Light source module, method for driving the light source module, display device having the light source module

A display device, comprising:

• a display panel comprising a plurality of display regions for sequentially displaying a plurality of images, wherein each of the display regions includes a plurality of pixels, and wherein each of the pixels displays one of a plurality of gray levels;
• a light source assembly including a plurality of light source blocks respectively corresponding to the plurality of display regions, the light source assembly configured to dim the plurality of light source blocks according to dimming control signals based on a current image, wherein the dimming control signals comprise a first dimming control signal and a second dimming control signal;
• and
• a dimming control unit configured to calculate an average gray level for the plurality of pixels in each of the display regions with respect to the current image, an inherent brightness value of each of the display regions based upon the average gray level, and a threshold gray level of each of the display regions based upon the inherent brightness value, to separate the plurality of gray levels into a first gray level section and a second gray level section based on the threshold gray level, and
• to output the first dimming control signal to a first light source block of the plurality of light source blocks when the average gray level is within the first gray level section or to output the second dimming control signal to the first light source block when the average gray level is within the second gray level section,
• wherein the first dimming control signal enables the first light source block to emit light having a fixed brightness, and the second dimming control signal enables the first light source block to emit light having a variable brightness which varies according to the inherent brightness value.

A display device, comprising:

• a display panel comprising a plurality of display regions for sequentially displaying a plurality of images, wherein each of the display regions includes a plurality of pixels, and wherein each of the pixels displays one of a plurality of gray levels;
• a light source assembly, including a plurality of light source blocks respectively corresponding to the plurality of display regions, the light source assembly configured to dim the plurality of light source blocks according to a dimming control signal based on a current image;
• and
• a dimming control unit configured to output the dimming control signal, wherein the dimming control unit comprises:
• an inherent brightness signal generator configured to calculate an average gray level for the plurality of pixels in each of the display regions with respect to the current image and an inherent brightness value of each of the display regions using the determined average gray level;
• an interference brightness signal generator configured to calculate an interference brightness value based upon inherent brightness values of display regions adjacent to each other;
• a threshold gray level determiner configured to determine a threshold gray level of each of the display regions based upon the interference brightness value;
• and
• a dimming control signal generator configured to output one of a maximum brightness value or a brightness value less than the maximum brightness value as the dimming control signal, according to the threshold gray level and the average gray level.

A method for driving a light source module for sequentially displaying a plurality of images, the method comprising:

• calculating an average gray level of pixels of a current image in each of a plurality of display regions respectively corresponding to a plurality of light source blocks based upon image signals of the current image applied to the pixels in the display regions, wherein each pixel displays one of a plurality of gray levels based upon an applied image signal of the current image;
• calculating an inherent brightness value of each of the display regions by using the calculated average gray levels of the plurality of pixels of the current image in the display regions;
• calculating a threshold gray level according to inherent brightness values of a predetermined display region and of display regions adjacent to the predetermined display regions;
• and
• sectioning the plurality of gray levels into a first gray level section and a second gray level section based on the threshold gray level;
• and
• enabling a light source block corresponding to the predetermined display region to emit light having a brightness value based upon an inherent brightness value when an average gray level is within the first gray level section, or
• enabling the light source block corresponding to the predetermined display region to emit light with a maximum brightness value when an average gray level is within the second gray level section.

A display device, comprising:

• a display panel having an image display panel, the image display panel divided into N display regions, wherein each of the display regions includes a plurality of pixels, wherein each of the pixels displays one of a plurality of gray levels, wherein N is a natural number greater than one;
• a light source assembly including N light source blocks respectively corresponding to the N display regions, wherein each of the light source blocks is configured to have an output brightness that dims according to N dimming control signals, wherein the N dimming control signals comprise a first dimming control signal and a second dimming control signal;
• and
• a dimming control unit configured to calculate an average gray level and an inherent brightness value of the pixels in each of the N display regions, and a threshold gray level of each of the N display regions based upon the inherent brightness value of pixels;
• separate the plurality of gray levels into a first gray level section and a second gray level section based on the threshold gray level;
• and for each of the N light source block, output a first dimming control signal when an average gray level of a display region is within the first gray level section and output a second dimming control signal when an average gray level of a display region is within the second gray level section,
• wherein the first dimming control signal enables a light source block to emit light having a fixed brightness, and
• the second dimming control signal enables a light source block to emit light having a variable brightness which varies according to the inherent brightness value.