Display Panel Driving Device Fault Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for detecting faults in data lines of display panels, such as open or short faults, are inefficient and increase manufacturing costs, especially as display resolution increases and fault detection is limited to areas with separate test devices or circuits.

Innovation Solution

A device and method using a driving device with multiple channel circuits to supply different data voltages to data lines, a connection circuit to control line connections, and a control circuit to determine faults by measuring voltages, allowing for in situ testing of data lines without additional test devices or circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate test devices or circuits are added to detect faults in data lines, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving device is designed to perform both its primary function of driving display pixels and the secondary function of testing data line faults. The channel circuits can operate in two modes: normal driving mode where they supply data voltages to pixels, and testing mode where they charge data lines and detect faults by measuring voltages. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate test devices or circuits, resolving the contradiction between improved fault detection capability and reduced device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing function is merged with the driving function by integrating the fault detection capability into the existing driving device architecture. The same channel circuits, connection circuits, and control circuits used for driving pixels are repurposed to perform fault detection. By combining these functions into a single integrated system, the patent avoids increasing device complexity while maintaining reliable fault detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate test devices or circuits are added to detect faults in data lines, then fault detection capability is improved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The driving device is designed to perform both its primary function of driving display pixels and the secondary function of testing data line faults. The channel circuits can operate in two modes: normal driving mode where they supply data voltages to pixels, and testing mode where they charge data lines and detect faults by measuring voltages. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate test devices or circuits, resolving the contradiction between improved fault detection capability and reduced device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The testing function is merged with the driving function by integrating the fault detection capability into the existing driving device architecture. The same channel circuits, connection circuits, and control circuits used for driving pixels are repurposed to perform fault detection. By combining these functions into a single integrated system, the patent avoids increasing device complexity while maintaining reliable fault detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If data line width is reduced and spaces between data lines are narrowed to achieve higher resolution, then display resolution is improved, but fault occurrence frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidfault occurrence frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements fault detection capability within the driving device itself, enabling preliminary detection of data line faults before they affect display performance. By continuously monitoring data line voltages during normal operation and performing dedicated testing when needed, the system can identify faults early in narrow data lines, compensating for the increased vulnerability caused by reduced line width and spacing required for high resolution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables simple and cost-effective testing of display panels by determining open faults in data lines using voltage measurements, reducing manufacturing costs and improving fault detection accuracy across the entire panel.

Implementation Method 1

the first data line and the second data line share charges by the connection circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCharge sharing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11508274B2Display panel driving device

Publication Date: 2022.11.22 SILICON WORKS CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a technique for determining a fault of a data line disposed in a display panel using a data driving device. The data driving device may determine a fault of a data line by supplying a data voltage corresponding to a greyscale value to a data line and checking whether another data line is influenced by the data voltage.