System and method for determining an overall brightness level of an image to be displayed in a frame period in electroluminescent display devices

In an active matrix electroluminescent display device, comprising an array of display pixels, each pixel comprises an electroluminescent display element, active matrix circuitry including at least one drive transistor for driving a current through the display element, means for determining an overall brightness level of an image to be displayed in a frame period, means for controlling the at least one drive transistor of each pixel in dependence on, (1) a respective input signal providing a drive level for the pixel, and (2) the overall brightness level. The novel arrangement is capable of controlling the pixels to limit the maximum currents drawn by the pixels, thereby limiting cross-talk effects resulting from voltage drops along row or column conductors. If an image is bright, the pixel drive levels across the image, or at least part of the image, can be reduced, so that the maximum brightness is reduced.