Display device having a driving voltage controller and method of driving the same

A display device, comprising:

• a display panel displaying an image based on output image data which is converted input image data, and including a plurality of pixels;
• a driving voltage controller including:
• an overcurrent detector generating an alert signal when a driving current of the display panel is greater than a reference current,
• a load calculator calculating a load of the input image data in response to the alert signal and generating a load escape signal when the load is greater than a reference load,
• a sensing period detector detecting a sensing period in a vertical blank period of a frame period that includes an active period and the vertical blank period in response to the alert signal, and generating a sensing end signal when the sensing period ends;
• and
• a driving voltage generator decreasing a driving voltage provided to the display panel from a high voltage level to a low voltage level in response to the alert signal, and increasing the driving voltage in response to the load escape signal and the sensing end signal,
• wherein, when the alert signal is generated in a first frame period, the vertical blank period is included in a second frame period following the first frame period.

A method of driving a display device, the method comprising:

• generating an alert signal when a driving current of a display panel is greater than a reference current;
• decreasing a driving voltage provided to the display panel in response to the alert signal;
• calculating a load of input image data in response to the alert signal, and generating a load escape signal when the load is greater than a reference load;
• generating a vertical blank count value by counting a time of a vertical blank period of a frame period that includes an active period and the vertical blank period in response to the alert signal and the load escape signal, and generating a counter escape signal when the vertical blank count value is greater than a reference count value;
• and
• increasing the driving voltage in response to the counter escape signal,
• wherein, when the alert signal is generated in a first frame period, the vertical blank period is included in a second frame period following the first frame period.