OLED AWD Driving with Subframe Erase Phase

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Address While Display (AWD) driving methods for OLEDs suffer from image quality deviations due to errors caused by voltage changes in subpixel luminance based on the previous subframe's state, leading to inaccuracies in luminance determination.

Innovation Solution

The proposed AWD driving method inserts an erase operation into every subframe, ensuring each subframe includes addressing, emission, and erase phases, with a circuit configuration featuring transistors and capacitors to control emission and reset signals, preventing voltage changes based on previous subframe states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If an erase time is inserted into only subordinate subframes in conventional AWD driving method, then the addressing time is reduced, but image quality deviation occurs due to voltage errors from previous subframe states

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddressing timeVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the frame into multiple subframes with different types (superordinate and subordinate), and applies different erase time insertion strategies to each segment. Superordinate subframes do not insert erase time while subordinate subframes do, creating a segmented approach that optimizes both timing and image quality for different portions of the display cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different driving conditions to different subframes based on their position and characteristics. Superordinate subframes use one driving condition (no erase time) while subordinate subframes use another (with erase time), allowing local optimization of image quality and timing for each subframe type rather than applying a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If erase time is inserted into every subframe, then voltage errors from previous subframe states are prevented, but the overall time for addressing and emission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance determination accuracyVSAvoidtotal subframe time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments subframes into superordinate and subordinate types, applying erase time insertion selectively rather than universally. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliability improvements where needed (subordinate subframes) while maintaining better timing performance where possible (superordinate subframes).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying erase time insertion to all subframes (excessive action), the patent applies it only to subordinate subframes (partial action). This partial application is sufficient to prevent the majority of voltage errors while avoiding the time penalty in superordinate subframes, achieving an optimal balance between reliability and timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Illumination intensity

If different weighted times are assigned to subframes in AWD driving method, then luminance control is improved, but voltage instability occurs affecting actual luminance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance controlVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inserts erase time into subordinate subframes as a preliminary action before the next superordinate subframe begins. This preliminary erasing of data signals prevents voltage instability from carrying over to subsequent frames, ensuring that the luminance control achieved through different weighted times remains stable across frame transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of voltage instability caused by AWD driving into a benefit by strategically inserting erase time only where needed. The erase operation, which consumes time, is transformed into a beneficial voltage stabilization mechanism that protects luminance determination accuracy in subordinate subframes without compromising the overall luminance control scheme.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances driving accuracy and improves image quality by eliminating error factors that affect luminance determination, thereby improving display quality and reducing image quality deviations.

Implementation Method 1

each pixel section having a light emitting element to driven for light emission in one row is supplied with a data pulse indicative of a first gate voltage of a thin film transistor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

By injecting electrons and holes from an electron cathode and a hole anode, respectively, into a light emitting layer, the organic light emitting element is an element that emits light when excitons in which the injected electrons and holes are coupled drop from an excited state to a ground state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP3038090B1Organic light emitting display and method of driving the same
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3038090B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3038090B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3038090B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) includes: a display panel having subpixels; a scan driver that supplies a scan signal to the display panel; and a data driver that supplies a data signal arranged in a subframe unit in the display panel, wherein the data driver configures the data signal to include an addressing time (Addressing) that transfers a data signal to the subpixel in every subframe, an emission time (Emission) that emits the subpixel, and an erase time (Erase) that erases a data voltage stored at the subpixel, and the Erase occurs as a first node and a second node that control Emission of the subpixel are shortcircuited.