Shift Register Unit for In-Cell Touch Panel Signal Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing display products with in-cell touch panels face adverse display effects due to coupling capacitance between common electrodes and touch driving electrodes, caused by the inability of separate driver ICs to adjust common electrode signal amplitudes, leading to restricted touch driving signal amplitudes and compromised display quality.

Innovation Solution

A shift register unit integrated within the in-cell touch panel, comprising a pre-charge module, pull-up module, pull-down maintenance module, reset module, and first signal output control module, which allows the common electrode to receive signals without a separate driver IC, enabling adjustable common electrode signals and reducing coupling capacitance by averaging touch driving signal potentials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a separate driver IC is used to supply common electrode signal, then the common electrode signal can be supplied, but the structure becomes complex and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidcommon electrode signal supply
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the common electrode signal supply function into the shift register unit by adding a common electrode signal output terminal. This integration eliminates the need for a separate driver IC, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining the necessary signal supply capability. The shift register unit now performs dual functions: gate signal generation and common electrode signal supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shift register unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a gate signal generator and a common electrode signal supplier. By incorporating a common electrode signal output terminal into the shift register unit, the system achieves universal functionality with fewer components, reducing structural complexity while ensuring reliable signal supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If common electrode signal amplitude is fixed, then the circuit design is simple, but coupling capacitance occurs between common electrode and touch driving electrode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit design complexityVSAvoidcoupling capacitance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of the common electrode signal amplitude through control signals. The common electrode signal output terminal responds to control signals to adjust its output amplitude, allowing the system to dynamically optimize the voltage difference between the common electrode and touch driving electrode, thereby minimizing coupling capacitance effects while maintaining display quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the amplitude parameter of the common electrode signal based on operational requirements. By adjusting the common electrode signal amplitude in response to control signals, the system optimizes the voltage differential between electrodes, reducing coupling capacitance and improving touch detection accuracy without requiring overly complex circuit design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If touch driving signal amplitude is restricted, then coupling capacitance is reduced, but display effect is adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoupling capacitanceVSAvoiddisplay effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent independently adjusts the common electrode signal amplitude parameter to optimize the voltage difference between electrodes. By changing this parameter dynamically, the system reduces coupling capacitance effects on the touch driving signal, allowing the touch driving signal amplitude to maintain its necessary range for proper display operation without being overly restricted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses control signals to regulate the common electrode signal output, creating a feedback mechanism that optimizes the voltage differential between electrodes. This feedback control allows the system to minimize coupling capacitance effects while maintaining display quality, as the common electrode signal amplitude is continuously adjusted based on operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3188190B1Shift register unit and driving method therefor, gate driving circuit and display device
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
  • EP3188190B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3188190B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5B
  • EP3188190B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a shift register unit, a driving method thereof, a gate driver circuit and a display device. The shift register unit includes a pull-down maintenance module configured to pull down potentials at a pull-up node and a gate signal output end; a reset module configured to, at a touch stage within one frame of time, reset a potential of a signal from the gate signal output end to a potential of a fourth signal; a first signal output control module configured to, at a display stage within one frame of time, control a first signal output end to output a first common electrode signal, and at the touch stage within one frame of time, control the first signal output end to output a first signal input in the first signal input end. The first signal is a signal inputted at the touch stage to a common electrode connected to the shift register unit.