Shift Register Flip-Flop Circuit for Stable Non-Selection Nodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional driver circuits experience malfunctions due to timing deviations in transistor switching operations, particularly when transistors with amorphous semiconductor layers deteriorate, leading to issues with noise and threshold voltage changes.

Innovation Solution

A driver circuit with a shift register design that includes specific configurations of flip-flop circuits with multiple transistors and capacitors, where the phase of clock signals is opposite and the potential difference between signal states is greater than the transistor threshold voltage, preventing node floating and reducing noise effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a gate terminal of a pull-up transistor in a flip-flop circuit enters into a floating state in a non-selection period, then noise generated in the non-selection period adversely affects the potential of the gate terminal, but maintaining the gate terminal connected prevents proper floating operation needed for circuit functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of gate terminal potentialVSAvoidnoise interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A capacitor is introduced as an intermediary element connected between the gate terminal of the pull-up transistor and ground. This capacitor acts as a noise filter that blocks high-frequency noise while allowing the gate terminal to maintain its potential during the non-selection period, thereby resolving the contradiction between preventing noise interference and maintaining proper circuit operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The capacitor is pre-charged to a specific potential before the non-selection period begins. This preliminary charging ensures that when the gate terminal enters the floating state, the capacitor maintains the gate potential at the correct level, preventing both noise interference and ensuring proper circuit functionality resumes in the next selection period

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If transistors are used in flip-flop circuits of shift registers, then the driver circuit can be formed over an insulating substrate reducing power consumption and cost, but transistor deterioration causes threshold voltage changes leading to timing deviations and malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming accuracy of transistor switchingVSAvoidtransistor lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

A reset circuit is implemented that proactively detects and corrects threshold voltage drift in transistors before it causes timing deviations or malfunctions. The reset circuit periodically resets the flip-flop circuits to their initial state, cushioning against the cumulative effect of transistor deterioration and preventing timing accuracy degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit incorporates feedback mechanisms where the output of each flip-flop stage is fed back to control the operation of subsequent stages. This feedback ensures that even if individual transistors experience threshold voltage changes due to deterioration, the overall timing synchronization is maintained through continuous correction, extending the effective operational lifespan of the driver circuit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240169951A1Driver Circuit, Display Device, And Electronic Device
Publication Date: 2024.05.23 SEMICON ENERGY LAB CO LTD
  • US20240169951A1 patent drawing
  • US20240169951A1 patent drawing
  • US20240169951A1 patent drawing

AI summary

To suppress malfunctions in a shift register circuit. A shift register having a plurality of flip-flop circuits is provided. The flip-flop circuit includes a transistor 11, a transistor 12, a transistor 13, a transistor 14, and a transistor 15. When the transistor 13 or the transistor 14 is turned on in a non-selection period, the potential of a node A is set, so that the node A is prevented from entering into a floating state.