KR102523251B1 - Organic light emitting display device and method for driving the organic light emitting display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device and a method for driving the same, and more particularly, to reduce loss in a transmission path of a gate driving signal transmitted from a signal supply unit to a plurality of gate driving circuits disposed on a display panel. By sensing, the lost transmission path is avoided so that the gate driving signal can be transmitted to the corresponding gate driving circuit. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an organic light emitting display device capable of preventing dimming in a gate line direction and increasing a production yield and a driving method thereof.

Description

Organic light emitting display device and its driving method

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an organic light emitting display device and a driving method thereof.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices for displaying images is increasing in various forms, and in recent years, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma displays (PDPs), organic light emitting devices Various display devices such as organic light emitting display devices (OLEDs) have been utilized.

Such a display device includes a display panel in which data lines and gate lines are disposed and subpixels defined in an area where the data lines and gate lines intersect are disposed, a source driver for supplying data voltages to the data lines, and a gate line and a gate driver for driving the elements, a controller for controlling driving timings of the source driver and the gate driver, and the like.

The existing gate driver is manufactured separately from the display panel in the form of at least one gate driver IC, and the manufactured gate driver IC is electrically connected to the gate line (gate line pad) of the display panel to be used. .

However, recently, a Gate In Panel (hereinafter referred to as GIP) method in which at least one gate driving circuit is directly formed in a non-active area of a display panel is applied to the gate driver.

In the GIP method, the gate driving circuit requires a gate driving signal to drive the gate line. Accordingly, the display device further includes a signal supply unit that converts the gate control signal output from the controller into a gate driving signal required by the gate driving circuit and outputs the converted gate control signal.

The signal supply unit may be implemented as a level shifter.

However, as the signal supply unit is disposed separately from the gate driving circuit, if the connection line connecting the signal supply unit and the gate driving circuit is damaged by foreign substances or ESD (Electro Static Discharge), the gate line is not normally driven, There is a problem that dims occur in the line direction.

An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an organic light emitting display device capable of preventing dimming in a gate line direction and a driving method thereof.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an organic light emitting display device capable of increasing production yield and a driving method thereof.

In one aspect, an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention includes a display panel in which a plurality of subpixels defined by a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of reference voltage lines are disposed, and a plurality of data lines. A data driver for driving, a gate driving circuit for driving a plurality of gate lines, a sensing unit for sensing voltages of a plurality of reference voltage lines and outputting sensed data for at least one subpixel among a plurality of subpixels, and a data driver. A controller that controls, outputs one of a first or second gate control signal according to the position of a data line driven by the data driver, and determines an abnormal subpixel by receiving sensing data. The first gate control signal from the controller is A signal supply unit for outputting a first gate driving signal to the gate driving circuit through a first path when received, and outputting a second gate driving signal to the gate driving circuit through a second path when the second gate control signal is received, and a signal A switching unit may be disposed between the supply unit and the gate driving circuit unit and change a path through which the first or second gate driving signal is transmitted according to the position of the abnormal subpixel determined by the controller.

The controller may output a first gate control signal when the data line driven by the data driver is an odd-numbered data line, and output a second gate control signal when the data line is an even-numbered data line.

The gate driving circuit unit may include at least one gate driving circuit for driving at least one gate line among a plurality of gate lines.

Each of the at least one gate driving circuit may be driven by outputting a scan signal to at least one corresponding gate line when the first gate driving signal or the second gate driving signal is received.

The controller determines that two or more subpixels disposed on the same gate line among the plurality of subpixels are abnormal subpixels and that the two or more abnormal subpixels are equally connected to odd-numbered data lines or even-numbered data lines. The switching unit may output a switching conversion signal corresponding to the corresponding gate line.

A plurality of subpixels constitute one pixel, and a predetermined number of subpixels are repeatedly arranged according to the color to be displayed.

During the real-time sensing process, the controller classifies a plurality of subpixels by color, alternately selects a first path or a second path according to the classified colors, and selects a first gate control signal or a second gate control signal as the selected path. By transmitting and receiving sensing data, it is possible to determine a path in which an abnormality has occurred among the first path and the second path.

While the display device outputs an image, the controller repeatedly performs the real-time sensing process at a preset cycle, and outputs a switching conversion signal when the same two or more subpixels are determined to be abnormal more than a preset number of times.

The controller may output a first switching conversion signal if the data line to which the determined two or more abnormal subpixels are connected is an odd-numbered data line, and output a second switching conversion signal if the data line is an odd-numbered data line.

The switching unit includes a number of switching circuits corresponding to at least one gate driving circuit.

Here, each of the switching circuits includes a first changeover switch that transfers a first gate driving signal to a corresponding gate driving circuit through a first path and a second transfer switch that transfers a second gate driving signal to a corresponding gate driving circuit through a second path. 2 may include a changeover switch.

The first changeover switch, when the first switching changeover signal is received, switches the first gate driving signal to be transmitted to the corresponding gate driving circuit through the second path, and the second changeover switch receives the second switching changeover signal. , the second gate driving signal may be switched to be transferred to the corresponding gate driving circuit through the first path.

In another aspect, a method of driving an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention includes the steps of sensing the voltages of a plurality of reference voltage lines during a real-time sensing process to determine the location of an abnormal subpixel and outputting an image; The method may include driving a plurality of gate lines in response to a first or second gate driving signal transmitted through one of a first path or a second path according to positions of data lines driven by the data driver.

The organic light emitting display device driving method may further include, prior to the step of driving the plurality of gate lines, switching a path through which the first or second gate driving signal is transmitted according to the determined location of the abnormal subpixel. can

According to the embodiments of the present invention as described above, an organic light emitting display device capable of preventing dimming in a gate line direction and a driving method thereof can be provided.

In addition, according to embodiments of the present invention, an organic light emitting display device capable of increasing production yield and a driving method thereof can be provided.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
2 is an exemplary implementation diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
4 is an exemplary diagram of a sub-pixel structure of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
5 is an exemplary diagram of a compensation circuit of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
6 is a diagram for explaining a threshold voltage sensing driving method for a driving transistor of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
7 is a diagram for explaining a mobility sensing driving method for a driving transistor of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.
8 is a diagram illustrating sensing timing of an organic light emitting display device according to example embodiments.
9 is a diagram for explaining a real-time sensing process operation according to embodiments of the present invention.
10 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to other embodiments of the present invention.
11 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to still other embodiments of the present invention.
12 illustrates a driving method of an organic light emitting display device according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to exemplary drawings. In adding reference numerals to components of each drawing, the same components may have the same numerals as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description may be omitted.

Also, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used in describing the components of the present invention. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the nature, sequence, order, or number of the corresponding component is not limited by the term. When an element is described as being “connected,” “coupled to,” or “connected” to another element, that element is or may be directly connected to that other element, but intervenes between each element. It will be understood that may be "interposed", or each component may be "connected", "coupled" or "connected" through other components.

1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 , an organic light emitting display device 100 according to the present embodiments includes a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality of gate lines GL, and a plurality of data lines DL and a plurality of gate lines GL. An organic light emitting display panel 110 in which a plurality of sub pixels (SP) defined by the gate line GL are arranged, a data driver 120 driving a plurality of data lines DL, and a plurality of A gate driving circuit unit 130 driving the gate line GL, a controller 140 controlling the data driving unit 120 and the gate driving circuit unit 130, and the like are included.

The controller 140 supplies various control signals to the data driving unit 120 and the gate driving circuit unit 130 to control the data driving unit 120 and the gate driving circuit unit 130 .

At this time, the organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention has a signal supply unit that converts the gate control signal GCS output from the controller into the gate driving signal GDS required by the gate driving circuit unit 130 and outputs the converted gate control signal GCS. 150 is included, and the controller 140 may control the gate driving circuit unit 130 through the signal supply unit 150 .

The controller 140 starts scanning according to the timing implemented in each frame, converts input image data input from the outside to suit the data signal format used by the data driver 120, and converts the converted image data (Data). and controls data drive at an appropriate time according to the scan.

The controller 140 may be a timing controller used in a general display technology field or a control device that further performs other control functions including a timing controller.

The data driver 120 drives the plurality of data lines DL by supplying a data voltage to each of the plurality of data lines DL.

The gate driving circuit unit 130 sequentially drives the plurality of gate lines GL by sequentially supplying scan signals (scan signals) to each of the plurality of gate lines GL.

The gate driving circuit unit 130 sequentially supplies scan signals of an on voltage or an off voltage to the plurality of gate lines GL under the control of the controller 140 .

When a specific gate line is opened by the gate driving circuit unit 130, the data driver 120 converts the image data (Data) received from the controller 140 into an analog data voltage (Vdata) to provide multiple data lines ( DL).

Although the data driver 120 is located on only one side (eg, upper or lower side) of the display panel 110 in FIG. 1 , depending on a driving method or a panel design method, the data driver 120 is located on both sides (eg, upper and lower sides) of the display panel 110 . ) may be located in all of them.

The gate driving circuit unit 130 may be disposed in a non-active area (N/A) of the display panel 110 in a Gate In Panel (GIP) method.

The display panel 110 includes an active area (A/A) in which a pixel array in which a plurality of sub-pixels (SP) displaying images is arranged is arranged, and an area in which the pixel array is not arranged is a non-display area (N/A). A) can be distinguished.

In FIG. 1 , the gate driving circuit unit 130 is located on only one side (eg, left or right) of the pixel array, but may be located on both sides (eg, left and right) of the pixel array depending on a driving method or a panel design method. there is.

The above-described controller 140 includes various types of input image data, including a vertical synchronization signal (Vsync), a horizontal synchronization signal (Hsync), an input data enable (DE) signal, a clock signal (CLK), and the like. Receive timing signals from outside (e.g. host system).

The controller 140 converts the input image data input from the outside to suit the data signal format used by the data driver 120 and outputs the converted image data Data, as well as the data driver 120 and the gate drive. In order to control the circuit unit 130, timing signals such as a vertical synchronization signal (Vsync), a horizontal synchronization signal (Hsync), an input DE signal, and a clock signal are input and various control signals are generated to operate the data driver 120 and the gate output to the driving circuit unit 130.

For example, in order to control the gate driving circuit unit 130, the controller 140 includes a gate start pulse (GSP), a gate shift clock (GCS), and a gate output enable signal (GOE). : Gate Output Enable) and various gate control signals (GCS: Gate Control Signal) are output.

Here, the gate start pulse GSP controls the operation start timing of one or more gate driving circuits constituting the gate driving circuit unit 130 . The gate shift clock (GCS) is a clock signal input to one or more gate driving circuits and controls shift timing of scan signals (gate pulses). The gate output enable signal GOE designates timing information of one or more gate driving circuits.

In particular, in the present invention, the controller 140 converts the gate control signal GCS to the first gate control signal GCSo and the second gate control signal GCSe according to the position of the data line DL driven by the data driver 120. It can be output separately.

For example, if the data line DL driven by the data driver 120 is an odd-numbered data line, the controller 140 outputs a first gate control signal GCSo, and if it is an even-numbered data line, the controller 140 outputs a second gate control signal. (GCSe) can be output.

When the first gate control signal GCSo is received from the controller 140, the signal supply unit 150 outputs the first gate driving signal GDSo to the gate driving circuit unit 130 through a designated first path, and When the gate control signal GCSe is received, the second gate driving signal GDSe is output to the gate driving circuit unit 130 through a designated second path.

When the signal supply unit 150 outputs the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe to the gate driving circuit unit 130 through different paths, the signal supply unit 150 outputs the gate driving signal GDS ) is to prevent deterioration of the transistor that transmits.

The existing signal supply unit 150 outputs the gate driving signal GDS to the gate driving circuit unit 130 using a plurality of transistors.

However, in order to output the gate driving signal GDS having a high voltage level at high speed, a plurality of transistors are turned on/off very frequently, which may deteriorate the transistors. In addition, when the transistor deteriorates, there is a problem in that the gate driving signal GDS cannot be stably output.

Accordingly, in FIG. 1 , the signal supply unit 150 outputs the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe to the gate driving circuit unit 130 through different paths. Deterioration of the plurality of transistors that output the gate driving signal GDSo or the second gate driving signal GDSe may be prevented.

On the other hand, the controller 140, in order to control the data driver 120, a source start pulse (SSP: Source Start Pulse), a source sampling clock (SSC: Source Sampling Clock), a source output enable signal (SOE: Source Output It outputs various data control signals (DCS: Data Control Signal) including Enable) and the like.

Here, the source start pulse SSP controls data sampling start timing of one or more source driver integrated circuits constituting the data driver 120 . The source sampling clock (SSC) is a clock signal that controls sampling timing of data in each source driver integrated circuit. The source output enable signal SOE controls output timing of the data driver 120 .

2 is an exemplary implementation diagram of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , in the display device 100 according to the present embodiments, the data driver 120 includes a plurality of source driver integrated circuits SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6, and a plurality of data lines ( DL) can be driven.

Although the data driver 120 is illustrated as including a plurality of source driver integrated circuits (SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6) in FIG. 2, it may be a single source driver integrated circuit.

Each of the plurality of source driver integrated circuits (SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6) is bonded to a bonding pad ( bonding pad) or directly disposed on the display panel 110, or may be integrated and disposed on the display panel 110 in some cases.

In addition, each of the plurality of source driver integrated circuits (SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6) may be implemented in a Chip On Film (COF) method, as shown in FIG. 2 . In this case, a plurality of source driver integrated circuits (F1, F2, ..., F6) having one end bonded to the source printed circuit board 210 and the other end bonded to the display panel 110. SDIC1, SDIC2, ... , SDIC6) can be mounted one by one.

Each of the plurality of source driver integrated circuits (SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6) may include a shift register, a latch circuit, a digital analog converter (DAC), an output buffer, and the like.

Meanwhile, the gate driving circuit unit 130 may include a plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7).

The plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7) are implemented in a GIP (Gate In Panel) method, so that the non-display area outside the display area (A/A), which is the image display area of the display panel 110 ( N/A) can be directly placed.

Since the gate driving circuit unit 130 is implemented with a plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 , GDC2 , GDC3 , and GDC4 of the GIP type, the organic light emitting display device 100 may have a slim design.

On the other hand, the controller 140, for example, a plurality of films (F1, F2, . .., F6) is bonded to the source printed circuit board 1210 and a control connected through a connection medium 1230 such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). It may be disposed on the printed circuit board 220 .

The control printed circuit board 220 includes a power controller 240 that supplies various voltages or currents to the display panel 110, the data driver 120, the gate driver circuit 130, etc. or controls the various voltages or currents to be supplied. may be further placed.

The control printed circuit board 220 receives a gate control signal (GCS) including gate driving voltage and clock information from the power controller 240, and receives two or more clock signals (CLK1, CLK2, ...), A signal supply unit 150 for generating a gate driving signal GDS including at least one gate voltage VGH and supplying the generated gate driving signal GDS to the gate driving circuit unit 130 may be mounted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal supply unit 150 transmits the gate driving signal GDS to a source printed circuit board 1210 and a plurality of source driver integrated circuits SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6 mounted thereon. Through the films (F1, F2, ..., F6) of the display panel 110, it can be output to a plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7).

At this time, the signal supply unit 150 divides the gate driving signal GDS into a first gate driving signal GDSo and a second gate driving signal GDSe, and divides the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal ( GDSe) may be output to the gate driving circuit unit 130 through different paths.

Although FIG. 2 shows that a plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7) are disposed on one side of the display panel 110, the plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7) may be disposed on both sides within the display panel 110 .

When the plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1, GDC2, ..., GDC7) are disposed on both sides of the display panel 110, the signal supply unit 150 provides the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal. Paths for transferring each of the (GDSe) to both sides of the display panel 110 may be further included.

In FIG. 2, the source printed circuit board 210 and the control printed circuit board 220 are composed of separate printed circuit boards, but depending on the implementation method or the size and type of the product, they may be integrated into one printed circuit board. may be

As shown in FIG. 2 , when the signal supply unit 150 is mounted on the control printed circuit board 1220, the gate driving voltage and clock information are received from the power controller 240 disposed on the control printed circuit board 220. It is easy and can enable efficient signal supply.

3 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 3 , the gate driving circuit unit 130 includes a plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4. This shows a partial area of the display panel 110 for convenience of description, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

The signal supply unit 150 receives the first gate control signal GCSo and the second gate control signal GCSe from the controller 140, and receives the received first gate control signal GCSo and the second gate control signal GCSe. ) into the first gate driving signal (GDSo) and the second gate driving signal (GDSe) required by the gate driving circuit unit 130, respectively, and output to different paths.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of films (F1, F2, ..., SDIC6) mounted with a plurality of source driver integrated circuits (SDIC1, SDIC2, ..., SDIC6) implemented in a chip-on-film (COF) type F6) may be bonded to the display panel 110, and wires for supplying the data voltage Vdata to the data line DL may be disposed in the bonded plurality of films F1, F2, ..., F6. can

The first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe are also supplied to the display panel 110 through a wire disposed on at least one film among the plurality of films F1, F2, ..., F6. It can be.

Since the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may be disposed on one side or both sides within the display panel 110, wiring for transmitting the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe is It may be supplied to the display panel 110 through the outermost films F1 and F6 disposed on one or both sides of the plurality of films F1 , F2 , ... , F6 .

Further, in the non-display area N/A of the display panel 110, the first path OP for transferring the first gate control signal GCSo transmitted through the film to each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 ) and a second path EP for transferring the second gate driving signal GDSe to each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may be disposed.

Here, the first path OP and the second path EP are signal lines arranged to transfer the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe on the display panel 110, and It may include a pad PAD for connecting the wiring of the film F1 through which the gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe are transmitted and the signal wiring disposed on the display panel 110 .

In addition, the first path OP and the second path EP include gate driving circuits to which the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe are transmitted among the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4. A switch for selection may be further included.

Switches may be disposed in the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4.

In some cases, the switch may be disposed within the signal supply unit 150.

Each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 of the gate driving circuit unit 130 provides a first gate driving signal GDSo provided through the first path OP or a second gate provided through the second path EP. In response to the gate driving signal GDSe, the corresponding gate lines GL1 to GL4 are driven by supplying the scan signal SCAN.

That is, the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may drive corresponding gate lines regardless of the first gate driving signal GDSo or the second gate driving signal GDSe.

In this case, the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may sequentially drive the plurality of gate lines GL1 to GL4.

As an example in FIG. 3 , it is shown that each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 drives one corresponding gate line GL1 to GL4, but each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 It may also be configured to drive the gate line.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when one pixel is composed of 4 sub-pixels (red sub-pixel R, white sub-pixel W, green sub-pixel G, and blue sub-pixel B) , The data driver 120 may collectively supply the data voltage Vdata to the data lines DL1 to DL4 of all subpixels SP on the selected gate line (eg, GL1).

However, in this case, the circuit structure of the data driver 120 is complicated, and a very large data line driving capability is required.

Accordingly, the data driver 120 may classify the plurality of subpixels SP on the selected gate line by color and sequentially drive the data lines DL1 to DL4 of the subpixels SP for each color.

For example, the data driver 120 selects the data lines DL1 of the plurality of red subpixels R on the selected gate line, and then selects the data lines DL2 of the plurality of white subpixels W. , it is possible to sequentially select and drive a plurality of data lines DL1 to DL4.

Meanwhile, the controller 140 divides the gate control signal GCS into a first gate control signal GCSo and a second gate control signal GCSe according to the position of the data line DL driven by the data driver 120. can be printed out.

When the data lines DL1 to DL4 driven by the data driver 120 are odd-numbered data lines DL1 and DL3 such as the red subpixel R or the green subpixel G, the controller 140 outputs the first gate The control signal GCSo may be output, and the second gate control signal GCSe may be output if it is an even-numbered data line DL2 or DL4 such as the white subpixel W or the blue subpixel B.

When the first gate control signal GCSo is received, the signal supply unit 150 outputs the first gate driving signal GDSo through the first path OP, and when the second gate control signal GCSe is received, Since the second gate driving signal GDSe is output through the second path EP, the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 alternately transmit the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe. received, and the corresponding gate line GL can be driven.

As a result, as the signal supply unit 150 divides the gate driving signal GDS into the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe and transmits them through different paths, Deterioration of the transistors can be prevented, and thus the gate lines GL1 to GL4 can be stably driven.

However, even if the signal supply unit 150 transmits the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe through different paths, at least one of the first and second paths OP and EP is damaged. When this occurs, the gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 cannot normally drive the corresponding gate line.

Although the gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 drive the corresponding gate lines GL1 to GL4 in response to the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe, respectively, the first path OP When is damaged, the gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may drive the gate line GL in response to the second gate driving signal GDSe received through the second path EP.

However, since the second gate driving signal GDSe is received when the even-numbered data lines DL2 and DL4 in which the white subpixel W or blue subpixel B are disposed are driven, the pixel on the corresponding gate line is 4 Only two of the colors are displayed.

As a result, there is a problem in that dims in the direction of the gate line are not removed and can be recognized by a user.

4 is an exemplary diagram of a sub-pixel structure of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Each sub-pixel (SP) arranged in the organic light emitting display panel 110 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 drives an organic light emitting diode (OLED), which is a self-light emitting element, and drives the organic light emitting diode (OLED). It is composed of circuit elements such as a driving transistor for

The type and number of circuit elements constituting each sub-pixel SP may be variously determined according to a provided function and a design method.

Referring to FIG. 4 , in the organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, each subpixel (SP) basically drives an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED). a driving transistor (DRT) for transmitting a data voltage to a first node (N1) corresponding to the gate node of the driving transistor (DRT), and a data voltage corresponding to the image signal voltage. It may be configured to include a storage capacitor (Cst: Storage Capacitor) that maintains the voltage or a voltage corresponding thereto for one frame time.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) may include a first electrode (eg, an anode electrode or a cathode electrode), an organic layer, and a second electrode (eg, a cathode electrode or an anode electrode).

The ground voltage EVSS may be applied to the second electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED.

The driving transistor DRT drives the organic light emitting diode (OLED) by supplying a driving current to the organic light emitting diode (OLED).

The driving transistor DRT has a first node N1 , a second node N2 , and a third node N3 .

The first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT is a node corresponding to a gate node and may be electrically connected to a source node or a drain node of the first transistor T1.

The second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may be electrically connected to the first electrode of the organic light emitting diode OLED, and may be a source node or a drain node.

The third node N3 of the driving transistor DRT is a node to which the driving voltage EVDD is applied, and may be electrically connected to a driving voltage line (DVL) that supplies the driving voltage EVDD, and may be electrically connected to a drain. It can be a node or a source node.

The driving transistor DRT and the first transistor T1 may be implemented as n-type or p-type as in the example of FIG. 2 .

The first transistor T1 is electrically connected between the data line DL and the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT, and can be controlled by receiving the scan signal SCAN to the gate node through the gate line. there is.

The first transistor T1 may be turned on by the scan signal SCAN and transfer the data voltage Vdata supplied from the data line DL to the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT. .

The storage capacitor Cst may be electrically connected between the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

The storage capacitor Cst is not a parasitic capacitor (eg, Cgs or Cgd) that is an internal capacitor existing between the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT, but It is an external capacitor intentionally designed outside the driving transistor (DRT).

Meanwhile, in the case of the organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, as the driving time of each subpixel SP increases, circuit elements such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a driving transistor (DRT) Degradation may proceed.

Accordingly, unique characteristic values of circuit elements such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and driving transistors (DRTs) may change. Here, the unique characteristics of the circuit element may include a threshold voltage of the organic light emitting diode (OLED), a threshold voltage of the driving transistor (DRT), a mobility of the driving transistor (DRT), and the like.

A change in a characteristic value of a circuit element may cause a change in luminance of a corresponding subpixel. Accordingly, the change in the characteristic value of a circuit element may be used as the same concept as the change in luminance of a subpixel.

In addition, the degree of change in characteristic values between circuit elements may be different depending on the difference in degree of deterioration of each circuit element.

Such a difference in degree of change in characteristic values between circuit elements may cause variation in characteristic values among circuit elements, which may cause luminance variation between subpixels. Accordingly, the characteristic value deviation between circuit elements may be used as the same concept as the luminance deviation between subpixels.

Changes in characteristic values of circuit elements (changes in luminance of subpixels) and deviations in characteristic values between circuit elements (variance in luminance between subpixels) cause problems such as lowering the accuracy of the luminance expression of subpixels or causing screen abnormalities. can make it

The organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may provide a sensing function for sensing characteristic values of subpixels and a compensation function for compensating for subpixel characteristic values using sensing results.

In this specification, sensing a characteristic value of a subpixel means sensing a characteristic value or change in characteristic value of a circuit element (a driving transistor (DRT) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED)) in a subpixel, or a circuit element (a driving transistor ( DRT) and organic light emitting diode (OLED)) may mean sensing a characteristic value deviation.

In the present specification, compensating for a characteristic value of a subpixel means making a characteristic value or change in characteristic value of a circuit element (a driving transistor (DRT) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED)) within a subpixel to a predetermined level, or a circuit element (driving transistor) It may refer to reducing or removing a characteristic value deviation between a transistor (DRT) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

The organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention may include a subpixel structure suitable for the sensing function and a compensation function, and a compensation circuit including a sensing and compensation structure.

As shown in FIG. 4 , each subpixel disposed on the organic light emitting display panel 110 may further include a second transistor T2 in order to provide a sensing function and a compensation function.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the second transistor T2 is electrically connected between the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT and a reference voltage line (RVL) supplying a reference voltage (Vref). , and can be controlled by receiving the sensing signal SENSE through the gate node.

Here, the sensing signal SENSE may be output from a gate driving circuit that outputs a scan signal SCAN among the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4.

By further including the aforementioned second transistor T2, the voltage state of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT in the subpixel SP can be effectively controlled.

The second transistor T2 is turned on by the sensing signal SENSE output from the gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 and applies the reference voltage Vref supplied through the reference voltage line RVL to the driving transistor DRT. ) is applied to the second node N2.

Also, the second transistor T2 may be used as one of the voltage sensing paths for the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

Meanwhile, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE output from the same gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may be separate signals. In this case, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE are transmitted through the gate line GL and the sensing line further disposed on the display panel 110 separate from the gate line GL, respectively, through the first transistor T1. ) and the gate node of the second transistor T2, respectively.

In some cases, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE may be the same scan signal. In this case, the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE may be commonly applied to the gate node of the first transistor T1 and the gate node of the second transistor T2 through the same gate line.

5 is an exemplary diagram of a compensation circuit of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5 , an organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention includes a sensing unit 510 that generates and outputs sensing data through voltage sensing in order to determine characteristic values of subpixels; A compensating unit 520 that performs a compensation process for recognizing characteristic values of sub-pixels using data and compensating for characteristic values of sub-pixels based thereon.

For example, the sensing unit 510 may be implemented by including at least one analog to digital converter (ADC). Sensing data output from the sensing unit 510 may be, for example, in a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) data format.

Each analog to digital converter (ADC: Analog to Digital Converter) may be included inside each source driver integrated circuit (SDIC) included in the data driver 120, and in some cases, the outside of the source driver integrated circuit (SDIC) may be included in

The compensating unit 520 may be included inside the controller 140 and, in some cases, may be provided outside the controller 140 . The compensation unit 520 may also be referred to as a compensation processor.

Referring to FIG. 5 , an organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments includes an initialization switch SPRE that controls whether or not a reference voltage Vref is applied to a reference voltage line RVL, and a reference voltage line ( RVL) and the sensing unit 510 may include a sampling switch (SAM) for controlling whether or not to be connected.

The initialization switch SPRE is configured so that the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT in the subpixel SP is in a voltage state reflecting the characteristic value of a desired circuit element, so that the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is in a voltage state. ) is a switch for controlling the voltage application state.

When the initialization switch SPRE is turned on, the reference voltage Vref is supplied to the reference voltage line RVL through the turned-on second transistor T2 to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT. ) can be authorized.

The sampling switch SAM is turned on to electrically connect the reference voltage line RVL and the sensing unit 510 .

The sampling switch SAM has an on-off timing such that it is turned on when the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT in the subpixel SP is in a voltage state reflecting the characteristic value of a desired circuit element. controlled

When the sampling switch SAM is turned on, the sensing unit 510 may sense the voltage of the connected reference voltage line RVL.

When the sensing unit 510 senses the voltage of the reference voltage line RVL and the second transistor T2 is turned on, if the resistance component of the driving transistor DRT can be ignored, the sensing unit 510 ) may correspond to the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT. The voltage sensed by the sensing unit 510 may be the voltage of the reference voltage line RVL, that is, the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

If the line capacitor exists on the reference voltage line RVL, the voltage sensed by the sensing unit 510 may be the voltage charged in the line capacitor on the reference voltage line RVL. Here, the reference voltage line RVL is also referred to as a sensing line.

For example, the voltage sensed by the sensing unit 510 is a voltage value (Vdata-Vth or Vdata-ΔVth, where Vdata-ΔVth, including the threshold voltage (Vth) or threshold voltage deviation (ΔVth) of the driving transistor DRT. is a data voltage for sensing driving) or a voltage value for sensing the mobility of the driving transistor DRT.

Meanwhile, for example, one reference voltage line RVL may be disposed in each subpixel column, or one reference voltage line RVL may be disposed in each of two or more subpixel columns.

For example, if one pixel is composed of 4 sub-pixels (red sub-pixel, white sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, blue sub-pixel), the reference voltage line RVL is composed of 4 sub-pixel columns (red sub-pixel column). , a white subpixel column, a green subpixel column, and a blue subpixel column) may be arranged one by one for each pixel column including.

Below, threshold voltage sensing driving and mobility sensing driving of the driving transistor DRT will be briefly described.

6 is a diagram for explaining a threshold voltage sensing driving method for a driving transistor of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Threshold voltage sensing driving of the driving transistor DRT may proceed through a sensing process including an initialization step, a tracking step, and a sampling step.

The initialization step is a step of initializing the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

In this initialization step, the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 are turned on, and the initialization switch SPRE is turned on.

Accordingly, each of the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is initialized to the threshold voltage sensing driving data voltage Vdata and the reference voltage Vref (V1 = Vdata, V2 =Vref).

In the tracking step, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is increased until the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT reaches the threshold voltage or a voltage state reflecting the change thereof. is the step of changing

That is, the tracking step is a step of tracking the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT that can reflect the threshold voltage or its change.

In this tracking step, the initialization switch SPRE is turned off or the second transistor T2 is turned off, so that the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is floating.

Accordingly, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT rises.

The voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT rises, then the range of the rise gradually decreases and becomes saturated.

The saturated voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT may correspond to a difference between the data voltage Vdata and the threshold voltage Vth or a difference between the data voltage Vdata and the threshold voltage deviation ΔVth. .

When the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is saturated, the sampling process may proceed.

The sampling step is a step of measuring the threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT or a voltage reflecting its change, and the sensing unit 510 measures the voltage of the reference voltage line RVL, that is, the second voltage of the driving transistor DRT. This is the step of sensing the voltage of the node N2.

In this sampling step, the sampling switch SAM is turned on, and the sensing unit 510 is connected to the reference voltage line RVL, and the voltage of the reference voltage line RVL, that is, the control of the driving transistor DRT. 2 The voltage V2 of the node N2 is sensed.

The voltage Vsen sensed by the sensing unit 510 is a voltage (Vdata-Vth) obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage (Vth) from the data voltage (Vdata) or a voltage obtained by subtracting the threshold voltage deviation (ΔVth) from the data voltage (Vdata) ( Vdata-ΔVth). Here, Vth may be a positive threshold voltage or a negative threshold voltage.

7 is a diagram for explaining a mobility sensing driving method for a driving transistor of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention.

Mobility sensing driving of the driving transistor DRT may proceed through a sensing process including an initialization step, a tracking step, and a sampling step.

The initialization step is a step of initializing the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

In this initialization step, the first transistor T1 and the second transistor T2 are turned on, and the initialization switch SPRE is turned on.

Accordingly, each of the first node N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is initialized with the data voltage Vdata and the reference voltage Vref for driving the mobility sensing (V1=Vdata, V2= Vref).

In the tracking step, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is increased until the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT reaches a voltage state reflecting the mobility or the change thereof. is the step of changing

That is, the tracking step is a step of tracking the voltage of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT that can reflect the mobility or its change.

In this tracking step, the initialization switch SPRE is turned off or the second transistor T2 is turned off, so that the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is floated. At this time, since the first transistor T1 is turned off, the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT may also float.

Accordingly, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT starts to rise.

The rising speed of the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT varies according to the current capability (ie, mobility) of the driving transistor DRT.

As the current capability (mobility) of the driving transistor DRT increases, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT rises more steeply.

After the tracking step proceeds for a certain time period Δt, that is, after the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT rises for a predetermined period of time Δt, the sampling step may proceed.

During the tracking step, an increasing speed of the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT corresponds to a voltage variation ΔV for a predetermined time Δt.

In the sampling step, the sampling switch SAM is turned on, and the sensing unit 510 and the reference voltage line RVL are electrically connected.

Accordingly, the sensing unit 510 senses the voltage of the reference voltage line RVL, that is, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

The voltage Vsen sensed by the sensing unit 510 is a voltage increased from the initialization voltage Vref by a voltage change amount ΔV for a predetermined time Δt, and is a voltage corresponding to mobility.

According to the threshold voltage or mobility sensing drive as described above with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the sensing unit 510 converts the sensed voltage Vsen into a digital value for threshold voltage sensing or mobility sensing, and converts the voltage Vsen into a digital value. Sensing data including a digital value (sensing value) can be generated and output.

Sensing data output from the sensing unit 510 may be provided to the compensating unit 520 .

The compensator 520 may change the characteristic value (eg, threshold voltage, mobility) or the characteristic value of the driving transistor (DRT) in the corresponding subpixel based on the sensing data provided by the sensing unit 510 (eg, threshold voltage change, mobility change), and a characteristic value compensation process may be performed.

Here, when one reference voltage line RVL is disposed for each subpixel column, the sensing unit 510 is a driving transistor of a specific subpixel in each of a plurality of pixels on the gate line GL driven by the scan signal SCAN. The voltage V2 of the second node N2 of (DRT) is sensed.

For example, when one pixel is composed of four sub-pixels (red sub-pixel, white sub-pixel, green sub-pixel, and blue sub-pixel), the sensing unit 510 operates on a gate line driven by the scan signal SCAN. The voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT of the plurality of red subpixels may be applied and sensed through the reference voltage line RVL according to the order specified on the GL. Then, the voltage V2 of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT of the white subpixel, green subpixel, and blue subpixel may be sequentially applied through the reference voltage line RVL and sensed.

That is, the sensing unit 510 generates one gate line GL driven by the scan signal SCAN according to the number of subpixels constituting one pixel and the number of corresponding reference voltage lines RVL. Sensing may be performed multiple times on the gate line GL. Accordingly, the compensator 520 that receives the sensing data from the sensing unit 510 and calculates compensation data may also calculate compensation data multiple times for one gate line GL.

As described above, in the present invention, in the controller 140, the data lines DL1 to DL4 driven by the data driver 120 are odd-numbered data lines DL1 like the red subpixel R or the green subpixel G. , DL3), the first gate control signal GCSo is output, and if there are even-numbered data lines DL2 and DL4 such as the white subpixel W or the blue subpixel B, the second gate control signal GCSe ) can be output.

Similarly, in the present invention, the controller 140 outputs the first gate control signal GCSo when driving the threshold voltage or mobility sensing of the red sub-pixel R or green sub-pixel G, and The second gate control signal GCSe may be output when driving the threshold voltage or mobility sensing of the pixel W or the blue sub-pixel B.

That is, the controller 140 distinguishes between sensing driving for subpixels R and G on odd-numbered data lines DL1 and DL3 and sensing driving for subpixels on even-numbered data lines DL2 and DL4, A gate control signal (GCSo) or a second gate control signal (GCSe) may be output.

Therefore, the signal supply unit 150 transmits the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe corresponding to the first gate control signal GCSo or the second gate control signal GCSe to the first path OP. ) and the second path (EP).

As described above, the threshold voltage or mobility sensing driving is driving for compensating for a characteristic value difference between each subpixel SP in the organic light emitting display device 100 .

However, if the characteristic values of the plurality of subpixels SP on a specific gate line GL are different from those of other subpixels SP by more than a specified range, that is, if the subpixels are determined to be abnormal, the corresponding gate line ( GL), the plurality of gate driving circuits (GDC1 to GDC4), or the transmission path of the gate driving signal (GDS) may be determined to be damaged.

In particular, the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving through the first path OP and the second path EP according to the color of the subpixel on which the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 are sensed and driven. When the signal GDSe is separately received, only subpixels of some colors (for example, red subpixel R and green subpixel G) in a specific gate line may be determined as abnormal subpixels.

In this way, when only subpixels of some colors in a specific gate line are determined to be abnormal subpixels, the controller 140 causes damage to the first path OP among the first path OP and the second path EP. can be easily identified as having been

8 is a diagram illustrating sensing timing of an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a real-time sensing process operation according to embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 , in the organic light emitting display device 100 according to embodiments of the present invention, when a power on signal is generated, the driving transistor DRT in each subpixel disposed on the display panel 110 ) can be sensed. This sensing process is referred to as an “on-sensing process”.

In addition, when a power off signal is generated, the characteristic values of the driving transistors (DRT) in each subpixel disposed on the display panel 110 before an off-sequence such as power-off proceeds. may be sensed. This sensing process is referred to as an "off-sensing process".

In addition, after the power-on signal is generated and before the power-off signal is generated, the characteristic value of the driving transistor DRT in each subpixel disposed on the display panel 110 may be sensed every blank time during display driving. This sensing process is referred to as a “real-time sensing process”.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the real-time sensing process may be performed at each blank time between active times based on the vertical synchronization signal Vsync.

Here, the active time is when the data driver 120 outputs the data voltage Vdata through the plurality of data lines DL while the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 sequentially drive the plurality of gate lines GL. it's time to

Since the mobility sensing of the driving transistor (DRT) requires only a short time, it may be performed before display driving starts after the power-on signal is generated, or when the display is not driven after the power-off signal is generated. It can be.

In addition, sensing the mobility of the driving transistor DRT can be performed in real time by utilizing a short blank time even during display driving.

That is, the sensing of the mobility of the driving transistor DRT may be performed as an on-sensing process before display driving starts when a power-on signal is generated, or when a power-off signal is generated and display driving proceeds. It may be performed as an off-sensing process during a period in which it is not performed, and may be performed as a real-time sensing process for every short blank time during display driving.

When mobility sensing is performed during the real-time sensing process, as shown in FIG. 9 , mobility sensing is performed for a plurality of subpixels SP on a predetermined number of gate lines GL in one blank time. can be performed

In addition, mobility sensing may be performed on a subpixel of a specific color among a plurality of subpixels SP on a predetermined number of gate lines GL in one blank time.

For example, in a real-time sensing process, mobility sensing may be performed for subpixels SP of a specific color on one gate line GL at one blank time, and the next gate line GL at the next blank time. ) may be performed on subpixels (SPs) of a specific color.

In contrast, since the threshold voltage sensing (Vth sensing) of the driving transistor DRT requires a long voltage saturation time (Vsat) of the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT, the movement of the driving transistor DRT Compared to mobility sensing, it takes a relatively long time.

In consideration of this point, sensing of the threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT should be performed using timing that does not interfere with user viewing.

Therefore, in general, sensing of the threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT can be performed after a power off signal is generated according to a user input, etc., while the display is not driven, that is, in a situation where the user does not intend to watch. .

However, in some cases, sensing the threshold voltage of the driving transistor DRT may also be performed through an on-sensing process or a real-time sensing process.

10 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to other embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the signal supply unit 150 and the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 are the same as those of FIG. 3 .

That is, the signal supply unit 150 receives the first gate control signal GCSo and the second gate control signal GCSe from the controller 140, and receives the received first gate control signal GCSo and the second gate control signal ( GCSe) is converted into the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe required by the gate driving circuit unit 130 and output to the first path OP or the second path EP.

Further, each of the first path OP and the second path EP transmits a corresponding gate driving signal among the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe output from the signal supply unit 150 to a plurality of It is transmitted to the gate driving circuits (GDC1 to GDC4).

Each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 responds to the first gate driving signal GDSo provided through the first path OP or the second gate driving signal GDSe provided through the second path EP. In response, the scan signal SCAN is supplied to the corresponding gate lines GL1 to GL4 to drive them.

In this case, when the scan signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE are separate signals, the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 may drive the sensing line from which the sensing signal SENSE is output together.

Meanwhile, the organic light emitting display device 100 of FIG. 10 further includes a switching unit SW.

In the present invention, the switching unit (SW) is a transmission path that switches transmission paths of the first gate driving signal (GDSo) and the second gate driving signal (GDSe) transmitted to the first path (OP) and the second path (EP). It can function as a switching circuit.

The switching unit SW includes the number of switching circuits corresponding to the number of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4, and each switching circuit corresponds to the first path OP and the second path EP, respectively. It includes a first changeover switch (SWo) and a second changeover switch (SWe).

The first changeover switch SWo receives the first gate driving signal GDSo, and in response to the switching changeover signal SWC output from the controller 140, converts the received first gate driving signal GDSo into a first It is selectively transferred to one of the path OP and the second path EP.

The second changeover switch SWe receives the second gate driving signal GDSe, and in response to the switching change signal SWC, transmits the received second gate driving signal GDSe to the first path OP and the second changeover signal SWC. It is selectively delivered to one of the routes (EP).

That is, the first changeover switch SWo may select the second path EP in response to the first switching changeover signal SWC, and the second changeover switch SWe may respond to the first switching changeover signal SWC. In response to the second switching conversion signal, the first path OP may be selected.

Therefore, each of the first changeover switch SWo and the second changeover switch SWe included in the switching unit SW responds to the first and second switching conversion signals to generate the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate. A path through which the driving signal GDSe is transmitted may be switched.

Although FIG. 10 illustrates that the switching unit SW is disposed outside the display panel 110 , the switching unit SW may be disposed within the display panel 110 .

Also, the switching unit SW may be disposed within the signal supply unit 150 .

Meanwhile, a plurality of subpixels are arranged in the display panel 110 . Here, it is also assumed that one pixel is composed of four sub-pixels (red sub-pixel R, white sub-pixel W, green sub-pixel G, and blue sub-pixel B).

In addition, one reference voltage line (RVL) is provided for each of the four subpixels (red subpixel (R), white subpixel (W), green subpixel (G), and blue subpixel (B)), that is, one pixel. Further, the reference voltage line RVL is connected to the sensing unit 510 disposed in the data driving unit 120 .

In FIG. 10 , the controller 140 includes a compensating unit 520, and the compensating unit 520 uses the sensing data output from the sensing unit 510 during the real-time sensing process to compensate the inter-subpixel characteristic values. Compensation values can be calculated.

At this time, the controller 140 may determine whether the characteristic values of some subpixels SP are greater than or equal to a specified range. For example, the controller 140 may determine an abnormal subpixel (SP) having a characteristic value exceeding a range that can be compensated by the compensation unit 520 .

When the abnormal subpixel SP is determined, the controller 140 determines the position of the abnormal subpixel SP in the pixel array of the display panel 110 .

When it is determined that a plurality of abnormal subpixels (SP) exist on a specific gate line and only some of the color subpixels (SP) are abnormal subpixels (SP), the controller 140 locates the abnormal subpixel (SP) at the position of the abnormal subpixel (SP). outputs a switching conversion signal (SWC) according to

At this time, if the controller 140 repeatedly determines that the subpixels (SPs) at the same location are abnormal subpixels (SP) more than a predetermined number of times (eg, 3 times) during the real-time sensing process, the controller 140 generates a switching conversion signal (SWC). It can be configured to output.

This is to prevent the switching conversion signal (SWC) from being output due to the temporary abnormal subpixel (SP) determination that may occur due to various conditions.

Like the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe, the switching conversion signal SWC is a wire disposed on at least one film among the plurality of films F1, F2, ..., F6. It can be supplied to the switching unit (SW) through.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the controller 140 controls the first gate line GL1 when it is determined that the red subpixel R and the green subpixel G on the first gate line GL1 are abnormal subpixels. It is determined that the first path OP corresponding to the driven first gate driving circuit GDC1 is damaged, and the switching conversion signal SWC for controlling the corresponding first conversion switch SWo is output. can

Accordingly, the first changeover switch SWo changes the path so that the first gate driving signal GDSo transmitted from the signal supply unit 150 is transmitted to the second path EP.

That is, the first gate driving circuit GDC1 may receive the first gate driving signal GDSo as well as the second gate driving signal GDSe through the second path EP.

Accordingly, the first gate driving circuit GDC1 may drive the first gate line GL1 at the timing when all subpixels SP of the first gate line GL1 are to be driven.

As a result, occurrence of dim in the gate line direction can be prevented.

During actual manufacturing, only one dim is detected in most of the organic light emitting display devices 100 that are defective due to dims being detected in the gate line direction.

That is, as one, or two gate line direction dims occur in many cases, the organic light emitting display device 100 is treated as defective, which becomes a factor in lowering the yield of the organic light emitting display device 100 .

However, as shown in FIG. 10, the first and second paths OP and EP are provided, and the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe are generated by using the switching unit SW. If the path through which V is transferred is switched, dimming in the gate line direction can be easily removed.

As a result, the yield of the organic light emitting display device 100 can be greatly increased.

In addition, the controller 140 outputs the switching conversion signal (SWC) to switch the transmission path of the switching unit (SW), but during the real-time sensing process thereafter, the subpixels previously determined to be abnormal subpixels are identically changed to abnormal subpixels. If determined, the organic light emitting display device 100 may be powered off to allow the user to request repair.

11 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of gate driving circuits and control paths included in a display panel in an organic light emitting display device according to still other embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 10 , a plurality of first paths OP and a plurality of second paths EP corresponding to the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 are disposed. In addition, the switching unit SW includes a plurality of first changeover switches SWo and a plurality of second changeover switches SWe corresponding to each of the plurality of first paths OP and the plurality of second paths EP. .

However, the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 sequentially drive the plurality of gate lines GL on the display panel 110 .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11 , each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 does not directly receive the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe, but is a single gate driving circuit. (In FIG. 11 , the first gate driving circuit GDC1 ) may be configured to receive the first gate driving signal GDSo or the second gate driving signal GDSe.

The remaining gate driving circuits GDC2, GDC3, and GDC4 sequentially receive the first gate driving signal GDSo or the second gate driving signal GDSe required from the previous gate driving circuits GDC1, GDC2, and GDC3, respectively. Corresponding gate lines GL may be sequentially driven.

As shown in FIG. 11, when a plurality of gate driving circuits are configured to receive the first gate driving signal GDSo or the second gate driving signal GDSe from the previous gate driving circuits GDC1, GDC2, and GDC3, Only one first path OP and one second path EP may be disposed on the display panel 110 .

Accordingly, in FIG. 11 , the switching unit SW may include one first changeover switch SWo and one second changeover switch SWe.

12 illustrates a driving method of an organic light emitting display device according to example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 12 , in a method of driving an organic light emitting display device according to embodiments of the present invention, a real-time sensing process is first performed at each blank time during display driving (S1210).

The controller 140 operates the data driver 120 and the controller 140 to perform a real-time sensing process, such as mobility sensing, on a subpixel of a specific color among a plurality of subpixels SP on a predetermined number of gate lines GL for every blank time. The gate driving circuit unit 130 and the like can be controlled.

Here, the real-time-sensing process may be performed on a sub-pixel of a specific color among a plurality of sub-pixels (SP) on a predetermined number of gate lines (GL) at one blank time, and another predetermined number of sub-pixels at the next blank time. It may be performed on a subpixel of a specific color among a plurality of subpixels SP on the gate line GL.

When sensing of subpixels of a corresponding color of all gate lines is completed, the gate line may be selected again to perform sensing of subpixels of a different color.

The controller 140 determines abnormal subpixels from the characteristic values of each subpixel obtained from the real-time sensing process. Then, the location of the determined abnormal subpixel is determined (S1220).

When a number of abnormal subpixels (SP) exist on a specific gate line and it is determined that only some color subpixels (SP) are abnormal subpixels (SP), the controller 140 determines the position of the abnormal subpixel (SP). An abnormal path in which damage has occurred is determined (S1230).

That is, the first path OP for the gate driving circuit corresponding to the position of the abnormal subpixel SP among the first path OP and the second path EP for each of the plurality of gate driving circuits GDC1 to GDC4 Alternatively, the second path EP is determined as an abnormal path.

Then, the switching conversion signal (SWC) corresponding to the determined path is output to the switch unit (SW) (S1240).

In response to the switching change signal SWC, the first changeover switch SWo or the second changeover switch SWe of the switching unit SW changes a path through which the gate driving signal GDS is transmitted.

The first changeover switch SWo that receives the previous first gate driving signal GDSo and outputs it to the first path OP outputs the first gate driving signal GDSo when the switching change signal SWC is received. 2 output through path (EP).

On the other hand, the second changeover switch SWe that receives the second gate driving signal GDSe and outputs the second gate driving signal GDSe to the second path EP transmits the second gate driving signal GDSe when the switching change signal SWC is received. It is output to the first path (OP).

At this time, the switch not specified by the switching conversion signal SWC maintains the path through which the previous gate driving signal GDS is transmitted.

That is, the switching conversion signal SWC allows only the switch corresponding to the position of the abnormal subpixel SP among a plurality of switches included in the switching unit SW to change the path through which the gate driving signal GDS is transmitted.

Accordingly, the gate driving circuit driving the gate line from which the abnormal subpixel is determined transmits the first gate driving signal GDSo and the second gate driving signal GDSe to either the first path OP or the second path EP. All can be received through the path, and the corresponding gate line can be normally driven.

As a result, dimming in the direction of the gate line is prevented to display a normal image (S1250).

The above description and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can combine the configuration within the scope not departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. , various modifications and variations such as separation, substitution and alteration will be possible. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but to explain, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be construed according to the claims below, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: organic light emitting display device
110: organic light emitting display panel
120: data driving unit
130: gate driving circuit unit
140: timing controller
150: signal supply unit

Claims (12)

a display panel in which a plurality of subpixels defined by a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of reference voltage lines are disposed;
a data driver driving the plurality of data lines;
a gate driving circuit unit disposed in a non-display area of the display panel and driving the plurality of gate lines;
a sensing unit configured to sense voltages of the plurality of reference voltage lines and output sensed data for at least one subpixel among the plurality of subpixels;
a controller that controls the data driver, outputs one of a first or second gate control signal according to a position of a data line driven by the data driver, and determines an abnormal subpixel by receiving the sensing data;
When the first gate control signal is received from the controller, the first gate driving signal is output to the gate driving circuit unit through a first path, and when the second gate control signal is received, the gate driving circuit unit is output through a second path. a signal supply unit outputting a second gate driving signal; and
and a switching unit disposed between the signal supply unit and the gate driving circuit unit and switching a path through which the first or second gate driving signal is transmitted according to the location of the abnormal subpixel determined by the controller. Device. According to claim 1,
The controller,
The organic light emitting display device outputs the first gate control signal when the data line driven by the data driver is an odd-numbered data line, and outputs the second gate control signal when the data line is an even-numbered data line. According to claim 2,
The gate driving circuit part,
At least one gate driving circuit for driving at least one gate line among the plurality of gate lines;
Each of the at least one gate driving circuit,
An organic light emitting display device configured to output a scan signal to at least one corresponding gate line to drive the display when the first gate driving signal or the second gate driving signal is received. According to claim 3,
The controller,
Among the plurality of subpixels, two or more subpixels disposed on the same gate line are determined as the abnormal subpixels;
If it is determined that the determined two or more abnormal subpixels are identically connected to odd-numbered data lines or even-numbered data lines,
An organic light emitting display device that outputs a switching conversion signal corresponding to a corresponding gate line to the switching unit. According to claim 4,
The plurality of subpixels,
A predetermined number of sub-pixels are repeatedly arranged to form one pixel according to each color to be expressed.
The controller,
During the real-time sensing process, the plurality of subpixels are classified by color, a first path or a second path is alternately selected according to the classified colors, and the first gate control signal or the second gate control signal is transmitted through the selected path. and transmitting and receiving the sensing data to determine a path in which an abnormality has occurred among the first path and the second path. According to claim 5,
The controller,
Repeatedly performing the real-time sensing process at a predetermined cycle while the display device outputs an image,
The organic light emitting display device outputs the switching conversion signal when two or more identical subpixels are determined to be abnormal more than a predetermined number of times. According to claim 4,
The controller,
An organic light emitting display device that outputs a first switching conversion signal when the data line to which the determined two or more abnormal subpixels are connected is an odd-numbered data line, and outputs a second switching conversion signal when the data line is an even-numbered data line. According to claim 7,
the switching unit
A number of switching circuits corresponding to the at least one gate driving circuit;
Each of the switching circuits,
a first conversion switch transferring the first gate driving signal to a corresponding gate driving circuit through the first path; and
A second changeover switch for transferring the second gate driving signal to a corresponding gate driving circuit through the second path;
The first changeover switch,
When the first switching conversion signal is received, switching so that the first gate driving signal is transmitted to a corresponding gate driving circuit through the second path;
The second changeover switch,
When the second switching conversion signal is received, the organic light emitting display device switches so that the second gate driving signal is transmitted to a corresponding gate driving circuit through the first path. According to claim 5,
The display panel
During the real-time sensing process, a plurality of sensing lines through which sensing signals for electrically connecting a predetermined node of the subpixel and the reference voltage line are transmitted are further disposed;
Each of the at least one gate driving circuit,
During the real-time sensing process,
An organic light emitting display device driven by outputting a sensing signal to a sensing line corresponding to a gate line from which the scan signal is output. delete According to claim 1,
The controller and the signal supply unit,
It is disposed on a printed circuit board separate from the display panel,
The data driver,
It is mounted in a chip-on-film method on a film connected to the display panel,
The first path and the second path,
An organic light emitting display device connected to the gate driving circuit through a film on which the data driver is mounted. A display panel on which a plurality of subpixels defined by a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of reference voltage lines are disposed, a data driver, a gate driving circuit disposed in a non-display area of the display panel, a sensing unit, and a controller , In the method of driving an organic light emitting display device including a signal supply unit and a switching unit,
sensing the voltages of the plurality of reference voltage lines during a real-time sensing process to determine locations of abnormal sub-pixels; and
driving the plurality of gate lines in response to a first or second gate driving signal transmitted through one of a first path and a second path according to a position of a data line driven by the data driver when an image is output; including,
The driving method of the organic light emitting display device,
The method of driving the organic light emitting display device further comprising switching a path through which the first or second gate driving signal is transmitted according to the determined location of the abnormal subpixel before the driving of the plurality of gate lines. .

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