Display device and driving method thereof

A display device, comprising:

• a display unit including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of data lines;
• a first data driver transmitting a plurality of corresponding data signals to the plurality of first data lines of the plurality of data lines;
• a second data driver transmitting a plurality of corresponding data signals to the plurality of second data lines of the plurality of data lines except for the plurality of first data lines;
• a scan driver transmitting a plurality of scan signals to the plurality of scan lines;
• a compensation controller supplying a predetermined test current to each organic light emitting diode in each of the plurality of pixels during a sensing period for measuring a driving voltage of the organic light emitting diode for each of the plurality of pixels, receiving the driving voltage of the organic light emitting diode supplied with the first current, and outputting measuring data for the transmitted driving voltage;
• a first selection unit connecting the plurality of first data lines to the compensation controller during a first sensing period of the sensing period;
• a second selection unit connecting the plurality of second data lines to the compensation controller during a second sensing period of the sensing period;
• and
• a signal controller compensating an input video signal according to the measuring data to generate image data,
• wherein the compensation controller is separate from and external to both the first and second data drivers, and
• wherein at least one of the first and second selection units includes:
• a plurality of compensating switches connected to a corresponding data line and the compensation controller;
• a plurality of data transmitting switches connected to a corresponding data line and the data driver;
• and
• a sensing driver configured to transmit a detection signal having a first level during the first and second sensing periods, wherein the plurality of compensating switches are turned on during one of the first and second sensing periods.

A method of driving a display device including a display panel having a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of organic light emitting diodes (OLED) corresponding to the data lines and scan lines, and a converter, and displaying images according to an input video signal, comprising:

• transmitting a predetermined test current to an organic light emitting diode corresponding to one data line through one data line of the plurality of data lines;
• transmitting a driving voltage of the corresponding organic light emitting diode generated when a test current flows in the corresponding organic light emitting diode to the converter;
• repeating transmitting of the test current to the corresponding organic light emitting diode and transmitting of the driving voltage of the corresponding organic light emitting diode to the converter for the plurality of other data lines of the plurality of data lines, wherein repeating transmitting includes turning on a plurality of compensating switches to select respective data lines during a sensing period;
• and
• turning on a plurality of data transmitting switches to select respective data lines to receive data signals in accordance with the input video signal during an image display period.