PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-10762836-B1
Application Number: US-201615275023-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Electronic display emission scanning using row drivers and microdrivers

Abstract:
An electronic display row drivers or column drivers that send reference currents or voltages to microdrivers to be used to drive micropixels to particular levels. The microdrivers, in turn, ship current to micropixels that display images based at least in part on the shipped current.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of row drivers configured to receive an electrical charge; 
 a plurality of microdrivers, wherein at least one microdriver of the plurality of microdrivers is configured to receive a reference current from at least one of the plurality of row drivers, wherein the reference current is based at least in part on electrical charge, wherein the at least one of the plurality of row drivers is configured to ship the reference current through the at least one microdriver through a row of the plurality of microdrivers to at least two microdrivers in a column of microdrivers of the plurality of microdrivers, wherein the column is orthogonally arranged respective to the row, wherein each of the at least two microdrivers are configured to drive a plurality of micropixels corresponding to a respective microdriver of the column using the shipped reference current; and 
 the plurality of micropixels configured to emit light in a pattern based at least in part on the reference current received from the plurality of microdrivers. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1  comprising at least one timing controller that ships the electrical charge to the plurality of row drivers. 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of row drivers comprises:
 a first column of row drivers located at a first edge of a display panel; and 
 a second column of row drivers located at a second edge of the display panel, wherein the first and second edges are located on opposing ends of the display panel. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein a microdriver of the plurality of microdrivers comprises a compensation circuit that compensates for temperature fluctuations that affect electrical properties in the microdriver. 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein each row driver of the plurality of row drivers is configured to drive a row of micropixels. 
     
     
       6. An electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of row drivers configured to:
 receive a reference voltage; and 
 generate a reference current based at least in part on the received reference voltage; 
 
 a plurality of microdrivers configured to receive the reference current from the plurality of row drivers, wherein at least one of the plurality of row drivers is configured to ship the reference current through at least one microdriver through a row of the plurality of microdrivers to at least two microdrivers in a column of microdrivers of the plurality of microdrivers, wherein the column is orthogonally arranged respective to the row, wherein each of the at least two microdrivers are configured to drive a plurality of micropixels corresponding to a respective microdriver of the column using the shipped reference current; and 
 the plurality of micropixels configured to emit light in a pattern based at least in part on the reference current received from the plurality of microdrivers. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of microdrivers are divided into a plurality of segments. 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of segments horizontally divides rows of microdrivers into a first segment and a second segment, and the plurality of row drivers comprises:
 a first column of row drivers configured to drive microdrivers in the first segment; and 
 a second column of row drivers configured to drive microdrivers in the second segment. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second columns are located at opposite ends of a display panel. 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of segments horizontally divide rows of microdrivers into a first segment and a second segment, and a row driver is configured to drive microdrivers in the first segment using a first current line and to drive microdrivers in the second segment using a second current line. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein each row driver is configured to drive a portion of a column of the plurality of microdrivers located in a segment of the plurality of segments. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein each segment of the plurality of segments comprises a number of rows of microdrivers in the segment proportional to a number of columns of microdrivers in the segment. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the proportion is one-to-one. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the proportion is one divided by a number of current lines from each of the plurality of row drivers. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 6 , wherein each microdriver comprises a selectable current mirror configured to enable selection of a specific micropixel of the plurality of micropixels coupled to the microdriver to drive the specific micropixel. 
     
     
       16. A method for driving a display panel comprising:
 receiving a reference voltage at a row driver; 
 locally generating a reference current in the row driver based at least in part on the reference voltage; and 
 shipping the reference current to a microdriver for driving micropixels, wherein the row driver is configured to ship the reference current through the microdriver through a row of a plurality of microdrivers to at least two microdrivers in a column of microdrivers, wherein the column of microdrivers are orthogonally arranged respective to the row, wherein each of the at least two microdrivers are configured to drive a plurality of micropixels using the shipped reference current. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the reference voltage comprises receiving the reference voltage from a timing controller. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  comprising driving the micropixels, using the microdriver, based at least in part on the reference current. 
     
     
       19. An electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of row drivers configured to receive a reference voltage; 
 a plurality of microdrivers coupled to the plurality of row drivers and configured to receive electrical charge from the plurality of row drivers, wherein the electrical charge is based at least in part on the reference voltage, wherein at least one of the plurality of row drivers is configured to ship the reference current through at least one microdriver through a row of the plurality of microdrivers to at least two microdrivers in a column of microdrivers of the plurality of microdrivers, wherein the column is orthogonally arranged respective to the row, wherein each of the at least two microdrivers are configured to drive a plurality of micropixels corresponding to a respective microdriver of the column using the shipped reference current; and 
 the plurality of micropixels configured to receive the electrical charge from the plurality of microdrivers and to emit light in a pattern based at least in part on the electrical charge received from the plurality of microdrivers. 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of microdrivers each comprises compensation circuitry that compensates for electrical property variations of the electronic device. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the electrical property variations comprise variations that are based on temperature. 
     
     
       22. An electronic device comprising:
 a plurality of column drivers configured to:
 receive a reference voltage; and 
 generate a reference current based at least in part on the received reference voltage; 
 
 a plurality of microdrivers configured to receive the reference current from the plurality of column drivers, wherein at least one of the plurality of column drivers is configured to ship the reference current through at least one microdriver through a column of the plurality of microdrivers to at least two microdrivers in a row of microdrivers of the plurality of microdrivers, wherein the column is orthogonally arranged respective to the row, wherein each of the at least two microdrivers are configured to drive a plurality of micropixels corresponding to a respective microdriver of the row using the shipped reference current; and 
 the plurality of micropixels configured to emit light in a pattern based at least in part on the reference current received from the plurality of microdrivers. 
 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micropixels is distributed between opposite sides of a respective microdriver of the plurality of microdrivers.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/297,108, filed Feb. 18, 2016 entitled “Electronic Display”, and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to techniques for driving a display and, more particularly, to techniques for driving of the electronic display. 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Electronic display uniformity is a valuable factor to ensure images are displayed on a display properly. Uniformity may be decreased by fluctuations based on temperature, threshold voltage variations, voltage drop due to electrical resistance in the display (IR drop), or supply variation. Specifically, IR drop in the panel can impact the overdrive voltage of the current source inside and cause brightness errors and display artifacts. Severity of the artifacts is display pattern dependent, and the problem may worsen as more pixels serially share a current or voltage supply. In other words, more pixels sharing a current or voltage supply may increase the IR drop to cause non-uniformity of the display and/or artifacts, which degrade display quality. 
     SUMMARY 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     Row drivers and column drivers may be used to provide driving signals for micropixels to microdrivers that then distribute the driving signals to the micropixels connected to the microdrivers. Micropixels may include any display pixels that are driven by a microdriver. For example, a pixel may be a unit of a display that includes a single color (e.g., red, green, white, or blue) or a pixel may be a unit of sub-pixels of single individual colors with the pixel capable of displaying any color that the display is capable of achieving due to combinations of the individual colors. 
     The row and column drivers, in combination with the microdrivers, enable the display to accurately pinpoint individual micropixels and/or sub-pixels or groups of pixels and/or sub-pixels that are to be driven. However, as the communications extend further from the drivers, voltage may drop due to electrical resistance in the display. In this disclosure, this drop in voltage is referred to as IR drop. IR drop may be compensated for by shipping current to the micropixels by generating a current in the microdrivers, in the row drivers, in the column drivers, a timing controller, or other suitable circuitry prior to shipment to the micropixels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of components of an electronic device that may include a micro light emitting diode (μ-LED) display, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the electronic device in the form of a fitness band, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the electronic device in the form of a slate, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the electronic device in the form of a notebook computer, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of μ-LED display that employs micro-drivers (μDs) to drive μ-LED sub-pixels with control signals from row drivers (RDs) and data signals from column drivers (CDs), in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram schematically illustrating an operation of one of the micro-drivers (μDs), in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a timing diagram illustrating an example operation of the micro-driver (μD) of  FIG. 6 , in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates plots of variation due to IR drop in the drive current supplied to the subpixels, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a circuit diagram (e.g., equivalent circuit) of one example of the μDs including VDD and V TH  compensation circuitry, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a timing diagram, which depicts VDD and V TH  compensation phases (e.g., “PH1,” “PH2,” and “PH3”), in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is a circuit diagram (e.g., equivalent circuit) of another example of the μDs including VDD and V TH  compensation circuitry, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 12A  is a flowchart of a process for driving a display using current shipped to a row driver, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 12B  is a flowchart of a process for driving a display using a reference voltage shipped to a row driver, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 12C  is a flowchart of a process for driving a display using a reference voltage shipped to a microdriver, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a portion of the display that may be driven according to the processes of  FIG. 12A, 12B , or  12 C, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view of a display panel driven using voltage supplied to row drivers, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view of a display panel driven using a voltage supplied to row drivers having two output currents, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic view of a row driver having local current generation using a reference voltage, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a timing diagram for operating the row driver with local current generation, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic view of a display panel driven using row drivers that provide currents to multiple segments in a row of microdrivers, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic view of a microdriver in voltage mode, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic view of a first portion of a microdriver in current mode, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic view of a second portion of the microdriver of  FIG. 20  in current mode, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic view of a timing diagram for operating a microdriver with a single current sampling during a data upload, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is a schematic view of a timing diagram for operating a microdriver with multiple current samples time-multiplexed during a data upload, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 24  illustrates a schematic view of replacing power lines with power grids to reduce resistance in IR drop, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 25A  is a schematic view of a resistance equalization scheme between microdrivers in a display panel, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 25B  is a schematic view of another resistance equalization scheme between microdrivers in a display panel, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 26  is a schematic view of IR drop compensation using sampled voltages from a top and bottom of a display panel, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic view of IR drop compensation with lookup table (LUT) avoidance, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic view of a microdriver having multiple current drivers and calibration circuitry, in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic view of the current driver and the calibration circuitry of  FIG. 28 , in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic view of an operational amplifier circuit for providing a reference voltage to calibration circuitry of  FIG. 28 , in accordance with an embodiment; 
         FIG. 31  is a schematic view of the calibration circuitry if  FIG. 28  including an operational amplifier, in accordance with an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 32  is a flow diagram view of a process for operating a display using calibrated current drivers, in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     As discussed above, IR drop is a voltage drop due to an internal resistance of an electronic display that may cause display artifacts on the electronic display. The IR drop may refer to an analog IR drop or a digital IR drop. Analog IR drop is at a low frequency due to the current through the passing through the micro light emitting diodes. Digital IR drop refers to an IR drop caused by digital switching (e.g., emission scanning). 
     Suitable electronic devices that may include a micro-LED (μ-LED) display and corresponding circuitry of this disclosure are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 1-4 . The LEDs may include light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, or any other suitable light emitting circuitry. One example of a suitable electronic device  10  may include, among other things, processor(s) such as a central processing unit (CPU) and/or graphics processing unit (GPU)  12 , storage device(s)  14 , communication interface(s)  16 , a μ-LED display  18 , input structures  20 , and an energy supply  22 . The blocks shown in  FIG. 1  may each represent hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software. The electronic device  10  may include more or fewer components. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 1  merely provides one example of a particular implementation of the electronic device  10 . 
     The CPU/GPU  12  of the electronic device  10  may perform various data processing operations, including generating and/or processing image data for display on the display  18 , in combination with the storage device(s)  14 . For example, instructions that can be executed by the CPU/GPU  12  may be stored on the storage device(s)  14 . The storage device(s)  14  thus may represent any suitable tangible, computer-readable media. The storage device(s)  14  may be volatile and/or non-volatile. By way of example, the storage device(s)  14  may include random-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory, a hard drive, and so forth. 
     The electronic device  10  may use the communication interface(s)  16  to communicate with various other electronic devices or components. The communication interface(s)  16  may include input/output (I/O) interfaces and/or network interfaces. Such network interfaces may include those for a personal area network (PAN) such as Bluetooth, a local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN) such as Wi-Fi, and/or for a wide area network (WAN) such as a long-term evolution (LTE) cellular network. 
     Using pixels containing an arrangement of μ-LEDs, the display  18  may display images generated by the CPU/GPU  12 . The display  18  may include touchscreen functionality to allow users to interact with a user interface appearing on the display  18 . Input structures  20  may also allow a user to interact with the electronic device  10 . For instance, the input structures  20  may represent hardware buttons. The energy supply  22  may include any suitable source of energy for the electronic device. This may include a battery within the electronic device  10  and/or a power conversion device to accept alternating current (AC) power from a power outlet. 
     As may be appreciated, the electronic device  10  may take a number of different forms. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the electronic device  10  may take the form of a fitness band  30 . The fitness band  30  may include an enclosure  32  that houses the electronic device  10  components of the fitness band  30 . A strap may allow the fitness band  30  to be worn on the arm or wrist. The display  18  may display information related to the fitness band operation. Additionally or alternatively, the fitness band  30  may operate as a watch, in which case the display  18  may display the time. Input structures  20  may allow a person wearing the fitness band  30  navigate a graphical user interface (GUI) on the display  18 . 
     The electronic device  10  may also take the form of a slate  40 . Depending on the size of the slate  40 , the slate  40  may serve as a handheld device such as a mobile phone. The slate  40  includes an enclosure  42  through which several input structures  20  may protrude. The enclosure  42  also holds the display  18 . The input structures  20  may allow a user to interact with a GUI of the slate  40 . For example, the input structures  20  may enable a user to make a telephone call. A speaker  44  may output a received audio signal and a microphone  46  may capture the voice of the user. The slate  40  may also include a communication interface  16  to allow the slate  40  to connect via a wired connection to another electronic device. 
     A notebook computer  50  represents another form that the electronic device  10  may take. It should be appreciated that the electronic device  10  may also take the form of any other computer, including a desktop computer. The notebook computer  50  shown in  FIG. 4  includes the display  18  and input structures  20  that include a keyboard and a track pad. Communication interfaces  16  of the notebook computer  50  may include, for example, a universal service bus (USB) connection. 
     A block diagram of the architecture of the μ-LED display  18  appears in  FIG. 5 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , the display  18  uses an RGB display panel  60  with pixels that include red, green, and blue μ-LEDs as subpixels. Support circuitry  62  thus may receive RGB-format video image data  64 . It should be appreciated, however, that the display  18  may alternatively display other formats of image data, in which case the support circuitry  62  may receive image data of such different image format. In the support circuitry  62 , a video timing controller (TCON)  66  may receive and use the image data  64  in a serial signal to determine a data clock signal (DATA_CLK) to control the provision of the image data  64  in the display  18 . The video TCON  66  also passes the image data  64  to serial-to-parallel circuitry  68  that may deserialize the image data  64  signal into several parallel image data signals  70 . That is, the serial-to-parallel circuitry  68  may collect the image data  64  into the particular data signals  70  that are passed on to specific columns among a total of M respective columns in the display panel  60 . As such, the data  70  is labeled DATA[0], DATA[1], DATA[2], DATA[3] . . . DATA[M−3], DATA[M−2], DATA[M−1], and DATA[M]. The data  70  respectively contain image data corresponding to pixels in the first column, second column, third column, fourth column . . . fourth-to-last column, third-to-last column, second-to-last column, and last column, respectively. The data  70  may be collected into more or fewer columns depending on the number of columns that make up the display panel  60 . 
     As noted above, the video TCON  66  may generate the data clock signal (DATA_CLK). An emission timing controller (TCON)  72  may generate an emission clock signal (EM_CLK). Collectively, these may be referred to as Row Scan Control signals, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . These Row Scan Control signals may be used by circuitry on the display panel  60  to display the image data  70 . 
     In particular, the display panel  60  includes column drivers (CDs)  74 , row drivers (RDs)  76 , and micro-drivers (μDs)  78 . Each μD  78  drives a number of pixels  80  having μ-LEDs as subpixels  82 . Each pixel  80  includes at least one red μ-LED, at least one green μ-LED, and at least one blue μ-LED to represent the image data  64  in RGB format. Although the μDs  78  of  FIG. 5  is shown to drive six pixels  80  having three subpixels  82  each, each μD  78  may drive more or fewer pixels  80 . For example, each μD  78  may respectively drive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or more pixels  80 . 
     A power supply  84  may provide a reference voltage (V ref )  86  to drive the μ-LEDs, a digital power signal  88 , and an analog power signal  90 . In some cases, the power supply  84  may provide more than one reference voltage (V ref )  86  signal. Namely, subpixels  82  of different colors may be driven using different reference voltages. As such, the power supply  84  may provide more than one reference voltage (V ref )  86 . Additionally or alternatively, other circuitry on the display panel  60  may step the reference voltage (V ref )  86  up or down to obtain different reference voltages to drive different colors of μ-LED. 
     To allow the μDs  78  to drive the μ-LED subpixels  82  of the pixels  80 , the column drivers (CDs)  74  and the row drivers (RDs)  76  may operate in concert. Each column driver (CD)  74  may drive the respective image data  70  signal for that column in a digital form. Meanwhile, each RD  76  may provide the data clock signal (DATA_CLK) and the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) at an appropriate to activate the row of μDs  78  driven by the RD  76 . A row of μDs  78  may be activated when the RD  76  that controls that row sends the data clock signal (DATA_CLK). This may cause the now-activated μDs  78  of that row to receive and store the digital image data  70  signal that is driven by the column drivers (CDs)  74 . The μDs  78  of that row then may drive the pixels  80  based on the stored digital image data  70  signal based on the emission clock signal (EM_CLK). 
     A block diagram shown in  FIG. 6  illustrates some of the components of one of the μDs  78 . The μD  78  shown in  FIG. 6  includes pixel data buffer(s)  100  and a digital counter  102 . The pixel data buffer(s)  100  may include sufficient storage to hold the image data  70  that is provided. For instance, the μD  78  may include pixel data buffers to store image data  70  for three subpixels  82  at any one time (e.g., for 8-bit image data  70 , this may be 24 bits of storage). It should be appreciated, however, that the μD  78  may include more or fewer buffers, depending on the data rate of the image data  70  and the number of subpixels  82  included in the image data  70 . The pixel data buffer(s)  100  may take any suitable logical structure based on the order that the column driver (CD)  74  provides the image data  70 . For example, the pixel data buffer(s)  100  may include a first-in-first-out (FIFO) logical structure or a last-in-first-out (LIFO) structure. 
     When the pixel data buffer(s)  100  has received and stored the image data  70 , the RD  76  may provide the emission clock signal (EM_CLK). A counter  102  may receive the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) as an input. The pixel data buffer(s)  100  may output enough of the stored image data  70  to output a digital data signal  104  represent a desired gray level for a particular subpixel  82  that is to be driven by the μD  78 . The counter  102  may also output a digital counter signal  106  indicative of the number of edges (only rising, only falling, or both rising and falling edges) of the emission clock signal (EM_CLK)  98 . The signals  104  and  106  may enter a comparator  108  that outputs an emission control signal  110  in an “on” state when the signal  106  does not exceed the signal  104 , and an “off” state otherwise. The emission control signal  110  may be routed to driving circuitry (not shown) for the subpixel  82  being driven, which may cause light emission  112  from the selected subpixel  82  to be on or off. The longer the selected subpixel  82  is driven “on” by the emission control signal  110 , the greater the amount of light that will be perceived by the human eye as originating from the subpixel  82 . 
     A timing diagram  120 , shown in  FIG. 7 , provides one brief example of the operation of the μD  78 . The timing diagram  120  shows the digital data signal  104 , the digital counter signal  106 , the emission control signal  110 , and the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) represented by numeral  122 . In the example of  FIG. 7 , the gray level for driving the selected subpixel  82  is gray level  4 , and this is reflected in the digital data signal  104 . The emission control signal  110  drives the subpixel  82  “on” for a period of time defined as gray level  4  based on the emission clock signal (EM_CLK). Namely, as the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) rises and falls, the digital counter signal  106  gradually increases. The comparator  108  outputs the emission control signal  110  to an “on” state as long as the digital counter signal  106  remains less than the data signal  104 . When the digital counter signal  106  reaches the data signal  104 , the comparator  108  outputs the emission control signal  110  to an “off” state, thereby causing the selected subpixel  82  no longer to emit light. 
     It should be noted that the steps between gray levels are shown by the steps between emission clock signal (EM_CLK) edges. That is, based on the way humans perceive light, to notice the difference between lower gray levels, the difference between the amount of light emitted between two lower gray levels may be relatively small. To notice the difference between higher gray levels, however, the difference between the amounts of light emitted between two higher gray levels may be comparatively much greater. The emission clock signal (EM_CLK) therefore may use relatively short time intervals between clock edges at first. To account for the increase in the difference between light emitted as gray levels increase, the differences between edges (e.g., periods) of the emission clock signal (EM_CLK) may gradually lengthen. The particular pattern of the emission clock signal (EM_CLK), as generated by the emission TCON  72 , may have increasingly longer differences between edges (e.g., periods) so as to provide a gamma encoding of the gray level of the subpixel  82  being driven. 
     Displays may use PMOS or NMOS LED drivers that do not use huge level shifters. In some embodiments, these drivers are driven and/or drive using specific voltage levels (e.g., voltage driven). However, some LED drivers (e.g., PMOS drivers) are sensitive to threshold voltage variation of one or more transistors in the driver varying a voltage used to drive the transistor to a different state. Temperature and oxide thickness each have an effect on the threshold voltage some transistor types (e.g., CMOS device). 
     Specifically, with temperature, the surface potential has a direct relationship with the temperature. While the threshold voltage may not have a direct relationship to temperature and some other effects, the threshold voltage is not independent of these effects. For example, a change of 30° C. results in significant variation from the 500 mV design parameter (e.g., V TH ) commonly used for a 90 nm technology node. 
     Impurity concentrations may also effect different threshold voltages across different portions of a display. For example, random dopant fluctuation (RDF) is a form of process variation resulting from variation in the implanted impurity concentration. In MOSFET transistors, RDF in the channel region can alter the transistor&#39;s properties, especially threshold voltage. As the number of dopants decreases, such as in modem dopings, the effects of RDF can be greater. 
     Pixels may also vary based on voltage fluctuations of supplied power (e.g., Vdd). These voltages may vary due to IR drop as well as other voltage fluctuation effects. For example,  FIG. 8  illustrates a pixel current variation graph  200  that illustrates a pixel current variation due to IR drop. A first line  202  illustrates an ideal pixel current, but the second line  204  illustrates a pixel current variation due to IR drop. For example, the IR drop may result from Vdd variation due to resistance or other electronic properties of components (e.g., trace length) from the Vdd source to the pixel. IR drop may effect any voltage transmitted to the pixel. As illustrated, the IR drop causes the pixel current to deviate from the ideal value of the first line  202  to the second line  204 . Furthermore, the IR drop may vary from pixel-to-pixel since different electrical components may exist between some pixels and the voltage sources than for other pixels. In other words, pixels further from the edges of a display experience more IR drop. 
     The micropixels (e.g., sub-pixels) may be driven using a voltage mode or a current mode. For example, a voltage mode may include row drivers providing a reference voltage to microdrivers for each pixel with the microdrivers forwarding the reference voltage to the micropixels. Additionally or alternatively, the current mode may include row drivers providing a reference current (e.g., at a constant voltage) to the microdrivers to the micropixels, a timing controller providing a reference current to the row drivers, row drivers receiving the reference voltage from the timing controller and locally generating the reference current, column drivers providing the reference current to the microdrivers to the micropixels, and/or other suitable pathways for sending a reference current to the micropixels. 
     Voltage Mode 
     Various components of the electronic device  10  may be used to control the current signal supplied to drive LED devices  208  of the pt-LED display  18 . The LED devices  208  may include micropixels/subpixels/pixels of the display  18 . For example, as will be further appreciated, the μDs  78  may include a p-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) device, an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) device, or some combination of PMOS and NMOS devices. 
     In certain embodiments, the number of LED devices  208 A may each be coupled to a high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”) and a low voltage potential rail or ground (e.g., “V SS ” or “GND”). For example, the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”) may be set to a voltage of 1.2V, 1.5V, 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V, 5V, or other similar voltage that may be used to supply power to the subpixels  82  for operation. Similarly, the low voltage potential rail or ground (e.g., “V SS ” or “GND”)  212 A may be generally set to a ground voltage (e.g., 0V or approximately 0V). 
     In some embodiments, the μDs  78  may each include a PMOS driver used to drive the Subpixels  82 . For example, PMOS drivers may be used as part of the μDs  78  in order to conserve physical area of the μ-LED display  18  by avoiding level shifters that may be otherwise involved. However, in some embodiments, utilizing PMOS drivers as part of the μDs  78  may lead to image artifacts (e.g., flicker) becoming present on the μ-LED display  18 , as the PMOS drivers may be sensitive to variations of the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A. The variations of the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A may be caused by IR drop (e.g., voltage drops across the resistance R of the power supply  198 A between supply pins and one or more components drawing a current I). As noted above,  FIG. 8  illustrates graph  200  illustrating variation of the drive current supplied to the subpixels (e.g., “ILED”) due to IR drop. As illustrated, the IR drop may cause the drive current (e.g., “ILED”) of the subpixels  82  to vary by N % (e.g. 5-10% or otherwise significantly enough for the variation to appear as visible artifacts to a user of the μ-LED display  18 ). 
     Indeed, the V DD  variations may vary depending on the incoming image data and the image pattern, as the luminance of the μ-LED display  18  and the characteristics of the subpixels  82  may also be variable. Furthermore, variations in the threshold voltage (e.g., “V TH ”) of the subpixels  82  may also adversely impact the drive currents (e.g., “ILED”) of the subpixels  82 . As may be further appreciated, the V DD  and V TH  variations may be exacerbated for larger area μ-LED displays  18 . Thus, as will be further appreciated with respect to  FIGS. 9-20 , it may be useful to provide V DD  and V TH  compensation circuitry  205  as part of the μDs  78  to compensate for the aforementioned V DD  and V TH  adverse variations. In this way, any possible occurrence of image artifacts becoming apparent on the μ-LED display  18  may be reduced or substantially eliminated. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 9 , which illustrates an embodiment of a circuit diagram (e.g., equivalent circuit) of the μDs  78  including V DD  and V TH  compensation circuitry  205  that may be used to compensate for the V DD  and V TH  variations that may be due to, for example, IR drop (e.g., voltage drops across the resistance R of the power supply  198 A between supply pins and one or more components drawing a current I) associated the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A. In certain embodiments, the μDs  78  may be set to operate over one or more phases of the drive currents (e.g., “ILED”) of the subpixels  82 . 
     For example, in an initial phase (e.g., “Phase 1”), the voltage VB may be low (e.g., approximately “GND” or 0V). Thus, a PMOS transistor  216 A (e.g., “M5”) coupled (e.g., in series) between a PMOS transistor  218 A (e.g., “M5A”) and the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A coupled directly to the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A may be “ON” (e.g., activated). The PMOS transistor  218 A may also be “ON,” as the voltage EM may also be low (e.g., approximately “GND” or 0V) in the initial phase (e.g., “Phase 1”). Accordingly, a drive current may be allowed to flow from the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A to the LED device  208 A. In some embodiments, the PMOS transistor  216 A may be susceptible to V DD  voltage variations, while the PMOS transistor  218 A may be susceptible to V TH  voltage variations. 
     In certain embodiments, in a reset phase  229  (e.g., “Phase 2”), the voltage EM may be low (e.g., approximately “GND” or 0V), while the voltages VA and VB may be expressed as:
 
 VA=V   Ref   (Equation 1);
 
 VB=V   DD_CL   −V   TH   (Equation 2).
 
     Specifically, V Ref  may be the reference supply voltage for the LED device  208 A that may be controlled by the PMOS  228 A. V DD_CL  may be an additional high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD_CL ”)  217 A (e.g., independent of the high voltage potential rail (“V DD ”)  210 A). Thus, in the reset phase (e.g., “Phase 2”), when V A =V Ref  and V B =V DD_CL  V TH , the following condition may exist:
 
 VB=V   DD_CL   −V   TH , for  VB&lt;V   TH_LED   (Equation 3).
 
     In this case, the LED device  208 A may not turn “ON.” Furthermore, in the reset phase (e.g., “Phase 2”), the voltage VC (e.g., voltage across a compensation capacitance  230 A) may be expressed as:
 
 VC=V   Ref   −V   DD_CL   −V   TH   (Equation 4).
 
     As may be appreciated from the foregoing equation, the voltage VC may be a voltage across a compensation capacitance  230 A that may, in some embodiments, be the difference between the reference voltage V Ref  and the voltage VB. 
     In certain embodiments, in another reset phase  231  (e.g., “Phase 3”), the voltages VA and VB may be then expressed as:
 
 VA=V   DD   (Equation 5);
 
 VB=VA−VC   (Equation 6).
 
     Expanding equations (5) and (6) based on equations (1), (2), and (4), the voltage VB may be then expressed as:
 
 VB=V   DD   −V   Ref   +V   DD_CL   −V   TH   (Equation 7).
 
     Thus, when VB&lt;V DD −V TH  and V TH &lt;V DD_CL &lt;V Ref , the PMOS transistor  216 A (e.g., “M1”), the PMOS transistor  216 A (e.g., “M5”), and the PMOS transistor  228 A (e.g., “M6”) may each be “ON” (e.g., conductive or in the saturation mode). Indeed, further, when V Ref &lt;V TH &lt;V TH Diode , the LED device  208 A drive current I LED  may be expressed as:
 
 I   LED   =K ( V   GS   −V   TH ) 2   =K ( V   DD   −VB−V   TH ) 2   (Equation 8).
 
     Expanding equation 8 based on equation 7, the LED device  208 A drive current I LED  may be then expressed as:
 
 I   LED   =K ( V   DD −( V   DD   −V   Ref   +V   DD_CL   −V   TH )− V   TH ) 2   (Equation 9).
 
     Lastly, simplifying equation 9, the LED device  208 A drive current I LED  may be expressed as:
 
 I   LED   =K ( V   Ref   +V   DD_CL ) 2   (Equation 10).
 
     Accordingly, equation 10 illustrates that LED device  208 A drive current I LED  may be independent of the high voltage potential rail (e.g., V DD ) and the threshold voltage (e.g., V TH ), and may thus compensate for V DD  and V TH  variations that may otherwise adversely affect drive current I LED  (e.g., due to IR drop). Indeed, instead of being a function of V DD  and V TH  (e.g., as expressed by equation (8)) and, by extension, being susceptible to V DD  and V TH  variations (e.g., due to IR drop), the LED device  208 A drive current I LED  may be function of the μDs  78  reference voltage V Ref  and the compensation voltage potential rail V DD_CL . In this way, any possible occurrence of image artifacts becoming apparent on the μ-LED display  18  may be reduced or substantially eliminated. 
     As a further example of the presently disclosed embodiments,  FIG. 10  illustrates a timing diagram  232 A, which depicts each of the aforementioned V DD  and V TH  compensation phases (e.g., “PH1,” “PH2,” and “PH3”). Specifically,  FIG. 10  illustrates an emission clock reset signal  234 A (e.g., “EM_CLK_RST”), the LED device  208 A drive current signal  236 A (e.g., “EM_CLK”), LED device  208 A emission signal  238 A (e.g., “Emission”), and compensation phases timing signal  240 A. As depicted in  FIG. 10 , during phase 1 (e.g., “PH1”), VB=0. During phase 2 (e.g.,  229 , “PH2”), corresponding to a period of time in which the μD  78  generates the emission clock reset signal  234 A (e.g., “EM_CLK_RST”), VA=V Ref  and VB=V DD_CL  V TH . In certain embodiments, during phase 3 (e.g., “PH3”), VA=V DD  and VB=V DD −V Ref +V DD_CL −V TH . As illustrated, during phase 3 (e.g., “PH3”), the LED device  208 A drive current signal  236 A (e.g., “EM_CLK”) may be activated, in which over the period of phase 3 (e.g.,  231 , “PH3”) the duty cycle of the pulses of the of drive current signal  236 A (e.g., “EM_CLK”) may vary (e.g., corresponding to a period in which the LED device  208 A is emitting as illustrated by the emission signal  238 A) based on, for example, the incoming image data and the image pattern. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 11 , which illustrates an embodiment of a circuit diagram (e.g., equivalent circuit) of the μDs  78  including V DD  and V TH  compensation circuitry  205  that may be used to compensate for the V DD  and V TH  variations that may be due to, for example, IR drop associated the high voltage potential rail (e.g., “V DD ”)  210 A. Specifically,  FIG. 11  illustrates that the V DD  and V TH  compensation is shared between all LED device  208 A with the same color (e.g., for each respective R, G, and B LED device  208 A). For example, the μD  78  may provide V DD  and V TH  compensation for each color red LED device  208 A of the μ-LED display  18 , green LED device  208 A of the μ-LED display  18 , and blue LED device  208 A of the μ-LED display  18 . 
     Current Mode 
     In the current mode, pixel data is displayed relative to a reference current, IREF. The reference current causes the pixel performance to be independent of VDD and ground variations thereby reducing the IR drop effect on pixel performance. In some embodiments, a timing controller  72  passes a reference current to row drivers that is then passed further down. Alternatively, the IREF may be generated by a respective row driver  76  and passed to the μD  78 . In some embodiments, V ref  may be passed all the way to the microdriver and locally converted to a current to be passed to the micropixels. 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates a flowchart diagram of a process  240  for driving pixels using a reference current. Receiving a reference current at a row driver  76  (block  241 ). Forwarding the reference current from the row driver  76  to one or more μD  78  (block  242 ). Driving one or more pixels using the μD  78  based at least in part on the reference current (block  243 ). 
       FIG. 12B  illustrates a flowchart diagram of a process  244  for driving pixels using a reference voltage that is converted to a current prior to transmission to the micropixels. A row driver receives a reference voltage (block  245 ). For example, the row driver may receive the voltage from a timing controller or another suitable electronic component. The row driver generates a reference current based at least in part on the reference voltage (block  246 ). The local generation includes various compensation, as will be discussed below. For example, by locating the row drivers near an edge of a panel, IR drop may be less drastic than shipping voltage further along the display (e.g., to microdrivers via the row drivers). Furthermore, the local generation circuitry may include compensation circuitry that compensates for threshold voltages of transistors and/or temperature fluctuations of the electronic components. 
     Once the current has been generated, the row driver ships the current to a microdriver (block  247 ). The microdrivers then drive micropixels using a selective current mirror or other suitable circuitry (block  248 ). Moreover, although the foregoing discussion relates to row driver current generation, some embodiments may include column driver current generation and shipping the current to the microdrivers using the column drivers. 
       FIG. 12C  illustrates a flow chart diagram of a process  249  for operating a display. The process  249  includes receiving a reference voltage at a microdriver (block  250 ). The microdriver may receive a clean supply voltages (e.g., VDD ground) that have been cleaned for transmission to the microdriver. The microdriver generates a current based at least in part on the reference voltage received (block  252 ). The local generation of current may be similar to the local generation conducted in the row driver discussed above and below. The microdriver ships the generated current to micropixels to drive the micropixels of the display panel (block  254 ). 
     For example,  FIG. 13  illustrates a schematic view of a display  260 . A timing controller  262  sends a reference current  264  (or voltage) to multiple row drivers  266 ,  268 . For example, the display  260  may include a number of row drivers proportional to the number of rows in the display. For instance, the row drivers  266 ,  268  may drive a one, two, three, four, or more rows such that the number of row drivers is equal to the number of rows divided by the number of rows driven by each row driver. The row drivers  266 ,  268  send current or voltage references  270 ,  272  to the μDs  266 ,  268 . For example, the TCON  262  may send a global reference current that is locally converted for each row within a respective row driver, such as row driver  266 . If the microdriver receives a reference voltage, the microdriver generates a reference current from the reference voltage for transmission to the micropixels  280  coupled to the microdriver. Since, the reference current is less susceptible to IR drop than reference voltage applications less mura effects may appear on the display. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a portion of a display  300 . The display  300  includes segments  302  and  304  corresponding to two horizontal halves of the display that are driven by a first column  306  of row drivers  308  and a second column  310  of row drivers  312 . Since the first column  306  and the second column  310  are located at the edge of the display, it is easier to provide clean power (e.g., V DD  and GND) and a V ref  to the row drivers. In the illustrated embodiment, the row drivers  308 ,  312  are provided a clean V DD    314  and  318 , respectively. The row drivers  308 ,  312  also receive a V ref    316  and  320 , respectively. In some embodiments, the first column  308  receives the clean V DD    314  and V ref    316  from a timing controller  322 , and the second column  310  receives V DD    318  and V ref    320  from a timing controller  324 . The row drivers  308  receive the V ref    316  or  320  and generate a reference current  326  or  328 , respectively. In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, V ref  is shipped as a global signal to the row drivers  308 , and the row drivers convert the V ref  to an I ref  and use pixel compensation to set the current level. The current is then shipped to the microdrivers. 
     By shipping the current horizontally, the TCON  322 ,  324  can be used with adding pins for each row. Furthermore, each row provides a current for a section of a column of microdrivers  330 . For example, the number of rows driven in a section may be determined by number of columns in the display. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes 9 columns in a segment and thus 9 rows in a section. However, these numbers may vary by the number of microdrivers of the display. For example, the display may have 10, 20, 30, 39, 50, or more columns and rows of microdrivers in a segment. Within a segment, each row driver provides current for the portion of the column in the segment. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the first column of microdrivers  350  in a segment is driven by the first row driver  308  and so on. Alternatively, the pattern for each row driver shipping current to each column in the segment. 
     By segmenting the columns into segments, the panel is segmented with reduced parasitic capacitance for each line. Thus, for each segment, the current is time-multiplexed for the number of micropixels in a column/line. Thus, if the segment has 39 microdrivers per column/line in a segment, each line is loaded with 1/20th of the line driving time. However, each segment is independent from other segments, but thus, even with time-multiplexing, timing requirements may be relaxed from a single segment display. Also, these currents may be provided through column lines  352  that are used to drive data using column drivers  354 . 
     Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  has a row driver supplying a current to a single microdriver column in a segment, some row drivers  308  may have more than a single output current.  FIG. 15  illustrates a display  360  having two output currents per row driver  308 . However, this output current model may be extended to having three, four, or more output currents per row driver. The display  360  is similar to the display  300  of  FIG. 14 , but the display  360  has smaller segments per row since each row can drive more columns. Specifically, the number of rows in a segment is n/m, where n is the number of columns in segment (e.g., half the number of microdrivers in the display  360 ) and m is the number of output currents capable of being provided by the row drivers  308 . Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the number of rows in each segment  362 ,  364 ,  366 , and  368  equals half the number of columns. As the smaller segments include shorter column lengths, the parasitic capacitance is decreased for the display  360 . 
     Since the foregoing discussion contemplates row drivers  308  that receive a reference voltage and generate a reference current, the row drivers  308  include a current generator.  FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment of a current generator  400  that may be employed in the row drivers  308 . The current generator  400  includes a current mirror  402  that generates an output current Iref  404  and receives a V ref    406  after it has been submitted to threshold voltage compensation circuitry  408 . The threshold voltage compensation circuitry  408  compensates for the threshold voltage used to switch transistors in the current generator  400  and functions similar to the threshold voltage compensation discussed above with regard to the voltage mode. The current generator  400  is voltage based but is independent of supply fluctuations since the supply voltages are used multiple times in the current mirror thereby cancelling out any fluctuation effects on the Iref  404 . 
     The current generator  400  has three phases: a reset phase, a sample V TH  phase, and a compensation phase.  FIG. 17  illustrates a timing diagram  450  that may be used to drive the current generator to different phases using an RST  452  and RST1  454 . The reset phase  456  begins when RST  452  is set to a logic high causing VB to be equal to V DD . The sampling V TH  phase  458  begins when RST  452  returns to low thereby causing VB to become V ref  plus V TH  and VA to be come V ref . Once RST1 becomes logic low, the compensation phase  459  begins by using the sampled V TH  to drive M1 with compensation for the V TH  fluctuations since VB is V TH  plus V ref . Therefore, Iref  404  is the same as the current through M1 due to the current mirror  402 . 
     Although the foregoing discussion discusses that two row drivers may exist per line, some embodiments include row drivers that may drive a whole row while dividing the row horizontally into 1, 2, 3, or more segments.  FIG. 18  illustrates a portion of a display  500 . The display  500  includes microdrivers  502  distributed in rows and columns throughout the display  500 . The microdrivers  502  are driven by row drivers  504 . The row drivers  504  are capable to provide one or more currents to the microdrivers  502  in a row. For example, the illustrated embodiment includes 3 output currents from the row driver  504 . Thus, the rows of microdrivers are divided in to segments  506 ,  508 , and  510 . 
     As noted above, the current generator  400  may be omitted from the row drivers  308  if the TCON  322  were to provide current sources to the row drivers  308 . The trade off for this scheme in simplicity in circuitry of the row drivers  308  is that the current sources would have to be shared with segments in a time-multiplexed fashion. In other words, the segments are no longer independent and requires more stringent timing requirements than the local current generation in the row drivers  308 . 
     Microdrivers 
     As discussed above, the microdrivers receive or generate a reference current for transport to the micropixels that the microdrivers are responsible for driving.  FIG. 19  illustrates a voltage drive scheme  520  that includes a selectable current mirror  522  that enables the microdriver to select a micropixel LED that is controlled by the microdriver. For example, the microdriver may select a micropixel  524 ,  526 , or  528  using EM1, EM2, or EMN pulses to create a current mirror feeding the current into the micropixel LEDs. 
     The voltage drive scheme  520  may also include V TH  compensation circuitry  530  that compensations for possible fluctuations of a V TH  of a control transistor  531  for the microdriver causing the V TH  compensation circuitry  530  to supply V ref  plus the V TH  for the control transistor  531  to the gate of the control transistor M4. The V TH  compensation circuitry  530  may be similar to the foregoing discussed V TH  compensation circuits. 
     The voltage drive scheme  520  also includes a connection to a V bottom    532  that mitigates for IR drop by reducing current further down the display. 
     Current-Driven Microdrivers 
       FIG. 20  illustrates a current driving scheme  550  for a first portion of a microdriver that receives a first current I1 from a row driver. In some embodiments, the current I1 may be a current line carrying a current to be used for red micropixels driven by the microdriver while one or more other received current lines may be used for blue or green pixels. Moreover, in some embodiments, a single current line may be connected but the red, blue, and green current information may be time multiplexed. As can be understood, electronic circuit behaviors change with temperature. Specifically, V TH  and Beta-eff may change with temperature of the transistors (e.g., NMOS and PMOS) in the circuitry. Moreover, even if V TH  is compensated using compensation circuitry, Beta-eff will cause the current to change through the transistors. Accordingly, the current driving scheme  550  may include a compensation circuit  552 . The compensation circuit  552  reduces or eliminates IR drop issues by using a V bottom  voltage, as discussed above, and current driving. Furthermore, the current I1 may be constant to reduce temperature variation. Furthermore, by sampling voltage on the gates of the compensation transistors  556  to reduce or prevent bias change at transistors of a selectable current mirror  558 . The selectable current mirror  558  works similar to the previously discussed selectable current mirrors to enable the microdriver to drive micropixels  560 ,  562 , and  564 . The microdriver may drive any suitable number of micropixels, such as 1, 2, 3, or more micro pixels. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a second portion  566  of the microdriver of  FIG. 20 . The second portion  566  also includes a compensation circuit  568  that works similar to the compensation circuit  552 . However, the second portion  566  (and the related compensation circuit  568 ) receives an I2 that corresponds to different microdrivers than those driven by the first portion. For example, if the first portion drives red micropixels, the second portion may drive blue and/or green micropixels. The second portion  566  also includes a selectable current mirror  570  that enables the microdriver to drive micropixel LEDs  572 ,  574 ,  576 , and  578 . The micropixels of the second portion  566  may be one or more different colors (e.g., green and blue). For example, micropixel LEDs  572  and  572  and the LEDs therebetween may be green while micropixels LED  576  and  578  and the LEDs therebetween may be blue. The number of micropixels may be equal to the number of micropixels in the first portion or may be double the number of micropixels in the first portion if the second portion drives twice as many colors or may be half if the second portion drives half as many colors. In some embodiments, each portion may drive a single color, and additional portions may be included in the display beyond the portions illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21 . 
     To drive the micropixels, the bias for the micropixels is changed once every data upload (e.g., every 16 microseconds) with alternation between red and blue-green (or one or more other) bias nodes between consecutive uploads or time-multiplexed within a single data upload. Moreover, a microdriver may drive micropixels in rows above and/or below a location of the microdriver or in columns left and/or right of the microdriver. In other words, the microdriver may drive more than a single row and column of row drivers and the selectable current mirror may be used for all of the connected micropixels. Thus, circuitry may be reused for multiple micropixels increasing area efficiency over dedicated microdrivers restricted to a single row, column, or pixel. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates a timing diagram  600  for a microdriver with two or more different current lines (e.g., one for red and one for blue and/or green or white pixels) or a timing diagram for a microdriver that drives only one pixel type (e.g., red micropixels). The timing diagram  600  includes a data update time interval  602 . When the data update clock  602  is high, the current may be sampled. Since the current embodiment includes different current lines, the currents corresponding to the micropixels driven using the current line may be sampled. This sampling is controlled using a current clock  604 . Since only a single current is sampled from a data upload, the current may be sampled any time during the data upload. Once the data has been uploaded and the current sampled, the data may be displayed based at least in part on the sampled current when an emission on signal  606  is high. The emission on signal  606  turns on the left side of a selectable current minor. An emission pulse  608  pulses to control whether a specific micropixel is emitting. An emission clock  610  may be used to control pulses such as a pulse width modulation clock for the micropixels when the emission pulse  608  is high. 
       FIG. 23  illustrates a timing diagram with a microdriver that drives multiple pixel types using a single current line. For example, a microdriver may drive red micropixels and blue and/or green micropixels. Thus, sampling of the current line occurs during the data upload clock  602  in a time-multiplexed manner using a first current sampling clock  612  and a second current sampling clock  614  to control when the first and second portions of the microdriver samples the current. Thus, the sampling period is half of the data upload period (e.g., 8 microseconds). Moreover, the microdriver may have more than two portions thereby reducing the sampling period for each type to the data upload period divided by the number of micropixel types. 
     IR Drop Techniques 
     The following discussion refers to some additional techniques that may be employed to reduce IR drop and the mura artifacts that result from the IR drop. Some of these additional techniques may be adopted along with some of the foregoing techniques into a single device in any combination. 
     Current is determined by the display pattern/switching scheme. Once the current (I) is decided, resistance (R) can still be reduced to reduce IR drop. To reduce R, an electronic display may use wider power buses and more vias wherever possible. Given same routing area, different power distribution network can be used. For example, a power stripes formation may be replaced with a power grid as illustrated in  FIG. 24 . Additionally, reducing R saves power consumption in the display. 
     Resistance reduction may also be limited by the routing area available and/or a complexity of the power grid that is feasible for use in the display. When choosing the power distribution network, equalizing the resistance between each pixel to the power supply input point decreases IR drop by ensuring that the resistance between pixels are substantially the same as illustrated in  FIGS. 25A and 25B . After equalizing the resistance between current locations, the IR drop of different pixels is just signal dependent and not location dependent. By doing this, IR drop issue is just a gain error and can be easily calibrated. 
     Additionally or alternatively, given that V DD  is reduced by the IR drop, the V ref  may be manipulated to compensate for the IR drop. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 26 and 27 , sampling V DD  at a top  696  of a panel  698  is V DD_top  determined using a top sampling circuit  700 . Sampling V DD  at a bottom  702  of the panel  698  is V DD_bot  tom determined using a bottom sampling circuit  704 . V ref  is then set to be V ref_top  at panel top  696  and V ref_bot  at the panel bottom  702 . When dV=V DD_top −V DD_bot =V ref_top −V ref_bot , the first order error from the IR drop can be corrected. To track this information, a lookup table may be used since dV is brightness and pattern dependent. 
     To avoid the LUT, a diode connected device  706  located at the panel bottom  702  to find out the V ref_bot  to be used. Moreover, in some embodiments, M1 may be located inside a row driver. The diode connected device  706  may share its pin with other functions, and be enabled by a configuration bit. 
     The bias current M1 may be adjusted with different brightness, to have an adaptive control that works for different brightnesses and display patterns. 
     The device  706  resolves first order IR drop error. To compensation for more pattern-dependent parts of the IR drop, more buffers using the same configuration may be used. A similar device may be in the X dimension as well (in column driver) to compensate for X gradients. 
     Microdriver Local Sampling 
     In addition to or alternative to the foregoing implementations for reducing IR drop and threshold voltage and B compensation. Local sampling may be used at each current driver in each microdriver to reduce or eliminate IR drop, eliminate threshold voltage and B mismatch from PMOS output drivers, and eliminate temperature dependence of threshold voltage and B while enabling usage of low-voltage transistor devices as current sources and MOS capacitors. The local sampling may also eliminate cross talk between sub-pixels. 
       FIG. 28  illustrates a schematic view of a μD  78  that includes two slices  800  and  802  that each drive a row of pixels  80  having micro pixels  82  in each pixel. The micro pixels  82  may include various colors, such as red  82 A, green  82 B, or blue  82 C. The first slice  800  may correspond to a row of primary pixels  80 , and the second slice  802  may correspond to a row of redundant pixels  80  that each may be used as a backup to a corresponding pixel  80  of the primary pixels  80 . Alternatively, the first slice  800  and the second slice  802  may be used to emit during a single frame in conjunction. 
     The first slice  800  includes multiple current drivers  804  that each drives a micropixel  82  in the first row. The number of current drivers  804  corresponds to the number of micropixels  82  in the first row. The second slice  802  includes multiple current drivers  806  that each drives a micropixel  82  in the second row using to a specific current. In some embodiments, the number of current drivers  806  and micropixels  82  in a slice may be 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, or more. In some embodiments, each slice includes a multiple of a number (e.g., 3) of colors of micropixels  82  included in a pixel  80 . In some embodiments, some colors may be omitted from some pixels  80  but included in other pixels  80  causing a slice to include any number of micropixels  82  and/or current drivers  806 . As is discussed below, each current driver  804  drives a respective LED of a micropixel  82  to a predetermined level in a manner that is robustly resistant to temperature variation effects on transistor characteristics, such as threshold voltage and/or B. Specifically, as discussed below, current calibration circuitry  810  generates a calibration current that is provided to a calibration portion of each current driver  804 ,  806  for use in ensuring that a predetermined current is used to power an LED regardless of temperature variations and resultant transistor characteristics of a transistor that controls access to the LED. 
       FIG. 29  illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of circuitry  820  of a μD  78  that includes the current drivers  804  and calibration circuitry  810 . The calibration circuitry  810  uses V bottom    822  and V ref    824  to generate a calibration current  826  that is used to charge calibration capacitors  828  of each current driver  804  sequentially. The calibration circuitry  810  may also include a V ref  capacitor  830  that may be charged with the V ref    824  using a switch network  832  that may disconnect the V ref  capacitor  830  once the V ref  capacitor  830  is charged. Using the V ref  capacitor  830  to store the V ref    824  for application to the gate of transistor  834  that controls whether the calibration current  826  exists. Furthermore, the calibration circuitry  810  includes a resistor  836  that controls the level of current along with the V bottom    822  and V ref    824 . Specifically, the calibration current  826  may be determined using the following equation: 
                     I   cal     =         V   bottom     -     V   ref       R             (     Equation   ⁢           ⁢   1     )               
where I cal  is the calibration current  826  and R is the resistance of the resistor  836 .
 
     The calibration current  826  is used to sequentially charge current driver  804 . The calibration mode for each current driver  804  may be set using a calibration signal. For example, the current driver  804 A that corresponds to an LED  838  is driven to a calibration mode by a calibration signal  840 A, and the current driver  804 B that corresponds to an LED  839 . The calibration signals  840  cause respective transistors  842  and  844  to enable current to travel through the respective transistors  842  and  844  to charge a respective calibration capacitor  828 . Once the calibration capacitor  828  is charged for a current driver  804 , the current driver  804  may be taken out of calibration mode by deasserting the respective calibration signal  840 . During an emission mode, the calibration capacitor  828  provides a voltage the causes a specific current to pass through a transistor  846  during emission. Furthermore, by using the capacitor to supply the gate voltage to the transistor  846 , the voltage may be supplied when the capacitor is disconnected from the calibration current  826  when the transistors  842  and  844  shut off connection due to deassertion of the calibration signal for the current driver  804 . An emission transistor  848  controls whether a respective current driver is emitting in an emission mode based on a pulse signal  849 . The pulse signal  849  may be a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal that controls a level of luminance of the respective LED (e.g., LED  838 ). Each current driver  804  may also include an emission transistor  850  that controls whether the current driver  804  is in an emission mode. Essentially, the transistor  850  may have a first mode (e.g., transmissive) during an emission mode and a and a second mode (e.g., non-transmissive) during the calibration mode. In some embodiments, the PWM driving scheme to modulate luminance of the respective LED in addition to or in place of the PWM driving scheme applied to the transistor  848 . 
     In some embodiments, the supplied voltages (e.g., V bottom    822 , V ref    824 , a V DD , etc.) may be supplied using operational amplifiers.  FIG. 30  illustrates a V ref  circuit  900  used to supply the V ref    824  to the calibration circuitry  810 . The V ref  circuit  900  includes an operational amplifier  902  that receives a supplied V ref_s    904  voltage at its non-inverting input terminal and a feedback V ref_fb    905 . The circuit is substantially a unity gain with an emitter follower implemented using transistor  906  connected to the operational amplifier  902 . Essentially, this arrangement increases a current sourcing capability of the operational amplifier. In other words, the V ref_s    904  and the V ref_fb    905  are substantially similar as the gate-source voltage (VGS) of transistor  906  since the unity gain arrangement of the circuit  900  causes V ref_s    904  to be equal to V ref_s    907 . A resistor  908  controls a current through the circuit and transistor  906  controls whether the circuit  900  is providing the V ref    824  to the calibration circuitry  810  based at least in part on a supply signal  910 . 
       FIG. 31  illustrates an embodiment of a calibration circuit  920  that may be similar to the calibration circuitry  810  of  FIG. 29  except the calibration circuit  920  uses an operational amplifier  922  to supply V bottom    822  to the transistor  834 . 
       FIG. 32  illustrates a process  1000  for operating a display by calibrating current drivers. The process begins by determining reference voltages (block  1002 ). For example, V bottom    822  and/or V ref    824  may be adjusted based at least in part on temperature variation of the resistor  836  and/or the transistor  834 . In some embodiments, one voltage (e.g., V ref    824 ) may be adjusted while the other is kept constant. 
     Using the reference voltages, the calibration circuitry  810  generates a calibration current  826  (block  1004 ). The calibration current is generated across the resistor  836 . In some embodiments, the reference voltages are used to generate the calibration current  826  with at least one of the reference voltages captured in a capacitor (e.g., capacitor  830 ). Once the calibration current  826  is generated, the calibration circuitry  810  provides the calibration current  826  appropriate current drivers  804  in the μD  78  (block  1006 ). Specifically, the calibration current  826  is connected to calibration capacitors  828  using calibration transistors  842  and  844  sequentially. A PWM transistor  848  is also connected. Using these connections, a capacitor  828  is charged such that an output voltage is placed at the gate of a current driver transistor  846  to produce an output current to an LED that is substantially independent of transistor parameter changes of the transistor  846  based at least in part on temperature. In other words, the gate voltage, stored in the capacitor  828 , accounts for variations in the current driver transistor and/or variations in the power supply (e.g., a V DD ). Using the gate voltage, each current driver is used to operate the display using a gate voltage that is substantially independent of variations to the transistor and/or the power supply (block  1008 ). 
     It should be noted that more than a single calibration current may be used. For example, the calibration current may be specific to a particular color. In other words, in a RGB display, a calibration current for red current drivers may differ from a calibration current for blue or green current drivers. In some embodiments, red current drivers may have their own calibration current while blue and green current drivers share a calibration current. Alternatively, red, green, and blue current drivers may have their own calibration current specific to a respective color. 
     The calibration scheme may performed multiple times per frame. For example, a first calibration process for a first portion (e.g., first group of μDs and/or first group of rows) and a second calibration process for a second portion of the display. Furthermore, since voltage in the capacitor  828  may gradually decrease over time due to leakage, increasing frequency of calibrations may improve maintenance of a constant calibration current via a constant voltage stored in the capacitor. 
     The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Moreover, although the foregoing discusses row drivers that send data to μD s and column drivers that send data to microdrivers and row drivers that control which μD in a row receives the data, it should be appreciated that the foregoing discussion about row drivers may be applied to column drivers and vice versa merely by rotating orientation of the display. Thus, recitations of columns and rows may be interchangeable in meaning herein.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20160923
Publication Date: 20200901
Grant Date: 20200901
Priority Date: 20160218
Inventors: BAE, HOPIL
YAO, WEI H.
VAHID FAR, MOHAMMAD B.
BI, YAFEI
WANG, XIAOFENG
Charisoulis, Thomas
AKYOL, HASAN
JEN, Henry C.
SHAEFFER, DEREK K.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G09G2320/0223", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3233", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3233", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2310/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2300/0404", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2300/0404", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G2310/08", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G09G3/3233", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 72241752