Display module including multiple scanning group, modular display device, and method

Abstract

A modular display device is disclosed. The modular display apparatus includes a plurality of display modules, each of which includes a plurality of scan groups, and a controller for controlling the plurality of display modules, the controller transmitting image signals corresponding to the respective display modules based on image frames, and each of a plurality of scan groups included in a first display module among the plurality of display modules includes: a plurality of scan lines arranged in one direction; a plurality of data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scan lines; an LED generated in an intersection region of the scan line and the data line; and at least one driver IC that supplies a scan signal to the plurality of scan lines during a period corresponding to the image frame by a progressive scan method, and supplies an image signal to the data line corresponding to the scan line to which the scan signal is supplied. A plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module are connected through a daisy chain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display module, a modular display device and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a display module including a plurality of scanning groups, a modular display device including a plurality of display modules and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] As display systems become larger and larger in scale and higher in resolution, the number of display modules and display devices constituting the display systems also increases proportionally.

[0003] For modular display devices, the size and form of the modular display device may vary according to the number of display devices, the sizes of the display devices constituting the modular display device, and the like.

[0004] If pixels included in a display are driven in a passive matrix manner, driver ICs for driving a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines may be required, and if the number of pixels increases, the number of driver ICs may also increase.

[0005] Furthermore, as display devices become larger in size, the number of scan groups may also increase, and as the number of scan groups increases, the number of pins required for a controller that sends PWM signals to a driver IC may also increase as the number of scan groups increases.

[0006] Since a high-performance controller increases material cost, manufacturing cost, and power consumption, a method that does not require a high-performance controller is needed to control a plurality of scan groups included in a large display device to reduce material cost and power consumption. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to one or more embodiments, a modular display device includes: a plurality of display modules; and a controller configured to control the plurality of display modules, the plurality of display modules respectively including a plurality of scanning groups, the controller being configured to send image signals corresponding to the respective display modules based on an image frame, and the respective scanning groups included in a first display module among the plurality of display modules include a plurality of scanning lines arranged in one direction, a plurality of data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scanning lines, a light emitting diode (LED) generated at an intersection area of ​​the scanning lines and the data lines, and at least one driver integrated circuit (IC), the at least one driver integrated circuit (IC) being configured to provide scanning signals to the plurality of scanning lines in a row-by-row scanning method during a time period corresponding to the image frame, and to provide image signals to data lines corresponding to the scanning lines provided with the scanning signals, and the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module are connected in a daisy chain method.

[0008] According to one or more embodiments, a control method for a modular display device formed by multiple display modules includes: a controller sending image signals corresponding to multiple display modules respectively based on an image frame; at least one driver IC providing scan signals to multiple scan lines included in a first display module in a row-by-row scanning method during a time period corresponding to the image frame; and at least one driver IC providing image signals to data lines corresponding to the scan lines provided with the scan signals among multiple data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the multiple scan lines, wherein the multiple scan groups respectively included in the multiple display modules are connected in a daisy chain method.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a display device includes: a controller configured to control one or more display modules, wherein the one or more display modules include one or more scanning groups, and the controller is configured to: provide image signals corresponding to the one or more display modules based on an image frame, wherein the one or more scanning groups included in a first display module among the one or more display modules include: one or more scanning lines arranged in one direction; one or more data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the one or more scanning lines; one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) generated at the intersection area of ​​the one or more scanning lines and the one or more data lines; and at least one driver integrated circuit (IC) configured to provide scanning signals to the one or more scanning lines during a time period corresponding to the image frame, and provide image signals to one or more data lines corresponding to the one or more scanning lines provided with the scanning signals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a modular display device according to one or more embodiments;

[0012] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a modular display device according to one or more embodiments;

[0013] Figure 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of any one of a plurality of display modules according to one or more embodiments;

[0014] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a modular display device of a first pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments;

[0015] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a plurality of scanning groups included in a modular display device of a first pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments;

[0016] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a modular display device of a second pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments;

[0017] Figure 7 is a diagram showing a plurality of scanning groups included in a modular display device of a second pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments;

[0018] Figure 8 is a diagram showing a plurality of scan groups connected in a daisy-chain method according to one or more embodiments;

[0019] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an image signal according to one or more embodiments;

[0020] Fig.10 is a diagram showing a switch IC according to one or more embodiments; and

[0021] Fig.11 is a diagram illustrating a control method of a modular display apparatus according to one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The terms used in the present disclosure will be briefly described, and the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0023] The terms used when describing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are currently widely used general terms selected in consideration of their functions in this article. However, these terms may vary according to the intentions of technicians in the relevant fields, legal or technical interpretations, the emergence of new technologies, etc. In addition, in some cases, some terms may be arbitrarily selected, and the meaning of the terms will be disclosed in more detail in the corresponding description. Accordingly, the terms used in this article should not be simply understood as their names, but based on the meaning of the terms and the overall context of the present disclosure.

[0024] Various modifications may be made to the embodiments of the present disclosure, and various types of embodiments may exist. Therefore, specific embodiments will be shown in the drawings, and the embodiments will be described in detail in the specific embodiments. However, it should be noted that the various embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure to specific embodiments, but they should be interpreted as including all modifications, equivalents or alternatives of the embodiments included in the scope of the ideas and techniques disclosed herein. If it is determined that the detailed description of the relevant known technology may unnecessarily confuse the subject matter of the present disclosure when describing the embodiments, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0025] Terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various elements, but these elements should not be limited to these terms. The terms may be used only to distinguish one element from another element.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, singular expressions include plural expressions. It should be understood that terms such as "formed" or "comprising" are used herein to indicate the presence of features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof, without excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, elements, components or combinations thereof.

[0027] The term "module" or "component" used in the embodiments of this document performs at least one function or operation, and can be implemented in hardware or software, or can be implemented in a combination of hardware and software. In addition, in addition to the "module" or "component" that needs to be implemented on specific hardware, multiple "modules" or multiple "components" can be integrated into at least one module and implemented in at least one processor.

[0028] In the present disclosure, the expressions "A or B", "at least one of A and / or B", "one or more of A and / or B", etc. may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. For example, "A or B", "at least one of A and B", or "at least one of A or B" may mean 1) a case including only A, 2) a case including only B, or 3) a case including both A and B.

[0029] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to help those skilled in the art understand. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in various different forms, and it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the various example embodiments described herein. In addition, in the accompanying drawings, parts that are not related to the description can be omitted, and similar reference numerals can be used to represent similar elements.

[0030] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a modular display device according to one or more embodiments.

[0031] The modular display device 100 may include a plurality of display modules 110. Each display module 110 may be physically connected and form one display.

[0032] The modular display device 100 may be implemented as a television (TV), but is not limited thereto. For example, as long as the modular display device 100 is a device including a display function (such as but not limited to a video wall, a large-size display (LFD), a digital signage, a digital information display (DID), a projector display, etc.), it may be applied without limitation.

[0033] In addition, the multiple display modules 110 can be implemented as various forms of displays, such as but not limited to liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS), digital light processing (DLP), quantum dot (QD) display panels, quantum dot light emitting diodes (QLEDs), micro light emitting diodes (μLEDs), mini LEDs, etc. The multiple display modules 110 can be implemented as, for example, but not limited to, touch screens coupled with touch sensors, flexible displays, rollable displays, three-dimensional (3D) displays, etc.

[0034] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a modular display device according to one or more embodiments.

[0035] The modular display apparatus 100 according to one or more embodiments may include a plurality of display modules 110 , and the modular display apparatus 100 may display an image frame using the plurality of display modules 110 .

[0036] For example, the modular display device 100 may include a plurality of display modules 110 arranged in a matrix form (e.g., an 8×4 form). The 8×4 form is merely an embodiment for the convenience of description, and the arrangement form, quantity, etc. of the plurality of display modules 110 constituting the modular display device 100 may be modified in various ways according to the specifications of the modular display device 100 (e.g., resolution, size, etc.), the manufacturer's manufacturing purpose, etc.

[0037] The plurality of display modules 110 included in the modular display apparatus 100 according to one or more embodiments may respectively include a plurality of LEDs and at least one driver IC.

[0038] The plurality of LEDs may be arranged in a matrix form. For example, the first display module 110-1 may include a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines (or a plurality of channels), the plurality of scan lines may be arranged in one direction (eg, horizontal direction), and the plurality of data lines may be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scan lines (eg, vertical direction).

[0039] A plurality of LEDs arranged in a matrix form may be generated at intersection regions of the scan lines and the data lines, respectively.

[0040] In an example, the plurality of display modules 110 may include a plurality of self-luminous devices, respectively. The self-luminous device may be at least one of a light emitting diode (LED) or a micro-LED. The micro-LED may be an LED having a size of about 5 microns to 100 microns, and may be an ultra-small light emitting device that can emit light by itself without a color filter.

[0041] According to an example, the plurality of display modules 110 may be operated in a passive matrix method, respectively.

[0042] The passive matrix method may be a method in which at least one driver IC is configured to sequentially supply scan signals to a plurality of scan lines, and at least one driver IC is configured to apply data to pixels corresponding to the scan lines supplying the scan signals among the plurality of scan lines using a plurality of data lines. Figure 3 Describe the passive matrix approach.

[0043] The modular display apparatus 100 according to one or more embodiments may include a controller 120 .

[0044] The controller 120 according to an example may include at least one processor, and the at least one processor may control the overall operation of the modular display apparatus 100 .

[0045] According to one or more embodiments, the at least one processor may be implemented as a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor, or a timing controller (TCON) for processing digital signals. However, the above is not limited thereto, and may include one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a microprocessing unit (MPU), a controller, an application processor (AP) or a communication processor (CP), an ARM processor, an artificial intelligence (AI) processor, or may be defined by corresponding terms. In addition, the at least one processor may be implemented as a system on chip (SoC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) embedded with a processing algorithm, and may be implemented in the form of a field programmable gate array (FPGA). At least one processor may perform various functions by executing computer executable instructions stored in a memory.

[0046] At least one processor may include at least one of a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), a multi-integrated core (MIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a neural processing unit (NPU), a hardware accelerator, or a machine learning accelerator. At least one processor may control a random combination of one or other elements of the electronic device and perform operations related to communication or data processing. At least one processor may execute at least one program or instruction stored in a memory. For example, at least one processor may execute a method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure by executing at least one instruction stored in a memory.

[0047] When the method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes multiple operations, the multiple operations may be performed by one processor, or by multiple processors. For example, when the method according to one or more embodiments performs the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by the first processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first processor (e.g., a general-purpose processor), and the third operation may be performed by the second processor (e.g., an artificial intelligence-specific processor).

[0048] At least one processor may be implemented as a single-core processor including one core, or may be implemented as at least one multi-core processor including multiple cores (e.g., homogeneous multi-core or heterogeneous multi-core). If at least one processor is implemented as a multi-core processor, each of the cores included in the multi-core processor may include a processor internal memory, such as a cache memory and an on-chip memory, and the multi-core processor may include a common cache shared by multiple cores. In addition, since all (or part) of the multiple cores included in the multi-core processor are interconnected, each core (or part of the multiple cores) included in the multi-core processor can independently read and execute program commands for implementing the method according to one or more embodiments, or read and execute program commands for implementing the method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0049] When the method according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure includes multiple operations, the multiple operations may be performed by one of the multiple cores included in the multi-core processor, or by the multiple cores included in the multi-core processor. For example, when the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation are performed by the method according to one or more embodiments, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by the first core included in the multi-core processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first core included in the multi-core processor, and the third operation may be performed by the second core included in the multi-core processor.

[0050] According to one or more embodiments, the processor may refer to a system on chip (SoC) in which at least one processor and other electronic components are integrated, a single-core processor, or a multi-core processor, or a core included in the single-core processor or the multi-core processor, and the core herein may be implemented as a CPU, GPU, APU, MIC, NPU, hardware accelerator, machine learning accelerator, etc., but the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0051] Specifically, at least one processor may perform processing of image data including a plurality of image frames. For example, at least one processor may include an image decoder that performs image data decoding, and may perform various processing of the image data, such as but not limited to scaling, noise filtering, frame rate conversion, resolution conversion, etc.

[0052] The controller 120 according to an example may include a timing controller (TCON).

[0053] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of any one of a plurality of display modules according to one or more embodiments.

[0054] Figure 3 The first display module 110-1 and the controller 120 are shown among the multiple display modules 110. For ease of explanation, only the first display module 110-1 among the multiple display modules 110 is shown, but it is not limited thereto, and various examples of the multiple display modules 110 herein may also be implemented in the remaining display modules 110-2, ..., 110-n.

[0055] According to an example, the scan controller included in the first display module 110-1 may sequentially turn on a plurality of scan lines (scan line 1 to scan line n) during a time period corresponding to an image frame. If the frame rate corresponding to the image data is 60 Hz, the time period corresponding to the image frame may be 1 / 60 (0.016) seconds. However, this is only an example, and the time period corresponding to the image frame may include a plurality of subframe periods.

[0056] For example, if the time period corresponding to one image frame includes 64 subframe periods, the scan controller may sequentially turn on multiple scan lines during one subframe period (eg, 260.4 μsec) and turn on each scan line 64 times during the time period corresponding to the image frame.

[0057] For example, the scan controller may further divide a subframe period into n periods (the number of multiple scan lines), turn on the switch of the first scan line (scan line 1) in the first period T1, and control the LED corresponding to the first scan line (scan line 1) to emit light. The switches of the remaining scan lines (scan line 2 to scan line n) may be turned off in the first period T1. In addition, when the first period T1 ends and the second period T2 begins, the LED corresponding to the second scan line (scan line 2) may be controlled to emit light by turning off the switch of the first scan line (scan line 1) and turning on the switch of the second scan line (scan line 2). Even during the second period T2, the switches of the remaining scan lines (scan line 1, scan line 3 to scan line n) except the second scan line (scan line 2) may be turned off. By sequentially switching from the first scan line (scan line 1) to the nth scan line (scan line n) in the same manner as described above, all pixels may be configured to emit light during the subframe period.

[0058] Reference Figure 3, data lines (i.e., multiple data lines) of multiple scan lines (scan line 1 to scan line n) may be configured to be connected to at least one driver IC (e.g., first driver IC to nth driver IC), and if the multiple scan lines are sequentially turned on, the multiple scan lines may be designated as one scan group. According to an example, each of the display modules 110 may include at least one scan group. In an example, the first display module 110-1 may include multiple scan groups, and the multiple scan groups may be connected in a daisy chain method. This will be described in detail below.

[0059] Reference Figure 3 Since the number of data lines (or the number of channels) that a driver IC can drive during a time period corresponding to one image frame is limited, the scanning group may use at least one driver IC to drive multiple data lines within the scanning group.

[0060] For example, the driver IC may drive 32 scan lines and 16 data lines during a time period corresponding to one image frame, and if the scan group includes 32 scan lines and 160 data lines, the scan group may be driven by at least 10 driver ICs. The first driver IC may drive the first to sixteenth data lines, the second driver IC may drive the seventeenth to thirty-second data lines, and the tenth driver IC may drive the one hundred forty-fifth to one hundred sixty data lines.

[0061] According to an example, the controller 120 may be configured to identify the brightness of each pixel included in a scanning group based on an image frame, and adjust the duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the brightness of each pixel. The PWM signal may be referred to as an image signal, a drive signal, etc., but for ease of description, it will be collectively referred to as a PWM signal.

[0062] In addition, the controller 120 may send a PWM signal to a first driver IC included in the first display module 110-1. According to an example, the first driver IC may control the magnitude of the current based on the received PWM signal and adjust the brightness of each pixel corresponding to the first driver IC in the scanning group. For example, the first driver IC may adjust the brightness of each pixel corresponding to the first driver IC through a data line connected to the first driver IC.

[0063] The controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to the driver IC included in the scanning group (ie, each of the first to tenth driver ICs) to the first driver IC. Since the driver ICs included in the scanning group are connected according to a daisy chain method according to an example, the first driver IC may sequentially transmit the PWM signal received from the controller 120 to the remaining driver ICs (ie, the second to nth driver ICs).

[0064] The nth driver IC can control the magnitude of the current based on the PWM signal received from the n-1th driver IC and adjust the brightness of each pixel corresponding to the nth driver IC in the scanning group. For example, the nth driver IC can adjust the brightness of each pixel corresponding to the nth driver IC through a data line connected to the nth driver IC.

[0065] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a modular display device of a first pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments.

[0066] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the distance between the plurality of LEDs included in each display module (eg, the pixel pitch) may be variously modified according to the manufacturing goals of the manufacturer.

[0067] For example, one driver IC may drive 30 scan lines and 16 data lines during a time period corresponding to one image frame, and if a scan group includes 30 scan lines and 320 data lines, one scan group may be driven by at least 20 driver ICs. The controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to each of the 20 driver ICs included in the scan group to the first driver IC (e.g., the driver IC to which the first to sixteenth data lines are connected).

[0068] Since the 20 driver ICs are connected in a daisy chain method, the first driver IC may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to each of the remaining 19 driver ICs to the second driver IC (eg, the driver ICs to which the seventeenth to thirty-second data lines are connected).

[0069] If the resolution of the first display module 110 - 1 having a pixel pitch of 1.5 mm is 320×360, the first display module 110 - 1 may include 12 scanning groups.

[0070] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of scanning groups included in a modular display device of a first pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments.

[0071] Reference Figure 5 , the controller 120 may be connected to each scanning group included in the first display module 110 - 1 and transmit a PWM signal to each scanning group.

[0072] For example, the first display module 110-1 may include 12 scanning groups, and transmits a PWM signal corresponding to each of 20 driver ICs included in the first scanning group ("scanning group 1") to the first scanning group ("scanning group 1"). The first driver IC among the 20 driver ICs included in the first scanning group may sequentially transmit a corresponding PWM signal to the remaining driver ICs (e.g., the second driver IC to the twentieth driver IC) connected according to the daisy chain method.

[0073] The controller 120 may include at least 12 pins to be respectively connected to a plurality of scan groups (e.g., 12 scan groups) included in the first display module 110-1. If the controller 120 is implemented as an FPGA including a plurality of pins, there may be the following disadvantages: as the number of pins increases, that is, as a high-performance FPGA with higher performance is implemented, the manufacturing cost of the controller 120 will also increase.

[0074] Will refer to Figure 6 Provide a detailed description thereof.

[0075] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a modular display device of a second pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments.

[0076] Although the size of the display module is the same, the number of the plurality of LEDs mounted to the display module may decrease as the pixel pitch (ie, the distance between the plurality of LED devices mounted to the display module) increases.

[0077] For example, Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when the first display module 110-1 with a 1.5 mm pixel pitch includes a plurality of LEDs of 320×360, the first display module 110-1 with a 6.0 mm pixel pitch may include the following in a display module of the same size: Figure 6 Multiple LEDs of 80×90 are shown.

[0078] If the pixel pitch increases from 1.5 mm to 6.0 mm, the resolution of the display module may decrease due to a decrease in the number of multiple LEDs that can be mounted to the display module.

[0079] like Figure 6As shown, since the resolution of the first display module 110-1 is 80×90, by arranging the first display module 110-1 to the sixteenth display module 110-16 in a matrix form (e.g., a 4×4 form), a modular display device 100 with a resolution of 320×360 can be implemented. The specific numbers are only an example provided for convenience of description, and the above implementation is not limited thereto. For example, the modular display device 100 may include a plurality of display modules 110 of various numbers and sizes, and may be implemented as a high-definition (HD), full high-definition, ultra-high-definition, or a modular display device 100 with a resolution clearer than ultra-high-definition.

[0080] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of scanning groups included in a modular display device of a second pixel pitch according to one or more embodiments.

[0081] Reference Figure 7 , the controller 120 of the modular display device 100 may be connected to each scanning group (eg, the first scanning group to the third scanning group) included in the first display module 110 - 1 , and transmit PWM signals to the plurality of scanning groups, respectively.

[0082] For example, the first display module 110-1 may include 3 scanning groups, and the controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to each of the 5 driver ICs included in the first scanning group ("scanning group 1") to the first driver IC of the first scanning group ("scanning group 1"). The first driver IC among the 5 driver ICs included in the first scanning group may sequentially transmit PWM signals corresponding to the remaining driver ICs (e.g., the second driver IC to the fifth driver IC) connected according to the daisy chain method.

[0083] The controller 120 may be connected to each scanning group (eg, first scanning group to third scanning group) included in each of the second to sixteenth display modules 110 - 2 to 110 - 16 , and transmit PWM signals to the plurality of scanning groups, respectively.

[0084] For example, the nth display module 110-n may include 3 scanning groups, and the controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to each of the 5 driver ICs included in the first scanning group ("scanning group 1") to the first driver IC of the first scanning group ("scanning group 1"). The first driver IC among the 5 driver ICs included in the first scanning group may sequentially transmit PWM signals corresponding to the remaining driver ICs (e.g., the second driver IC to the fifth driver IC) connected according to the daisy chain method.

[0085] The controller 120 can send a PWM signal to each of the 12 scanning groups included in the first display module 110-1 with a pixel pitch of 1.5 mm and control multiple LEDs corresponding to a resolution of 320×360, but can also control multiple LEDs corresponding to a resolution of 320×360 by sending a PWM signal to three scanning groups, i.e., to each of a total of 48 scanning groups included in each of the first display module 110-1 to the sixteenth display module 110-16 with a pixel pitch of 6.0 mm.

[0086] Compare Figure 5 and Figure 7 , since the number of pins required for the controller 120 (corresponding to the number of scan groups) increases from 12 to 48, it is necessary to implement the controller 120 using a high-performance and high-cost FPGA including multiple pins.

[0087] According to one or more embodiments, a plurality of scan groups included in each display module 110 may be connected in a daisy chain method. Figure 8 Provide a detailed description thereof.

[0088] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a plurality of scan groups connected in a daisy-chain method according to one or more embodiments.

[0089] Reference Figure 8 , the controller 120 may obtain a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1. The PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1 may be a buffered PWM signal to correspond to the connection order of a plurality of scan groups (e.g., the first scan group to the third scan group) included in the first display module 110-1 according to the daisy chain method. This will be described in detail below.

[0090] For example, if the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group included in the first display module 110-1 having a pixel pitch of 1.5 mm is Figure 5 As shown, if the PWM signal is sent to the first scanning group, the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group may include a PWM signal corresponding to each of the 20 driver ICs included in the first scanning group. The PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group can drive 320 data lines. That is, the size of the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group that the controller 120 is configured to send to the first scanning group may correspond to the bandwidth that the controller 120 can load during the time period corresponding to the image frame or the maximum size of the signal that the controller 120 can send to the first driver IC included in the first scanning group.

[0091] Different from the above implementation, when the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group included in the first display module 110-1 having a pixel pitch of 6.0 mm is Figure 7 When sent to the first scanning group, the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group may include a PWM signal corresponding to each of the five driver ICs included in the first scanning group. The PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group can drive 80 data lines. Therefore, the size of the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group sent by the controller 120 to the first scanning group may be smaller than the bandwidth that the controller 120 can load from the memory storing the image frame during the time period corresponding to the image frame, or smaller than the maximum size of the signal that the controller 120 can send to the first driver IC included in the first scanning group.

[0092] The first display module 110 - 1 according to the example includes a plurality of scanning groups (eg, first to third scanning groups) that may be connected in a daisy chain method, and since the first to third scanning groups include 15 driver ICs in total, 240 (=15×16) data lines may be driven.

[0093] like Figure 8 As shown, according to the example controller 120 can send a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1, and the PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1 can include together the PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1, the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group, the PWM signal corresponding to the second scanning group, and the PWM signal corresponding to the third scanning group.

[0094] The PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group can drive 240 data lines. Therefore, the size of the PWM signal corresponding to the first scanning group sent by the controller 120 to the first scanning group can be smaller than the bandwidth that the controller 120 can load from the memory storing the image frame during the time period corresponding to the image frame, or smaller than the maximum size of the signal that the controller 120 can send to the first driver IC included in the first scanning group.

[0095] Reference Figure 8 Since the controller 120 sends a PWM signal to the first driver IC included in the first scanning group, but does not send a PWM signal to the first driver IC included in each scanning group (first scanning group to third scanning group) included in the first display module 110-1, the PWM signal corresponding to each scanning group included in the first display module 110-1 can be sent using 1 pin.

[0096] For example, compare Figure 7 and Figure 8When a PWM signal is sent to each display module 110 included in the modular display device 100 which also has a pixel pitch of 6.0 mm, since the number of pins of the required controller 120 (corresponding to the number of scan groups) is reduced from 48 to 16, the controller 120 can be implemented using a relatively low-performance and low-cost FPGA.

[0097] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an image signal according to one or more embodiments.

[0098] Reference Fig. 9 , the controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110 - 1 to the first display module 110 - 1 .

[0099] like Figure 7 As shown, according to an embodiment, the controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal (1A->2A->3A->4A->5A) corresponding to each of the first to fifth driver ICs of the first scanning group to the first driver IC of the first scanning group included in the first display module 110-1. The PWM signal transmitted by the controller 120 to the first driver IC of the first scanning group may be a buffered PWM signal (1A->2A->3A->4A->5A) to correspond to the connection order of the first to fifth driver ICs according to the daisy chain method.

[0100] In addition, the controller 120 can send a PWM signal (1B->2B->3B->4B->5B) corresponding to each of the first to fifth driver ICs of the second scanning group to the first driver IC of the second scanning group included in the first display module 110-1, and send a PWM signal (1C->2C->3C->4C->5C) corresponding to each of the first to fifth driver ICs of the third scanning group to the first driver IC of the third scanning group included in the first display module 110-1.

[0101] In the above example, since the controller 120 is connected to each of the first to third scanning groups, at least 3 pins are required.

[0102] Since the first display module 110 - 1 according to an example includes a plurality of scan groups connected in a daisy chain method, the controller 120 may obtain a buffered PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110 - 1 to correspond to a connection sequence of the plurality of scan groups.

[0103] For example, considering the following two points: i) the connection order between multiple scan groups according to the daisy chain method, and ii) the connection order between driver ICs within the scan group according to the daisy chain method, the controller 120 can obtain the PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1 by arranging the PWM signal corresponding to each driver IC (for example, 15 driver ICs) included in the first display module 110-1 in the order of PWM signal 1C corresponding to the fifth driver IC of the third scan group->…-> PWM signal 5C corresponding to the first driver IC of the third scan group-> PWM signal 1B corresponding to the fifth driver IC of the second scan group->…-> PWM signal 5B corresponding to the first driver IC of the second scan group-> PWM signal 1A corresponding to the fifth driver IC of the first scan group->…-> PWM signal 5A corresponding to the first driver IC of the first scan group (i.e., 1C->2C->3C->4C->5C->1B->2B->3B->4B->5B->1A->2A->3A->4A->5A).

[0104] The controller 120 may transmit the PWM corresponding to the first display module 110 - 1 to the first driver IC included in the first scanning group included in the first display module 110 - 1 .

[0105] Fig.10 is a diagram showing a switch IC according to one or more embodiments.

[0106] Reference Fig.10 , the controller 120 can respectively obtain a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110 - 1 , a PWM signal corresponding to the second display module 110 - 2 , and a PWM signal corresponding to the third display module 110 - 3 .

[0107] The controller 120 may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110 - 1 to a first driver IC included in a first scanning group included in the first display module 110 - 1 .

[0108] The last driver IC (e.g., the fifth driver IC) connected in the daisy-chain method among the driver ICs included in the last scan group (e.g., the third scan group) connected in the daisy-chain method among the plurality of scan groups included in the first display module 110-1 may send an output signal to the controller 120. For example, the fifth driver IC of the third scan group may send an output signal to the controller 120 upon receiving the PWM signal, and send an output signal to the controller 120 upon receiving an output request for the output signal from the controller 120.

[0109] Based on receiving the output signal, the controller 120 can identify the open LED information corresponding to the first display module 110-1 based on the output signal. The open LED information can include: whether the plurality of LEDs included in the first display module 110-1 have errors, whether each driver IC included in the first display module 110-1 has errors, etc.

[0110] According to the example, since the output signal is sent by the last driver IC connected according to the daisy-chain method (e.g., the fifth driver IC) among the driver ICs included in the last scan group (e.g., the third scan group) connected according to the daisy-chain method among multiple scan groups, rather than the output signal being sent to the controller 120 by the last driver IC connected according to the daisy-chain method among the driver ICs included in each scan group (e.g., the fifth driver IC of the first scan group, the fifth driver IC of the second scan group, and the fifth driver IC of the third scan group), the effect of reducing the number of pins of the controller 120 required to receive the output signal from the first display module 110-1 (3->1) can be obtained.

[0111] To this end, the controller 120 may include a multiplexer IC, and the first display module 110 - 1 may include a switch IC.

[0112] The multiplexer IC and the switch IC may be connected, and bidirectional communication between the controller 120 and the first display module 110 - 1 may be achieved.

[0113] According to an example, the multiplexer IC may transmit a PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1 to the switch IC. The switch IC may transmit a PWM signal to a first driver IC included in a first scanning group among a plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module 110-1 based on the PWM signal corresponding to the first display module 110-1 received from the controller 120.

[0114] In addition, based on receiving the output signal from the last driver IC (e.g., the fifth driver IC) connected according to the daisy-chain method among the driver ICs included in the last scan group (e.g., the third scan group) connected according to the daisy-chain method among the plurality of scan groups, the switch IC may transmit the output signal to the controller 120. Based on receiving the output signal from the switch IC, the multiplexer IC may transmit the output signal to the TCON included in the controller 120.

[0115] Return to reference Figure 2 , the modular display device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may further include a memory.

[0116] The memory according to one or more embodiments may store data required by various embodiments of the present disclosure. The memory may be implemented in the form of a memory embedded in the modular display device 100 according to data storage purposes, or in the form of a memory that can be connected to or detached from the modular display device 100.

[0117] For example, data for driving the modular display device 100 may be stored in a memory embedded in the modular display device 100, and data for expanding the functions of the modular display device 100 may be stored in a memory that is connectable to and detachable from the modular display device 100. The memory embedded in the modular display device 100 may be implemented as at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), or a synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM)) or a nonvolatile memory (e.g., a one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a mask ROM, a flash ROM, a flash memory (e.g., a NAND flash memory or a NOR flash memory), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD)). In the case where the memory is connectable to and detachable from the modular display device 100, the memory may be implemented in the form of, for example, but not limited to, a memory card (e.g., Compact Flash (CF), Secure Digital (SD), Micro Secure Digital (micro-SD), Mini Secure Digital (mini-SD), Extreme Digital (xD), Multi Media Card (MMC)), etc.), an external memory connectable to a USB port (e.g., USB memory), etc.

[0118] The memory according to an example may store at least one instruction for controlling the modular display apparatus 100 or a computer program including the instruction.

[0119] Specifically, the memory may store image data including a plurality of image frames.

[0120] Fig.11 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a modular display apparatus according to one or more embodiments.

[0121] According to an example, a control method of a modular display device composed of a plurality of display modules may include: first, a controller transmits image signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of display modules based on an image frame ( S1110 ).

[0122] During a period corresponding to an image frame, at least one driver IC supplies a scan signal to a plurality of scan lines included in the first display module in a progressive scan method (S1120).

[0123] At least one driver IC supplies an image signal to a data line corresponding to the scan line supplied with the scan signal among a plurality of data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scan lines ( S1130 ).

[0124] The plurality of scan groups included in each display module may be connected in a daisy chain method.

[0125] According to an example, step S1110 of sending an image signal may include: obtaining an image signal corresponding to the first display module from an image frame and sending the image signal corresponding to the first display module, and the image signal corresponding to the first display module may be buffered to correspond to a connection order of multiple scanning groups included in the first display module according to a daisy chain method.

[0126] According to an example, sending an image signal corresponding to a first display module may include: sending the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among a plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module, and sending the image signal by at least one driver IC included in the first scanning group to at least one driver IC included in a second scanning group included in the first display module according to a daisy chain method.

[0127] According to an example, the size of the image signal corresponding to each display module may correspond to a bandwidth that the controller can load during a time period corresponding to an image frame.

[0128] According to the example control method, the at least one driver IC included in the last scanning group connected according to a daisy chain method among multiple scanning groups included in the first display module among multiple display modules sends an output signal to a controller, and identifies open-circuit LED information corresponding to the first display module based on the output signal.

[0129] Multiple display modules may respectively include switch ICs, and sending an image signal may include: the switch IC included by the first display module receives an image signal corresponding to the first display module from the controller, and sends the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among the multiple scanning groups included in the first display module, and sending an output signal may include: based on the switch IC included by the first display module receiving an output signal from at least one driver IC included in a last connected scanning group among the multiple scanning groups included in the first display module, sending the output signal to the controller.

[0130] The controller may include a multiplexer IC, sending an image signal may include: the multiplexer IC sending the image signal corresponding to the first display module to the switch IC, and identifying the open LED information may include: the multiplexer IC receiving an output signal from the switch IC, and identifying the open LED information corresponding to the first display module based on the output signal.

[0131] According to an example, identifying the open LED information may include: identifying whether an error occurs in a plurality of LEDs included in the first display module based on the open LED information.

[0132] According to the example, sending an image signal may include: sending an image signal corresponding to a second display module among multiple display modules to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group connected according to a daisy chain method among multiple scanning groups included in the second display module, and according to the example, the control method may also include: receiving an output signal corresponding to the second display module from at least one driver IC included in a last connected scanning group according to a daisy chain method among multiple scanning groups included in the second display module.

[0133] However, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied not only to electronic devices but also to all types of electronic devices including displays.

[0134] The various embodiments described above can be implemented in a recordable medium, which can be read by a computer or a computer-like device using software, hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. In some cases, the embodiments described herein can be implemented by the processor itself. According to software implementation, the embodiments such as processes and functions described herein can be implemented with separate software. The corresponding software can perform one or more functions and operations described herein.

[0135] According to the various embodiments described above, computer instructions for performing processing operations in an electronic device may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. When executed by a processor of a specific device, the computer instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium may cause the specific device to perform processing operations from the electronic device according to the various embodiments described above.

[0136] A non-transitory computer-readable medium may refer to a medium (e.g., register, cache, memory, etc.) that stores data semi-permanently rather than very briefly, and can be read by a device. Specific examples of non-transitory computer-readable media may include, for example but not limited to, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a hard disk, a Blu-ray disc, a USB, a memory card, a ROM, etc.

[0137] Although the present disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that the various exemplary embodiments are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes can be made in form and details without departing from the true spirit and full scope of the present disclosure and including the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A modular display device, comprising: Multiple display modules; as well as a controller configured to control the plurality of display modules, Wherein, the plurality of display modules respectively include a plurality of scanning groups, Wherein, the controller is configured as: Sending image signals corresponding to each display module based on the image frame, Wherein, each scanning group included in the first display module among the plurality of display modules includes: Multiple scan lines are arranged in one direction; A plurality of data lines are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scan lines; Light emitting diodes (LEDs), generated at the intersection of the scan lines and the data lines; and at least one driver integrated circuit IC configured to supply scan signals to the plurality of scan lines in a progressive scan method during a period corresponding to the image frame, and supply the image signals to data lines corresponding to the scan lines supplied with the scan signals, and The plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module are connected in a daisy chain manner.

2. The modular display device according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is also configured to: obtaining an image signal corresponding to the first display module from the image frame, sending the corresponding image signal to the first display module, wherein the image signal corresponding to the first display module is buffered to correspond to a connection order of the plurality of scanning groups according to a daisy chain method included in the first display module.

3. The modular display device according to claim 2, wherein: The controller is also configured to: transmitting the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module, and The at least one driver IC included in the first scanning group is configured to transmit the image signal to the at least one driver IC included in the second scanning group included in the first display module according to the daisy chain method.

4. The modular display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a memory configured to store the image frame, The size of the image signal corresponding to the first display module corresponds to a bandwidth that the controller can load from the memory during a time period corresponding to the image frame.

5. The modular display device according to claim 1, wherein: At least one driver IC included in a last scan group connected according to a daisy chain method among the plurality of scan groups included in the first display module is configured to send an output signal to the controller, and The controller is further configured to identify open LED information corresponding to the first display module based on the output signal.

6. The modular display device according to claim 5, wherein: The first display module comprises: Switching IC, configured as: connected to the controller, Based on receiving an image signal corresponding to the first display module from the controller, transmitting the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module, and The output signal is transmitted to the controller based on receiving the output signal from at least one driver IC included in a last-connected scan group among the plurality of scan groups.

7. The modular display device according to claim 6, wherein: The controller includes a multiplexer IC, and Wherein, the multiplexer IC is configured as: connected with the switch IC, and An image signal corresponding to the first display module is transmitted to the switch IC, or the output signal is received from the switch IC.

8. The modular display device according to claim 5, wherein: The controller is configured to identify whether an error occurs in one or more LEDs included in the first display module based on the open LED information.

9. The modular display device according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is also configured to: transmitting an image signal corresponding to a second display module among the plurality of display modules to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group connected according to a daisy chain method among the plurality of scanning groups included in the second display module, and An output signal corresponding to the second display module is received from at least one driver IC included in a last scan group connected according to a daisy chain method among the plurality of scan groups included in the second display module.

10. A control method for a modular display device formed by a plurality of display modules, the control method comprising: The controller sends image signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of display modules based on the image frame; providing, by at least one driver IC, a scanning signal to a plurality of scanning lines included in the first display module in a progressive scanning method during a time period corresponding to the image frame; as well as supplying the image signal by the at least one driver IC to a data line corresponding to the scan line supplied with the scan signal among a plurality of data lines arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of scan lines, Wherein, the plurality of scanning groups respectively included in the plurality of display modules are connected in a daisy chain method.

11. The control method according to claim 10, wherein: Sending the image signal comprises: Obtaining an image signal corresponding to the first display module from the image frame; and sending an image signal corresponding to the first display module, wherein the image signal corresponding to the first display module is buffered to correspond to a connection order of the plurality of scanning groups according to a daisy chain method included in the first display module.

12. The control method according to claim 11, wherein: Sending an image signal corresponding to the first display module includes: transmitting the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module; and The image signal is transmitted by the at least one driver IC included in the first scanning group to at least one driver IC included in the second scanning group included in the first display module according to a daisy chain method.

13. The control method according to claim 10, wherein: The sizes of the image signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of display modules correspond to a bandwidth that the controller can load during a time period corresponding to the image frame.

14. The control method according to claim 10, further comprising: at least one driver IC included in a last scan group connected according to a daisy chain method among the plurality of scan groups included in the first display module among the plurality of display modules transmits an output signal to the controller; and Open LED information corresponding to the first display module is identified based on the output signal.

15. The control method according to claim 14, wherein: The plurality of display modules respectively include a switch integrated circuit IC, and Wherein, sending the image signal comprises: The switch IC included in the first display module receives an image signal corresponding to the first display module from the controller; and sending the image signal to at least one driver IC included in a first scanning group among the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module, Wherein, sending the output signal comprises: The switch IC included in the first display module transmits the output signal to the controller based on receiving the output signal from at least one driver IC included in the last connected scanning group among the plurality of scanning groups included in the first display module.

Images