KR20060007643A - Multi-panel display and method of driving the same - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-panel display and a driving method thereof having a multi-panel and simplifying a driving circuit.

A multi-panel display device of the present invention comprises: a plurality of display panels each of which a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines intersect and the scan lines are commonly connected; And a scan driver for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines.

Description

Multi-Panel Display and Method of Driving the Same             

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an organic electroluminescent cell.

2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an organic electroluminescent display.

3 is a driving waveform diagram of the organic electroluminescent display of FIG. 2.

4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a conventional multi-panel display.

5 is a block diagram showing the structure of another conventional multi-panel display.

6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-panel organic electroluminescent display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a driving waveform diagram of the multi-panel organic electroluminescent display of FIG. 6.

8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a multi-panel organic electroluminescent display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<Brief description of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

40, 44: scan driver 41, 45: display panel

42, 46: data driver 43, 47: timing controller

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent display device, and more particularly, to a multi-panel display device having a multi-panel and a simplified driving circuit, and a driving method thereof.

Recently, various flat panel displays have been developed to reduce weight and volume, which are disadvantages of cathode ray tubes. As flat panel displays, liquid crystal displays (hereinafter referred to as "LCDs"), field emission displays (FEDs), plasma display panels (hereinafter referred to as PDPs), and electroluminescence (Electro-luminescence: referred to as "EL") There is a display device.

PDP is most advantageous for large screens because of its relatively simple structure and manufacturing process, but it has the disadvantages of low luminous efficiency, low luminance and high power consumption. LCD is mainly used as a display element of notebook computers, but the demand is increasing. However, the large screen is difficult and power consumption is large due to the backlight unit. In addition, LCD has a disadvantage of high light loss and a narrow viewing angle due to optical elements such as a polarizing filter, a prism sheet, and a diffusion plate. In contrast, the EL display device is roughly classified into an inorganic EL and an organic EL, and has advantages of fast response speed and high luminous efficiency, luminance, and viewing angle. In addition, the organic EL display element can display an image with a high luminance of tens of thousands [cd / m 2] at a voltage of about 10 [V].

The organic EL display device includes a display panel in which organic EL cells (hereinafter referred to as "OLED cells") are arranged in a matrix form.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an organic EL cell.

As shown in FIG. 1, the OLED cell includes an anode 2 made of a transparent conductive material on a glass substrate 1, a hole injection layer 3 stacked thereon, a light emitting layer 4 made of an organic material, and an electron injection layer 5. ) And a metal cathode 6.

When a current flows between the anode 2 and the cathode 6, holes in the hole injection layer 3 and electrons in the electron injection layer 5 respectively advance toward the light emitting layer 4 and are combined in the light emitting layer 4. Accordingly, the light emitting layer 4 is excited and transitioned by the combination of electrons and holes, and as a result, visible light is emitted.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an organic EL display device, and FIG. 3 is a driving waveform diagram of the organic EL display device shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, an organic EL display device includes data lines DL1 to DLm and scan lines SL1 to SLn intersecting each other, and an OLED cell 10 formed at each intersection thereof and arranged in a matrix. do.

In addition, the constant current source 11 for supplying current to the data lines DL1 to DLm, and the switch elements 12 and 13 for supplying a base voltage and a scan high voltage to each of the scan lines SL1 to SLn. ).

The switch elements 12 and 13 connected to the scan lines SL1 to SLn sequentially supply the scan pulse SCAN from the first scan line SL1 to the nth scan line SLn as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the scan line SLi (where i is any one of 1 to n) is selected. To this end, the switch elements 12 connected to the base voltage source GND are turned on in response to the first control signal T1 to select the scan voltage SCAN of the base voltage selected by the scan line SL1 to SLn). The data pulse DATA is applied to the data lines DL1 to DLm as a positive current in synchronization with the scan pulse SCAN. At this time, the switch elements 13 connected to the scan high voltage source Vhigh are turned on in response to the second control signal T2 to supply the scan pulse of the scan high voltage to the unselected scan line. The OLED cell 10 emits light while current flows due to a forward bias when a data current is supplied to the data lines DL1 to DLm and a base voltage is applied to the scan lines SL1 to SLn.

Such organic EL displays have been applied in many fields as flat panel displays together with LCDs due to the advantages of low power consumption and high brightness.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a display device having a bidirectional panel as an example of a conventional multi-panel display device.

Referring to Fig. 4, a conventional display device having a bidirectional panel includes an LCD module 20 and an organic EL display module 21.

The LCD module 20 of the display device having the bidirectional panel includes a thin film transistor (TFT) for each of the pixel regions defined by the data lines DL11 to DL1m and the gate lines GL11 to GL1n and their intersections. And a gate pulse to the liquid crystal display panel 22 having the liquid crystal cell, the data driver 26 supplying data pulses to the data lines DL11 to DL1m, and the gate lines GL11 to GL1n. And a timing controller 24 for controlling the data driver 26 and the gate driver 28.

The TFT supplies data on the data lines DL11 to DL1m to the liquid crystal cell in response to gate pulses from the gate lines GL11 to GL1n.

In addition, the organic EL display module 21 of the display device having the bidirectional panel includes data lines DL21 to DL2m and scan lines SL21 to SL2n intersecting each other, and OLED cells arranged in a matrix at each intersection thereof. An organic EL display panel 23, a data driver 27 for supplying data pulses to the data lines DL21 to DL2m, and a scan driver 29 for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines SL21 to SL2n; And a timing controller 25 for controlling the data driver 27 and the scan driver 29.

The OLED cell emits light while current flows while data pulses are supplied to the data lines DL21 to DL2m in synchronization with the scan pulses from the scan lines SL12 to SL2n.

As such, when the LCD module 20 and the organic EL display module 21 are used as a display device having a bidirectional panel, it is necessary to control each of the driving circuits separately because the optimum conditions of voltage, current, and control signal are different. As a result, the circuit cost and power consumption are large.

Another example of a display device having a conventional multi panel is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The organic EL display device having the bidirectional panel of FIG. 5 includes a first organic EL display module 30 and a second organic EL display module 31.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first and second organic EL display modules 30 and 31 of the organic EL display device having a bidirectional panel may respectively cross data lines DL11 to DL2m and scan lines SL11 to SL2n. ) And an OLED cell formed at each intersection thereof and arranged in a matrix type.

The first organic EL display module 30 of the organic EL display device having the bidirectional panel is configured to supply a data pulse to the data lines DL11 to DL1m of the first organic EL display panel 32. And a first timing controller 38 for supplying control signals to the first scan driver 38 and the first data driver 36 and the first scan driver 38 to supply scan pulses to the scan lines SL11 to SL1n. 34).

Further, the second organic EL display module 31 of the organic EL display device having the bidirectional panel may include a second data driver for supplying data pulses to the data lines DL21 to DL2m of the second organic EL display panel 33. 37 and a second timing for supplying control signals to the second scan driver 39 and the second data driver 37 and the second scan driver 39 to supply scan pulses to the scan lines SL21 to SL2n. The control unit 35 is included.

However, even when the first and second organic EL display modules are used as a display device having a conventional bidirectional panel as shown in Fig. 5, the cost is high and power is increased by driving the first and second display panels with separate driving circuits. In addition to the increased consumption, the volume of the interactive panel-type display device was disadvantageous.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-panel display device and a driving method thereof having a multi-panel and simplifying a driving circuit.

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-panel display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of display panels each of which a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines intersect with each other; And a scan driver for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines.

A multi-panel display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes N display panels, where N is a positive integer; N / n display panel groups in which scan lines of n display panels (where n is a positive integer less than N) are commonly connected; Each scan group includes a scan driver configured to supply scan pulses to the scan lines.

The display panel may be an organic electroluminescent display panel.

The display device may further include a data driver configured to independently drive the display panels to supply data to the data lines.

A driving method of a multi-panel display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of: connecting scan lines in common in a plurality of display panels; Supplying a scan pulse to the scan lines.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a driving method of a multi-panel display device includes n scan lines of N display panels (where N is a positive integer) and n display lines of the display panel (n is a positive integer less than N). Providing N / n display panel groups by connecting the units in common; And supplying scan pulses to the scan lines in each of the N / n display panel groups.

The method may further include supplying data to the plurality of display panels in response to the scan pulse.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9.

6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-panel type organic EL display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a drive waveform diagram of the multi-panel type organic EL display device shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the multi-panel type organic EL display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of display panels 41A to 41I in which scan lines SL1 to SLn are shared.

The multi-panel type organic EL display device includes a scan driver 40 which supplies scan pulses to the scan lines SL1 to SLn shared by the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I in common.

In addition, the multi-panel type organic EL display device independently supplies data corresponding to the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I having the respective data lines DLA1 to DLIm, respectively. And a timing controller 43 for controlling the scan driver 40 and the plurality of data drivers 42A to 42I.

Referring to FIG. 7, the scan driver 40 of the multi-panel type organic EL display device supplies scan pulses to scan lines SL1 to SLn shared by the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I.

When the control signal CS is applied to the scan driver 40 from the timing controller 43 of the multi-panel type organic EL display device, the scan driver 40 is configured to scan all the scan lines of the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I. Scan pulses are supplied to SL1 to SLn).

When the control signal CS is applied to the scan driver 40, as shown in FIG. 7, the scan driver 40 is configured to display the display panel 41A to 41C of the first row of the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I. In this case, scan pulses are sequentially supplied from the first scan line SL1 to the n th scan line SLn to select a scan line SLi (where i is any one of 1 to n). . On the other hand, the scan driver 40 scans from the nth scan line SLn to the first scan line SL1 in the case of the display panels 41D to 41F in the second row of the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I. The pulses are sequentially fed to select the scanline where the data is displayed.

The timing controller 43 supplies the control signals CD to the data drivers 42A to 42I during the time when the scan pulse is supplied to all the scan lines SL1 to SLn of the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I. The plurality of data drivers 42A to 42I supply data pulses to the data lines DLA1 to DLIm of the plurality of display panels 41A to 41I, respectively.

8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multi-panel type organic EL display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the plurality of display panels 45A to 45F of the multi-panel type organic EL display device have display panel groups 48A and 48B having scan lines SL11 to SL2n shared in each column. And scan driver portions 44A and 44B for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines SL11 to SL2n shared to the display panel groups 48A and 48B in common. ).

In addition, the multi-panel type organic EL display device includes a plurality of display panels 45A to 45F having respective data lines DLA1 to DLFn, and corresponds to each of the plurality of display panels 45A to 45F. Each of the data drivers 46A to 46F independently supplying data pulses to the data lines DLA1 to SLFn, and the scan drivers 44A and 44B and the plurality of data drivers 46A to 46F. The timing control part 47 to control is provided.

The first scan driver 44A of the multi-panel type organic EL display device supplies scan pulses to the plurality of display panels 45A to 45C of the first display panel group 48A.

When the control signal CS1 is applied from the timing controller 47 of the multi-panel type organic EL display device to the first scan driver 44A, the first scan driver 44A receives a plurality of first display panel groups 48A. The scan pulse is supplied to the scan lines SL11 to SL1n shared by the display panels 45A to 45C.

When the control signal CS1 is applied to the first scan driver 44A, the scan driver 44A scans from the first scan line SL11 to the nth scan line SL1n of the first organic EL display panel 45A. The pulses are sequentially supplied to select a scan line SL1i (where i is any one of 1 to n) in which data is displayed. On the other hand, when the control signal CS1 is applied to the first scan driver 44A, the scan pulse is applied from the nth scan line SL1n to the first scan line SL11 in the case of the second organic EL display panel 45B. Sequentially supplying to select the scan line to display the data.

During the time when the scan pulse is supplied to all the scan lines SL11 to SL1n of the first display panel group 48A, the timing controller 47 controls the plurality of data drivers 46A to 46C of the first display panel group 48A. The control signal CD1 is supplied to the control signal CD1. When the control signals CD1 are supplied to the plurality of data drivers 46A to 46C of the first display panel group 48A, the plurality of data drivers 46A to 46C are respectively corresponding to the first display panel group 48A. The data pulses are supplied to all the data lines DLA1 to DLCm of the plurality of display panels 45A to 45C.

In the same manner, when the control signal CS2 is applied from the timing controller 47 of the multi-panel type organic EL display device to the second scan driver 44B of the second display panel groups 48B, the second scan driver ( 44B supplies scan pulses to the shared scan lines S211 to SL2n of the plurality of display panels 45D to 45F of the second display panel group 48B.

When the control signal CS3 is applied to the second scan driver 44B, the scan driver 44B scans from the first scan line SL21 to the nth scan line SL2n of the fourth organic EL display panel 45D. The pulses are sequentially supplied to select a scan line SL2i (where i is any one of 1 to n) in which data is displayed. On the other hand, when the control signal CS2 is applied to the second scan driver 44B, in the case of the fifth organic EL display panel 45E, scan pulses are applied from the nth scan line SL2n to the first scan line SL21. Sequentially supplying to select the scan line to display the data.

As described above, when the display panel groups share the respective scan lines, the scan pulse waveform caused by the voltage drop due to the increase in the number of panels sharing the scan lines may be compensated.

As described above, when the multi-panel type organic EL display device sharing the scan line is implemented, the number of components can be reduced compared to the case of using the respective scan driver and timing controller, thereby reducing power consumption and multi-panel. There is an advantage that can reduce the volume of the display device having a.

As described above, the multi-panel display device and the driving method thereof according to the present invention can reduce the power consumption by simplifying the driving circuit by sharing the scan line, it is possible to miniaturize the entire equipment.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

Claims (7)

A plurality of display panels each crossing a plurality of data lines and a plurality of scan lines and having the scan lines connected to each other; And a scan driver for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines. N display panels (where N is a positive integer); N / n display panel groups in which scan lines of n display panels (where n is a positive integer less than N) are commonly connected; And a scan driver for supplying scan pulses to the scan lines in each of the N / n display panel groups. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The display panel of claim 1, wherein the display panel is an organic electroluminescent display panel. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a data driver configured to independently drive each of the display panels to supply data to the data lines. Connecting scan lines to a plurality of display panels in common; And supplying a scan pulse to the scan lines. N / n display panel groups are formed by connecting N scan lines of N display panels (where N is a positive integer) to n display panels (n is a positive integer less than N). Making a step; And supplying scan pulses to the scan lines in each of the N / n display panel groups. The method according to claim 5 or 6, And supplying data to the plurality of display panels in response to the scan pulses.

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