DEMUX Circuit Arrangement for Non-Rectangular Display Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Display panels with non-rectangular shapes face challenges in designing demultiplexer (DEMUX) circuits due to non-integral multiples of data lines and output terminals, leading to asymmetric DEMUX circuits and uneven display quality.
Innovation Solution
The display panel employs a combination of M first DEMUX circuits and N second DEMUX circuits, with H*x = M*a1 + N*b1, where M > N, a1 > 2, b1 ≥ 2, and a1 > b1, and (M + N) is even, allowing for symmetric arrangement and load balancing by connecting control signal lines to switches and dummy switches, facilitating even signal distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single type of DEMUX circuit with fixed output terminal ratio (e.g., 1:3, 1:6, 1:9, 1:12) is used, then the circuit design is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the display panel cannot accommodate non-rectangular shapes and the number of data lines must be an integral multiple of the output terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The DEMUX circuit is segmented into multiple independent DEMUX units with different output terminal configurations. Instead of using a single uniform DEMUX circuit, the patent divides the demultiplexing function across multiple DEMUX circuits with varying output terminal counts (e.g., some with 3 output terminals, others with 6, 9, or 12), allowing flexible adaptation to different data line configurations in non-rectangular display panels.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the non-display area are assigned different DEMUX circuit types based on local requirements. The patent places DEMUX circuits with different output terminal ratios at different locations to match the local data line distribution, ensuring that each region's DEMUX configuration optimally serves its corresponding display area characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of data lines is not an integral multiple of the DEMUX output terminals, then non-rectangular display shapes can be accommodated, but the DEMUX circuit becomes asymmetric and display uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent intentionally introduces asymmetric DEMUX circuit configurations to achieve symmetric display results. By strategically placing DEMUX circuits with different output terminal ratios (creating circuit asymmetry) in specific locations, the system compensates for the inherent asymmetry in non-rectangular display geometries, thereby achieving uniform display quality across the entire panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent balances the load distribution across all DEMUX circuits by carefully selecting the combination and placement of different DEMUX types. This ensures that each pixel receives approximately equal signal strength and timing, creating an equipotential condition for signal distribution despite the asymmetric underlying circuit architecture.
3Shape
If DEMUX circuits are arranged asymmetrically to match non-integral data line multiples, then the display shape flexibility is improved, but load distribution becomes uneven and display quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies key parameters of the DEMUX circuits including the number of output terminals, the number of switches per DEMUX, and the control signal line assignments. By adjusting these parameters across different DEMUX units, the system achieves both shape flexibility and load uniformity - for example, using a mix of 3-output, 6-output, 9-output, and 12-output DEMUX circuits with corresponding variations in switch counts (3, 6, 9, or 12 switches) to balance the overall load distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel and a display device are provided. The display panel has a display area and a non-display area. The display panel includes pixels arranged in H columns and H*x data lines arranged in the display area and DEMUX circuits arranged in the non-display area. Each pixel includes x sub-pixels, and the data line is electrically connected to the sub-pixel. Each DEMUX circuit includes signal output terminals electrically connected to the data lines. The DEMUX circuits include M first DEMUX circuits and N second DEMUX circuits. Each first DEMUX circuit includes a first signal input terminal and al first signal output terminals. Each second DEMUX circuit includes a second signal input terminal and b1 second signal output terminals. H*x=M*a1+N*b1, where H, x, M, N, a1, and b1 are positive integers, M>N, a1>2, b1≥2, a1>b1, and (M+N) is an even number.