Gate Driver Start Circuit Area Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Display devices, particularly touch screen-integrated displays, face challenges in minimizing the size of the gate driver area to reduce the bezel size and improve touch sensitivity by simplifying the lines for start signals and enhancing the output characteristics of start signals.
Innovation Solution
A gate driver with multiple stage groups and start circuits that output start signals to the uppermost stages, allowing for reduced area occupation and improved signal output through pull-up transistors and bootstrapping capacitors, enabling efficient operation during both display and touch sensing periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the gate driver uses a conventional configuration with multiple start signal lines for each stage group, then the operation reliability is maintained, but the gate driver area increases and the bezel size enlarges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple start signal lines into a single shared start signal line that serves all stage groups. The start circuits in each stage group independently generate start signals from this shared line, eliminating the need for separate dedicated start signal lines for each stage group. This merging approach significantly reduces the gate driver area and simplifies the overall line configuration while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared start signal line performs a universal function by providing start signals to multiple stage groups simultaneously. Each start circuit within the stage groups can independently utilize this single line to generate and distribute start signals to their respective stages, making the start signal line multi-functional and reducing the total number of lines required.
2Area of stationary object
If the gate driver area is reduced to minimize bezel size, then the display device compactness improves, but the output characteristics of start signals may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The gate driver is segmented into multiple independent stage groups, each equipped with its own start circuit. This segmentation allows each start circuit to independently generate and control start signals for its respective stages, ensuring that the reduced gate driver area does not compromise the output characteristics. Each segment operates autonomously, maintaining signal integrity despite the compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The start circuits act as intermediary components between the shared start signal line and the individual stages. These intermediary circuits receive the start signal from the shared line and generate the necessary output characteristics for driving their respective stages, thereby maintaining signal quality and reliability even in a compact gate driver configuration with reduced area.
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple start signal lines are used for each stage group, then the start signal distribution is simplified, but the number of lines increases and manufacturing cost rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple dedicated start signal lines into a single shared start signal line that serves all stage groups. This consolidation reduces the total number of lines that need to be manufactured and routed across the display panel, directly lowering manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining the ability to properly distribute start signals to all necessary stages through the start circuits.
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
This configuration reduces the number of lines required for the gate driver, minimizes the gate driver area, and enhances the output characteristics of start signals, leading to improved touch sensitivity and reduced manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
enabling efficient operation during both display and touch sensing periods
Data Source
AI summary
A gate driver includes a plurality of stage groups each including a plurality of stages; and a plurality of start circuits each configured to output a start signal to each of the plurality of stage groups, wherein each of the plurality of start circuits outputs the start signal to an uppermost stage among the plurality of stages of each of the plurality of stage groups, so that an area of the gate driver can be reduced.