Display Sub-Pixel Grayscale Segmentation for Driver Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
As display devices require higher resolution, the size and manufacturing cost of data drivers increase, and existing technologies struggle to maintain display quality with low-specification digital-to-analog converters (DACs), especially when converting 10-bit image data.
Innovation Solution
A display device configuration where adjacent sub-pixels share a data line, with the data driver converting only even or odd grayscale levels of 10-bit image data into data voltage, allowing the upper and lower sub-pixels to display combined grayscale levels, effectively utilizing a low-specification DAC to achieve 10-bit image display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the resolution of display devices is increased, then the image quality is improved, but the size and manufacturing cost of the data driver increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single pixel into multiple sub-pixels (e.g., first sub-pixel and second sub-pixel) that share a common data line. Each sub-pixel handles a portion of the grayscale levels, allowing the data driver to use fewer bits (e.g., 6-bit) while collectively achieving higher effective resolution (e.g., 8-bit or 10-bit). This segmentation reduces the complexity and size of the data driver while maintaining or improving image quality.
2Measurement precision
If the number of bits of image data is increased to achieve higher resolution, then the image quality is improved, but the size and manufacturing cost of the DAC and data driver increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grayscale representation across multiple sub-pixels. Instead of requiring a high-bit DAC (e.g., 10-bit) for each pixel, the system uses lower-bit DACs (e.g., 6-bit) for each sub-pixel and combines their outputs to achieve the equivalent of higher-bit resolution. This reduces the manufacturing cost and complexity of the DAC while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the output signals from multiple sub-pixels (with different grayscale levels) to create the final high-resolution image data. By combining the grayscale information from multiple lower-bit sub-pixels, the system achieves the effect of a higher-bit DAC without the associated cost and complexity.
3Device complexity
If multiple sub-pixels share a data line to reduce driver size, then the data driver size is reduced, but the display quality may degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grayscale handling across multiple sub-pixels sharing a data line. Each sub-pixel is assigned specific grayscale levels (e.g., even or odd levels), and their combined output reconstructs the full grayscale range. This segmentation allows reduced driver size while preserving display quality through coordinated grayscale composition.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a display device includes a display panel which includes sub pixels configured by an upper sub pixel and a lower sub pixel which share a data line and are adjacent to each other; and a data driver which converts only image data corresponding to any one of even-numbered grayscale levels and odd-numbered grayscale levels among 10-bit image data into a data voltage to supply the converted data voltage to the sub pixel, in which when the data driver converts only the even-numbered grayscale levels of image data into the data voltage and the sub pixel displays an X (X is an odd number) grayscale level, the data driver supplies an X−1 grayscale level of data voltage to the upper sub pixel and supplies an X+1 grayscale level of data voltage to the lower sub pixel.