Pixel Driver Circuit Threshold Voltage Compensation for AMOLED Uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

AMOLED displays face non-uniformity in luminance due to variances in threshold voltage of driving transistors, leading to the Mura phenomenon and image sticking, which complicates manufacturing and affects display quality.

Innovation Solution

A pixel driving circuit with a data line, gate line, power supply lines, reference signal line, storage capacitor, reset unit, data writing unit, compensating unit, and light emitting control unit, where the threshold voltage of the driving transistor is compensated by loading the first power supply voltage and threshold voltage into the storage capacitor, allowing the driving transistor to control current amplitude based on data voltage, threshold voltage, and reference voltage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If LTPS TFTs or Oxide TFTs are used to achieve higher mobility and stable characteristics, then the driving capability and display quality are improved, but non-uniformity in electrical parameters (threshold voltage, mobility) occurs due to crystallization process limitations, resulting in Mura phenomenon

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving capabilityVSAvoiduniformity of electrical parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by compensating for the threshold voltage of the driving transistor before the light emitting device is driven. The compensation circuit pre-calculates and stores the threshold voltage value in a storage capacitor, so that when the device is operated, the threshold voltage effect is already accounted for, eliminating Mura phenomenon without requiring perfect uniformity in the TFT manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a compensation circuit as an intermediary between the driving transistor and the light emitting device. This intermediary circuit measures the threshold voltage of the driving transistor and uses it to adjust the driving signal, thereby mediating the effect of threshold voltage variations and achieving uniform display without modifying the TFT manufacturing process itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the threshold voltage of the driving transistor is not compensated, then the pixel circuit structure remains simple, but non-uniformity in display luminance occurs due to threshold voltage variances among different transistors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepixel circuit structureVSAvoiddisplay luminance uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The compensation is performed in advance during the initialization phase. The compensation circuit operates before the normal display operation to determine and store the threshold voltage value, so that the actual display operation can proceed with already-compensated signals, minimizing the impact on overall system complexity while achieving luminance uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the compensation function with the existing pixel circuit components. The compensation circuit shares transistors and capacitors with the driving circuit, combining multiple functions (threshold voltage compensation, data storage, and driving) into a unified structure, thereby reducing the overall device complexity compared to having completely separate compensation and driving circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If existing pixel circuits are designed with complex structures to remove threshold voltage effects, then display luminance uniformity is improved, but the good manufacturing production rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay luminance uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing production rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the threshold voltage parameter from the complex circuit operations and handles it separately through a dedicated compensation circuit. By isolating the threshold voltage measurement and compensation function, the main pixel circuit can operate with simpler, faster structures while still achieving luminance uniformity, thus improving manufacturing production rate without sacrificing display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The threshold voltage compensation is performed as a preliminary step before normal display operation. This pre-compensation approach allows the use of simpler, faster circuits during actual display operation, improving manufacturing throughput while still achieving the luminance uniformity that would otherwise require complex real-time correction circuits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3156994B1Pixel driver circuit, driving method, array substrate, and display device
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3156994B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3156994B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3156994B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pixel driving circuit and a driving method thereof, an array substrate and a display apparatus are provided. The pixel driving circuit comprises a data line (Data), a gate line (Gate), a first power supply line (ELVDD), a second power supply line (ELVSS), a reference signal line (ref), a light emitting device (D), a driving transistor (T7), a storage capacitor (C1), a reset unit, a data writing unit, a compensating unit and a light emitting control unit. The pixel driving circuit can compensate and remove non-uniformity in displaying caused by variances in threshold voltage among driving transistors.