Triangular Test Point ESD Protection in LCD Panels

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid crystal display devices face electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage, which is addressed inadequately by existing solutions that increase manufacturing costs and can affect signal transmission.

Innovation Solution

A liquid crystal display device with a triangular test point and a grounding line arranged opposite to the apex, facilitating tip discharging of static electricity to the ground without additional components, ensuring effective ESD protection without impacting signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) is added to the PCB for ESD protection, then the device's resistance to electrostatic discharge damage is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and bright/dark lines appear in the panel

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveESD protection capabilityVSAvoidcomponent quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the ESD protection function from the conventional TVS component approach and implements it through a dedicated grounding line structure. The grounding line is electrically connected to the test point and provides a low-impedance path for ESD current, eliminating the need for additional TVS components while maintaining protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding line acts as an intermediary element between the test point and the ground reference. It provides a controlled impedance path that safely directs ESD energy away from sensitive circuits without requiring active protection components, thus simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) is added to the PCB for ESD protection, then the device's resistance to electrostatic discharge damage is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveESD protection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the ESD protection function from the conventional TVS component approach and implements it through a dedicated grounding line structure. The grounding line is electrically connected to the test point and provides a low-impedance path for ESD current, eliminating the need for additional TVS components while maintaining protection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding line implementation uses simple, low-cost PCB trace structures instead of expensive TVS components. This approach treats the protection mechanism as a passive structural feature rather than an active component, significantly reducing material costs while providing effective ESD protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If the test point is designed with a sharp apex for tip discharging, then the ESD protection capability is improved, but the risk of point discharging damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveESD protection capabilityVSAvoidpoint discharging risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The grounding line acts as an intermediary element between the test point and the ground reference. It provides a controlled impedance path that safely directs ESD energy away from sensitive circuits without requiring active protection components, thus simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding line is pre-configured as a low-impedance path that cushions the impact of ESD events before they can reach sensitive circuits. This protective structure is built into the PCB design from the outset, providing inherent protection without requiring additional active components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enhances the device's resistance to electrostatic discharge damage while maintaining signal integrity and reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for extra components like transient voltage suppressors.

Implementation Method 1

the test point has an apex projecting beyond one side of the output line that is adjacent to the grounding line and facing the grounding line and not in contact engagement with the grounding line to induce a tip discharging effect for releasing static electricity from the test point to the grounding line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTip discharging: Electrostatic Discharge

Data Source

PatentUS10078234B2Liquid crystal display device

Publication Date: 2018.09.18 TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, in which a test point (TP) is constructed as a triangular structure with a grounding line (L3) arranged opposite to and facing an apex of the triangular structure, such that when static electricity is applied to the test point (TP), the static electricity is discharged, through tip discharging, from the apex of the test point (TP) to the grounding line (L3) to be released through the grounding line (L3) to the ground, whereby the capability of the liquid crystal display device resisting damage caused by static electricity is enhanced and compared to the prior art, no additional component is needed and the transmission of signals is not affected, thereby helping reduce cost and improve stability of the liquid crystal display panel.