Abstract:
A device for driving a display backlight, a method for driving a display backlight, and a display apparatus having a backlight driving device. The device, method, and display apparatus are capable of displaying a substantially uniform white light. A sensing unit senses light intensities for each of a plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements, and outputs sensing signals for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The signal processing unit processes the outputted sensing signals to output light intensity signals for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The control unit controls the light emitting elements to generate a substantially uniform white light by outputting driving signals based on the light intensity signals and a set of reference light intensity signals to control each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. Accordingly, increased uniformity of white light is provided.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2005-109946 filed on Nov. 17, 2005 and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 USC §119, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to electronic display devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device and method for driving a display backlight, as well as a display apparatus having a backlight driving device.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Generally, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are categorized as either reflective LCD panels or transmissive LCD panels. Reflective LCD panels display images using light that is incident on a front face of the panel which is then reflected by a rear face of the panel. Transmissive LCD panels display images using a transmitted light that is incident on a rear face of the panel and then transmitted through the panel. In accordance with the ambient environment, a reflective LCD panel may not receive a sufficient amount of incident light, and/or the incident light may not be uniform, thus providing a display having poor visibility. Accordingly, transmissive LCD panels having color filters are generally employed in applications where color display is required. Transmissive LCD panels provide a light transmission rate of about 4%, thus requiring use of a very bright light in order to achieve bright images. Accordingly, transmissive LCD panels may have increased power consumption due to display backlighting requirements. In addition, if the transmissive LCD panel uses color filters, then each pixel of the LCD panel contains sub-pixels as, for example, a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel. Thus, it may be difficult to manufacture the transmissive LCD panel to a required level of precision, and the resulting panel may not exhibit sufficient color purity.  
         [0006]     In order to solve the aforementioned shortcomings of transmissive LCD panels, field sequential color LCD panels have been developed. The field sequential color LCD panel operates in conjunction with a backlight having a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source. These color light sources are driven in a temporally offset manner to display color images. Field sequential color LCD panels do not use color filters and, therefore, only utilize colors of light as directly emitted by the color light sources. Thus, field sequential color LCD panels may provide good color purity and decreased power consumption due to their highly efficient utilization of light.  
         [0007]     However, field sequential color LCD panels do not display a substantially uniform white light because a red light, a green light and a blue light are not simultaneously projected from the red, green and blue light sources, but rather these sources are driven in a temporally offset manner. Accordingly, what is needed is a device and a method for displaying substantially uniform white light on an LCD panel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a device for driving a display backlight wherein the device is capable of generating a substantially uniform white light.  
         [0009]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method for driving a display backlight capable of generating a substantially uniform white light.  
         [0010]     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a display apparatus having a backlight driving device capable of displaying a substantially uniform white light.  
         [0011]     Further exemplary embodiments provide a backlight driving device for driving a display backlight. The backlight driving device sequentially drives each of a plurality of light emitting elements included in the backlight in accordance with one or more colors of light to be displayed. The backlight driving device includes a sensing unit, a signal processing unit and a control unit. The sensing unit senses light intensities for each of a plurality of colors of the light emitted by the light emitting elements and outputs sensing signals for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The signal processing unit processes the outputted sensing signals to output light intensity signals for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The control unit controls the light emitting elements to generate a substantially uniform white light by outputting driving signals to the light emitting elements for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The driving signals are based on at least one of the light intensity signals and a set of reference light intensity signals. Illustratively, the set of reference light intensity signals may be pre-stored in accordance with the colors emitted by the light emitting elements provided in the control unit.  
         [0012]     Further embodiments provide a method for driving a display backlight in which each of a plurality of light emitting elements included in the backlight are sequentially driven in accordance with one or more colors of light to be displayed. Light intensities are sensed for each of a plurality of colors emitted by the light emitting elements to output sensing signals for each of the plurality of colors emitted by the light emitting elements. The outputted sensing signals are processed to output light intensity signals for each of the plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements are controlled to generate a uniform white light using at least one of the light intensity signals and a set of reference light intensity signals that may be pre-stored in accordance with the colors emitted by the light emitting elements provided in the control unit.  
         [0013]     Further embodiments provide a display apparatus that includes an LCD display panel, a display backlight and a backlight driving device for driving the display backlight. The LCD display panel displays an image. The display backlight includes a plurality of light emitting elements for projecting color light to the LCD display panel. The backlight driving device sequentially drives the plurality of light emitting elements to display at least one color of light. The backlight driving device detects light intensities for each of a plurality of colors of light emitted by the light emitting elements and uses the detected light intensities to control the light emitting elements so that the light emitting elements will generate a uniform white light.  
         [0014]     According to illustrative embodiments, in a display apparatus that sequentially projects color lights into a display panel, the uniformity of the white light displayed by the panel may be enhanced. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary display apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing an illustrative display backlight for use with the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a timing diagram showing an illustrative method for driving the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a detailed block diagram showing an illustrative backlight driving device for use with the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a detailed block diagram setting forth illustrative implementations for each of a plurality of block drivers shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary timing diagram illustrating an operational sequence performed by the block drivers shown in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 7A  to  7 C are timing diagrams showing exemplary first, second and third pulse signals for use with the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a detailed block diagram showing exemplary implementations for each block driver of  FIG. 4  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a timing diagram illustrating an exemplary operation performed by the block driver of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary 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. In the drawings, the sizes and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity.  
         [0026]     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element or layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numerals refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.  
         [0027]     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 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 of the invention.  
         [0028]     Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.  
         [0029]     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 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, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.  
         [0030]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized exemplary embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, exemplary embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from an implanted region to a non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.  
         [0031]     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 invention 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.  
         [0032]     Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary display apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary display backlight for use with the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 . The exemplary display apparatus includes a timing control unit  110  ( FIG. 1 ), a driving voltage generating unit  120 , a reference gamma voltage generating unit  130 , a source driving unit  140 , a gate driving unit  150 , an LCD panel  160 , a backlight  170  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and a backlight driving device  180  ( FIG. 1 ). A control signal  101   a  and a data signal  101   b  ( FIG. 1 ) are inputted into the timing control unit  110 . The timing control unit  110  generates and outputs control signals for driving the display apparatus using the control signal  101   a . Illustratively, the control signals outputted from the timing control unit  110  include a first control signal  111   a  controlling the driving voltage generating unit  120 , a second control signal  111   b  controlling the source driving unit  140 , a third control signal  111   c  controlling the gate driving unit  150 , and a fourth control signal  111   d  controlling the backlight driving device  180 .  
         [0034]     Illustratively, the first control signal  111   a  includes a main clock signal. The second control signal  111   b  includes a horizontal start signal, a load signal and a reversal signal. The third control signal  111   c  includes a vertical start signal and a clock signal. The fourth control signal  111   d  includes a dimming signal that is a brightness control signal, and a lighting signal that is a lighting control signal.  
         [0035]     The driving voltage generating unit  120  generates driving voltages for driving the display apparatus. Illustratively, the driving voltage generating unit  120  outputs an analog driving voltage  121   a  to the reference gamma voltage generating unit  130 , outputs gate voltages  121   b  to the gate driving unit  150 , and outputs a common voltage  121   c  to the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0036]     The reference gamma voltage generating unit  130  generates and outputs a plurality of reference gamma voltages, wherein this plurality illustratively includes about 10 to 20 different reference gamma voltages  130   a  generated using the analog driving voltage  121   a  to the source driving unit  140 .  
         [0037]     The source driving unit  140  transforms a data signal  112  inputted from the timing control unit  110  into a data voltage. The source driving unit then outputs the data voltage. Illustratively, the source driving unit  140  transforms the data signal  112  into an analog data voltage using the second control signal  111   b  and the reference gamma voltages  130   a , and outputs the analog data voltage to the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0038]     The gate driving unit  150  generates gate signals using the third control signal  111   c  supplied by the timing control unit  110 , as well as the gate voltages  121   b  supplied by the driving voltage generating unit  120 , and outputs the generated gate signals to the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0039]     The LCD panel  160  has a first substrate including a plurality of pixel parts P defined with reference to a plurality of gate lines GL and a plurality of data lines DL, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal interposed between the first and second substrates. The second substrate does not have any color filter pattern corresponding to the pixel part P formed in the first substrate.  
         [0040]     Each pixel part P formed in the LCD panel  160  includes a switching element TFT connected to the gate line GL and the data line DL, a liquid capacitor CLC having a first terminal and a second terminal wherein the first terminal is connected to the switching element TFT, and a storage capacitor CST having a first terminal and a second terminal wherein the first terminal is connected to the switching element TFT. The common voltage  121   c  supplied by the driving voltage generating unit  120  is applied to the second terminal of the liquid capacitor CLC and to the second terminal of the storage capacitor CST.  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the backlight  170  has a plurality of blocks  171 ,  172 ,  173  and  174 , which are sequentially driven using one or more predetermined time offsets. Illustratively, the backlight  170  has four blocks or eight blocks.  
         [0042]     Illustratively, a first block  171  contains a plurality of light emitting elements including a first light emitting element  171   a  emitting a first light, a second light emitting element  171   b  emitting a second light, and a third light emitting element  171   c  emitting a third light. The first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  are driven using one or more predetermined time offsets to thereby sequentially generate the first, second and third lights, respectively.  
         [0043]     The backlight driving device  180  drives the backlight  170  using the dimming signal and the lighting signal, which are obtained from the fourth control signal  111   d , supplied by the timing control unit  110 . Additionally, the backlight driving unit  180  senses light intensities of the first, second and third lights projected from the backlight  170 , and corrects any errors of the sensed light intensities to control the backlight  170  so that a substantially uniform white light may be projected from the backlight  170 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  is a timing diagram illustrating a method for driving the display apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the display apparatus is driven using time frames, each of which is organized into a plurality of fields. For example, the timing control unit  110  drives the source driving unit  140 , the gate driving unit  150  and the backlight device  180  according to time frames each of which is organized into a first field FIELD 1 , a second field FIELD 2  and a third field FIELD 3 .  
         [0045]     The source driving unit  140  outputs a red data signal R-DATA corresponding to a first time frame  1 FRAME to the LCD panel  160  during the first field FIELD 1 . When the red data signal R-DATA for the first time frame  1 FRAME is outputted to the LCD panel  160 , the backlight driving device  180  is synchronized with the first field FIELD 1  to drive the first light emitting elements  171   a  of the backlight  170  during at least a portion of the first field FIELD 1 . Thus, while the red data signal R-DATA is outputted, the backlight  170  projects a red color light to the LCD panel  160  so that a red image may be displayed in the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0046]     The source driving unit  140  outputs a green data signal G-DATA corresponding to the first time frame  1 FRAME to the LCD panel  160  during the second field FIELD 2 . When the green data signal G-DATA of the first time frame  1 FRAME is outputted to the LCD panel  160 , the backlight driving device  180  is synchronized with the second field FIELD 2  to drive the second light emitting elements  171   b  of the backlight  170  during at least a portion of the second field FIELD 2 . Thus, while the green data signal G-DATA is outputted, the backlight  170  projects a green color light to the LCD panel  160  so that a green image may be displayed in the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0047]     The source driving unit  140  outputs a blue data signal B-DATA corresponding to the first time frame  1 FRAME to the LCD panel  160  during the third field FIELD 3 . When the blue data signal B-DATA of the first time frame  1 FRAME is outputted to the LCD panel  160 , the backlight driving device  180  is synchronized with the third field FIELD 3  to drive the third light emitting elements  171   c  of the backlight  170  during at least a portion of the third field FIELD 3 . Thus, while the blue data signal B-DATA is outputted, the backlight  170  projects a blue color light to the LCD panel  160  so that a blue image may be displayed in the LCD panel  160 .  
         [0048]     As a result, the red, the green and the blue images are displayed during a single frame, such as the first time frame  1 FRAME, so that color images may be displayed without forming a first single color (i.e., red) color pattern in a first frame, followed by a second single color (i.e., green) color pattern in a second frame, and a third single color (i.e., blue) color pattern in a third frame.  
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a detailed block diagram of the backlight driving device shown in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the backlight driving device  180  includes a plurality of block drivers for driving the backlight  170 . For example, when the backlight  170  includes a first block  171 , a second block  172 , a third block  173  and a fourth block  174 , the backlight driving device  180  includes a first block driver  181 , a second block driver  182 , a third block driver  183  and a fourth block driver  184  driving the first, second, third and the fourth blocks  171 ,  172 ,  173  and  174 , respectively.  
         [0050]     A dimming signal  111   d  _ 0 , that may be conceptualized as a brightness control signal, is inputted into the first, second, third and fourth block drivers  181 ,  182 ,  183  and  184 . In addition, a first lighting signal, a second lighting signal, a third lighting signal and a fourth lighting signal  111   d  _ 1 ,  111   d    2 ,  111   d  _ 3  and  11   d  _ 4  are sequentially inputted into the first, second, third and fourth block drivers  181 ,  182 ,  183  and  184 , respectively.  
         [0051]     The first block driver  181  sequentially drives the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  of the first block  171  using the dimming signal  111   d  _ 0  and the first lighting signal  111   d  _ 1 . Illustratively, the first block driver  181  drives the first block  171  by supplying a pulse width modulated source signal to the first block  171 .  
         [0052]     The first block driver  181  detects a first light intensity of a first light emitting element projected from the first block  171 , generating a first light intensity signal in response thereto. The first block driver  181  also detects a second light intensity of a second light emitting element projected from the first block  171 , generating a second light intensity signal in response thereto. Additionally, the first block driver  181  detects a third light intensity of a third light emitting element projected from the first block  171 , generating a third light intensity signal in response thereto. The first block driver  181  compares the first light intensity signal with a first reference light intensity signal, the second light intensity signal with a second reference light intensity signal, and the third light intensity signal with a third reference light intensity signal. The first, second, and third reference light intensity signals corresponding to white chromaticity coordinates, such that the first block driver  181  calculates an error value for each of the first, second and third light intensity signals. Illustratively, the first block driver  181  modulates the pulse width of a source signal received from the first block  171  using the aforementioned error values, to thereby generate a pulse width modulated output signal. In this manner the first block  171  is controlled to produce, a uniform white light. Likewise, the second, third and fourth block drivers  182 ,  183  and  184  drive the second, third and fourth blocks  172 ,  173  and  174 , respectively, so that the second, third and fourth blocks  172 ,  173  and  174  may project uniform white light.  
         [0053]      FIG. 5  is a detailed block diagram setting forth illustrative implementations for each of a plurality of block drivers shown in  FIG. 4  in accordance with exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A block driver  210  drives the first block  171 . The block driver  210  includes a switching unit  211 , a sensing unit  212 , a signal processing unit  213  and a control unit  214 . For illustrative purposes, the first block  171  includes a first light emitting element  171   a , a second light emitting element  171   b , and a third light emitting element  171   c.    
         [0054]     The switching unit  211  includes a first switch  211   a , a second switch  211   b  and a third switch  211   c . The first switch  211   a  controls a lighting time of the first light emitting element  171   a  in response to a first pulse signal, the second switch  211   b  controls a lighting time of the second light emitting element  171   b  in response to a second pulse signal, and the third switch  211   c  controls a lighting time of the third light emitting element  171   c  in response to a third pulse signal. Illustratively, he first, second and third pulse signals are provided in the form of pulse width modulated source signals.  
         [0055]     The sensing unit  212  includes a first sensor  212   a , a second sensor  212   b  and a third sensor  212   c . The first sensor  212   a  detects a light intensity of the first light emitting element  171   a  and outputs a first sensing signal. The second sensor  212   b  detects a light intensity of the second light emitting element  171   b  and outputs a second sensing signal. The third sensor  212   c  detects a light intensity of the third light emitting element  171   c  and outputs a third sensing signal.  
         [0056]     The signal processing unit  213  includes a first filter  213   a , a second filter  213   b  and a third filter  213   c . Illustratively, the first, second and third filters  213   a ,  213   b  and  213   c  include low pass filters for reducing or eliminating high frequency components. For example, the first filter  213   a  reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the first sensing signal to output a first lowpass-filtered light intensity signal, the second filter  213   b  reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the second sensing signal to output a second lowpass-filtered light intensity signal, and the third filter  213   c  reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the third sensing signal to output a third lowpass-filtered light intensity signal.  
         [0057]     The control unit  214  controls operation of the block driver  210  such that the block driver  210  operates in a driving mode or in a correction mode or both. In the driving mode, the control unit  214  supplies the first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c  with the first, second and third pulse signals to drive the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c . In the correction mode, the control unit  214  compares the first, second and third reference light intensity signals with the first, second and third lowpass-filtered light intensity signals outputted from the first, second and third filters  213   a ,  213   b  and  213   c , respectively, to apply a correction by reducing, minimizing, or eliminating the aforementioned error values for the first, second and third light intensity signals. The control unit  214  generates a first corrected pulse signal, a second corrected pulse signal and a third corrected pulse signal corresponding to the first, second and third light intensity signals, respectively. Illustratively, he first, second and third reference light intensity signals are pre-stored in the control unit  214  in the form of data specifying white chromaticity coordinates. The first, second and third corrected pulse signals may be generated using source signals for which pulse widths are modulated in a manner so as to correct or minimize the aforementioned error values.  
         [0058]     The first, second and third corrected pulse signals generated by the control unit  214  are supplied to the first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c , respectively, to turn on the first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c , respectively, so that the lighting times of the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  may be controlled. As a result, the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  are illuminated in response to the first, second and third corrected pulse signals to generate a substantially uniform white light.  
         [0059]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary timing diagram illustrating an operational sequence performed by the block drivers shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 7A  to  7 C are timing diagrams showing exemplary first, second and third pulse signals for use with the illustrative configuration of  FIG. 5 . Referring to  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7 A to  7 C, the control unit  214  ( FIG. 5 ) supplies the first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c  with a first initial pulse signal PW 1  ( FIG. 7A ), a second initial pulse signal PW 2  ( FIG. 7B ) and a third initial pulse signal PW 3  ( FIG. 7C ), respectively. The first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c  ( FIG. 5 ) illuminate the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  in response to the first, second and third initial pulse signals PW 1 , PW 2 , and PW 3 , respectively. That is, the first light emitting element  171   a  projects a first light R_L ( FIG. 6 ) during a first field F 1 , the second light emitting element  171   b  projects a second light G_L during a second field F 2 , and the third light emitting element  171   c  projects a third light B_L during a third field F 3 , per each time frame such as the first frame  1 FRAME.  
         [0060]     The first sensor  212   a  ( FIG. 5 ) detects a light intensity of the first light R_L ( FIG. 6 ) during the first field F 1  to output a first sensing signal SOUT_R. The second sensor  212   b  ( FIG. 5 ) detects a light intensity of the second light G_L ( FIG. 6 ) during the second field F 2  to output a second sensing signal SOUT_G. The third sensor  212   c  ( FIG. 5 ) detects a light intensity of the third light B_L ( FIG. 6 ) during the third field F 3  to output a third sensing signal SOUT_B. Illustratively, first light R_L could, but need not, represent a red light. Similarly, second light G_L could, but need not, represent a green light, and third light B_L could, but need not, represent a blue light.  
         [0061]     The first filter  213   a  ( FIG. 5 ) reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the first sensing signal SOUT_R ( FIG. 6 ) to output a first lowpass-filtered light intensity signal R_Lev, the second filter  213   b  ( FIG. 5 ) reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the second sensing signal SOUT_G ( FIG. 6 ) to output a second lowpass-filtered light intensity signal G_Lev, and the third filter  213   c  ( FIG. 5 ) reduces or eliminates high-frequency components of the third sensing signal SOUT_B ( FIG. 6 ) to output a third lowpass-filtered light intensity signal B_Lev.  
         [0062]     The control unit  214  ( FIG. 5 ) corrects any errors in the first, second and third lowpass-filtered light intensity signals R_Lev, G_Lev and B_Lev ( FIG. 6 ) during an error detecting period ERROR_D. The control unit  214  ( FIG. 5 ) compares the first, second and third light intensity signals R_Lev, G_Lev and B_Lev ( FIG. 6 ) with the first, second and third reference light intensity signals, respectively, illustratively pre-stored in the control unit  214  ( FIG. 5 ), to obtain a first error value, a second error value and a third error value for the first, second and third light intensity signals, respectively.  
         [0063]     The control unit  214  ( FIG. 5 ) generates a first corrected pulse signal PW_C 1  ( FIG. 7A ), a second corrected pulse signal PW_C 2  ( FIG. 7B ) and a third corrected pulse signal PW_C 3  ( FIG. 7C ). The first corrected pulse signal PW_C 1  ( FIG. 7A ) is generated using the first error value, the second corrected pulse signal PW_C 2  ( FIG. 7B ) is generated using the second error value, and the third corrected pulse signal PW_C 3  ( FIG. 7C ) is generated using the third error value. The first, second and third corrected pulse signals PW_C 1 , PW_C 2  and PW_C 3  ( FIGS. 7A-7C ) are fed to the first, second and third switches  211   a ,  211   b  and  211   c  ( FIG. 5 ), respectively. Thus, the first, second and third light emitting elements  171   a ,  171   b  and  171   c  project substantially uniform white light in response to the first, second and third corrected pulse signals PW_C 1 , PW_C 2  and PW_C 3  ( FIGS. 7A-7C ).  
         [0064]      FIG. 8  is a detailed block diagram showing exemplary implementations for each block driver of  FIG. 4  in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A block driver  230  is utilized to drive a block  271 . The block driver  230  includes a switching unit  231 , a sensing unit  232 , a signal processing unit  233  and a control unit  234 . A block  271  includes a first light emitting element  271   a , a second light emitting element  271   b  and a third light emitting element  271   c.    
         [0065]     The switching unit  231  includes a first switch  231   a , a second switch  231   b  and a third switch  231   c . The first switch  231   a  controls a lighting time of the first light emitting element  271   a  in response to a first pulse signal. The second switch  231   b  controls a lighting time of the second light emitting element  271   b  in response to a second pulse signal. The third switch  231   c  controls a lighting time of the third light emitting element  271   c  in response to a third pulse signal. Illustratively, the first, second and third pulse signals are pulse width modulated signals.  
         [0066]     The sensing unit  232  detects a light intensity of the first light emitting element  271   a  and outputs a first sensing signal. In addition, the sensing unit  232  detects a light intensity of the second light emitting element  271   b  and outputs a second sensing signal. Further, the sensing unit  232  detects a light intensity of the third light emitting element  271   c  and outputs a third sensing signal.  
         [0067]     The signal processing unit  233  includes a first processor  233   a , a second processor  233   b  and a third processor  233   c . Illustratively, each of the first, second and third processor  233   a ,  233   b  and  233   c  includes a sample and hold (S/H) circuit that samples inputted signals and holds the sampled signals. For example, a first S/H circuit  233   a  samples and holds the first sensing signal to output a first light intensity signal having a first level, a second S/H circuit  233   b  samples and holds the second sensing signal to output a second light intensity signal having a second level, and a third S/H circuit  233   c  samples and holds the third sensing signal to output a third light intensity signal having a third level.  
         [0068]     The control unit  234  controls operation of the block driver  230 , so as to operate the block driver  230  in a driving mode or a correction mode or both.  
         [0069]     In the driving mode, the control unit  234  supplies the first, second and third switches  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c  with the first, second and third pulse signals to drive the first, second and third light emitting elements  271   a ,  271   b  and  271   c . In the correction mode, the control unit  234  compares a respective first reference light intensity signal, a respective second reference light intensity signal and a respective third reference light intensity signal with corresponding first, second and third light intensity signals that are held and outputted by the first, second and third S/H circuits, and corrects any errors in the first, second and third light intensity signals. The control unit  234  generates a first corrected pulse signal, a second corrected pulse signal and a third corrected pulse signal corresponding to the first, second and third light intensity signals, respectively. Illustratively, the first, second and third reference light intensity signals may be pre-stored in the control unit  234 . The first, second, and third reference light intensity signals include data specifying substantially white chromaticity coordinates.  
         [0070]     The first, second and third corrected pulse signals generated by the control unit  234  are supplied to the first, second and third switches  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c , respectively, to control the lighting times of the first, second and third light emitting elements  271   a ,  271   b  and  271   c . As a result, the first, second and third light emitting elements  271   a ,  271   b  and  271   c  are illuminated in response to the first, second and third corrected pulse signals to thereby generate substantially uniform white light.  
         [0071]      FIG. 9  is a timing diagram illustrating an exemplary operation performed by the block driver of  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIGS. 7A  to  9 , the control unit  234  ( FIG. 8 ) supplies the first, second and third switches  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c  with a first initial pulse signal PW 1  ( FIG. 7A ), a second initial pulse signal PW 2  ( FIG. 7B ), and a third initial pulse signal PW 3  ( FIG. 7C ), respectively. The first, second and third switches  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c  ( FIG. 8 ) illuminate the first, second and third light emitting elements  271   a ,  271   b  and  271   c  in response to the first, second and third initial pulse signals PW 1  ( FIG. 7A ), PW 2  ( FIG. 7B ), and PW 3  ( FIG. 7C ), respectively. The first light emitting element  271   a  ( FIG. 8 ) projects a first light R_L ( FIG. 9 ) during a first field F 1 , the second light emitting element  271   b  ( FIG. 8 ) projects a second light G_L ( FIG. 9 ) during a second field F 2 , and the third light emitting element  271   c  ( FIG. 8 ) projects a third light B_L ( FIG. 9 ) during a third field F 3 , during each of a plurality of time frames such as a first time frame  1 FRAME.  
         [0072]     The sensing unit  232  ( FIG. 8 ) detects a light intensity of the first light R_L ( FIG. 9 ) and outputs a first sensing signal SOUT_R during the first field F 1 . In addition, the sensing unit  232  ( FIG. 8 ) detects a light intensity of the second light G_L ( FIG. 9 ) during the second field F 2  and outputs a second sensing signal SOUT_G. Further, the sensing unit  232  ( FIG. 8 ) detects a light intensity of the third light B_L ( FIG. 9 ) and outputs a third sensing signal SOUT_B.  
         [0073]     The first S/H circuit  233   a  ( FIG. 8 ) samples and holds the first sensing signal SOUT_R to output a first light intensity signal R_Lev having a first level, a second S/H circuit  233   b  samples and holds the second sensing signal SOUT_G to output a second light intensity signal G_Lev having a second level, and a third S/H circuit  233   c  samples and holds the third sensing signal SOUT_B to output a third light intensity signal B_Lev having a third level.  
         [0074]     The control unit  234  ( FIG. 8 ) corrects any errors in the first, second and third light intensity signals R_Lev, G_Lev and B_Lev ( FIG. 9 ) as these light intensity signals are substantially simultaneously outputted from the first, second and third S/H circuits  233   a ,  233   b  and  233   c  ( FIG. 8 ) during an error detecting period ERROR_D ( FIG. 9 ). Illustratively, the control unit  234  ( FIG. 8 ) compares the first, second and third light intensity signals R_Lev, G_Lev and B_Lev ( FIG. 9 ) inputted into the control unit  234  ( FIG. 8 ) with the first, second and third reference light intensity signals, respectively, that are pre-stored in the control unit  234 , to obtain a first error value, a second error value and a third error value corresponding, respectively, to the first, second and third light intensity signals.  
         [0075]     The control unit  234  generates a first corrected pulse signal PW_C 1  ( FIG. 7A ), a second corrected pulse signal PW_C 2  ( FIG. 7B ) and a third corrected pulse signal PW_C 3  ( FIG. 7C ) each of which is corrected using the first, second and third error values, respectively, to output the first, second and third corrected pulse signals PW_C 1  ( FIG. 7A ), PW_C 2  ( FIG. 7B ), and PW_C 3  ( FIG. 7C ) to the first, second and third switches  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c  ( FIG. 8 ), respectively. Thus, the first, second and third light emitting elements  271   a ,  271   b  and  271   c  will project a substantially uniform white light in response to the first, second and third corrected pulse signals PW_C 1  ( FIG. 7A ), PW_C 2  ( FIG. 7B ), and PW_C 3  ( FIG. 7C ).  
         [0076]     According to the present invention, a field sequential color display apparatus provides a substantially uniform white light by sensing and correcting light intensities of lights sequentially projected from a light emitting unit.  
         [0077]     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications may be made with respect to the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are deemed to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover not only the structures described herein as performing the recited function, but also functional equivalents and equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. Many modifications can be made to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, and these as well as other exemplary embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The present invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.