KR102607405B1 - Light emitting display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a lock signal line through which a lock signal for determining whether the data driver ICs are operating normally is provided in a non-display area of a light emitting display panel, depending on whether the lock signal is normally received. To provide a light emitting display device capable of determining whether there is a crack in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel.

Description

Light emitting display device {LIGHT EMITTING DISPLAY APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a light emitting display device, and more particularly, to a light emitting display device capable of detecting cracks in a non-display area of a light emitting display panel.

In a light emitting display device, differences in characteristics such as the threshold voltage or mobility of the driving transistor occur for each pixel due to process deviation, degradation, etc. Accordingly, the amount of current driving each light-emitting device is different, which causes luminance differences between pixels.

To solve the above problem, various types of compensation methods are used in light emitting display devices to sense the threshold voltage or mobility of a driving transistor and compensate for input image data according to the sensed value.

However, in the conventional light emitting display device, when a defect occurs in the light emitting display panel itself, there is a problem in that the defect cannot be sensed quickly and therefore damage to the light emitting display panel cannot be prevented.

For example, if a crack occurs in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel, the power line provided in the non-display area may be shorted, and in this case, the light emitting display panel may be seriously damaged.

However, in a conventional light emitting display device, cracks in the light emitting display panel as described above cannot be sensed, and therefore, the light emitting display panel may be seriously damaged.

The purpose of the present invention proposed to solve the above-described problem is to provide a lock signal line through which a lock signal for determining whether the data driver ICs are operating normally is provided in a non-display area of the light emitting display panel, and the lock signal line is provided in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel. The present invention provides a light emitting display device that can determine whether there is a crack in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel depending on whether a signal is normally received.

A light emitting display device according to the present invention for achieving the above-described technical problem includes a data driver including first to nth data driver ICs provided in chip-on-films, a display area, and a non-display area surrounding the display area. The display area is provided with pixels including light-emitting devices, the non-display area is provided with a lock signal line connected to the data driver ICs, and data connected to one end of the lock signal line. Power supply that transmits a lock start signal to the driver IC, receives a lock result signal from the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line, and transmits a feedback signal about whether a crack occurs in the non-display area to an external system. Includes wealth.

According to the present invention, cracks in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel can be sensed without adding sensing lines, and thus the light emitting display panel can be prevented from being seriously damaged by the cracks.

1 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a light-emitting display device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a pixel applied to a light-emitting display device according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a data driver IC applied to the light emitting display device according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of the lock processing unit shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an enlarged example of area A shown in Figure 1.

The advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and will be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments only serve to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete, and those skilled in the art It is provided to fully inform the person of the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In this specification, it should be noted that when adding reference numbers to components in each drawing, the same components are given the same number as much as possible even if they are shown in different drawings.

The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers, etc. disclosed in the drawings for explaining embodiments of the present invention are illustrative, and the present invention is not limited to the matters shown. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. Additionally, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. When 'includes', 'has', 'consists of', etc. mentioned in this specification are used, other parts may be added unless 'only' is used. When a component is expressed in the singular, the plural is included unless specifically stated otherwise.

When interpreting a component, it is interpreted to include the margin of error even if there is no separate explicit description.

In the case of a description of a positional relationship, for example, if the positional relationship of two parts is described as 'on top', 'on the top', 'on the bottom', 'next to', etc., 'immediately' Alternatively, there may be one or more other parts placed between the two parts, unless 'directly' is used.

In the case of a description of a temporal relationship, for example, if a temporal relationship is described as 'after', 'successfully after', 'after', 'before', etc., 'immediately' or 'directly' Unless used, non-consecutive cases may also be included.

The term ‘at least one’ should be understood to include all possible combinations from one or more related items. For example, 'at least one of the first item, the second item and the third item' means each of the first item, the second item or the third item, as well as two of the first item, the second item and the third item. It means a combination of all items that can be presented from more than one.

Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are merely used to distinguish one component from another. Accordingly, the first component mentioned below may also be the second component within the technical spirit of the present invention.

Each feature of the various embodiments of the present invention can be partially or fully combined or combined with each other, various technical interconnections and operations are possible, and each embodiment can be implemented independently of each other or together in a related relationship. It may be possible.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a light-emitting display device according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a pixel applied to the light-emitting display device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light emitting display device according to the present invention includes first to nth data driver integrated circuits (ICs) (hereinafter simply ICs) provided in chip-on-films 600, respectively. It is divided into a data driver including 300, a display area 120, and a non-display area 130 surrounding the display area 120, and the display area 120 includes a pixel containing a light emitting element. (110) is provided, and the non-display area 130 is provided with a lock signal line 700 connected to the data driver ICs 300, and the lock signal line 700 A lock start signal (LOCK start) is transmitted to the data driver IC 300 connected to one end, and a lock result signal (LOCK end) is received from the data driver IC 300 connected to the other end of the lock signal line 700. , a power supply unit 500 that transmits a feedback signal (FS) about whether a crack occurs in the non-display area 130 to the external system 900, and gate lines GL1 provided on the light emitting display panel 100. to Glg) and the data driver IC 300 using the Embedded Clock Point to Point Interface (EPI) protocol (hereinafter simply referred to as EPI). It transmits test image data (TD) to the device and includes a control unit 400 that controls operations of the data driver ICs and the gate driver.

The feedback signal FS includes an abnormal feedback signal and a normal feedback signal.

The external system 900 refers to a system that controls an electronic device including a light-emitting display device according to the present invention. For example, the electronic device may be a television (TV), a monitor, a smartphone, or a tablet PC.

Before explaining the above components, the characteristics of the EPI method applied to the light emitting display device according to the present invention will be briefly described as follows.

In the light emitting display device according to the present invention using the EPI method, the control unit 400 sends image data (Data) corresponding to each of the at least two data driver ICs 300 to the data driver ICs 300. Send to each individually.

In addition, when power is supplied to the light emitting display device according to the present invention using the EIP method, a lock start signal (LOCK start) is transmitted from the power supply unit 500 to the kth data driver IC (DIC k), and test image data is transmitted to the kth data driver IC (DIC k). (TDs) are transmitted from the control unit 400 to the kth data driver IC (DIC k). In this case, k is a natural number greater than 1 and less than n.

The k-th data driver IC (DIC k) generates a lock output signal when the lock start signal (LOCK start) and the test image data (TD) are normally received, and is adjacent to the lock signal line 700. The lock output signal is transmitted to another data driver IC (Lokck DIC k-1).

Each of the remaining data driver ICs 300 generates a lock output signal (LOCK) when the lock output signal transmitted from the previous data driver IC and the test image data (TD) transmitted from the control unit 400 are normally received. Thus, it is transmitted to the data driver IC at the rear end through the lock signal line 700.

The last data driver IC, for example, the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) shown in FIG. 1, also performs the same function as described above and outputs a lock output signal. The lock output signal output from the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) is the lock result signal (LOCK end). The lock result signal (LOCK end) generated by the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) is transmitted to the power supply unit 500.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lock signal line 700 is provided in the non-display area 130 and transmits the lock signal. The lock signal refers to the lock output signal. When the lock output signal output from one data driver IC is input to another data driver IC, the lock output signal becomes a lock input signal when viewed from the other data driver IC. Accordingly, the lock signal may include the lock output signal and the lock input signal. Additionally, in the following description, the lock signal may be used to encompass the lock output signal, the lock input signal, the lock start signal, and the lock result signal.

After the lock start signal (LOCK start) is output, the power supply unit 500 is configured to operate if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received for a preset period or the received lock result signal (LOCK end) is normal. If different from the signal, an abnormal feedback signal (FS) indicating that a crack has occurred in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel is transmitted to the external system 900.

In this case, the fact that the lock result signal (LOCK end) is different from the normal lock result signal means that the pulse width of the lock result signal (LOCK end) is different from the pulse width of the preset normal lock result signal, or the lock result signal (LOCK This means that the size of the lock result signal (LOCK end) is different from the size of the preset normal lock result signal, or the pulse shape of the lock result signal (LOCK end) is different from the pulse shape of the preset normal lock result signal.

In addition, when a normal lock result signal is received within a preset period, the power supply unit 500 provides normal feedback indicating that no crack has occurred in the non-display area 130 and that the data driver ICs 300 are synchronized. A signal FS is transmitted to the external system 900.

When the abnormal feedback signal is transmitted to the external system 900, the external system cuts off the power supplied to the power supply unit 500. Accordingly, the light emitting display device is turned off.

When the normal feedback signal is transmitted to the external system 900 or the period in which no signal is received elapses a preset period, the external system 900 may determine that the light emitting display device operates normally, Accordingly, timing signals and input image data can be transmitted to the control unit 400. In this case, the light emitting display device may output an image corresponding to the input image data.

To elaborate, the basic feature of the light emitting display device according to the present invention using the EPI method is that image data is individually supplied to each data driver IC, and that the data driver IC uses a lock signal before the image is output. It is determined whether they are operating normally. In particular, the light emitting display device according to the present invention uses the lock result signal (LOCK end) received from the power supply unit 500 to detect cracks in the light emitting display panel 100, in particular, the light emitting display panel 100. Cracks generated in the non-display area 130 of 100 can be sensed.

Below, the above components are described sequentially.

First, the light emitting display panel 100 is provided with pixels 110 including the light emitting element (ED) and a pixel driving circuit (PDC), as shown in FIG. 2 . Additionally, signal lines are formed in the light emitting display panel 100 to define a pixel area where the pixels 110 are formed and to supply a driving signal to the pixel driving circuit (PDC).

The light-emitting device ED includes a first electrode, a light-emitting layer provided on the first electrode, and a second electrode provided on the light-emitting layer. The light-emitting layer may include any one of a blue light-emitting part, a green light-emitting part, and a red light-emitting part for emitting light of a color corresponding to the color set in the pixel 110. The light-emitting layer may include any one of an organic light-emitting layer, an inorganic light-emitting layer, and a quantum dot light-emitting layer, or may include a stacked or mixed structure of the organic light-emitting layer (or the inorganic light-emitting layer) and the quantum dot light-emitting layer.

The signal lines may include a gate line (GL), a sensing pulse line (SPL), a data line (DL), a sensing line (SL), a first driving power line (PLA), and a second driving power line (PLB). there is.

The gate lines GL are formed side by side at regular intervals along the second direction of the light emitting display panel 100, for example, the horizontal direction.

The sensing pulse lines (SPL) may be formed at regular intervals and parallel to the gate lines (GL).

The data lines DL are spaced at regular intervals along the first direction, for example, the vertical direction, of the light emitting display panel 100 to intersect the gate lines GL and the sensing pulse lines SPL. They can be formed side by side. However, the arrangement structure of the data line DL and the gate line GL may be changed in various ways.

The sensing line SL may be formed at regular intervals parallel to the data lines DL. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, at least three pixels 110 form one unit pixel. In this case, one sensing line SL may be formed in the unit pixel.

The first driving power line (PLA) may be formed at regular intervals parallel to the data line (DL) and the sensing line (SL). The first driving power line (PLA) is connected to the power supply unit 500 and supplies the first driving power (EVDD) supplied from the power supply unit 500 to each pixel 110.

The second driving power lines (PLB) supply the second driving power (EVSS) supplied from the power supply unit 500 to each pixel 110.

The pixel driving circuit (PDC) includes a driving transistor (Tdr) that controls the current flowing through the light emitting device (ED), a switching device connected between the data line (DL) and the driving transistor (Tdr) and the gate line (GL). A transistor (Tsw1) and a capacitor (Cst) are provided. Additionally, the pixel driving circuit (PDC) provided in each of the pixels 110 may further include transistors for external compensation or internal compensation.

The switching transistor (Tsw1) is switched by the gate pulse (GP) and outputs the data voltage (Vdata) supplied from the data line (DL) to the gate of the driving transistor (Tdr).

The sensing transistor (Tsw2) connected between the driving transistor (Tdr) and the sensing line (SL) is switched by the sensing pulse (SP) and transmits the sensing voltage supplied to the sensing line (SL) to the driving transistor (Tdr). It is supplied to the second node (n2), which is the source of, and the signal sensed at the second node (n2) can be transmitted to the data driver IC (300).

The capacitor Cst charges the voltage supplied to the first node n1 according to the switching of the switching transistor Tsw1, and then switches the driving transistor Tdr according to the charged voltage.

The driving transistor (Tdr) is turned on by the voltage of the capacitor (Cst) to control the amount of current (I) flowing from the first driving power line (PLA) to the light emitting element (ED).

The light emitting element (ED) emits light by the current (I) supplied from the driving transistor (Tdr) and emits light with luminance corresponding to the current (I).

In the above description, the structure of the pixel 110 having the sensing line SL for performing external compensation has been described with reference to FIG. 2, but the pixel 110 has a structure other than that shown in FIG. It can be formed into various structures.

That is, the pixel driving circuit (PDC) can be changed into various structures to perform internal compensation or external compensation, and the method of driving the pixel driving circuit (PDC) can also be changed in various ways.

The feature of the present invention is not in the internal compensation or the external compensation. Accordingly, the specific structure of the pixel for performing compensation and the specific method of compensation are beyond the scope of the present invention. Therefore, content related to compensation is omitted.

Hereinafter, a light emitting display device including the pixel driving circuit (PDC) shown in FIG. 2 will be described as an example of the present invention.

Second, the gate driver 200 sequentially supplies a gate on signal (GP) to the gate lines (GL1 to GLg) using the gate control signals (GCS) transmitted from the control unit 400.

Here, the gate on signal (GP) refers to a signal that can turn on the switching transistor (Tsw1) connected to the gate lines (GL1 to GLg). A signal that can turn off the switching transistor (Tsw1) is called a gate-off signal. The gate on signal (GP) and the gate off signal are collectively referred to as gate signals.

The gate driver 200 is formed independently from the light-emitting display panel 100 and displays the light-emitting display panel 100 through a tape carrier package (TCP), chip-on-film (COF), or flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). ), but may also be directly mounted within the light emitting display panel 100 using the Gate In Panel (GIP) method.

Third, the power supply unit 500 supplies power to the gate driver 200, the data driver, and the control unit 400.

When a device-on signal is received from the external system, the power supply unit 500 transmits, for example, a lock start signal (LOCK start) with a value corresponding to 1 to the kth data driver IC (DIC k). .

The value corresponding to 1 in the above description refers to a value (for example, voltage) that can output 1 when performing an logical multiplication operation. In addition, the value corresponding to 0 in the following description refers to a value (eg, voltage) that can output 0 during the logical product operation. For example, the value corresponding to 1 may be a voltage greater than 1V, and the value corresponding to 0 may be a voltage less than 0V or OV.

In addition, the power supply unit 500 is configured to operate if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received for a preset period after the lock start signal (LOCK start) is output, or if the received lock result signal (LOCK end) is normal. If different from the lock result signal, an abnormal feedback signal (FS) indicating that a crack has occurred in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel is transmitted to the external system 900.

In addition, when a normal lock result signal is received within a preset period, the power supply unit 500 provides normal feedback indicating that no crack has occurred in the non-display area 130 and that the data driver ICs 300 are synchronized. A signal FS is transmitted to the external system 900.

Fourth, the control unit 400 uses a timing synchronization signal input from the external system 900 to control the driving of the gate driver 200 and the gate control signal (GCS) of the data driver 300. Each data control signal (DCS) to control driving is generated. Additionally, the control unit 400 converts input image data transmitted from the external system 900 into image data and transmits it to the data driver ICs 300.

In order to perform the above-described function, the control unit 400 realigns the input image data transmitted from the external system 900 using the timing synchronization signal transmitted from the external system 900. A data alignment unit for supplying the image data to the data driver ICs 300 and a control signal generator for generating the gate control signal (GCS) and the data control signal (DCS) using the timing synchronization signal. It can be included.

In particular, the data alignment unit may generate the test image data (TD) and transmit it to the data driver ICs 300 when the device on signal is received from the external system 900.

Fifth, the data driver includes the first to nth data driver ICs 300.

Each of the data driver ICs 300 includes the lock start signal (LOCK start) received from the power supply unit 500 or the lock input signal transmitted from the front-end data driver IC, and the lock input signal transmitted from the control unit 400. A lock result signal is generated using test image data (TD), and the generated lock result signal is transmitted to the back-end data driver IC or the power supply unit 500.

The configuration of each of the data driver ICs 300 constituting the data driver will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of a data driver IC applied to the light emitting display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram showing the configuration of the lock processing unit shown in FIG. 3.

The data driver includes first to nth data driver ICs 300. In this case, Figure 3 shows one of the data driver ICs 300.

The data driver IC 300 may be provided on a chip-on-film 600 attached to the light-emitting display panel 100. The chip-on-film 600 is also connected to the main board 600 on which the control unit 400 is provided. In this case, the chip-on-film 600 is provided with lines that electrically connect the control unit 400, the data driver IC 300, and the light-emitting display panel 100. For this purpose, the lines are It is electrically connected to the pads provided on the main board 800 and the light emitting display panel 100.

However, the data driver IC 300 may be directly mounted on the light emitting display panel 100. In this case, the data driver IC 300 may be electrically connected to the main board 800 by a flexible film. there is.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a light emitting display device in which each of the data driver ICs 300 is mounted on the chip-on-film 600 will be described as an example of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the data driver ICs 300 includes a data power supply unit 310, a sensing unit 320, and a lock processing unit 330.

The data power supply unit 310 is connected to the data lines (DL), the sensing unit 320 is connected to the sensing lines (SL), and the lock processing unit 330 is connected to the power supply unit 500. And it can be connected to the control unit 400.

That is, each of the data driver ICs 300 includes the data power supply unit 310 that supplies data voltages (Vdata) to the data lines (DL) provided in the light emitting display panel 100, and the driving transistor ( The sensing unit 320 and the lock start signal (LOCK start) or front-end data driver IC that senses changes in threshold voltage or mobility of Tdr) or supplies signals to compensate for changes in threshold voltage or mobility. The lock input signal (LOCK in) transmitted from It includes a lock processing unit 330 that outputs output.

First, the data power supply unit 310 may receive the test image data from the control unit 400 and transmit it to the lock processing unit 330, calculate the number of test image data, and transmit the test image data to the lock processing unit 330. Alternatively, a voltage corresponding to the number of test image data may be transmitted to the lock processing unit 330. That is, when the test image data (TD) is received, the data power supply unit 310 may transmit a signal indicating whether the test image data (TD) has been normally received to the lock processing unit 330. .

However, hereinafter, a signal indicating whether the test image data (TD) has been normally received, that is, an image processing signal (IS) related to whether the test image data (TD) has been normally received, is provided by the lock processor 330. ) is described as an example of the present invention. In this case, the data power supply unit 310 receives the test image data (TD) from the control unit 400 and transmits it to the lock processing unit 330. However, the test image data (TD) may be directly transmitted from the control unit 400 to the lock processing unit 330.

After the power supply unit 500 supplies a normal feedback signal (FS) to the external system 900, the data power supply unit 310 converts the image data transmitted from the control unit 400 into data voltages. After conversion, the data voltages are supplied to the data lines (DL1 to DLd). Accordingly, an image can be output from the light emitting display panel 100.

Second, the sensing unit 320 can sense the threshold voltage or mobility of the driving transistors (Tdr), generate sensing data (Sdata), and then transmit the sensing data (Sdata) to the control unit 400. Alternatively, signals or voltages for compensating for changes in the threshold voltage or mobility may be supplied to the pixel driving circuit (PDC).

Third, the lock processing unit 330 calculates the lock start signal (LOCK start) or the lock input signal (LOCK in) transmitted from the previous data driver IC by logical multiplication with the image processing signal (IS) and obtains the result. Outputs .

To this end, as shown in FIG. 4, the lock processing unit 330 calculates the number of test image data (TD) or calculates a voltage corresponding to the number of test image data (TD), and calculates 0. Or, the image processing unit 332 outputs a signal of 1 and the image processing signal (IS) output from the image processing unit 332 is logically multiplied with the lock input signal (LOCK in) and the result, that is, lock output. It may include an AND gate 331 that outputs a signal (LOCK out).

The lock input signal (LOCK in) may be the lock start signal (LOCK start) transmitted from the power supply unit 500, or may be the lock output signal (LOCK out) output from the front-end data driver IC.

The lock output signal (LOCK out) may be a lock input signal (LOCK in) supplied to the rear-end data driver IC, or may be the lock result signal (LOCK end) supplied to the power supply unit 500.

That is, the lock processing unit 330 has a value of 1 when the lock input signal (LOCK in) is normally received from the front-end data driver IC and the test image data (TD) is normally received from the control unit 400. The lock output signal (LOCK out) is output.

In addition, the lock processing unit 330 is operated when the lock input signal (LOCK in) is not normally received from the front-end data driver IC, the lock input signal (LOCK in) with a value of 0 is received, or the control unit 400 If the test image data (TD) is not received normally, the lock output signal (LOCK out) with a value of 0 is output.

Therefore, when the lock output signal (LOCK out) output from any one of the data driver ICs 300 has a value of 0, the lock result transmitted to the power supply unit 500 The signal (LOCK end) has a value of 0.

The fact that the lock result signal (LOCK end) has a value of 0 means that at least one of the data driver ICs 300 is not driven normally, or the lock input signal (LOCK in) and the lock output signal (LOCK out) This means that a problem has occurred in the lock signal line 700 through which ) is transmitted.

In particular, even if a preset period elapses after the lock start signal (LOCK) is output from the power supply unit 500, if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received by the power supply unit 500, the lock There is a high possibility that the lock signal line 700 is cut due to a crack in the non-display area 130 where the signal line 700 is provided.

The fact that the lock signal line 700 is cut means that the power lines provided in the non-display area 130 can also be cut or shorted. If the power lines are cut or short-circuited, the light emitting display panel 100 may be severely damaged.

Therefore, in this case, the power supply unit 500 transmits the abnormal feedback signal FS to the external system 900.

Accordingly, the electronic device including the light emitting display device may be turned off.

The fact that the lock result signal (LOCK end) has a value of 1 and that the lock result signal (LOCK end) is received by the power supply unit 500 within a preset period means that cracks do not occur in the non-display area 130. This means that the data driver ICs 300 are operating normally. Therefore, in this case, the power supply unit 500 transmits the normal feedback signal FS to the external system 900.

When the normal feedback signal FS is received or no feedback signal FS is received for a preset period, the external system 900 determines that the light emitting display device is operating normally. In this case, the external system 900 transmits timing signals and input image data to the control unit.

The control unit 400, which receives the timing signals and the input image data, drives the gate driver 200 and the data driver 300 to output an image on the light emitting display panel 100.

Below, the structure of the lock signal line 700 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

Figure 5 is an enlarged example of area A shown in Figure 1. In the following description, content that is the same or similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 will be omitted or simply described.

As described above, the light emitting display device according to the present invention includes a data driver including first to nth data driver ICs 300 respectively provided in chip-on-films 600, a display area 120, and the It is divided into a non-display area 130 surrounding the display area 120, and the display area 120 is provided with pixels 110 including a light emitting element (ED), and the non-display area 130 is provided with the above-mentioned pixels 110. A light emitting display panel 100 provided with a lock signal line 700 connected to data driver ICs 300, and a data driver IC (DIC k) connected to one end of the lock signal line 700, the lock start signal ( LOCK start) is transmitted, and a crack occurs in the non-display area 130 according to the lock result signal (LOCK end) received from a data driver IC (DIC k+1) connected to the other end of the lock signal line 700. It includes a power supply unit 500, the gate driver 200, and the control unit 400 that transmit a feedback signal (FS) about occurrence to the external system 900.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lock signal line 700 is provided in the non-display area 130 and surrounds the display area 120.

In this case, the lock signal line is a lock signal pad 602 provided in the first non-display area (NAA1) of the non-display areas and connected to the chip-on-film 600, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. ), and both ends of the connection lock signal lines 701 are connected to the first side end of the first non-display area NAA1 among the connection lock signal lines 701, for example, in FIG. 1. The first side connection lock signal line 701a provided at the left end and the second side end of the first non-display area NAA1 among the connection lock signal lines 701, for example, the right end in FIG. 1 It includes a main lock signal line 702 connected to the second side connection lock signal line 701b provided in .

The chip-on-film 600 is provided with at least one film lock signal line 601 connecting the data driver IC 300 and the lock signal pad 602. That is, the connection lock signal line 701 is electrically connected to the film lock signal line 601 through the lock signal pad 602.

The connection lock signal lines 701 are provided in the first non-display area (NAA1), and the main lock signal line 702 is provided in the non-display area 130 excluding the first non-display area (NAA1). provided in the area.

Among the data driver ICs 300, a data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line 700, for example, the kth data driver IC (DIC k) shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, and The data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line 700, for example, the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, has one connected lock signal line 701. ) is connected, and two connection lock signal lines 701 are connected to the remaining data driver ICs.

In this case, the kth data driver IC (DIC k) is connected to the line through which the lock start signal (LOCK start) is transmitted and one connection lock signal line 701, and the k+1th data driver IC ( DIC k+1) is connected to the line through which the lock result signal (LOCK end) is transmitted and one connection lock signal line 701.

Each of the connection lock signal lines 701 is connected to two data driver ICs adjacent to each other.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one connection lock signal line 701 connects the k-th data driver IC (DIC k) and the k-1 data driver IC (DIC k-1). Another connection lock signal line 701 connects the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) and the k+2th data driver IC (DIC k+2).

However, the kth data driver IC (DIC k) that receives the lock start signal (LOCK start) and the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) that outputs the lock result signal (LOCK end) , are adjacent to each other, but are not connected by the connection lock signal line 701.

That is, when the data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line is the kth data driver IC (DIC k), the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line is the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1 ), and the kth data driver IC (DIC k) and the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) are adjacent to each other.

To elaborate, the data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line is the kth data driver IC (DIC k), and the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line is the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k). When DIC k+1), the kth data driver IC (DIC k) and the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) are adjacent and connected to the kth data driver IC (DIC k). One connection lock signal line 701 is connected to the k-1th data driver IC (DIC k-1), and one connection lock signal line connected to the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) ( 701) is connected to the k+2 data driver IC (DIC k+2).

Below, a method of sensing cracks in the non-display area 130 by the light emitting display device according to the present invention will be described. In the following description, content that is the same or similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 is omitted or simply described.

First, when a device on signal is received from the external system 900 and power is supplied to the power supply unit 500, the power supply unit 500 starts the lock with the kth data driver IC (DIC k). Transmits a signal (LOCK start).

Next, the k-th data driver IC (DIC k) outputs a lock output signal (LOCK out) using the lock start signal (LOCK start). The lock output signal (LOCK out) is input to the k-1th data driver IC (DIC k-1) through the connection lock signal line 701.

The process described above is repeated, and the lock output signal (LOCK out) is input to the first data driver IC (DIC 1) provided at the leftmost side of the first non-display area (NAA1).

The lock output signal (LOCK out) output from the first data driver IC (DIC 1) is the nth data provided on the rightmost side of the first non-display area (NAA1) through the main lock signal line 702. It is input to the driver IC (DIC n).

The lock output signal (LOCK out) output from the nth data driver IC (DIC n) is input to the n-1th data driver IC through the connection lock signal line 701.

The above process is repeated, and the lock output signal (LOCK out) is input to the k+2th data driver IC (DIC k+2).

The lock output signal (LOCK out) output from the k+2th data driver IC (DIC k+2) is transmitted to the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) through the connection lock signal line 701. is entered.

The lock output signal output from the k+1th data driver IC (DIC k+1) is the lock result signal (LOCK end).

The lock result signal (LOCK end) is transmitted to the power supply unit 500.

Next, after the lock start signal (LOCK start) is transmitted to the kth data driver IC (DIC k), if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received for a preset period or the received lock result signal (LOCK end) is different from the normal lock result signal, the power supply unit 500 sends an abnormal feedback signal (FS) indicating that a crack has occurred in the non-display area 130 of the light emitting display panel 100 to the external system ( 900).

That is, as described above, the fact that the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received within a preset period means that the lock signal line 700 is cut by a crack or short-circuited with other power lines. , the fact that the lock result signal (LOCK end) is abnormal means that there is a high possibility that the lock signal line 700 is damaged by a crack. Therefore, if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received during a preset period or the received lock result signal (LOCK) is different from the normal lock result signal, the power supply unit 500 generates the abnormal feedback signal (FS). It is transmitted to the external system 900.

However, if a normal lock result signal (LOCK end) is received within a preset period, the power supply unit 500 determines that no crack has occurred in the non-display area 130 and that the data driver ICs 300 are synchronized. A normal feedback signal (FS) indicating normality may be transmitted to the external system 900.

In this case, the power supply unit 500 is configured to operate if the lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received for a preset period after the lock start signal (LOCK start) is output, or the received lock result signal (LOCK end) is not received. If is different from the normal lock result signal, an abnormal feedback signal (FS) indicating that a crack has occurred in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel may be transmitted to the control unit 400.

When the abnormal feedback signal FS is received, the control unit 400 may stop driving the data driver and the gate driver 200.

That is, the present invention stops driving of the data driver and the gate driver 200 before the light emitting display device is turned off by the external system 900 that receives the abnormal feedback signal (FS), Damage to the light emitting display panel due to the cracks can be prevented more quickly.

Next, the power supply unit 500 supplies the abnormal feedback signal FS to the external system 900 and is then turned off by the external system 900. That is, the external system 900 that receives the abnormal feedback signal FS can turn off the light emitting display device by cutting off the power supplied to the power supply unit 500.

Finally, after the power supply unit 500 is turned on again, if the process of the power supply unit 500 transmitting the abnormal feedback signal back to the external system 900 is repeated a preset number of times, the power supply unit ( 500) is no longer supplied with power.

For example, primarily, when the abnormal feedback signal is transmitted to the external system 900, the light emitting display device is turned off.

Thereafter, when the user turns on the electronic device including the light emitting display device again, the power supply unit 500 performs the processes described above again.

As a result of performing the above processes again, when the abnormal feedback signal is secondarily transmitted again to the external system 900, the electronic device is turned off again.

The fact that the abnormal signal is transmitted twice to the external system 900 means that the non-display area 130 of the light emitting display panel 100 is severely cracked or another serious problem has occurred. .

Therefore, even if the user turns on the electronic device again after the abnormal feedback signal FS is secondarily received, the external system 900 does not supply power to the power supply unit 500, and thus, The light emitting display device is no longer driven.

In this case, the user can check whether there is a problem with the electronic device directly or apply for after-sales service (AS) to check whether there is a problem with the electronic device.

Accordingly, the light emitting display panel can be inspected before the light emitting display panel is seriously damaged, and thus, serious damage to the light emitting display panel can be prevented.

Even if the user turns on the electronic device, the number of receptions of the abnormal feedback signal (FS) so that the external system 900 does not supply power to the light emitting display device is varied depending on the manufacturer of the electronic device. can be set. The set information may be stored in the external system 900.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without changing its technical idea or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims described below rather than the detailed description above, and all changes or modified forms derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

100: light emitting display panel 200: gate driver
300: Data driver IC 400: Timing controller
110: Pixel 500: Power supply unit

Claims (11)

A data driver including first to nth data driver ICs provided in each chip-on-film;
It is divided into a display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, the display area is provided with pixels including light-emitting elements, and the non-display area is provided with a lock signal line connected to the data driver ICs. display panel; and
A lock start signal is transmitted to the data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line, and a lock result signal is received from the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line, and feedback is provided as to whether a crack occurs in the non-display area. It includes a power supply unit that transmits signals to an external system,
The lock signal line is,
Connection lock signal lines provided in a first non-display area of the non-display areas and connected to lock signal pads connected to the chip-on-film, and
A first side connection lock signal line, both ends of which are provided at the first end of the first non-display area among the connection lock signal lines, and a second side of the first non-display area among the connection lock signal lines. It includes a main lock signal line connected to a second connection lock signal line provided at an end,
The lock signal pads are each connected to the data driver IC through a film lock signal line,
The main lock signal line is directly connected to the first connection lock signal line and the second connection lock signal line. According to claim 1,
The lock signal line is provided in the non-display area and surrounds the display area. delete According to claim 1,
The main lock signal line is provided in an area of the non-display area excluding the first non-display area. According to claim 1,
Among the data driver ICs, only one connection lock signal line is connected to the data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line and the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line, and the remaining data driver ICs A light emitting display device in which two connection lock signal lines are connected. According to claim 1,
Each of the connection lock signal lines is connected to two data driver ICs adjacent to each other. According to claim 1,
The data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line is the kth data driver IC, and the data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line is the k+1th data driver IC, and the kth data driver IC and the kth data driver IC are +1 The data driver IC is adjacent to the light emitting display. According to claim 1,
The data driver IC connected to one end of the lock signal line is the kth data driver IC,
The data driver IC connected to the other end of the lock signal line is the k+1th data driver IC,
The kth data driver IC and the k+1th data driver IC are adjacent to each other,
One connection lock signal line connected to the k-th data driver IC is connected to the k-1 data driver IC,
A light emitting display device wherein one connection lock signal line connected to the k+1th data driver IC is connected to the k+2th data driver IC. According to claim 1,
The power supply unit,
After the lock start signal is output, if the lock result signal is not received during a preset period or the received lock result signal is different from the normal lock result signal, it notifies that a crack has occurred in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel. Transmits an abnormal feedback signal to the external system,
A light emitting display device that, when a normal lock result signal is received within a preset period, transmits a normal feedback signal to the external system indicating that no crack has occurred in the non-display area and that the data driver ICs are synchronized. According to clause 9,
The power supply unit,
After the lock start signal is output, if the lock result signal is not received during a preset period or the received lock result signal is different from the normal lock result signal, it notifies that a crack has occurred in the non-display area of the light emitting display panel. Transmitting an abnormal feedback signal to a control unit that controls the data driver and gate driver,
When the abnormal feedback signal is received, the control unit stops driving the data driver and the gate driver that supplies gate signals to gate lines provided in the light emitting display panel. According to clause 9,
After supplying the abnormal feedback signal to the external system, the power supply unit is turned off by the external system,
A light emitting display device in which power is no longer supplied to the power supply unit when the power supply unit is turned on again and the process of transmitting the abnormal feedback signal to the external system is repeated a preset number of times.

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