Semiconductor Driver Circuit for Dual-Mode Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Display devices with both reflective and light-emitting modes require separate driver circuits, leading to increased circuit area and power consumption due to the need for dual functionality.

Innovation Solution

A semiconductor device incorporating a pass transistor logic circuit, resistor strings, and operational amplifiers with oxide-based transistors to efficiently convert digital data into analog signals for both reflective and light-emitting modes, reducing the need for separate driver circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate driver circuits are provided for reflective and light-emitting display panels, then each display mode can be driven independently, but the circuit area increases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual display mode capabilityVSAvoiddriver circuit area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the driver circuits for reflective and light-emitting display panels into a single integrated driver circuit. This single driver circuit can selectively drive either the reflective display panel or the light-emitting display panel based on ambient light conditions, thereby reducing the total circuit area while maintaining dual display mode capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driver circuit is designed with universal functionality to support both reflective and light-emitting display modes through a single circuit architecture. The circuit can operate in different modes by receiving different types of display data (reflective mode data or light-emitting mode data), eliminating the need for separate dedicated driver circuits for each display type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate driver circuits are provided for reflective and light-emitting display panels, then each display mode can be driven independently, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual display mode capabilityVSAvoiddriver circuit power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system periodically switches between reflective mode and light-emitting mode based on ambient light conditions detected by an illuminometer. In bright environments, the reflective mode is activated which consumes less power, while in dark environments, the light-emitting mode is activated. This periodic adaptation optimizes power consumption while maintaining dual mode capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Area of stationary object

If a single driver circuit drives both reflective and light-emitting display panels, then circuit area is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver circuit areaVSAvoiddriver circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The single driver circuit is segmented into distinct functional modules: a reflective mode driver section for driving the reflective display panel and a light-emitting mode driver section for driving the light-emitting display panel. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific function while being integrated into a unified circuit structure, reducing overall complexity despite the multi-functional requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10290253B2Semiconductor device, system, and method for operating system

Publication Date: 2019.05.14 SEMICON ENERGY LAB CO LTD

AI summary

An object is to provide a semiconductor device that automatically adjusts the luminance of a display device. The semiconductor device includes an illuminometer, a threshold detector, a timing controller, a digital-to-analog converter circuit, a first display panel, and a second display panel. The illuminance of external light is measured with the illuminometer, and the threshold value of digital video data is determined by the threshold detector in accordance with the illuminance. The timing controller generates a signal for the first display panel or a signal for the second display panel on the basis of the threshold value and video data transmitted from the outside. The signal for the first display panel and the signal for the second display panel are input to one digital-to-analog converter circuit and converted into digital signals, and the obtained digital signals are input to a corresponding one of the first display panel and the second display panel.