Patent Publication Number: US-2023162641-A1

Title: Display device

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/342,589, filed on Jun. 9, 2021, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. KR 10-2020-0144792, filed on Nov. 2, 2020, 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 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a display device having a plurality of pixel arrangement structures. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A display device may display an image using pixels (or pixel circuits). The display device may further include a sensor, a camera, and the like in a bezel (or an edge portion) on a front surface of the display device (e.g., a surface on which an image is displayed). Such a display device may recognize an object using an optical sensor, and may acquire pictures and video using the camera, for example. 
     Recently, research for arranging a camera or the like to overlap a pixel area has been conducted to minimize a bezel. In order to improve transmittivity in the pixel area under which the camera is disposed, the structure of pixels overlapping the corresponding area may be different from the structure of pixels in other areas. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a display device which corrects image data of boundary subpixels selected depending on the pixel arrangement for each boundary type. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure provides a display device including a display area including a first pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a first arrangement structure are disposed, and a second pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a second arrangement structure different from the first arrangement structure are disposed, a panel driver which provides a driving signal to the display area to display an image, and a data processor which converts first image data to second image data, where the first image data corresponds to each of a boundary subpixel of a first boundary pixel located adjacent to the second pixel area, among the pixels of the first pixel area, and a boundary subpixel of a second boundary pixel located adjacent to the first boundary pixel, among the pixels of the second pixel area. In such an embodiment, the data processor determines the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel based on a boundary type indicating a positional relationship between the first boundary pixel and the second boundary pixel. 
     According to an embodiment, a grayscale of a data signal supplied to at least one selected from the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel may be lower than a grayscale of a data signal supplied to a subpixel other than the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel when a same input image data is applied thereto. 
     According to an embodiment, the data processor may include an arrangement information storage including a lookup table which stores information about a position of the first boundary pixel and the boundary type as pixel arrangement information, and a dimming processor which lowers the luminance of the boundary subpixels by dimming for the first image data corresponding to the boundary subpixels based on the lookup table. 
     According to an embodiment, the pixel arrangement information included in the lookup table may further include information about the first arrangement structure and the second arrangement structure. 
     According to an embodiment, the dimming processor may include a luminance ratio storage which stores luminance ratios, each of which is a ratio between the luminance of a normal area and the luminance of a boundary area of a corresponding boundary type for a same grayscale, a grayscale gain storage which stores a grayscale gain corresponding to grayscales, a first calculator which generates corrected data by applying a luminance ratio, corresponding to the first image data, to the first image data, and a second calculator which generates the second image data by applying the grayscale gain, corresponding to the grayscale of the first image data, to the corrected data. 
     According to an embodiment, the luminance ratio storage may store the luminance ratios for respective colors of the subpixels. 
     According to an embodiment, the normal area may be a selected portion of the first pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, each of the luminance ratios and the grayscale gain may be greater than 0 and equal to or less than 1. 
     According to an embodiment, as the grayscale is lower, the grayscale gain may decrease. 
     According to an embodiment, the grayscale gain may be 1 when the grayscale is equal to or less than a preset threshold grayscale. 
     According to an embodiment, the pixel arrangement information included in the lookup table may further include information about a first pixel identification corresponding to an arrangement structure of the subpixels included in the first pixel area and a second pixel identification corresponding to an arrangement structure of the subpixels included in the second pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, the first pixel area may include a pixel array in which a first pixel, including a first subpixel and a second subpixel, and a second pixel, including a third subpixel and a fourth subpixel, are alternately arranged. In such an embodiment, the first subpixel may display a first color of light, the second subpixel and the fourth subpixel may display a second color of light, the third subpixel may display a third color of light, and the first color of light, the second color of light, and the third color of light may be different from each other. 
     According to an embodiment, the second pixel area may include a third pixel including a fifth subpixel, a sixth subpixel and a seventh subpixel which display different colors of light from each other. In such an embodiment, the fifth subpixel and the sixth subpixel may be arranged in a first direction, and the seventh subpixel may be located at one side of the fifth subpixel and the sixth subpixel. 
     According to an embodiment, the boundary type may include first to eighth boundary types set depending on a position at which the first boundary pixel and the second boundary pixel face each other and a direction in which the first boundary pixel is arranged. In such an embodiment, the data processor may include a lookup table in which information about the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel corresponding to each of the first to eighth boundary types is stored. 
     According to an embodiment, an aperture ratio of the second pixel area may be greater than an aperture ratio of the first pixel area. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure provides a display device including a display area including a first pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a first arrangement structure are disposed, and a second pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a second arrangement structure different from the first arrangement structure are disposed, a panel driver which provides a driving signal to the display area in order to display an image, and a data processor which converts first image data to second image data, where the first image data corresponds to each of a boundary subpixel of a first boundary pixel located adjacent to the second pixel area, among the pixels of the first pixel area, and a boundary subpixel of a second boundary pixel located adjacent to the first boundary pixel, among the pixels of the second pixel area. In such an embodiment, the grayscale of a data signal supplied to at least one selected from the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel is lower than the grayscale of a data signal supplied to a subpixel other than the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel when a same input image data is applied thereto. 
     According to an embodiment, the data processor may determine the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel based on a boundary type indicating a positional relationship between the first boundary pixel and the second boundary pixel. 
     According to an embodiment, the data processor may include an arrangement information storage including a lookup table which stores information about a position of the first boundary pixel and the boundary type as pixel arrangement information, and a dimming processor which lowers the luminance of the boundary subpixel by dimming for the first image data corresponding to the boundary subpixel based on the lookup table. 
     According to an embodiment, the dimming processor may include a luminance ratio storage which stores luminance ratios, each of which is a ratio between the average luminance of a portion of the first pixel area and the average luminance of a boundary area of a corresponding boundary type for a same grayscale, a grayscale gain storage which stores a grayscale gain corresponding to grayscales, and a calculator which generates the second image data by applying a luminance ratio and the grayscale gain, corresponding to the first image data, to the first image data. 
     An embodiment of the disclosure provides a display device including a display area comprising a first pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a first arrangement structure are disposed, and a second pixel area, in which pixels including subpixels of a second arrangement structure different from the first arrangement structure are disposed; a panel driver which provides a driving signal to the display area to display an image; and a data processor which converts first image data to second image data, wherein the first image data corresponds to a first boundary subpixel of a first boundary pixel located adjacent to the second pixel area, among the pixels of the first pixel area, and a second boundary subpixel of a second boundary pixel located adjacent to the first boundary pixel, among the pixels of the second pixel area. In such an embodiment, a resolution of the second pixel area may be lower than a resolution of the first pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, the data processor may determine the boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixel and the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel based on a boundary type indicating a positional relationship between the first boundary pixel and the second boundary pixel. 
     According to an embodiment, the number of pixels per unit area in the first pixel area may be greater than the number of the pixels per unit area in the second pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, distances between the pixels of the first pixel area may be smaller than distances between the pixels of the second pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, a shortest distance between the first boundary subpixel and the second boundary subpixel may be shorter than the distances between the pixels of the second pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, the shortest distance between the first boundary subpixel and the second boundary subpixel may be longer than the distances between the pixels of the first pixel area. 
     According to an embodiment, the first pixel area may include a pixel array in which a first pixel, including a first subpixel and a second subpixel, and a second pixel, including a third subpixel and a fourth subpixel, are alternately arranged. 
     According to an embodiment, the first subpixel may display a first color of light, the second subpixel and the fourth subpixel may display a second color of light, and the third subpixel may display a third color of light. The first color of light, the second color of light, and the third color of light may be different from each other. 
     According to an embodiment, the second pixel area may include a third pixel including a fifth subpixel, a sixth subpixel and a seventh subpixel which display different colors of light from each other, the fifth subpixel and the sixth subpixel may be arranged in a first direction, and the seventh subpixel may be located at one side of the fifth subpixel and the sixth subpixel. 
     According to an embodiment, sizes of the fifth, sixth, and seventh subpixels may be greater than sizes of the first, second, third, and fourth subpixels. 
     According to an embodiment, the pixels in rows adjacent to each other in the second pixel area may be located diagonally to each other with respect to the first direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the display area of the display device of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a data processor included in the display device of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5 A  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a dimming processor included in the data processor of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  5 B  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a boundary area and a boundary type of a display area. 
         FIG.  5 C  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a luminance ratio stored in a luminance ratio storage included in the dimming processor of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIGS.  5 D and  5 E  are graphs illustrating embodiments of grayscale gain stored in a grayscale gain storage included in the dimming processor of  FIG.  5 A . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of pixel arrangement information included in a lookup table stored in the arrangement information storage of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIGS.  7 A to  7 H  are diagrams illustrating embodiments of the boundary type in which boundary pixels are arranged depending thereon. 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a boundary subpixel of a second boundary pixel corresponding to a boundary type stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of pixel arrangement information included in a lookup table stored in the arrangement information storage of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  10    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of arrangement structures of subpixels corresponding to a first pixel ID stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIG.  11    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of arrangement structures of subpixels corresponding to a second pixel ID stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  9   . 
         FIGS.  12 A and  12 B  are diagrams illustrating embodiments of the shape of the boundary area between the first pixel area and the second pixel area of a display area, based on which image data correction is performed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or “section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, “a”, “an,” “the,” and “at least one” do not denote a limitation of quantity, and are intended to include both the singular and plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, “an element” has the same meaning as “at least one element,” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. “At least one” is not to be construed as limiting “a” or “an.” “Or” means “and/or.” As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or “top,” may be used herein to describe one element&#39;s relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elements would then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. The term “lower,” can therefore, encompasses both an orientation of “lower” and “upper,” depending on the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then be oriented “above” the other elements. The terms “below” or “beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. 
     Embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the present claims. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a repeated description of the same element will be omitted. 
       FIG.  1    is a diagram illustrating a display device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG.  2    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the display area of the display device of  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , an embodiment of the display device  1000  may include a display panel  10  including a display area  100 .  FIG.  2    schematically illustrates a portion including a boundary between a first pixel area PA 1  and a second pixel area PA 2  of  FIG.  1   . 
     The display panel  10  may include a display area DA and a non-display area NDA. In such an embodiment, pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3  may be disposed in the display area DA, and various kinds of drivers for driving the pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may be disposed in the non-display area NDA. 
     A display area DA may include the pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3 . The display area  100  may include the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2 . In an embodiment, the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  may be disposed in the first pixel area PA 1 , and the third pixel PX 3  may be disposed in the second pixel area PA 2 . In one embodiment, for example, the subpixel arrangement structures of the first to third pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3  may be different from each other. 
     In an embodiment, the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  may have a similar subpixel arrangement structure as each other. In one embodiment, for example, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the first pixel PX 1  may include a first subpixel (e.g., a red (R) subpixel) and a second subpixel (e.g., a green (G) subpixel), and the second pixel PX 2  may include a third subpixel (e.g., a blue (B) subpixel) and a fourth subpixel (e.g., a green (G) subpixel). 
     The first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  may be alternately disposed in a first direction DR 1  and a second direction DR 2 . A desired color of light may be output through a combination of red light, green light, and blue light output from the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  that are adjacent to each other. 
     In an embodiment, the third pixel PX 3  may include a fifth subpixel (e.g., a red (R) subpixel), a sixth subpixel (e.g., a green (G) subpixel), and a seventh subpixel (e.g., a blue (B) subpixel). In one embodiment, for example, the fifth subpixel and the sixth subpixel may be arranged in the second direction DR 2 , and the seventh subpixel may be located on one side of the fifth and sixth subpixels. 
     According to an embodiment, the size of the third pixel PX 3  (e.g., the emission extent of subpixels) may be greater than the sizes of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2 . In such an embodiment, the size of a driving transistor (e.g., a ratio between a channel width and a channel length, or the like) included in the third pixel PX 3  may be different from the sizes of driving transistors (e.g., a ratio between a channel width and a channel length, or the like) included in the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2 . 
     For example, sizes of the fifth, sixth, and seventh subpixels may be greater than sizes of the first, second, third, and fourth subpixels. 
     In embodiments of the disclosure, the shapes of the first to third pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3 , the arrangement structure of subpixels thereof, and the sizes thereof are not limited to those described above. In one alternative embodiment, for example, each of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may include a red (R) subpixel, a green (G) subpixel, and a blue (B) subpixel, or may include a red (R) subpixel, a green (G) subpixel, a blue (B) subpixel, and a white subpixel. 
     In an embodiment, the number (density) of first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  disposed in each unit area may be greater than the number (density) of third pixels PX 3 . In one embodiment, for example, where a single third pixel PX 3  is disposed in a unit area, two first pixels PX 1  and two second pixels PX 2  may be included in a same area as the unit area. Accordingly, the resolution of the second pixel area PA 2  may be lower than the resolution of the first pixel area PA 1 , and the aperture ratio of the second pixel area PA 2  may be greater than the aperture ratio of the first pixel area PA 1 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the pixels PX 3  in rows adjacent to each other in the second pixel area PA 2  may be located diagonally to each other with respect to the second direction DR 2  (and the first direction DR 1 ). 
     In an embodiment, distances between the pixels PX 1  and PX 2  of the first pixel area PA 1  may be smaller than distances between the pixels PX 3  of the second pixel area. 
     Because the aperture ratio (and the light transmittivity) of the second pixel area PA 2  is higher than that of the first pixel area PA 1 , a camera, an optical sensor, and the like may be disposed to overlap the second pixel area PA 2 . In one embodiment, for example, components, such as the camera, the optical sensor, and the like, may be located on a back side (or a lower portion) of the display panel  10  while overlapping the second pixel area PA 2 . 
     The optical sensor may include biometric sensors, such as a fingerprint sensor, an iris recognition sensor, an arterial sensor, or the like, but not being limited thereto. Alternatively, the optical sensor of photo-sensing type may further include a gesture sensor, a motion sensor, a proximity sensor, an illuminance sensor, an image sensor, or the like. 
     Because the arrangement structure of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  is different from the arrangement structure of the third pixels PX 3 , the luminance of light emitted from the first pixel area PA 1  and the luminance of light emitted from the second pixel area PA 2  may be different from each other when a same input grayscale is applied thereto. This luminance difference may be highly perceived in the boundary between the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2 , and a band of a specific color (referred to as a color band or a color band area (“CBA”) hereinbelow) may be visible or recognized in the boundary. When light with high luminance (e.g., full-white) is emitted, such a CBA may be noticeably visible in the area in which the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  are adjacent to the third pixel PX 3 . Particularly, such a CBA may be greatly affected by the color interference of light emitted by the most adjacent subpixels between the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2 . 
     In an embodiment of the disclosure, the display device  1000  and a method of driving the display device  1000  may dim light emitted from subpixels (boundary subpixels), corresponding to the boundary area between the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2 , (that is, correct image data) depending on the shape of the boundary area. 
       FIG.  3    is a block diagram illustrating a display device according to embodiments of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , an embodiment of the display device  1000  may include a display area  100 , a panel driver  200 , and a data processor  300 . 
     In an embodiment, the display device  1000  may be a flat display device, a flexible display device, a curved display device, a foldable display device, a bendable display device, or a stretchable display device. In an embodiment, the display device  1000  may be applied to a transparent display device, a head-mounted display device, a wearable display device, or the like. In an embodiment, the display device  1000  may be applied to various electronic devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (“PC”), a smart pad, a television (“TV”), a monitor, or the like. 
     In an embodiment, the display device  1000  may be implemented as a self-emissive display device including a plurality of self-emissive elements. In one embodiment, for example, the display device  1000  may be an organic light-emitting display device including organic light-emitting elements, a display device including inorganic light-emitting elements, or a display device including light-emitting elements formed of a combination of inorganic materials and organic materials, but not being limited thereto. Alternatively, the display device  1000  may be implemented as a liquid crystal display device, a plasma display device, a quantum dot display device, or the like. 
     The display area  100  may include scan lines SL 1  to SLn and data lines DL 1  to DLm, and may include pixels PX coupled to the scan lines SL 1  to SLn and the data lines DL 1  to DLm (where m and n are integers greater than 1). Each of the pixels PX may include a driving transistor and a plurality of switching transistors. In an embodiment, the display area  100  may include the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2  as described above with reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   . The first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  may be included in the first pixel area PA 1 , and the third pixel PX 3  may be included in the second pixel area PA 2 . 
     The panel driver  200  may provide a driving signal to the display area  100  to display an image. In an embodiment, the panel driver  200  may include a scan driver  220 , a data driver  240 , and a timing controller  260 . 
     The timing controller  260  may generate a first control signal SCS and a second control signal DCS in response to synchronization signals supplied from an outside. The first control signal SCS may be supplied to the scan driver  220 , and the second control signal DCS may be supplied to the data driver  240 . In an embodiment, the timing controller  260  may rearrange input image data including second image data DATA 2  supplied from the data processor  300  and may supply the rearranged data RGB to the data driver  240 . 
     The scan driver  220  may receive the first control signal SCS from the timing controller  260 , and may supply scan signals to the scan lines SL 1  to SLn based on the first control signal SCS. In one embodiment, for example, the scan driver  220  may sequentially supply scan signals to the scan lines SL 1  to SLn. 
     The scan driver  220  may be embedded in a substrate through a thin film process. In an embodiment, the scan driver  220  may be located on both of opposite sides of the display area  100 . 
     The data driver  240  may receive the second control signal DCS and the rearranged data RGB from the timing controller  260 . The data driver  240  may convert the rearranged data RGB into a data signal in an analog form. The data driver  240  may supply data signals to the data lines DL 1  to DLm in response to the second control signal DCS. The data signal may be supplied to the pixels PX selected in response to the scan signal. 
     In an embodiment, the panel driver  200  may further include an emission driver configured to supply an emission control signal to the pixels PX and a power supply configured to generate driving voltages for the display area  100 , the scan driver  220 , and the data driver  240 . 
     In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  3   , the display device  1000  may include n scan lines SL 1  to SLn and m data lines DL 1  to DLm, where n and m are natural numbers, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In one embodiment, for example, although not illustrated, additional dummy scan lines and/or dummy data lines may be further disposed in the display area  100 . 
     The data processor  300  may correct first image data DATA 1 , among the input image data supplied from an external graphics source or the like, for second image data DATA 2 . In one embodiment, for example, the first image data DATA 1  may be input image data corresponding to the boundary subpixels of the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the first pixel area PA 1  and input image data corresponding to the boundary subpixels of the second boundary pixels BPX 2  in the second pixel area PA 2 . 
     In an embodiment, the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be pixels included in the first pixel area PA 1  while being closest to the second pixel area PA 2 . The second boundary pixels BPX 2  may be pixels located adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1 , among the pixels in the second pixel area PA 2 . 
     In an embodiment, a shortest distance between a first boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixels BPX 1  and the second boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixels BPX 2  may be shorter than the distances between the pixels PX 3  of the second pixel area PA 2 . The shortest distance between the first boundary subpixel of the first boundary pixels BPX 1  and the second boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixels BPX 2  may be longer than the distances between the pixels PX 1  and PX 2  of the first pixel area PA 1 . 
     The data processor  300  may determine the boundary subpixels of the first and second boundary pixels BPX 1  and BPX 2  depending on boundary types indicating various positional relationships between the first boundary pixel BPX 1  and the second boundary pixel BPX 2 . 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , the boundary type indicating the relative positional relationship between the first boundary pixel BPX 1  and the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be represented in various forms depending on the border shape of the second pixel area PA 2 . In such an embodiment, subpixels adjacent to each other may be different depending on the direction in which the first boundary pixel BPX 1  and the second boundary pixel BPX 2  face each other. 
     In one embodiment, for example, in all of the first boundary pixels BPX 1 , the green (G) subpixels thereof may be closest to the second boundary pixels, e.g., first to third second boundary pixels BPX 2 _ 1  to BPX 2 _ 3  in the structure illustrated in  FIG.  2   . However, in the first second boundary pixel BPX 2 _ 1 , the red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel thereof may be closest to the first boundary pixel BPX 1 , and in the second and third second boundary pixels BPX 2 _ 2  and BPX 2 _ 3 , the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel thereof may be closest to the first boundary pixel BPX 1 . 
     When dimming is performed on image data corresponding to a subpixel, the subpixel is referred to as a boundary subpixel. Accordingly, in the first boundary pixels BPX 1 , the green (G) subpixels may be determined to be boundary subpixels. In the first second boundary pixel BPX 2 _ 1 , the red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be determined to be boundary subpixels. In the second and third second boundary pixels BPX 2 _ 2  and BPX 2 _ 3 , the red (R) subpixels and the green (G) subpixels may be determined to be boundary subpixels. 
     The grayscale of the second image data DATA 2  may be corrected to be lower than the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1 . In one embodiment, for example, when the input image data applied to each subpixel is identical to each other, the grayscale of the data signal supplied to the boundary subpixel may be lower than the grayscale of the data signal supplied to a subpixel other than the boundary subpixel. 
     Accordingly, the luminance of the boundary subpixels of the first and second boundary pixels becomes lower, and a color band which may be visible in the boundary portion between the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2  may be effectively prevented from being recognized by a viewer. 
     In an embodiment, the data processor  300  and the panel driver  200  may be separate components as shown in  FIG.  3   , but not being limited thereto. Alternatively, the functions of at least some of the data driver  240 , the timing controller  260 , and the data processor  300  may be integrated in the form of an integrated circuit (“IC”). 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the data processor  300  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  4  to  13 B . 
       FIG.  4    is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a data processor included in the display device of  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , an embodiment of the data processor  300  may include an image receiver  320 , an arrangement information storage  340 , and a dimming processor  360 . 
     The image receiver  320  may receive input image data IDAT corresponding to an area, and may supply the input image data IDAT to the dimming processor  360 . In one embodiment, for example, the image receiver  320  may receive the input image data IDAT from an image source device (e.g., a graphics processor, or the like). 
     The arrangement information storage  340  may include a lookup table LUT which stores information about the position of the first boundary pixel and a boundary type as pixel arrangement information. In an embodiment, the lookup table LUT may include information about the position of a boundary pixel and a boundary subpixel for which luminance dimming (or grayscale dimming) is to be performed. In such an embodiment, the dimming processor  360  may correct image data for the data (e.g., the first image data DATA 1 ) for which dimming processing is to be performed, among the input image data IDAT, based on the pixel arrangement information AD in the lookup table LUT. 
     In one embodiment, for example, the arrangement information storage  340  may include a non-volatile memory device, such as an erasable programmable read-only memory (“EPROM”), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”), a flash memory, a phase-change random-access memory (“PRAM”), or the like. 
     The dimming processor  360  may perform a dimming operation for first image data DATA 1  corresponding to the boundary subpixels of the first and second boundary pixels BPX 1  and BPX 2 , among the input image data IDAT, based on the pixel arrangement information AD. The dimming processor  360  may correct or covert the first image data DATA 1  to the second image data DATA 2  based on the pixel arrangement information AD to lower the luminance of the boundary subpixels. The dimming processor  360  may provide output image data ODAT including the second image data DATA 2  to the timing controller  260 . 
     In an embodiment, the dimming level (e.g., the luminance ratio) applied to the boundary subpixels may vary depending on the boundary type. In such an embodiment, the dimming level (e.g., the luminance ratio) applied to the boundary subpixels may vary depending on the color of the boundary subpixel. A calculation of the luminance ratio will be described later in detail with reference to  FIG.  5 A . 
     In an embodiment, the dimming level may be adjusted depending on the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1 . In one embodiment, for example, the grayscale gain value applied to the first image data DATA 1  may be adjusted depending on the grayscale corresponding to the boundary subpixel. 
     In an embodiment, as described above, the dimming processor  360  may adjust the degree of dimming (grayscale correction) based on at least one selected from a boundary type, the color of the boundary subpixel, and the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1 . 
       FIG.  5 A  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a dimming processor included in the data processor of  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5 B  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the boundary area of a display area and boundary types,  FIG.  5 C  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of luminance ratios stored in a luminance ratio storage included in the dimming processor of  FIG.  5 A , and  FIG.  5 D  and  FIG.  5 E  are graphs illustrating embodiments of grayscale gain stored in a grayscale gain storage included in the dimming processor of  FIG.  5 A . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  2   ,  FIG.  5 A ,  FIG.  5 B ,  FIG.  5 C  and  FIG.  5 D , an embodiment of the dimming processor  360  may include a luminance ratio storage  362 , a grayscale gain storage  366 , a first calculator  364 , and a second calculator  368 . 
     The luminance ratio storage  362  may store luminance ratios L_RATIO, each of which is a ratio between the luminance of a normal area NA and the luminance of a boundary area BA of each boundary type BTP for a same grayscale. The luminance ratio storage  362  may include a non-volatile memory. In an embodiment, the luminance ratio L_RATIO may be stored in a lookup table LUT. 
     The boundary area BA indicates the boundary between the first pixel area PA 1  and the second pixel area PA 2 , and may include first boundary pixels BPX 1  and second boundary pixels BPX 2 . In an embodiment, the boundary area BA may have an octagonal shape, as illustrated in  FIG.  5 B , and may be divided into first to eighth boundary areas BA 1  to BA 8  depending on the relative positional relationship between the second boundary pixel BPX 2  therein and the first boundary pixel BPX 1  adjacent thereto. In one embodiment, for example, as described above with reference to  FIG.  2   , the relative positional relationships between the first boundary pixel BPX 1  and the second boundary pixel BPX 2  are different from each other in the first to eighth boundary areas BA 1  to BA 8 . 
     The first to eighth boundary areas BA 1  to BA 8  may correspond to first to eighth boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8 , respectively. 
     The normal area NA may be a portion excluding the boundary area BA in the display area DA. In one embodiment, for example, the normal area NA may be a portion of the first pixel area PA 1 . 
     The luminance ratio storage  362  may store the luminance ratios L_RATIO of the first to eighth boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8 , which are predetermined through luminance detection, such as surface-capturing or the like, e.g., before shipment after manufacturing the display device  1000 . 
     In an embodiment, the luminance data corresponding to each of the subpixels may be calculated by capturing an image of the display area  100  emitting light with the maximum grayscale (e.g., full white). Here, the boundary area BA and the normal area NA may be more clearly separated using a Gaussian filter or the like. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the method of storing the first to third luminance ratios R_RATIO, G_RATIO, and B_RATIO corresponding to the first boundary type TYPE 1  will be described in detail. 
     The reference luminance of the normal area NA may be calculated from luminance data acquired by capturing. The reference luminance may be the average of luminance data of a predetermined area. The reference luminance may include red reference luminance RL, green reference luminance GL, and blue reference luminance BL according to subpixels. In one embodiment, for example, the red reference luminance RL may be the average luminance of the predetermined red (R) subpixels extracted from the normal area NA. 
     The boundary luminance of the first boundary area BA 1  may be calculated from luminance data acquired by capturing. The boundary luminance may be the average of luminance data of a predetermined area of the first boundary area BA 1 . The boundary luminance may include red boundary luminance RL 1 ′, green boundary luminance GL 1 ′, and blue boundary luminance BL 1 ′ according to subpixels. 
     The first luminance ratio R_RATIO may be a value acquired by dividing the red boundary luminance RL 1 ′ by the red reference luminance RL. The second luminance ratio G_RATIO may be a value acquired by dividing the green boundary luminance GL 1 ′ by the green reference luminance GL. The third luminance ratio B_RATIO may be a value acquired by dividing the blue boundary luminance BL 1 ′ by the blue reference luminance BL. The first luminance ratio R_RATIO may be applied to a red (R) boundary subpixel, the second luminance ratio G_RATIO may be applied to a green (G) boundary subpixel, and the third luminance ratio B_RATIO may be applied to a blue (B) boundary subpixel. 
     Here, the luminance of the first boundary area BA 1  may be lower than the luminance of the normal area NA on average. Accordingly, each of the first to third luminance ratios R_RATIO, G_RATIO, and B_RATIO may be greater than 0 and equal to or less than 1. 
     Using the above-described method, the first to third luminance ratios R_RATIO, G_RATIO, and B_RATIO for the second to eighth boundary types TYPE 2  to TYPE 8  may also be set. The first luminance ratio R_RATIO of each of the second to eighth boundary types TYPE 2  to TYPE 8  may be a value acquired by dividing the red boundary luminance (each of RL 2 ′ to RL 8 ′) by the red reference luminance RL. The second luminance ratio G_RATIO of each of the second to eighth boundary types TYPE 2  to TYPE 8  may be a value acquired by dividing the green boundary luminance (each of GL 2 ′ to GL 8 ′) by the green reference luminance GL. The third luminance ratio B_RATIO of each of the second to eighth boundary types TYPE 2  to TYPE 8  may be a value acquired by dividing the blue boundary luminance (each of BL 2 ′ to BL 8 ′) by the blue reference luminance BL. 
     Based on pixel arrangement information AD, the luminance ratio L_RATIO corresponding to the boundary type BTP may be loaded from the luminance ratio storage  362 . 
     The first calculator  364  may generate corrected data DATA 1 ′ by applying the luminance ratio L_RATIO, corresponding to first image data DATA 1 , to the first image data DATA 1 . The first calculator  364  may include a multiplier. In one embodiment, for example, red image data may be multiplied by the first luminance ratio R_RATIO corresponding thereto. 
     The grayscale gain storage  366  may store grayscale gain G_G corresponding to all grayscales. In an embodiment, the grayscale gain storage  366  may include a non-volatile memory. 
     Because the above-described luminance ratio L_RATIO is a value calculated based on the maximum grayscale, when the grayscale is lower than that, a value lower than the set luminance ratio L_RATIO may be applied to the first image data DATA 1 . In one embodiment, for example, when the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1  is lower than the maximum grayscale, the luminance ratio L_RATIO may decrease. Accordingly, the grayscale gain G_G may be greater than 0 and equal to or less than 1. 
     In an embodiment, the lower the grayscale is, the lower the grayscale gain G_G becomes, as illustrated in  FIG.  5 D . However, in a case where the luminance of emitted light is low in a low grayscale area, the luminance ratio L_RATIO may not be further lowered. In one embodiment, for example, the grayscale gain G_G for a low grayscale equal to or less than a predetermined threshold grayscale GTH may be set to 1, as illustrated in  FIG.  5 E . In one embodiment, for example, the threshold grayscale GTH may be set to the grayscale of 31. 
     The second calculator  368  may generate second image data DATA 2  by applying the grayscale gain G_G, corresponding to the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1 , to the corrected data DATA 1 ′. The second calculator  368  may include a multiplier. In one embodiment, for example, when the first image data DATA 1  of the grayscale of 100 is supplied, the corrected data DATA 1 ′ may be multiplied by the grayscale gain G_G corresponding thereto. 
     Accordingly, in an embodiment, the grayscale of the second image data DATA 2  may be lower than the grayscale of the first image data DATA 1 . Accordingly, dimming may be performed on the image data corresponding to the boundary pixels BPX 1  and BPX 2  of the boundary area BA. 
     In such an embodiment, the dimming level (the grayscale of the second image data DATA 2 ) may be adaptively set for a same input grayscale depending on the boundary type BTP, the color of the boundary subpixel, and the grayscale supplied to the boundary subpixel. 
       FIG.  6    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of pixel arrangement information included in the lookup table stored in the arrangement information storage of  FIG.  4   , and  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H  are diagrams illustrating embodiments of the boundary type in which boundary pixels are disposed depending thereon. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   ,  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  6   , and  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H , the arrangement information storage  340  may store the pixel arrangement information AD of the first boundary pixel BPX 1  in the form of a lookup table LUT. 
     In an embodiment, an embodiment of the pixel arrangement information of the first boundary pixel BPX 1  may be represented using six bits, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   . In one embodiment, for example, whether a pixel disposed at predetermined coordinates in the display area  100  is a first boundary pixel BPX 1  may be determined based on a single enable bit EN. 
     Eight boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8  may be represented using three bits. In one embodiment, for example, the first to eighth boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8  may correspond to pixel arrangement structures of  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H , respectively. Depending on the digital value of the boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8 , a corresponding boundary type may be selected. 
     In an embodiment, the first boundary pixel BPX 1  may be one of the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2 , which are described above with reference to  FIG.  2   . Because the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  are alternately disposed in the first direction DR 1  and the second direction DR 2 , the boundary subpixels of the first boundary pixel BPX 1  (referred to as first boundary subpixels BSPX 1  hereinbelow) may be determined based on whether the pixel is located in an odd-numbered pixel column and an odd-numbered pixel row. In one embodiment, for example, boundary subpixels for which dimming is to be performed may be determined by determining an odd-numbered column and an odd-numbered row in each of the boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8 . 
     In an embodiment, when a row bit Y is 0, the coordinates of the boundary pixel BPX 1  may be in an odd-numbered row, whereas when the row bit Y is 1, the coordinates of the boundary pixel BPX 1  may be in an even-numbered row. In such an embodiment, when a column bit X is 0, the coordinates of the boundary pixel BPX 1  may be in an odd-numbered column, whereas when the column bit X is 1, the coordinates of the boundary pixel BPX 1  may be in an even-numbered column. 
     In the first boundary type TYPE 1 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be disposed on the upper side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  and arranged in the first direction DR 1 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 A . In the first boundary type TYPE 1 , as shown in  FIG.  7 A , the green (G) subpixels of both of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may be closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2 . Accordingly, the green (G) subpixels may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 , and image data corresponding to the green (G) subpixels may be dimmed. 
     In the second boundary type TYPE 2 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged substantially in a diagonal direction from the upper side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  to the right side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 B . In an embodiment, the diagonal arrangement of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may be in a form in which each of the pixels is shifted by one pixel in the first direction DR 1  on the coordinates of the first pixel area PA 1 . 
     Accordingly, the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be first pixels PX 1  or second pixels PX 2 . In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  7 B , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the second pixels PX 2 , and the blue (B) subpixels and green (G) subpixels of the second pixels PX 2  that are closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, in the second boundary type TYPE 2 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the first pixels PX 1 . In such an embodiment, the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1  may be red (R) subpixels and green (G) subpixels. 
     In the third boundary type TYPE 3 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged on the right side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  in the direction opposite to the second direction DR 2  (e.g., in the vertical direction), as illustrated in  FIG.  7 C . Accordingly, the alternately arranged first pixel PX 1  and second pixel PX 2  may be the first boundary pixels BPX 1 . Here, the subpixels adjacent to the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be different depending on the coordinates of the first boundary pixel BPX 1 . 
     In one embodiment, for example, the first pixel PX 1  may be disposed in an odd-numbered column and odd-numbered row as the first boundary pixel BPX 1 , or may be disposed in an even-numbered column and even-numbered row. In such an embodiment, the second pixel PX 2  may be disposed in an even-numbered column and even-numbered row as the first boundary pixel BPX 1 , or may be disposed in an odd-numbered column and odd-numbered row. 
     In the third boundary type TYPE 3 , the red (R) subpixel of the first pixel PX 1  and the blue (B) subpixel of the second pixel PX 2  may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 . 
     In the fourth boundary type TYPE 4 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged substantially in a diagonal direction from the right side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  to the lower side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 D . The diagonal arrangement of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may be in a form in which each of the pixels is shifted by one pixel in the first direction DR 1  on the coordinates of the first pixel area PA 1 . 
     The first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the first pixels PX 1  or the second pixels PX 2 . In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG.  7 D , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the first pixels PX 1 . In such an embodiment, the subpixels included in each of the first pixels PX 1  and second pixels PX 2  may be diagonally arranged. Accordingly, the red (R) subpixels of the first pixels PX 1  closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, in the fourth boundary type TYPE 4 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the second pixels PX 2 . In such an embodiment, the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1  may be blue (B) subpixels. 
     In the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged on the lower side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  in the first direction DR 1 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 E . Accordingly, the alternately arranged first pixel PX 1  and second pixel PX 2  may be the first boundary pixels BPX 1 . In such an embodiment, the subpixels adjacent to the second boundary pixel BPX 2  corresponding to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be different depending on the coordinates of the first boundary pixel BPX 1 . 
     In the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 , the red (R) subpixel of the first pixel PX 1  and the blue (B) subpixel of the second pixel PX 2  may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 , similar to the third boundary type TYPE 3 . 
     In the sixth boundary type TYPE 6 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged in a diagonal direction from the lower side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  to the left side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 F . In an embodiment, the diagonal arrangement of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  may be a form in which each of the pixels is shifted by one pixel in the first direction DR 1  on the coordinates of the first pixel area PA 1 . 
     Accordingly, the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be an array of the first pixels PX 1  or an array of the second pixels PX 2 . In an embodiment, as shown in FIG.  7 F, the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the second pixels PX 2 , and the blue (B) subpixels and green (G) subpixels of the second pixels PX 2  closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, in the sixth boundary type TYPE 6 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be the first pixels PX 1 . In such an embodiment, the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1  may be red (R) subpixels and green (G) subpixels. 
     In the seventh boundary type TYPE 7 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be disposed on the left side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  and arranged in the second direction DR 2 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 G . In the seventh boundary type TYPE 7 , the green (G) subpixels of both of the first pixel PX 1  and second pixel PX 2  may be closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2 . Accordingly, the green (G) subpixels may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 , and image data corresponding to the green (G) subpixels may be dimmed. 
     In the eighth boundary type TYPE 8 , the first boundary pixels BPX 1  may be arranged in a diagonal direction from the left side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  to the upper side of the second boundary pixel BPX 2 , as illustrated in  FIG.  7 H . In such an embodiment, the green (G) subpixels of the first pixel PX 1  or second pixel PX 2  may be closest to the second boundary pixel BPX 2 . Accordingly, the green (G) subpixels may be determined to be the first boundary subpixels BSPX 1 , and image data corresponding to the green (G) subpixels may be dimmed. 
       FIG.  8    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the boundary subpixel of the second boundary pixel corresponding to the boundary type stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  6   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H  and  FIG.  8   , the boundary subpixels of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  (hereinafter, referred to as second boundary subpixels BSPX 2 ), which have a subpixel arrangement structure different from that of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2 , may be determined depending on the boundary type. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 A  and  FIG.  7 B , the red (R) subpixel and blue (B) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the first boundary type TYPE 1  and the second boundary type TYPE 2 . Accordingly, the red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be determined to be the second boundary subpixels BSPX 2  in the first boundary type TYPE 1  and the second boundary type TYPE 2 , and image data corresponding thereto may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 C , the blue (B) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the third boundary type TYPE 3 . Accordingly, the blue (B) subpixel may be determined to be the second boundary subpixel BSPX 2  in the third boundary type TYPE 3 , and image data corresponding thereto may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 D  and  FIG.  7 E , the green (G) subpixel and blue (B) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the fourth boundary type TYPE 4  and the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 . Accordingly, the green (G) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be determined to be the second boundary subpixels BSPX 2  in the fourth boundary type TYPE 4  and the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 , and image data corresponding thereto may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 F  and  FIG.  7 H , the red (R) subpixel, the green (G) subpixel, and the blue (B) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the sixth boundary type TYPE 6  and the eighth boundary type TYPE 8 . Accordingly, the red (R) subpixel, the green (G) subpixel, and the blue (B) subpixel may be determined to be the second boundary subpixels BSPX 2  in the sixth boundary type TYPE 6  and the eighth boundary type TYPE 8 , and image data corresponding thereto may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG.  7 G , the red (R) subpixel and green (G) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be adjacent to the first boundary pixels BPX 1  in the seventh boundary type TYPE 7 . Accordingly, the red (R) subpixel and green (G) subpixel of the second boundary pixel BPX 2  may be determined to be the second boundary subpixels BSPX 2 , and image data corresponding thereto may be dimmed. 
     The first boundary subpixel BSPX 1  and the second boundary subpixel BSPX 2  depending on the boundary types, which are described above with reference to  FIGS.  6  to  8   , may be summarized as shown in the following Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 BOUNDARY 
                 DIMMING SUBPIXEL 
                 DIMMING SUBPIXEL 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE 
                 (BSPX1) 
                 (BSPX2) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 TYPE1 
                 G 
                 R, B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE2 
                 G, B 
                 R, B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE3 
                 R, B 
                 B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE4 
                 R 
                 G, B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE5 
                 R, B 
                 G, B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE6 
                 B, G 
                 R, G, B 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE7 
                 G 
                 R, G 
               
               
                   
                 TYPE8 
                 G 
                 R, G, B 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In such an embodiment, correction (dimming) of image data for different types of subpixels may be performed as described above depending on the boundary type. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, as described above, the display device including a plurality of subpixel arrangement structures may subdivide the boundary type of the boundary area between pixel areas including different subpixel arrangement structures, may determine first and second boundary subpixels BSPX 1  and BSPX 2  based on the relationship of the pixels of the corresponding boundary type, and may perform luminance dimming for the determined first and second boundary subpixels BSPX 1  and BSPX 2 . Thus, without any change of the shapes or sizes of the pixels corresponding to the boundary area, correction of image data for the minimum number of target subpixels may be performed based on the pixel arrangement information. Accordingly, poor image quality resulting from a color band in the boundary area or the like may be improved through the least amount of image data correction. 
       FIG.  9    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of pixel arrangement information included in a lookup table stored in the arrangement information storage of  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  10    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the arrangement structures of subpixels corresponding to a first pixel ID stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  9   , and  FIG.  11    is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the arrangement structures of subpixels corresponding to a second pixel ID stored in the lookup table of  FIG.  9   . 
     In  FIGS.  9  to  11   , the same or like reference numerals are used to indicate the same or like components described with reference to  FIGS.  6  to  8   , and any repeated detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, the pixel arrangement information AD of  FIG.  9    may be substantially the same or similar to the pixel arrangement information AD of  FIG.  6   , except that a first pixel identification (“ID”) PID 1  and a second pixel ID PID 2  are added. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   ,  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H ,  FIG.  8   ,  FIG.  9   ,  FIG.  10    and  FIG.  11   , the arrangement information storage  340  may store pixel arrangement information AD of a first boundary pixel BPX 1  in the form of a lookup table LUT. 
     In such an embodiment, the enable bit EN, the boundary type (TYPE) bit, the row bit Y, and the column bit X are the same as those described above in detail with reference to  FIG.  6   , and any repeated detailed description will be omitted. 
     According to an embodiment, the first to third pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3  may be formed to have a structure selected from among various types of subpixel arrangement structures. In such an embodiment, the pixel arrangement information AD may be different from the structure of  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H , and subpixels for which dimming is performed may also be different from those of the structure of  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H . Accordingly, pixel arrangement information AD corresponding to each subpixel arrangement structure and dimming corresponding thereto are desired. 
     The first pixel ID PID 1  may enable the arrangement structure of subpixels included in the first pixel PX 1  and second pixel PX 2  to be identified. In an embodiment, the first pixel PX 1  and the second pixel PX 2  may be sorted into four structures, as illustrated in  FIG.  10   , and the first pixel ID PID 1  may be represented using two bits. 
     In an embodiment of the pixels PX 1   a  and PX 2   a , the subpixels of the first row may be arranged in the order of red (R), green (G), blue (B), and green (G), and the subpixels of the second row may be arranged in the order of blue (B), green (G), red (R), and green (G). The red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the upper side relative to the green (G) subpixel. The first pixel ID PID 1  of the pixels PX 1   a  and PX 2   a  may be defined as ‘00’. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the pixels PX 1   b  and PX 2   b , the subpixels of the first row may be arranged in the order of green (G), blue (B), green (G) and red (R), and the subpixels of the second row may be arranged in the order of green (G), red (R), green (G) and blue (B). The red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the upper side relative to the green (G) subpixel. The first pixel ID PID 1  of the pixels PX 1   b  and PX 2   b  may be defined as ‘01’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the pixels PX 1   c  and PX 2   c , the subpixels of the first row may be arranged in the order of blue (B), green (G), red (R) and green (G), and the subpixels of the second row may be arranged in the order of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and green (G). The red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the lower side relative to the green (G) subpixel. The first pixel ID PID 1  of the pixels PX 1   c  and PX 2   c  may be defined as ‘10’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the pixels PX 1   d  and PX 2   d , the subpixels of the first row may be arranged in the order of green (G), red (R), green (G) and blue (B), and the subpixels of the second row may be arranged in the order of green (G), blue (B), green (G) and red (R). The red (R) subpixel and the blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the lower side relative to the green (G) subpixel. The first pixel ID PID 1  of the pixels PX 1   d  and PX 2   d  may be defined as ‘11’. 
     The second pixel ID PID 2  may enable the arrangement structure of subpixels included in the third pixel PX 3  to be identified. In an embodiment, the third pixel PX 3  may be sorted into eight structures, as illustrated in  FIG.  11   , and the second pixel ID PID 2  may be represented using three bits. 
     In an embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   a , a green (G) subpixel and a red (R) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR 2 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the right side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   a  may be defined as ‘000’. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   b , a red (R) subpixel and a green (G) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the first direction DR 1 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the lower side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   b  may be defined as ‘001’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   c , a red (R) subpixel and a green (G) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR 2 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the right side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   c  may be defined as ‘010’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   d , a green (G) subpixel and a red (R) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the first direction DR 1 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the lower side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   d  may be defined as ‘011’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   e , a green (G) subpixel and a red (R) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR 2 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the left side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   e  may be defined as ‘100’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   f , a red (R) subpixel and a green (G) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the first direction DR 1 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the upper side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   f  may be defined as ‘101’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   g , a red (R) subpixel and a green (G) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the second direction DR 2 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the left side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   g  may be defined as ‘110’. 
     In another alternative embodiment of the third pixel PX 3   h , a green (G) subpixel and a red (R) subpixel may be sequentially arranged in the first direction DR 1 , and a blue (B) subpixel may be disposed on the upper side of the red (R) subpixel and the green (G) subpixel. The second pixel ID PID 2  of the third pixel PX 3   h  may be defined as ‘111’. 
     In one embodiment, for example, the first pixel ID PID 1  applied to the boundary types TYPE 1  to TYPE 8  of  FIGS.  7 A to  7 H  may be ‘00’, and the second pixel ID PID 2  applied thereto may be ‘000’. In such an embodiment, if image data dimming described herein is not applied, the image at the upper boundary corresponding to the first boundary type TYPE 1  shown in  FIG.  7 A  may be perceived as a greenish color band in which the green color is prominent. Accordingly, image data of the green (G) subpixels of the first and second pixels PX 1  and PX 2  corresponding to the first boundary type TYPE 1  may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, where the first pixel ID PID 1  is ‘10’ and the second pixel ID PID 2  is ‘100’ (or 000), red (R) subpixels and blue (B) subpixels may converge on the upper boundary corresponding to the first boundary type TYPE 1 . Here, when image data dimming according to the disclosure is not applied, a pinkish color band in which color similar to magenta is prominent may be perceived so as to correspond to the first boundary type TYPE 1 . Accordingly, image data of the red (R) subpixels and blue (B) subpixels of the first to third pixels PX 1   c , PX 2   c  and PX 3   e  corresponding to the first boundary type TYPE 1  may be dimmed. 
     In an embodiment, as described above, the pixel arrangement information AD may include information about the subpixel arrangement structures of the first to third pixels PX 1 , PX 2  and PX 3  based on the first pixel ID PID 1  and the second pixel ID PID 2 . Depending on the arrangement structure according to the pixel ID and the position of the boundary area (boundary type), a specific color having a decisive effect may be present, and when image correction therefor is not performed, a color band having the specific color may be perceived in the corresponding boundary. 
     The dimming processor  360  may correct (or dim) image data corresponding to the boundary subpixels BSPX 1  and BSPX 2  based on the pixel arrangement information AD. 
     Accordingly, dimming suitable for boundary subpixels in the boundary area of various structures of a display area may be effectively performed. 
       FIG.  12 A  and  FIG.  12 B  are diagrams illustrating embodiments of the shape of the boundary area between the first pixel area and second pixel area of a display area, based on which image data correction is performed. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   ,  FIG.  5 A ,  FIG.  5 B ,  FIG.  12 A  and  FIG.  12 B , the boundary area BA may have one of various shapes depending on the design of the display area  100 . 
     In an embodiment, the boundary area BA may have a rectangular shape, as illustrated in  FIG.  12 A . Accordingly, among the above-described boundary types, the first boundary type TYPE 1 , the third boundary type TYPE 3 , the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 , and the seventh boundary type TYPE 7  may be applied to image data dimming. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the boundary area BA may have a hexagonal shape, as illustrated in  FIG.  12 B . Accordingly, among the above-described boundary types, the first boundary type TYPE 1 , the second boundary type TYPE 2 , the fourth boundary type TYPE 4 , the fifth boundary type TYPE 5 , the sixth boundary type TYPE 6 , and the eighth boundary type TYPE 8  may be applied to image data dimming. 
     In embodiments of a display device according to the disclosure, pixel arrangement information stored in an arrangement information storage may subdivide a boundary type for the boundary area of pixel areas including different subpixel arrangement structures and include information for the pixel arrangement of a corresponding boundary type. The pixel arrangement information may include information about boundary subpixels for which dimming is to be performed. 
     In such embodiments, the display device may perform dimming for a boundary area through grayscale correction based on a luminance ratio preset depending on a boundary type and the grayscale of input image data. 
     Accordingly, in such embodiment, without changing the shapes or sizes of pixels corresponding to a boundary area and calculation for dimming, image data correction is performed only for target subpixels (that is, boundary subpixels) based on the stored pixel arrangement information and luminance ratio information, such that image quality deterioration due to a color band in the boundary area between different pixel arrangement structures may be improved. 
     The invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.