Light emitting panel and light emitting display Number:7,522,133 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A light emitting display includes a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes a power electrode line, a capacitor for charging a voltage corresponding to a data signal, a driving transistor for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor, and emit elements for emitting lights corresponding to the current output by the driving transistor. One or more emit control transistors are coupled between the driving transistor and the emit elements, and selectively applies the current output by the driving transistor to the emit elements. The power electrode line is provided at an area between the emit elements.<H emitting, display, Light, emitting, , 7522133.html, Patent, pto, 7522133

Title: Light emitting panel and light emitting display

Abstract: A light emitting display includes a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes a power electrode line, a capacitor for charging a voltage corresponding to a data signal, a driving transistor for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor, and emit elements for emitting lights corresponding to the current output by the driving transistor. One or more emit control transistors are coupled between the driving transistor and the emit elements, and selectively applies the current output by the driving transistor to the emit elements. The power electrode line is provided at an area between the emit elements.

Patent Number: 7,522,133 Issued on 04/21/2009 to Kwak

Inventors: Kwak; Won-Kyu (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd. (Suwon-si, KR)

Appl. No.: 11/112,769

Filed: April 21, 2005

Foreign Application Priority Data


Apr 29, 2004 [KR]			10-2004-0029921

Current U.S. Class: 345/76 ; 315/169.3; 345/82

Current International Class: G09G 3/36 (20060101)

Field of Search: 345/76,82 315/169.3

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


6580408	June 2003	Bae et al.
6809482	October 2004	Koyama
6835951	December 2004	Park
7057589	June 2006	Shin et al.
7277071	October 2007	Oh
2002/0047581	April 2002	Koyama
2002/0118150	August 2002	Kwon
2003/0179164	September 2003	Shin et al.
2004/0046719	March 2004	Wang et al.
2005/0093788	May 2005	Shin
2005/0243032	November 2005	Lee
2005/0243035	November 2005	Kwak
2005/0243038	November 2005	Kwak

Primary Examiner: Shalwala; Bipin
Assistant Examiner: Chowdhury; Afroza Y
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A display device including a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals, a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals, and a plurality of pixel circuits, which are respectively coupled to the scan lines and the data lines, wherein at least one of the pixel circuits comprises: a power electrode line, which is provided in the second direction and for supplying a power voltage; a capacitor having a first capacitor electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and for charging a voltage corresponding to at least one of the data signals; a first transistor having a first electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and a second electrode for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor; a first emit element and a second emit element for outputting lights corresponding to the current output by the first transistor; and a first emit control transistor and a second emit control transistor respectively coupled between the second electrode of the first transistor and the first and second emit elements, and for selectively applying the current output by the first transistor to the first and second emit elements, wherein the power electrode line is provided at an area between the first and second emit elements.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the data line is provided at an area between another pixel area adjacent to the pixel area and the pixel area.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the emit elements are substantially rectangular in shape, and have short axes in the first direction and long axes in the second direction, the long axes being longer than the short axes, and at least one of the long axes of the first emit element is adjacent to at least one of the long axes of the second emit element.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the data line is provided adjacent to at least another one of the long axes of the first emit element and wherein the data line is separated from the second emit element by the first emit element.

5. A light emitting display including a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals, a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals, and a plurality of pixel circuits, which are respectively coupled to the scan lines and the data lines, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a pixel area in which at least one of the pixel circuits is provided comprises: a power electrode line, which is provided in the second direction and for supplying a power voltage; a first capacitor having a first capacitor electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and for charging a voltage corresponding to at least one of the data signals; a first transistor having a first electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and a second electrode for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor; a first emit element, a second emit element, and a third emit element for outputting lights corresponding to the current output by the first transistor; and a first emit control transistor, a second emit control transistor, and a third emit control transistor respectively coupled between the second electrode of the first transistor and the first, second, and third emit elements, and for selectively applying the current output by the first transistor to the first, second, and third emit elements, wherein the power electrode line is provided to an area selected from at least one of an area between the first and second emit elements and an area between the second and third emit elements.

6. The light emitting display of claim 5, wherein the pixel area further comprises: a second capacitor being coupled between a second capacitor electrode of the first capacitor and a control electrode of the first transistor, and for charging a voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the first transistor; a second transistor coupled between the control electrode of the first transistor and the first emit control transistor, the second emit control transistor, and the third emit control transistor; and a third transistor including a third electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and a fourth electrode coupled to the power electrode line.

7. The light emitting display of claim 6, further comprising a second power electrode line formed in parallel with the first power electrode line and between the second and third emit elements, wherein at least one part of the first power electrode line is electrically coupled with at least one part of the second power electrode line.

8. The light emitting display of claim 7, further comprising a bridge electrode line for electrically coupling the at least one part of the first power electrode line and the at least one part of the second power electrode line, wherein the bridge electrode line is formed such that areas, in which the bridge electrode is superimposed on the first, second, and third emit control transistors, substantially correspond to each other in size.

9. The light emitting display of claim 8, wherein the bridge electrode is formed to be slanted from the first direction with a predetermined angle.

10. The light emitting display of claim 8, wherein the bridge electrode is formed in a staircase manner.

11. A display panel comprising: a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals; a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals; a first emit element and a second emit element provided in parallel and between two adjacent data lines from among the data lines; and a power electrode line provided in parallel with the data lines and at an area between the first and second emit elements.

12. The display panel of claim 11, wherein the first and second emit elements are substantially rectangular in shape and have short axes in the first directions and long axes in the second directions, wherein the long axes are longer than the short axes, and wherein the long axes are adjacent and parallel with each other.

13. A light emitting display panel comprising: a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals; a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals; a first emit element, a second emit element, and a third emit element provided between two adjacent data lines from among the data lines; and a first power electrode line provided in parallel with the data line and to an area selected from at least one of an area between the first and second emit elements and an area between the second and third emit elements.

14. The light emitting display panel of claim 13, wherein the first power electrode line is provided at the area between the first and second emit elements.

15. The light emitting display panel of claim 14, further comprising: a second power electrode line disposed between the second and third emit elements; and a bridge electrode line for coupling the first and second power electrode lines.

16. The light emitting display panel of claim 15, further comprising a first control line, a second control line, and a third control line provided in the first direction at an area between at least one of the scan lines and the emit elements, and for applying respective control signals for controlling light emission of the emit elements, the bridge electrode being formed such that respective areas, in which the bridge electrode is superimposed on the first, second, and third control lines, substantially correspond to each other in size.

17. The light emitting display panel of claim 16, wherein the bridge electrode is formed to be slanted from the first direction with a predetermined angle.

18. The light emitting display panel of claim 16, wherein the bridge electrode is formed in a staircase manner.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0029921, filed on Apr. 29, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a displaying device, and more particularly, to an organic electroluminescent (EL) display using electroluminescence of an organic matter.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In general, an organic EL display is a displaying device for electrically exciting phosphorous organic compounds to emit light. The organic EL display drives n.times.m organic light emitting elements arranged in a matrix format to represent images.

The organic light emitting elements have diode characteristics so they may be referred to as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), and have a structure including an anode electrode layer (ITO), an organic thin-film layer, and a cathode electrode layer (metallic). The organic thin film has a multi-layered structure including an emitting layer (EML), an electron transport layer (ETL), and a hole transport layer (HTL) to balance electrons and holes and improve light emission efficiency, and it additionally has an electron injecting layer (EIL) and a hole injecting layer (HIL). The organic light emitting elements form an organic EL display panel through an arrangement in an n.times.m matrix format.

Methods for driving the organic EL display panel include a passive matrix method, and an active matrix method which uses thin-film transistors (TFTs). The passive matrix method forms anodes and cathodes to cross (or cross over) with (or to be substantially perpendicular to) each other, and selects lines to drive organic EL elements. The active matrix method sequentially turns on a plurality of TFTs coupled to data lines and scan lines according to scan select signals to thus drive organic EL elements.

A pixel circuit of a general active matrix organic EL display will be described.

FIG. 1 shows one of n.times.m pixels, that is, equivalently illustrating a pixel provided on the first row and the first column.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pixel 10 has three sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b which have organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb respectively emitting red, green, and blue (RGB) lights. In the case of sub-pixels arranged in a stripe pattern, the sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b are coupled to data lines D1r, D1g, and D1b, and a common scan line S1.

The red sub-pixel 10r includes transistors M11r and M12r and a capacitor C1r for driving the organic EL element OLEDr. Likewise, the green sub-pixel 10g includes transistors M11g and M12g and a capacitor C1g, and the blue sub-pixel 10b includes transistors M11b and M12b and a capacitor C1b. The connection and operation of only the sub-pixel 10r will now be described since the connections and operations of the sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b are substantially the same.

The driving transistor M11r is coupled between a power supply voltage of VDD and an anode of the organic EL element OLEDr to transmit a light emitting current to the organic EL element OLEDr, and a cathode of the organic EL element OLEDr is coupled to a voltage of VSS, which is lower than the power supply voltage of VDD. The current of the driving transistor M11r is controlled by a data voltage applied through the transistor M12r. In this instance, the capacitor C1r is coupled between a source and a gate of the transistor M11r to maintain the applied voltage for a predetermined time. A gate of the transistor M12r is coupled to the scan line S1 for transmitting an on/off-type select signal, and a source of the transistor M12r is coupled to the data line D1r for transmitting a data voltage corresponding to the red sub-pixel 10r.

In operation, when the switching transistor M12r is turned on in response to a select signal applied to the gate, a data voltage of VDATA provided by the data line D1r is applied to the gate of the transistor M11r. A current (I.sub.OLED) flows to (and/or through) the transistor M11r in correspondence to a voltage charged between the gate and the source by the capacitor C1r, and the organic EL element OLEDr emits light in correspondence to the current (I.sub.OLED). In this instance, the current (I.sub.OLED) flowing to the organic EL element OLEDr is given in Equation 1.

.beta..times..beta..times..times..times. ##EQU00001##

where V.sub.TH is a threshold value of the transistor M11r, and .beta. is a constant.

As can be derived by Equation 1, in the pixel circuit shown in FIG. 1, a current corresponding to the data voltage is supplied to the organic EL element OLEDr, and the organic EL element OLEDr emits light with a brightness corresponding to the supplied current. In this instance, the applied data voltage has plural values within a predetermined range in order to represent gray scales.

As described, the organic EL display allows one pixel 10 to have three sub-pixels 10r, 10g, and 10b, each of which includes a driving transistor, M11r, M11g, or M11b, a switching transistor, M12r, M12g, or M12b, and a capacitor, C1r, C1g, and C1b, for driving an organic EL element. Also, a data line, D1r, D1g, or D1b, for transmitting data signals and a power electrode line for transmitting the power supply voltage of VDD are provided for each sub-pixel.

Therefore, the number of transistors, capacitors, and wires for transmitting voltages and signals is increased so that it is difficult to lay out all of them in the pixels, and aperture ratios corresponding to light-emitted areas in the pixels are decreased (i.e., a ratio between the bright pixel area and the pixel area that is blocked by the parts to drive each pixel is decreased).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a light emitting display having an efficient arrangement of structures corresponding to pixel areas.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display device. The display device includes a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals, a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals, and a plurality of pixel circuits, which are respectively coupled to the scan lines and the data lines. At least one of the pixel circuits includes a power electrode line, a capacitor, a first transistor, a first emit element, a second emit element, a first emit control transistor, and a second emit control transistor. The power electrode line is provided in the second direction and supplies a power voltage. The capacitor has a first capacitor electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and charges a voltage corresponding to at least one of the data signals. The first transistor has a first electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and a second electrode for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor. The first emit element and the second emit element output lights corresponding to the current output by the first transistor. The first emit control transistor and the second emit control transistor are respectively coupled between the second electrode of the first transistor and the first and second emit elements, and selectively apply the current output by the first transistor to the first and second emit elements. The power electrode line is provided at an area between the first and second emit elements.

The data line may be provided at an area between another pixel area adjacent to the pixel area and the pixel area.

The emit elements may be substantially rectangular in shape, and may have short axes in the first direction and long axes in the second direction. The long axes may be longer than the short axes, and at least one of the long axes of the first emit element may be adjacent to at least one of the long axes of the second emit element.

The data line may be provided adjacent to at least another one of the long axes of the first emit element, and the data line may be separated from the second emit element by the first emit element.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a light emitting display. The light emitting display includes a plurality of scan lines, which are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals, a plurality of data lines, which are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals, and a plurality of pixel circuits, which are respectively coupled to the scan lines and the data lines, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A pixel area in which at least one of the pixel circuits is provided includes: a power electrode line, a first capacitor, a first transistor, a first emit element, a second emit element, a third emit element, a first emit control transistor, a second emit control transistor, and a third emit control transistor. The power electrode line is provided in the second direction and supplies a power voltage. The first capacitor has a first capacitor electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and charges a voltage corresponding to at least one of the data signals. The first transistor has a first electrode coupled to the power electrode line, and a second electrode for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage charged in the capacitor. The first emit element, a second emit element, and a third emit element output lights corresponding to the current output by the first transistor. The first emit control transistor, the second emit control transistor, and the third emit control transistor are respectively coupled between the second electrode of the first transistor and the first, second, and third emit elements, and selectively apply the current output by the first transistor to the first, second, and third emit elements. The power electrode line is provided to an area between the first and second emit elements and/or an area between the second and third emit elements.

The pixel area may further include a second capacitor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. The second capacitor is coupled between a second capacitor electrode of the first capacitor and a control electrode of the first transistor, and charges a voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the first transistor. The second transistor is coupled between the control electrode of the first transistor and the first emit control transistor, the second emit control transistor, and the third emit control transistor and/or diode-connects the first transistor. The third transistor includes a third electrode coupled to the control electrode of the first transistor, and a fourth electrode coupled to the power electrode line.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a display panel. The display panel includes a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a first emit element, a second emit element, and a power electrode line. The scan lines are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals. The data lines are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals. The first emit element and the second emit element are provided in parallel and between two adjacent data lines from among the data lines. The power electrode line is provided in parallel with the data lines and at an area between the first and second emit elements.

The first and second emit elements may be substantially rectangular in shape and have short axes in the first directions and long axes in the second directions, the long axes may be longer than the short axes, and the long axes may be adjacent and parallel with each other.

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a light emitting display panel. The light emitting display panel includes: a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a first emit element, a second emit element, a third emit element, and a first power electrode line. The scan lines are provided in a first direction and for transmitting select signals. The data lines are provided in a second direction and insulatively cross the scan lines, and for transmitting data signals. The first emit element, the second emit element, and the third emit element are provided between two adjacent data lines from among the data lines. The first power electrode line is provided in parallel with the data line and to an area between the first and second emit elements and/or an area between the second and third emit elements.

The first power electrode line may be provided at the area between the first and second emit elements.

The light emitting display panel may further include a second power electrode line formed between the second and third emit elements, and a bridge electrode line for coupling the first and second power electrode lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional pixel circuit of a light emitting display panel;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram for an organic EL display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a pixel circuit according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to the part of I to I' in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to the part of II to II' in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would recognize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, rather than restrictive.

There may be parts shown in the drawings, or parts not shown in the drawings, that are not discussed in the specification as they are not essential to a complete understanding of the invention. Like reference numerals designate like elements.

As to jargon on the scan lines, a scan line for transmitting a current select signal will be referred to as a "current scan line," a scan line which has transmitted a select signal before the current select signal is transmitted will be referred to as a "previous scan line," and a select signal after the current select signal is transmitted will be referred to as a "subsequent scan line."

In addition, a pixel which emits light based on the select signal of the current scan line will be referred to as a "current pixel," a pixel which emits light based on the select signal of the previous scan line will be referred to as a "previous pixel," and a pixel which emits light based on the select signal of the subsequent scan line will be referred to as a "subsequent pixel."

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an organic EL display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the organic EL display includes a display panel 100, a scan driver 200, an emit controller 300, and a data driver 400. The display panel 100 includes a plurality of scan lines S0, S1, . . . , Sk, . . . , Sn and emit control lines E1, . . . , Ek, . . . , En provided in the row direction, a plurality of data lines D1, . . . , Dk, . . . , Dm provided in the column direction, a plurality of power electrode lines for transmitting the voltage of VDD, and a plurality of pixels 110. A pixel 110 is formed at a pixel area generated by two scan lines Sk-1 and Sk and two adjacent data lines Dk-1 and Dk, and is driven by signals transmitted by the current scan line Sk, the previous scan line Sk-1, the emit control line Ek, and the data line Dk. The emit control lines E1 to En respectively include three emit control lines for emitting red, green, and blue (RGB) colors (e.g., E1 includes E1r, E1g, and E1b and En includes Enr, Eng, and Enb).

The scan driver 200 sequentially transmits select signals for selecting lines to the scan lines S0 to Sn so that data signals may be applied to pixels of the corresponding selected scan lines, the emit controller 300 sequentially transmits emit control signals for controlling emission of the organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb shown in FIG. 3 to the emit control lines E1 to En, and the data driver 400 applies data signals, which correspond to the pixels of the selected scan lines to which the select signals are applied, to the data lines D1 to Dm when the select signals are sequentially applied.

The scan driver 200, the emit controller 300, and the data driver 400 can be coupled to a substrate on which the display panel 100 is provided. Alternatively, the scan driver 200, the emit controller 300, and/or the data driver 400 can be directly installed on a glass substrate of the display panel 100, or can be replaced with a driving circuit formed on the same layer as that of the scan lines, the data lines, and the transistors on the substrate of the display panel 100. Further, the scan driver 200, the emit controller 300, and/or the data driver 400 can be mounted in a chip format on a tape carrier package (TCP) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC) coupled to the substrate of the display panel 100.

In addition, a field can be divided into three subfields which are then driven, and the three subfields program red, green, and blue data and emit lights. To achieve this purpose, the scan driver 200 sequentially transmits a select signal to the scan lines S0 to Sn for each subfield, the emit controller 300 applies an emit control signal to the emit control lines E1 to En so that the organic EL elements of respective colors may emit light in a subfield, and the data driver 400 applies data signals corresponding to the red, green, and blue organic EL elements to the data lines D1 to Dm in the three subfields.

An operation of the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows an equivalent circuit diagram of the pixel 110 in the organic EL display shown in FIG. 2. For ease of description, the pixel Pk coupled to the scan line Sk of the k-th row and the data line Dk of the k-th column is exemplarily illustrated, and p-channel transistors are shown by way of example in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pixel circuit includes a driving transistor M1, a diode transistor M3, a capacitor transistor M4, a switching transistor M5, organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb, emit control transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b for controlling emission of the organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb, and capacitors Cst and Cvth. One emit control line Ek shown in FIG. 2 includes emit control lines Ekr, Ekg, and Ekb. The emit control transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b respond to emit control signals transmitted by the emit control lines Ekr, Ekg, and Ekb, and selectively transmit the current provided by the driving transistor M1 to the organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb.

In detail, the transistor M5 has a gate coupled to the current scan line Sk and a source coupled to the data line Dk, and the transistor M5 responds to the select signal provided by the scan line Sk and transmits the data voltage provided by the data line Dk to a node B of the capacitor Cvth. The transistor M4 responds to the select signal provided by the previous scan line Sk-1 and couples the node B of the capacitor Cvth to the power supply voltage VDD. The transistor M3 is coupled to a node A of the capacitor Cvth and is also coupled to the organic E1 elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb through the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b, respectively. The transistor M3 responds to the select signal provided by the previous scan line Sk-1 and diode-connects the transistor M1. The driving transistor M1 for driving the organic EL element OLED has a gate coupled to the node A of the capacitor Cvth and a source coupled to the power voltage VDD, and controls the current to be applied to the organic EL element OLED (e.g., OLEDr, OLEDg, and/or OLEDb) according to the voltage applied to the gate.

Also, the capacitor Cst has a first electrode coupled to the power supply voltage VDD and a second electrode coupled to a drain electrode of the transistor M4 (e.g., at around the node B), and the a first electrode or Node B of the capacitor Cvth is coupled to the second electrode of the capacitor Cst to thus couple the two capacitors in series, and a second electrode or node A of the capacitor Cvth is coupled to the gate electrode of the driving transistor M1 (e.g., at around the node A).

The drain of the driving transistor M1 is coupled to sources of the emit control transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b, which have gates respectively coupled to the emit control lines Ekr, Ekg, and Ekb. The emit control transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b have drains respectively coupled to anodes of the organic EL elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb which have cathodes to which the power supply voltage VSS of less than the power supply voltage VDD is applied. A negative voltage or a ground voltage can be used for the power supply voltage VSS.

In operation, when a low-level scan voltage is applied to the previous scan line Sk-1, the transistors M3 and M4 are turned on. When the transistor M3 is turned on the transistor M1 is diode-connected. Therefore, a voltage difference between the gate and the source of the transistor M1 is varied until the voltage difference reaches a threshold voltage (Vth) of the transistor M1. Since the source of the transistor M1 is coupled to the power supply voltage VDD in this instance, the voltage applied to the gate of the transistor M1, that is, the node A of the capacitor Cvth, becomes a sum of the power supply voltage VDD and the threshold voltage (Vth). Further, the transistor M4 is turned on to apply the power supply voltage VDD to the node B of the capacitor Cvth. As such, a voltage (Vcvth) charged in the capacitor Cvth is given in Equation 2. V.sub.Cvth=V.sub.CvthA-V.sub.CvthB=(VDD+V.sub.th)-VDD=V.sub.th Equation 2

where V.sub.Cvth is a voltage charged in the capacitor Cvth, V.sub.CvthA is a voltage applied to the node A of the capacitor Cvth, and V.sub.CvthB is a voltage applied to the node B of the capacitor Cvth.

When a low-level scan voltage is applied to the current scan line Sk, the transistor M5 is turned on to apply the data voltage (Vdata) to the node B. Also, since the capacitor Cvth is charged with the voltage corresponding to the threshold voltage (Vth) at the transistor M1, the voltage corresponding to the sum of the data voltage (Vdata) and the threshold voltage (Vth) at the transistor M1 is applied to the gate of the transistor M1. That is, a voltage (Vgs) between the gate and the source of the transistor M1 is given in Equation 3. In this instance, a high-level signal is applied to the emit control line Ek (e.g., Ekr, Ekg, and/or Ekb), and the transistor M2 (e.g., M2r, M2g, and/or M2b) is turned off to block a current flow. V.sub.gs=(V.sub.data+V.sub.th)-VDD Equation 3

Next, the transistor M2 is turned on in response to a low-level signal of the emit control line Ek, the current (I.sub.OLED) corresponding to the gate-source voltage of Vgs at the transistor M1 is supplied to the organic EL element OLED through the transistor M2, and the organic EL element OLED (e.g., OLEDr, OLEDg, and/or OLEDb) emits light. The current (I.sub.OLED) is given in Equation 4.

.beta..times..beta..times..beta..times..times..times. ##EQU00002## where I.sub.OLED is a current flowing to the organic EL element, V.sub.gs is a voltage between the source and the gate of the transistor M1, V.sub.th is a threshold voltage of the transistor M1, V.sub.data is a data voltage, and .beta. is a constant.

In more detail, when the emit control transistor M2r is turned on in response to the low-level emit control signal provided by the emit control line Ekr the data voltage (Vdata) represents a red data signal and the current (I.sub.OLED) is transmitted to the red organic EL element OLEDr, which then emits light.

Likewise, when the emit control transistor M2g is turned on in response to the low-level emit control signal provided by the emit control line Ekg, the data voltage (Vdata) represents a green data signal and the current (I.sub.OLED) is transmitted to the green organic EL element OLEDg, which then emits light. Also, when the emit control transistor M2b is turned on in response to the low-level emit control signal provided by the emit control line Ekb, the data voltage (Vdata) represents a blue data signal and the current (I.sub.OLED) is transmitted to the blue organic EL element OLEDb, which then emits light. The three light control signals applied to the three emit control lines Ekr, Ekg, and Ekb respectively have a low-level period which is not superimposed on one another so that one pixel may represent red, green, and blue.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, an arrangement structure of a pixel area in which a pixel circuit is provided in the organic EL display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. Herein, certain components of the current pixel Pk will have normal reference numerals, and certain components of the previous pixel Pk-1 will have apostrophe-added reference numerals ("'") to thus distinguish the certain components of the current pixel and the certain components of the previous pixel.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplified arrangement diagram for a pixel area according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to the part of I to I' in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view with respect to the part of II to II' in FIG. 4.

As shown by FIGS. 4 to 6, a shield layer 3 of silicon oxide is formed on an insulation substrate 1, and polysilicon layers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28, which are semiconductor layers, are formed on the shield layer 3.

A U-shaped polysilicon layer 21 forms a semiconductor layer including a source region, a drain region, and a channel region of the transistor M5 of the current pixel Pk. The polysilicon layers 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are formed in a body or as a single unit. The polysilicon layer 27 is extended in the column direction between the emit elements OLEDr' and OLEDg' of the previous pixel Pk-1 to form the node A, which is an electrode or a first electrode of the capacitor Cvth. The polysilicon layer 28 is extended in a column direction between the emit elements OLEDg' and OLEDb' of the previous pixel Pk-1 to form an electrode of the capacitor Cst. The polysilicon layer 26 is adjacent to the emit elements OLEDg' and OLEDb' and is extended in a row direction with the horizontal width of the emit elements OLEDg' and OLEDb' to form a semiconductor layer of the transistors M1, M3, and M4. The polysilicon layer 25 is coupled to the polysilicon layer 26 on about the center of the row-directional width of a pixel area, that is, on about the center of the horizontal width of the emit elements OLEDr', OLEDg', and OLEDb'. The polysilicon layer 25 is formed in the column direction, and forms a drain region of the transistor M1 and source regions of the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b. The polysilicon layers 22, 23, and 24 are branched out from the polysilicon layer 25 to form an `m` pattern and form drain regions of the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b.

A gate insulation film 30 is formed on the above-formed polysilicon layers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28.

Gate electrode lines 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 are formed on the gate insulation film 30. In more detail, since the gate electrode line 41 is extended in the row direction and corresponds to the current scan line Sk of the current pixel Pk, the gate electrode line 41 insulatively crosses the polysilicon layer 21 and forms a gate electrode of the transistor M5 of the current pixel Pk. Since the gate electrode line 42 is extended in the row direction and corresponds to the emit control line Ekb of the current pixel Pk, the gate electrode line 42 forms a gate electrode of the transistor M2b. Since the gate electrode line 43 is extended in the row direction and corresponds to the emit control line Ekg of the current pixel Pk, the gate electrode line 43 forms a gate electrode of the transistor M2g. Since the gate electrode line 44 is extended in the row direction and corresponds to the emit control line Ekr of the current pixel Pk, the gate electrode line 44 forms a gate electrode of the transistor M2k. Since the gate electrode line 45 is extended in the row direction and corresponds to the previous scan line Sk-1 of the previous pixel Pk-1, the gate electrode line 45 insulatively crosses the polysilicon layer 21' and forms a gate electrode of the transistor M5' of the previous pixel Pk-1. Also, the gate electrode line 45 insulatively crosses the polysilicon layer 25 and forms gate electrodes of the transistors M3 and M4 of the current pixel Pk. The gate electrode 46 insulatively crosses the polysilicon layer 26 in a rectangular manner on the bottom of the emit element OLEDg' to form a gate electrode of the transistor M1. The gate electrode 47 is formed in a U shape and is provided between the emit elements OLEDr' and the OLEDg' and between the emit elements OLEDg' and the OLEDb', and forms a node B on which the capacitors Cvth and Cst are coupled in series. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, a portion of the gate electrode 47 is superimposed on the polysilicon layer 27 to become an electrode of the capacitor Cvth, and another portion of the gate electrode 47 is superimposed on the polysilicon layer 28 to become an electrode of the capacitor Cst.

Referring now back to FIGS. 4 to 6, an inter-layer insulation film 50 is formed on the gate electrodes 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47. A power electrode line 61, a data line 62, and electrodes 63, 64, and 65 are formed on the inter-layer insulation film 50 and are coupled to the corresponding electrodes through contact holes 51a, 51b, 52, 53, 54a, 55a, 55b, 57r, 57g, and 57b.

The power electrode line 61 is extended in the column direction between the emit elements OLEDg and OLEDb, and is coupled to the polysilicon layers 28 and 26 through a contact hole 54b, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50 and the gate insulation film 30, to supply power to the first electrode of the capacitor Cst and the source of the transistor M1.

The data line 62 is extended in the column direction between a pixel area and another pixel area, and is coupled to the polysilicon layer 21 through a contact hole 51a which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50 and the gate insulation film 30, and is coupled to the source of the transistor M4.

The electrode 63 couples the polysilicon layer 21 and the gate electrode 47 through the contact hole 51b, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50 and the gate insulation film 30, and a contact hole 52, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50, and becomes the node B.

The electrode 64 couples the drain of the transistor M3 of the polysilicon layer 26 and the gate electrode 46 through the contact hole 53, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50 and the gate insulation film 30, and the contact hole 54a, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50, and becomes the node A.

The electrode 65 couples the drain of the transistor M4 of the polysilicon layer 25 and the gate electrode 47 through the contact hole 55a, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50, and the contact hole 55b, which penetrates the inter-layer insulation film 50 and the gate insulation film 30, and becomes the node B.

The electrodes 71r, 71g, and 71b are pixel electrodes of the respective emit elements. The pixel electrodes 71r, 71g, and 71b are respectively coupled to the polysilicon layers 22, 23, and 24 through the contact holes 57r, 57g, and 57b, which penetrate the gate insulation film 30 and the inter-layer insulation film 50, and are then coupled respectively to the drain electrodes of the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b.

The pixel electrodes 71r, 71g, and 71b of emit elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb are formed to be a rectangle in which the vertical line of the rectangle parallel to the data line 62 is longer than the horizontal line of the rectangle parallel to the gate electrodes 42 to 44, and hence, the longer vertical lines of the emit elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb are arranged near each other.

As described above, the capacitor Cvth of FIG. 3 has a first electrode being the polysilicon layer 27 and a second electrode being the gate electrode 47, and is formed between the organic EL elements OLEDr' and OLEDg'. The capacitor Cst of FIG. 3 has the first electrode being the gate electrode 47 and the second electrode being the polysilicon layer 28 coupled to the power electrode line 61 and is formed between the organic EL elements OLEDg' and OLEDb'.

By arranging the power electrode line 61 on the area between the emit elements OLEDg and OLEDb, the source of the driving transistor M1, the source of the transistor M4, and the first electrode of the power electrode line 61 are directly coupled with each other without additional extended wiring. As such, power is supplied to the driving transistors M1 and M4 and the capacitor Cst without reducing the aperture ratios of the organic EL elements or emit elements OLEDr, OLEDg, and OLEDb (i.e., the ratio between the bright pixel area and the pixel area that is blocked is increased).

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the pixel area according to the second exemplary embodiment is different from that of the first exemplary embodiment in that a second power electrode line 66 provided in parallel with the power electrode line 61 and between the emit elements OLEDr and OLEDg (or between OLEDr' and OLEDg') and a bridge electrode line 67 for coupling the first and second power electrode lines 61 and 66 are further provided in the pixel area according to the second embodiment.

In operation, by providing double power electrode lines for the current to pass through; the influence of a voltage drop caused by an internal resistance of components in the second exemplary embodiment is less than that of components in the first exemplary embodiment. Hence, the power is more stably supplied to the respective pixel areas in the second exemplary embodiment.

However, in the second exemplary embodiment, since the bridge electrode line 67 is formed in the horizontal direction, areas superimposed on the gate electrodes 42, 43, and 44 by the bridge electrode line 67 are different, and hence, since different loads are applied to the gate electrodes 42, 43, and 44 by the bridge electrode line 67, characteristics of the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b may be varied.

A third exemplary embodiment in which the gate electrodes 42, 43, and 44 have the same load will now be described.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement configuration according to the third exemplary embodiment is different from that of the second exemplary embodiment in that a bridge electrode line 67a for coupling the first and second power electrode lines 61 and 66 is formed in a diagonal direction.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, an area A where the bridge electrode line 67a crosses the gate electrode 44, an area B where the bridge electrode line 67a crosses the gate electrode 43, and an area C where the bridge electrode line 67a crosses the gate electrode 42 are formed to be the same in the arrangement configuration according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows an arrangement diagram for the pixel area according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement configuration according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is different from that of the third embodiment in that a bridge electrode line 67b for coupling the first and second power electrode lines 61 and 66 is formed in a staircase manner.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, an area A where the bridge electrode line 67b crosses the gate electrode 44, an area B where the bridge electrode line 67b crosses the gate electrode 43, and an area C where the bridge electrode line 67b crosses the gate electrode 42 are formed to be the same in the arrangement configuration according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

Accordingly, by making the bridge electrode lines 67a and/or 67b cross the gate electrodes 42, 43, and 44 in a diagonal direction and/or in a staircase manner, the bridge electrode lines 67a and 67b of the third and fourth exemplary embodiments, respectively, apply the same load to the gate electrodes 42, 43, and 44. Therefore, the characteristics of the transistors M2r, M2g, and M2b are uniformly maintained.

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been exemplified by a pixel circuit which includes five transistors, two capacitors, and three emit elements, however, the present invention is not thereby limited. Embodiments of the present invention can be applicable to a pixel circuit having one emit element, two emit elements, four emit elements, and/or more than four emit elements and can also be applicable to a pixel circuit with one, two, and/or more transistors, and/or one or more capacitors (e.g., the two transistors and one capacitor embodiment of FIG. 1).

In view of the foregoing, certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide parts of a pixel within a pixel area that are efficiently arranged by providing a power electrode line between emit elements of the pixel having the plural emit elements.

While the invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

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