Biomedical test panel

Abstract

A biomedical detection panel is provided. The biomedical detection panel includes a plurality of detection pixels. Each detection pixel includes a first transistor, a voltage stabilizing module, a detection electrode, and a voltage selection module. The first transistor has a first terminal to receive a detection driving signal, a control terminal to receive a switching signal, and a second terminal. The voltage stabilizing module is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor to provide a detection control signal. The voltage selection module is coupled to the voltage stabilizing module and the detection electrode to receive the detection control signal and to receive a direct current (DC) level and an alternating current (AC) signal. The voltage selection module selectively provides one of the DC level and the AC signal to the detection electrode based on the detection control signal.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 111147187, filed on December 8, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, as if fully set forth herein. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a panel, and more particularly to a biomedical detection panel. Background Technology

[0004] Electrorowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) alters the wetting properties of the dielectric layer surface on an electrode by changing the voltage applied to it, thereby causing liquid droplets to move and separate, and ultimately extracting nanoliters of liquid droplets for biomedical detection applications. The advantages of dielectric wetting include: simple manufacturing process, controllable quantitative liquid droplet production, and lower cost, making it a viable alternative to micro-actuators and micro-mixers. Traditional pixel circuits contain numerous components (such as thin-film transistors (TFTs) and capacitors), resulting in large pixel areas that cannot meet the demands of high resolution. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a biomedical detection panel that simplifies the components in the detection pixels and the wiring in the panel to meet the requirements of high resolution.

[0006] The biomedical detection panel of the present invention includes multiple detection pixels. Each detection pixel includes a first transistor, a voltage regulator module, a detection electrode, and a voltage selection module. The first transistor has a first terminal for receiving a detection drive signal, a control terminal for receiving a switching signal, and a second terminal. The voltage regulator module is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor to provide a detection control signal. The voltage selection module is coupled to the voltage regulator module and the detection electrode to receive the detection control signal and to receive both a DC level signal and an AC signal. The voltage selection module selectively provides one of the DC level signal and the AC signal to the detection electrode based on the detection control signal.

[0007] As can be seen from the above solutions, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0008] In the biomedical detection panel of this invention, the biomedical detection panel can be configured with only detection pixels, detection driving lines, switch signal lines, AC signal lines, and ground lines. Each detection pixel can be composed of a first transistor, a voltage regulator module, a detection electrode, and a voltage selection module. Therefore, the area of ​​each detection pixel can be reduced, and the number of signal lines can be decreased, thereby increasing the distribution density of the detection pixels and meeting the requirements for high resolution. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of a biomedical detection panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2A This is a circuit diagram of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of the driving waveform of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3A This is a circuit diagram of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of the driving waveform of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] in:

[0015] 100-Biomedical Detection Panel;

[0016] 110, 110a, 110b - Detection pixels;

[0017] 111, 111a, 111b - Voltage Regulator Modules;

[0018] ACL - AC signal line;

[0019] ACT - Alternating Current Signal;

[0020] ACTB - Inverted signal;

[0021] BSL, BSLb - Voltage Selection Module;

[0022] Ccp - First capacitor;

[0023] EL1 - Detection electrode;

[0024] During the frame period from FRn to FRn+2 and from FRm to FRm+2;

[0025] GL - Switch signal line;

[0026] INV1 - Inverter;

[0027] SL - Detection drive line;

[0028] SLG - Switch signal;

[0029] SLS - Detects drive signals;

[0030] T1 - First transistor;

[0031] T2 - Second transistor;

[0032] T3 - Third transistor;

[0033] T4 - Fourth transistor;

[0034] VCCP - High voltage on the panel;

[0035] VCS - Detection and control signal;

[0036] V EL1 -Voltage;

[0037] VGH - Gate high voltage;

[0038] VGL - Gate Low Voltage. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To make the above features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant technology and this invention, and will not be interpreted as having idealized or overly formal meanings unless expressly defined herein.

[0041] It should be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., may be used herein to describe various components, parts, regions, layers, and / or portions, these components, parts, regions, and / or portions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component, part, region, layer, or portion from another. Therefore, the “first component,” “part,” “region,” “layer,” or “part” discussed below may be referred to as a second component, part, region, layer, or portion without departing from the teachings of this document.

[0042] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not restrictive. As used herein, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” are intended to include the plural forms, including “at least one.” “Or” means “and / or.” As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should also be understood that, when used in this specification, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” specify the presence of the stated features, areas, integrals, steps, operations, components, and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, areas, integrals, steps, operations, components, parts, and / or combinations thereof.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of a biomedical detection panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 In this embodiment, the biomedical detection panel 100 is, for example, a dielectric wetted panel, and includes, for example, a plurality of detection pixels 110, wherein the detection pixels 110 may be arranged in an array or in a specific geometric shape (e.g., pentagon, hexagon), but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

[0044] Furthermore, the biomedical detection panel 100 may further include multiple detection drive lines SL, multiple switch signal lines GL, and multiple AC signal lines ACL. The detection drive lines SL are coupled to the detection pixel 110 to transmit the detection drive signal SLS from an external circuit (e.g., a control circuit) to the detection pixel 110. The switch signal lines GL are coupled to the detection pixel 110 to transmit the switch signal SLG from an external circuit (e.g., a control circuit) to the detection pixel 110. The AC signal lines ACL are coupled to the detection pixel 110 to transmit the AC signal ACT from an external circuit (e.g., a control circuit) to the detection pixel 110. Also, although not shown in the figures, the biomedical detection panel 100 may include power lines and ground lines to transmit voltage and / or ground voltage to the detection pixel 110.

[0045] In this embodiment, each detection pixel 110 includes a first transistor T1, a voltage regulator module 111, a detection electrode EL1, and a voltage selection module BSL. The first transistor T1 has a first terminal for receiving a detection drive signal SLS, a control terminal for receiving a switch signal SLG, and a second terminal. The voltage regulator module 111 is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor T1 to provide a detection control signal VCS. The voltage selection module BSL is coupled to the voltage regulator module 111 and the detection electrode EL1 to receive the detection control signal VCS, and also receives a DC level and an AC signal ACT. The voltage selection module BSL selectively provides one of the DC level and the AC signal ACT to the detection electrode EL1 based on the detection control signal VCS.

[0046] In this embodiment of the invention, the biomedical detection panel 100 may only be configured with detection pixels 110, detection driving lines SL, switch signal lines GL, AC signal lines ACL, and a ground line (not shown). Each detection pixel 110 may be composed of a first transistor T1, a voltage regulator module 111, a detection electrode EL1, and a voltage selection module BSL. Therefore, the area of ​​each detection pixel 110 can be reduced and the number of signal lines can be decreased, thereby increasing the distribution density of the detection pixels 110 and meeting the requirements for high resolution.

[0047] In this embodiment, the voltage selection module BSL includes a second transistor T2 and a third transistor T3, wherein the second transistor T2 is a P-type transistor and the third transistor T3 is an N-type transistor. The second transistor T2 has a first terminal for receiving an AC signal ACT, a control terminal for receiving a detection control signal VCS, and a second terminal coupled to a detection electrode EL1. The third transistor T3 has a first terminal coupled to the detection electrode EL1, a control terminal for receiving the detection control signal VCS, and a second terminal for receiving a DC level (here, ground voltage is taken as an example).

[0048] In this embodiment of the invention, the frequency of the AC signal ACT can be between 10 kHz and 1 MHz. Furthermore, a higher frequency of the AC signal ACT indicates a faster detection speed of the biomedical detection panel 100, but this depends on the detection environment and the target object being detected, and this embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

[0049] Figure 2A This is a circuit diagram of a pixel detection according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2A In this embodiment, detection pixel 110a is substantially the same as detection pixel 110, except that the voltage regulator module 111a includes a first capacitor Ccp, wherein the same or similar components use the same or similar designations. In this embodiment, the first capacitor Ccp is coupled between the inverted signal ACTB of the AC signal ACT and the second terminal of the first transistor T1, so as to provide the regulated result as the detection control signal VCS after regulating the voltage of the second terminal of the first transistor T1.

[0050] In this embodiment of the invention, the voltage regulator module 111a may include only the first capacitor Ccp, but this embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

[0051] Figure 2B This is a schematic diagram of the driving waveform of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 2A and Figure 2BIn this embodiment, three frame periods FRn to FRn+2 are shown as examples, where n is the lead number. During frame period FRn, the detection pixel 110a is AC driven (i.e., during AC drive period). That is, when the switch signal SLG is a gate high voltage VGH, the detection drive signal SLS, which is a ground voltage (i.e., 0 volts), is output from the second terminal of the first transistor T1 to form the detection control signal VCS. Then, the 0-volt detection drive signal SLS turns on the second transistor T2 and turns off the third transistor T3, so that the AC signal ACT is transmitted to the detection electrode EL1. Thus, the voltage selection module BSL provides the AC signal ACT to the detection electrode EL1 based on the detection control signal VCS, that is, the voltage V on the detection electrode EL1 is V. EL1 An AC signal is used to form an AC-driven detection pixel 110a.

[0052] During the frame rate FRn+1, the detection pixel 110a is DC driven (i.e., during DC drive). Specifically, when the switch signal SLG is a high gate voltage VGH, the detection drive signal SLS for the panel high voltage VCCP is output from the second terminal of the first transistor T1 to form the detection control signal VCS. Then, the high voltage of the panel high voltage VCCP turns on the third transistor T3 and turns off the second transistor T2, so that the ground voltage is transmitted to the detection electrode EL1. Therefore, the voltage selection module BSL provides the ground voltage (i.e., DC level) to the detection electrode EL1 based on the detection control signal VCS, i.e., the voltage V on the detection electrode EL1. EL1 The DC level is used to form a DC-driven detection pixel 110a.

[0053] During frame time FRn+2, the detection pixel 110a is AC driven, so please refer to the explanation of frame time FRn, which will not be repeated here.

[0054] In this embodiment, the waveform of the detection control signal VCS during DC drive is out of phase with that during AC drive. Furthermore, the detection control signal VCS is the panel high voltage VCCP during DC drive (e.g., during screen period FRn+1), but during AC drive (e.g., during screen period FRn or FRn+2), the detection control signal VCS is the ground voltage (i.e., 0 volts).

[0055] In this embodiment, the detection drive signal SLS switches between the panel high voltage VCCP and the ground voltage (i.e., 0 volts), and the switch signal SLG switches between the gate high voltage VGH and the gate low voltage VGL, wherein the panel high voltage VCCP is lower than the gate high voltage VGH.

[0056] In this embodiment, the ratio of the number of DC drive periods to the number of AC drive periods is 1:1, that is, one DC drive period is followed by one AC drive period. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the ratio of the number of DC drive periods to the number of AC drive periods is x:y, where x and y are positive integers greater than or equal to 1 (e.g., 1:3 or 2:4), which depends on the detection environment and the target object being detected, and this embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

[0057] Figure 3A This is a circuit diagram of a pixel detection according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 3A In this embodiment, the detection pixel 110b is substantially the same as the detection pixel 110, except that the voltage regulator module 111b includes an inverter INV1, and the voltage selection module BSLb further includes a fourth transistor T4, wherein the fourth transistor T4 is an N-type transistor, and the same or similar components use the same or similar designations. In this embodiment, the inverter INV1 has an input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor T1, a positive power supply terminal receiving the system voltage VCC, a negative power supply terminal receiving the ground voltage, and an output terminal providing the detection control signal VCS. The fourth transistor T4 has a first terminal receiving the AC signal ACT, a control terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor T1, and a second terminal coupled to the detection electrode EL1.

[0058] In this embodiment of the invention, the voltage regulator module 111b may include only the inverter INV1, but this embodiment is not limited thereto. In this case, no capacitor is configured in the detection pixel 110b, thus significantly reducing the area of ​​the detection pixel 110b and facilitating an increase in the distribution density of the detection pixel 110b.

[0059] Figure 3B This is a schematic diagram of the driving waveform of a detection pixel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 , Figure 3A and Figure 3BIn this embodiment, three frame periods FRm to FRm+2 are shown as examples, where m is the pilot number. During frame period FRm, the detection pixel 110b is AC driven (i.e., during AC drive). That is, when the switch signal SLG is the gate high voltage VGH, the detection drive signal SLS, which is the panel high voltage VCCP, is output from the second terminal of the first transistor T1, and the inverter INV1 provides the detection control signal VCS, which is the ground voltage (i.e., 0 volts). Then, the second terminal of the first transistor T1 outputs the panel high voltage VCCP to turn on the fourth transistor T4. The 0-volt detection control signal VCS turns on the second transistor T2 and turns off the third transistor T3, so that the AC signal ACT is transmitted to the detection electrode EL1. The second transistor T2 and the fourth transistor T4 act as a transmission gate. Thus, the voltage selection module BSL provides the AC signal ACT to the detection electrode EL1 based on the detection control signal VCS, that is, the voltage V on the detection electrode EL1. EL1 An AC signal is used to form an AC-driven detection pixel 110b.

[0060] During the frame time FRm+1, the detection pixel 110b is DC driven (i.e., during DC drive). Specifically, when the switch signal SLG is a high gate voltage VGH, a 0V detection drive signal SLS is output from the second terminal of the first transistor T1, and the inverter INV1 provides a detection control signal VCS for the panel high voltage VCCP. Then, the detection control signal VCS for the panel high voltage VCCP turns on the third transistor T3 and turns off the second transistor T2. Simultaneously, the fourth transistor T4 is turned off due to the 0V output from the second terminal of the first transistor T1, causing the ground voltage to be transmitted to the detection electrode EL1. Therefore, the voltage selection module BSL provides the ground voltage (i.e., DC level) to the detection electrode EL1 based on the detection control signal VCS, i.e., the voltage V on the detection electrode EL1. EL1 The DC level is used to form a DC-driven detection pixel 110b.

[0061] During frame period FRm+2, the detection pixel 110b is AC driven, so please refer to the description of frame period FRm, which will not be repeated here. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the system voltage VCC can be the panel high voltage VCCP, but this embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0062] In summary, the biomedical detection panel of this embodiment of the invention can be configured with only detection pixels, detection driving lines, switch signal lines, AC signal lines, and ground lines. Each detection pixel is composed of a first transistor, a voltage regulator module, a detection electrode, and a voltage selection module. Therefore, the area of ​​each detection pixel can be reduced, and the number of signal lines can be decreased, thereby increasing the distribution density of the detection pixels and meeting the requirements for high resolution.

[0063] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The specific embodiments described above are merely illustrative and not restrictive. Those skilled in the art can make many other forms under the guidance of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, and all of these forms are within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A biomedical detection panel, characterized in that, The biomedical detection panel is a dielectric wetting panel, comprising: Multiple detection pixels, each of which includes: A first transistor has a first terminal for receiving a detection drive signal, a control terminal for receiving a switching signal, and a second terminal; A voltage regulator module is coupled to the second terminal of the first transistor to provide a detection control signal; A detection electrode; and A voltage selection module is coupled to the voltage regulator module and the detection electrode to receive the detection control signal, and to receive a DC level and an AC signal, wherein the voltage selection module selectively provides one of the DC level and the AC signal to the detection electrode based on the detection control signal; The voltage selection module includes: A second transistor has a first terminal for receiving the AC signal, a control terminal for receiving the detection control signal, and a second terminal coupled to the detection electrode; A third transistor has a first terminal coupled to the detection electrode, a control terminal for receiving the detection control signal, and a second terminal for receiving the DC level; and, A fourth transistor has a first terminal for receiving the AC signal, a control terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor, and a second terminal coupled to the detection electrode.

2. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module includes: A first capacitor is coupled between an inverted signal of the AC signal and a second terminal of the first transistor to provide the detection control signal.

3. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The voltage regulator module includes: An inverter has an input terminal coupled to a second terminal of the first transistor and an output terminal providing the detection control signal.

4. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frequency of the AC signal is between 10 kHz and 1 MHz.

5. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection drive signal switches between a panel high voltage and a ground voltage, and the switching signal switches between a gate high voltage and a gate low voltage, wherein the panel high voltage is lower than the gate high voltage.

6. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The DC level is a ground voltage.

7. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, During a DC drive, the voltage selection module provides the DC level to the detection electrode based on the detection control signal, and during an AC drive, the voltage selection module provides the AC signal to the detection electrode based on the detection control signal.

8. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 7, characterized in that, The ratio of the number of connections during the DC drive to the number of connections during the AC drive is x:y, where x and y are positive integers greater than or equal to 1.

9. The biomedical detection panel according to claim 7, characterized in that, The waveform of the detection control signal during the DC drive is out of phase with the waveform of the detection control signal during the AC drive.

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