Readout scheme of a matrix type thin-film EL display panel

摘要

Between adjacent matrix type electrodes in a thin-film EL display panel, one of which is transparent, there is disposed an EL layer sandwiched by a pair of dielectric layers, which manifests a hysteresis curve when plotted with respect to the applied voltage vs light intensity characteristics. The thin-film EL display panel is further provided with at least one reference electrode. In reading out the memory state of the display panel, current is derived which has an amplitude equal to the difference between the current drawn through the reference electrode and the readout current.