Pixel Compensating Circuit for OLED Luminance Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Organic light emitting displays face issues with uneven luminance due to threshold voltage drift in driving thin film transistors, leading to voltage drop and luminance inconsistencies across the display.

Innovation Solution

A pixel compensating circuit comprising specific transistors and a capacitor configuration that controls the transmission of data and reference signals, determines driving current based on voltage differences, and compensates for threshold voltage variations, ensuring consistent luminance by decoupling the impact of parasitic capacitors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional pixel driving circuit is used, then the circuit structure is simple, but threshold voltage drift causes uneven luminance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance consistencyVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel circuit is divided into multiple functional modules: a driving transistor for current control, a storage capacitor for voltage storage, and a compensating circuit with additional transistors (T1-T4) and capacitors (C1-C2) that separately handle threshold voltage compensation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, resolving the threshold voltage drift issue without requiring complete circuit redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The compensating circuit acts as an intermediary between the data signal input and the driving transistor. It introduces intermediate nodes (first node and second node) that store compensation voltages, mediating the effect of threshold voltage variations on the final driving current. This intermediary mechanism isolates the driving transistor from direct threshold voltage drift effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If threshold voltage compensation is implemented, then luminance uniformity improves, but circuit complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance uniformityVSAvoidnumber of transistors and capacitors
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating circuit performs preliminary action by detecting and compensating for threshold voltage drift before the data signal is fully applied to the driving transistor. The first and second nodes store compensation voltages in advance, so when the driving transistor operates, the threshold voltage effect has already been counteracted. This preliminary compensation approach achieves luminance uniformity without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compensating circuit implements feedback by using the threshold voltage information to adjust the storage capacitor voltage. The circuit detects the threshold voltage drift through the transistor network and feeds back a compensating voltage to the storage capacitor, creating a closed-loop system that automatically corrects for threshold variations. This feedback mechanism achieves precise luminance uniformity with a manageable number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If storage capacitor voltage is allowed to drift, then circuit operation is flexible, but luminance consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminance consistencyVSAvoidcircuit operation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The compensating circuit maintains equipotentiality at critical nodes by using the feedback mechanism to keep the storage capacitor voltage stable despite threshold voltage variations. The first and second nodes are maintained at appropriate potentials through the compensating transistors, ensuring that the voltage across the storage capacitor remains constant. This equipotential maintenance ensures luminance consistency while allowing the circuit to adapt to different threshold voltage conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

Data Source

PatentUS9633603B2Pixel compensating circuit and method of organic light emitting display
Publication Date: 2017.04.25 WUHAN TIANMA MICRO ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US9633603B2 patent drawing
  • US9633603B2 patent drawing
  • US9633603B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A pixel compensating circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a fifth transistor, a driving transistor, a first capacitor, and an organic light emitting diode element. The first transistor controls transmission of a data signal to a first electrode plate of the first capacitor. The second transistor controls transmission of a reference voltage signal to the first electrode plate of the first capacitor. The driving transistor determines an amount of a driving current. The third transistor controls connection and disconnection between the gate electrode and a drain electrode of the driving transistor. The fourth transistor transmits the driving current from the driving transistor to the organic light emitting diode element. The fifth transistor controls transmission of a supply voltage to the source electrode of the driving transistor; and the organic light emitting diode element emits light in response to the driving current.