Integrated circuit element, display device, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

An integrated circuit element (10) according to the present disclosure comprises: a first port (P1) and a second port (P2), each of which extracts a first voltage (V1) generated by a constant-voltage source (CVS); a first current-limiting circuit (L1) for limiting the current from the first port (P1) so as to be equal to or less than a first threshold value; and a second current-limiting circuit (L2) for limiting the current from the second port (P2) so as to be equal to or less than a second threshold value.

Description

Integrated circuit element, display device and electronic device

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated circuit element, a display device, and an electronic device.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-144222 discloses a configuration in which a connection wiring connected to an organic EL element has a fuse portion that breaks when an overcurrent occurs.

[0003] Japanese Patent Republished WO2013 / 014790

[0004] When a part of a plurality of wirings is broken, current concentration may cause an overcurrent to flow through the normal wirings.

[0005] An integrated circuit element according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a constant voltage source that generates a first voltage, a first port and a second port that respectively extract the first voltage, a first current limiting circuit connected between the constant voltage source and the first port and limiting a current from the first port to be equal to or less than a first threshold, and a second current limiting circuit connected between the constant voltage source and the second port and limiting a current from the second port to be equal to or less than a second threshold.

[0006] A display device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a circuit board on which an integrated circuit element according to the present disclosure is mounted, a display panel, a first flexible member and a second flexible member connected between the circuit board and the display panel, respectively, a first wiring connected to the first port and passing through the first flexible member, and a second wiring connected to the second port and passing through the second flexible member.

[0007] An electronic device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the display device according to the aspect of the present disclosure described above.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of overcurrent.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of an integrated circuit element shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to Comparative Example 1. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic device according to Comparative Example 2. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic device according to Comparative Example 3. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display device including an integrated circuit element 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 1, the display device 100 according to the present disclosure includes a circuit board CB on which the integrated circuit element 10 according to the present disclosure is mounted, and a display panel DP mechanically and electrically coupled to the circuit board CB.

[0011] Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example configuration of the integrated circuit device shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the integrated circuit device 10 according to the present disclosure includes a constant voltage source CVS that generates a first voltage V1, a first port P1 and a second port P2 that respectively output the first voltage V1, a first current limiting circuit L1 electrically connected between the constant voltage source CVS and the first port P1 and limiting the current from the first port P1 to be equal to or less than a first threshold, and a second current limiting circuit L2 electrically connected between the constant voltage source CVS and the second port P2 and limiting the current from the second port P2 to be equal to or less than a second threshold. The first threshold and the second threshold may be the same.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the current from the first port P1 of the integrated circuit element 10 is limited to a first threshold or less by the first current limiting circuit L1. Therefore, even if current concentration occurs due to a break in a wiring other than the first wiring W1, an overcurrent does not flow through the first wiring W1 connected to the first port P1. Similarly, the current from the second port P2 is limited to a second threshold or less by the second current limiting circuit L2. Therefore, even if current concentration occurs due to a break in a wiring other than the second wiring W2, an overcurrent does not flow through the second wiring W2 connected to the second port P2. This reduces the risk of smoke and / or fire due to an overcurrent.

[0013] Generally, the electrical resistance of the connection between the first flexible member F1 and the display panel DP and the connection between the second flexible member F2 and the display panel DP is high. A large current flowing through this connection generates a large amount of Joule heat, which can easily cause smoke and / or fire. In consideration of a safety margin, it is beneficial that the first threshold value and the second threshold value are smaller than the allowable current of the connection.

[0014] The integrated circuit element 10 may include a detection circuit LD that detects, when the current limiting function of at least one of the first current limiting circuit L1 and the second current limiting circuit L2 is activated, that the current limiting function has been activated.

[0015] According to the above configuration, it is possible to detect whether the current limiting function of the first current limiting circuit L1 and / or the second current limiting circuit L2 has been activated.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the display device 100 according to the present disclosure further includes a first flexible member F1 and a second flexible member F2 respectively connected between the circuit board CB and the display panel DP, a first wiring W1 electrically connected to the first port P1 of the integrated circuit element 10, passing through the first flexible member F1 and electrically connected to the display panel DP, and a second wiring W2 electrically connected to the second port P2 of the integrated circuit element 10, passing through the second flexible member F2 and electrically connected to the display panel DP.

[0017] The first wiring W1 passes through the first flexible member F1, and the second wiring W2 passes through the second flexible member F2. Therefore, the probability that both the first wiring W1 and the second wiring W2 will be broken at the same time is low. Therefore, even if either the first wiring W1 or the second wiring W2 is broken, the integrated circuit element 10 can supply power to the display panel DP through the other wiring.

[0018] 2 , the constant voltage source CVS of the integrated circuit element 10 generates a second voltage V2 different from the first voltage V1, and the integrated circuit element 10 may further include a third port P3 from which the second voltage V2 is extracted. The integrated circuit element 10 may further include a third current limiting circuit L3 electrically connected between the constant voltage source CVS and the first port P1 and limiting the current from the third port P3 to be equal to or less than a third threshold. For example, the first voltage V1 may be a voltage for supplying a low-voltage side power supply voltage ELVSS of the display panel DP, and the second voltage V2 may be a voltage for supplying a high-voltage side power supply voltage ELVDD of the display panel DP.

[0019] Referring again to Figure 1, the display device 20 may further include a third wiring W3 electrically connected to the third port P3 of the integrated circuit element 10, passing through the first flexible member F1 and electrically connected to the display panel DP, and a fourth wiring W4 electrically connected to the third port P3 of the integrated circuit element 10, passing through the second flexible member F2 and electrically connected to the display panel DP.

[0020] According to the above configuration, the third wiring W3 passes through the first flexible member F1, and the fourth wiring W4 passes through the second flexible member F2. Therefore, the probability that both the third wiring W3 and the fourth wiring W4 will be broken at the same time is low. Therefore, even if either the third wiring W3 or the fourth wiring W4 is broken, the second voltage V2 can be supplied to the display panel DP through the other wiring.

[0021] The third wiring W3 may pass through the first flexible member F1 on the side of the second flexible member F2 (the right side in FIG. 1 ) relative to the first wiring W1. When an external force is applied to the display device 20, the first flexible member F1 is more affected by the external force on the side opposite the second flexible member F2 (the left side in FIG. 1 ) than on the side of the second flexible member F2 (the right side in FIG. 1 ). Therefore, peeling of the first flexible member F1 from the circuit board CB and the display panel DP is more likely to proceed from the side opposite the second flexible member F2. Therefore, wiring passing on the side closer to the second flexible member F2 is less likely to break, while wiring passing on the opposite side is more likely to break. In other words, with this configuration, the third wiring W3 is less likely to break than the first wiring W1.

[0022] The fourth wiring W4 may pass through the second flexible member F2 on the side of the first flexible member F1 (the left side in FIG. 1 ) relative to the second wiring W2. For the same reasons as described above, this configuration makes the fourth wiring W4 less likely to break than the second wiring W2.

[0023] 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example configuration of the display panel shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, a display panel DP according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of pixels PX. The display panel DP may be a self-emissive display panel having a plurality of self-emissive elements ED. Each pixel PX has a self-emissive element ED and a pixel circuit PC that controls the self-emissive element ED. The display panel DP has a common electrode E1 provided in common to the plurality of pixels PX and a plurality of pixel electrodes E2 provided individually for each pixel PX. Each pixel circuit PC is electrically connected to the pixel electrode E2 of the corresponding pixel PX.

[0024] The light-emitting element ED includes a common electrode E1, a pixel electrode E2, and an electro-optically active layer E3 located between the common electrode E1 and the pixel electrode E2 and including a light-emitting layer. The light-emitting element ED may include a plurality of light-emitting elements emitting light of different colors, for example, a red light-emitting element PR, a green light-emitting element PG, and a blue light-emitting element PB.

[0025] The first wiring W1 and the second wiring W2 are electrically connected to the common electrode E1. With this configuration, a first voltage V1 is supplied to the common electrode E1 of the display panel DP. The third wiring W3 and the fourth wiring W4 are electrically connected to wiring that supplies power to the plurality of pixel circuits PC. With this configuration, a second voltage V2 is supplied to the pixel electrode E2 of the display panel DP via the pixel circuit PC.

[0026] 1 and 2 , the display device 20 may further include a control unit CU. The control unit CU may be mounted on a circuit board CB. When the current limiting function of at least one of the first current limiting circuit L1 and the second current limiting circuit L2 is activated, the integrated circuit element 10 may notify the control unit CU that the current limiting function has been activated, and the control unit CU may display a warning image on the display panel DP when notified that the current limiting function has been activated. With this configuration, the warning image can be displayed to notify the user that a break has occurred in the first wiring W1 or the second wiring W2.

[0027] The display device 20 may further include a first data line D1 electrically connected between the control unit CU and the display panel DP and passing through the first flexible member F1 on the side of the second flexible member F2 relative to the first wiring W1, and a second data line D2 electrically connected between the control unit CU and the display panel DP and passing through the second flexible member F2 on the side of the first flexible member F1 relative to the second wiring W2. There may be a plurality of first data lines D1 and a plurality of second data lines D2. The first data line D1 may pass through the side of the second flexible member F2 relative to the third wiring W3, and the second data line D2 may pass through the side of the first flexible member F1 relative to the fourth wiring W4.

[0028] The control unit CU may cause the display panel DP to display a warning image through the first data line D1 and / or the second data line D2. The control unit CU may control the image display on the display panel DP even when it has not been notified that the current limiting function has been activated.

[0029] [Example of Implementation by Software] The functions of the control unit CU can be realized by a program that causes a computer to function as the device, and a program that causes a computer to function as each control block of the control unit CU.

[0030] In this case, the control unit CU includes a computer having at least one control device (e.g., a processor) and at least one storage device (e.g., a memory) as hardware for executing the program. The functions of the control unit CU are realized by executing the program using the control device and storage device.

[0031] The program may be stored non-transitory on one or more computer-readable storage media. The storage media may or may not be included in the control unit CU. In the latter case, the program may be supplied to the control unit CU via any wired or wireless transmission medium.

[0032] In addition, some or all of the functions of the control unit CU can be realized by a logic circuit. For example, an integrated circuit in which a logic circuit that functions as each control block of the control unit CU is formed is also included in the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, the functions of each control block can also be realized by, for example, a quantum computer.

[0033] (Comparative Example 1) Fig. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the configuration of a display device according to Comparative Example 1. As shown in Fig. 4, display device 200 according to Comparative Example 1 includes circuit board 220 on which power supply circuit 210 is mounted, display panel 230, first flexible board 240 and second flexible board 250 coupled between circuit board 220 and display panel 230, first wiring 241 electrically connected to port 211 of power supply circuit 210, passing through first flexible board 240, and electrically connected to display panel 230, and second wiring 251 electrically connected to the same port 211 of power supply circuit 210, passing through second flexible board 250, and electrically connected to the same display panel 230.

[0034] In the configuration according to Comparative Example 1, when one of the first wiring 241 and the second wiring 251 is broken, an overcurrent flows to the other wiring due to current concentration, which may result in smoke and / or fire. In contrast, in the configuration according to the present disclosure, as described above, the risk of smoke and / or fire due to an overcurrent can be reduced.

[0035] (Comparative Example 2) Fig. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example configuration of an electronic device according to Comparative Example 2. As shown in Fig. 5, a display device 201 according to Comparative Example 2 further includes a first fuse 242 provided in a first wiring 241 and a second fuse 252 provided in a second wiring 251.

[0036] According to the configuration of Comparative Example 2, when the first wiring 241 breaks and an overcurrent flows through the second wiring 251, the first fuse 242 blows, causing the second wiring 251 to also break. When the second wiring 251 breaks and an overcurrent flows through the first wiring 241, the second fuse 252 blows, causing the first wiring 241 to also break. As a result of both wirings being broken in this manner, power cannot be supplied to the display panel 230. If the display panel 230 suddenly powers off, the user may not know what has happened and find it difficult to respond. In some situations, for example, when the display device 201 is an in-vehicle device that displays driving-related information, powering off the display panel 230 while driving poses a risk of causing a traffic accident. In contrast, according to the configuration of the present disclosure, even if either the first wiring W1 or the second wiring W2 breaks, the first voltage V1 can be supplied to the display panel DP through the other wiring, as described above.

[0037] Comparative Example 3 Fig. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example configuration of an electronic device according to Comparative Example 3. As shown in Fig. 6 , a display device 300 according to Comparative Example 3 includes a circuit board 330 on which a first power supply circuit 310 and a second power supply circuit 320 are mounted, a display panel 340, a first flexible substrate 350 and a second flexible substrate 360 ​​coupled between the circuit board 330 and the display panel 340, respectively, a first wiring 370 electrically connected to the first power supply circuit 310, passing through the first flexible substrate 350, and electrically connected to the display panel 340, and a second wiring 380 electrically connected to the second power supply circuit 320, passing through the second flexible substrate 360, and electrically connected to the display panel 340.

[0038] According to the configuration of Comparative Example 3, due to individual differences between the first power supply circuit 310 and the second power supply circuit 320, the first wiring 370 and the second wiring 380 supply different voltages to the display panel 340. In contrast, according to the configuration of the present disclosure, the first wiring W1 and the second wiring W2 can each supply the same first voltage V1 to the display panel DP.

[0039] Example 1 A display device 100 according to Example 1 of the present disclosure had the configuration shown in FIG. 1 . In Example 1, when the display panel DP displayed a solid white color, the display panel DP consumed a current of 2.0 A. The allowable currents of the connection between the first flexible member F1 and the display panel DP and the connection between the second flexible member F2 and the display panel DP were each 1.6 A. Therefore, the first threshold and the second threshold were set to 1.2 A, and the third threshold was set to 2.4 A.

[0040] (Example 2) Fig. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a display device according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 7, the display device 100 according to Example 2 additionally includes a third flexible member F3 coupled between the circuit board CB and the display panel DP, and a fifth wiring W5 electrically connected to a fourth port P4 of the integrated circuit element 10, passing through the third flexible member F3, and electrically connected to the display panel DP. The integrated circuit element 10 according to Example 2 additionally includes a fourth port P4 from which the first voltage V1 is extracted, and a current limiting circuit electrically connected between the constant voltage source CVS and the fourth port P4 and limiting the current from the fourth port P4 to be equal to or less than a fourth threshold.

[0041] In Example 2, when the display panel DP displayed a solid white image, the display panel DP consumed a current of 2.0 A. The allowable currents of the connection between the first flexible member F1 and the display panel DP, the connection between the second flexible member F2 and the display panel DP, and the connection between the third flexible member F3 and the display panel DP were each 0.9 A. Therefore, the first threshold, the second threshold, and the fourth threshold were set to 0.8 A, and the third threshold was set to 2.4 A.

[0042] It should be understood that the integrated circuit element 10 according to the present disclosure may have four or more ports for extracting the first voltage V1, and the display device 100 according to the present disclosure may have four or more flexible members coupled between the circuit board CB and the display panel DP.

[0043] [Embodiment 2] Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing an example configuration of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 8, an electronic device 110 according to the present disclosure includes a display device 100 according to the present disclosure. The electronic device 110 may be, for example, a portable device such as a smartphone or a laptop computer.

[0044] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment.

[0045] 10 Integrated circuit element 110 Electronic device CB Circuit board CU Control unit CVS Constant voltage source D1 First data line D2 Second data line DP Display panel ED Self-luminous element E1 Common electrode E2 Pixel electrode E3 Electro-optically active layer including luminescent layer F1 First flexible member F2 Second flexible member L1 First current limiting circuit L2 Second current limiting circuit P1 First port P2 Second port P3 Third port P4 Fourth port PC Pixel circuit PX Pixel V1 First voltage V2 Second voltage W1 First wiring W2 Second wiring W3 Third wiring W4 Fourth wiring W5 Fifth wiring

Claims

1. An integrated circuit element comprising: a constant voltage source that generates a first voltage; a first port and a second port that respectively extract the first voltage; a first current limiting circuit connected between the constant voltage source and the first port that limits the current from the first port to be equal to or less than a first threshold value; and a second current limiting circuit connected between the constant voltage source and the second port that limits the current from the second port to be equal to or less than a second threshold value.

2. The integrated circuit element according to claim 1, further comprising a detection circuit that detects when at least one current limiting function of the first current limiting circuit and the second current limiting circuit is activated.

3. A display device comprising: a circuit board on which the integrated circuit element according to claim 1 or 2 is mounted; a display panel; a first flexible member and a second flexible member respectively connected between the circuit board and the display panel; a first wiring connected to the first port and passing through the first flexible member; and a second wiring connected to the second port and passing through the second flexible member.

4. The constant voltage source generates a second voltage different from the first voltage, the integrated circuit element further comprises a third port that extracts the second voltage, the display device according to claim 3 further comprises a third wiring connected to the third port and passing through the first flexible member, and a fourth wiring connected to the third port and passing through the second flexible member.

5. The third wiring passes through the side of the first flexible member on the side of the second flexible member with respect to the first wiring, and the fourth wiring passes through the side of the second flexible member on the side of the first flexible member with respect to the second wiring in the second flexible member, according to the display device of claim 4.

6. The display panel has a common electrode provided in common to a plurality of pixels, and the first wiring and the second wiring are connected to the common electrode, according to the display device of any one of claims 3 to 5.

7. The display device according to any one of claims 3 to 6 further comprises a control unit, the integrated circuit element notifies the control unit that at least one current limiting function of the first current limiting circuit and the second current limiting circuit is activated, and when notified that the current limiting function is activated, the control unit causes the display panel to display a warning image.

8. A display device according to claim 7, further comprising: a first data line connected between the control unit and the display panel, passing through the side of the second flexible member with respect to the first wiring in the first flexible member; and a second data line connected between the control unit and the display panel, passing through the side of the first flexible member with respect to the second wiring in the second flexible member, wherein the control unit causes the display panel to display the warning image through the first data line and the second data line.

9. The display device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the display panel is a self-emitting display panel having a plurality of self-emitting elements.

10. An electronic device including the display device according to any one of claims 3 to 9.

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