Gate Driving Circuit Shift Register Pull-Down TFT Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reliability of gate driving circuits in display devices is compromised due to the deterioration of thin film transistors, particularly the pull-down TFTs, which are subjected to excessive stress and abnormal operation, leading to reduced reliability and performance.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of resistors in series between the output node and the low-level power voltage substitutes the pull-down TFT, reducing the turn-on time of the ninth TFT and improving the reliability of the shift register by omitting the pull-down TFT, thereby stabilizing the gate voltage output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a pull-down TFT is used in the shift register stage, then the gate voltage can be pulled down to low level, but the TFT deteriorates due to excessive stress and abnormal operation reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of shift registerVSAvoidTFT deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the pull-down TFT from the shift register stage circuit. By taking out the problematic pull-down TFT component, the source of deterioration and abnormal operation is eliminated, thereby improving the reliability of the shift register without the harmful effects of TFT stress and degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the durable but stress-prone pull-down TFT with resistors that can handle the pull-down function without deteriorating. The resistors serve as a more reliable, maintenance-free alternative that doesn't suffer from the same degradation mechanisms as TFTs under continuous stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If the ninth TFT turn-on time is reduced, then the reliability of the shift register is improved, but the gate voltage stability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of shift registerVSAvoidgate voltage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces resistors as intermediary components between the ninth TFT and the low-level power voltage. These resistors mediate the pull-down function, allowing the ninth TFT to have reduced turn-on time while the resistors ensure stable gate voltage by providing controlled current paths and preventing voltage fluctuations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the pull-down TFT is omitted, then the reliability is improved by preventing abnormal operations, but additional resistors must be added to the circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of gate driving circuitVSAvoidcircuit structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pull-down function with the existing resistor network in the circuit. By combining the pull-down capability into the resistor configuration rather than using a separate pull-down TFT, the circuit achieves improved reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3032526B1Gate driving circuit and display device including the same
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 LG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3032526B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3032526B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3032526B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gate driving circuit (140) sequentially outputting a gate voltage using a high level power voltage (VDD), a low level power voltage (VSS), a start voltage (VST), a previous stage gate voltage, a next stage gate voltage (VNEXT) and a clock (CLK), includes: a shift register (SR) including a plurality of stages (SRS) connected to each other by a cascade connection, each of the plurality of stages (SRS) including: a first thin film transistor (TFT) (T1) switched by the start voltage (VST) or the previous stage gate voltage and transmitting the high level power voltage (VDD) to a Q node (Q); a second TFT (T2) switched by the next stage gate voltage (VNEXT)I and transmitting the low level power voltage (VSS) to the Q node (Q); a third TFT (T8) switched by a voltage of the Q node (Q) and transmitting the clock (CLK) to an output node; and a first resistor (R1) connected between the output node and the low level power voltage (VSS).