Integrated DAC Level Shifter for Flat Panel Gray Voltage Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for flat panel displays require separate DC/DC power supply converters and level shifting circuits to convert digital signals from a 0-5V range to a 0-10V range, leading to increased area usage and power consumption in logic and drive circuits.
Innovation Solution
A DAC with an integrated level shifter that uses a decoder unit, resistor array, and boost circuits to generate and select gray voltages, eliminating the need for a separate DC/DC power supply converter by utilizing a single power supply voltage (VDD) to produce higher voltage outputs through sequential stages and boost circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate DC/DC power supply converters and level shifting circuits are used to convert digital signals from 0-5V to 0-10V, then the voltage conversion function is achieved, but the area usage and power consumption of logic and drive circuits increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DC/DC power supply converter and level shifting circuit functions into the DAC structure itself. The decoder unit includes boost circuits that generate higher voltage outputs (0-10V) directly from the standard power supply voltage (0-5V), eliminating the need for separate external circuits. This integration reduces the overall area occupied by logic and drive circuits while maintaining the voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The DAC structure is designed to perform multiple functions: digital-to-analog conversion, voltage boosting, and level shifting. The decoder unit with its boost circuits can generate higher voltage outputs directly, making the DAC a multi-functional component that replaces what would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits for power conversion and signal level shifting.
2Reliability
If separate DC/DC power supply converters and level shifting circuits are used to convert digital signals from 0-5V to 0-10V, then the voltage conversion function is achieved, but the power consumption of logic and drive circuits increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the DC/DC power supply converter and level shifting circuit functions into the DAC structure itself. The decoder unit includes boost circuits that generate higher voltage outputs (0-10V) directly from the standard power supply voltage (0-5V), eliminating the need for separate external circuits. This integration reduces the overall area occupied by logic and drive circuits while maintaining the voltage conversion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The DAC structure provides its own voltage boosting capability through integrated boost circuits in the decoder unit. Instead of relying on external DC/DC converters, the DAC generates its own higher voltage outputs directly from the standard power supply, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall power consumption.
3Area of stationary object
If a single power supply voltage (VDD) is used to generate higher voltage outputs through boost circuits, then the area and power consumption are reduced, but the circuit complexity within the DAC increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoder unit is divided into multiple stages, with boost circuits integrated at specific stages. This segmentation allows the complex voltage boosting function to be distributed across different parts of the decoder, managing the complexity within the DAC while achieving the desired voltage conversion without requiring separate external circuits.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a decoder unit for receiving an external digital data signal operating over a first predefined voltage range (i.e., 0-5V); a resistor array for generating a plurality of gray voltages defined across a second voltage range that is substantially wider than the first predefined voltage range, and a voltage selecting unit for selecting one of the gray voltages based on an output of the decoder unit, wherein the decoder unit includes a plurality of decoder stages and first and second boost circuits for generating output signals operating over a third voltage range (i.e., 0-7V) that is substantially wider than the first predefined voltage range while not requiring an additional power supply for producing voltages of the third voltage range (i.e., 0-7V).