Micro-LED Driver Layout for Tighter Pixel Pitch Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-LED displays face challenges in reducing pixel pitch and increasing resolution due to the need for PWM circuits on the same surface as micro-LEDs, leading to high manufacturing complexity, high costs, and limited pixel pitch reduction, which is infeasible for small devices like laptops and smartphones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a micro-LED array on one side of a substrate with corresponding drivers on the opposite side, using matrix and assist driver circuits to control multiple micro-LEDs, reducing the number of drivers and enabling closer pixel placement, thus increasing pixel density and resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If PWM circuits are placed on the same surface as micro-LEDs to control each pixel, then each pixel can be precisely controlled, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the driver circuits from the same plane as the micro-LED array to a different dimension by placing them on a flexible printed circuit board that can be positioned behind or around the display area. This spatial reconfiguration allows each micro-LED to be controlled individually without requiring complex on-pixel circuitry, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining precise pixel control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible printed circuit board as an intermediary component that carries the driver circuits away from the micro-LED array. This mediator enables signal transmission to each individual micro-LED without requiring the circuits to be integrated directly onto the pixel surface, thus simplifying the overall device structure and manufacturing process.
2Measurement precision
If drivers are placed on the same surface as micro-LEDs, then each pixel can be controlled independently, but pixel pitch reduction is limited due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating driver circuits to a flexible printed circuit board positioned in a different spatial dimension (behind or around the display), the patent eliminates the space constraints that previously limited pixel pitch reduction. This allows micro-LEDs to be placed much closer together on the display surface without interference from driver circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the display system into two distinct functional modules: the micro-LED array for light emission and the flexible printed circuit board for signal control. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, enabling smaller pixel pitches in the display while keeping the control circuits separate and manageable.
3Measurement precision
If individual drivers are used for each micro-LED pixel, then each pixel can be precisely controlled, but the number of drivers and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple driver circuit functions onto a single flexible printed circuit board, which can control multiple micro-LED pixels simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the total number of separate driver components needed while maintaining the ability to precisely control each pixel through coordinated signaling, thereby reducing overall power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible printed circuit board is designed as a universal control platform that can interface with and control multiple micro-LED pixels through standardized connection methods. This multi-functional approach allows a single driver system to manage many pixels efficiently, reducing the power overhead associated with having separate dedicated drivers for each pixel.
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 approach reduces the number of drivers and power consumption, lowers parts costs, and allows for higher pixel density and improved resolution in micro-LED displays, making them suitable for smaller devices.
Implementation Method 1
Micro-LEDs include inorganic structures with typical 'on' voltage drops ranging from 1.9 volts (V) to 3 V depending on a color displayed
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to control a micro-LED display are disclosed. An example apparatus for a micro-LED display, the apparatus includes a micro-LED matrix, a first driver circuit electrically coupled to micro-LEDs of the micro-LED matrix, a second driver circuit electrically coupled to the first driver circuit, the second driver circuit to provide at least (a) a scan signal and (b) a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal to the first driver circuit, the first driver circuit to drive the micro-LEDs based on the scan signal and the PWM signal.