Chiplet Display Device Serial Control Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital display technologies face limitations in controlling pixels due to the need for extensive wiring, high-frequency signals, and external driver chips, which lead to flicker, reduced resolution, and increased costs, especially in large displays.
Innovation Solution
A digital display apparatus featuring a substrate with distributed chiplets that include pixel circuits and digital luminance value converters, allowing for serial signal transmission and conversion of digital luminance values to analog pixel-driving signals, reducing the need for extensive wiring and external drivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If passive-matrix control is used with sequential row activation, then device complexity is reduced, but the number of controllable rows is limited to about 100 lines due to perceptible flicker
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple scan zones, each with its own scan signal generator. This segmentation allows different regions to be scanned independently at different rates, enabling high-resolution displays with 1000+ lines to operate without perceptible flicker while maintaining simplified control architecture in each zone.
2Ease of operation
If external driver chips are used to control pixels, then pixel control capability is improved, but wiring complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The driver circuit functionality is extracted from external driver chips and integrated directly into the display substrate. Scan signal generators and pixel control circuits are formed using thin-film transistors fabricated on the same substrate as the pixel array, eliminating the need for external driver chips and extensive wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
Thin-film transistor circuits on the substrate serve multiple functions: they act as pixel switches, signal distribution networks, and local control elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated external driver chips and simplifies the overall wiring structure.
3Speed
If high-frequency signals are used for pixel control, then data transfer speed is improved, but signal propagation delays and wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into multiple scan zones with independent scan signal generators. This segmentation reduces the distance signals must propagate within each zone, enabling high-frequency control signals to be used effectively without excessive propagation delays while maintaining high data transfer speeds.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital display apparatus includes an array of light-emitting pixels, each with a first and second electrode, formed on a display substrate. A plurality of chiplets is located on the display substrate, each chiplet including an electrode connection pad, a signal connection pad, and a pixel circuit. The electrode connection pad is connected to one of the first or second electrodes. Each chiplet includes one or more pixel circuits formed in the chiplet and electrically connected to the corresponding electrode and signal connection pads. A digital image signal is provided to the signal connection pad(s) of at least one of the chiplets. Each pixel circuit converts at least one digital image signal value to a continuously valued analog pixel-driving signal that controls the luminance of a pixel. The display provides higher-performance pixel circuits with digital control resulting in improved image quality.