Pixel Compensation Circuit for Low-Frequency Display Flicker

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices driven at low frequencies experience increased leakage current and luminance differences between frames, leading to flicker phenomena due to kick-back voltage increases in pixel circuits.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating dual transistors with compensation capacitors and voltage lines to manage gate voltages, reducing kick-back voltage by providing compensation voltages that change in a manner that suppresses leakage current, and using larger overlapping areas for capacitors to enhance capacitance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If the display device is driven at a relatively low frequency to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but leakage current in the pixel circuit increases causing luminance differences and flicker phenomena

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddisplay stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation capacitor is pre-charged to a compensation voltage during a programming period before the display period. This preliminary action stores the necessary charge to counteract the kick-back voltage that will occur during low-frequency operation, allowing the device to maintain stable luminance even when driven at reduced frequencies for lower power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compensation capacitor acts as an intermediary element between the pixel circuit components. It mediates the voltage fluctuations by absorbing and releasing charge as needed, isolating the light emitting element from the kick-back voltage effects and enabling stable display operation at low frequencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by stationary object

If the period of one frame is extended to reduce refresh rate and power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but leakage current increases causing voltage changes at common nodes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidvoltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation capacitor is pre-charged to a compensation voltage during a programming period before the display period. This preliminary action stores the necessary charge to counteract the kick-back voltage that will occur during low-frequency operation, allowing the device to maintain stable luminance even when driven at reduced frequencies for lower power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compensation voltage is determined based on the threshold voltage of the driving transistor, creating a feedback mechanism that automatically adjusts the compensation level. This feedback ensures that the compensation capacitor is charged to the appropriate voltage to counteract leakage effects, maintaining voltage stability during extended frame periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If compensation capacitors and compensation voltage lines are added to suppress kick-back voltage increases, then display stability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay stabilityVSAvoidcircuit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation capacitor is integrated within the pixel circuit structure, sharing space and components with other pixel elements. The compensation voltage line is merged with existing voltage lines in the circuit, reducing the need for separate dedicated lines and minimizing the increase in device complexity while still providing effective kick-back voltage suppression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution effectively reduces leakage current and improves low-frequency characteristics of display devices by maintaining constant voltages and minimizing flicker phenomena.

Implementation Method 1

a first compensation electrode overlapping at least a portion of the first common area to define the first compensation capacitor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS20230395615A1Display device
Publication Date: 2023.12.07 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • US20230395615A1 patent drawing
  • US20230395615A1 patent drawing
  • US20230395615A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A display device includes: a light emitting element; a driving transistor configured to transmit a driving current to the light emitting element; a first dual transistor comprising a first sub transistor connected to a gate electrode of the driving transistor, and a second sub transistor configured to connect an input electrode of the first sub transistor and an output electrode of the driving transistor; an active layer comprising a first common area defining the input electrode of the first sub transistor and an output electrode of the second sub transistor; a first compensation electrode overlapping at least a portion of the first common area to define the first compensation capacitor; and a first compensation voltage line configured to provide a first compensation voltage to the first compensation electrode.