Patent Publication Number: US-9837039-B2

Title: Method of driving display panel, timing controller for performing the method, and display apparatus having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0113423, filed on Aug. 28, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to a display device, and more particularly, to a method of driving a display panel, a timing controller for performing the method, and a display apparatus including the timing controller. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
     A display apparatus includes a display panel, a timing controller, a data driver, and a gate driver. The timing controller may generate compensated data based on input image data received from an external device and output the compensated data to the data driver. 
     The timing controller may generate the compensated data based on a look-up table corresponding to the input image. 
     SUMMARY 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a method of driving a display panel. According to the method, first compensated data and second compensated data are generated based on input image data. The first compensated data is outputted to a data driver during a first frame. First smoothing data is outputted to the data driver during a second frame subsequent to the first frame. The first smoothing data has a value between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data. The second compensated data is outputted to the data driver during an n-th frame subsequent to the second frame, where n is a natural number greater than two. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, second smoothing data through (n−2)-th smoothing data may be outputted to the data driver during a third frame through an (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first smoothing data and the value of the second compensated data. The third frame through the (n−1)-th frame are between the second frame and the n-th frame. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a value of (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or smaller than a value of the (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame subsequent to the (n−2)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is greater than the value of the first smoothing data. The value of the (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or greater than the value of the (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a temperature value of the display panel may be measured. The first compensated data and the second compensated data may be generated based on the measured temperature value. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data may be compared with a reference value. The first compensated data may be outputted to the data driver during the first frame and the second compensated data may be outputted to the data driver during the second frame when the first difference is smaller than the reference value. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, n may be determined based on a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, n may increase when the first difference increases. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a timing controller. The timing controller includes a compensating part and a smoothing part. The compensating part is configured to generate first compensated data and second compensated data based on input image data. The smoothing part is configured to output the first compensated data during a first frame, to output first smoothing data during a second frame subsequent to the first frame, and to output the second compensated data during an n-th frame subsequent to the second frame (where n is a natural number greater than two). The first smoothing data has a value between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may be configured to output second smoothing data through (n−2)-th smoothing data during a third frame through an (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first smoothing data and the value of the second compensated data. The third frame through the (n−1)-th frame may be between the second frame and the n-th frame. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a value of the (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to a (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or smaller than a value of (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame subsequent to the (n−2)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is greater than the value of the first smoothing data. The value of the (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or greater than the value of the (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may include a reference value comparing part. The reference value comparing part may be configured to compare a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data with a reference value. The first compensated data may be outputted during the first frame. The second compensated data may be outputted during the second frame when the first difference is smaller than the reference value. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may include a smoothing period determining part. The smoothing period determining part may be configured to determine a value of the n based on a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a display apparatus. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a timing controller, and a data driver. The display panel is configured to display an image. The data driver is configured to output a data voltage to the display panel based on first compensated data, first smoothing data, and second compensated data. The timing controller includes a compensating part and a smoothing part. The compensating part is configured to generate the first compensated data and the second compensated data based on input image data. The smoothing part is configured to output the first compensated data to the data driver during a first frame, to output the first smoothing data to the data driver during a second frame subsequent to the first frame, and to output the second compensated data to the data driver during an n-th frame subsequent to the second frame (where n is a natural number greater than two). The first smoothing data has a value between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may be configured to output second smoothing data through (n−2)-th smoothing data to the data driver during a third frame through an (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first smoothing data and the value of the second compensated data. The third frame through the (n−1)-th frame may be between the second frame and the n-th frame. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, a value of the (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or smaller than a value of (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame subsequent to the (n−2)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is greater than the value of the first smoothing data. The value of the (n−3)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−2)-th frame may be equal to or greater than the value of the (n−2)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (n−1)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the display apparatus may further include a measuring part. The measuring part may be configured to measure a temperature value of the display panel. The compensating part may be configured to generate the first compensated data and the second compensated data based on the measured temperature value. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may include a reference value comparing part. The reference value comparing part may be configured to compare a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data with a reference value. The first compensated data may be outputted to the data driver during the first frame and the second compensated data may be outputted to the data driver during the second frame when the first difference is smaller than the reference value. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part may include a smoothing period determining part. The smoothing period determining part may be configured to determine a value of the n based on a first difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept provides a method of driving a display panel. The method includes generating first compensated data and second compensated data based on input image data, comparing a first difference between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data with a reference value, outputting the first compensated data to a data driver during a first frame, outputting first smoothing data and the second compensated data to the data driver during a second frame and an n-th frame (where, n is a natural number greater than two), respectively when the first difference is greater than the reference value, and outputting the second compensated data to the data driver during the second frame when the first difference is smaller than the reference value. The second frame is subsequent to the first frame, and the n-th frame is subsequent to the second frame. The first compensated data has a value between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the method may further include measuring a temperature value of the display panel. The first compensated data and the second compensated data may be generated based on the measured temperature value. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of the present inventive concept will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a timing controller in  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3A  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3B  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 3C  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4A  is a table illustrating a plurality of compensated data corresponding to a first frame and a second frame, respectively in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4B  is a table illustrating a plurality of compensated data corresponding to a first frame through an n-th frame, respectively in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4C  is a table illustrating a plurality of compensated data corresponding to a first frame through an n-th frame, respectively in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 4D  is a table illustrating a plurality of the compensated data in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a timing controller in  FIG. 5  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the display apparatus includes a display panel  100  and a panel driver. The panel driver includes a timing controller  200 , a gate driver  300 , a gamma reference voltage generator  400 , and a data driver  500 . 
     The display panel  100  includes a display region for displaying an image and a peripheral region adjacent to the display region. 
     The display panel  100  includes a plurality of gate lines GL, a plurality of data lines DL, and a plurality of pixels which is connected to the gate lines GL and the data lines DL. The gate lines GL extend in a first direction D 1  and the data lines DL extend in a second direction D 2  crossing the first direction D 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, each of the pixels includes a switching element, a liquid crystal capacitor, and a storage capacitor. The liquid crystal capacitor and the storage capacitor are electrically connected to the switching element. The pixels may be arranged in a matrix configuration. 
     The timing controller  200  receives input image data RGB and an input control signal CONT from an external device. The input image data RGB may include red image data R, green image data G, and blue image data B. The input control signal CONT may include a master clock signal and a data enable signal. The input control signal CONT may further include a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates a first control signal CONT 1 , a second control signal CONT 2 , a third control signal CONT 3 , and a data signal DATA based on the input image data RGB and the input control signal CONT. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the first control signal CONT 1  for controlling operations of the gate driver  300  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the first control signal CONT 1  to the gate driver  300 . The first control signal CONT 1  may include a vertical start signal and a gate clock signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the second control signal CONT 2  for controlling operations of the data driver  500  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the second control signal CONT 2  to the data driver  500 . The second control signal CONT 2  may include a horizontal start signal and a load signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the data signal DATA based on the input image data RGB. The timing controller  200  outputs the data signal DATA to the data driver  500 . 
     The timing controller  200  generates the third control signal CONT 3  for controlling operations of the gamma reference voltage generator  400  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the third control signal CONT 3  to the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . 
     The timing controller  200  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     The gate driver  300  generates gate signals for driving the gate lines GL in response to the first control signal CONT 1  received from the timing controller  200 . The gate driver  300  sequentially outputs the gate signals to the gate lines GL. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gate driver  300  may be directly mounted on the display panel  100 , or may be connected to the display panel  100  as a tape carrier package (TCP) type. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gate driver  300  may be integrated on the peripheral region of the display panel  100 . 
     The gamma reference voltage generator  400  generates a gamma reference voltage VGREF in response to the third control signal CONT 3  received from the timing controller  200 . The gamma reference voltage generator  400  outputs the gamma reference voltage VGREF to the data driver  500 . The level of the gamma reference voltage VGREF corresponds to each grayscale of a plurality of pixel data included in the data signal DATA. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gamma reference voltage generator may be disposed in the timing controller  200 , or may be disposed in the data driver  500 . 
     The data driver  500  receives the second control signal CONT 2  and the data signal DATA from the timing controller  200 , and receives the gamma reference voltage VGREF from the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . The data driver  500  converts the data signal DATA to data voltages having analogue levels based on the gamma reference voltage VGREF. The data driver  500  outputs the data voltages to the data lines DL. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the data driver  500  may be directly mounted on the display panel  100 , or may be connected to the display panel  100  as a tape carrier package (TCP) type. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the data driver  500  may be integrated on the peripheral region of the display panel  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a timing controller in  FIG. 1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the timing controller  200  includes a compensating part  220 , a smoothing part  240 , and a control signal generator  260 . 
     The compensating part  220  generates grayscale data based on the input image data RGB received from an external device. The compensating part  220  generates compensated data DATA′ based on the grayscale data. 
     For example, the compensating part  220  generates first grayscale data corresponding to a first frame and a second frame subsequent to the first frame based on the input image data RGB. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the compensating part  220  generates first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data, and the compensating part  220  generates second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The compensating part  220  may refer to a look-up table when generating the compensated data DATA′. For example, the compensating part  220  may refer to a first look-up table when generating the first compensated data. The compensating part  220  may refer to a second look-up table when generating the second compensated data. 
     The compensating part  220  outputs the compensated data DATA′ to the smoothing part  240 . 
     The smoothing part  240  smoothes the compensated data DATA′ received from the compensating part  220 , and outputs the data signal DATA to the data driver  500 . 
     For example, the compensating part  220  generates the first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  220  generates the second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part  240  may output the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame. In addition, the smoothing part  240  may output first smoothing data having a first value to the data driver  500  during the second frame. The first value of the first smoothing data may be a value between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data. The first value of the first smoothing data may be equal to the value of the first compensated data or the value of the second compensated data. The smoothing part  240  may output the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during an n-th frame subsequent to the second frame where n is a natural number. 
     The smoothing part  240  may output second smoothing data through (n−2)-th smoothing data to the data driver  500  during a third frame through an (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may a value between the value of the first smoothing data and the value of the second compensated data. A value of k-th smoothing data corresponding to a (k+1)-th frame is equal to or smaller than a value of (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to a (k+2)-th frame (where, k is a natural number equal to or greater than two, and equal to or smaller than (n−3)) when the value of the second compensated data is greater than the value of the first smoothing data. The value of the k-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+1)-th frame is equal to or greater than the value of the (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+2)-th frame when the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data. 
     Each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded to the nearest integer. For example, each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded down to units. The value of the first smoothing data through the value of the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded up to units. 
     The smoothing part  240  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C . 
     The control signal generator  260  generates the first control signal CONT 1 , the second control signal CONT 2 , and the third control signal CONT 3  received from an external device. The control signal generator  260  outputs the first control signal CONT 1  to the gate driver  300 . The control signal generator  260  outputs the second control signal CONT 2  to the data driver  500 . The control signal generator  260  outputs the third control signal CONT 3  to the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3A , the smoothing part  240  may include a reference value comparing part  241  and a smoothing signal generator  243 . 
     The compensating part  220  generates the first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  220  generates the second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The reference value comparing part  241  compares a difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data with a reference value. 
     When the difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the reference value, the smoothing signal generator  243  outputs the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame, and outputs the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the second frame. 
     When the difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data is greater than the reference value, the smoothing signal generator  243  outputs the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame, outputs the first smoothing data to the data driver  500  during the second frame subsequent to the first frame, and outputs the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the n-th frame. The first smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
       FIG. 3B  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3B , the smoothing part  240  may include a smoothing period determining part  242  and the smoothing signal generator  243 . 
     The compensating part  220  generates the first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  220  generates the second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The smoothing period determining part  242  determines a value of n, which is a natural number, based on the difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. For example, n may increase as the difference increases, and n may decrease as the difference decreases. 
     The smoothing signal generator  243  outputs the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame, outputs the first smoothing data to the data driver  500  during the second frame, and outputs the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the n-th frame subsequent to the second frame. The first smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
       FIG. 3C  is a block diagram of a smoothing part in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3C , the smoothing part  240  may include the reference value comparing part  241 , the smoothing period determining part  242 , and the smoothing signal generator  243 . 
     The compensating part  220  generates the first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  220  generates the second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The reference value comparing part  241  compares the difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data with the reference value. 
     The smoothing period determining part  242  determines a value of n, which is a positive number, based on the difference between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. For example, n may increase as the difference increases, and n may decrease as the difference decreases. 
     When the difference is smaller than the reference value, the smoothing signal generator  243  outputs the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame, and outputs the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the second frame. 
     When the difference is greater than the reference value, the smoothing signal generator  243  outputs the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame, outputs the first smoothing data to the data driver  500  during the second frame, and outputs the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the n-th frame subsequent to the second frame. The first smoothing data has the value between the value of the first compensated data and the value of the second compensated data. 
       FIG. 4A  is a table illustrating a plurality of compensated data corresponding to a first frame and a second frame, respectively in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.  FIG. 4B  is a table illustrating a plurality of the compensated data corresponding to a first frame through an n-th frame in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.  FIG. 4C  is a table illustrating a plurality of the compensated data corresponding to a first frame through an n-th frame in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.  FIG. 4D  is a table illustrating a plurality of the compensated data in  FIG. 2  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D , the compensating part  220  generates the first compensated data C 1  corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  220  generates the second compensated data C 2  corresponding to the second frame subsequent to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The compensating part  220  outputs the first compensated data C 1  and the second compensated data C 2  to the smoothing part  240 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the smoothing part  240  may output the first compensated data C 1  to the data driver  500  during the first frame. The smoothing part  240  may output the first smoothing data SC 1  to the data driver  500  during the second frame. The value of the first smoothing data SC 1  may be equal to the value of the first compensated data C 1  or the value of the second compensated data C 2 . The smoothing part  240  may output the second compensated data C 2  to the data driver  500  during the n-th frame subsequent to the second frame. 
     The smoothing part  240  may output the second smoothing data SC 2  through the (n−2)-th smoothing data to the data driver  500  during the third frame through the (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data SC 2  through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first smoothing data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data C 2 . Each of the second smoothing data SC 2  through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value equal to the value of the first smoothing data SC 1  or the value of the second compensated data C 2 . 
     When the value of the second compensated data C 2  is greater than the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , the value of the k-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+1)-th frame is equal to or smaller than the value of the (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+2)-th frame. For example, when the value of the second compensated data C 2  is greater than the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , the value of the second smoothing data SC 2  corresponding to the third frame may be greater than or equal to the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , and a value of third smoothing data SC 3  corresponding to a fourth frame may be greater than or equal to the value of the second smoothing data SC 2 . 
     When the value of the second compensated data C 2  is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , the value of the k-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+1)-th frame is equal to or greater than the value of the (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+2)-th frame. For example, when the value of the second compensated data C 2  is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , the value of the second smoothing data SC 2  corresponding to the third frame may be smaller than or equal to the value of the first smoothing data SC 1 , and the value of the third smoothing data SC 3  corresponding to the fourth frame may be smaller than or equal to the value of the second smoothing data SC 2 . 
     Each of the values of the first smoothing data SC 1  through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded to the nearest integer. Each of the values of the first smoothing data SC 1  through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded down to units. Each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded up to units. 
     The smoothing period determining part  242  may determine a value of n, which is a positive number, based on the difference between the value of the first compensated data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data SC 2 . For example, n may increase as the difference between the value of the first compensated data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data SC 2  increases, and n may decrease as the difference between the value of the first compensated data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data SC 2  decreases. For example, n may be 480 when the difference between the value of the first compensated data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data SC 2  is 22 grayscale, and n may be 240 when the difference between the value of the first compensated data SC 1  and the value of the second compensated data SC 2  is 11 grayscale. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, n may be 240 when the difference is 22 grayscale, and n may be 120 when the difference is 11 grayscale. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept.  FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a timing controller in  FIG. 5  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the display apparatus includes a display panel  100  and a panel driver. The panel driver includes a timing controller  201 , a gate driver  300 , a gamma reference voltage generator  400 , a data driver  500 , and a measuring part  600 . 
     The display panel  100  includes a display region for displaying an image and a peripheral region adjacent to the display region. 
     The display panel  100  includes a plurality of gate lines GL, a plurality of data lines DL, and a plurality of pixels connected to the gate lines GL and the data lines DL. The gate lines GL extend in the first direction D 1  and the data lines DL extend in the second direction D 2  crossing the first direction D 1 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the pixels each include a switching element, a liquid crystal capacitor, and a storage capacitor. The liquid crystal capacitor and the storage capacitor are electrically connected to the switching element. The pixels may be arranged in a matrix configuration. 
     The measuring part  600  measures external data, and generates a measurement value A. The measurement value A may be a temperature of the display panel  100 . The measuring part  600  outputs the measurement value A to the timing controller  201 . 
     The timing controller  201  receives the input image data RGB and the input control signal CONT from an external device. The timing controller  201  receives the measurement value A from the measuring part  600 . The measurement value A may be a temperature of the display panel  100 . The input image data RGB may include the red image data R, the green image data G, and the blue image data B. The input control signal CONT may include the master clock signal and the data enable signal. The input control signal CONT may further include the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the first control signal CONT 1 , the second control signal CONT 2 , the third control signal CONT 3 , and the data signal DATA based on the measurement value A, the input image data RGB and the input control signal CONT. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the first control signal CONT 1  for controlling the operations of the gate driver  300  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the first control signal CONT 1  to the gate driver  300 . The first control signal CONT 1  may include the vertical start signal and the gate clock signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the second control signal CONT 2  for controlling the operations of the data driver  500  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the second control signal CONT 2  to the data driver  500 . The second control signal CONT 2  may include the horizontal start signal and the load signal. 
     The timing controller  200  generates the data signal DATA based on the input image data RGB and the measurement value A. The timing controller  200  outputs the data signal DATA to the data driver  500 . 
     The timing controller  200  includes a compensating part  221 , the smoothing part  240  and the control signal generator  260 . 
     The compensating part  221  generates grayscale data based on the input image data RGB and the measurement value A. The compensating part  221  generates compensated data DATA′ based on the grayscale data. 
     For example, the compensating part  221  generates first grayscale data corresponding to the first frame and the second frame subsequent to the first frame based on the input image data RGB and the measurement value A. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the compensating part  221  generates first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  221  generates second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. 
     The compensating part  221  may refer to a look-up table when generating the compensated data DATA′. For example, the compensating part  221  may refer to a first look-up table when generating the first compensated data. The compensating part  221  may refer to a second look-up table when generating the second compensated data. 
     The compensating part  221  outputs the compensated data DATA′ to the smoothing part  240 . 
     The smoothing part  240  smoothes the compensated data DATA′ received from the compensating part  221 , and outputs the data signal DATA to the data driver  500 . 
     For example, the compensating part  221  generates the first compensated data corresponding to the first frame based on the first grayscale data. The compensating part  221  generates the second compensated data corresponding to the second frame based on the first grayscale data. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the smoothing part  240  may output the first compensated data to the data driver  500  during the first frame. The smoothing part  240  may output first smoothing data having a value between a value of the first compensated data and a value of the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during the second frame. The value of the first smoothing data may be equal to the value of the first compensated data or the value of the second compensated data. The smoothing part  240  may output the second compensated data to the data driver  500  during an n-th frame subsequent to the second frame where n is a natural number. 
     The smoothing part  240  may output second smoothing data through (n−2)-th smoothing data to the data driver  500  during a third frame through an (n−1)-th frame, respectively. Each of the second smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may have a value between the value of the first smoothing data and the value of the second compensated data. For example, when the value of the second compensated data is greater than the value of the first smoothing data, a value of k-th smoothing data corresponding to a (k+1)-th frame is equal to or smaller than a value of (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to a (k+2)-th frame, where k is a natural number equal to or greater than two, and equal to or smaller than (n−3). For example, when the value of the second compensated data is smaller than the value of the first smoothing data, the value of the k-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+1)-th frame is equal to or greater than the value of the (k+1)-th smoothing data corresponding to the (k+2)-th frame. 
     Each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded to the nearest integer. Each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded down to units. Each of the values of the first smoothing data through the (n−2)-th smoothing data may be rounded up to units. 
     The control signal generator  260  generates the first control signal CONT 1 , the second control signal CONT 2 , and the third control signal CONT 3  received from an external device. The control signal generator  260  outputs the first control signal CONT 1  to the gate driver  300 . The control signal generator  260  outputs the second control signal CONT 2  to the data driver  500 . The control signal generator  260  outputs the third control signal CONT 3  to the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . 
     The timing controller  200  generates the third control signal CONT 3  for controlling the operations of the gamma reference voltage generator  400  based on the input control signal CONT, and outputs the third control signal CONT 3  to the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . 
     The gate driver  300  generates the gate signals for driving the gate lines GL in response to the first control signal CONT 1  received from the timing controller  200 . The gate driver  300  sequentially outputs the gate signals to the gate lines GL. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gate driver  300  may be directly mounted on the display panel  100 , or may be connected to the display panel  100  as the tape carrier package (TCP) type. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gate driver  300  may be integrated on the peripheral region of the display panel  100 . 
     The gamma reference voltage generator  400  generates the gamma reference voltage VGREF in response to the third control signal CONT 3  received from the timing controller  200 . The gamma reference voltage generator  400  outputs the gamma reference voltage VGREF to the data driver  500 . The level of the gamma reference voltage VGREF corresponds to each grayscale of the plurality of pixel data included in the data signal DATA. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the gamma reference voltage generator may be disposed in the timing controller  200 , or may be disposed in the data driver  500 . 
     The data driver  500  receives the second control signal CONT 2  and the data signal DATA from the timing controller  200 , and receives the gamma reference voltage VGREF from the gamma reference voltage generator  400 . The data driver  500  converts the data signal DATA to data voltages having analogue levels based on the gamma reference voltage VGREF. The data driver  500  outputs the data voltages to the data lines DL. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the data driver  500  may be directly mounted on the display panel  100 , or may be connected to the display panel  100  as the tape carrier package (TCP) type. In an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, the data driver  500  may be integrated on the peripheral region of the display panel  100 . 
     As described above, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concept, when a value of compensated data changes rapidly, the rapid change may be smoothened, and thus, a display quality may be increased. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present inventive concept. The present inventive concept should not to be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concept have been described, it will be understood that various modifications in form and details may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventive concept as defined in the claims.