Electronic device and display method thereof

An electronic device includes a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels, a distance sensor which senses a viewing distance between the display panel and a user, and a control unit which compares the viewing distance with a first critical distance and controls the display panel based on a result of comparison between the viewing distance and the first critical distance, where when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that all of the sub-pixels are activated and the display panel displays an image at a basic resolution, and when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that a first number of sub-pixels are inactivated and the display panel displays an image at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0023797, filed on Feb. 28, 2014, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the content of which in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic device including a display panel and a display method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portable electronic device, such as a smartphone or a tablet computer, typically includes a display device. In recent, not only the size but also image quality of such a display device for maximizing realism and the concentration of a user when using the display device such as a resolution or color representation of the display device, are regarded as important factors for evaluation of display technology.

For televisions (“TV”s), ultra high definition (“UHD”) (3840×2160 pixels) exceeding full high definition (“FHD”) (1920×1080 pixels) has been introduced, and for smartphones, FHD exceeding wide video graphics array (“WVGA”) (800×480 pixels) is commonly used and the commercialization of smartphones having a quad high definition screen (“QHD”) (2560×1440 pixels) is also near. In addition, tables computers having a wide quad extended graphics array (“WQXGA”) (2560×1600 pixels) screen have been developed. Also, pixels per inch (“PPI”), indicating a pixel density of a display, has now exceeded 300 and reached up to 500 or more, and thus the competition for high image quality displays has accelerated.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments of the invention include a display panel, a display apparatus that has a resolution that varies based on a distance between a user and a display panel thereof, an electronic device including the display apparatus, and a display method thereof.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention, an electronic device includes: a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels; a distance sensor which senses a viewing distance between the display panel and a user; and a control unit which compares the viewing distance with a first critical distance and controls the display panel based on a result of comparison between the viewing distance and the first critical distance, where when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that all of the sub-pixels are activated and the display panel displays at a basic resolution, and when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that a first number of sub-pixels are inactivated and the display panel displays at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit may compare the viewing distance with a second critical distance, and when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance and is less than the second critical distance, the control unit may control the display panel such that the display panel displays at the first resolution, and when the viewing distance is greater than the second distance, the control unit may control the display panel such that more sub-pixels than the first number of sub-pixels are inactivated and the display panel displays at a second resolution lower than the first resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second critical distance may be twice the first critical distance.

In an exemplary embodiment, the number of the sub-pixels inactivated when the display panel displays at the second resolution may be twice the number of the sub-pixels inactivated when the display panel displays at the first resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-pixels may be grouped into a plurality of sub-pixel groups, where the sub-pixels in each sub-pixel group are disposed adjacent to each other, and the sub-pixel groups may be sequentially inactivated based on a predetermined sequential order.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the viewing distance becomes greater than the first critical distance, the control unit may control the display panel such that sub-pixels of a sub-pixel group at a second time interval, adjacent to the sub-pixel group inactivated during a first time interval pervious to the second time interval based on the predetermined sequential order, are inactivated and the display panel displays at the first resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel may include a plurality of pixels arranged substantially in a matrix form, where each of the pixels may include a first sub-pixel which displays a first color, a second sub-pixel which displays a second color, a third sub-pixel which displays a third color, where the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel are vertically disposed on a left portion in a pixel and the third sub-pixel disposed on a right side portion in the pixel.

In an exemplary embodiment, a group pixel may be defined by four adjacent pixels disposed in two rows and two columns the first number of sub-pixels may include second sub-pixels in two pixels in an upper row of the group pixel, first sub-pixels in two pixels in a lower row of the group pixel, and third sub-pixels in two pixels in a left column of the group pixel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel may include a plurality of group pixels, each of which is defined by four pixels disposed in two rows and two columns, the group pixels are divided into first group pixels and second group pixels which are alternately arranged with each other in a row direction and a column direction, and the control unit controls the display panel such that every time the viewing distance becomes greater than the first critical distance, the first group pixels or the second group pixels are inactivated. In such an embodiment, when the first group pixels are inactivated, second sub-pixels in two pixels in an upper row, first sub-pixels in two pixels in a lower row, and third sub-pixels in two pixels in a left column in each of the first group pixels are inactivated, and when the second group pixels are inactivated, second sub-pixels in two pixels in an upper row, first sub-pixels in two pixels in a lower row, and third sub-pixels in two pixels in a left column in each of the second group pixels are inactivated.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel may include a plurality of group pixels, each of which is defined by four pixels arranged in two rows and two columns, where the group pixels are divided into first group pixels and second group pixels which are alternately arranged with each other in a row direction and a column direction, where each of the group pixels includes twelve sub-pixels divided into a first sub-pixel group and a second sub-pixel group, where the first sub-pixel group may be defined by second sub-pixels in two pixels in an upper row, first sub-pixels in two pixels in a lower row, and third sub-pixels in two pixels in a left column among the twelve sub-pixels of each of the group pixels, and the second sub-pixel group may be defined by remaining sub-pixels, except the sub-pixels in the first sub-pixel group, among the twelve sub-pixels of each of the group pixels, and where the control unit controls the display panel such that every time the viewing distance becomes greater than the first critical distance, the sub-pixels of the first sub-pixel group of the first group pixels, the sub-pixels of the first sub-pixel group of the second group pixels, the sub-pixels of the second sub-pixel group of the first group pixels, or the sub-pixels of the second sub-pixel group of the second group pixels are inactivated in a predetermined sequential order.

The control unit may compare the viewing distance with a second critical distance, and control the display panel based on a result of comparison between the viewing distance and the second critical distance such that the sub-pixels of the first sub-pixel group or the sub-pixels of the second sub-pixel group are alternately inactivated every time the viewing distance becomes greater than the second critical distance.

In an exemplary embodiment, the distance sensor may include an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention, an electronic device includes: a display panel including a plurality of pixels arranged substantially in a matrix form, where each of the pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels; a distance sensor which senses a viewing distance between the display panel and a user; and a control unit which compares the viewing distance with a first critical distance and controls the display panel based on a result of comparison between the viewing distance and the first critical distance, where when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that all of the sub-pixels of the display panel are activated and the display panel displays an image at a basic resolution, and when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel such that a first number of sub-pixels of the display panel are inactivated and the display panel displays an image at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the pixels may include a first sub-pixel which displays a first color, a second sub-pixel which displays a second color, and a third sub-pixel which displays a third color, where the first through third sub-pixels of each of the pixels are disposed in a same row in the display panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel may include first sub-pixels disposed in odd-numbered columns, second sub-pixels and third sub-pixels which are alternately disposed in even-numbered columns in a column direction.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display panel may include first sub-pixels disposed substantially in a matrix form, and second sub-pixels and third sub-pixels, each of which is disposed between four of the first sub-pixels disposed alternately adjacent to each other along a row direction and a column direction.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first critical distance may be preset based on a pixels per inch (“PPI”) of the display panel or may be adjusted by the user based on an eyesight of the user.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention, a display method of a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels, includes: sensing a viewing distance between the display panel and a user; comparing the viewing distance with a first critical distance; when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, activating all of the sub-pixels such that the display panel displays an image at a basic resolution; and when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, inactivating a first number of sub-pixels such that the display panel displays an image at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display method may further include: comparing the viewing distance with a second critical distance; when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance and less than the second critical distance, inactivating the first number of sub-pixels such that the display panel displays an image at the first resolution; and when the viewing distance is greater than the second critical distance, inactivating a second number of sub-pixels greater than the first number such that the display panel displays an image at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the display method may further include, after the viewing distance changes from a distance greater than the first critical distance to a distance less than the first critical distance, when the viewing distance becomes greater than the first critical distance again, inactivating different first number of sub-pixels from the first number of sub-pixels previously inactivated, among the sub-pixels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a liquid crystal display according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device100according to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the electronic device100includes a display panel110, a gate driver120, a source driver130, a timing controller140and a distance sensor150. The gate driver120, the source driver130and the timing controller140may be collectively referred to as a control unit configured to control the display panel110. The display panel110includes a plurality of sub-pixels SP. The distance sensor150senses a viewing distance between the display panel110and a user. The control unit compares the viewing distance with a preset first critical distance. In an exemplary embodiment, when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel110to activate all sub-pixels SP and the display panel110thereby displays an image at a basic resolution. In such an embodiment, when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the control unit controls the display panel110to inactivate some of the sub-pixels, e.g., a predetermined number of sub-pixels or a first number of sub-pixels) SP and the display panel110thereby displays an image at a first resolution that is lower than the basic resolution. Here, the first number is less than the entire number of the sub-pixels. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the first number may be a half of the entire number.

The electronic device100includes an apparatus that includes the display panel110to display an image, such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a monitor, or a television (“TV”). In an exemplary embodiment, the electronic device100includes a processor to perform particular functions of the electronic device100, and the processor may be referred to as a control unit. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, where the electronic device100is a smartphone, the electronic device100includes a processor for wireless communication, a computing processor and a graphics processor. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, where the electronic device100is a tablet computer or a laptop computer, the electronic device100includes a computing processor or a graphics processor. In such an embodiment, the computing processor and the graphics processor may be integrated into a single processor.

The display panel110may be a flat panel display panel, such as an organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) display panel or a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panel, for example, but the invention is not limited thereto. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, an exemplary embodiment where the display panel110is an OLED display panel will be described in detail.

The display panel110includes a plurality of sub-pixels SP arranged substantially in a matrix form. A pixel P may include a predetermined number of sub-pixels SP, e.g., two or three sub-pixels. In an exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 1a pixel P may include three sub-pixels, for example, a first sub-pixel SP1, a second sub-pixel SP2and a third sub-pixel SP3. The first sub-pixel SP1may display a first color (e.g., red), the second sub-pixel SP2may display a second color (e.g., green), and the third sub-pixel SP3may display a third color (e.g., blue).

In the display panel110, a plurality of gate lines GL extending substantially in a first direction (e.g., a row direction) and a plurality of source lines SL extending substantially in a second direction (e.g., a column direction) are arranged. The gate lines GL and the source lines SL are electrically connected to the sub-pixels SP.

In response to a scanning signal transmitted through the gate lines GL, a data signal transmitted through the source lines SL may be input to the sub-pixels SP, and the sub-pixels SP may emit light of a luminance corresponding to the data signal. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the sub-pixels SP may each include an organic emission layer interposed between a pixel electrode and an opposing electrode, and a current corresponding to the data signal may be applied to the organic emission layer to emit light of a luminance corresponding to the data signal.

The timing controller140may control the gate driver120and the source driver130. The timing controller140may receive a vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, a horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, a clock CLK and image data (e.g., RGB data) RGB DATA for an input frame, and may generate a plurality of control signals including a first control signal CON1and a second control signal CON2. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the timing controller140may generate a first control signal CON1, a second control signal CON2and digital image data DATA based on the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC, the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, a clock CLK and the image data RGB DATA.

The gate driver120may sequentially drive gate lines GL1through GLm based on the first control signal CON1. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the first control signal CON1may be a command signal that directs the gate driver120to start a scanning of the gate lines GL1through GLm. The gate driver120may generate a scanning signal, and may sequentially provide the scanning signal to the sub-pixels SP through the gate lines GL1through GLm.

The source driver130may drive the source lines SL1through SLn based on the second control signal CON2and the digital image data DATA. The source driver130may convert the digital image data DATA having grayscale information into data signals having a grayscale voltage corresponding to the grayscale information, and may sequentially provide the data signals to the sub-pixels SP through the source lines SL1through SLn.

The gate driver120, the source driver130and the timing controller140may be formed on different semiconductor chips or may be integrated into a single semiconductor chip. The gate driver120may be disposed on the same substrate as the display panel110.

The distance sensor150may sense a distance between the display panel110and a user. Hereinafter, the distance between the display panel110and the user will be referred to as a viewing distance. The distance sensor150may include an ultrasonic sensor. When a transmitting unit of the ultrasonic sensor transmits ultrasound, the ultrasound is reflected by the user, and the reflected ultrasound is received by a receiving unit of the ultrasonic sensor. The ultrasonic sensor may calculate the viewing distance based on a difference between a time when ultrasound is transmitted and a time when the reflected ultrasound is received.

The distance sensor150may include an infrared sensor. Light emitted from a light-emitting unit of the infrared sensor may be reflected by the user, and the reflected light may be received by a light-receiving unit of the infrared sensor. The infrared sensor may calculate the viewing distance based on the amount of light received by the light-receiving unit. According to another exemplary embodiment, the infrared sensor may include two light-receiving units, and each of the light-receiving units may measure an angle at which light is reflected. The distance sensor150is not limited to an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor, but may also be other types of sensor to sense the viewing distance.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the distance sensor150may provide distance information D about the viewing distance to the timing controller140. The timing controller140may receive the distance information D and compare the viewing distance with a preset first critical distance. When the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the timing controller140may control the display panel110to activate all sub-pixels SP, and the display panel110thereby displays at a basic resolution. When the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the timing controller140may control the display panel110to inactivate some of the sub-pixels SP, and the display panel110thereby displays at a first resolution that is lower than the basic resolution. When generating digital image data DATA based on the image data RGB DATA, the timing controller140may correct digital image data to be provided to some of the sub-pixels SP such that the some of the sub-pixels SP do not emit light. The corrected digital image data to be input to some of the sub-pixels SP may correspond to a black image, such that the some of the sub-pixels SP do not emit light.

According to another exemplary embodiment, each of the sub-pixels SP of the display panel110may include an enable switch. The enable switch may be interposed between a gate line and a sub-pixel SP, between a source line and a sub-pixel SP, or between a power voltage line and a sub-pixel SP. The timing controller140may control the gate driver120or the source driver130such that the gate driver120or the source driver130is short-circuited or opens the enable switch of the sub-pixels SP. When the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the timing controller140may control the display panel110such that enable switches of some of the sub-pixels SP are opened, thereby inactivating the some of the sub-pixels SP.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the distance sensor150may provide distance information D to a graphics processor (not shown) of the electronic device100, and the graphics processor may receive the distance information D and may compare the viewing distance with a preset first critical distance. When the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the graphics processor may control the display panel110such that the display panel110displays at a basic resolution. When the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the graphics processor may inactivate some sub-pixels SP to control the display panel110such that the display panel110displays at the first resolution. The graphics processor may correct the image data RGB DATA corresponding to some sub-pixels SP to thereby inactivate them.

In an exemplary embodiment, as described above, when the viewing distance is less than the first critical distance, the display panel110displays at the basic resolution. However, when the user is far from the display panel110and the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance, the display panel110may inactivate some of the sub-pixels SP or a first number of sub-pixels to display at the first resolution, which is lower than the basic resolution. The basic resolution refers to a resolution at which an image may be displayed when all sub-pixels SP of the display panel110are activated. In general, a size of an object that the eyes of humans may identify is limited. That is, the eyes of humans are not capable of seeing very small objects. If the user moves far from the display panel110, each of the sub-pixels SP may not be identified by the eyes of humans. In this case, even if the display panel110is displayed at a lower resolution than the basic resolution, the eyes of humans are not capable of distinguishing the lowered resolution.

FIG. 2is a schematic view illustrating the display panel110of an exemplary embodiment of the electronic device100displaying an image at different resolutions based on viewing distances, according to the invention. A distance between the eyes of a user and the display panel110is indicated as a viewing distance d, and a first critical distance is indicated as a first critical distance dl.

Referring toFIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment, when a viewing distance d is less than a first critical distance dl, the display panel110displays a circle, a triangle and a rectangle at a high resolution. However, in such an embodiment, when the viewing distance d is greater than the first critical distance dl, the display panel110displays the circle, the triangle and the rectangle at a low resolution. As a result, the circle displayed on the display panel110may not have a smooth curved line but a rough line. However, since the user is located farther than the first critical distance dl, the user may not notice the rough line of the circle and perceive the circle to be substantially the same as the circle displayed at a high resolution. That is, when the user is farther than the first critical distance dl, the user may not distinguish an image at a high resolution (upper image) from an image displayed at a low resolution (lower image).

Compared to displaying at a low resolution, when displaying at a high resolution, the display panel110performs more computations and thus has to consume more current or power. However, when the user is far from the display panel110, the user is not able to distinguish a high resolution image from a low resolution image on the display panel110. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, when the user is far from the display panel110, the display panel110displays an image at a low resolution such that power consumption may be reduced.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the electronic device100may operate efficiently by adjusting a resolution of the display panel110. In such an embodiment, by inactivating some sub-pixels, current consumption may be reduced by the amount of current used by the some sub-pixels. In such an embodiment, as the some sub-pixels are inactivated, a total time of light emission by the sub-pixels is reduced, and thus the lifetime of the display panel10may be increased. The decrease in the total luminance of the display panel110due to some of the inactivated sub-pixels may be offset by increasing the luminance of the other sub-pixels that are activated.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the timing controller140may compare the viewing distance with a preset second critical distance. When the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance and less than the second critical distance, the timing controller140may control the display panel110such that some of sub-pixels SP or a first number of sub-pixels SP are inactivated and the display panel110displays at the first resolution. When the viewing distance is greater than the second critical distance, the timing controller140may inactivate more sub-pixels than the inactivated sub-pixels when the display panel110displays at the first resolution (e.g., inactivate a second number of sub-pixels, where the second number is greater than the first number) and control the display panel110to display at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second critical distance may be about twice the first critical distance. In such an embodiment, the number of sub-pixels SP that are inactivated when the display panel110displays at the second resolution may be about twice the number of sub-pixels SP that are inactivated when the display panel110displays at the first resolution. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the user is closer than the first critical distance from the display panel110, all sub-pixels SP may be activated. When the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110but closer than the second critical distance, about one fourth of the sub-pixels SP may be inactivated. In such an embodiment, the first resolution corresponds to about ¾ of the basic resolution. When the user is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110, about half of the entire sub-pixels SP may be inactivated. In such an embodiment, the second resolution corresponds to about half of the basic resolution.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first resolution may be about half of the basic resolution, and the second resolution may be about one fourth of the basic resolution.

The first critical distance and the second critical distance may be preset, based on a size of the display panel110and the basic resolution, and stored in the timing controller140. According to another exemplary embodiment, the first critical distance and the second critical distance may be preset based on the pixels per inch (“PPI”) of the display panel110. The higher the PPI of the display panel110, the smaller the first critical distance and the second critical distance may be set. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the first critical distance that is about twice a nominal distance, for example, about twice of a distance in a range of about 25 centimeters (cm) to about 30 cm, may be set. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, if the display panel110has a size of about 10 inches, the first critical distance may be set to about 50 cm and the second critical distance may be set to about 100 cm. If the display panel110has a size of about 5 inches, the first critical distance may be set to about 40 cm and the second critical distance may be set to about 80 cm.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the first critical distance and the second distance are variously set based on the eyesight of a user, and thus, may be adjusted by a user input. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, if the user has good eyesight, the first critical distance and the second critical distance may be set be longer, and if the user has poor eyesight, the first critical distance and the second critical distance may be set be shorter.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the timing controller140may store a preset third critical distance and control the display panel110such that the display panel110displays at a lower resolution than the second resolution with respect to the third critical distance.

According to another exemplary embodiment, sub-pixels SP may be grouped into a plurality of sub-pixel groups in sequential order. The sub-pixel groups may be sequentially inactivated based on a predetermined order. Accordingly, a light emission time of the sub-pixels SP may be equally reduced. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the timing controller140may store sub-pixel groups that have most recently been inactivated. In such an embodiment, when the viewing distance increases to be greater than the first critical distance, the timing controller140controls the display panel110to inactivate sub-pixels SP of a sub-pixel group other than the most recently inactivated sub-pixel groups such that the display panel110displays at the first resolution. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when sub-pixels of the first sub-pixel group have been inactivated most recently, and the viewing distance increases to be greater than the first critical distance thereafter, the timing controller140may inactivate sub-pixels SP of a second sub-pixel group.

FIG. 3illustrates the arrangement of sub-pixels of the display panel110of an exemplary embodiment of the electronic device100according to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the display panel110includes a plurality of pixels P each including a first sub-pixel SP1, a second sub-pixel SP2and a third sub-pixel SP3. The pixels P are arranged substantially in a matrix form on the display panel110. The first sub-pixel SP1displays a first color (e.g., green (G)), the second sub-pixel SP2displays a second color (e.g., red (R)), and the third sub-pixel SP3displays a third color (e.g., blue (B)).

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the first sub-pixel SP1and the second sub-pixel SP2are vertically disposed on a left side portion in a pixel P. The third sub-pixel SP3is disposed on a right side portion in the pixel P.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, four neighboring pixels P arranged in two rows and two columns may define a group pixel GP, as shown inFIG. 3. In such an embodiment, the display panel110includes a plurality of group pixels GP disposed substantially in a matrix form. The group pixels GP include first group pixels GP1and second group pixels GP2that are alternately disposed along a row direction and a column direction. In such an embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3, two adjacent group pixels in the row direction or the column direction includes one first group pixel GP1and one second group pixel GP2.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, when a user is located within the first critical distance from the display panel110, all sub-pixels SP in the display panel110are activated. That is, all sub-pixels SP display an image corresponding to the image data DATA, at a basic resolution.

FIGS. 4A to 4Cillustrate inactivation of some sub-pixels in a group pixel based on a viewing distance in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention.

FIG. 4Aillustrates a group pixel GP in which all sub-pixels SP are activated.FIG. 4Billustrates a group pixel GP in which some sub-pixels SP are inactivated.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, six sub-pixels SP in a pixel group GP may be inactivated when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance. In such an embodiment, the six sub-pixels SP that are inactivated in a group pixel GP may be referred to as a first sub-pixel group SGP1. The sub-pixels SP in a first sub-pixel group SGP1include second sub-pixels SP2in two pixels P in an upper row, first sub-pixels SP1in two pixels P in a lower row, and third sub-pixels SP3in two pixels P in a left column, in a group pixel GP.

In such an embodiment, six sub-pixels SP activated in a group pixel GP when the viewing distance is greater than the first critical distance may be referred to as a second sub-pixel group SPG2. The sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SGP2include first sub-pixels SP1in the two pixels P in the upper row, second sub-pixels SP2in the two pixels P in the lower row, and third sub-pixels SP3in two pixels P in a right column, in a group pixel GP.

When the user is positioned farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SGP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 4B. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the second sub-pixels SP2in the two pixels P in the upper row, the first sub-pixels SP1in the two pixels P in the lower row, and the third sub-pixels SP3in the two pixels P in the left column, in the group pixel GP, may be inactivated, and the display panel110may display an image at the first resolution.

In such an embodiment, the user may perceive three virtual sub-pixels VSP1through VSP3as being activated in the group pixel GP, as illustrated inFIG. 4C. The arrangement of the virtual sub-pixels VSP1through VSP3corresponds to the arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3. When the arrangement of sub-pixels SP is different from the arrangement shown inFIGS. 4A to 4C, the user may sense a difference between images displayed at the basic resolution and at the first resolution based on a same image data DATA. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the user may differently sense an image displayed via sub-pixels disposed in a stripe form and an image displayed by sub-pixels disposed in a pentile form. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, even when predetermined sub-pixels are inactivated to reduce a resolution, the activated sub-pixels SP are arranged substantially the same as the arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3in each pixel, such that the user may be effectively prevented from perceiving a reduction in the resolution.

The position of the user with respect to the display panel110may change such that a viewing distance between the user and the display panel110may vary according to time. The user may be located within the first critical distance from the display panel110and then may be farther than the first critical distance, or may be located within the first critical distance again. The sub-pixels SP that are inactivated every time the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110may vary.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, sub-pixels SP in a first sub-pixel group SPG1of a first group pixels GP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5A.FIG. 5Aillustrates an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110in which the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the first group pixel GP1are inactivated, in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention, such that the display panel110may display an image at a first resolution which is ¾ of a basic resolution. The sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SGP1of the first group pixel GP1may be inactivated until the user is closer than the first critical distance from the display panel110. When the user is closer than the first critical distance from the display panel110, all sub-pixels SP may be activated as illustrated inFIG. 3such that the display panel110may display an image at the basic resolution. When the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110again, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the second group pixels GP2may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5B.FIG. 5Billustrates an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110in which the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the second group pixel GP2are inactivated in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention. The display panel110may display an image at the first resolution. In such an embodiment, as described above, every time the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the first group pixels GP1or the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SGP1of the second group pixels GP2may be alternately inactivated.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SGP2of the first group pixels GP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5C.FIG. 5Cillustrates an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110in which the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SGP2of the first group pixel GP are inactivated in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention. Also, when the user is father than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2of the second group pixels GP2may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5D.FIG. 5Dillustrates the display panel110in which the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2of the second group pixel GP2are inactivated in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, every time the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the first group pixel GP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5Aor the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the second group pixel GP2may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5B, or the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2of the first group pixel GP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5C, or the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2of the second group pixel GP2may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 5D. In such an embodiment, as all sub-pixels SP in the display panel110are equally inactivated, the lifetime of the sub-pixels SP in the display panel110may be equally increased.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when the user is farther than a preset second critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the group pixels GP1may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 6A.FIG. 6Aillustrates the display panel110in which the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1of the group pixels GP1are inactivated in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention. The second critical distance may be twice the first critical distance. The display panel110may display an image at a resolution which is half of a basic resolution. A user who is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110may perceive an image displayed on the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6Aas an image displayed on the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6B. A virtual display panel perceived by the user who is far from the display panel110when the user views the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6Ais illustrated inFIG. 6B. The arrangement of virtual sub-pixels VSP1through VSP3in the group pixel GP illustrated inFIG. 6Bcorresponds to an extension of the arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3in the pixel P illustrated inFIG. 3. As the user is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110, the virtual sub-pixels VSP1through VSP3are seen substantially small. Accordingly, an image displayed by the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6A, viewed by the user who is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110, is substantially the same as an image displayed by the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 3, viewed by the user who is close to the display panel110.

After the user has been closer to the display panel110than the second critical distance, and then is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110again, the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2of the group pixels GP may be inactivated as illustrated inFIG. 6C.FIG. 6Cillustrates a display panel in which sub-pixels in a second sub-pixel group of group pixels are inactivated in an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention. The display panel110may display an image at a resolution which is half of a basic resolution. A user who is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110may perceive an image displayed on the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6Cas an image displayed the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6D.FIG. 6Dillustrates a virtual display panel that is perceived when a user views the display panel110ofFIG. 6Cat a far distance from the display panel110ofFIG. 6C. A portion of the display panel110illustrated inFIG. 6C, except for a boundary portion, has an arrangement corresponding to an arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, a portion indicated as a virtual group pixel VGP corresponds to a portion indicated as a virtual group pixel VGP ofFIG. 6D, and the arrangement of virtual sub-pixels VSP1through VSP3in the virtual group pixel VGP ofFIG. 6Dcorresponds to the arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3of the pixel P illustrated inFIG. 3. Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, even when predetermined sub-pixels are inactivated to reduce a resolution, the user may perceive some activated sub-pixels SP as being arranged according to the arrangement of the sub-pixels SP1through SP3, such that the user is effectively prevented from perceiving a reduction in the resolution.

In such an embodiment, as described above, every time the user is farther than the second critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1or the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG2may be alternately inactivated.

According to another exemplary embodiment, every time the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, the sub-pixels SP in the first sub-pixel group SPG1or the sub-pixels SP in the second sub-pixel group SPG may be alternately inactivated.

According to another exemplary embodiment, when the user is closer than the first critical distance from the display panel110and then is farther than the first critical distance again, among the sub-pixels SP, except the sub-pixels SP that are inactivated during a first time interval, the same number of sub-pixels SP as the sub-pixels SP that are inactivated during the first time interval may be inactivated. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the sub-pixels SP that were inactivated during the first time interval may not be inactivated in a second time interval subsequent to the first time interval when the user is farther than the first critical distance again. Accordingly, the lifetime of the sub-pixels SP may be equally increased.

FIG. 7illustrates an arrangement of sub-pixels of a display panel110of another exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110includes a plurality of pixels P each including a first sub-pixel SP1, a second sub-pixel SP2and a third sub-pixel SP3. The pixels P are arranged substantially in a matrix form in the display panel110. The first sub-pixel SP1may display a first color (e.g., red), the second sub-pixel SP2may display a second color (e.g., blue), and the third sub-pixel SP3may display a third color (e.g., blue). In such an embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the first through third sub-pixels SP1, SP2and SP3of a same pixel P may be disposed in a same row in the display panel110, and may be referred to as being disposed in a stripe form.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the user is located within the first critical distance from the display panel110, all pixels P in the display panel110may be activated, and the display panel110may display an image at a basic resolution. In such an embodiment, when the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, some of the pixels P in the display panel110may be inactivated, and the display panel110may display an image at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

FIG. 8illustrates an arrangement of sub-pixels of a display panel110of another exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 8, an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110includes a plurality of first pixels P1and a plurality of second pixels P2that are alternately arranged with respect to each other along a row direction and a column direction. Each of the first pixels P1includes a first sub-pixel SP1that displays a first color (e.g., green (G)) and a second sub-pixel SP2that displays a second color (e.g., red (R)). Each of the second pixels P2includes a first sub-pixel SP1that displays the first color (e.g., green (G)) and a third sub-pixel SP3that displays a third color (e.g., blue (B)). The first sub-pixels SP1are arranged in odd-numbered columns, and the second sub-pixels SP2and the third sub-pixels SP3are alternately arranged in even-numbered columns along a column direction. In such an embodiment, the first through third sub-pixels SP1, SP2, and SP3may be referred to as being disposed in a pentile form in the display panel110.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the user is located within the first critical distance from the display panel110, all of the first and second pixels P1and P2in the display panel110may be activated, and the display panel110may display an image at a basic resolution. When the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, some of the first and second pixels P1and P2in the display panel110may be inactivated, and the display panel110may display an image at a first resolution lower than the basic resolution.

FIG. 9illustrates an arrangement of sub-pixels of a display panel110of another exemplary embodiment of an electronic device according to the invention.

Referring toFIG. 9, an exemplary embodiment of the display panel110includes a plurality of first pixels P1and a plurality of second pixels P2that are alternately arranged with respect to each other along a row direction and a column direction. Each of the first pixels P1includes a first sub-pixel SP1that displays a first color (e.g., green (G)) and a second sub-pixel SP2that displays a second color (e.g., red (R)). The second pixels P2each include a first sub-pixel SP1that displays the first color (e.g., green (G)) and a third sub-pixel SP3that displays a third color (e.g., blue (B)). The first sub-pixels SP1are arranged substantially in a matrix form in odd-numbered columns and odd-numbered rows. The second sub-pixels SP2and the third sub-pixels SP3are alternately arranged in even-numbered columns and even-numbered rows in a row direction and a column direction. The second sub-pixels SP2and the third sub-pixels SP3are disposed between four adjacent first sub-pixels SP1. In such an embodiment, the first through third sub-pixels SP1, SP2and SP3may be referred as being arranged in an S-pentile form in the display panel110.

According to an exemplary embodiment, when the user is closer than the first critical distance from the display panel110, all of the first and second pixels P1and P2may be activated in the display panel110, and the display panel110may display an image at a basic resolution. When the user is farther than the first critical distance from the display panel110, some of the first and second pixels P1and P2in the display panel110may be inactivated, and the display panel110may display an image at a first resolution that is lower than the basic resolution.