the controller 1050 and may sequentially provide the scan signal SS to a plurality of pixels PX in a predetermined manner (e.g., on a row-by-row basis). In some embodiments, the scan control signal SCTRL may include, but is not limited to, a scan start signal and a scan clock signal. In some embodiments, the scan driver 1020 may be integrated or formed in a peripheral portion of the display panel 1010. In some embodiments, the scan driver 1020 may be implemented using one or more integrated circuits.

[0083] The data driver 1040 can generate a data signal DS based on a data control signal DCTRL and the corrected image data CDAT received from the controller 1050. The data driver 1040 can provide the data signal DS corresponding to the corrected image data CDAT to the plurality of pixels PX. In some embodiments, the data control signal DCTRL may include, but is not limited to, an output data enable signal, a horizontal start signal, and a load signal. In some embodiments, the data driver 1040 and the controller 1050 can be implemented using a single integrated circuit, which can be referred to as a timing controller embedded data driver (TED). In some embodiments, the data driver 1040 and the controller 1050 can be implemented using separate integrated circuits.

[0084] The controller 1050 (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), an application processor (AP), or a graphics card). In some 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, etc. The controller 1050 can generate corrected image data CDAT, a data control signal DCTRL, and a scan control signal SCTRL based on the input image data IDAT and the control signal CTRL. The controller 1050 can control the operation of the data driver 1040 by providing the corrected image data CDAT and the data control signal DCTRL to the data driver 1040, and can control the operation of the scan driver 1020 by providing the scan control signal SCTRL to the scan driver 1020.

[0085] The compensation data memory 1030 may store compensation data CMPD, which includes multiple compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level. In some embodiments, the compensation data CMPD may include multiple compensation values ​​at the maximum reference gray level determined based on a first captured image corresponding to alignment pattern data supplemented with frame data having the maximum reference gray level. The compensation data CMPD may also include multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels determined based on one or more second captured images corresponding to one or more complete pattern data, each having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level.

[0086] The controller 1050 may generate corrected image data CDAT by correcting the input image data IDAT based on the compensation data CMPD. For example, when the input image data IDAT for the pixel PX represents one of one or more reference gray levels and a maximum reference gray level, the controller 1050 may generate corrected image data CDAT for the pixel PX by adding or multiplying the input image data IDAT for the pixel PX with the compensation value of the compensation data CMPD for the pixel PX.

[0087] In one example, when the input image data IDAT for the pixel PX represents a gray level between two adjacent reference gray levels among one or more reference gray levels and the maximum reference gray level, the controller 1050 can calculate the compensation value for the pixel PX by interpolating the compensation values ​​at the two adjacent reference gray levels. In addition, the controller 1050 can generate the corrected image data CDAT for the pixel PX by adding or multiplying the input image data IDAT for the pixel PX and the calculated compensation value for the pixel PX.

[0088] The current control device 1060 can compare the panel current IPANEL of the display panel 1010 with a reference current and can control whether the panel current IPANEL is lower than or equal to the reference current. For example, the current control device 1060 can measure the panel current IPANEL of the display panel 1010 and can provide a current limit signal to the controller 1050 when the panel current IPANEL is higher than the reference current. In an example, the controller 1050 can reduce the panel current IPANEL of the display panel 1010 by lowering the corrected image data CDAT in response to the current limit signal. In another example, the controller 1050 can reduce the panel current IPANEL of the display panel 1010 by lowering the power supply voltage provided to the display panel 1010 in response to the current limit signal.

[0089] Even if other proposed test devices provide complete pattern data having a high grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 255) higher than a specific grayscale level to a self-luminous display device, the self-luminous display device may not display a complete pattern image corresponding to the high grayscale level, but may display a complete pattern image corresponding to a specific grayscale level (e.g., grayscale level 160). This is because the current control device in these other test devices applies current limitation as described herein.

[0090] Therefore, other proposed testing devices may be unable to measure or acquire the actual luminance of a display panel at high grayscales above a specific grayscale level. Consequently, these other proposed testing devices may generate compensation data based on inaccurately predicted luminance at high grayscales rather than actual measured luminance. This inaccurate compensation data may cause a self-luminous display device to display images with mottle defects at high grayscales.

[0091] However, according to one or more embodiments of the self-luminous display device 1000, the compensation data memory 1030 may store compensation data CMPD including: (1) a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels determined using one or more complete pattern data having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level, and (2) a plurality of compensation values ​​at the maximum reference gray level determined using alignment pattern data to which frame data having the maximum reference gray level is added. Therefore, the self-luminous display device 1000 may display an image in which the streak defect is eliminated or reduced, which may improve the image quality of the self-luminous display device 1000.

[0092] Figure 12 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device 1100. 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 self-luminous display device 1160. The electronic device 1100 may further include a plurality of ports for communicating with, for example, a video card, a sound card, a memory card, a universal serial bus (USB) device, and other electronic devices.

[0093] The processor 1110 can perform various computing functions or tasks. The processor 1110 can be an application processor (AP), a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), or another type of processor or controller. The processor 1110 can be coupled to other components via an address bus, a control bus, a data bus, etc. In some embodiments, the processor 1110 can be further coupled to an expansion bus such as a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus.

[0094] The memory device 1120 may store data used for the operation of the electronic device 1100. Examples of the memory device 1120 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, and / or at least one volatile memory device such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) device, a static random access memory (SRAM) device, and a mobile dynamic random access memory (mobile DRAM) device.

[0095] The storage device 1130 may be a solid-state drive (SSD), a hard disk drive (HDD), a CD-ROM, or another type of storage device. 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 self-luminous display device 1160 may be coupled to one or more other components, for example, via a bus or other communication link.

[0096] In the self-luminous display device 1160, the compensation data memory can store compensation data that includes not only multiple compensation values ​​at one or more reference grayscale levels (the multiple compensation values ​​are determined by using one or more complete pattern data having one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level), but also multiple compensation values ​​at the maximum reference grayscale level (the multiple compensation values ​​are determined using alignment pattern data to which frame data having the maximum reference grayscale level is added). Therefore, the self-luminous display device 1160 can display an image in which speckle defects are eliminated or reduced, which in turn can improve the image quality of the self-luminous display device 1160.

[0097] Embodiments of the present inventive concept can be applied to any self-luminous display device and any electronic device including a self-luminous display device. Examples of electronic devices include, but are not limited to, televisions (TVs), digital TVs, 3D TVs, smartphones, 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, and navigation devices.

[0098] According to one embodiment, a device includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium and logic. The non-transitory computer-readable medium is configured to store instructions for controlling the logic. When the instructions are executed by the logic, the logic may generate or apply compensation data for correcting image defects in a display device. The computer-readable medium may be any type of storage medium, including but not limited to any type of removable, portable, or embedded volatile or non-volatile storage device. As described in more detail below, the logic may be a processor, a controller, or other signal generator or processor.

[0099] Because the logic generates or applies compensation data for correcting image defects in the display device, the logic may be located in the display device or the test device of the embodiments described herein. For example, when generating compensation data, the logic may be included in the test device 100 or the display device 200 or 1000. When incorporated into the display device 1000, the logic may correspond to, for example, the controller 1050 or another processor in the display device 1000. Furthermore, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may correspond to the compensation data memory 1030 or another memory in the display device 1000. The image defect may be a mottled defect, non-uniformity, or another type of defect in the image.

[0100] The compensation data may include any of the types according to the embodiments described herein. For example, the compensation data may include a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference grayscale level determined based on a first image corresponding to alignment pattern data to which frame data having a maximum reference grayscale level is added. The compensation data may also include a plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference grayscale levels determined based on one or more second images corresponding to one or more complete pattern data having one or more reference grayscale levels lower than the maximum reference grayscale level, the first image and the one or more second images being captured from a display device.

[0101] Method described herein, technology and / or operation can be completed by the code or the instruction performed by a computer, processor, controller or other signal processing device.Computer, processor, controller or other signal processing device can be the element described herein, or the element except the element described herein.Because the algorithm of the basis of formation method (or the operation of computer, processor, controller or other signal processing device) is described in detail, therefore the code or the instruction for realizing the operation of this method embodiment can convert a computer, processor, controller or other signal processing device into the special purpose processor for performing the method herein.

[0102] In addition, another embodiment may include a computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) for storing the codes or instructions described above. The computer-readable medium may be a volatile or non-volatile memory or other storage device, and the computer-readable medium may be removably or fixedly coupled to a computer, processor, controller, or other signal processing device to execute the codes or instructions for performing the operations of the method embodiments or apparatus embodiments described herein.

[0103] The controllers, processors, devices, modules, generators, logic, interfaces, blocks, decoders, drivers, and other signal generation and signal processing features of the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented, for example, in non-transitory logic that may include hardware, software, or both. When implemented at least partially in hardware, the controllers, processors, devices, modules, generators, logic, interfaces, blocks, decoders, drivers, and other signal generation and signal processing features may be, for example, any of a variety of integrated circuits, including but not limited to an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, a combination of logic gates, a system on a chip, a microprocessor, or another type of processing or control circuit.

[0104] When at least partially implemented with software, controller, processor, device, module, generator, logic, interface, block, decoder, driver and other signal generation and signal processing feature can comprise for example for storing the code to be performed by for example computer, processor, microprocessor, controller or other signal processing device or the memory or other storage device of instruction.Computer, processor, microprocessor, controller or other signal processing device can be the element described herein, or the element except the element described herein.Because the algorithm forming the basis of method (or the operation of computer, processor, microprocessor, controller or other signal processing device) is described in detail, therefore the code or instruction for implementing the operation of this method embodiment can convert computer, processor, microprocessor, controller or other signal processing device into the special-purpose processor for performing method described herein.

[0105] The foregoing is illustrative of embodiments and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments. Although a few embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings of the present inventive concept. Therefore, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventive concept as defined in the claims. Therefore, it should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various embodiments and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The embodiments may be combined to form additional embodiments.

Claims

1. A method for generating compensation data for a display device, the method comprising: providing alignment pattern data to which frame data having a maximum reference grayscale level is added to a display device; acquiring a first captured image of the display device generated based on the alignment pattern data to which the frame data is added; providing one or more complete pattern data respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level to the display device; acquiring one or more second captured images of the display device generated based on the one or more complete pattern data; and Generate compensation data including multiple compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels and the maximum reference gray level, the compensation data being generated based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data, wherein the display device is a self-luminous display device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The frame data corresponds to a white frame image at a center position of a display panel of the display device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Based on the first captured image, a position of a display panel of the display device is aligned with positions of the one or more second captured images.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein The display device displays a total range of gray levels from gray level 0 to gray level 255, and The maximum reference gray level is the 255 gray level.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein The frame data corresponds to a plurality of white frame images at a plurality of positions of a display panel of the display device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: The plurality of white frame images are one of a 3*3 white frame image, a 5*5 white frame image, a 7*7 white frame image, and a 9*9 white frame image.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein The alignment pattern data includes dot pattern data corresponding to an image including a black background and one white dot per M*M pixels in the black background, where M is an integer greater than 1.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein generating the compensation data comprises: determining the plurality of compensation values ​​for a plurality of pixels of a display panel of the display device at the one or more reference gray levels based on brightness of the one or more second captured images; and The plurality of compensation values ​​at the maximum reference grayscale level for the plurality of pixels are determined based on brightness of the portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data.

9. A testing device comprising: a first logic configured to provide test data to a display device, the test data including alignment pattern data and one or more complete pattern data, the alignment pattern data including added frame data having a maximum reference gray level, and the one or more complete pattern data respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level; a camera configured to acquire a first captured image of the display device and one or more second captured images, the first captured image being generated based on the alignment pattern data including the added frame data, and the one or more second captured images being generated based on the one or more complete pattern data; as well as and second logic configured to generate compensation data including a plurality of compensation values ​​at the one or more reference gray levels and the maximum reference gray level, the plurality of compensation values ​​being generated based on the one or more second captured images and a portion of the first captured image corresponding to the frame data, wherein the display device is a self-luminous display device.

10. A display device comprising: A display panel comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising a self-luminous element; a scan driver configured to provide a scan signal to the plurality of pixels; a memory configured to store compensation data; a controller configured to generate corrected image data by correcting the input image data based on the compensation data; as well as a data driver configured to provide data signals to the plurality of pixels based on the corrected image data, The compensation data includes: a plurality of compensation values ​​at a maximum reference gray level determined based on a first captured image corresponding to alignment pattern data to which frame data having a maximum reference gray level is added; as well as A plurality of compensation values ​​at one or more reference gray levels are determined based on one or more second captured images corresponding to one or more complete pattern data respectively having one or more reference gray levels lower than the maximum reference gray level.

Images