Abstract:
A display device and methods thereof. A display device may include a current limit control signal generator to output a current limit control signal according to an input display data, a RGB common gamma adjuster to adjust a value of a RGB common gamma setting signal input via a current limit control signal, a gamma divider to divide a RGB common gamma setting signal having a value adjusted by a RGB common gamma adjuster, and/or a gray amplifier to output a gray signal to drive a display screen by amplifying a signal divided by a gamma divider. A display device may have an automatic current limit function applicable to substantially all kinds of display screen, substantially without additional circuits for data calculation.

Description:
[0001]    The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0135287 (filed on Dec. 29, 2008) which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Embodiments relate to a display device and a method thereof. Some embodiments relate to a display device which may include a current limit function. 
         [0003]    An automatic current limit function of a display device may perform analysis work, for example, calculating an average value of brightness with respect to input display data in a predetermined interval. An automatic current limit function may perform automatic current limit for hardware and/or software based on a result of a calculation. Referring to example  FIG. 1 , input display data may be analyzed (S 10 ), hardware automatic current limit may be performed (S 22 ) and/or software automatic current limit may be performed (S 24 ) based on a result of an analysis. 
         [0004]    In hardware automatic current limit (S 22 ), a screen display may be on and/or off temporally based on a result of an analysis of display data. In software automatic current limit (S 24 ), a size of data may be adjusted during a driving of display data in a display screen based on a result of an analysis of display data. An adjusting of data size may include reducing an overall size of display data to a predetermined value and/or multiplying a size of display data by a predetermined coefficient to generate another adjustment value according to data size. As hardware automatic current limit (S 22 ) and/or a software automatic current limit (S 24 ) may be performed, display brightness may be adjusted (S 30 ) and/or consumed current of a display panel may be relatively reduced because of adjusted brightness (S 40 ). 
         [0005]    According to a hardware automatic current limit of a display device, it may be necessary to turn on and/or off a display screen based on adjustment of a driver integrated circuit. A relatively higher cost may be required to fabricate a display screen. In a display screen not having such a function, it may not be substantially possible to represent a hardware automatic current limit itself. In addition, a software automatic current limit may be represented by a function of a driver integrated circuit regardless of a structure of a display screen. However, when a display data may be driven to a screen, an amount of calculation circuits may be required for data conversion. The higher resolution of a screen may be, the relatively faster an input interval of data may be. Therefore, a calculation process may require additional control methods and/or calculation circuits because of a relatively faster input/output. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need of a display device, and methods thereof, which may include an automatic current limit function relatively smoothly applicable to substantially all kinds of display screens, for example substantially without any additional circuits for data calculation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments relate to a display device, and methods thereof. According to embodiments, a display device may include an automatic current limit function relatively smoothly applicable to substantially all kinds of display screens, for example substantially without any additional circuits for data calculation. 
         [0008]    According to embodiments, a display device may include a current limit control signal generator to output a current limit control signal according to an input display data. In embodiments, a display device may include a RGB common gamma adjuster to adjust a value of a RGB common gamma setting signal input via a current limit control signal. In embodiments, a display device may include a gamma divider to divide a RGB common gamma setting signal having a value adjusted by a RGB common gamma adjuster. In embodiments, a display device may include a gray amplifier to output a gray signal to drive a display screen by amplifying a signal divided by a gamma divider. 
         [0009]    According to embodiments, a current limit control signal generator may output a current limit control signal having a value distinguished according to gamma gray regions of display data by analyzing display data. In embodiments, a current limit control signal generator may output a current limit control signal by measuring average brightness of a display screen according to a gray region of display data. In embodiments, a RGB common gamma adjuster may adjust a value of a gamma setting signal according to a gamma gray region of display data via a current limit control signal. In embodiments, a gamma divider may include a serially connected resistance array to divide a adjusted RGB common gamma setting signal into plural levels. In embodiments, a gamma divider may receive a current limit control signal and/or a gamma divider may divide a adjusted RGB common gamma setting signal into plural levels according to a control of a current limit control signal. 
         [0010]    According to embodiments, a display device may include a current limit control signal generation circuit to generate a current limit control signal for each RGB according to an input display data. In embodiments, a display device may include a gamma adjustment circuit for each RGB to adjust a gamma setting signal for each RGB inputted via a current limit control signal for each RGB. In embodiments, a display device may include a gamma division circuit to divide a gamma setting signal for each RGB by a gamma adjustment circuit for each RGB. In embodiments, a display device may include a gray amplification circuit to output a gray signal for each RGB to drive a display screen by amplifying a signal divided by a gamma division circuit. 
         [0011]    According to embodiments, a current limit control signal generation circuit may output a current limit control signal for each RGB having a different value according to gamma gray region for each RGB of display data by analyzing display data according to each RGB. In embodiments, a current limit control signal generation circuit may output a current limit control signal for each RGB by measuring average brightness of a display screen according to a gamma gray region for each RGB of display data. In embodiments, a gamma adjustment circuit for each RGB may adjust a value of a gamma setting signal for each RGB according to a gamma gray region for each RGB of display data via a current limit control signal for each RGB. In embodiments, a gamma division circuit may include a plurality of serially connected resistance arrays to divide adjusted RGB gamma setting signals into plural levels. In embodiments, a gamma division circuit may receive a current limit control signal for each RGB and/or a gamma division circuit may divide an adjusted RGB gamma setting signals into plural levels according to a control of a current limit control signal for each RGB. 
         [0012]    According to embodiments, a display device may be able to adjust gamma based on a result of an analysis of display data. In embodiments, a display device may be relatively smoothly applicable to substantially all kinds of display screens. In embodiments, a display device may be able to adjust gamma based on a result of a display data analysis. In embodiments, a display device may represent a automatic current limit function substantially without any structural change of a display screen and/or any additional circuits. In embodiments, a display device may control current limit for each gamma gray region and/or each color. In embodiments, an effect of versatile brightness conversion for each gamma gray region and/or each color may be maximized. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    Example  FIG. 1  is a flow chart illustrating a automatic current limit of a display device. 
           [0014]    Example  FIG. 2  is a block view illustrating a display device in accordance with embodiments. 
           [0015]    Example  FIG. 3  is a block view illustrating a display device in accordance with embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Embodiments relate to a display device, and methods thereof. According to embodiments, a display device may be able to analyze input display data and/or to adjust gamma based on a result of an analysis to minimize electricity consumption. Referring to example  FIG. 2 , a display device is illustrated in accordance with embodiments. According to embodiments, a display device may include current limit control signal generator  10 , RGB common gamma adjuster  20 , gamma divider  30  and/or a gray amplifier  40 . 
         [0017]    According to embodiments, current limit control signal generator  10  may receive input display data RGB_DATA and/or may generate current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, current limit control signal generator  10  may analyze display data RGB_DATA to output a current limit control signal having a value distinguished according to a gamma gray region of display data RGB_DATA, and/or may measure an average brightness of a display screen according to a gamma gray region of display data RGB_DATA to output current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, a gamma gray region of display data RGB_DATA may reference a region having a different gamma curve. 
         [0018]    According to embodiments, RGB common gamma adjuster  20  may adjust a value of RGB common gamma setting signal GA_SET&lt;0:N&gt; input via current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, RGB common gamma adjuster  20  may include a plurality of amplifiers AMP 1  controlled by current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt; and/or RGB common gamma setting signal GA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, RGB common gamma adjuster  20  may adjust a value of gamma setting signal GA_SET&lt;0:N&gt; according to a gamma gray region of display data RGB_DATA via current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. 
         [0019]    According to embodiments, gamma divider  30  may divide RGB common gamma setting signal having a value adjusted by RGB common gamma adjuster  20 , and/or may include a resistance array having a serial structure to divide an adjusted RGB common gamma setting signal into plural levels. In embodiments, gamma divider  30  may receive more input current control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt; and/or may divide an adjusted RGB common gamma setting signal into plural levels according to control of current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, gamma divider  30  may include a serially connected resistance array. In embodiments, an adjusted RGB common gamma setting signal may be divided, and/or a resistance value divided by current limit control signal CLC&lt;0:N&gt; may be adjusted. 
         [0020]    According to embodiments, gray amplifier  40  may amplify a signal divided by gamma divider  30  and/or may output gray signal GRAY&lt;0:M&gt; to drive a display screen. In embodiments, gray amplifier  30  may amplify and/or may include a plurality of amplifiers AMP 2  to output gray signal GRAY&lt;0:M&gt; by amplifying a divided signal. In embodiments, a display device may adjust gamma based on a result of an analysis of input display data RGB_DATA. In embodiments, driving of a display screen may be adjusted via an adjusted gamma. In embodiments, electricity consumption may be minimized when a screen may be displayed. 
         [0021]    According to embodiments, different adjusted values, for example current limit control signals CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, may be input to RGB common gamma adjuster  20 . In embodiments, an adjustment effect distinguished according to gamma gray regions of display data RGB_DATA may be created. In embodiments, different adjusted values, for example current limit control signals CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, may be input to gamma divider  30 . In embodiments, substantially more minute gray region distinguishment application effect may be created. 
         [0022]    Referring to example  FIG. 3 , a display device may include current limit control signal generation circuit  100 , RGB gamma adjustment circuit  200 , gamma division circuit  300  and/or gray amplification circuit  400 . According to embodiments, current limit control generation circuit  100  may receive input display data R_DATA corresponding to red and/or may output current limit control signal R_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, current limit control generation circuit  100  may receive input display data G_DATA corresponding green and/or may output current limit control signal G_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, current limit control generation circuit  100  may receive input display data B_DATA corresponding to blue and/or may output current limit control signal B_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. 
         [0023]    According to embodiments, current limit control signal generation circuit  100  may analyze each display data, for example R_DATA, G_DATA and/or B_DATA. In embodiments, current limit control signal generation circuit  100  may measure an average brightness of a display screen according to gamma gray regions of R_DATA, G_DATA and/or B_DATA, to output current limit control signals for RGBs having values distinguished according to gamma gray regions of R_DATA, G_DATA and/or B_DATA. 
         [0024]    According to embodiments, RGB gamma adjustment circuit  200  may include R-gamma adjuster  210 , G-gamma adjuster  220  and/or B-gamma adjuster  230 . In embodiments, R-gamma adjuster  210  may adjust a value of a gamma setting signal corresponding to red, for example RGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;, which may be input via current limit control signals, for example R_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, R-gamma adjuster  220  may adjust a value of a gamma setting signal corresponding to green, for example GGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;, which may be input via current limit control signal, for example G_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, B-gamma adjuster  230  may adjust a value of gamma setting signal corresponding to blue, for example BGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;, input via current limit control signal, for example B_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. In embodiments, RGB gamma adjustment circuit  200  may adjust each value of RGB gamma setting signals RGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;, GGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt; and/or BGA_SET&lt;0:N&gt;, according to gamma gray regions of display data R_DATA, G_DATA and/or B_DATA, via current limit control signals for each RGB R_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, G_CLC&lt;0:N&gt; and/or B_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. 
         [0025]    According to embodiments, gamma division circuit  300  may include R-gamma divider  310  to divide a gamma setting signal having its value adjusted by R-gamma adjuster  210 , G-gamma divider  320  to divide a gamma setting signal having its value adjusted by G-gamma adjuster  220  and/or B-gamma divider  330  to divide gamma setting signal having its value adjusted by B-gamma adjuster  230 . In embodiments, each gamma divider  310 ,  320  and/or  330  may include a serially connected resistance array to divide gamma setting signals adjusted by gamma adjusters  210 ,  220  and/or  230  into plural levels. In embodiments, gamma dividers  310 ,  320  and/or  330  may receive input current limit control signals R_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, G_CLC&lt;0:N&gt; and/or B_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, and/or may divide gamma setting signals adjusted by gamma adjusters  210 ,  220  and/or  230  into plural levels according to a control of current limit control signals R_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;, G_CLC&lt;0:N&gt; and/or B_CLC&lt;0:N&gt;. 
         [0026]    According to embodiments, a gray amplification circuit may include R-gray amplifier  410  to output gray signal RGRAY&lt;0:M&gt; by amplifying a signal divided by R-gamma divider  310 , G-gray amplifier  420  to output gray signal GGRAY&lt;0:M&gt; by amplifying a signal divided by G-gamma divider  320  and/or B-gray amplifier  430  to output a gray signal BGRAY&lt;0:M&gt; by amplifying a signal divided by B-gamma divider  330 . In embodiments, a display device may gain an effect of brightness adjustment for each color by applying current adjustment values different for corresponding colors. 
         [0027]    It will be obvious and apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the embodiments disclosed. Thus, it is intended that the disclosed embodiments cover the obvious and apparent modifications and variations, provided that they are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.