Locally Different Gamma Mapping for Multiple Pixel Density OLED Displays

Abstract

A method for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the method comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value; and providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] An electronic device includes a display that can be varied in brightness. Summary of the invention

[0002] This specification describes techniques, methods, systems, and other mechanisms for locally varying gamma mapping for multi-pixel density organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. Gamma mapping can change the gamma value of pixels in an image to compensate for various brightness effects of the display. For example, gamma mapping can include gamma correction to account for nonlinear human perception biases for brightness, i.e., humans are more sensitive to changes in brightness at low levels than at high levels.

[0003] OLED displays with areas with different pixel densities on the display may differ in brightness. For example, a first area of ​​the display may have similarly sized pixels as a second area of ​​the display, but only half the number of pixels per unit area compared to the second area. Thus, if both areas of the display are showing an all-white image, the first area may appear darker than the second area because fewer pixels per unit area in the first area can emit light compared to the second area.

[0004] In order to keep the brightness of the lower pixel density area similar to that of the higher pixel density area, the brightness of each pixel in the lower pixel density area can be increased. For example, the brightness of each pixel in the lower pixel density area can be made twice that of each pixel in the higher pixel density area.

[0005] The brightness of each pixel may be increased by gamma mapping based on whether the pixel is in the first region or the second region. For example, image content may be provided for display, wherein pixels in the first region and pixels in the second region may both have the same digital grayscale value G255 (the highest grayscale level in an 8-bit grayscale), and then a pixel data voltage V of 1.5 volts (V) may be provided to the pixels in the first region. DATA , and a voltage of 2.5V can then be provided to the pixels in the second area, wherein, due to the behavior of p-channel transistors in the pixel circuit, providing a voltage of 1.5V to the pixel can cause the pixel to emit brighter light than a pixel provided with a voltage of 2.5V.

[0006] Therefore, the locally different gamma mapping of the multi-pixel density OLED display can enable the multi-pixel density OLED display to have uniform brightness even between areas of the OLED display with different pixel densities. Having uniform brightness may hide the differences in pixel density of areas of the display from the viewer, and the user may not even be aware from a distance that the display has areas of different pixel density.

[0007] Furthermore, in some implementations, matching brightness between regions of an OLED display having different pixel densities may limit the maximum brightness of the display. For example, at a high display brightness setting, the maximum brightness of pixels in a lower pixel density region may not be sufficient to produce an overall brightness in the lower pixel density region that matches the brightness that would otherwise be produced in a higher pixel density region. Accordingly, the brightness of pixels in regions of different pixel densities may be further adaptively adjusted based on the display brightness setting to increase the maximum brightness of the display.

[0008] Generally, an innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a method for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the method comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value; and providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit.

[0009] Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding circuits, computer systems, devices, and computer programs recorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of the method. A system of one or more computers may be configured to perform specific operations or actions by installing software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof on the system, which software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof causes the system to perform the actions during operation. One or more computer programs may be configured to perform specific operations or actions by including instructions that, when executed by a data processing device, cause the device to perform the actions.

[0010] These and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features. In some aspects, providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value includes: determining a remapped grayscale value for the second pixel based on the value; and, providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value. In some aspects, determining the remapped grayscale value for the second pixel based on the grayscale value includes: determining that a position of the second pixel is within the second region; and, in response to determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second region, determining the remapped value for the second pixel based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the second region.

[0011] In some implementations, providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes: determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first region; and, in response to determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first region, determining a remapped grayscale value for the first pixel based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the first region. In some aspects, providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value includes: providing the remapped grayscale value to a driver integrated circuit; and, providing the second voltage to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit, wherein the driver integrated circuit is configured to output a voltage in response to a grayscale value inputted independently of a pixel position driven by the voltage output.

[0012] In some aspects, the number of digital bits of the remapped grayscale value is higher than or equal to the number of grayscale bits of the grayscale value. In some implementations, providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value includes: receiving the grayscale value of the second pixel by a driver integrated circuit; and providing the second voltage to the second pixel based on the grayscale value and the second pixel in the second region by the driver integrated circuit. In some aspects, providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes: receiving the grayscale value of the first pixel by the driver integrated circuit; and providing the first voltage to the first pixel based on both the grayscale value and the first pixel in the first region by the driver integrated circuit.

[0013] In some aspects, providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes: providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a brightness per unit area that is less than the brightness per unit area of ​​the second region, and a brightness setting of the display meets a criterion. In some aspects, the actions include: receiving second image content that also specifies the grayscale value of the first pixel in the first region; and providing a third voltage different from the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, and the brightness setting of the display does not meet the criterion.

[0014] In some implementations, providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a unit area brightness similar to a unit area brightness of the second region, and a brightness setting of the display does not meet a standard.

[0015] The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a block diagram of an example system including a multi-pixel density OLED display using locally different gamma mapping.

[0017] Figure 2 is a visualization of the locally different gamma maps.

[0018] Figure 3 is a block diagram of another example system including a multi-pixel density OLED display using locally different gamma mapping.

[0019] Figure 4A is a visualization of the locally different gamma maps.

[0020] Figure 4B is a visualization of the adaptive locally different gamma maps.

[0021] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a process for locally different gamma mapping.

[0022] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Figure 1 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100 including a multi-pixel density OLED display panel 110 using locally different gamma mapping. The system 100 also includes a gamma mapper 120 that performs locally different gamma mapping on image content to generate remapped image content, and a driver integrated circuit 130 that receives the remapped image content and outputs a voltage to the display panel 110 based on the remapped image content.

[0024] The display panel 110 includes a first region 112 and a second region 114, wherein the first region 112 includes a pixel density lower than a pixel density of the second region 114. Figure 1 As shown, the first region 112 and the second region 114 may include pixels of the same size between the regions, but the first region 112 may have a lower pixel density than the second region 114 because the pixel pattern in the first region 112 may correspond to the pixel pattern in the second region 114, wherein three quarters of the pixels of the pixel pattern in the second region are missing, in other words, the first region 112 has one quarter of the pixels per unit area of ​​the second region 114 (one quarter pixel density).

[0025] The pixels in the display panel 110 can be configured to emit light at different brightnesses based on the voltage received by the pixel. For example, each pixel in the display panel 110 can be configured to emit light at a first brightness in response to receiving 2.5V, and emit light at a brightness four times the first brightness in response to receiving 1.5V.

[0026] The gamma mapper 120 may receive image content to be displayed on the display panel 110 and generate remapped image content based on the image content. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may receive image content in which the grayscale value of both the pixels in the first region 112 and the pixels in the second region 114 is G255, and in response, generate remapped image content having the grayscale value of the pixels in the first region being G1023 and the grayscale value of the pixels in the second region being G767.

[0027] The gamma mapper 120 may generate the remapped image content based on the locally different gamma mappings. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may map the grayscale value of G255 to G1023 for all pixels in the first region 112, and map the grayscale value of G255 to G767 for all pixels in the second region 114. In another example, the gamma mapper 120 may map the grayscale value of G127 to G511 for all pixels in the first region 112, and map the grayscale value of G127 to G383 for all pixels in the second region 114.

[0028] Gamma mapper 120 may generate remapped image content based on remapping the value of each pixel according to the pixel's position in the display panel. Gamma mapper 120 may receive a digital grayscale value of a pixel, determine which region the pixel is located in, and then remap the grayscale value of the pixel based on a remapping range for the corresponding region.

[0029] For example, the gamma mapper 120 may determine that pixel data in the image is to be displayed in the first region 112 of the display panel 110, and in response, obtain a lookup table for the first region 112 that maps grayscale values ​​from a first range of 0-255 to a second range of 0-1023. In another example, the gamma mapper 120 may determine that pixel data in the image is to be displayed in the second region 114 of the display panel 110, and in response, obtain a lookup table for the second region 114 that maps grayscale values ​​from a first range of 0-255 to a third range of 0-767. The lookup table may include a row for each grayscale value in the first range of 0-255 and a corresponding remapped grayscale value for each row.

[0030] In some implementations, the gamma mapper 120 can remap the image content by circuitry. For example, the gamma mapper 120 can be implemented entirely in a hardware circuit that receives the grayscale value of a pixel and outputs the remapped grayscale value differently based on the position of the pixel in the display panel 110, wherein the circuit is arranged based on which pixels are located in which region of the first region 112 and the second region 114. In another implementation, the gamma mapper 120 can be implemented by software and use a formula that receives the grayscale value of a pixel and the position of the pixel as paired inputs and outputs the remapped pixel grayscale value as output. In yet another implementation, the gamma mapper 120 can be implemented by software and use a lookup table as described above. In yet another implementation, the gamma mapper 120 can be implemented by a combination of circuitry and software.

[0031] The driver integrated circuit 130 may be a circuit configured to provide a voltage signal to a pixel in the display panel 110 based on the digital grayscale value of the pixel received from the gamma mapper 120. For example, the driver integrated circuit 130 may be configured to provide a voltage of 2.5V in response to receiving a grayscale value of G767, and to provide a voltage of 1.5V in response to receiving a grayscale value of G1023. The driver integrated circuit 130 may receive other control factors that affect the final output voltage signal level of the same grayscale data of the pixel, such as display brightness control, display uniformity calibration, color calibration, and pattern loading effect control.

[0032] Although Figure 1 A display having two regions with different pixel densities is shown, but the gamma mapper 120 can similarly remap image content of a display panel having three, four, or more regions with different pixel densities based on providing drive signals having different pulse widths to the corresponding regions. For example, the gamma mapper 120 can include a mapping that defines in which of the four regions each pixel is, a lookup table for each region for remapping the grayscale value of the region, and then remap the image content based on determining which of the four regions each pixel in the image content corresponds to based on the mapping, and then applying the lookup table for the determined region to the grayscale value to obtain the remapped grayscale value.

[0033] Figure 2 is a visualization 200 of the locally different gamma maps. Figure 2 Can be expressed based on Figure 1 The system 100 shown has a different local gamma map. Figure 2As shown, the grayscale value G255 of all pixels in the normal pixel density area (e.g., the second area 114) can be remapped to G767 by the gamma mapper 120, which causes the driver integrated circuit 130 to provide 2.5V, fifty nanoamperes (nA), and a brightness of four hundred and fifty nits to the pixels. Figure 2 As shown, the grayscale value G255 of all pixels in a quarter pixel density area (e.g., the first area 112) can be remapped to G1023 by the gamma mapper 120, which causes the driver integrated circuit 130 to provide 1.5 V to the pixels, up to four times the pixel current (i.e., 200 nanoamperes (nA)), and a brightness of 450 nits in the quarter pixel density area.

[0034] In some implementations, the gamma mapper 120 may generate the remapped image content based on the same scale as the received image content. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may use the same 8-bit scale for the image content and the remapped image content, but use different ranges for different regions, such that G255 is remapped to G191 for pixels in the second region 114 and to G255 for pixels in the first region 112.

[0035] Although the example describes locally different gamma mapping on grayscale values, locally different gamma mapping can be applied independently to red, green, and blue (RGB) values. For example, the grayscale value of G255 of the red pixel in the second area 114 can be remapped to G767, while the grayscale value of G255 of the blue pixel in the second area 114 can be remapped to G760 by the gamma mapper 120 through independent different lookup tables for each color.

[0036] Figure 3 is a block diagram of another example system 300 including a multi-pixel density OLED display 110 using locally different gamma mapping. The system 300 may be similar to the system 100 in using locally different gamma mapping and with a display panel 110 having a first region 112 with a lower pixel density than a second region 114. However, the system 300 may have gamma mapping integrated into a driver integrated circuit 310 rather than a gamma mapper separate from the driver integrated circuit 310.

[0037] The driver integrated circuit 310 can receive image content and then provide voltages based on the image content and the locally different gamma mapping. For example, the driver integrated circuit 310 can receive G255 for a first pixel in the first region 112, and in response, provide 1.5V, and receive G255 for a second pixel in the second region 114, and in response, provide 2.5V. In another example, the driver integrated circuit 310 can receive G255 for a third pixel in the first region 112, and in response, provide 1.5V, and receive G255 for a fourth pixel in the second region 114, and in response, provide 2.5V.

[0038] In some implementations, the driver integrated circuit 310 provides voltages over different ranges between different regions. For example, the driver integrated circuit 310 may receive a digital grayscale value of a pixel, determine a data voltage level for a pixel in the second region 114 based on a grayscale value in a range between 6.5V and 2.5V, and determine a data voltage level for a pixel in the first region 112 based on a grayscale value in a range between 6.5V and 1.5V (or a range between 6.3V and 1.5V).

[0039] In some implementations, the driver integrated circuit 310 may provide integrated gamma mapping through circuitry. For example, the driver integrated circuit 310 may include circuitry that receives a grayscale value of a pixel and outputs a voltage differently based on the position of the pixel in the display panel 110, wherein the circuitry is arranged based on which pixels are located in which of the first region 112 and the second region 114. In another implementation, the driver integrated circuit 310 may use a formula that receives a grayscale value of a pixel and a position of the pixel as paired inputs and outputs a voltage as an output.

[0040] Figure 4A is a visualization 400 of the locally different gamma maps. FIG. 4 can represent the Figure 3 The system 300 shown has a locally different gamma map. Figure 4A As shown, for all pixels in the normal pixel density area (e.g., the second area 114), the grayscale value G255 can cause the driver integrated circuit 310 to provide 2.5V, 50 nanoamperes (nA) of OLED pixel current and a corresponding brightness of four hundred and fifty nits to the pixels. Figure 4A As shown, for all pixels in a quarter pixel density area (e.g., the first area 112), the grayscale value G255 can cause the driver integrated circuit 310 to provide 1.5V to the pixels, up to four times the OLED pixel current (200 nanoamperes (nA)), and a brightness of four hundred and fifty nits corresponding to the quarter pixel density area.

[0041] Figure 4B4 is a visualization of adaptive locally different gamma maps. In some implementations, matching brightness between regions of an OLED display having different pixel densities may limit the maximum brightness of the display. For example, at a high display brightness setting, the maximum brightness of pixels in a lower pixel density region may not be sufficient to produce an overall brightness in the lower pixel density region that matches the brightness that would otherwise be produced in a higher pixel density region. Accordingly, the brightness of pixels in regions of different pixel densities may be further adaptively adjusted based on the display brightness setting to increase the maximum brightness of the display.

[0042] exist Figure 4B middle, I OLED NORMAL Refers to the current of a pixel in the normal pixel density area of ​​the display, L OLED NORMAL Refers to the brightness per unit area in the normal pixel density area, PL OLED NORMAL Refers to the brightness of pixels in the normal pixel density area, I OLED LOW Refers to the current of the pixel in the low pixel density area of ​​the display, L OLED LOW Refers to the brightness per unit area in low pixel density areas, PL OLED LOW Refers to the brightness of pixels in areas of low pixel density.

[0043] Brightness per unit area may refer to the perceived brightness per unit area. For example, a group of four pixels in a 2 pixel size x 2 pixel size area may have the same brightness per unit area as the brightness of each pixel, and a group of two pixels in a 2 pixel size x 2 pixel size area may have half the brightness per unit area as the brightness of each pixel.

[0044] exist Figure 4B In the example shown, the multi-pixel density OLED display may have a maximum pixel brightness of 720 nits, and the density of the pixels in the lower density area is half that of the pixels in the higher density area / normal pixel density area. Therefore, if the brightness per unit area in the normal pixel density area and the lower density area always have matching brightness per unit area, the brightness per unit area of ​​the normal pixel density area will be limited to three hundred and sixty nits, because the pixels in the lower density area may only be able to reach seven hundred and twenty nits per pixel to provide a brightness per unit area of ​​three hundred and sixty nits.

[0045] By adaptively different gamma mapping locally, normal pixel density areas and lower density areas may have mismatched unit area brightness. Figure 4BAs shown, for a value of G255 and a display brightness setting of 100%, the normal pixel density area may have a unit area brightness of 450 nits, while the lower density area may have a unit area brightness of 360 nits. In another example, for a value of G254 and a display brightness setting of 100%, the normal pixel density area may have a unit area brightness of 447 nits, while the lower density area may have a unit area brightness of 358 nits.

[0046] The display brightness setting may be a global setting for the display brightness, which may also be referred to as a brightness setting. For example, the user may set the display brightness setting of a device including a display to 0% when the user uses the device in the dark, then set the display brightness setting of the device to 50% when the user uses the device under a lamp, and then set the display brightness of the device to 100% when the user uses the device under a lamp.

[0047] Display brightness can control the brightness of the image displayed on the display. For example, the G255 can display at 90 nits in a normal pixel density area at a 20% display brightness setting, and at 450 nits in a normal pixel density area at a 100% display brightness setting. Similarly, the G254 can display at 89 nits in a normal pixel density area at a 20% display brightness setting, and at 448 nits in a normal pixel density area at a 100% display brightness setting.

[0048] Based on the brightness setting of the display brightness, the adaptive locally different gamma mapping can make the unit area brightness of the low pixel density area and the normal pixel density area match or mismatch. For example, the adaptive locally different gamma mapping can make the unit area brightness of the low pixel density area and the normal pixel density area match the brightness setting of 50%. In another example, the adaptive locally different gamma mapping can make the unit area brightness of the low pixel density area and the normal pixel density area mismatch the brightness setting of 90%.

[0049] Adaptive locally different gamma mapping can be implemented in a gamma mapper separate from the driver integrated circuit or in a driver integrated circuit with integrated gamma mapping. Figure 1 gamma mapper 120 or a gamma mapper with integrated gamma mapping Figure 3 The driver integrated circuit 310 may have different gamma lookup tables for normal pixel density areas for different display brightness settings, and have different gamma lookup tables for normal pixel density areas for different display brightness settings.

[0050] The gamma lookup table for brightness settings that meet the standards may result in the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area being less than the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area. For example, for a standard of 80% or higher, each pair of gamma lookup tables for low pixel density areas and normal pixel density areas with brightness settings from 80% to 100% may result in the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area being less than the brightness per unit area in the normal pixel density area. The gamma lookup table for brightness settings that do not meet the standards may result in the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area being equal to the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area. For example, for a standard of 80% or higher, each pair of gamma lookup tables for low pixel density areas and normal pixel density areas with brightness settings from 0% to 79% may result in the brightness per unit area in the low pixel density area being equal to the brightness per unit area in the normal pixel density area.

[0051] Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a process 500 for locally different gamma mapping. The process 500 may be performed by the system 100 or the system 300. The process 500 includes receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​for both pixels in a first region and pixels in a second region (510). For example, the gamma mapper 120 may receive image content specifying G255 for all pixels in the display panel 110. In another example, the driver integrated circuit 310 may receive image content specifying G255 for all pixels in the display panel 110.

[0052] Process 500 includes providing a first voltage to a first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value (520). For example, driver integrated circuit 130 may provide a voltage of 1.5V to the first pixel in the first region 112.

[0053] In some implementations, providing a first voltage to a first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes a unit area brightness of the first region to be less than a unit area brightness of the second region and a brightness setting of the display meets a criterion. Figure 4B As shown, for a value of G255 and a display brightness setting of 100%, a voltage can be provided to pixels in a lower density area to result in a brightness per unit area of ​​360 nits, which is less than the brightness per unit area of ​​450 nits for a normal pixel density area for the same value of G255.

[0054] In some implementations, providing a first voltage to a first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a unit area brightness similar to a unit area brightness of the second region, and a brightness setting of the display does not meet a standard. Figure 4BAs shown, for a value of G255 and a display brightness setting of 20%, a voltage can be provided to pixels in a lower density area to result in a brightness per unit area of ​​90 nits, which is the same brightness per unit area as the 90 nits brightness per unit area for a normal pixel density area for the same value of G255.

[0055] Process 500 includes providing a second voltage to a second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value (530). For example, driver integrated circuit 130 may provide a voltage of 2.5V to the second pixel in second region 114.

[0056] In some implementations, providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to a second pixel in the second region based on the gray value includes determining a remapped gray value of the second pixel based on the gray value and providing the second voltage based on the remapped gray value. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may determine a remapped gray value of G767 based on the gray value of G255, and the driver integrated circuit 130 may provide a voltage of 2.5V based on the remapped gray value of G767.

[0057] In some implementations, determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value includes determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second region, and in response to determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second region, determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on a lookup table of grayscale values ​​and the second region. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may determine that the second pixel is within the second region 114, and in response, determine the remapped grayscale value of G767 based on a lookup table of the second region 114 that maps G255 to G767.

[0058] In some implementations, providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value includes determining a location of the first pixel within the first region and, in response to determining the location of the first pixel within the first region, determining a remapped grayscale value for the first pixel based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the first region. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may determine that the first pixel is within the first region 112 and, in response, determine a remapped grayscale value of G1023 based on a lookup table for the first region 112 that maps G255 to G1023.

[0059] In some implementations, providing the second voltage based on the remapped gray value includes providing the remapped gray value to a driver integrated circuit and providing the second voltage to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit, wherein the driver integrated circuit is configured to output the voltage in response to the gray value input regardless of the position of the pixel driven by the voltage output. For example, the gamma mapper 120 can provide the remapped gray value of G767 to the driver integrated circuit 130, and the driver integrated circuit 130 provides a voltage of 2.5V whenever the driver integrated circuit 130 receives an input of G767.

[0060] In some implementations, the remapped grayscale value is a 10-bit value and the grayscale value is an 8-bit value. For example, the gamma mapper 120 may receive a value represented in 8 bits and output a remapped value represented in 10 bits.

[0061] In some implementations, providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to a second pixel in the second region based on a grayscale value includes receiving the grayscale value of the second pixel by a driver integrated circuit, and providing the second voltage to the second pixel based on both the grayscale value and the second pixel in the second region by the driver integrated circuit. In this implementation, providing a first voltage to a first pixel in the first region based on a grayscale value may also include receiving the grayscale value of the first pixel by a driver integrated circuit, and providing the first voltage to the first pixel based on both the grayscale value and the first pixel in the first region by the driver integrated circuit. For example, the driver integrated circuit 310 may receive a grayscale value of G255 for both pixels in the first region 112 and pixels in the second region 114, and in response, provide a grayscale value of 2.5V to pixels in the second region 114 and a grayscale value of 1.5V to pixels in the first region 112.

[0062] In some implementations, the actions include: receiving second image content that further specifies a grayscale value of a first pixel in a first region; and providing a third voltage different from the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region and the display brightness setting does not meet the criterion. For example, the display brightness setting can be changed from 100% to 20%, and for the same value of G255, a lower voltage can be provided for a region of lower pixel density.

[0063] Embodiments of the subject matter and operations described in this specification may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry or computer software, firmware or hardware (including the structures disclosed in this specification and their equivalents), or one or more combinations thereof. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented as one or more computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, to be executed by a data processing device or to control the operation of a data processing device.

[0064] A computer storage medium may be or be included in a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. In addition, although a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium may be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. A computer storage medium may also be or be included in one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).

[0065] The operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer-readable storage devices or received from other sources.

[0066] The term "data processing apparatus" covers various apparatuses, devices and machines for processing data, including, for example, a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or a combination of a plurality of these or the above. The apparatus may include dedicated logic circuits, such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). In addition to hardware, the apparatus may also include code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, for example, code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment may implement a variety of different computing model infrastructures, such as network services, distributed computing, and grid computing infrastructures.

[0067] A computer program (also referred to as a program, software, software application, application, script, or code) may be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and may be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may (but need not) correspond to a file in a file system. A computer program may be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language file), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subroutines, or portions of code). A computer program may be deployed to execute on a single computer or on multiple computers located at a single site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communications network.

[0068] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and the apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, such as an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[0069] For example, processors suitable for executing computer programs include both general and special microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Typically, the processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The basic element of a computer is a processor for performing actions according to instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Typically, a computer will also include one or more large-capacity storage devices for storing data, such as a disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an optical disk, or be operably coupled to it to receive data from it or to transmit data to it. However, a computer does not need to have such a device. In addition, a computer can be embedded in another device, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (such as a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), just to name a few examples. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of nonvolatile memory, media and storage devices including, for example: semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory), EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0070] To provide interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification may be implemented on a computer having a display device (e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), or OLED (organic light emitting diode) monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., a mouse or trackball), through which the user may provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with the user; for example, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, voice, or tactile input. In addition, the computer may interact with the user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device used by the user; for example, sending a web page to a web browser on a user device of the user in response to a request received from the web browser.

[0071] Embodiments of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., as a data server) or includes a middleware component (e.g., an application server) or includes a front-end component (e.g., a client computer with a graphical user interface) or a web browser, or a combination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-end components, through which a user may interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this specification. The components of the system may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication (e.g., a communication network). Examples of communication networks include local area networks ("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs"), inter-networks (e.g., the Internet), and peer-to-peer networks (e.g., ad hoc peer-to-peer networks).

[0072] The computing system may include a user and a server. The user and the server are usually remote from each other and usually interact through a communication network. The relationship between the user and the server is generated by means of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a user-server relationship with each other. In some embodiments, the server sends data (e.g., an HTML page) to the client device (e.g., for the purpose of displaying data to a user interacting with the user device and receiving user input from the user). Data generated at the user device (e.g., the result of the user interaction) can be received from the user device at the server.

[0073] Although this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of any implementation or claimed content of the present invention, but as descriptions of specific features of example implementations. Certain features described in the context of separate implementations in this specification may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented individually or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments. In addition, although features may be described above as working in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from the claimed combination may be removed from the combination in some cases, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or a variation of the sub-combination.

[0074] Similarly, although operations are depicted in a particular order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be understood as requiring that the operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, or that all of the operations shown be performed, to achieve the desired results. In some cases, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. In addition, the separation of various system components in the above-described embodiments should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0075] Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve the desired results. Additionally, the processes depicted in the accompanying drawings do not necessarily require the particular order shown or sequential order to achieve the desired results. In some implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claims

1. A method for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region with a first pixel density and a second region with a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the method comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value; as well as Providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit, wherein providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value comprises: Determining a remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value, wherein determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value comprises: determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second area; and In response to determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second region, determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the second region; and The second voltage is provided based on the remapped grayscale value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first area; and In response to determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first region, a remapped grayscale value for the first pixel is determined based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the first region.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The number of digital bits used for the remapped grayscale value is higher than or equal to the number of grayscale bits used for the grayscale value.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Providing the second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second area based on the grayscale value includes: receiving, by a driver integrated circuit, the grayscale value of the second pixel; and The second voltage is provided to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit based on both the grayscale value and the second pixel being in the second region.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: The first voltage is provided to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the brightness per unit area of ​​the first region to be less than the brightness per unit area of ​​the second region, and a brightness setting of the display meets a standard.

6. The method according to claim 5, comprising: receiving second image content also specifying the grayscale value of the first pixel in the first area; as well as The first pixels in the first area are provided with a third voltage different from the first voltage, and the brightness setting of the display does not meet the criterion.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: The first voltage is provided to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a brightness per unit area similar to a brightness per unit area of ​​the second region, and a brightness setting of the display does not meet a standard.

8. A method for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the method comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value; as well as Providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit, wherein providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value comprises: determining a remapped grayscale value for the second pixel based on the grayscale value; and Providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value, wherein providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value comprises: providing the remapped grayscale values ​​to a driver integrated circuit; and The second voltage is provided to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit, wherein the driver integrated circuit is configured to output a voltage in response to a grayscale value input regardless of a position of a pixel driven by the voltage output.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: receiving, by the driver integrated circuit, the grayscale value of the first pixel; and The first voltage is provided to the first pixel by the driver integrated circuit based on both the grayscale value and the first pixel being in the first region.

10. A system comprising: An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density; as well as A circuit configured to perform the following operations: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value; as well as Providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit, wherein providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value comprises: Determining a remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value, wherein determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value comprises: determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second area; and In response to determining that the position of the second pixel is within the second region, determining the remapped grayscale value of the second pixel based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the second region; and The second voltage is provided based on the remapped grayscale value.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first area; and In response to determining that the position of the first pixel is within the first region, a remapped grayscale value for the first pixel is determined based on the grayscale value and a lookup table for the first region.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein: Providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value includes: providing the remapped grayscale values ​​to a driver integrated circuit; and The second voltage is provided to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit, wherein the driver integrated circuit is configured to output a voltage in response to a grayscale value input regardless of a position of a pixel driven by the voltage output.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein: Providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: The first voltage is provided to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the brightness per unit area of ​​the first region to be less than the brightness per unit area of ​​the second region, and a brightness setting of the display meets a standard.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operations include: receiving second image content also specifying the grayscale value of the first pixel in the first area; as well as The first pixels in the first area are provided with a third voltage different from the first voltage, and the brightness setting of the display does not meet the criterion.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein: Providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value includes: The first voltage is provided to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a brightness per unit area similar to a brightness per unit area of ​​the second region, and a brightness setting of the display does not meet a standard.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software, the software comprising instructions executable by one or more computers, the instructions, when such executed, causing the one or more computers to perform operations for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the operations comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value; as well as Providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit, wherein providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value comprises: determining a remapped grayscale value for the second pixel based on the grayscale value; and Providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value, wherein providing the second voltage based on the remapped grayscale value comprises: providing the remapped grayscale values ​​to a driver integrated circuit; and The second voltage is provided to the second pixel by the driver integrated circuit, wherein the driver integrated circuit is configured to output a voltage in response to a grayscale value input regardless of a position of a pixel driven by the voltage output.

17. A method for driving an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display having a first region having a first pixel density and a second region having a second pixel density higher than the first pixel density, the method comprising: receiving image content specifying grayscale values ​​of both a first pixel in the first region and a second pixel in the second region; providing a first voltage to the first pixel in the first area based on the grayscale value; as well as Providing a second voltage different from the first voltage to the second pixel in the second region based on the grayscale value, wherein the second voltage causes the second pixel to emit darker light than the first voltage causes the first pixel to emit, wherein providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region based on the grayscale value comprises: When the brightness setting of the display is higher than a threshold, providing the first voltage to the first pixel in the first region, wherein the first voltage causes the brightness per unit area of ​​the first region to be less than the brightness per unit area of ​​the second region; and The first voltage is provided to the first pixel in the first region when the brightness setting of the display is below the threshold, wherein the first voltage causes the first region to have a brightness per unit area similar to a brightness per unit area of ​​the second region.

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