Bi-Directional Gate Driver Carryout Circuit Without Signal Conflict

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gate driving devices requiring bi-directional scan functionality need extra switches and control signals, increasing circuit complexity and cost, and often result in conflicts between carryout signals.

Innovation Solution

A gate driving device with a bi-directional shift register circuit that generates gate driving signals for a pixel array without extra switches or control signals, using a first and second control unit to produce a conflict-free carryout signal by controlling clock signals for different scan directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If extra switches and control signals are added to achieve bi-directional scan functionality, then the gate driving device can provide bi-directional scan, but the circuit complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebi-directional scan functionalityVSAvoidcircuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shift register circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can scan in both forward and reverse directions, and can output carryout signals for both directions using the same circuit structure without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the carryout signal generation for both forward and reverse directions into a single shared output node. The first and second control units both connect to the same carryout signal output node, merging what would traditionally be separate output paths into one unified structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If extra switches and control signals are added to achieve bi-directional scan functionality, then the gate driving device can provide bi-directional scan, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebi-directional scan functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shift register circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it can scan in both forward and reverse directions, and can output carryout signals for both directions using the same circuit structure without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the carryout signal generation for both forward and reverse directions into a single shared output node. The first and second control units both connect to the same carryout signal output node, merging what would traditionally be separate output paths into one unified structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If extra switches and control signals are removed to reduce circuit complexity, then the circuit complexity decreases, but conflict occurs between carryout signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecircuit complexityVSAvoidsignal conflict

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control units are designed to detect the scanning direction in advance and selectively enable only the appropriate carryout signal generation path. The first control unit generates carryout signals only during forward scanning, while the second control unit generates carryout signals only during reverse scanning, preventing conflicts before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control units act as intermediaries between the shift register circuit and the carryout signal output node. They receive the scanning direction information and selectively control which carryout signal is generated, mediating between the single shared output node and the need to prevent signal conflicts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8884681B2Gate driving devices capable of providing bi-directional scan functionality

Publication Date: 2014.11.11 INNOLUX CORP

AI summary

A gate driving device includes a gate driving unit, a first control unit, a second control unit and a switch unit. The first control unit includes an input terminal receiving a first output signal and a first clock input terminal receiving a first clock signal. The second control unit includes an input terminal receiving a second output signal and a first clock input terminal receiving a second clock signal. The switch unit, the first control unit and the second control unit are coupled to a carryout signal output node for generating a carryout signal at the carryout signal output node which indicates whether the gate driving unit is functioning correctly. The first output signal and the second output signal of the gate driving unit are respectively one signal generated by any two different stages of shift register in the gate driving unit.