Driver IC Channel Control for Variable Display Resolutions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing driver ICs for flat panel displays have a fixed number of channels, requiring multiple ICs for different horizontal resolutions, which increases chip size and cost due to the need for additional circuits and pins to adjust channel numbers.
Innovation Solution
A channel control unit that varies the number of channels in a driver IC without adding a circuit or optional pins, using an ineffective channel controller to generate dummy data for ineffective channels, allowing the same driver IC to be used across different resolutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the number of channels in driver IC is fixed to match specific horizontal resolution, then the driver IC can be simpler and cheaper for that specific resolution, but multiple different driver ICs are required for different resolutions, increasing overall system complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The driver IC is designed with a fixed number of channels that exceeds the maximum required channels for any single resolution. By making the driver IC universal with sufficient channels for all resolutions, the same driver IC can be used across multiple display resolutions without requiring resolution-specific variants, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic channel selection where the driver IC can selectively activate or deactivate specific channels based on the required horizontal resolution. This dynamic configuration allows a single driver IC with fixed channels to adapt to different resolutions by enabling only the necessary channels, resolving the contradiction between fixed simplicity and variable adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional circuits and optional pins are added to adjust the number of channels in driver IC, then the driver IC can be adapted to different resolutions, but the chip size increases and IC costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The driver IC is pre-designed with all possible channels already present and configured, eliminating the need for additional adjustment circuits or optional pins. The preliminary inclusion of all channels allows the driver IC to adapt to different resolutions through simple configuration rather than physical modification, thereby maintaining low device complexity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (which channels are active) rather than physical structure (adding circuits or pins). By controlling the activation state of pre-existing channels through parameter adjustment, the driver IC achieves channel number adaptability without increasing circuit complexity or chip size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional circuits and optional pins are added to adjust the number of channels in driver IC, then the driver IC can be adapted to different resolutions, but IC costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The driver IC is designed as a universal component with a fixed number of channels sufficient for all required resolutions. This universality eliminates the need for additional adjustment circuits and optional pins, keeping the manufacturing process simple and costs low while maintaining the ability to support multiple resolutions through channel selection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating multiple different driver IC designs for different resolutions, the patent uses a single standardized driver IC design that can be copied and used for all resolutions. This approach eliminates the need for expensive custom circuits and pins, reducing IC costs while maintaining resolution compatibility through software or configuration control.
Data Source
AI summary
A channel control unit and a display device using the same are provided. The channel control unit can include a data driver that converts pixel data into data voltages and supplies the data voltages to data lines, and an ineffective channel controller that receives channel data, generates dummy data during an ineffective channel section indicated by the channel data, and sends the dummy data to the data driver.