JP2009003009A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device capable of preventing image deterioration and improving yield.
[Solution]
The light-emitting element circuit 10 included in the display device is connected in common to the pixels 105, 106, and 107 each having a light-emitting element that emits light according to a supplied current, and the pixels 105, 106, and 107 The drive circuit 101 that drives the plurality of connected pixels 105, 106, and 107 is configured to be connectable in common to these pixels 105, 106, and 107, and the plurality of connectable pixels by repair work. When connected to 105, 106, and 107, a redundant circuit 102 that drives the plurality of pixels 105, 106, and 107 is provided.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an active matrix drive type display device provided with a self-luminous element typified by an organic EL (OLED: Organic Light Emitting Diode) element.

  In recent years, interest in FPD (Flat Panel Display) has been increased in place of CRT (Cathode Ray Tube). As typical FPD, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and PDP (Plasma Display Panel) have already been put into practical use. However, it has been pointed out that these FPDs have the following problems.

  That is, since the LCD itself does not emit light, a high-brightness backlight is required, and as a result, power consumption tends to increase. The LCD is also inferior to the CRT in view angle and response speed. On the other hand, the PDP uses a self-luminous element, and has a viewing angle and response speed equivalent to or better than those of a CRT. However, in the case of a PDP, a high voltage is required for driving, and thus there is a problem that it is difficult to realize low power consumption.

  While LCDs and PDPs have the problems as described above, organic EL devices may be able to solve these problems. Therefore, a display device including an organic EL device has attracted attention as a candidate for the next generation FPD.

  An organic EL device is usually produced by the following method. First, an anode (anode) is formed on a washed support substrate such as glass, quartz, or plastic, and patterning is performed. Generally, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) having a high work function is selected as the anode, but other metals may be used. A sputtering method is usually used to form the anode.

  After forming the anode in this way, an organic EL layer is formed. Generally, in the case of a low molecular organic EL, the organic EL layer is formed by a vacuum vapor deposition method, while in the case of a high molecular organic EL, it is formed by a spin coating method or an ink jet method. Here, the ink jet method is selected when it is necessary to separately coat the organic EL.

  In some cases, an intermediate layer (interlayer) is formed before and after the organic EL layer is formed in order to increase the light emission efficiency.

  After the formation of the organic EL layer, a cathode (cathode) is formed by vacuum deposition or the like and sealed. Thereby, an organic EL device is completed.

  When the organic EL device thus created is applied to a display device, the organic EL devices are generally arranged in a matrix. A thin film transistor (TFT) is formed together with an organic EL device, and an organic EL device driven by the TFT is called an active matrix drive type display device, and a device driven only by an electrode without forming a TFT is passive. It is called a matrix drive type display device.

  In the case of active matrix driving, switching is performed by a TFT provided in each pixel, so that crosstalk is extremely small, and it is not necessary to emit light with high luminance as in passive matrix driving, so that the lifetime can be extended. There is an advantage. On the other hand, in the case of active matrix driving, there is a drawback that luminance unevenness occurs due to variations in TFT thresholds and mobility. Therefore, in order to realize a good image display, it is necessary to compensate for this luminance unevenness.

  In order to compensate for luminance unevenness, an internal compensation method (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) in which compensation is performed by performing voltage programming by a program circuit configured using TFTs, and luminance data is held in an external memory of the panel. There is an external compensation method (see, for example, Patent Document 2) in which compensation is performed.

By the way, in an active matrix drive type display device, a pixel group composed of three pixels (red, green, and blue) serves as one display unit, and a drive circuit for driving the pixel is provided for each pixel. It is common. However, in this case, as many drive circuits as the number of pixels are required, the cost is increased and the circuit configuration is complicated. In view of this, a configuration is proposed that includes a drive circuit that is provided for each pixel group, not for each pixel, and that drives a plurality of pixels belonging to the pixel group (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).
JP 2004-341444 A JP-A-9-305146 JP 2005-148749 A JP 2003-122306 A

  However, in the case of the display device of the internal compensation method disclosed in Patent Document 1, although the luminance unevenness can be compensated, the number of TFTs and the number of wirings required for each pixel are greatly increased, so that the yield is lowered. There is a problem of doing. In addition, in the case of the external compensation type display device disclosed in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to mount a large-capacity memory outside, and there is a problem in that the cost increases.

  Further, in the configuration in which one drive circuit is provided for a plurality of pixels as described above, there is a problem that when a defect or the like occurs in the drive circuit, the corresponding plurality of pixels cannot be used for display. With a configuration in which one drive circuit is provided for each pixel, even if a defect or the like occurs in the drive circuit, only that one pixel cannot be used for display. On the other hand, in the case of a configuration in which one drive circuit is provided for a plurality of pixels, if a defect or the like occurs in one drive circuit, display cannot be performed on all of the plurality of pixels, and thus the influence on image display is further increased. It can be said that it is big.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to display an image even when a defect or the like occurs in the drive circuit in a configuration in which one drive circuit is provided for a plurality of pixels. It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can prevent deterioration of the display.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a display device of the present invention is provided for each pixel group including pixels each having a light-emitting element that is arranged in a matrix and emits light according to a supplied current. Is connected in common to a plurality of pixels belonging to the pixel group, and is provided for each pixel group composed of a drive circuit that drives the connected pixels and the plurality of pixels. It is configured to be connectable to a plurality of belonging pixels, and includes a redundant circuit that drives the plurality of pixels when connected to the connectable plurality of pixels.

  With this configuration, even if a defect or the like occurs in a drive circuit that drives a plurality of pixels, the pixels can be driven by the redundant circuit, and thus the yield can be improved.

  In the display device according to the invention, a combination of a plurality of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit may be different from a combination of a plurality of pixels connected to the drive circuit.

  Furthermore, in the display device according to the invention, the number of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit may be larger than the number of pixels connected to the drive circuit unit.

  According to the display device of the present invention, even when a defect or the like occurs in the drive circuit, it is possible to prevent the image display from being deteriorated and to increase the yield.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, a case where three pixels are driven by one drive circuit or redundant circuit will be described. This corresponds to the fact that the display unit in the display device is generally composed of three pixels (red, green, and blue), but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least two or more. The pixel may be configured to be driven by one drive circuit or redundant circuit.

(Embodiment 1)
The first embodiment is a display device configured using a voltage program circuit. The configuration and operation will be described below.

[Configuration of display device]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 includes an EL display panel 11, a control circuit 12 for driving the EL display panel 11, gate drivers 13 a and 13 b, and a source driver 14.

  The EL display panel 11 is an active matrix driving type organic EL display element. In the EL display panel 11, first and second gate lines 152 and 153 and data lines 151 arranged in parallel to each other are arranged so as to intersect with each other, and the first and second gate lines 152 and 153 are alternately crossed. The light emitting element circuit 10 is disposed corresponding to the intersection of the first gate line 152 and the second gate line 153 and the data line 151. Therefore, the plurality of light emitting element circuits 10 are arranged in a matrix.

  The first gate line 152 and the second gate line 153 are driven by gate drivers 13a and 13b, respectively. The data line 151 is driven by the source driver 14. Further, the operation of the gate drivers 13 a and 13 b and the source driver 14 is controlled by the control circuit 12.

[Configuration of light emitting element circuit]
Next, the configuration of the light emitting element circuits 10 arranged in a matrix as described above will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the light emitting element circuit 10 provided in the display device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting element circuit 10 is connected to the pixels 105, 106, and 107, and these pixels 105, 106, and 107 through the connection portion 103, and drives to drive the pixels 105, 106, and 107. A circuit 101 is provided. Each of the pixels 105, 106, and 107 has a diode characteristic, and the organic EL elements 111a, 111b, and 111c, which are light emitting elements that emit light according to a supplied current, and the organic EL elements 111a, 111b, and 111c, Transistors 110a, 110b, and 110c provided between the connection portions 103 are provided. The current supplied from the connection point 103 side is supplied to the organic EL elements 111a, 111b, and 111c through these transistors 110a, 110b, and 110c, respectively. Note that the gates of the transistors 110a, 110b, and 110c are respectively connected to signal lines 154, 155, and 156 that are driven by a driver (not shown).

  The drive circuit 101 includes transistors 16 and 17 and a capacitor 108. Here, the transistor 16 is provided between the power supply line vdd and the connection portion 103. The capacitor 18 has one end connected to the gate of the transistor 16 and the other end connected to the power supply line vdd, and holds the potential difference between the gate and the source of the transistor 16.

  The transistor 17 is provided between one end of the capacitor 109 and the connection portion 103, and is driven and controlled by the second gate line 153. Note that the other end of the capacitor 109 is connected to the data line 151 through the transistor 108 that is driven and controlled by the first gate line 152.

  The light emitting element circuit 10 includes a redundant circuit 102 in addition to the pixels 105, 106, and 107 and the driving circuit 101 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the redundant circuit 102 and the drive circuit 101 have the same circuit configuration, while the drive circuit 101 is connected to the connection location 103, while the redundancy circuit 102 is connected to the repair location 104. And is different in that it is connected. Although the repair location 104 is not connected to the pixels 105, 106, and 107, the repair location 104 can be connected to the pixels 105, 106, and 107 by a laser or the like.

  Hereinafter, the details of the configuration of the connection location 103 and the repair location 104 will be described. FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the connection location 103 and the repair location 104, where (a) shows the configuration of the connection location 103, and (b) shows the configuration of the repair location 104, respectively. Moreover, FIG. 4A is an IVA-IVA line arrow view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is an IVB-IVB line arrow view of FIG. FIG. 4B (a) shows the configuration of the repair location 104 before repair, and FIG. 4 (b) shows the configuration of the repair location 104 after repair.

  As shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 4A, the connection portion 103 is provided above the first metal line 180 connected to the drive circuit 101 and the first metal line 180. , 106, 107, and a second metal line 181 connected to the first metal line 180 and the second metal line 181, and an insulating film 183 interposed between the first metal line 180 and the second metal line 181. One end of the first metal wire 180 and one end of the second metal wire 181 have a region overlapping in plan view, and the second metal wire 181 is insulated at the contact portion 182 located at the center of the region. By penetrating the film 183, the second metal line 181 and the first metal line 180 are in contact with each other. As a result, the drive circuit 101 is connected to the pixels 105, 106, and 107 via the connection location 103.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B (a), the repair location 104 before repair is the same as the connection location 103, the first metal wire 180, the second metal wire 181, and the insulating film Although provided with 183, unlike the connection portion 103, it does not include a contact portion. Therefore, the first metal wire 180 and the second metal wire 181 are not in contact with each other. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B (b), in the repaired portion 104 after repair, the first metal wire 180 is penetrated by penetrating the second metal wire 181 with respect to the insulating film 183 by a laser or the like. And the second metal wire 181 are in contact with each other. As a result, the redundant circuit 102 is connected to the pixels 105, 106, and 107 via the repair location 104.

  Next, the repair work will be described. Generally, in an inspection process during the manufacturing process of an active matrix drive type display device, an electrical signal (inspection signal) is applied to the TFT substrate, and the display state in that case is confirmed. This confirmation operation is performed in the panel state, in the module state with an optical film or the like, and before the shipment of the product. A non-defective product and a defective product are selected according to the display state of the inspection process. The term “defective product” as used herein refers to a product that impairs display quality, and specifically, a product that has a point defect or a line defect due to a leak mode caused by dust in a factory. In general, selection criteria for non-defective products and defective products are determined in each factory.

  Repair work is performed on a part of the defective products in this way. Specifically, a repair operation is performed on the drive circuit 101 that has become unable to perform a desired operation because a leak mode due to the dust has occurred in the drive circuit 101. In this repair work, first, the connection between the drive circuit 101 and the pixels 105, 106, and 107 at the connection location 103 is cut by a laser or the like, and the redundancy circuit 102 and the pixels 105, 106, and 107 are laser-connected at the repair location 104. Connect by etc. As a result, the pixels 105, 106, and 107 are driven by the normally operating redundant circuit 102, so that point defects and the like can be eliminated.

  In the case where one driver circuit is provided for a plurality of pixels, these pixels are often adjacent to each other, so that when a point defect such as a black spot or a bright spot occurs, it is conspicuous. Such a problem can be solved by providing a redundant circuit having a circuit configuration similar to that of the drive circuit.

[Operation of display device]
In the display device 1 configured as described above, the control circuit 12 generates a data signal to be output to the source driver 14 based on a video signal input from an external device. The control circuit 12 outputs the data signal thus generated to the source driver 14 and also drives the gate drivers 13a and 13b and the source driver 14 and the signal lines 154, 155 and 156 (not shown). ) Output a control signal. As a result, each driver drives each line to execute a display operation. The details will be described below.

  FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a period P0 indicates a light emission period related to previously written data. In this period P0, the first gate line 152 and the second gate line 153 are at a high level. In addition, the signal lines 154, 155, and 156 are respectively driven to be at a high level.

  In periods P1 and P2, which are reset periods, a preparation sequence before data is written is executed. The display device 1 turns on the transistor 110a by setting the signal line 154 to the low level in the period P1, turns on the transistor 108 by turning the first gate line 152 to the low level, and sets the period P2 , The transistor 17 of the driver circuit 101 is turned on by setting the second gate line 153 to the low level. Next, the display device 1 sets the signal line 154 to the high level in the period P3. As a result, the threshold voltage of the transistor 16 of the driving circuit 101 is held in the capacitive elements 18 and 109.

  Next, the display device 1 sets the second gate line 153 to the high level in the period P4, sets the first gate line 152 to the high level in the period P6, and applies the data voltage to the data line 151 over the periods P5 and P6. Apply. As a result, in the period P7, a current corresponding to the data voltage is supplied to the organic EL element 111a included in the pixel 105 connected to the signal line 154, and the organic EL element 111a starts to emit light. In the period P8, the display device 1 sets the signal line 154 to the low level. During this period P8, the light emission of the organic EL element 111a continues.

  Thereafter, the display device 1 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixels 106 connected to the signal line 155. Thereby, in the period P7, a current corresponding to the data voltage is supplied to the organic EL element 111b included in the pixel 106, and the organic EL element 111b starts to emit light. During the period P8, the organic EL element 111a continues to emit light.

  Further, the display device 1 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixels 107 connected to the signal line 156. In the period P7, a current corresponding to the data voltage is supplied to the organic EL element 111c included in the pixel 107. As a result, the organic EL element 111c starts light emission, and the light emission continues for the period P8.

  As described above, the organic EL element in each pixel emits light in a time division manner, whereby an image is displayed on the EL display panel 11. When image display is performed by light emission in such an impulse mode, there is an advantage that moving image visibility is improved.

[Configuration of Modification 1]
The above description is based on the premise that the combination of a plurality of pixels to which the drive circuit 101 is connected and the combination of a plurality of pixels to which the redundant circuit 102 can be connected are the same, but these combinations are different. Also good. Hereinafter, modifications of the present embodiment in which the combinations are different will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a connection mode between the driving circuit 101 and the redundant circuit 102 and the pixels 105, 106, and 107 according to the first modification of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, a pixel group including pixels 105, 106, and 107 is provided in a matrix, and a plurality of drive circuits 101 and redundant circuits 102 are arranged so as to face each other with the pixel group interposed therebetween. . Here, the number of drive circuits 101 and redundant circuits 102 is the same. Of the pixels 105, 106, and 107 connected to the driving circuit 101, the redundant circuit 102 that can be connected to the pixel 105 and the redundant circuit 102 that can be connected to the pixels 106 and 107 are different circuits. In other words, among the pixels 105, 106, and 107 that can be connected to the redundant circuit 102, the driving circuit 101 connected to the pixel 105 is different from the driving circuit 101 connected to the pixels 106 and 107. .

  As described above, when the combination of the plurality of pixels to which the drive circuit 101 is connected and the combination of the plurality of pixels to which the redundant circuit 102 can be connected are not the same, the combination is the same. Since the redundancy can be improved as compared with the above, the yield can be further improved.

[Configuration of Modification 2]
In the above description, the case where the number of pixels connected to the drive circuit 101 is the same as the number of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit has been described, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. The number may be different. Hereinafter, a modified example of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection mode between the drive circuit 101 and the redundant circuit 102, and the pixels 105, 106, and 107 according to the second modification of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the second modification, as in the first modification, the pixel groups including the pixels 105, 106, and 107 are provided in a matrix, and are opposed to each other with the pixel group interposed therebetween. A plurality of drive circuits 101 and redundant circuits 102 are provided. However, in the second modification, unlike the first modification, one redundant circuit 102 can be connected to two pixels 105, two pixels 106, and two pixels 107. Therefore, the number of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit 102 is larger than the number of pixels connected to the drive circuit 101. With this configuration, the number of redundant circuits 102 is smaller than the number of drive circuits 101, and one redundant circuit 102 backs up a plurality of drive circuits 101.

  In this way, by reducing the number of redundant circuits 102 than the number of drive circuits 101, it is possible to reduce the cost.

(Embodiment 2)
The second embodiment is a display device configured using a current program circuit. The configuration and operation will be described below.

[Configuration of display device]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the display device 2 includes an EL display panel 21, a control circuit 22 for driving the EL display panel 21, a gate driver 23, and a source driver 24.

  The EL display panel 21 is an active matrix drive type organic EL display element. In this EL display panel 21, gate lines 252 and data lines 251 arranged in parallel to each other are arranged so as to alternately cross each other, and at the intersections of these gate lines 252 and data lines 251. Correspondingly, a light emitting element circuit 20 is provided. Therefore, the plurality of light emitting element circuits 20 are arranged in a matrix.

  The gate line 252 is driven by the gate driver 23, and the data line 251 is driven by the source driver 24. The operations of the gate driver 23 and the source driver 24 are controlled by the control circuit 22.

[Configuration of light emitting element circuit]
Next, the configuration of the light emitting element circuits 20 arranged in a matrix as described above will be described.

  FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the light-emitting element circuit 20 included in the display device 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the light emitting element circuit 20 is connected to the pixels 205, 206, and 207, and these pixels 205, 206, and 207 via the connection portion 203, and drives to drive the pixels 205, 206, and 207. A circuit 201 is provided. Each of the pixels 205, 206, and 207 has a diode characteristic, and the organic EL elements 209a, 209b, and 209c, which are light emitting elements that emit light according to a supplied current, and the organic EL elements 209a, 209b, and 209c, Transistors 208a, 208b, and 208c provided between the connection portion 203 and the connection portion 203, respectively. The current supplied from the connection location 203 side is supplied to the organic EL elements 209a, 209b, and 209c through these transistors 208a, 208b, and 208c, respectively. Note that the gates of the transistors 208a, 208b, and 208c are respectively connected to signal lines 253, 254, and 255 that are driven by a driver (not shown).

  The drive circuit 201 includes transistors 54, 55, and 56 and a capacitor element 59. Here, the transistor 55 is provided between the power supply line vdd and the connection portion 203. The capacitor 59 has one end connected to the gate of the transistor 55 and the other end connected to the power supply line vdd, and holds the potential difference between the gate and the source of the transistor 55.

  The transistor 54 is provided between one end of the capacitor 59 and the transistor 55, and the transistor 56 is provided between the data line 251 and the transistor 55. These transistors 54 and 56 are driven and controlled by a gate line 252.

  As in the case of the first embodiment, the light emitting element circuit 20 has a circuit configuration similar to that of the drive circuit 201 and includes a redundant circuit 202 connected to the repair location 204. Although the repair location 204 is not connected to the pixels 205, 206, and 207, the repair location 204 can be connected to these pixels 205, 206, and 207 by a laser or the like.

  Note that the configuration of the connection location 203 and the repair location 204 is the same as that of the connection location 203 and the repair location 204 in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In addition, the drive circuit 201 and the redundant circuit 202 of the present embodiment may be configured in the same manner as in the first or second modification of the first embodiment.

[Operation of display device]
In the display device 2 configured as described above, the control circuit 22 generates a data signal to be output to the source driver 24 based on a video signal input from an external device. Then, the control circuit 22 outputs the data signal thus generated to the source driver 24, and also to a driver (not shown) that drives the gate driver 23, the source driver 24, and the signal lines 253, 254, and 255. Output a control signal. As a result, each driver drives each line to execute a display operation. The details will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display device 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 10, a period P20 indicates a light emission period related to previously written data. In this period P20, the signal lines 253, 254, and 255 are set so that the gate line 252 is at a high level. Are driven to be at a high level.

  In the period P21 corresponding to the data current programming period, the display device 2 turns on the transistors 54 and 56 by setting the gate line 252 to the low level. As a result, a voltage necessary for flowing a data current to the pixel 205 is held in the capacitive element 59 of the drive circuit 201.

  Next, in the period P22, the display device 2 sets the gate line 252 to the high level and sets the signal line 253 to the low level. As a result, over the period P22, light emission corresponding to the data current programmed in the period P21 continues in the organic EL element 209a of the pixel 205.

  Thereafter, the display device 2 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixels 206 connected to the signal line 254. Here, in the period P21, the signal line 254 is set to the high level. Thereby, the organic EL element 209b included in the pixel 206 emits light according to the data current, and the light emission continues over the period P22.

  Further, the display device 2 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixel 207 connected to the signal line 255. Here, in the period P21, the signal line 255 is set to a high level. Thereby, the organic EL element 209c included in the pixel 207 emits light according to the data current, and the light emission continues over the period P22.

  As described above, the organic EL element in each pixel emits light in a time division manner, whereby an image is displayed on the EL display panel 21. As in the case of the first embodiment, moving image visibility can be improved by performing image display by light emission in such an impulse mode.

(Embodiment 3)
The third embodiment is a display device that is configured using a drive circuit and a redundant circuit that include a smaller number of transistors than in the first and second embodiments. The configuration and operation will be described below.

[Configuration of display device]
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the display device 3 includes an EL display panel 31, a control circuit 32 for driving the EL display panel 31, a gate driver 33, and a source driver 34.

  The EL display panel 31 is an active matrix drive type organic EL display element. In this EL display panel 31, gate lines 352 and data lines 351 arranged in parallel to each other are arranged so as to alternately cross each other, and at the intersections of these gate lines 352 and data lines 351. Correspondingly, a light emitting element circuit 30 is provided. Therefore, the plurality of light emitting element circuits 30 are arranged in a matrix.

  The gate line 352 is driven by the gate driver 33, and the data line 351 is driven by the source driver 34. The operations of the gate driver 33 and the source driver 34 are controlled by the control circuit 32.

[Configuration of light emitting element circuit]
Next, the configuration of the light emitting element circuits 30 arranged in a matrix as described above will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of the light emitting element circuit 30 provided in the display device 3 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 12, the light emitting element circuit 30 is connected to the pixels 305, 306, and 307, and these pixels 305, 306, and 307 through the connection portion 303 and drives to drive the pixels 305, 306, and 307. A circuit 301 is provided. Each of the pixels 305, 306, and 307 has a diode characteristic, and the organic EL elements 309a, 309b, and 309c, which are light emitting elements that emit light according to a supplied current, and the organic EL elements 309a, 309b, and 309c, Transistors 308a, 308b, and 308c provided between the connection portion 303 and the connection portion 303, respectively. The current supplied from the connection portion 303 side is supplied to the organic EL elements 309a, 309b, and 309c through these transistors 308a, 308b, and 308c, respectively. Note that the gates of the transistors 308a, 308b, and 308c are respectively connected to signal lines 353, 354, and 355 driven by a driver (not shown).

  The drive circuit 301 includes a transistor 84 and a capacitor 86. Here, the transistor 84 is provided between the power supply line vdd and the connection portion 303. The capacitor 86 has one end connected to the gate of the transistor 84 and the other end connected to the power supply line vdd, and holds the potential difference between the gate and the source of the transistor 84.

  The gate of the transistor 84 is connected to the data line 351 through the transistor 83 that is driven and controlled by the gate line 352.

  As in the case of the first embodiment, the light emitting element circuit 30 has a circuit configuration similar to that of the drive circuit 301 and includes a redundant circuit 302 connected to the repair location 304. Although the repair location 304 is not connected to the pixels 305, 306, and 307, the repair location 304 is configured to be connectable to these pixels 305, 306, and 307 by a laser or the like.

  Note that the configuration of the connection location 203 and the repair location 204 is the same as that of the connection location 303 and the repair location 304 in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In addition, the drive circuit 301 and the redundant circuit 302 of the present embodiment may be configured in the same manner as in the first or second modification of the first embodiment.

[Operation of display device]
In the display device 3 configured as described above, the control circuit 32 generates a data signal to be output to the source driver 34 based on a video signal input from an external device. Then, the control circuit 32 outputs the data signal thus generated to the source driver 34, and also to a driver (not shown) that drives the gate driver 33, the source driver 34, and the signal lines 353, 354, and 355. Output a control signal. As a result, each driver drives each line to execute a display operation. The details will be described below.

  FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the operation of the display device 3 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 13, a period P40 indicates a light emission period related to previously written data. In this period P40, the signal lines 353, 354, and 355 are set so that the gate line 352 is at a high level. Are driven to be at a high level.

  In the period P41 corresponding to the data voltage writing period, the display device 3 turns on the transistor 83 by setting the gate line 352 to the low level and sets the signal line 353 to the high level. As a result, the data voltage corresponding to the data signal supplied from the data line 351 is held in the capacitive element 86 of the drive circuit 301.

  Next, in the period P42, the display device 3 sets the gate line 352 to the high level and sets the signal line 353 to the low level.

  With the above operation, the light emission of the organic EL element 309a of the pixel 305 continues over the periods P41 and P42.

  Thereafter, the display device 3 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixels 306 connected to the signal line 354. Here, in the period P41, the signal line 354 is set to the high level. Thereby, the light emission of the organic EL element 309b included in the pixel 306 continues over the periods P41 and P42.

  Further, the display device 3 repeats the same operation in order to drive the pixel 307 connected to the signal line 355. Here, in the period P41, the signal line 355 is set to the high level. Thereby, the light emission of the organic EL element 309c included in the pixel 307 continues over the periods P41 and P42.

  As described above, the organic EL element in each pixel emits light in a time division manner, whereby an image is displayed on the EL display panel 31. As in the case of the first embodiment, moving image visibility can be improved by performing image display by light emission in such an impulse mode.

(Other embodiments)
In each of the above embodiments, the number of pixels driven by one driving circuit is three. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of pixels that can be driven by the driving circuit and the manufacturing process are not limited thereto. It may be determined in consideration of the yield. Further, the redundant circuit and the drive circuit do not have to be the same circuit, and may be different. Further, the configuration of the repair means and the repair location is not limited to those of the above embodiments.

  In each of the above embodiments, the transistor included in the light-emitting element circuit is a P-channel type in which holes serve as carriers. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an N-channel type in which electrons are carriers may be used. Note that the process can be simplified and the tact time can be shortened by passing through the process of producing only one channel, rather than the CMOS structure using both the N channel and the P channel. Price can be realized.

  Further, the transistor in each of the above embodiments may be selected from a polysilicon thin film transistor, a single crystal silicon transistor, an organic thin film transistor, and an inorganic thin film transistor. Although not shown in detail, an amorphous silicon thin film transistor may be used in the case of an N-channel circuit configuration.

  The present invention can also be applied to known programming circuits other than the programming circuits shown in the above embodiments.

  The display device of the present invention can eliminate luminance unevenness with high yield and low price, and is useful as various display devices including those for computers and home appliances.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the light emitting element circuit with which the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided. It is a top view which shows typically the structure of a connection location and a repair location. It is the IVA-IVA line arrow figure of FIG. It is the IVB-IVB line arrow directional view of FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the connection aspect of the drive circuit in the modification 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention, a redundant circuit, and each pixel. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the connection aspect of the drive circuit and redundant circuit, and each pixel in the modification 2 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the light emitting element circuit with which the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention is provided. It is a timing chart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the light emitting element circuit with which the display apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention is provided. 12 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of the display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3 Display device 10, 20, 30 Light emitting element circuit 12, 22, 32 Control circuit 13a, 13b, 23, 24 Gate driver 14, 24, 34 Source driver 16, 17, 54, 55, 56, 84 Transistor 18, 59, 86, 109 Capacitance element 20, 30, 40 EL display panel 101, 201, 301 Drive circuit 102, 202, 302 Redundant circuit 103, 203, 303 Connection location 104, 204, 304 Repair location 105-107, 205 207, 305 to 307 Pixels 110a to 110c, 208a to 208c, 308a to 308c Transistors 111a to 111c, 209a to 209c, 309a to 309c Organic EL elements 151, 251 and 351 Data lines 152, 153, 252 and 352 Gate lines

Claims (3)

Pixels arranged in a matrix and each having a light emitting element that emits light according to a supplied current;
A drive circuit that is provided for each pixel group composed of a plurality of the pixels and is commonly connected to a plurality of pixels belonging to the pixel group, and that drives the connected pixels;
Provided for each pixel group composed of a plurality of the pixels, and configured to be connectable in common to a plurality of pixels belonging to the pixel group, and when connected to the connectable pixels, the plurality of pixels An active matrix drive type display device comprising a redundant circuit for driving a pixel.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein a combination of a plurality of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit is different from a combination of a plurality of pixels connected to the drive circuit. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the number of pixels connectable to the redundant circuit is larger than the number of pixels connected to the drive circuit unit.

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