KR100393038B1 - Method and device for displaying images - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A method and a device for displaying images are provided to improve a degree of matching impedance with a display rate by reducing a difference between areas of semi-pixels. CONSTITUTION: A coding unit(25) encodes image data inputted from a host along with a synchronous signal, wherein a unit value of the most significant bit of the coded image data signal is not more than two times as much as a unit value of a least significant bit. A column driving unit(22) processes the image data signal inputted from the coding unit along with the synchronous signal, and outputs a column driving signal according to the image data signal and a control signal. A row driving unit(23) outputs a row driving signal according to the image data signal and the control signal. A display panel(24) displays an image according to the column driving signal and the row driving signal by partitioning each pixel into semi-pixels according to a code system of the coding unit.

Description

Image display method and apparatus

The present invention relates to an image display method and apparatus.

A general image display device performs gradation (step-harmony) display on a display panel in accordance with sequentially input image data signals. Here, the display panel is divided into subpixels each having an area corresponding to a bit-by-bit unit value of the image data signal.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional image display apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional image display apparatus includes a signal controller 11 for processing and outputting image data signals sequentially input from a host together with a synchronization signal, and outputting a control signal corresponding thereto; A column driver 12 for outputting a column drive signal according to an image data signal and a control signal from the signal controller 11; A row driver 13 for outputting a row drive signal (Low drive signal) according to an image data signal and a control signal from the signal controller 11; And a display panel 14 for displaying an image in accordance with the column driving signal and the row driving signal. The image data signal input from the host has gradation information for each pixel. For example, in a 16-gradation image display apparatus, 4-bit image data signals are allocated to each pixel. In the image display apparatus of the 256 gradation system, 8-bit image data signals are allocated to each pixel. That is, the bit-by-bit unit value is expressed by 2 ⁿ with respect to the bit order n as a bit-by-bit unit value of the binary code. Accordingly, each pixel of the display panel 14 is divided into subpixels having an area corresponding to the unit value.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining a conventional image display method. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the unit pixel of the display panel 14 of FIG. 1 includes a first subpixel 1 selected as a first electrode Ci-1 of the corresponding column and a first electrode Ri-1 of the corresponding row, A second subpixel 2 selected as the second electrode Ci-2 and the first electrode Ri-1 of the row, a third subpixel 2 selected as the first electrode Ci-1 of the column and the second electrode Ri-2 of the row Pixel 4, the second electrode Ci-2 of the column, and the fourth subpixel 8 selected as the second electrode Ri-2 of the corresponding row. That is, 4-bit image data signals are allocated to one pixel, and 16 gradations are realized. The least significant bit is assigned to the first subpixel 1, the second bit to the second subpixel 2, the third bit to the third subpixel 4, and the most significant bit, Is assigned to the fourth subpixel 8. Here, the first semi-area of the pixel 1: 2 gave the pixel 2 area: 3 gave the area of the pixels 4: The fourth level of the pixel 8 area = 2 ^0: 2 ^1: 2 ^2: 2 = ^31: 2: 4: 8. Thus, conventionally, the unit value per bit is 2 "with respect to the bit order n, so that the sub pixel area of the corresponding bit is divided accordingly.

3 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining another conventional image display method. As shown in FIG. 3, the unit pixel of the display panel 14 of FIG. 1 includes a first subpixel 1 selected as a first electrode Ci-1 and a corresponding row electrode Ri of the corresponding column, a second subpixel Ci- 2, the second subpixel 2 selected by the row electrode Ri, the third subpixel 4 selected by the third electrode Ci-3 and the row electrode Ri of the corresponding column, the fourth electrode Ci-4 of the column, And a fourth subpixel 8 selected by the electrode Ri. That is, 4-bit image data signals are allocated to one pixel, and 16 gradations are realized. Among them, the least significant bit is allocated to the first subpixel 1, the second bit to the second subpixel 2, the third bit to the third subpixel 4, and the most significant bit to the fourth subpixel 8 . Here, the first semi-area of the pixel 1: 2 gave the pixel 2 area: 3 gave the area of the pixels 4: The fourth level of the pixel 8 area = 2 ^0: 2 ^1: 2 ^2: 2 = ^31: 2: 4: 8. Thus, conventionally, the bit length of each bit is 2 ⁿ with respect to the bit order n, and thus the sub pixel area of the corresponding bit is divided accordingly.

Table 1 below is a code table applicable to the second and third figures. Here are some examples: When the image data signal for a predetermined pixel is '0101', the first subpixel 1 and the third subpixel 4 of the second or third figure emit light, and the second subpixel 2 and the fourth subpixel 8 The gradation value 5 corresponding to the code value '0101' is expressed. When the image data signal for a predetermined pixel is '1010', the second subpixel 2 and the fourth subpixel 8 of the second or third figure are emitted, and the first subpixel 1 and the third subpixel 4 The tone value 10 corresponding to the code value " 1010 " is expressed. When the image data signal for a predetermined pixel is '1100', the third subpixel 4 and the fourth subpixel 8 of the second or third figure are emitted, and the first subpixel 1 and the second subpixel 2 The tone value 12 corresponding to the code value '1100' is expressed.

Table 1

In addition to the second and third views, there are various image display methods, but all of them perform gray scale display on the display panel 14 of the first degree by directly applying the binary code system. Table 2 below is a code table applied to the conventional 32-gradation image display method.

Table 2

As shown in Table 2, a 5-bit image data signal is required to perform 32-gradation display. Each pixel of the display panel 14 of FIG. 1 is divided into subpixels having an area ratio of 1: 2: 4: 8: 16.

As described above, in the conventional image display method, since the gradation display is performed by applying the binary code system of the input image data signal as it is, the difference in the area of each sub pixel is large, The difference becomes large. As a result, the degree of matching between the impedance and the display speed is lowered, so that the picture quality is deteriorated on the large screen in which the number of pixels is increased.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image display method capable of reducing a difference in area of each subpixel to perform gradation display. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image display apparatus capable of performing gradation display by reducing a difference in area of each sub pixel.

According to an aspect of the present invention,

An image display method for performing gradation display on a display panel in accordance with sequentially input image data signals,

Wherein the image data signal is coded so as to minimize the difference between the unit of the most significant bit and the unit value of the least significant bit,

The display panel is characterized in that each pixel is divided into subpixels of an area corresponding to each bit unit value.

According to another aspect of the present invention,

1. An image display apparatus for performing gradation display on a display panel in accordance with sequentially input image data signals,

The image display apparatus includes:

Coding means for coding so that the unit value of the most significant bit of the image data signal does not exceed twice the unit value of the least significant bit;

And a display panel in which each pixel is divided into subpixels according to a code system of the coding means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining an image display method according to an embodiment of the present invention; As shown in FIG. 4, the unit pixel of the display panel includes a first sub-pixel 3 selected by the first electrode Ci-1 and a corresponding row electrode Ri of the corresponding column, a second electrode Ci-2 of the corresponding column, The second subpixel 3 selected by the electrode Ri, the third electrode Ci-2 of the column, the third subpixel 4 selected by the row electrode Ri, the fourth electrode Ci-4 of the column and the row electrode Ri And a fourth subpixel 5, That is, 4-bit image data signals are allocated to one pixel, and 16 gradations are implemented. Among them, the least significant bit is assigned to the first subpixel 3, the second digit bit to the second subpixel 3, the third digit bit to the third subpixel 4, and the most significant bit to the fourth subpixel 5 . Here, the area of the first subpixel 3: the area of the second subpixel 3: the area of the third subpixel 4: the area of the fourth subpixel 5 = 3: 3: 4: Accordingly, the input 4-bit image data signal must be converted from the binary code system to the 5.4.3.3 code system.

Table 3 below is a code table applied to FIG.

Table 3

As shown in Table 3 above, all of the image data signals corresponding to the gray values other than the gray level values 1, 2, 13, and 14 can be directly converted into the 5.4.3.3 code system. However, since the code conversion can not be performed directly on the image data signals corresponding to the tone values 1, 2, 13, and 14, spatial modulation can be performed. Space modulation algorithms are well known, and Floyd and Steinberg algorithms using an error diffusion method are a typical example thereof. For example, if the tone value is 1, the second, third, and most significant bits are converted to '0', and the least significant bit is subjected to space modulation to realize '1/3'. By using the thus converted 5.4.3.3 code and thus the panel in which the pixels are partitioned, it is possible to reduce the difference in the area of each sub pixel to perform 16-gradation display. Where the maximum area of the subpixel is 5/3 times the minimum area and does not exceed 2 times.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining an image display method according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the unit pixel of the display panel includes a first sub-pixel 6 selected by the first electrode Ci-1 and a corresponding row electrode Ri of the corresponding column, a second electrode Ci-2 of the corresponding column, The second subpixel 7 selected by the electrode Ri, the third electrode Ci-3 of the column, the third subpixel 8 selected by the row electrode Ri, the fourth electrode Ci-4 of the corresponding column and the row electrode Ri And the fourth subpixel 10 is formed. That is, 4-bit image data signals are allocated per pixel, and 32 gradations are implemented. Among them, the least significant bit is assigned to the first subpixel 6, the second bit to the second subpixel 7, the third bit to the third subpixel 8, and the most significant bit to the fourth subpixel 10 . Here, the area of the first subpixel 6: the area of the second subpixel 7: the area of the third subpixel 8: the area of the fourth subpixel 10 = 6: 7: 8: Accordingly, the input 4-bit image data signal must be converted from the binary code system to the 10.8.7.6 code system.

Table 4 below is a code table applied to FIG. 5. As shown in Table 4 below, half of the image data signals corresponding to the 32 tone values can be directly converted into the 10.8.7.6 code system, and the other half can be subjected to spatial modulation. For example, in the case of the tone value 26, the second, third, and maximum digit bits may be converted to '1' and the minimum digit bits may be space-modulated to realize '1/6'.

Table 4

By using the thus converted 10.8.7.6 code and thus the panel in which the pixels are divided, it is possible to reduce the difference in the area of each subpixel, thereby performing 32-gradation display. In addition, an additional effect of performing 32-gradation display with a 4-bit image data signal is obtained. Here, the maximum area of the subpixel is 10/6 times the minimum area and does not exceed 2 times.

6 is a schematic block diagram showing an image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the image display apparatus of the present embodiment codes an image data signal sequentially input from a host together with a synchronization signal so that the unit value of the most significant bit of the coded image data signal becomes A coding unit 25 for not exceeding twice the unit value; A signal controller 21 for processing and outputting an image data signal sequentially inputted with a synchronizing signal from the coding unit 25 and outputting a corresponding control signal to the image data signal and the control signal from the signal controller 21, a column driver 22 for outputting a signal; A row driver 23 for outputting a row drive signal (Low drive signal) according to an image data signal and a control signal from the signal controller 21; And a display panel 24 partitioning each pixel into subpixels according to the code system of the coding unit 25 and displaying an image in accordance with the column driving signal and the row driving signal.

As shown in FIG. 6, the coding unit 25 includes a spatial modulation unit 251 for spatially modulating image data signals corresponding to predetermined tone values among image data signals sequentially input from a host together with a synchronization signal; An encoder 252 for converting an image data signal sequentially input from the spatial modulator 251 together with the synchronization signal according to a predetermined code system; And a data storage unit 253 for storing an output data signal of the encoder 252. The encoder 252 converts the image data signal input from the spatial modulator 251 according to a predetermined code system, for example, the 5.4.3.3 or 10.8.7.6 code system. Next, the code-converted image data signal is first stored in the data storage unit 253, for example, a random access memory (RAM), and the stored data is sequentially transmitted to the signal control unit 21. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the gray scale display by reducing the difference in the area of each sub pixel.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be utilized and improved at the level of those skilled in the art.

As described above, according to the image display method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to increase the matching of the impedance and the display speed and to increase the number of pixels And the gradation display quality can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a conventional image display apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining a conventional image display method. FIG.

3 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining another conventional image display method.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining an arrow display method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a unit pixel for explaining an image display method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing an arrow display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

Ci-1, Ci-2, Ci-3, Ci-4 ... an electrode group of one column, Ri ... a row electrode,

3, 3, 4, 5 ... subpixel for one pixel.

Claims (16)

An image display method for performing gradation display on a display panel in accordance with sequentially input image data signals, Wherein the image data signal is coded such that a difference between a unit value of a most significant bit and a unit value of a least significant bit is minimized, Wherein the display panel is characterized in that each pixel is divided into subpixels of an area corresponding to each bit unit value. 2. The method of claim 1, Wherein the data of the grayscale value that is not directly code-converted is space-modulated. 3. The method of claim 2, And an error diffusion method such as Floyd and Steinberg Algorithm. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, Wherein the image data is a signal to which 4-bit data is applied to one pixel. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein each bit- Wherein the third digit is 3, the second digit bit is 3, the third digit bit is 4, and the most significant bit is 5. 6. The image display method according to claim 5, And performs 16-gradation display. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein each bit- Wherein the minimum digit bit is 6, the second digit bit is 7, the third digit bit is 8, and the maximum digit bit is 10. 8. The image display method according to claim 7, 32 gradation display is performed. 1. An image display apparatus for performing gradation display on a display panel in accordance with sequentially input image data signals, The image display apparatus includes: Coding means for coding the unit data of the image data signal so as not to exceed twice the unit value of the unit length least significant bit of the most significant bit of the image data signal; And And a display panel in which each pixel is divided into subpixels according to a code system of the coding means. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, Spatial modulation means for space-modulating an image data signal which is not directly code-converted from the input image data signal; An encoder for converting an image data signal sequentially input from the spatial modulation means according to the code system; And And data storage means for temporarily storing the image data signal from the encoder. 11. The system of claim 10, Wherein the length of each bit unit is 3 at the least significant bit, 3 at the second position bit, 4 at the third position bit, and 5 at the maximum position bit. The image display apparatus according to claim 11, And performs 16 grayscale display. 11. The system of claim 10, Wherein each bit unit value is 6 at the least significant bit, 7 at the second digit bit, 8 at the third digit bit, and 10 at the maximum digit bit. 14. The image display device according to claim 13, And performs 32-gradation display. The image display apparatus according to claim 10, A signal control means for processing and outputting an image data signal from the encoder and outputting a control signal corresponding thereto; Column drive means for outputting a column drive signal to the display panel in accordance with an image data signal and a control signal from the signal control means; And And a row driving means for outputting a row driving signal to the display panel in accordance with an image data signal and a control signal from the signal control means. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, And is a RAM (Random Access Memory).