Pixel array structure with thermal sensing function and display device
By introducing a pixel array structure with thermal sensing function on the display panel, combining display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels, real-time temperature sensing and dynamic compensation are achieved, solving the problem of uneven brightness caused by temperature rise of display elements and improving display quality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511456297.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-05-22
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing display components experience temperature rise during prolonged operation, leading to changes in electrical characteristics, resulting in uneven display and thermal effects. Traditional internal compensation-type pixel circuits cannot sense the temperature in real time to compensate for these issues.
A pixel array structure with thermal sensing function is introduced on the display panel. By combining display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels in some pixels, and using a shared data line to switch between display and thermal sensing, real-time temperature sensing and dynamic compensation are achieved.
It effectively avoids the problem of uneven brightness caused by temperature rise in the display panel, realizes real-time temperature sensing and dynamic compensation, and improves display quality.
Smart Images
Figure CN121240643A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to a pixel array structure, and more particularly to a pixel array structure used in the display field and capable of analyzing the temperature of a display panel. Background Technology
[0002] Under prolonged operation, the temperature rise of the display panel in existing display element technology (such as micro light-emitting diodes) will cause changes in its electrical characteristics (such as current driving capability and brightness), resulting in severe display unevenness (mura) and thermal effects. Although traditional internal compensation pixel circuits can adjust the driving differences between components, they cannot sense the temperature of the display panel in real time to compensate for thermal effects, leading to a continuous deterioration of display quality over long-term use. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Therefore, embodiments of this disclosure provide a pixel array structure with thermal sensing function, suitable for display panels, wherein the pixel array structure includes a plurality of pixels and a plurality of data lines. Some pixels include a plurality of display sub-pixels, and some pixels include a plurality of display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels. The display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels are arranged on the display panel to form a plurality of rows and columns. Each of these data lines corresponds to a row, and some of the data lines are coupled to rows that simultaneously have display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels, so as to supply data voltage to the display sub-pixels during display and to cause the sensing sub-pixels to generate a sensing current flowing through these data lines based on a sensing signal during thermal sensing.
[0004] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the sensing sub-pixels are distributed in several data line regions, and in each of these data line regions, a directional arrangement is formed according to a fixed row and column displacement rule.
[0005] According to embodiments of this disclosure, thermal sensing is performed within one frame.
[0006] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, each of these data line regions is divided into several sub-regions along the row direction, and the sensing sub-pixels are distributed in these sub-regions and enabled during the corresponding frame period according to the division of these sub-regions.
[0007] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the number of these sub-regions corresponds to the number of thermal sensing periods required to complete thermal sensing of the display panel.
[0008] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the sensing sub-pixel is selected as the blue sub-pixel among these pixels.
[0009] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the sensing sub-pixel includes a light-emitting diode (LED) and a transistor. A first terminal of the LED is coupled to a system high voltage. A first terminal of the transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the LED, a second terminal is coupled to a corresponding data line, and a control terminal is configured to receive a sensing signal and turn on the transistor during thermal sensing.
[0010] Another embodiment of this disclosure is a display device with thermal sensing function, comprising a display panel. The display panel includes a pixel array structure. The pixel array structure includes a plurality of pixels and a plurality of data lines. Some pixels include a plurality of display sub-pixels, and some pixels include a plurality of display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels. The display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels are arranged on the display panel to form a plurality of rows and columns. Each of these data lines corresponds to a row, and some of the data lines are coupled to rows that simultaneously have display sub-pixels and sensing sub-pixels, so as to supply data voltage to the display sub-pixels during display and to cause the sensing sub-pixels to generate sensing current flowing through these data lines according to sensing signals during thermal sensing.
[0011] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the sensing sub-pixels are distributed in several data line regions, and in each of these data line regions, a directional arrangement is formed according to a fixed row and column displacement rule.
[0012] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, each of these data line regions is divided into several sub-regions along the row direction, and the sensing sub-pixels are distributed in these sub-regions and enabled during the corresponding frame period according to the division of these sub-regions. Attached Figure Description
[0013] To make the above and other features, advantages and embodiments of this disclosure more readily understood, the accompanying drawings are described below.
[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a display device with thermal sensing function and its pixel array structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit architecture of the display sub-pixel and the sensing sub-pixel in a pixel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of a pixel array structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] Figure 3B According to Figure 3A The diagram shows the arrangement changes of the pixel array structure.
[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the waveform of the sensing signal during display and during thermal sensing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0019] Figure 5A This is a schematic diagram of a pixel array structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] Figure 5B According to Figure 5A The diagram illustrates the arrangement variations of the pixel array structure. And...
[0021] Figures 6A to 6D This is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement variations of the pixel array structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures
[0023] 100: Display device
[0024] 110: Display panel
[0025] 111, 111a, 111b, 111c, 111d: Pixel array structure
[0026] 112: pixels
[0027] A, B: Row numbers
[0028] B1, B2, B3, Bn: Data cable area
[0029] C: Capacitor
[0030] C1, C2, C3, Cn: Lines
[0031] DL: Data cable
[0032] F1: First Frame
[0033] F2: Second Frame
[0034] F3: Third Frame
[0035] G1, G2, G3, Gn-1, Gn: Subregions
[0036] I ST Sensing current
[0037] LED: Light Emitting Diode
[0038] P1: Display subpixel
[0039] P2: Sensing subpixel
[0040] R1, R2, Rn: Columns
[0041] S T , S T1 , ST2 , S T3 Sensing signal
[0042] SEN[n], SCAN[n], EM[n]: Drive signals
[0043] T1, T2, T3, T4, T5: Transistors
[0044] VDD: System high voltage
[0045] VSS: System Low Voltage
[0046] VDATA: Data voltage
[0047] VREF: Reference Voltage
[0048] x, y: Direction Detailed Implementation
[0049] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing the various features disclosed. The embodiments of components and configurations described below are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, for simplicity and clarity, reference numerals and / or designations are repeated in the examples, and do not in themselves limit the relationships between the various embodiments and / or components discussed.
[0050] In the accompanying drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are enlarged for clarity. It should be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly on or connected to the other element, or intermediate elements may also be present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly connected" to another element, no intermediate elements are present. As used herein, "connection" can refer to physical and / or electrical connection. Furthermore, "electrical connection" or "coupling" may mean the presence of other elements between the two elements.
[0051] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a display device 100 with thermal sensing function and its pixel array structure 111 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The display device 100 includes a display panel 110, and the pixel array structure 111 is disposed on the display panel 110. The pixel array structure 111 consists of a plurality of pixels 112 and a plurality of data lines DL. Some of the pixels 112 include a plurality of display sub-pixels P1, while some of the pixels 112 include a plurality of display sub-pixels P1 and a sensing sub-pixel P2. The display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2 in these pixels 112 are arranged on the display panel 110 to form rows C1 to Cn and columns R1 to Rn of the pixel array structure 111.
[0052] Multiple data lines DL each correspond to a row, and some of these data lines DL are coupled to rows where all sub-pixels are display sub-pixels P1 (e.g., Figure 1 Rows C1 and C2), while a portion of the data lines DL are coupled to rows that simultaneously have display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2 (e.g., rows C1 and C2), and some of the data lines DL are coupled to rows that simultaneously have display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2 (e.g., rows C1 and C2). Figure 1 (Rows C3 and Cn). In these rows that simultaneously have display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2, the data line DL supplies the data voltage VDATA to the display sub-pixels P1 of these rows during display and receives the sensing sub-pixels P2 according to the sensing signal S during thermal sensing. T The generated sensing current I ST .
[0053] In embodiments of this disclosure, the display sub-pixel P1 can be a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel, while the sensing sub-pixel P2 can be randomly configured at the position of a dummy blue sub-pixel in the display panel 110. In other embodiments, the dummy sub-pixel can also be a red sub-pixel or a green sub-pixel, and the position of the sensing sub-pixel P2 in the pixel array structure 111 is designed according to the selected color sub-pixel.
[0054] It is worth noting that by converting the unused sub-pixels for thermal sensing, there is no need to add additional sub-pixels and thermal sensing devices, nor is it necessary to sacrifice the original display sub-pixels, which can effectively reduce circuit costs and save panel space.
[0055] Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 2 Two exemplary pixels 112 and their circuit architecture are shown. The lower pixel 112 contains three display sub-pixels P1, while the upper pixel 112 contains both display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2. Figure 2 The circuit architectures shown for the display sub-pixel P1 and the sensing sub-pixel P2 are merely illustrative examples. In practice, the display sub-pixel P1 and the sensing sub-pixel P2 can each employ different circuit architectures, or they can be combined with... Figure 2 The circuit architecture shown is different, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0056] The circuit architecture for sensing sub-pixel P2 mainly includes transistor T5 and a light-emitting diode (LED). The first terminal of the LED is coupled to the system high voltage VDD. One terminal of transistor T5 is coupled to the second terminal of the LED, and the other terminal is coupled to the data line DL. The control terminal of transistor T5 is used to receive the sensing signal S. TIt is turned on during thermal sensing, causing the sensing sub-pixel P2 to start operating. It should be noted that the sensing sub-pixel P2 may also have other electronic components, such as capacitor C, transistors T1 to T4, etc., the specific details of which are not described further here, and the specific details of the circuit architecture of the sub-pixel P1 are also omitted below.
[0057] Specifically, the display sub-pixel P1 and the sensing sub-pixel P2 switch operation during different periods. During display, the display sub-pixel P1, acting as the display, receives the data voltage VDATA via its coupled data line DL and generates current flowing through its light-emitting diode (LED) to achieve a light-emitting effect, while the sensing sub-pixel P2, acting as the sensing element, remains off. Conversely, during thermal sensing, the display sub-pixel P1 is off, and the sensing sub-pixel P2 receives the sensing signal S. T After the transistor T5 is turned on, it drives its light-emitting diode LED to generate a sensing current I. ST .
[0058] By using this shared data line design and timing control, the purpose of the data line DL can be switched during different operations. This allows the display device 100 to transmit a data voltage VDATA to the display sub-pixel P1 on the same data line DL during display, and to receive the sensing current I from the sensing sub-pixel P2 on the same data line DL during thermal sensing. ST This achieves the effects of simplified wiring and space saving.
[0059] Furthermore, by obtaining the sensing current I generated by the sensing sub-pixel P2 during thermal sensing... ST The system can then look up the relationship between the current and temperature of the corresponding LED and calculate the temperature information of the display panel 110 to dynamically compensate for the brightness or grayscale of the pixel 112. In this way, the problem of uneven brightness (mura) caused by temperature rise in the display panel 110 during long-term operation can be avoided.
[0060] Please refer to Figure 3A and Figure 3B , Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of the pixel array structure 111a shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement variations of pixel array structure 111a. For the sake of brevity, the diagram is shown below. Figure 3A and Figure 3B Only the data line DL that is simultaneously coupled to the display sub-pixel P1 and the sensing sub-pixel P2 is shown; the entire row of data lines DL that are for the display sub-pixel P1 is not shown. In other words, in reality... Figure 3A and Figure 3B The data line DL is three times that shown.
[0061] In pixel array structure 111a, sensing sub-pixels P2 are distributed in several data line regions B1 to Bn, and are arranged in a directional pattern within each data line region B1 to Bn. Specifically, each data line region B1 of pixel array structure 111a, which is divided along the column direction x, can be further divided into several sub-regions G1 to Gn along the row direction y, and sensing sub-pixels P2 are set in each sub-region G1 to Gn.
[0062] Within each sub-region G1 to Gn, the sensing sub-pixel P2 can be configured at a position corresponding to a predetermined row number and the middle column, so that the sensing sub-pixel P2 shifts region by region within sub-region G1 to Gn. Figure 3A In the example, the first sensing sub-pixel P2 is located in the middle column of sub-region G1, in row A of data line region B1; the second sensing sub-pixel P2 is located in the middle column of sub-region G2, in row B of data line region B1; and so on, forming a structure like... Figure 3B The diagram shows a directional diagonal arrangement. It should be understood that the row spacing and arrangement position of the sensing sub-pixels P2 may vary depending on the number of data lines DL, the number of sub-regions G1 to Gn, and the required resolution of the sensing sub-pixels P2, and this disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0063] In an architecture like pixel array structure 111a, all sensing sub-pixels P2 can synchronously receive sensing signals S within one frame. T And it runs, and the thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 can be completed within one frame. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the sensing signal S T During display, the signal is at a high logic level to disable the operation of the sensing sub-pixel P2; while during thermal sensing, the sensing signal S... T The state transitions to a low logic level, causing all sensing sub-pixels P2 to operate based on the sensing signal S. T They are simultaneously activated by the trigger and output their respective sensing currents I through their corresponding data lines DL. ST This allows the system to further analyze the temperature information of the display panel 110. It should be understood that, corresponding to the change in the type of transistor T5, the sensing signal S... T Alternatively, it could correspond to the display period at a low logic level and the thermal sensing period at a high logic level.
[0064] Please refer to Figure 5A and Figure 5B , Figure 5A This is a schematic diagram of the pixel array structure 111b shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement variations of pixel array structure 111b. For the sake of brevity, the diagram is shown below. Figure 5A and Figure 5BSimilarly, only the data line DL that is simultaneously coupled to the display sub-pixel P1 and the sensing sub-pixel P2 is shown, and the entire line of data lines DL that are all for the display sub-pixel P1 is omitted.
[0065] In pixel array structure 111b, each data line region B1 along the column direction x is divided into several sub-regions G1 to G3 along the row direction y, and a sensing sub-pixel P2 is set in each sub-region G1 to G3. Unlike pixel array structure 111a, the thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 is not completed within one frame, but rather in multiple frames over time. This effectively increases the density (or resolution) of the sensing sub-pixels P2 on the display panel 110, allowing for the capture of temperature changes in smaller areas and resulting in more detailed and accurate thermal sensing results.
[0066] In embodiments of this disclosure, the number of sub-regions corresponds to the number of frames required to complete thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110. For example... Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, there are three sub-regions (G1 to G3), so the thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 is completed in units of three frames. During the first frame F1, the sensing sub-pixel P2 set in sub-region G1 first reacts according to the sensing signal S. T1 And enabled; during the second frame F2, the sensing sub-pixel P2 set in sub-region G2 is based on the sensing signal S T2 And enabled; during the third frame F3, the sensing sub-pixel P2 set in sub-region G3 is based on the sensing signal S T3 It is enabled to complete thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 within three frames.
[0067] In such an embodiment, the row spacing and arrangement of the sensing sub-pixels P2 in each sub-region G1 to G3 can also vary depending on the number of data lines DL, the number of sub-regions, and the required resolution of the sensing sub-pixels P2. For example, in each sub-region G1 to G3 of each data line region B1, the arrangement of the sensing sub-pixels P2 can be shifted along the diagonal direction of each sub-region G1 to G3, where the diagonal direction can be from the upper left to the lower right, or from the lower left to the upper right. As another example, in each sub-region G1 to G3 of each data line region B1, the arrangement of the sensing sub-pixels P2 can first be shifted along a diagonal direction from the upper left to the lower right, and then along a diagonal direction from the upper right to the lower left.
[0068] Please refer to Figures 6A to 6D , Figures 6A to 6D This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement changes of pixel array structures 111a to 111d according to embodiments of the present disclosure, where the dots represent sensing sub-pixels P2.
[0069] In pixel array structure 111a, sensing sub-pixels P2 are arranged diagonally from the upper left to the lower right in each data line region B1 to Bn, and their number in each data line region B1 to Bn is the same as the number of data lines DL that are simultaneously coupled to display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2. In this embodiment, thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 can be completed within one frame.
[0070] For example, but not limited to, the display panel 110 has a pixel resolution of 240×540, where the data line area is divided into 12 (B1 to B12), meaning that each data line area B1 to B12 has 20 data lines DL that are simultaneously coupled to display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2. To complete thermal sensing within one frame, one sensing sub-pixel P2 can be set in every 20×27 pixels 112, so that the resolution of sensing sub-pixels P2 in the display panel 110 is 12×20=240.
[0071] Please refer to Figure 6B In pixel array structure 111b, sensing sub-pixels P2 are arranged in each data line region B1 to Bn, first moving diagonally from the upper left to the lower right, and then moving diagonally from the upper right to the lower left. The number of sub-regions G1 to Gn of sensing sub-pixels P2 in each data line region B1 to Bn is the same as the number of data lines DL that are simultaneously coupled to display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2, and the thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 is completed within multiple frames.
[0072] For example, but not limited to, the display panel 110 has a pixel resolution of 240×540, where the data line area is divided into 12 (B1 to B12), meaning that each data line area B1 to B12 has 20 data lines DL that are simultaneously coupled to display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2. To complete thermal sensing over three frames, each data line area B1 to B12 can be divided into three sub-areas (G1 to G3), and one sensing sub-pixel P2 can be set in every 5×36 pixels 112, so that the resolution of sensing sub-pixels P2 in the display panel 110 is 48×15=720.
[0073] Please refer to Figure 6CIn pixel array structure 111c, the sensing sub-pixels P2 are arranged in each data line region B1 to Bn, first moving diagonally from the upper left to the lower right, and then moving diagonally from the upper right to the lower left. Thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 is completed within multiple frames. The difference from pixel array structure 111b is that pixel array structure 111c sets one sensing sub-pixel P2 in every 10×18 pixels 112, resulting in a resolution of 24×30=720 sensing sub-pixels P2 in the display panel 110. As can be seen from the examples of pixel array structures 111b and 111c, although both complete thermal sensing within three frames and both have a resolution of 720 sensing sub-pixels P2, their arrangement can be varied according to actual application requirements and is not limited.
[0074] Please refer to Figure 6D In the pixel array structure 111d, thermal sensing of the entire display panel 110 is also completed within multiple frames. For example, but not limited to, the pixel resolution of the display panel 110 is 240×540, and each data line area B1 to B12 has 20 data lines DL that are simultaneously coupled to display sub-pixels P1 and sensing sub-pixels P2. In order to complete thermal sensing over six frames, each data line area B1 to B12 can be divided into six sub-regions (G1 to G6), and one sensing sub-pixel P2 can be set in every 5×18 pixels 112, so that the resolution of sensing sub-pixels P2 in the display panel 110 is 48×30=1440.
[0075] As can be seen from the examples above, the resolution of the sensing sub-pixel P2 can be improved as the number of sub-regions and frames increases. In this way, the accuracy of the overall temperature analysis results can be improved by sensing the temperature of a smaller area on the display panel 110.
[0076] In summary, the pixel array structure and display device with thermal sensing function disclosed herein employ a random subpixel configuration design, which can sense the thermal effect of the display panel in real time during each frame. Furthermore, the resolution of the sensing subpixels can be flexibly increased across multiple frames without increasing the complexity of the panel design. In addition, by converting subpixels that are previously used as dummy subpixels for thermal sensing purposes and sharing data lines with display subpixels, circuitry and wiring requirements can be simplified.
[0077] Although this disclosure has been presented above with various embodiments, it is not intended to limit this disclosure. Any person skilled in the art may make some changes and modifications without departing from the concept and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of protection of this disclosure shall be determined by the claims.
Claims
1. A pixel array structure with thermal sensing function, suitable for a display panel, the pixel array structure comprising: a plurality of pixels, wherein some of the pixels each comprise a plurality of display sub-pixels, some of the pixels each comprise the display sub-pixels and a sensing sub-pixel, the display sub-pixels and the sensing sub-pixel are arranged on the display panel to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and a plurality of data lines, each corresponding to one of the rows, and wherein some of the data lines are coupled to the rows that have both the display sub-pixels and the sensing sub-pixel, to supply data voltage to the display sub-pixels during a display period, and to cause the sensing sub-pixel to generate a sensing current flowing through the some of the data lines according to a sensing signal during a thermal sensing period.
2. The pixel array structure of claim 1, wherein the sensing sub-pixel is distributed in a plurality of data line regions, and forms a directional arrangement in each of the data line regions according to a fixed row and column displacement rule.
3. The pixel array structure of claim 2, wherein the thermal sensing period is completed in a frame period.
4. The pixel array structure of claim 2, wherein each of the data line regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions along a row direction, and the sensing sub-pixel is distributed in the sub-regions and is enabled during a corresponding frame period according to the division of the sub-regions.
5. The pixel array structure of claim 4, wherein the number of the sub-regions corresponds to the number of frames required to complete thermal sensing of the display panel.
6. The pixel array structure of claim 1, wherein the sensing sub-pixel is selected as a blue sub-pixel among the pixels.
7. The pixel array structure of claim 1, wherein the sensing sub-pixel comprises: a light emitting diode, a first end of which is coupled to a system high voltage; and a transistor, a first end of which is coupled to a first end of the light emitting diode, a second end of which is coupled to a corresponding one of the some of the data lines, and a control end of which is configured to receive the sensing signal and turn on the transistor during the thermal sensing period.
8. A display device with thermal sensing function, comprising: a display panel comprising: a pixel array structure comprising: a plurality of pixels, wherein some of the pixels each comprise a plurality of display sub-pixels, some of the pixels each comprise the display sub-pixels and a sensing sub-pixel, the display sub-pixels and the sensing sub-pixel are arranged on the display panel to form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and a plurality of data lines, each corresponding to one of the rows, and wherein some of the data lines are coupled to the rows that have both the display sub-pixels and the sensing sub-pixel, to supply data voltage to the display sub-pixels during a display period, and to cause the sensing sub-pixel to generate a sensing current flowing through the some of the data lines according to a sensing signal during a thermal sensing period.
9. The display device of claim 8, wherein the sensing sub-pixel is distributed in a plurality of data line regions, and forms a directional arrangement in each of the data line regions according to a fixed row and column displacement rule.
10. The display apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of the data line regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions along a row direction, and the sensing sub-pixels are distributed in the sub-regions and are enabled during corresponding frame periods according to the division of the sub-regions.