Gate Driver Buffer Using Medium-Voltage Stages for High Output

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LCD driver IC processes require a mix of low, medium, and high voltage circuit elements, leading to increased costs and complexity due to the need for multiple masks and layers, particularly in the gate driver, which uses high voltage circuit elements to achieve high output voltages.

Innovation Solution

A gate driver design utilizing medium voltage circuit elements and a circuit buffer structure with multiple stages of transistors to output high voltage signals without requiring high voltage circuit elements, by switching voltages between specific levels to maintain voltage differences within the withstand voltage of the transistors, thereby reducing the number of masks and layers needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If high voltage circuit elements are used in the gate driver to achieve high output voltage, then the output voltage capability is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to requiring multiple masks and layers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltageVSAvoidnumber of masks and layers

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gate driver is divided into multiple stages, with each stage using medium voltage circuit elements to generate a portion of the final high voltage output. By segmenting the voltage generation into sequential stages, the system achieves high output voltage without requiring high voltage circuit elements that would increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage parameter approach by using medium voltage elements (5-6V) in multiple stages rather than single high voltage elements (25-30V). Each stage transforms medium voltage to a higher intermediate voltage, and the cumulative effect produces the required high output voltage, thereby avoiding the need for high voltage circuit elements and reducing the number of masks and layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Power

If high voltage circuit elements are used in the gate driver, then the high voltage output is achieved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltageVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gate driver is divided into multiple stages, with each stage using medium voltage circuit elements to generate a portion of the final high voltage output. By segmenting the voltage generation into sequential stages, the system achieves high output voltage without requiring high voltage circuit elements that would increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage parameter approach by using medium voltage elements (5-6V) in multiple stages rather than single high voltage elements (25-30V). Each stage transforms medium voltage to a higher intermediate voltage, and the cumulative effect produces the required high output voltage, thereby avoiding the need for high voltage circuit elements and reducing the number of masks and layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If high voltage circuit elements are used in the gate driver, then the high voltage output is achieved, but the process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput voltageVSAvoidprocess time

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gate driver is divided into multiple stages, with each stage using medium voltage circuit elements to generate a portion of the final high voltage output. By segmenting the voltage generation into sequential stages, the system achieves high output voltage without requiring high voltage circuit elements that would increase device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the voltage parameter approach by using medium voltage elements (5-6V) in multiple stages rather than single high voltage elements (25-30V). Each stage transforms medium voltage to a higher intermediate voltage, and the cumulative effect produces the required high output voltage, thereby avoiding the need for high voltage circuit elements and reducing the number of masks and layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9438235B2Gate driver and related circuit buffer

Publication Date: 2016.09.06 SITRONIX TECH CORP

AI summary

A circuit buffer for outputting a voltage signal having a magnitude greater than a withstand voltage of any circuit element in the circuit buffer includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to an input terminal and an output terminal of the circuit buffer respectively, a third terminal electrically connected to a first power supply terminal, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the first transistor. The second transistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the input terminal and the output terminal of the circuit buffer respectively, a third terminal electrically connected to a second power supply terminal, and a fourth terminal electrically connected to the third terminal of the second transistor. Voltages of the first and second power supply terminal are switched between two different levels, respectively.