Redundant Pixel Control Circuits for Display Defect Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with displays often suffer from manufacturing faults in pixel circuits, leading to undesirable visual artifacts due to defective pixel control circuits, which existing technologies fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating redundant pixel control circuits and switching circuitry configured by control signals from non-volatile memory in decoder circuitry, allowing defective circuits to be bypassed during operation, ensuring the display operates satisfactorily by switching in redundant circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant pixel control circuits and switching circuitry are incorporated into the display, then reliability is improved by enabling replacement of defective circuits, but device complexity increases due to additional circuit components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring redundant pixel control circuits and switching circuitry during manufacturing before the display is deployed. Defective circuits are identified and replaced with redundant ones during the manufacturing inspection process, so that the display is already prepared to handle defects without requiring complex runtime reconfiguration. The non-volatile memory is pre-loaded with corrected thermometer code configuration data that enables the switching circuitry to activate redundant circuits when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing switching circuitry controlled by decoder circuitry and non-volatile memory as a mediator between the pixel control circuits and the light-emitting diodes. This intermediary layer allows defective pixel control circuits to be bypassed and redundant circuits to be activated without requiring direct modification of the pixel array or LED connections. The switching circuitry acts as a buffer that can dynamically reroute signals based on defect detection data stored in non-volatile memory.
2Reliability
If manufacturing inspection and defect replacement processes are implemented, then reliability is improved by eliminating defective circuits, but productivity decreases due to additional inspection and configuration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the display to automatically self-diagnose and self-correct manufacturing defects using built-in redundant circuits and switching circuitry. During manufacturing inspection, defective pixel control circuits are identified and the switching circuitry is automatically configured via non-volatile memory to bypass defective circuits and activate redundant ones. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention or complex external reconfiguration equipment, thereby maintaining manufacturing throughput while ensuring display quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A display with an array of pixels may be provided with redundant pixel control circuits. Switching circuitry may be used to couple pixel control circuits to light-emitting diodes for the pixels. The switching circuitry can be configured using control signals from non-volatile memory in decoder circuitry such as thermometer code decoder circuitry. During manufacturing, the display may be inspected for defects. Defective pixel control circuits can be replaced with redundant pixel control circuits so that the display operates satisfactory. The decoder circuitry may supply control signals to the switching circuitry to switch redundant pixel control circuitry into use while bypassing defective pixel control circuits.