Serial-Input Level Shifting for Fewer Pins in Display Drivers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional level shifting devices in display technology require a large number of input pins and level shifters, leading to increased size and cost due to the need for separate input pins and shifters for each output signal, which complicates signal shifting and voltage level management.
Innovation Solution
A level shifting device that samples serial input data including a level selection bit and output selection bits to generate level selection and output selection signals, using a control unit to selectively activate high or low level signals and share high and low level generating units across multiple output signals, reducing the number of input pins and shifters needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate input pins and level shifters are used for each output signal, then signal shifting reliability is improved, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate level shifters into a single integrated level shifter that can handle multiple output signals. This is achieved by using a common input pin structure and a shared level shifting mechanism that generates multiple output signals simultaneously, thereby reducing device size while maintaining signal shifting reliability through unified control logic and synchronized operation
Solution Approach 2:
The level shifting device implements multi-functionality by enabling a single level shifter to serve multiple output signals. The device uses a universal level shifting core that can be selectively configured through control signals to generate different output voltage levels for different output pins, allowing one component to perform the function of what would traditionally require multiple separate components
2Manufacturing precision
If separate input pins and level shifters are used for each output signal, then signal shifting accuracy is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple level shifters into a single integrated unit with shared control logic and synchronized operation, the patent reduces the total component count and interconnections required. This integration lowers manufacturing complexity and assembly costs while maintaining signal shifting accuracy through unified design and coordinated signal processing across all output channels
3Reliability
If multiple level shifters are used, then output signal quality is improved, but device integration density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal level shifting architecture where a single level shifter can generate multiple output signals with different voltage levels by selectively activating different output paths through control signals. This multi-functional design maintains high output signal quality through dedicated signal processing paths while significantly reducing the device area by eliminating the need for multiple separate level shifter circuits
Data Source
AI summary
A level shifting device is disclosed. The device includes an input unit, a control unit, a high level generating unit, a low level generating unit and an output unit. The input unit generates a level selection signal and a plurality of output selection signals by sampling serial input data. The control unit selectively generates a high level activation signal or a low level activation signal based on the input data, and generates a switching signal based on the input data. The high level generating unit generates a high level output signal in response to the high level activation signal, and the low level generating unit generates a low level output signal in response to the low level activation signal. The output unit outputs one of the high level output signal and the low level output signal to each of a plurality of output signals in response to the switching signal.