LED backlight driving chip and LED driving channel redundancy backup method

Abstract

The invention discloses an LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight driving chip, which comprises a plurality of LED driving channels, and each LED driving channel comprises a conventional driving unit; the system further comprises a plurality of redundant backup driving units, a plurality of first multi-path data selectors and a plurality of second multi-path data selectors. A first multi-path data selector is arranged in each driving channel, and the output end of the first multi-path data selector is connected to a driving port; the digital logic unit generates signals for driving different LED driving channels through operation and inputs the signals to a plurality of data input ends of the second multi-path data selector at the same time, and the output end of the second multi-path data selector is connected to other input ends of the first multi-path data selectors at the same time; the control ends of the plurality of first multi-path data selectors input a first control signal, and the control end of the second multi-path data selector inputs a second control signal; the first control signal and the second control signal are generated by the digital logic unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of integrated circuits, and in particular to an LED backlight driver chip and an LED driver channel redundancy backup method. Background Art

[0002] At present, the LED driving technology used in Mini-LED backlight panels generally uses one LED driver chip to control and drive multiple channels of LED light strings, and multiple LED driver chips are connected in series using a single-line chain, such as Figure 1 As shown. The LED backlight driving system includes: a controller HOST and a plurality of LED driver chips Chip1~Chipn; the controller HOST and the plurality of LED driver chips Chip1~Chipn form a serial communication link, and the controller acts as a host to send command data to the plurality of LED driver chips Chip1~Chipn as slaves. Each of the LED driver chips has a plurality of LED driver channel pins LED1~LEDn, and the LED driver channel pins are used to connect the LED light string to directly control the light emission of the LED light string. Each of the LED driver chips is provided with a first data transmission port DI and a second data transmission port DO. The serial communication link means that the first data transmission port DI of each LED driver chip is connected to the second data transmission port DO of the LED driver chip of the previous level adjacent to the LED driver chip, and the second data transmission port DO of each LED driver chip is connected to the first data transmission port DI of the LED driver chip of the next level adjacent to the LED driver chip, and the first data transmission port DI of the first LED driver chip in the serial communication link is connected to the output port TX of the controller HOST, and the second data transmission port DO of the last LED driver chip is connected to the input port RX of the controller HOST.

[0003] like Figure 2 As shown, the LED backlight driver chip in the prior art is internally provided with a plurality of LED driving channels, each LED driving channel is connected to an LED light string, and a driving unit is provided in each LED driving channel. The driving unit drives the LED light string corresponding to the LED driving channel to emit light according to the driving signal transmitted by the digital logic unit.

[0004] In the LED backlight driving system of the prior art, when the driving unit in the LED backlight driving chip fails, the LED light string of the LED driving channel will not be able to emit light normally. Therefore, it can be seen that the prior art needs a driving method that can provide a redundant backup driving unit to replace the original driving unit to continue to drive the LED light string to emit light when the driving unit in the LED backlight driving chip fails. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical purpose to be achieved by the present invention is to provide an LED backlight driver chip, in which a redundant backup mechanism is provided to ensure that when a driving unit inside the LED backlight driver chip fails, the redundant backup driving unit can be used to correctly drive the failed driving channel.

[0006] Based on the above technical objectives, the present invention provides an LED backlight driver chip, the LED backlight driver chip comprising: a plurality of LED drive channels, each LED drive channel corresponding to a drive port to connect an LED light string; each LED drive channel comprises a conventional drive unit;

[0007] The LED backlight driver chip is also provided with a digital logic unit, which receives the driving signal sent by the backlight controller, generates signals for driving different LED driving channels by calculation, and transmits them to the corresponding conventional driving units respectively;

[0008] The LED backlight driver chip further includes: a plurality of redundant backup driver units; a plurality of first multiplexer data selectors and a plurality of second multiplexer data selectors;

[0009] A first multiplexer is provided in each of the driving channels, and the output signal of the conventional driving unit in the driving channel is input to an input end of the first multiplexer, and the output end of the first multiplexer is connected to a driving port of the LED backlight driving chip;

[0010] The digital logic unit generates signals for driving different LED driving channels and simultaneously inputs the signals to multiple data input terminals of the second multiplexer MUX2, and the output terminal of the second multiplexer MUX2 is simultaneously connected to other input terminals of the multiple first multiplexers;

[0011] The control ends of the plurality of first multiplexers input a first control signal, and the control end of the second multiplexer inputs a second control signal; the first control signal and the second control signal are generated by the digital logic unit.

[0012] In one embodiment, an input terminal of the second multiplexer inputs a shutdown signal for stopping the redundant backup drive unit from working.

[0013] In one embodiment, the number of the redundant backup drive units is less than or equal to the number of the regular drive units.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following description, and partly become apparent from the description, or understood by practicing the present invention. The purpose and other advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained by the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an LED backlight driving system in the prior art;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of an LED backlight driver chip in the prior art;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an LED backlight driver chip according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the LED backlight driver chip according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as "on ...", "adjacent to ...", "connected to" or "coupled to" other elements or layers, it can be directly on, adjacent to, connected to or coupled to other elements or layers, or there can be intervening elements or layers. On the contrary, when an element is referred to as "directly on ...", "directly adjacent to ...", "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" other elements or layers, there is no intervening element or layer. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts, these elements, components, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or part from another element, component, region, layer or part. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the present invention, the first element, component, region, layer or part discussed below can be represented as the second element, component, region, layer or part. And when the second element, component, region, layer or part is discussed, it does not indicate that the present invention necessarily has the first element, component, region, layer or part.

[0022] Spatially relative terms such as "under", "beneath", "below", "under", "above", "above", etc., may be used here for convenience of description to describe the relationship between an element or feature shown in the figure and other elements or features. It should be understood that in addition to the orientation shown in the figure, the spatial relationship terms are intended to also include different orientations of the device in use and operation. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, then the elements or features described as "under other elements" or "under it" or "under it" will be oriented as "on" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary terms "under" and "under" may include both upper and lower orientations. The device can be oriented otherwise (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations) and the spatial descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

[0023] The purpose of the terms used herein is only to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. When used herein, the singular forms "one", "an" and "said / the" are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "consisting of" and / or "comprising", when used in this specification, determine the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or groups. When used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the relevant listed items.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] like Figure 3 As shown, the LED backlight driver chip of this embodiment includes four LED drive channels CH1 to CH4, and each LED drive channel corresponds to a LED light string connected through a port of the LED backlight driver chip. At the same time, each LED drive channel includes a drive unit, that is, drive channel CH1 corresponds to drive unit 1, drive channel CH2 corresponds to drive unit 2, drive channel CH3 corresponds to drive unit 3, and drive channel CH4 corresponds to drive unit 4. The LED backlight driver chip is also provided with a digital logic unit, which receives the backlight drive signal sent by the backlight controller, and generates signals for driving different LED drive channels by calculation and transmits them to drive units 1 to 4 respectively.

[0026] The LED backlight driver chip also includes a redundant backup driver unit a, four first multiplexers MUX1 and one second multiplexer MUX2. A first multiplexer is provided in each of the drive channels, and the drive signal output by the drive unit is input to the first input end of the first multiplexer. At the same time, the output end of the first multiplexer MUX1 is connected to the port of the LED backlight driver chip and to the LED light string. The signals corresponding to different LED drive channels output by the digital logic unit to the multiple drive units are synchronously input to the multiple data input ends of the second multiplexer MUX2, and the output end of the second multiplexer is simultaneously connected to the second input ends of the multiple first multiplexers. An input end of the second multiplexer MUX2 inputs a shutdown signal for stopping the redundant backup driver unit a.

[0027] The control terminals of the plurality of first multiplexers input a first control signal, and the control terminals of the second multiplexers input a second control signal. The first control signal and the second control signal are generated by the digital logic unit.

[0028] When all driving units 1-4 are working normally, the first control signal controls the multiple first multiplexers to output the signals output by the corresponding driving units; at the same time, the majority of second control signals control the second multiplexers to output a shutdown signal to shut down the redundant backup driving unit a.

[0029] When the driving unit i malfunctions and cannot correctly drive the LED light string, the first control signal controls the first multiplexer MUX1 corresponding to the driving channel CHi to switch to output the signal input by the redundant backup driving unit a; at the same time, the second control signal controls the second multiplexer MUX2 to switch to output the signal output by the data logic unit to the driving unit i to the redundant backup driving unit a.

[0030] The above operation achieves the effect that when the driving unit i fails, the redundant backup driving unit a replaces the driving unit i to complete the driving channel CHi.

[0031] Example 2

[0032] like Figure 4As shown, the LED backlight driver chip of this embodiment includes four LED drive channels CH1 to CH4, and each LED drive channel corresponds to a LED light string connected through a port of the LED backlight driver chip. At the same time, each LED drive channel includes a drive unit, that is, drive channel CH1 corresponds to drive unit 1, drive channel CH2 corresponds to drive unit 2, drive channel CH3 corresponds to drive unit 3, and drive channel CH4 corresponds to drive unit 4. The LED backlight driver chip is also provided with a digital logic unit, which receives the backlight drive signal sent by the backlight controller, and generates signals for driving different LED drive channels by calculation and transmits them to drive units 1 to 4 respectively.

[0033] The LED backlight driver chip also includes a first redundant backup driver unit a and a second redundant backup driver unit b, and four identical first multiplexer data selectors MUX1 and two identical second multiplexer data selectors MUX2. A first multiplexer data selector is provided in each of the driving channels, and the driving signal output by the driving unit is input to the first input end of the first multiplexer data selector. At the same time, the output end of the first multiplexer data selector MUX1 is connected to the port of the LED backlight driver chip and connected to the LED light string. The signals corresponding to different LED driving channels output by the digital logic unit to the multiple driving units are synchronously input to the multiple data input ends of the two second multiplexer data selectors MUX2, and the output end of the first second multiplexer data selector is simultaneously connected to the second input ends of the multiple first multiplexer data selectors; the output end of the second second multiplexer data selector is simultaneously connected to the third input ends of the multiple first multiplexer data selectors. An input end of the second multiplexer data selector MUX inputs a shutdown signal to stop the redundant backup driver unit a.

[0034] The control terminals of the plurality of first multiplexers input a first control signal, and the control terminals of the second multiplexers input a second control signal. The first control signal and the second control signal are generated by the digital logic unit.

[0035] When all driving units 1-4 are working normally, the first control signal controls the multiple first multiplexers to output the signals output by the corresponding driving units; at the same time, the majority of second control signals control the second multiplexers to output a shutdown signal to shut down the redundant backup driving unit a.

[0036] When the driving unit i malfunctions and cannot correctly drive the LED light string, the first control signal controls the first multiplexer MUX1 corresponding to the driving channel CHi to switch to output the signal input by the first redundant backup driving unit a; at the same time, the second control signal controls the first second multiplexer MUX2 to switch to output the signal output by the data logic unit to the driving unit i to the first redundant backup driving unit a.

[0037] On this basis, when the driving unit i' also malfunctions and cannot drive the LED light string, the first control signal controls the first multiplexer MUX1 corresponding to the driving channel CHi' to switch to output the signal input by the second redundant backup driving unit b; at the same time, the second control signal controls the second multiplexer MUX2 to switch to output the signal output by the data logic unit to the driving unit i' to the second redundant backup driving unit b.

[0038] Therefore, in this embodiment, two redundant backup driving units are provided relative to the aforementioned embodiment 1, so as to provide driving backup when multiple driving units fail. Similarly, the present invention can set more second multiplexers and redundant backup driving units in the LED backlight driving chip to provide redundant backup when more driving units fail.

[0039] As described above, the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An LED backlight driver chip, characterized in that: The LED backlight driver chip includes: a plurality of LED drive channels, each LED drive channel corresponding to a drive port to connect an LED light string; each LED drive channel includes a conventional drive unit; The LED backlight driver chip is also provided with a digital logic unit, which receives the driving signal sent by the backlight controller, generates signals for driving different LED driving channels by calculation, and transmits them to the corresponding conventional driving units respectively; The LED backlight driver chip further includes: a plurality of redundant backup driver units; a plurality of first multiplexer data selectors and a plurality of second multiplexer data selectors; A first multiplexer is provided in each of the driving channels, and the output signal of the conventional driving unit in the driving channel is input to an input end of the first multiplexer, and the output end of the first multiplexer is connected to a driving port of the LED backlight driving chip; The digital logic unit generates signals for driving different LED driving channels and simultaneously inputs the signals to multiple data input terminals of the second multiplexer, and the output terminal of the second multiplexer is simultaneously connected to other input terminals of the multiple first multiplexers; The control ends of the plurality of first multiplexers input a first control signal, and the control end of the second multiplexer inputs a second control signal; the first control signal and the second control signal are generated by the digital logic unit.

2. The LED backlight driver chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: An input terminal of the second multiplexer inputs a shutdown signal for stopping the redundant backup drive unit from working.

3. The LED backlight driver chip according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the redundant backup drive units is less than or equal to the number of the regular drive units.

4. An LED backlight panel, characterized in that: The LED backlight panel is driven by the LED backlight driver chip as described in any one of claims 1 to 3 to drive the LED light-emitting elements to emit light.

5. A display device, characterized in that: The display device includes the LED backlight panel as claimed in claim 4 for backlighting.

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