DRIVE METHOD AND DRIVING DEVICE FOR MATRIX TYPE DISPLAY DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress reduction over time in luminance of a matrix type display device even though the number of scanning lines is increased to thereby realize a luminance service life which is similar to the luminance service life of a display device having the less number of scanning lines. SOLUTION: In an organic EL panel 11, light emitting elements are formed at the crossing points of a plurality of anode lines and a plurality of cathode lines both of which are arranged in a matrix manner. A control circuit 13 periodically scans scanning lines (the cathode lines) through a row driver 12a and provides current signals to desired signal lines (the anode lines) from a column driver 12b to cause the light emitting elements formed at the crossing points of these lines to emit light. When there exist scanning lines on which light emitting elements, that are driving objects, do not exist in one scanning period, the circuit 13 inhibits the scanning operation for the scanning lines on which the light emitting elements do not exist. Thus, the circuit 13 controls so that the number of scanning lines per scanning period is reduced and the scanning interval for the scanning lines, on which driving object light emitting elements exist, is extended. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO