LIGHT EMITTING DIODE DISPLAY PIXEL
20240087505 · 2024-03-14
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
G09G2330/028
PHYSICS
G09G2310/027
PHYSICS
G09G2310/08
PHYSICS
International classification
Abstract
A display pixel including at least one light-emitting diode, a circuit for driving the light-emitting diode, and first, second, third, and fourth conductive pads. The driver circuit is powered with a first power supply voltage received between the first and second pads. The light-emitting diode is powered with a first binary signal, received between the third and second pads, and alternating between a second power supply voltage, greater than the first voltage, and a third voltage, smaller than the first voltage. The driver circuit is configured to determine a digital signal based on the values of a second binary signal on the fourth pad received during each of first pulses of the first binary signal at the third voltage and to control the light-emitting diode from the digital signal.
Claims
1. Display pixel for a display screen, comprising at least one light-emitting diode, a circuit for driving the light-emitting diode, and first, second, third, and fourth electrically-conductive pads, the driver circuit being at least partly powered with a first power supply voltage received between the first and second electrically-conductive pads, the light-emitting diode being powered with a first binary signal received between the third and second electrically-conductive pads, the first binary signal alternating between a second power supply voltage, greater than the first power supply voltage, and a third voltage, smaller than the first power supply voltage, the driver circuit being configured to determine a digital signal based on the values of a second binary signal on the fourth electrically-conductive pad received during each of first pulses of the first binary signal at the third voltage and to control the light-emitting diode from the digital signal.
2. Display pixel according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is configured to control the light-emitting diode by pulse-width modulation from the digital signal.
3. Display pixel according to claim 1, only comprising the first, second, third, and fourth electrically-conductive pads.
4. Display pixel according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is configured to turn on or turn off the light-emitting diode at the rate of second pulses of the first binary signal at the third voltage.
5. Display pixel according to claim 1, wherein the driver circuit is configured to determine a clock signal and a third binary signal based on the second binary signal.
6. Display pixel according to claim 5, wherein the driver circuit comprises a circuit for storing binary data determined at each first pulse based on the third binary signal.
7. Display pixel according to claim 5, wherein the second binary signal is intended to comprise a mixture of third pulses having the same duration and of fourth pulses having the same duration longer than the duration of each third pulse, the driver circuit being configured to deliver the clock signal at the same rate as the third and fourth pulses and the third binary signal equal to a first state or to a second state according to the succession of the third and fourth pulses.
8. Display screen comprising an array of display pixels according to claim 1, the display screen further comprising circuits for delivering, for each display pixel, the first power supply voltage between the first and second electrically-conductive pads, the first binary signal between the third and second electrically-conductive pads, and the second binary signal on the fourth electrically-conductive pad.
9. Display screen according to claim 8, wherein the delivery circuits are configured to maintain the first electrically-conductive pad at a substantially constant first potential, the second electrically-conductive pad at a second substantially constant potential, and the third electrically-conductive pad at a third potential which alternates between first and second values, either the first value is greater than the first potential and the second value is equal to the second potential, or the first value is equal to the first potential and the second value is smaller than the second potential.
10. Display screen according to claim 8, wherein the delivery circuits are configured to deliver the third voltage equal to the zero voltage.
11. Display screen according to claim 8, wherein the delivery circuits are configured to deliver the second binary signal alternating between two potentials, the difference in absolute value between the two potentials being smaller than the second power supply voltage.
12. Display screen according to claim 8, wherein the delivery circuits are configured to deliver the first binary signal comprising, for the display of an image, the first pulse at the third voltage of a first duration and a succession of second pulses, each second pulse having a second duration shorter than the first duration.
13. Display screen according to claim 12, wherein the durations between two pairs of second successive pulses increase or decrease.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The foregoing features and advantages, as well as others, will be described in detail in the following description of specific embodiments given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028]
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DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Like features have been designated by like references in the various figures. In particular, the structural and/or functional features that are common among the various embodiments may have the same references and may dispose identical structural, dimensional and material properties. For the sake of clarity, only the steps and elements that are useful for an understanding of the embodiments described herein have been illustrated and described in detail.
[0039] In the following description, when reference is made to terms qualifying absolute positions, such as terms front, rear, top, bottom, left, right, etc., or relative positions, such as terms above, under, upper, lower, etc., or to terms qualifying directions, such as terms horizontal, vertical, etc., it is referred, unless specified otherwise, to the orientation of the drawings or to a display screen in a normal position of use.
[0040] Unless indicated otherwise, when reference is made to two elements connected together, this signifies a direct connection without any intermediate elements other than conductors, and when reference is made to two elements coupled together, this signifies that these two elements can be connected or they can be coupled via one or more other elements. Further, a signal which alternates between a first constant state, for example, a low state, noted 0, and a second constant state, for example, a high state, noted 1, is called a binary signal. The high and low states of different binary signals of a same electronic circuit may be different. In practice, the binary signals may correspond to voltages or to currents which may not be perfectly constant in the high or low state. Further, in the following description, the source and the drain of a MOS transistor are called power terminals of the insulated gate field-effect transistor, or MOS transistor.
[0041] Further, unless indicated otherwise, when it is spoken of a voltage at a conductive pad, the difference between the potential at said conductive pad and a reference potential, for example, the ground, taken as equal to 0 V, is considered.
[0042] Unless specified otherwise, the expressions around, approximately, substantially and in the order of signify within 10%, and preferably within 5%. Further the expression substantially constant means which varies by less than 10% over time with respect to a reference value.
[0043]
[0044] For each row, the display pixels 12.sub.i,j in the row are coupled to a row electrode 181. For each column, the display pixels 12.sub.i,j in the column are coupled to a column electrode 20.sub.j. Display screen 10 comprises a selection circuit 22 coupled to row electrodes 18.sub.i and adapted to delivering a selection and timing signal Com.sub.i on each row electrode 181. Display screen 10 comprises a data delivery circuit 24 coupled to column electrodes 20.sub.j and adapted to delivering a data signal Data.sub.j on each column electrode 20.sub.j. Selection circuit 22 and control circuit 24 are controlled by a circuit 26, for example comprising a microprocessor.
[0045]
[0046] According to an embodiment, display pixel 12.sub.i,j comprises three display sub-pixels emitting light at first, second, and third wavelengths. According to an embodiment, the first wavelength corresponds to blue light and is within the range from 430 nm to 490 nm. According to an embodiment, the second wavelength corresponds to green light and is within the range from 510 nm to 570 nm. According to an embodiment, the third wavelength corresponds to red light and is within the range from 600 nm to 720 nm.
[0047] Each conductive pad 36 is intended to be connected to one of electrodes 14.sub.i, 16.sub.j, 18.sub.i, 20.sub.j schematically shown in
[0048]
[0049] According to an example, display pixel 12.sub.i,j comprises at least three light-emitting diodes, a single light-emitting diode LED being shown in
[0050] Display pixel 12.sub.i,j further comprises a circuit 40 for driving controllable current source CS. Driver circuit 40 may particularly comprise electronic components such as MOS transistors. It may be desirable to use a decreased power supply voltage, smaller than 4 V, for example in the order of 1 V or of 1.8 V, to power the electronic components of driver circuit 40, this decreased power supply voltage for example corresponding to the voltage likely to be applied between the power terminals of the MOS transistors. For this purpose, display pixel 12.sub.i,j comprises a circuit 42 (Vdd Generation) for delivering, from power supply voltage Vcc, a decreased power supply voltage Vdd particularly used for the power supply of driver circuit 40. Circuit 42 for example comprises a voltage divider.
[0051] According to an embodiment, detection and timing signal Com.sub.i, received at one of the conductive pads 36 of each display pixel 12.sub.i,j, is a binary signal alternating between a low state 0 and a high state 1, the low state corresponding to low reference potential Gnd and the high state 1 corresponding to a low voltage, for example, approximately 1 V, smaller than decreased power supply voltage Vdd. Data signal Data.sub.j is a binary signal alternating between a low state 0 and a high state 1, the low state corresponding to low reference potential Gnd and the high state 1 corresponding to a low voltage, for example, approximately 1 V, smaller than decreased power supply voltage Vdd.
[0052] Driver circuit 40 comprises a circuit 44 (Clk & data separation) coupled to the conductive pad 36 receiving data signal Data.sub.j and delivering, from data signal Data.sub.j, a clock signal Clk and data Data. Driver circuit 40 comprises a circuit 46 (Mode selection) receiving signals Clk and Data, coupled to the conductive pad 36 receiving selection and timing signal Com.sub.i, and configured to deliver signals Clk and Data to a storage circuit 48 (Color Data registers) or to deliver a PWM signal to a circuit 50 (LED driver) for controlling the controllable current source CS associated with each light-emitting diode LED. Storage circuit 48 is configured to store color signals R, G, B representative of the image pixel to be displayed. Circuit 50 is adapted to controlling the controllable current sources CS coupled to light-emitting diodes LED with signals I_red, I_green, and I_blue, obtained from color signals R, G, B, and from signal PWM.
[0053] As will be described hereafter, to limit the number of conductive pads 36 per display pixel 12.sub.i,j, data signals Data.sub.j enable both the determination, by each display pixel 12.sub.i,j, of a clock signal and of the color signals R, G, B representative of the light intensities desired for the radiations at the first, second, and third wavelengths.
[0054]
[0055] Potentials Vcc and Gnd are substantially constant. The image pixels of a new image to be displayed are successively displayed from the row of rank 1 to the row of rank M. Call frame duration T the duration separating two successive selections of the same row of display screen 10. Timing diagrams of signals Com.sub.i and Data.sub.1 will be detailed for the row of rank 1, knowing that the timing diagrams of signals Com.sub.i are similar to the timing diagram of signal Com.sub.i, although shifted in time. The display of a new image pixel by a display pixel 12.sub.1,j, with j varying from 1 to N, of the row of rank 1 comprises a first phase P1 followed by a second phase P2. During phase P1, data signals Data.sub.j are transmitted to each display pixel 12.sub.1,j of the row of rank 1, only signal Data.sub.1 being shown in
[0056] During first phase P1, selection and timing signal Com.sub.i is set to state 1. The setting to state 1 of signal Com.sub.i for a long duration is detected by the circuit 46 of each display pixel 12.sub.1,j of the row of rank 1 and thus enables to select the display pixels 12.sub.1,j of this row, while the display pixels of the other rows are not selected. During first phase P1, data signals Data.sub.j are transmitted on column electrodes 20.sub.j. For each display pixel 12.sub.1,j, circuit 44 determines clock signal Clk and data Data based on the pulses of data signal Data.sub.j. As an example, each pulse of data signal Data.sub.j may have a first duration or a second duration, longer than the first duration. Signal Clk may correspond to a sequence of pulses of same durations having their rising edges coinciding, to within a possible constant offset, with the rising edges of the pulses of data signal Data.sub.j. Data Data may correspond to a binary signal at state 0 when the pulse of signal Data.sub.j has the first duration, and at state 1 when the pulse of signal Data.sub.j has the second duration. Circuit 46, selected by signal Com.sub.i at state 1, delivers, at the rate of clock signal Clk, the data Data which are stored in circuit 50 in the form of digital signals R, G, B having their bits provided by the successive values of signal Data. The end of first period P1 for a row corresponds to the beginning of first period P1 for the next row.
[0057] According to an embodiment, the light-emitting diodes of display pixel 12.sub.1,j are controlled by pulse-width modulation or control PWM. For this purpose, during second phase P2, selection and timing signal Com.sub.i exhibits the repetition of a succession of pulses at state 1 which are transmitted by the circuit 46 of each display pixel 12.sub.1,j of the row of rank 1 to circuit 50 (signal PWM) to rate the operation circuit 50 for the control of light-emitting diodes LED by pulse-width modulation. The number of pulses in the succession corresponds to the number of bits of each digital signal R, G, and B. As an example, when current source CS corresponds to a MOS transistor, this transistor is turned on or is turned off, at the rate of the PWM pulses, according to the value 0 or 1 of each bit of color signal R, G, or B, starting by the most significant bit, this transistor being maintained on or off until the next pulse of signal Com.sub.i. The duration between two successive pulses of signal Com.sub.i is divided each time by two, so that the total duration for which the light-emitting diode is on depends on the value of color signal R, G, or B. The succession of pulses of signal Com.sub.i is repeated until the next first phase P1 of the row of rank 1, a single repetition being illustrated as an example in
[0058] The static power consumption of display pixel 12.sub.i,j is for a significant part due to electronic components other than the MOS transistors of driver circuit 40, particularly the circuit 42 for delivering decreased power supply voltage Vdd. The current tendency is to increase the number of display pixels 12.sub.i,j of display screen 10. The static power consumption of the display pixels may then become a critical factor. Indeed, for a so-called 4K display screen 10, having a resolution of 2,160 by 3,840 display pixels, the static power consumption of display screen 10 may be greater than 150 W.
[0059] It may be envisaged to provide an additional conductive pad 36, on each display pixel 12.sub.i,j, in addition to those shown in
[0060] According to an embodiment according to the invention, one of conductive pads 36 is used to receive high power supply voltage Vcc and another conductive pad 26 is used to receive decreased power supply voltage Vdd without modifying the total number of conductive pads 36. Thereby, the generation of the decreased power supply voltage is no longer performed within each display pixel 12.sub.i,j and the static power consumption of the display screen is decreased. Further, the lateral dimensions of display pixels 12.sub.i,j may not be modified. However, to operate with the same number of conductive pads 36, the structure of the driver circuit 40 of display pixel 12.sub.i,j is modified and some of the signals supplied to display pixel 12.sub.i,j are modified.
[0061]
[0062]
[0063]
[0064] Potentials Vdd and Gnd are substantially constant. Each signal Vcc.sub.i, with i varying from 1 to M, is a binary signal which varies between a state 1 where signal Vcc.sub.i is equal to the previously-described high power supply voltage Vcc, for example in the order of from 4 V to 5 V, and a state 0, where signal Vcc.sub.i is substantially equal to low reference potential GND. Each signal Vcc.sub.i exhibits a first phase P1 followed by a second phase P2. During phase P1, data signals Data.sub.j are transmitted to each display pixel 12.sub.i,j of the row of rank i, only signal Data.sub.1 being shown in
[0065] Signal Com.sub.i, supplied by the circuit 62 of each display pixel 12.sub.i,j, thus varies between states 0 and 1 complementarily to signal Vcc.sub.i, state 0 for example corresponding to low reference potential GND and state 1 corresponding to a low voltage, for example, approximately 1 V, for example equal to decreased power supply voltage Vdd. The operation of the rest of driver circuit 40 is thus identical to what has been previously described in relation with
[0066] During second phase P2, signal Vcc.sub.i exhibits the repetition of a succession of pulses at state 0 which are converted by the circuit 62 of each display pixel 12.sub.i,j of the row of rank i into pulses at state 1 of signal Com.sub.i. These pulses are transmitted by the circuit 46 of each display pixel 12.sub.i,j of the row of rank i to circuit 50 (PWM signal) to rate the operation of circuit 50 for the control of light-emitting diodes LED by pulse-width modulation, for example, as previously described.
[0067] Advantageously, the durations of the pulses at state 0 of each signal Vcc.sub.i during phases P1 and P2 are shorter than at least 75% the duration of frame T, preferably at least 80%, more preferably at least 85% of the duration of frame T. Signal Vcc.sub.i is thus most of the time equal to high power supply voltage Vcc, and the power supply voltage of light-emitting diodes LED is substantially not disturbed by the pulses of signal Vcc.sub.i. This would not have been the case if the high power supply voltage had been transported by data signals Data.sub.j, which substantially permanently vary between the high and low states.
[0068] In the embodiment previously described in relation with
[0069]
[0070]
[0071] Various embodiments and variants have been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that certain features of these various embodiments and variants may be combined, and other variants will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the PWM modulation may be internally generated in the control circuit 30 of display pixel 12.sub.i,j to avoid using signal Com.sub.i to generate it. Other embodiments may also not use a PWM modulation but a linear driving of light-emitting diode LED. Other embodiments may also use other electro-optical components such as organic light-emitting diodes.
[0072] Finally, the practical implementation of the described embodiments and variations is within the abilities of those skilled in the art based on the functional indications given hereabove. In particular, regarding the second embodiment described in