One-Body OLED Driver Integrating Pixel Current Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The performance of organic light emitting displays (OLEDs) degrades over time, leading to inconsistent light emission for a given pixel current, which deteriorates display quality, and existing solutions increase complexity and manufacturing costs due to separate circuits and additional wiring.
Innovation Solution
A one-body-type display device with an integral data driver and pixel current measuring unit that applies data signals to data lines and measures current flow, using overlapping metal wires connected through contact holes, a multiplexer, current sensing circuit, and digital-to-analog conversion to sense and compensate for pixel degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate circuits and additional wiring are used to measure pixel current, then pixel degradation can be sensed, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data driver and pixel current measuring unit into a single integrated circuit. The data driver includes output circuits for driving pixels and measurement circuits for sensing pixel current, both sharing common data lines. This integration eliminates the need for separate measurement circuits and additional wiring, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The data lines serve dual functions: they carry data signals for pixel driving and simultaneously serve as sensing paths for measuring pixel current. The integrated circuit performs both data output and current measurement functions through shared infrastructure, reducing the need for dedicated measurement pathways and simplifying the overall device architecture.
2Measurement precision
If separate circuits are used to measure pixel current, then degradation can be detected, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the data driver and pixel current measuring unit into one integrated circuit, the patent reduces the number of discrete components that need to be manufactured and assembled. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces assembly steps, and lowers overall manufacturing cost while maintaining the capability to detect pixel degradation.
3Measurement precision
If separate measurement circuits are added, then pixel current can be sensed, but circuit area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement circuits are merged within the data driver circuit area, utilizing the same physical space and infrastructure. The current sensing circuits share data lines and integration resources with the data output circuits, thereby sensing pixel current without requiring additional dedicated circuit area.
4Measurement precision
If additional wiring is used for current measurement, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data lines perform multiple functions: they transmit data signals for pixel operation and simultaneously serve as sensing paths for current measurement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate measurement wiring, maintaining measurement accuracy through the existing data line infrastructure while reducing wiring complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes a data driver and a pixel current measuring unit. The data driver applies data signals to a plurality of data lines connected to a plurality of pixels. The pixel current measuring unit measures current flowing to the data lines in order to sense a state of degradation of the pixels. The data driver and pixel current measuring unit are integrally formed in one-body-type connected to the data lines.