Semiconductor Terminal Switching for In-Cell Display Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In in-cell type display panels, the integration of display drivers and touch controllers in a single chip restricts terminal arrangement flexibility, limiting the adaptation to various display panel forms and failing to provide adequate protection against over-voltage and proper voltage levels for both display and touch sensors.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor device with a connection switching circuit that allocates functions between display driving, touch detection signal driving, and touch state detection circuits, along with a protection circuit that adjusts voltage levels based on signal amplitudes, allowing flexible terminal allocation and improved wiring routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the display driver and touch controller are formed in a single chip, then the device integration is improved, but the degree of freedom for terminal arrangement is extremely restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The single chip is divided into functionally independent modules: display driver module and touch controller module. Each module has dedicated internal circuits but shares common terminals through switching circuits, enabling both high integration and flexible terminal allocation for different display panel types
Solution Approach 2:
Dynamic terminal function switching is implemented through switching circuits that can change terminal assignments based on the connected display panel type. The terminal arrangement is not fixed but can be dynamically reconfigured to match different panel configurations (in-cell, on-cell, or off-cell touch sensors)
2Ease of manufacture
If the terminal arrangement is fixed for a single chip design, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to various display panel forms is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The semiconductor device is designed with universal terminals that can serve multiple functions depending on the connected display panel type. The same physical terminals can be configured for in-cell, on-cell, or off-cell touch sensor connections through the switching circuit, eliminating the need for different chip designs for different panel types
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate semiconductor chips are used for display driver and touch controller, then the terminal arrangement flexibility is improved, but the device integration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The display driver and touch controller are merged into a single semiconductor chip while maintaining functional independence through internal circuit separation. This achieves high device integration while preserving terminal flexibility through shared terminals and switching circuits that allow different connection configurations
4Device complexity
If no protection circuit is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the protection against over-voltage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Protection circuits are introduced as intermediary elements between the external display panel and the internal sensitive circuits. These protection circuits act as mediators that can handle voltage spikes and over-voltage conditions, protecting the core display driver and touch controller circuits while adding minimal complexity to the overall system
Data Source
AI summary
A semiconductor device including a display driving circuit that drives a display panel, a touch detection signal driving circuit that applies a touch detection signal to a touch sensor, and a touch state detection circuit that receives a signal obtained by observing the touch sensor is configured as follows. A connection switching circuit that switches connection between a terminal and an internal circuit is included therein. The connection switching circuit switches connection with the terminal by selecting one of at least two of the display driving circuit, the touch detection signal driving circuit and the touch state detection circuit. A protection circuit which is capable of changing a protection voltage level is connected to the terminal, and the protection voltage level varies depending on the signal amplitude of the circuit selected by the connection switching circuit.