US 12,236,836 B2
Display device comparing image data between adjacent frames and determining first and second areas to drive first and second areas at different refresh rates and driving method thereof
Hae Kwan Seo, Yongin-si (KR); and Jun Heyung Jung, Yongin-si (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-si (KR)
Filed by Samsung Display Co., Ltd., Yongin-si (KR)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/854,316.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2019-0091913 (KR), filed on Jul. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0035488 A1, Feb. 4, 2021
Int. Cl. G09G 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC G09G 3/2092 (2013.01) [G09G 2310/0267 (2013.01); G09G 2310/0278 (2013.01); G09G 2370/08 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A display device comprising:
a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines;
a multi-frequency driver configured to compare image data between adjacent frames to determine a first area of the pixel unit driven at a first refresh rate and a second area of the pixel unit driven at a second refresh rate lower than the first refresh rate;
a scan driver configured to sequentially supply scan signals to the plurality of scan lines in a first direction, to supply first scan signals of the scan signals to the first area at the first refresh rate, and to supply second scan signals of the scan signals to the second area at the second refresh rate; and
a data driver configured to supply a data signal corresponding to the image data to the plurality of data lines, wherein the multi-frequency driver is configured to determine whether or not the image data is a static image, to gradually increase a size of the second area of the pixel unit driven at the second refresh rate in a second direction opposite the first direction, and to reduce a size of the second area by changing a position of a top pixel row of the image data with respect to the first direction based on the image data being determined to not be the static image during a search period,
wherein the second area comprises a plurality of image blocks,
wherein the multi-frequency driver comprises:
a block controller configured to determine a size, a number, and a position of an image block among the plurality of image blocks in which it is to be determined whether or not the image block is a static image; and
an image analyzer configured to determine whether or not the image block is a static image,
wherein the image block includes a plurality of pixel rows,
wherein the block controller is configured to reduce the size of the image block by reducing a number of pixel rows included in the image block,
wherein the multi-frequency driver is configured to determine a boundary pixel row, which is a top pixel row of the second area, based on results of comparing the image data during a plurality of frames,
wherein the block controller and the multi-frequency driver are configured to repeat comparing the image data by reducing the size of the image block until the static image is detected, and
wherein the image analyzer comprises:
a checksum calculator configured to calculate a first checksum of the image data of a previous frame of the image block, and to calculate a second checksum of the image data of a current frame of the image block; and
a comparator configured to compare a least significant bit of the first checksum and a least significant bit of the second checksum.