JP2007333997A - Display controller, display device, terminal device, display control method and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that the content of an original input image can not be seen at all during the display of a screen saver. <P>SOLUTION: The display controller comprises: (a) a data line driving section for supplying the image data corresponding to the original input image to the corresponding data line; (b) a gate line driving section for supplying a writing signal to provide the writing timing of the image data to gate lines; (c) a thinning processing section for thinning the supply of the writing signal to a part of the gate lines among the gate lines; and (d) a thinning position control section for periodically switching and controlling the thinning positions of the writing signal in such a manner that the thinning time of the writing signal to each gate line is made the same over the entire part of the screen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

The invention described in this specification relates to a screen display control technique.
The invention proposed by the inventors has aspects as a display control device, a display device, a terminal device, a display control method, and a computer program.

  It is known that the light emission characteristics of a self-luminous element deteriorate in proportion to the light emission amount and the light emission time. That is, it is known that even when the same driving condition is applied to the self-luminous element, the light emission luminance gradually decreases as the deterioration progresses. This luminance reduction phenomenon is an irreversible phenomenon, and the recovery phenomenon has not been confirmed yet.

However, even if the light emission characteristics of the self-light-emitting element deteriorate, there is no problem in use as a display device as long as the deterioration of the light emission characteristics progresses uniformly.
However, in actuality, usage conditions, temperature conditions, and the like are affected in a complicated manner, resulting in variations in degradation of the light emitting characteristics of the self-light emitting elements.

  In particular, when the difference in variation in the light emission characteristics is increased to a certain extent, a luminance difference between pixels driven under the same driving condition is visually recognized on the screen. This phenomenon is called a burn-in phenomenon, and various countermeasures have been studied. One such measure is the display of a screen saver.

In this patent document, a function of displaying a screen completely different from the original input image as a screen saver is disclosed.

  However, in this case, after the screen saver is displayed, there is a problem that the contents of the original input image are completely unknown. In other words, there is a problem that the contents of the original input image that should have been displayed on the display screen are not known until the display of the screen saver is stopped.

In view of this, the inventors have obtained an image on the screen that is an image obtained by spatially thinning out the original input image and in which the thinning position is periodically controlled so that the thinning time of each display area is uniform over the entire screen. We propose a technique to display in
This display technique can be realized by the following two methods.

  For example, (a) a data line driving unit that supplies image data corresponding to an original input image to a corresponding data line, and (b) a gate line driving unit that supplies a writing signal for writing image data to the gate line. (C) A thinning processing unit for thinning supply of write signals to some of the gate lines, and (d) a write signal thinning time for each gate line so as to be the same on the entire screen. This can be realized as a combination with a thinning position control unit that periodically performs switching control of the thinning position of the embedded signal.

(B) Technology 2
Further, for example, (a) a data line driving unit that supplies image data to a corresponding data line, (b) a gate line driving unit that supplies a write signal to each gate line, and (c) an original input image spatially. A thinned image generating unit that combines the reduced image with the thinned image and outputs it as image data. It can also be realized as a combination with a thinning position control unit that performs switching control.

  By adopting the display technique proposed by the inventors, the contents of the original input image can be viewed on the screen even while the burn-in reduction image is displayed.

Hereinafter, the burn-in reduction technique according to the invention will be described.
In addition, the well-known or well-known technique of the said technical field is applied to the part which is not specifically illustrated or described in this specification.
Moreover, the form example demonstrated below is one form example of invention, Comprising: It is not limited to these.

(A) Form example 1
(A-1) System Configuration FIG. 1 shows a functional configuration example of the display device 1 proposed by the inventors. FIG. 1 shows only functional parts related to the invention. Accordingly, some of the functions mounted on the display device 1 are omitted. For example, various signal processes for the original input image are omitted.

  In the functional configuration shown in FIG. 1, the display device 1 includes a timing control unit 3, a data line driver 5, a gate line driver 7, an organic EL display panel 9, a thinning processing unit 11, and a thinning position control unit 13.

The timing control unit 3 is a control device that generates a timing signal necessary for screen display based on the original input image signal.
The data line driver 5 is a circuit that drives the data lines of the organic EL display panel 9. The data line driver 5 converts the display image data into an analog voltage and executes an operation for supplying the converted data to the data line. The data line driver 5 is composed of a known drive circuit.

  The gate line driver 7 is a circuit that drives the gate lines of the organic EL display panel 9 by a line sequential scanning method. For this reason, the gate line driver 7 executes an operation of supplying a gate line write signal (that is, a write pulse) to the gate line. The gate line driver 7 is also composed of a known drive circuit.

  The organic EL display panel 9 is a display device in which display pixels are arranged in a matrix. The display pixel includes an organic EL element and a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit writes an analog voltage value at a timing selected by the write signal and supplies a current having a magnitude corresponding to the written analog voltage to the organic EL element. The organic EL element emits light with brightness according to the supplied current.

  The thinning processing unit 11 is a processing device that thins out supply of an enable signal that limits the writing period of the analog voltage value in the horizontal line by skipping one horizontal line (corresponding to the gate line). The enable signal is given through the timing control unit 3. The enable signal after the thinning process is output to the gate line driver 7.

  The thinning position control unit 13 is a processing device that periodically switches and controls the thinning line (position) of the enable signal so that the thinning time of the write signal for each gate line is the same over the entire screen. In the case of this example, the thinning position control unit 13 instructs switching of the thinning line (position) for each frame. As a result, the thinning line (position) operates so as to be alternately switched between the even line and the odd line.

(A-2) Display Operation Hereinafter, the operation content executed in the display device 1 will be described.
First, the original input image signal is input to the timing control unit 3. The timing control unit 3 generates a timing signal that matches the specifications of the organic EL display panel based on the original input image signal. Among these, the data line driver 5 is given, for example, a dot clock and a start pulse.

The data line driver 5 converts the original input image signal given as digital for each line into an analog value and outputs it to the organic EL display panel 9 at a timing synchronized with the timing signal.
On the other hand, the gate line driver 7 is provided with a timing signal necessary for line sequential driving.

  The timing signal here is basically one type. However, several timing signals may be generated in order to correct the characteristic variation of the thin film transistor that drives the organic EL element. However, in the burn-in reduction technique proposed by the inventors, there is an emphasis on an analog value writing operation to the pixel circuit. Therefore, in the following description, only the timing signal related to the write signal will be described.

  The write signal is generated by three timing signals shown in FIGS. Incidentally, FIG. 2A shows a clock signal that defines a scan cycle. FIG. 2B shows a start pulse that gives a write start timing with the gate line (one line) positioned at the top in the vertical direction as a reference position. FIG. 2C shows an enable signal for limiting the writing time for one gate line (one line) to an appropriate range.

  The gate line driver 7 generates a write signal using these three timing signals. In the case of this embodiment, when the rising edge of the enable signal (FIG. 2C) appears while the start pulse (FIG. 2B) is at the “H” level, the write signal (FIG. 2D) A rising edge is generated. When the falling edge of the enable signal (FIG. 2C) appears after the start pulse (FIG. 2B) becomes “L” level, the falling edge of the write signal (FIG. 2D). Is generated.

Note that the start pulse (FIG. 2B) is sequentially shifted to the subsequent stage by a shift register that operates with both rising and falling edges of the clock signal (FIG. 2A) as triggers.
Here, each shift stage constituting the shift register corresponds to each gate line (one horizontal line) arranged in the vertical direction.

  Therefore, a start pulse appears in each shift stage at a timing corresponding to the corresponding gate line. Note that the start pulse appears in one shift stage once in the vertical period. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F, a write signal is output at a timing corresponding to each gate line.

  The above is the basic generation procedure of the write signal. However, in the case of the display device 1 shown in FIG. 1, only the clock signal and the start pulse are directly supplied from the timing control unit 3 to the gate line driver 7, and the enable signal passes through the thinning processing unit 11. Supplied.

  The thinning processing unit 11 performs waveform shaping by thinning the enable signal. FIG. 3 shows an example of the thinning process. In the case of FIG. 3, the thinning processing unit 11 operates so as to skip one pulse waveform of the input enable signal.

  FIG. 3C shows the waveform of the thinned enable signal when the even-numbered pulse waveform is thinned out. Accordingly, in the case of the display device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the thinned-out enable signal having the waveform shown in FIG. 3C is supplied to the gate line driver 7.

  For this reason, the gate line driver 7 executes the generation of the above-described write signal by using the thinned-out enable signal shown in FIG. Since the enable signal is drawn for one horizontal line, the write signal is output by skipping one line as shown in FIGS. 3D, 3E, and 3F.

When the write signal shown in FIG. 3 is given, the analog value is written only to the pixel circuits of the odd lines, and the image is displayed only on the odd horizontal lines of the original input image.
By the way, many of the organic EL display panels 9 currently used are provided with a function for correcting luminance variation and luminance fluctuation on the pixel circuit. Note that the luminance variation is considered to be caused by deterioration of the organic EL element, degradation of the thin film transistor, variation of the thin film transistor and driving characteristics, and the like.

  Specifically, a function for writing a black level is generally mounted before an analog value is written by a write signal. With this function, at least a black image is displayed even in a horizontal line in which the write signal is thinned (even in an even-numbered horizontal line to which no write signal is supplied).

  For example, when the original input image shown in FIG. 4 is given, the display image shown in FIG. 5 (that is, the display image in which the original input image and the black image appear alternately) is displayed on the screen.

However, if this image display continues, the luminance deterioration proceeds only for the odd lines where the original input image is displayed, and the burn-in phenomenon is perceived between the even lines where the luminance deterioration does not proceed.
Therefore, a method is adopted in which the horizontal line on which the original input image is displayed and the horizontal line on which the black image is displayed are alternately switched.

  By adopting this method, the light emission time of the odd-numbered horizontal lines and the light emission time of the even-numbered horizontal lines become substantially the same. In order to replace the horizontal line (light-emitting line) for writing the write signal and the horizontal line (non-light-emitting line) for thinning out the write signal without any discomfort to the user, it is basically desirable to replace the line with a long cycle. However, the display time of the screen saver screen is basically short in many cases.

For this reason, even when the screen saver screen is displayed for a short time, if priority is given to the condition that the display times of the odd-numbered horizontal lines and the even-numbered horizontal lines are almost the same, the odd-numbered lines are displayed in a relatively short period. It is necessary to control so that the light emission states of the horizontal line and the even-numbered horizontal line are switched.
The thinning position control unit 13 realizes this replacement control.

  The thinning position control unit 13 instructs replacement of the thinning position of the enable signal by the thinning processing unit 11 in accordance with a preset switching cycle. That is, the thinning position control unit 13 outputs a thinning position switching signal.

  FIG. 6 shows a processing operation example in the case of thinning out odd-numbered pulse waveforms from the input enable signal. FIG. 6C shows a waveform example of the enable signal after the thinning process in this case.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 6D to 6F, the write signal is output only to the even number from the top position of the screen.
FIG. 7 shows an example of a display screen when even lines are controlled to light emitting lines and odd lines are controlled to non-light emitting lines. In the case of FIG. 5, it can be seen that the positions of the lines where the original input image can be viewed are switched.

As a result, the display screen shown in FIG. 8A and the display screen shown in FIG. 8B appear alternately on the screen. Incidentally, FIG. 8A is a display screen when the even-numbered lines are light-emitting lines, and FIG. 8B is a display screen when the odd-numbered lines are light-emitting lines.

(A-3) Effect As described above, in the case of this embodiment, the writing line (light emission line) of the original input image is obtained only by simple processing such as thinning processing of the enable signal and replacement processing of the thinning position. ) And non-write lines (non-light emitting lines) can be controlled.
As a result of this control, a part of the content of the original input image can be confirmed even while the screen saver is being displayed. Further, since this control can be realized with a very simple circuit configuration, the circuit scale hardly increases.

In addition, since the light emission period and the non-light emission period are alternately switched every one or a plurality of frames in all lines constituting the display screen, the light emission time is almost halved with respect to the display time.
The fact that the actual light emission time is halved with respect to the usage time of the screen means that the progress of the luminance deterioration of the organic EL element which is a self-light-emitting element is delayed.

  In FIG. 9, the characteristic curve figure which shows the advancing speed of the brightness fall with respect to use time is shown. In the figure, the curve indicated by the solid line is the progress rate of the luminance degradation of the organic EL element when a still image is displayed by the display technique described in the embodiment. On the other hand, the curve indicated by the dotted line is the progress rate of the luminance deterioration of the organic EL element when the same still image is continuously displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the time to reach the luminance degradation point where the burn-in phenomenon is visually recognized extends approximately twice from t1 to t2. Thus, the display technology described in the embodiment can exhibit a sufficient burn-in reduction effect.

(B) Embodiment 2
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a screen in which the original input image and the black image alternately appear by one horizontal line is realized by the thinning process of the enable signal.
However, an image having the same screen configuration can also be generated through image processing. In this embodiment, a display control technique when using image processing will be described.

FIG. 10 shows a functional configuration example of the display device 21 corresponding to this control method. In FIG. 10, the same reference numerals are assigned to the corresponding parts to those in FIG.
The display device 21 shown in FIG. 10 includes a timing control unit 3, a data line driver 5, a gate line driver 7, an organic EL display panel 9, a thinned image generation unit 23, and a thinning position control unit 13.

  In this embodiment, the timing control unit 3, the data line driver 5, the gate line driver 7 and the organic EL display panel 9 use the same panel configuration as that of the existing display device. That is, in the case of this embodiment, the gate line driver 7 supplies write signals to all the gate lines (horizontal lines).

  Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the thinned-out image generation unit 23 generates a screen in which the original input image and the black image appear alternately one line at a time. FIG. 11 illustrates an internal configuration example of the thinned image generation unit 23. The thinned-out image generation unit 23 includes a selection unit 31 that switches input in units of one line and a black data memory 33.

  The selection unit 31 has a function of alternately selecting an input terminal to which an original input image is input and an input terminal to which black data is input, and a function of inverting the switching order by inputting a thinning position switching signal. Shall. For example, it can be realized by preparing two types of switches or selection signals in which the selection operation of the input terminal is in an opposite phase relationship and switching the switches and selection signals to be used by the thinning position switching signal.

(B-3) Effect As described above, the screen in which the original input image and the black image appear alternately for each horizontal line even when using the same display image forming method as in the first embodiment at the image processing stage. In addition, it is possible to display a screen in which the display positions of the original input image and the black image are switched periodically or periodically so that the light emission times of all lines are the same.

(C) Other embodiment examples (C-1) Other display screen examples usable in both embodiment examples In the above-described embodiment examples, the original input image is thinned out for each horizontal line, and the black screen is displayed at the thinning position. A case has been described in which a display image having a screen configuration to be displayed is displayed on the screen, and at the same time, the thinning positions are switched periodically or periodically so that the light emission times in all horizontal lines are the same. However, the screen configuration of the display screen is not limited to this.

(A) Example 1
For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a method of thinning and displaying the original input image in units of N (natural numbers greater than or equal to 2) horizontal lines may be employed. That is, a method of displaying an original input image or a black image with N consecutive horizontal lines as one unit may be employed.
When this display screen is realized by the mechanism described in Embodiment 1, two types of enable signals shown in FIG. 13C or FIG. 14C may be generated.

13 and 14 are timing signal examples when the original input image and the black image are alternately displayed in units of two horizontal lines.
In this case, FIGS. 13D to 13I and FIGS. 14D to 14I show the generated write signals.

  On the other hand, when this display screen is realized by the mechanism described in the second embodiment, the selection unit 31 may be provided with a function of switching the input terminal connected to the output terminal every N horizontal lines. In this case as well, two types of switches or selection signals whose input terminal selection operations are in reverse phase are prepared, and switches that are used by the thinning position switching signal and those that can switch the selection signal are used. Can do.

(B) Example 2
In addition, it is possible to adopt a method in which the thinning position is set for each N (natural number of 3 or more) horizontal lines and the thinning position is shifted line by line when the thinning position is switched. In this case, all horizontal lines become thinning positions by N shift operations. That is, the light emission times of all display areas are the same.

  FIG. 15 shows a display example when N is “3”. FIG. 15A shows a screen example in which the original input image is thinned out from the first, fourth, seventh,... On the screen, and a black image is displayed instead. FIG. 15B shows an example of a screen in which the original input image is thinned out on the second, fifth, eighth,... From the screen, and a black image is displayed instead. FIG. 15C shows an example of a screen in which the original input images are thinned out at the third, sixth, ninth,...

  Also in this case, a necessary image can be displayed on the screen by applying the mechanism described in the first embodiment or the mechanism described in the second embodiment.

(C-2) Other display screen examples that can be used in Embodiment 2 In the case of Embodiment 2 described above, the case where the original input image and the black image are alternately displayed for each horizontal line has been described. However, when using image processing, a thinning pattern of the original input image can be freely determined.

(A) Example 1
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the original input image can be thinned out so that vertical stripes of the black image appear on the screen.
FIG. 16A shows an example in which a black image is displayed at odd pixel positions from the left end to the right and an original input image is displayed at even pixel positions from the left end to the right.

On the other hand, FIG. 16B shows an example in which the original input image is displayed on the odd pixels from the left end to the right and the black image is displayed on the even pixels from the left end to the right.
Such a display can also be realized by the thinned image generation unit 23 having the configuration illustrated in FIG. However, in this case, the selection unit 31 switches the input terminal connected to the output terminal in dot clock units.

(B) Example 2
For example, as shown in FIG. 17, a screen configuration in which the original input image and the black image are arranged in a checkered pattern can be adopted. Note that FIGS. 17A and 17B have a relationship in which the positional relationship between the original input image and the black image constituting the checkered pattern is exchanged. By switching these two types of images periodically or periodically, it becomes possible to control the light emission of the entire region with the same light emission time. Of course, the original input image can be confirmed as a thinned image while the screen saver is displayed.

  In the case of this display, the thinned image generation unit 23 having the configuration shown in FIG. 18 may be used. In this case, a switching pattern supply unit 35 that controls the switching operation of the supply unit 31 with the pattern shown in FIG. In the case of this example, if two types of patterns corresponding to FIGS. 17A and 17B are registered in the switching pattern supply unit 35, screen display corresponding to each pattern can be realized.

  Further, by using the thinned image generating unit 23 having the configuration shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of types of display screens in which the thinning positions are exclusively set can be displayed on the screen.

(C-3) Modification Example of Image Displayed at Thinning Position In each of the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a black image is displayed at the thinning position of the original input image in order to maximize the burn-in reduction effect. That is, a case has been described in which the gradation values of R (red) data, G (green) data, and B (blue) data corresponding to each pixel are all set to 0 (zero).

  However, the burn-in reduction effect can be realized without necessarily outputting a black image. That is, if the image has a lower light emission luminance than the case where the original input image is displayed as it is, it can be expected to reduce the burn-in effect, although not as much as the black image.

  Note that the generation method is arbitrary as long as it is an image whose emission luminance is smaller than that of the original input image. In the following, a method for generating an image capable of reliably reducing the light emission luminance as compared with the original input image while being a relatively simple process will be described.

(A) Example 1
Here, a method for generating image data in which the light emission luminance value of the original input image is uniformly reduced will be described.
FIG. 19 shows a configuration example of the thinned image generation unit 23 corresponding to this generation method. The thinned image generation unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 19 includes a selection unit 31, a switching pattern supply unit 35, and a luminance reduction unit 37. Among these, the new configuration is the luminance reduction unit 37.

The luminance reduction unit 37 is a processing device that generates image data in which the luminance value of the original input image is uniformly reduced. The luminance reduction unit 37 includes a data format conversion unit that converts image data in RGB format into a format of luminance data and color difference data, a luminance data conversion unit that reduces luminance data values at a predetermined ratio, and a post-conversion The luminance data and the color difference data can be realized by a data format conversion unit that converts the image data into RGB format image data.
Of course, a conversion table storing the input / output relationship corresponding to the same function can also be used.

(B) Example 2
Here, a method for generating image data obtained by reducing the color of the original input image will be described.
FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of the thinned image generation unit 23 corresponding to this generation method. The thinned image generation unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 20 includes a selection unit 31, a switching pattern supply unit 35, and a color reduction unit 39. Among these, the new configuration is the color reduction unit 39.

  The color reduction unit 39 is a processing device that generates image data in which the luminance value of the original input image is uniformly reduced. The color reduction unit 39 is a processing device that outputs only image data of predetermined color components and replaces the image data of the other two color components with black data (0 data). By this conversion process, the number of organic EL elements that emit light is surely reduced to 1/3. Therefore, the light emission luminance is reduced. Note that the color reduction processing here is not limited to a method of leaving only image data for one color, but may be a method of leaving only image data for two colors (that is, excluding image data for one color).

(C) Example 3
Here, a method of generating image data having an average picture level smaller than the average picture level of the original image data will be described.
FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of the thinned image generation unit 23 corresponding to this generation method. The thinned image generation unit 23 illustrated in FIG. 21 includes a selection unit 31, a switching pattern supply unit 35, an APL calculation unit 41, and a replacement data determination unit 43.

Among these, the new configuration is an APL calculation unit 41 and a replacement data determination unit 43.
The APL calculation unit 41 is a processing device that calculates the average picture level of the original input image corresponding to the thinning position.

  The APL calculation unit 41 can be realized by a data conversion unit that converts image data in RGB format into a data format of luminance data and color difference data, and a calculation unit that calculates an average value of luminance data corresponding to the thinning positions. it can.

  The replacement data determination unit 43 is a processing device that determines replacement image data having an average picture level smaller than the calculated average picture level. The replacement data determination unit 43 is realized by a processing circuit that generates image data in RGB format based on a picture level smaller than the determined picture level.

(C-4) Example of original input image In the case of the above-described embodiment, the original input image is used in the meaning of the input image displayed until immediately before the display of the screen saver, but the display is already started on this original input image. You can also include a screen saver screen.

(C-5) Terminal Device The display control technique (device) described above can be mounted not only in the case of being mounted in the display device but also in various terminal devices in which the display device is mounted. The terminal device may be portable or stationary.

(A) Broadcast wave receiving apparatus FIG. 22 is a functional configuration example when applied to a portable broadcast wave receiving apparatus. The broadcast wave receiving apparatus 101 includes a display panel 103, a system control unit 105, an operation unit 107, a storage medium 109, and a tuner 111 as main constituent devices.

  Note that the system control unit 105 is configured by, for example, a microprocessor. A system control unit 205 controls the operation of the entire system. The operation unit 107 includes a graphic user interface in addition to a mechanical operator.

The storage medium 109 is used as a storage area for firmware and application programs in addition to data corresponding to images and videos displayed on the display panel 103. The tuner 111 is a wireless device that selectively receives broadcast waves of a specific channel selected by the user from incoming broadcast waves.
This configuration of the broadcast wave receiving apparatus can be used when applied to, for example, a television program receiver or a radio program receiver.

(B) Audio Device FIG. 23 is a functional configuration example when applied to an audio device as a playback device.
The audio apparatus 201 as a playback device includes a display panel 203, a system control unit 205, an operation unit 207, a storage medium 209, an audio processing unit 211, and a speaker 213 as main constituent devices.

  Also in this case, the system control unit 205 is constituted by a microprocessor, for example. A system control unit 205 controls the operation of the entire system. The operation unit 207 includes a graphic user interface in addition to a mechanical operator.

  The storage medium 209 is a storage area for firmware and application programs in addition to audio data. The audio processing unit 211 is a processing device that processes audio data. The decompression process of the compression-encoded audio data is also executed. The speaker 213 is a device that outputs the reproduced sound.

  When the audio device 201 is used as a recording machine, a microphone is connected instead of the speaker 213. In this case, the audio processing unit 211 realizes a function of compressing and encoding audio data.

(C) Communication Device FIG. 24 is a functional configuration example when applied to a communication device. The communication apparatus 301 includes a display panel 303, a system control unit 305, an operation unit 307, a storage medium 309, and a wireless communication unit 311 as main constituent devices.

  Note that the system control unit 305 is configured by, for example, a microprocessor. A system control unit 305 controls the operation of the entire system. The operation unit 307 includes a graphic user interface in addition to a mechanical operator.

The storage medium 309 is used as a storage area for firmware and application programs in addition to data files corresponding to images and videos displayed on the display panel 303. The wireless communication unit 311 is a wireless device that transmits and receives data to and from other devices.
This configuration of the communication device can be used when applied to, for example, a stationary phone or a mobile phone.

(D) Imaging Device FIG. 25 is a functional configuration example when applied to an imaging device. The imaging apparatus 401 includes a display panel 403, a system control unit 405, an operation unit 407, a storage medium 409, and an imaging unit 411 as main constituent devices.

  Note that the system control unit 405 is configured by, for example, a microprocessor. A system control unit 405 controls the operation of the entire system. The operation unit 407 includes a graphic user interface in addition to a mechanical operator.

The storage medium 409 is used as a storage area for firmware and application programs in addition to data files corresponding to images and videos displayed on the display panel 403. The imaging unit 411 includes, for example, a CMOS sensor and a signal processing unit that processes an output signal thereof.
This configuration of the imaging apparatus can be used when applied to, for example, a digital camera, a video camera, or the like.

(E) Information Processing Device FIG. 26 is a functional configuration example when applied to a portable information processing device. The information processing apparatus 501 includes a display panel 503, a system control unit 505, an operation unit 507, and a storage medium 509 as main constituent devices.

  Note that the system control unit 505 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor. A system control unit 505 controls the operation of the entire system. The operation unit 507 includes a graphic user interface in addition to a mechanical operator.

The storage medium 509 is used as a storage area for firmware and application programs in addition to data files corresponding to images and videos displayed on the display panel 503.
This configuration of the information processing apparatus can be used when applied to, for example, a game machine, an electronic book, an electronic dictionary, a computer, and the like.

(C-6) Display Device In the case of the above-described embodiment, the organic EL display panel has been described as an example. However, this display control technique can be widely applied to other self-luminous display devices. For example, the present invention can be applied to inorganic EL display panels, FED display panels, PDP display panels, and the like.
Further, although the burn-in reduction effect cannot be expected, it can be applied to a non-self-luminous display device as one form of screen display. For example, it can be applied to a liquid crystal display panel.

(C-7) Computer Program The control method described in the above embodiment can be realized not only by hardware or software but also by function sharing between hardware and software.
(C-8) Others Various modifications can be considered for the above-described embodiments within the scope of the gist of the invention. Various modifications and applications created or combined based on the description of the present specification are also conceivable.

It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the correspondence of a timing signal and a write signal. It is a figure explaining the thinning-out process of an enable signal. It is a figure which shows the example of an original input image. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a thinning image. It is a figure which shows the example of replacement | exchange of the thinning position of an enable signal. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of a thinning image. It is a figure which shows the example of switching operation | movement of a thinning image. It is a figure explaining the burn-in reduction effect. It is a figure which shows the other function structural example of a display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a thinning image production | generation part. It is a figure which shows the example of another thinning image. It is a figure which shows the thinning-out example of an enable signal. It is a figure which shows the thinning-out example of an enable signal. It is a figure which shows the example of another thinning image. It is a figure which shows the example of another thinning image. It is a figure which shows the example of another thinning image. It is a figure which shows the other functional structural example of a thinning-out image generation part. It is a figure which shows the other functional structural example of a thinning-out image generation part. It is a figure which shows the other functional structural example of a thinning-out image generation part. It is a figure which shows the other functional structural example of a thinning-out image generation part. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a battery drive apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a battery drive apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a battery drive apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a battery drive apparatus. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of a battery drive apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Timing control part 7 Data line driver 11 Thinning process part 13 Thinning position control part 23 Thinning image generation part 31 Selection part 33 Black data memory 35 Switching pattern supply part 37 Luminance reduction part 39 Color reduction part 41 APL calculation part 43 Replacement data determination part 43

Claims (11)

An image in which the original input image is spatially thinned, and an image on which the thinning position is periodically switched and controlled so that the thinning time of each display area is uniform over the entire screen is displayed on the screen. Display control device. A data line driver for supplying image data corresponding to the original input image to the corresponding data line;
A gate line driving section for supplying a write signal to the gate line for giving the write timing of the image data;
A thinning-out processing unit for thinning out supply of write signals to some of the gate lines;
A display control device comprising: a thinning position control unit that periodically switches and controls the thinning position of the write signal so that the thinning time of the write signal for each gate line is the same over the entire screen. The display control device according to claim 2,
The display control device, wherein the thinning processing unit thins out the supply of the write signal at an interval of n (n is a natural number). The display control device according to claim 2,
The thinning position control unit controls the thinning position of the writing signal to be changed at regular intervals. A data line driver for supplying image data to corresponding data lines;
A gate line driver for supplying a write signal to each gate line;
A thinned-out image generation unit that synthesizes a burn-in reduction image with an image obtained by spatially thinning out the original input image and outputs the image data;
A display control apparatus comprising: a thinning position control unit that periodically switches and controls a thinning position of the original input image so that a thinning time of each display area is the same on the entire screen. The display control device according to claim 5,
The display control apparatus, wherein the burn-in reduced image is an image in which a light emission luminance value is reduced with respect to the corresponding original image data. The display control device according to claim 5,
The display control apparatus, wherein the burn-in reduced image is an image set to an average picture level smaller than an average picture level of original image data. A display device;
A display control unit that displays an image on which the original input image is spatially thinned, and on which the thinning position is periodically switched and controlled so that the thinning time of each display region is uniform over the entire screen; A display device comprising: A display device;
A display control unit that displays an image on which the original input image is spatially thinned, and on which the thinning position is periodically switched and controlled so that the thinning time of each display region is uniform over the entire screen; The terminal device characterized by having. An image in which the original input image is spatially thinned, and an image on which the thinning position is periodically switched and controlled so that the thinning time of each display area is uniform over the entire screen is displayed on the screen. Display control method to be performed. To the computer that processes the image signal,
A process for displaying on the screen an image in which the original input image is spatially thinned and whose thinning position is periodically controlled so that the thinning time of each display area is uniform over the entire screen is executed. A computer program characterized by the above.

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