Driver of light emitting diode and light emitting device

Abstract

The invention provides a driver of a light emitting diode and a light emitting device. The driver includes a first receiver, a second receiver, a data controller, a transmitter, and an inspection controller. The first receiver receives a parallel data signal. The second receiver receives a serial data signal. The data controller obtains parallel data signals through the first receiver and transmits the parallel data signals to the serial data output end through the transmitter so as to transmit the parallel data signals to a next-stage driver. The inspection controller detects whether the parallel data signal is received through the first receiver and whether the serial data signal is received through the second receiver, and generates a driving signal of the light-emitting diode according to the received parallel data signal and the serial data signal so as to lighten the light-emitting diode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for checking the functions of components on a panel, and particularly to a driver for a light-emitting diode and a light-emitting device. Background Art

[0002] Displays have always been a major product in the consumer market. In addition to a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal display also requires a backlight module to emit light. The backlight module solders related components on the substrate used (such as, plastic substrate, glass substrate, film substrate, etc.). These components include external passive components, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), driving chips, etc.

[0003] It is difficult to determine whether there are abnormal circuit connections such as solder joint voids, open soldering, short circuits, open circuits, etc. for the components soldered on the substrate by appearance or other means. Therefore, these components still need to be checked for normality after being soldered on the substrate. On the other hand, the LEDs or driving chips on the backlight module often use a serial communication protocol to transmit display data. If a certain driving chip has the above-mentioned abnormal circuit connection situation, it will cause this driving chip and the subsequent components connected in series with this driving chip to be unable to display either. If there are a large number of components connected in series with this driving chip, it is impossible to know whether these components are intact. Therefore, only after replacing the faulty driving chip, the panel is lit again, and a repeated check method is used to check whether the subsequent series-connected driving chips are functioning properly. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention is directed to a driver for a light-emitting diode and a light-emitting device, and can check whether there are abnormal connections in the relevant signal lines of multiple-stage drivers at one time by using the signal path structure corresponding to the test mode in the driver.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a driver for a light-emitting diode includes a first receiver, a second receiver, a data controller, a transmitter, and a check controller. The first receiver receives a parallel data signal. The second receiver receives a serial data signal. The data controller is coupled to the first receiver. The transmitter is coupled to the data controller. The data controller obtains the parallel data signal through the first receiver, and transmits the parallel data signal to a serial data output terminal through the transmitter for transmission to a next-stage driver. The check controller is coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver. The check controller detects whether the parallel data signal is received through the first receiver and whether the serial data signal is received through the second receiver, and generates a driving signal for the light-emitting diode based on the received parallel data signal and serial data signal to light up the light-emitting diode.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a light-emitting device includes a driving device. The driving device includes a first driver and a second driver. The first driver drives a first light-emitting diode module. The first driver includes a first serial data input terminal, a first parallel data input terminal, and a first serial data output terminal. The first serial data input terminal is used to receive serial data. The first parallel data input terminal is used to receive parallel data. The second driver is coupled to the first driver and is used to drive a second light-emitting diode module. The second driver includes a second serial data input terminal, a second parallel data input terminal, and a second serial data output terminal. The second serial data input terminal is coupled to the first serial data output terminal of the first driver. The second parallel data input terminal is used to receive the parallel data. When the driving device operates in a first mode, the first serial data output terminal of the first driver outputs the serial data. When the driving device operates in a second mode, the first serial data output terminal of the first driver outputs the parallel data.

[0007] Based on the above, in the driver and the light-emitting device according to the embodiment of the present invention, a signal path structure corresponding to a test mode is configured in each driver. By transmitting the parallel data signal in the upper-level driver to the serial data input terminal of the lower-level driver as the serial data signal of the lower-level driver, it is thus possible to avoid the situation where the multi-stage drivers connected in series cannot check the drivers located at the relatively rear end of the series connection due to abnormal line connection in the serial data path. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, by using the signal path structure corresponding to the test mode in the driver, it is possible to check at one time whether there is an abnormal connection in the relevant signal lines of the multi-stage drivers, reducing the repetitive working hours of the operator during the inspection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device according to an embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of a driver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a driving method for a light-emitting diode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0014] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device 100 according to an embodiment. The light-emitting device 100 can be used as a backlight module of a display or as a display driving device for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The light-emitting device 100 includes a plurality of drivers (e.g., Figure 1 drivers 110-1 to 110-4) and an LED module (e.g., Figure 1 LED modules ch1 to ch4 in FIG. 1). Each of the LED modules ch1 to ch4 includes at least one LED, and the emission colors of these LEDs can be different. For example, the LED modules ch1 to ch4 are respectively provided with LEDs or LED strings of red, blue, green, and white light. The light-emitting device 100 controls the emission brightness of the LED modules ch1 to ch4 by a multi-stage drivers 110-1 to 110-4 connected in series to integrate into a light-emitting panel, and emits light uniformly to the liquid crystal panel through objects such as a light guide plate, a prism sheet, and a diffusion sheet ( Figure 1 these objects are not shown). The driver can be implemented by a driving chip.

[0015] Figure 1 The drivers 110-1 to 110-4 are mainly controlled by two data, one is parallel data PDIS (also known as a parallel data signal), and the other is serial data SDIS (also known as a serial data signal). The parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS can be provided by a controller (not shown). The upper-level driver provides the brightness data or chip setting data in the serial data SDIS to the lower-level driver. For example, the driver 110-1 receives the brightness data or chip setting data from the serial data input terminal SDI and transfers these data to the lower-level driver 110-2 through the serial data output terminal SDO of the driver 110-1; the driver 110-2 receives the brightness data or chip setting data from the serial data input terminal SDI and transfers these data to the lower-level driver 110-3 through the serial data output terminal SDO of the driver 110-2, and so on. In other words, the transfer path of the serial data SDIS is a serial data path. The transfer path of the parallel data PDIS is a multi-drop path for the drivers 110-1 to 110-4 to receive common setting data and provide a synchronous data signal.

[0016] When manufacturing the light-emitting device 100, the paths of the parallel data PDIS, the path of the serial data SDIS, and the connection paths between the respective drivers 110-1 to 110-4 are arranged on the substrate, and the respective drivers 110-1 to 110-4 are soldered to the corresponding positions on the substrate. Since soldering components to the substrate may cause abnormal circuit connections, it is difficult to quickly and correctly determine where the abnormal circuit connection occurs when checking whether the drivers 110-1 to 110-4 are operating normally.

[0017] For example, this embodiment provides a check pattern signal to the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS to check whether the drivers 110-1 to 110-4 are operating normally. Suppose Figure 1 Abnormal circuit connections occur due to soldering at reference numerals 150-1 and 150-2. The driver 110-1 will operate normally because it can receive the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS normally. The driver 110-2 cannot operate normally because it cannot receive the parallel data PDIS, and the driver 110-3 cannot operate normally because it cannot receive the serial data SDIS. However, since the path of the serial data SDIS is a serial signal path and the path for transmitting the serial data SDIS between the driver 110-2 and the driver 110-3 is damaged due to reference numeral 150-2, the serial data SDIS cannot be transmitted to the driver 110-4, so it is impossible to know whether the driver 110-4 is operating normally.

[0018] If you want to know whether the driver 110-4 is operating normally, you need to first repair Figure 1 the abnormal circuit connections at reference numerals 150-1 and 150-2, and then check the drivers 110-1 to 110-4 again to clearly check whether the function of the driver 110-4 is normal. If the number of drivers connected in series in the light-emitting device 100 is very large, it may be necessary to repeat the above inspection work when performing the above inspection in order to repair each abnormal circuit connection on the light-emitting device 100 one by one.

[0019] Therefore, the embodiment of the present invention proposes a signal path structure applied to the corresponding test mode. This signal path structure can effectively check whether the driver has abnormal circuit connections and does not require Figure 1 repeatedly performing the above inspection work multiple times as before. Specifically, the embodiment of the present invention transmits the parallel data signal in the upper-level driver to the serial data input terminal of the lower-level driver as the serial data signal of the lower-level driver. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation where multiple levels of drivers connected in series cannot check the drivers located at the rear of the series connection due to abnormal circuit connections in the serial data path. In this way, the inspector can directly replace or repair the drivers with connection problems in the light-emitting device, thus facilitating the repair of the entire light-emitting device.

[0020] Figure 2 It is a functional block diagram of a driver 210-1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The driver 210-1 can be a driving chip of a light-emitting device in a display, and in the light-emitting device, multiple-stage drivers (such as the driver 210-1 and the next-stage driver 210-2) can be connected in series with each other to control the LED module ChN205. N represents a positive integer. The driver 210-1 and each component therein can be implemented by hardware circuits or firmware devices such as a microprocessor, logic circuits, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0021] The driver 210-1 includes a first receiver 211, a second receiver 212, a data controller 213, a transmitter 214, and an inspection controller 215. The first receiver 211 receives a parallel data signal PDIS through the parallel data input terminal PDI of the driver 210-1. The second receiver 212 receives a serial data signal SDIS through the serial data input terminal SDI of the driver 210-1. The data controller 213 is coupled to the first receiver 211. The transmitter 214 is coupled to the data controller 213. The driver 210-1 further includes a display controller 216. The display controller 216 is coupled to the data controller 216. The first receiver 211 and the second receiver 212 in this embodiment are first-in first-out (FIFO) receivers. The transmitter 214 in this embodiment is a first-in first-out (FIFO) transmitter.

[0022] The driver 210-1 in this embodiment has a first mode (for example, a working mode) and a second mode (for example, a test mode). The above two modes can be switched by the data controller 213 based on the received parallel data signal PDIS with a specific data arrangement. In the test mode, the inspection controller 215 is enabled and the display controller 216 is disabled; in the working mode, the inspection controller 215 is disabled and the display controller 216 is enabled. In the working mode, the second receiver 212 is coupled to the data controller 213. The data controller 213 receives the serial data SDIS through the second receiver 212 in the working mode, and transmits the display data in the serial data SDIS to the display controller 216. The display controller 216 generates a driving signal SDRV for the light-emitting diodes based on the above display data to light up the light-emitting diode module ChN205. In other words, in the working mode, the serial data SDIS received by the second receiver 212 is transmitted to the data controller 213, rather than to the disabled inspection controller 215.

[0023] In this embodiment, the test mode of the driver 210-1 has a corresponding signal path structure, and can check whether there are abnormal connections in the relevant signal lines of multiple-stage drivers at one time. Specifically, in the test mode, the data controller 213 obtains the parallel data PDIS through the first receiver 211, and transfers the parallel data PDIS to the serial data output terminal SDO of the driver 210-1 through the transmitter 214 for transmission to the next-stage driver 210-2. The data path is as shown by the arrow 207. The next-stage driver 210-2 receives the signal provided by the driver 210-1 (the previous-stage driver) from its serial data input terminal as the serial data in the next-stage driver 210-2. In other words, in the test mode, the serial data in the next-stage driver is the same as the parallel data in the previous-stage driver. The parallel data PDIS in this embodiment has a check pattern signal (for example, a default perturbation signal and a check code for checking).

[0024] The check controller 215 detects whether the parallel data PDIS is received through the first receiver 211 (as Figure 2 shown by the arrow 208), and the check controller 215 also detects whether the serial data SDI is received through the second receiver 212 (as Figure 2 shown by the arrow 209). When the check controller 215 detects and receives the serial data SDI, it means that the connection between the serial data output terminal of the previous-stage driver relative to the driver 210-1 and the serial data input terminal SDI of the driver 210-1 is normal and there is no abnormal line connection, or the connection between the signal source of the serial data SDIS and the serial data input terminal SDI of the driver 210-1 is normal and there is no abnormal line connection. When the check controller 215 detects and receives the parallel data PDIS, it means that the connection between the signal source of the parallel data PDIS and the parallel data input terminal PDI of the driver 210-1 is normal and there is no abnormal line connection.

[0025] When the check controller 215 detects and receives the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS, it means that there is no abnormal line connection in the relevant pins or connections of the driver 210-1 (for example, the connection between the arrows 208 and 209). Therefore, the check controller 215 generates a drive signal SDRV for the light-emitting diode based on the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS to light up the light-emitting diode module ChN 205 coupled to and controlled by the check controller 215, so that the inspector can visually know the state of the driver 210-1.

[0026] In contrast, if the inspection controller 215 does not detect either or both of the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS, the light-emitting diode module ChN 205 will not be lit. The inspector can then know that there is a problem with the driver corresponding to the unlit light-emitting diode module ChN 205 and further processing is required.

[0027] Figure 3 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The light-emitting device 300 can be used as a backlight module of a display or as an LED display driving device. The light-emitting device 300 includes at least one driver (e.g., drivers 310-1 to 310-4) and at least one LED module (e.g., LED modules ch1 to ch4 corresponding to each of the drivers 310-1 to 310-4). In this embodiment Figure 3 the circuit structures of the respective drivers 310-1 to 310-4 are the same as Figure 2 driver 210-1.

[0028] For more detailed description, a signal path structure corresponding to the test mode is configured in each driver, and the relevant signal lines of the multi-stage drivers can be checked at one time for abnormal connection conditions. Figure 3 FIG. 5 mainly shows the interconnected multi-stage drivers 310-1 to 310-4. Here, only arrows 307-1 to 307-4 are marked on the drivers 310-1 to 310-4 to illustrate the data path between the parallel data input terminal PDI and the serial data output terminal SDO in each driver.

[0029] Referring to Figure 3 FIG. 6, when the drivers 310-1 to 310-4 are all set in the test mode, assume Figure 3 abnormal line connections occur at labels 350-1 and 350-2 due to soldering, and the internal circuits of the drivers 310-1 to 310-4 are operating normally without abnormalities. At this time, driver 310-1 can receive the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS normally and will operate normally, and the data path of arrow 307-1 is normally conducting. Driver 310-2 cannot receive the parallel data PDIS based on label 350-1, and the data path of arrow 307-2 cannot be normally conducted. The inspection controller in driver 310-2 will not light the LED modules ch1 to ch4 corresponding to driver 310-2.

[0030] Since the driver 310-3 cannot receive the parallel data PDIS from the upper-level driver 310-2 based on the labels 350-1 and 350-2, the check controller in the driver 310-2 will not light up the LED modules ch1 to ch4 corresponding to the driver 310-3. However, the abnormal line connection at the labels 350-1 and 350-2 does not affect the data path of the arrow 307-3 in the driver 310-3. That is, the data path of the arrow 307-3 in the driver 310-3 is normally conducting. Therefore, the check pattern signals (e.g., the default perturbation signal for inspection and the check code) in the parallel data PDIS will be normally transmitted to the driver 310-4. As a result, the driver 310-4 can normally receive the parallel data PDIS and the serial data SDIS and will operate normally without being affected by the abnormal line connection at the label 350-2 in terms of receiving the check pattern signals.

[0031] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a driving method for a light-emitting diode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 The driving method is applicable to Figure 2 the driver 210-1. Referring also to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In step S410, Figure 2 the driver 210-1 is set to the test mode. Figure 2 The driver includes a first receiver 211 and a second receiver 212. The driver 210-1 can be set to the test mode by using the parallel data PDIS with a specific data arrangement. Figure 2 the driver 210-1 is set to the test mode.

[0032] In step S420, in the test mode, Figure 2 the data controller 213 in the driver 210-1 obtains the parallel data PDIS through the first receiver 211 and transmits the parallel data PDIS to the next-level driver 210-2 through the transmitter 214. In step S430, Figure 2 the check controller 215 detects whether the parallel data PDIS is received through the first receiver 211 and whether the serial data SDIS is received through the second receiver 212. In step S440, the check controller 215 lights up the light-emitting diode module ChN 205 according to the received parallel data PDIS and serial data SDIS. For the detailed processes of steps S410 to S440, please refer to the foregoing embodiments.

[0033] Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a light-emitting device 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 It can be used to illustrate the operation modes of the drivers in the first mode (operating mode) of the light-emitting device 500. Figure 5Illustrate the driving devices (e.g., the first driver 510-1, the second driver 520-2, and the third driver 530-3) in the light-emitting device 500. In the first mode (operating mode), the serial data input terminal SDI of the first driver 510 receives the serial data SDIS from a controller (not shown), and transmits the received serial data SDIS to the serial data input terminal SDI of the second driver 510-2 through the serial data output terminal SDO (as shown by the dashed arrow 550). And in the foregoing manner, the second driver 510-2 transmits the serial data to a post-stage driver, such as the third driver 510-3. The transmission path of the parallel data PDIS is a multi-point path for allowing the first to third drivers 510-1 to 510-3 to receive common setting data and provide a synchronous data signal, as shown by the dashed arrow 560.

[0034] Figure 6 Can be used to illustrate the operation modes of each driver in the light-emitting device 500 in the second mode (test mode). In the test mode, the signal received by the serial data input terminal SDI of the first-stage driver (e.g., the first driver 510-1) is from the serial data SDIS. Except for the first-stage driver (the first driver 510-1), the signal received by the serial data input terminal SDI of each driver is from the data received by the parallel data input terminal PDI of the previous-stage driver. For example, the signal received by the serial data input terminal SDI of the second driver 510-2 is from the data received by the parallel data input terminal PDI of the first driver 510-1, as shown by the dashed arrow 650. Briefly speaking, in this embodiment, the working mode or the test mode can be switched by a control circuit in the driver. In the working mode (the first mode), each driver (e.g., the drivers 510-1 to 510-3) outputs the data received at its serial data input terminal SDI at its serial data output terminal SDO. And in the test mode (the second mode), the driver outputs the data received at its parallel data input terminal PDI at its serial data output terminal SDO.

[0035] In summary, in the embodiment of the present invention, the driver, the driving method, and the light-emitting device of the light-emitting diode are configured with a signal path structure corresponding to the test mode in each driver. By transmitting the parallel data signal in the previous-stage driver to the serial data input terminal of the next-stage driver as the serial data signal of the next-stage driver, it is thus possible to avoid the situation that the multi-stage drivers connected in series cannot check the drivers located at the relatively rear end of the series connection due to abnormal line connection in the serial data path. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, by using the signal path structure corresponding to the test mode in the driver, it is possible to check at one time whether there is an abnormal connection situation in the relevant signal lines of the multi-stage drivers, reducing the repetitive man-hours of the operator during the inspection.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A driver for a light-emitting diode, characterized in that, Comprising: A first receiver for receiving a parallel data signal; A second receiver for receiving a serial data signal; A data controller coupled to the first receiver; A transmitter coupled to the data controller, wherein the data controller obtains the parallel data signal through the first receiver and transmits the parallel data signal to a serial data output terminal through the transmitter for transmission to a next-stage driver; And An inspection controller coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver, detecting whether the parallel data signal is received through the first receiver and whether the serial data signal is received through the second receiver, and generating a driving signal for the light-emitting diode based on the received parallel data signal and serial data signal to light up the light-emitting diode.

2. The driver according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driver has an operating mode and a test mode, wherein the inspection controller is enabled in the test mode and disabled in the operating mode.

3. The driver according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the test mode, the serial data signal in the next-stage driver is the same as the parallel data signal in the previous-stage driver.

4. The driver according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the test mode, the serial data signal received by the second receiver is transmitted to the inspection controller and not to the data controller.

5. The driver according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driver further includes: A display controller coupled to the data controller, wherein the display controller is enabled in the operating mode and disabled in the test mode, in the operating mode, the second receiver is further coupled to the data controller, the data controller receives the serial data signal through the second receiver, transmits the display data in the serial data signal to the display controller, and the display controller generates the driving signal for the light-emitting diode based on the display data to light up the light-emitting diode.

6. The driver according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first receiver and the second receiver are first-in-first-out receivers, the transmitter is a first-in-first-out transmitter, and the driver is a driving chip for a light-emitting device in a display.

7. A light-emitting device, characterized in that, Comprising: A driving device, the driving device includes: A first driver for driving a first light-emitting diode module, the first driver includes: A first serial data input terminal for receiving serial data; A first parallel data input terminal for receiving parallel data; and A first serial data output terminal; and A second driver coupled to the first driver for driving a second light-emitting diode module, the second driver includes: A second serial data input terminal coupled to the first serial data output terminal of the first driver; A second parallel data input terminal for receiving the parallel data; and A second serial data output terminal, wherein when the driving device operates in a first mode, the first serial data output terminal of the first driver outputs the serial data, and when the driving device operates in a second mode, the first serial data output terminal of the first driver outputs the parallel data.

8. The light-emitting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the second mode, the serial data and the parallel data are the same.

9. The light-emitting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first driver and the second driver are both the same driver, The driver includes: A first receiver that receives a serial data signal through a serial data input terminal; A second receiver that receives a parallel data signal through a parallel data input terminal; A data controller coupled to the first receiver; A transmitter coupled to the data controller, wherein in the second mode, the data controller obtains the parallel data signal through the first receiver and transmits the parallel data signal to a serial data output terminal through the transmitter for transmission to a next-stage driver; and An inspection controller coupled to the first receiver and the second receiver, wherein in the second mode, the inspection controller detects whether the parallel data signal is received through the first receiver and whether the serial data signal is received through the second receiver, and generates a driving signal for the light-emitting diode module based on the received parallel data signal and serial data signal.

10. The light-emitting device according to claim 9, wherein, In the second mode, the serial data signal received by the second receiver is transmitted to the inspection controller and not to the data controller.

11. The light-emitting device according to claim 9, wherein, The driver further includes: A display controller coupled to the data controller, wherein the display controller is enabled in the first mode and disabled in the second mode, In the first mode, the second receiver is further coupled to the data controller, the data controller receives the serial data signal through the second receiver, transmits display data in the serial data signal to the display controller, and the display controller generates the driving signal for the light-emitting diode module based on the display data.

Images