Pixel Drive Circuit Time Division Multiplexing for Signal Line Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mini LED display technologies face challenges in reducing the number of signal lines required for sub-pixel units, leading to increased process costs and module thickness due to complex lead processes for row and column drive lines.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid drive architecture that combines sub-pixel units and drive units, utilizing a switch unit and drive unit configuration where the switch unit receives scan and data signals to send data signals to sub-pixel units in a time division manner, reducing the number of signal lines by sharing a pixel drive circuit among sub-pixel units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a hybrid drive architecture with shared pixel drive circuit is used, then the number of signal lines is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the switch unit and time-division multiplexing mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple drive circuits into a single shared pixel drive circuit that serves multiple sub-pixel units. The switch unit combines multiple switch transistors to route data signals from a single data line to multiple sub-pixels, effectively combining the functions of what would traditionally require separate dedicated circuits for each sub-pixel, thereby reducing the total number of signal lines while maintaining drive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements time-division multiplexing where the shared pixel drive circuit sequentially drives different sub-pixel units at different time periods. The scan signal operates periodically to enable the switch unit to route data signals to different sub-pixels in sequence, allowing a single data line to serve multiple sub-pixels through periodic time-sliced access rather than requiring simultaneous dedicated lines
2Manufacturing precision
If row and column drive lines are used for sub-pixel units, then the display resolution can be maintained, but the process cost increases due to complex lead processes
Solution Approach 1:
The shared pixel drive circuit serves multiple functions by sequentially driving different sub-pixel units. The same data line and drive circuit are reused across multiple sub-pixels through the switch unit's routing capability, making the circuit universal rather than dedicated to a single sub-pixel, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving the ability to address individual sub-pixels for high-resolution display
3Power
If more signal lines are used for each sub-pixel unit, then the drive capability is improved, but the module thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a spatial arrangement where each sub-pixel would have dedicated signal lines extending through the module thickness, to a temporal arrangement where a single data line serves multiple sub-pixels through time-division multiplexing. This dimensional shift from space to time allows the same physical data line to be reused, reducing the number of through-silicon vias and interconnect layers required, thereby reducing module thickness while maintaining full drive capability
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a pixel drive circuit, a drive circuit of a display panel, and a display apparatus. The pixel drive circuit includes a switch unit and a drive unit, the switch unit is connected to the drive unit, and the drive unit is configured to be connected to a plurality of sub-pixel units; the switch unit is configured to receive a scan signal and a data signal, be switched on under action of the scan signal, and send the data signal to the drive unit; and the drive unit is configured to send the data signal to the plurality of sub-pixel units connected thereto in a time division manner.