Display device and method of driving display device

A display device comprising:

• a display drive unit which generates a display drive signal that corresponds to a picture signal to be supplied;
• a scan drive unit which generates a scan voltage which corresponds to the picture signal to be supplied;
• a display unit which displays images by irradiating each pixel with light in accordance with the display drive signal from the display drive unit and the scan voltage from the scan drive unit;
• a detection unit which converts a brightness distribution of the picture signal to be supplied into histograms;
• and
• a control unit which compares a displayable bandwidth of the display unit with a bandwidth from the minimum brightness of the brightness distribution posted to the histogram, and when the bandwidth from the minimum brightness of the brightness distribution posted to the histogram is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio of the displayable bandwidth of the display unit, controls so as to lower the scan voltage of the scan drive unit and controls to improve the display drive signal of the display drive unit.

A method for driving a display device comprising:

• a display unit which displays images by a display drive signal that corresponds to a picture signal;
• and an irradiation unit which irradiates the display unit from behind, the method comprising:
• converting a brightness distribution of the picture signal to be supplied into histograms;
• comparing a displayable bandwidth of the display unit with a bandwidth from the minimum brightness of the brightness distribution posted to the histogram, and when the bandwidth from the minimum brightness of the brightness distribution posted to the histogram is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio of the displayable bandwidth of the display unit, controlling the light-emitting drive signal so as to lower the degree of irradiation of the irradiation unit in accordance with the picture signal, and controlling the display drive signal so as to improve the brightness of image display of the display unit in accordance with the picture signal.