LED Display Driver Circuitry for Uniform Low Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

LED displays face issues with flickering and non-uniform brightness, particularly at low grayscale values, due to limitations in existing Scrambled Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) schemes which result in large increments in optical energy output and require additional power sources or complex systems.

Innovation Solution

A driver circuitry with a scrambled PWM generator that distributes grayscale values into segments using specific rules to generate short PWM pulses, incorporating compensation values derived from calibration data at high and low brightness levels to optimize pulse width distribution across segments, ensuring consistent brightness and reduced flickering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If Scrambled PWM is used to increase refresh rate, then visual refresh rate is improved, but brightness uniformity deteriorates at low grayscale values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefresh rateVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the pulse width distribution parameters in Scrambled PWM based on grayscale value ranges. Different segmentation strategies are used for different brightness levels, with specific compensation values applied to low grayscale values to ensure minimum pulse width thresholds are met, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity across the full grayscale range while preserving high refresh rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If pulse width is extended to avoid flicker, then brightness uniformity is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing selective pulse width extension only for specific segments and grayscale ranges where needed. Instead of uniformly extending all pulses, the compensation mechanism targets only the low grayscale values that cause visible flicker and non-uniformity, leaving higher grayscale values unchanged. This localized approach maintains brightness uniformity where problematic while minimizing unnecessary power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If additional power sources are added to extend pulse duration, then brightness uniformity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness uniformityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by implementing a self-compensating Scrambled PWM system that automatically adjusts pulse width distribution based on the inherent characteristics of the LED and display timing. The compensation values and segmentation parameters are pre-calculated and stored, allowing the system to self-regulate brightness uniformity without requiring external power sources or complex additional circuitry. The system uses its existing resources to solve its own brightness uniformity problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

The solution enhances the uniformity of brightness and reduces flickering across the LED display, particularly at low brightness levels, by fine-tuning optical energy output and maintaining high refresh rates without the need for additional power sources, thereby improving image quality and reducing system complexity.

Implementation Method 1

PWM generates a series of voltage pulses to drive an LED. When the voltage of the pulse is higher than the forward voltage of the LED, the LED is turned on. Otherwise, the LED remains off. Accordingly, when the pulse amplitude exceeds a threshold, the pulse duration (i.e., pulse width) of the PWM signal decides the on-time and off-time of the LED.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse Width Modulation:

Implementation Method 2

Modern LED (light emitting diode) display panels require higher grayscale to accomplish higher color depth and higher visual refresh rate to reduce flickering.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight Emitting Diode effect: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS10565928B2Method and apparatus for compensating image data for LED display
Publication Date: 2020.02.18 SCT
  • US10565928B2 patent drawing
  • US10565928B2 patent drawing
  • US10565928B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An LED display system has an LED display panel coupled to a driver circuitry. The driver circuitry includes a scrambled PWM generator, a register, and a memory. The driver circuit receives an image data from an external source and, after certain compensations, the compensated data is sent to the scrambled PWM generator to be distributed according to a new set of rules. Compared with existing technologies, this LED display has a host of benefits, including having a uniform optical energy output at low brightness.