Display device and driving method thereof

A display device includes a pixel circuit and receiving antenna units. The pixel circuit is disposed in the active area, and the pixel circuit includes pixel units. The receiving antenna units are electrically connected to the pixel circuit. The receiving antenna units include a first receiving antenna unit and a second receiving antenna unit. The first receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a first data signal to the pixel units in a first part, and the pixel units in the first part are configured to illuminate at a first brightness. The second receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a second data signal to the pixel units in a second part, and the pixel units in the second part are configured to illuminate at a second brightness.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 109100104, filed Jan. 2, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a display device and a driving method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wireless display device with an antenna design and a driving method thereof.

Description of Related Art

Among techniques of display panel nowadays, the display panel in the mainstream is designed to have large size and high resolution. To increase the size of display area of the display panel and narrow down a surrounding bezel area of the display panel, techniques of wireless transmission are utilized to transmit display data. However, on a display device with its display data transmitted wirelessly, a problem of non-uniform brightness may occur. As a result, it is desired to have a method to solve the non-uniform brightness issue on the display device with its display data transmitted wirelessly.

SUMMARY

A first embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a display device. The display device includes a pixel circuit and multiple receiving antenna units. The pixel circuit is disposed on an active area. The pixel circuit includes multiple pixel units. The multiple receiving antenna units are electrically coupled to the pixel circuit. The multiple receiving antenna units include a first receiving antenna unit and a second receiving antenna unit. The first receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a first data signal to the pixel units in a first part for driving the pixel units in the first part to illuminate at a first brightness. The second receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a second data signal to the pixel units in a second part for driving the second part of the pixel units in the second part to illuminate at a second brightness. Wherein, during a first frame, a first phase difference exists between the first data signal and the second data signal, the pixel units in the first part are configured to illuminate the first brightness according to the first data signal with the first phase difference; the pixel units in the second part are configured to illuminate the second brightness according to the second data signal with the first phase difference.

A second embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a display device. The display device includes a pixel circuit and multiple receiving antenna units. The pixel circuit is disposed on an active area. The pixel circuit includes multiple pixel units. The multiple receiving antenna units are electrically coupled to the pixel circuit. The multiple receiving antenna units include a first receiving antenna unit and a second receiving antenna unit. The first receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a first data signal to a first pixel unit of the pixel units in a first part for driving one of the pixel units in the first part to illuminate at a first brightness. The second receiving antenna unit is configured to provide a second data signal to a second pixel of the pixel units in a second part for driving one of the pixel units in the second part to illuminate at a second brightness. Wherein, during a first frame, a first phase difference exists between the first data signal and the second data signal, the first pixel unit is configured to illuminate at the first brightness according to the first data signal with the first phase difference, the second pixel unit is configured to illuminate at the second brightness according to the second data signal with the first phase difference.

A third embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a driving method of a display device. The driving method includes: providing a first data signal by a first receiving antenna unit to a plurality of pixel units in the a first part; providing a second data signal by a second receiving antenna unit to the plurality of the pixel units in a second part; and during a first frame, a first phase difference exists between the first data signal and the second data signal, the plurality of pixel units in the first part are configured to illuminate the first brightness according to the first data signal with the first phase difference; the plurality of pixel units in the second part are configured to illuminate the second brightness according to the second data signal with the first phase difference.

The display device and the driving method thereof of the present disclosure mainly utilize the phase difference between the individual signals during transmission of these individual signals to control the brightness of the display image. In this way, an average brightness of the display device in the continuous time can be maintained at a level roughly equal to a brightness reference value, such that continuous frames displayed on the display device may achieve constant brightness in user's visions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made toFIG. 1.FIG. 1is a schematic diagram illustrating a display device100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 1, a display device100includes a pixel circuit110, a receiving antenna structure120and an emission antenna structure130. The receiving antenna structure120includes multiple receiving antenna units Rx. The emission antenna structure includes multiple emission antenna units Tx. In an embodiment, the emission antenna structure130is disposed on the backlight array (not shown), such that the emission antenna structure130is spatially separated from the receiving antenna structure120. It is noted that, each of the emission antenna units Tx corresponds one-to-one with each of the receiving antenna units Rx. As a result, one of the emission antenna units Tx and one corresponding receiving antenna unit Rx operate with an identical oscillation frequency between each other.

Reference is made toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is a schematic diagram illustrating pixel units and a receiving antenna unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the pixel circuit110is disposed on an active area (AA) of the display device100. The pixel circuit110includes M gate lines G1˜Gm, N data lines D1˜Dn and multiple pixel units, wherein M and N are positive integer. One receiving antenna unit Rx and one emission antenna unit Tx (not shown) correspond to a part of the pixel units. As shown inFIG. 2, one receiving antenna unit Rx corresponds to multiple the pixel units disposed in an area A1, and the area A1is located on a rectangular block over the 1stdata line D1to the 20thdata line D20and over the 1stgate line G1to the 27thgate line G27.

Similarly, the other receiving antenna unit Rx corresponds to the multiple pixel units located on an area A2, the area A2(not shown) is located on another rectangular block over the 21thdata line D20to the 40thdata line D40and over the 1stgate line G1to the 27thgate line G27. It is noted that, the area A1and A2above are one example for demonstration. In some other cases, the boundary of the area A1and A2can be adjusted according to the size of the antenna, and therefore the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited thereto.

Reference is made to theFIG. 3andFIG. 4.FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a driving method300for the display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 4is a schematic diagram illustrating an area A1, an area A2and receiving antenna units according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 3, the driving method300for the display device performs step S310and step S320at first. Step S310is performed by the receiving antenna unit Rx1to provide a data signal Vdata1to the pixel units located on the area A1. Step S320is performed by the receiving antenna unit Rx2to provide a data signal Vdata2to the pixel units located on the area A2.

As mentioned above, as shown inFIG. 4, the adjacent areas A1and A2are demonstrated as an example. InFIG. 4, the area A1includes the pixel units in a first part, and the area A2includes the pixel units in a second part. The receiving antenna unit Rx1is configured to provide data signal Vdata1to the pixel units in the first part. The receiving antenna unit Rx2is configured to provide the data signal Vdata2to the pixel units in the second part.

Reference is further made toFIG. 5.FIG. 5is a schematic diagram illustrating a displayed state of the area A1and the area A2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 5, if the display device100is configured to display a red screen in which the gray level of (R, G, B) equals to (255, 0, 0), when the first part of the pixel units located in the area A1receives the data signal Vdata1, the gray level of the first part of the pixel units will ideally be configured to be (255, 0, 0). Similarly, when the second part of the pixel units located in the area A2receives the data signal Vdata2, the gray level of the second part of the pixel units will ideally be configured to be (255, 0, 0). However, signals transmitted over adjacent antennas may interfere with each other. Sometimes, aforesaid interference can be destructive, and it may disturb the data signal received by the pixel circuit and further deviate the gray-level displayed on the pixel circuit. In this case, when the pixel circuit displays the image (e.g., the red screen), the brightness on the pixel units on different areas (e.g., A1and A2) may not be uniform. For example, the brightness of the area A1is lower than the brightness of the area A2, as shown inFIG. 5.

As mentioned above, although the gray level to be displayed in the first part of the pixel units (located on the area A1) is desired to be the same as the gray level to be displayed in the second part of the pixel units (located on the area A2), the signals interfered with each other causing that the brightness displayed by the first part of the pixel units is different from the brightness displayed by the second part of the pixel units. Such that, to user's observation, one partial area on the display panel is relatively brighter and/or another partial area on the display panel is relatively darker.

Next, the driving method300for the display device performs step S330. During a first frame, a first phase difference exists between a data signal Vdata1and a data signal Vdata2. The pixel units located on the area A1are configured to generate a first brightness according to the data signal Vdata1with the first phase difference. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to generate a second brightness according to the data signal Vdata2with the first phase difference.

Reference is further made to theFIG. 6.FIG. 6is a schematic diagram illustrating a phase difference of a data signal Vdata1and a data signal Vdata2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 6, a horizontal axis represents a relative phase difference between the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2received by the area A1and area A2. A vertical axis represents the brightness (the unit of the vertical axis is nit). A dotted curve line represents the brightness variety of the area A1in different phase differences (e.g., the relative phase difference between the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2varies from −180 to +360 as shown inFIG. 6). A solid curve line represents the brightness variety of the area A2in different phase differences (e.g., the relative phase difference between the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2varies from −180 to +360 as shown inFIG. 6). Continuous to the aforesaid embodiment, during the first frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the first phase difference in-between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at 90 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a brightness value (about 5.2 nits) located at a coordinate point P1according to the data signal Vdata1with the first phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 6. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to illuminate at another brightness value (about 10.8 nits) located at a coordinate point P2according to the data signal Vdata2with the first phase difference referring to the solid curve line shown inFIG. 6.

Next, the driving method300of the display device performs step S340, during a second frame, a second phase difference exists between the data signal Vdata1and data signal Vdata2. The pixel units located on the area A1illuminates at a third brightness according to the data signal Vdata1with the second phase difference. The pixel units located on the area A2illuminate at a fourth brightness according to the data signal Vdata2with the second phase difference.

As shown in embodiments ofFIG. 6, during the second frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the second phase difference in-between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at 270 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a brightness value (about 10.8 nits) located at a coordinate point P3according to the data signal Vdata1with the second phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 6. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to generate a brightness value (about 5.2 nits) located at the coordinate point P4according to the data signal Vdata2with the second phase difference referring to the solid curve line shown inFIG. 6.

As mentioned above, the brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1in the first frame is relatively darker, and the brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1in the second frame is relatively brighter. An average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1in the first frame and the second frame is regarded as a brightness reference value (8 nits). Therefore, step S330and step S340are continuously performed in following frames. For example, the brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1during a following third frame is relatively darker, and the brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1in a following fourth frame is relatively brighter. Another average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1in the third frame and the fourth frame equals to the brightness reference value (8 nits), which is the average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1among the first frame and the second frame. In this way, the average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1at the brightness reference value in continuous frames can be maintained at a constant level. Similarly, the average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A2is maintained at the brightness reference value in continuous frames. As a result, a user can views the pixel units in the areas A1and A2with constant brightness without experiencing flickers or non-uniform brightness. It is noted that, the brightness reference value could be adjusted according to practical applications, and therefore the present disclosure should not be limited to the brightness reference value (e.g., 8 nits) mentioned above.

It is noted that, the steps (such as step S330and step S340) mentioned in the present embodiment can be performed in an alternative (or interchangeable) sequence unless the sequence of the operations is expressly indicated, and all or part of the steps may be simultaneously, partially simultaneously, or sequentially performed.

In another embodiment, reference is made toFIG. 7.FIG. 7is a flowchart illustrating a driving method700of the display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 7, details about steps S710˜S720are similar to steps S310˜S320in aforesaid embodiments, and not further repeated here. The driving method700of the display device performs step S730at first, during a first frame, a first phase difference exists between a data signal Vdata1and a data signal Vdata2, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate a first brightness according to the data signal Vdata1with the first phase difference; the pixel units located on the area A2are configured to illuminate a second brightness according to the data signal Vdata2with the first phase difference.

Reference is made to theFIG. 8.FIG. 8is a schematic diagram illustrating a phase difference of the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 8, the horizontal axis represents a relative phase difference of the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2received by the area A1and area A2. A vertical axis represents the brightness (the unit of the vertical axis is nits). A dotted curve line represents the brightness variety of the area A1in different phase differences (e.g., the relative phase difference between the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2varies from −180 to +360 as shown inFIG. 8). A solid curve line represents the brightness variety of the area A2in different phase differences (e.g., the relative phase difference between the data signals Vdata1and Vdata2varies from −180 to +360 as shown inFIG. 8). Continuous to the aforementioned embodiment, during the first frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the first phase difference in-between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at 160 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate a brightness value (about 8 nits) located at a coordinate point P5according to the data signal Vdata1with the first phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 8. The pixel units of the area A2are configured to illuminate at another brightness value (about 10.5 nits) located at a coordinate point P6according to the data signal Vdata2with the first phase difference referring to the solid line curve line inFIG. 8.

Next, the driving method700of the display device performs step S740, during a second frame, a second phase difference exists between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2. The pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a third brightness according the data signal Vdata1with the second phase difference. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to illuminate at a fourth brightness according the data signal Vdata2with the second phase difference.

As shown in embodiments ofFIG. 8, during the second frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the second phase difference in-between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at 225 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a brightness value (about 10.5 nits) located at a coordinate point P7according to the data signal Vdata1with the second phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 8. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to generate a brightness value (about 8 nits) located at a coordinate point P8according to the data signal Vdata2with the second phase difference referring to the solid curve line shown inFIG. 8.

Next, the driving method700for the display device performs step S750, during a third frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have a third phase difference in-between, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a fifth brightness according to the data signal Vdata1with the third phase difference; the pixel units located on the area A2are configured to illuminate at a sixth brightness according to the data signal Vdata2with the third phase difference.

As shown in embodiments ofFIG. 8, during the third frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the third phase difference in-between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at −20 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate a brightness value (about 8 nits) located at a coordinate point P9according to the data signal Vdata1with the third phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 8. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to generate a brightness value (about 6.2 nits) located at a coordinate point P10according to the data signal Vdata2with the third phase difference referring to the solid curve line shown inFIG. 8.

Next, the driving method700of the display device performs step S760, during a fourth frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the fourth phase difference in-between, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a seventh brightness according the data signal Vdata1with the fourth phase difference; the area A2are configured to illuminate at an eighth brightness according the data signal Vdata2with the fourth phase difference.

Reference is made toFIG. 8again, during the fourth frame, the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2are configured to have the fourth phase difference in between. In this case, the phase difference between the data signal Vdata1and the data signal Vdata2can be configured at 20 degree. Therefore, the pixel units located on the area A1are configured to illuminate at a brightness value (about 6.2 nits) located at a coordinate point P11according to the data signal Vdata1with the fourth phase difference referring to the dotted curve line shown inFIG. 8. The pixel units located on the area A2are configured to illuminate at a brightness value (about 8 nits) located at a coordinate point P12according to the data signal Vdata2with the fourth phase difference referring to the solid curve line shown inFIG. 8.

As mentioned above, the average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A1and the average brightness of the pixel units located on the area A2are both regarded as 8.175 nits from the first frame to the fourth frame, if the brightness reference value is regarded as 8 nits, the average brightness of the pixel units of the area A1and the average brightness of the pixel units the area A2from the first frame to the fourth frame are essentially equal to the brightness reference value. As a result, steps S730˜S760are continuously performed in continuous frames, such that the average brightness of the pixel units of the area A1and area A2at the brightness reference value in continuous frames can be maintained at a constant level. As a result, a user can views the pixel units in the areas A1and A2with constant brightness without experiencing flickers or non-uniform brightness.

It is noted that, the steps (such as step S730to step S760) mentioned in the present embodiment can be performed in an alternative (or interchangeable) sequence unless the sequence of the operations is expressly indicated, and all or part of the steps may be simultaneously, partially simultaneously, or sequentially performed.

In another embodiment, reference is made toFIG. 9.FIG. 9is a schematic diagram illustrating pixel units and receiving antenna units of the area A1and the area A2according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The adjacent areas of the area A1and the area A2are taken as an example. The area A1includes a first part of the pixel units. The area A2includes a second part of the pixel units. A receiving antenna unit Rx1is configured to provide a data signal Vdata1to one of the pixel units located on the first part PU1, a receiving antenna unit Rx2is configured to provide the a data signal Vdata2to one of the pixel units located on the second part PU2. According to the above embodiment, the pixel units located on the first part PU1and the pixel PU2located on the second part PU2can also perform the steps of the driving method300and700of the display device. In this way, the average brightness of pixel units located on the first part PU1and the pixel PU2located on the second part PU2is maintained at the brightness reference value in continuous frames. It is noted that, each of the pixel units of the area A1and area A2could all performs the steps of the driving method300and700of the display device; and therefore pixel units performing the steps of the driving method300and700of the display device should not be limited to the pixel units located on the first part PU1and the pixels units located on the second part PU2.

In summary, the display device and the driving method thereof of the present disclosure mainly utilizes the phase difference between the individual signals to control the brightness of the display image. In this way, the average brightness of the display device in the continuous time can be maintained at a level roughly equal to the brightness reference value, such that continuous frames displayed on the display device may achieve constant brightness in user's vision.

Some words and phrases in the disclosure and the claim are utilized to indicate the specific element. However, people with common knowledge in the technical field may understand that the similarly element may use different nouns to indicate. The disclosure and the claim should distinguish the element based on the difference of the function of the element, instead of distinguishing the element in a manner according to the difference of nouns. In this document, the term “comprise” mentioned in the disclosure and claim is an open meaning language, such that the “comprise” should interpret as “comprise but not limit to”. Additionally, in this document, the term “connect” includes any direct or indirect connection. Therefore, if the first element connect to the second element described in the disclosure represents that the first element may direct connect to the second element in a manner of the electrically connection or a manner of signal-coupled of wireless transmission, optical transmission, or the first element could be indirect or indirect connect to the second element by other element or manner.

Additionally, any singular terms may include plural means, singular means and simultaneously means, unless it is indicated in the disclosure.