JP2007206464A - Spontaneous display device, estimation degradation information correction device, input display data compensation device, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that the lifetime of a light emission time is merely prolonged and that the occurrence of an image persistence phenomenon cannot be essentially compensated. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of pieces of dummy pixels are arranged on the outer side of an effective display region of a display panel, and they are afforded with the average gradation value over the entire part of the screen and the display gradation value of a sample pixel. Thereafter, the estimated value of the accumulated degradation information computed relating to the plurality of the sample pixels and the correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel is determined based on the actual measurement value of the accumulated degradation information corresponding thereto. Further, when the estimated values of the accumulated degradation information computed relating to the plurality of pieces of the sample pixels are arrayed in the order of size, the average of each correction magnification computed relating to the two adjacent sample pixels is determined as the correction value for the corresponding estimation range. The compensation accuracy of the image persistence phenomenon is improved by correcting the estimation value of the accumulated degradation information computed relating to the entire pixel with the correction value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The invention described in this specification relates to a technique for correcting an estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated based on input display data based on an actual measurement value of cumulative deterioration information.
The invention proposed by the inventors has aspects such as a self-luminous display device, an estimated deterioration information correction device, an input display data correction device, and a program.

  Flat panel displays are widely used in computer displays, portable terminals, television receivers and other electronic devices. At present, liquid crystal display panels are mainly used for flat panel displays. However, it has been pointed out that the liquid crystal display panel still has a narrow viewing angle and a slow response speed.

For this reason, the appearance of a flat panel display replacing the liquid crystal display panel is expected.
The most promising candidate is an organic EL display panel in which organic EL elements are arranged in a matrix. The organic EL display panel not only has a good viewing angle and responsiveness, but also has excellent characteristics such as no backlight, high brightness, and high contrast.

By the way, it is generally known that the self-luminous elements constituting the organic EL display panel have a characteristic of deteriorating in proportion to the light emission amount and time.
On the other hand, the content of the image displayed on the flat panel display is not uniform. For this reason, deterioration of the light emitter (organic EL element) is likely to partially proceed. For example, the light emitter located in the time display area is more rapidly deteriorated than the light emitters in the other display areas.

The luminance of the light-emitting body that has deteriorated is relatively lowered as compared with the luminance of other display areas. In general, this phenomenon is called “burn-in”. Hereinafter, partial deterioration of the light emitter is referred to as “burn-in”.
Various methods have been proposed for improving “burn-in”. In order to correct burn-in with high accuracy and high performance, it is necessary to correctly detect the actual deterioration state of the light emitter.

Therefore, all the measures for improving the burn-in performed without detecting the deterioration state merely suppress the occurrence of the burn-in.
JP 2003-228329 A JP 2000-132139 A JP 2003-509728 A

  Among these, Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose a technique for predicting a deterioration state of a light emitter by an integrated value of input display data (gradation value) and correcting the input display data based on the prediction result. That is, these patent documents disclose a technique for correcting burn-in based on a predicted value of deterioration characteristics. For this reason, there is a possibility that burn-in will not be eliminated even after correction based on the prediction result.

  The main factor is that the deterioration characteristics of the light emitter cannot be uniformly determined only by the input gradation value. For example, various conditions such as the surrounding environment, the driving method, the luminance condition, the heat generation condition, and the degree of deterioration have a complicated influence. Moreover, it is necessary to consider individual errors between organic EL display panels. Thus, it is virtually impossible to predict the deterioration state of the light emitter by accurately associating all the conditions.

  On the other hand, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3, the deterioration characteristics of the light emitter can be detected with high accuracy by the light detection element arranged in the pixel circuit. However, disposing a correction circuit using a photodetection element for each pixel increases the number of transistors per pixel, which is disadvantageous in reducing production yield and increasing resolution.

  Therefore, the inventors have arranged a plurality of dummy pixels outside the effective display area, measured the accumulated deterioration information regarding any dummy pixel in the effective display area, and measured the measured result and the corresponding estimated result. A mechanism for correcting the difference and a mechanism for determining a correction value corresponding to each pixel based on the corrected cumulative deterioration information are proposed.

(Mechanism 1)
First, as a mechanism for correcting the cumulative deterioration information, a method for mounting the processing functions shown below is proposed.
(A) Except for the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing includes (B) Processing for measuring accumulated deterioration information of each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor (c) Multiple samples A process for obtaining a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an estimated value of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the pixel and an actual measurement value of the accumulated deterioration information corresponding to the estimated value. (D) Accumulation calculated for a plurality of sample pixels. When the estimated values of the deterioration information are arranged in order of size, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is set as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. Processing constant to

(Mechanism 2)
In addition, as a mechanism for determining a correction value corresponding to each pixel based on the corrected accumulated deterioration information, a method of mounting the processing functions shown below is proposed.
(A) Except for the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing includes (B) Processing for measuring accumulated deterioration information of each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor (c) Multiple samples A process for obtaining a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an estimated value of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the pixel and an actual measurement value of the accumulated deterioration information corresponding to the estimated value. (D) Accumulation calculated for a plurality of sample pixels. When the estimated values of the deterioration information are arranged in order of size, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is set as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. (E) A process for determining a correction amount corresponding to each pixel based on the corrected cumulative deterioration information by the correction value (f) An input floor corresponding to the effective display area based on the determined correction amount Processing to correct key values

  In the invention proposed by the inventors, the accumulated deterioration information of a plurality of dummy pixels arranged outside the effective display area is actually measured, and the effective display area is configured based on the difference between the actually measured value and the corresponding estimated value. Correction is made so that the cumulative deterioration information of all pixels follows the actual deterioration state. As a result, the correction accuracy of the input display data is improved, and the burn-in phenomenon can be reliably suppressed or improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the self-luminous display device according to the invention will be described.
In addition, the well-known or well-known technique of the said technical field is applied to the part which is not specifically illustrated or described in this specification.
Moreover, the form example demonstrated below is one form example of invention, Comprising: It is not limited to these.

(A) Technology for accurately reflecting fluctuations in light emission characteristics when estimating the deterioration amount (A-1) Basic concept The gradation value and the deterioration amount are not necessarily in a proportional relationship. This is because the organic EL element has a characteristic that the light emission characteristic changes due to the characteristic error between panels, the environmental temperature, the light emission temperature of the panel surface, and the like.
For this reason, even if the gradation value is cumulatively added for each pixel, the deterioration amount of the corresponding pixel cannot be accurately estimated.

In view of this, the inventors propose a mechanism for measuring the temporal variation of the light emission characteristics of the organic EL element and reflecting the measurement result in the estimation of the deterioration amount.
FIG. 1 shows the variation of the deterioration rate (rate) due to the difference in the light emission point. FIG. 1 shows temporal changes in light emission luminance in the case where lighting of a light emitter constituting a certain pixel is controlled with a constant gradation value. A curve D _APL represents a deterioration curve when lighting control is performed on a certain pixel (for example, a dummy pixel for measuring deterioration characteristics) with an average gradation value of the entire screen.

An arrow D ₁₀₀ shown in FIG. 1 indicates a progress rate (deterioration rate) of luminance degradation when a gradation value of 100% signal level is given to a pixel. As can be seen by comparing the slope of the arrow D ₁₀₀ with the time point t1 as the base point and the slope of the arrow D ₁₀₀ with the time point t2 as the base point, even when the light emission of a certain pixel is controlled by the same gradation value, If the brightness deterioration is different, the deterioration speed is not the same.

If the deterioration rate is different, the amount of deterioration occurring in the corresponding period is different even if the light emission time length is the same. That is, the correspondence between the gradation value and the deterioration amount changes with the passage of time.
In view of this, the inventors adopt a method of sequentially correcting the estimated value of the cumulative deterioration amount of each pixel calculated based on a fixed correspondence relationship based on the cumulative deterioration amount actually measured for the sample pixel.

(A-2) Configuration Example of Display Panel FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the organic EL panel module. FIG. 2 is a diagram mainly showing from the viewpoint of pixel arrangement, and the drive circuit and other peripheral circuits are omitted.
The organic EL panel module 1 includes an effective display area 3 and a dummy pixel area 5.
The effective display area 3 is an area where light emission can be observed from the outside. On the other hand, the dummy pixel region 5 is a light-shielded region so that light emission is not observed from the outside, and is disposed outside the effective display region 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of dummy pixels 51 are arranged in the dummy pixel region 5. The number to be arranged is arbitrary. As will be described later, one of the dummy pixels 51 is given an average gradation value of all the pixels (for each basic emission color) constituting the effective display area. The other dummy pixels 51 are given the same gradation value as the sample pixels arbitrarily selected in the effective display area.

  FIG. 3 shows a specific pixel arrangement example of the organic EL panel module. In the case of FIG. 3, the effective display region 3 is from the first row to the n-th row, and the dummy pixel region 5 is the n + 1-th row. In this example, each dummy pixel 51 performs light emission control during the blanking period. As shown in FIG. 3, the display panel proposed by the inventors can be realized only by adding one selection line (gate drive line) to a general display panel. That is, the dummy pixel region 5 may have the same structure as each pixel in the effective display region 3, and an existing drive circuit can be used. That is, a dedicated drive circuit or a large-scale drive circuit is not required for driving the dummy pixels.

FIG. 4 shows a structural example of the dummy pixel 51 constituting the dummy pixel region 5. The dummy pixel 51 has the same structure as the display pixel in the effective display area, and is composed of unit dummy pixels corresponding to red (R), green (G), and blue (B).
The light emission luminance of each unit dummy pixel is detected by the luminance detection sensor 7. In the case of FIG. 4, one luminance detection sensor 7 is arranged so as to cover the entire display pixel.

However, it can be arranged so as to face each unit dummy pixel constituting the three luminance detection sensors 7, or can be arranged in each unit dummy pixel.
In the case of this embodiment, a visible light sensor using an amorphous silicon semiconductor is used as the light detection element constituting the luminance detection sensor 7. The luminance detection sensor 7 amplifies light amount information detected as a current value, converts it into a voltage value, and outputs it as a light detection signal.

(B) Preferred Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of an organic EL display device that employs the above-described technique for correcting cumulative deterioration information will be described.
(A) System Configuration FIG. 5 shows an outline of a system configuration example of the organic EL display device 11 described in this embodiment. The organic EL display device 11 includes an organic EL panel module 13, an input display data correction unit 15, and an estimated deterioration amount correction unit 17.

The organic EL panel module 13 employs the configuration shown in FIG.
The input display data correction unit 15 sets the light emission luminance of each pixel to the light emission of the reference pixel when the deterioration amount of each pixel constituting the effective display region 3 is equal to the deterioration amount of the reference pixel or when the input gradation value is the same. A process of individually correcting the input display data so as to match the luminance is executed. Here, the reference pixel is assumed to be a pixel whose light emission is continuously controlled with the average gradation value of the input display data.

The estimated deterioration amount correcting unit 17 executes a process of generating dummy pixel data and a process of correcting the estimated deterioration amount of the input display data correcting unit 15 based on a cumulative deterioration amount difference that is an actual measurement result of the dummy pixels. .
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when a difference of 1 / a times is confirmed between the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference calculated for the sample pixel at time t2 and the corresponding actual measurement value, the estimated deterioration amount correction is performed. The unit 17 executes a process of multiplying the estimated value by a to bring it close to the current state.

(B) Configuration of Input Display Data Correction Unit FIG. 7 shows a detailed configuration example of the input display data correction unit 15. The input display data correction unit 15 includes a gradation value / deterioration amount conversion table 151, a deterioration amount difference calculation unit 153, a pre-correction cumulative deterioration amount difference storage unit 155, a post-correction cumulative deterioration amount difference storage unit 157, and a correction amount determination unit 159. And a video signal correction unit 161.

  The gradation value / degradation amount conversion table 151 is a table for converting input display data (gradation value) into a deterioration amount. The reason why the conversion table is used is that the progress of the deterioration of the organic EL element is not proportional to the gradation value as described above. FIG. 8 shows an example of the gradation value / degradation amount conversion table 151. In the gradation value / degradation amount conversion table 151, all gradation values that can be taken by the input display data and the corresponding degradation amounts are stored in association with each other. The deterioration amount R is given as the product of the deterioration rate (deterioration rate) corresponding to each gradation value and the light emission period t. The light emission period t may be fixed or variable.

  The deterioration amount difference calculation unit 153 is a processing device that calculates the difference in the deterioration amount of each pixel with respect to the deterioration amount of the reference pixel. In the case of this embodiment, the reference pixel is given an average gradation value in units of frames of all the pixels constituting the effective display area. The deterioration amount corresponding to the reference pixel is read from the gradation value / deterioration amount conversion table 151 as the deterioration amount corresponding to the average gradation value.

The pre-correction cumulative deterioration amount difference accumulation unit 155 is a storage device that accumulates the cumulative deterioration amount difference calculated for each pixel. The cumulative deterioration amount difference here is an estimated value. The accumulated accumulated deterioration amount difference is read to the estimation accuracy correction unit 177 when the correction value of the estimation accuracy is determined.
The corrected cumulative deterioration amount difference accumulation unit 157 is a storage device that accumulates the cumulative deterioration amount difference corrected based on the actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration amount difference. Of course, the accumulated deterioration amount difference here is stored for each basic emission color.

The correction amount determination unit 159 is a processing device that determines a correction value corresponding to each pixel based on the accumulated deterioration amount difference. In the case of this embodiment, the correction amount determination method is a method for determining a correction value so that there is no difference from the cumulative deterioration amount of the reference pixel, or when the input gradation value is the same, the emission luminance of each pixel is the reference. A method of determining a correction value so as to match the light emission luminance of the pixel is applied.
The video signal correction unit 161 functions as a processing device that executes processing for converting input display data into corrected display data.

In the case of this embodiment, the video signal correction unit 161 converts the input display data into corrected display data by adding / subtracting the correction value corresponding to each pixel to / from the input display data corresponding to each pixel in the effective display area. .
The correction value is given from the correction amount determination unit 159. The corrected display data after the conversion is given to the gradation value / degradation amount conversion table 151, the dummy pixel determining unit 171 and the dummy pixel data multiplexing unit 173.

(C) Configuration of Estimated Degradation Amount Correction Unit FIG. 7 shows a detailed configuration example of the estimated degradation amount correction unit. The estimated deterioration amount correcting unit 17 includes a dummy pixel data determining unit 171, a dummy pixel data multiplexing unit 173, an actual deterioration amount measuring unit 175, and an estimated accuracy correcting unit 177.
The dummy pixel data determination unit 171 is a processing device that determines dummy pixel data to be supplied to a total of n + 1 dummy pixels corresponding to arbitrarily selected n display pixels and reference pixels. The dummy pixel data uses different values at the measurement timing and other times.

FIG. 9 shows the correspondence between generated dummy pixel data and dummy pixels. The correspondence relationship shown in FIG. 9 is a correspondence relationship used during a period other than the measurement timing. As shown in FIG. 9, the dummy pixel data determination unit 171 gives an average gradation value D _APL corresponding to all the pixels in the effective display area to one of the dummy pixels. In addition, the dummy pixel data determination unit 171 gives gradation values (RGB data) corresponding to arbitrarily set n sample pixels to the other n dummy pixels.
On the other hand, at the measurement timing, the dummy pixel data determination unit 171 gives a fixed gradation value (for example, 100% gradation value) set for measurement to all the n + 1 dummy pixels.

The dummy pixel data multiplexing unit 173 is a processing device that multiplexes the dummy pixel data with the corrected display data and outputs it to the organic EL panel module 13.
The actual deterioration amount measuring unit 175 is a processing device that detects the light emission luminance value of each dummy pixel at the measurement timing and obtains the cumulative deterioration amount for each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance. The cumulative deterioration amount is given as a luminance reduction rate with respect to the initial luminance (100% luminance).

In addition, the actual deterioration amount measurement unit 175 performs a process of calculating a difference of the cumulative deterioration amount of each sample pixel with respect to the average cumulative deterioration amount of the entire screen. FIG. 10 shows an example of cumulative deterioration amount differences ΔD _{1 to} ΔD _n for each sample pixel. ΔD _i
Represents an actual measurement value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference corresponding to the sample pixel i (1 to n). As shown in FIG. 10, since the sample pixels are selected at random, the degree of deterioration varies. That is, for some sample pixels, some pixels are more deteriorated than the average accumulated deterioration amount of the entire screen, and for some sample pixels, pixels whose deterioration is delayed from the average accumulated deterioration amount of the entire screen. There is also.

The estimation accuracy correction unit 177 corrects the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference calculated for all the pixels based on the difference between the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference calculated for the sample pixel and the actual measurement value. It is.
FIG. 11 shows an internal configuration example of the estimation accuracy correction unit 177. As shown in FIG. 11, the estimated accuracy correction unit 177 includes an estimated deterioration amount difference storage unit 1771, an actual deterioration amount difference storage unit 1773, a sample pixel-by-sample correction magnification calculation unit 1775, an estimated range-based correction value determination unit 1777, and cumulative deterioration. A quantity difference recalculation unit 1779 is included.

The estimated deterioration amount difference storage unit 1771 is a storage device that stores the accumulated deterioration amount difference corresponding to the sample pixel among the accumulated deterioration amount differences at the measurement timing read from the pre-correction accumulated deterioration amount difference storage unit 155. .
The actual deterioration amount difference storage unit 1773 is a storage device that stores an actual measurement value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference calculated for each sample pixel by the actual deterioration amount measurement unit 175.

  The sample pixel correction magnification calculation unit 1775 is a processing device that calculates a correction magnification between an estimated value and an actual measurement value for each sample pixel. FIG. 12 shows the calculation principle of the correction magnification. For example, in the case of the sample pixel 1, the estimated value is 0.3, whereas the actually measured value is 0.25. In this case, since the estimated value is more deteriorated than the actual measurement value, the sample-specific correction magnification calculation unit 1775 determines the correction magnification to be 0.83 so as to approach the actual measurement value. Similarly, the correction magnification for the sample pixel 2 is determined to be 0.7. Of course, when the estimated value is more delayed than the actually measured value, the correction magnification is determined to be larger than 1.

The correction value determination unit 1777 for each estimated range has correction values corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels when the estimated values of accumulated deterioration information calculated for a plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of size as shown in FIG. This is a processing device that determines an average value of magnifications as a correction value between two adjacent estimated values (section).
The principle of determining the correction value will be described with reference to FIG. In the case of FIG. 12, the estimated value of the cumulative deterioration amount difference of 0.3 and 0.5 is shown as being adjacent.
In this case, the estimated value-by-estimated-range correction value determination unit 1777 determines 0.77, which is an average value of the correction magnification 0.83 of the sample pixel 1 and the correction magnification 0.7 of the sample pixel 2, as the correction value for this section.

  The accumulated deterioration amount difference recalculation unit 1779 recalculates the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount calculated for each pixel based on the correction values of the respective sections in which the accumulated deterioration amount differences of the respective sample pixels are rearranged in order of magnitude. Processing device. FIG. 13 shows the correspondence between the range of estimated deterioration amount difference used at the time of recalculation and the correction value. FIG. 13 shows a case where there are five sample pixels. The accumulated deterioration amount difference accumulated in the pre-correction accumulated deterioration amount difference accumulation unit 155 is all classified into one of these six sections.

Incidentally, in the case of this embodiment, the same correction value as that of the adjacent section a-b is used for the correction value less than a, and the same correction value as that of the adjacent section de is used for the correction value of e or more.
The cumulative deterioration amount difference recalculation unit 1779 also executes a process of recording the cumulative deterioration amount difference of each pixel recalculated using the correction value in the corrected cumulative deterioration amount difference storage unit 157.

(D) Correction Operation for Cumulative Degradation Amount Difference Hereinafter, the operation for correcting the accumulated deterioration amount difference employed in this embodiment will be briefly described.
Simultaneously with the start of use of the organic EL panel module, n + 1 dummy pixels are controlled to emit light with an average gradation value in the effective display area or with the same gradation value as the n sample pixels.
As a result, the light emission luminance of the n + 1 dummy pixels changes with the average luminance deterioration of the entire effective display area or with the luminance deterioration of each sample pixel.

The cumulative deterioration amount of the dummy pixel is detected at every measurement timing, and the cumulative deterioration amount difference with respect to the screen average of each sample pixel is calculated. The measurement timing is arbitrary. For example, it may be a fixed cycle or an arbitrary interval.
By the way, as described above, the sample pixels are randomly selected within the effective display area. For this reason, the measured value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference reflects the influence of uneven temperature distribution, change with time, and the like that are unevenly distributed in the display screen.
Then, a correction coefficient for correcting the difference between the actual measurement value and the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference is calculated, and the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference corresponding to all pixels is sequentially corrected.

  Thus, in the case of this embodiment, the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration amount difference is not uniformly corrected, but is finely corrected according to the degree of deviation from the actually measured value. Accordingly, high correction accuracy reflecting the influence of uncertain factors such as the use environment can be realized. Further, as described above, it is sufficient to prepare in advance only a table storing the basic relationship between the gradation value and the deterioration amount (that is, the gradation value / degradation amount conversion table 151). For this reason, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor and the amount of work required to construct the system.

For reference, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 schematically show how the correction accuracy is improved by the above-described correction operation.
FIG. 14 corresponds to an operation example in which the correction amount determination unit 159 performs a correction operation so that the deterioration amount of each pixel matches the deterioration amount of the reference pixel. The solid line in the figure indicates the actual deterioration characteristic, and the broken line indicates the deterioration characteristic when the estimated value is not corrected.

  When it is determined that the deterioration of the correction target pixel (broken line) is advanced by 5% with respect to the deterioration of the reference pixel to be matched (broken line), the conventional method stops the light emission of the correction target pixel for the scheduled correction period. Such a control operation is executed. As indicated by the broken line, the deterioration characteristic of the correction target pixel should match the deterioration characteristic of the reference pixel at the end of the correction period.

However, when the estimation accuracy of the deterioration characteristic is poor and the difference in deterioration amount between the correction target pixel and the reference pixel at the start of correction is actually 3% as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 14, the emission of the correction target pixel is stopped. Thus, at the end of the correction period, the deterioration of the reference pixel proceeds in contrast to the correction start time. Thus, if there is a problem in the estimation accuracy of the accumulated deterioration amount difference, the correction operation cannot exhibit the original effect (improving burn-in).
However, if the method proposed by the inventors is adopted, the accumulated deterioration amount is sequentially corrected so as to match the actual accumulated deterioration amount, so that the deterioration amount of the correction target pixel is more accurate than the deterioration amount of the reference pixel. It is possible to match well, and it becomes possible to improve the burn-in at the end of the correction.

15 illustrates an operation example when the correction amount determination unit 159 performs a correction operation so that the light emission luminance of each pixel matches the light emission luminance of the reference pixel when the input gradation values are the same. This also shows a case where it is determined that the deterioration of the correction target pixel (broken line) is advanced by 5% with respect to the deterioration of the reference pixel (broken line) to be matched. In this case, in the conventional method, a control operation that increases the light emission luminance of the correction target pixel by 5% is executed. As indicated by the broken line, the light emission luminance of the correction target pixel should match the light emission luminance of the reference pixel by executing this correction operation.

However, when the estimation accuracy of the deterioration characteristic is poor and the difference in deterioration amount between the correction target pixel and the reference pixel at the start of correction is actually 3% as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 15, the emission luminance of the correction target pixel is 5%. When it is raised, it becomes 2% larger than the light emission luminance of the reference pixel. Thus, if there is a problem in the prediction accuracy of the deterioration amount, the correction operation cannot exhibit the original effect (improving burn-in).
In this case as well, if the method proposed by the inventors is adopted, the cumulative deterioration amount is sequentially corrected so as to match the actual cumulative deterioration amount, so the light emission luminance of the correction target pixel becomes the light emission luminance of the reference pixel. On the other hand, it is possible to match with high accuracy, and it is possible to improve the burn-in at the end of the correction.

(E) Effect of Embodiment As described above, in the organic EL display device according to this embodiment, a plurality of dummy pixels are arranged outside the effective display area, and the degradation state is actually measured to obtain a gradation value. The estimated value of the cumulative deterioration amount calculated from the above is corrected. By adopting this mechanism, only the accumulated deterioration amount difference that accurately reflects the actual deterioration state is accumulated in the corrected accumulated deterioration amount difference accumulation unit 157. As a result, an improvement in the reliability of the correction amount determined by the correction amount determination unit 159 can be guaranteed over a long period of time.

Thus, it becomes possible to realize an organic EL display device in which the image sticking phenomenon hardly occurs even when used for a long time or the image sticking phenomenon can be improved. In the case of the present invention, the accumulated deterioration amount difference is corrected according to the actually measured value. For this reason, the individual error between display panels is also effective.
Of course, since these effects can be realized only by simple signal processing using the actual measurement result, it is possible to eliminate the need for an enormous prior experiment in consideration of all events such as changes over time as in the prior art. For this reason, the manufacturing cost can be significantly reduced.

Further, since the processing method described in the embodiment has simple control contents, it can be realized at low cost even when the screen size is increased.
Further, the dummy pixel can be manufactured with exactly the same pixel configuration as the effective display area, and does not require a complicated circuit configuration dedicated to the dummy pixel or a special control operation. This is also advantageous in terms of reduction in circuit scale and production difficulty.

(C) Other Embodiments (a) In the above embodiment, the case where the basic emission colors are three colors of RGB has been described. However, the basic emission colors can also be applied to the case where there are four or more colors including complementary colors. In this case, as many dummy pixels as the number of the basic emission colors may be prepared.
(B) In the above-described embodiment, the color generation form of the basic light emission color has not been described. However, an organic EL element having a different light emitting element material for each basic light emission color may be prepared. It may be used to generate a basic emission color.

(C) In the above-described embodiment, the case where one dummy pixel corresponding to the display pixel is arranged on the self-luminous panel has been described. Further, the case where one new gate drive line is added for driving the dummy pixel has been described. However, the number and positions of the dummy pixels to be arranged are arbitrary, and an optimum number of data driving lines and gate driving lines may be prepared according to the number and positions of the dummy pixels to be arranged.

(D) In the above-described embodiment, the organic EL display panel is illustrated as an example of the self-luminous display device, but the present invention can also be applied to other self-luminous display devices. For example, the present invention can be applied to FED (field emission display), inorganic EL display panel, LED panel, and the like.

(E) In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the accumulated deterioration amount difference between the reference pixel and each pixel is corrected with the correction value.
However, the absolute cumulative deterioration amount for each pixel may be corrected with a corresponding correction value. In this specification, the cumulative degradation information and the cumulative degradation amount difference described above are referred to as cumulative degradation information.

(F) In the above-described embodiment, the organic EL display device that implements the function of correcting the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration information calculated based only on the gradation value based on the actual measurement value has been described.
However, the function for correcting the accumulated deterioration information may be implemented as a part of an image processing apparatus equipped with a self-luminous display device. For example, the correction function of the estimated accuracy correction unit 177 includes a video camera, a digital camera, and other imaging devices (including not only a camera unit but also a configuration integrated with a recording device), an information processing terminal (portable type). (Computer, mobile phone, portable game machine, electronic notebook, etc.), game machine, printer device, etc.

(G) In the above-described embodiment, the organic EL display device that has the function of correcting the estimated value of the accumulated deterioration information calculated based only on the gradation value based on the actual measurement value has been described.
However, the function for correcting the accumulated deterioration information may be installed in an image processing device that supplies an input display data signal to a self-luminous display device or an image processing device equipped with the self-luminous display device. In other words, a method may be employed in which the light emission luminance and deterioration information of the dummy pixels are taken into the self device from the self light emitting display device.

(H) In the above-described embodiment, the function for correcting the accumulated deterioration information has been described from the viewpoint of the functional configuration. Needless to say, an equivalent function can be realized as hardware or software.
Further, not only all of these processing functions are realized by hardware or software, but some of them may be realized by using hardware or software. That is, a combination of hardware and software may be used.
(I) Various modifications can be considered for the above-described embodiments within the scope of the gist of the invention. Various modifications and applications created or combined based on the description of the present specification are also conceivable.

It is a figure explaining the fluctuation | variation with time of a deterioration rate. It is a figure which shows the plane structural example of a display panel. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of a dummy pixel. It is an enlarged view of a dummy pixel area. It is a figure which shows the system structural example of an organic electroluminescent display apparatus. It is a figure explaining the correction principle of an estimated value. It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of an input display data correction | amendment part and an estimated degradation amount correction | amendment part. It is a figure which shows the example of a gradation value / deterioration rate conversion table. It is a figure explaining the correspondence of a sample pixel and a dummy pixel. It is a figure which shows the example of an actual measurement of a cumulative deterioration amount difference. It is a figure which shows the internal structural example of an estimation precision correction part. It is a figure explaining the determination operation | movement of a correction magnification and a correction value. It is a figure explaining the correction operation | movement with respect to the estimated value of a cumulative deterioration amount difference. It is a figure which shows the example of correction | amendment operation | movement. It is a figure which shows the example of correction | amendment operation | movement.

Explanation of symbols

15 Input Display Data Correction Unit 17 Estimated Deterioration Amount Correction Unit 155 Accumulated Deterioration Amount Difference Accumulation Unit Before Correction 157 Accumulated Deterioration Amount Difference Accumulation Unit after Correction 175 Actual Deterioration Amount Measurement Unit 177 Estimation Accuracy Correction Unit

Claims (5)

A display panel in which a plurality of dummy pixels are arranged outside the effective display area;
A luminance detection sensor that detects the emission luminance of each dummy pixel at the measurement timing of luminance degradation;
Other than the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing is used for measurement. A dummy pixel data determining unit that gives a gradation value to all of the plurality of dummy pixels;
An actual deterioration information measuring unit that measures cumulative deterioration information of each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor;
An estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels, and a correction magnification calculation unit for each sample pixel that calculates a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration information corresponding to these,
When the estimated values of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of magnitude, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is determined as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. A correction value determining unit for each estimated range to be
A correction amount determination unit that determines a correction amount corresponding to each pixel based on the cumulative deterioration information corrected by the correction value;
A self-luminous display device, comprising: a video signal correction unit that corrects an input gradation value corresponding to an effective display area based on the determined correction amount. An apparatus for correcting an estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for each pixel based on input display data,
Other than the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing is used for measurement. A dummy pixel data determining unit that gives a gradation value to all of the plurality of dummy pixels;
An actual deterioration information measuring unit that measures cumulative deterioration information of each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor;
An estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels, and a correction magnification calculation unit for each sample pixel that calculates a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration information corresponding to these,
When the estimated values of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of magnitude, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is determined as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. An estimated deterioration information correcting device comprising: a correction value determining unit for each estimated range. A device for correcting input display data input to a display panel in which a plurality of dummy pixels and corresponding luminance detection sensors are arranged outside an effective display area,
Other than the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing is used for measurement. A dummy pixel data determining unit that gives a gradation value to all of the plurality of dummy pixels;
An actual deterioration information measuring unit that measures cumulative deterioration information of each dummy pixel based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor;
An estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels, and a correction magnification calculation unit for each sample pixel that calculates a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration information corresponding to these,
When the estimated values of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of magnitude, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is determined as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. A correction value determining unit for each estimated range to be
A correction amount determination unit that determines a correction amount corresponding to each pixel based on the cumulative deterioration information corrected by the correction value;
An input display data correction device comprising: a video signal correction unit that corrects an input gradation value corresponding to an effective display area based on the determined correction amount. A computer program for correcting an estimated value of section deterioration amount information calculated based on input display data,
Other than the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing is used for measurement. Dummy pixel data determination processing for giving a gradation value to all the plurality of dummy pixels;
Based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor, an actual deterioration amount measurement process for measuring cumulative deterioration information of each dummy pixel;
An estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels, and a correction magnification calculation process for each sample pixel for obtaining a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration information corresponding to these,
When the estimated values of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of magnitude, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is determined as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. A computer program that causes a computer to execute correction value determination processing for each estimated range. A computer program for correcting an estimated value of section deterioration amount information calculated based on input display data,
Other than the measurement timing, the gradation value corresponding to the sample pixel arbitrarily selected in the effective display area and the average gradation value of all the pixels are given to the corresponding dummy pixels, while the measurement timing is used for measurement. Dummy pixel data determination processing for giving a gradation value to all the plurality of dummy pixels;
Based on the detected luminance detected by the luminance detection sensor, an actual deterioration amount measurement process for measuring cumulative deterioration information of each dummy pixel;
An estimated value of cumulative deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels, and a correction magnification calculation process for each sample pixel for obtaining a correction magnification corresponding to each sample pixel based on an actual measurement value of the cumulative deterioration information corresponding to these,
When the estimated values of the accumulated deterioration information calculated for the plurality of sample pixels are arranged in order of magnitude, the average value of each correction magnification corresponding to two adjacent sample pixels is determined as a correction value for the corresponding estimated range. Correction value determination processing for each estimated range to be performed,
A correction amount determination process for determining a correction amount corresponding to each pixel based on the cumulative deterioration information corrected by the correction value;
A computer program for causing a computer to execute a video signal correction process for correcting an input gradation value corresponding to an effective display area based on a determined correction amount.

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