Pixel Circuit Digital Control Driving IC Complexity

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity and large size of driving ICs in liquid crystal displays result in high manufacturing costs due to their complicated structure, which includes digital, digital-analogy conversion, and analogue circuit parts.

Innovation Solution

A pixel circuit comprising a selection circuit, a charging/discharging circuit, and a pre-charging circuit that allows direct utilization of digital signals to charge or discharge pixel capacitors, eliminating the need for digital-analogy conversion and analogue circuitry, thereby simplifying the driving IC structure and reducing its size and manufacturing cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the driving IC includes digital circuit part, digital-analogy conversion part and analogy circuit part, then the pixel capacitor can be charged with analogy signal, but the structure becomes complicated and size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging precisionVSAvoiddriving IC structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the digital-analogy conversion part and analogy circuit part from the driving IC, keeping only the digital circuit part. The pixel circuit directly uses digital signals to control transistor switching for charging/discharging the pixel capacitor, eliminating the need for complex conversion circuits while maintaining charging precision through direct digital control of the capacitor charging process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional electrical signal conversion mechanism (digital-to-analogy conversion) with a direct digital control mechanism. Instead of converting digital signals to analogy signals through complex circuits, the system uses digital signals to directly control transistor switching states, which in turn control the charging and discharging of the pixel capacitor through voltage level changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If the driving IC includes digital circuit part, digital-analogy conversion part and analogy circuit part, then the pixel capacitor can be charged with analogy signal, but the size of driving IC increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging precisionVSAvoiddriving IC size

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the digital-analogy conversion part and analogy circuit part from the driving IC, keeping only the digital circuit part. The pixel circuit directly uses digital signals to control transistor switching for charging/discharging the pixel capacitor, eliminating the need for complex conversion circuits while maintaining charging precision through direct digital control of the capacitor charging process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the functions of digital signal processing and pixel capacitor control into a single integrated digital circuit. The digital circuit part directly controls the pixel circuit without requiring separate conversion and analogy processing circuits, reducing the overall area of the driving IC while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If the driving IC has complicated structure and large size, then the pixel capacitor can be charged with analogy signal, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the digital-analogy conversion part and analogy circuit part from the driving IC, keeping only the digital circuit part. The pixel circuit directly uses digital signals to control transistor switching for charging/discharging the pixel capacitor, eliminating the need for complex conversion circuits while maintaining charging precision through direct digital control of the capacitor charging process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive, complex analogy circuit components with simpler, cheaper digital circuit components. The digital circuit part uses standard digital transistors and switching elements that are cheaper to manufacture than precision analogy circuits, reducing the overall manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate performance for the application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS10424261B2Pixel circuit and driving method to control charging or discharging of pixel capacitor

Publication Date: 2019.09.24 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A pixel circuit and driving method thereof and display apparatus are disclosed. The pixel circuit comprises: a selection circuit (P1), whose input terminal is connected to a selection signal terminal, a high level signal terminal and a low level signal terminal, configured to control charging or discharging of a pixel capacitor according to a digital signal input by the selection signal terminal; a charging/discharging circuit (P2), whose input terminal is connected to an output terminal of the selection circuit and a same row gate line signal terminal corresponding to the pixel capacitor and output terminal is connected to the pixel capacitor, configured to charge or discharge the pixel capacitor under the control of the selection circuit; and a pre-charging circuit (P3), whose input terminal is connected to a previous row gate line signal terminal corresponding to the pixel capacitor and output terminal is connected to the pixel capacitor, configured to provide a reference voltage. This pixel circuit saves the digital-analogy conversion circuit and the analogy circuit part in the driving IC.