Driving method and system of novel AMOLED smart phone display driving chip

Abstract

The invention provides a driving method and system of a novel AMOLED smart phone display driving chip. According to the invention, a separated display driving chip scheme is adopted, that is, a mode of combining a single time sequence control chip and a single AMOLED source driving chip is adopted, the function integration level is higher, the AMOLED source driving chip integrates the functions of Level Shifter, PMU and the like, the time sequence control chip integrates the functions of P-Gamma, Touch IC and the like, and the peripheral circuit design is further simplified. The data processing function is completed in the time sequence control chip in a concentrated mode, the AMOLED source driving chip shares part of simple functions, a lower manufacturing process can be selected, and the cost is further reduced. The separated architecture can share the design risk and reduce the research and development cost caused by design errors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of display driving, and in particular relates to a driving method and system of a novel AMOLED smart phone display driving chip. Background Art

[0002] Display driver chips are widely used in various display devices, including smart phones, wearable devices, TVs, tablets, car displays, etc. These chips play a vital role in the display control system, ensuring the normal operation of the display and high-quality image display.

[0003] Display driver chips are mainly divided into TCON (timing control chip), Source IC (source driver chip) and GateIC (gate driver chip). The complete display driver solution is divided into separate and single-chip driver solutions. These chips receive commands and data through industry standard interfaces and generate appropriate signals to control the pixels of the display screen to light up or shut down, and control the light intensity and color. The driving solution of TV panel driver chips is different from that of smartphones. The panel design architecture and routing determine the chip type, and there is no substitution between separate and single-chip types.

[0004] The development and popularity of smart phones has led to the development of integrated display driver single-chip solutions. In order to solve the problem of a single chip being able to complete all the functions of display panel driving and meet customers' demand for cost reduction, a new driver solution is needed to achieve this goal. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a novel driving method for an AMOLED smartphone display driver chip:

[0006] Data processing is performed by a single timing control chip (TCON) and a single AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC);

[0007] The AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC) is connected to the AMOLED panel through a first flexible circuit board, and is detachably connected to the timing control chip (TCON);

[0008] The timing control chip (TCON) is connected to the AP-end signal source through the connector of the second flexible circuit board;

[0009] The first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board are interconnected via an interface;

[0010] Moreover, there is only a single AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC) on the first flexible circuit board;

[0011] There is only a single timing control chip (TCON) on the second flexible circuit board.

[0012] Furthermore, the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC includes:

[0013] Functional modules of a first interface (Interface), a first power management unit (PMU), a first data cache unit (NVM), a first register unit (Register), a first crystal oscillator unit (Oscillator), a panel source driver unit (Source Driver), and a level shifter unit (Level Shifter).

[0014] (1) The first interface is an interface for receiving image data and control signals of the timing control chip TCON, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols;

[0015] (2) The first power management unit provides the reference voltage for each module of the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC to work, including the voltage required by the panel source driver unit and the level conversion unit;

[0016] (3) a first data cache unit for controlling instruction storage;

[0017] (4) The first crystal oscillator unit provides a stable clock signal required for the chip to work;

[0018] (5) The panel source drive unit converts the image data processed by the timing control chip TCON into the analog signal required for panel display, controls the brightness of each sub-pixel, and displays different pictures;

[0019] (6) The level conversion unit converts the low-voltage digital signal into the high-voltage signal required to drive the panel display, which is the high-voltage driving signal required by the panel array (Gate).

[0020] Furthermore, the timing control chip (TCON) includes:

[0021] Functional modules of a second interface (Interface), a second power management unit (PMU), a second data cache unit (NVM), a second register unit (Register), a timing control unit (Timming Controller), a second crystal oscillator unit (Oscillator), a display data processing unit (Display Data Process), a gamma control unit (GammaController), and a touch control unit (Touch Controller).

[0022] (1) The second interface Interface consists of two parts. One part is Interface I for receiving AP-side image data and control signals, supporting standard communication protocols such as Vbyone, LVDS, MIPI, and eDP; the other part is Interface II for communicating with the AMOLED source driver chip SourceIC, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols;

[0023] (2) The second power management unit PMU (Power Management Unit) provides the reference voltage for each module of TCON to operate;

[0024] (3) The second data cache unit (NVM non-volatile memory) is used for image data caching, control instruction storage, and Mura data storage;

[0025] (4) The timing control unit (Timming Controller) cooperates with the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC to drive the panel to work according to the correct timing;

[0026] (5) The second crystal oscillator unit Oscillator provides the stable clock signal required for the chip to work;

[0027] (6) The image data received by the display data processing unit Display Data Process is processed and sent to the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC, which has multiple embedded data processing algorithms, including Demura algorithm, Over Driver algorithm, Color Gamut algorithm, and SPR algorithm;

[0028] (7) Gamma Controller: Corrects the gamma curve to make the brightness and darkness of the image meet the requirements;

[0029] (8) Touch Controller: Touch screen signal control, converting touch signals into digital signals, identifying and responding to touch actions.

[0030] Furthermore, the interface I inputs: Demura compressed data, uncompressed data stream and compressed data stream,

[0031] The demura compressed data is decoded after passing through the demura data storage unit, and the decoding unit 1 is responsible for decoding the demura compressed data;

[0032] After the compressed data stream passes through the decoding unit 2, it enters the display data processing unit together with the non-compressed data stream and the decoded Demura compressed data;

[0033] Decoding unit 2 is responsible for decoding the compressed data stream.

[0034] Furthermore, the image data received by the display data processing unit Display Data Process is processed and corrected by the gamma control unit, and connected to the AMOLED source driving chip through the interface II.

[0035] Furthermore, the image data inputted from the interface II passes through the panel source driving unit, undergoes data caching, level conversion, digital / analog conversion, and source buffering, and then the received data is converted into an analog signal required for panel display.

[0036] A driving system of a new type of AMOLED smart phone display driver chip includes a single timing control chip and a single AMOLED source driver chip, and the two chips are designed in a separable manner.

[0037] The data processing function is concentrated in the timing control chip, and the AMOLED source driver chip shares some simple functions, so that a lower process can be selected to further reduce costs.

[0038] The separated architecture can share design risks and reduce R&D costs caused by design errors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 Shown is a schematic diagram of a new AMOLED smartphone display driver chip solution;

[0040] Figure 2 Shown is a detailed architecture diagram of the new AMOLED smartphone display driver chip solution. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] See also Figure 1-2 , a new driving method of AMOLED smartphone display driver chip:

[0043] Data processing is performed by a single timing control chip (TCON) and a single AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC);

[0044] The AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC) is connected to the AMOLED panel through a first flexible circuit board, and is detachably connected to the timing control chip (TCON);

[0045] The timing control chip (TCON) is connected to the AP-end signal source through the connector of the second flexible circuit board;

[0046] The first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board are interconnected via an interface;

[0047] Moreover, there is only a single AMOLED source driver chip (Source IC) on the first flexible circuit board;

[0048] There is only a single timing control chip (TCON) on the second flexible circuit board.

[0049] AMOLED source driver chip Source IC includes:

[0050] Functional modules of a first interface (Interface), a first power management unit (PMU), a first data cache unit (NVM), a first register unit (Register), a first crystal oscillator unit (Oscillator), a panel source driver unit (Source Driver), and a level shifter unit (Level Shifter).

[0051] (1) The first interface is an interface for receiving image data and control signals of the timing control chip TCON, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols;

[0052] (2) The first power management unit provides the reference voltage for each module of the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC to work, including the voltage required by the panel source driver unit and the level conversion unit;

[0053] (3) a first data cache unit for controlling instruction storage;

[0054] (4) The first crystal oscillator unit provides a stable clock signal required for the chip to work;

[0055] (5) The panel source drive unit converts the image data processed by the timing control chip TCON into the analog signal required for panel display, controls the brightness of each sub-pixel, and displays different pictures;

[0056] (6) The level conversion unit converts the low-voltage digital signal into the high-voltage signal required to drive the panel display, which is the high-voltage driving signal required by the panel array (Gate).

[0057] The timing control chip (TCON) includes:

[0058] Functional modules of a second interface (Interface), a second power management unit (PMU), a second data cache unit (NVM), a second register unit (Register), a timing control unit (Timming Controller), a second crystal oscillator unit (Oscillator), a display data processing unit (Display Data Process), a gamma control unit (GammaController), and a touch control unit (Touch Controller).

[0059] (1) The second interface Interface consists of two parts. One part is Interface I for receiving AP-side image data and control signals, supporting standard communication protocols such as Vbyone, LVDS, MIPI, and eDP; the other part is Interface II for communicating with the AMOLED source driver chip SourceIC, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols;

[0060] (2) The second power management unit PMU (Power Management Unit) provides the reference voltage for each module of TCON to operate;

[0061] (3) The second data cache unit (NVM non-volatile memory) is used for image data caching, control instruction storage, and Mura data storage;

[0062] (4) The timing control unit (Timming Controller) cooperates with the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC to drive the panel to work according to the correct timing;

[0063] (5) The second crystal oscillator unit Oscillator provides the stable clock signal required for the chip to work;

[0064] (6) The image data received by the display data processing unit Display Data Process is processed and sent to the AMOLED source driver chip Source IC, which has multiple embedded data processing algorithms, including Demura algorithm, Over Driver algorithm, Color Gamut algorithm, and SPR algorithm;

[0065] (7) Gamma Controller: Corrects the gamma curve to make the brightness and darkness of the image meet the requirements;

[0066] (8) Touch Controller: Touch screen signal control, converting touch signals into digital signals, identifying and responding to touch actions.

[0067] Interface I input: Demura compressed data, uncompressed data stream and compressed data stream,

[0068] The demura compressed data is decoded after passing through the demura data storage unit, and the decoding unit 1 is responsible for decoding the demura compressed data;

[0069] After the compressed data stream passes through the decoding unit 2, it enters the display data processing unit together with the non-compressed data stream and the decoded Demura compressed data;

[0070] Decoding unit 2 is responsible for decoding the compressed data stream.

[0071] The image data received by the display data processing unit Display Data Process is processed and corrected by the gamma control unit, and connected to the AMOLED source driving chip through the interface II.

[0072] The image data inputted from the interface II passes through the panel source driving unit, undergoes data caching, level conversion, digital / analog conversion, and source buffering, and then the received data is converted into an analog signal required for panel display.

[0073] Working principle of the present invention:

[0074] The timing control chip (TCON) mainly includes interface (Interface), power management unit (PMU), data cache unit (NVM), timing control unit (Timming Controller), crystal oscillator unit (Oscillator), display data processing unit (Display Data Process), gamma control unit (Gamma Controller), touch control unit (TouchController) and other functional modules.

[0075] (1) The Interface consists of two parts. One part is the interface for receiving AP image data and control signals, which can support standard communication protocols such as Vbyone, LVDS, MIPI, and eDP. The other part is the interface for communicating with the Source IC, which supports iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols.

[0076] (2) PMU (Power Management Unit) provides the reference voltage for each module of TCON to operate.

[0077] (3) NVM (non-volatile memory) is used for image data caching, control instruction storage, Mura data storage, etc.

[0078] (4) The main function of the Timing Controller is to coordinate with the Source IC to drive the panel to work according to the correct timing.

[0079] (5) Oscillator provides the stable clock signal required for chip operation.

[0080] (6) The image data received by Display Data Process is processed and then sent to Source IC, which has multiple embedded data processing algorithms, such as the commonly used Demura algorithm, Over Driver algorithm, Color Gamut algorithm, SPR algorithm, etc.

[0081] (7) Gamma Controller corrects the gamma curve to make the brightness and darkness of the image meet the requirements.

[0082] (8) Touch Controller controls the touch screen's signals, converts touch signals into digital signals, and identifies and responds to touch actions.

[0083] Source IC mainly includes interface (Interface), power management unit (PMU), data cache unit (NVM), crystal oscillator unit (Osci llator), panel source driver unit (Source Driver), level conversion unit (LevelShifter) and other functional modules.

[0084] (1)Interface is the interface for receiving TCON image data and control signals, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols.

[0085] (2) The PMU provides the reference voltage for each module of the Source IC, including the voltage required by the source driver and level shifter.

[0086] (3) NVM (non-volatile memory) is used for control instruction storage, etc.

[0087] (4) Oscillator provides the stable clock signal required for the chip to work.

[0088] (5) Source Driver converts the image data processed by TCON into analog signals required by the panel display, controls the brightness of each sub-pixel, and displays different images.

[0089] (6) Level Shifter converts low-voltage digital signals into high-voltage signals required to drive the panel display, mainly the high-voltage driving signals required by the panel array (Gate).

[0090] The present invention also provides a novel driving system of an AMOLED smart phone display driving chip, comprising a single timing control chip and a single AMOLED source driving chip, wherein the two chips are designed in a separable manner.

[0091] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is limited by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel driving method for an AMOLED smartphone display driver chip, characterized in that: Data processing is performed by a single timing control chip and a single AMOLED source driver chip respectively; The AMOLED source driver chip is connected to the AMOLED panel via a first flexible circuit board, and is detachably connected to the timing control chip; The timing control chip is connected to the AP end signal source through the connector of the second flexible circuit board; The first flexible circuit board and the second flexible circuit board are interconnected via an interface; Furthermore, there is only a single AMOLED source driver chip on the first flexible circuit board; There is only a single timing control chip on the second flexible circuit board.

2. The driving method of a novel AMOLED smartphone display driver chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The AMOLED source driver chip comprises: Functional modules of a first interface, a first power management unit, a first data cache unit, a first register unit, a first crystal oscillator unit, a panel source driving unit, and a level conversion unit.

3. The driving method of the novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 2, characterized in that: (1) The first interface is an interface for receiving image data and control signals of the timing control chip, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols; (2) The first power management unit provides a reference voltage for each module of the AMOLED source driver chip to operate, including the voltage required by the panel source driver unit and the level conversion unit; (3) a first data cache unit for controlling instruction storage; (4) The first crystal oscillator unit provides a stable clock signal required for the chip to work; (5) The panel source drive unit converts the image data processed by the timing control chip into the analog signal required for panel display, controls the brightness of each sub-pixel, and displays different pictures; (6) The level conversion unit converts the low-voltage digital signal into the high-voltage signal required to drive the panel display, which is the high-voltage driving signal required by the panel array (Gate).

4. The driving method of a novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The timing control chip comprises: Functional modules of the second interface, the second power management unit, the second data cache unit, the timing control unit, the second register unit, the second crystal oscillator unit, the display data processing unit, the gamma control unit, and the touch control unit.

5. The driving method of the novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 4, characterized in that: (1) The second interface consists of two parts. One part is the interface I for receiving AP-side image data and control signals, supporting standard communication protocols such as Vbyone, LVDS, MIPI, and eDP; the other part is the interface II for communicating with the AMOLED source driver chip SourceIC, supporting iSP / PHY / CHPI / EPI / VSI / mini-LVDS and custom interface protocols; (2) The second power management unit provides a reference voltage for each module of the TCON; (3) The second data cache unit is used for image data caching, control instruction storage, and Mura data storage; (4) The timing control unit cooperates with the AMOLED source driver chip to drive the panel to work according to the correct timing; (5) The second crystal oscillator unit provides a stable clock signal required for the chip to work; (6) The image data received by the display data processing unit is processed and sent to the AMOLED source driver chip, which has multiple embedded data processing algorithms, including Demura algorithm, Over Driver algorithm, Color Gamut algorithm, and SPR algorithm; (7) Gamma control unit: corrects the gamma curve to make the brightness and darkness of the image meet the requirements; (8) Touch control unit: Signal control of the touch screen, converting touch signals into digital signals, identifying and responding to touch actions.

6. The driving method of the novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 5, characterized in that: The interface I inputs: Demura compressed data, uncompressed data stream and compressed data stream, The demura compressed data is decoded after passing through the demura data storage unit, and the decoding unit 1 is responsible for decoding the demura compressed data; After passing through the second decoding unit, the compressed data stream enters the display data processing unit together with the non-compressed data stream and the decoded Demura compressed data; The decoding unit 2 is responsible for decoding the compressed data stream.

7. The driving method of the novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 6, characterized in that: The image data received by the display data processing unit is processed and corrected by the gamma control unit, and connected to the AMOLED source driving chip through the interface II.

8. The driving method of the novel AMOLED smart phone display driver chip according to claim 7, characterized in that: The image data inputted from the interface II passes through the panel source driving unit, undergoes data caching, level conversion, digital / analog conversion, and source buffering, and then the received data is converted into analog signals required for panel display.

9. A system for driving a method of a novel AMOLED smartphone display driver chip according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: It includes a single timing control chip and a single AMOLED source driver chip, and the two chips are designed to be separable.

Images