JP2010139966A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device in which a plurality of drive circuits or light-emitting parts constituting a display element are manufactured in the same specifications, and when a difference in the operational characteristics is induced in a specified drive circuit, an influence of the difference on the quality of a displayed image can be decreased. <P>SOLUTION: Each display element has the same layout of first to P-th light-emitting parts and first to P-th drive circuits. In each display element, each of the first to P-th light-emitting parts corresponds to one drive circuit in a one-to-one manner in the first to P-th drive circuits to form a pair, and the light-emitting part and the drive circuit forming a pair are connected. N-pieces of the display elements connected to one scanning line are classified into at least two categories based on the connection relation between the first to P-th light-emitting parts and the first to P-th drive circuits. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a display device using a display element including a plurality of light emitting units and a drive circuit.

  A display element including a light emitting unit and a display device including the display element are well known. For example, a display element (hereinafter, abbreviated as an organic EL display element) having an organic electroluminescence light emitting section using electroluminescence (hereinafter abbreviated as EL) of an organic material has high luminance by low-voltage direct current drive. It attracts attention as a display element capable of emitting light.

  Similar to the liquid crystal display device, for example, in a display device including an organic EL display element, a simple matrix method and an active matrix method are well known as drive methods. The active matrix method has the disadvantage that the structure is complicated, but has the advantage that the luminance of the image can be increased. An organic EL display element driven by an active matrix system includes a drive circuit for driving the light emitting unit in addition to the light emitting unit configured by an organic layer including a light emitting layer.

FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram of an active matrix type display device using an organic EL display element provided with a drive circuit. The display device
(1) Scan circuit 101,
(2) signal output circuit 102,
(3) N in the first direction, M in the second direction different from the first direction (specifically, the direction orthogonal to the first direction), a total of N × M two-dimensional Organic EL display elements 10 arranged in a matrix,
(4) M scanning lines SCL connected to the scanning circuit 101 and extending in the first direction.
(5) N data lines DTL connected to the signal output circuit 102 and extending in the second direction,
(6) Power supply unit 100,
It has. In FIG. 19, 3 × 3 organic EL display elements 10 are shown for convenience, but this is merely an example.

FIG. 20 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL display element 10. The organic EL display element 10 includes a light emitting unit 12 and a drive circuit 11 for driving the light emitting unit 12. In the example shown in FIG. 20, the drive circuit 11 includes a write transistor TR _W , a drive transistor TR _D , and a capacitor C ₁ . In the following description, it is assumed that the write transistor TR _W and the drive transistor TR _D are n-channel transistors.

In the write transistor TR _W, one of the source / drain regions is connected to the data line DTL, the gate electrode is connected to the scan line SCL. The gate electrode of the drive transistor TR _D is connected to the other source / drain region of the write transistor TR _{W and} the other electrode of the capacitor C ₁ . One source / drain region of the driving transistor TR _D is connected to the feeder line PS1. A voltage V _CC (for example, 20 volts) or the like as a predetermined drive voltage is applied from the power supply unit 100 to the power supply line PS1. The other source / drain region of the drive transistor TR _D is connected to the anode electrode of the light emitting unit 12 and _one electrode of the capacitor unit C ₁ . The cathode electrode of the light emitting unit 12 is connected to a power supply line PS2 to which a predetermined voltage V _Cat (for example, 0 volt) is applied. The symbol C _EL represents the capacity of the light emitting unit 12. In FIG. 19, the illustration of the feeder line PS2 shown in FIG. 20 is omitted.

The basic operation of the organic EL display element 10 will be described. A predetermined video signal V _Sig is applied from the signal output circuit 102 to the gate electrode of the drive transistor TR _D via the write transistor TR _W that is turned on by a signal from the scanning line SCL. Thereafter, even when the write transistor TR _W is turned off, the voltage between the gate electrode and the source region of the drive transistor TR _D is held at a predetermined voltage by the capacitor C ₁ according to the video signal V _Sig. Is done.

The current flowing through the light emitting section 12 is the drain current I _ds from the drain region of the drive transistor TR _D flows into the source region. If the driving transistor TR _D ideally operates in the saturation region, the drain current I _ds can be expressed by the following equation (A). The light emitting unit 12 emits light with a luminance corresponding to the value of the drain current I _ds .

I _ds = k · μ · (V _gs −V _th ) ² (A)
However,
mu: effective mobility L: channel length W: channel width V _gs: voltage V _th between the gate electrode and source area of the driving transistor TR _D: threshold voltage C _ox :( gate insulating layer of the driving transistor TR _D Relative permittivity) × (vacuum permittivity) / (gate insulating layer thickness)
k≡ (1/2) ・ (W / L) ・ C _ox
And

  By the way, when manufacturing the organic EL display element 10, for example, foreign substances may adhere between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode of the light emitting unit 12, and the anode electrode and the cathode electrode may be short-circuited. In such a case, the light emitting unit 12 does not emit light and enters a non-light emitting state. And it will be visually recognized as a dark spot defect of a display apparatus.

For this reason, conventionally, an organic EL display element having a structure capable of reducing the degree of dark spot defect has been proposed. For example, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-330469 (Patent Document 1) include a plurality of divided pixel portions (corresponding to light emitting portions), each of which is an independent divided pixel circuit (corresponding to a drive circuit). An organic EL display element connected to the same gate line (corresponding to a scanning line), data line (corresponding to a data line), and power supply line (corresponding to a power supply line) is disclosed.
JP 2006-330469 A

  When one display element is constituted by a plurality of light emitting units and a drive circuit, for example, it is conceivable that a difference in operation characteristics occurs in each drive circuit due to a difference in the configuration of the drive circuit. In addition, for example, the positional relationship between a formation region of a drive circuit and a formation region such as a scan line may be different for each drive circuit on a support body included in the display device. Due to the difference in the various positional relationships, for example, a difference may occur in the value of the parasitic capacitance in the drive circuit, and a difference in operation characteristics of each drive circuit may occur. When the drive circuit and the light emitting portion are formed with the same specifications in each display element constituting the display device, a similar characteristic difference occurs in a specific drive circuit in each display element, which is caused by the characteristic difference of the drive circuit. Thus, it is conceivable that a difference occurs in the luminance of a specific light emitting unit, which affects the quality of the displayed image.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to display an image displayed when a plurality of drive circuits and light-emitting portions constituting the display element are formed with the same specifications, and there is an operational characteristic difference in a specific drive circuit. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of reducing the influence on quality.

The display device according to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object and the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object are:
(1) N display elements arranged in a first direction, M pieces in a second direction different from the first direction, and a total of N × M display elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix,
(2) M scanning lines extending in the first direction, and
(3) N data lines extending in the second direction;
With
The display element in the m-th row (where m = 1, 2, 3,..., M) and the n-th column (where n = 1, 2, 3,..., N) The present invention relates to a display device to which a scan line and an nth data line are connected.

In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object,
Each display element includes first to Pth (where P is a natural number of 2 or more) light emitting units, and first to Pth drive circuits,
In each display element, the arrangement of the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits is the same.
In each display element, each of the first to Pth light emitting units forms a pair in one-to-one correspondence with any one of the first to Pth drive circuits. The light emitting unit and the drive circuit are connected,
The N display elements connected to one scanning line are classified into at least two categories based on the connection relationship between the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits. The

In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention,
N display elements connected to one scanning line form a plurality of groups for each predetermined number of display elements arranged adjacent to each other.
One group consists of display elements belonging to the same category,
In the plurality of groups, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group are each composed of display elements belonging to different categories,
It can be configured.

Alternatively, in the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention,
N display elements connected to one scanning line form a plurality of groups for each predetermined number of display elements arranged adjacent to each other.
One group is composed of display elements classified into at least two categories.
It can be configured.

Alternatively, in the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Among N display elements connected to one scanning line, a certain display element and a display element adjacent to the certain display element are each composed of display elements belonging to different categories.
It can be configured.

In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention including the various preferable configurations described above,
The value of P is 2, and N display elements connected to one scanning line are
A first category display element having a connection relationship in which the first driving circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit and the second driving circuit is connected to the second light emitting unit. ,as well as,
A second category of display elements having a connection relationship in which the second drive circuit is connected to the first light emitting section and the first drive circuit is connected to the second light emitting section. ,
It can be set as the structure classified into these.

In the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object,
Each of the N display elements connected to one scanning line constitutes N sub-pixels, and the display elements constituting the sub-pixels emitting light of a certain predetermined color are the first to Pth (however, , P is a natural number of 2 or more), and first to Pth drive circuits,
In each display element that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light of a predetermined color, the arrangement of the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits is the same,
In the display element that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light of a predetermined color and is connected to one scanning line, each of the first to Pth light emitting units includes the first to Pth drive circuits. The light emitting unit and the drive circuit forming a pair are connected in a one-to-one correspondence with any one of the drive circuits, and the pair is connected.
Display elements that are connected to one scanning line and constitute sub-pixels that emit light of a predetermined color are classified into at least two categories based on the connection relationship between a pair of light emitting units and a drive circuit.

In the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention,
The value of P is 2, and the display elements that are connected to one scanning line and constitute subpixels that emit light of a certain predetermined color are:
A first category display element having a connection relationship in which the first driving circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit and the second driving circuit is connected to the second light emitting unit. ,as well as,
A second category of display elements having a connection relationship in which the second drive circuit is connected to the first light emitting section and the first drive circuit is connected to the second light emitting section. ,
It can be set as the structure classified into these.

  The display device according to the first aspect of the present invention including the various preferable configurations described above, and the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention including the various preferable configurations described above (hereinafter simply referred to as the present invention. In this case, a current-driven light-emitting part that emits light when a current is passed can be widely used as the light-emitting part. Examples of the light emitting part include an organic electroluminescence light emitting part, an inorganic electroluminescence light emitting part, an LED light emitting part, and a semiconductor laser light emitting part. These light emitting portions can be configured using known materials and methods. From the viewpoint of configuring a flat display device for color display, among these, the configuration in which the light emitting section is composed of an organic electroluminescence light emitting section is preferable. The organic electroluminescence light emitting unit may be a so-called top emission type or a bottom emission type.

  In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the N display elements connected to one scanning line include the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth light emitting units. There are at least two categories based on the connection relationship with the drive circuit. Further, in the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the display element that is connected to one scanning line and that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light with a certain predetermined color is driven by a pair of light emitting units. Based on the connection relationship with the circuit, it is classified into at least two categories. As a result, even if there is a difference in the luminance of the light emitting unit due to the difference in the characteristics of the drive circuit, a large number of brightness and darkness due to the luminance difference of the light emitting unit are not lined up along the scanning line or the data line, and it becomes difficult to see. Therefore, even if an operation characteristic difference occurs in a specific drive circuit in the display element, the influence on the quality of the displayed image can be reduced.

  A display element constituting the display device of the present invention, which includes the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the display element of the present invention). In other words, there are a maximum of P factorial types in the connection relationship between the pair of light emitting units and the drive circuit. For example, when the value of P is 2, as described above, the first driving circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit, and the second driving unit is connected to the second light emitting unit. The connection relationship in which the circuits are connected, and the second drive circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit, and the first drive circuit is connected to the second light emitting unit. There are two types of connection relationships: connection relationships. For example, when the value of P is 3, there are six types of connection relationships. From the viewpoint of making it difficult to visually recognize the brightness and darkness associated with the luminance difference of the light emitting unit, it is basically preferable to configure the display device using a display element having a connection relationship of the factorial type of P, but at least 2 The display device of the present invention can be configured as long as it has various types of connection relationships. Therefore, when the value of P is 3 or more, it is not always necessary to use all the connection relations of the factorial type of P in the display device.

  In the display element of the present invention, the arrangement of the first to Pth light emitting portions is not particularly limited. For example, the first to Pth light emitting units may be arranged so as to be aligned in the direction in which the data lines extend (second direction). Alternatively, the first to Pth light emitting units may be arranged in the direction in which the scanning lines extend (first direction), or may be arranged in a matrix. . The same applies to the arrangement of the first to Pth drive circuits.

  In the display device of the present invention, in a configuration in which a plurality of groups are formed for each predetermined number of display elements in which N display elements are adjacent to each other, the predetermined number of display elements constituting the group depends on the design of the display device. What is necessary is just to set suitably according to. For example, a group may be composed of two display elements, a group may be composed of three display elements, or a group may be composed of more display elements. Basically, the predetermined number of display elements constituting the group may be determined in consideration of the visibility of light and dark accompanying the luminance difference of the light emitting units. Depending on the relationship between the value of N and a predetermined number of values, a part of the display elements arranged at the end may remain as a surplus display element. In this case, it may be handled that one group is formed by the display elements that are the surplus.

  The display device of the present invention described above may have a so-called monochrome display configuration or a so-called color display configuration.

  For example, in the case of a monochrome display device, a pixel is constituted by each of the display elements constituting the display device. When the number of display elements constituting the display device is N × M, the number of pixels is (N × M).

  On the other hand, in the case of a color display device, one pixel has three types of sub-pixels, for example, a red light-emitting subpixel that emits red, a green light-emitting subpixel that emits green, and a blue light-emitting subpixel that emits blue. It consists of pixels. Therefore, when the number of display elements constituting the display device is N × M, the number of pixels is (N × M) / 3.

  In the case of color display, one set in which one or more types of subpixels are added to the above-described three types of subpixels (for example, one subpixel that emits white light in order to improve luminance is added). To expand the color reproduction range, one set including sub-pixels that emit complementary colors to expand the color reproduction range, one set including sub-pixels that emit yellow to expand the color reproduction range A pixel can also be configured from a set of subpixels that emit yellow and cyan.

  As values of pixels (pixels) of the display device, VGA (640, 480), S-VGA (800, 600), XGA (1024, 768), APRC (1152, 900), S-XGA (1280, 1024), U-XGA (1600, 1200), HD-TV (1920, 1080), Q-XGA (2048, 1536), (1920, 1035), (720, 480), (1280, 960), etc. Although some of the resolutions can be exemplified, the present invention is not limited to these values.

  In the display device of the present invention, the configuration and structure of various wirings such as scanning lines and data lines can be well-known configurations and structures. Also, the configuration and structure of the light emitting unit can be a known configuration and structure. For example, when the light emitting portion is an organic electroluminescence light emitting portion, the light emitting portion can be composed of an anode electrode, a hole transport layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transport layer, a cathode electrode, and the like. The configuration and structure of the scanning circuit connected to the scanning line, the signal output circuit connected to the data line, and other various circuits can also be a known configuration and structure.

  The drive circuit can be composed of a transistor, a capacitor portion, and the like. The conductivity type of the transistor constituting the drive circuit is not particularly limited. The transistor can be composed of, for example, a thin film transistor (TFT).

  The capacitor part constituting the drive circuit can be constituted by, for example, one electrode, the other electrode, and a dielectric layer (insulating layer) sandwiched between these electrodes. The transistor and the capacitor part constituting the driving circuit are formed in a certain plane, for example, formed on a support. When the light emitting unit is an organic electroluminescence light emitting unit, the light emitting unit is formed above, for example, a transistor constituting a driving circuit via an interlayer insulating layer. The drive circuit is connected to one end of the light emitting unit (such as an anode electrode provided in the light emitting unit). In addition, the structure which formed the transistor in the semiconductor substrate etc. may be sufficient.

As constituent materials for the support, high strain point glass, soda glass (Na ₂ O · CaO · SiO ₂ ), borosilicate glass (Na ₂ O · B ₂ O ₃ · SiO ₂ ), forsterite (2MgO · SiO ₂₎ ), Glass materials such as lead glass (Na ₂ O · PbO · SiO ₂ ), and various plastic materials. If a support made of a plastic material having flexibility is used, a flexible display device can be configured.

  A widely known drive circuit can be used as the drive circuit constituting the display element of the present invention. The configuration of the drive circuit is not particularly limited. A so-called voltage writing type driving circuit or a current writing type driving circuit may be used.

A so-called voltage writing type driving circuit can be composed of, for example, a writing transistor, a driving transistor, and a capacitor. As an example of a voltage writing type drive circuit,
In the drive transistor,
(A-1) One source / drain region is connected to a predetermined power supply unit,
(A-2) The other source / drain region is connected to one end (anode electrode) of the light emitting unit,
(A-3) The gate electrode is connected to the other source / drain region of the writing transistor and to the other electrode of the capacitor portion,
(A-4) When the driving transistor is an n-channel transistor, the other source / drain region is connected to one electrode of the capacitor, and when the driving transistor is a p-channel transistor, One source / drain region and one electrode of the capacitor are connected,
In the write transistor,
(B-1) One source / drain region is connected to a predetermined data line,
(B-2) The gate electrode is connected to a predetermined scanning line.
A driving circuit can be mentioned. In the first to Pth drive circuits constituting the display element of the present invention, the transistors and capacitors constituting the drive circuit are configured by sharing the write transistors and capacitors. The number of can also be reduced. In this case, at least one of the first to Pth drive circuits may include a write transistor and a capacitor.

  In the display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the N display elements connected to one scanning line include the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth light emitting units. There are at least two categories based on the connection relationship with the drive circuit. Further, in the display device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the display element that is connected to one scanning line and that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light with a certain predetermined color is driven by a pair of light emitting units. Based on the connection relationship with the circuit, it is classified into at least two categories. As a result, even if there is a difference in the luminance of the light emitting unit due to the difference in the characteristics of the drive circuit, a large number of brightness and darkness due to the luminance difference of the light emitting unit are not lined up along the scanning line or the data line, and it becomes difficult to see. Therefore, even if a similar characteristic difference occurs in a specific drive circuit in each display element, the influence on the quality of the displayed image can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings.

Example 1 relates to a display device according to the first and second aspects of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a display device 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display device 110 ₁ shown in FIG. Figure 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display device 110 ₂ shown in FIG. In the following description, the display element 110 ₁ and the display element 110 ₂ may be collectively referred to as the display element 110 in some cases.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 of Example 1
(1) N display elements 110 in a first direction, M in a second direction different from the first direction, a total of N × M display elements 110 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix,
(2) M scanning lines SCL extending in the first direction, and
(3) N data lines DTL extending in the second direction,
It has. In FIG. 1, for convenience, 6 × 3 display elements 110 are shown, but this is merely an example. In FIG. 1, a power supply line PS2 described later is not shown.

Display element 110 in the m-th row (where m = 1, 2, 3,..., M) and n-th column (where n = 1, 2, 3,..., N) (example shown in FIG. 1). in, the display device 110 _1), and m-th scanning line SCL _m, the n-th data line DTL _n are connected.

  Each display element 110 includes first to Pth (where P is a natural number of 2 or more) light emitting units, and first to Pth drive circuits. In Example 1, the value of P is 2.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display element 110 (110 ₁ , 110 ₂ ) includes a first light emitting unit 112 ₁ , a second light emitting unit 112 ₂ , and a first drive circuit 111 _1. And a second drive circuit 111 ₂ . As will be described later, the light emitting sections 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ are organic electroluminescence light emitting sections. The symbol C _EL1 represents the capacity of the light emitting unit 112 ₁ . The symbol C _EL2 represents the capacity of the light emitting unit 112 ₂ .

As will be described in detail later, each display element 110 includes first to second light emitting units 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ and first to second drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 ₂ . The arrangement is similar. In each display element 110, each of the first to second light emitting units 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ includes any one of the first to _second drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 _2. A pair is formed in a one-to-one correspondence, and the paired light emitting units and the drive circuit are connected.

As will be described in detail later, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL include first to second light emitting units 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ and first to second drive circuits. It is divided into at least two categories based on the connection relationship between the 111 _1, 111 _2. More specifically, it is classified into two categories, the display element 110 ₁ and the display element 110 ₂ described above. In the first embodiment, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL form a plurality of groups for each predetermined number of display elements 110 arranged adjacent to each other. . One group includes display elements 110 belonging to the same category. In a plurality of groups, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group are each composed of display elements 110 belonging to different categories.

  The display device 1 according to the first embodiment is a color display device having a plurality of display elements 110 (for example, N × M = 1920 × 480). One display element 110 constitutes one subpixel. Here, one pixel is arranged in the direction in which the scanning line SCL extends, and includes three types of sub-pixels: a red light-emitting subpixel that emits red light, a green light-emitting subpixel that emits green light, and a blue light-emitting subpixel that emits blue light. It consists of pixels. Therefore, the display device 1 has (N / 3) × M pixels.

In other words, each of the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL constitutes N subpixels, and the display element 110 that constitutes a subpixel emitting light of a certain predetermined color The second light emitting unit 112 ₁ , the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ , the first driving circuit 111 _1, and the second driving circuit 111 ₂ are provided.

In the first embodiment, all of the display elements 110 constituting the three types of sub-pixels of the red light-emitting subpixel, the green light-emitting subpixel, and the blue light-emitting subpixel have the first light emitting unit 1121 and the _first light emitting unit 1121. the second light emitting unit 112 _2, and includes _first and second first driving circuit 111 the first second drive circuit 111 _2. For convenience, hereinafter, the first-th light-emitting unit 112 ₁ first light emitting portion 112 ₁ and represents, in some cases the second th light emitting portion 112 ₂ represents a second light emitting unit 112 _2. Similarly, the 1st driving circuit 111 ₁ first driving circuit 111 ₁ and represents, in some cases the first second drive circuit 111 ₂ represents a second driving circuit 111 _2. The same applies to other embodiments described later.

The first drive circuit 111 ₁ will be described with reference to FIGS. The first drive circuit 111 ₁
(A) First drive transistor TR _D1 ,
(B) Write transistor TR _W and
(C) a capacitor C ₁ having a pair of electrodes,
It has. In the first drive transistor TR _D1 ,
(A-1) The gate electrode is connected to the other source / drain region of the write transistor TR _W and is connected to the other electrode of the capacitor C ₁ .
(A-2) One source / drain region is connected to the power supply unit 100 via the feeder line PS1,
(A-3) The other source / drain region is connected to one electrode of the capacitor C ₁ . In the write transistor TR _W ,
(B-1) One source / drain region is connected to the data line DTL,
(B-2) The gate electrode is connected to the scanning line SCL.

The second drive circuit 111 ₂ will be described. The second drive circuit 111 ₂ includes a second drive transistor TR _D2 . In the second drive transistor TR _D2 , the gate electrode is connected to the other source / drain region of the write transistor TR _W , and one source / drain region is connected to the power supply unit 100 via the feeder line PS1. Has been. In the second driving transistor TR _D2, the other source / drain region is connected to one electrode of the capacitor portion C _1.

In the first embodiment, the transistors constituting the first drive circuit 111 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ are composed of n-channel transistors. Note that the write transistor TR _W may be a p-channel transistor.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the write transistor TR _W and the capacitor C ₁ are shared in the first drive circuit 111 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ . In contrast to the configuration in which the first drive circuit 111 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ are individually provided with the write transistor TR _W and the capacitor C ₁ , the number of transistors and capacitors is reduced.

In each display element 110, each of the first to second light emitting units 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ has a one-to-one correspondence with one of the first to second drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 _2. And a pair of light emitting units and a drive circuit are connected to each other.

In other words, in the first embodiment, the first to second light emitting units 112 in the display element 110 that constitutes a subpixel that emits light of a certain predetermined color, connected to one scanning line SCL. Each of ₁ and 112 ₂ forms a pair in a one-to-one correspondence with any one of the first to _second drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 ₂ , and the light emitting section and the drive circuit that form a pair And are connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the display element 110 ₁ , the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ and the first drive circuit 111 ₁ form a pair, and the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ and the second drive circuit. 111 ₂ makes a corresponding pair. The other source / drain region of the first drive transistor TR _D1 constituting the first drive circuit 111 ₁ is connected to one end (anode electrode) of the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ . The first light emitting portion 112 ₁ of the other end (cathode) is connected to the common feeder line PS2. The other source / drain region of the second drive transistor TR _D2 constituting the second drive circuit 111 ₂ is connected to one end (anode electrode) of the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ . Similarly to the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ , the other end (cathode electrode) of the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ is also connected to the common power supply line PS2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the display element 110 ₂ , the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ form a pair correspondingly, and the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ and the first light emitting unit 112 ₂ are paired. The drive circuit 111 ₁ makes a pair. The other source / drain region of the second drive transistor TR _D2 constituting the second drive circuit 111 ₂ is connected to one end (anode electrode) of the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ . The second end of the light emitting portion 112 ₂ (cathode) are connected to a common feed line PS2. The other source / drain region of the first drive transistor TR _D1 constituting the first drive circuit 111 ₁ is connected to one end (anode electrode) of the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ . Similarly to the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ , the other end (cathode electrode) of the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ is also connected to the common power supply line PS2.

A predetermined voltage V _Cat (for example, 0 volt) is applied to the common feeder line PS2. Further, a voltage V _CC (for example, 20 volts) as a drive voltage is applied to the power supply line PS1 at a predetermined timing for each scanning line SCL based on the operation of the power supply unit 100. A voltage for initialization or the like may be applied from the power supply unit 100.

4A and 4B, and FIGS. 5A to 5C, the first to second light emitting units 112 ₁ , 112 ₂ , and The arrangement of the first to second drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 ₂ will be described.

FIG. 4A is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the display device 1 according to the first embodiment. A-A of a portion indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 4B and 5A described later. It is a partial sectional view equivalent to A side. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the drive circuit with respect to the display element formation region in the display device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the light emitting portions with respect to the display element formation region in the display device 1 of the first embodiment. (B) in FIG. 5, in the display device 1 of Embodiment 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating a connection of the drive circuit and the light emitting portion of the display device 110 _1. (C) in FIG. 5, in the display device 1 of Embodiment 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating a connection of the drive circuit and the light emitting portion of the display device 110 _2.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the display element 110 is formed on a support 20 made of glass or the like. On the support 20, a first drive circuit 111 ₁ , a second drive circuit 111 ₂ , and a feeder line PS1 each including a thin film transistor (TFT) and a capacitor are formed. It should be noted that the connection portion between the feed line PS1 and the drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 ₂ , the scanning line SCL, and the like are hidden and cannot be seen. The back surface side of the support 20 is covered with, for example, a light shielding layer.

The entire surface of the support 20 including the drive circuits 111 ₁ and 111 ₂ and the feed line PS1 is covered with an interlayer insulating layer 21. A first light emitting unit 112 ₁ and a second light emitting unit 112 ₂ are formed on the interlayer insulating layer 21. The first light emitting unit 112 ₁ includes an anode electrode 22 ₁ , a cathode electrode 25, and an organic layer 24 ₁ including a light emitting layer disposed between the anode electrode 22 ₁ and the cathode electrode 25. The second light emitting unit 112 ₂ includes an anode electrode 22 ₂ , a cathode electrode 25, and an organic layer 24 ₂ including a light emitting layer disposed between the anode electrode 22 ₂ and the cathode electrode 25. For convenience, the organic layers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ including the light emitting layer are shown as one layer in the figure. A substrate 26 made of glass, for example, is disposed so as to cover the cathode electrode 25. The emitted light passes through the substrate 26 and is emitted to the outside. The display device 1 according to the first embodiment is a so-called top emission type display device.

On the interlayer insulating layer 21, in addition to the anode electrodes 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , a power supply line PS2 is formed. The portions where the organic layers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ are not formed are covered with the second interlayer insulating layer 23. The cathode electrode 25 is formed on the entire surface so as to cover the whole of the organic layers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ and the second interlayer insulating layer 23, and is fed through a contact plug provided on the second interlayer insulating layer 23. Connected to PS2. The cathode electrode 25 has optical transparency and is made of a metal thin film, or a transparent conductive material such as indium and tin oxide (ITO) or indium and zinc oxide (IZO). An insulating protective film may be formed on the cathode electrode 25 for the purpose of preventing moisture from reaching the organic layers 24 ₁ and 24 ₂ .

A method for manufacturing the display device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, various wirings such as scanning lines, electrodes constituting a capacitor portion, transistors including semiconductor layers, interlayer insulating layers, contact holes, and the like are appropriately formed on the support 20 by a known method. Next, film formation and patterning are performed by a known method to form the light emitting portions 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ . And the support body 20 and the board | substrate 26 which passed through the said process are made to oppose, the circumference | surroundings are sealed, and the display apparatus 1 can be completed. Thereafter, connection to an external circuit may be performed as necessary.

As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5A, each display element 110 is arranged in a predetermined area (display element formation area) on the support 20. As shown in FIG. 4B, in each display element 110, the arrangement relationship of the first drive circuit 111 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ with respect to the display element formation region is the same. Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), in each display element 110, the same applies to the first arrangement of the light emitting portion 112 ₁ and the second drive light emitting portion 112 ₂ to the display element formation region. In FIG. 4B and FIG. 5A, illustration of wiring other than the feeder line PS1 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5B, in the display element 110 ₁ , the first driving circuit 111 ₁ is connected to the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ , and the second light emitting unit. This is a display element of the first category having a connection relationship in which the _second drive circuit 111 ₂ is connected to 112 ₂ . Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the display element 110 ₂ includes the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ and the second drive circuit 111 ₂ connected thereto, and the second light emitting unit. in ₁₁₂₂ is a display element of the second category with a connection relation 1st driving circuit 111 ₁ is connected. 5B and 5C includes a contact plug (not shown) provided in the interlayer insulating layer 21 shown in FIG. 4A.

  In the first embodiment, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL include a plurality of display elements 110 for each of a predetermined number (three in the first embodiment) of display elements 110 arranged adjacent to each other. Form a group. Specifically, a group is formed for each of three display elements 110 constituting three types of subpixels arranged in the order of a red light emitting subpixel, a green light emitting subpixel, and a blue light emitting subpixel. One group includes display elements 110 belonging to the same category.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the N display elements 110 connected to the m th scan line SCL _m, the data lines DTL _n-1 and the n th data line DTL _n adjacent thereto , DTL _{n + 1} , three display elements 110 ₁ constitute one group. Further, the (n−4) th data line DTL _n−4 , the (n−3) th data line DTL _{n−3 and} the (n−2) th data line DTL _{n− are not shown.} Three display elements 110 ₂ connected to ₂ constitute one group. Further, it is connected to the (n + 2) th data line DTL _{n + 2} , the (n + 3) th data line DTL _{n + 3 and} the (n + 4) th data line DTL _{n + 4} (not shown). The three display elements 110 ₂ constitute one group. The same applies to the N display elements 110 connected to the other scanning lines SCL. In the first embodiment, three display elements 110 ₁ and three display elements 110 ₂ are alternately arranged and connected to one scanning line SCL. As described above, one group includes the display element 110 ₁ or the display element 110 ₂ belonging to the same category. In a plurality of groups, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group are respectively The display elements 110 belong to different categories.

  FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of a part of the display device 1 for explaining a connection relationship of N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the bright part and the dark part in each display element when the display device 1 displays all white.

In FIG. 6A, the notation “1-1” indicates a connection relationship in which the first driving circuit 111 ₁ is connected to the first light emitting unit 112 _1, and the notation “2-2” indicates the second light emission. showing the connection relation to the part 112 ₂ second driving circuit 111 ₂ is connected. Similarly, the notation “1-2” indicates a connection relationship in which the second drive circuit 111 ₂ is connected to the first light emitting unit 112 _1, and the notation “2-1” indicates the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ A connection relationship in which one drive circuit 111 ₁ is connected is shown. In FIG. 6A, “R” indicates a column constituting a red light emitting subpixel, “G” indicates a column constituting a green light emitting subpixel, and “B” indicates a blue light emitting subpixel. Indicates the column to perform. The same applies to other drawings to be described later.

In the display device 1 according to the first embodiment, as is apparent from FIG. 6A, the display element 110 that is connected to one scanning line SCL and constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light with a certain predetermined color is provided. the display device 110 of the _first category, and are classified into the display device 110 of the _second category.

  The basic operation of the display element 110 in the display device 1 of Example 1 will be described. The display elements 110 constituting each pixel are driven line-sequentially, and the display frame rate is FR (times / second). That is, the display elements 110 constituting each of (N / 3) pixels (N subpixels) arranged in the m-th row are driven simultaneously. In other words, in each display element 110 constituting one row, the timing of light emission / non-light emission is controlled in units of rows to which they belong. The process of writing a video signal for each pixel constituting one row may be a process of writing a video signal for all the pixels simultaneously (hereinafter, simply referred to as a simultaneous writing process), A process of sequentially writing video signals for each pixel (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a sequential writing process) may be used. Which writing process is used may be appropriately selected according to the configuration of the display device.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in both the display element 110 ₁ and the display element 110 ₂ , the write transistor TR _W is turned on by a signal from the scanning line SCL based on the operation of the scanning circuit 101. Thus, a predetermined video signal V _Sig is applied from the signal output circuit 102 to the gate electrodes of the first drive transistor TR _D1 and the second drive transistor TR _D2 . Thereafter, even when the write transistor TR _W is turned off, the voltage between the gate electrodes and the source regions of the transistors TR _D1 and TR _D2 is set to a predetermined voltage according to the video signal V _Sig by the capacitor C _1. Retained.

In the display element 110 ₁ shown in FIG. 2, the current flowing through the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ is the drain current I _ds1 flowing from the drain region to the source region of the first drive transistor TR _D1 . The current flowing through the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ is the drain current I _ds2 flowing from the drain region to the source region of the second drive transistor TR _D2 . The first light emitting unit 112 ₁ emits light with a luminance corresponding to the value of the drain current I _ds1 . The second light emitting unit 112 ₂ emits light with a luminance corresponding to the value of the drain current I _ds2 .

On the other hand, in the display element 110 ₂ shown in FIG. 3, the current flowing through the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ is the drain current I _ds2 flowing from the drain region to the source region of the second drive transistor TR _D2 . Current flowing through the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ is a drain current I _ds1 from the drain region of the first driving transistor TR _D1 flows to the source region. The first light emitting unit 112 ₁ emits light with a luminance corresponding to the value of the drain current I _ds2 . The second light emitting unit 112 ₂ emits light with a luminance corresponding to the value of the drain current I _ds1 .

If the first drive transistor TR _D1 operates ideally in the saturation region, the current I _ds1 can be expressed by the following equation (1).

I _ds1 = k ₁ · μ ₁ · (V _gs1 −V _th1 ) ² (1)
However,
mu _1: effective mobility of the transistor TR _D1 L _1: channel length W ₁ of the transistor TR _D1: channel width of the transistor TR _D1 V _gs1: voltage between the gate electrode and the source region of the transistor TR _D1 V _th1: Threshold voltage C _ox1 of transistor TR _D1 : (relative permittivity of gate insulating layer) × (dielectric constant of vacuum) / (thickness of gate insulating layer)
k ₁ ≡ (1/2) · (W ₁ / L ₁ ) · C _ox1
And

Similarly, if the second drive transistor TR _D2 operates ideally in the saturation region, the current I _ds2 can be expressed by the following equation (2).

I _ds2 = k ₂ · μ ₂ · (V _gs2 −V _th2 ) ² (2)
However,
mu _2: transistor TR _D2 effective mobility L ₂ of: transistor TR channel length _D2 W _2: the channel width of the transistor TR _D2 V _gs2: voltage between the gate electrode and the source region of the transistor TR _D2 V _th2: Threshold voltage C _ox2 of transistor TR _D2 : (relative permittivity of gate insulating layer) × (vacuum permittivity) / (thickness of gate insulating layer)
k ₂ ≡ (1/2) · (W ₂ / L ₂ ) · C _ox2
And

Here, it is assumed that the first transistor TR _D1 and the second transistor TR _D1 are configured with the same specifications, and the above-described values such as mobility and channel length are the same. It is also assumed that the current-luminance characteristics of the first light emitting unit 112 ₁ and the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ are the same. In this case, if the voltage V _gs1 and the voltage V _gs2 the same value, the value of the current I _ds1 and the current I _ds2 be the same value, the first light emitting portion 112 ₁ and the second light emitting unit 112 ₂ same Emits light with brightness.

However, for example, the length of the leading path to the other of the source / drain regions of the write transistor TR _W from the gate electrode of the first driving transistor TR _D1, the other of the write transistor TR _W from the gate electrode of the second driving transistor TR _D2 This is different from the length of the path to the source / drain region. Similarly, the length of the path from the other source / drain region of the first drive transistor TR _D1 to one electrode of the capacitor C _{1 and} the other source / drain region of the second drive transistor TR _D2 to the capacitor C _This is different from the length of the path to one of the electrodes.

Thus, differences in the structure of the difference and the various positional relationship of the drive circuit, the influence of the parasitic capacitance in the path, for example signal propagates, a slight difference between the voltage V _gs1 and the voltage V _gs2 may occur. For example, _if the value of the voltage V _gs2 tends to be smaller than the value of the voltage V _gs1 , this tendency is similarly recognized in all the display elements 110 constituting the display device 1. In each display element 110, the value of the drain current I _ds2 becomes smaller than the drain current I _ds1, the luminance of the light emitting unit connected to the second driving circuit 111 ₂ is connected to the first driving circuit 111 ₁ Observed relatively lower than the brightness of the light emitting part.

However, in the display device 1 according to the first embodiment, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL are classified into two categories, that is, the display element 110 ₁ and the display element 110 ₂ . A group consisting of three display elements 110 ₁ and a group consisting of three display elements 110 ₂ are connected alternately to one scanning line SCL. As described above, one group includes the display element 110 ₁ or the display element 110 ₂ belonging to the same category. In a plurality of groups, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group are respectively The display elements 110 belong to different categories. Therefore, for example, when the display device 1 is set to all white display, as shown in FIG. 6B, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance with a hatched line and a relatively high with no hatched line. The portions observed with luminance are alternately arranged for each pixel.

For comparison with the display device 1 of Example 1, a display device of a comparative example will be described. FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view of a part of a display device of a comparative example using only one of the connection-related display elements 110. FIG. 7A shows an example in which only the display element 110 ₁ is used. FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of bright portions and dark portions in each display element when the display device of the comparative example displays all white.

  In the display device of the comparative example, for example, when the display device is set to all white display, as shown in FIG. 7B, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance indicated by diagonal lines is a scanning line SCL. It is lined up along the extending direction and is visually recognized as a dark line. In addition, portions observed with relatively high luminance that are not shaded are aligned along the direction in which the scanning line SCL extends and are visually recognized as bright lines. On the other hand, in the display device 1 of Example 1, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance with a diagonal line and a portion observed with a relatively high luminance without a diagonal line are: Since it is alternately arranged for every pixel, it is hard to be visually recognized. Therefore, even if a similar characteristic difference occurs in a specific drive circuit in each display element 110, the influence on the quality of the displayed image can be reduced.

  In the above description, the configuration of the group of N display elements 110 in one scanning line SCL is the same in other scanning lines, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the connection relationship of the display elements 110 may be alternately changed in adjacent scanning lines SCL.

Alternatively, for example, in the scanning line SCL _m , three display elements 110 constituting three types of subpixels arranged in the order of a red light emitting subpixel, a green light emitting subpixel, and a blue light emitting subpixel, as in FIG. A group is formed every time, but the scanning lines SCL _m-1 and SCL _{m + 1} may be configured such that the group structure is shifted by one or two elements. As an example, one display element is shifted in the -X direction in the scanning line SCL _m-1, a configuration in which one display element is shifted group of the structure in the + X direction in the scan line SCL m + _1, in FIG. 8 ( Shown in B).

  Example 2 relates to the display device 2 according to the first aspect of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of the display device 2 according to the second embodiment. The display device 2 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the display device 1 of the first embodiment except that the arrangement of display elements is different. Since the constituent elements constituting the display device 2 of the second embodiment are the same as those described in the first embodiment, the description of the constituent elements is omitted. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the constituent elements.

  As in the first embodiment, N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL form a plurality of groups for every predetermined number (three) of display elements 110 arranged adjacent to each other. Yes. Specifically, a group is formed for each of three display elements 110 constituting three types of subpixels arranged in the order of a red light emitting subpixel, a green light emitting subpixel, and a blue light emitting subpixel.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the N display elements 110 connected to the m th scan line SCL _m, the data lines DTL _n-1 adjacent thereto and the n th data line DTL _n, DTL Three display elements 110 connected to _{n + 1} constitute one group. Further, the (n−4) th data line DTL _n−4 , the (n−3) th data line DTL _n−3 , and the (n−2) th data line DTL _n−2 (not shown). Three display elements 110 connected to each other constitute one group. Further, it is connected to the (n + 2) th data line DTL _{n + 2} , the (n + 3) th data line DTL _{n + 3 and} the (n + 4) th data line DTL _{n + 4} (not shown). Three display elements 110 constitute one group. The same applies to the N display elements 110 connected to the other scanning lines SCL.

In the first embodiment, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group each include display elements 110 belonging to different categories. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, one group includes the display elements 110 classified into at least two categories. Specifically, in the second embodiment, one group is constituted by the display element 110 ₂ arranged in the center and the display elements 110 ₁ arranged on both sides thereof.

    FIG. 10A illustrates the connection relationship of the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL, and the arrangement of the bright and dark portions in each display element when the display device displays all white. It is a typical top view for doing.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a group is formed for each of the three display elements 110 constituting three types of subpixels arranged in the order of the red light emitting subpixel, the green light emitting subpixel, and the blue light emitting subpixel. is doing. In the second embodiment, the red light emitting subpixel and the blue light emitting subpixel of each group are configured by the display element 110 _1, and the green light emitting subpixel is configured by the display element 110 ₂ .

  Therefore, for example, when the display device 2 is set to all white display, as shown in FIG. 10A, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance with a hatched line and a relatively high with no hatched line. The portions observed by the luminance are alternately arranged within one pixel, and thus are hardly visually recognized. And even if the same characteristic difference arises in the specific drive circuit in each display element 110, the influence which it has on the quality of the displayed image can be reduced.

  In the above description, the configuration of the group of N display elements 110 in one scanning line SCL is the same in other scanning lines, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 10B, the connection relationship of the display elements 110 in the adjacent scanning lines SCL may be alternately changed.

Alternatively, for example, in the scanning line SCL _m , three display elements 110 constituting three types of subpixels arranged in the order of a red light emitting subpixel, a green light emitting subpixel, and a blue light emitting subpixel, as in FIG. A group is formed every time, but the scanning lines SCL _m-1 and SCL _{m + 1} may be configured such that the group structure is shifted by one or two elements. As an example, the scanning line SCL _m−1 is shifted by one display element in the −X direction, and the scanning line SCL _{m + 1} is shifted by one display element in the + X direction. Shown in A).

Alternatively, the display element 110 that constitutes one of the red sub-pixel and the blue sub-pixel constituting the group, and the display element 110 that constitutes the other and the green sub-pixel are classified into different categories. The display element 110 can also be configured. FIG. 11B shows an example in which, for example, a red subpixel and a green subpixel are configured from the display element 110 ₁ , and a blue subpixel is configured from the display element 110 ₂ .

  Example 3 relates to the display device 3 according to the first and second aspects of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of the display device 3 according to the third embodiment. The display device 3 according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as the display device 1 according to the first embodiment except that the arrangement of display elements is different. Since each component which comprises the display apparatus 3 of Example 3 is the same as that of having demonstrated in Example 1, description is abbreviate | omitted. In the following description, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are attached to the constituent elements.

  Also in the third embodiment, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL include three types of subpixels arranged in the order of a red light emitting subpixel, a green light emitting subpixel, and a blue light emitting subpixel. In this configuration, the three display elements 110 are sequentially arranged. However, in the third embodiment, a group for each predetermined number of display elements 110 is not configured. In the third embodiment, in N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line, a certain display element 110 and a display element 110 adjacent to the certain display element 110 have different categories. It is comprised from the display element 110 which belongs to.

Specifically, the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line are classified into a _first category display element 110 ₁ and a second category display element 110 ₂ . The display elements 110 ₁ and the display elements 110 ₂ are alternately arranged.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the N display elements 110 connected to the m th scan line SCL _m, the n-th data line DTL _n is connected to a display device 110 _2, A display element 110 ₁ is connected to the data lines DTL _n−1 and DTL _{n + 1} adjacent thereto. Similarly, a display element 110 ₂ is connected to the data lines DTL _n−2 and DTL _{n + 2} adjacent to them. The same applies to the N display elements 110 connected to the other scanning lines SCL.

  FIG. 13A shows the connection relationship of the N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL, and the arrangement of the bright part and the dark part in each display element when the display device 3 displays all white. It is a typical top view for demonstrating.

As shown in (A) of FIG. 13, in the one scan line SCL connected to the N display elements 110, the display device 110 ₂ and adjacent to the display element 110 _1, the display device 110 ₂ Are arranged so that the display elements 110 ₁ are adjacent to each other. Therefore, for example, when the display device 3 is set to all white display, as shown in FIG. 13A, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance with a hatched line and a relatively high with no hatched line. Since the portions observed by luminance are alternately arranged for each display element 110, it is difficult to visually recognize the portions. And even if the same characteristic difference arises in the specific drive circuit in each display element 110, the influence which it has on the quality of the displayed image can be reduced.

  In the above description, the arrangement of the N display elements 110 in one scanning line SCL is the same in the other scanning lines, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the connection relationship of the display elements 110 in the adjacent scanning lines SCL may be alternately changed.

  Example 4 relates to the display device 4 according to the second aspect of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of the display device 4 according to the fourth embodiment. The display device 4 according to the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as that of the display device 1 according to the first embodiment, except that some display elements have different configurations. Descriptions of components common to the display device 1 of the first embodiment are omitted. Also in the following description, the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment are given to the components common to the display device 1 of the first embodiment.

  Human discriminating power for colors varies depending on the type of color. For example, in a color display device, the former is more easily recognized when a red subpixel or a green subpixel is in a dark spot state and when a blue subpixel is in a dark spot state. In other words, the dark spot of the blue subpixel is not conspicuous, and the necessity of providing redundancy for the display element that constitutes the blue subpixel is lower than the display element that constitutes the other subpixel.

  In the display device 4 of the fourth embodiment, in the display device 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the display element 110 constituting the blue subpixel is replaced with a display element 410 having one light emitting unit and one drive circuit. It is a configuration.

  First, the display element 410 will be described. FIG. 15 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display element 410 shown in FIG. FIG. 16A is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the drive circuit with respect to the display element formation region in the display device 4 of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the light emitting portions with respect to the display element formation region in the display device 4 of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16C is a schematic plan view for explaining the connection between the drive circuit and the light emitting unit in the display element 410 in the display device 4 of the fourth embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 15, the display element 410 includes a drive circuit 411 and a light emitting unit 412. Configuration of the driving circuit 411 is basically the same as the first driving circuit 111 ₁ of the display device 110 described with reference to FIGS. However, in the driving circuit 411, the driving transistor TR _D1, compared first driving circuit 111 ₁ of the driving transistor TR _D1, is set to flow substantially twice the current. In Example 4, as shown in (A) of FIG. 16, the display element forming region, the drive circuit 411 is set to is provided at the same position as the drive circuit 111 _1, limited to this is not.

The light emitting unit 412 basically has a configuration in which the light emitting units 112 ₁ and 112 ₂ shown in FIG. A symbol C _EL ′ illustrated in FIG. 15 indicates the capacity of the light emitting unit 412. As shown in FIG. 16B, the light emitting portion 412 is provided in a region corresponding to a region in which the first light emitting portion 112 ₁ and the second light emitting portion 112 ₂ are integrated with respect to the display element formation region. ing. The connection portion shown in FIG. 16C is composed of a contact plug (not shown) provided in the interlayer insulating layer 21 shown in FIG.

In the display device 4 according to the fourth embodiment, each of the N display elements 110 and 410 connected to one scanning line SCL constitutes N subpixels. The display element 110 that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light in a predetermined color (specifically, red or green) includes a first light emitting unit 112 ₁ , a second light emitting unit 112 ₂ , A first drive circuit 111 ₁ and a second drive circuit 111 ₂ are provided. The display device 110 constituting a sub-pixel that emits light at certain predetermined color, display element 110 ₁ of the first category, and are classified into the display device 110 of the _second category.

  FIG. 17A shows a connection relationship of N display elements 110 connected to one scanning line SCL, and a bright portion in each display element when the display device 4 of Example 4 displays all white. It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of a dark part. In the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 6B in the first embodiment, a portion observed with a relatively low luminance and a relatively high luminance not hatched are observed. Since the portions are alternately arranged for each pixel, it is difficult to visually recognize the portions.

  In the above description, the arrangement of the N display elements 110 and 410 in one scanning line SCL is the same in the other scanning lines, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 17B, the connection relationship of the display elements 110 in the adjacent scanning lines SCL may be alternately changed.

Further, the display element 110 that constitutes only a sub-pixel emitting light of a certain color may be classified into the first category display element 110 ₁ and the second category display element 110 _2. . In FIGS. 18A and 18B, for example, only the display element 110 constituting the sub-pixel emitting red light is changed to the display element 110 _{1 in the first} category and the display element 110 ₂ in the second category. It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the bright part and dark part in each display element when it is the structure classified. 18A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 17A, and FIG. 18B is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 17B.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the preferable Example, this invention is not limited to this Example. The configurations, structures, manufacturing methods, materials constituting the display device and the display element, and the like of the display device and the display element in the embodiments are examples and can be changed as appropriate. Each step in the display device and the display element driving method is also an example, and can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, in Example 1 and Example 2, one pixel is composed of three display elements, and one group of display elements is also composed of three display elements. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one group may be composed of six display elements. Further, all the display elements constituting one pixel may belong to the same group, or may belong to another group. In the first to fourth embodiments, the display device is described as a color display device. However, the display device may be a monochrome display device.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a display device according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display device 110 ₁ shown in FIG. Figure 3 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display device 110 ₂ shown in FIG. 4A is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the display device according to the first embodiment. AA of a portion indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 4B and 5A described later. It is a partial sectional view equivalent to a surface. FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the drive circuit with respect to the display element formation region in the display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the light emitting portions with respect to the display element formation region in the display device of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 5B is a schematic plan view for explaining the connection between the drive circuit and the light emitting portion in the display element 110 ₁ in the display device of the first embodiment. (C) in FIG. 5, in the display device of Example 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating a connection of the drive circuit and the light emitting portion of the display device 110 _2. FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of a part of the display device for explaining a connection relation of N display elements connected to one scanning line. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the bright part and the dark part in each display element when the display device displays all white. FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view of a part of a display device of a comparative example using only one of the connection-related display elements. FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of bright portions and dark portions in each display element when the display device of the comparative example displays all white. FIG. 8A illustrates the arrangement of bright and dark portions in each display element when a display device having a configuration in which the connection relationship of display elements is alternately switched in adjacent scanning lines is set to all white display. FIG. 8B, the group configuration is shifted by one display element in the −X direction on the scanning line SCL _m−1 , and the group configuration is shifted by one display element in the + X direction on the scanning line SCL _{m + 1} . It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the bright part and dark part in each display element when the display apparatus of the shifted structure is set to all white display. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram of a display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10A illustrates the connection relationship of N display elements connected to one scanning line, and the arrangement of bright and dark portions in each display element when the display device displays all white. FIG. FIG. 10B is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of the bright and dark portions in each display element when a display device having a configuration in which the connection relations of the display elements are alternately switched in adjacent scanning lines is set to all white display. FIG. 11A, the group configuration is shifted by one display element in the −X direction on the scanning line SCL _m−1 , and the group configuration is shifted by one display element in the + X direction on the scanning line SCL _{m + 1} . It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the bright part and dark part in each display element when the display apparatus of the shifted structure is set to all white display. (B) of FIG. 11 constitutes a red sub-pixel and the green sub-pixel from the display device 110 _1, when the all white display of the display device of the configuration consisting of a blue subpixel from the display device 110 _2, the display It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the bright part and dark part in an element. FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram of a display device according to the third embodiment. (A) of FIG. 13 is for explaining the connection relation of N display elements connected to one scanning line and the arrangement of the bright part and the dark part in each display element when the display device displays all white. FIG. FIG. 13B illustrates the arrangement of bright and dark portions in each display element when a display device having a configuration in which the connection relationship of display elements is alternately switched in adjacent scanning lines is set to all white display. FIG. FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram of a display device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 15 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the display element 410 shown in FIG. FIG. 16A is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the drive circuit with respect to the display element formation region in the display device of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16B is a schematic plan view for explaining the arrangement of the light emitting units with respect to the display element formation region in the display device of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 16C is a schematic plan view for explaining the connection between the drive circuit and the light emitting portion in the display element 410 in the display device of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 17A shows the connection relationship of N display elements connected to one scanning line, and the arrangement of bright and dark portions in each display element when the display device of Example 4 displays all white. It is a typical top view for demonstrating. FIG. 17B is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of bright and dark portions in each display element when a display device having a configuration in which the connection relationship of display elements is alternately switched in adjacent scanning lines is set to all white display. FIG. 18A and 18B show a configuration in which only the display elements constituting the sub-pixels emitting red light are classified into the first category display elements and the second category display elements. It is a typical top view for demonstrating arrangement | positioning of the bright part and dark part in each display element. 18A is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 17A, and FIG. 18B is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 17B. FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram of an active matrix display device using an organic EL display element having a drive circuit. FIG. 20 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the organic EL display element.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2, 3, 4 ... Display apparatus, 10 ... Organic EL display element, 11 ... Drive circuit, 12 ... Light emission part, 20 ... Support body, 21 ... Interlayer insulation layer 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ ... anode electrode, 23 ... second interlayer insulating layer, 24 ₁ , 24 ₂ ... organic layer, 25 ... cathode electrode, 26 ... substrate, 100 ... Power supply unit, 101... Scanning circuit, 102... Signal output circuit, 110... Display element, 110 ₁ ... First display element, 110 ₂ . DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ₁ ... 1st drive circuit, 111 ₂ ... 2nd drive circuit, 112 ₁ ... 1st light emission part, 112 ₂ ... 2nd light emission part, 410 ... and display device, 110 ₁ ... 1st display device, 411 ... driving circuit, 412 ... light-emitting unit, SCL ... scanning lines, TL · · · data lines, PS1, PS2 ··· feeders, C _EL1 · · · capacitance of the first light emitting portion, C _EL2 · · · capacitance of the second light emitting portion, C _EL, C _EL ' capacity ... light-emitting portion, C ₁ ... capacitor, TR _W ... write transistor, TR _D ... driving transistor, TR _D1 ... (first) driver transistor, TR _D2 ... (the 2) Driving transistor

Claims (9)

(1) N display elements arranged in a first direction, M pieces in a second direction different from the first direction, and a total of N × M display elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix,
(2) M scanning lines extending in the first direction, and
(3) N data lines extending in the second direction;
With
The display element in the m-th row (where m = 1, 2, 3,..., M) and the n-th column (where n = 1, 2, 3,..., N) The scanning line and the nth data line are connected,
Each display element includes first to Pth (where P is a natural number of 2 or more) light emitting units, and first to Pth drive circuits,
In each display element, the arrangement of the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits is the same.
In each display element, each of the first to Pth light emitting units forms a pair in one-to-one correspondence with any one of the first to Pth drive circuits. The light emitting unit and the drive circuit are connected,
The N display elements connected to one scanning line are classified into at least two categories based on the connection relationship between the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits. Display device. N display elements connected to one scanning line form a plurality of groups for each predetermined number of display elements arranged adjacent to each other.
One group consists of display elements belonging to the same category,
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein, in the plurality of groups, a certain group and a group adjacent to the certain group each include display elements belonging to different categories. N display elements connected to one scanning line form a plurality of groups for each predetermined number of display elements arranged adjacent to each other.
The display device according to claim 1, wherein one group includes display elements classified into at least two categories.   2. In the N display elements connected to one scanning line, a certain display element and a display element adjacent to the certain display element are each composed of display elements belonging to different categories. The display device described in 1. The value of P is 2, and N display elements connected to one scanning line are
A first category display element having a connection relationship in which the first driving circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit and the second driving circuit is connected to the second light emitting unit. ,as well as,
A second category of display elements having a connection relationship in which the second drive circuit is connected to the first light emitting section and the first drive circuit is connected to the second light emitting section. ,
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is classified as follows.   The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light emitting unit is an organic electroluminescence light emitting unit. (1) N display elements arranged in a first direction, M pieces in a second direction different from the first direction, and a total of N × M display elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix,
(2) M scanning lines extending in the first direction, and
(3) N data lines extending in the second direction;
With
The display element in the m-th row (where m = 1, 2, 3,..., M) and the n-th column (where n = 1, 2, 3,..., N) The scanning line and the nth data line are connected,
Each of the N display elements connected to one scanning line constitutes N sub-pixels, and the display elements constituting the sub-pixels emitting light of a certain predetermined color are the first to Pth (however, , P is a natural number of 2 or more), and first to Pth drive circuits,
In each display element that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light of a predetermined color, the arrangement of the first to Pth light emitting units and the first to Pth drive circuits is the same,
In the display element that constitutes a sub-pixel that emits light of a predetermined color and is connected to one scanning line, each of the first to Pth light emitting units includes the first to Pth drive circuits. The light emitting unit and the drive circuit forming a pair are connected in a one-to-one correspondence with any one of the drive circuits, and the pair is connected.
Display elements constituting sub-pixels that emit light of a certain predetermined color connected to one scanning line are classified into at least two categories based on the connection relationship between a pair of light emitting units and a drive circuit. apparatus. The value of P is 2, and the display elements that are connected to one scanning line and constitute subpixels that emit light of a certain predetermined color are:
A first category display element having a connection relationship in which the first driving circuit is connected to the first light emitting unit and the second driving circuit is connected to the second light emitting unit. ,as well as,
A second category of display elements having a connection relationship in which the second drive circuit is connected to the first light emitting section and the first drive circuit is connected to the second light emitting section. ,
The display device according to claim 7, which is classified as follows.   The display device according to claim 7, wherein the light emitting unit is an organic electroluminescence light emitting unit.

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