Display device, timing controller and display panel

Abstract

A display device, a timing controller and a display panel are disclosed. The display device may include: a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels configured to display an image; a data driving circuit configured to provide a data signal to the plurality of sub-pixels; a gate driving circuit configured to provide a gate signal to the plurality of sub-pixels; and a timing controller configured to: receive image data of a subsequent frame of an image of a current frame displayed on the display panel, and control the data driving circuit differently during a blank period between the current frame and the subsequent frame based on the grayscale value of at least one of the plurality of edge sub-pixels in the image data of the subsequent frame. The plurality of edge sub-pixels are sub-pixels located adjacent to the gate driving circuit or at the edge of the display panel among the plurality of sub-pixels.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0116724 filed in Korea on September 2, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments relate to a display device, a timing controller, and a display panel. Background Art

[0004] In response to the development of the information society, the demand for various types of image display devices is increasing. In this regard, a series of display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays have recently been widely used.

[0005] The display device displays an image by driving a plurality of sub-pixels. When the image is displayed for an extended amount of time, the characteristic values ​​of the plurality of sub-pixels may change. The display device can sense the characteristic values ​​of the plurality of sub-pixels in real time and compensate for the changes in the characteristic values ​​of the plurality of sub-pixels in real time. However, when sensing is performed during certain times (e.g., during dark scenes or on sub-pixels located in dark portions of an image), sub-pixels located near the edge of the display may appear unexpectedly brighter or more prominent to the user. Summary of the invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a display device and a timing controller for selecting a real-time sensing sub-pixel based on image data of a subsequent frame.

[0007] A display device and a timing controller capable of reducing a phenomenon in which a real-time sensing line is visually recognized by a user are also provided.

[0008] An embodiment provides a display device, which includes: a display panel, which includes a plurality of sub-pixels that display an image of a corresponding frame; a data driving circuit, which is configured to provide data signals to the plurality of sub-pixels; a gate driving circuit, which is configured to provide gate signals to the plurality of sub-pixels; and a timing controller, which is configured to: receive image data of a subsequent frame of an image displayed on the display panel, and control the data driving circuit differently during a blank period (blank period) between a period of displaying the image of the corresponding frame and a period of displaying the image of the subsequent frame according to grayscale values ​​of a plurality of edge sub-pixels adjacent to the gate driving circuit in the image data of the subsequent frame.

[0009] An embodiment provides a timing controller configured to control a driving circuit to drive a display panel by receiving image data of a subsequent frame of an image displayed on the display panel. The timing controller may include: an image data storage device configured to store values ​​matching positions of a plurality of sub-pixels from the image data and grayscale values ​​according to the positions of the plurality of sub-pixels; an edge sub-pixel information calculator configured to compare the grayscale value of an edge sub-pixel located in an edge region of the display panel with a predetermined grayscale value by referring to the value stored in the image data storage device, and to calculate a comparison result value according to the result of the comparison; and a real-time sensing determiner configured to determine whether to perform real-time sensing processing by referring to the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator.

[0010] An embodiment provides a display panel, which includes: a plurality of sub-pixels; a data driving circuit that provides a data signal to the plurality of sub-pixels; and a timing controller that controls the data driving circuit by receiving image data having two grayscale values ​​during a plurality of frame periods. The plurality of sub-pixels may include edge sub-pixels positioned adjacent to the gate driving circuit. The edge sub-pixels may include first edge sub-pixels that display a high grayscale image of two grayscale values ​​during a plurality of frame periods. The data driving circuit may apply a data signal having a first voltage level to one edge sub-pixel of the first edge sub-pixel or one of the plurality of sub-pixels to which a gate signal identical to that input to the one edge sub-pixel is input during a blank period, and after a period in which the data signal having the first voltage level is applied to the above-mentioned sub-pixel, a data signal having a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level is applied to a sub-pixel in the plurality of sub-pixels that is located in the same row as the sub-pixel to which the data signal having the first voltage level is applied.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the display device and the timing controller may select a real-time sensing sub-pixel based on image data of a subsequent frame.

[0012] According to an embodiment, a display device and a timing controller can reduce a phenomenon in which a real-time sensing line is visually recognized by a user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 A display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0015] Figure 2 Schematically illustrating an equivalent circuit of a sub-pixel and a configuration for compensating a characteristic value of the sub-pixel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 3 A driving method for threshold voltage sensing of a driving transistor in a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0017] Figure 4 A driving method for mobility sensing of a driving transistor in a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0018] Figure 5 shows the driving timing of the display device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 6 The embodiment according to the present disclosure is shown Figure 5 Time period A in the timing diagram of

[0020] Figure 7 shows driving timing of a real-time sensing process and a recovery process in a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 8 illustrates a phenomenon in which a real-time sensing line is visually recognized after a restoration signal is input to a sub-pixel according to a comparative example;

[0022] Fig. 9 1. The present invention illustrates the selection of a real-time sensing sub-pixel SP using image data of a subsequent frame in a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B A timing controller is shown that selects or does not select a real-time sensing sub-pixel based on image data of a subsequent frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Fig.11 The following illustrates the selection of real-time sensing sub-pixels in an image of the (N+1)th frame based on the grayscale values ​​of edge sub-pixels according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B shows the positions of real-time sensing lines when an image of a first pattern is displayed on a display panel during a plurality of frame periods according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig.13 shows the position of a real-time sensing line RT Line when an image of a second pattern is displayed on a display panel during a plurality of frame periods according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0027] Fig.14A case where real-time sensing is stopped while an image of a third pattern is displayed on a display panel during a plurality of frame periods according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In the following description of examples or embodiments of the present invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which specific examples or embodiments that can be implemented are shown by way of illustration, and in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals and symbols may be used to refer to the same or similar components even if they are shown in different drawings from each other. In addition, in the following description of examples or embodiments of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of well-known functions and components incorporated herein may make the subject matter of some embodiments of the present invention quite unclear, the description will be omitted. Terms such as "including", "having", "comprising", "consisting of", and "formed of" used herein are generally intended to allow for the addition of other components unless these terms are used with the term "only". As used herein, the singular form is intended to include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0029] Terms such as "first", "second", "A", "B", "(A)" or "(B)" may be used herein to describe elements of the present invention. Each of these terms is not used to limit the nature, order, sequence or number of the elements, but is only used to distinguish the corresponding element from other elements.

[0030] When it is mentioned that a first element is “connected or coupled”, “contacted or overlapped”, etc. with a second element, it should be interpreted that not only the first element can be “directly connected or coupled” or “directly contacted or overlapped” with the second element, but also a third element can be “placed” between the first element and the second element, or the first element and the second element can be “connected or coupled”, “contacted or overlapped”, etc. with each other via a fourth element. Here, the second element can be included in at least one of the two or more elements that are “connected or coupled”, “contacted or overlapped”, etc. with each other.

[0031] When time relative terms such as "after", "later", "next", "before", etc. are used to describe a process or operation of an element or configuration, or a flow or step in an operation, process, or manufacturing method, these terms may be used to describe non-sequential or non-sequential processes or operations unless the terms "directly" or "immediately" are used together.

[0032] In addition, when referring to any dimension, relative size, etc., it should be considered that the numerical value or corresponding information (such as level, range, etc.) of the element or feature includes the tolerance or error range that may be caused by various factors (such as process factors, internal or external influences, noise, etc.), even if no relevant description is specified. In addition, the term "may" fully includes all meanings of the term "can".

[0033] Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 A display device 100 according to an embodiment is shown.

[0035] Reference Figure 1 The display device 100 according to the embodiment may include a display panel 110 , a data driving circuit 120 and a gate driving circuit 130 driving the display panel 110 , and a controller 140 controlling the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 .

[0036] In the display panel 110 , a plurality of signal lines, for example, a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality of gate lines GL, may be disposed on a substrate. A plurality of sub-pixels SP to which the plurality of data lines DL and the plurality of gate lines GL are connected may also be disposed in the display panel 110 .

[0037] The display panel 110 may include an active area AA on which an image is displayed and a non-active area NA on which an image is not displayed. In the display panel 110, a plurality of sub-pixels SP for displaying an image are disposed in the active area AA. In the non-active area NA, a pad portion on which the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 are mounted or connected may be disposed.

[0038] The data driving circuit 120 is a circuit configured to drive a plurality of data lines DL, and can provide data signals to the plurality of data lines DL. The gate driving circuit 130 is a circuit configured to drive a plurality of gate lines GL, and can provide a gate signal Vgate to the plurality of gate lines GL. The controller 140 can provide a data driving timing control signal DCS to the data driving circuit 120 to control the operation timing of the data driving circuit 120. The controller 140 can provide a gate driving timing control signal GCS to the gate driving circuit 130 to control the operation timing of the gate driving circuit 130.

[0039] The controller 140 can start scanning at a time point defined for each frame, convert image data input from an external source into image data DATA having a data signal format that can be read by the data driving circuit 120, provide the image data DATA to the data driving circuit 120, and control data driving at an appropriate time point in response to the scanning.

[0040] The controller 140 receives various timing signals such as a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, a data enable (DE) signal, and a clock (CLK) signal, and input image data from an external source (eg, a host system).

[0041] The controller 140 receives timing signals such as a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, a horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, a data enable (DE) signal, and a clock (CLK) signal, generates various control signals DCS and GCS, and outputs the various control signals DCS and GCS to the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 to control the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130.

[0042] The controller 140 outputs various gate driving timing control signals GCS including a gate start pulse (GSP), a gate shift clock (GSC), a gate output enable (GOE) signal, etc., to control the gate driving circuit 130 .

[0043] The controller 140 outputs various data driving timing control signals DCS including a source start pulse (SSP), a source sampling clock (SSC), etc. to control the data driving circuit 120 .

[0044] The data driving circuit 120 drives a plurality of data lines DL by receiving image data DATA from the controller 140 .

[0045] The data driving circuit 120 may include one or more source driver integrated circuits (SDICs).

[0046] Each of the SDICs may be connected to the display panel 110 through a tape automated bonding (TAB) method, connected to a bonding pad of the display panel 110 through a chip on glass (COG) method, or implemented as a chip on film (COF) structure connected to the display panel 110 .

[0047] The gate driving circuit 130 may output a gate signal having an on level or an off level under the control of the controller 140. The gate driving circuit 130 may drive the plurality of gate lines GL by providing the gate signal having the on level or the off level to the plurality of gate lines GL.

[0048] The gate driving circuit 130 may be connected to the display panel 110 through a TAB method, connected to a bonding pad of the display panel 110 through a COG method or a COP method, or connected to the display panel 110 through a COF method.

[0049] Alternatively, the gate driving circuit 130 may be formed in the non-active area NA of the display panel 110 by a gate-in-panel (GIP) method. The gate driving circuit 130 may be disposed on a substrate of the display panel 110 or connected to the substrate of the display panel 110. When the gate driving circuit 130 is a GIP type, the gate driving circuit 130 may be disposed in the non-active area NA of the substrate. When the gate driving circuit 130 is a COG type or a COF type, the gate driving circuit 130 may be connected to the substrate of the display panel 110.

[0050] When a specific gate line GL among the plurality of gate lines GL is turned on by the gate driving circuit 130 , the data driving circuit 120 may convert the image data DATA received from the controller 140 into an analog data signal and provide the analog data signal to the plurality of data lines DL.

[0051] The data driving circuit 120 may be connected to one side (e.g., the top side or the bottom side) of the display panel 110. The data driving circuit 120 may be connected to both sides (e.g., both the top side and the bottom side) of the display panel 110, or to two or more sides of the four sides of the display panel 110, depending on a driving method, a design of the display panel, etc.

[0052] The gate driving circuit 130 may be connected to one side (e.g., the left side or the right side) of the display panel 110. Depending on the driving method, the design of the display panel, etc., the gate driving circuit 130 may be connected to both sides (e.g., both the left side and the right side) of the display panel 110, or to two or more sides of the four sides of the display panel 110.

[0053] The controller 140 may be a timing controller, a control device including a timing controller and capable of performing other control functions, a control device different from a timing controller, or a circuit in a control device. The controller 140 may be implemented as various circuits or electronic components, such as an integrated circuit (IC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a processor, etc.

[0054] The controller 140 may be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), or the like, and be electrically connected to the data driving circuit 120 and the gate driving circuit 130 through the PCB, the FPC, or the like.

[0055] The controller 140 may send or receive signals to or from the data driving circuit 120 through one or more predetermined interfaces. The interfaces may include, for example, a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface, an embedded point-to-point interface (EPI), a serial peripheral interface (SPI), etc.

[0056] The controller 140 may include a storage medium, such as one or more registers.

[0057] The display device 100 according to the present embodiment may be a display such as a liquid crystal display device including a backlight unit, or may be a self-luminous display such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, a quantum dot display, or a micro light emitting diode (LED) display.

[0058] When the display device 100 according to the present embodiment is an organic light emitting diode display, each sub-pixel SP may include an organic light emitting diode OLED as a light emitting element. When the display device 100 is a quantum dot display, each sub-pixel SP may include a light emitting element implemented as a quantum dot as a self-luminous semiconductor crystal. When the display device 100 according to the present embodiment is a micro-LED display, each sub-pixel SP may include a self-luminous micro-LED based on an inorganic material as a light emitting element.

[0059] Figure 2 An equivalent circuit of a sub-pixel SP and a configuration for compensating a characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP according to an embodiment are schematically illustrated.

[0060] Reference Figure 2 , each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP may include a light emitting element ED, a driving transistor DRT, a scanning transistor SCT, and a storage capacitor Cst.

[0061] The light emitting element ED may include a pixel electrode PE, a common electrode CE, and a light emitting layer EL between the pixel electrode PE and the common electrode CE.

[0062] The pixel electrode PE of the light emitting element ED may be an electrode disposed on each sub-pixel SP, and the common electrode CE may be an electrode commonly disposed on all sub-pixels SP. Here, the pixel electrode PE may be an anode, and the common electrode CE may be a cathode. Conversely, the pixel electrode PE may be a cathode, and the common electrode CE may be an anode. The common electrode CE of the light emitting element ED may receive a base voltage EVSS.

[0063] For example, the light emitting element ED may be an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a light emitting diode (LED), or a quantum dot light emitting element.

[0064] The driving transistor DRT may include a first node N1, a second node N2, a third node N3, etc. as a transistor for driving the light emitting element ED.

[0065] The first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT may be a gate node of the driving transistor DRT and may be electrically connected to a source node or a drain node of the scanning transistor SCT. The second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may be a source node or a drain node of the driving transistor DRT, may be electrically connected to a source node or a drain node of the sensing transistor SENT, and may be electrically connected to a pixel electrode PE of the light emitting element ED. The third node N3 of the driving transistor DRT may be electrically connected to a driving voltage line DVL, through which a driving voltage EVDD is provided.

[0066] The scanning transistor SCT may be controlled by a scanning pulse SCAN as a type of gate signal and electrically connected to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT and the data line DL. That is, the scanning transistor SCT may be turned on or off by a scanning pulse SCAN provided through a scanning line SCL as a type of gate line GL, and controls the connection between the data line DL and the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0067] The scan transistor SCT may be turned on by a scan pulse SCAN having an on-level voltage to transfer a data signal Vdata provided through the data line DL to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0068] Here, when the scan transistor SCT is an N-type transistor, the on-level voltage of the scan pulse SCAN may be a high-level voltage, and when the scan transistor SCT is a P-type transistor, the on-level voltage of the scan pulse SCAN may be a low-level voltage.

[0069] The storage capacitor Cst may be electrically connected to the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT. The storage capacitor Cst is charged with an amount of charge corresponding to the voltage difference between both ends of the storage capacitor Cst and is used to maintain the voltage difference between both ends for a predetermined frame time. Therefore, in the predetermined frame time, the corresponding sub-pixel SP may emit light.

[0070] Reference Figure 2 , each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP provided in the display panel 110 of the display device 100 according to the embodiment may further include a sensing transistor SENT.

[0071] The sensing transistor SENT may be controlled by a sensing pulse SENSE as a type of gate signal and electrically connected to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT and the reference voltage line RVL. In other words, the sensing transistor SENT may be turned on or off by a sensing pulse SENSE provided through a sensing line SENL as a type of gate line GL to control the connection between the sensing line SL and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0072] The second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT will also be referred to as a sensing node.

[0073] The sensing transistor SENT may be turned on by a sensing pulse SENSE having an on-level voltage to transfer a reference voltage Vref provided through a reference voltage line RVL to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT. The reference voltage line RVL will also be referred to as a sensing line.

[0074] The initialization switch SPRE switches the electrical connection between the reference voltage line RVL and the reference voltage supply node Nref. The initialization switch SPRE includes one end electrically connected to the reference voltage line RVL and the other end electrically connected to the reference voltage supply node Nref.

[0075] A reference voltage Vref is applied to a reference voltage supply node Nref.

[0076] In addition, the sensing transistor SENT may be turned on by the sensing pulse SENSE having the on-level voltage to transfer the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT to the reference voltage line RVL.

[0077] Here, when the sensing transistor SENT is an N-type transistor, the on-level voltage of the sensing pulse SENSE may be a high-level voltage, and when the sensing transistor SENT is a P-type transistor, the on-level voltage of the sensing pulse SENSE may be a low-level voltage.

[0078] The function of the sensing transistor SENT for transmitting the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT to the reference voltage line RVL can be used in the driving for sensing the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP. In this case, the voltage transmitted to the reference voltage line RVL can be a voltage for calculating the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP or a voltage reflecting the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP.

[0079] Each of the driving transistor DRT, the scanning transistor SCT, and the sensing transistor SENT may be an N-type transistor or a P-type transistor. In an embodiment, for simplicity, each of the driving transistor DRT, the scanning transistor SCT, and the sensing transistor SENT will be illustrated as an N-type transistor as an example.

[0080] The storage capacitor Cst may be an external capacitor intentionally designed to be disposed outside the driving transistor DRT, rather than a parasitic capacitor (eg, Cgs or Cgd), such as an internal capacitor existing between the gate node and the source node (or drain node) of the driving transistor DRT.

[0081] The scan line SCL and the sensing line SENL may be different gate lines GL. In this case, the scan pulse SCAN and the sensing pulse SENSE may be different gate signals, and the switching timing of the scan transistor SCT and the switching timing of the sensing transistor SENT in a single sub-pixel SP may be independent of each other. That is, the switching timing of the scan transistor SCT and the switching timing of the sensing transistor SENT in a single sub-pixel SP may be the same or different.

[0082] Alternatively, the scan line SCL and the sensing line SENL may be the same gate line GL. The gate node of the scan transistor SCT and the gate node of the sensing transistor SENT in a single sub-pixel SP may be connected to a single gate line GL. In this case, the scan pulse SCAN and the sensing pulse SENSE may be the same gate signal, and the switching timing of the scan transistor SCT and the switching timing of the sensing transistor SENT in the single sub-pixel SP may be the same.

[0083] Figure 2 The structure of the sub-pixel SP shown is for illustration purposes only and may be variously modified in form to further include one or more transistors or one or more capacitors.

[0084] In addition, Figure 2 In the present invention, the sub-pixel structure is described by assuming that the display device 100 is a self-luminous display device. Alternatively, when the display device 100 is a liquid crystal display (LCD), each sub-pixel SP may include a transistor, a pixel electrode, and the like.

[0085] Reference Figure 2 , the display device 100 according to the embodiment may include a line capacitor Crv1. The line capacitor Crv1 may be a capacitor device having one end electrically connected to the reference voltage line RVL, or a parasitic capacitor formed on the reference voltage line RVL.

[0086] Reference Figure 2 The source driver integrated circuit SDIC may include an analog-to-digital converter ADC and a sampling switch SAM.

[0087] The reference voltage line RVL may be electrically connected to the analog-to-digital converter ADC. The analog-to-digital converter ADC may sense a voltage on the reference voltage line RVL. The voltage sensed by the analog-to-digital converter ADC may be a voltage reflecting a characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP.

[0088] In the present disclosure, the characteristic value of the subpixel SP may be a characteristic value of the driving transistor DRT or the light emitting element ED. The characteristic value of the driving transistor DRT may include a threshold voltage, mobility, etc. of the driving transistor DRT. The characteristic value of the light emitting element ED may include a threshold voltage of the light emitting element ED.

[0089] The analog-to-digital converter ADC may receive an analog voltage, convert the analog voltage into a digital value, and output the digital value to the controller 140 .

[0090] The sampling switch SAM may be located between the analog-to-digital converter ADC and the reference voltage line RVL. The sampling switch SAM may switch the electrical connection between the reference voltage line RVL and the analog-to-digital converter ADC.

[0091] The controller 140 may include a storage device 210 in which information about characteristic values ​​of the subpixels SP is stored, and a compensation circuit 220 that performs calculations based on the information stored in the storage device 210 to compensate for variations in the characteristic values ​​of the subpixels SP.

[0092] Information for compensating characteristic values ​​of the subpixel SP may be stored in the storage device 210. For example, the storage device 210 may store information about the threshold voltage and mobility of the driving transistor DRT of each of the plurality of subpixels SP and information about the threshold voltage of the light emitting element ED included in the subpixel SP.

[0093] Information on the threshold voltage of the light emitting element ED may be stored in a lookup table (LUT).

[0094] The compensation circuit 220 calculates the degree of change of the characteristic value of the corresponding subpixel SP based on the digital value input from the analog-to-digital converter ADC and the information about the characteristic value of the subpixel SP stored in the storage device 210. The compensation circuit 220 updates the information about the characteristic value of the subpixel SP stored in the storage device 210.

[0095] The controller 140 compensates the image data by reflecting the change of the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP calculated by the compensation circuit 220 , thereby driving the data driving circuit 120 .

[0096] The data signal Vdata reflecting the change of the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP may be output by the digital-to-analog converter DAC through the corresponding data line DL.

[0097] The above-described process of sensing a change in the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP and compensating for the change will also be referred to as a “sub-pixel characteristic value compensation process”.

[0098] Figure 3A driving method for threshold voltage sensing VthSensing of a driving transistor in a display device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0099] The driving of the driving transistor DRT for the threshold voltage sensing Vth Sensing may be a sensing process including an initialization operation, a tracking operation, and a sampling operation.

[0100] The initialization operation is an operation of initializing the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0101] In the initialization operation, the scan transistor SCT and the sense transistor SENT are turned on, and the initialization switch SPRE is turned off.

[0102] Therefore, each of the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is initialized with the threshold voltage sensing driving data signal Vdata and the reference voltage Vref (V1=Vdata, V2=Vref).

[0103] The tracking operation is an operation of changing the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT until the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is a voltage reflecting the threshold voltage or a change in the threshold voltage.

[0104] That is, the tracking operation is an operation of tracking the voltage at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT in which the threshold voltage or a change in the threshold voltage may be reflected.

[0105] In the tracking operation, the initialization switch SPRE or the sensing transistor SENT is turned off, and thus the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is floated.

[0106] Therefore, the voltage at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT increases.

[0107] When the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT increases, the incremental increase of the voltage V2 gradually decreases, and then the voltage V2 becomes saturated.

[0108] The saturation voltage at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may correspond to a difference between the data signal Vdata and the threshold voltage Vth or a difference between the signal Vdata and the threshold voltage deviation ΔVth.

[0109] When the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is saturated, a sampling operation may be performed.

[0110] The sampling operation is an operation of measuring a voltage reflecting a threshold voltage or a change in threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT. In the sampling operation, the analog-to-digital converter ADC senses a voltage on a reference voltage line RVL, for example, a voltage V2 on a second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0111] The voltage Vsen sensed by the analog-to-digital converter ADC may be a voltage Vdata-Vth obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage Vth from a data signal Vdata, or a voltage Vdata-ΔVth obtained by subtracting a threshold voltage deviation ΔVth from a data signal Vdata. Here, Vth may be a positive threshold voltage or a negative threshold voltage.

[0112] Figure 4 A driving method for mobility sensing of a driving transistor DRT in a display device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0113] Driving for mobility sensing (Mobility Sensing) of the driving transistor DRT may be performed as a sensing process including an initialization operation, a tracking operation, and a sampling operation.

[0114] The initialization operation is an operation of initializing the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0115] In the initialization operation, the scan transistor SCT and the sense transistor SENT are turned on, and the initialization switch SPRE is turned off.

[0116] Therefore, each of the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is initialized with the mobility sensing driving data signal Vdata and the reference voltage Vref (V1=Vdata, V2=Vref).

[0117] The tracking operation is an operation of changing the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT until the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is a voltage reflecting the mobility or a change in the mobility.

[0118] That is, the tracking operation is an operation of tracking the voltage at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT in which the mobility or the change in the mobility can be reflected.

[0119] In the tracking operation, the initialization switch SPRE or the sensing transistor SENT is turned off, so the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is floated. Here, the scanning transistor SCT is turned off, so the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT may also be floated.

[0120] Therefore, the voltage V2 at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT starts to increase.

[0121] An increase rate of the voltage V2 at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT varies according to the current capability (eg, mobility) of the driving transistor DRT.

[0122] The greater the current capability (eg, mobility) of the driving transistor DRT, the faster the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT increases.

[0123] The sampling operation may be performed after the tracking operation has been performed for a predetermined time Δt, for example, after the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT has increased for a predetermined time Δt.

[0124] During the tracking operation, the rate of increase of the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT corresponds to the voltage change ΔV within the predetermined time Δt.

[0125] In the sampling operation, the sampling switch SAM is turned on, so that the analog-to-digital converter ADC and the reference voltage line RVL are electrically connected to each other.

[0126] Therefore, the analog-to-digital converter ADC senses the voltage on the reference voltage line RVL, for example, the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0127] The voltage Vsen sensed by the analog-to-digital converter ADC is a voltage increased by a voltage change ΔV within a predetermined time Δt, and corresponds to the mobility.

[0128] In response to the above reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the described threshold voltage sensing or mobility sensing driving, the analog-to-digital converter ADC converts the voltage Vsen sensed for the threshold voltage sensing or the mobility sensing into a digital value, generates sensing data including the converted digital value (eg, sensing value), and outputs the sensing data.

[0129] The sensing data output by the analog-to-digital converter ADC may be provided to the compensation circuit 220. In some cases, the sensing data may be provided to the compensation circuit 220 through the storage device 210.

[0130] The compensation circuit 220 can determine the characteristic value (e.g., threshold voltage and mobility) of the driving transistor DRT in the corresponding sub-pixel or the change in the characteristic value (e.g., change in threshold voltage and change in mobility) of the driving transistor DRT based on the sensing data provided by the analog-to-digital converter ADC, and perform characteristic value compensation processing.

[0131] Here, the change in the characteristic value of the driving transistor DRT may indicate that current sensing data has changed from previous sensing data or that current sensing data has changed from initial compensation data.

[0132] Therefore, by comparing the characteristic values ​​or changes in the characteristic values ​​between the driving transistors DRT, the deviation of the characteristic values ​​between the driving transistors DRT can be determined. When the change in the characteristic value in the driving transistor DRT indicates that the current sensing data has changed from the initial compensation data, the deviation of the characteristic value between the driving transistors DRT (for example, the brightness deviation between the sub-pixels) can be determined based on the change in the characteristic value in the driving transistor DRT.

[0133] Here, the compensation data may be initial setting data that is previously set and stored when the display device is manufactured.

[0134] The characteristic value compensation process may include a threshold voltage compensation process of compensating a threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT and a mobility compensation process of compensating a mobility of the driving transistor DRT.

[0135] The threshold voltage compensation process may include the following processes: calculating compensation data for compensating for a threshold voltage or a threshold voltage deviation (eg, threshold voltage variation), storing the calculated compensation data in the storage device 210, and changing corresponding image data DATA with the calculated compensation data.

[0136] The mobility compensation process may include the following processes: calculating compensation data for compensating for mobility or mobility deviation (eg, mobility variation), storing the calculated compensation data in the storage device 210, and changing corresponding image data DATA with the calculated compensation data.

[0137] The compensation circuit 220 may change the image data DATA through a threshold voltage compensation process or a mobility compensation process, and provide the changed image data DATA to a corresponding source driving integrated circuit SDIC in the data driving circuit 120 .

[0138] Therefore, the corresponding source driver integrated circuit SDIC converts the data changed by the compensation circuit 220 into a data signal through the digital-to-analog converter DAC, and provides the data signal to the corresponding sub-pixel, thereby actually compensating for the characteristic values ​​(e.g., threshold voltage and mobility) of the sub-pixel.

[0139] Figure 5 Driving timing of the display device according to the embodiment is shown.

[0140] Reference Figure 5When a power-on signal is generated, the display device according to the embodiment may perform one of the above-mentioned compensation processes. Such a sensing process will be referred to as an "on-sensing process".

[0141] Reference Figure 5 When a power-off signal is generated, the display device according to the embodiment may perform one of the above-mentioned compensation processes before an off-sequence (e.g., powering off the device) occurs. Such a sensing process will be referred to as an "off-sensing process".

[0142] Reference Figure 5 The display device according to the embodiment may perform one of the above compensation processes during display driving after generating a power-on signal and before generating a power-off signal. Such a sensing process will be referred to as a "real-time (RT) sensing process".

[0143] The real-time sensing process may be performed during each blank period BLANK between active periods ACT with respect to a vertical synchronization signal Vsync.

[0144] The display device according to the embodiment may perform a real-time sensing process in a blank period BLANK between a first active period ACT1 in which an image of a first frame is displayed on a display panel and a second active period ACT2 in which an image of a second frame is displayed on the display panel.

[0145] The display device according to the embodiment may perform a real-time sensing process in a blank period BLANK between a second active period ACT2 in which an image of a second frame is displayed on the display panel and a third active period ACT3 in which an image of a third frame is displayed on the display panel.

[0146] Figure 3 The driving of the threshold voltage sensing shown in can be performed in a period before the power-off signal is generated and a shutdown sequence such as power-off is performed.

[0147] Figure 3 The driving of the mobility sensing shown in can be performed in a period before the power-off signal is generated, which is after the power-on signal is generated.

[0148] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 Time period A in the timing diagram of .

[0149] Reference Figure 6 , after the active period ACT1 of the image of the first frame is displayed on the display panel, the real-time sensing process may be performed.

[0150] After performing the real-time sensing process, a real-time recovery process may be performed.

[0151] When the real-time restoration process is performed, a data signal for sensing a characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP is applied to one sub-pixel SP among the plurality of sub-pixels SP so as to sense the characteristic value of the sub-pixel SP.

[0152] In order to instantaneously increase the voltage on the sensing node of the sub-pixel SP during the blank period BLANK, a data signal having a high voltage level is instantaneously applied to the data line DL.

[0153] Such a data signal having a high voltage level may have an influence on displaying an image of a subsequent frame, and thus a recovery process may be performed after performing a real-time sensing process.

[0154] The recovery process may be performed in a certain period of the active period ACT of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync. The recovery process may be performed in a blank period BLANK of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync.

[0155] When the recovery process is performed in the blank period BLANK, the real-time sensing process may be performed in a certain period in the blank period BLANK, and the recovery process may be performed in the remaining period in the blank period BLANK.

[0156] Figure 7 A driving timing of a real-time sensing process and a restoring process in a display device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0157] The real-time sensing process may be a mobility sensing drive.

[0158] As described above, the mobility sensing drive for the driving transistor DRT may be performed in the sensing process including the initialization operation, the tracking operation, and the sampling operation.

[0159] The initialization operation is an operation of initializing the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0160] Reference Figure 7 , the initialization operation may include a first period T1, a second period T2, and a third period T3.

[0161] In the initialization operation, the scan transistor SCT and the sense transistor SENT are turned on, and the initialization switch SPRE is turned off.

[0162] Therefore, the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT are initialized with the data signal Vdata and the reference voltage Vref for driving mobility sensing, respectively (V1=Vdata, V2=Vref).

[0163] The tracking operation is an operation of changing the voltage V2 on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT until the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is a voltage reflecting the mobility or the change in the mobility. The sampling operation is an operation of sensing the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT, which reflects the mobility or the change in the mobility of the driving transistor DRT.

[0164] Here, sensing the voltage on the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may be represented as sensing a reference voltage line RVL electrically connected to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

[0165] Reference Figure 7 , the fourth period T4 may include a tracking operation and a sampling operation.

[0166] In a fifth period T5 after the fourth period T4, a recovery process may be performed.

[0167] When the recovery process is performed, the voltage level of the recovery signal Recovery Data applied to the data line DL may be lower than the voltage level of the data signal Vdata applied to the data line DL during the previous second period T2.

[0168] A voltage level of the recovery signal Recovery Data may be lower than a voltage level of a data signal for mobility sensing.

[0169] During a portion of the fifth period T5 , the recovery signal Recovery Data is provided to the data line DL.

[0170] While the recovery signal Recovery Data is supplied to the data line DL, a scan pulse SCAN having an on-level voltage may be supplied to the scan transistor SCT, and a sense pulse SENSE having an on-level voltage may be supplied to the sense transistor SENT.

[0171] During the fifth period T5 , the initialization switch SPRE may be turned on.

[0172] Therefore, the voltage at the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may be initialized with the reference voltage Vref.

[0173] Figure 8 A comparative example is shown in which a user can visually recognize a phenomenon regarding the real-time sensing line RT Line after a restoration signal is input to the sub-pixel SP.

[0174] Reference Figure 8 , the display device 100 may perform a recovery process after the real-time sensing process.

[0175] In the restoration process period, a restoration signal is input to the sub-pixel RT Sensing SP sensed during the real-time sensing process period.

[0176] Furthermore, during the period of the restoration process, a restoration signal may be input to each of the sub-pixels SP to which the same gate signal as the gate signal applied to the sub-pixels RT Sensing SP sensed during the period of the real-time sensing process is applied.

[0177] In other words, the restoration signal may be input to each of the sub-pixels SP to which the same gate signal as the gate signal applied to the sub-pixels RT Sensing SP sensed during the period of the real-time sensing process is applied.

[0178] Therefore, the restoration signal is input to each of the sub-pixel RT SensingSP sensed during the period of the real-time sensing process and the edge sub-pixels ESP each of which is input with the gate signal applied to the sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0179] Here, the edge sub-pixel ESP may refer to a sub-pixel SP positioned adjacent to or located near the gate driving circuit 130. When two or more sub-pixels SP form a single pixel, the edge sub-pixel ESP may refer to a sub-pixel SP included in a pixel disposed adjacent to or located near the gate driving circuit 130.

[0180] The gate driving circuit 130 provides a scanning signal SCAN to the plurality of sub-pixels SP. Due to capacitor components formed between various signal lines of the display panel 110 and the gate lines GL, when the distance between the gate driving circuit 130 and the sub-pixels SP increases, the scanning signal SCAN provided to the sub-pixels SP is delayed in time (e.g., a sub-pixel farther from the gate driving circuit 130 may experience a longer delay).

[0181] Therefore, the gate driving circuit 130 provides the scan signal SCAN to the gate line GL by considering the time delay so that the sub-pixel SP far from the gate driving circuit 130 can also be sufficiently charged with the recovery signal.

[0182] When the recovery signal is applied, the scan signal SCAN with substantially no time delay is input to the edge sub-pixel ESP adjacent to the gate driving circuit 130. The scan signal SCAN having an on-level voltage may be applied to the edge sub-pixel ESP for a relatively long time, and a relatively large amount of current may flow through the light emitting element of the edge sub-pixel ESP (e.g., a sub-pixel located near the gate driving circuit 130 may receive more power than a further sub-pixel located on the opposite side of the display panel).

[0183] When the recovery signal is applied, the scan signal SCAN having a relatively large degree of time delay is applied to the sub-pixel SP farther from the gate driving circuit 130. The scan signal SCAN having an on-level voltage may be applied to the sub-pixel SP farther from the gate driving circuit 130 in a relatively short time, and a relatively small amount of current may flow through the light emitting element of the sub-pixel SP.

[0184] Therefore, in the display panel 110 , the edge sub-pixels ESP appear relatively bright, while the sub-pixels SP far from the gate driving circuit 130 appear relatively dark.

[0185] A line of sub-pixels SP to which a gate signal identical to a gate signal input to sub-pixels RT Sensing SP sensed during a period of a real-time sensing process is input is referred to as a real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0186] In particular, when the real-time sensing line RT Line displays a low grayscale value, the edge sub-pixel ESP may appear more prominent to the user. This phenomenon will be referred to as "real-time sensing line appearance".

[0187] The presence of real-time sensing lines is problematic because it prevents the display device 100 from achieving a perfect black screen and reduces display quality.

[0188] Therefore, a method is needed to perform real-time sensing processing by considering whether the grayscale value of the edge subpixel ESP in image data of a subsequent frame is low grayscale or high grayscale and to prevent the edge subpixel ESP from appearing more prominent to the user during real-time sensing.

[0189] Fig. 9 The selection of the real-time sensing sub-pixel SP using image data of a subsequent frame in the display device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0190] Reference Fig. 9 , when the display panel 110 displays an image of an N-th frame (where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1), image data of the (N+1)-th frame is input to the timing controller 140 .

[0191] The timing controller 140 can perform "real-time sensing subpixel selection processing" by receiving image data of the (N+1)th frame to select which subpixels to sense or not to sense (for example, subpixels not selected for sensing can be sensed later when the grayscale value of the subsequent frame is more favorable, where sensing during a dark period or dark portion or immediately before a dark period or dark portion can be avoided, and subpixels not selected for sensing can be rearranged later).

[0192] The timing controller 140 may select whether to perform the real-time sensing during the blank period BLANK immediately after the active period ACT of the N-th frame by performing a real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process.

[0193] The timing controller 140 may select whether to perform a real-time sensing process during a blank period BLANK immediately after the active period ACT of the Nth frame based on the grayscale values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP of the image data of the (N+1)th frame.

[0194] When the grayscale value of any edge subpixel ESP of all edge subpixels ESP of the image data of the (N+1)th frame is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined grayscale value, the timing controller 140 decides to perform real-time sensing processing during the blank period BLANK immediately after the active period ACT of the Nth frame.

[0195] The timing controller 140 selects the edge sub-pixel ESP whose grayscale value is greater than or equal to a predetermined grayscale value and the sub-pixel SP to which the gate signal identical to that input to the edge sub-pixel ESP is input as the real-time sensing line RTLine.

[0196] The timing controller 140 may select one sub-pixel SP from among a plurality of sub-pixels SP included in the selected real-time sensing line RT Line as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0197] The timing controller controls the data driving circuit 120 while performing a real-time sensing process.

[0198] The data driving circuit 120 may provide a data signal for mobility sensing to the selected real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP in a period in which the real-time sensing process is performed.

[0199] The timing controller 140 controls the gate driving circuit 130 during a period of the real-time sensing process.

[0200] In a period in which the real-time sensing process is performed, the gate driving circuit 130 may provide a gate signal to the selected real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP at a timing.

[0201] In a period of the real-time sensing process, the data driving circuit 120 senses a sensing node of the selected real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP and receives an analog voltage.

[0202] In a period of the real-time sensing process, the data driving circuit 120 may convert an input analog voltage into a digital value and output the converted digital value to the timing controller 140 .

[0203] The timing controller 140 may compensate for a variation in a characteristic value of the selected real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP using the input digital value.

[0204] In a period of a restoration process after the real-time sensing process, the data driving circuit 120 may provide a restoration signal to the sub-pixels SP of the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0205] In a period of a restoring process after the real-time sensing process, the gate driving circuit 130 may provide a gate signal to the sub-pixel SP of the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0206] In the image display period after the period of the recovery process, the data driving circuit 120 inputs the image display data signal to the sub-pixel SP of the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0207] Here, the data signal of the sub-pixel SP input to the real-time sensing line RT Line is a data signal for displaying image data of the (N+1)th frame.

[0208] A data signal for displaying an image whose grayscale value is equal to or greater than a predetermined grayscale value is input to the edge sub-pixel ESP included in the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0209] The edge sub-pixel ESP of the real-time sensing line RT Line displays a high grayscale image during a period of the restoration process, and also displays a high grayscale image during a period of displaying an image based on image data of the (N+1)th frame.

[0210] Therefore, a phenomenon in which the edge sub-pixel ESP of the real-time sensing line RT Line is visually recognized by the user may be reduced and / or prevented.

[0211] That is, since the real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process is performed with consideration of the image data of the (N+1)th frame (e.g., the next frame), the occurrence of the real-time sensing line RT Line can be reduced and / or prevented. In other words, when deciding whether to perform sensing on a given sub-pixel line or delay sensing until later when viewing conditions are more favorable, future display conditions (e.g., future bright scenes or portions, or future dark scenes or portions) can be considered.

[0212] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B A timing controller 140 is shown that selects or deselects a real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP based on image data of a subsequent frame according to an embodiment.

[0213] Reference Fig. 10A, the timing controller 140 according to the embodiment may include an image data storage device 1010 , an edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 , a real-time sensing determiner 1030 , and a real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 .

[0214] The timing controller 140 may receive image data of the (N+1)th frame while image data of the Nth frame is displayed on the display panel 110. That is, the timing controller 140 may receive image data of a subsequent frame of an image displayed on the display panel.

[0215] The image data storage device 1010 stores values ​​matching the positions of the plurality of sub-pixels SP and grayscale values ​​according to the positions of the plurality of sub-pixels SP in the input image data from the (N+1)th frame.

[0216] The image data storage device 1010 stores the grayscale value of each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP of the (N+1)th frame.

[0217] The edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 may compare the grayscale values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP with a predetermined grayscale value and calculate a comparison result value of the edge sub-pixel ESP.

[0218] When the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP is less than the predetermined grayscale value, the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 calculates a comparison result value matching the low grayscale condition for the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP. For example, in this case, a comparison result value "0" may be calculated for the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP, and sensing may be delayed or prevented.

[0219] When the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP is equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value, the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 calculates a comparison result value matching the high grayscale condition for the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP in this case, and may allow sensing. For example, a comparison result value "1" may be calculated for the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP.

[0220] The predetermined grayscale value may be, for example, grayscale 65 among grayscale values ​​from 0 to 255.

[0221] In this case, when the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP corresponds to a grayscale value of 0 to 64, the grayscale value of the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP is less than 65 grayscale, which is a predetermined grayscale value. The edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 may calculate a value of "0" as a comparison result value of the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP, and may delay or prevent sensing.

[0222] When the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP corresponds to a grayscale value of 65 to 255, the grayscale value of the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP is equal to or greater than 65 grayscale as a predetermined grayscale value. The edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 may calculate a value of "1" as a comparison result value of the corresponding edge sub-pixel ESP, and may allow sensing.

[0223] The real-time sensing determiner 1030 determines whether to perform a real-time sensing process by referring to the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 .

[0224] When the comparison result values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP are respectively low grayscale, the real-time sensing determiner 1030 may determine not to perform the real-time sensing process during the blank period BLANK immediately before an image of the (N+1)th frame is displayed on the display panel 110 .

[0225] For example, when the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 outputs the comparison result value of all edge sub-pixels ESP in the image data of the (N+1)th frame as "0", the real-time sensing determiner 1030 can decide not to perform real-time sensing processing during the blank period BLANK between the image display period ACT for displaying the image of the Nth frame and the image display period ACT for displaying the image of the (N+1)th frame.

[0226] When the comparison result value of one edge sub-pixel ESP among all edge sub-pixels ESP in the image data of the (N+1)th frame is a high grayscale, the real-time sensing determiner 1030 may determine that a real-time sensing process is to be performed during a blank period BLANK immediately before the image of the (N+1)th frame is displayed on the display panel 110.

[0227] Reference Fig. 10A Before displaying an image of a subsequent frame on the display panel 110 , the real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 may select one sub-pixel SP from a plurality of sub-pixels SP as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0228] The real time sensing subpixel selector 1040 may select the real time sensing subpixel RT Sensing SP only when the real time sensing determiner 1030 determines to perform the real time sensing process during the blank period BLANK immediately before the image of the (N+1)th frame is displayed on the display panel 110 .

[0229] When the real-time sensing determiner 1030 determines that a real-time sensing process is to be performed during a blank period BLANK immediately before displaying an image of a subsequent frame, the real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 selects the real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP by referring to the value stored in the image data storage device 1010 and the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020.

[0230] The real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 can select an edge sub-pixel ESP whose grayscale value is equal to or greater than a predetermined grayscale value or a sub-pixel SP located in the same column as the above-mentioned edge sub-pixel ESP from multiple sub-pixels SP as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP by referring to the value stored in the image data storage device 1010 and the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020.

[0231] Here, the plurality of sub-pixels SP located on the same column as the edge sub-pixel ESP refers to sub-pixels SP to which the gate signal Vgate (eg, the gate signal Vgate input to the edge sub-pixel ESP) is input.

[0232] The real time sensing subpixel selector 1040 may select one subpixel SP located on the real time sensing line RT Line including the edge subpixel ESP having a high grayscale value as the real time sensing subpixel RTSensing SP from among the plurality of subpixels SP to perform sensing.

[0233] The real time sensing sub pixel selector 1040 may select the real time sensing sub pixel RT Sensing SP from the real time sensing line RT Line randomly or based on a predetermined criterion.

[0234] Therefore, the timing controller 140 can perform real-time sensing processing while preventing the real-time sensing line from being visually recognized by the user by using the position information of the sub-pixel SP and the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP. Therefore, the phenomenon that the real-time sensing line RT Line is visually recognized by the user can be reduced while compensating the characteristic value of the driving transistor in real time.

[0235] When the real-time sensing determiner 1030 decides to perform the real-time sensing process, the timing controller 140 may output a signal to control the driving circuit to sense a change in a characteristic value of the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0236] Here, the driving circuit generally refers to a circuit for driving a display panel. For example, the driving circuit may include a circuit for driving a display panel, such as a data driving circuit, a gate driving circuit, and a power management circuit.

[0237] As described above, in order to drive the driving circuit, the timing controller 140 may output various control signals, such as a data driving circuit control signal and a gate driving circuit control signal.

[0238] The change in the characteristic value of the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP may refer to a change in the mobility of the driving transistor DRT of the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0239] The timing controller 140 may control the driving circuit so that a restoration signal having a predetermined voltage level is applied to a plurality of sub-pixels SP located in the real-time sensing line RT Line in a period before an image of a subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel after performing the real-time sensing process.

[0240] Reference Fig. 10B , in the image data of the (N+1)th frame, the grayscale values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP may be low grayscales, each of which is lower than a predetermined grayscale value.

[0241] The image data of the (N+1)th frame is stored in the image data storage device 1010 .

[0242] The edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 compares the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP with a predetermined grayscale value by referring to the value stored in the image data storage device 1010, and calculates a comparison result value.

[0243] Since the grayscale values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP are respectively less than the predetermined grayscale values, the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 calculates comparison result values ​​matching the low grayscale case for all edge sub-pixels ESP.

[0244] The real-time sensing determiner 1030 may select whether to perform the real-time sensing process during the blank period BLANK immediately before the image of the (N+1)th frame is displayed by referring to the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 .

[0245] When the comparison result value of the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 corresponds to a low grayscale case for all edge sub-pixels ESP, the real-time sensing determiner 1030 may stop or may not perform the real-time sensing process during the blank period BLANK.

[0246] Therefore, the real-time sensing subpixel selector 1040 does not select the real-time sensing subpixel RT Sensing SP, and real-time sensing of the subpixel line may be performed later when image conditions are more favorable (eg, when there are high grayscale conditions in the display data).

[0247] Therefore, when the grayscale values ​​of all edge sub-pixels ESP are low grayscale, any edge sub-pixel ESP in which the real-time sensing line RTLine is not visually recognized cannot be selected, and thus the real-time sensing process can be stopped or prevented. When new image data whose grayscale value is greater than a predetermined grayscale value is input to the edge sub-pixel ESP, the real-time sensing process can be performed again.

[0248] Fig.11 The selection of the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP in the image of the (N+1)th frame based on the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP is shown.

[0249] Reference Fig.11 During the image display period ACT, the display panel 110 displays an image of the Nth frame.

[0250] In the image of the (N+1)th frame, when there is an edge sub-pixel ESP located in the area displaying the high grayscale image portion, real-time sensing processing can be performed between the period of displaying the image of the Nth frame and the period of displaying the image of the (N+1)th frame.

[0251] When the real-time sensing process is performed, a data signal for real-time sensing is applied to the real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP.

[0252] The real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP is located in the same line as the edge sub-pixel ESP displaying a high grayscale image in the image of the (N+1)th frame.

[0253] After performing the real-time sensing process, a recovery process may be performed. A recovery signal may be applied to the sub-pixel SP of the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0254] Due to the low delay degree of the gate signal, the edge sub-pixel ESP is driven brighter than other sub-pixels SP located farther away in the real-time sensing line RT Line.

[0255] However, since the edge sub-pixels ESP of the real-time sensing line RT Line in the image of the (N+1)th frame already display a high grayscale image, the edge sub-pixels ESP of the real-time sensing line RT Line are not easily visually recognized by the viewer (for example, since this part of the screen is already becoming relatively bright anyway, sensing is performed safely).

[0256] Therefore, even in the case where the real-time sensing process is performed, the real-time sensing line RT Line is not easily visually recognized. Therefore, the display quality can be improved.

[0257] Fig. 12A and Fig. 12BThe positions of the real-time sensing lines when an image of a first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods are shown.

[0258] Reference Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B , an image of a first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods.

[0259] The image of the first pattern is an image in which both a low-grayscale image portion and a high-grayscale image portion are displayed on a single screen.

[0260] In the image of the first pattern, some edge sub-pixels ESP among all edge sub-pixels ESP display low-grayscale images, and the remaining edge sub-pixels ESP except for some edge sub-pixels ESP display high-grayscale images.

[0261] When the image of the first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , all of the sub-pixels SP and the edge sub-pixels ESP to which the same gate signal as that input to the edge sub-pixel ESP is input may display a low grayscale image or a high grayscale image.

[0262] That is, when the image of the first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , all of the edge sub-pixel ESP and the sub-pixels SP sharing the gate line GL with the edge sub-pixel ESP may display a low grayscale image or a high grayscale image.

[0263] The edge sub-pixel ESP that displays a high grayscale image when an image of the first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods will be referred to as a first edge sub-pixel First ESP.

[0264] In addition, the edge sub-pixel ESP that displays a low grayscale image when the image of the first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods will be referred to as a second edge sub-pixel Second ESP.

[0265] Reference Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B During a plurality of frame periods in which an image of a first pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , the real-time sensing line RT Line includes only the first edge sub-pixel First ESP but does not include the second edge sub-pixel SecondESP.

[0266] When the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP is selected from the image data of the subsequent frame based on the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP according to the embodiment, only the first edge sub-pixel First ESP may be included in the real-time sensing line RTLine. Therefore, when the image of the first pattern is displayed during a plurality of frame periods, by determining that only the edge sub-pixel ESP corresponding to the first edge sub-pixel First ESP is included in the real-time sensing line RT Line, it may be determined whether the “real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process” according to the embodiment is applied.

[0267] Therefore, whether to apply the “real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process” may be determined by displaying the image of the first pattern on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods.

[0268] Reference Fig. 12A and Fig. 12B , when there are two or more edge sub-pixels ESP displaying a high grayscale image in the image of the subsequent frame, the real-time sensing line RT Line may include the edge sub-pixel ESP having the highest grayscale value in the image of the subsequent frame. When there are two or more edge sub-pixels ESP displaying a high grayscale image in the image of the subsequent frame, the real-time sensing line RT Line may be selected to include, for example, the edge sub-pixel ESP having the highest grayscale value.

[0269] Fig.13 The position of the real-time sensing line RT Line when the image of the second pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods is shown.

[0270] In the image of the second pattern, both the low-grayscale image portion and the high-grayscale image portion are displayed on a single screen.

[0271] In the image of the second pattern, all edge sub-pixels ESP of the display panel 110 display a high grayscale image.

[0272] That is, when the image of the second pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , all edge sub-pixels ESP may correspond to the first edge sub-pixel First ESP.

[0273] When the image of the second pattern is displayed during a plurality of frame periods, the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP may be randomly selected from among the plurality of sub-pixels SP.

[0274] Since all edge sub-pixels ESP display a high grayscale image when the image of the second pattern is displayed on the display panel 110, even in the case where real-time sensing is performed, a phenomenon of visually recognizing the real-time sensing line RT Line can be minimized. Therefore, when the image of the second pattern is displayed during a plurality of frame periods, by determining that only the edge sub-pixel ESP corresponding to the first edge sub-pixel First ESP is included in the real-time sensing line RT Line, it can be determined whether to apply the “real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process” according to the embodiment.

[0275] Therefore, whether to apply the 'real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process' according to the embodiment may be determined by displaying the image of the second pattern on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods.

[0276] Fig.14 A case where real-time sensing is stopped or completely blocked when an image of a third pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods is shown.

[0277] In the image of the third pattern, all edge sub-pixels ESP display low-grayscale images.

[0278] That is, when the image of the third pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , all edge sub-pixels ESP may be regarded as the second edge sub-pixels Second ESP.

[0279] The real-time sensing process may not be performed when the image of the third pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods, and may be performed later when the lighting conditions of the image data are more favorable.

[0280] When the image of the third pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods, when the real-time sensing process is performed, the real-time sensing line RT Line may be visually recognized, and thus sensing may be prevented at this time.

[0281] For this reason, when the image of the third pattern is displayed on the display panel 110 , the real-time sensing process may not be performed.

[0282] Therefore, it is determined that the real-time sensing is not performed by displaying the image of the third pattern on the display panel 110 during a plurality of frame periods, and thus it may be determined whether the 'real-time sensing sub-pixel selection process' according to the embodiment is applied.

[0283] As described above, by displaying each of the first pattern image, the second pattern image, and the third pattern image on the display panel 110 during multiple frame periods, it can be determined whether the “real-time sensing subpixel selection process” according to the embodiment is used in the display device.

[0284] The embodiments of the present disclosure set forth above will be briefly described as follows:

[0285] An embodiment may provide a display device 100, including: a display panel 110, which includes a plurality of sub-pixels SP that display an image of a corresponding frame; a data driving circuit 120, which is configured to provide a data signal Vdata to the plurality of sub-pixels SP; a gate driving circuit 130, which is configured to provide a gate signal Vgate to the plurality of sub-pixels SP; and a timing controller 140, which is configured to: receive image data of a subsequent frame of an image displayed on the display panel 110, and control the data driving circuit 120 differently during a blank period BLANK between a period of displaying the image of the corresponding frame and a period of displaying the image of the subsequent frame according to grayscale values ​​of a plurality of edge sub-pixels ESP adjacent to the gate driving circuit 130 in the image data of the subsequent frame.

[0286] In the display device 100 according to the embodiment, each of the plurality of sub-pixels SP may include a driving transistor DRT and a light emitting element ED. The display panel 110 may further include a plurality of reference voltage lines RVL, each of which is electrically connected to a sensing node at which the driving transistor DRT is electrically connected to the light emitting element ED. The data driving circuit 120 may include an analog-to-digital converter ADC that senses the voltage on the sensing node. When the grayscale value of each of the plurality of edge sub-pixels ESP in the image data of the subsequent frame input to the timing controller 140 is less than a predetermined grayscale value, the data driving circuit 120 does not sense the reference voltage line RVL among the plurality of reference voltage lines RVL during a blank period BLANK between a period of displaying an image of the corresponding frame and a period of displaying an image of the subsequent frame. When the grayscale value of one edge sub-pixel ESP among multiple edge sub-pixels ESP in the image data of a subsequent frame input to the timing controller 140 is equal to or greater than a predetermined grayscale value, the data driving circuit 120 senses the reference voltage line RVL electrically connected to the above-mentioned one edge sub-pixel ESP or the sub-pixel SP among the multiple sub-pixels SP to which the gate signal Vgate identical to the gate signal input to the above-mentioned one edge sub-pixel ESP is input during a blank period BLANK between a period of displaying an image of the corresponding frame and a period of displaying an image of the subsequent frame.

[0287] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment, when the grayscale value of one edge sub-pixel ESP among multiple edge sub-pixels ESP in the image data of a subsequent frame input to the timing controller 140 is equal to or greater than a predetermined grayscale value, the timing controller 140 can select a real-time sensing line RTLine including the above-mentioned one edge sub-pixel ESP and a sub-pixel SP among the multiple sub-pixels SP input with a gate signal Vgate identical to the gate signal input to the above-mentioned one edge sub-pixel ESP, and select one sub-pixel SP from the multiple sub-pixels SP included in the real-time sensing line RT Line as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP.

[0288] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment, in a period in which a real-time sensing process is performed between a period in which an image of a corresponding frame is displayed and a period in which an image of a subsequent frame is displayed, the data driving circuit 120 may provide a data signal Vdata to the real-time sensing subpixel RTSensing SP, and sense a reference voltage line RVL electrically connected to the real-time sensing subpixel RT Sensing SP.

[0289] In the display device 100 according to the embodiment, the data driving circuit 120 may provide the recovery signal Recovery Data to the plurality of sub-pixels SP included in the real-time sensing line RT Line in a period in which the recovery process is performed after the real-time sensing process is performed.

[0290] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment, the recovery signal Recovery Data may have a voltage level lower than a voltage level of a mobility sensing data signal input to the real time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP when performing a real time sensing process.

[0291] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment, the amount of current flowing through the light emitting element ED of the edge sub-pixel ESP included in the real-time sensing line RTLine due to the recovery process may be greater than the amount of current flowing through the light emitting element ED of each of the remaining sub-pixels SP included in the real-time sensing line RTLine due to the recovery process.

[0292] Embodiments may provide a timing controller 140 configured to control the driving circuits 120 and 130 to drive the display panel 110 by receiving image data of a subsequent frame of an image displayed on the display panel 110. The timing controller 140 may include: an image data storage device 1010 configured to store values ​​matching positions of a plurality of sub-pixels SP from the image data and grayscale values ​​according to the positions of the plurality of sub-pixels SP; an edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020 configured to compare the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel ESP located in the edge region of the display panel 110 with a predetermined grayscale value by referring to the value stored in the image data storage device 1010, and calculate a comparison result value according to the result of the comparison; and a real-time sensing determiner 1030 configured to determine whether to perform a real-time sensing process by referring to the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020.

[0293] The timing controller 140 according to an embodiment may further include a real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 configured to select one sub-pixel SP from among the plurality of sub-pixels SP as a real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP before displaying an image of a subsequent frame on the display panel 110 .

[0294] In the timing controller 140 according to an embodiment, when the real-time sensing determiner 1030 determines that a real-time sensing process is to be performed during a blank period BLANK immediately before displaying an image of a subsequent frame, the real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 may select a real-time sensing sub-pixel RT Sensing SP by referring to a value stored in the image data storage device 1010 and a comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator 1020.

[0295] In the timing controller 140 according to an embodiment, the real-time sensing sub-pixel selector 1040 can select an edge sub-pixel ESP having a grayscale value equal to or greater than a predetermined grayscale value among the edge sub-pixels ESP or a sub-pixel SP among multiple sub-pixels SP located in the same row as the above-mentioned edge sub-pixel ESP as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP.

[0296] In the timing controller 140 according to an embodiment, when the real-time sensing determiner 1030 determines to perform real-time sensing processing, the timing controller 140 can output a signal for controlling the driving circuits 120 and 130 so as to control the change of the characteristic value of the real-time sensing subpixel RT Sensing SP during the blank period BLANK immediately before the image of the subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel 110.

[0297] In the timing controller 140 according to an embodiment, in a period before an image of a subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel 110 after performing the real-time sensing process, the timing controller 140 can control the driving circuits 120 and 130 so that a recovery signal Recovery Data having a predetermined voltage level is applied to a sub-pixel SP located in the same row as the real-time sensing sub-pixel RTSensing SP among a plurality of sub-pixels SP.

[0298] An embodiment may provide a display device 100, which includes: a display panel 110 including a plurality of sub-pixels SP; a data driving circuit 120 providing a data signal Vdata to the plurality of sub-pixels SP; and a timing controller 140 controlling the data driving circuit 120 by receiving image data having two gray values ​​during a plurality of frame periods. The plurality of sub-pixels SP may include an edge sub-pixel ESP positioned adjacent to a gate driving circuit 130. The edge sub-pixel ESP may include a first edge sub-pixel First ESP displaying a high grayscale image of two gray values ​​during a plurality of frame periods. In a blank period BLANK, the data driving circuit 120 may apply a data signal Vdata having a first voltage level to one edge sub-pixel ESP of the first edge sub-pixel First ESP or one of the plurality of sub-pixels SP to which a gate signal Vgate identical to the gate signal Vgate input to the one edge sub-pixel ESP is input. After a period of time in which the data signal Vdata having a first voltage level is applied to the above-mentioned sub-pixel SP, the data driving circuit 120 may apply a data signal Vdata having a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level to a sub-pixel SP among a plurality of sub-pixels SP that is located in the same row as the sub-pixel SP to which the data signal Vdata having the first voltage level is applied.

[0299] In the display device 100 according to an embodiment, the data signal Vdata having the first voltage level may be a mobility sensing data signal for sensing the mobility of the driving transistor DRT, and the data signal Vdata having the second voltage level may be a recovery signal Recovery Data.

[0300] The above description is given to enable any person skilled in the art to implement and use the technical concept of the present invention, and the above description is provided in the context of a specific application and its requirements. Various modifications, additions and substitutions to the described embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The above description and accompanying drawings provide examples of the technical concept of the present invention for illustrative purposes only. That is, the disclosed embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but should be consistent with the widest scope consistent with the claims. The scope of protection of the present invention should be understood based on the attached claims, and all technical concepts within the scope of equivalents of the claims should be understood to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising: A display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels configured to display an image of a corresponding frame; a data driving circuit configured to provide data signals to the plurality of sub-pixels; a gate driving circuit configured to provide gate signals to the plurality of sub-pixels; as well as A timing controller configured to: receiving image data of a subsequent frame of an image of a current frame displayed on the display panel, and controlling the data driving circuit differently during a blank period between the current frame and the subsequent frame based on a grayscale value of at least one edge sub-pixel among a plurality of edge sub-pixels in image data of the subsequent frame, The plurality of edge sub-pixels are sub-pixels located adjacent to the gate driving circuit or at the edge of the display panel among the plurality of sub-pixels, and Wherein, the timing controller is further configured to: When the grayscale value of each of the plurality of edge sub-pixels in the image data of the subsequent frame is less than a predetermined grayscale value, preventing the data driving circuit from performing a real-time sensing process during the blank period, and When the grayscale value of at least one edge sub-pixel in the image data of the subsequent frame is equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value, the data driving circuit is controlled to perform the real-time sensing process during the blank period.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the plurality of sub-pixels includes a driving transistor and a light emitting element, The display panel further comprises a plurality of reference voltage lines, each of which is electrically connected to a sensing node of a corresponding sub-pixel among the plurality of sub-pixels. wherein the data driving circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter configured to sense a voltage of the sensing node, Wherein, the timing controller is further configured to: When the grayscale value of each of the plurality of edge sub-pixels in the image data of the subsequent frame is less than the predetermined grayscale value, preventing the data driving circuit from sensing the plurality of reference voltage lines during the blank period, and When the grayscale value of the at least one edge subpixel in the image data of the subsequent frame is equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value, the data driving circuit is controlled to sense a reference voltage line corresponding to the at least one edge subpixel among the plurality of reference voltage lines during the blank period.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein: The timing controller is also configured to: When the grayscale value of the at least one edge sub-pixel in the image data of the subsequent frame is equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value, selecting a real-time sensing line including the at least one edge sub-pixel; as well as A sub-pixel is selected from among the sub-pixels included in the real-time sensing line as a real-time sensing sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: The data driving circuit is further configured to: In a period in which the real-time sensing process is performed between the current frame and the subsequent frame, the data signal is provided to the real-time sensing sub-pixel and a corresponding reference voltage line electrically connected to the real-time sensing sub-pixel is sensed.

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein: The data driving circuit is further configured to: In a period in which a restoration process is performed after the real-time sensing process is performed, a restoration signal is provided to sub-pixels included in the real-time sensing line.

6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein: The restoration signal has a voltage level lower than a voltage level of a mobility sensing data signal input to the real-time sensing sub-pixel during the real-time sensing process.

7. The display device according to claim 5, wherein: An amount of current flowing through the light emitting element of the at least one edge sub-pixel included in the real-time sensing line due to the restoration process is greater than an amount of current flowing through the light emitting elements of the remaining sub-pixels included in the real-time sensing line due to the restoration process.

8. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: The one sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period is randomly selected from among sub-pixels electrically connected to the same gate line as the at least one edge sub-pixel having a grayscale value equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value.

9. The display device according to claim 3, wherein: The one sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period has a highest grayscale value among sub-pixels electrically connected to the same gate line as the at least one edge sub-pixel during the subsequent frame.

10. The display device according to claim 1, wherein: The timing controller is also configured to: selecting a subpixel from the plurality of subpixels as a real-time sensing subpixel to be sensed during a blank period before an image of the subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel, The sub-pixels are selected only from the image portion of the subsequent frame whose grayscale value is greater than or equal to the predetermined grayscale value.

11. A timing controller for controlling a display panel, the timing controller comprising: An image data storage device configured to store values ​​of positions matching a plurality of sub-pixels in the display panel and grayscale values ​​according to the positions of the plurality of sub-pixels of image data of a subsequent frame of an image of a current frame displayed on the display panel; an edge sub-pixel information calculator configured to compare the grayscale value of the edge sub-pixel located in the edge area of ​​the display panel with a predetermined grayscale value based on the value stored in the image data storage device, and calculate a comparison result value according to the comparison result; as well as a real-time sensing determiner configured to determine whether to perform real-time sensing processing based on the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator, wherein, when the comparison result value corresponds to a low grayscale condition for all of the edge sub-pixels, the real-time sensing determiner determines not to perform the real-time sensing process during a blank period before the image of the subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel, and Wherein, when the comparison result value corresponds to a high grayscale condition for at least one of the edge sub-pixels, the real-time sensing determiner determines that the real-time sensing process is to be performed during the blank period.

12. The timing controller according to claim 11, further comprising: A real-time sensing sub-pixel selector is configured to select one sub-pixel from the plurality of sub-pixels as a real-time sensing sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period.

13. The timing controller according to claim 12, wherein: When the real-time sensing determiner determines that the real-time sensing process is to be performed during a blank period between the current frame and the subsequent frame, the real-time sensing sub-pixel selector selects the real-time sensing sub-pixel based on the value stored in the image data storage device and the comparison result value calculated by the edge sub-pixel information calculator.

14. The timing controller according to claim 13, wherein: The real-time sensing sub-pixel selector is configured to select one of the edge sub-pixels having a grayscale value equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value or one of the multiple sub-pixels located in the same row as the one edge sub-pixel as the real-time sensing sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period.

15. The timing controller according to claim 14, wherein: The timing controller is also configured to output a signal for controlling a driving circuit to control a change in a characteristic value of the real-time sensing sub-pixel during the blank period when the real-time sensing determiner determines that the real-time sensing process is to be performed during the blank period immediately before the image of the subsequent frame is displayed on the display panel.

16. The timing controller according to claim 15, wherein: The timing controller is further configured to control the driving circuit to provide a restoration signal having a predetermined voltage level to a sub-pixel located in the same row as the real-time sensing sub-pixel among the plurality of sub-pixels.

17. The timing controller according to claim 13, wherein: The one sub-pixel to be sensed during the blank period is randomly selected from among sub-pixels electrically connected to the same gate line as the at least one edge sub-pixel having a grayscale value equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value.

18. The timing controller according to claim 13, wherein: The one subpixel to be sensed during the blank period has a highest grayscale value among subpixels electrically connected to the same gate line as the at least one edge subpixel having a grayscale value equal to or greater than the predetermined grayscale value during the subsequent frame.

19. The timing controller according to claim 11, wherein: The timing controller is also configured to: selecting a subpixel from the plurality of subpixels as a real-time sensing subpixel to be sensed during the blank period, The sub-pixels are selected only from the image portion of the subsequent frame whose grayscale value is greater than or equal to a predetermined grayscale value.

Images