Flat panel display device, method of aging the same, and method of testing lighting of the same

Abstract

A flat panel display device formed in a pentile structure is provided, which includes a pixel portion and a lighting tester. The pixel portion includes a first pixel column, a second pixel column and a third pixel column. In the first pixel column, first pixels for displaying a first color and second pixels for displaying a second color are alternately arranged in a direction the data lines. In the second pixel column, first and second pixels arranged in reverse order of the first pixel column in a direction parallel to the data lines. In the third pixel column, third pixels for displaying a third color are arranged in a direction parallel to the data lines. The lighting tester applies a first voltage to the first pixel column and applies a second voltage to the second pixel column during a first time period. The lighting tester applies the second voltage to the first pixel column and applies the first voltage to the second pixel column during a second time period.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A flat panel display device, comprising:
 a scan driver configured to apply scan signals to a plurality of scan lines; 
 a data driver configured to apply data signals to a plurality of data lines; 
 a pixel portion including: 
 a first pixel column including at least one first pixel configured to display a first color and at least one second pixel configured to display a second color, the first and second pixels of the first column being arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines; 
 a second pixel column including at least one first pixel configured to display the first color and at least one second pixel configured to display the second color, the first and the second pixels of the second pixel column being arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, said at least one first pixel of the first pixel column and said at least one second pixel in the second pixel column being coupled to the same scan line; and 
 a third pixel column including third pixels configured to display a third color, the third pixels being arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, each of the third pixels being coupled to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines; and 
 a lighting tester configured to apply lighting test voltages or aging voltages to the first, second and third pixel columns, to apply a first voltage to the first pixel column and a second voltage to the second pixel column during a first time period, and to apply the second voltage to the first pixel column and the first voltage to the second pixel column during a second time period, both of the first voltage and the second voltage supplied from test power sources for lighting the first and second pixel columns or both of the first voltage and the second voltage supplied from aging power sources for aging the first and second pixel columns. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first control signal is supplied to the lighting tester during the first time period, and a second control signal is supplied to the lighting tester during the second time period. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the lighting tester includes:
 a first transistor electrically connecting the first pixel column to a first interconnection supplying the first voltage whenever the first control signal is supplied to the first transistor; 
 a second transistor electrically connecting the first pixel column to a second interconnection supplying the second voltage whenever the second control signal is supplied to the second transistor; 
 a third transistor electrically connecting the second pixel column to the first interconnection whenever the second control signal is supplied to the third transistor; and, 
 a fourth transistor electrically connecting the second pixel column to the second interconnection whenever the first control signal is supplied to the fourth transistor. 
 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first to fourth transistors have the same conductivity type. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein a third control signal is supplied to the lighting tester, a third voltage being applied to the third pixel column whenever the third control signal is supplied, the lighting tester further including:
 a fifth transistor electrically connecting the third pixel column to a third interconnection supplying the third voltage whenever the third control signal is supplied to the fifth transistor. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first to fifth transistors have the same conductivity type. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first, second and third voltages are test voltages for testing lighting of the first, second and third pixel columns, or the first, second and third voltages are aging voltages for aging said at least one first pixel, said at least one second pixel, and the third pixels. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an emission controller for controlling emission of said at least one first pixel, said at least one second pixel, and the third pixels. 
 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first color, the second color and the third color is red, green, or blue, and the first, second, and third colors are different from each other. 
     
     
       10. A method of testing lighting of a flat panel display device comprising a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a pixel portion including a first pixel column in which at least one first pixel configured for displaying a first color and at least one second pixel configured display for displaying a second color are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, a second pixel column in which at least one first pixel and at least one second pixel are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, and a third pixel column in which third pixels configured to display a third color are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, and a lighting tester configured to apply lighting test voltages to the first, second and third pixel columns through the plurality of data lines, said at least one first pixel of the first pixel column and said at least one second pixel in the second pixel column being coupled to the same scan line, the method comprising:
 supplying a first control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the first pixel column to a first test power source and electrically connectingconnect the second pixel column to a second test power sourcewhenever a first control signal is supplied to the lighting tester, a first voltage supplied from the first test power source being applied to the first pixel column, a second voltage supplied from the second test power source being applied to the second pixel column; 
 supplying a second control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the first pixel column to the second test power source and electrically connectingconnect the second pixel column to the first test power sourcewhenever a second control signal is supplied to the lighting tester, the second voltage being applied to the first pixel column and the first voltage being applied to the second pixel column, both of the first voltage and the second voltage being non-zero lighting test voltages for lighting the first and second pixel columns; and 
 supplying scan signals to the scan lines, wherein the supplying of the first and second control signals being is synchronized with the scan signals. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 turning on a first transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the first test power source and turning on a fourth transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the second test power source whenever when the first control signal is supplied; and 
 turning on a second transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the second test power source, and turning on a third transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the first test power source whenever when the second control signal is supplied. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 supplying a third control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the third pixel column to a third test power sourcewhenever a third control signal is supplied to the lighting tester. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 turning on a fifth transistor coupled between the third pixel column and the third test power source whenever when the third control signal is supplied. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 applying an emission control signal to the pixel portion for controlling emission of said at least one first pixel, said at least one second pixel, and the third pixels. 
 
     
     
       15. A method of aging a flat panel display device comprising a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a pixel portion including a first pixel column in which at least one first pixel configured display for displaying a first color and at least one second pixel configured for displaying a second color are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, a second pixel column in which at least one first pixel and at least one second pixel are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, and a third pixel column in which third pixels configured for displaying a third color are arranged in a direction parallel to the plurality of data lines, and a lighting tester configured apply aging voltages to the first, second and third pixel columns through the plurality of data lines, said at least one first pixel of the first pixel column and said at least one second pixel in the second pixel column being coupled to the same scan line, the method comprising:
 connecting a first, a second and a third interconnections to a first, a second and a third aging power sources, respectively, a first voltage supplied to the first interconnection from the first aging power source, a second voltage supplied to the second interconnection from the second aging power source; 
 supplying a first control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the first pixel column to the first interconnection and electrically connectingconnect the second pixel column to the second interconnectionwhenever a first control signal is supplied to the lighting tester, the first voltage being applied to the first pixel column through the first interconnection, a second voltage being applied to the second pixel column through the second interconnection; 
 supplying a second control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the first pixel column to the second interconnection and electrically connectingconnect the second pixel column to the first interconnectionwhenever a second control signal is supplied to the lighting tester, the second voltage being applied to the first pixel column through the second interconnection and the first voltage being applied to the second pixel column through the first interconnection, both of the first voltage and the second voltage being non-zero aging voltages for aging the first and second pixel columns; 
 supplying a third control signal to the lighting tester to cause the lighting tester to electrically connectingconnect the third pixel column to the third interconnectionwhenever a third control signal is supplied to the lighting tester; and 
 supplying scan signals to the scan lines, wherein the supplying of the first and second control signals being is synchronized with the scan signals. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 turning on a first transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the first interconnection, and turning on a fourth transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the second interconnection whenever when the first control signal is supplied; 
 turning on a second transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the second interconnection, and turning on a third transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the first interconnection whenever when the second control signal is supplied; and 
 turning on a fifth transistor coupled between the third pixel column and the third interconnection whenever when the third control signal is supplied. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 applying emission control signals to the pixel portion to control emission of said at least one first pixel, said at least one second pixel, and the third pixels. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 connecting the first and second interconnections to a first and a second test power sources, respectively; 
 electrically connecting the first pixel column to the first interconnection and electrically connecting the second pixel column to the second interconnection whenever when the first control signal is supplied; and 
 electrically connecting the first pixel column to the second interconnection and electrically connecting the second pixel column to the first interconnection whenever when the second control signal is supplied. 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 turning on a first transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the first interconnection, and turning on a fourth transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the second interconnection whenever when the first control signal is supplied; and 
 turning on a second transistor coupled between the first pixel column and the second interconnection, and turning on a third transistor coupled between the second pixel column and the first interconnection whenever when the second control signal is supplied. 
 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 turning on a fifth transistor coupled between the third pixel column and the third interconnection whenever the third control signal is supplied.   
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 connecting the third interconnection to a third test power source; and 
 electrically connecting the third pixel column to the third interconnection whenever when the third control signal us is supplied. 
 
     
     
       22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:
 turning on a fifth transistor coupled between the third pixel column and the third interconnection when the third control signal is supplied.    
     
     
       23. A display device, comprising:
 a scan driver configured to apply scan signals to a plurality of scan lines;   a data driver configured to apply data signals to a plurality of data lines;   a plurality of first pixels disposed in a first column, configured to display a first color, and electrically connected to a first data line of the data lines;   a plurality of second pixels disposed in the first column, configured to display a second color, and electrically connected to the first data line of the data lines;   a plurality of third pixels disposed in a second column, configured to display a third color, and electrically connected to a second data line of the data lines; and   a lighting tester comprising:
 a first transistor including an end electrically connected to the first data line; 
 a second transistor including an end electrically connected to the first data line; 
 a third transistor including an end electrically connected to the second data line; 
 a first interconnection connected to another end of the first transistor; 
 a second interconnection connected to another end of the second transistor; 
 a third interconnection connected to another end of the third transistor; 
 a first control interconnection connected to a gate of the first transistor; 
 a second control interconnection connected to a gate of the second transistor; and 
 a third control interconnection connected to a gate of the third transistor, 
   wherein the first interconnection is configured to supply a first voltage, the second interconnection is configured to supply a second voltage, and the third interconnection is configured to supply a third voltage,   wherein the first control interconnection is configured to supply a first control signal, the second control interconnection is configured to supply a second control signal, and the third control interconnection is configured to supply a third control signal,   wherein the lighting tester is disposed outside of an area where the first, the second, and the third pixels are disposed,   wherein both of the first voltage and the second voltage are supplied to the first column through the first data line, and   wherein each of the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage is supplied from test power sources for lighting the first, second, and third pixel columns, or each of the first voltage, the second voltage, and the third voltage is supplied from aging power sources for aging the first and second columns.    
     
     
       24. The display device according to claim 23,
 wherein one of the first pixels and one of the second pixels is alternately connected to the first data line.    
     
     
       25. The display device according to claim 24, further comprising:
 a third data line;   a plurality of fourth pixels disposed in a third column, configured to display the first color, and electrically connected to the third data line of the data lines; and   a plurality of fifth pixels disposed in a third column, configured to display the second color, and electrically connected to the third data line.    
     
     
       26. The display device according to claim 25,
 wherein one of the fourth pixels and one of the fifth pixels are alternately connected to the third data line.    
     
     
       27. The display device according to claim 26,
 wherein the second data line is arranged in between the first data line and the third data line.    
     
     
       28. The display device according to claim 27, further comprising:
 a fourth transistor including an end electrically connected to the third data line;   a fifth transistor including an end electrically connected to the third data line;   a fourth interconnection connected to another end of the fourth transistor; and   a fifth interconnection connected to another end of the fifth transistor,   wherein the first control interconnection is connected to a gate of the fifth transistor, and   wherein the second control interconnection is connected to a gate of the fourth transistor.    
     
     
       29. The display device according to claim 23, further comprising:
 an emission controller configured to control emission of one of the first pixels, one of the second pixels, and one of the third pixels.    
     
     
       30. The display device according to claim 29,
 wherein one of the first pixels and one of the second pixels are alternately connected to the first data line.    
     
     
       31. The display device according to claim 30, further comprising:
 a third data line;   a plurality of fourth pixels disposed in a third column, configured to display the first color, and electrically connected to the third data line of the data lines; and   a plurality of fifth pixels disposed in a third column, configured to display the second color, and electrically connected to the third data line.    
     
     
       32. The display device according to claim 31,
 wherein one of the fourth pixels and one of the fifth pixels are alternately connected to the third data line.    
     
     
       33. The display device according to claim 32,
 wherein the second data line is arranged in between the first data line and the third data line.    
     
     
       34. The display device according to claim 33, further comprising:
 a fourth transistor including an end electrically connected to the third data line;   a fifth transistor including an end electrically connected to the third data line;   a fourth interconnection connected to another end of the fourth transistor; and   a fifth interconnection connected to another end of the fifth transistor,   wherein the first control interconnection is connected to a gate of the fifth transistor, and   wherein the second control interconnection is connected to a gate of the fourth transistor.