An active matrix electroluminescent display device has power supply lines (26) in the column direction. An isolating transistor (30) is provided for isolating a drive transistor (22) of each pixel from the pixel display element (2). The device is operable in two modes. In a first mode, the isolating transistor (30) isolates the drive transistor (22) from the display element (2) for each pixel, and pixel drive signals are provided to all pixels of the array in a row-by-row sequence. In a second mode, the isolating transistor couples the drive transistor to the display element and current is driven through the display elements. In this display device, pixel drive signals are loaded into the display array in one phase, in a row by row manner. As the power supply lines are in columns, during loading of the pixel drive signals, a current is provided to only one pixel along the power supply line at a time. No current is drawn by any display elements during this time, so that vertical cross talk is avoided. This enables pixel data to be stored accurately on the pixels. |