The present invention discloses a circuit and
system for driving an organic thin-film electroluminescent (EL) display to emit light. The driving
system of the present invention can quickly respond to the point of emission when a supply
voltage is applied. This driving
system includes a plurality of intersecting
anode and
cathode lines arranged in a matrix. The
anode lines are the scanning lines, and the
cathode lines are the driving lines. A plurality of organic thin-film EL elements is positioned at the intersection of scanning and driving lines. Each of the organic thin-film EL elements is electrically connected to one of the scanning lines and one of the
constant current sources followed by connecting to one of the driving lines. The
signal control unit controls the scan lines causing at least one of these elements to emit light by executing scanning of at least one of the scan lines and, during a predetermined period of the scanning, by
coupling a driving source to at least one of the driving lines in the scanning period.