Flat Panel Display Switch Unit Using Preliminary Signal Amplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing driving circuits for flat panel displays face challenges in minimizing the size of MOS transistors for switch and amplification driver units, leading to increased circuit area and power consumption due to signal attenuation caused by turn-on resistance, necessitating larger transistors to improve driving capability.

Innovation Solution

A driving circuit with a polarity control signal generating unit, signal amplifying unit, polarity reversal switch unit, and dual output driving unit that selectively transfers positive and negative gamma values to channels, using small MOS transistors by amplifying signals before switching, thereby reducing circuit area and improving driving capability without signal attenuation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the size of MOS transistors for switch and amplification driver units is increased to improve driving capability and reduce signal attenuation, then the driving capability is improved, but the circuit area increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving capabilityVSAvoidcircuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by amplifying the signal before it reaches the switch unit. The amplification driver unit boosts the signal strength in advance, so that when the signal passes through the switch unit with small MOS transistors, the turn-on resistance does not cause significant attenuation. This allows the use of smaller transistors while maintaining driving capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the amplification function before the switching function, rather than relying on large switch transistors to provide both switching and amplification. This reversal allows the switch unit to use smaller transistors while the separate amplification unit ensures sufficient signal strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the size of MOS transistors for switch and amplification driver units is increased to reduce signal attenuation, then the signal attenuation is reduced, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal attenuationVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The amplification driver unit performs preliminary signal amplification before the signal enters the switch unit. This ensures that the signal has sufficient strength to overcome the turn-on resistance of the switch transistor, reducing attenuation without requiring the switch transistor itself to be large and power-consuming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the functions of amplification and switching into separate units. The amplification driver unit handles signal boosting, while the switch unit handles signal routing with small transistors. This functional segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently, reducing overall power consumption compared to using large transistors for both functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the size of MOS transistors for switch and amplification driver units is increased to improve driving capability, then the driving capability is improved, but the driving time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving capabilityVSAvoiddriving time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The amplification driver unit amplifies the signal in advance before it reaches the switch unit. This preliminary amplification ensures that the signal has sufficient strength to quickly overcome the turn-on resistance of the switch transistor, enabling fast switching without requiring large, slow transistors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional sequence by amplifying the signal before switching, rather than relying on large switch transistors to provide both amplification and switching. This allows the switch unit to use small, fast transistors while the separate amplification unit ensures sufficient signal strength for fast switching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8194023B2Switch unit in a driving circuit of flat panel display and driving method thereof

Publication Date: 2012.06.05 MAGNACHIP SEMICON LTD

AI summary

A driving circuit of a flat panel display can transfer a signal input from a decoder to a corresponding channel while minimizing a size of a MOS transistor for a switch or an amplification driver. The driving circuit of the flat panel display includes a first data signal processing unit for converting a first display information that will be displayed on the flat panel display into a positive gamma value, a second data signal processing unit for converting a second display information that will be displayed on the flat panel display into a negative gamma value, an output driving unit for outputting the negative and positive gamma values to the flat panel display, and a switch unit for selectively transferring the positive and negative gamma values to the output driving unit.