Curved display device and driving method thereof

Abstract

A curved display device includes a curved display surface, a plurality of display units, an image source, and a controller. The display units are arranged on the curved display surface in an array form, and each display unit includes a plurality of pixels. The controller is configured to receive a plurality of pixel signals from the image source to generate a plurality of frame signals corresponding to the display units respectively. Each frame signal includes the pixel signals, a plurality of first virtual signals, and a plurality of second virtual signals, wherein the pixel signals correspond to the pixels respectively. The sum of the number of the pixel signals, the number of the first virtual signals, and the number of the second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same. A method for driving a curved display device is also proposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a non-planar display device and a driving method thereof, in particular to a curved display device and a driving method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the development of science and technology industry, displays have been widely used in daily life. By splicing multiple display units (light panels) on a curved surface, the curved display device can provide an experience different from that of a flat display and is often used in large-scale display activities.

[0003] However, since the display surface of the curved display device is non-planar, taking a spherical display device as an example, the number of pixels of the display units at the north and south ends will be less than the number of pixels of the display units at the equator. When the image source controls the display units at different latitudes through a driving device with the same circuit wiring design as a flat display device, the image will be discontinuous at the joints of adjacent light panels. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention provides an arc display device and a driving method thereof. The images at the joints of the arc display device are continuous.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a curved display device is provided, comprising a curved display surface, a plurality of display units, a virtual axis, an image source, and at least one controller. The display units are arranged on the curved display surface in an array, and each display unit comprises a plurality of display columns, and each display column comprises a plurality of pixels. The virtual axis is located on the curved display surface, wherein the display units are respectively arranged on both sides of the virtual axis, and the display columns are arranged parallel to the virtual axis. The image source is arranged to provide a plurality of pixel signals. At least one controller is electrically connected between the display units and the image source, and the controller is arranged to receive the pixel signals, and to generate a plurality of frame signals corresponding to the display units respectively using a frame signal generator of the controller, wherein each frame signal comprises the pixel signals, a plurality of first virtual signals, and a plurality of second virtual signals, and the pixel signals respectively correspond to the pixels. The sum of the number of the pixel signals, the number of the first virtual signals, and the number of the second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for driving a curved display device is provided for driving the curved display device. The curved display device includes a plurality of display units, an image source, and at least one controller. The at least one controller is electrically connected between the display units and the image source. The method for driving the curved display device includes providing a plurality of pixel signals with an image source; receiving the pixel signals with at least one controller; and generating a plurality of frame signals corresponding to the display units respectively using a frame signal generator of at least one controller. Each frame signal includes the pixel signals, a plurality of first virtual signals, and a plurality of second virtual signals, and the sum of the number of the pixel signals, the number of the first virtual signals, and the number of the second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same.

[0007] Based on the above, the arc display device driving method provided by the embodiment of the present invention inserts a virtual signal into the frame signal, so that the sum of the number of pixel signals, the number of first virtual signals and the number of second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same. Therefore, for display units with different numbers, a frame signal generator and a driving device with the same circuit wiring design can be used to control them without discontinuity of the image at the splicing point.

[0008] In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, embodiments are given below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of a curved display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 1C yes Figure 1B The planar unfolding schematic diagram of the curved display screen is shown.

[0012] Figure 2A yes Figure 1C An enlarged view of multiple display units is shown.

[0013] Figure 2B It corresponds to Figure 2A Schematic diagram of frame signals of those display units shown.

[0014] The reference numerals are described as follows:

[0015] 1: Virtual axis

[0016] 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26: Display unit

[0017] 100: Curved display device

[0018] 101: Image Source

[0019] 102: Controller

[0020] 1021: Preprocessor

[0021] 1022: Frame signal generator

[0022] 1023: Driver

[0023] 100S: Curved display surface

[0024] 103: Display module

[0025] DR i-1 ,DR i ,DR i+1 ,DR i+2 : Display columns

[0026] D1 i-1 、D1 i 、D1 i+1 、D2 i-1 、D2 i 、D2 i+1 : Virtual signal

[0027] FS i-1 , FS i , FS i+1 : Frame signal

[0028] P i-1 , P i , P i+1 , P i+2 , P i+3 , P i+4 , P i+5 , P i+6 , P i+7 : Pixels

[0029] PS i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 ,PS i+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ,PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 : Pixel signal DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Reference Figure 1A and Figure 1B , Figure 1AA schematic diagram of a curved display device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a curved display screen according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The curved display device 100 includes an image source 101, a controller 102, and a curved display screen, wherein the curved display screen includes a curved display surface 100S, a virtual axis 1, and a display module 103, and the display module 103 includes a plurality of display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

[0031] The image source 101 is configured to provide a plurality of pixel signals PS i The controller 102 is electrically connected between the display module 103 and the image source 101 and receives the pixel signal PS i , to control the plurality of display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. For the convenience of explanation, Figure 1A Only one controller 102 is shown, which is electrically connected to the display module 103. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the arc display device 100 may include multiple controllers 102, which respectively control a portion of the display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. For example, one controller may control multiple display units 11, 12, 13, one controller may control multiple display units 14, 15, 16, one controller may control multiple display units 17, 18, 19, 10, one controller may control multiple display units 21, 22, 23, and another controller may control multiple display units 24, 25, 26.

[0032] The above-mentioned multiple display units are arranged in an array on the curved display surface 100S. The virtual axis 1 is located on the curved display surface 100S, and the display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 are respectively arranged on both sides of the virtual axis 1. In this embodiment, the virtual axis 1 can be regarded as the equator of the curved display screen, and the display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 are respectively arranged at different latitudes on the curved display screen.

[0033] Reference Figure 1B and Figure 1C , Figure 1C yes Figure 1B The planar unfolding diagram of the curved display screen is shown in FIG. Figure 1C, each display unit 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 has a trapezoidal shape. Multiple display units 11 are arranged at positions having the same minimum distance from the virtual axis 1. Multiple display units 12 are arranged at positions having the same minimum distance from the virtual axis 1. The minimum distance between each display unit 12 and the virtual axis 1 is greater than the minimum distance between each display unit 11 and the virtual axis 1, and so on. Similarly, multiple display units 21 are arranged at positions having the same minimum distance from the virtual axis 1. Multiple display units 22 are arranged at positions having the same minimum distance from the virtual axis 1. The minimum distance between each display unit 22 and the virtual axis 1 is greater than the minimum distance between each display unit 21 and the virtual axis 1, and so on.

[0034] Reference Figure 1C and Figure 2A , Figure 2A Draws Figure 1C 1 is an enlarged view of the nine display units in the dotted frame. The nine display units are three display units 10, three display units 19 and three display units 18, and the nine display units are electrically connected to the image source 101 through the same controller 102. In addition, each of the display units 10, 19 and 18 includes a plurality of display columns DR i (like Figure 2A The display column DR shown i-1 ,DR i ,DR i+1 ,DR i+2 , hereinafter referred to as display column DR for convenience of description i ), each display column DR i Comprising a plurality of pixels P i Each display column DR i Parallel virtual axis 1 settings.

[0035] like Figure 2A As shown, the closer the display column DR is to the virtual axis 1, the i The more pixels P i That is, the display unit closer to the virtual axis 1 includes more pixels P i The pixels P of the display unit that have the same distance from the virtual axis 1 i Specifically, Figure 2A In the example, the three display units 10 have the same number of pixels P. i , the three display units 19 have the same number of pixels P i , the three display units 18 have the same number of pixels P i On the other hand, the display unit 10 has pixels Pi The number of pixels P of the display unit 19 is smaller than i The number of pixels P of the display unit 19 is i The number of pixels P of the display unit 18 is smaller than i The number of

[0036] It should be noted that due to Figure 1C yes Figure 1B A schematic diagram of a planar expansion of the curved display screen shown in FIG. Figure 2A yes Figure 1C The enlarged view of the nine display units shown in FIG. i+1 and P i+2 exist Figure 2A are not shown as being adjacent to each other, the two pixels P i+1 and P i+2 exist Figure 1B are substantially adjacent to each other and are located on both sides of the splicing line between two adjacent display units 10. i+4 and P i+5 exist Figure 2A are not shown as being adjacent to each other, the two pixels P i+4 and P i+5 exist Figure 1B The adjacent relationship between the pixels of the above-mentioned different display units is not limited to Figure 2A The display column DR shown i-1 , but the same applies to other display columns DR i ,DR i+1 ,DR i+2 etc., which will not be elaborated here.

[0037] Please refer again Figure 1A The controller 102 includes a pre-processor 1021, a frame signal generator 1022, and a driver 1023. The pre-processor 1021 is configured to process the pixel signal PS from the image source 101. i The frame signal generator 1022 is configured to generate a plurality of frame signals FS i , each frame signal FS i The driver 1023 is electrically connected between the frame signal generator 1022 and the display module 103, and generates a signal according to each frame signal FS. i The corresponding display unit in the display module 103 is driven.

[0038] Reference Figure 2A and Figure 2B , Figure 2B 9 frame signals FS are shown i(like Figure 2B The 9 frame signals FS shown i-1 , FS i , FS i+1 etc., which are collectively referred to as frame signal FS for convenience of description below. i ), corresponding to Figure 2A The nine display units 10, 19 and 18 are shown. Figure 2B As shown, each frame signal FS i It is a two-dimensional array signal and includes multiple pixel signals PS i (like Figure 2B The plurality of pixel signals PS shown i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 ,PS i+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ,PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 , hereinafter referred to as pixel signal PS for convenience of description i ). In addition, each frame signal FS i A plurality of first virtual signals D1 are also inserted i (like Figure 2B The first virtual signals D1 are shown i-1 、D1 i 、D1 i+1 , hereinafter collectively referred to as the first virtual signal D1 for convenience of description i ) and a plurality of second virtual signals D2 i (like Figure 2B The plurality of second virtual signals D2 shown i-1 、D2 i 、D2 i+1 , which is collectively referred to as the second virtual signal D2 for convenience of description below. i ), and the pixel signal PS i Located at the first virtual signal D1 i and the second virtual signal D2 i between.

[0039] like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown, the frame signal FS i-1 The number of columns of the frame signal FS is the same as the number of columns of the corresponding display unit 10 (the example is 5 columns, but the present invention is not limited thereto). i-1 The pixel signal PS i The number of pixels P of the corresponding display unit 10 i The number of Figure 2A and Figure 2B Similarly, the frame signal FS i The number of columns is the same as the number of columns of the corresponding display unit 19, and the frame signal FS i The pixel signal PS i The number of pixels P of the corresponding display unit 19 i The number of Figure 2A and Figure 2B The corresponding pattern is formed in the frame signal FS i+1 The number of columns is the same as the number of columns of the corresponding display unit 18, and the frame signal FS i+1 The pixel signal PS i The number of pixels P of the corresponding display unit 18 i The number of Figure 2A and Figure 2B The corresponding pattern is formed in .

[0040] Furthermore, although the frame signal FS i-1 The pixel signal PS i The number of frame signals FS i The pixel signal PS i The number of frame signals FS i+1 The pixel signal PS i The number of frame signals FS is different i-1 , FS i , FS i+1 The pixel signal PS in i The number of first virtual signals D1 i and the second virtual signal D2 i That is, although the display unit 10 has pixels P i The number of pixels P of the display unit 19 i The number of pixels P of the display unit 18 i The number of different FS signals in each frame is i Insert the first virtual signal D1 i and the second virtual signal D2 i The method makes the frame signal FS i-1 , FS i , FS i+1 The total number of signals in the display unit 10 is the same, so that the display units 10, 19, and 18 can be driven by the frame signal generated by the same frame signal generator 1022. In other embodiments of the present invention, the display units 10, 19, and 18 can be driven by different frame signal generators 1022 with the same circuit wiring design. In addition, although the display unit 10 has a pixel Pi The number of pixels P of the display unit 19 i The number of pixels P of the display unit 18 i The number of display units 10, 19, and 18 is different, and the display units 10, 19, and 18 can also be driven by the same driver 1023. Specifically, by inserting the first virtual signal D1 i With the second virtual signal D2 i , so that the display units 10, 19, 18 with different numbers of pixels located at different latitudes on the curved display screen can be driven by a frame signal generator and a driver with the same circuit wiring design, and there is no need to design frame signal generators and drivers with different circuit wiring designs for the display units at different latitudes.

[0041] Furthermore, in each frame signal FS i In the example, the first virtual signal D1 i The number of the second virtual signal D2 i The same number, and relative to the pixel signal PS i Symmetrical arrangement, such as Figure 2B In this embodiment, each frame signal FS i The frame signal of the flat panel display is also a two-dimensional rectangular array. Therefore, the display units 10, 19, and 18 can be driven by the frame signal generator of the flat panel display. Specifically, by inserting the first virtual signal D1 i With the second virtual signal D2 i , so that the display units 10, 19, 18 having a trapezoidal shape because they are located at different latitudes on the curved display screen can be driven by a frame signal generator and a driver suitable for a rectangular flat-panel display.

[0042] Furthermore, Figure 2A The display column DR shown i-1 The corresponding plot of the column is Figure 2B The pixel signal PS i For example, due to the continuous pixel signal PS from the image source 101 i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 ,PS i+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ,PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 Grouped as Figure 2B The first group of pixel signals (consisting of pixel signals PS i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 The second group of pixel signals (composed of pixel signals PSi+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ) and the third group of pixel signals (composed of pixel signals PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 The first virtual signal D1 is inserted between the first pixel group signal and the second pixel group signal and between the second pixel group signal and the third pixel group signal. i With the second virtual signal D2 i , so that each pixel P i The correct pixel signal PS is received i (like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As shown, the pixel signal PS i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 ,PS i+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ,PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 Corresponding to pixel P i-1 , P i , P i+1 , P i+2 , P i+3 , P i+4 , P i+5 , P i+6 , P i+7 ). Therefore, substantially adjacent pixels P i-1 , P i , P i+1 , P i+2 , P i+3 , P i+4 , P i+5 , P i+6 , P i+7 Receive continuous pixel signal PS i-1 ,PS i ,PS i+1 ,PS i+2 ,PS i+3 ,PS i+4 ,PS i+5 ,PS i+6 ,PS i+7 , even if pixel P i+1 And pixel P i+2 Belong to different display units, pixels P i+1 Together with pixel P i+2 The displayed image is also continuous.

[0043] Similar to the above display column DRi-1 To display continuous images, Figure 2A Each frame signal FS is shown i Multiple pixel signals PS in i The pattern composed of Figure 2B The corresponding plurality of pixels P in the display unit i The patterns formed are all corresponding (the patterns are the same), Figure 2A The images at the joints between the nine display units 10, 19, and 18 are all continuous.

[0044] More generally, by inserting an appropriate number of first virtual signals D1 i With the second virtual signal D2 i , each display unit 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the arc display device 100 can be driven by different frame signal generators with the same circuit wiring design, or driven by the same frame signal generator, and the images at the joints between the display units are continuous. For example, when the first virtual signal D1 with a lower number is inserted for the display units 11 and 21, i With the second virtual signal D2 i , and, for the display units 16 and 26, a first virtual signal D1 with a higher number is inserted i With the second virtual signal D2 i , so that the total number of signals in each corresponding frame signal is the same for display units 11, 21 or display units 16, 26, and different frame signal generators with the same circuit wiring design can be used to drive display units 11, 21, 16, and 26. Similarly, multiple display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 of the arc display device 100 can be driven by different frame signal generators with the same circuit wiring design.

[0045] Reference Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2B According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for driving a curved display device is provided to drive a curved display device 100. The method for driving a curved display device includes providing a pixel signal PS by an image source 101. i ; The controller 102 receives these pixel signals PS i ; The frame signal generator 1022 of the controller 102 generates a plurality of frame signals FS corresponding to the display units 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 respectively; i, wherein, in the pixel signal PS i Insert the first virtual signal D1 between i and the second virtual signal D2 i ; According to these frame signals FS i , the driver 1023 drives the corresponding display unit 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26. Each frame signal FS i Includes multiple pixel signals PS i , a plurality of first virtual signals D1 i and a plurality of second virtual signals D2 i , each frame signal FS i The pixel signal PS in i The number of first virtual signals D1 i and the second virtual signal D2 i The sum of the quantities is the same.

[0046] In summary, the arc display device driving method provided by the embodiment of the present invention inserts a virtual signal into the frame signal, so that the sum of the number of pixel signals, the number of first virtual signals and the number of second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same. Therefore, for display units with different numbers, a frame signal generator and a driving device with the same circuit wiring design can be used to control them without discontinuity of the image at the splicing point.

Claims

1. A curved display device, comprising: a curved display surface; A plurality of display units are arranged in an array on the arc-shaped display surface, and each of the display units includes a plurality of display rows, and each of the display rows includes a plurality of pixels; A virtual axis is located on the arc-shaped display surface, wherein the display units are respectively arranged on both sides of the virtual axis, and the display rows are arranged parallel to the virtual axis; an image source configured to provide a plurality of pixel signals; as well as At least one controller is electrically connected between the display unit and the image source, and the at least one controller is configured to receive the pixel signal and use a frame signal generator of the at least one controller to generate a plurality of frame signals corresponding to the display unit, wherein each of the frame signals includes the pixel signal, a plurality of first virtual signals, and a plurality of second virtual signals, and the pixel signals correspond to the pixels respectively. The sum of the number of the pixel signals, the number of the first virtual signals and the number of the second virtual signals in each frame signal is the same, The number of display rows of each display unit is the same. Each of the frame signals corresponds to one of the display units. 2 . The arc display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in each frame signal, the number of the first virtual signals is the same as the number of the second virtual signals. 3 . The arc display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the number of the pixel signals in each frame signal is the same as the number of the pixels in the corresponding display unit. 4 . The arc-shaped display device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display units having the same distance from the virtual axis have the same number of pixels.

5. The arc display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one controller further comprises a driver electrically connected between the frame signal generator and the display unit, and the driver drives the corresponding display unit according to the frame signal.

6. The arc display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the frame signals is a two-dimensional array signal composed of the pixel signal, the first virtual signal and the second virtual signal, and the pixel signal is located between the first virtual signal and the second virtual signal. 7 . The arc display device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the number of columns of the two-dimensional array signal is the same as the number of display columns of the corresponding display unit.

8. A method for driving a curved display device, for driving a curved display device, the curved display device comprising a plurality of display units, an image source and at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is electrically connected between the display units and the image source, the method comprising: Providing a plurality of pixel signals using the image source; Receiving the pixel signal with the at least one controller; as well as A frame signal generator of the at least one controller is used to generate a plurality of frame signals corresponding to the display units respectively. Each of the frame signals includes the pixel signal, a plurality of first virtual signals, and a plurality of second virtual signals, and the sum of the number of the pixel signals, the number of the first virtual signals, and the number of the second virtual signals in each of the frame signals is the same, The number of display rows of each display unit is the same. Each of the frame signals corresponds to one of the display units.

9. The method for driving a curved display device according to claim 8, further comprising: According to the frame signal, a driver of the at least one controller drives the corresponding display unit, The driver is electrically connected between the frame signal generator and the display unit.

10. The method for driving a curved display device according to claim 8, further comprising: The first dummy signal and the second dummy signal are inserted between the pixel signals.

11. The arc display device driving method as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the frame signals is a two-dimensional array signal composed of the pixel signal, the first virtual signal and the second virtual signal, and the pixel signal is located between the first virtual signal and the second virtual signal. 12 . The method for driving a curved display device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first virtual signal and the second virtual signal are arranged symmetrically with respect to the pixel signal.

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